"Woo——"

I could hear the chaotic sounds of whistles, machines running, and iron wheels turning on tracks.

There are several tracks on the wide Flying Dragon Street of Istalia, on which steam locomotives travel, carrying all kinds of people to various places in the city.

"Extra! The latest Imperial Daily! His Majesty Cassius has arrived at the Fire Elemental Plane to expand the territory once again!"

"The Kraubau Military Industry Group issued a statement, unconditionally supporting all special actions of the Imperial Taxation Department and severely criticizing any tax evasion."

"Recruiting armed guards! Escort the caravan to the Fadlan area! Requirements"

"Recruiting teammates to go to the latest Giant Ruins dungeon. Requirements: Level 4 or above, with sufficient combat experience. No Wild Magic Warlocks! No Wild Magic Warlocks!"

"Daimo Blacksmith Shop, an adventurer's paradise, your best choice for making equipment—"

"Citizens, please obey the rules!"

"His Majesty Cassius is always watching your every move!"

The wyvern carrying the knight flapped its wings and flew low over the sky.

Listening to the noisy and familiar sound and looking at the people of all kinds on the street, a smile appeared on George's face as he sat by the window.

"turn out to be."

"They are the real 'imperial dream'."

George then remembered why he settled in Istalia and was proud of this city.

This place is always full of vitality, filled with an impure, wild and rough vitality.

Whether they are street vendors, shouting newsboys, hawking blacksmiths or weird star-killers, they are all constantly climbing up and will do anything to do so - just like he once did.

The North once made him feel despair, and the gap between the nobles and the common people was like an insurmountable chasm.

This is an all-round gap in status, resources, vision and military strength. This gap makes nobles and slaves like two species from different worlds.

Even though he worked very hard, the most he received from the nobles was a compliment: "This is a capable animal."

Under the order of the North, everyone is firmly bound to his or her position and cannot escape it throughout his or her life.

George, who was branded with the mark of a slave, was born to be oppressed by everyone. This was his fate as a slave.

Humble as dust, cheap as grass.

According to the words of the priest in the church, the soul of a slave is a defective product made of smelly water and dirty ashes, and it needs to be purified through constant labor.

In George's eyes, the former Northern Kingdom was like a decayed
Thinking of this, George couldn't help but shudder and whispered, "Fortunately, the North has been destroyed."

George was unfortunate because he was a lowly slave since birth.

But he is also lucky.

Because he was different from his ancestors and thousands of slaves - he had the opportunity to change his destiny.

The emperor emerged like the sun and crushed the thousand-year-old United Kingdom with great ease.

The Empire completely destroyed the order in the North, sent the nobles to the guillotine, and established a new order.

George knew very well that the Burning Empire was neither fair nor kind. It was like a terrifying mechanical beast that absorbed everyone into its huge body.

But it is also tolerant. It gives everyone the opportunity to rise. If you work hard for the empire, there is a small chance that the empire will reward you - in Trump's words, this is called "social mobility."

And George was the lucky man. He had several strokes of luck in succession. First, he obtained first-class citizenship by reporting spies, and then he became a baron by joining the army and making meritorious services.

George's story was even published in the Empire Daily, making him a role model for many people of humble origins to strive for.

Thinking of this, looking at the people hurrying outside the window, George felt quite sad.

But soon, Grace's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"George, what are you looking at?"

George turned around and said, "Nothing. Just look at the scenery along the way. Istalia is developing faster and faster."

Grace smiled and said, "All the resources in the country are concentrated in Istalia. How can this change not be fast?"

"You probably don't leave the house very often. This place near Feilong Street is nothing. The Emperor Square is the most prosperous. Next time I'll take you to see the newly completed Grand Arena. It's really spectacular."

"I have heard of it, but I am not very interested."

George also smiled, turned his head again, and pointed out the window: "After all, once you have seen it, no matter what kind of building you see, it will just seem ordinary."

Grace looked in the direction of George's finger, and saw the Great Altar of Istalia standing tall on the ground, overlooking all the creatures in the city.

