Chapter 53: Land Secured
A week later, Marcus went over to the land.
The road leading out of Berm stretched into open terrain, the stone path slowly giving way to packed dirt as the city walls faded behind him. The noise of the city disappeared with distance, replaced by the quiet of open land and the occasional sound of wind brushing through grass.
It took him less than an hour to reach the location.
When he arrived, he stopped.
And looked.
The land stretched far ahead of him.
Mostly flat, with a slight elevation toward the far side. Enough to give a natural advantage in visibility. The main road ran along one edge, just as he requested. It wasn’t heavily trafficked, but it was enough for supply movement.
"...Not bad," Marcus muttered.
A carriage was already parked near the center.
Gerrand Voss stood beside it, dressed the same as before, hands behind his back as he waited.
When Marcus approached, Gerrand gave a slight nod.
"You’re on time."
Marcus stopped beside him, eyes still scanning the land.
"This is one of the options?"
Gerrand shook his head.
"This is the one I recommend."
Marcus glanced at him.
"Why?"
Gerrand gestured outward.
"Fifty-two hectares. Slightly above your minimum. Road access already established. No conflicting claims. And most importantly, no immediate neighboring settlements that would question large-scale development."
Marcus nodded once.
That aligned with what he needed.
"Ownership?" he asked.
"Previously under a minor landholder," Gerrand said. "Acquired through negotiated transfer. Documentation has already been processed under your name."
Marcus looked at him.
"That fast?"
Gerrand allowed himself a small smile.
"You paid for speed."
Marcus didn’t respond to that.
Instead, he looked out again, taking in the full scope of the land.
This wasn’t just empty space.
This was where it would start.
His base.
His company.
His system.
After a few seconds, he spoke.
"How much did it end up costing?"
Gerrand reached into his coat and pulled out a folded document.
"Three million kinah for the land," he said. "Plus my ten percent fee."
Marcus took the document and skimmed through it.
"...Three point three."
"Yes."
Marcus folded it back.
He had already expected it.
The four million kinah loan he took from the bank covered everything with room to spare. He didn’t touch his personal savings. That was reserved. He needed that converted into military credits later.
That was where the real power came from.
"Good," Marcus said.
Gerrand nodded.
"Payment has been settled. The land is officially yours."
Marcus read the document carefully this time, not just skimming it.
He checked the boundaries first.
Coordinates.
Reference markers.
The descriptions matched what he was seeing with his own eyes. The slight rise toward the far end, the road alignment on the eastern side, even the mention of a dry stream bed cutting faintly across the lower portion of the land.
Good.
That meant drainage wouldn’t be a problem.
He moved to the ownership details next.
All clean.
No shared claims.
No conditional clauses that would come back later.
Marcus folded the document again, slower this time.
"...You did your job," he said.
Gerrand inclined his head slightly.
"I always do."
"Well, thank you," Marcus said, extending his hand, offering a handshake.
Gerrand took his hand and shook it firmly.
"For a client like you," Gerrand said, "I make sure things are done properly."
Marcus released his hand and gave a small nod.
"That’s all I need."
Gerrand stepped back slightly, brushing his sleeve once as he regained his composed posture.
"If you require anything further—materials, labor, permits for construction—my office remains available."
Marcus shook his head.
"I’ll handle the rest."
Gerrand studied him for a second, like he wanted to ask more, but chose not to.
"...Very well."
He turned and made his way back toward the carriage. Within moments, he was gone, leaving Marcus alone in the middle of the land.
With the land before him, he began thinking of the renovation he would make to the land.
He stepped forward slowly, boots pressing into the soil as he began mapping it out in his head again, this time in more detail.
"Perimeter first."
That was the first rule.
No base stayed open like this.
He turned slightly, looking at the edges of the land.
A perimeter fence—no, not just a fence.
Layered security.
Outer boundary markers.
Then reinforced fencing.
Controlled entry points.
"...Two gates," he said under his breath. "Main and service."
The main gate would connect directly to the road. For personnel and official entry.
The service gate—smaller, less visible—would handle supply movement.
Marcus nodded once.
That made sense.
Then.
"Watch points."
He looked toward the slight elevation.
That area wasn’t just good for headquarters.
It was perfect for observation.
He shifted his attention back toward the center.
"Internal roads."
A base wasn’t just buildings scattered randomly. Movement inside needed to be smooth. Vehicles had to move from gate to storage, from storage to training grounds, from barracks to command.
He traced it mentally.
A main road cutting through the base.
Secondary paths branching out.
Then his eyes moved toward the barracks.
"Expand."
What he had was enough for now, but not for long.
He would need more.
Separate sleeping quarters.
Mess area.
Sanitation.
Everyone living under the same conditions.
Everyone operating under the same standard.
Marcus turned toward the storage facility next.
"...Armory."
That needed to be upgraded.
Secured.
Restricted access.
Inventory system.
No one touched anything without authorization.
He would enforce that from the start.
No exceptions.
Then—
"Training ground."
He walked a few steps toward the open stretch.
This area would change the most.
Right now, it was just land.
Soon—
Obstacle courses.
Marksmanship lanes.
Formation drills.
Movement exercises.
Everything would happen here.
He could already see it.
Lines of recruits.
Commands being given.
Movements repeated until they became instinct.
Marcus exhaled slowly.
"Yeah, I can see it now."
Then his gaze shifted toward the far end.
The elevation.
"Future expansion."
When their operation becomes global or nationwide, he’ll need more space to accommodate the influx of assets.
"In one or two months, I can make it."