Chapter 515.1: Are WE Supposed To Pay For YOUR Pipes?!

The celebration lasted until the later half of the night.

On the final night in the Great Desert, if Chu Guang hadn’t hastily launched a time-limited loot box event on the official website, those rowdy players might have partied in-game all the way until dawn.

These guys really wished they could live inside their game world...

The next day, Chu Guang got up early.

Yawning as he lifted the tent flap, he had barely stepped out of the command tent when he saw Rama, wearing the Model 10 Oathkeeper exoskeleton, standing at the entrance.

The set had been seized from the Enlightenment Society. It was a standard-issue model from the Federation Army, with armor protection emphasizing resistance against rifle rounds and explosive shrapnel, superior to the police-issue Type 5 Light Cavalry.

After repairing it, the New Alliance repainted it in cement-gray and added markings which made it New Alliance equipment.

To familiarize herself with it as fast as possible, she had practically slept in the exoskeleton ever since she received it.

Seeing Chu Guang step out of the tent, Lu Bei, who was standing guard, immediately stepped forward to give him a salute. “Sir, she has been standing here since dawn.”

Chu Guang nodded, then looked at Rama standing by the entrance, and spoke gently, “Is something the matter?”

Imitating Lu Bei, Rama placed her right fist over her chest and lowered her head respectfully. “You told me last night that you would arrange my future duties this morning.”

He vaguely remembered saying that.

Originally, Chu Guang had planned to find Adelia and ask what he wanted last night, but that big-nosed fellow was probably still asleep. So instead, he turned to Rama. “Since you’ve already put on that armor, I assume you’ve made up your mind. I won’t beat about the bush then.”

He paused, then continued, “Follow me. I’ll introduce someone to you.”

“Who?”

“Your future partner.”

Partner?

Rama froze for a moment, but seeing Chu Guang already walking past her toward the other side of the camp, she quickly followed.

The group arrived before another tent.

Just then, the flap lifted, and a fair, beautiful face entered Rama’s sight.

It belonged to a dignified-looking woman with pale golden hair tied into a high ponytail with a simple ribbon.

Rama’s first instinctive thought upon seeing her was that the woman seemed like someone from a completely different world.

Even though she wore only an ordinary coat and a pair of durable jeans, she couldn’t hide the elegance in her every gesture.

A distant concept surfaced in Rama’s mind. She was like one of those young ladies from great families... Though not exactly the same.

“Respected administrator... Good morning,” said Teresa, as her eyes widened in shock as she gave a quick curtsey.

“You too. Good morning.” After a brief greeting, Chu Guang looked at Rama and introduced, “This is the girl I mentioned.”

Hearing that, Teresa’s eyes lit up as she looked at the woman in the exoskeleton. “You must be Miss Rama?”

Rama replied awkwardly, “Y, yes, that’s me...

Um

, may I ask who you are?”

Teresa smiled softly, her voice cheerful. “My name is Teresa, a resident of the New Alliance... Though it might sound strange to say that, because from now on, this place is also one of the New Alliance’s Restored Zones.”

“She was once one of the Falcon Kingdom’s consorts. But she has since abandoned that identity. She is now a New Alliance resident.” Seeing Rama confused, Chu Guang briefly summarized Teresa’s background, then continued, “She first worked at the House of Refugees doing odd jobs and bookkeeping. After Falling Leaf City was established, she traveled with the Expedition Army, passing through the Lion Kingdom and arriving at the Honey Badger Kingdom, helping coordinate rescue supplies, post-war reconstruction, and survivor relief.”

“According to her former superior, Falling Leaf City’s Lord, Ma Ban, and Yard, of the Honey Badger Kingdom, her performance was outstanding. Therefore, I plan to appoint her as the City Lord of Pioneer City. She will manage its administration and governance.”

Like the other survivor settlements, Pioneer City’s first city lord would also be New Alliance-appointed.

Chu Guang needed someone with actual administrative and relief experience, someone who understood their New Alliance values.

As for social status? That had never mattered in the New Alliance.

His chief of staff had once been an officer of the Army. Dawn City’s lord was once a slave. The lord of Daybreak City had been a war refugee.