Surrounded by wispy clouds, the magnificent building made of white marble seems to not exist in this world.

Even in the most remote corner of Istalia, if you look up, you can still see the white altar and think of the glory of His Majesty the Emperor.

He was a little stunned for a moment, then shook his head and laughed: "Of course, after all, that is the holy place where His Majesty Cassius was crowned emperor."

"I watched it rise into the sky with my own eyes. It was a sight I will never forget."

"Yes."

George also sighed.

"I was involved in the construction of the altar two years ago. At that time, Istalia was just a wilderness. Who could have imagined that it would develop into the city it is today?"

"Forget it, let's not talk about this for now. We don't know the big figures who really decide the fate of the empire. Who can know what the future will be like?"

Grace nodded slightly, agreeing with George's words, but he seemed to remember something and spoke again: "By the way, have you heard about the new system of the military department?"

"I think it's called some kind of military rank system?"

George thought for a moment, recalling the news he had heard a few days ago, and continued, "I heard from them that it was a hierarchy system that was independent of the title system and tailor-made for the military."

"A battalion commander like us should be promoted to lieutenant colonel, and I think we will also be issued a brochure."

Grace waved her hand, her voice somewhat disdainful: "That's nothing, it has no impact on those of us who have already been knighted."

He came forward and said seriously, "I'm talking about the 'specialization of the army' mentioned by Marshal Dolo in his latest statement!"

George suddenly became curious.

"What's that? I haven't bought today's Imperial Army Gazette yet."

Grace pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from the pocket of her military uniform and said proudly, "It's no use buying it. This news will be released in two days. I asked my friend in the Propaganda Department to let me know in advance."

"You should know that the Empire has recently opened up several colonies, right?"

George nodded. "Of course, there is the Brass Fortress in the Elemental Plane of Fire, Dragon Shadow City in the Underdark, and the Casper Hills in the south."

Grace said, "You know, the environments of these three places are very different. The Fire Elemental Plane is as hot as purgatory, the Dark Region is dim all year round, and the environment of Casper Hills is the closest to Anzeta, and it may even be warmer."

George immediately understood: "That's why we need to carry out the so-called 'military specialization', right? The Empire trains troops specifically for a certain battlefield to cope with the extreme environment there."

"Right, that is it."

Grace's expression was quite serious. "This is a matter that will determine our future! Do you want to suffer in the Elemental Plane of Fire or the Underdark? Or do you want to win military merit in the South?"

"It's really a big deal." George browsed the documents in his hand with a slightly solemn expression.

Indeed, the peace of the empire will not last long. For this behemoth born for war, expansion is its instinct.

For an imperial minions like George, the most important thing is where the future will go and whether he can achieve success.

"Is the military specialized?"

However, the shrill sound of a whistle interrupted his thoughts.

"Woo——"

"We have arrived at the [Imperial Third Military Training Base] station. Please get off the bus in an orderly manner."

With the help of a simple loudspeaker, the conductor's voice spread throughout the carriage, and the officers and soldiers on the train got off one after another.

"I'm going first, George."

"Okay, see you later."

The two men walked out of the train and headed to different areas of the military training base.

George was in the Imperial Infantry, while Grace was in the Artillery.

During the Unification War, Grace decisively fired his artillery, accurately hitting the enemy's headquarters and killing a northern earl, thus standing out from the many ogre artillerymen.

"Good day, Viscount Seth."

"Ah."

Walking into the infantry base, the races inside are extremely diverse, with hobgoblins, ogres, humans, and tieflings often appearing.

However, the positions of the hobgoblins and tieflings are mostly of relatively high levels. They are basically veterans who joined during the Burning Embers Nest period, and they have the duke as their backer.

This is something George could not envy.

However, after acquiring the dragon vein, racial conflicts have been greatly reduced - for the people in the imperial army, dragon blood is the only criterion for testing whether the bloodline is noble.

Baron George's identity is just ordinary in this military camp.

The highest commander of his troops was a hobgoblin marquis, a veteran serving Marshal Doro.

