Chapter 133 : Avril Guided Everyone to Establish a Defensive Line
Chapter 133: Avril Guided Everyone to Establish a Defensive Line
Early the next morning.
On the hilly slopes outside Lemon Port, the morning fog had not yet fully dissipated.
The traces of yesterday’s bloody slaughter.
Had already been mostly cleaned up by the surviving mercenaries.
Those relatively intact black insect corpses were stripped of their carapaces, their glands dug out, sorted by type, packed, and loaded onto carts.
After all, aside from Avril’s long-term mission,
The task from the alchemist at White Rock Fort could also still be turned in—no matter how small the gain, meat was still meat.
It was just that many people muttered in their hearts:
With so many insect corpses, could that eccentric alchemist’s little laboratory even handle all of it?
As long as he did not try to force the price down.
The battlefield had been cleaned up, but what should they do next?
A group of grown men looked at one another, their faces carrying traces of confusion and fatigue.
Were they supposed to keep doing what they did yesterday, taking turns going to the ruins of the city gate to fish for monsters and pull aggro?
But thinking back to the momentum of the final wave of insect tide that surged out yesterday was enough to make one’s scalp go numb.
If it came again, on an even larger scale.
Could this hastily assembled rabble even hold the line?
No one felt confident.
“Damn it, we can’t just keep getting beaten passively like this, right?”
A man from the Blood Blade Mercenary Corps spat on the ground.
“We need to figure out a way to open up a second battlefield. We can’t always be crammed at this one entrance.”
Beside him, the deputy leader of the Steel Shield mercenaries,
A burly man carrying a massive shield, said in a muffled voice, “Easier said than done. This damned place is surrounded by the sea on three sides, with only this single land entrance. Where are you going to find a second spot? Unless you can fly!”
“And besides, who knows if these damned bugs share a single ‘brain’?”
“If you poke them on one side, will the other side also explode?”
The atmosphere grew somewhat heavy for a time.
They were used to living on the edge of a blade.
This kind of situation—caught between advance and retreat, with an uncertain future—was the most mentally exhausting.
At that moment.
Avril, who had been standing alone on a nearby hillside observing the harbor,
Slowly walked over.
Her purple mage robe fluttered lightly in the morning breeze.
Her expression was calm, her gaze sweeping over the leaders of the various mercenary groups.
“Everyone.”
Her cool voice broke the silence: “I received a message from my companions.”
Everyone immediately pricked up their ears.
This mysterious and generous female magician—her “companions” were certainly no ordinary people.
Avril continued, “In response to the characteristics of these black insects, they have urgently produced a batch of special weapons, named 【Holy Light Grenade】.”
“They are extremely effective against black insects, especially against swarming insect tides.”
She observed everyone’s reactions.
Seeing suspicion and curiosity appear in many eyes.
“The first batch of prototypes is already on the way and is expected to arrive within three or four days.”
“At that time, I can provide some to everyone for free trials.”
Free trials?
Those words caused many mercenaries’ eyes to light up.
This female magician was famous for her generosity. If she called them special weapons, their effects were probably far from ordinary.
“However.”
Avril changed her tone, pointing toward the devastated slope.
“Luring black insects without any barrier like yesterday is far too risky.”
“I suggest that before the weapons arrive, we join forces to construct a simple defensive line here.”
She gestured with her hand: “It doesn’t need to be too sturdy. As long as it can slow down and divide the insect swarms, it will be enough.”
“When the time comes, fighting while relying on the defensive line will certainly greatly reduce casualties.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the mercenaries looked at one another.
Digging earth? Piling stones? Building defenses?
They were mercenaries!
They dealt in exploration and treasure hunting—since when did they start playing at civil engineering like masons?
The leader of the Blood Blade Mercenary Corps grinned. “Miss Magician, it’s not that we don’t trust you… it’s just that this kind of ditch-digging and wall-building work, for a bunch of rough men like us, we’re afraid we can’t really do it!”
“Yeah, with that effort, it’d be more practical to kill a few more bugs and exchange them for money!” someone whispered in agreement.
Avril’s expression did not change as she said calmly, “Constructing a defensive line is to kill insects more safely and more efficiently, and earn more money.”
“If anyone thinks their life is worth less than saving a bit of effort, then please do as you wish.”
She looked down at the crowd: “Those willing to participate—I will give appropriate preferential treatment in subsequent weapon distribution and mission rewards, based on the amount of effort contributed.”
“After all, only those who live to the end are qualified to enjoy the spoils of war, aren’t they?”
These words struck a chord in many hearts.
Money was good, but one had to be alive to spend it!
Yesterday’s惨状 was still vivid in their minds.
Old Cat, the leader of the Platinum Mercenary Corps, who had barely spoken until now,
Patted the dust off his deerstalker cap and stood up.
“I think Miss Avril is right.”
His voice was not loud, yet it quieted everyone.
“We’re here to make money, not to die.”
“Having some cover is better than fighting bugs bare-chested.”
He swept his gaze around, the corner of his mouth pulling into a smile devoid of warmth. “What, you’ve all charged through mountains of blades and seas of fire, and you’re afraid of swinging a pickaxe a few times?”
“Don’t forget—on the emblem of our Mercenary Guild, besides swords and shields, there’s also a cross-pick symbolizing pioneering!”
Old Cat held very high prestige in the mercenary circles of White Rock Fort.
With his words, plus Avril’s promise of “extra pay,”
Those who had been hesitant were also shaken.
“Let’s do it! It’s just digging dirt—your old man here did that back in the mines!”
“That’s right, treat it as warming up!”
“I don’t know how to build walls, but I’ve got plenty of strength to carry stones!”
For the sake of money and safety, they were in!
Thus, outside Lemon Port, a rather magical scene appeared:
A group of mercenaries wearing leather armor, carrying blades and swords, dressed in all manner of odd outfits,
Bustling with energy as they dug earth, moved stones, and piled walls in front of a dead city.