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Chapter 47 - Complete Control of the Lower Zone

Orion sat for a long time, only coming back to his senses when he saw the thin shadow cast on the awning. He began to clear his thoughts. Previously, through Natasha, he had firmly grasped the Wildfire in his hands. After this battle, Wildfire seized supplies, eliminated its biggest competitor, and quickly took control of the mining area originally occupied by the "Mines" faction, as well as several other key areas. Now, Wildfire is no longer a local organization in Boulder Town, but the largest force in the Underworld.

Orion's goal is clear: to expand the Wildfire to a point where they can converse as equals with those in the Overworld. Even to make them acknowledge his existence. Hmm, the plan is set, all that's left is to wait for the right moment…

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out: "Orion! I'm back!"

The door was violently pushed open, letting in a biting chill. Seele's figure appeared at the doorway, her blue-black short hair a bit messy, but her face was alight with excitement. She has now fully integrated into the Wildfire, and is Oleg's most capable young team member.

"Today, we cleared a large area in the northern junkyard! We found a lot of usable parts!" As she spoke, she skillfully took off her coat and hung it on the wall. Under the training of Wildfire, her movements were more agile, and she understood better how to cooperate with others.

"Is that so? That's great then." Orion went to meet her, taking the bag of items she handed him, which contained some salvaged scrap and tools.

"Uncle Oleg said that we have enough people now, and we're going to start expanding into the surrounding areas! We're going to those more distant and dangerous places."

"Those places have more and stronger monsters."

Orion handed her a warm, freshly baked bun. "Be careful, Seele."

Seele took the bun, holding it in her hands to warm them, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. "Mm, I know. Uncle Oleg and the others take good care of me." She took a bite of the bun, and the warmth instantly dispelled the chill from her body. "But it's really tiring… training, patrolling every day, and going to those dangerous places." She sighed, then quickly cheered up again. "But, seeing the people in town able to sleep soundly, and seeing the supplies we bring back allowing everyone to eat their fill, it makes it all worth it!"

She looked up, "Orion, do you know? Before, I only thought about how to survive, how to become stronger so I wouldn't be bullied."

"It's different now. In the Wildfire, I feel like I'm fighting for more people."

"Uncle Oleg said that our Wildfire are the hope of the Underworld! We must make this place better!"

Orion listened quietly, not interrupting her. This is good; a warrior with conviction is more valuable than a mere thug.

Soon, Seele finished her bun, feeling much warmer. She chatted with Orion about the daily life of the Wildfire, such as who made a joke during training today, or who performed a great deed during an exploration. Soon, tired from talking, both returned to their beds. Orion lay down and quickly fell asleep.

Days passed, and the reputation and scale of the Wildfire rapidly expanded. However, new management problems also arose. How to fairly distribute the seized supplies? How to unite new members from diverse backgrounds? Oleg was an excellent fighter and leader, but when it came to complex organizational management, he seemed a bit rough. And Natasha, in turn, would relay the problems to Orion.

"A points system? Distributing supplies based on contribution? That's too cold-hearted." In the clinic, Natasha listened to Orion's management proposal, her brows tightly furrowed. "We are the Wildfire, not a profit-driven group. Everyone gathered here for the sake of the Underworld's survival."

Orion calmly said, "Survival itself is the greatest interest. Without rules, there is no order. Without order, the Wildfire will collapse."

"You tell Oleg that the points system will allow everyone to clearly see their value and motivate them. At the same time, divide them into functional groups, giving everyone clear tasks and reducing internal friction."

"This is the most efficient way, Natasha (Older Sister). Trust me."

Natasha fell silent. She knew Orion was right. Indeed, there had been some friction within the Wildfire due to uneven distribution and unclear responsibilities. After, she relayed the plan to Oleg. Although Oleg felt it was a bit impersonal, considering the current situation of the Wildfire, he decided to give it a try.

