In a rugged, heavily reinforced tent at the fledgling DRIS Outpost, three figures gathered around a large, detailed map of the surrounding territory. Two were tall, muscular ghouls: Dullahan and Rook. The third was short, lean, Libera. They were dressed in a sharp, Napoleonic-era officer's uniform.

Dullahan, pointing a thick finger at the map, spoke with a low, steady voice. "We have covered the south-east side of the border with two squads running regular patrols of three men each. This is enough to cover any intrusions on the residential zone as well as any incoming threats from the mountain slope below, but it's stretched thin."

He shifted his focus. "On the northeast side, I have tasked four men to dig up a trench line that can anchor a watch post, covering the main mountain road. This road is the only clear access point to the mall and inside our territory. The problem is the western side. It's too far and too difficult to patrol effectively with our current numbers. Which is why I suggest that we should bring this manpower issue to Lord Karl?"

Rook rubbed his chin, contemplating the issue. "Hmm. You're right, Eoghan. We've been continuously training down on the Ninth Floor, but that's theoretical preparation. Out here, we have a lot of ground to cover. It'll also be hard to form a QRF (Quick Reaction Force) in case we detect real trouble."

"I'll see what I can do about increasing our ranks," Rook decided. "But right now, we must focus on building our own defenses. Vitro and his builders will be busy with the final layout of the town for weeks. So, we'll handle the fortifications on our own—sharpened spikes around the perimeter fence and deep trench lines for the cannons on the eastern and southern sides."

He frowned at the map. "Since our main outpost is located on the southeast, it's far too much ground to cross quickly to the west. If we had at least fifteen more men, we could establish a secondary, permanent outpost out west which would use the same fortification protocols."

Libera pondered this, looking at the map with narrowed eyes. "Why don't we just hunt some bandits, drag their bodies back here, and turn them into our own? Surely, we can be efficient that way without bothering Lord Karl with petty recruitment requests."

Dullahan and Rook exchanged a look. Dullahan nodded slowly. "That's honestly a good idea, Libera. It would test the field readiness of our ghoul integration process."

Rook agreed. "We'll still have to ask Lord Karl for his permission, and we'll need to use his throne to turn them into proper beastkin ghouls, but the idea has merit."

Just as Rook was about to continue, a sound reached them—a low, distant growl that seemed to defy the natural acoustics of the forest. The noise rapidly deepened, morphing into the tearing, mechanical roar of something approaching at unnatural speed.

The three officers instantly looked around listening, their focus broken.

Outside the tent, the construction site immediately went silent. Vitro and his builders stopped their work, their heads turning as one toward the direction of the noise.

A massive cloud of red dust boiled up over the crest of the dirt road . Then, cutting through the dust like an iron behemoth, the pickup truck appeared appeared, loaded high with crates, planks, and wooden beams, moving at a speed that left everyone in awe.

Inside the truck were Karl, Leo, and Dolrik.

Dullahan stared, adjusting his collar, recognizing the speed and scale of the new addition. "Is this one of the iron wagon I saw on Lord Karl's memories?"

Libera, recognizing the load capacity, immediately saw the logistical implications. "You couldn't be more right. This is better than what I saw and bigger even."

Rook simply watched the vehicle slide to a stop near the main barrack construction site.

The immense iron vehicle came to a smooth stop at the edge of the bare-bones outpost—a cluster of tents, ghouls idling and cleaning their muskets, and the frame of the new wooden cabin being built in the center.

Rook, Dullahan, Libera, and Vitro immediately moved to meet Karl, Leo, and Dolrik as they stepped out. The officers executed a crisp, simultaneous bow.

Rook was the first to speak, his eyes betraying subtle amazement as they darted to the truck. "My Lord, a magnificent arrival."

Karl smirked, gesturing to the vehicle. "You like it? Tell that to Dolrik; he and his engineers did well with it. Have your men unload the supplies and the building materials in the back."

Dullahan snapped a nod. "Yes, My Lord." He whistled, and the idling soldiers—now fully trained Ghouls in their blue Napoleonic uniforms—immediately rushed to the vehicle, their initial admiration quickly turning to duty.

