Chapter 2

Therefore, it cannot simultaneously attend to every area; it can be harmed simply by attacking other parts that lack defense

In fact, subsequent developments have proven that Noxiu's approach was correct

The injury to the abdomen is not severe; although the retaliatory claw did not hit, it nonetheless forced the opponent to refrain from inflicting further damage.

As long as they are unarmed, humans are indeed the easiest prey to catch, running slowly and lacking in strength

A fully staffed legion typically consists of between 30,000 and 50,000 personnel

However, regarding the intelligence on the strength of the thieves, due to the unawareness of the thieves' guild having restructured, Noxiu mistakenly judged it to be an exaggerated claim by the thieves

The thieves held a strong position, benefiting from the terrain, but they had the support of two mages on the mercenary side, resulting in significant losses for both parties in the direct confrontation

The reason for this nickname is that his friends tease him for handling military affairs and actions like a raccoon, who first washes its food before eating; he prefers to resolve visible dangers before taking further action

Therefore, he decided to first pull the whistle, assigning this task to the elite team members who excel in search operations

Out of the four reconnaissance teams, two were ambushed. Apart from a few members of the trapped squad who managed to escape back to the stronghold, the rest were either captured or killed in action

Due to the recent appearance of ogres near the village of Valk, specifically the Oka, a type of giant that consumes humans, even though it is currently the peak season for herbs, wild fruits, and vegetables, few dare to venture into the forest to gather.

Thus, after a private meeting among the four leaders of the original band of thieves, they decided to join forces with the mercenaries

His sword is a rare weapon forged from extraordinary materials from beyond the heavens

Initially, the four bandit groups were coerced into joining one after another. Noxiu believed that to incite a rebellion among them, it would suffice to appeal to their interests and security.

However, the impatient expression on her face seemed to convey: "Hey! Hurry up, don't delay my off-duty time."

However, due to a misjudgment of the enemy's strength, he decided to adopt a direct approach, first probing for weaknesses in the opponent's defenses

Thus, he successfully borrowed a fountain pen, filled in his information on the form, and then handed it to the clerk, whose mood had improved.

After landing, he took a few steps back to completely dissipate the immense force and stabilize himself

A gust of wind swept in, and Mu quickly withdrew his hand and discarded his sword, striking the incoming giant arm with his palm. With this strike, he directed his body along the force of the wind, dissipating most of the impact.

Eliminating large bands of thieves not only offers substantial rewards, but also provides the accumulated wealth from their plunder and an additional bonus of enhanced reputation, making it a lucrative endeavor that achieves three benefits in one.

The two massive swords clashed without yielding to each other, producing a piercing sound with each strike, sparks flying; surprisingly, the two combatants ended up in a stalemate

Mu made this judgment about the monster before him—he must charge into its embrace to have a chance of defeating it

Some members of the group originally advocated for breaking the contract and eliminating these thieves as well, both to silence them and to save the thirty percent of the goods.

In order to achieve this effect, Mu first feigned an attack to the neck, causing him to concentrate his defense on that area, and then delivered a fatal blow to the unprotected heart with a concealed longsword

As long as a family has more than two able-bodied males, at least half of them must serve in the military

In order to ensure the rights of the client, the minimum remuneration that the client should pay will be determined based on the level of risk, difficulty, and the number of personnel required for the work

Noxiu wrote a letter requesting the return of the captives originally belonging to the four bandit groups, believing that even if it did not succeed, it could at least shake their morale. If this were to reach Andun's ears, he would undoubtedly trust them even less.

Humans possess a peculiar tendency; even when their gathering places have been attacked, they are reluctant to leave their original nests.

The Venomous Fang recently absorbed four other factions of thieves, doubling its strength and becoming a super-large band of thieves with a force of one thousand.

