It was April 3rd, a Monday. Today was supposed to be the day Lassos Noble Vocational Academy began its new school year. It was also Sean's third day following the Garrison to the Southern Wilderness Great Swamp to suppress the bandits.
Since Lieutenant Colonel Merkel had agreed to Sean's proposal that day, today was likewise the third day of the plan.
On the first day of the plan, they had merely sealed off information and prepared for the following stages. Over the second and third days, the Garrison had followed Sean's suggestion and lured away more than two hundred of the Water Bandit Group's main forces from different directions. At this very moment, they were still in the swamp, playing a game of hide-and-seek with the water bandits.
The smooth execution of the plan and its promising results had greatly encouraged the few people in the know, including Lieutenant Colonel Merkel.
Sean had also been making intense preparations over the past few days. On one hand, he had led the infiltration team through specialized nighttime adaptation training. On the other, he had used Lieutenant Colonel Merkel's help to prepare the team's equipment and disguises.
Aside from weapons, rations, and a small number of shields, Sean required every team member to wear water bandit clothes and use pig's blood, mud, charcoal, and other materials to disguise themselves as filthy, ragged, wounded stragglers.
That morning, after Sean and the team members had eaten breakfast at camp, they set out under the escort of a battalion of soldiers for a hidden location outside the Water Bandit Camp. From there, they would begin their mission to secretly infiltrate the camp.
Several large ships of the Garrison were towing the four captured Water Bandit Speedboats behind them. These were the means of transportation Sean had prepared for infiltrating the Water Bandit Camp. Naturally, the Water Bandit Speedboats had already received Sean's special treatment. Their hulls were covered in sword scars, burn marks, and soot stains. Combined with Sean and the others' disguises, they looked exactly like a group of battered survivors.
In general, covert surveillance and infiltration were carried out in the dead of night, because that was when people's vigilance was at its lowest. But here and now, that was not the best choice.
Sean could not guarantee that they could completely avoid every scout and patrol of the Water Bandit Group. Rather than that, it would be better to infiltrate during the day. Taking advantage of the contrast in the water bandits' expectations and Vinson's identity as a water bandit leader, they might have a better chance of fooling the Water Bandit Patrol.
After boarding the ship, Sean went alone to the cabin prepared for him and began practicing the Knight Secret Method. He did not want to waste a single day's training opportunity. Fortunately, it was still early, and he had time to rest and recover the mental and physical strength expended during training before the team set out that afternoon.
More than an hour later, his training ended. Sean's attributes became: Strength: 2.581 Constitution: 2.589 Agility: 2.8275
Looking at his physical attributes, which far exceeded those of an ordinary person, Sean revealed a satisfied expression.
Sean then remained in the cabin to rest until Torr and Phil woke him.
"Torr, what time is it?" Sean asked Torr as soon as he woke, rubbing his temples.
"Young Master, it is just lunchtime. You have less than an hour before you must depart..." Torr answered Sean respectfully. At the same time, he told Sean the precise information he had obtained after asking the soldiers. During Sean's rest, they had kept a close watch on the time, afraid of delaying their young master's important task.
"Mm..." Sean nodded, then got out of bed. The moment he stood, he thought about the infiltration team's soldiers and asked Torr, "The team soldiers... have their lunches been arranged?"
"My lord, while I was collecting your lunch, the soldiers were receiving theirs as well... They should all be eating now..." Phil interjected. He lifted the meal box in his hand, placed it on the table, opened it, and began setting out the food.
"Very good..." Sean praised Phil, then walked over and sat down at the table.
For this infiltration team, Sean had not allowed Torr and Phil to participate. Their training time had been too short, and their personal strength was somewhat lacking. Yet they had still insisted on joining the escort fleet and requested to see Sean off.
"This plan has been prepared very thoroughly, and the chances of success are high. So, there is no need for you to worry..." Sean said with a smile, comforting the two after he sat down. After a pause, he continued, "Work hard at your training. If there is another opportunity like this in the future, I will definitely bring both of you along..."
"Yes," Torr and Phil answered together. There was disappointment in their expressions, but also hope for the future.
"Phil, after this mission is over, I plan to make time to teach you the family's secret Knight Secret Method. You must train diligently, but you cannot let anyone else know about it... Understand?" Seeing their expressions, Sean made a promise to Phil.
"Ah... Thank you, my lord. I... I will definitely train hard, and... and I will not tell anyone. Please believe me..." Phil immediately promised again and again, his expression full of excitement.
Sean nodded at Phil, then instructed them both, "Go eat. You can come back and clean up afterward..." As he spoke, he pointed at the tableware on the table. Then he lowered his head and began eating. The two did not insist, and after saluting him, they left the cabin.
After lunch, Sean sat for a little while longer before taking out the water bandit clothes for his disguise. There were several sword cuts across them, along with all kinds of stains and pig's blood. Not only did they look extremely ragged, they also gave off waves of foul stench.
