Adventurers

"Don't overthink it. Just treat it as a trip." Listening to Bill's complaints, Colin did not take them seriously and turned back with a smile.

"Hmph." Bill snorted.

It really was true that rank crushed those below it. Lyon Brown had assigned the task to Colin, and Colin in turn directed the three team members besides Bill, holding a machete as he cleared the way ahead.

The three team members were suffering miserably, yet they dared not voice their anger.

For a moment, it became impossible to tell who was the evil dragon and who was the good dragon.

Their scouting destination was a hill thirty li ahead. According to the map, they would have to follow winding mountain paths and cross a rushing stream. They still had a long way to go.

But for Quasi-Knights like them, it was not much of a challenge. Besides, it was winter now, and the vegetation here was far more withered and sparse than in summer.

The three team members cleared the way ahead, chopping down thornbushes and small trees and tossing them aside. Their progress was fairly quick. After half an hour, the group arrived at the rushing stream marked on the map.

The stream flowed from north to south like a white dragon, and its current was indeed swift. There were several large rocks in the stream, but they were covered in moss and clearly impossible to stand on.

The Quasi-Knights looked around and finally copied something from wilderness survival, finding a thick vine and tying one end to a tall tree while holding the other.

One by one, they swung across like Tarzan.

After walking for another hour and a half or so, the first squad finally arrived beneath the mountain peak marked on the map, their scouting destination.

"Be careful. The road ahead shows signs of being carved by human hands." Colin raised his eyes toward the front, his expression turning grave. A mountain path, neither particularly wide nor narrow, led straight to the summit. The signs of human construction could not have been more obvious.

"Captain, this is Oak's Ruins. It is not strange for adventurers to be active here. Some adventurers have no bottom line and can do anything in the wilderness. Let's go back first." One of the team members spoke with a solemn expression.

"Let's head back." Colin readily agreed and prepared to leave. Although this was a quasi-military operation, it was more or less like a Boy Scout outing in America. There was no need to gamble their lives in the wild on a group of adventurers' moral boundaries just to follow orders.

But at that moment, movement came from the mountain ahead. Immediately afterward, five people leaped down from the tall trees and landed in front of Colin's group.

Colin's heart tightened. He then gave his team members a look, drew the Two-handed Greatsword from his waist, and stepped to the front.

Bill also drew his sword and stood beside Colin. As for the three team members, they looked at each other and unanimously took a step back.

Colin raised his head and carefully observed them. Three men and two women. Some wore leather armor, while others wore only short sleeves, all dressed lightly. Yet it was the depths of winter, and anyone able to withstand this cold had to be at least a Quasi-Knight.

Judging from the scars on their exposed skin, they were undoubtedly veteran adventurers. As for their weapons, they carried all sorts of things.

Colin glanced up at the mountain peak ahead again. If there were five people here, there might be another ten on the mountain.

Damn it. He cursed inwardly and began considering how to escape, though his face remained calm and composed.

While Colin sized them up, the adventurers were also observing Colin's group. From their clothing, the adventurers noticed a few clues and could not help feeling troubled.

"They look like students from Will Knight Academy."

The five adventurers exchanged looks. One bald, burly man put away his weapon, a strangely shaped curved blade, signaling that he meant no harm.

"As you can see, we are adventurers. We came to Oak's Ruins in search of ancient treasures. You are students of Will City Knight Academy, aren't you? I heard that every November, Will Knight Academy holds a Quasi-Knight Order Action. Are you taking part in that event?" The bald man looked fierce, but he spoke in an unusually soft and gentle voice.

The other adventurers spread out slightly, covertly surrounding Colin's group and assuming subtle attacking stances.

Colin's heart tightened further, but he showed nothing on his face. Bill's face had gone somewhat pale, and his hands involuntarily tightened around his Two-handed Greatsword. The other team members were in even worse shape, doing their best to hide behind Colin. If I can't see you, you can't see me.

Who would want to fight a group of vicious adventurers in the wilderness?

Colin's heart sank, but he knew he had to react quickly. His eyes flashed, and Colin answered with a calm smile, "So you are adventurers. This is my first time meeting any of you. If we were in a tavern in the city, I would gladly buy you all a drink and listen to your exciting adventure stories."

Colin displayed just the right amount of goodwill, then continued calmly, "As you can see, we are indeed students of Will Knight Academy, taking part in the annual Knight Order Action. We are the advance party. Our teacher and the main group are only three or four li away."

Although the five adventurers had already guessed as much, after hearing Colin's words, they still cursed inwardly.

Damn it. They really are students from Will Knight Academy. Their academy's supervising teacher has to be at least a Knight.

They were a large group of adventurers, with their camp on the mountain ahead. As adventurers, they did not mind playing the roles of thieves or bandits while out in the wilderness. Moreover, they had discovered something important this time and did not want it exposed. If Colin's group had been lone wanderers, they would not have minded keeping them here. But students from Will Knight Academy alone were enough to make them wary, not to mention a larger group behind them.

After making a basic assessment, the bald man decided to avoid conflict for now. He discreetly signaled to his companions behind him, then smiled kindly at Colin's group. "That truly is regrettable. If we were in a tavern in the city, I would also be very willing to share my adventure stories with you."

Colin nodded as well, showing a regretful expression. Suddenly, he pointed at the mountain ahead and said, "Our mission was originally to scout this mountain and use it as a campsite. You came down from the mountain. Have you set up camp there?"

Bill swallowed, while the other three team members went pale. Why ask that?

"That is correct." The five adventurers had not expected Colin to ask such a question, and they instinctively assumed attacking stances. The bald man was still quick-witted enough to stop his companions and answer with a smile.

"That is truly unfortunate. It seems we will have to report back to our teacher and find another campsite." Colin shrugged, then casually waved at the bald man. "Goodbye, esteemed adventurers."

After saying that, Colin bowed slightly to them, turned around, and headed back the way they had come. He moved neither too quickly nor too slowly, as though taking a stroll through his own courtyard.

Only then did Bill and the others understand why Colin had said that. They let out a breath and hurried after Colin as they slipped away, slipped away.

Still, they followed Colin's example and tried to walk as calmly as possible.

"Damn it." The bald man did not curse until Colin's group had gone far away. He then said to his companions, "Keep watch here. I'll go inform the leader."