Chapter 88: Taking the Initiative
The expanded logging camp was no lohe small logging site it used to be.
The trees within 500 meters had all been cut down.
Along with the shrubs and weeds, everything had been cleared, ensuring an unobstructed view of the surroundings, enabling early warnings upon spotting enemies.
A moat ected to the river, three meters wide, effectively isoted external dangers.
The camp was surrounded on all sides by t stone walls.
Stones gathered by thousands of kobolds were tightly stacked, f walls five meters high.
The top of the four-meter-wide stone walls was wide enough to aodate four rows of soldiers for defense.
Several stotlements and watchtowers were built on each side.
Heavy crossbows protruded from the battlements, operated by soldiers aiming at the forests hundreds of meters away.
Seeing these military-grade ons, the adventurers felt a sense of reassurance.
Although the regeive abilities of the trolls were indeed formidable, these heavy crossbows were no joke either.
O lookout towers, each over 10 meters tall, a dozen scouts stood watch.
At the back was a well-fortified stone building.
Inside, reserve soldiers could be stationed, ready to provide support at any time.
All kinds of defeerials and equipment were stored, ready for rotation, repair, and rept.
By military standards, this camp could withstand an attack from 2–3 times its number if fully manned.
From Arnold's seasoned perspective, the defeightness here even rivaled some military outposts.
Soldiers gathered in the camp, ly lined up and looking toward Aheir young ander, who was boosting morale:
"Are you all satisfied with your current lives?"
Excellent ons, generous pay, and the hope of a better future—things they had never dared dream of!
All the soldiers shouted in unison, "Satisfied!"
The deafening shouts echoed through the camp, and the overwhelming morale impressed the surrounding adventurers.
"Who gave us this life?"
"The lord!"
Ange’s voice was solemn and clear as she called out:
"If anyone wants to take away our lives and make us return to the past, what should we do?"
The soldiers were suddenly reminded of the implications, and their minds instinctively reflected on this question.
Go back to the past?
To the days of not having enough to eat and watg their families starve?
"Never!"
Leon and Captain Sean exged a gnce, shouting in unison:
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The other soldiers quickly followed suit, shouting at the top of their lungs:
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The shouts thuhrough the camp, thick with killing i!
The adventurers were visibly startled, and the flocks of birds around the camp took off in panic.
Such a powerful and imposing army sent shivers down the spine.
This wasn’t a spontaneous act; it was the result of exteraining.
Naturally, Matthew was deeply ied in ideological education because he had onessed a truly invincible army!
An army with faith!
As for now, the reason Matthew had gathered his forces was to take the offensive!
To strike first!
The "-3" luck value represented siderable danger.
But Matthew uood that luck was like a poison boil—while ng it ainful, leaving it to fester could be fatal!
Don’t toy with fate—break it with ce!
"Two hundred soldiers in formation: 60 shield-bearers, 100 spearmen, and 40 archers, led by Captain John and Captain Sean."
"One hundred barbarian soldiers, led by Old John and Arnold."
"A total of 40 scouts, led by Field."
"Twenty wagons will follow."
"Form ranks, prepare to move out!"
Ange's clear orders echoed through the area, causing the adventurers' faces to shift.
"Are they pnning to go into battle?"
"Are they crazy?"
"Why don’t they just hold the camp and wait for the trolls to attack?"
"What’s the reasoning behind this?"
"What should we do?"
The adventurers had never expected that the soldiers of Bay Territory would choose to fight the trolls in the wild instead of defending the camp.
It was just too crazy!
Old John had initially doubted Matthew's orders, but wheer pointed in the dire of Bay Vilge, the veteran soldier uood pletely.
The territory was in a stage of rapid development, and it recisely because the security problem had been solved that Bay Vilge could attract more and more people to join.
If these trolls bypassed the logging camp and attacked the mostly defenseless civilians, it would deal a massive blow to the vilge’s rapid growth.
So, they had to take the initiative!
And they had to win!
Seeing how lost and fused the adventurers were, Matthew smiled slightly and turo Ralph, saying softly:
"Issue a task at the adventurers’ hall. During the uping two days of battle, the team that kills or captures the most trolls will receive a 2,000 gold reward!"
With a heavy reward es brave men!
The adventurers had been so apprehensive because the risks they faced outweighed the potential gains.
When this news spread, the entire camp of adventurers erupted iement.
"What are you waiting fet ready for battle!"
"The adventurers' hall has lowered the price of blood-replenishing potions. Everyone, go buy some quickly!"
"I need a mid-tier warrior for my team—we already have four mid-tier professionals!"
"Our team has 30 people; we just need four mood hands. All rewards will be split equally!"
"Hurry up and join us. If we follow the soldiers, we might be able to pick off some stray trolls..."
"That makes sense. Wait for me, I o buy some spell scrolls first..."
"Spell scrolls? You’re really going all out!"
"Duh! Haven’t you figured it out yet? This 2,000 gold reward doesn’t interfere with our usual troll capture tasks!"
"Double the rewards?"
"Exactly..."
"..."
The heated discussions reached Matthew’s ears, and he was very pleased with the adventurers’ keen awareness.
"Indeed, if you want your 'tools' to show initiative, you o dangle a few surprises in front of them now and then to keep them hooked!"
Matthew had been in this world for almost two months and had once worried.
With just his own strength and without the billions of pyers from his previous world, could he truly ge the fate of this nd and its people?
But as his uanding of this real world deepened, Matthew gradually cast aside his former doubts.
He didn’t have pyers, but he had adventurers—more numerous and more obedient!
As long as they were paid well, adventurers’ enthusiasm for pleting tasks even exceeded that of the pyers.
One pyed games, the other risked their lives!
Moreover, uhe uable pyers, adventurers were much easier to trol and manage.
As Matthew learned more about the adventurers' earnings and treatment in ions, his fidenly grew.
"These people risk their lives so hard; what’s wrong with earning more money?"
"As long as you take my money and work for me, you're my good brothers!"
"Brothers, charge with me!"
Uhe hopeful gazes of tless adventurers, Matthew and Ange led their high-spirited soldiers out of the camp.
The adventurers could no longer hold bad eagerly followed.
It wasn’t that they wao mooch off the lord; they simply found it rare to have such a great lord to work for.
Ihey had to ensure his safety!
Otherwise, where else would they go to earn so much money?
FAL
