The western gates of Base 101 stood open.
Rows of Vanguard soldiers lined the entrance.
Behind them...
The Archer Corps stood atop the walls with bows lowered.
Not aimed...
Simply prepared.
Nearby, members of the Mage Corps quietly maintained defensive spells around the gate.
Base 101 welcomed its guests...
But remained vigilant.
Outside the walls...
A caravan slowly came to a stop.
Nearly twenty wagons stretched across the road.
Some carried supplies.
Others carried families.
Children peeked nervously from behind their parents.
Several elderly people leaned against the wagons, exhausted from a long journey.
At the front stood an elderly man carrying a simple white banner.
Not a kingdom's banner.
A banner of peace.
Standing atop the wall...
Leon quietly observed the visitors.
His sharp eyes moved across every wagon.
Every horse.
Every traveler.
Inside his mind, his System spoke.
No hidden assassins detected.
No immediate threat detected.
Recommendation: Low Risk.
Leon nodded slightly.
He disappeared into the shadows.
Moments later...
He appeared beside Sam without making a sound.
"The caravan is clean."
"They're civilians."
"And a handful of guards."
Sam nodded.
"Open the gates."
The massive doors slowly parted.
CRRRRRREEEAAAK...
The elderly man stepped forward.
The moment he saw Sam...
He lowered himself onto one knee.
Behind him...
Every member of the caravan did the same.
Silence filled the entrance.
Sam blinked.
"...Please stand."
The old man slowly rose.
"My name is Harold."
"I was once the mayor of Riverstone Village."
"Our village survived..."
"But barely."
He looked toward the towering walls of Base 101.
"When the System announced your victory..."
"...our people finally found hope."
He lowered his head.
"We wish to join Base 101."
No one spoke.
Even the soldiers standing nearby quietly watched.
Harold continued.
"We don't ask for charity."
"Our farmers can farm."
"Our craftsmen can build."
"Our merchants can trade."
"Our guards can fight."
"We only ask..."
"...for a place where our children can sleep without fear."
Sam remained silent for several moments.
He looked toward the children hiding behind the wagons.
He saw tired mothers.
Wounded guards.
Workers whose hands were rough from years of labor.
These weren't warriors seeking glory.
They were people searching for a future.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Current food reserves are sufficient.
Housing capacity remains available.
Population increase will accelerate kingdom development.
Sam smiled faintly.
"I wasn't asking for numbers."
Rex paused.
...Understood.
Sam stepped forward.
He extended his hand toward Harold.
"Welcome..."
"...to Base 101."
Tears filled the old man's eyes.
He grasped Sam's hand with both of his own.
"Thank you..."
"Commander."
The silence broke.
Cheers erupted from the caravan.
Several children laughed.
One little girl ran toward the gates before stopping beside the Mana Crystal Golem.
She looked up at the enormous crystal guardian.
The soldiers instinctively tensed.
The giant slowly lowered its massive head.
The little girl reached out...
And gently touched one of its crystal fingers.
"So pretty..."
The Mana Crystal Golem remained perfectly still.
Inside his mind, Rex reported.
Commander...
The Mana Crystal Golem recognizes the child as a protected civilian.
Sam smiled.
"Good."
George immediately stepped forward.
"We've got empty homes in the northern district."
"I'll have workers prepare more housing."
He looked toward the families.
"No one sleeps outside tonight."
Doran folded his arms.
"I'll need every blacksmith and apprentice they brought."
Harold nodded eagerly.
"We have six."
"They're yours."
Doran actually smiled.
"Good."
"We've got a lot of forging to do."
Mira knelt beside several wounded travelers.
Her Healing Corps immediately got to work.
"No charge."
"Everyone will be treated."
One exhausted mother broke down in tears.
"You..."
"You really help strangers?"
Mira smiled gently.
"They won't be strangers for long."
Ben looked toward the guards accompanying the caravan.
"You know how to fight?"
Their captain nodded.
"We protected our village until we couldn't anymore."
Ben extended his hand.
"Then tomorrow..."
"You'll meet the Vanguard."
The guard grinned.
"We'd be honored."
As the caravan entered the kingdom...
More guards hurried toward the western wall.
One saluted.
"Commander!"
"Another caravan has appeared."
Before anyone could respond...
A second report arrived.
"And another!"
George blinked.
"...They're lining up outside the walls."
Leon stepped onto the battlements.
His eyes swept across the distant roads.
Then he smiled.
"They're coming from every direction."
Inside his mind, his System quietly confirmed his observation.
Leon looked toward Sam.
"Commander..."
"It looks like the whole region has started moving."
Sam gazed beyond the walls.
Dozens of distant wagons could already be seen crossing the plains.
The victory in the Mana Crystal Valley had done more than defeat a Regional Boss.
It had given humanity something it had nearly lost.
Hope.
And now...
That hope was walking through the gates of Base 101.