It only takes less than a day to take a light boat 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 industries along the coast of the West. 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. Bayer
The official power of Lan is the weakest here, and the local lords have no intention of interfering with the mysterious research and innovation of the wizards.
In a geographical sense, the Westerlands includes the Verona region and some scattered counties, city-states, free cities and mountainous areas. But generally speaking, the meanings of the Verona region and the Westerlands almost overlap.
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 excavated from the ruins.
Smuggling. The old town was under the direct jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Bijaland a long time ago, and Varna and several smaller towns were 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 not something Griffith and the officials can bear. It can only be used to dispatch Extraordinaries and serve important figures in emergencies. Shipping and
As it has been for thousands of years, it is the fastest and most convenient way to travel.
It was time for breakfast when Griffith arrived. 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 have left the camp, and only one person is left.
Verona's local city defense troops and garrison were 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 industry. 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 wander 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 usually did not train much and had no equipment.
Well, his temperament and appearance hardly suggest that he is a semi-professional soldier, and his combat effectiveness is very questionable.
The situation of the city defense army was even worse. They were also professional soldiers. They had no land of their own and relied on military pay. When Griffith arrived, these guys who were paid 35-40 silver francs a month all 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 responding to the turbulent situation.
They are the core of Verona's rule. Unlike Scitoral, they do not study in higher colleges, nor are they under the jurisdiction of the nobles directly under the king. They obey the command of the nobles and nobles who have lived in the local area for generations, and are equipped with mail, long swords, and battle axes.
, warhammer and iron shield, with the coat of arms of the family painted on the shield. These knights and retinues are all extraordinary. They can not only launch fierce cavalry charges, but also dismount to fight and hold their positions at critical moments.
Although they do not receive as good a general education in culture and magic as the knights and Shutorals of the royal realm, their combat skills are equally superb and they are very tenacious in combat, and 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 vegetable leaves and potatoes and a piece of bread.
He stared at the food for a while, then looked at the kitchen notice.
“Breakfast, soup and bread;
“Lunch, soup and bread;
“Dinner, soup and bread.”
Is it necessary to write out such a menu? Griffiths, unwilling to do so, 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
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 soup and bread, found an open space to sit down, and started eating with his own dry food. Soldiers in twos and threes gathered in piles like beggars, eating bland food near him.
Their faces were very poor, and their clothes were shabby. Logically speaking, the most ordinary legionnaire had a monthly salary of 50 silver francs, and the city defense troops, local garrison and auxiliary troops in the Varna barracks should also have at least 35-40 silver francs.
Lang, it won’t happen 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 to make a fuss.
“Spread out,” the gendarme 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 ate breakfast in a hurry 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 sketched on the list. They were wearing crisp uniforms, brand-new boots, and sabers on their waists.
“Twelve people in our squadron are not on duty today, how many do you have here?” a captain asked.
“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, 25 sous.”
“Okay, I have 30, no, 35 people.”
The deal seemed to be finalized. The two captains immediately crossed out a few rows of people on the list, and marked the remaining names with various information such as inspections, cooking and laundry, weapon maintenance, and training.
Griffiths passed by them silently, without saying anything or asking anything, and went to register and hand over to the clerk in the middle of the headquarters.
It is not uncommon for non-duty soldiers to make some extra money. When she was in the East, Erza, who was diligent and thrifty, would occasionally bring a few minions to hunt wild animals, repair roads, treat diseases and injuries of patients in the village, and so on.
Work and earn a little money to feed everyone in the squadron a few good meals.
It’s just that it’s rare for nearly half of a squadron like Varna Barracks to go out to work. Excluding the inevitable vacancies, service and sick patients, the remaining people can’t even carry out basic training.
This is the Westerland, the territory of the Grand Duke of Verona and other large and small lords, plantations, farms and the land of knights.
Soldiers, like cattle and sheep, are the property of officers. Except for standing legions, most city defense armies and garrisons are at this level.
Griffith kept it in mind and wrote it into a report later.
In addition to the soldiers in these military camps, the force that Verona can also mobilize is the militia from the noble territories in various places. They usually have no training and must rely on the lords to mobilize, which is definitely difficult to count on.
Rebels have appeared on the plains, and some experienced veterans have even joined them, but the local forces in Verona have not been mobilized at all.
"You will 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 as soon as you arrive here."
Going into the mountains?
Griffith immediately felt something was wrong. His mission summary was to check war 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 has a bad premonition.
Griffith's mind was racing rapidly. He was ready to accept the order immediately, and then went to sprain his ankle in the ditch when he went out, and lay down in the infirmary first.
Before his thoughts could turn into action, the clerk waved to the side and said to the three fully armed knights:
"The reinforcements requested from above are here, and it's him."
The three people immediately surrounded him, forming a vague siege situation.
“What’s going on?” Griffith asked.
“We have received the order from the general to escort you to Tuyang Valley Reservoir. Go, 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 have been set up! These people have already ambushed me here.
Cold sweat immediately ran down his neck.
Who is in charge?
The powerful force that wiped out Krista's existence? Aaron's minions or Velonos' helpers? Political enemies of the Larmore family? Cultists?
Could it be that the governor of Canaan finally came to kill me? What a pity, I didn’t do anything to his daughter!
Griffith has drawn up a large list of people who have the motive and ability to kill him. They already need to line up.
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.
Aware that resistance would lead to death, Griffith nodded with a smile and set off under the escort of this group of heavily armed elite soldiers.
They took a carriage and headed towards the mountains along a relatively well-maintained road. One of the three knights even had a war horse and a lance, and they watched him eagerly all the way.
Before noon, the group arrived at a military camp in the 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 made a handover and left 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:
“From Reserve Command, copied to the Count of Larmour
“Sealed Artifact: SN-1444.3 (Black Domain)
“Hazard level: Highly hazardous.
"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
In this prosperous basin village, the residents have been relocated and the village ruins have been submerged. Multiple batches of investigators and extraordinary people have been dispatched to investigate, and it turns out that 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 mutated creatures or black magic. This task 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.”