Chapter 89: Paving the Way with Gold
The bright red glow fshed as it cut through the air in an arc.
It illumihe dense underbrush of the dark forest, exposing all the hidden figures.
A few growling jackals darted out, snarling briefly before notig the sheer number of humans, and with a few "whimpering" sounds, they turo flee with their tails tucked between their legs.
Swift arrows flew forth, instantly pierg through their throats.
Several scouts rushed out, grabbing the corpses aurning before the light faded.
As the red glow gradually dimmed, the surroundings once again fell into the dark and eerie silehat matched the forest's name.
The "whoosh" souurned, and another burst of light arose.
Alice, her face illuminated by the red light, winced slightly with a pained expression and muttered to herself:
"That must be the ninth signal fre scroll, right? Even if it's just a 0-level spell scroll, it could still sell for 20 gold s!"
Chris, who had always been on the front lines bearing the greatest risks for the group, couldn't help but murmur with some fusion:
"What’s the point of this? Scouts could’ve hahis—why spend so much money?"
Aliapped out of her moment of distress and quickly reaso out with a hint of envy, saying:
"What else? It's for undeniable safety."
"Even if scouts lead the way, it’s not guarao be foolproof. Plus, our lord isly short on money…"
The phrase "not short on money" made the adventurers feel a bit sour.
But they soon realized that it was actually a good thing.
"If the lord were short on money, who would we turn to for bounties?"
After thinking it over, the adventurers gradually grew numb to the lord's habit of throwing gold around and began to feel a stronger sense of loyalty.
After all, who wouldn’t want to follow a wealthy lord illing to spend?
Hearing the adventurers' ents, Matthew didn’t pause his "wealth dispy" and pulled out another scroll, p five points of mana into it and casting it immediately.
The fshing red light tio illumihe surroundings.
Matthew was in no rush. He gently stroked the eager Yaya, stopping her from scouting ahead.
If they were truly dealing with a troll or tribe, it was very likely there were high-tier professionals among them.
Letting Yaya ve alone would be too dangerous.
So Matthew preferred to spend more moo ensure safety.
Additionally, his frequent use of spell scrolls served as a subtle message to the adventurers.
"I have scrolls avaible. If you hem, you purchase them."
"Money is important, but life is more important. As long as you're alive, you keep making money..."
Although most of the adventurers weren't exceptionally strong, generally ranging from level 3 to 7, they could already use spell scrolls.
Matthew inteo cultivate this habit among them!
Moreover, thanks to Matthew's stant spending, the group's fidence also grew.
If the lord was willing to spend hundreds of gold s just to travel, how much more would he be willing to spend on battle?
A wealthy spellcaster could be impossibly strong!
Under such circumstahe group maintained good morale as they advanced 20 meters from the riverbank at the edge of the dark forest. On the opposite side y the valley's entrance.
The bright light illumihe crystalline surface of the river, refleg the sinister figures gathered at the riverbank.
With the light growing brighter, the adventurers could now see the trolls that had been lurking nearby.
Cold sweat ran down everyone’s backs as they looked at Matthew with admiration.
"Thank goodness for the lord's gold—otherwise, we would have been ambushed by those trolls!"
"These trolls are incredibly strong and intimidating, eae a mid-tier professional armed with armor and ons. If they had ambushed us, we’d have suffered heavy losses."
"That was close. Has the lord anticipated the trolls’ moves?"
"The lord is a powerful and mysterious arist. Maybe he used prophecy to foresee these trolls, or perhaps he already knows this battle is destined for victory…"
"So, we rex then?"
"That’s true, but we still o be careful. Even in victory, people die!"
"Good point..."
"..."
Hearing this, Matthew had to admit that the adventurers had quite the imagination, but these were the "brothers" he needed.
His gaze fell on the distinctive trolls ahead.
They were about the same height as regur trolls, but their bodies were twice as muscur, bulging with sinewy strength aing a menag aura.
Uhe previous trolls, who were dressed in rags and wielded crude wooden clubs,
These trolls were hardened leather armor and wielded metal ons.
Though rusted and chipped, the ons were solid, and most were heavy-duty.
Even in the sunlight, their sharp edges still gleamed menagly.
More importantly, these trolls weren’t ag with the mindless aggression typical of their kind, attag like wild beasts.
They had likely tracked the group for several kilometers but remained disciplined, holding batil they saening—a level of patiend disciplirohan that of most soldiers and adventurers.
They were foes not to be uimated!
The detailed stats revealed to Matthew the in of these trolls:
Name: Rottenfang
Race: Troll
Identity: Rotmoss - Forsaken Camp - Hunting Party Leader.
Age: 42
Css: Level 9 Hunter
Taleraordinary - Regeion.
Specialties: Advanced Specialty - Hunter’s Heart, Intermediate Specialty - Weakness Dete, Intermediate Specialty - Rapid Shot.
Skills: Ambush LV2, Poisoned Arrow LV2, Traps LV1.
Legacy: Intermediate - Path of the Hunter.
Attributes:
Strength: 16
Agility: 14
Intelligence: 8
stitution: 18
Perception: 12
Charisma: 4
Luck: -2
Evaluation: His darkened tenance foretells a self-destructive path!
"So they really are from the Rotmoss ?"
"The Forsaken Camp? That must be their base!"
"If that’s the case, their ir should be in the valley, and there are probably more trolls inside..."
"I wonder if this Forsaken Camp still has any e to the Rotmoss …"
Valuable information flooded Matthew’s mind as the trolls across the river let out sharp, angry roars.
More howls echoed from the other side of the river as dozens of figures charged out, advang toward Matthew’s group.
With 50 trolls on the far side and 70 on their side, Matthew now faced a total of 110 trolls, each with an average strength of around level 6.
Even though the soldiers were fident, they couldn’t help but feel pressured by the t, hulking figures of the trolls.
But at that moment, Matthew swiftly raised his staff and aimed at the 70 trolls on their side of the river, eling his mana without hesitation.
Fireball!
Activated!
The explosion’s deafening roar was the signal to attack.
Ange drew her sword, and a pale golden light spread from her, enveloping every soldier—the "Inspiration Aura" was active!
"Charge!"
FAL
