System's POV

Chapter 340 Three-Year Deadline

??Thirteen was currently inside his tent, listening to Colonel Fischer's report.

"Upon careful consideration, the Field Marshal decided that your Battalion will need reinforcements from the Army. The importance of your… mission has been re-evaluated, and it has been decided that you will be provided with additional support, which will allow you to move freely.

"Although the Dvalinn Federation is helping you right now, there is a possibility that they will use strong-arm tactics in order to force you into agreeing with their commands.

"The Central Government will not allow such practice, so capable individuals who will ensure that you won't get bullied shall be sent to stay by your side."

Thirteen chuckled internally, knowing that these reinforcements were being sent to him so that the Central Government would get a bigger slice of the pie from the mining operations that he was about to start in full.

"Sir, may I know who the Field Marshal is planning to send to the Rigel Continent?" Thirteen inquired.

If he knew who his backups were, he would be able to strategize on how to make them work for him.

"We are sending the Saintess, as well as the Valkyrie Unit, to assist you," Colonel Fisher replied.

"You're sending the Saintess and the Valkyries here?" Thirteen was pleasantly surprised about this development.

He thought that he would only be meeting the Saintess when he went to the Cygni Continent in three years when the Jinn invasion started in full.

"Yes," Colonel Fischer nodded. "We don't want the Dvalinn Federation to go on High Alert and think that the Central Government is trying to take over their home turf. So, we decided to use a more peaceful means of collaboration."

Thirteen nodded in understanding. "This is a good move, Sir. How long before they arrive on the Rigel Continent?"

"A month," Colonel Fischer replied. "We will need to bring in heavy machineries that will help you with your mining operations. Although the Leventis Family has brought their own units, it won't be a problem to have more, right?"

Thirteen understood the underlying meaning behind the Colonel's words, so he smiled and said the words that his Superior Officer wanted to hear.

"The Rigel Continent is a big place, Sir," Thirteen replied. "I'm sure that the Central Government will not be disappointed."

Colonel Fischer chuckled because the more he talked to Zion, the more he liked the teenage boy.

"Good." Colonel Fischer smiled. "The Central Government will not forget your contribution, Commander."

The two shared knowing smiles with each other before they ended their conversation.

Thirteen then went out to the cave and looked at the mining equipment of the Leventis Family, who had also started their mining operations in Sector 12.

Right now, they were mining a metal called Palladium, which was a metal used for different kinds of equipment, for example, fuel cells that could generate power.

It was also used for automobiles and electronics, which were in high demand anywhere.

Also, it was rarer than gold, making it a very expensive metal, which would let the Leventis Family earn a lot.

Of course, the Dvalinn Federation also wanted a share, so Thirteen agreed to give them twenty percent in exchange for helping with the security of the mining area.

After Alcapone's late-night adventure, Thirteen deemed that there would not be an issue when it came to protecting the Mining Area. After all, their Battalion was capable enough to fight off the lower-ranked Monster Hordes near Sector 12.

'For now, I will delay going to the other mining areas until my reinforcements arrive,' Thirteen thought. 'I've already found two important mining locations, so adding more in a short period of time will only bite me in the back.

'For now, I will shift their attention to the training of my troops. I need to make them battle-hardened soldiers in two years.'

Thirteen knew that once all hell broke loose in the Cygni Continent, the Dvalinn Federation would also send a good chunk of their forces to repel the monsters that were about to conquer another continent.

As someone who had lost their homes, they would do their best to prevent the monsters from getting their way, not wanting to let them make humanity lose another continent to their hands.

The living area of the human race was getting smaller and smaller, and they couldn't afford to get pushed back even more by their enemies.

If Cygni were to fall, then this meant that the Sirius Continent and the Aldebaran Continent would be next.

If they fail to win this war, the future of humanity would be dim.

"Cristopher, call the other Captains," Thirteen said to the chubby teenage boy, who was patiently waiting outside of his tent.

"Yes, Sir," Cristopher saluted and left to execute Thirteen's orders.

A few minutes later, the teenage boy's six Captains gathered inside his tent and awaited his orders.

"Tomorrow, tell the Squad Captains that we will assist the Wanderers from the Dvalinn Federation on their Hunting Expeditions," Thirteen stated. "These people are already veterans, so I'm sure that our people will learn a lot from the experience.

"Do not forget to listen to their advice and make sure to keep calm at all times. If you can't keep yourselves calm, just do your best to not cause your members to suffer a panic attack.

"I will also join you in this operation, so if anything goes awry, I can think of an effective solution on the spot. Do you have any questions?"

Alexis raised his hand and asked a question.

"Do we listen to their orders or not?"Alexis asked.

"No," Thirteen replied. "Your role is to only observe and assist them when necessary. Right now, what everyone needs to understand is how to deal with certain types of monsters.

"I have already relayed this matter to the Dvalinn Federation, and they agreed to help everyone familiarize themselves with the enemy."

Alexis nodded in understanding and didn't ask any more questions.

"Tell everyone to rest early and handle the rotation for the night watch," Thirteen ordered. "Although we have Masters, Grandmasters, and a few Champions guarding this perimeter, that doesn't guarantee our safety, especially here in the Rigel Continent."

Half an hour later, the Captains left Thirteen's tent and relayed his orders to the Squad Captains.

'Three years…' Thirteen mulled as he closed his eyes. 'In three years, I will know whether this world has a future or not.'

The teenage boy believed that if humanity were to lose against the Jinn invasion in the Cygni Continent, then the entirety of the human race would be facing extinction unless someone or something gave the humans a fighting chance to preserve their race and the limited freedom they had that was on borrowed time.