After parting with Jimmy Lee, the group headed back to the other crafters to pick up the weapons they had left to be admired. Alex had to physically pry the fingers of one of the crafters from her new dadao.

  Once the eyes of the crafters left their weapons, their eyes grew big at Jimmy Lee's work. Before they could get handsy, they quickly rushed away in a mad dash.

  As for their old equipment, Donna had them stored away. It always paid to have a spare in case anything happened. Damian had to learn the hard way.

  He also decided to have both of his new swords hang by his left waist. The idea was to swap to a ranged option at a moment's notice. Once he got his other hand back, he could try dual-wielding.

  Their group made their way over to the professional-looking Higgins. She was organizing people into their watch shifts and getting civilians into makeshift shelters.

  They had repurposed some of the earthen towers into shorter structures, adding an extra layer of protection and privacy. The once pristine flooring of the teleportation bay was now becoming more and more like a crowded market.

  "Hi there, Maria!" Alex forwardly approached the serious version of the scatterbrained soldier. After being called by her first name, the seriousness faded from her face. Higgins was all too easily relaxed by familiarity.

  "Hi Alex!"

  When did those two start getting along?

  "Hey, so tell us what we've missed. Insider information for friends~." Alex asked with a huge grin.

  "Oh! Um... if you didn't see, Betty went with a group to clear the 40th floor to find what happened to the Valkyrie. There are still some undead in the tower, but it seems that they are only on the upper floors. Although we can't really know since of all the different pathways."

  "Also, I wasn't awake at the time, but apparently, two more Valkyrie entered the tower. They said each Valkyrie did a sweep through the city before entering at different times."

  Dear goddesses, help us... Damian felt like he could crumple under the weight of the news. Is the Spire going to blow up on us? Should we be fleeing?

  "Did anyone speak with them?" Alex followed up, seemingly unfazed by the news.

  "No... Betty told me that they went straight to the teleporters. She tried to stop the second one with a physical illusion, but they were already gone by the time she summoned one."

  "So why are we still piling people into the Spire? Isn't it dangerous? What's the state of the rest of the town?" Frey asked while stepping forward.

  "Oh, um. Since nowhere is guaranteed safe, the Spire is as good a place as any. Other relief centers are forming along the city's outer walls. No dead beyond the walls, but that also makes people feel exposed and uneasy. Several others are popping up around the parts of the city that didn't get hit as hard. Mostly residential areas."

  Higgings paused, then continued in a hushed tone. "Apparently, the attackers hit the churches extra hard for some reason. They had to take on multiple tier 6s."

  "They would have been wiped out if it weren't for Sir Dalen single-handedly taking them down. Betty also said that the neighboring cities are already sending relief aid our way. It's going to take a while for things to get back to normal."

  "Ah... you mentioned the attackers. Do we know who they are?"

  "Oh!... No, not exactly, some of the higher-ups in the military are claiming it was a Fire Empire attack. Some people attacked the royal castle from the outside, while the tier 7 rampaged. The claim is that they were imperial soldiers."

  "But no one could confirm whether they were from the Empire, since they turned to ash upon death. Betty said not to trust that information."

  "But wait... what about that Mr. Bishop and the P'Ure merchant group?" Damian pushed.

  "... Betty said that it was too early for that investigation to gain any ground. Since the Merchants Guild was destroyed, their records were lost with it. There should be some in other cities, but nothing as complete as the ones located here. And when the wraiths came out of carriages, it wasn't just the P'Ure Group's that had bodies in them..."

  "Apparently, the First Prince had allowed several merchant groups to bring their goods behind the castle walls for protection, back when the disaster was contained in the Spire. They were supposed to be his supporter groups."

  "They didn't check them?! What about the other bodies we took from the carriage? What happened to them?" Damian followed up.

  "Ah! Um, Betty was livid about that when she was speaking with the First Prince's assistant. They apparently knew that some of the carriages would contain illicit goods... and that he looked the other way for his allies."

  Higgins didn't seem comfortable about this truth. The steadfast woman looked more distraught from this than when she fought wraiths.

  "... All of the merchants died in the initial attack on the castle. They were all near their carriages when the wraiths came. So we won't even get to know if they were tricked or if they were willing to die for some cause."

  Far too many questions...

  "As for the bodies we found, Betty took two of them into her storage. There's the one you took. She said it was fine to do so, by the way. I think she likes you guys. As for the last body, it is in the earth casket right there."

