"Yes, that is true. They do seem bored, but you know why we are stationed here, right?" Selvijs asked, giving Eloi a cautious glance. He had known his friend for years and understood better than anyone that Eloi possessed a dangerously short temper whenever a genuine crisis unfolded. Even though Eloi had matured considerably since becoming a commander, there was always the lingering fear that his emotions might one day get the better of him. That possibility alone was enough to make Selvijs worry whenever tension began to rise.
"Don't worry, Selvijs. I know exactly why I'm stationed here," Eloi replied with a roll of his eyes. "Our duty is to stand here as a deterrent and guard the border. If Russia ever launches a real attack, Legion Twenty-Three is expected to be among the first forces to provide support." Although Eloi could still be impulsive, the weight of command rested heavily upon his shoulders, forcing him to restrain himself far more than he once would have.
"I take it there haven't been any problems with gambling lately?" Eloi asked, raising an eyebrow. His sudden change of topic caught Selvijs slightly off guard, but it was far from random. Legion Twenty-Three had developed a reputation throughout the military for its gambling culture, with soldiers constantly making wagers on everything from shooting competitions to prediction games. Without strict supervision, that habit could easily spiral into something destructive.
Because of that, Eloi had introduced some of the most comprehensive anti-addiction measures found anywhere in the armed forces. Every soldier was limited to gambling with no more than five percent of their monthly salary, a restriction enforced directly by the System itself. There was no loophole, no hidden trick, and no way to bypass the limit. Even officers were bound by the exact same rules.
Winning large amounts of money was also carefully regulated. Half of every soldier's gambling profits would automatically be frozen by the legion for six months before eventually being returned. During that period, the System continuously evaluated the person's betting habits to determine whether signs of addiction were developing. The remaining fifty percent could still be spent freely, but only until the end of that month's budget.
Borrowing money for gambling proved even more difficult. Every loan application was individually reviewed by legion officials, who carefully investigated both the amount requested and the stated reason behind it. Attempting to bypass those regulations was considered a severe military offense. Anyone caught doing so would immediately face a military tribunal, where dismissal from service would likely be the least severe punishment awaiting them.
The gambling itself was also tightly controlled. Soldiers could only place bets within the legion, preventing outside organizations from exploiting military personnel for profit. Furthermore, betting odds were restricted to a maximum ratio of two-to-one so that no single wager could promise unrealistic rewards capable of encouraging reckless behavior. The system was designed not to eliminate gambling altogether, but rather to ensure it remained harmless entertainment instead of becoming a dangerous addiction.
"No, there haven't been any problems," Selvijs answered with a satisfied smile. "Everything has remained stable, and the legion's gambling funds continue to grow at a healthy pace." His confidence was well earned, as the regulations had proven remarkably effective ever since they were implemented. Compared to other military units, gambling-related incidents within Legion Twenty-Three had become almost nonexistent.
"Good," Eloi replied with a serious expression. "Those funds need to be monitored constantly. We can never allow anyone to misuse them." Unlike ordinary military budgets, this money served a much more personal purpose for every soldier stationed within the legion.
"I know," Selvijs answered, his smile slowly turning predatory. "But I honestly dare anyone to try stealing from those funds." There was a dangerous glint in his eyes that made his meaning perfectly clear. Anyone foolish enough to embezzle even a single credit would quickly discover that the entire legion would come after them without hesitation.
A small percentage of every wager placed by the soldiers automatically went into the legion treasury. That money wasn't collected to enrich officers or improve headquarters. Instead, it existed to strengthen every soldier's future by supplementing retirement pensions. In the worst possible circumstances, it also ensured that if a legionnaire died in battle, their funeral expenses would be covered and their surviving family members would receive financial support until they could stand on their own again.
"You're right," Eloi admitted with a slow nod. "Still, it's always better to remain vigilant. Human greed has no limits." He had witnessed enough corruption throughout his military career to know that temptation could corrupt even honorable people. It was a lesson he refused to forget, no matter how trustworthy his own officers appeared to be.
