The streets of Base 101 overflowed with people.
Word had spread faster than the expedition itself.
The Commander had returned.
Workers abandoned construction sites.
Blacksmiths stepped out of the Advanced Forge.
Farmers hurried in from the fields.
Children climbed onto wagons and rooftops.
Thousands gathered along the main avenue leading toward the Command Hall.
Every eye looked toward the massive gates.
Every heart waited.
---
CRRRRRREEEEAK...
The fortress gates slowly opened.
Silence fell over the kingdom.
Sam stepped through first.
His black cloak swayed gently behind him.
Leon followed a few steps behind.
The Goblin Warlord King marched proudly at Sam's right.
The Goblin Mage floated silently beside him.
The eight Shadow Scouts appeared from the surrounding shadows before falling into perfect formation behind their captain.
Then...
The ground shook.
BOOM...
BOOM...
BOOM...
The Mana Crystal Golem lowered its massive head before entering the fortress.
The crystal giant moved with surprising care.
Every step was measured.
Every movement avoided the surrounding buildings.
Its enormous violet eyes quietly observed its new home.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
The Mana Crystal Golem has already begun adapting to Base 101's internal layout.
Probability of accidental structural damage... less than one percent.
Sam smiled.
"Good."
---
For several seconds...
No one moved.
Then...
The silence shattered.
"COMMANDER SAM!"
"LONG LIVE BASE 101!"
"LONG LIVE THE COMMANDER!"
Cheers erupted throughout the fortress.
The celebration shook the very walls.
Children laughed as they chased after the procession.
Veteran soldiers raised their weapons into the air.
Workers embraced one another.
Hope...
Filled every corner of the kingdom.
---
Standing before the Command Hall...
The leadership of Base 101 waited.
Ben.
Zora.
Runa.
Mira.
Kael.
George.
Doran.
Behind them stood every officer currently inside the kingdom.
As Sam approached...
Ben stepped forward.
He struck his fist firmly against his chest.
"Commander."
"Welcome home."
The remaining captains immediately followed.
"Welcome home, Commander!"
Hundreds of soldiers echoed together.
"WELCOME HOME, COMMANDER!"
Sam returned the salute.
"It's good to be home."
---
George was the first to step forward.
His eyes shone with excitement.
"Commander..."
"I've already updated the construction schedule."
"The Industrial District is ahead of schedule."
He unfolded several blueprints.
"With the Mana Crystal Mine secured..."
"We can expand the workshops..."
"Increase warehouse capacity..."
"And begin preparing the eastern expansion."
Sam carefully looked over the plans.
A smile appeared.
"You've already been busy."
George chuckled.
"I wasn't going to waste the opportunity you gave us."
"You won us the future..."
"My job is to build it."
Sam extended his hand.
"You have my full support."
George firmly shook it.
"I won't disappoint you."
---
Next...
Doran stepped forward carrying a small steel sword.
Without saying a word...
He snapped it across his knee.
CRACK!
The broken pieces fell to the ground.
Everyone looked at him.
Doran folded his arms.
"That's the limit of ordinary steel."
He looked directly at Sam.
"Commander..."
"The Mana Crystal Valley belongs to us now."
"It's time."
"I request permission to begin producing mana-infused weapons and armor for every soldier in Base 101."
Sam smiled.
"Permission granted."
Doran grinned from ear to ear.
"The forge won't disappoint you."
---
Nearby...
Runa slowly circled Leon.
She studied him carefully.
"...Interesting."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"What is?"
"I've been watching you for the last minute."
"You've disappeared three times."
Leon couldn't help but smile.
"The class evolution changed more than I expected."
Runa nodded.
"It suits you."
Then she looked toward the Shadow Scouts.
Each one stood silently.
Not a single unnecessary movement.
Not a single wasted glance.
She smiled.
"Looks like the Scout Corps has become even more frightening."
One Shadow Scout proudly answered.
"We'll ensure no enemy ever reaches Commander Sam."
Runa nodded approvingly.
"I believe you."
---
Mira approached next.
She smiled warmly.
"I'm happy to see everyone returned safely."
Her expression immediately became professional.
"Now..."
"Everyone who went on the expedition..."
"Medical inspection."
Several Shadow Scouts sighed quietly.
Leon laughed.
"I should've known."
One scout whispered,
"Captain..."
"Can we disappear first?"
Leon shook his head.
"Not from Captain Mira."
The surrounding soldiers laughed.
Even Mira smiled.
"Exactly."
---
Kael walked toward Leon carrying his Frost Spear.
Without warning...
He thrust the spear forward.
WHOOSH!
Leon vanished.
The spear struck only empty air.
A heartbeat later...
Leon reappeared behind Kael.
"...Too slow."
Kael froze.
Then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Now that's a Phantom Assassin!"
He turned toward the younger Spearmen.
"Did you all see that?"
"Train harder!"
"Or Captain Leon will sneak past every one of you!"
The Spear Corps answered together.
"YES, CAPTAIN!"
---
Throughout the celebration...
Ben quietly watched his son.
Leon stood confidently among the other captains.
The Shadow Scouts instinctively positioned themselves around him.
Without speaking...
They trusted his every decision.
Ben smiled.
Not because Leon had become stronger.
But because...
Others had chosen to follow him.
That was the mark of a true captain.
---
Beside him...
Zora quietly observed.
As a mother...
She noticed things others missed.
The confidence in Leon's posture.
The calmness in his breathing.
The quiet awareness in his eyes.
Even while standing among friends...
He continuously monitored every rooftop...
Every window...
Every possible approach.
He had changed.
Not just in strength.
But in responsibility.
---
Ben finally stepped forward.
He stopped directly in front of Leon.
Neither spoke.
For several long moments...
Father and son simply looked at one another.
Then Ben smiled.
"You've grown."
Leon smiled back.
"I had good teachers."
Ben laughed.
"I'll pretend that was meant for me."
"It was."
---
Zora slowly walked forward.
Unlike Ben...
She didn't speak immediately.
She simply looked at her son.
Relief quietly filled her heart.
During the expedition...
She had checked the reports provided through her own System countless times, hoping to see that the mission was still progressing safely.
Now...
She didn't need reports anymore.
Leon was standing right in front of her.
Safe.
She gently placed a hand on his cheek.
"...Welcome home."
Leon smiled softly.
"It's good to be home, Mom."
Without another word...
She pulled him into a warm embrace.
For just a moment...
The fearless Phantom Assassin...
Stopped being a captain.
Stopped being a legendary scout.
Stopped being humanity's newest hero.
He was simply...
A son who had returned home.
Ben rested a hand on Leon's shoulder.
"We're proud of you."
Leon looked at both of his parents.
"I couldn't have become who I am..."
"...without the two of you."
Behind him...
The eight Shadow Scouts lowered their heads respectfully.
One of them spoke.
"Captain Leon brought every one of us home."
Another nodded.
"He never abandoned a single scout."
Ben looked toward the young men.
Then back at his son.
His pride was impossible to hide.
"You've become the leader every father hopes his child will become."
Leon lowered his head respectfully.
"I'll continue growing."
"For Base 101."
"For Commander Sam."
"And..."
He smiled.
"For our family."
Above the fortress...
The banners of Base 101 fluttered proudly beneath the afternoon sky.
Standing atop the western wall...
The Mana Crystal Golem silently watched over the kingdom.
Humanity's first Undead Regional Boss had found its home.
And for the first time since the System descended upon the world...
Base 101 truly looked like the heart of a kingdom destined to change history.