However, no matter how much the kings of various countries covet the land and wealth of their neighbors, they will not engage in warfare throughout the entire year

He is very curious about why these individuals choose such a path to achieve success

The enemy's heart lay defenseless before me, the bloodied blade struck again, piercing the chest of the ogre, yet an unusual sensation coursed through my hand

Worse still, the weapon was unable to penetrate the vital flesh of the opponent, and even the wounds on the monster's abdomen, as depicted in the illustrations, had already closed and stopped bleeding in such a short time

Thus, the villagers barely managed to gather the minimum required compensation to commission the removal of this ogre

Mu sat down to regulate his breathing and alleviate his fatigue while reflecting on the battle he had just experienced and contemplating his future direction

Mu once again charged forward and leaped in front of the ogre, but this time his target was the ogre's neck

The profits from this battle for the Morning Star Mercenary Group are considerable. In addition to the original remuneration, the wealth accumulated from the Tooth's plunder is also quite substantial. Even after distributing thirty percent, there is still a significant amount left.

The task of eliminating the large bandit group "Venomous Fang" is indeed a favorable assignment for the mercenary group

If you go to the village to search, even if you cannot find cattle, horses, pigs, or sheep for food, there are still humans that can be captured

Thus, the duties of guarding and eliminating thieves and monsters have become the primary business of the mercenary group.

This technique, "Peacock Spreading Its Tail," was originally a maneuver used when one faced many opponents. When used in greater numbers, the force is diluted, thus its lethality is not particularly strong; however, when employed by Mu, it is still sufficient to inflict significant damage on others

It is not a solution to keep doing this; constantly engaging in such dangerous work with low rewards is not wise. One day, if luck runs out, one might inexplicably fall into the hands of an unknown monster and become its meal or sustenance. Even if one manages to get through each time, it still requires considerable effort.

After withdrawing the sword embedded in the trunk, he cleaned and maintained his dual swords meticulously

However, Noxiu and most of the officials believe that the injuries from the recent battle have not yet healed. Such reckless actions will only lead to unnecessary casualties. To act in this manner for merely thirty percent of the goods is truly not worth the loss.

If there are outstanding military achievements, countries have always spared no effort in attracting exceptional talents. Even if one is not appointed to an official position, enhancing one's reputation can increase the hiring rates of mercenary groups

Doniel lifted the severed head from the ground and walked out, shouting: "Andun is dead!"

As the situation grew unfavorable, his resolve began to wane. He made a desperate strike to push Donier away, not with the intention of harming the enemy, but merely to carve out a path for his escape.

I missed! The stab wasn't deep enough, now I have to confront this monster head-on

This indifferent clerk is still relatively decent; previously, there were clerks who hurled abusive language and insulted him. At least he is much better than the clerk who caused him harm

On the mainland, the country with the strongest military power has only six legions in its organization. If a mercenary group with rich combat experience were to grow to the scale of a division, it would possess the strength sufficient to threaten the security of a nation

Among the various documents, although there were several adventure teams seeking partners, the one that piqued Mu's interest the most was a notice from a mercenary group recruiting personnel

If it were another type of beast, it would abandon its den and flee as soon as it was attacked, making it much more difficult to find them again

Although approaching fifty years of age, due to regular exercise, the physique appears to resemble that of a person in their thirties

The lethality of this strike was largely mitigated by the anti-magic breastplate he was wearing, causing no damage, merely knocking him back

It cautiously approached from behind the human, who remained unaware and continued to gather herbs and wild fruits, indicating that this meal was easily within reach

The village of Valk was originally not affluent, having lost eight lives and dozens of livestock due to the presence of ogres, and the side activities of gathering wild vegetables, fruits, and herbs could not be carried out either

The attack had little effect, yet Mu was confident that he could easily deal with his opponent, for he had uncovered the secret to his opponent's invulnerability.

Moreover, Andun continuously employs them as pawns, assigning them the most dangerous tasks, yet their treatment is inferior to that of Andun's direct subordinates, which has long accumulated considerable resentment

Just as one of them was about to be cleaved in two by his giant sword, another giant sword suddenly emerged from the side to block his strike. The person who intercepted the sword was Doniel, the strongest swordsman of the mercenary group

Raise the axe and strike down with force, at that moment the prey before me suddenly vanished in an instant

Due to the presence of an insider, the mercenaries arrived at the stronghold without warning. The members of the Poison Fang team and the library rushed to engage in battle, but their combat strength could not be consolidated. Additionally, the mercenaries were supported by two mages, leading to the swift breach of the stronghold's gates

This is precisely why a mere dozen swordsmen can confront him, as he is unable to defend against every attack that comes simultaneously

Having lost a sword, the opponent will not idly allow him to easily retrieve it. If he foolishly attempts to draw the sword, it will merely provide the opponent with an opportunity to attack.