Sean knitted his brows tightly and tried carefully not to subject his nose to too much suffering. He had to suppress the urge to throw the clothes away and reluctantly pulled them on. Then he tightly wrapped his Knight sword in rags, gathered his other equipment, and left his room.
Soon, Sean arrived at the large cabin where the infiltration team was resting. Sergeant Donnie was inside, urging the soldiers to change into water bandit clothes.
Sean casually inspected the soldiers' disguises and immediately noticed several problems. He quietly gave instructions to one soldier, who promptly turned and left the cabin.
A moment later, the soldier returned carrying two wooden buckets. He respectfully placed them before Sean, then stepped back to rest at Sean's gesture.
The buckets contained charcoal ash and mud. Sean had specifically sent the soldier to find them so the soldiers could smear them over exposed areas such as their necks, which their clothes could not conceal. He gathered the soldiers and personally demonstrated on himself before them.
Although the soldiers were wearing water bandit attire, their clean, uncovered skin looked out of place and would arouse the water bandits' suspicions. It was precisely because Sean had considered this that he had sent someone to fetch the charcoal ash and other materials.
The soldiers then followed Sean's example and began disguising themselves. Afterward, they checked one another for anything inappropriate. Naturally, some soldiers overdid it, and Sean pointed out each issue before personally applying their "makeup." At the same time, he stopped Vinson and his two men when they tried to apply makeup to him.
After all, Vinson would now become the "leader" of their group. If his face was too filthy, it would instead make the water bandits suspicious. Very soon, aside from Vinson and his two men, Sean and the other twenty-six officers and soldiers had completed their disguises. They looked like beggars, giving off the impression that they were fleeing for their lives.
"Sean, you... Hah... You've really outdone yourself." Major Sunny, who had arrived in the cabin at some point, smiled at Sean.
"Sir... Is it time?" Sean nodded to Major Sunny and asked. His current appearance was truly rather undignified. Major Sunny had been specially sent by Lieutenant Colonel Merkel to escort Sean and the others to their departure point. Of course, if anything unexpected happened along the way, he could decide whether to abandon or continue the mission based on the circumstances. This was also for Sean and the others' protection.
"Mm, I was a little worried at first... but it seems you are all ready..." Major Sunny answered Sean with a broad smile.
"Heh heh, sir, once we get close to the departure point, have people carefully inspect the surrounding area first..." Sean said, awkwardly rubbing his nose as he changed the subject.
"Haha, don't worry. I already sent people ahead... You can depart afterward..." Major Sunny laughed happily at Sean's embarrassed face, but there was not the slightest trace of mockery in his laughter. Then he reined in his smile and solemnly told Sean, "May the journey go smoothly. Be careful in all things..."
"Thank you. I will remain vigilant at all times..." Sean replied seriously. At that moment, the two spoke their farewells like friends.
"Mm, I will be waiting for good news..." Major Sunny said. Ignoring the mud on Sean's body, he patted Sean's shoulder encouragingly.
"Young Master, you must come back..." Torr came to Sean's side at that moment and spoke with great concern.
"Don't worry. They are only a few water bandits... Just wait peacefully on the ship..." Sean reassured the nervous Torr and Phil in a relaxed tone. Then he patted their shoulders and asked Major Sunny to look after them.
At that moment, an officer hurried over. He whispered something into Major Sunny's ear, and Major Sunny silently nodded to Sean. Sean understood that it was time for them to set out and infiltrate the Water Bandit Camp.
Sean then led the officers and soldiers of the infiltration team aboard the captured and disguised Water Bandit Speedboats, slowly disappearing from Major Sunny and the others' sight. Only after Sean's boats had vanished completely did Major Sunny order the fleet to return. Afterward, he and Lieutenant Colonel Merkel would command the soldiers stationed far around the Water Bandit Camp to launch the final assault.
More than two hours later, led by Vinson, Sean's group avoided the sentry posts around the Water Bandit Camp and successfully arrived less than ten kilometers away. But if they continued forward, it would be difficult to avoid the Water Bandit Patrol.
The group hid their four Water Bandit Speedboats amid dense reeds. Sean said to Vinson, "Once we are discovered, you and your two men will immediately step forward and deal with the patrol. Understand?"
"My lord, this... I... what should I say?" Vinson was somewhat nervous. After all, anyone would feel uneasy in such circumstances.
"Idiot. Use your usual tone and manner. Relax, relax..." Sean scolded irritably.
"This... I..." Vinson smacked his lips. He wanted to say something, but it felt inappropriate, so he could only stammer.
"You tell me." Sean skipped over Vinson and pointed at another water bandit behind him.
"Vinson... Vinson usually speaks rather crudely..." Vinson's confidant was somewhat nervous before Sean. At first, he had addressed Vinson as Boss Vinson out of habit, but remembering that Vinson was about to become the servant of the young man before him, he immediately changed his words.
"Right. Vinson, if the Water Bandit Patrol stops you for an inspection, curse at them. The harsher, the better. Remember, in the end, you must make the water bandits continue their patrol. Do not give them time to return and report..." Sean organized his thoughts as he taught Vinson how to handle the situation.
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