One hour later, Dawn Hall.
Thousands of players had crowded inside—everyone who could fit was there. Those who couldn't were listening to a live broadcast over the regional channel outside.
A rough but enormous wooden table stood in the center of the hall. Spread across it was a hand-drawn map of the surrounding terrain, sketched by the Crimson Wind players over the past few days.
"Comrades!"
Wang Zhong stood before the table and spoke in his now much louder, augmented voice. "First, on behalf of the Crimson Dawn Battle Group's High Command, I have some good news to announce!"
He paused, then smiled. "After three days of hard fighting, our home has finally taken shape!"
"We've got walls! Houses! Toilets! Clean water! And a potato field!"
"By the standards of the bottom rung of the Warhammer universe, this is a goddamn mansion!"
Laughter and applause erupted throughout the hall.
"But!"
Wang Zhong changed tack. "We can't rest on our laurels!"
"The breathing tax is 0.3 coins a day. For five thousand people, that's 1,500 coins!"
"Maintaining the base costs money! Augmentations cost money! Equipment costs money! And running mechs someday will cost even more!"
"So!"
He slapped the table hard enough to make the parchment tremble.
"The Crimson Dawn's first large-scale exploration mission leaves today at two in the afternoon, sharp!"
The crowd stirred, excitement shining in every eye.
"Quiet! Let me finish!"
Wang Zhong brought up the system interface and projected a more detailed plan onto the wall. He and several Battle Group officers had spent half the night putting it together.
"We'll explore in five directions, with one team assigned to each. Each team will have five hundred people, drawn from different Battle Groups."
"Team One, northeast."
Wang Zhong pointed to a mark on the map. "Based on our previous scouting, there's a small Promethium deposit thirty kilometers that way. It was mined eighty years ago, then abandoned."
"Objective: confirm the deposit's reserves, assess whether it's worth mining, and see if there's any abandoned mining equipment we can salvage."
"Lead: Tax Brother's Crimson Fist as the main force, with fifty Crimson Machine technicians."
Tax Brother stood up and thumped his fist against his chest. "I'll make damn sure we haul that mine back!"
"Team Two, southeast."
Wang Zhong pointed to another spot. "There's an abandoned outpost fifty kilometers that way, possibly dating back to the Black Royal Family era."
"Objective: explore the ruins and collect any technical documents or artifacts we find. Watch out for defensive mechanisms... or anything else that might be lurking there."
"Lead: Xue Brother's Crimson Spirit as the main force, with a hundred Crimson Wind members providing security."
Xue Brother nodded, turning over in his hand a psychic focusing crystal he'd bought from the shop. It had cost him 200 coins and could slightly increase the range of his psychic perception.
"Team Three, due south."
Wang Zhong's finger swept across an area on the map. "Seventy kilometers away is a human settlement called Red Rainbow Town, with a population of around three or four thousand. They mainly live off scavenging and small-scale handicrafts."
"Objective: make contact with the locals, learn about the current state of Orian, and try to establish trade relations. We'll exchange surplus goods like furs for ore, scrap machinery, or information."
"Important reminder: no robbing! No forced purchases or sales! We're the Crimson Dawn, not bandits! If we're going to rob anyone, we'll rob those big capitalists and powerful families!"
A wave of disappointed sighs swept through the hall.
"Lead: White Scar's Crimson Wind as the main force, with fifty Crimson Fist members as bodyguards and another twenty Crimson Machine members to assess the value of any goods."
White Scar grinned. "Don't worry. We'll win them over with virtue!"
"Team Four, northwest."
Wang Zhong pointed toward the edge of the map. "The main highway is a hundred kilometers that way. It connects Arlu City to several other large Hive Cities."
"Objective: set up a concealed observation post, monitor traffic, and gather information on passing merchant caravans and troop movements."
"This is a long-term mission. The team will establish an outpost there and take turns standing watch."
"Lead: the High Command's own reconnaissance unit, with elite members drawn from each Battle Group."
"Team Five, due west."
Wang Zhong pointed to the area marked in red. His expression grew serious. "That way... lies the Crimson Bright Wasteland, in the direction of the industrial zone."
"Objective: scout out as far as possible, assess the situation in the industrial zone, search for information, and see if there's a chance to go back and scavenge some more."
"Warning: this is the most dangerous direction. You may encounter mutated creatures, Warp Daemons, rebel organizations, or Alru Group troops."
"This is only a reconnaissance mission, so the team doesn't need to be large! Just a hundred people."
"But every team member must have completed at least Type I basic augmentation and carry plenty of ammunition and purification gear."
"Lead: I'm going myself."
The moment he finished speaking, the hall erupted.
"Brother Loyalty, you can't go!"
"It's too dangerous!"
"If anyone's going, it should be us Crimson Fist! We can take a beating!"
Wang Zhong raised a hand, quieting the crowd.
"It's precisely because it's dangerous that I have to go."
His voice was calm. "As the overall Battle Group commander, I need to know what we're up against."
"Besides—"
He smiled. "I've completed Type II Augmentation. I can take a serious beating now. If it comes to running, you might not be able to catch me."
His claim was only half true, but it did put everyone somewhat at ease.
"All right. Each Battle Group will finalize its team roster internally. Assemble at the training grounds at one this afternoon to check your equipment. We leave at two, sharp."
Wang Zhong concluded, "Remember, our mission is to explore, gather information, and collect resources—not to get ourselves killed."
"If you run into something you can't beat, run! If you encounter something weird, retreat! If you find something you don't understand, write it down and discuss it when you get back!"
"Even though we can revive, almost all of us have undergone augmentation now. To revive this body perfectly after death, we'd have to pay a hefty resurrection fee. Otherwise, we can only spend five Resurrection Coins to revive in a basic body."
"Come back alive, all of you. Understood? We still have potato and meat stew to look forward to!"
"For the Crimson Dawn!"
"For... never being wage slaves again!"
Their roars shook the hall.
After the meeting, the players sprang into action.
The burly men of the Crimson Fist began checking their weapons and armor, sharpening their cleavers until they gleamed.
The swift-footed members of the Crimson Wind packed their gear, making sure everyone had enough water and rations—mostly nutrient paste. It tasted awful, but it had plenty of calories.
The Crimson Spirit's psychic trainees followed Xue Brother in one final group meditation to steady their psychic abilities.
The apprentice grease monkeys of the Crimson Machine gave the vehicles a final inspection, loading them with tools, spare parts, and several light machine guns they'd purchased.
Wang Zhong returned to his little cabin. As Battle Group commander, he had a room of his own. It was only ten square meters, but at least he had some privacy.
He opened his personal panel and checked his status:
[Individual Identification: Loyal to the Emperor Forever] [Augmentation Progress: Basic Physique Type II (42%), Neural Reflexes Type I (22%), Enhanced Senses Type I (24%)] [Psychic Talent: Inactive] [Imperial Coins Held: 1276] [Today's Survival Tax: Paid (0.3/0.3)] [Battle Group Position: Crimson Dawn Battle Group Commander] [Battle Group Contribution: 2150 points (Ranked First)]
Everyone had contributed to the base's construction, and as the overall Battle Group commander, he naturally had to lead by example. He'd contributed two thousand Imperial Coins.
Now he had just over a thousand coins left. It looked like a lot, but Wang Zhong knew it wouldn't be nearly enough if he wanted to buy anything good.
"Hope we find something useful on this trip to the Crimson Bright Wasteland!" Wang Zhong sighed.
Before you continue