It only takes less than a day to take a light speedboat by sea to the Port of Varna in the Verona region in the west, which is not too far from Homemonworth.
Many wealthy and distinguished high-level wizards have manors and properties along the coast of the Western Region. It is close to the ruins of ancient civilizations before the First Era. Going west into the mountains you can find ancient ruins and some reclusive mythical creatures. The official power of Beyelan is the weakest here, and the local lords have no intention of interfering with the elusive research and innovation of the wizards.
In a geographical sense, the Western Territory includes the Verona region and some scattered counties, city-states, free cities and mountainous areas. But generally speaking, the meanings of Verona and the West are almost identical.
The largest port and city here is called Old Town. It is a distribution center for dust crystals, silver, copper and other minerals, wheat, rose essential oil, yogurt, wine, alfalfa and other agricultural products, along with many occult materials unearthed from ruins. of smuggling. The old town has long been under the direct jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Bijaland, and Varna and several smaller towns are jointly administered by the Kingdom and the local area.
Except for these few towns, although the local nobles were polite to the king and the Senate, the kingdom's direct legions and tax collectors were not allowed to enter the Western Territory.
Mage towers in various places already have the ability to teleport Extraordinaries within a certain distance. However, the price of such a trip is beyond what Griffith and the officials can bear. It can only be used to dispatch Extraordinaries and serve important figures in emergencies. Sea transportation is the fastest and most convenient way to travel, as it has been for thousands of years.
Griffith arrived just in time for breakfast. According to the system, he immediately went to the military camp outside Varna to report, where he could be entertained without having to find food and accommodation by himself.
This place is jointly managed by the kingdom and local lords, and the dark and dilapidated military camp is lifeless. There is a brigade directly under the legion stationed here, and Griffith needs to report to their chief officer. But they had already left the camp, leaving only a group of Verona's local city defense troops and garrison stranded there.
The Verona garrison is an armed force between the militia and the regular army. The garrison soldiers are yeoman farmers who have their own property. They farm in peacetime and serve in the army during war. Their main equipment is large shields and short spears. They are composed of local feudal knights on foot. Lead in combat.
Griffith showed his ID card and mission statement and was allowed to walk around the camp a few times. He soon discovered that the soldiers of the Verona garrison had only gathered in the past few days. They don't train much, and their equipment is not good. Their temperament and appearance hardly indicate that they are semi-professional soldiers, and their combat effectiveness is very questionable.
The situation of the city defense army was even worse. They are also considered professional soldiers. They have no land of their own and rely entirely on military pay. When Griffith arrived, these guys, who were paid 35-40 yen a month, looked listless, wearing shabby military uniforms and doing nothing.
The only reliable thing is that there are some summoned feudal knights on foot and their retinues in the camp, which can be regarded as a response to the turbulent situation.
They are the core of Verona's rule. Unlike Scitoral, they do not study in higher colleges and are not governed by the nobility directly under the king. They obey the command of the nobles and nobles who have lived in the local area for generations. They are equipped with mail armor, long swords, battle axes, war hammers and iron shields. The shields are painted with the coat of arms of their families. These knights and retinues are all extraordinary. They can not only launch fierce cavalry charges, but also dismount and fight to hold their positions at critical moments.
Although they do not receive as good a general education in culture and magic as the knights and Shutoral of the royal realm, their combat skills are equally superb and they are very tenacious in combat. They often also serve as supervisors of the battle team.
The structure of this military camp is very simple, with almost no defense and training. Griffith, who really had nothing to see, went to the kitchen and queued for a while before receiving a soup with vegetables and potatoes and a piece of bread.
He stared at the food for a moment, then looked at the kitchen sign.
“Breakfast, soup and bread;
“Lunch, soup and bread;
"Supper, soup and bread."
Is it necessary to write out such a menu? Reluctant, Griffith walked around the kitchen where the food was distributed and found no other free food. Instead, he found a sign next to it. If you want some extra sausages and wine, you have to pay for it yourself, three sous for a small glass of wine and five sous for a sausage.
No, I won't go out.
Griffith took the soup and bread, found an open space to sit down, and started eating his own dry food. Soldiers in twos and threes gathered in heaps like beggars, eating meager food near him.
Their faces were very ugly and their clothes were shabby. Logically speaking, the most ordinary legionnaire has a monthly salary of 50 silver francs, and the city defense army, local garrison and auxiliary troops in the Varna barracks should also have at least 35-40 silver francs, so that it will not be like this.
After eating for a while, a group of military police came over, grabbed a soldier, and carried him out. The soldiers eating nearby started making a fuss.
"Disperse," the military policeman yelled, "Mr. Schmidt had three more chickens stolen last night. I know who did it. No one can escape."
The soldiers who gathered together were immediately discouraged and grumbled in low voices.
Griffith saw this and hurriedly had breakfast before heading to the headquarters of the military camp.
As soon as he entered the door, he saw two captains of the city defense army sketching on the list. They wore crisp uniforms, new boots, and sabers at their waists.
"Twelve members of our squadron are not on duty today. How many do you have here?" asked a captain.
"Nine, no more," another officer rubbed his hair. "The major doesn't arrange dinner, so I have to pay for it."
