It takes less than a day to reach the port of Varna in the western region of Verona by light boat by sea, which is not too far from Hormonwaltz.

Many of the wealthy, noble, high-ranking wizards had estates and properties along the western coast. It is close to the remains of ancient civilizations before the First Age, and heading west into the mountains can find ancient wreckage and some reclusive mythical creatures. The power of the Bayeran government is the weakest here, and the local lords have no intention of interfering with the elusive research and innovation of the wizards.

Geographically, the Westland includes Verona as well as a number of scattered counties, city-states, free cities, and mountainous regions. But in general, the meanings of Verona and Westland almost coincide.

The largest port and city in the area, known as the Old Town, was a hub for minerals such as dust crystals, silver, and copper, as well as wheat, rose essential oil, yogurt, wine, alfalfa, and other agricultural products, as well as the smuggling of occult materials excavated from many ruins. The Old Town has long been under the direct jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Bayeran, with Varna and several smaller towns under the confederation of the Kingdom and the locals.

With the exception of 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 realm.

The mage towers in various places already have the ability to teleport the Extraordinary within a certain distance, but the price of such a trip is not affordable for Griffith and the official, and can only be used to dispatch transcendents and service greats in an emergency. Sea freight is the quickest 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 barracks outside Varna to report, where he could be entertained without having to look for food and lodging himself.

Run by the kingdom and the local lords, the grey and dilapidated barracks were lifeless. There is a brigade under the command of a direct legion, and Griffith is required to report to their commander. But they had already left the camp, leaving only a group of Verona's native city guards and garrisons stranded there.

The Verona garrison was an armed force between the militia and the regular army, the soldiers of the garrison were yeoman farmers with their own industries, farming in peacetime and serving in the army in wartime, mainly armed with large shields and short spears, led by local feudal knights on foot.

Griffith showed his badge and mission book, and was allowed to walk around the camp a few times. He soon discovered that the soldiers of the Verona garrison had only been gathered in the past few days. They don't usually train much, their equipment is not good, their temperament and appearance are almost impossible to see that they are semi-professional soldiers, and their combat effectiveness is very suspicious.

The situation with the city defense army was even worse. They are also considered professional soldiers, who do not have their own land and live on military salaries. When Griffith arrived, the men who were paid 35-40 silver a month were listless, wearing shabby uniforms and doing nothing.

The only reliable thing was that there were some gathered feudal knights on foot in the camp and their subordinates, which was considered to be in response to the turbulent situation.

They were the core of Verona's rule and, unlike Celtoral, did not study at the Higher Schools, nor were they governed by the nobles directly under the king. They obeyed the command of the nobles who had lived in the area for generations, and were armed with chain mail, swords, battle axes, war hammers, and iron shields, which were painted with the coat of arms of their families. These knights and servants were extraordinary, capable of launching ferocious cavalry charges, and dismounting to hold their positions at critical moments.

Although they are not as cultured and magical as the knights of the royal realm and the Sciutollar, they are just as skilled and resilient in combat, often taking on the role of overseer.

The structure of this barracks is very simple, the defense and training are close to none. Griffith, who really didn't have much to look at, went to wait in line outside the kitchen for a long time before he received a soup with leaves and potatoes floating on it and a slice of bread.

He stared at the food for a moment, then at the kitchen sign.

"Breakfast, soup and bread;

"Lunch, soup and bread;

"Dinner, soup and bread. ”

Reluctant, Griffith walked around the kitchen where the food was distributed, and found no other free food, but found a sign next to it. If you want to bring some extra sausages and wine, you have to pay for it yourself, three su a small glass of wine, five su and a meat sausage.

No, I don't come out.

Griffith took the soup and bread, found an open space to sit down, and ate his dry food. Soldiers gathered in heaps like beggars, eating meager food near him.

Their faces were very poor and their clothes were shabby. It stands to reason that the most common legionnaires also have a monthly salary of 50 silver langs, and the city defenses, local garrisons, and auxiliary troops in the Varna barracks should also have at least 35-40 silver langs, so as not to be like this.

After eating for a while, a group of gendarmes came over, grabbed a soldier, and carried him out, and the soldiers who were eating nearby started a commotion.

"Disperse," roared the gendarme, "Master Schmidt had three more chickens stolen last night, and I know who did it, so don't even think of running away." ”

The soldiers gathered immediately deflated and grumbled in whispers.

Griffith saw this, and hurriedly ate breakfast before heading to the headquarters of the barracks.

As soon as he entered, he saw two captains of the city defense army sketching out the list. They wore crisp uniforms and brand-new boots, and wore sabers around their waists.

"12 of our squadron are not on duty today, how many do you have here?" asked one of the captains.

"Nine, no more," the other officer rubbed his hair, "the major doesn't have dinner arranged, I'll have to pay for it separately." ”

"Alright," the captain who spoke at first nodded, "then, how many people can you arrange for over there to be in the harbor?"

"What's the price?"

