Chapitre 16: The Identity Guild

Sundance Capital boasts five formidable Sects: Light Sword, River Earth, Sunset Music, Dark Lightning, and Spearo Sect. These Sects aren't just training grounds for young cultivators; they double as elite soldier training centres. They welcome young cultivators, shaping them into formidable military forces. The setup is divided into Outer, Inner, and Core Areas. The Outer Area accommodates regular soldiers; the Inner Area hones potential leaders. At the same time, the Core Area moulds prominent figures such as Brigadiers and Major Generals responsible for leading Brigades and Divisions. The organizational brilliance is genuinely remarkable.

The military structure is meticulously organized. It features distinct classifications, each with a specific number of soldiers. A squad comprises 8 to 12 soldiers, with a Sergeant at the helm. A Platoon consists of 5 to 10 squads and is under the leadership of a Lieutenant. A Captain commands a Company with 30 to 50 Platoons. A Battalion comprising 50 or more Companies is led by a Lieutenant Colonel. A Brigade oversees 100 or more Battalions and is commanded by a Brigadier General. Finally, a Division encompassing numerous Battalions is under the guidance of a Major General. The precision and structure of this military hierarchy are nothing short of brilliant.

The sects engage in fierce battles to recruit talented individuals, training them to ascend to prominent leadership roles and claim the rewards accompanying such positions. During Dominate Week, the king recognizes and rewards sects that significantly contribute to the military every decade. This event becomes a grand showcase, with sects competing and boasting about their achievements. However, the intense rivalry leads sect masters and elders to manipulate unsuspecting young cultivators for personal gain, disregarding the cultivators' welfare.

Upon witnessing Rasoul's dominance over the heir of Charles's family, the leader of the Light Sword sect spotted an opportunity to enhance her reputation. Her strategy was straightforward: befriend Rasoul and subtly exert influence behind the scenes. The aim was to manage the situation to a point where they had no option but to rely on her. It seemed like a cunning plan until she caught wind of something that prompted a shift to plan B — a strategy that discarded morality altogether.

Rasoul approached the registration counter and said, "Please, we'd like to register with the identity guild."

The lady behind the counter responded, "Certainly! It's 3 Copper coins each. Here, fill out these forms." She handed them three forms to complete.

After a few minutes, they completed the forms and handed them and the required fee to the lady.

"Wait here for a few minutes while I process your information," she said, gesturing toward some chairs.

They took their seats, and true to his nature, Sabrat initiated a casual conversation with his friends.

"So, after these registrations, what's the plan? Are we going to track down more family heirs and give them lessons on proper behavior around ladies?" Sabrat inquired, a genuine concern etched on his face.

"Must you always speak before thinking? We're here to locate someone important to Rasoul, not to stir up trouble... at least, not yet," Lara replied, her face showing annoyance but emphasizing the "yet."

"So there's trouble to be made, huh? That's all I want to hear," Sabrat said with a maniacal smile.

Rasoul simply shook his head and decided to eavesdrop on a nearby conversation.

"Did you hear? Princess Vina is hiring adventurers to defend Orange Field from a monster tide. Many adventurers have signed up, and others are still rushing to the Adventures Guild to enlist. She's quite courageous," said a guy sitting with two ladies.

"I heard she sought help from the military, but the first prince turned her down, claiming there are no spare soldiers for a hopeless struggle," commented the second lady.

"Yes, I heard the same thing. I think he's just jealous of Princess Vina. Her reputation in the Kingdom is more significant than all the Princes and Princesses combined," replied the guy, his voice filled with admiration.

"However, it's not easy to stand alone against hundreds of monsters. In the last tide in Archany City, there were 10 Great Beasts among the monsters. If it weren't for some unknown old monk stepping in, everything would have been destroyed. I hope there are no Saint Beasts this time," added the first lady.

"Poor souls," remarked the last lady. "They have no military help, so the evacuation is painfully slow. Refugees started showing up at the city gate just a few hours ago. At this rate, I don't think they can all make it."

"I hope Princess Vina makes it through," the guy said again. They are concern but lack the power to help her in such a dire situation. Unbeknownst to them, this casual conversation won the princess three allies who would tip the odds in her favor.

"After we find Cole's old man, should we stay here or move on to a new location?" Sabrat asked, using Rasoul's last name.

