I was an apprentice in Ferren

Chapter 200 Leaving the camp
Summer should be the off-season in Huangsha Town, but these past few days have been exceptionally lively.

There were other villagers who were just bored and came to watch the excitement, tabloid reporters who were eager to stir up trouble and ran away quickly, adventurers who were looking for an opportunity, and even malicious spies who wanted to take advantage of the chaos.

However, what they didn't know was that because of the incident a few days ago where the Baron was hit with a dog's head and several noble children were kidnapped, Huangsha Town had applied for a detection artifact. Any stranger who came to visit had to be registered and detected. If a red light appeared on their body, they would be arrested and interrogated without any leniency.

"Crisis situations must be handled strictly, and no bad apples can be allowed to slip in." The guards had all changed into leather armor. The guards who had allowed the thieves to enter openly because they were under a spell had been punished and sent to the vanguard camp. They would all be in the first row when the bandits were suppressed.

This calmed the anger of the nobles, since these soldiers were fined for their meager wages, and this kind of thing made them feel better. However, the ransom of 2000 gold coins for this family was really a problem.

Although they did not force a mage to spend money, how much wealth could a low-ranking noble in a town have?

Not to mention that in order to maintain their so-called aristocratic image, they also have to hold banquets and parties regularly to show that the family is still thriving. They don't have much cash on hand, and this not particularly eye-catching number has actually made several families unable to catch their breath.

For a time, people sold their equipment, and even the impoverished Baron went to Wanle Garden to borrow money. Fortunately, as the town's strongest professional, the Baron lived up to expectations and dared to negotiate in the Jackal's den with only a few people. He successfully brought back the prisoners who had not eaten a single meal in two days and had only drunk some water.

With the return of their wanderers, the residents of Huangsha Town were greatly encouraged. In an instant, whether they were wealthy gentry or ordinary people, they all donated money enthusiastically. Several captured noblemen even shed tears and said that they must join the army to wash away their humiliation and get back the ransom from their families!

However, Huangsha Town was not wealthy. Even though the lady of Wanle Garden took the lead in donating 5000 gold, it was still more than 4000 short of 20,000. Fortunately, at the critical moment, the garrison advisor here, the Five Rings Mage Kaka, said that he could lend a batch of scrolls as military supplies, and they could be taken back if they were not used up.

"Use it as you see fit. You can always pay it back with your taxes later. But I'm not feeling well enough to go to the desert with you. I hope you all return victorious soon."

After the oath-taking ceremony involving the slaughter of pigs and sheep, the Baron led a group of 150 men into the desert. However, the northeastern direction they were heading in puzzled Mu Ge, so she even sent someone to chase after them, warning the Baron that she was very confident in her judgment and that they were heading due north-southwest and had gone the wrong way.

Of course, her confidence stemmed from her own intelligence: those bandits were among her biggest big spenders.

There's a saying that money isn't earned through honest means, and it certainly isn't obtained through honest means either. As bandits who live a life of debauchery and fight on the brink of death every day, they naturally wouldn't hold onto a large amount of wealth they suddenly acquired. Places like Wanleyuan, which are high-class, have a lot of fun, and whose ladies keep quiet, can be said to be their best entertainment venues.

In addition, these sand bandits have little sense of secrecy and occasionally talk nonsense when drunk. Not to mention where these guys' base is, they even know exactly who the half-elf behind them is.

However, as someone who values ​​harmony and making money, or perhaps has ulterior motives, Mu Ge had no interest in selling this information.

Normally, those bandits would know their limits. They don't care that Nas City is too lazy to manage or that Huangsha Town is incapable of managing. If word gets out and they are investigated, their girls might be in danger. Why would they choose to make such risky decisions instead of living a peaceful life?

However, after the news brought by her underling who returned using disguise skills, Mu Ge realized that she was terribly wrong.

"The Baron only said one sentence, something about feinting to the east while attacking in the west, and then kicked me out. Boss, what exactly did that mean?"

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't ask about." The proprietress didn't understand either, but after she had dealt with the guard and left, she suddenly realized: the baron was probably planning a sneak attack.

That makes sense, though. Many of those soldiers who are only militia-level are not considered regular soldiers at all. Even a level 1 warrior could easily take on three of them by himself. If they were to face those bandits who live on the edge, they might not be able to defeat even one out of five.

If we really relied on them as the main force in suppressing bandits, even the post-war compensation would bankrupt the town.

If a large-scale attack doesn't work, then the corresponding tactic is a decapitation strike using only a small number of elite troops. It's quick and effective. Although the bandits are individually quite strong, they are ultimately just a mob gathered together for mutual benefit. Once the bandits are dead, their strength will be on full display, and the enemy will surely be routed.

Thinking of this, Mu Ge couldn't help but applaud the plan, but a question remained in her heart.

Having observed the Baron for many years, she was confident in her vast knowledge of people and knew exactly how cunning this seemingly foolish man was. Such a meticulous plan could never have been devised by him alone.

