Chapter 151. Do I get level 4 privilege or not?

Chapter 151: 151. Do I get level 4 privilege or not?

The evaluator left Ironroot before noon. Carlos walked with her until they reached the Earth portal near the Gatehouse.

She did not stop to look back at the fields or the walls. She only adjusted the notebook under her arm and faced him.

"Thank you for allowing the inspection," she said.

"Thank you for being fair," Carlos replied.

Nadine gave him a small nod.

"I will send the report to Arthur Goldwin today. He will decide what happens with it."

Carlos understood that she was not promising anything. That was better than someone giving him false confidence.

"I understand," he said.

She stepped through the portal and disappeared into the empty room of Carlos’s house.

Carlos got her out of the house first, locked it, and realized his mother was still not home before going back.

Time passed quickly and in no less than 3 hours, a message came from Arthur.

--

[Arthur Goldwin]- The Evaluator has completed the report. Come to the office when you can. We will speak in person.

--

Carlos read it while standing outside the Lord’s Hut.

Kaia was nearby as always, checking the straps on a Shield Militia’s arm guard. She looked up when she noticed his face.

"Is something wrong?"

"Arthur wants to speak about the report," Carlos said.

Kaia looked toward the Earth portal.

"Then go. I will take care of the territory till then."

Carlos nodded once.

He found Mira before leaving. She held a container near the kitchen door.

"Eat it on your way," she said. "You skipped breakfast."

Carlos took the warm food.

"I need to eat here. Food cannot cross to Earth," he said with a smile.

Mira looked at the bread. "Then sit and eat it now."

Carlos sat beside the kitchen and ate both before moving inside the portal.

He stepped through and noticed his mother was still not there. With a sigh, Carlos moved.

He took a cab to the Goldwin office and went in there after showing his identity card.

The Goldwin office looked the same as it had before. Tall glass windows. Polished stone around the entrance. People in clean clothes walking through the lobby as if their day had not been interrupted by another world opening beside their city.

Evelyn was waiting near the reception desk.

"Mr. Arthur is upstairs," she said. "He asked that you come directly."

Carlos followed her into the elevator.

Neither of them spoke while it went up. Carlos watched the numbers over the door change one by one. He was not sure why his hands felt colder than they had in Ironroot.

Arthur was sitting at the same long table as before. A thin paper file lay in front of him. Nadine’s notebook was not there, but Carlos recognized the neat pages beside Arthur’s hand as a report from it.

"Sit, Carlos. We will start with business right away," Arthur said.

Carlos sat across from him and Arthur opened the file.

"Nadine confirmed the visible claims. The troop buildings you claimed exist. The food operation is real. The Agricultural District record is real."

Carlos listened without interrupting.

"She also wrote that Ironroot is carrying more people than its reserve comfortably supports. Your defense is better than your global military position would suggest, but it is tied to a small number of valuable units. And your strongest assets are not yet easy to replace."

Arthur looked up.

"Do you disagree with any of that?"

Carlos thought about Mira’s food board. He thought about the marked rows, the altar, and the buildings still sitting in his inventory because he could not afford to summon from them.

"No," he said. "I do not disagree."

Arthur leaned back in his chair.

"Good. Some people hear a report like that and begin explaining why the person who wrote it is wrong. I am glad you are not like that, Carlos." He spoke with relief.

Arthur closed the report.

"You asked what a Level 4 Potential was," he said. "Nadine’s report was the last proof the main branch needed. Your Level 4 Potential has been approved, Carlos."

Carlos looked at him.

"The family accepted it?"

"Yes. You are recognized as a Level 4 Potential from today. Not because you carry our name, but because you built a territory, a food operation, and connections that can grow beyond one place."

Carlos thought of Ironroot. Rowan’s fields. Kaia’s yard. Mira’s food board.

"Thank you, Uncle," he said.

Arthur placed a single sheet on the table.

"You will receive formal Goldwin protection. Leon’s, Selene’s, and Julian’s families will be told that you are recognized by us. They can still compete with you, but they will know that coming after you brings the Goldwins into it."

Carlos listened.

"The family office will also give you verified market contacts, introductions to older Lords when you need them, and people who can read Earth-side contracts before you sign anything. If a specialist, material, storage, or information can help your territory, you can ask through us. Requests will be judged by need, but you will no longer be looking alone."

Carlos looked at the paper.

"And as obvious as it is, there is no claim on my territory, right?" Carlos asked.

Arthur looked at him knowingly and sighed. "I know why you are asking that and you need not worry, Carlos. It remains yours. No automatic access, no ownership claim, and no right to your System panels. Nadine’s inspection was enough for this evaluation."

"What does the family need from me?"

"Keep building. Do not use our name to make foolish enemies. Tell us when a major threat appears, and do not ignore real opportunities because you think doing everything alone proves something."

Carlos nodded.

"I can do that."

"Good," Arthur said. "Evelyn will send the contacts. You can ask for help from today."

Carlos stood and gave Arthur a respectful nod.

"Thank you, Uncle. I will not waste this opportunity."

Carlos made a lot of small talk with Arthur before he went back. He was promised a badge that would be sent to his home address.

He also saw a message from Cosmic, "I am back to business again." which made him smile.

He went back to the territory and before talking to anyone, his Lord panel opened.

--

[Cosmic Merchant]- I found a Lord with a large grain harvest. He is strong, but he cannot repair his water route properly. Rowan might be able to help. He will pay us in grain if we restore it. I recommended you, brooo!!

--

Carlos read the message twice and couldn’t help but get his heart pumping again.

Who was this lord and why did he have a harvest? Is he a farmer too? How much grain will he get?

Carlos couldn’t wait to get the answers.