Chapter 110: Meticulous Preparation

Kevin kept his doubts and anxieties locked away. He could not openly refute the orders, nor could he go around making inquiries or voicing his concerns. He certainly wouldn't intentionally injure his own foot to feign illness and avoid the campaign—that was the sort of thing Gray would do.

To keep morale stable, some things simply had to be borne in silence. Upon returning to the catapult yard, Kevin feigned excitement, rallying the men by declaring that their time to earn glory had arrived.

However, when it was announced that Sain would remain behind, a look of distinct surprise flickered across Stadt’s face. If there was a real opportunity for glory to be earned, why wouldn't the General send his own son? Moreover, Sain had little experience and limited strength; any contribution would have been a great boost to his future advancement. It was suspicious that someone who should have gone was being held back.

Stadt did not voice his thoughts, instead glancing at Gray. Gray clearly hadn't thought much of it; he was currently looking at Sain with a provocative grin: "See that? We’re off to earn glory, and you’re not allowed to come. Haha!"

Sain remained silent.

"Everyone, hurry up and prepare. We need to reach the first transit station before dark," Kevin said, cutting the chatter short. "Our catapults are slow, so we must depart early. Pack your gear and let’s move. Sain, you stay behind and keep the grounds in order. Remember to keep up with your training."

"Understood," Sain replied.

"Um... could I borrow your space ring for a while?" Kevin asked, swallowing his pride.

Sain spread his hands. "You see, it’s not with me. I told you, my father took it back after the military exercises."

"Could you go and ask for it back?" Kevin persisted, brazenly.

"How could that be possible?" Sain shook his head. "My father said that unless I advance my battle aura to the next stage, he won't give it back."

Kevin sighed, helpless, and tried another request: "What about your horse? Can I borrow that instead?"

"It’s not that I don’t want to lend it to you, but my horse has a fierce temper. If your horsemanship is only average, you definitely won't be able to ride it." Sain was telling the truth.

Out of options, Kevin turned to Stadt. Before he could even open his mouth, Stadt replied, "I don’t have a space ring. Don't ask me."

"Come here." Kevin gestured, and they stepped aside to whisper. "Your family is so wealthy; I don't believe you don't have some special equipment."

Stadt remained silent.

"This is a real combat mission, after all. Our previous field exercises as recruits were grueling, and this time, no one will be looking out for us. Why wouldn't we bring out our best gear?" Kevin argued. "At the end of the day, having better equipment means higher odds of success and a much easier time, doesn't it?"

Stadt looked Kevin straight in the eye. "Tell me the truth, this battle..."

"Don't overthink it," Kevin waved his hand. "Our deployment is certain, and the personnel are already set, so stop dwelling on it. Focus on how we can improve our strength in this short time."

Stadt nodded, muttering, "It’s truly a misfortune to be with you."

Kevin ignored the comment. "Go back and get it now. Meet us at the transit station before dark."

"Alright, no problem," Stadt nodded.

"Big Sis!" Kevin called out, and a parrot descended from the air. "Big Sis, follow Stadt back. We need to stay in constant contact."

Stadt’s face changed instantly. "Are you spying on me?"

"What if you have an accident on the road and can't make it back?" Kevin replied bluntly.

"Don't worry, I will return!" Stadt said, sounding annoyed.

"Fine, I'll trust you once. Big Sis, go back to patrolling," Kevin smiled. "If you don't return, you'll be treated as a deserter. I’m saying this now so you can't blame me later."

"Fine, fine, I’m leaving now." Stadt waved dismissively and strode away.

Seeing Stadt leave first, the other two were curious and asked Kevin what had happened.

Kevin replied casually, "I sent him on another mission. As for me, I have my own tasks. I’m heading to the city library; I need to look up the specific conditions of the Caludia Hills."

"Gray!" Kevin commanded. "You are to lead the catapults to the first transit station and rendezvous with the staff officers and the Third Battalion. Big Sis! You go with Gray and report to me if anything happens."

"Yes!" The parrot gave a formal salute, while Gray merely nodded, his respect for Kevin’s authority still somewhat lacking.

If this mission was dangerous, the only thing they could do was make the most thorough preparations possible; worrying too much was useless.

The three set off on their separate paths, and by dusk, they had all arrived at the transit station on time. Stadt was the fastest, having returned home to retrieve a set of high-quality armor, a sword, and a shield, and he had even brought a horse.

The armor was magical, kept in a chest on his back. He didn't dare wear it in broad daylight, as the quality was far above what his rank entitled him to. Unfortunately, he had only brought enough for himself. Moreover, the armor had been custom-fitted to his heavy build; if anyone else wore it, they would only hear the rattling of ill-fitting plates.

Kevin arrived shortly after, carrying four or five books he had borrowed from the library. The depths of the Caludia Hills were known to be inhabited by magical beasts—a place Kevin would never have ventured into before, even with his extensive travels.

These books covered the climate, wild beast activity, the types and habits of magical beasts, and the terrain. These were public records, compiled from the experiences of mercenaries and scholars who had ventured there. Such data was constantly updated, as environments shifted, beasts migrated, territories changed, and species either faced extinction or overpopulation.

The most recent data Kevin found was from November of the previous year, which was current enough. However, this wasn't something he could digest in a glance. Since it would take a few days to reach the bandit lair from the transit station, he hoped to study it along the way.

When the three of them reached the station, the cavalry of the Third Battalion had been waiting for a long time. There was no helping it; even with an early start, the catapults were simply that slow. Kevin felt helpless.

That evening, as everyone set up camp, the staff officers gathered the officers to finalize the tactical plan. According to intelligence, the last raid on the trade route had occurred about a month ago. Following that, the King had ordered a full sweep for bandits, who, upon hearing the news, had gone into hiding. It was certain that since they hadn't been captured, they were still lurking somewhere.

Reports suggested the bandit force numbered around three to five hundred—a significant size. And that was only those who had emerged to raid; there might be reserves yet to be seen. The Lightning Knights deployed for this mission numbered over two hundred, plus the catapult. On paper, they were more than capable. The Lightning Knights were the kingdom’s elite; taking on ten bandits each would be no problem.

But that was only on paper. The terrain was clearly advantageous for the bandits. There was heavy mist, magical beasts roamed the area, and the bandits might—or might not—have a fortified base. If they didn't, they would likely play a game of hide-and-seek.

To prevent this, the staff officer announced a plan for a carpet sweep. Besides the Lightning Knights, local peace officers would assist. They wouldn't enter the deep hills, but would instead form a massive perimeter, sealing off the entire area while the Lightning Knights drove the bandits out.

The officer decided to divide the two hundred men into ten squads, each keeping in contact via parrots, all under unified command, to search the hills systematically. Generally, magical beasts would not dare attack a squad of twenty, making it relatively safe.

Kevin raised his hand and asked, "Then what is the purpose of my catapult?"

"Don't be impatient," the officer waved a hand. "Your catapult has many uses. Once it starts moving, it creaks and groans so loudly that the bandits won't dare come near it. Doesn't that mean there's a large area we don't even need to search?"

Kevin: "..."