  "Some people aligned with the First Prince are supposed to pick it up. I'm not supposed to say this next part..." Higgins looked left, then right, before continuing in a whisper. "But the First Prince is alive, but in critical condition... Apparently, he lost multiple limbs and was badly burned all over. Betty said the only reason he is alive is us. You helped do something amazing yesterday."

  Higgins was serious again. She had a determined look in her eyes, like she wanted to make whoever caused all of this pay dearly. The flippant officer had this side to her as well. Damian was reminded.

  "Hey Maria, why is Ms. Sanderson so acquainted with the royals?" Alex blurted out in curiosity. The Corporal immediately returned to a more casual demeanour after her first name was called. It was like a switch you could turn on and off.

  "Oh! Um, I think Betty wouldn't want me to tell you."

  "What! Why?"

  "It'd give you a hint at her age..." Higgins was looking around nervously, like the elf would pop out at any moment.

  "Bahahaha, now you have to tell me. For friends~ You said that you think she likes us~."

  "Um... I don't know... um." Alex wrapped her arm around the nervous woman.

  "Come on, please~."

  "... Ok... Betty is a retired Colonel from the military. She still holds the rank of Colonel, but she doesn't want anyone to call her that anymore... She's actually the one who trained the princes how to fight. Actually, she's taught many people in the military. Her physical illusions made it super effective." Higgins said in a progressively softer voice. It was barely a whisper at the end of her response.

  To keep your military title and be considered retired, you need at least 20 years of service. To teach the princes how to fight... I think they are in their 40s or something. Not going to dare go any further on the topic of age. There's only one answer to that question anyway. You're clearly in your early 20s! A fine answer, none better.

  "So~ Good buddy, old pal of mine. Is there any other important news going around?" Alex was laying it on thick to ring everything out of her new friend.

  "Oh! There's been a lot... I don't know where to start, though." The Corporal was squirming slightly, thinking over everything she's learned over the past half day.

  Damian wasn't sure if she had had any rest since her short nap after the battle. Military personnel often gained skills that reduced the amount of sleep they needed, or military healers might have skills that could energize a person as if they had proper sleep.

  Neither of those things is good for a person; you'll break down sooner or later if you don't have any real rest. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

  "So Dalen..." *chink-chink-chink* *chink-chink-chink*

  Thunderous marching was heard from the Spire entrance. About 200 soldiers were pouring in and forming two inward-facing lines, as if ready to present someone of renown. If someone were to attack, these soldiers would be easily taken down from behind.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  As it turns out, they lined up just to make someone's entrance grander, without considering the strategic placements in case of another attack.

  A very tall man in a dark-brown military uniform began waltzing down the center of the human aisle. His uniform looked dirtied, but no significant tears were visible on the garment. It was, however, adorned with numerous gold accents and medals, seemingly signifying a long military career marked by accolades.

  Compared to the soldiers forming the aisle, they were far dirtier. Many of them had cuts and tears on their uniforms that were covered in dried blood.

  Those in armor had large claw and scratch marks going so deep that you could see their skin underneath. Clearly, they had seen battle and taken the worst of it for their commanding officer.

  "Show me to your commanding officer." The man stated in an arrogant tone that demanded respect. Damian didn't like the man from the start.

  "That would be me." Higgins snapped back to her serious mode and approached the officer.

  "Acting Commander Maria Higgins Tier 5. Whom may I be speaking to?"

  What?! Commander? Tier 5? Not 4? Since when did Higgins jump three steps up the military chain? I know Alex pushed forward that she was a Lieutenant, but that was all nonsense, wasn't it?

  "Major Aberman... Tier 5."

  A Major and only at tier 5! He's either a product of nepotism or is very intelligent. And I'm not betting on the intelligence part from his display so far.

  Military rankings typically corresponded to an individual's tier. For promising minds or the well-connected, they could climb the rankings while remaining in a lower tier. The standard went as follows:

  - Recruit - Tier 1

  - Private - Tier 2

  - Corporal - Tier 3

  - Sergeant - Tier 4

  - Lieutenant - Tier 4

  - Commander - Tier 5

  - Captain - Tier 5

  - Major - Tier 6

  - Colonel - Tier 6

  - General - Tier 7

  - Vice Marshal - Tier 7

  - Marshal - Tier 8

  Individuals could be pushed forward or held back from earning a new military rank, even if they met the rank requirements. Higgins was a perfect example of this when she held the position of Corporal at tier 4.

