Lance and his companions roamed the Land of Corruption, deep in the wilderness.
Their objectives were all different.
Lance's primary goal was to survey this region, archaeologically investigate the buildings, and discover the brick and stone roads that had once been laid.
He needed to rebuild the roads and re-excavate those historical outposts. These would be used to transport and station troops, continuously expanding his control northward. Only by doing so could he constrain the Old Ancestor's activities.
Moreover, delineating areas for clearing was also necessary: determining which places were suitable for logging and charcoal burning, and which could simply be set ablaze.
After the burning, he needed to decide where to cultivate farmland and where to grow medicinal plants.
All these required personal reconnaissance. He knew well that development wasn't just talk; it had to be adapted to local conditions, with no blind development.
