The week leading up to the exploration of Area 69 was a whirlwind of movement across the Normos Family's site. The once-quiet compound had transformed into a bustling war camp, filled with the hum of machinery, the clatter of weapons being inspected, and the occasional bark of orders from veteran mercenaries. Cargo containers filled with supplies were being organized, equipment was calibrated and double-checked, and every member of the team drilled their roles repeatedly.
For Rion, the atmosphere felt like a coiled spring, tension building as the days passed. He had spent the time refining his and his team mates gear, testing new enhancements to his weapons, and gathering every scrap of intelligence he could about the mission ahead. Despite the months he had spent in the underworld, this was the first time he would be involved in something on this scale.
Dixie Normos had insisted on a structured approach. While some of the mercenaries and retainers grumbled at the rigidity, there was no denying that discipline was necessary when venturing into the unknown.
At the center of it all was the day's meeting.
A large conference room had been arranged in one of the temporary command buildings, its walls lined with monitors displaying data feeds, live maps, and dossiers on relevant personnel. The long metal table at the center of the room was occupied by the key players of the operation—leaders of the Normos Family's forces, high-ranking mercenary captains, retainer commanders and for some reason, Rion.
His invitation to the meeting came as a surprise, not because he doubted his own capabilities, but because his role in the upcoming operation didn't typically warrant a seat at the table with the mission's top brass. The invitation had been delivered to him by one of Dixie Normos' aides, do he was certain it was legit.
When he arrived at the conference room, the air was thick with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the low murmur of voices discussing strategy. At the front, a massive projector flickered to life, displaying an image of Tempest Grove.
As he stepped inside, a few heads turned in his direction, their expressions unreadable but not unwelcoming. Kellen, seated near the head of the table, gave him a brief nod, acknowledging his presence without breaking stride in her conversation with a grizzled mercenary captain.
Rion took a seat near the end of the table, close enough to observe but not so close as to intrude on the inner circle of decision-makers.
Some time later, Dixie Normos entered, flanked by his two personal guards.
Dixie wasn't an imposing figure in terms of physicality, but the weight of leadership and his impeccable style in clothing made him impossible to ignore. Dressed in a crisp, dark-blue tactical coat with silver accents, he carried themselves with an air of composed authority. As he approached the table, all side conversations ceased.
"Let's begin." Dixie's voice was steady as he took his seat at the head of the table.
A large display flickered to life, revealing a satellite map of Tempest Grove. The dense jungle sprawled across the screen, a vast green expanse with pockets of old ruins barely visible beneath the canopy. A red circle marked the focal point of their expedition—a specific zone deep within the grove.
"This," Dixie continued, gesturing at the highlighted area, "is the speculated entrance to our target. What lies beneath it, we don't fully know yet, but it is the site that the Santana Group uncovered."
The room remained silent as Dixie tapped a control panel, zooming in on the map. The details became sharper, revealing extra information, like thermal scans of the perimeter, and even speculative maps of its underground layout.
"As some of you may know, the Santana Group is a small-time archaeological institute. They were the ones who originally stumbled upon this site but before they could make a big deal out of it, we caught wind of their findings and moved quickly to secure a deal—alongside other interested parties."
He flicked to the next slide.
"This deal ensured that the Santana Group backs off from the site for a full month. We compensated them well—money, resources, political favors—but more importantly, we ensured that they won't be spreading word of this discovery. The last thing we need is outside interference."
A few murmurs spread across the room.
"And you're sure they'll honor the deal?" Karmon, captain of the Black Vipers mercenary team asked skeptically.
Dixie smirked. "They'd be suicidal to break it. Besides, they know they can't hold onto a find like this on their own. A month of silence is a small price for them to keep their heads attached to their bodies. After that, they can come sniffing around all they want."
He turned back to the projection. "That being said, we're not the only ones who bought their silence. Apart from our Family, there are four other major factions that managed to get in on the deal, each with their own interests and agendas. These are the main groups we'll be dealing with."
The screen shifted again, displaying four distinct logos—each belonging to a faction that had also bought into this endeavor.
"First up is Couton's Militants, a private military force led by Gerrard Couton, a 2nd-tier adept at the early-stage. They're a well funded group that normally take high-risk contracts and execute them with military precision. We are of the belief that they are working under the orders of a powerful benefactor, most likely one of my Family's political rivals. Expect them to have advanced weaponry, strong tactics, and zero hesitation when it comes to eliminating obstacles."
The room absorbed this information, the tension palpable. Dixie continued, his tone measured but firm.
"Next up, we have Reiss' Order, another private military force. However, unlike Couton's forces, the Order follows a strict, almost religious code of conduct. Their interest in the site is likely tied to its potential for ancient technology or artifacts. They're shouldn't be as heavily armed as Couton's Militants, but their fanaticsm makes it so that they will fight over anything they deem significant. Don't underestimate them."
The screen shifted again, revealing the third faction's emblem—a stylized phoenix engulfed in flames.
