Bandit Extermination

That's right—the city ruins.

Although Despair Fortress was now in the midst of revival, with only a thousand-odd Ratkin and a hundred or so Horned Demons, restoring the entire outer city was nothing more than a castle in the air.

On the spire balcony at the very top of Despair Fortress, exquisite sculptures stood everywhere. The demon statues, their wings spread as if soaring through the sky, wore savage expressions and seemed almost alive as they silently guarded the place.

Arthur stood with his hands folded before his abdomen, a white towel draped over his arm. At a black obsidian table nearby, Avilan quietly read the intelligence report in his hand. At last, he set it down and instinctively rubbed his temples.

Before long, three figures approached and respectfully bowed without speaking.

"Zhou Yu, how has the development of the outer city been going?"

Avilan raised his head. Having shed his heavy armor, he wore only a white shirt and casual trousers, making him appear exceptionally sharp and capable.

If not for the bizarre sculptures and surroundings, anyone would have mistaken him for an elite professional on holiday.

"Lord Avilan, everything is proceeding smoothly. Development in the South District is going well and recovery is progressing step by step. It is only that the population of the entire South District..."

Avilan nodded to show that he understood, then continued, "Then how much of Despair Fortress has been restored?"

After a brief silence, Zhou Yu said, "The three Gold Wells have been successfully repaired, but they are only level one and can produce only three thousand gold coins per day. One Ore Well and one Lumber Well have been repaired, while one Crystal Well and one Gem Well have also been restored and begun slowly producing resources. The four resource wells can produce only one thousand units of resources per day."

Avilan covered his head in distress. Three thousand gold coins and one thousand units of resources per day sounded like a great deal.

But when restoring a single house required several hundred units of stone or lumber, along with several hundred gold coins, it no longer seemed like much. The South District had only been restored to its current state because those resources had been utterly worthless in the game, allowing them to escape disaster. Yet in order to repair the South District, the resources in the warehouse had already been nearly depleted.

"Zhou Yu, you've done well." Avilan quickly recovered. Population growth was slow anyway, so he was not in a hurry. He would restore the South District first and leave the other districts for later.

"It is this subordinate's honor to share Lord Avilan's burdens." Zhou Yu dropped to one knee and saluted.

"Mi Yue, is there any news from the investigation I assigned you?"

Avilan turned toward another graceful figure, a trace of expectation in his eyes.

"Lord Avilan, the investigation has been completed. Thirty li from Despair Fortress, three groups of other races have occupied the area. One group is rather mysterious and rarely makes a move, while the other two burn, kill, plunder, and commit every evil under the sun, utterly devoid of conscience."

Mi Yue saluted and recounted her findings in an even, unhurried manner. Though her words were severe, her face remained utterly expressionless, as dull as if she were reading from a textbook.

The three groups were Goblins, Ogres, and Catfolk. The Ratkin had once been a servant race of the Catfolk.

Avilan nodded lightly, somewhat excited. To others, exterminating a race was merely ridding the people of a scourge and winning the gratitude of the masses. But for him, wiping out a race could greatly strengthen his own forces!

At present, he knew very little about this world. He only knew that this place was called the Messiah Great Forest, the largest forest on the Carons Continent. It occupied one-quarter of the continent and, just his luck, lay right in the very center of it, surrounded by more than a dozen nations.

Allen and the others were too low-ranking to know anything of a higher level. For example, the strongest person they knew of was the lord of Essin City, the closest city to this place—a Third-Tier Great Swordsman.

By Avilan's estimate, a Third-Tier Great Swordsman was roughly equivalent to someone above level thirty.

As for the lord of Essin City, there was also his teacher, Brand, known as the kingdom's Sword Saint. Not to mention the rumored Grand Elder of the royal family, who could duel a giant dragon alone.

His forces were not strong enough yet, so he still needed to develop quietly and keep a low profile.

Stockpile grain, build high walls, and bide one's time before claiming the throne!

That was what he ought to do.

"Zhou Yu, hear my command!"

As for those three major groups of other races, Avilan did not hesitate in the slightest. He made his decision on the spot and issued the order directly.

"This subordinate is here!"

Zhou Yu dropped heavily to her knees, excitement and bloodthirsty killing intent gleaming in her eyes!

"I order you to lead one thousand men and set out at once to wipe out the three groups of other races!"

A cold glint flashed in Avilan's eyes as he spoke in a deep voice.

He had already learned from the Ratmen that the strongest members of those three races were only at the peak of the second rank—perfect candidates to capture as slaves.

"This subordinate accepts the order!"

Zhou Yu clasped her fists in salute, rose abruptly, and strode toward the outside of Despair Fortress with killing intent on her face.

"Mi Yue, hear my command! While Zhou Yu is away, I order you to lead the remaining personnel and guard Despair Fortress strictly!"

Avilan shifted his gaze to Mi Yue and issued another order.

"Mi Yue accepts the order!"

Mi Yue lowered her head in salute, then turned and left for the city walls.

Half an hour later, at the Despair Fortress military camp.

"Lord Avilan, you are going too?"

Zhou Yu's eyes widened as she looked at Avilan, dressed in a mage's robe and holding a staff, clearly startled.

"Of course. I happen to want to take a look at these other races."

Avilan spoke calmly, though in truth he was simply curious about these so-called other races. Compared to what he had seen in the game, he was even more eager to see them in reality.

Zhou Yu nodded lightly without paying much attention to it. As the supreme Avilan, his strength surpassed even hers, so there was no need to worry about Avilan's safety.

"Set out!"

Zhou Yu shouted. The group traveled light, leaving through the South District and heading directly for Bulin Heights, more than thirty li away.

Of the thousand participants in this operation, fifty were Horned Demons and twenty were Ratmen. The rest were Ratkin.

The additional Ratmen had not been granted names by Avilan. Rather, Zhou Yu had awarded them names for their outstanding performance.

Behind that group of Ratmen were another twenty-odd relatively large Ratkin, faintly showing signs of evolving into Ratmen.

Clearly, these Ratkin were the direct descendants of those Ratmen. Though they had not been granted names, by staying beside the Ratmen year after year and gradually absorbing the radiation, they had evolved.

Bulin Heights was a hill. It was not tall, but it covered a vast area, and its slopes were lush with vegetation. Great trees that three or four people could hardly encircle were everywhere. Because of these trees, it was difficult to tell that this place was a hill; only upon arriving could one discover it.

Avilan stood beside Zhou Yu and gazed into the distance, but found nothing. Everywhere he looked was a sea of green.

"Go! Spread out and scout!"

Zhou Yu gave a soft shout and waved at the five people behind her, giving them an order.

The five clasped their fists and accepted the order. Their bodies flickered, and they moved with astonishing speed, vanishing from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.

Avilan watched quietly. These five were all Horned Demon Commanders, just over level thirty—third-rank warriors in the terms of this world. Five third-rank warriors were absolutely not to be underestimated. It was said that among the great Lineages in Essin City, even their strongest members were merely third-rank professionals.