Chapter 46- The Envoy's Offer: Alliance or Ambush?
He decides to meet with the envoy of the All-Human Alliance. After stepping out of the altar room, he sees his system status.
A window pops up before him.
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Name: Ash
Age: 24
Status: Healthy
Abilities: Fireball
Level: 1 (2/100 Mana Mist Level 1)
Items: Flame Sword, Recovery Pill (Level 1) (Consumable Resource) ×1, Healing Pill (Level 1) (Consumable Resource) ×1
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After seeing the status window, Ash thinks, "At last… I've taken my first step toward upgrading my level."
In conversation with Robin, Ash learns that the envoy of the All-Human Alliance is standing near the city's entry gate. Robin believes it's best not to let her enter into the city before getting Ash's consent on how to deal with her. Ash appreciates Robin's foresight and silently applauds his thinking.
Now, he and Robin are heading toward the city gate to receive the envoy and understand the reason behind her visit.
Minutes pass.
Ash meets the envoy with a polite smile on his face. He's surprised—genuinely surprised. The envoy of the All-Human Alliance is a girl. She has a beautiful face, long hair, slender legs, a thin waist, and wears clothing that's both comfortable and alluring. Enough to mesmerize many men. But instead of being enchanted, Ash becomes cautious.
He thinks, "Are these All- human Alliance trying to honey trap me?"
With a sharpened mind, he decides to keep the interaction formal and guarded. First, he welcomes the envoy to the city. He's already chosen the meeting place—a house on the outer edge of Nexus City. He doesn't want strangers getting close to his treasures and trump cards. Not for his sake alone, but for the city's safety too.
[Note: The city is divided into—Outer Area: commoners live and work. Inner Area: soldiers and city servants live and work. Core Area: where all treasures, the warehouse, the garden, and the most important buildings are located. Ash also lives here.]
Ash and the envoy begin walking to the meeting. He sends Robin ahead to do some last-minute beautification of the house where the meeting will take place.
As they walk, Ash starts a casual conversation about the All-Human Alliance and its purpose. The envoy's answers surprise him. He learns the alliance represents all human altar owners in the Eldros Plane. Some altar owners, like him, are transmigrated, while others are native to this world. Transmigrated altar owners are rare, she explains.
Minutes pass, and they arrive at the house. Ash enters and welcomes the envoy inside.
He says in a sweet, confident voice, "Please don't mind the small house. After all, I'm a new altar owner and have no backing from any power in this world."
"You're doing well, considering this altar is newly born," the envoy replies with a sultry voice and a confident smile.
Ash narrows his eyes slightly. "What does your alliance want from me?"
"Our alliance wants you to join us and help increase humanity's strength in this world," she says with a calm, even tone.
A few seconds of silence stretch between them.
Ash then asks, "What can you offer me that I don't already have? Joining your alliance might create indirect enemies, and I'd like to avoid that. Not until I know more about the powerful forces and alliances in this world."
"Our alliance is a cooperative one," she replies. "We help human altar owners nurture their altar cities. Joining gives you backing. Our species is a mid-grade power in this plane. Not every human altar owner gets a direct offer."
Ash pauses, silently thinking, "Maybe I should join. This is a cooperative alliance. The big powers are likely too busy fighting monsters to harass a small city like mine. And if I refuse, they might come harass me anyway…"
With a dominant stance and a clear voice, Ash asks, "Is there a military angle in joining your alliance? And what do you want from me? You're offering support and privileges—I doubt it's for free."
The envoy answers plainly, "The alliance gives benefits to members who support us with their military. Every cooperation depends on your altar city. We're relaxed, but hierarchy exists. The more you contribute, the more you receive. I found you here because of the relic area near your city. That's why I'm offering you membership—to explore it together."
Ash grits his teeth slightly and thinks, "So it's really about the relic site… damn."
He scowls and says, "Why do you even need my permission to explore it? You could sneak in without me knowing."
With a flicker of anger in his chest, he decides to check the envoy's status.
A window pops up before him.
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Name: Mina
Age: ?
Status: ?
Abilities: ?
Level: ?
Weapon: ?
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He thinks, "Why does this beautiful girl seem weaker than me, yet her level is higher? I hope she doesn't take this status check as an insult. Otherwise… I might be facing another battle."
She smiles and says, "Because I won't be the one exploring the relic area. Others from the alliance will. What do you think? I'm offering you something not many people ever get. You need higher-level altar knowledge to grow. Don't rely only on your altar."
A few minutes of silence pass as Ash weighs his options.
He thinks, "If I want to survive in this strength-based world, I must become part of a bigger organization."
He agrees to join the All-Human Alliance.
Mina gives him an alliance badge and a one-time treasure blueprint to create a teleportation gate in his city.
He checks their system status.
A window pops up in front of him.
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Name: All Human Alliance Badge (Item)
Status: Good
Requirement: Use only by recognized members of the All-Human Alliance
Quantity: 1
Ability: Provides communication and projection among alliance members in this plane
Description: A powerful tool for connecting people
Grade: High-grade
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Name: Teleportation Gate (Page – Treasure)
Requirement: Place in the altar
Quantity: 1
Status: Good
Ability: Constructs a teleportation gate in the altar city
Description: The best method for creating a teleportation gate
Grade: High-grade
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After reading the window, Ash feels amazed. "The alliance or Mina… they're truly powerful and resourceful. Giving two high-grade items so casually is huge. Even in the market building, I never saw treasures like these."
Mina instructs him to bind the badge and build the teleportation gate so she can return to her city. Ash nods but stays cautious.
He thinks, "I'll build the teleportation gate only after I'm sure it won't pose a risk of invasion. But I doubt anyone will bother attacking a newborn altar city. The golden barrier will probably protect us."
He leaves Mina in Robin's care and heads toward the altar to place the teleportation treasure.
Inside the altar room, Ash places the page treasure at the centre, following the altar spirit's instructions.
After a few minutes of standing near the altar, the page begins glowing a soft pink. When the entire page shines, a sudden system notification appears before Ash.
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City is ready to construct the teleportation gate. Select location.
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Ash selects a location near where he and Mina held their meeting. A new window appears.
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Construction for Teleportation Gate started. Time needed: 30 mins
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Ash exits the altar room and focuses on binding the alliance badge in the garden—alone.
Thirty minutes later, Ash completes the binding.
A window pops up before him.
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Construction for Teleportation Gate complete.
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Ash receives a flood of information about the teleportation gate from the altar. He learns that only one person can use it per activation. With confidence, he believes no enemy can use it to invade the Nexus City.
After meeting Mina again and finishing their discussion, she prepares to leave Nexus City—through the newly built teleportation gate.
Ash watches the gate shimmer. But as Mina vanishes, a second system notification blinks to life