Seeing the hobgoblin hurrying towards him, George quickly saluted and greeted him - this was his direct superior, Arturo Redridge.

Hobgoblins often have names in this style.

"Good day, Count Arturo, you look very well today."

"George?"

The tall dragon vein hobgoblin lowered his head and looked at the human in front of him.

This George was originally just a reservist who joined halfway, but because of his extremely hard training, he was promoted to a regular soldier as an exception, and he made many contributions on the battlefield.

Arturo thought highly of this human.

The hobgoblins often despise humans from the bottom of their hearts, calling them "lambs walking upright" and "cowards."

But Arturo, who has seen a lot, knows that human potential is far greater than they think.

From his experience, although the earth elves are of the same race, they are often ruthless and ambitious, while humans are much easier to control and manage.

"You've come just in time. I'm about to hold a military meeting. Follow me."

"Yes, Lord Count."

George responded quickly.

He followed the hobgoblin lord, walked up the spiral staircase in the base, and soon reached the second floor and entered the meeting room.

After waiting for half an hour, officers from all regiments and battalions arrived.

After the military system reform a few months ago, the Imperial Infantry used the battalion as the basic tactical unit. Each battalion had four to six companies, about 300 to 600 people; three battalions formed a regiment; six regiments formed a division.

The "corps" above the division is a strategic unit, which is a combination of various arms and is equipped with a number of infantry, cavalry, and artillery divisions.

For example, the Seventh Legion where George is located includes three infantry divisions, a dragon beast heavy cavalry division, and an artillery division mainly composed of ogres.

George is a battalion commander of the 3rd Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division of the 7th Army. He has 473 people under his command, most of whom are humans.

Arturo Chiji is the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division.

In the conference room, Count Arturo sat in the main seat, the regiment leaders sat around the long table, and George and other battalion commanders stood on the periphery.

Seeing that most people had arrived, Arturo said loudly: "Everyone, have you heard some rumors recently?"

A regimental commander replied cautiously: "Master Arturo, you are talking about the 'specialization of the army' mentioned by Marshal Dolo, right?"

"Yes."

The hobgoblin nodded slightly, stood up, and said in a sonorous voice: "Since you know the basic situation, I will tell you directly - the empire's army will usher in a major reshuffle, and your days of doing nothing are over!"

"Marshal Dolo specifically instructed to build a specialized and systematic force to cope with the environment of each battlefield."

The hobgoblin waved his hand, the magic crystal lit up, and a purgatory-like scene from the Fire Elemental Plane appeared before everyone.

"Soldiers with a high degree of dragonization can voluntarily sign up to join the Fire Elemental Plane Development Corps."

"You will receive special training, be equipped with various heat-resistant equipment, and go to the most dangerous and harshest plane of fire element—but in return, you will also be able to gain rich military merits there!"

"Those whose strength does not meet the requirements will be incorporated into the local border defense corps and stationed at the border."

"And the most elite troops will be integrated into the Imperial Continental Legion and join in the great cause of conquering the continent of Feanso in the future."

Arturo slammed the table in an excited tone, and the magical image showed vast continents, majestic cities, and even the holy city of Fadlan.

The officers attending the meeting were in an uproar.

Arturo said in a heavy tone and with a burning gaze: "The higher-ups will send military advisers to inspect us."

"Whether you want to stay in your native land, venture into the Underdark or the Elemental Plane of Fire, or go to the prosperous Southern Continent, it all depends on your choice!"

George stared at the image on the table in silence. His heart was already pounding with emotion, and a light flickered in his golden pupils.

"Istalia is great, but - I want to see the wider world and conquer the south for His Majesty Cassius!"

He clenched his fists gradually and his eyes became more determined.

Many officers in the conference room had different expressions, and many even wanted to go to the Fire Elemental Plane to try their luck.

Monsters and humans live together, share common beliefs and languages, and are subject to the rule of the same empire.

They traveled to various dimensions and brought muskets and cannons to every corner of the world, risking their lives for power and money, and in order to keep climbing up.

This is an age of fanaticism, this is the age of empire.

——Seeking monthly ticket——(End of this chapter)