Alien world

Chapter 1648, Section 281: Military Rank
"I hope that the disappearance of the Red-Eyed Clan will bring corresponding honors and medals to the soldiers' chests."

"This has always been there."

Annan abandoned the idea of ​​letting Fermi ask for a reward and instead pondered what kind of reward would be appropriate for this epic victory.

Giving money? It's useful, but not that useful. Hellfire soldiers already enjoy the best treatment, with several breathing techniques provided free of charge, daily meat, and accommodation provided by their families.

A personal gesture of sympathy? It's more effective than giving money, but it's hardly a reward, and outsiders will mock it for being stingy.

Titles? That's a pretty standard option. After every major war, other factions inevitably produce a bunch of nobles. The advantage is that titled knights are genuinely willing to fight for their lives, but the disadvantage is that they don't care whose lives they're fighting for, and Free City doesn't follow that system.

Annan had an idea: "Since we already have a dual-chief officer system, let's add a military rank system as well."

"Military rank system?"

"Yes."

"All new recruits are the most basic soldiers. They are promoted in rank through daily training, combat, and performance in emergencies. From the lowest to the highest rank, they are non-commissioned officers, junior officers, field officers, and general officers. Like titles, they do not involve actual positions. Unlike titles, they do not improve status; they only represent identity and honor."

After all, not everyone can become a captain, centurion, or even a chiliarch, and officers can be demoted due to changes. The military rank system is like a resume, following a person's military career.

Another advantage is that even if personnel are transferred, they can quickly find their place in the new unit based on their military rank.

Since young soldiers yearn for glory, let's pave a visible path to honor for them.

Start as a soldier and climb the ranks step by step. There's no need to compete for limited officer positions; as long as you have the ability to hunt down enemies, you can advance in rank.

Albek was less interested in the "dual command system" than he had been initially, since Blackwatch used to be proud to join and didn't need a rank system as a path to advancement.

But Fermi knew what these two systems meant: the dual command system meant that Hellfire would always be on the right track from top to bottom, while the rank system kept the morale of the soldiers at a high standard.

How did you come up with that idea?

"I guess I learned something from pushing the boulder," Annan shrugged.

"Pushing stones?"

"I know it's boring to keep pushing rocks that are going to roll uphill, but you level up every time you push one up, and you also get ranked with other people pushing rocks. Doesn't that motivate you?"

If you add upgrade reward points, you can use those points to redeem stone skins and even change the mountain background...

Hmm, if this system were implemented in a factory, wouldn't the female workers be working so hard that their sewing machines would be smoking?
While Fermi was excited, he didn't forget the important matter. He said that the battle exposed some shortcomings of himself and many soldiers, such as a lack of understanding of the ratmen.

“That’s easy. You take the officers to the Scavengers and have them and the Ratmen teach you a lesson, then go back and teach the soldiers.”

Fermi nodded, agreeing: "There's another thing. The mages of the Retribution Legion have discovered that the anti-magic field is spreading."

"This is impossible!"

Before Annan could speak, Albek cried out in alarm.

"Why is it impossible?" Annan asked curiously.

"The anti-magic domain is too vast. The resources consumed to maintain it every day are enormous. The cost of its expansion alone is no less than the Empire's annual budget... Why would demons do such a thankless task?"

Annan understood. When the base area is large enough, even expanding it outward by just one meter will result in an increase in area measured in square kilometers. It's the same principle as how a small arcane spell used to expand outward by several hundred meters, while now a medium-sized arcane spell can barely expand it by a hundred meters.

The demons have money to burn, so they maintain such a large anti-magic zone in the far north.

Annan called Lilith over: "What is the identity of that fake rat that came back?"

Lilith replied, "Passionate, intelligent, and rational..." "So you don't know either?"

"Too many users are currently making inquiries, please try again later..."

Annan gave Albek an embarrassed smile and asked again.

Lilith replied, "The answer is obvious; it's either a succubus or a lust demon."

"Another succubus?"

There seem to be a lot of succubi in Liberty City...

Should we ask Elena from the massage parlor to come over and say hello?
Just then, a commotion arose downstairs; it turned out that the wounded Blackwatch soldiers from the hospital had arrived.

They wore prosthetics, and apart from their pale faces and thin bodies, they looked basically no different from ordinary people.

“I would like to express my gratitude to you once again, thank you, Lord Annan Reeves,” Albek said sincerely.

Without him, the Blackwatch Legion might have truly vanished in the far north.

“It is what I should do,” Annan said modestly.

Looking down at the black-clad Watchmen gathering on the street, one of them patted Gary on the shoulder and punched him hard in the chest. Gary then fell backward and was hurriedly taken back to the hospital.

Turning his gaze away, Annan said, "Then let's meet this demon who helped us. Perhaps the entity behind her has something to say to me."

There is a big figure behind it, which is their consensus.

The succubus disguised as a ratman was quickly led to the terrace. Its eyes swept over the three of them before locking onto Annan: "So you're the lord of Free City?"

"Do you demons also have verbal tic like ratmen?"

"What the hell? I have no idea what the lord is talking about..." The succubus stammered nervously, repeating his usual tics.

"Whatever, but I'm a little curious, are you a succubus or a lust demon?"

Don't compare me to demonic things!

As long as Lady Biros doesn't let me reveal my identity, I'll be a ratman no matter what, and even if I'm forced to remove my shapeshifting talent, I'll still be a ratman with the bloodline of the Succubus!

Annan didn't expose her any further; it wasn't important: "You helped my soldiers wipe out the Red-Eyed Clan. What reward do you want?"

"I get a share of the reward too?"

“Of course, without your intelligence, they couldn’t have wiped out a ratman clan. You’ve done a great job,” Annan said gently.

His gentle smile gradually dispelled the lust demon's resistance, and he muttered, "You're quite different from other human creatures."

Fermi muttered to himself, "Another one."

"What, another one?"

"A succubus who has succumbed to His Majesty Annam's charm."

The succubus's eyes widened immediately. Who did she think she was? She was a powerful fighting succubus, not someone who could only writhe and submit to males. Don't underestimate me!
What do you mean by succubi opening massage parlors in Liberty City?
What constitutes a legitimate massage, a succubus? Legitimate? Massage? Only two of these three words can be true at the same time. Haha, your jokes are truly delightful.

(End of this chapter)