Penny's Plan

Facing Mixi's questioning and Li Wei's equally confused look, Penny couldn't help but stop. After thinking for a moment, she said:

"My plan is actually very simple. The crossbows we're making are prohibited items. If we take them to the market over there and someone reports us, a hundred lives wouldn't be enough to save us. Even if we were to sell weapons, it wouldn't be easy. We'd have to register with the Guild first and pay taxes to the Lord. After all is said and done, even if everything goes smoothly, how much can we earn?"

"That's why I plan to find these mountain bandits. They definitely have ways to fence stolen goods. If we were just selling ordinary swords and sabers, we'd be like sheep walking into a tiger's den, practically asking for death. But if we can continuously craft crossbows, these desperadoes will agree. They won't refuse wealth that can be sustained long-term, and we'll have a stable sales channel. Of course, even so, this trade will still carry a lot of risks."

"Therefore, we also need to be prepared for combat. Fortune favors the bold; this is worth the risk."

After Penny finished explaining, Li Wei was stunned.

What? How can it be so abstract? Big sister, you truly have an adventurous spirit!

She seems so shrewd normally, how could she come up with such a plan?

"Why don't we just take out this bandit lair? It would be better to take their heads for bounties than this method," Li Wei suggested. Seriously, I really can't understand what's going on in Penny's little head.

"Shut up, George! We don't want bounties; we want a trade channel. Once this trade channel is established, it will be the foundation for all development. Don't you understand this?"

Penny glared at Li Wei unhappily. She had worked tirelessly to develop handicrafts, explored mines, and risked her life to build this advantage. Was this something that could be solved by simply taking out a bandit lair?

Others might want to buy some salt, but she wanted more. Establishing a trade channel would revitalize everything, allowing their family to earn its first pot of gold and eventually grow into a clan.

To achieve this goal, what was a little risk? She wouldn't even mind becoming a bandit queen!

That's right. She had even considered the worst-case scenario when coming to find this group of bandits.

For a better clear-up evaluation, what couldn't be sacrificed?

However, seeing Li Wei frowning and Mixi looking displeased, Penny softened her tone and continued to explain, "When we were fleeing before, we had dealings with this group of bandits. They robbed us at a crossroads. Father was still alive then, and he recognized the bandit leader. He seemed to have been a Knight Squire at Kahe Castle before being declared a wanted criminal. His name was Anderson. Father made a deal with him for two bags of wheat."

"Overall, Anderson is easy to talk to. His former identity is also beneficial for opening up the Underground Black Market, so I think we have a high chance of success this time. But the prerequisite is finding their hideout. At that time, even if we give them ninety percent of the profit, we'll still be making money. Do you understand what I mean?"

This time, Li Wei understood. Mixi also looked thoughtful. Yes, with this connection, Penny's approach actually had some feasibility.

However, his personality and usual way of doing things wouldn't allow him to take such a risk. He didn't have a strong need to establish an external trade channel.

He immediately said, "Sister, I acknowledge your reasoning, but I don't want to take the risk. Can I keep watch for you two from a distance? Since you're so confident, it doesn't matter if I'm there or not. If there's real danger and fighting breaks out, I can still support you."

Hearing this, a flash of uncontrollable anger crossed Penny's face, but she said nothing, merely giving Mixi a cold glance. "Do you want the same?"

Mixi was contemplating, hesitating, then she smiled cheerfully. "This plan is indeed crazy and abstract, but as the saying goes, 'Nothing great is achieved without madness.' This is indeed the only way to break the deadlock. Otherwise, those Lords and Guild profiteers will pick us clean. Let's do it; at worst, we'll fight our way out!"

Mixi is actually so confident? Can a Veteran be this awesome?

Fine.

Li Wei felt inferior. He didn't have that confidence either. He didn't say anything else, shouldered his pack, and went into the nearby bushes to lie in wait. At least if they couldn't win, he could escape.

No, I genuinely hope Penny's plan succeeds. I can fully understand Penny's thoughts. Our family, as refugees with no status, trying to sell things like swords and crossbows in the Lord's castle market is even more unreliable.

If we can persuade these mountain bandits, even with a one-nine split, it's worth it.

For a moment, Li Wei felt a little regretful, as he had completely offended Penny this time.

Meanwhile, outside, Penny and Mixi whispered and plotted for a moment, then actually cut their hair short. At first glance, they looked like two tomboys. Then, they mixed mud with sweat and smeared it evenly on their necks, faces, and arms. This time, they looked even more alike.

Of course, they didn't miss details like binding their chests.

With all preparations complete, the two of them looked seven or eight parts like men. After eating some food, they each took their supplies and headed towards the mountain hollow ahead.

Li Wei maintained a distance of about a hundred paces, following them through the bushes while vigilantly observing his surroundings, including the ground.

At this time of year, he didn't have to worry too much about venomous snakes and insects, but this was near the bandits' lair, so he had to be careful of traps they might have set.

Even traps meant for catching beasts could be fatal.

However, observing carefully slowed him down. In just a short while, Penny and Mixi had already climbed into the mountain hollow, while Li Wei lagged behind by nearly 150 meters.

Really no teamwork.

Li Wei grumbled inwardly but didn't dare to speed up. Now, he not only had to guard against possible traps but also worry about whether the bandits had deployed sentries in the dark.

It didn't matter when they were far apart, but as they got closer, the chance of being discovered by sentries increased.

It wasn't that hiding in the woods meant he could be reckless. Without wind, the rustling of wild grass or the startled flight of birds and beasts could expose him.

At this point, he could only pray that the other side were a bunch of idiots.

Thus, Li Wei proceeded cautiously. It took him nearly a few minutes to approach the mountain hollow. There was a low ridge, and after crossing it, he could see the situation in the hollow. A cliff formed by more than a dozen intact giant stones stood there, connected to the mountain behind, forming a mound. The top was quite flat, and there was a cave, but no people were visible. Even the smoke they had seen earlier was gone.

As for Penny and Mixi, they had already crossed the river valley in the hollow and reached the base of the stone cliff.

Damn!

Li Wei inwardly cursed. Are you really that skilled and daring?

The west side of the hollow had a large number of trees and bushes, providing good cover.

But after crossing the river valley and reaching the bare stone cliff, it was completely exposed.

If anything changed, he wouldn't even have time to support them.

Just as he thought this, without any warning, Li Wei saw Penny and Mixi's figures flicker. Dust and smoke flew up from the ground, and the two of them fell.

It's a trap!

It was a trap!

"Clang clang clang!" A fierce bell sound rang out, and then seven or eight wildling-like creatures jumped out from all around. Their hiding skills were truly excellent, and the trap mechanisms were also well-made.

But Li Wei was too far away. He could only vaguely hear some chaotic roars, unable to discern the finer details. He only saw a few wildlings rush forward, pick up stones the size of human heads, and smash them down without mercy