Night’s Nomenclature-Chapter 843: Qing Chen’s Fan Meeting

The vast outpost base, resembling a small town, was surrounded by tall, black iron walls. Four-meter-high walls with densely packed, rotating Metal Storms lined the perimeter. Even birds flying overhead would be locked on by the automatic targeting system and shot down with single shots.

Beyond the outpost lay the sprawling Forbidden Forest, its shadows like a carpet. Countless drones patrolled within a thirty-kilometer radius, guarding against surprise attacks from the Giants. Inside the outpost, it was a chaotic scene.

Qing Chen found himself recalling the phrase, "Gongs and drums, firecrackers, red flags fluttering, crowds of people." To be more precise, it was chaos. Utter chaos.

Qing Chen even saw soldiers setting up a makeshift swimming pool on the airport runway, with a group of large, white soldiers lounging inside, whistling at female soldiers passing by. In the East Continent Army, these whistle-blowing, pool-lounging individuals would have been executed on the spot.

Furthermore, Qing Chen saw many small nobles after their Airships landed, asking around for someone to report to, only to be ignored for half an hour. He gained some understanding of Marquis Barton, the commander of Outpost 3….

Roosevelt Kingdom had a total of nine outposts outside the Forbidden Forest, guarding the crucial routes leading from the Giant Dynasty to human cities.

When the kingdom went on expeditions, all nobles had to be reorganized at these nine outposts. It was here that Lan Shan learned his place in the army—his division, his regiment, his unit, to whom he was assigned, and what his mission was.

Lan Shan, the Chi Xue Squad, and the Slave Army all disembarked from the Kennedy 1 Airship for registration. After an unknown period, someone would notify them of their commander.

Qing Chen looked around, sighing inwardly. If only Zhong Yu were here. If Zhong Yu were here, he would devise a truly wicked, artistic plan. He knew that if one day Roosevelt Kingdom launched an expedition against the East Continent, everyone here could become an executioner.

The Chi Xue Squad appeared relaxed. Huang softly asked, "Captain, are you sure everything is foolproof?"

Hei chuckled softly, "My friend is Marquis Barton’s second steward. Transferring a freeman to a land combat unit doesn't require Marquis Barton’s involvement."

"When will we get to know Marquis Barton?" Lv sighed. "He’s truly lucky. After marrying the Roosevelt royal family’s Fifth Princess, he skyrocketed. He’s safe and sound at this outpost. Captain, why don’t you marry into the royal family too? Then our brothers wouldn’t have to live this life on the edge of a knife."

Hei shook his head. "We’re too far removed from the Roosevelt royal family." Five hours passed before a chubby officer approached them.

The officer looked at his LCD screen and said, "Who is Nosen Kennedy?" Lan Shan stepped forward. "I am."

The officer smiled. "Your Airship has been assigned to Storm Duke’s First Air Force. Congratulations!" Hei quickly stepped forward to shake the officer’s hand. With a flick of his wrist, he slipped a valuable wristwatch onto the officer’s wrist, discreetly fastening the band. "Thank you very much," he said, his expression unchanged.

The First Air Force was the main force. It meant following the Duke, sharing the spoils, and earning merit; it also meant not being cannon fodder.

The officer glanced at the watch, his smile widening. "Don’t thank me. You have the second steward on your side; it's all thanks to him. By the way, I found out that you were short a quarter of your ammunition at the Airport. I'll authorize a resupply!"

"Thank you so much!" Hei almost shed tears.

As the saying goes, money makes the mare go. Roosevelt Kingdom, having stood for nearly a thousand years, like the East Continent Federation, was riddled with entrenched problems and human relationships.

Hei's deft handling of the watch was not something achieved in a day or two. At this moment, the officer smiled and asked, "Who is Brian Kennedy?"

Qing Chen took a step forward. "I am."

The officer’s smile vanished. "You’re assigned to the Third Division, Second Regiment. Come with me."

Hei beamed, finally getting rid of the steward who wanted to steal his credit!

The slaves around them were stunned. They knew the Third Division was the ground exploration force, the cannon fodder responsible for surveying the rules of the Forbidden Forest. Ninety percent of this combat unit consisted of convicted slaves—a true Slave Army. A steward assigned there had almost no chance of survival!

The slaves looked at each other, realizing the steward’s fate would be terrible, but not this terrible! Moreover, everyone else went with the main force, only the steward was left behind; it was clearly a deliberate action by the Chi Xue Squad. The slaves' gazes towards the Chi Xue Squad members became significantly more awed.

Lan Shan couldn't help but speak up. "Wait, hasn’t the Third Division already entered the Forbidden Forest? How can he be assigned to them?"

The officer chuckled, "The Third Division will return to prepare in a few days. This Brian Kennedy can clean the outpost in the meantime and await reunification with the Third Division." The so-called preparation meant the Slave Army had suffered too many casualties and needed reinforcements and supplies. Time to replace the cannon fodder with a new batch to send to their deaths!

