Cliffside Mine Cavern

"What's strange about it?" Li Shuyi asked, puzzled.

"There seems to be an old saying among ancient China bandits: 'A rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow.' And the behavior of most of the bandits in White Stone Town confirms this saying; the areas they plunder are all the surrounding territories..."

Bai Xiaowen said, "Only the Black Wind Bandit Group is different; they destroy the local area. If White Stone Town were wealthy, it would be fine, but it's extremely poor. The Black Wind Bandit Group's looted food and supplies in one operation probably wouldn't even cover their expenses. Moreover, they occupy an iron mine, but for the much more lucrative silver mine, they only plunder the workers, not seize the mine itself. Based on these two points, I can confirm that this bandit gang is suspicious."

Li Shuyi nodded, but was still a little confused. "Then why is that?"

"One plausible explanation is that the Black Wind Bandit Group were acting under someone's orders," Bai Xiaowen said slowly. "I initially suspected that Jobb was also involved, and I just reviewed his memories. However, there was no information about the mastermind behind the Black Wind Bandit Group in Jobb's memories... Of course, it's also possible that I overlooked something. After all, after using the Heart-Confounding Talisman to control Jobb, he lost a large part of his memories, and what I obtained was only a small fragment."

"Whether or not they were instructed to kill the Boss Tier of the Black Wind Bandit Group should tell us." Li Shuyi was gradually developing towards the militant faction.

Bai Xiaowen nodded with a smile, "Let's go to the Cliffside Mine now. However, the default transformation outfit given to me by the Spirit Realm Rules is a bit too conspicuous; I need to change it."

Bai Xiaowen then spent 100 Psionic Points to change his aristocratic formal attire into a Western-style hooded wizard's black robe. After putting on the hood, he completely concealed himself.

A notification message regarding the Spirit Realm Rules sounded:

"You have changed your second transmog outfit: ' Hooded Wizard Attire '. You can switch back to ' Lord's Attire ' 10 seconds after leaving combat. Switching outfits does not cost any additional Psionic Points."

It should be noted that both the aristocratic formal attire and the hooded wizard look are only seen from the perspective of the characters in the Kane Plane's storyline.

Bai Xiaowen was actually wearing Warlock's Robe full of ancient style.

Furthermore, his Desert Eagle pistol would automatically be perceived as a special magical crossbow by the characters in the Kane Plane's storyline.

Li Shuyi didn't need to change anything; in Bai Xiaowen's eyes, wearing a beautiful snow-white Sword Dao Robe was enough. As for the characters in the Kane Plane's storyline, they would see the snow-white Sword Dao Robe as a maid's outfit (default transformation appearance), but Li Shuyi didn't care.

The two walked towards the Cliffside Mine, and all they saw along the way was a desolate and dilapidated scene. The territory with a prosperity level of only 5 points was indeed extraordinary. There was not a single shop or inn. Everywhere there were numb-faced citizens who were barely clothed.

I can't even imagine what it would be like if the prosperity level were below 5.

As night fell, Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi arrived at the camp at the Cliffside Mine.

This is a vertical cliff, and below it is a simple wooden camp that covers a large area. Wisps of smoke rise from the camp.

Within the camp, there were not only forges for forging weapons, but also a stable on the west side, housing more than a dozen warhorses. A hundred or so auxiliary soldiers and bandits moved about the camp in an orderly fashion.

Rather than calling it a bandit hideout, it's more accurate to describe it as a military outpost, and a powerful one at that.

From their vantage point, Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi could see that the camp was built around the mine shaft, and at the very back of the camp was the entrance to the Cliffside Mine shaft.

By the light of the torches at the entrance of the camp, Bai Xiaowen used his Insight on one of the tall, thin bandits on guard.

[Conan (Level 4)]

[Race: Human Species / Human Race]

[Occupation: Scout]

[Attributes: Strength 11, Agility 16, Constitution 10, Spirit 8]

[Skills: Swiftness, Eagle Eye Technique]

Bai Xiaowen then used his Insight on a burly bandit guarding the mine entrance. He discovered that although the burly bandit at the mine entrance was also an ordinary monster, he was already level 6, two levels higher than the tall, thin bandit at the camp gate.

"It seems the Black Wind Bandit Group ' elite forces are hidden in the mine. Judging from their strength, the Black Wind Bandit Group are probably around level 4 to 6, and there might even be higher-level monsters above level 7. It seems the Kane Plane is a medium-to-high difficulty plane; even a bandit den is this powerful," Bai Xiaowen said.

In comparison, the underworld organizations in the King of Fighters Universe are incredibly weak; they could all line up to commit seppuku.

Awakened beings at level 7 and above are known as Advanced Awakened, representing a significant leap in strength compared to level 6 Awakened Beings. Level 7 Boss Tier also have an additional bonus to their Life Value, making them even more difficult to deal with.

Li Shuyi said, "The defenses are tight; it will be very difficult for us to sneak into the mine. Should we launch a frontal assault?"

On the way, Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi discussed their tactics: to sneak in, capture the leader Boss Tier, and take down the Blackwind Bandits. Without a leader, the bandit gang would be thrown into chaos, and they might even be able to recruit some of the bandits.

Bai Xiaowen rejected the suggestion of a direct, forceful attack.

"These bandits are excellent sources of manpower..." Bai Xiaowen said. "Infiltrating them isn't as difficult as we imagine. This isn't a video game; the bandits get tired and need to eat and rest. Those on guard duty can't stand there forever... There will always be opportunities. If we're discovered, we can always launch a full-scale attack."

Li Shuyi said, "I'm worried that the bandit leaders will get a warning and flee on horseback... How about we kill the horses first?"

"Shu Yi, why do you seem so murderous..." Bai Xiaowen shook her head, emphasizing again, "Those horses are all my property... I have my own ways of dealing with them."

As night deepened, the bandits and their auxiliary soldiers and servants in the camp all returned to their respective camps to rest. In the vast camp, apart from the two level 4 bandits standing guard at the gate and the two level 6 bandits standing guard at the mine entrance, there was only a loosely organized patrol team.

"They even set up patrols and sentries at night... Heh, I'm becoming more and more interested in the Boss Tier of this bandit gang. However, these bandits don't seem to have much discipline. The patrolmen and sentries are listless, as if they're just going through the motions to obey orders," Bai Xiaowen said in a low voice.

Under the cover of darkness, the two climbed over a wooden fence and entered the camp.