"We move on. Nothing interesting here. No point staying where we have nothing else to look out for," Lara replied, glancing away. Although she is part human, she is still a beast at heart, and staying within the confines of humans is uncomfortable for her. Her words, however, caught the attention of an old lady eavesdropping on their conversation.

She planned to take her time and lure them into her trap, but things weren't going her way. She needed a more cunning approach. As she contemplated her next move, the counter lady called them over, handing them their identity cards and a map.

When Rasoul touched the map, information about the Sundance Kingdom flooded his mind. 'This system of mine is the best,' he thought, feeling cheerful. He thanked the lady and casually tossed her a gemstone he had acquired from bandits worth a whopping 10,000 gold coins. As they left the counter, the lady stood in awe and the old lady pondered her next move.

The old lady stares at them and then at the counter lady. The fact that they just casually tossed a gemstone worth 10,000 gold coins as a tip to the lady shows they are rich. This of course brought a small smile to the face of the old woman. She saw how to get the three strangers to her side but she needed to act fast.

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>>>>Orange Field City<<<<

As they departed from the Identity Guild, their next destination was the Adventurers Guild. Meanwhile, far from the capital, alarms blared, and men and women geared up to confront an approaching monster tide. There was no excitement in the air, no morale.

In a room in the city center, Princess Vina starts gearing up for the battle while a young woman in her early 20s is also trying to convince her otherwise.

"Princess, please. The odds are clearly against us. There's no way we'll emerge victorious. We've successfully evacuated 30% of the civilians, but that's our limit. If we fight, we can only hold on for at least a day before they breach the city gates. Please reconsider and retreat. You've already done enough for them. Nobody will blame you if you leave now," she pleaded, genuinely concerned for the princess's safety.

"Vira, stop. You know why I can't retreat. You know why I can't abandon them. So please, stop saying all this. I know it's a futile struggle, but I can't abandon my hometown like that. This place means everything to my mother; she left it behind for me to care for. I won't lose it without a fight," Princess Vina replied, hugging her.

Princess Vina, the only daughter of Queen Anastasha, the second wife of the king of Sundance, who passed away a decade ago, was not widely known for her origin – but she hailed from Orange Field City. She loved this place with all her heart. When her mother was alive, they would visit the city to eat oranges and create cherished memories together. Before her passing, Queen Anastasha entrusted Vina with caring for the city, a duty forged from love. Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, the thought of abandoning the city didn't sit well with her.

"Vira, I understand your concern for my safety, and I know you would do anything for me, but please go back with the last group of refugees and tell your mother to send you to the Royal Academy. I've already submitted your application. I had planned for both of us to go, but if things don't go well, I want you to continue with your life. You have no ties to this city, so sacrificing yourself here is pointless. Please don't make me witness my best friend's death because of my foolishness," Princess Vina said, tears streaming down her face.

Princess Vina and Vira had been friends since they were 10; they were practically sisters. Their bond ran so deep that Vina would endure hardship to ensure her friend's survival, and Vira would do the same for the Princess.

"And who gave you the right to die without me by your side? Who will accompany you in the afterlife?" Vira clapped back, tightening the hug. She had no intention of leaving her sister to face death alone. Their bond was unbreakable.

After a while, Vira said, "Alright, if we're going to die, let's take thousands of monsters with us." She broke the hug and began gearing up. Vira was a strategic thinker, always aiming to stay two steps ahead of her enemies. One could say she was like a general commanding her army.

Princess Vina looked at her friend with guilt burning in her heart as she continued to gear up. She knew the fight was futile, but there was no way Vira would abandon her. The bond between them was too strong for Vira to leave her.

"I know I am beautiful, but you don't have to keep staring at me with those puppy eyes," Vira tried to lighten the mood a little.

"How shameless," Princess Vina said with a slight smile.

'If there is a God out there, please help us,' she thought inwardly.

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>>>>Adventures Guild<<<<

"Welcome to the Adventurers Guild; how can I assist you?" a lady greeted, focusing on Rasoul and his companions.

"We want to register as a group with the Adventurers Guild," Lara stated, not concealing her dissatisfaction with the counter lady's expression. She was annoyed at the way the counter lady was staring at Rasoul.

Now a bit flustered, the lady inquired, "And what will be the name of your group?"

"Supreme Nexus," Rasoul replied, a touch of satisfaction in his voice. He had contemplated using "Supreme Ones" but decided against it, considering the potential risk if enemies of the Supreme One could easily locate them. Unbeknownst to Rasoul, even the "Supreme" in the name would one day go against them.