  Generally, a person who held a higher tier within the same military rank wielded more power in the chain of command. Age and seniority didn't matter nearly as much as tiers did in the military's power structure. But a certain amount of time was needed to serve before higher appointments. That rarely exceeded the time required to tier up, well, if they could tier up.

  "Ahem."

  A spectacles-wearing adjutant walked up beside the Major and commented while flipping through his clipboard. "There is no listing of a Commander Higgins for this area."

  "The position was granted under the authority of his Royal Highness, Prince Lark Eldarreene, using the Military Emergency Appointment Act. Former Colonel Betty Sanderson facilitated it."

  "Hmph! It does not matter. I am here to collect the supposed evidence."

  The Major said with his nose turned up.

  "?! I was instructed to hand over the evidence to Colonel Maverick. He and his guard are supposed to arrive within the hour."

  "He was needed elsewhere and was reassigned to the outer walls. If you will, I will have my men take these bodies you're keeping. Detestable work, really."

  Very suspicious...

  "I... I do not have the authority to do that. You will have to speak with Former Colonel Sanderson."

  "And where is she? When I first arrived, I requested to speak with the commanding officer, not you."

  "She put me in charge... She is currently leading a force to climb the tower and seek out the Valkyrie. She has two of the bodies with her."

  "!!! What floor is she on? I'll have my men reach her immediately!"

  This guy just had an unbelievably suspicious reaction. Did someone really send this fool to destroy or hide the bodies? It's not like I can say no to a military officer, dammit!

  "Just under half an hour ago, she left for the 40th floor. They had met with the undead upon teleporting in and decided to climb the tower more slowly. The risk of teleporting on top of high-tiered undead was deemed too high."

  "Commander Jackson! Take your platoon and secure the 50th floor! I don't want Colonel Sanderson to get past you!"

  "Yes, sir!"

  "Commander Ender! Take your platoon and track Colonel Sanderson from the 40th floor! I want her standing before me within the hour!"

  "Yes, sir!"

  Before Commander Higgins could object, one hundred soldiers had already disappeared through the teleporters. Since they were already in the room, standing on the platforms, there wasn't any way to stop them other than combat. And even then, they could teleport up to get away.

  I don't think these clowns could pose an actual issue for Ms. Sanderson. She's tier 6 and has a battle-hardened army of about 30 people behind her. It doesn't seem like any of this guy's men could compare. Do we do anything? If we do, we'd end up marked as enemies of the state...

  And what the hell is up with Colonel Maverick getting reassigned? I guess that the Second Prince has stronger control over the military, but isn't this ridiculous? Could this guy just be lying through his teeth? If we wait an hour, is Colonel Maverick just going to show up asking about the bodies? It's so nonsensical that I'm not sure what to believe anymore.

  "Now then, while we await the return of the Former Colonel, let's get to seeing this supposed evidence."

  "If I need to reiterate, I will not be handing over the evidence without my superior's permission," Higgins stated in a stern voice. Like her skill, she was going to be immovable on this.

  "Oh, did you not hear me? I said that we were going to see it. Not 'take it'."

  Yeah, not trusting that...

  "Ah! If it's just checking, then I wouldn't mind showing it to you. The more people who witness the evidence, the better!"

  Nooooo! Higgins!!!

  Although... what is she supposed to do? Deny a superior officer even the smallest amount of trust? Maybe?

  Commander Higgins walked over to the coffin and pulled aside the covering. Inside was what they all expected: a dark-skinned, headless body with Fire Empire slave marks and shackle marks around the extremities and neck. Scars, cuts, and nail marks covered the corpse.

  This one had some tattoos on the left arm that wrapped around it like an armband, with various rune-like symbols that Damian couldn't identify. The ropes and chains had been removed from this corpse, unlike the one Damian had taken.

  Major Aberman leaned forward to look at the body while covering his nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

  "Enough, seal it up!" *cough* *cough*

  Higgins obliged the request.

  "It certainly could be a Fire Nation soldier who was tied up in slave shackles, but that could just be a diversion by those retches! To change the focus of all those investigating, they could have just put those markings on their own soldiers who offered to be turned into wraiths for this attack!"

