Chapter 191: The Tour in the Base

Chapter 191: The Tour in the Base



Vincent stood by the window of his office, watching as Princess Elara spoke with her advisors outside. The conversation they had just shared lingered in his mind. He respected her dedication to her people, but he knew that tying his mercenary forces to any one kingdom indefinitely would compromise everything he had built. Still, the alliance was vital, and their combined forces would be stronger than anything the demons could anticipate.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. Colonel Brandt entered, his usual calm demeanor in place.

"Sir, the tour is ready," Brandt said, standing at attention. "We've made the necessary preparations to show Princess Elara the key parts of the base."

"Good," Vincent replied, turning to face him. "We'll start with the military installations and then move toward the power plants near the lake."

Brandt nodded and left to make the final arrangements. Vincent walked outside to meet Elara, who had finished speaking with her advisors. She turned to him with a composed smile, her earlier concerns seemingly settled.

"Princess, I would like to offer you and your advisor a tour around our base. You know, a standard procedure for us so that our clients would feel at ease when they see how prepared we are."

Princess Elara nodded, a calm yet curious expression on her face. "Of course, Commander. It would be good to see how your people operate up close."

With a gesture, Vincent signaled for Colonel Brandt to join them as they began the tour. Elara's advisors trailed behind, silently observing the surroundings. The military base was a well-oiled machine, with soldiers moving in efficient formations, each performing their tasks with precision.

"We'll begin with the heart of our operations-our military installations," Vincent explained as they walked down a paved path toward a large structure looming ahead. "This is where we coordinate all our defensive strategies and track enemy movements in real time."

The building itself was constructed with fortified walls and state-of-the-art technology. Inside, rows of monitors displayed maps of various regions, each detailing areas of interest and potential threats. Officers and technicians manned their stations, constantly gathering and analyzing information.

Elara watched intently as they passed, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. "Your forces are well-coordinated, Vincent. It's clear you've anticipated every scenario."

Vincent nodded. "We have to be. The demons don't fight like a traditional army-they strike unpredictably, and we need to be ready for anything. This is where we gather intelligence and decide how to respond."

One of the officers stood to attention as they approached, giving a brief status report on the latest enemy movements. After a few quick exchanges, Vincent led the group out of the command center and back onto the main grounds.

From there, they moved toward the training grounds, where soldiers were honing their combat skills. Rows of dummies lined the field as soldiers practiced precise strikes with firearms. Nearby, a group engaged in tactical drills, moving swiftly and silently through a simulated battlefield.

lara's eyes narrowed slightly in contemplation. "This partnership with the dwarves-how long has it been going..."

"Days," Vincent answered without much of a thought.

"Now let's move forward," Vincent said, guiding the group toward the next area of the base. Elara, still processing the rapid development of the alliance with the dwarves, followed with a measured pace, her eyes flicking back to the advanced technology as they moved past.

They approached the lake, where a sprawling network of power plants and energy facilities hummed quietly in the background. The sound of rushing water mixed with the subtle hum of machinery created an atmosphere of calm efficiency. Massive turbines rotated steadily, providing the necessary power to sustain the base and its operations.

"This is our power generation area," Vincent explained, gesturing toward the large turbines by the lakeside. "It's a coal-powered plant that provides the bulk of the energy we need to keep everything running smoothly.

Elara tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Coal-powered? What does that mean?"

Vincent paused, knowing that the concept of coal power generation would be foreign to Elara and her people, who relied on more natural, elemental forms of energy. He wanted to keep his explanation simple but thorough enough for her to grasp the significance

"Coal power," Vincent began, gesturing toward the large facility, "is a process where we burn coal, a type of rock that's rich in energy. When we burn it, it heats water to create steam, and that steam is used to turn these turbines you see here." He pointed to the massive rotating turbines. "As the turbines spin, they generate electricity, which is what powers everything

from our lights to our machinery."

Elara's brow furrowed slightly as she processed the information. "So, this burning of coal- does it harm the environment? In our lands, we seek to protect nature as much as we can." Vincent nodded, acknowledging her concern. "You're right to ask that. Coal, by itself, isn't the cleanest source of energy. Burning it can release harmful gases into the air. That's why we've taken steps to reduce those effects by using advanced filtration systems. These systems trap most of the harmful particles and gases before they can escape into the environment. It's not perfect, but it allows us to maintain a balance between keeping the base running and minimizing damage to the surroundings."

Elara's eyes followed the path of the towering smokestacks from the power plant, thin trails of vapor disappearing into the sky. "And this electricity you speak of-it powers everything here? All your weapons, your technology, and even this base itself?"

"Exactly," Vincent confirmed. "Electricity is the energy that keeps everything moving. It's stored and distributed throughout the base to power our communication systems, defenses, and even the research facilities you saw earlier. Without it, we'd be vulnerable." Elara's expression softened as she considered the implications. "In our lands, we use magic for such things. The concept of harnessing energy through a material like coal is foreign to us. But I can see how it allows you to remain independent and powerful, especially in times of

war."

Vincent gave a small nod, appreciating her openness to understanding a process that was so different from her own people's way of life. "That's the key. We use what resources we have to stay operational. I'm hoping that in the future, we might find a new way of power generation

through magic."