Over the next few days in Redvein, Vicente helped the city improve its defenses, producing new weapons and armor with the few materials available locally.",

Since they had been in alliance with him for at least a year, the city didn't have many materials available for him to create artifacts these days. Most had been used up in the months of their partnership.

However, the locals continued their mining activities, so there was something for Vicente to use.

Given the local conditions, which were much better than in areas of the central region where he had spent time in the past, Vicente achieved his local goals quickly. In just three days, everything he needed to do in the city was ready, and he had even set up an Order post with a local Awakening Altar.

All he had to do was send a few members of the order in the future, and the place could function as normally as any other Cataclysm Order post.

With his work done in Redvein, Vicente took the maps from Julian's group and began his journey through the area, following through on his plans to help the magicians' resistance before embarking on his risky exploration.

According to the information from Rory's father's group, there were currently 15 cities similar to Redvein throughout the empire. Most of the cities were located further south, near the borders of the Chutha Dynasty, the Seidel Kingdom, and the southeastern coast.

There were practically no cities left in the northwest of the Kenyth Empire, as that area was almost completely taken over by monsters.

With only 3 cities, including Redvein itself, in the northeastern part of the empire, Vicente spent a week working in the two cities near Julian's city.

His goal was to help at least 5 cities in the empire before leaving for a quick visit to the Chutha Dynasty, but he would only do that after going after the capital of the Kenyth realm.

So, after 10 days of working in the northeastern area of the empire, he returned to Redvein with the first part of his plans completed!

...

Seeing Vicente back in the city, Aria approached him as he walked toward the seat of the government.

"Have you completed your plans? How are Dirtacre and Sleethallow?" she asked him, not as up to date on the situation of those two cities as someone who had just passed through them.

"Well, I'd say. Those two places are similar and have identical dilemmas to Redvein. I've helped them set up security zones and arm the local warriors. It's possible they'll be able to get closer to Redvein in the near future."

"That would be wonderful. You don't know how bad it is to know that we have potential allies so close, but not be able to act together because of the dangers." She vented to him.

In the past, cities like this were even rivals. But nowadays, when they so desperately needed and wanted to be close to each other, the conditions for mere trade and alliances were terrible, making any interaction complicated.

"Things are getting better. Keep working hard." Vicente said with a smile on his face before the two entered the building, where only Julian was now.

"Venerable Fuller, welcome back." Julian greeted Vicente as soon as he saw the man, looking forward to such a Mid-level Paragon's next steps.

"Have you finished preparing what I asked you to do earlier?" Vicente looked earnestly into the eyes of the red-haired man before him. "I intend to leave for the capital of the empire later today."

"But already?" Aria asked. "You just got back. Wouldn't it be better to rest for a night?"

"No, I'm in a hurry. One night's rest won't make any difference. And after passing through the capital, I'll still go to the Chutha Dynasty."

Vicente's plan was to make the Kenyth Empire and Chutha Dynasty more functional in terms of dealing with monsters, maintaining human forces, and increasing the number of awakenings on his altars.

Because he had not passed through these states on his previous journey, even though he had posts in both territories, he had almost no positive results from such posts in these areas until recently.

He intended to change that by making them both more efficient and more connected to his organization.

"If that's the case, we can leave in an hour. I have everything ready, Venerable Fuller." Julian said as he answered Vicente's question.

"Hmm, then prepare your group. I'll meditate for an hour and then we'll go to the capital." Vicente said before walking away from them without giving them room to comment.

Watching him leave for a cultivation room, Aria sighed. "Are our men really ready?"

"Always. They're always ready." Julian clenched his fists, aware all the warriors in his city were as ready as he was to die in actions against monsters, and especially vampires.

Vicente's plan for the capital was not for them to act together with him, but to accompany him in rescuing people, gathering resources, and sharing the spoils.

If Vicente could accomplish what he had in mind, these people of Redvein could gain a great deal. But with those gains, they would have to risk being close to a high-level battle capable of sacrificing even Paragons!

"You will stay in town to take care of the group. Frank and I will join Venerable Fuller." Julian said determinedly, his fists clenched and his gaze solemn.

He was looking forward to coming face to face with the vampires that had been terrorizing the empire!

"Be careful. Even if you and Frank aren't the enemy's prime targets, the battle he'll take to the capital will be enough to create danger for everyone nearby." She warned worriedly.

"I know. We're ready for it."

After saying this, Julian set off to prepare the group of men who would follow him and Vicente within the promised interval.

The next hour would pass, and when Vicente stepped outside the Redvein government building, he encountered a battalion of 40 men, including 2 Low-level Paragons and 38 Sky Sovereigns.

Vicente nodded at the group of men armed with robotic armor and weapons before leading the way alongside Julian and Frank towards the former capital of the state!