Other than a security check at the bottom of the stairwell, the surveillance was fairly relaxed on the lower levels of the barracks. The guards here recognized the three from earlier and them pass.

However, a checkpoint was set up on the twenty-seventh floor. The guards manning the station halted the trio's climb.

"This is a restricted area," the military police officer at the checkpoint announced. He frowned at the trio's appearance. Their clothes and armor were cheap, and in poor condition: certainly unfitting for the strict military environment. "State your business."

"I have intelligence for General Bradley," John declared.

This caused the officer to frown even deeper. The general was known for not only his reliable leadership but also amongst the upper echelons for his morally questionable intelligence and black ops programs. But the officer kept his tone professional. "Members of the general's intelligence operations? Even so, I cannot let you pass without proper documentation."

"Not spies, but adventurers who experienced the outbreak. I have a shell from the tainted fungal spawn as proof."

The sergeant softened his expression. "I do not have the authority to make this decision." However, he gave an order to one of the security staff. The soldier climbed up the stairs with the sample.

"You'll have to wait here, but you can get searched in the meantime."

"Please," John said respectfully.

John remained stoic, but he was thrilled that this particular military police officer, Sergeant First Class Kriens, was still here.

Gyead was a military outpost established by the joint effort of the western human civilizations. This made its leadership awfully fragile. General Bradley was the current military leader, a representative of the largest human state, the Greight Republic. The other leaders included two brigadier generals and several colonels from the other states.

These nations could never completely be at peace. In previous treaties, they had agreed to keep Gyead out of any conflict, but even professional soldiers can have a difficult time remaining calm towards soldiers of an enemy state under the same roof.

Thus, as part of these agreements, a neutral military police force was established to ensure the cooperation of the internal factions. These impartial enforcers were already used to regulate diplomatic negotiations, but the Gyead outpost seemed to be the perfect fit. They were the ones who guarded the command sector and the officers' quarters on the highest three floors of the barracks.

SFC Kriens was the leader of this small force. Players had been always annoyed by his team's presence, blocking them from the upper floors of the barracks, but when they had managed to analyze his stats, they were shocked by his E-Grade and by his huge growth rate stat. He was a highly skilled spear-based skirmisher that focused on a swift oppressive style, one of the top NPCs at that time. However, Kriens was righteous – all military police were expected to be – only he was tragically so.

In the end, the MPs were effective, but the small contingent of military police would never be enough to stop an outright rebellion. When the Greight Republic shattered the agreements, marching on the outpost, General Bradley's betrayal couldn't be prevented.

At the worst time, the Eighth Great Dissemination flooded into the weakened Bulwark, crushing its lines. At this point, the military police of Gyead had been all but eradicated.

Players would eventually be able to take NPCs as retainers and when a high-level user revealed that he had recruited Kriens, the whole server had turned into an affinity grind where players rushed to recruit the best NPC. This was because of a viral video that displayed the terrifying might of the E-grade skirmisher.

Eventually, Kriens' master had committed a terrible act. This was all too common in RISE, even the most benevolent would make a mistake in such a realistic and harsh world. Due to Kriens' character, they had a falling out and that was that.

The military police efficiently conducted a body search. They performed a thorough pat-down, which caused Jodie to blush, and an inventory check. The soldiers' stoic expression couldn't help but slightly twist when they fished out the endless pile of smelly fungal shells.

A police officer with an appraisal skill analyzed it before reporting the results to Kriens. He nodded and gave an order. The security personnel hurriedly returned the items to their owners.

"All clear," Kriens announced. "You may proceed when the general grants permission."

The soldier soon returned with written orders from his superior.

"You're free to go," Kriens said, verifying the orders. "Also, between us, you should trade in your shells before they go bad. There's a great alchemy vendor in the market on the nineteenth floor by the main stairwell. Can't miss it," he added with a smile. The military police stepped aside.

"Thank you," John said, satisfied. Sergeant Kriens was exactly as the stories claimed.

General Bradley was exactly the same as the allegations too. He was a large man, brimming with muscle rather than fat, with a mustache groomed to regulation. His face was as strict as his appearance and conduct that refused to ever crack a smile in contrast to the stern but friendly Kriens. An oppressive aura emanated from him: any NPC of such importance would have one, but Bradley's seemed to match his ironclad character exceptionally.

The general had the adventurers meet him in one of his meeting rooms: a room bare, but well lit and functional, in contrast to certain other officers. Bradley always emphasized efficiency and cost.

He wasn't alone though, there were several other commanding officers, notably Brigadier General Banks of the Jaurum Kingdom and Colonel Autumn of Ironriver City. They were gathered around a map and seemed to be discussing the Surge.