  "Yes, that is a possibility... But that is why it is of utmost importance to get them whole to a Valkyrie or an individual with seer-like abilities. The burned ashes or wraith bodies wouldn't be a strong enough medium for it to work. At least that's what Former Colonel Sanderson told me."

  "Bah! Why would we let the Valkyrie interfere with Duco affairs! They abandoned us in our time of need for the Spire!"

  "... ..."

  "Ha! Don't even have a retort? I'm getting nowhere with this! Toddy! Get in touch with the General. We'll go through the proper channels and have this taken care of!"

  "Right away, Sir!" The spectacles-wearing adjutant sped away outside the tower to make the call.

  "So! Where is the other body? I was told to expect four."

  She wouldn't, right?

  "I am under orders to keep the location of the fourth body secret. Former Colonel Sanderson had it hidden away within the Spire."

  Oh, thank the goddesses.

  "Hmm. I see a line of caskets piled up over there... and... Oh! There's another lone casket sitting at a campsite?"

  Shit...

  "I d-don't know what your t-talking ab-bout. T-that's p-probably j-just a m-mourning ad-dventurer p-party."

  She can't lie for shit!! Damian was ready to fall over from the conversation, but Frey held him up.

  "Hmm... is that so~." The Major was quite content with his deductions.

  "You wouldn't mind if I investigated, now would you?"

  "AAAAAHHHHHHHGGGGGGG!!!"

  The sounds of clattering metal and screams of pain could be heard landing outside.

  "Healers! We need healers! Now!"

  The remaining soldiers brought by the Major were rushing outside. Everyone, from the adventurers, the healing staff, and Damian's group, was hustling to see what new disaster came their way.

  What greeted them was a pile of heavily injured soldiers, reeling from horrendous injuries. Numerous soldiers had their legs cut off and were soaked in water. Others had numerous smaller earth spikes embedded in their bodies.

  One poor soul was unfortunate enough to have the spike poking out of the eye hole of their helmet. Some others had burn marks on their armor, but it didn't look as if they took a direct hit from the blast.

  Only 38 of the fifty returned, and not even all of those who teleported out remained alive.

  Fergus and Donna rushed forward and began to apply first aid to the first soldier within reach.

  "Donna! Help me reattach her legs!" He was kneeling over a woman dressed in a wizard's robe. An actual wizard! One who would cast their own runic magic. "Alex! I need you to hold her foot in place!"

  The members each took their positions over the screaming woman. Fergus held her upper body down as Donna got to work. Water began to turn golden around the point where the severed parts met. The cut between the foot and leg was extraordinarily clean, like the finest blade known to man had done the deed.

  The light from Donna's skill started to fade, and sweat was visibly forming on her forehead. This skill took a lot of mana to conduct. The reattached leg was holding, but there was still a clear ring of blood flowing from the cut.

  Fergus then channeled his own mana. It flowed down her body in a brilliant light and coalesced at the wound. The flesh rapidly knitted back together, becoming whole.

  Their patient was still screaming through the healing, likely because her other foot was still detached. Alex had to fumble around a bit to find the right foot. There were several scattered around them...

  All the while, other soldiers were screaming for aid. One man saw their handywork and was clutching onto the back of Alex's armor, begging to be healed next.

  The healers from the healing center were now pouring out of the Spire, treating the soldiers. Not all of these healers were equipped to reattach limbs; many soldiers were having their legs turn to stumps in short order.

  At least they wouldn't die. Those who the earth spikes had injured were faring much better from the treatment, at least those who lived from their wounds.

  The Major stood over a soldier who appeared uninjured. He was rattling in his metal armor and grasping his knees.

  "Where's Commander Samson, soldier!"

  "Dead, Sir!" The soldier automatically responded through chattering teeth.

  "What the hell happened!"

  "Undead... a lot of undead... wraiths too. They were waiting for us, sir!"

  "You're trained soldiers! How the hell did this happen!"

  "It was fine at first... the front line held for a bit. We killed several of them, but then three high tiers came out. Samson said they were tier 6 before he blew up. We activated the teleporters right away, but it still wasn't fast enough..."

  "Damn it!"

  "Sir, should I have some men go gather Commander Ender and his men?" The adjutant asked his superior officer. The man still held a communicator to his ear, waiting for the other end to connect.

  "... No, we need them to bring back that Former Colonel Sanderson."