At Last, He Remembered There Was Loot

Ian's analysis of the rebel Highlanders was well-founded.

Layan Territory had been the Highlanders' holy land since ancient times. From the Empire's perspective, this meant the soil and water here were suited to cultivating psionic plants. It was a rare region rich in Origin Matter, especially the ring of land around Layan Lake, which was covered by a natural psionic field. Even simply living there would likely increase one's affinity for Origin Matter.

Thus, both the rebel Highlanders and the Xuanfeng Tribe wanted to seize this place first. And no matter which side succeeded, it would ultimately be meat in the Highlanders' own mouths, so neither the Blazing Flame Lands nor the main rebel Highlander force considered this their central focus.

But Ian had come. Ian, an Imperial White Folk, ruled this place now... That was something they could never accept.

The Highlanders' reasons for refusing to accept it were simple. The Blazing Flame Lands' reasons were that Layan Territory was actually one of the closest entrances from the vicinity of the Midra Autonomous Region to the Agate Stone Plains.

One only needed to look at a map to understand. If Mordor and Odor Colony, located northwest of the Southern Ridge, wanted to travel along the roads to the Empire's core cities on the eastern side of the Southern Ridge, they had to head southeast to the Har Basin, then continue east into the Midra Autonomous Region.

For the Midra Autonomous Region to reach the Agate Stone Plains, there were three options. The first was to pass through Loneflame Peak Pass, then go through Layan City, with an unobstructed route all the way.

The second option was to head south to Mirak Territory, pass through Morbush Pass, cross the river, and arrive at the Agate Stone Plains.

The final option