Chapter 549: External Support Mages

Chapter 549: External Support Mages

The Order of the Steel Fist served not only as a refuge for a large number of wounded but also as a vital supply hub for Thunderfall World.

War machines and essential resources were continually transported here.

This was also the initial receiving point for resources scavenged from the Thunderfall World upon their return to the Magus World.

Additionally, at the foot of the towering mountains that surrounded the Order of the Steel Fist, hundreds of thousands of various enslaved creatures were corralled to support the war effort.

The dire war conditions in Thunderfall World demanded such reinforcements, using these creatures as expendable forces.

After all, the life of a Rank One knight was deemed far more valuable than that of a dozen enslaved creatures of equivalent rank.

Having been established for many years, the Order of the Steel Fist had amassed substantial resources to support such measures.

Sein did not immediately respond to the female knight’s urgent query.

He wished to contact his father and great-grandfathers first, yet he had no idea how to reach them.

While Sein was lost in his thoughts, a knight in the hall took notice of Sein. Likewise, Sein also recalled meeting this middle-aged knight with a thick beard in the past.

When Old Grantt attained Rank One, House Grantt threw a lavish banquet, extending invitations to many ranked knights who were close friends.

Sein, blessed with a good memory, still remembered all the Rank One knights who had attended in person.

This bearded knight left the biggest impression on him because he had once proposed to have his granddaughter apprenticed to Sein.

After Sein had politely declined, the knight inquired if Sein was engaged or married.

"Hey, if it isn’t Master Sein of House Grantt! Have you also come to take part in this interplanar war?” the bearded knight approached and asked.

He was armed with a square-shaped sledgehammer, imbued with faint aero elemental energy—a magic weapon of considerable quality.

Clad in heavy armor, he seemed prepared to venture into the Thunderfall World to join the fray.

However, he persistently reminded the knight responsible for drafting the contracts, “This mage is a descendant of House Grantt from our order. You have to make sure he receives the most favorable terms, understand?”

“I heard you the first time! House Grantt, where Sir Julius and Jeremy are from, right? I know,” replied the young red-haired knight tasked with drafting the contract.

The participation contract was straightforward, free from the typical complexities of magic pacts. Everything was listed clearly, making hidden exploitative clauses unlikely."

Sein reviewed the document that outlined his duties during the war, along with the rights and benefits he would be entitled to afterward.

Griman was right—the Order of the Steel Fist was indeed generous in their offer.

Furthermore, as an external hedge mage, Sein was granted an additional privilege not available to the order’s knights—the right to refuse extremely perilous missions.

This privilege protected external participants like him from being exploited in deadly assignments often given to outsiders by some orders of the knights and divine towers.

Although the rights and interests of these participants were safeguarded, the benefits they received from the war often paled in comparison to those afforded to members of the order.

This arrangement was deemed fair. After all, the greater the risk undertaken, the greater the reward should be.

After a thorough examination to ensure the absence of any loopholes, Sein officially joined the Order of the Steel Fist as an external support mage for their ongoing interplanar war.

It was evident the order was in dire need of mages.

Having also read Sein’s contract, Griman whispered, “I really envy you mages; your contract terms seem slightly more lucrative than mine.”

In the Magus World, mages were indeed often more highly valued than knights.

Griman's envious whisper prompted only a modest shake of the head from Sein.

Following the signing of the contract, the Order of the Steel Fist inquired about Sein’s readiness to join the war.

Upon his affirmation of immediate availability, the order made swift arrangements.

Three days later, Sein was scheduled to join the next wave of reinforcements through the interstellar teleportation array set up by the Order of the Steel Fist, transporting him directly to Thunderfall World to join the fray.