Chapter 71: Hunting Trolls

  At the break of dawn, lively shouts already spread across Bay Vilge.

  Thanks to the abundance of food, everyone had grown much stronger.

  The main reason driving them to work so hard wasn't just the generous wages but also a newfound sense of belonging.

  he vilge's military camp.

  Many attempted to lift several rows of 100-kilogram stone locks.

  Only a few succeeded, joining the round of training assessments.

  The rest shook their heads in disappoi, returning to their tasks.

  Many resolved that as soon as they were strong enough, they would try again.

  After all, the ditions and treatment of reserve soldiers were something everyone envied.

  Emerging from a low tunnel, Jifan tightehe sandbags on his bad g the figures behind him before croug down.

  He was in the lead, so there was o rush.

  Ahead were several rows of wooden houses with open windows and doors, where two or three figures patrolled the perimeter.

  Suppressing his slightly rag heart, Jifan successfully avoided the searg eyes and darted out from the shadows.

  He carefully bypassed the traps buried underground, stealthily tiptoeing forward. Several times, he was nearly caught but skillfully used obstacles to evade dete.

  Nearby, the sound of another testant being captured echoed. Seizing the opportunity, Jifan slipped into the st wooden house.

  Through the window, he could see the finish li far away.

  If he could cross the white line just 10 meters ahead, he would successfully join the reserve soldiers.

  Just then, Jifan noticed a slightly hunched figure sitting in front of the white line.

  Instinctively, Jifan froze, sensing danger. He didn't let his guard down, even though the figure's back was turned.

  He cautiously hid in the shadows, not looking directly at the figure, waiting patiently for the right moment.

  Time ticked by, sed by sed.

  Jifan suppressed his growing ay, silently ting down.

  As an aspiring rogue, patiend cealment were his greatest assets for survival.

  With only 30 seds left,

  At that moment, more than a dozen impatient testants suddenly charged forward.

  Jifan remained motionless, watg as the others rushed ahead.

  He remembered clearly that there had been 50 partits, and 24 had been elimihe current group only numbered 13...

  While the assessment outside the vilge camp was in full swing, the adventurers heading towards the Gloomy Forest looked on with curiosity.

  "Is Bay Vilge still recruiting soldiers? They must be nearing 200 by nht?"

  "Who knows what the lord's thinking? He probably believes the dangers in the Gloomy Forest are still signifit and wants to bolster the military."

  "Even reserve soldiers get pretty det treatment..."

  "Stop overthinking it. Focus on how to catch a troll."

  "Our target isn't far this time. There are three of them in total, and with 30 of us, we should be enough..."

  "They left early this m, and it looks like they're pnning to go deeper into the Gloomy Forest for a bigger haul."

  "No, I heard they're going after five trolls at once. With 50 or so people, it should be enough..."

  "It's rare to see so many adventurers w together..."

  "Who could disagree?"

  "What do you think of the vitality potions sold in Bay Vilge?"

  "They're pretty effective. Slightly better than basic healing potions. The soldiers vouch for that, and some adveested them too..."

  "No wohe Ser family's lord has su ace up his sleeve..."

  "..."

  Their lively discussion fell silent as they ehe Gloomy Forest.

  These were seasoned adventurers, and they didn't uimate their foes, even with a wealth of information.

  Loud-mouthed adventurers had long since died off. Those who survived were the cautious veterans.

  Following the information provided by Bay Vilge, they passed by the bustling logging camp.

  Around twenty or thirty rge carts, loaded with timber, were being transported to the vilge's lumber mill.

  Smelling the lingering st of blood in the air, they quickly suppressed their shod hurried towards their destination.

  Mur adventurers excelled at bullying kobolds and murlocs.

  But when it came to creatures like trolls, unless absolutely necessary, they avoided frontatioo the low rewards.

  For mid-tier adventurers, who were usually the captains of small adventuring teams, their average level hovered around 3, occasionally including a few level 1 or 2 newers.

  The average challenge level of trolls was 4, and sometimes elite troll berserkers appeared—creatures only mid-tier adventurers could handle.

  The fighting strength of hundreds of trolls was terrifying. Most adventurers wouldn't feel fident about winning.

  This also underscored Bay Vilge's military strength, capable of easily defeating adventurers.

  As they passed the kobold mining area, they spotted a patrol of soldiers.

  Beside them, the muscur dragonborn kobold Goldtooth was overseeing the digging efforts of over a thousand kobolds.

  The adventurers, intrigued, quickly abandoned any foolish thoughts and hurried on towards their goal.

  Goldtooth g their retreating figures, baring his sharp teeth in what seemed like a cold grin.

  Nearby, a carefree deer munched on tender leaves.

  The watchful mother deer chewed her food while staying alert, ready to flee at the slightest disturbance.

  Kris gave them a brief ghen quietly adjusted his breathing as he stealthily circled the tree.

  Caution and care were the reasons he had survived as a decoy for so long.

  He had accepted this dangerous job to earn more money, but that didn't meaeo die.

  Thanks to his refined skills and expert stealth, he avoided all the animals along the way, carefully approag a stone forest.

  As soon as he got close, the stench of rot hit him, and scattered bones of various colors littered the area.

  Even starving hyenas wouldn't dare approach this pce—the overwhelming stench clearly marked it as a troll den.

  Pushing aside his fear and f himself not to think about his terrifying memories, Kris steadied his breathing and adjusted his posure.

  He could faintly hear the trolls' grunts and quarrels. Raising his hand, he made several gestures towards the air.

  The adventurers in the distance perked up. Ag as their temporary leader, Alice signaled for them to follow the pn while musing to herself:

  "It seems Bay Vilge's information was not only accurate but this detailed too..."

  "Could it really be that Lord Matthew's only goal is to clear out the dangers of the Gloomy Forest?"

  "That's impossible. The Gloomy Forest is massive—whether it's kobolds or trolls, they'll just keep ing back..."

  Alice had no idea that Matthew was focused on the endless source of experience points.

  Seeing that everyone was ready, Alice shook off her doubts and called out in a clear voice:

  "Let's begin! Whether we eat meat or chew bck bread this year depends on this fight!"

  A bright red cloth waved in the air, and Kris, seeing it, pulled out a bck metal sphere from his pocket.

  It was a goblin bomb, a device crafted by halfling engineers.

  With a loud bang, the sound of the bomb was far more intimidating than its actual destru.

  Amid the trolls' screeches, several hulking figures emerged from the dust, charging towards Kris.

  As soon as he had thrown the goblin bomb, Kris had already started sprinting away!

  FAL