One Last System

"Now then, I guess we need to figure out where we want to start our camp, don't we?" I suggested with a genuine smile.

A smile that was supposed to hide the fact that within the group of now over one hundred and fifty people... only three of them knew anything about the local lay of the land or points of importance.

In other words, despite how I asked this question out loud, seemingly involving everyone in it... Besides me, only Mia and Levi could have anything to say.

"Wouldn't starting from scratch be a good idea?" one of the newly obtained workers in my group suggested. "I mean, it would be a lot more work than taking over some ruins but it would also allow us to avoid any problems if someone were to come back and claim we stole their land."

About ten seconds. That's how long it took for one of the survivors that we helped out to put all my scheming to an end.

"I don't mean to say that's a bad idea..." Mia muttered. Then, she stepped forth. She ended up standing in front of me with her head raised high and determination filling her eyes. "But it's not the best one either," she stated.

My girl then took a deep breath, as if she was preparing herself to shout.

"Listen up, everyone," she said in a loud voice... but one that was aimed at reaching the far end of the group rather than being a simple shout.

'Where did she learn to speak like that?' I thought, taken aback by a small element of Mia's growth that eluded my attention.

"Right now, this group is extremely weak!" Mia called out. "Sure, we have Levi and Arthur, both of whom are extremely powerful. But when you average them out with your current state..." she pursed her lips and shook her head.

"We don't have enough strength to start things from scratch. And there is no need to do that either," she added only for a vicious smile to appear on her lips. "So, here is my proposition and three reasons why I believe it's more fitting."

Mia turned silent for a moment, giving her throat some time to recover from using this kind of powerful yet calm voice.

"First off, now that you guys lost your cultivation, you no longer can rely on energy alone to go on without eating," Mia started her lecture. "That means, the majority of our strength will have to go towards getting food for you rather than the construction of a new camp."

Mia took another pause and started to walk to and fro along the front of the group of people that decided to stay with us.

And to my actual surprise, the folks that opted to go their own way... didn't bother to leave yet!

"Secondly, while it's true that this continent is sparsely populated... That doesn't mean every place is suitable to be turned into a settlement," Mia stated, once again proving that during the time we were separated, she didn't only train her muscles but also her brain. "Even if we account for the influence that the otherworldly energy will have on the lay of energy lines in this world, I believe most of the settles areas will remain relatively close to the valuable land!"

This was a point that I personally didn't think about myself.

All my cultivation and power came from hunting and my personal means of making my training more effective through formations and arrays.

On the other hand, Mia didn't have such easy access to cultivation and energy-rich resources as I had, forcing her to learn the value of gathering the energy that naturally existed in this world.

Yet, this point didn't relate only to one's training.

In this world, mana was an important element of the biosphere as well. Some herbs, plants, or crops could only grow if the area was rich in mana enough. Some animals would struggle to survive on food alone if deprived of the naturally occurring mana as well.

'Seeing what she already pointed out, I can't help but get curious about the third point she has yet to bring up,' I thought. And before I knew it, a small smile appeared on my face.

I couldn't tell why, but seeing Mia prove her competence like that in front of a huge crowd...

As weird as it might be, it made me want to snatch her up, cuddle her up somewhere far away from prying eyes and then devour her whole!

"And then comes the third point," Mia called out. "The place I have in mind is right in the middle of the lands formerly known as the Tuxi sect," she informed everyone.

'Huh?' I raised my eyebrows a little. 'Does she mean the place where we reunited?' I guessed.

In a certain way, it made sense. It was the only area she spent quite some time in so I could understand her nostalgia for it.

Yet, what I couldn't understand, was her reasons for bringing the name and lore of that place out in front of people that couldn't care less about it.

So, rather than inquiring about it, I simply kept my mouth shut and continued to listen.

"Yes, it will be dangerous to settle there as the royals of the Tuxi sect might be eager to reclaim the ownership of that area," Mia said, nodding her head as if to approve her own words and the dangers they pointed out.

Then, she opened her eyes wide. A fire appeared in her eyes and her smile turned from a small, kind one to a wide, vicious type.

"And I came to believe that save for the name, royals are exactly the same kind of people as those that brought ruin to your world," she suddenly announced, making a connection I have yet to realize.

"As such, not only will this place be easier for us to settle in and will have the benefits of relatively rich spiritual energy around, but it will also serve as a trap for the royals. And killing all the royals will be, from now on, our means to stop the destruction of this world as well!"

Mia ended up her lecture on a high note. And then, as if nothing had happened, she simply turned around and came back to my side.

"And," she whispered as soon as only I could hear her voice. "I really hope my former teammates will end up returning to that place too."