As for Rama, she had no administrative background, and she herself wished to become a warrior, not sit in an office processing paperwork.

Teresa took Rama’s hands, gazing at her earnest eyes, and spoke seriously, “I’ve heard your story. Your resolve to stay behind for those who have not yet been rescued deeply moved me. I want to contribute as well... So please, lend me your strength!”

Under those passionate, fiery eyes, Rama became even more embarrassed, her voice hesitant when she spoke again. “I-I’ve only just made up my mind to fight. I’m not even that good at shooting yet... I might not be as reliable as you think.”

“How can that be?” Teresa smiled gently.

“Everyone starts from not knowing. Courage and determination matter more than results. In my eyes, you’re the most reliable choice.”

“Before joining the New Alliance, I was nothing more than a pretty vase displayed in a royal court. Only after meeting many people did I realize that life has meaning beyond what was designed for me... Compared to me realizing everything so late, your courage in standing up to face the wasteland makes you far stronger.”

Rama’s overly tense expression finally loosened, the hollows of her eyes faintly reddened.

Chu Guang looked at Teresa with slight surprise.

It had been a while since he last saw her. She truly had grown. He could already see the beginnings of a politician in her, just not a fully polished one.

Pioneer City would be her first challenge.

The settlement wasn’t large for now, but it would soon host many newcomers from the Great Desert, wastelanders, blue coats, and even human popsicles thawed out from two centuries ago.

How to balance these groups, allocate scarce resources, and unite them rather than let them fight among each other... Those challenges would stack up like mountains.

But Chu Guang had confidence in her.

Setting aside her experience, if she could clear the hereditary-status debuff of hatred from the Honey Badger Kingdom, she had basically already graduated in his books.

Though thinking of it made Chu Guang inevitably wonder...

Lu Bei had been with him so long, and so close, and somehow learned nothing. He hadn’t changed at all, except becoming even more loyal.

Not that Chu Guang disliked the loyal kid... Loyalty was valuable, but he was still far from being capable of standing alone.

Chu Guang had once considered making him commander of the New Alliance’s Third Corps, but it seemed the Guards Corps was still more suitable.

Retracting his gaze from Teresa, Chu Guang looked at Rama. “I told you I would explain your duties today.”

“The New Alliance intends to form a new corps. This corps will mainly handle search and reconnaissance, essentially a special-operations unit, permanently stationed around the Great Desert, using Pioneer City as its base.”

“And the corps commander will be you. Your duties include searching ruins for survivors, eliminating Mutant Human camps, and recruiting dependable partners from among the rescued survivors, teaching them weapon usage and encouraging them to join your cause.”

He paused, then continued, “As Teresa said, lack of skill has never been a problem. People learn. By next year, I hope to see an excellent corps commander, and a team of experienced warriors.”

Rama placed her right fist over her chest, her expression solemn. “I will not let you down!”

Chu Guang smiled, nodding at the brave young woman, then glanced toward the tents of the survivors.

“They chose to stay with you.”

“Don’t disappoint them, either.”

...

As for the name of this new corps, Chu Guang originally planned to let Rama choose, but she looked completely lost.

In the end, the annoying task went to him.

Not wanting to waste time bullying what little brain cells he had left, he simply opened a poll on the forums seeking players’ suggestions.

To his surprise, those fools were enthusiastic about it, offering endless ideas.

Though the names were wild.

Everything from 11th Interstellar Corps to Order of Battle Nuns showed up...

What did these guys think the New Alliance was?

In the end, Chu Guang picked a reasonable and easy-to-remember name, simplified to match the New Alliance’s naming style.

“... What about the Thorn Corps?”

Thorn Corps...

Rama murmured the name repeatedly, as if receiving some mysterious revelation, or calling.

She placed her right fist over her chest and said solemnly. “Thank you for bestowing the name on us, lord administrator.”

From the looks of it, she really liked it.

Chu Guang nodded happily. “It’s decided then!”

Thus, the Thorn Corps was officially established.

Those women of the wilderness would choose like-minded comrades from the rescued survivors.

And like other NPC corps, it also welcomed players with an interest in the Great Desert.

...