Summoning Personnel
"The spaghetti is burned!" Lukas exclaimed, frustration clear in his voice as he tossed the charred contents of the pot into the snow outside.
Inside the tent, the atmosphere was noticeably warmer than the previous night. The team had shed their bulky cold-weather jackets, now wearing only their combat shirts, the fabric hugging their upper bodies. Their helmets, vests, and balaclavas were arranged neatly to dry near the stove's welcoming warmth. Meanwhile, Lukas, determined not to repeat his culinary mishap, attentively prepared another meal from his backpack, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the pot.
Lukas, with his weathered face marked by lines of experience and white hair, appeared to be the eldest of the group. His eyes, a striking shade of red, added to his distinguished look. Amelia, too, had white hair, but her youthful features placed her in the same age bracket as Lisa. Harris and Bell, on the other hand, shared a striking resemblance, both sporting jet-black hair in almost identical styles, though Harris's glasses set him apart.
As they waited for the meal, Bell found himself repeatedly checking his status, his mind seemingly elsewhere amidst the quiet hum of the tent and the faint crackle of the stove.
[Diagnostic Menu] [Level: 7] [7 Demonic Points Available]
Name: Bellial Radcliffe
EXP: 17,350/86,800
General Health Status: Extremely Tired, Bruised Ribs
Skills and Perks:
• Marksmanship: Lv.2 (Increased Accuracy & Range of any small arms)
[Demonic Points: These are points that can be exchanged for skills or perks, providing a strategic edge in combat or diplomatic encounters. Some skills offer significant power, granting you an almost unfair advantage over adversaries. Carefully consider your choices here to maximize your potential.]
A varied list of skills materialized before Bell, each promising its own unique advantage. He scrutinized the options, his mind calculating the potential benefits. Ultimately, Bell's choice gravitated towards skills that would bolster areas where he felt particularly lacking, alongside one skill that stood out as exceptionally powerful in diplomatic situations. He recognized the value in the adage "the pen is mightier than the sword" — or in his case, the power of persuasive speech. This skill, he believed, could be his most formidable weapon, turning conversations into battlegrounds where he held the upper hand.
• Diplomatic Seer Lv. 4: Provides an edge in bargaining, crucial for resource acquisition or information gathering. This includes knowing the current state or mood of your diplomatic opponent, or allies. It also allows the user to know their relationship with other diplomatic parties. However, it costs a lot of aether energy to be used.
• Mana Efficiency Lv. 2: Reduces the amount of aether energy required to cast spells, allowing for more frequent use of magic.
• Marksmanship Lv. 3: Increased Accuracy and range of any small arms.
As far as he knew, he could use the spell related to vision by focusing his vision with the wits to use a spell. He then gave a sharp gaze towards Harris, wanting to know how his relationship to the rather disturbing, but somehow competent man that jinxed any chance of luck they so far had gotten.
[Harris Langsteirn: Happy | Professional Relationship |+10]
The skill's accuracy was astounding. Knowing someone's feelings and stance towards you before even a word was exchanged could indeed be a game-changer. But the spell's potency came at a cost, as Bell immediately felt a wave of fatigue wash over him from the brief use of the skill. Clearly, it was something to be reserved for critical moments.
Curiosity piqued, Bell turned his attention to Lukas, who was diligently focused on the meal preparation. The interface displayed:
[Lukas Bauer: Annoyed, Focused | Professional Relationship |+10]
This insight into Lukas's current state was intriguing, but Bell decided to disengage the skill to conserve his energy.
As Lukas served the meal, Bell gratefully accepted his portion. Despite being a simple freeze-dried dish, the Chili Mac & Cheese was a welcome feast for someone who hadn't eaten properly in days. The spicy meat blended seamlessly with the cheesy macaroni, offering a comforting warmth amidst the harsh conditions they faced.
After the meal, Bell stepped out of the tent, his eyes taking in the aftermath of their recent encounter. The stark contrast between the tranquility of their meal and the chaos outside was not lost on him, especially with the amount of dead husks and skeletons being evident outside.
"We really did a number on them, didn't we?" Bell mused aloud, his gaze sweeping over the scene of destruction before him – a stark landscape littered with lifeless forms and shattered bones scattered across the snowy expanse.
"Don't worry about it. Their bodies will just dissipate into aether," Lisa remarked nonchalantly, her breath misting in the cold air as she took a sip of coffee from a tin mug. "But, you know, this could really mess with the ecosystem here. Let's just hope it doesn't attract anything stronger, or we'll be in deep trouble."
"Like what? A wyvern?" Bell inquired, half-jokingly.
