Estimating his own attributes, Leo walked out feeling satisfied. His Strength was at least 45, Dexterity likely over 40. While Vitality and Energy were harder to gauge, they certainly weren't low. By his reckoning, his starting stats already far exceeded those of a base-level class in the game.
With this set of perfect gear—boasting 199 Defense—and a few Antidote potions, he felt confident enough to trade blows with "Big Sister" Andariel herself.
"Leo, is it? Hold on a moment."
Before he could clear the doorway, the quartermaster, ledger in hand, called him back.
"Yes, sir? Is there something else?" Leo wondered if there was a limit on weapons. He had taken two bundles of spears, whereas most others only carried one primary weapon.
"Every man receives 5,000 Gold in combat stipends. Here is your voucher; you can redeem it at the mission site in three days. Sign here."
Leo took a blank silver badge and signed the ledger. The service was so efficient he felt like a Grade-12 VIP.
Back in his private quarters, Leo lay on his bed, but unease gnawed at him. Giving out 1,200 sets of perfect-roll gear was an astronomical expense. Then there was the gold—six million in total for the recruits. Back home, his family could barely save two gold coins a year. Even in the peaceful era of his past life, no one would believe in "pie falling from the sky" on this scale, let alone in a dark world where life was cheap.
Hoping for some inside information, he sprang up and headed to Reinhardt's room.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Hart! You in there? I need to talk to you."
"Hey, Leo! Take it easy! I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Leo eyed Reinhardt suspiciously as the door opened. "Middle of the day and it takes you that long to answer? Doing something strange in there?" He gave a pointed sniff of the air.
"Good grief, what are you talking about? Just tell me what you want."
Leo smiled mysteriously but got straight to the point. He gestured to his gear. "What do you know about what's happening in three days? My gut is telling me something's off."
Reinhardt looked conflicted. "I honestly don't know the specifics. This is the Alliance's highest secret. They've been working on this for years, and we're the first wave being sent in."
"Is that so? Then maybe I should search your room to see what else you're hiding." Leo made a move to push past him.
"Wait, wait! Fine, I know some things. Just stay out of my stuff." Unable to handle Leo's persistence, Reinhardt sat him down. "This is a global effort. It's not just us from Bastion's Keep; every hidden power in the world is involved."
Reinhardt's tone turned serious. "Humanity is betting everything on this one move. No one would sabotage the future of the race. The Skovos Isles sent 500 Amazons—and heavens, they are hot in every sense of the word. I think we'll be great friends." He shared a lecherous grin before continuing.
"The Mage Clans sent 500 prodigies. Scosglen sent 500 Druids. And the Barbarians... they deserve respect. They sent 100 warriors, mostly kids who just came of age. I heard only about a thousand children survived that disaster." Reinhardt straightened his back in a silent salute to them. "Then there's 250 from the Assassin order—gloomy types—and 150 Necromancers. Ugh, just the thought of them makes my bones ache. I am not partying with them."
Combined with the 1,200 from the Keep, the expeditionary force totaled 3,200. It seemed unlikely that the Alliance would lead them into a trap. Relieved but still cautious, Leo decided to let it go.
"Hey, Hart, what's this?" Leo suddenly lunged, pulling a freshly opened bottle from under the bed. He popped the seal and took a whiff. "Haha! Fine wine! Down the hatch!"
"You animal! Stop!" Reinhardt lunged for the bottle.
"Hold on! If we actually fight, this fragile bottle won't survive," Leo laughed, blocking him with one hand. "I'll only drink half. Good brothers should share, right?"
Stymied, Reinhardt could only watch in agony as Leo gulped it down.
"Alright, Hart, catch!" Leo tossed the bottle high into the air as a distraction and bolted for the door. But he had barely taken two steps before his legs turned to jelly and he hit the floor face-first.
"You sneaky bastard... did you spike this?"
Reinhardt caught the bottle mid-air and turned around with a triumphant smirk. "Gotcha, you shameless thief! That isn't normal wine. It's brewed for those at the 'Hero' rank. Even I only dare sip it. A 'Warrior' rank rookie like you? See you in three days, drunkard! Hahaha!"
Leo managed a muffled curse before the world faded into a drunken stupor.
Three days passed in a blur.
Splash!
A bucket of ice water jolted Leo awake. He shivered, glaring at Reinhardt. "You're going to pay for that. Is it time? I have a sister waiting for me, unlike some people."
Reinhardt rolled his eyes. "Move it, drunkard. We assemble in an hour. Last chance—want to party up?"
"Hart, I owe my family too much. I need to find my sister first. I'll give you an answer after that." Leo felt bad, but he couldn't risk exposing his "System" in a group yet. He needed to scout the situation alone first.
After a frantic scrub in the communal showers and a quick breakfast, Leo joined the flow of recruits heading into the restricted zone of Bastion's Keep. They descended through three levels of dim underground barracks until they reached a massive teleportation circle the size of a football field.
As 1,200 men stood within the glowing runes, a blinding white light erupted. Leo shut his eyes. The world spun like he'd been shoved into a washing machine. Just as he felt he might lose his breakfast, his feet hit solid ground.
He opened his eyes to a scene of chaos. Half the recruits—especially the Mages and Necromancers—were on the ground retching.
They were in a rugged encampment. The walls were made of sharpened logs and stone, scarred by signs of frequent repair. At the center stood a magnificent 30-meter clock tower that looked as if it had grown directly from the earth. There were no buildings, only rows of tents.
Opposite the portal stood a group of formidable women. Two stood at the front.
One wore violet open-chested robes; she was curvaceous, with a serene, welcoming smile. The other wore a red bandana and fitted chainmail, her long, toned legs making her look like a "thorny rose" of the battlefield.
Akara and Kashya? Leo's heart hammered. The Rogue Encampment? Is this the start of the game? He couldn't help but notice that Akara's "holy" attire was surprisingly revealing, and Kashya's bare legs were... distracting. Akara seemed to notice him staring through the eye-slits of his Bone Helm and offered a knowing smile. Leo quickly looked away.
Once the chaos subsided, the ranks reformed.
"Warriors, welcome to the World of Guardians. This is the Rogue Encampment."
Akara's voice was soothing yet firm. "I am Akara, High Priestess of the Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye. Beside me is Kashya, commander of our military. You may use your vouchers at the barracks to register, collect your gold, and receive a small gift from me."
"The camp is still under construction, so you will reside in tents for now. Meals are available at the canteen or the tavern—though food is a precious resource here and is not free. I have magical items prepared for you, Charsi is our finest smith, and Gheed has many curiosities. And, of course, the Sage Cain is here to offer guidance. We welcome you all."