Roosevelt Kingdom's population control was undeniably impressive. Lan Shan wanted to give the officer something to take care of his steward, only to realize he had nothing on him.

Hei had said before disembarking that they didn’t need to bring anything; they would reboard soon. He silently looked at Qing Chen, who walked away with the officer, his expression grave, without looking back.

Hei comforted Lan Shan, "Young Master, don’t worry. I believe the steward is blessed and will be fine. Perhaps he will gain numerous military merits in this war and become a Marquis."

Lv laughed, "Perhaps even a Duke."

Hei continued, "Young Master, Father is unwell. Now, your priority is to quickly earn merits to inherit his Marquis title. Your younger brother receives the same resources. The Chi Xue Squad is also split, one with you, the other with your brother. You know, a normal family cannot be granted two Marquis titles…"

By now, Hei’s words to Lan Shan were clear: The lion's share of merit will be yours; otherwise, Marquis Kennedy won’t let me off. But to gain merits, relying on the steward is useless. Even if you resent me, bear with it for Father’s sake, or the Marquis title will go to your younger brother.

Lan Shan glanced at him, returning to the Airship without a word. Hei watched Qing Chen’s receding figure, finally laughing unrestrainedly. Kennedy 1 would wait here for the Storm Air Fortress to arrive and then follow the Duke to the Forbidden Forest. By the time they returned with the main force, the steward would likely be dead in the Forbidden Forest. By then… he might be a Baron.

However, if he knew who this steward was, he should be considering whether the outpost would still exist when he returned. The officer wiggled his chubby bottom, like a corgi.

The officer hadn't introduced himself, so Qing Chen labeled him "Corgi Officer."

The Corgi Officer said as they walked, "Don’t think that your past service to Marquis Kennedy will matter. The Kingdom’s rules are: everyone is equal on the battlefield. The Giants won’t spare you just because you saved a Marquis; they’ll tear you apart even more cruelly."

Along the way, another officer from the outpost yelled, "I need a new batch of ammunition! Where is the ammunition from the warehouse? Why is the count wrong!" A soldier stammered, "We kept records, but many officers took some temporarily, saying they would replenish it later…"

A chaotic mess.

The outpost’s supplies were used by the officers as favors, and when they returned to the city, many nobles who received these small favors would live comfortably.

That was the state of the outpost.

Qing Chen said, "So, what do I need to do before the Third Division returns to the outpost?"

The Corgi Officer brought him to a building and said, "Clean all the bathrooms four times a day. That’s your daily task. If I find any foul odors, or if the Marquis frowns when he passes by, you’ll be punished, understand?"

The Corgi Officer eyed Qing Chen, seemingly wanting to see his reaction. Though Qing Chen’s face was grim, he still swallowed his anger and agreed.

As they spoke, a young man was kicked out from the outpost commander’s office at the end of the corridor.

Marquis Barton chased him out, punching and kicking him. "You can’t even manage an outpost properly. The supplies are missing, and you come to me? Don’t you know I’m in the Virtual Realm?! Storm Duke is coming soon! Get the accounts sorted out, or he’ll impeach me to the King!"

At this moment, Marquis Barton saw people setting up a makeshift swimming pool on the airport.

He paused for a few seconds and said, "Confiscate that pool and put it in my backyard!"

Qing Chen was surprised. Was this the outpost’s leader? Addicted to the Virtual Realm, a hands-off commander at a military base? The King’s son-in-law could do whatever he wanted?

He had to admit, the guy was handsome, like a movie star, with a bit of Leonardo DiCaprio’s vibe. It was understandable that the Fifth Princess was smitten.

But the question was, why would such an influential figure connected to the royal family be obsessed with the Virtual Realm? Weren’t there more fun things to do? Qing Chen didn’t know that as the King’s son-in-law, Barton dared not play with female slaves. He could only indulge in the Virtual Realm.

Qing Chen was still watching when Duke Barton suddenly turned to him and the Corgi Officer, shouting, "What are you looking at? Get back to work, I find you annoying!" The Corgi Officer pulled Qing Chen’s sleeve and hurried him away.

After a few steps, Marquis Barton suddenly said, "Wait, what does this new face do?" The Corgi Officer quickly said, "My Lord Marquis, he’s new here, responsible for cleaning."

Marquis Barton said, "You go, he stays. Come clean my office!" The Corgi Officer twisted Qing Chen’s arm and whispered, "What are you doing? Go."

Qing Chen walked towards the office, stunned when he saw a large poster—himself. To be precise, it was a poster of himself outside World 8, slaughtering four major guilds with six Divine Cuts. The image was magnificent and brilliant. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Marquis Barton glanced at him. "You also play the Virtual Realm?"

"I do," Qing Chen nodded.

"Do you know him?" Marquis Barton asked.

"I do. White Light, a particularly powerful figure," Qing Chen was very familiar with him.

Marquis Barton corrected him, "The most powerful… Clean the office."

Having said that, the clean-cut, handsome Marquis settled back into his reclining chair and put on his VR glasses again. Qing Chen never expected to meet a fan here…