Tips for Sleeping Outdoors / Don't Listen to the Experts' Nonsense

"Then I'll be going now... Oh, by the way, could you please give this to W for me? Consider it my apology."

Suika handed a stone tablet to Ines and then turned and walked into the Dense Fog.

Ines did not make any rash moves, but stood there protecting her companions.

Ten minutes later, the Dense Fog dissipated, and the sun shone on the trees.

Under the sunlight, the Sarkaz warriors, who had been intoxicated, gradually regained their senses.

"I'm Sarkaz swear word... where's that little Sarkaz swear word... I'm going to love her to death with my bombs..."

As soon as W woke up, he started jumping around like a cockroach.

Ines tossed a stone tablet to her impatiently and then said...

"This is the compensation that person gave you..."

W was about to stubbornly insist that no one should pay compensation when he saw the portrait on the stone tablet. His pupils contracted, and he tucked it into the pocket of his chest.

Because the stone tablet depicts Theresa's likeness, and Suika even used the composition of the famous painting "Mona Lisa" from her previous life in a wicked way.

This not only makes Theresa appear more intellectual and beautiful, but also seems to be looking at the viewer from various angles.

Although she didn't understand art, W clearly fell in love with the small stone tablet painting at first sight.

All of this was part of Suika's plan, because she knew that if she gave W a self-portrait, W might throw a tantrum and refuse to accept it, but she would definitely accept every painting of Theresa she saw...

Chapter 217 Precautions for Sleeping Outdoors

"Snort!

So we're just letting the target escape like that?

W is still stubbornly denying it.

Ines rolled her eyes at her. Despite W's antics, if she really wanted to kill that target, she would have silently grabbed her weapon and chased after him instead of whining to herself here.

What if they don't release it?

One move from them and they took us all down.

Given what just happened, even if she didn't want to kill, we'd all be finished here today...

"They've already spared our lives, so don't be so shameless..."

Ines's witty remarks left W speechless.

After being rebuked like that, W picked up his weapon and was ready to fight it out.

Ines shrugged at her

What are you doing!

"Others said that the stone tablet was for protection money, but you insisted on fighting to the death with someone," so they gave me back the protection money.

"No! Once something's in my bag, there's no going back!"

However... since she's so well-behaved, I can forgive her...

"Then let her head remain on her body for now, and I'll retrieve it the next time we meet!"

W's expression changed immediately upon hearing that Ines wanted to take away the stone tablet engraved with Theresa.

Faced with the choice between venting her anger and preserving the stone tablet, she ultimately chose to avoid making a big mistake by acting impulsively.

After all, a moment of anger is nothing compared to a single hair on Theresa's head.

"Let's go, we need to retreat to Kazdel... Before we came, Hoederer received a message from the Military Commission that we have work to do!"

After everyone had packed their equipment, Ines waved her hand, and all the mercenaries silently followed, heading Touhou.

While W and his group were waking up and discussing their evacuation route from Victoria, Suika and her group had already ridden away at breakneck speed.

"Miss Suika... those mercenaries won't catch up, will they?" Tony asked Suika anxiously as he lifted the curtain.

"Oh, speaking of which, write down this address, and send some money here when you get back."

This is the toll I agreed upon with those mercenaries, the money they'd give us to spare our lives.

Whether you give it to me or not, and how much you give, is none of my business.

However, let me warn you, there's a petty guy on that side. I have powerful backers, so those Sarkaz won't bother me later... but I can't guarantee that about you guys."

Tony breathed a sigh of relief after Suika finished speaking.

For people like them, the thing they fear least is others trying to take advantage of them financially.

Even without Suika's subsequent words, just to put his mind at ease, he would still write down this address and send a sum of money over.

Were those people very strong?

Anthony looked at Suika, somewhat curious about how she came to be connected with the Sarkaz.

"To put it simply, a Sarkaz mercenary who has lived for more than ten years can easily annihilate a team of unsuspecting but fully armed military and police personnel on his own."

And these guys are all veterans of the Sarkaz.

"Given their strength, and given time to prepare, even if we hide in that small town, they could still find a way to break through its defenses, storm into the city, wreak havoc, and escape unscathed."

Suika wasn't entirely trying to scare them.

After all, given enough explosives and time, our bomb-wielding princess could turn all the roads leading out of the town into terrifying minefields.

Then the Sarkaz warriors would find the weak points in the town's defenses, launch a rapid assault, and then decisively withdraw. For Ines and Hoederer, this was no problem at all.

After hearing what Suika said, Tony and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

"Miss Suika ...it may be a bit impolite, but how do you know a demon of this level..." Tony couldn't help but ask.

Suika touched her long horns.

"Demon, that's not a nice word."

Although you all thought I was Elafia, I am not.

I am Oni from the Eastern Country.

Suika pointed to her head.

"Oni?" Anthony looked at her long horns in surprise.

"It certainly doesn't look like one, but the fact that I am a ghost is absolutely true, without a doubt."

Since Anthony knew about the Oni, he should know that the Oni was actually Sarkaz tribe that followed the Demon King Kuron eastward. They later settled in the Eastern Country, took root, and eventually became an independent race.