The opponent is indeed more troublesome than imagined, and it required additional effort.

He is aware that the thieves, in order to rob merchants and guard against attacks, will set up numerous hidden sentries near their base.

In the East, due to years of continuous warfare, a conscription system was adopted. Apart from the families of military generals, those who served in the army were all enlisted according to regulations

The monster pulled the sword from its chest and shot it towards a nearby tree trunk. The sword, embedded in the trunk, vibrated with immense force, producing a low humming sound

As the sound grew louder, the morale of the joint forces of mercenaries and thieves soared, while the remaining defiant enemies were demoralized and only wished to flee. However, there was no escape; they were either killed or captured.

Unfortunately, the opponent is an ogre; these more than ten sword strikes only inflicted some minor wounds on its body, and a few strikes didn't even leave a mark.

Unexpectedly swift, by the evening of the second day, all four factions had replied affirmatively to cooperate. Due to the smoothness of the process, Noxiu could not help but suspect that there might be a trick involved.

Deliberately entering the ogre's attack range to lure it into swinging its axe, after dodging this strike, the opponent's defenses are wide open. Taking advantage of this gap, Mu charges forward and leaps in front of the opponent

I see! No wonder just a dozen swordsmen can stand against him

But this claw missed its mark, and the enemy retreated from the front, at which point it finally saw the enemy's appearance

If these hidden sentinels are not addressed, our actions will be monitored by the band of thieves, resulting in a loss of initiative

In an uncertain situation, the leader of the Venomous Fang Thieves, "Giant Python," arranged for each of the four newly allied factions to send a team of twenty soldiers to investigate

Mu Xiaoxiao complained a bit about herself, wondering why she hadn't thought of this move before, as it had been used in the East before

Both sides only see the unfavorable situations of the other; one side believes that the opponent has suffered significant damage in the previous battle, while the other side thinks that the opponent's personnel quality is inferior to their own

In summary, based on Mu's experiences in recent weeks, dealing with the clerks has not been a pleasant affair

The ogre's eyes widened in disbelief as he gasped for breath, for he could not comprehend why the opponent had suddenly produced a third sword.

The ogre before us stands sixteen feet tall, approximately 4.8 meters. If a critical and fatal blow is not delivered, it is difficult for sporadic attacks to be effective.

At this moment, Mu doubted whether the author of the book had ever seen an ogre; in addition to its astonishing strength and regenerative ability, the kind of defense that rendered his longsword unable to pierce was not merely a matter of tough skin and thick flesh

After Mu explained his intentions, the clerk handed him several documents and forms, simply stating, "If you are interested, please fill out the forms and return them to me"

However, he declined on the grounds that he had to return to the agency for a matter, only borrowing a needle and thread to mend the hole in the cloak before leaving

When Mu went to the agency to look for a job, the clerk had a dislike for Easterners and deliberately assigned him a dangerous job that typically required a team and was priced at more than double.

The standard military organization in most countries on the mainland consists of five individuals forming a squad, several squads making up a small team, followed by a company, battalion, regiment, division, and corps

The leaders of the two groups of thieves charged into the hall to launch a joint attack on him, yet they were still forced to retreat step by step under the pressure of his great sword

In the mercenary group, there are many who aspire to rise to prominence and seek official positions, and the methods for seeking such positions are primarily through reputation, strength, and achievements

However, his attack was once again blocked by the opponent's flesh. At that moment, a silver light pierced through Mu's cloak and struck the ogre's chest. Unlike the previous attacks, the sword completely penetrated, piercing through the heart

Therefore, as long as there is sufficient strength, participating in the battle is a good opportunity for the mercenary group

According to intelligence, the members of Poison Fang number around 500, making an attack with more than 50% additional forces highly advantageous

It is uncertain whether wwwhetushu.com is their fortune or Mu's misfortune

Six weeks ago, I received a rare task that required the full combat strength of the entire team

This is Mu Jie’s ninth commissioned task. Due to the identity of the foreigner, the options provided by several agents are all high-risk and low-reward jobs

Thus, under this tactic of diversion, the ogre met its demise with resentment

A different female clerk sat at the counter compared to the last time, her expression appearing somewhat restless.

