The van rattled down a mountain road filled with potholes and frostbitten cracks. Hans was half-asleep in the back, head bumping against a bag of bread, while his four soldiers stood inside like silent statues — rifles gripped tight, scanning everything outside through the bulletproof windows.
The man driving was short, middle-aged, and had the twitchy energy of someone who drank too much coffee and survived too many near-death experiences.
"Alright, Herr Hans! You said you want property. Good land. Somewhere your soldiers won't get mauled by winged centipedes, ja?"
Hans rubbed his eyes. "I said I want land where I won't get shot at, eaten, or cursed. Bare minimum."
"Ah! Reasonable expectations. I like you already!"
The man laughed and slapped the dashboard.
Then, without turning his head, he muttered:
"But I must warn you… the world is not what it used to be."
He pulled a tablet out of the glove compartment and tapped the screen.
A 3D hologram map lit up, floating in the air with glowing red zones and scorched markers.
Hans stared at it, already regretting this decision.
The man pointed with a stubby finger.
"Italy? Gone.""A Gate burst open in Naples. The Vatican tried to bless it shut. Didn't work. Monsters ripped through Rome in under 48 hours. Survivors split between two warlords: one in Florence, one in Milan. They say one of them rides a Basilisk."
"Poland?""Fragmented. Kraków's under the control of a lightning priest. Wrocław's basically Mad Max. Warsaw? Radio silence."
"France?""Officially in civil war. The army split in half. Paris is a no-go zone. Last I heard, someone summoned a dragon near Lyon. Crimson Guild is taking advantage. Very messy."
"Mexico?""Cartels turned into private monster-hunting armies. Believe it or not, they're effective. The gates that opened near Tijuana were shut by one group armed with rocket launchers and holy water. Don't ask."
Hans's stomach twisted. He almost didn't want to ask the next question.
"…And Turkey?"
The man went quiet.
Then he leaned closer.
"There's unrest. A gate opened near Bursa. They never closed it. Istanbul declared martial law. Ankara's fractured. Half follow the state, the other half… well… they follow someone calling himself 'The Gray Crescent'."
Hans furrowed his brow. "Who is he?"
"No one knows. Some say he used to be an Officer. Others say he's building a rogue guild from scratch. But the important part?"
He paused for dramatic effect.
"He's winning."
Hans didn't say anything. Just stared out the window at the snow-dusted trees flashing by.
Eventually, they pulled into a cracked parking lot surrounded by broken buildings. Wooden signs dangled from rusted hinges. A bullet hole riddled statue of a saint stood at the town center, now half-buried in snow.
"This," the man said, arms wide, "is Oberfeld."
Hans stepped out of the van, boots crunching on ice. His soldiers formed up instantly around him.
"This used to be a town of three thousand," the man continued. "Now? Maybe seven hundred. No leadership. No guild presence. No taxes. Just land. And freedom."
Hans looked around. The air was sharp and cold, but the wind smelled clean. Old stone buildings leaned but still stood. The nearby forest stretched out endlessly, and something about the silence felt… right.
Then the system chimed:
📍 [New Location Discovered – Oberfeld (Abandoned Town)]🛠️ Status: Lawless Zone⚠️ Threat Level: Moderate (Unsealed forest gate nearby)🧭 Officer Ownership: None🏛️ Historical Legacy Match: Confirmed
🔷 You may claim this town for 170,000 USD🏰 Benefits: Command HQ, Passive Gold Income, Town Barracks, Local Defense System🧬 Bonus: "Ancestral Territory Detected – Legacy Buff: Loyalty +10%, Morale +5%"
Hans stared at the screen, then at the town.
"…Let's buy it."
He tapped [Yes].
The wind shifted.
A faint golden shimmer pulsed outward from the cracked cobblestone, like a heartbeat awakening. The soldiers stood at attention. The town accepted him.
And somewhere, above the clouds, a voice chuckled:
"Back where it all started."
[New Command Town Acquired – Oberfeld]
Officer Command Interface UpdatedTown Loyalty: 10%Restoration Progress: 0%Barracks Construction ETA: 3 DaysDefense Points: +5 Passive
[New Side Quest Available – "Reclaim Oberfeld"]Objective: Clear monster activity. Rebuild 3 key structures.Reward: Increased income, soldier slots +2.
Hans exhaled.
"Guess we're landlords now."
The very next day…
The first letter arrived by raven. Yes — an actual raven.
It landed on the edge of his window, dropped the scroll, saluted (somehow), then flew off into the icy air.
The wax seal bore the emblem of the Iron Shield Guild – headquartered in Germany.
The letter read:
"To Commander Hans Reinhardt, Officer-Class Anomaly:
We recognize your legacy, strength, and tactical acumen.We humbly request your presence at the Allied Command Summit to discuss cooperative defense, recruitment opportunities, and continental strategy.
The meeting will be held in Neutral Zone: Geneva.Attending Guilds: Iron Shield (Germany), Black Lion (Britain), Silver Lotus (Japan).
Respond within 48 hours. Security will be provided.
With Respect,Commander Vogt – Iron Shield Guild"
Hans blinked.
Another soldier ran up with two more scrolls.
One bore the mark of a black lion in gold ink — Britain. The other, a silver lotus — Japan.
All three invited him to the same event.
Hans looked up at the soldiers, who were already preparing their gear.
"…I guess we're going to a meeting."
One soldier grinned. "Yes sir. Shall we march on Geneva?"