"Old-fashioned, 25 Sue. ”

"Okay, I've got 30, no, 35. ”

A deal seems to be finalized. The two captains immediately crossed out a few large platoons on the list, and the rest of the names were marked with various information such as patrols, cooking and laundry, maintenance of weapons, and training.

Griffith passed by them silently, without saying anything, without asking anything, and went to register with the clerk in the middle of the headquarters on his own.

It's not uncommon for non-duty soldiers to make some extra money. When she was in the East, Elusa, who was a thrifty householder, would occasionally take a few minions to do some work such as hunting wild beasts, repairing roads, treating the sick and wounded in the village, and earning a little money to give the whole 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. Remove the inevitable vacancies, duties and sick numbers, and the rest of the people will not be able to carry out even basic training.

This is the West, the domain of the Grand Duke of Verona and lords large and small, the land of plantations, farms and knights.

Soldiers, like cattle and sheep, are the property of officers. With the exception of the Standing Corps, most of the city defense and garrison units are at this level.

Griffith silently remembered it in his heart, and he would write it into the report when he turned back.

In addition to the soldiers in these barracks, Verona was also able to mobilize the militia of the various noble domains. They usually have no training, and they have to rely on the lords to initiate, which must be difficult to count on.

The rebels had already appeared on the plains, and even some veterans who were accustomed to fighting had joined them, but the local forces in Verona had not yet been mobilized.

"You go now, head west to Tuyan Valley and report to General Valens," the clerk completed the registration and returned the materials to Griffith, "and they left a message saying that you should go as soon as you get here." ”

Into the mountains?

Griffith immediately sensed that something was wrong. The outline of his tasks was to check combat readiness in ports and towns, prepare reports, why go into the mountains?

Is there some conspiracy? Galadia had done a divination for me, and she had a bad premonition.

Griffith's mind raced. He was going to take the order at once, and then go out and sprain his ankle in the gutter, and lie down in the infirmary first.

Before his thoughts turned into action. The clerk beckoned to the side, and said to the three knights, who were heavily armed:

"The reinforcements from above are coming, and it's him. ”

The three of them immediately surrounded them, faintly surrounding.

"What's going on?" asked Griffith.

"We have received an order from the general to escort you to the Tuyang Valley Reservoir. Let's go, hurry up. ”

All three pressed their hands on their swords, and looked at Griffith with six unkind eyes. One of them even turned around and beckoned, and a group of neatly draped halberd soldiers, which were very rare in this barracks, immediately rushed in.

I've been designing a trap! These people have been ambushing me here for a long time.

Cold sweat immediately trickled down his neck.

Who's in charge?

Erase the power of Christa's existence?Aaron's minions or Veronos' helpers?Lamour's political enemies?Cultists?

Could it be that the consuls of Canaan are finally coming to kill me?

Griffith's mind had a long list of votes in his head, and those who had the motive and ability to kill him already had to queue up.

The situation on the scene was on the verge of breaking out, and Griffith had no room to refuse, and if he moved, the entire barracks would be his enemy.

Realizing that resistance was certain to death, Griffith smiled and nodded, and set off under the escort of this group of heavily armed elite soldiers.

They rode in a carriage and headed down a well-groomed road into the mountains. One of the three knights even had a horse and a spear, keeping an eye on him all the way.

Before noon, the group arrived at a military camp in a mountain.

An elite regimental infantry brigade was already stationed there, and the atmosphere was very tense. As soon as they arrived at the barracks, the knights handed over and left the place quickly.

There was really a general in the camp, he glanced at Griffith, and said expressionlessly:

"I'm the commander-in-chief of this region, General Valens, and you've been sent to me from above, please don't let me down. ”

The general said a few words, took out a mission briefing and handed it to him:

"To the Cadet Knight of Griffith,

"Briefing on the Investigation Mission of Highly Hazardous Field-Type Seals

"From the Reserve Command, copied to the Count's Court of Lamour

"Seal: SN-1444.3 (Black Zone)

"Hazard Class: High Hazard.

"Description: An anomaly has recently appeared in the Tuyang Valley northwest of Varna in the Verona Region, and after on-site verification, a field-type seal has formed. The seals cover the reservoir and part of the surrounding mountains, an area that was once home to a number of rich basin towns and villages, whose inhabitants have now been relocated and whose ruins have been submerged. After sending multiple batches of investigators and Extraordinary Persons to investigate, ordinary people have not been able to enter the seal, and the few Extraordinary Persons who have successfully entered have lost contact.

"The area is close to densely populated towns and ports, and there are no mutated creatures or traces of dark magic. This mission requires the Probationary Knight to attempt to enter the seal and return alone, reporting what they have witnessed in the seal.

"This mission is not a combat mission, but you can still use this briefing to request the necessary equipment and material assistance from the local garrison and official agencies.

"Difficulty: A+.

"Rewards: 5 merit points, 15 potential potions, 1 refined psionic concoction. ”