Mu reminisced about the teachings of his former teacher

However, what is truly fatal is the massive sword pursuing from behind; Donier's strike severed his head from his body at the nape of his neck

The two leaders of the thieves, having narrowly escaped death, seized the opportunity to re-enter the fray and launched a pincer attack on Andun from both sides

However, the feelings of being deceived and pain filled it with rage; now, it could think of only one thing— it must kill this human, tear him into pieces, and consume him.

And when struck, a faint glow emanated from him, revealing that he was wearing a magical resistance breastplate

In the event of prolonged warfare, some large mercenary groups may even grow to the scale of a battalion

Although he was not seriously injured, the situation became unfavorable for Mu

Due to a sudden reduction of one-third in the available military forces, they urgently sought to recruit personnel from outside, hoping to quickly replenish their combat strength

Unlike a typical adventurer team composed of a few individuals, which is equivalent to a single squad, a mercenary group is a combat organization consisting of at least one squad and comprising more than dozens of members

Among these, the return on investment for participating in wars is the lowest, yet many mercenary groups are still willing to accept it

At that moment, the clerk wore a look of disdain, as if mocking him for being oblivious to the danger.

Mu has also heard a little about the mercenary group

The most brutal battle took place in the hall, driven by rage from the attack and betrayal. An Dun wielded a massive sword, slaying more than twenty mercenaries and turncoat thieves during the fight, filling the entire room with the stench of blood

It was learned from their words that the newly joined members had not yet gained trust, and the leader arranged for them to be assigned to the periphery, while the more dangerous tasks were also entrusted to them

These tasks rarely require full combat capability to execute, so it is common to undertake several tasks simultaneously to increase income

In order to validate his thoughts, Mu once again launched an offensive against the ogre, transforming the single sword in his hand into a dozen beams of sword light that scattered.

However, as he burst through the door, a fireball came hurtling towards him. It turned out that the situation outside had already been controlled by the joint forces of mercenaries and thieves, which is why the wizard had come here to provide support

After handing a silver coin to the female clerk, Mu saw her smile for the first time; this tactic is equally effective in both the East and the West

Thus, the common people in the East regard military service as a perilous path, and there is even a saying that "a good man should not serve in the army"

The other two factions believe that since they have a larger number of members, they should receive a greater share

Noxiu inferred from the situation that the enemy had become alert, making a surprise attack impossible

Recently, few people dare to enter the forest, so one must go to the village to find humans. Today, a prey has unexpectedly come to the door, much to the delight of this ogre

Due to the narrow entrance, it was impossible to avoid this blow, which struck solidly against Andun's chest

In times of peril and war, before the end of the conflict, those who have served in the military, with the saying "Seventeen go to war, and only seventy return home," can be said to be one in a hundred. Those who enlist either die in battle or return home disabled.

Although the number is relatively small, the disparity in quality allows the mercenaries' combat strength to still surpass that of the more complexly composed thieves

At this moment, a pair of glowing green eyes in the shadow of the forest is observing the herbalists and fruit gatherers

However, Commander Noxiu had to confront the reality of his misjudgment regarding the enemy situation

At the end of the struggle, nearly four hundred bandits were reduced to just a few. After dividing the spoils, these few individuals acquired a substantial fortune and subsequently vanished without a trace. Thus, the matter of the secret agreement was quietly buried.

After it was already known that a large-scale enemy attack was imminent, the bandits began to prepare for battle.

Such a monster can contend with a dozen swordsmen? What a joke! Even a hundred swordsmen might not be able to kill him

( Relying on books from wwwhetushucom.com is not as good as having no books at all. I almost forgot this lesson! What is written in books differs from actual experience. The statement that this monster can withstand attacks from a dozen swordsmen refers to being besieged by them. In a one-on-one fight, a swordsman who can contend with a dozen swordsmen would not be able to defeat him! )

Mu discovered that he was not truly invulnerable; the reason the sword could not pierce his body was that he could concentrate his strength into his muscles, thereby enhancing them, much like the Eastern practice of hard qigong.