"At this rate, we might as well be hoping for a hydra," Lisa responded with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Though, honestly, I'd take any wyvern over an X-02S Strike Wyvern."
"I've never heard of that kind of wyvern," Bell admitted.
"It's just something fictional. Don't worry about it; it's not real," Lisa assured him with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"So, what's the plan, team leader?" Bell shifted the topic. "This place seems like a solid spot for an outpost, especially considering how much we've already invested here."
Lisa pondered for a moment before replying, "Well, with our budget back in the black, it might be wise to deploy a few more troops, maybe a squad of tier-3 soldiers. It won't blow a huge hole in our finances, and they're definitely a step up from militia."
"I agree. So, what are my options?" Bell asked, eager to make the next move.
"Open your military menu, and select the [Summoned Personnel Menu]."
The interface appeared in front of him again, he followed Lisa's instruction and he was faced with this screen.
[Summoned Personnel Menu] [EP: 485,950]
[Specialized Personnel Sub-Menu]
Standard Equipment: H&K 416, MG4, SR-25, Interceptor + Level IV Plates, PASGT, Basic Comms
New Personnel Cost: 6,000 EP / 4,000 EP Equipment Only + 4,800 Training Cost
Training Add-on: ◄5 Level Upgrade► [Tier-3 Special Forces]
[Summon ◄12► Soldiers] [129,600 EP]
Bell examined the costs closely, his expression one of concern. "Are we sure about this, Lisa? It seems quite costly. Is it really worth the expense?"
"Listen, Bell, it's not always about having more troops. Quality matters, and we're talking about top-notch equipment here. I wouldn't trust this kind of gear with just any militia," Lisa reasoned firmly.
"If they're as capable as you claim," Bell acquiesced, pressing the activation button.
After a brief moment of consideration, Bell activated the spell. Magic sparked to life, casting an ethereal glow as lights swirled and converged, revealing a squad of twelve well-equipped soldiers. A male soldier stepped forward, saluting them crisply.
"Sergeant Moore, 120th Air Assault, reporting for duty, sir!" he announced.
"At ease," Lisa responded.
"Sergeant Moore, your task is to secure this outpost with your squad," Bell instructed.
"You'll be allocated 80,000 EP for outpost management. Use it wisely and efficiently. Understood, Moore?" Lisa added.
"Yes, ma'am," the sergeant replied promptly.
"Then get to it," she said.
The soldiers quickly dispersed, efficiently positioning a grenade machine gun and summoning additional heavy weaponry. Bell watched, hoping Sergeant Moore would manage the resources judiciously. Earning EP might be straightforward, but spending it was even easier. Bell pondered the future, considering how to maintain a large force without relying too heavily on EP. Perhaps, when this was all settled, finding a sustainable solution would be his next big challenge.
Bell, still harboring some doubts, couldn't help but express his unease. "We've just allocated nearly half of our budget to those troops. You're aware of that, aren't you?"
Lisa's confidence remained unshaken. "Don't stress over it, Bell. Trust me, it's a sound strategic investment. They'll make good use of that money."
With a sigh that mingled trust with apprehension, Bell replied, "Alright, I'm trusting your judgment on this. But let's not forget, if this doesn't work out, we might be facing challenges beyond just scavenging for husks."
"Harris can handle a bit more of that," Lisa said with a reassuring smile.
Looking to the future, Bell steered the conversation towards their broader strategic concerns. "We also need to think about the settlers in the northeast. Surviving in the northern climate isn't easy for everyone. It might be a good idea to offer them some support. And I'm quite certain there's at least one refugee from my empire among them."
"That's true, a 2,000 EP reduction in personnel costs is quite significant," Lisa agreed.
As they were discussing, Bell noticed a new notification flashing before his eyes.
[Getting More People] [0/20]
An army without its people is not an army. It's a good idea to have more people as both extra manpower alongside giving the military its raison d'etre. Gather refugees or settlers from the surrounding area.
[Reward: Population Management Interface + Passive EP Reward]
"Well, well, well, just in time. The system always gives us task, doesn't it?" Lisa commented.
"As long as it aligns with our objectives, I don't mind that. Money is money, and money is what we need."
Lisa nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Rescuing them not only boosts our manpower but also strengthens our position in this region. Plus, the system's reward for each settler adds a nice incentive."
They quickly formulated a plan. Bell would lead a small team to scout the settlers area and assess the situation. Lisa assigned Amelia and Lukas to help Moore and the AA to coordinate the defense and basic human requirement on the outpost, they might need to establish more tents because a simple six-people tent wouldn't suffice if they were really going to settle there.