Before Selvijs could answer, a bright blue telephone suddenly rang inside the office. The outdated landline looked as though it had been taken straight out of the nineteen-eighties, making it seem almost absurd beside the advanced military technology surrounding it. Yet despite its appearance, everyone knew it was reserved exclusively for the highest-priority communications. Eloi reached it almost instantly and picked up the receiver before the second ring had even finished.
"This is Legion Twenty-Three speaking," Eloi answered professionally. His confident voice remained steady for only a few moments before his expression rapidly changed. "Are you serious?" he asked, unable to completely hide the tension creeping into his voice. As the conversation continued, he silently gestured toward Selvijs and pointed directly at the emergency alarm button mounted on the wall.
Selvijs didn't hesitate. He slammed his palm against the switch, causing warning sirens to echo throughout the entire headquarters. Every soldier knew exactly what that signal meant. The legion was to prepare for deployment within one hour, an incredibly demanding timetable that left almost no room for mistakes.
"No... you're right, sir," Eloi said after listening carefully. "I understand the implications. We'll move immediately and await further instructions." His normally composed expression had completely vanished by the time he returned the receiver to its cradle. Whatever he had just heard was serious enough to erase every trace of humor from his face.
"What happened?" Selvijs asked while following Eloi out of the office. They walked quickly toward the central planning room, where emergency meetings with every company captain were always held. Even without receiving an answer, Selvijs could already tell this mission would be unlike anything they had handled in recent months.
"No time to explain," Eloi replied without slowing his pace. "Wait until everyone is here." Upon entering the planning room, he immediately activated the large tactical table positioned at its center. A detailed satellite image appeared above its surface, displaying the border between Ukraine and Russia. Eloi's eyes focused on a newly formed river whose ownership remained internationally disputed.
Barely three minutes later, every captain had gathered inside the room. The officers looked alert and strangely excited, eager to learn why the emergency alarm had been activated. Conversations immediately fell silent the moment Eloi stepped toward the map. Everyone instinctively understood that this briefing concerned something far more significant than an ordinary patrol.
"Is everyone here?" Eloi asked while scanning the room. After receiving several confirming nods, he continued without wasting another second. "Good. Then I'll keep this briefing short." He pointed toward a dark area located just south of the disputed river, clearly marking their destination.
"I just received direct orders from Marshel Herman," Eloi announced grimly. "Legion Twenty-Three has been assigned to eliminate every Secret Realm located in this sector." The obvious disgust in his voice immediately caught everyone's attention. Before anyone could interrupt with questions or complaints, he continued speaking.
"Military intelligence believes the Russians deliberately allowed corrupted creatures to spawn from these Secret Realms," Eloi explained while enlarging the affected region on the map. "Instead of deploying their own soldiers, they only needed to send a single individual into the vicinity of the realm. Once activated, the corrupted monsters would spread on their own, allowing Russia to deny direct involvement while pretending to investigate the incident alongside everyone else."
"Why would they do something like that?" Selvijs asked immediately. There was no point waiting until later because once the legion began marching, there would be little opportunity for lengthy discussions. Every piece of intelligence they could gather now might save lives later.
"According to intelligence," Eloi continued, "this is a large-scale test of our military response. They want to see how quickly we react, how many troops we deploy, and what methods we use to contain the outbreak. If they succeed without consequences, they'll gain valuable information for future operations while maintaining plausible deniability. That makes this far more dangerous than a simple monster cleanup."
He zoomed the map out even further, revealing countless glowing markers scattered across the borderlands. "Based on the current density of Secret Realms in this region, analysts estimate that at least twenty more remain untouched. If even a fraction of those are intentionally activated, the corrupted creatures could eventually escape their boundaries and spread across the surrounding territory. We cannot allow that to happen."
Eloi looked around the room, making eye contact with every captain in turn. "That is why our response must be absolute," he said firmly. "We aren't simply destroying monsters today. We are sending a message that any attempt to weaponize Secret Realms against the European Union will be met with overwhelming force. We move immediately, we complete the mission without hesitation, and we ensure no one mistakes our resolve."