A huge crowd was gathered right on the main street of Perm city.
Thousands of citizens came in droves after they heard about the recruitment and now, they were all lined up in front of the once-famous brothel.
What attracted those people like moths to a flame were the contents of the flyers that have been circulated by the city hall since yesterday.
[Are you tired of living as a nobody in the time of this apocalypse? Have you been pushed around and forced to live under the mercy of others? Join our 2 months expedition to the north, and return as a strong, proud, and independent Sky Realm fighter!]
[Sky Realm advancement guaranteed]
[Male or Female Earth Realm required.]
[17 to 30 years old]
[Healthy, no inherited sickness]
[No experience needed!]
[C-rank talent only!]
Meanwhile, Viktor stood behind a desk, while Barry and Kosta diligently checked the applicants' current status.
"I want to join!"
One raised their hand to reach Viktor, only to be swallowed by the sea of people trying to do the same.
"Please let me join!"
"I will work hard!"
"I need to feed my family."
"Please sir, choose me! Me!"
Another man wearing a tattered hat and scarf said, and he even tried to show his weapon. From the little segment that could be seen near the top of the scabbard, it was clear the weapon was a bit rusted and in dire need of replacement.
The crowd was almost too wild to handle. It was to be expected. After all, most expeditions would only accept Sky Realm fighters or experienced Earth Realm fighters. However, Viktor opened the job for those who weren't usually accepted. The rejects who were too weak to join guilds and too strong to be doing common jobs.
These people were even willing to join the expedition without pay, as long as their meals were guaranteed.
Considering their enthusiasm, Viktor offered them a contract that they has to follow during the duration of the 2-month expedition.
[6 weeks pillars expedition]
[2 weeks abyss pit hunting]
It was an expedition that follows by increasing their level until the sky realms stage and continuing with a direct Abyss Pitt hunting that would give them the much-needed spirit stones.
While other expeditions only worry about clearing the level of the stairs, this one will focus on increasing the fighter's level and after finishing this expedition, the member would be strong enough to continue on their own.
It was quickly well-received by the community.
However, there was a small note on the bottom of the contract
*willing to share 60% of all spirit stone findings in the abyss pit.
Although getting more Sky Realm fighters in the city would be convenient, for Viktor in the grand scheme of things, it was evident that the last bit clause within the contract was Viktor's main purpose. He purposely didn't mention this part at the meeting with the other two.
The railway and the pillar settlement projects were certainly an investment in the long run. But right now, he needed some capital as fast as possible to start his club, and this is the perfect opportunity to get spirit stones.
Viktor had even taken the dangerous gamble of using the initial funds he obtained to buy some things for his club,
The last bit of information did not go unnoticed. In fact, those who do would pause a bit to think. But Viktor doesn't give them the chance, for there is an easy solution for it.
"You are not the type we are looking for, Next!!"
Everyone there could see that Viktor was looking to take advantage of the most desperate people. Fortunately for him, desperate, poor people in Perm City were in no short supply.
There were even soem who are more qualified than the one he was asking for
"I am a B talent, I have been waiting for an expedition like this, let me join!"
Barry looked toward Viktor and his master calmly shook his head
"Rejected!"
The person left with such confusion the same thing for Barry as he ask the reason why, Viktor calmly answer
'With that stat, the guy could welcome in any guild. Either that guy is stupid, or he came with bad intentions, no.. stay with the qualification we need"
"You are accepted, here is the instruction of thing to bring, Next!"
"You are too old, sir… Rejected"
"Too Short"
"Too thin.."
"Too Ugly"
With so many desperate people rife for the taking, all he needed to do was sell the idea and glorify the name of Romanov. Just like that, he managed to get 1000 people to sign up for the expedition as he expected.
The applications were closed and the next day, 2000 Perm City citizens all gathered in the designated area,
500 workers for the railway project, 500 guards prepared by the Black Company guild, and 1000 Earth Realm adventurers.
For the sake of this expedition, Viktor decided to bring Viez, 20 of her strongest fighters, Jessie, Liza, and Barry. Barry was mostly there to help him attend to his daily needs, while the others decided to stay behind and help with the renovation project.
"I'll be gone for two months, take care," Viktor said to Eva before reminding Bori and Torri to protect her well.
As he arrive at the Northern gate of Perm city, he saw Mayor Benjamin and Oswal the leader of Black Company already waiting to say some more encouragement before the expedition left.
From the sounds of chatter talking about their excitement, it was clear that these people were really happy to finally get a job. However, Viktor was a little more anxious than usual. That was because right now he needed to wait for a group of people.
Jessie glanced at him from top to bottom and asked, "Who are you waiting for? You seem a little bit on edge…"
"Me? On edge? Of course not…"
Viktor was about to try and distract Jessie from the question, but soon after the noises of footsteps were heard, and Jessie gave him a knowing smirk, "Oh, I see, I got it now."
That was the group of 10 famous fighter women with silver and gold armor, known as the Golden Rose.
Viktor didn't quite expect much of his request, but when he saw they come, Viktor reassessed his opinion of the old mayor. Despite his looks, the mayor seems to be more influential than he initially thought.
Right after he was done thinking, the leader of the group, the woman he has been waiting for, came and approached him with a cold expression.
"Anna Kournikova and 10 members of the Golden Roses, reporting on behalf of Heavens' Will guild as requested," She announced sarcastically. From her gaze, she seems to be trying not to roll her eyes.
If Viktor noticed her, he gave no indication of it.
"Ah, so they sent you? That is a surprise, you certainly are welcome though," Viktor offered her a smile.
The brown-haired woman didn't respond and opted to glare at him for a second, she then decided to step back and ignore all his attempts for conversation.
"Dont worry, we have 2 months, I am sure you eventually speak to me," Viktor said to himself
This group expedition was almost done on a whim, so they have no vehicles enough to transport 2000 people. They all walked together to the north, and every time the night came, they would always decide to stop at the nearest doomsday pillar.
After the first rays of the sun streamed in from their temporary hiding place, Viktor woke up and everyone set out for a small settlement, where they took the train before. This time, they hung around the area while Viktor started to order them to attach more cars to the trains.
Jessie stayed there to help supervise the workers, and within half a day, the train that could take a few hundred adventurers started to head north, until they had to stop in front of a construction site 100 miles away from their first stop.
Of course, there was no way their train would be enough to take all 2000 people for the expedition, so the train went back and forth to retrieve all the people, and within a few hours, a new settlement was created in the rubble of the junkyard.
Up above, the skies were bright and clear, as it was a few hours after sunrise. Clouds covered the sun, preventing the heat from beaming down on them. Viktor glanced at the horizon and announced, "The builder team will start fixing the rail from here and go all the way to the north, we have 150 miles up!"
The announcement marked the time when the expedition had to be split up. The workers and the guards continued on to work on the train, while the 1000 adventurers, along with the fighters Viktor bought for safety entered the Siberian Tundra in search of the untouched Doomsday Pillar.
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Written by Avans, Published exclusively by W.e.b.n.o.v.e.l,
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