As dawn approached, it was Lin Mo's turn to take over the watch.
The previous watchman, Evan, rubbed his drowsy eyes and went to catch a little more sleep. Lin Mo used the light of the campfire to survey his surroundings, checked the traps one more time, and then sat down, leaning against a tree by the camp.
The night had been relatively peaceful. No Demons seemed to have attacked, and thanks to the Insect Repellent, they had slept reasonably well. At the very least, they had gotten some decent rest.
The wound on his chest still ached faintly. With their limited supplies, all they could do was simple hemostasis and disinfection, followed by applying some ointment. It would probably be several more days before the wound fully healed.
Fortunately, it didn't affect his mobility much, which was good, as he had to face an even more grueling battle today.
His gaze drifted for a moment, and in the next instant, the familiar panel appeared before his eyes.
[Name]: Lin Mo
[Profession]: None
[Attributes]:
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Constitution: 4
Spirit: 5
Magic Power: 0
[Skills]:
Stealth Level 1 (6/10)
Slashing Level 2 (4/20)
He was 4 Skill Level points away from upgrading his Stealth skill.
Lin Mo recalled when his Slashing skill had upgraded. The improvement between a Level 1 and a Level 2 skill was quite significant.
Moreover, Stealth was an evolved, 'Excellent' quality skill. If he could raise it to Level 2, it would surely be helpful in the battles to come.
'It's pretty much my only option for improvement right now.'
Slashing was still a long way from Level 3. With a specific destination to reach, it was unlikely he could grind out enough experience in a single day.
'I hope everything goes smoothly today...'
As the sky began to brighten, the first light of dawn awakened the slumbering forest, and the grim, unknown-filled atmosphere of the surroundings gradually faded.
Bain was the first to rise. Despite having the longest watch, the Adventurer's face showed little sign of fatigue. For a seasoned Adventurer like him, short rests during overnight stays in the wild were already second nature.
"I'll go wake them up. We'll eat something and then head out immediately."
Delays could lead to complications. As long as his team was in good condition, Bain wished he could fly straight to the other group's camp and fight them to the death.
Even though he wasn't very confident of victory, the consequences of the news getting back to their superiors were far more than they could bear.
The guild people didn't believe in reason. When the time came, it wouldn't just be them; his family, and even Evan's parents, could be implicated.
The two young people stumbled out of the tent, rubbing their sleepy eyes and yawning. Millian turned to start packing their things, while Evan stared blankly for about a minute before beginning to wash up.
In about ten minutes, Bain was already grilling slices of meat until they sizzled. He took out a block of cheese, placed it on the meat just as he had the night before, and watched it slowly melt...
When it came to food, Bain was surprisingly particular. He delighted in exploring different ways to prepare meals and never skimped on the time he dedicated to it.
In his own words: "In this line of work, an Adventurer never knows if they'll have a next meal, so you have to make every one the best you can under the circumstances."
This was especially true for today's breakfast, so he ate with exceptional care, savoring every single bite.
In contrast, the other three were more perfunctory. They had little appetite for a proper meal and just went through the motions.
After swallowing his last bite of bread, Bain stood up, stamped out the campfire, and took out the map they had found on the Warrior yesterday. He checked the route and bearings before leading the way forward.
...
"Captain, I've finished the drawing."
The burly captain, whose body was a mass of knotted muscle, snatched the drawings from the man's hand. They were so poorly done that one could barely make out the human-like outlines. Veins bulged on the captain's arm as he slapped the papers across the man's face.
"This is what you spent all night drawing?"
The man clutched his face, looking aggrieved. "Captain, you know I'm illiterate. This is honestly the best I can do... But I remember what they look like! If I see them again, I'll definitely recognize them!"
The captain rolled his eyes. "Save it. You can explain that to the higher-ups tomorrow."
The man gave an embarrassed laugh and didn't dare to reply.
"Speaking of which, Captain, that bastard North was carrying a map of the camp's location. Do you think they'll follow it here?"
A subordinate dressed as an Assassin chimed in from the side.
"You're overthinking it, Pat."
The words had barely left his mouth when someone else retorted, "North might have been a bit stupid, but he was loyal. He wouldn't have blabbed about things he shouldn't. So that group most likely doesn't know who we are. At worst, they'll think it's a treasure map."
"Besides, they were injured. They probably wouldn't risk continuing their adventure. They've likely already gone back to town by now."
Pat thought about it and had to agree, shaking his head with some resignation. "A pity. If I had the chance, I'd have liked to avenge Master Tai'en myself."
He came from a humble background. If Tai'en hadn't recognized his talent and taught him skills, he'd probably still be a low-level guild member doing odd jobs. Although he had never formally become his apprentice, to him, Tai'en was his master.
"That guy's strength is no joke..."
The Fine Sword Warrior standing nearby, a red mark still on his face, recalled yesterday's scene. "It wasn't just Tai'en. Ciri died by his hand, too."
A wave of fear washed over him at the thought. If his opponent hadn't been injured, he probably wouldn't have escaped either.
"Look at you, you coward, Merlot. Didn't I just say they've probably gone back? If they really dare to come looking for us, they're just asking to die."
"That's true. After all, we have the captain..."
Merlot nodded. Their captain had completely mastered his Professional Skills and was a Quasi-Professional Warrior, just one step away from becoming a full Professional!
No matter how strong that brat was, he couldn't possibly make any waves in front of their captain.
"You guys chat. I'm gonna go take a piss."
"Be careful. Don't let someone sneak up and slit your throat..."
Merlot recalled how the man had just mocked him and cursed back with a laugh.
"I'm not a coward like you, Merlot. Trying to scare me? Save your breath."
The man sneered, waved his hand dismissively, and walked outside the tent.
He said that, but he was actually quite cautious. He deliberately chose a spot far from the bushes and close to a trap, so that even if someone were lying in ambush, they'd have no chance to get the drop on him.
After scanning his surroundings and confirming no one was there, he undid his trousers and began to relieve himself.
"Haaaah~"
And so, that short, contented sigh became his last sound...
'The traps are located about three meters to the target's front-left and twenty-one meters to his right.'
Lin Mo crouched on a tree branch, recalling the information Bain had just given him.
'No one is behind me. The wind direction is—'
RUSTLE.
The instant the wind gusted, Lin Mo's figure shot out like a sharp sword. Masked by the sound of the wind, his movements were almost completely silent.
It was only when a shadow appeared in his peripheral vision that the man realized something was wrong.
But it was too late. In the instant he inhaled, preparing to shout and counterattack, a Short Knife had already pierced through his throat with unerring precision.