After a few hours later...
The expedition team was prepared. Enforcers loaded into their transport vehicles. Nyx slammed the car's door and got comfortable. She rolled the windows down as the car moved. Then, David's voice echoed from the other side.
"I don't understand."
Nyx frowned and intertwined her fingers on her lap.
"What don't you understand?"
"We should've immediately gone on the expedition – not have a chat with the head of the guild."
A dark smile began to form on Nyx's face. "David…the enforcers need rest."
"Their chaos incarnates for god's sake – not humans."
"They ARE humans, general…and don't let me hear anything holy come from your mouth again."
David gritted his teeth, looking at the beautiful sky. They were turned away from another but could talk perfectly. Then, Nyx leaned her arm on the window and said in an oddly calm tone.
"The only reason you're here is because the romans had a dispute with Ashland…If not they wouldn't have accepted our agreement and would have gone with Rome instead. Don't get so cocky when you're just the second option."
David didn't respond as if he had heard nothing.
"Keep your enforcers under control while we're here…otherwise, you know what will happen."
Nyx's words echoed throughout the car, making even the driver gulp. David drew a deep breath and replied in a restraint tone.
"…Fine."
A few minutes passed, then they arrived at the gates. The adventurers opened the hulk of metal. It screeched along the hard surface creating an irritating melody. As the gate fully opened, they drove through. They entered a large ground similar to a military base. Nyx peeped outside, seeing many adventurers training with one another. Some trained alone and some were practicing using their attributes.
'Nothing of interest here…'
Nyx thought with a bored face. These adventures had simple attributes with simple applications but…that is what makes them special. They moved spoons and forks, decayed dummies and chained them. After a while, they made it to the final gate. A massive wall that touched the clouds, covered in soldiers and adventurers. Automatic weapons were spread across the wall. The men confirmed their identities and began opening the final gate.
'All this security for a gate…must be dangerous out there.'
The gate screeched against the hard surface. Alarms and red lights flared indefinitely. Comms buzzed and sirens shouted with mirroring voices. Finally, the doors opened and the cars began accelerating. The tires finally touched dirt in days. All drivers simultaneously pressed a button and almost immediately, their behind started the shift. The enforcers saw the top retract and windows opened.
The doors also opened and allowed them to see other vehicles. They saw the dry, grassy surface of the land they were in. Their faces grew more incredulous as they found that the trees were dry too. Then, the comms buzzed and a voice came through.
"Um…hello, can they hear me? Yes? Okay."
The voice then, prepared itself and waited for the enforcers to listen.
"Hello! All enforcers, I'm professor sterling. The lead scientist of this expedition and I would like to educate you on some basic facts about the place we just entered – the glades."
The enforcers began to discuss among themselves. Arthur leaned back, hugging his katan and closely listened to the audio.
"From the southern shore to 2000 km up north that we have explored is called the glades which we are traveling through right now. We believe this ecosystem is stable…emphasis on believe."
The vehicles started to turn left, moving past lakes and massive rocks with many animals visible which made the enforcers gasp in awe.
"We call this type of ecosystem – a savanna. The animals here are dangerous so be careful when you approach them."
Sterling chuckled a little before continuing. The enforcers peeked through the circular windows, seeing the dry ecosystem. Then, an animal appeared. It had brown-spotted skin with a light undertone and small horns and ears.
"That – my friends, is a gazelle. It's only found around this area but remember it may appear elsewhere with this expedition."
The enforcers gathered around the windows, wanting to see the new animal. Arthur stood up and pushed the enforcers aside. He lowered his head and took a look.
'A gazelle…looks like prey but it might be quick with that kind of body.'
He continued to observe but just then, someone made a noise behind him. He flinched and turned around and saw the girls giggling at something. He pushed them aside and peeked through. He saw a huge, bulky grey-skinned animal with a massive jaw and small eyes. Right then, the professor's voice echoed through the comms.
"On the other side is a hippo, predators don't mess with them and their biteforce is strong enough to crush a human skull. So, be careful when you approach them. They can be a little raspy."
Arthur clicked his tongue. The thought of the hippo crushing his skull sent chills through his body. He shook his body and sat back down, waiting for their first stop.
***
The sun began to set a few hours later. The sky turned into a canvas of orange, purple and blue as their vehicles came to a stop. The trucks opened their storage's. The enforcers exited their transports and began taking out tents. Arthur walked past the campsite which was being set up. He met up with his teammates.
"Hey, Kay and Maple."
The two turned their attention towards Arthur.
"Yeah?" They said at the same time.
"Gather the new enforcers that were assigned to us."
"Okay." Kay replied.
Maple didn't respond and just went along with Kay. Arthur followed them with his eyes for a while before letting go.
"If I'm correct…Ten died and two were disabled?"
"Yeah, one of them had a massive cut on his chest but he recovered pretty quickly." Harvey crossed his arms.
"I just hope these new enforcers aren't some cocky bastards." Amelia sighed. "The last one who was like that pissed his pants when he got deployed for the first time."
"Well…we aren't the ones who decide. We'll get some veterans from lower units and some Stratos academy cadets."
"Oh…those guys are the worst." Amelia face-palmed.
"You're also Stratos graduates. Are you saying you guys are the worst." Harvey asked in confusion.
"No, Harvey…he means they think their big shots. We're seasoned professionals but she was like that once." Arthur pointed at Amelia. "Not any more though."
"Oh…" Harvey raised his brows.
After a few minutes, Kay and Maple gathered all the enforcers of the first unit. The officers lined up and stood at attention. Arthur's team observed them closely. There were fifteen men and woman in front of them, waiting for orders from their captain and the lieutenant general. After a few seconds, Arthur sighed and drew a sharp breath.
"All enforcers previously from lower units, step forward."