Division of Investigation

"I don't think it's likely to be a wolf-type magical beast. Wolves usually live in packs, but this attack involved only one magical beast attacking humans. There have been no signs of multiple magical beasts operating in the area."

Li Si analyzed the situation. In his previous life, he had slain many wolf-type magical beasts and was very familiar with them. Wolf-type magical beasts generally occupied a territory in the wild as a pack, and rarely lived alone or wandered about independently.

"Li Si and Elena make sense." Arsen agreed with that assessment, then said,

"And judging from what happened before, this magical beast should be Silver-level. If it were Gold-level, those mercenaries couldn't possibly have suffered only one death."

After a brief discussion, Arsen spread out the simple map the butler had brought over on the table and pointed to an area east of the castle.

"This is where the previous attacks occurred, as well as where that Silver-level mercenary was killed. It has appeared at night every time, so tonight we'll conduct a simple patrol and see if we can find any trace of it."

As he spoke, Arsen gestured across the map.

"I'll handle this area. Ya Er, you take the other half."

Ya Er nodded obediently. She only needed to follow the arrangements, after all. There was no need to worry just because she was a little girl. If she truly encountered that magical beast, the one who should be worried would be the magical beast itself.

"Elena, I need you to patrol the areas farther beyond the vineyard and see if you can find any clues or tracks."

Elena had no objections. Wilderness scouting and tracking were precisely what an Elf Ranger like her excelled at.

"Lunbos and Li Si, the two of you will stay in the castle. The safety of the castle and the town's residents tonight will be in your hands. Keep an eye out for signals as well. If you see one, provide support immediately."

"No matter who encounters the magical beast, prioritize your own safety. Send a signal at once. Everyone else must immediately provide support when they see it. No delays."

After assigning everyone's tasks for the night, Arsen thought for a moment. Still somewhat uneasy, he emphasized it to Ya Er again.

"Ya Er, don't chase the magical beast if you run into it. Even if you're strong enough, getting lost at night would still be troublesome."

Elena looked over as well. Ya Er, who had been a little unhappy, immediately behaved herself and nodded fiercely again. She looked so sincere that she was practically one step away from swearing a vicious oath to the God of Dawn.

It seemed Ya Er had done plenty of ridiculous things like this before.

Li Si chuckled inwardly and recorded it all in his little notebook. This was dirt on the future Valkyrie. It would definitely be valuable someday.

The title could be "A Few Things Between Me and the Young Valkyrie."

The key was selling dog meat under the guise of goat meat.

"Li Si, same goes for you. It's your first time taking a mission with us, so be sure to stay safe. Stick with Lunbos the whole time."

"Lunbos, take better care of Li Si too. He's a mage, after all!"

Having just finished warning Ya Er, Arsen turned around and began instructing Li Si.

Li Si nodded very obediently. Suddenly, he felt that Arsen truly had it rough. He was practically the full-time nanny of the Ya Er Adventurer Team!

Besides, why did he need special care? After gaining the warrior class specialty and having his Strength attribute adjusted, his Health Points were no lower than those of warriors at the same level.

Combined with a pile of Magic Shields and martial skill effects, Li Si felt he was quite tanky now.

Still, he truly could not compare with Silver-level powerhouses like Arsen and the others yet, especially since they were all melee classes whose attribute points were largely invested in Strength and Toughness.

Afterward, Ya Er, Arsen, and Elena gathered their equipment and headed toward the outskirts of the town beneath the night sky.

Li Si and Lunbos went together to the highest point of the castle, where they could observe the area around the town and receive any signals in time before heading out to provide aid.

The night gradually deepened. A silver-white full moon hung in the western sky, while the town below sank into silent darkness. Only a few scattered points of fire moved in the distance, likely the baron's guards diligently making their rounds.

Lunbos and Li Si stood on the castle's upper watchtower, silently observing their surroundings.

With the eyesight of professional classes, they could take in the surrounding situation clearly even under the faint moonlight.

After the two had been silent for a while, Li Si was the first to break it.

"I heard that wine from Tony Baron Territory is quite famous in Can Guang City. Once we get rid of that magical beast, we can enjoy some properly."

Lunbos, clad in heavy armor, thought for a moment before replying in a rough voice, "Forget it. I'm not used to wine. Ale has more kick."

That made sense. For dwarves, compared to wine, huge mugs of ale they could drink to their hearts' content naturally suited their tastes better.

After that, Li Si and Lunbos kept watch over their surroundings while chatting casually. From fine wine to delicious food, from goblins to dragons, the two got along as if they had met far too late and talked about everything under the heavens.

"Li Si, you're not bad!" Lunbos said, patting Li Si on the shoulder.

"Other than that brat Arsen, you're the most unusual noble I've ever met. Later, I'll have the dwarf workshops in Can Guang City forge you a full suit of armor as a meeting gift. It'll definitely be better than what you're using now."

It seemed Lunbos had some connection with the dwarf workshops in Can Guang City. Li Si remembered that one being called the Iron Hammer Workshop. It certainly had the dwarves' style.

Still, forging weapons and equipment truly was the dwarves' specialty. From ore extraction and metal smelting to equipment forging, dwarves possessed their own unique techniques. Dwarf-made weapons and equipment were especially popular among other races, which was why dwarf equipment workshops could be found in nearly every major city across the continent.

"Then thank you, Brother Lunbos. I'll trouble you when I need it later."

Li Si immediately agreed politely. There was no reason not to take advantage of a free benefit. At most, he could give Lunbos more good wine in the future.

Lunbos waved his hand indifferently. It was all a small matter to him. It would merely take up some of his drinking time. At worst, he could ask a few clansmen to help, then treat them to a round at the tavern—killing two birds with one stone.

Just as the two were chatting, a streak of light suddenly shot into the sky from a distant hill east of the castle, giving off a conspicuous glow. It was likely a signal sent by someone from the adventurer team.

"We've got work. Let's go!" Lunbos said. Gripping his warhammer, he jumped straight down from the castle wall, which stood around thirty meters high. He landed steadily on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. His sturdy, resilient dwarven body easily withstood the fierce impact.

Li Si could not pull off something like that. With his current physical strength, even if the fall did not kill him, it would leave him with broken bones.

But mages always had more solutions than problems.

Third-circle spell: Flight Spell!

Li Si also drifted down from the castle and, upon landing, rushed toward the signal's source alongside Lunbos.

Don't ask why he still ran when he could fly. The truth was that the Third-circle Flight Spell was simply too slow, moving only as fast as an ordinary person walking.

Before learning the Sixth-circle Agile Flight Spell, mages did not possess aerial combat capabilities. Flying up only made them living targets. This was advice bought with the bloody lessons of countless senior mages.

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