The armored wall stretched a total of 42 kilometers, standing at a height of 20 meters with a thickness of 3 meters. It was made from alloy materials used to manufacture battleship armor. This wall served as the first line of defense for the entire southeastern region of the base, protecting the thriving civilizations of various nations.
The Mercenary Alliance base was a massive city, accommodating over ten million people and boasting formidable economic power and countless warriors. It was both a newly developed city and an impregnable military fortress.
The headquarters of the Mercenary Alliance was located in the rear of the southeastern front line. A badge with a hammer and sickle emblem adorned with golden embroidered branches and leaves hung at the top of a 90-story building. This was the headquarters of the Mercenary Alliance.
The group of prospective mercenaries selected from the Third Base would become real mercenaries after completing their first mission, gaining numerous benefits promised by the Mercenary Alliance. Upon arriving, Chu Tian and his group found themselves in this 90-story skyscraper.
They had two options: either take on a mission right away or rest for a month before accepting a mission. Regardless, all prospective mercenaries had to undertake their first mission within a month, or they would face severe punishment.
"Chu Tian, give it your best! I'll be waiting for you up there," the instructor said with a smile as he patted Chu Tian on the shoulder. He left with a meaningful remark and a vague smile, taking the elevator to a floor above the eightieth floor where the upper management resided.
Chu Tian watched the instructor depart and then shrugged his shoulders with a somewhat bewildered expression.
As he looked at the towering building before him, Chu Tian couldn't help but exclaim inwardly: "It's so tall, so big, so luxurious."
Even the marble staircase before him had hundreds of steps. As Chu Tian walked on the staircase, he had the illusion of stepping through the river of history. Looking at the various mercenaries and ordinary people coming and going around him, Chu Tian couldn't help but think: "A world of great unity."
Entering the lobby on the first floor, Chu Tian stared in bewilderment at the vast hall. Having spent most of his life in a small place, he now felt overwhelmed by the size of this place. It seemed that there were over a thousand people inside.
"Hey there, young man, is it your first time here?" a man suddenly appeared beside Chu Tian.
He had short golden hair, an affable face, and a muscular build concealed beneath casual clothing.
"Hello, I'm Chu Tian..." Chu Tian hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I'd like to take on my first mission, but this place is so big; I'm feeling a bit lost."
As he spoke, Chu Tian took the opportunity to examine the abilities of this man named Norta. He possessed the Flame Talent, similar to Hongshang's ability. It seemed that the Flame Talent was not uncommon.
"Hello, Chu Tian," Norta greeted with a warm smile. "I'm Norta, a C-rank mercenary. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Chu Tian relaxed a bit in response to Norta's sunny smile.
"Yes, please," Chu Tian replied. "I want to take my first mission, but this place is so vast."
"Ah, I see you're from this batch of mercenaries," Norta said in surprise, sizing up Chu Tian. "You look pretty young. Are you a martial artist?"
"Yes, I have a somewhat decent talent," Chu Tian replied cautiously, revealing just enough information.
"Ah, you could have gone to an advanced school," Norta shook his head, "but being a mercenary isn't a bad choice either. Those advanced schools are too restrictive for someone like you."
"Too restrictive..." Chu Tian thought to himself, "I'm already sixteen!"
"Come on! I'll take you to get a temporary communication device from the Mercenary Alliance," Norta said, putting his arm around Chu Tian and leading him to the second floor.
"Hello, to receive a temporary communication device, please present your mercenary certification," a professional-looking woman with a friendly smile said from behind a counter as they approached.
Chu Tian silently took out his C-level mercenary ID from his spatial backpack.
Notata casually glanced at it and was instantly shocked, "C-level?"
"You think I'm lying?" Notata looked at Chu Tian with an unfriendly expression.
Chu Tian shrugged helplessly, "When did I ever mention my rank?"
"Oh, I see..." Notata scratched his head, "So, are you the one who directly killed a Level 4 Base?"
"If it wasn't a coincidence, then yes," Chu Tian nodded. His fame seemed to have spread quite quickly.
"Wow, this is incredible! You just came out, and you've already met a big shot." Notata's eyes were filled with obvious envy. "You've saved at least five years. Little brother, your future is limitless!"
"Haha, you're exaggerating. Right now, I only have an empty title, and my strength hasn't caught up yet," Chu Tian modestly replied.
"Hello, this is your C-level terminal, bound to your unique identity information. The information you can access depends on your permission level. I wish you good luck in your military career!" The woman handed a crystal thin plate to Chu Tian with a tone more respectful than before.
"Thank you," Chu Tian accepted the crystal thin plate. The interface on the terminal appeared, similar to a smartphone, but unlike a phone, the terminal's operating interface was projected through the crystal thin plate.
"Alright, I'm in a good mood today. I've met a benefactor. Let's go eat together. Where would you like to eat? I can afford any place!" Notata laughed and put his arm around Chu Tian's shoulder. "You seem unfamiliar with this place, don't you? Let me choose a place. There's 'Golden Abundance' in Zone C of the base. It's a super high-end luxury restaurant. I've been wanting to go there for a long time!"
"Well..." Chu Tian hesitated, showing an expression that seemed to say, "I'm just a newcomer, and that place sounds expensive. If I go by myself, I might embarrass myself." But unable to resist Notata's enthusiastic invitation, he eventually agreed.
"Don't worry, just be yourself. I'm also going there for the first time. We can be a bit awkward together. Do you really think they'd let us make fools of ourselves as soon as we enter?" Notata spoke in a relaxed manner.
Chu Tian smiled, not because he was afraid of making a fool of himself but because he wanted to level up by killing a Level D monster as soon as possible. He was itching to reach the peak of Level E.
Perhaps Chu Tian's expression was too revealing, as Notata continued, "You can operate remotely, right? Are you from a family with financial difficulties or something? You can apply for a permanent residence in the inner circle on the terminal. The Alliance will review it first. Moreover, you're a rising star among this year's mercenaries; the Alliance's arrangements will definitely put your mind at ease."
Chu Tian was shocked. It seemed that his status had been elevated quite a bit. Should he start acting more in line with this newfound identity? Chu Tian glanced at Notata beside him and dismissed that idea. Actually, being his true self might be the best way!