In other words, I'm actually one of those demons you mentioned... though only a distant relative, of course.

When Suika said this, Tony's expression became very awkward. Thinking about how he had kept referring to the demons, he felt his face getting hot.

"Of course, I wouldn't mind such a thing."

After all, it is common knowledge that the Oni has long since separated from the Sarkaz and is an officially recognized separate race.

And this has nothing to do with me knowing them.

I know them because of other things.

After Suika finished speaking with a smile, Tony had already gotten back into the car, neither wanting nor feeling comfortable continuing to ask about Suika's relationship with the Sarkaz mercenaries.

In the evening, the carriage stopped beside a stream.

"We've probably passed by, or the town has moved to another place..." Tony said helplessly after looking at the map.

The original plan was to travel during the day and spend the night in small towns along the way.

But unexpectedly, we encountered a problem on the first day. We were supposed to arrive at the town in the afternoon, but we didn't meet it even after walking until nightfall.

However, this is actually quite normal in Terra.

Because map updates are delayed.

And the Catastrophe in Terra don't tell you in advance where they're coming from or where they're going.

In addition, many towns are built on movable blocks in order to mine resources such as minerals.

It's not unacceptable that the town has moved to another location for various reasons and hasn't had time to be updated on the map.

However, for travelers wandering in the wilderness, not knowing the migration route of the Mobile Block in advance could very likely prevent them from reaching their destination.

Just like now, Suika group couldn't go inside because they didn't know whether they missed it or the town had moved too far, so they could only camp outside.

"Have you ever camped in the wild?" Suika asked Anthony was standing to the side.

Anthony shook his head.

"So, if we're resting here tonight, where do you think would be a good place to set up camp?" After looking around, Suika had already found a spot and then looked at the other person.

After hearing this, Anthony looked up blankly and looked around, finally pointing to the flat area by the stream. "Where?"

"Congratulations"

Suika said with a smile.

"They chose the most dangerous location."

Anthony was initially delighted to hear the congratulations, but after Suika finished speaking, he was completely stunned.

"So from now on, remember this: when you're in the wild, whether you're alone or in a group, never camp too close to streams or rivers!"

Chapter 218 Don't Listen to the Nonsense of Public Intellectuals

"Ah?"

Anthony and Winnie, who was being held by him, both looked over.

Suika reached out and gently pinched Winnie's nose, making her giggle before speaking.

"To avoid danger and the daytime sun, most wild animals have the habit of being nocturnal."

In summer, areas with water become gathering places for wild animals.

If you don't want to open your tent only to find Rift Beast or Fang Beast crouching outside, waiting for you to open the door so they can eat human flesh in a can, then stay away from the stream."

Unlike in the previous life, wild beasts are rarely seen in Terra.

Even on the newly developed main roads, herds of animals can often be seen passing by.

Therefore, when living in a wilderness with such a high density of wild animals, unless you have someone strong enough to keep watch every night, you should try to choose a safer campsite that is away from wild animals and has a wide field of vision.

Then Suika pointed to the spot Anthony had indicated and said...

"Then, the second point is that nature and weather are things we need to respect. No one can guarantee that there won't be a sudden downpour upstream while we're sleeping at night, causing the water level to rise."

This area is less than five centimeters above the water level. If upstream rainfall causes rising water levels or even flooding, this entire area will be easily submerged.

As for those living here, by the time you realize something is wrong, they've probably already been swept downstream by the flood.

Therefore, even if the waterway is dry, it is not suitable to camp near streams or areas where a clear waterway can be seen.

Because you can't gamble with nature's luck; if you win, there's no benefit, and if you lose, it's your life.

After Suika finished speaking Tony walked over and clapped.

"Miss Suika is right. I learned about this when I was in the army, but the officers there only told us that we couldn't camp in these places, but they didn't explain it in such detail as Miss Suika does."

As expected of Catastrophe Messenger, his knowledge is far superior to that of ordinary people like us.

Suika glanced at it and nodded to Tony. From the moment she got out of the car, Suika noticed that Tony had parked it in a very skillful spot.

This is the top of a gentle slope. Apart from a few trees nearby, there is nowhere to hide. The open space not only makes the view exceptionally clear, but also provides enough room for the carriage to accelerate in case of danger.

"I never knew Uncle Tony was a soldier!"

"That's not true... If I hadn't been shot in the knee by a crossbow bolt while fighting the demon... cough cough, the Sarkaz... I could have made it into the selection for the Golden Law Guard."

Tony said with a hint of pride.

Suika finally understood why this leader kept referring to the Sarkaz as "demon"—there was a grudge involved.

The group prepared to set up camp next to the carriage, Suika looked at the shadowy figures in the woods not far away.

"I'm going to the woods to get some wild game..."

With a light leap, she floated into the air and flew towards the forest.

When she returned, she saw several people gathered around a fire. Above the fire, beans were cooking in an iron box, and sliced bread and sausages were being smoked nearby.

... A very traditional Western-style light meal... but it's too simple and not good with drinks, so Suika has never been a fan of this kind of thing.