diff --git a/api/build.gradle.kts b/api/build.gradle.kts
index e69de29..02bef1a 100644
--- a/api/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/api/build.gradle.kts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+description = "Api functions for valiobungee"
+
+java {
+    withJavadocJar()
+    withSourcesJar()
+}
+
+dependencies {
+    testImplementation(libs.testing.juipter)
+}
+
+tasks.test {
+    useJUnitPlatform()
+}
+
diff --git a/api/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/api/NetworkPlayer.java b/api/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/api/NetworkPlayer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dec28cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/api/NetworkPlayer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/*
+* Copyright (c) 2026-present ValioBungee contributors
+* All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
+* are made available under the terms of the Apache License Version 2.0
+* which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
+* https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.txt
+*/
+package net.limework.valiobungee.api;
+
+public interface NetworkPlayer {}
diff --git a/api/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/api/NetworkProxy.java b/api/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/api/NetworkProxy.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52aabe8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/api/NetworkProxy.java
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/*
+* Copyright (c) 2026-present ValioBungee contributors
+* All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
+* are made available under the terms of the Apache License Version 2.0
+* which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
+* https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.txt
+*/
+package net.limework.valiobungee.api;
+
+/**
+ * Proxy is an object for online proxy in a network
+ *
+ * @author Ham1255
+ * @since 1.0.0
+ */
+public interface NetworkProxy {
+  /**
+   * @return return the proxy id of this proxy
+   */
+  String proxyId();
+
+  /**
+   * @return online players number in this proxy
+   */
+  int onlinePlayers();
+
+  /**
+   * @return returns true if this object is proxy on it
+   */
+  boolean isMe();
+}
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 01d7c1e..d7db9cd 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ plugins {
 
 subprojects {
     apply { plugin("com.diffplug.spotless") }
-    apply { plugin("java-library")}
+    apply { plugin("java-library") }
 
     java {
         toolchain {
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ subprojects {
             } else {
                 licenseHeaderFile(rootProject.file("copyright_header.txt"))
             }
+            if (project.name == "valiobungee-core") {
+                targetExclude("**/net/limework/valiobungee/core/proto/**")
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/core/build.gradle.kts b/core/build.gradle.kts
index 7fe5a3c..94dfb78 100644
--- a/core/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/core/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 plugins {
     alias(libs.plugins.blossom)
     alias(libs.plugins.indragit)
+    alias(libs.plugins.protobuf)
 }
 