Facts proved that Orion's plan worked. The points system stimulated the members' competitive spirit, and the division into functional groups made the Wildfire's operations smoother. The cohesion of the Wildfire not only did not decrease but was strengthened due to clear goals and distinct rewards and punishments.

Seeing these effects, a complex emotion welled up in Natasha's heart. Orion's ability filled her with a bit of admiration; this child could always propose the most efficient solutions. But at the same time, she also felt a deep fear. How could a ten-year-old child possess such a cold and seasoned cunning? It was as if he hadn't grown up in this icy, snowy land, but came from a world full of schemes and power struggles. This fear eventually transformed into a deeper form of reliance. Because her only hope still rested in this child's hands.

After the Wildfire established a firm foothold in Boulder Town. Orion began to consider a longer-term plan. Merely controlling Boulder Town was not enough; he needed more resources and stronger power to truly contend with the Overworld.

"Natasha (Older Sister), the Wildfire need stronger armaments. We cannot rely solely on our fists and scavenged weapons." Orion proposed a bold suggestion to Natasha. "I know there are some abandoned armories or large machinery in the Underworld. We can organize people to explore them, search for usable weapons and equipment, and even modify some machinery to serve as our defensive fortifications."

This suggestion carried high risks. Those abandoned areas were usually infested with more powerful Fragmentum monsters, and other forces might also be coveting them. Natasha listened, feeling that they were moving too fast. But thinking of Svarog, she gritted her teeth. "Okay, I'll make the arrangements."

The Wildfire began to execute Orion's new plan. They organized exploration teams to venture into the abandoned areas marked as extremely dangerous on the map. These missions were much more dangerous than previous patrols. They encountered more ferocious Fragmentum monsters and also clashed with other forces that also coveted these resources.

During one mission to explore an abandoned factory, Seele's team encountered a group of unusually powerful Fragmentum monsters. The Wildfire members were caught off guard. The captain was injured, and the team was split and surrounded. Seele had to make a choice: retreat to save herself, or risk saving her trapped teammates? She did not hesitate. With her agile movements, she charged into the monster horde, attracting the monsters' attention and buying time for her teammates to escape. Although she sustained multiple injuries, in the end, she and most of her teammates successfully escaped danger.

This experience made Seele even more mature. Uncle Oleg's courage and responsibility shown in battle further solidified her belief in the Wildfire. She wanted to become stronger and protect more people.

Back at the shelter, Seele arrived with a body full of fatigue and scars. Orion had already prepared hot meat soup and simple bandages for her.

"Injured?" Orion walked over and handed her a cup of hot water.

Seele took the water cup, warmth spreading from her palm. She shook her head, her blue-black hair swaying with the movement. "Minor injuries, it's nothing." She sat beside Orion, leaning against the wall, and let out a long sigh of relief. This was the only place where she could completely relax.

"Today's mission was very dangerous…" Orion listened, wiping the blood oozing from her bandages. He didn't interrupt her, only softly replying a word or two when she got to a crucial point. His words seemed casual, yet they could guide Seele to think about the details of the mission, analyze the enemy's weaknesses, and summarize combat experience.

"You're right, Orion." Seele looked at him seriously, "Next time we can try to go around from that direction, the old road there might help us avoid the monsters."

Orion nodded, a gentle smile on his face. Seele felt a familiar sense of security by his side. No matter how dangerous the outside world was, or how arduous the Wildfire's missions were, returning here and being with Orion allowed her to find a moment of peace. Although she had never known what 'home' felt like, nor had she ever enjoyed it. But at this moment, she inexplicably felt a sense of belonging, like home.

Time continued to move forward. Orion was eleven years old. The Underworld completely fell under the control of the Wildfire. The number of Wildfire members surged, patrol teams spread to every corner of the Underworld, and the various forces that once existed were either incorporated or expelled, bringing a rare period of relative stability to the entire Underworld.

Orion was twelve years old…

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