At this moment, he recalled the accounts of ogres in the book

The mercenaries who heard this also shouted: "An Dun is dead!"

The leader of the Morning Star, "Raccoon" Noxiu, is renowned for his cautious approach to warfare

When it comes to a meal, a few bites of venison are simply insufficient; he can only pick up the axe and step out of the cave to prepare for the next meal

Upon waking up early, he felt hungry. In the cave, there was only half a deer leg left from yesterday's meal. He grabbed the deer leg and finished the meat in just two or three bites

Just as many Easterners harbor negative feelings towards Westerners, there are also quite a number of Westerners who are unfriendly towards Easterners

Then why was the first strike able to injure him so easily? The muscles in the abdomen and chest do not appear to be significantly different! Could it be that...

The owner of these eyes is none other than the ogre, the nightmare of the villagers of Walk Village for many months

However, their losses are also significant, with more than 10 percent of the team members either killed in action or rendered unable to return to the battlefield.

The other party was draped in a coarse cloth cloak, holding two swords of different lengths in hand, one of which was stained with blood from the very thing that had just wounded it

There are fundamentally no individuals who gather wild fruits and herbs; it is merely a trick devised by humanity to lure them out

Considering that the content of the contract is to eliminate the Venomous Fangs and eradicate these additional enemies, even if negotiations regarding compensation with the employer take place afterward, the increase will be minimal; on the contrary, greater sacrifices will need to be made

For these skilled individuals, this is not difficult; they simply need to reflect on where they would hide a lookout and carefully conduct a thorough investigation of these suspicious locations

With an original structure of a reinforced squad and a scale of over 800 combat personnel, the "Morning Star" can be considered a large mercenary group

Thus, Noxiu decided to establish a secret pact with these four factions, agreeing that when they launched an attack, these four groups of bandits would also turn against and assault the main camp of Poison Fang. Once the objective was achieved, 30% of the plundered wealth from Poison Fang would be distributed to them.

He deliberately handed over the property in bulk to the other party, allowing the thieves to distribute it themselves. After the four factions of thieves received the property and left, once they reached a safe place, they began to argue over the unequal division of the spoils.

However, this ability cannot enhance the entire body for two reasons: first, the strength is insufficient to reinforce every part of the body; second, the reinforced areas become rigid and immobile during the enhancement process. Even if one could truly enhance the whole body, the inability to move would result in merely being subjected to attacks.

Therefore, unless they achieve remarkable results, the kings are inclined to incorporate them for their own use, transforming them into regular troops. All countries restrict the size of mercenary groups to not exceed the composition of a regiment

From the shape and movements of that person, it should be a woman. Women are easier to capture than men, and they also have a more pleasant scent

The two thieves believe that they contributed significantly in the previous battle and should receive a larger share.

As for the taste, the flesh of children is the most tender and delicious, but unfortunately, there is less of it. The flesh of women is also quite good in flavor and ample in quantity. As for men, although their flesh is the most abundant, the texture is a bit coarse and tough.

The atmosphere was even more heightened among the two teams, each of which had previously dispatched reconnaissance squads suffering casualties of over a dozen personnel.

Therefore, I am quite curious about the mercenary Mu, who comes from a civilian background yet voluntarily participates in the war

Upon careful interrogation of the captured thief, Noxiu learned about the situation in which the Poison Fang had absorbed other thief groups, significantly increasing their strength

In order to avoid prolonged uncertainties, the day after the secret agreement was reached, the mercenaries split into four groups to rendezvous with the thieves at various locations, while simultaneously launching a fierce attack on the established stronghold.

