Chapter 87: Assembling the Troops
Ange looked around vigintly, sending out a squad ues to scout ahead with clear instrus.
“If you enter danger, retreat immediately.”
The broken bodies were pieced together.
Naturally, some of the remains were inplete.
Looking at the gathered corpses, Leon gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, feeling the anger within him rise.
Such brutality gave him the urge to hunt dowrolls.
However, when the order to retreat came, Leon chose to obey and fall back.
Battles ot be fought rashly in the heat of the moment!
The lessons from his previous injuries had taught Leon a harsh truth.
An individual’s strength is ultimately limited!
Just then, a pierg howl echoed from within the valley.
The repeated cries sent chills down the spines of many adventurers, their faces pale with fear.
Matthew, of course, khat these were the cries of trolls. He could even make out the faint figures of trolls emerging from the dense forest.
He gnced coldly at them aured to Ange for a retreat.
“Fall back. Maintain formation. Sed squad ues, keep watch. First squad, lead the way.”
With some frustration, Aernly issued the retreat order, her cold gaze briefly fshing with killing i as she looked at the trolls.
The soldiers retreated in formation, now strohan they had been half a month ago. Even while running, they maintaiheir discipline and unity.
In trast, the adventurers who apahem seemed dispirited, discussing the trolls in the valley amongst themselves.
It was clear that, despite the trolls’ brutal and straightforward warning, it was highly effective.
Those afraid of death needed no further persuasion, and even those less fearful wouldn’t want to be eaten alive!
Of course, Matthew would have to respond to su obvious warning from the trolls.
When the enemy is strong, you respond with eveer strength!
With so many adventurers lost in a single blow, if the situation wasn’t handled properly, it would certainly dampehusiasm of the current adventurers.
Matthew’s pns required more and more adveo drive them forward!
The reason Matthew didn’t immediately attack was due to caution and prudence.
He was still uhe influence of a "-3" luck penalty, ae having over a hundred battle-hardened soldiers under his and, he wasn’t willing to charge in without fully uanding the situation.
Were the 100-plus trolls really the total number of trolls in the valley?
Know thyself and know thy enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.
With this in mind, Matthew led his troops back to the logging camp, where he immediately issued new adventurer missions.
“A 1,000 gold bounty fatheriailed information on the number of trolls in the valley.”
“A 2,000 gold bounty for log the trolls’ camp in the valley!”
Matthew khat to get brave adventurers, he had to rewards!
Now, all the adventurers knew.
This mysterious are lord reparing for something big!
And ihat was the case.
Soldiers without specific assigs began gathering.
The total number of soldiers had reached 270.
The number of professionals had risen to 120.
Twenty soldiers had already been promoted to level 2.
The rge growth in numbers artly due to the addition of more than 50 barbariao the ranks.
Individually, these barbarians were excellent fighters, though their coordinatio much to be desired.
Fortunately, Matthew and Ange didn’t expect them to be as perfectly disciplined as the other soldiers.
They simply hoped these barbarian warriors could serve as a fearless shock force, enhang the offensive capabilities of their forces and enrig their tactical options.
As the soldiers marched in orderly formation, gathering in the designated area,
The adventurers, having heard the news, also stopped what they were doing aurned from all dires.
Upon seeing the formations of elite soldiers, the onxious adventurers began to calm down.
After all, the lord’s iions were clear—he was highly likely to clear out the trolls entrenched in the valley!
Along with this came a signifit influx of various supplies.
These included, but were not limited to, food, meat, clothing, tents, and other ies.
Behind these provisions, several oversized ons immediately caught the attention of the adventurers.
“Damn, they brought out the heavy crossbows. Looks like they’re pnning to skewer some trolls!”
“What’s in those wagons? They look like they’re carrying something heavy…”
“Only a territory like this could prepare such restricted supplies. Looks like they’re getting serious!”
“Why are there so many kobolds?”
“Don’t you know? All the kobolds in the nearby area were either wiped out or recruited…”
“What are the kobolds for? on fodder?”
“…”
The adventurers discussed the kobolds with a mix of curiosity and disdain.
After all, it might make sense for kobolds to be useful against other creatures when their numbers could give them an edge.
But against trolls over two meters tall, weighing more than 300 pounds each, with formidable regeive abilities,
The kobolds wouldn’t even be able to tire the trolls out!
The leaders of the kobolds, Gold Tooth and Silver Tooth, g the adventurers with their vertical slit-pupil eyes, showing little emotion.
They only cared about the opinions of Yaya and Matthew. The adventurers didn’t matter to them.
However, some sharp-eyed individuals began notig something unusual.
Alice, stroking her ented dagger, observed the obviously different kobolds with a thoughtful expression.
pared to the usual filthy, small, and chaotic kobolds,
These kobolds were clearly much stronger and dressed i, unifray work clothes.
The iron picks at their waists and the shovels on their backs were all brand new.
What surprised Alice the most,
Was that whenever a kobold disobeyed, a stronger kobold would immediately step in, delivering a few harsh shes that quickly brought the offender into line.
It was toe!
The entire kobold group gave her an oddly anized impression.
Aside from the kobolds,
The barbarian warriors also caught her attention.
Unlike most barbarian soldiers, who cked proper armor and often fought bare-chested,
These barbarian soldiers were in stark trast.
Eae was full metal armor, resembling t metal golems.
Though their movements were not as synized as the other soldiers, they still dispyed a certain level of discipline.
It was bizarre to withis in barbarian warriors!
Matthew g the assembled troops, paying little mind to the scattered adventurers gathering around.
He had sensed a growing danger, which made him somewhat curious.
Had the trolls actually followed them out?
What were they pnning?
Could it be that their target was him?
Iing…
FAL
