The Land of Unity was a sizable piece of territory situated between the borders of Amaharpe, Rosentarus, and Malentansium.
It was well known for its abundant amount of resources; however, because of its location, each of the three kingdoms declared rightful ownership over the territory.
Due to this, entry into the Land of Unity was highly restricted, and players could only dream of entering the area. At least, that’s how it was the last time Izroth was here.
But now, the territory previously known as the Unsanctioned Zone was like a lively town.
There were members of the human, trephasia, and zensana races walking among the freshly paved stone roads.
An array of stalls selling a variety of items lined were lined up on the sides of the road, and multiple structures that were still in the process of being built could be seen everywhere.
The Land of Unity was still under construction by the joint forces of Amaharpe and Rosentarus; however, the amount of progress that had been made was massive.
Of course, the place was under heavy guard with regular patrols by members of the War Brigade. They were still right next to the Malentansium border, and there was no telling if or when the Skounae would try to launch a surprise assault.
Until the new territory was fully constructed and the defenses set in place, the land was still somewhat vulnerable.
Needless to say, because it was rich in resources, Amaharpe and Rosentarus strictly supervised the Land of Unity.
If someone was caught trying to take resources without permission, it would be seen as stealing from the two kingdoms.
While the rewards were certainly tempting, for most players, it simply was not worth the potential risk of being kicked out of their war branch or blacklisted by the two kingdoms.
As Izroth and Niflheim took in their surroundings, the two ventured further into the Land of Unity.
“I’ve heard rumors that the real reason why Amaharpe and Rosentarus wanted to claim this land has to do with more than just its resources. It’s said that their true goal is the natural magic vein that’s hidden underground.” Niflheim stated.
“A magic vein? An interesting rumor.” Izroth commented.
Izroth had already used his Energy Vision Sense to check for anything unusual; however, he did not sense anything that remotely resembled a natural magic vein. Though that did not mean the rumor about there being a magic vein was fake. After all, Izroth understood that it was always possible that something was interfering with his Energy Vision Sense that prevented him from sensing the magic vein.
In RML, a magic vein was like a natural magic formation created by the world itself that channeled mana in its purest form.
That’s why things like plants and ores could have their quality increased just by being near a magic vein. And, if one was able to tap into the magic vein itself, they could unlock a terrifying power.
After walking for a while, Izroth and Niflheim halted their steps.
“This is where we part ways. I’ll send you the coordinates so that you can meet up with us after you finish what needs to be done on your end.” Niflheim said.
Izroth gave a small nod. The following moment, he removed a few small pouches from his inventory and handed them over to Niflheim.
“Here are some pills and 500 gold coins. Each person in the division is to receive one of each pill. Also, some of the stuff being sold here is not half bad. You can use the gold coins to prepare whatever is necessary. If you need more, don’t hesitate to contact me.” Izroth stated.
The pills Izroth gave to Niflheim were the Five Cycle Pills and Ocean Spring Pills.
One pill improved the basic senses, while the other helped with fatigue. Both were crucial on the battlefield. Not to mention, compared to most other divisions, this one had no experience working together. Therefore, anything that could give them a better edge over others on an individual level would take some of the pressure off his Lieutenants.
Niflheim accepted the small pouches and set them into his inventory.
“It’s a shame I can’t attend the representative meeting with you. I would have liked to see who we’re dealing with personally.” Niflheim said with a helpless sigh.
The reason why Izroth was parting ways with Niflheim so soon after setting foot in the Land of Unity was due to the representative meeting that would be taking place soon.
Typically, the representatives from the war branches were allowed to have one or two aides accompany them; however, the situation was different for the GSU.
The power structure within the GSU was relatively unique compared to the other three war branches. So, unless it was the Commander herself, the attendance of aides was not permitted for a GSU representative.
From this alone, it was clear that the other war branches did not take the GSU seriously and looked down on them.
Even though Izroth only joined the GSU because of the freedom of movement it granted him, in the end, he was still one of its members. He was not the type to sit back and watch as others looked down on something he was a part of.
“We’ll just have to show them what we’re capable of. That way, they won’t have the face to treat our General Support Unit as a mere burden.” Izroth said calmly as a serious looked flashed through his eyes.
After exchanging a few more words, Izroth and Niflheim went their separate ways.
Izroth headed further into the Land of Unity. The representative meeting was taking place at the central area where the temporary main base of operations for the upcoming raid was set up.
Izroth walked for several minutes until, eventually, he reached a grand command tent with multiple people standing at attention outside.
‘According to Hyasin, this should be the place.’
Without wasting any time, Izroth approached the command tent. This action immediately caught the eyes of those nearby as one of the individuals moved to block Izroth’s path.
“Hold it. This area is currently off-limits. I do not know what branch you are from, but if you are an aide, you will have to wait until your commanding officer arrives before entering.” The individual stated.
The person who blocked Izroth’s path was a man who appeared to be in his early thirties with short white hair and silver eyes. Over his closed left eye was a scar that had clearly been gained in battle.
He wore a set of heavy armor, and on his back was a magnificent spear.
NPC Name: War Brigade 1st Division Captain of the 1st Unit Edgar(Rare)
NPC Level: ???
The next moment, a brass emblem with a faint magic aura appeared in Izroth’s hand.
“I am here as the official representative of the General Support Unit, 9th Division Captain of the 1st Unit, Izroth,” Izroth said as he revealed the emblem.
“General Support Unit?” Edgar frowned as he examined the brass emblem.
Without a doubt, the brass emblem was authentic. After all, how many people had the guts to walk up to the command tent with a fake representative emblem?
However, it was clear that Edgar was taken aback by Izroth’s appearance.
It was not common for the General Support Unit to send someone as a representative to these types of meetings. But, considering how important the mission was this time around, they would have lost too much face and opened themselves up to a lot of potential scrutiny if they failed to play an active role.
“Pardon the misunderstanding, Captain. Since you are here as the General Support Unit’s representative, naturally, you have the right to enter.” Edgar said as he stepped aside and opened up the path.
Izroth put away the emblem and continued to make his way into the command tent.
But, just as he was about to enter, Edgar’s voice sounded once more.
“I’d like to give you some friendly advice, Captain. You may be a representative, but it will be best if you remain silent when inside. Most representatives do not view those from the General Support Unit with kind eyes. Do not give them a reason to look down on you.” Edgar warned.
Although the way he spoke was blunt, Izroth could tell that Edgar’s warning was coming from a good place. That being said, he did not say anything that Izroth was not already aware of.
“Rest assured, Captain. I have no plans of letting them look down on me or my General Support Unit.” Izroth said with a carefree expression before making his way into the command tent.
…
The moment Izroth stepped into the command tent, the noise coming from outside completely vanished.
‘There are multiple high-level magic barriers protecting this place. I suppose it’s to be expected.’
Izroth swept his gaze across the room and immediately recognized a few faces. However, most of those present were people he had never seen before today.
