Ch. 127
Chapter 127: Returning to White Rock Fort, Avril’s Published Tasks Caused a Sensation
However.
During the second “fishing” attempt.
Everyone keenly sensed that something was different.
Those black insects that rushed out from the port let out shriller, more piercing screeches, and their movements appeared far more frenzied.
Some even launched attacks without regard for their own casualties.
During the retreat.
Jefferson and the others clearly felt that the pressure was much greater than before.
They recalled certain rumors about pack-type undead creatures, as well as the experience passed down by old mercenaries through word of mouth.
“Perhaps, if this happens a few more times, what comes out won’t be this kind of small detachment anymore.”
“It’ll very likely be hundreds or even thousands of insect tides, or mixed in with more powerful second-tier, even third-tier elite black insects!”
Jefferson glanced toward the direction of Lemon Port.
That eerie writhing seeping out of the deathly silence made his scalp tingle.
“Fortunately, we’ve already completed the fifty-insect task.”
“There’s no need for us to wade any deeper into this muddy water.”
Hearing this, the other team members all nodded with lingering fear in their hearts.
Money was a good thing, but one had to live to spend it.
As bottom-tier mercenaries like them, they understood best the principle of knowing when to stop.
As for what other同行 who accepted the tasks afterward would face?
That was not something they needed to worry about.
Doing this line of work meant licking blood off the blade’s edge; information gathering and risk assessment were basic skills.
If someone died because they were unprepared or unlucky, they could blame no one else.
Just like the three companions they had lost earlier.
Could they go ask others or the employer for compensation?
After gathering fifty black insect corpses, the War Wheel Mercenary Group formally bid farewell to Avril.
Jefferson once again promised that he would publish her tasks as soon as possible.
And Avril handed over the required deposit for the tasks to them.
……
One day and one night later.
The War Wheel Mercenary Group, dusty and weary, returned to White Rock Fort.
Unlike Oak Town, which was relatively freewheeling and steeped in mercenary culture.
White Rock Fort gave a first impression of solemnity and order.
Tall gray-white stone walls encircled the town.
Because the walls had long been quarried and processed with a magical binding material known as “white stone sand,”
they were covered with a layer of fine white powder, from which the town derived its name.
The streets here were not as wide or lively as those of Oak Town, and pedestrians walked with noticeably hurried steps.
The pillar industry of white stone sand mining and trade was firmly controlled by several great families and the local lord.
As a result, the atmosphere of the entire town lacked some of the wild adventurous spirit,
and instead carried a few extra layers of oppression under rigid order.
Therefore, the number of resident mercenaries in White Rock Fort was far fewer than in Oak Town, numbering only around a thousand.
Precisely because opportunities were relatively scarce and competition more intense,
the mercenaries who managed to establish themselves here were, on average, stronger by a margin.
There were quite a few capable second-tier fighters, and nearly ten third-tier mercenaries of some renown stationed in the surrounding areas of White Rock Fort.
Jefferson and his group carried their packs and insect corpses, walking silently along the familiar streets.
They were missing three brothers, and the team looked somewhat empty.
This change was quickly noticed by acquaintances.
Some familiar mercenaries came up to greet them.
Seeing their slightly weary expressions and the vacant positions, they immediately understood what had happened.
They merely stepped forward and heavily patted Jefferson’s and Harrison’s shoulders.
“Back?”
“Mm.”
“How many lost?”
“…Three.”
“Ah… my condolences.”
“Thanks.”
There were no excessive words, no hypocritical comfort.
Within the simple exchange lay a heaviness only those in the same trade could understand.
In this line of work.
Death was the norm, and excessive grief would instead seem affected.
Those still alive had to keep moving forward.
After dealing with several waves of greetings from acquaintances.
Jefferson led the team straight to the Mercenary Guild located at the center of the town.
The White Rock Fort Mercenary Guild was smaller in scale than the one in Oak Town, but the building was sturdier and more utilitarian.