Although this man is certainly not lacking in courage, fighting to the death with only one bow is his style, and this kind of deceptive tactic is completely out of character for him.

Who helped him change?
Kaka? This mage does have some ability, but his courage is probably not much stronger than his kidneys. Even the girls under his command can treat him like a horse. Even if he had the brains, he wouldn't use them in this way.

After all, from a mage's perspective, such a reckless act is a complete brain defect. If one really wanted to launch a sneak attack and poison someone under the cover of darkness, that would be far more practical. If this is publicized, people won't be fools, and they'll have informants. Once they're on guard, it's unrealistic to think about these underhanded but effective little tricks.

So who exactly is giving this guy advice?
Huangsha Town is not large, and there aren't many outsiders. She might not pay attention to everyone who comes, but as long as they are adventurers, she will definitely register them on the gate's registration form.

After receiving a copy of yesterday's registration form, Mu Ge frowned.

Many of them arrived suddenly in the last few days, and most of them were from Nas City. Although some of these people were indeed quite capable, they did not have much connection with the Baron, and even if they had the brains, they would not give advice to a poor country nobleman.
After obtaining the registration form from a few days prior, one person caught the attention of a half-elf.

Irene Dupont, son of the Baron Apprentice Mage, is a promising young man under 15 years old. In terms of influence in Harua, he is probably more famous than his father, who became famous more than a decade ago.

Although the name Demon Hunter was quite prestigious at the time, his more than ten years as a stay-at-home dad has long since made him a relic of the past, and few people probably remember his name now.

According to the intelligence gathered, Little DuPont's intelligence has reached 18, a level that is considered one in a thousand even among mages. As long as he doesn't die young, he will definitely be a promising candidate to become a great mage in the future.

However, a person's vision and experience need time to grow. This has nothing to do with intelligence but rather requires time to mature. This little guy is just too inexperienced.

Were those the group of elf princesses who followed him, who, despite concealing their identities, still couldn't escape the All Paradise intelligence network?
But elves have always been detached from the world and not involved in it. The Moon Elf's backing is the Elf Kingdom. With this foundation and the goodwill of the pro-elf faction, they can live off their past achievements for thousands of years. Why would they need to settle down in a place like Yellow Sand Town, which she would not even bother to look at normally if it weren't for picking up men?

While the half-elves were racking their brains, on the other side of the desert, the army, wrapped tightly in white cloaks, was heading east under the guidance of camel caravans. The desert sun was exceptionally scorching, and the reflective quicksand was enough to easily sunburn any naked person. This army had to stop every 10 miles to rest and replenish their water, to prevent soldiers whose clothes were soaked with sweat and then dried in the sun, with white sweat stains already appearing on their clothes, from suffering heatstroke and losing their fighting ability before even setting out.

Compared to the soldiers who were suffering from the sweltering heat even though they weren't wearing armor, DuPont and his companions were much more comfortable. The power of magic made them feel as cool as if they were in an air-conditioned room, and all they needed to do was wear a large hat for sun protection.

The elves were dressed similarly, and to avoid distracting the soldiers, they never showed their faces, always following the main force as hired adventurers.

However, the Sun Elf was cursing DuPont in his heart. This bad boy not only made him wander around the desert, but also made him go deep into the desert and take a detour of 250 miles (miles and miles are different distances), and the daily wage was 100 gold. Isn't this just giving away money to a beggar?

Even though he had spoken to DuPont about Moonflower several times, this time his gaze was somewhat resentful: "Let alone a person, even a horse couldn't stand running like that."

DuPont knew it was a bit unreasonable, but he had something to say: "We'll definitely set off on a cool evening. Besides, we've brought a carriage. My old man will be the driver, so we definitely won't go the wrong way. With the levitation spell, we should be able to get there in four or five hours. Then we can kill them all in another hour, and maybe we'll be back before dawn."

“Good brother, even sitting for five or six hours is torture.” The Sun Elf glanced at DuPont and said in a sarcastic tone, “Sitting in such a fast car for so long, even if the horse can drink some medicine to keep it up, our bodies will probably fall apart. How much fighting power will we have left then?”

"Hey, how about we rest there for a bit before we start doing something? We're infiltrating anyway, so as long as we don't get caught, we can do whatever we want." DuPont encouraged them, "If you guys are too lazy to do anything, I can go by myself and try to wipe them all out by myself. You guys just need to block the entrance so that any lone ones don't find us. I'll definitely give you extra money and loot. We're all on the same side, how could I let you go for nothing?"

The elves didn't take it seriously, but since the matter had already been discussed, complaining would make them seem delicate, so they could only glare at DuPont to vent their emotions.

For DuPont, this level of damage was completely irrelevant; as long as they kept quiet, it was fine.

Because he was practicing one of the nine sword styles in meditation: the Desert Wind Style.

