The mere thought of owning a base like this sent a thrill of excitement through his veins.
The super power base blueprint he had found in the ruins was still safely tucked away in his inventory. However, the materials required to build that base were extremely rare, so it was placed on temporary hold.
’Even the walls look sturdy enough, and I am sure they could easily accommodate the others in the second camp as well,’ he thought, slowly being overwhelmed by greed.
Scarlet noticed this, but she kept quiet. Neither did she find it wrong. In this world, especially out here in the wilderness, it was a dog eat dog world.
The only one who was right and could make the rules was the one with the strongest fist.
If Gabriel could kill the lord of this camp, then it was only right that he claimed the base for himself. Not only that, with a base like this, he would be able to expand faster. If it benefited the Adventurer Guild greatly, then that was even better, since they were allies.
"Hahahaha." He chuckled softly, then declared with determined eyes and a firm, confident tone, "It is decided. I, Gabriel, will make this place mine."
Scarlet smiled faintly. She did not know how difficult it would be, but she would try her best to make his goal become a reality.
After admiring the beauty of the alloy walls for a while, his eyes narrowed.
Guards patrolled the walls at steady intervals, their armor gleaming faintly under the rising sun. Some carried ranged weapons, others wielded melee arms, and a few had visible support treasures strapped to their backs.
Yet despite all that, he quickly relaxed.
"They would not even notice me," he thought.
Their perception stats were laughably low.
If he wanted to, he could stand up and wave at them, and they still would not see him.
In fact, aside from a relatively high ranking official from the Eastern Camp who was at least Hero Rank or beyond, there was virtually no way for anyone there to see or hear them from that distance.
"Look around and see if you can find the entrances," he said to both Seraphina and Scarlet.
The two women began scanning the gigantic walls. It did not take a minute before Scarlet spoke.
"There are about four entrances," she pointed out. "One is on the right, the other on the left, and I can see people moving in and out from the side, which means there is an entrance there as well."
"There could be more," he added. "Some might be hidden within the walls themselves."
It was only natural for a base of this size to have more than one entrance. If it had only a single one like the Broken Dawn camp, it would have been troublesome in case of an emergency.
With multiple entrances, entering and exiting the base would be stress free.
"They really took their time building this place," Seraphina commented.
However, while this had its advantages, it also came with disadvantages. With so many entrances, it was easier for enemies to infiltrate as well.
"All we need is a small distraction to draw all the patrol guards to one particular entrance," Scarlet said.
"That is exactly what I was thinking as well." He stroked his chin, a new habit he had recently picked up. Seraphina found the gesture strangely pleasing to watch. "But what are the chances they would abandon their posts so easily?"
She answered him before he could finish his thought. "We just need to make it serious enough."
He observed the base silently for several minutes, memorizing patrol routes, blind spots, and the timing of their rotations. Every detail was etched into his mind. Only when he was satisfied did the three of them descend the mountain, just as quietly as they had climbed it.
By the time they returned, all the tents had been set up, and most of the troops were trying to rest after the exhausting journey.
He watched them for a while. Initially, he had planned to begin the infiltration immediately, but he realized that not everyone possessed monstrous strength like him. Some needed proper rest before they could function at their best.
The last thing he wanted was for one of his men to jeopardize everything simply because they were too exhausted.
"Alright then," he said in a loud, deliberate voice that was easily heard by everyone.
Many of them were startled. Was the Eastern Camp not close by?
"Do not worry. They cannot see or hear us from here," he assured them. "But that does not mean you should be careless. For now, eat properly and rest. When the time is right, we will begin the operation."
"Yes, Sir Broken!"
...
Within the Eastern Camp, inside the administrative building where important discussions were held and new laws were passed, a small group of people had gathered around an oak table.
There were about twenty of them, each holding an important position and playing a key role in the base’s growth.
Sitting at the head of the table with his legs placed casually was a bald man who appeared to be in his late thirties, though in reality he was much older. Beside him sat two women with strikingly attractive faces and revealing attire that exposed their cleavage and other alluring features.
He scanned the faces present as he gently swirled the red wine in his cup. No one spoke. All eyes were on him. After a moment, he placed the cup down, spilling a bit of wine onto the table.
When the droplet slid down, one of the women leaned forward, licked the wine from the table, and then kissed him.
None of those present said anything, nor did they find the scene repulsive. It was no secret that the lord of the Eastern Camp openly displayed affection toward his wives and mistresses.
After the kiss, he looked at his subordinates and spoke in an unnaturally calm voice.
"It has been days now. We have heard nothing from Dante, Garrett, or the two assassins we sent."
He paused, his gaze sweeping the room.
"What do you think could possibly be the problem?"