Chapter 187: Base 27

“Helag! David! Reese!”

Bennings called out the names of Helag and his companions.

The trio approached the glowing portal.

“Just walk through, no need to worry,” Bennings advised.

Helag nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped into the portal, with David and Reese following closely.

As Helag entered, he felt a strong pull drawing him forward.

It felt like an endless abyss, pulling him in.

A force from behind seemed to tug him back.

But the portal’s pull was stronger, pulling him completely through.

In an instant, Helag found himself on a stone formation, surrounded by wooden huts.

“Welcome to Expedition Team Base 27.”

Helag turned to see a tall, hefty man speaking, weighing an estimated 500 pounds.

“You three are the newcomers from the Barrens?” the man asked.

Helag nodded, “Yes, sir. I’m Helag, and these are David and Reese.”

The man patted his belly, “I’m Parker, the captain of Base 27. Glad to have you join us.”

Parker’s aura was similar to Bennings’, likely a third-level wizard.

Parker seemed genuine and friendly, always wearing a cheerful smile.

“Come, let’s walk and talk. I’ll introduce you to the base,” Parker said, leading the way like a moving mountain.

Helag and his companions followed.

Nearby, tall wooden and stone walls surrounded the area, with a protective barrier overhead.

“Base 27 was established just over three years ago. The base numbers reflect their order of establishment, with lower numbers being older.”

“Currently, Base 27 is hidden, undiscovered by nearby elves or humans, thanks to a concealment array,” Parker explained.

The Elven Plane wasn’t just inhabited by elves; elves were the ruling race.

Like other planes, it housed various races, including numerous human kingdoms.

Apart from customs and language differences, these humans were much like those in the Wizard Plane.

This plane also had dragons, giants, and various races.

Conquering it entirely would be challenging, taking centuries.

The pioneering war was just beginning.

“Base 27 has over seventy people, handling logistics, defense, combat, and reconnaissance,” Parker explained the personnel structure.

Base 27 had numerous small wooden huts for lodging.

Helag, David, and Reese each had a hut, all adjacent.

Parker knew groups often came from the same faction, so he arranged their housing together.

Familiarity within a faction made cooperation easier.

Parker showed them around Base 27, familiarizing them with the environment and base functions.

They saw many other wizards active within the base.

Base 27’s entrance was a wooden gate.

The entire base was protected by multiple arrays.

Some arrays were still being set up, including defensive, offensive, and concealment arrays.

“Familiarize yourselves with the environment and learn our basic rules and requirements. In a few days, you’ll receive assignments,” Parker said, handing them a booklet.

The booklet detailed base rules, requirements, and reward and punishment guidelines.

Helag and his companions memorized the booklet’s contents.

Returning to his hut, Helag examined the simple furnishings.

Basic but sufficient for daily life.

Two days later.

Parker introduced a wiry old man, “This is Cain, a second-level wizard. He’ll guide you through some tasks.”

“Mr. Cain,” Helag and his companions greeted.

Cain nodded, “You’re lucky to be assigned here. Though the base isn’t fully built, it hasn’t been discovered, so it’s relatively safe.”

“Our main tasks are surveying the surroundings, mapping, and recording local forces and population for future work.”

Base 27 was new, undiscovered by nearby humans or elves, so they wouldn’t face attacks or ambushes on missions.

Older bases were often discovered.

Wizards from those bases faced danger on missions, risking ambushes.

“Our priority is secrecy. On missions, don’t reveal your identity. We’ll provide clothing, and you must learn the local language quickly.”

“When encountering locals, stay calm and conceal your true identity.”

Cain provided two books, the local common language.

Helag had already learned about local customs and culture but hadn’t studied the language.

Learning the language posed no difficulty for him.

David and Reese, though lacking deep blue assistance, were formal wizards, so learning the language was easy.

The local language was similar to the Wizard Plane’s, making it quick to learn.

Starting today, Helag and his companions would wear local attire instead of their usual clothes.

Cain would help them master the language and local customs before undertaking missions.

They were essentially in training.

Helag and his companions needed time to learn the rules before contributing to Base 27.

Five days later.

Helag and his companions had mastered the language and donned local attire.