 description = "Core functions for valiobungee"
@@ -20,3 +21,24 @@ java {
     withJavadocJar()
     withSourcesJar()
 }
+
+dependencies {
+    api(project(":valiobungee-api"))
+    api(libs.protobuf)
+    api(libs.caffeine)
+    api(libs.slf4j)
+
+    testImplementation(libs.testing.juipter)
+    testImplementation(libs.testing.slf4j.simple)
+}
+
+tasks.test {
+    useJUnitPlatform()
+}
+
+protobuf {
+    protoc {
+        artifact = libs.protoc.get().toString()
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/ProxyManager.java b/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/ProxyManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0949d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/ProxyManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+/*
+* Copyright (c) 2026-present ValioBungee contributors
+* All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
+* are made available under the terms of the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3
+* which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
+* https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt
+*/
+package net.limework.valiobungee.core;
+
+import com.github.benmanes.caffeine.cache.Cache;
+import com.github.benmanes.caffeine.cache.Caffeine;
+import com.github.benmanes.caffeine.cache.RemovalCause;
+import com.github.benmanes.caffeine.cache.RemovalListener;
+import java.time.Duration;
+import java.util.UUID;
+import net.limework.valiobungee.core.proto.messages.*;
+import net.limework.valiobungee.core.util.logging.LogProviderFactory;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+
+/**
+ * This abstract class is responsible for proxy discovery and count online players as its cached
+ * locally Why abstract? Because it allows us to develop alternative implementation to use other
+ * software than valkey or redis
+ */
+public abstract class ProxyManager {
+
+  protected final UUID proxyManagerId = UUID.randomUUID();
+  protected final ValioBungeePlatform platform;
+
+  public ProxyManager(ValioBungeePlatform platform) {
+    this.platform = platform;
+  }
+
+  protected final Logger log = LogProviderFactory.get();
+
+  // proxy info class here stores the ProxyManager ID hence we use another cache for online players
+  // reason we use caffeine cache it allows us to auto remove entries without need for scheduled
+  // tasks in the proxies when a proxy disappears without sending death message
+  private final Cache<String, Heartbeat> heartbeats =
+      Caffeine.newBuilder()
+          .expireAfterWrite(Duration.ofSeconds(30))
+          .removalListener(
+              (RemovalListener<String, Heartbeat>)
+                  (key, value, cause) -> {
+                    if (cause == RemovalCause.EXPIRED) {
+                      assert value != null;
+                      log.warn("proxy {} has disconnected but did not send death message", value);
+                    }
+                  })
+          .build();
+
+  protected void handleProxyHeartBeat(Heartbeat payload) {
+    if (!this.heartbeats.asMap().containsKey(payload.getSender().getProxyId()))
+      log.info("Proxy {} has connected!", payload.getSender().getProxyId());
+    this.heartbeats.put(payload.getSender().getProxyId(), payload);
+  }
+
+  protected void handleProxyDeath(Death payload) {
+    this.heartbeats.invalidate(payload.getSender().getProxyId());
+    log.info("Proxy {} has disconnected", payload.getSender().getProxyId());
+  }
+
+  public int onlinePlayersCount() {
+    // reason we + local online players because our proxy is not inside it own heartbeat cache
+    return heartbeats.asMap().values().stream().mapToInt(Heartbeat::getOnlinePlayersCount).sum()
+        + platform.localOnlinePlayers();
+  }
+
+  public int onlinePlayersCount(String proxyId) {
+    if (proxyId.equals(this.platform.proxyId())) {
+      return platform.localOnlinePlayers();
+    } else {
+      if (!heartbeats.asMap().containsKey(proxyId)) return 0; // don't error?
+      return heartbeats.asMap().get(proxyId).getOnlinePlayersCount();
+    }
+  }
+
+  protected ProxyInfo createProxyInfo() {
+    return ProxyInfo.newBuilder()
+        .setProxyId(platform.proxyId())
+        .setProxyManagerId(this.proxyManagerId.toString())
+        .build();
+  }
+
+  protected Death createDeathPayload() {
+    return Death.newBuilder().setSender(createProxyInfo()).setReason(DeathReason.SHUTDOWN).build();
+  }
+
+  protected Heartbeat createHeartbeatPayload() {
+    return Heartbeat.newBuilder()
+        .setSender(createProxyInfo())
+        .setOnlinePlayersCount(platform.localOnlinePlayers())
+        .build();
+  }
+
+  protected abstract void publishDeathPayload();
+
+  protected abstract void publishHeartbeatPayload();
+
+  public abstract void init();
+
+  public abstract void close();
+}
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/ValioBungeePlatform.java b/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/ValioBungeePlatform.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46e7327
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/ValioBungeePlatform.java
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/*
+* Copyright (c) 2026-present ValioBungee contributors
+* All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
+* are made available under the terms of the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3
+* which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
+* https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt
+*/
+package net.limework.valiobungee.core;
+
+public interface ValioBungeePlatform {
+
+  int localOnlinePlayers();
+
+  String platformProxyVendor();
+
+  String networkId();
+
+  String proxyId();
+
+  ProxyManager proxyManager();
+}
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/api/impl/ImplNetworkProxy.java b/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/api/impl/ImplNetworkProxy.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02e59cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/api/impl/ImplNetworkProxy.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+* Copyright (c) 2026-present ValioBungee contributors
+* All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
+* are made available under the terms of the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3
+* which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
+* https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt
+*/
+package net.limework.valiobungee.core.api.impl;
+
+import net.limework.valiobungee.api.NetworkProxy;
+import net.limework.valiobungee.core.ValioBungeePlatform;
+
+public class ImplNetworkProxy implements NetworkProxy {
+
+  private final ValioBungeePlatform platform;
+
+  private final String proxyId;
+
+  public ImplNetworkProxy(ValioBungeePlatform platform, String proxyId) {
+    this.platform = platform;
+    this.proxyId = proxyId;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public String proxyId() {
+    return this.proxyId;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public int onlinePlayers() {
+    return this.platform.proxyManager().onlinePlayersCount(this.proxyId);
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public boolean isMe() {
+    return this.platform.proxyId().equals(proxyId);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/util/logging/LogProviderFactory.java b/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/util/logging/LogProviderFactory.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..506b28d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/main/java/net/limework/valiobungee/core/util/logging/LogProviderFactory.java
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/*
+* Copyright (c) 2026-present ValioBungee contributors
+* All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
+* are made available under the terms of the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3
+* which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
+* https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt
+*/
+package net.limework.valiobungee.core.util.logging;
+
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+
+public class LogProviderFactory {
+  private static Logger instance;
+
+  public static void register(Logger logger) {
+    if (instance != null) throw new IllegalStateException("Logger already registered");
+    instance = logger;
+  }
+
+  public static Logger get() {
+    if (instance == null) throw new IllegalStateException("No logger registered");
+    return instance;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/core/src/main/proto/message-protocol.proto b/core/src/main/proto/message-protocol.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..291f76f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/main/proto/message-protocol.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+package net.limework.valiobungee.core.proto.messages;
+option java_multiple_files = true;
+
+message ProxyInfo {
+  string proxy_id = 1; // UNIQUE ID
+  string proxy_manager_id = 2; // ProxyManager id. changes every reboot, used to detect duplicate proxy names
+}
+
+// heartbeat ._.?
+
+message Heartbeat {
+  ProxyInfo sender = 1;
+  int32 online_players_count = 2;
+}
+
+// death
+enum DeathReason {
+  UNSPECIFIED = 0; // TESTING ONLY
+  RELOAD = 1; // plugin reload
+  SHUTDOWN = 2; // proxy shutdown
+}
+message Death {
+  ProxyInfo sender = 1; // proxy that died
+  DeathReason reason = 2;
+}
+
diff --git a/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index 1419039..e32a413 100644
--- a/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -1,10 +1,24 @@
 [versions]
-
+protobuf-plugin = "0.9.5"
+protobuf = "3.25.8" # needed for reference to be used for protoc
+slf4j = "2.0.17"
 
 [plugins]
 blossom = "net.kyori.blossom:2.2.0"
 indragit = "net.kyori.indra.git:4.0.0"
 shadow = "com.gradleup.shadow:9.3.1"
 spotless = "com.diffplug.spotless:8.2.0"
+protobuf = { id = "com.google.protobuf", version.ref = "protobuf-plugin" }
 
 [libraries]
+redisson = "org.redisson:redisson:4.3.0"
+protobuf = { group = "com.google.protobuf", name = "protobuf-java", version.ref = "protobuf" }
+protoc = { group = "com.google.protobuf", name = "protoc", version.ref = "protobuf" }
+caffeine = "com.github.ben-manes.caffeine:caffeine:3.2.3"
+
+# logging
+slf4j = { group = "org.slf4j", name = "slf4j-api", version.ref = "slf4j" }
+# testing
+testing-juipter = "org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter:6.0.3"
+testing-slf4j-simple = { group = "org.slf4j", name = "slf4j-simple", version.ref = "slf4j" }
+