Chapter 3: Logistics Personnel?

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Logistics Personnel?

Chen Shang’s breathing grew somewhat heavy.

"Entries? A mythic lexicon? Is this my fucking Golden Finger? Did it only unlock because I came into contact with a superior Energy creature? I’ve lived these past few decades for nothing!" he thought.

But soon after, fear crept in. In many works from his past life, Wizards were often depicted as evil figures. Now that over a thousand Knights had been gathered, it didn’t look like anything good was going to happen.

He yearned for the Power of Wizards, but now that a real, living Wizard Apprentice stood right in front of him, he realized he liked the idea of them much more than the reality.

Chen Shang equipped the entry. In an instant, his mind felt refreshed and his powers of observation became much sharper.

Looking at the surrounding Knights again, he found that most of them wore blank expressions. They completely failed to grasp what the word "Wizard" meant. Only a few had complicated looks on their faces.

The Apprentice named Velen on the platform scanned the crowd’s expressions and chuckled softly. "Rest assured, everyone. Your mission this time isn’t dangerous. You are simply going to a certain place to serve as logistics personnel."

The cabin immediately broke into an uproar. Knights serving as logistics? A battle formation of just ten Third Level Knights could head-on crush an infantry regiment of a thousand men, let alone those Great Knights.

"I know many of you are very afraid because you have never come into contact with Wizards before," Velen continued. "It’s normal for humans to fear the unknown.

"But I must tell you that Wizards are the incarnation of wisdom and rationality. We do not slaughter lives wantonly, and it is even more impossible for us to use native creatures as cannon fodder. This is strictly prohibited by both the will of the world and the Pan-Wizard Alliance.

"Of course, you don’t need to know what the will of the world or the Pan-Wizard Alliance is. You only need to know that this world has order, and you are very lucky to live under its protection."

"Next, I will arrange the specific details!" Velen raised his hand, extending one finger. "First, this time you are going as logistics, not to the front lines. You don’t need to fight; you only need to transport supplies, build camps, and tend to the wounded. Whatever mortals do on a battlefield, you will do."

Someone couldn’t help but speak up again. "My lord, so many of us are Third Level Knights, and we’re just going to do that?"

Velen glanced at the man. "In the mortal world, you are high and mighty Knights, but in a Plane War, you serve as logistics at best."

The man choked on his words and immediately shut his mouth.

Velen continued, "Generally speaking, this kind of work is done by automated Demon Puppets. Those things don’t get tired, they don’t complain, and they don’t slack off. They are far more useful than you."

His words were blunt, even a bit harsh. Chen Shang noticed the expressions of several Knights around him change, but no one dared to make a sound.

"However... His Excellency Haimer Wizard recently invested his resources elsewhere. The quota for Demon Puppets is temporarily insufficient. That is why you were conscripted."

Seeing that no one else spoke, Velen nodded, treating their silence as tacit agreement, and went on:

"Second, the place we are heading to is a life planet newly incorporated into the territory. There are indigenous races on it, but they lack intelligence and are difficult to communicate with.

"You are going there to do logistics in a safe zone. You will not see combat."

A new life planet? The Knights were already numb to the shock. Were they really going to cross realms just like that? Some were worried and muttered in low voices, "But what if those natives attack..."

"There is no ’what if’." Velen, possessing astonishing hearing, shook his head. "His Excellency the Wizard is personally taking charge. The place you’ll be staying is nowhere near the battlefield."

The man didn’t dare speak further. Velen continued, "Third, and most importantly, the Pan-Wizard Alliance has rules against the unprovoked slaughter of any life race above the intelligence threshold.

"Although those natives do not meet the intelligence standard, and you are not members of the Pan-Wizard Alliance, you are still forbidden from killing wantonly. In fact, it is best if you don’t even destroy the local flora.

"Just remember, you are there to work, not to fight. Once we arrive, someone will tell you what you can and cannot do."

