In the city, they could enjoy the prosperity created by the ruling Silver-rank family. They could also use the city's infrastructure to grow stronger and wealthier. Even for those interested in farming or specialized agriculture, cities had designated agricultural zones and farms for sale. This meant they could farm without taking on the risks and responsibilities of defending a whole territory on their own.
In the past, most Bronze-rank families were perfectly content to remain under the jurisdiction of a Silver-grade family. It was a comfortable and relatively safe arrangement. The resources that Bronze-rank families held were usually insignificant in the eyes of higher powers—mere scraps compared to the wealth and strength controlled by the Silver-rank families. To those at the top, such resources were not worth the trouble of taking.
This dismissive, almost scoffing attitude from the Silver-grade powers was something the Bronze-rank families welcomed. It meant they could use their own resources freely, develop at their own pace, and live without the constant fear of their assets being seized. As long as they stayed within a Silver-grade family's territory and posed no threat, they were left alone.
It was for these reasons that so many Bronze-rank families preferred to stay in cities rather than building up their own towns.
But Kaito knew this situation would not last forever. After the discovery of the minor ruins, and once the Spiritual Index rose and the path of martial advancement also became clearer, everything started changing.
From those ruins came resources that were far from trivial—rare herbs, advanced potions, ancient forging materials, and even manuals that could accelerate cultivation. These were treasures that any Silver-rank family would covet. The moment a Bronze-rank family returned from the ruins with such spoils, they were no longer ignored. Suddenly, those same Silver-rank powers who had once looked down on them began to take a keen interest.
If a Bronze-rank family lived in a manor inside a Silver-rank family's jurisdiction, those resources rarely stayed in their hands for long.
The Silver-rank powers had absolute surveillance over their territories. The moment a family brought valuable resources back, the ruling power could easily find out. Sometimes they demanded a share openly, other times they used indirect pressure to take their cut.
And they didn't stop at that,
The Silver-rank families understood the danger. As the Spiritual Index began to rise, planting and cultivating herbs became far easier. Rare plants that had once taken decades to grow could now mature in a fraction of the time. Potions that had been almost impossible to produce, such as limit-break potions, started appearing more frequently. Even the lowest-ranking Bronze families began to see significant increases in strength.
This growth posed a serious problem for the Silver-rank powers.
For centuries, they had maintained dominance over the weaker families, often treating them with disdain or outright arrogance. They had ruled with the confidence of those who believed themselves unchallengeable. Many Silver-rank families had even committed acts that sowed resentment among the lower ranks—seizing land, underpaying for goods, or using political pressure to force compliance.
Bronze families had tolerated these injustices for one reason: they lacked the strength to resist.
But the rising Spiritual Index and the resources from the ruins threatened to change that balance. The stronger a Bronze-rank family became, the more they could push back against Silver-rank control. And if their strength continued to grow unchecked, they could one day surpass their supposed overlords entirely.
This realization forced many Silver-grade powers to act.
They began quietly restricting access to certain resources, placing limits on trade, and tightening their grip on their jurisdictions. On the surface, they still played the role of benevolent protectors, but behind the scenes, they worked to slow the growth of the Bronze-rank families.
Their goal was simple—make sure no lower-ranked family ever grew strong enough to threaten them. This was also one of the main reasons behind the harsh call-up orders during the monster riots: to deliberately drain the strength of those families.
For the Bronze-rank families, this was a turning point. The safety and freedom they had once enjoyed under a Silver-grade family's umbrella were no longer guaranteed. What had once been a mutually beneficial arrangement now carried risks. If a Bronze-rank family found itself with a treasure too valuable, it could expect interference—if not outright confiscation.
This shift in power dynamics forced many Bronze families to rethink their strategy. Some began looking for ways to secure their independence, to claim and develop their own lands far from the watchful eyes of their so-called protectors. Others sought alliances with fellow Bronze families, pooling their resources to better defend against outside control.
Eventually, many Bronze-rank families realized it was better to leave the cities and manage their own lands. Once they were outside a stronger family's control, their resources and profits stayed their own.
Back then, however, land that was still safe from the monsters was scarce. The Federation eventually had to start allocating territory randomly because too many families wanted to claim it. But before that chaos began, those who acted early could choose their land freely, paying the necessary fee to the Federation to own it outright.
Kaito had refined his thoughts. Instead of waiting, it was better for them to act first. While staying low-key had its advantages, it also carried risks—especially if the Federation randomly allocated them land. They could end up with a barren wasteland where nothing would grow, or worse, a territory overrun by monsters.
And now that the timeline had shifted, he believed that, it would be wiser to act before the rush began. If he waited until everyone else started applying for Bronze-rank status, competition for land would be fierce. In his last life, they had moved too late. This time, he already had control over the ancestral estate's strength. Even if he became the first to be promoted to Bronze rank, he could take the risk.
After all, to a Silver-rank family, a Bronze-rank family was still nothing more than an ant. They wouldn't see the Ren family as a threat unless they had reason to suspect otherwise. As long as he kept their strength hidden, he could secure their future without drawing unnecessary attention.
Kaito understood all of this from experience. In his past life, he had seen how quickly the attitude of a Silver-rank family could change once their authority was threatened. He knew that as the Spiritual Index continued to climb, this struggle would only intensify. And this time, he was determined to ensure the Ren family would not be caught unprepared.
After coming out of his brief contemplation, Kaito looked up at the three elders and spoke with quiet certainty.
"Once we're promoted to Bronze rank, the first thing we'll do is request the development rights for the land that every Bronze family is entitled to. With our own territory, we can strengthen ourselves without fear of outside interference. And when the time comes, we'll be able to use the resources we recovered from the library ruins freely—without risking their exposure to anyone beyond our walls."
His words carried the weight of careful planning, not youthful ambition.
The three elders exchanged glances, clearly taken aback. None of them had expected someone of Kaito's age to think so far ahead—or to have a plan so detailed. For a long moment, no one spoke, each man silently weighing the potential of Kaito's idea.
Finally, Kaito's grandfather broke the silence. His voice was steady and filled with conviction.
"I support Kaito in whatever he's proposed. Until now, everything he has done for this family has brought us profit and strength. Even the discovery of the ancient ruins—the opportunity that changed everything—was his doing, found right on our farmland. Whether you call it luck or foresight, I believe Kaito has brought fortune to this family. And right now, I believe following his plan is the best path forward. Even if his prediction about the future turns out wrong, we won't lose much. The ancestral estate's true strength will remain hidden."
He turned to look at his two elder brothers, his gaze both expectant and steady.
Kaito's eldest grandfather hesitated for a moment. In the past, there had been disputes between him and the youngest brother—differences in approach, in vision for the family's future. But now, faced with the reality of the situation and the threats ahead, such disputes felt like relics of a time when they had the luxury to quarrel. The challenges before them were far greater than any personal disagreements.
"I understand your reasoning," the eldest said slowly, "but a decision like this should not be made hastily. I agree your plan has merit, and I see the advantages you've outlined. But this is a choice that affects the entire family. Even if we don't tell everyone all the details, we should at least allow them to decide whether we should come out of hiding. Let your uncles vote. we'll abide by the decision according to their votes."