Jefferson first submitted that well-paid alchemist task—the fifty black insect corpses.
After the guild steward carefully counted and confirmed them, he handed over the agreed remuneration.
After deducting the compensation funds that needed to be set aside, the remainder was divided on the spot among the team members.
Although they had endured the pain of losing comrades, once they held the solid gold coins in their hands,
especially with Avril’s portion included, traces of relief still appeared on everyone’s faces.
Immediately afterward.
Jefferson walked to the task publication counter.
He informed the guild steward in detail of Avril’s two commissions and paid a small deposit.
“Long-term task: Kill black insects at Lemon Port, priced by quantity and tier, no need to submit corpses, reliable proof required.”
“Short-term task: Within seven days, conduct an in-depth reconnaissance of internal intelligence at Lemon Port. The more detailed, the higher the reward, with no upper limit.”
When these two tasks were officially posted on the guild’s task board.
The hall, which had been somewhat noisy, instantly fell silent for a moment.
Then.
Like cold water poured into boiling oil, the entire guild erupted!
“What?! Long-term black insect kills without handing in corpses?”
“Reconnaissance of Lemon Port? No upper limit?!”
“Damn it! Didn’t War Wheel just come back? Where did these tasks come from?”
“There’s a rich female magician who suddenly appeared—Bona said she was the one who commissioned them!”
“This is insane! Completely insane! How many gold coins would that take?”
“Lemon Port is dangerous, sure, but with this reward… it’s worth risking it!”
That previous alchemist task.
Had already tempted quite a few mercenary groups, though they were still hesitating.
After all, it required submitting relatively intact corpses, which carried high risk.
In a real fight, who would bother caring whether the enemy stayed intact? Survival came first.
But now, Avril’s tasks were practically tailor-made for them!
Especially that intelligence-gathering task.
The four words “no upper limit” stimulated the nerves of every mercenary who dreamed of striking it rich overnight.
Jefferson looked at the task board, which in the blink of an eye was surrounded so tightly that not even water could pass through.
And at his同行, whose eyes flickered with greedy and excited light.
He quietly retreated to the side.
There was not much ease in his heart; instead, there was a faint sense of unease.
Money was indeed alluring.
But the desires it stirred up, and the tide of people about to surge toward Lemon Port.
What kind of chain reaction would it ultimately trigger?
That mysterious magician named Avril, and the forces that might exist behind her.
What exactly were they seeking in that dead land of Lemon Port?
He shook his head, casting aside those chaotic thoughts.
These matters.
Were no longer things that a small mercenary group leader like him needed to worry about.
Right now, Jefferson only wanted to take his brothers and rest properly for a while.
To soothe the pain.
And then consider what the next step should be……
Far away at the church, Lynn.
Perceived all of this through Avril’s perspective.
Regarding the actions of the Divine Blessed.
Lynn neither affirmed nor denied them.
Without considering the combat power of divine descent.
For a mere third-tier like Avril to complete such a task.
It seemed there was indeed only this one way—borrowing external forces.
“At that time, there were several thousand black insects left, and the remaining humans were around ten thousand.”
“If calculated as one person incubating one insect, Lemon Port might now have around fifteen thousand black insects—completely the size of an Undead Legion!”
“Even if all the mercenaries of White Rock Fort were mobilized, they would be mercilessly swallowed up.”
“It seems I must leave behind some contingency measures.”
Lynn pondered.
These contingencies could not be too eye-catching.
Otherwise, the commotion would grow too large again.
These low-tier mercenaries fell within the rules; no matter how much they stirred things up, it would not prompt the Rotting Lord to personally intervene.
But if he acted, it would be different.
From Brian, Lynn had already realized just how reckless he had been before.
After all, the current Violet Empire was no longer ruled by humans.
“Perhaps, I can start from this new divine art, 【Divine Might Unbound】.”
“Coincidentally, among the technological products Liz and the others brought back from the ruins, there was something similar to a grenade……”