“Po Kong? That’s a strange name... My name is Starlight-White, a mage. As for elemental affinity... I’ve never actually had it tested, but I can use most basic magic.”
Starlight replied after considering the youth's self-introduction.
“Huh? What’s with that? An all-rounder mage? I don’t know the first thing about magic, but is that even normal? Also, White? I feel like I’ve heard that surname somewhere before... Or am I remembering wrong?”
A look of surprise flashed across Po Kong’s face upon hearing Starlight’s answer, but he didn’t have the time to press for details.
After the introductions, Starlight wasn’t sure how to continue the conversation. The atmosphere on the horse’s back suddenly grew quiet and somewhat awkward.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long for the Bicorn, under Po Kong’s command, to charge out of Township 10 near the northern border.
They had crossed nearly half of the Violet City-State in just over ten minutes. To put it in perspective, it had taken Starlight nearly a full day to walk that same distance yesterday.
The two soon followed the markings on the map to the site where the caravan had been attacked. Judging by the tracks on the ground, a significant skirmish had indeed taken place here not long ago.
From a distance, several guards from the city defense force could be seen keeping watch over the scene.
Because the bandits had retreated into the mountain forests, the caravan’s Camelbeasts had been abandoned by the roadside, with only the goods and personnel taken away.
“This caravan wasn’t exactly small. Abducting all those people along with the goods is no small feat. Why would bandits do something so thankless and difficult?”
Po Kong muttered to himself in confusion as he eyed the dozens of empty-backed Camelbeasts and then looked toward the direction the bandits had retreated.
At that moment, the guards stationed nearby noticed the two of them and immediately stepped forward to intercept them. “Who are you? This is the scene of a crime. No unauthorized personnel allowed!”
“We’re from the Adventurers Guild. We heard about the attack on the caravan and want to rescue them,” Starlight said as he stepped forward, showing the map to the guards.
“A commission from the Adventurers Guild? Then why did they only send two kids this young? You’ve got to be joking! Don’t come here and muddy the waters. Go home, quickly.”
The guard frowned at Starlight’s answer. In their estimation, given the difficulty of this commission, dozens if not hundreds of people should have been sent.
Yet, appearing before them were only two youths who looked like they hadn't even reached adulthood.
While the tall, blond one looked quite strong and might have some skill, the other looked far too green, appearing for all the world like he was just there to make up the numbers.
Po Kong didn’t respond directly to the guards' skepticism. Instead, he simply pointed to the nameplate strapped to his arm. It was only then that the guards noticed the black badge on his shoulder, shimmering with a dark sheen in the sunlight.
“Ssss... This kid... is actually a Rank 6 adventurer? Doesn’t that mean he has at least the strength of a Swordmaster?”
The lead guard couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cold air, his face filled with disbelief. However, the badges of the Adventurers Guild underwent a strict special treatment process, making forgery almost impossible.
As members of the city defense force for the Violet City-State—a city of adventurers—they dealt with countless adventurers daily and possessed a keen eye for the authenticity of such nameplates.
If it was real, then this blond youth was certainly no simple character.
“Do you believe we’re here to help now? Please, give us a detailed explanation of the situation. Someone here must know the general state of the bandits,” Po Kong asked the guards, seeing that his badge had done its job.
“Well... that group of thieves should be from <Coyote>. We found an insignia they dropped at the scene. I don’t know what’s gotten into that bandit group lately, but they’ve suddenly swallowed up several other groups of the same level. Their numbers have exploded several times over, and their actions have become increasingly rampant.”
“I heard from the brothers in the west that they encountered a bandit group intercepting travelers yesterday too. I imagine it’s the same lot. Now they actually dare to strike this close to the city-state; they’re truly audacious!”
“But the behavior of those bandits has indeed been strange these past few days. I’ve been a soldier for several years, and this is the first time I’ve seen them abducting live people.”
“A few days ago, the scouts' reports mentioned strange mages appearing around the city-state, though we haven't seen them ourselves.”
The soldiers spoke one after another, sharing the information they had gathered.
The more Starlight heard, the more his heart sank. If things continued like this, the caravan was clearly in grave danger.
“Then do you know roughly where the <Coyote> base is? I plan to go after them!” Starlight asked immediately.
“We aren't entirely sure of their hideout's exact location, but what is certain is that there’s a marshland about sixty kilometers to the northwest. It’s perpetually shrouded in an eerie mist, and it’s said their nest is hidden deep within that swamp.”
After hearing the guard’s explanation, Po Kong nodded. “If they’re using a marshland as a base, that is indeed a good choice. After all, a large-scale army simply cannot enter such a place. As long as they hold the geographic advantage, they can attack or defend at will.”
“Exactly. That’s why we’ve never found an opportunity to completely wipe them out. Every time the City Lord's Mansion organizes a force, they suddenly vanish into the depths of the dense forests and marshes, leaving us with nowhere to strike.” Another older guard chimed in from the side.
“What do you think, Starlight? Do you still plan to go?” Po Kong turned to the grim-faced Starlight and asked directly.
Without the slightest hesitation, Starlight nodded firmly, showing his resolve.
“Good! Then it’s settled! The two of us will go ahead and scout the situation. As for this guy... he won't be of much use for now. Could you help me deliver a message back?~”
Po Kong patted the Bicorn beside him, then pulled a pen and paper from his bag. After scribbling down his request, he carefully secured the letter to the saddle.
The Bicorn seemed to understand his intent immediately. It nodded to him, its massive head swaying gently, and then turned to gallop back in the direction they had come.
“Then without further ado, the two of us will be off!” After finishing his preparations, Po Kong signaled to Starlight, and they prepared to head deep into the forest together.
One guard, seeing they truly intended to charge into the bandits' nest with just the two of them, felt anxious and wanted to stop them, but he was held back by the captain.
“Don’t worry,” the captain said steadily. “From what I can see, neither of those young men is ordinary. Setting aside the blond kid with the Rank 6 certification, even the black-haired one doesn't seem simple. After careful observation, my intuition tells me he might be even more of a dark horse than the other one.”
“With their strength, dealing with ordinary bandits will surely be more than enough. At the very least, they are fully capable of protecting themselves. Our task is to guard this scene and the Camelbeasts left behind by the caravan.”
“If the captain says so... then we can only wish them luck.” Hearing this, the guard could only helplessly accept the situation.
And so, under the watchful eyes of the guards, the two figures gradually disappeared into the depths of the forest.
As soon as they stepped into the forest, they both quickened their pace. The tracks left by the retreat of several hundred people were obvious; even without trying, one could easily see the direction the bandits had fled.
Although one’s sense of direction could become blurred in this dense woodland, they only needed to follow the messy footprints and broken branches on the ground to find the tracking route without error.
Po Kong took the lead, running with long strides through the trees. His robust physique was like a human steamroller, crushing the bushes and obstacles before him without a care for the environmental impact.
Though this method was somewhat crude, it was an efficient one. Starlight, whose frame was a size smaller, followed closely behind, saving himself a great deal of trouble.
Rate on N.U.