Karl observed the makeshift camp, a stark contrast to his vision of a fortified town. "This is a start. After the commercial zone is finished, our border will be built with a tall metal fence. Your department will be responsible for protecting our borders at all cost. Since the tension in the region is rising, I'll be focusing resources on securing our one-kilometer-radius perimeter. Vitro should have marked the fence line already."

He fixed his gaze on the three officers. "Whatever it is you need, you'll let Leo know. But since I'm here now, tell me: what do you need immediately?"

The three officers glanced at each other. Rook stepped forward, taking the initiative. "My Lord, we will ask for your permission to hunt some bandits and undesirables and use your throne to turn them into our own. This would strengthen our numbers without draining resources."

Karl smiled at Rook's boldness and pragmatic initiative. "Well, that doesn't seem like a bad idea at all. I can totally do that. I have to be honest with you, it costs me more to summon a single Ghoul now than it did when we were just… bones."

Karl paused, turning inward to access the system while still maintaining conversation with his officers. He quickly checked his Necro Point balance: NP: 23,013.

Karl thought. Hmmm... that's two months' worth of NP from selling goods and services. I still need to build another Engineering Works to be able to ramp up vehicle production for logistics. Building one costs at least 5,000 NP. Plus, I'll need an Oil Refinery and a Mana Collection Facility soon. Ahhh… never mind, I'll tackle it one by one. My builders are still flooded with tasks to finish the town anyway.

He opened the shop and scrolled down, purchasing the Basic Ghoul Pack at a 25% discount. Each Ghoul now cost 90 NP and 30 Mana. He tapped the purchase button five times. The transaction cost him 2,250 NP and 750 Mana, netting him twenty-five new summons.

With a flash of dark, purplish light, twenty-five naked Ghouls—male and female stood blinking in the sunlight. They instantly recognized Karl and bowed low.

"Welcome to the land of the living," Karl announced to the new recruits. "You lot are now assigned to protect your home and your kind, as well as our property. So do your best and obey your officers' commands, okay?"

The new Ghouls spoke in unison. "By your will, My Lord."

Karl dismissed them. "Go dress up in your new uniforms in the crates, and then help the others unload the supplies."

Karl then turned back to the DRIS officers. "Oh, and before you run off hunting, I've issued you a new uniform and new standard weapon."

A soldier quickly placed a sample of the new gear on a nearby crate. The uniform was colored a plain brownish-green, complete with a helmet, boots, socks, and a satchel. It was a stark visual difference from the ornate Napoleonic outfits they currently wore.

"This is the new DRIS standard uniform," Karl explained. "It's not designed to be ornate; it's designed for functionality. It should help you blend into the surroundings and dries quickly after rain. Think of it as a significant upgrade to your operational effectiveness."

The officers checked out the uniform, inspecting the durable fabric. Karl smiled, thinking this would give his soldiers a distinct, practical WWI vibe.

He then picked up the new weapon—a long-barreled rifle. "And this," he said, holding it up, "is an Arcane-modified Gewehr 71. This is a leap of an upgrade compared to the flintlocks you currently use. You just need to twist and pull this bolt, and the spent metal cartridge should fall out easily. Though the reload is one at a time, it is much faster and far more accurate than the flintlocks. Make every shot count. Still, the internal barrel needs regular cleaning to avoid jamming."

He handed it to Rook, who accepted it with the calmness of an expert evaluating a fine blade.

Karl continued, "Oh, and before I forget, the Throne isn't that much of a priority in terms of protection. It's basically indestructible, so a quick note: in case you feel the need to protect it, you really don't need to."

With that, Karl used his skill. [ Tyrant's Throne of Undying Fury ].

A dark purple, ominous vortex appeared, and a gothic, undead, boney throne dropped down from it, landing with a heavy thud near the main construction frame.

Karl leaned toward the officers. "If you want to do a skirmish outside the borders, you best do it discreetly, without others knowing. The best place to start is near the Kobold villages. Also, don't bring guns; they're too loud. You can kill those Bloodtusk Orcs if you find them. So, that's it from me for now; I'll leave you be. I still have to go check out Vitro's progress."

The officers bowed again. "Thank you, My Lord."

Karl gave a dismissive wave, escorted by Dolrik and Leo back to the new vehicle. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be checking out your progress soon."

He stepped into the driver's seat. The officers watched the metallic beast start up with its signature growl and speed away, leaving a fresh cloud of dust behind.

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