"...And that's everything that happened."
Annan slapped the scribbled-on newspaper onto the table and said proudly, "I discovered the Ratfolk were back, and I got a map of the Rat Nest, so the banquet wasn't a failure!"
"Good..." Olmedo picked up the scribbles without much interest, then unfolded a map and located the other two Rat Nests. "Both of these are Farmsteads. First thing tomorrow, I'll send three teams to attack all three nests at once. We'll let a few rats escape and put on a show with your Ratfolk friend."
"No. Leave one of the Rat Nests to me."
Annan pointed to the Rat Nest in the west.
"I want to put my Musketeer Corps into a real fight."
A shrill whistle woke the sleeping soldiers. They scrambled into their clothes. The quickest had already pulled on their Plate Armor, grabbed their magic guns, and run outside; the slowest were still dragging shirts over their heads as the whistle drew closer.
A few minutes later, a disorderly formation had gathered in the open ground outside Camp.
Luoxi, captain of the Musketeer Corps, swept a grim gaze over his soldiers. Only three wore their Plate Armor properly and carried their muskets. The rest either had their armor on crooked and carried nothing, or clutched their guns while wearing almost nothing at all.
"Where are your guns?" Luoxi roared. "Go back and get them!"
"Your Magic Guns are your lives! I've told you countless times to treat them like your women. Would you just leave your women behind?"
More than thirty soldiers slunk back to the barracks. Luoxi glared at those who remained, walked along the formation, and stopped before a young man.
Luoxi smiled. The young man smiled back. Then Luoxi's smile vanished. "Where are your clothes?"
"I'm putting