First Deployment (Seeking Reads)

One hour later, Dawn Hall.

Thousands of players—those who could squeeze in had done so, while those who couldn't listened to the live broadcast via the regional channel outside.

In the center of the hall stood a rough but massive wooden table, covered with a hand-drawn parchment map detailing the surrounding terrain explored by the Crimson Wind players over the past few days.

"Comrades!"

Wang Zhong stood before the table, his voice amplified and booming, "First, on behalf of the Crimson Dawn Command, I have some good news to announce!"

He paused, a smile spreading across his face: "After three days of hard work, our home is officially established!"

"We have walls! We have housing! We have toilets! We have clean water! And we even have a potato patch!"

"In the bottom-tier of the Warhammer universe, this is a goddamn luxury setup!"

The hall erupted in laughter and applause.

"However!"

Wang Zhong's tone shifted, "We cannot rest on our laurels!"

"The breathing tax is 0.3 coins per day; for five thousand people, that's 1500 coins!"

"Base maintenance costs money! Augmentations cost money! Equipment costs money! And piloting mechs in the future will cost even more!"

"Therefore!"

He slammed his hand onto the table, causing the parchment to tremble:

"The first large-scale exploration operation of Crimson Dawn will depart promptly at two o'clock this afternoon!"

The crowd stirred, a glint of excitement in every eye.

"Quiet! Let me finish!"

Wang Zhong pulled up the system interface and projected a more detailed plan onto the wall, a map he and several core members of the regiment had spent half the night preparing.

"There are five exploration targets, one team for each direction, with five hundred people per team, composed of mixed units from all regiments."

"Team One, northeast."

Wang Zhong pointed to a marked spot on the map, "According to previous reconnaissance, there is a small Promethium vein thirty kilometers away. It was mined eighty years ago but has since been abandoned."

"Objective: Confirm the reserves, evaluate the mining value, and see if any leftover mining equipment can be salvaged."

"Team Leader: Tax Brother's Crimson Fist as the main force, supported by fifty Crimson Machine technicians."

Tax Brother stood up and pounded his chest: "I guarantee I'll bring that ore back!"

"Team Two, southeast."

Wang Zhong pointed to another location, "Fifty kilometers away, there is an abandoned outpost, suspected to be a relic from the Black Royal Family era."

"Objective: Explore the ruins, collect any potential technical data or artifacts, and watch out for possible defensive mechanisms or... other things."

"Team Leader: Xue Brother's Crimson Spirit as the main force, supported by one hundred Crimson Wind members as guards."

Xue Brother nodded, fiddling with a psychic focus crystal he had bought from the shop. It had cost him 200 coins, but it could slightly amplify his psychic perception range.

"Team Three, due south."

Wang Zhong's finger swept across an area, "Seventy kilometers away, there is a human settlement called Red Rainbow Town, with a population of about three to four thousand, primarily focused on scavenging and small-scale handicrafts."

"Objective: Contact the local residents, understand the current situation in Orian, and attempt to establish trade relations. Use our surplus furs and other supplies to exchange for ore, mechanical scrap, or intelligence."

"Important reminder: No looting! No forced buying or selling! We are Crimson Dawn, not bandits! If you want to rob someone, rob the big capitalists and the great families!"

A chorus of disappointed sighs echoed through the hall.

"Team Leader: White Scar's Crimson Wind as the main force, supported by fifty Crimson Fist members as bodyguards, and twenty Crimson Machine members to appraise the value of goods."

White Scar grinned: "Don't worry, we'll convince them with virtue!"

"Team Four, northwest."

Wang Zhong pointed to the edge of the map, "One hundred kilometers away is the main transport artery, connecting Arlu City to several other large hive cities."

"Objective: Set up hidden observation points, monitor traffic flow, and collect information on passing caravans and military movements."

"This is a long-term mission; the team will need to establish an outpost there and take turns on duty."

"Team Leader: The regiment's direct reconnaissance squad, with elites selected from each regiment."

"Team Five, due west."

Wang Zhong finally pointed to the area marked in red, his expression turning serious, "This... is the Crimson Bright Wasteland, the direction of the former industrial zone."

"Objective: Extreme-range reconnaissance, confirm the status of the industrial zone, search for intelligence, and see if there's an opportunity to go back and scavenge another haul."

"Warning: This is the most dangerous direction. You may encounter mutated creatures, Warp daemons, rebel organizations, or forces from the Alru Group."

"This is only a reconnaissance mission, so we don't need too many people! Only 100 members are required."

"But every member must have completed at least Type I basic augmentation and carry sufficient ammunition and purification equipment."

"Team Leader: I will go personally."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall exploded.

"Brother Loyalty, you can't go!"

"It's too dangerous!"

"If anyone is going, it should be us from the Crimson Fist! We're thick-skinned!"

Wang Zhong raised his hand, suppressing the clamor.

"It is precisely because it is dangerous that I must go."

His voice was calm, "As the Grand Commander, I need to know what we are facing."

"Besides—"

He smiled, "My Type II augmentation is complete; I'm quite durable now. If I really need to run, you might not even be able to catch me."

This was half-truth, half-jest, but it did manage to put everyone slightly more at ease.

"Alright, the specific squad rosters will be determined within each battle group. Gather at the training ground at 1:00 PM to check your gear. We depart promptly at 2:00."

Wang Zhong said in conclusion, "Remember, our mission is to scout for information and collect resources, not to throw our lives away."

"If you encounter something you can't beat, run! If you encounter something bizarre, retreat! If you encounter something you don't understand, record it and come back to discuss it!"

"Although we can respawn, most of us have undergone augmentation and modification now. If you die, you have to pay a high amount of Imperial Coins to perfectly revive this vessel; otherwise, you'll only be able to spend five Imperial Coins to revive a basic vessel."

"All of you, come back alive, understand? We still have potato stew to drink later!"

"For the Crimson Dawn!"

"For... no longer being beasts of burden!"

The roar shook the heavens.

After the meeting dispersed, the players quickly sprang into action.

The tough guys of the Crimson Fist began checking their weapons and armor, sharpening their machetes until they gleamed.

The swift men of the Crimson Wind organized their gear, ensuring everyone had enough water and dry rations—mostly nutrient paste, which, while unpalatable, provided sufficient calories.

The psionic reserves of the Crimson Spirit, led by Xue Brother, conducted one final collective meditation to stabilize their psionic states.

The intern tech-priests of the Crimson Machine performed final maintenance on the vehicles, loading them with various tools, spare parts, and some recently purchased light machine gun firepower.

Wang Zhong returned to his small room. As the Grand Commander, he had a private space, though it was only ten square meters, it at least offered some privacy.

He opened his personal panel to check his status:

[Individual ID: Loyal to the Emperor Forever]

[Augmentation Progress: Basic Physique Type II (42%), Neural Reflex Type I (22%), Sensory Acuity Type I (24%)]

[Psionic Talent: Not Activated]

[Imperial Coins Held: 1276]

[Today's Survival Tax: Paid (0.3/0.3)]

[Battle Group Rank: Crimson Dawn Grand Commander]

[Battle Group Contribution: 2150 points (Ranked 1st)]

Everyone had contributed to the construction of the base, and as the Grand Commander, he naturally had to lead by example, donating two thousand Imperial Coins.

Now, with only a little over a thousand coins left, it might seem like a lot, but Wang Zhong knew that if he really wanted to buy high-quality goods, it wouldn't be nearly enough.

"I hope this trip to the Crimson Bright Wasteland yields some results!" Wang Zhong sighed.