"Okay," the captain who spoke at the beginning nodded, "then, how many people can you arrange to go to the port?"
"What's the price?"
"Same old thing, 25 sous."
"Okay, I have 30, no, 35 people."
A deal seemed sealed. The two captains immediately crossed out a few rows of people on the list, and the remaining names were followed by various information such as inspections, cooking and laundry, weapon maintenance, and training.
Griffith passed by them silently, without saying anything or asking anything, and went to register and hand over with the clerk in the middle of the headquarters.
It's not uncommon for off-duty soldiers to make a little extra money. When she was in the East, Erza, who was diligent and thrifty, would occasionally bring a few minions to do some work such as hunting wild animals, repairing roads, treating diseases and injuries of patients in the village, etc., and earning a small amount of money for everyone in the squadron. Eat a few good meals.
However, it is rare for nearly half of a squadron to go out to work like Varna Barracks. After excluding the inevitable vacancies, duties and sick cases, the remaining people cannot even carry out basic training.
This is the West, the territory of the Grand Duke of Verona and lords large and small, the home of plantations, farms and knights.
Soldiers, like cattle and sheep, are the property of officers. Except for the standing corps, most of the city defense troops and garrison troops are at this level.
Griffith kept it in mind and wrote it down in a report later.
In addition to the soldiers in these military camps, the force Verona can also mobilize is the militia of the noble territories in various places. They usually have no training and must rely on the lords to activate, which is definitely difficult to count on.
The rebels have appeared on the plains, and even some veterans who are accustomed to fighting have joined them, but the local forces in Verona have not been mobilized at all.
"You set off now and go west to Tuyang Valley to report to General Valens." The clerk completed the information registration and returned the materials to Griffith. "They left a message saying that you should go there as soon as you arrive here."
Going into the mountains?
Griffith immediately felt something was wrong. His mission summary is to check combat readiness in ports and towns and write reports. Why go into the mountains?
Is there any conspiracy? Galadia performed a divination for me, and she had a bad premonition.
Griffith's mind started to move rapidly. He was prepared to accept the order immediately, twist his ankle in the ditch on his way out, and lie down in the infirmary first.
Not waiting for his thoughts to turn into actions. The clerk waved to the side and said to the three armed knights:
"The reinforcements requested from above are here, and it's him."
The three people immediately surrounded him, forming a vague siege posture.
"What's going on?" Griffith asked.
"We have received orders from the general to escort you to Tuyang Valley Reservoir. Come on, hurry up."
All three of them put their hands on their swords and looked at Griffith with six evil eyes. One of them even turned around and waved, and a group of neatly dressed halberdiers, which was very rare in this military camp, immediately rushed in.
Trap, I've been set! These people have already ambushed me here.
Cold sweat immediately dripped down his neck.
Who is in charge?
A powerful force that erased Krista's existence? Aaron's minion or Velonos' helper? A political enemy of the Larmore family? Cultist?
Could it be that the archons of Canaan are finally coming to kill me? It's so pitiful that I didn't do anything to his daughter!
Griffith had pulled up a large list of people in his mind who had the motive and ability to kill him.
The situation at the scene was on the verge of breaking out, and Griffith had no room for refusal. If he took action, the entire military camp would be his enemy.
Realizing that resistance would lead to death, Griffith smiled and nodded, and set off under the escort of this group of heavily armed elite soldiers.
They took a carriage and headed toward the mountains along a fairly well-maintained road. One of the three knights even had a war horse and a lance, watching him eagerly all the way.
Before noon, the group arrived at a military camp in a mountain.
A capable legion infantry brigade was already stationed there, and the atmosphere was very tense. As soon as they arrived at the military camp, the knights completed the handover and left here quickly.
There was actually a general in the camp. He glanced at Griffith and said expressionlessly:
"I am the commander-in-chief of this area, General Valens. The higher ups sent you to me. Please don't let me down."
The general said a few words briefly, took out a mission briefing and handed it to him:
"To Griffith's Apprentice Knight,
"Highly Dangerous Domain Sealed Object Investigation Mission Briefing"
"From Reserve Command, copied to Lord Larmour's House
"Sealed Artifact: SN-1444.3 (Black Domain)
“Danger level: Highly dangerous.
"Description: Anomalies have occurred in the Tuyang Valley northwest of Varna City in the Verona Region in recent days. After on-site verification, a domain-type seal has been formed. The seal covers the reservoir and part of the surrounding mountains. There have been many The residents of this prosperous basin village have been relocated and the village ruins have been submerged. After sending multiple batches of investigators and extraordinary people to investigate, ordinary people have not been able to enter the sealed object, and the few extraordinary people who have successfully entered have lost contact.
"This area is close to densely populated towns and ports, and there are no traces of mutant creatures or black magic. This mission requires the trainee knight to try to enter the sealed object alone and return, and report what he witnessed in the sealed object.
"This mission is not a combat mission, but you can still apply for necessary equipment and material assistance from the local garrison and official agencies with this briefing.
“Mission Difficulty: A+.
"Task reward: 5 merit points, 15 units of potential potion, 1 unit of refined psychic mixture."