"I understand you have information regarding the mushroom outbreak?" General Bradley said, looking away from his peers.

"Yes, my team and I were caught it at around six fifteen and five miles east. It was a branch of the infestation, with only minor spawns and a centipede. A high-tier mage, at least D-grade, detonated large scale AoE magic a mile north of us. There was a flash of light, then a fireball and the horde converged on the caster," John reported. General Bradley appreciated concise and direct conversation.

One of the officers at the table adjusted a string on the table that represented the boundaries of the Shroom Surge.

"It must be Rowan," General Banks speculated. "There's no D-Grade magic that can be witnessed a mile away."

"Agreed," a colonel added. "Based on other reports, he'll have moved west by now." Another figure on the map was adjusted.

"Isn't that one of his ultimate spells? That was two hours ago, he'll be exhausted by now."

The officers discussed a bit longer before one of them dismissed the adventurers standing awfully straight at the doorway. "You can claim your rewards at the front desk." he handed them another signed order.

[Quest, Essential Information, has been completed]

[Perfect Clear Rating Achieved]

[You have gained 1000 XP and 10 Gyead Reputation]

[Please check in the written order to determine your other rewards]

The trio then left, a bit shaken – Gram and Jodie hadn't said anything since the checkpoint. "These NPCs are just like monsters; it's the weight of their gaze." Gram said.

"It was like the room temperature dropped, but not really. Weird stuff." Jodie added. "How were you not affected?" she then asked John.

"The aura system is a proprietary sensation formula, one of the first developments by RISE co-founder Theodore Cedar. It's a famous work known for its unnerving coldness." John answered. "But it's just sensations in the end. Everyone adjusts to it eventually."

They swiftly returned to the front desk and claimed the reward with the same overworked worker.

[You have gained 7 coppers and a Recruit Armory Weapon Order]

That was curious, they obtained the maximum possible XP and reputation reward, but only 7 coppers. The perfect clear rating was simply the highest rating, but not necessarily flawless. They must have missed some information. 'It probably concerned Rowan,' John concluded after replaying the commanding officers' earlier conversation.

The mage Rowan was one of the most fearsome presences at Gyead. As a level 300+, F-Tier, Arcane Magician, he had been the stuff of legends - an independent mage that could force the armies of nations to yield. His wide-scale AoE magic and tenacity to be able to repeatedly cast them had given him the reputation of a potential nuclear weapon.

However, there was just one problem: he didn't exist - in the previous timeline at least.

John hadn't played during the very beginning of the mass release, but he was familiar with the state of Gyead at that time. The Great Magician Rowan had been declared missing in action only days before. Players had tried to learn more about the cause of the disappearance, hoping to obtain a quest, but the whole thing was kept under wraps by the military.

Now, with more knowledge, John could only speculate that Rowan had been submerged by the Surge. The Surge could only be dealt with players when they were in the mid to late 200s. But this was assuming an army of tens of thousands.

John remembered the third great subjugation attempt led by a few of the largest guilds in the past. This player force was an average level of 190, numbering a hundred thousand. The recorded video was uncomfortable to say the least. The heart of the Surge was significantly stronger than any branch. The waves of tainted fungal organisms had buried the player army that itself was large enough to bury any normal army. They lasted a couple of hours before decimation.

A single high-tier mage would be far more suited to the Surge than that attempt, but the odds were certainly not favorable. Rowan could only endure until the Shroom Surge disappeared with the evaporating sulfuric rain or escape. Though, no one would call an Arcane Mage a slippery class as it was impossible to complete a Teleport channel under a mountain of mobs.

The trio arrived at the armory while John was consumed in his theories. They handed their Recruit Armory Weapon Orders to the average soldier on guard. The military police would only be assigned to strategic locations like the elite armory, penitentiary, or magic tower.

The private inspected the order and stepped aside, opening the door. "One item each, please," he instructed.

"What are you guys looking for?" Jodie asked as they entered.

"Pistol."

"Greatsword, of course," Gram declared, giving his oxidized mess of a weapon a look.

"Alright, I'll go look for a staff, then we can see who has the better haul."

The recruit armory, although the weakest one, was well-organized with rows of weapons sorted by type. Racks, up to ceiling height, held weapons in numerous perfect lines.

This also meant Jodie's little game was disappointing. All the weapons were standardized with only a few variants per weapon type. There were no outstanding pieces to speak of.

John immediately went to the firearms section, the pistol shelves. Hundreds of identical weapons lay in sequence. He rested his eyes on the larger caliber handguns on the end of the row. Particularly, he decided on one with high muzzle velocity and grain, at the cost of a heavier build, smaller magazine, and lower fire rate.