Chen Shang frowned. Forbidden from slaughtering races above the intelligence threshold? Though he didn’t know exactly what this "intelligence threshold" entailed, it seemed the Pan-Wizard Alliance was quite principled. In that case, the lives of these Knights should be relatively secure as well...

"But why aren’t we even allowed to damage the plants? What a strange order," he thought.

Velen nodded and continued, "One last point: compensation."

As soon as this word came out, Chen Shang noticed the eyes of many people around him light up.

"During your conscription, your original territories and properties will be managed by the royal family, but the profits will go to you as usual. After the mission is completed, each person will be issued a reward of three thousand Gold coins.

"Furthermore, those who perform well will have the opportunity to stay and continue serving His Excellency the Wizard, or we can assist you in advancing further on the path of a Knight."

These words swept through the entire cabin like a gust of wind. Chen Shang could hear the heavy breathing of the people around him.

Three thousand Gold coins was no small sum, even for these Lord Knights, but right now, no one cared about the money. What they cared about was the promise of advancing further on the path of a Knight!

Take Chen Shang for example. He had broken through to become a Third Level Knight early on, but he couldn’t make even an inch of progress toward the realm of a Great Knight. No matter how hard he tried, it was useless.

But now, coming from the mouth of that Wizard Apprentice, these were trivial matters?

Velen looked at the crowd’s reaction, seemingly very satisfied. He clapped his hands.

"Alright. I’ve said all that needs to be said. From now on, you are under my command. Once we arrive, follow orders and don’t cause trouble. If you do, I can’t protect you, and no one else will either."

He turned and walked toward the upper level. Reaching the stairwell, he looked back and added one more sentence.

"The journey will take about seven days. The cabin has everything you need, so get yourselves settled. Don’t cause a ruckus, and try to keep quiet."

With that, he disappeared into the stairwell.

The cabin was silent for a few seconds before whispers began to break out incessantly. Although they didn’t dare to make a loud commotion, the constant buzzing noise gave people a headache.

Chen Shang immediately deactivated the [Concentration] entry, turned around, and found a dormitory to enter.

The room was more spacious than expected. Four iron-framed beds lined the two sides, each equipped with a small nightstand at the head, and the sunlight from outside shone through the glass window.

Someone had already arrived. On the bed near the window, a burly man sat cross-legged, resting with his eyes closed.

Chen Shang glanced at him, his heart skipping a beat.

This man... wasn’t a Third Level Knight. He was a Great Knight. Even just sitting cross-legged, he gave off a dangerous, oppressive aura.

Chen Shang retracted his gaze, chose a bed diagonally opposite, and tossed his bundle onto it.

Just as he sat down, the door was pushed open again. Two people walked in, one tall and one short. Both wore well-crafted Leather Armor, and the swords at their waists were clearly of high quality.

The two scanned the room and noticed the burly man.

"Duke Wright?" the shorter one spoke up, a hint of surprise in his tone.

The man by the window opened his eyes and nodded.

The short man smiled sheepishly but without any awkwardness, then turned to look at Chen Shang. "Where are you from, brother? I’m a Third Level Knight from the Maple Leaf Duchy. Just call me Allen."

Chen Shang nodded. "Chen Shang, from the Lu Xing Black Crow Territory."

Allen let out an "Oh," and began unpacking his personal belongings.

Chen Shang leaned against the head of the bed, resting with his eyes closed. In his mind, the system’s notification sound chimed once more:

[Detected collectible entry fragments in the vicinity.]

[Target: Wright (Great Knight) — Extractable Entry: Iron Skin·Fragment (Grey)]

[Extract?]

"Even Great Knights can trigger entries?" he thought. He opened his eyes, cast a glance at Wright, and silently commanded it to extract.

[Extraction successful. Obtained Entry: Iron Skin·Fragment (Grey)]

[Iron Skin·Fragment (Grey): Passive Defense Ability, can slightly increase skin hardness. Completion: 20%.]