The thieves also sensed something unusual when the lookout had not reported back for a long time

Then I shall observe how the people, separated by a vast ocean, perceive war

Moreover, compared to ordinary small teams, mercenary groups have a greater number of experienced and skilled individuals

After searching for a long time, I still did not see a single large beast that could satisfy its hunger, so I had no choice but to go to the village at the foot of the mountain to look for food

Although Andun did not trust these four forces, he merely believed that they would back down at the critical moment and refuse to fight to the death. Therefore, he concentrated most of the supplies in his own stronghold, but he did not anticipate that they would turn against him and collaborate with the mercenaries

When Mu returned to the city, it was already dark. However, the agency did not close until 9 PM. He hurried to the agency before closing time to inquire if there were any groups or teams in need of members

Ogre: A giant measuring approximately 12 to 16 feet in length, they are capable of wielding weapons and wearing armor, with some even possessing the ability to use magic. They possess incredible strength and regenerative abilities, with tough skin and thick flesh that allow them to contend with a dozen swordsmen, and they feed on humans

It is better to find a reliable adventurer team to join! The experience of excellent companions is more useful than what can be learned from books. Mu made this decision

Upon arriving at the village, inquiries were made to the villagers regarding the occurrences of ogres. It was decided to disguise as a herbalist and fruit gatherer to lure the ogres, thereby allowing the opponents to let their guard down

In his youth, he may have been quite adorable, but his current appearance is such that it no longer evokes the image of the cute raccoon.

After the battle, Noxiu, in accordance with the agreement, allocated thirty percent of the treasures from the stronghold's treasury to the four factions of bandits. Furthermore, in order to uphold the reputation of the mercenary group, he specifically requested that this secret pact remain confidential, and after inquiring about the intelligence, he executed all the captives.

However, in terms of the nature of their work, mercenaries are much simpler, primarily serving as guards for caravans or nobles, exterminating monsters or thieves, or participating in wars

When the brawl caused by friction began, the leaders of both sides still believed that the other would soon yield

Among them are several special pieces of equipment, such as the anti-magic breastplate worn by Andun, which is worth as much as jewelry

All members of the Venom Fang Thieves' Guild, except for the leader, either died in battle or were captured, with none escaping

When Mu contemplated whether to employ a more powerful move to deal with it, he recalled something that seemed amiss

Additionally, the arms, armor, arrows, and provisions they left behind can also supplement the mercenary group's military supplies

And when they realized something was amiss, it was already too late to stop the mutual slaughter between them

However, the majority of clients, in order to quickly find someone to undertake the work, tend to offer a higher price

Originally, it was intended for him to retreat in the face of difficulty, but Mu, due to his limited understanding of ogres from books, believed he could easily resolve the matter. Although the reward was not high, he accepted the job as a way of doing a good deed.

He then re-interrogated the captives, including the previous prisoners and the new captives captured during the frontal assault

After bringing back the head of the ogre, he received the deserved reward from the village chief. The delighted villagers warmly invited him to stay for dinner and overnight.

Large mercenary groups like this are certainly employed by nations to participate in conflicts when they arise.

It was supposed to be this way, but there was an error in the intelligence.

After both parties argued, they reached the same erroneous conclusion: "The other side dares not take action and can only resort to bluster, maintaining a tough stance; the other side will surely yield."

The ogre suddenly felt a sharp pain in its abdomen, and relying on instinctive reaction, it swiped its claws towards the front of its abdomen.

Additionally, over 20% sustained minor to moderate injuries, requiring several weeks to several months for recovery and treatment

Perhaps it is poverty that drives one to take risks, as a person clad in a coarse cloth cloak is seen gathering herbs and wild fruits in the forest of Valk Village, carrying a basket.

After a detailed inquiry with the envoy, both Noxiu and the cadres in the group believed that the other party was genuinely cooperative

In fact, there is no third sword; what struck the neck is the scabbard.

And this task is one of the few that cannot command a high price, being commissioned at the lowest standard.

It was learned from the messenger that after the mercenaries launched their attack, most of the arrows were moved to the main camp for defensive use, a practice that caused dissatisfaction among the thieves stationed on the periphery

They successfully attacked several of the bandits' lookout posts, and the intelligence obtained from the captured prisoners further accelerated their progress

( What! Unpierceable! )

However, the members of the venomous faction continued to resist by utilizing the facilities within the stronghold, resulting in an ongoing increase in casualties on both sides