[Heavy Recruit Pistol]

A-Grade Pistol

Durability: 40/40

Attack Power: 10 Base

Fire Rate: 0.75 shots/s Standard (Bolt Action)

Magazine Size: 4

Accuracy: 87/100

Effective Range: 50m

Equip Requirements: Basic Pistol Mastery Level 1, Player Level 2

Modification: None

Notes: A standard recruit firearm; low fire rate, and magazine; good penetrating power and damage.

This kind of heavy weapon suited John's playstyle better. He preferred to combine occasion precision shots between dagger strikes. The four-round magazine and abysmal fire rate would definitely limit his available firing options, but firing sequences were more important for gunner players. Moreover, with a manual system, a skilled thief could increase the fire rate from the standard.

As for ammunition, the pistol came with 500 rounds of standard-issue heavy pistol ammunition and 20 rounds of specialty ammunition of choice. John chose a standard complement: 15 black-tips, enhanced for penetration; and 5 red-tips, incendiary rounds that used an alchemical solution to ignite enemies.

…

In the conference room, the leaders' discussion was concluding.

"We need to send reinforcements," Colonel Autumn advised.

"And whose troops do you propose to embark on this expedition?" another colonel, Deftane of the Lushiane Kingdom, asked. "With all due respect," he continued with very little respect in his tone. "But I believe that there is a certain bias towards your own countrymen."

It was well known Rowan had originated from Ironriver city, which, in spite of its name, produced countless outstanding magicians. Everyone also knew that Colonel Deftane's allegations held some truth: everyone would be biased towards their own people, if only in their hearts. Still, Autumn was a respectable member of the Gyead coalition army, and no such professional let national bias influence these kinds of decisions.

"Colonel Deftane," Colonel Autumn started. "This is a serious situation. Please refrain from such blatant defamation," she said. "I'm convinced that my artillery regiment will be more than enough to ensure the survival of Master Rowan, especially against an enemy that relies on numbers."

General Bradley had wanted to call out Deftane's behavior too but Deftane wasn't really one of his men. That was one of the problems the military alliance at Gyead, the leadership of factions would always butt heads. The military police that always gave Bradley a nightmare wouldn't act on such a provocation either.

Bradley, who had kept quiet at this point sighed quietly and voiced his opinion. "And who will defend the walls against the dangerously close outbreak?" Bradley was too proud to admit it, but Ironriver City's artillery battalions were essential for Gyead's siege defense. "Don't waste your men's efforts on such a fruitless endeavor."

"General Bradley, I cannot agree with such a statement," Autumn insisted. "You know just as well as me, or anyone, how invaluable Master Rowan's magic is against tainted invasions. He's a strategic asset."

"Colonel Autumn, I understand, but I cannot weaken the defenses, and risk the lives of the citizens and soldiers of the outpost for a strategic asset that may be long gone."

"I know he's still alive," Autumn asserted with absolute confidence in her eyes. Her professionalism had disappeared for a moment. "We need to send troops, fast."

The general opened his mouth as if comment on Autumn's questionable words, but closed shut. "The best I can do is a compromise," he finally said. "Keep your troops on the walls, and I'll send three of my battalions and one of Deftane's to investigate. His thieves will be imperative for a nighttime search and rescue mission."

Lushiane was the most forested area of the western plains. In its lush greenery, the Lushians developed a formidable archery and thief style comparable to the famous elves of the Lavie Woodlands far east.

Colonel Deftane's face soured slightly, but he couldn't help the situation. There was no denying the Lushian thieves were the best suited for Bradley's proposal. "Of course, general, my men are with you." Still, no commander would want his troops to potentially enter melee combat with a force like the Surge.

Colonel Autumn, of Ironriver, stood up straight and gave a respectful salute of the Ironriver people to both contributors of the expedition. It a three-fingered tap to solar plexus, a place the people of Ironriver believed to be the center of health-magic conversion.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't required by regulations and in the multiple factions of Gyead, these regulations were already quite loose. Essentially, the gesture was a bit stiff, but General Bradley appreciated the woman's resolve.

After the meeting's dismissal, the general enjoyed a moment of silence in the empty conference room. He had pushed back the rowdy Colonel Deftane a few notches and set up an effective plan for a mushroom infestation that might not even come. Moreover, his special programs reported good progress.

It was unfortunate that Colonel Autumn had managed to push a compromise. Her important regiment gave her more leverage than Bradley would have liked. Still, General Bradley always believed that strength was born through struggle. His troops might suffer some losses, but the survivors would become stronger with a bit of luck.

It was some good work today.

'Oh yes, and there were those adventurers that seemed to have good potential even if they were a bit low-leveled,' the countless lines of code that simulated General Bradley thought.