"Out of all the factions involved, this one is probably the most headache inducing. They are Adli's Third Pathfinding Army. If you think the logo or the name sounds familiar, it's because they are an official regiment of Adli's standing army, you know, the city-state whose borders encompass the entirety of Coca Town and Tempest Grove."
The room erupted into murmurs and uneasy glances as the emblem of Adli's Third Pathfinding Army lingered on the screen. The presence of an official military force from Adli, a powerful city-state with significant influence in the region, changed the dynamics of the operation entirely. This wasn't just a clash of mercenaries or private factions anymore—this was a direct confrontation with a state-backed entity, one with resources and authority far beyond what any of the other groups could muster.
Dixie allowed the room a moment to process the gravity of the situation before continuing. His expression remained calm, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that betrayed the seriousness of the challenge ahead.
"It took a lot of wheeling and dealing behind the scenes to get them to agree to a temporary truce and allow us to operate in this area. Their presence here is a double-edged sword. On one hand, their involvement lends legitimacy to our operation and ensures that no other official military forces will interfere. On the other hand, they are a highly disciplined and well-equipped force, and their objectives does not align with ours in any way. They're here to secure any technology or resources that could benefit Adli's military, and they won't hesitate to take control of the site if they deem it necessary."
The room fell silent again, the weight of Dixie's words settling over everyone like a heavy blanket. Rion, seated at the edge of the table, felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He had expected danger, but this was on a whole different level. Going up against a city-state's military wasn't just risky—it was borderline suicidal.
Dixie tapped the control panel, and the screen shifted once more, revealing the fourth and final faction's emblem.
"Last but certainly not least," he said, his tone darkening, "we have the Ordinance Guild, the guild with the strongest influence around these parts. Unlike our other factions, which are mostly relying on numbers and firepower, this guild will most likely be bringing trained cultivators who wield high-level abilities."
He folded his arms, letting the weight of the information settle over the room. "These four factions, along with us and the Santana Group, are the only ones that should have knowledge of the site. Should." He let the word hang in the air.
Rion leaned forward slightly, already predicting where this was going.
"But there's always a chance of leaks," Dixie continued. "Whether it's a rogue information broker, a greedy researcher, or just plain bad luck, we have to assume that other groups may have gotten wind of this through other means. That means unknown variables. We need to be ready for surprises."
The screen shifted again, showing an entry schedule for the exploration. It showed Adli's Third Pathfinding Army first, followed by Normos Family Forces, then Couton's Militants, The Ordinance Guild, and Reiss' Order coming in last.
"Each faction will enter at staggered times. This ensures that we don't immediately start fighting over territory and resources. It also allows each group to assess the dangers ahead before the next one follows."
"This means that by the time we enter, the terrain will be largely unaltered. Whether it be traps, or environmental factors, we have to be adaptable."
The beautiful captain of the Shadow Sisters spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "What's the plan for eventual contact with the other factions? Do we engage on sight, or do we try to avoid conflict until we've secured a reasonable prize?"
Dixie's lips curled into a faint smile. "That depends on the situation. Ideally, we'd prefer to avoid unnecessary confrontations. Our primary goal is to secure the site, and ensure that the our group maintains control over whatever we find, not to wage a war."
He leaned back slightly, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the room. The gathered commanders exchanged glances, some nodding in understanding while others remained silent, their expressions pensive.
He took a sip of water before continuing. "That said, all the other factions have their own agenda. While there's a so-called 'non-aggression' agreement in place, let's not kid ourselves—violence is inevitable. If a faction finds something valuable, they'll fight to keep it. If we cross paths at the wrong time, then the agreement won't mean shit. Ah! Pardon my crude language."
He then gestured toward Kellen, who had remained mostly silent until now. "Kellen here is an experienced commander who will be coordinating field operations once you're inside. She'll be handling communication between teams, ensuring you stay updated on enemy movements and any discoveries that are made."
Kellen straightened in her seat, her sharp gaze sweeping across the gathered officers. "I'll be assigning field teams based on specialization. Combat teams will handle engagements and security, while our tech and research teams will focus on excavation, analysis, and recovery. We'll have scouts running ahead of the main group to identify potential threats—both environmental and from other factions."
Rion took in the information, already considering where he would fit into the operation. His role wasn't entirely clear yet, but given his expertise with equipment and his combat capability, he suspected he'd be deployed as a hybrid specialist—both a fighter and a technician.
Dixie continued. "Now, let's talk about Area 69 itself. Based on the limited scans and old research logs, we're looking at a multi-level underground complex. The upper levels seem to be partially collapsed, which means the lower levels will be difficult to access. Our best bet is finding a relatively secure area to establish a base once we're inside. There's also evidence of past excavation attempts, meaning some sections may already be exposed."
He tapped the control panel, bringing up a series of grainy, older scans overlaid with the recent thermal readings. "Then, there's this anomaly."