The Desert Wind School is a style developed by a group of swordsmen living in the desert. The swordsmen of this school prefer swords and spears, and many of their moves are suitable for use in the desert. They can also summon the power of fire elements and are known for their excellent mobility and explosive power.

DuPont has been neglecting his magical studies these days, spending his free time researching these various sword techniques.

Although he hasn't taken up the Nine Swords profession yet, he has already mastered a footwork technique called Light Body, which allows him to move at five times the normal speed when necessary. Last time, he used this technique along with Advanced Acceleration to reach an astonishing speed of one round/600 feet!

Of course, this number looks exaggerated, but in reality, if you use advanced acceleration techniques, it's only one lap/200 feet, which means running a little over nine meters per second. That's only slightly faster than Usain Bolt, the legendary sprint champion on Earth. Only with advanced acceleration techniques can you reach over 30 meters per second, which is enough to kick a cheetah's butt.

However, due to DuPont's own physical condition, this lightness state cannot be maintained for too long. Now, even with a +4 constitution belt, he can only maintain it for 1 minute, and the state afterwards is only slightly better than the weakness of berserk.

However, it's still sufficient as a temporary measure to boost explosive power.

However, according to DuPont, some barbarians and warriors possess a skill called Speedster, which allows them to have five times the speed in normal conditions. This is far superior to the speed of three normal sprints, but it requires a relatively high level of physical fitness. Even among the feats he can currently purchase, this feat is nowhere to be found.

Besides this light footwork technique, the Nine Swords Technique is also divided into attack techniques, enhancement techniques, and stance techniques. DuPont was a little confused at first, but after analysis, he understood it. It can be basically compared with the Evocation, Transmutation, and Bewitchment systems.

Of course, the Nine Swords' attack system uses its own weapon to attack. According to the mage's understanding, most skills can be said to be within the attack range, while enhancement skills are used to enhance the weapon or body. The bewitchment system also uses the weapon as the casting material to confuse the opponent at a short distance.

In addition, the Nine Swords skills also have restrictions similar to spell slots. To fully unleash their power, one must also be a professional in that field. For example, DuPont previously only imitated the moves without any special energy, so it could only be considered a combat technique, only grasping the surface without understanding the core.

But for DuPont, this is more than enough. After all, many things, even without power boosts, can improve one's strategy as long as the skills are learned. As for the Nine Swords profession, he can learn it slowly. Even if he just dawdles like he is now, he can still join the company before the end of the year.

He's starting to feel uneasy about this multi-class compatibility. He's worried he might accidentally get a new class. His total level is already too high. If he reaches a point where killing a bandit yields similar rewards as killing goblins, he'll probably have to go to hell to become a veteran of the Bloodbath if he wants to level up any further.

Just as DuPont was indulging in his lavish spending in meditation, the sun finally stopped its scorching heat. As the sun dipped westward, the desert crew breathed a sigh of relief and began setting up their tents.

Meanwhile, a small meeting was held inside the military tent.

"Franklin, I know you want revenge, but this time you have a very important mission." The baron looked at his brother-in-law, whose face was bruised and swollen, and suppressed his laughter, his face serious: "I'm going with Irene and those elves to carry out the beheadings under cover of night, while you transform into my appearance and stay here to stabilize morale. If anything goes wrong, remember to give orders. If the situation is critical, you can retreat, but whatever you do, don't let anyone die."

"Huh? So we were just putting on a show all along?" As a profession that never engages in direct combat, the bard quickly realized his role, but he found it unusually difficult to accept.

“Brother-in-law, I know swordsmanship and magic. I can definitely help if I go. Why let someone else do this? If not, I can have Irene do it. It's too dangerous for him to go out.”

The baron was somewhat relieved to hear this. He knew that this mission was much more dangerous than staying behind, but his son was the main force in this operation. If he didn't go, the elves wouldn't contribute either.

However, that's not how you should put it. The Baron patted his brother-in-law on the shoulder: "He's so young, while you're a bard who excels at inspiring people and stabilizing morale. You're good at disguise and have known me for a long time, so you can pretend for a day or two without being exposed. But DuPont doesn't have that ability. You have to take on this task. Otherwise, if something really goes wrong, how will we face the families of our 100-plus fellow villagers?"

"I understand." Franklin nodded, feeling a great sense of responsibility. "Then you should also be careful. If things get too bad, retreat. Anyway, we are relatively weak on the surface, so it's not shameful to lose. Preserving your own lives is the most important thing."

The baron was very pleased, as his brother-in-law was reliable in important matters: "I don't need to worry about that. You can keep these scrolls as backup. Remember, if anything unexpected happens, you must keep the morale up and prevent the camp from collapsing. If you encounter monsters, try to scare them away and avoid direct combat. Protecting the safety of the camp and the lives of the villagers is the most important thing, and only you can do this job with the most peace of mind."

Under the Baron's watchful eye, a carriage quietly emerged, ostensibly to purchase supplies.

Destination: due north.

(End of this chapter)