Shen Ye quickly finished reading, put away the sword, and went to examine the letter.
That hand had probably been pointing at the letter.
The badge was just an extra gain.
"Hey, I can't read these words. Read them for me," Shen Ye said.
"I never learned your Human Race's writing either," Big Skeleton said.
Shen Ye rolled over, found a human soldier's corpse, and spread the letter before his eyes.
"Excuse me, what does this letter say?"
With Shen Ye asking him like that, the corpse had no choice but to open his eyes and read the letter aloud.
"Notice regarding the necessity of investigating the truth behind the unusual movements of the undead."
"Brothers and sisters:"
"The Empire and the Elves Kingdom have jointly issued a major mission. Any intelligence concerning the unusual movements of the undead can be exchanged for generous rewards."
"Please, everyone, head to the battlefield. The survival of our people requires you and me to fight with all our might."
"May the shadows shelter us."
"-Shadow Hand."
At this point, Shen Ye understood.
So this had been an Assassin who had accepted the mission!
Roman must have been an Assassin too. Seeing Shen Ye's faceplate, he had decided to lend him a hand, which was why he had left that Individual Combat Pack.
He had told Shen Ye that a tent with three short swords standing outside was where the Brotherhood could be found.
That was more or less what had happened.
But-
How did that help him?
Did he have the ability to figure out the unusual movements of the undead?
...Wait.
"Buddy, tell me a little about what's going on with the undead so I can exchange it for rewards."
Shen Ye spoke to the Ring.
"What kind of intelligence do you want? Something earth-shattering? Or something ordinary?" Big Skeleton asked calmly.
Shen Ye was a little surprised.
This fellow actually had no objections at all?
He was a genuine undead, after all.
But after thinking it over, Shen Ye could understand him somewhat. Three of his own kind had once forced him to assassinate the elven leader.
If it were me, I'd turn on them too.
"Nothing too sensational," Shen Ye said. "I'm just an ordinary person. Once I hand over earth-shattering intelligence, people will want to verify it, and I'll definitely be taking an enormous risk."
"In that case, I have a piece of intelligence just valuable enough for you to exchange for a few things," Big Skeleton said.
"What is it?"
"The Undead Race has adopted a new artillery component that increases the power of the Undead Soulfire Cannon by twenty percent and its firing rate by ten percent."
As Big Skeleton spoke, a crystal emitting grayish-white mist appeared before Shen Ye.
"Wouldn't that intelligence be too valuable?"
Shen Ye sounded hesitant.
"Not really," Big Skeleton said. "In fact, as the war progresses, I believe the human leadership already suspects something. They just haven't confirmed it yet."
"So this intelligence won't draw too much attention either?" Shen Ye's eyes lit up.
"Exactly," Big Skeleton said.
Good.
He could get something out of it without drawing too much attention.
Only then did Shen Ye put the crystal away with peace of mind.
Everything was ready.
He rolled over beside the undead giant, took a deep breath, and struggled to prop up the Stone Hammer.
"Hey, you're really doing this?" Big Skeleton couldn't help asking.
"Just tell me whether human battlefield medicine can heal my injuries," Shen Ye said.
The Stone Hammer was so heavy that merely propping it up made his hands tremble nonstop.
"Of course. If you have money, you can even regrow severed limbs," Big Skeleton said.
"What about you undead?" Shen Ye asked.
"We generally throw dying soldiers outside. If they survive, they survive."
"You don't treat them at all?" Shen Ye asked curiously.
"Not quite-you can use special spells to manifest a Sacrificial Altar City, imprison a group of undead or living beings, and draw power from them to recover instantly. Only undead of extremely high standing can do that, though, and they also have to know all the secrets involved."
Big Skeleton explained in detail.
"So humans offer better value for money after all," Shen Ye remarked.
"Of course. As long as you're willing to pay a high price, human Holy Arts have the best effects. Even elves can't match humans," Big Skeleton said with certainty.
"It costs money?"
"Yes."
"Do we have money?" Shen Ye asked.
"I do," Big Skeleton said.
"So we have money. Great," Shen Ye said.
Big Skeleton couldn't argue with that.
After all, he was counting on Shen Ye too.
Shen Ye let go.
Thud.
The Stone Hammer fell onto his chest, making him cough up a mouthful of blood.
"Buddy, why not go for some limb regrowth? I have money," Big Skeleton said bitterly.
"Why spend that much on a bit part?" Shen Ye said.
"For realism," Big Skeleton said.
Shen Ye let out a loud, agonized groan.
"Someone... someone help me..."
He picked up the tower shield and struck the undead giant's Stone Hammer, producing a clang.
In the distance.
Several human soldiers abruptly turned around.
One of them sprinted over and took a closer look.
Shen Ye lay on the ground holding a broken spear. The tower shield in his off hand was completely shattered, his armor was cracked all over, and his helmet was covered in blood.
The Stone Hammer pinned his entire body down.
How brave!
The human soldier blew hard on the whistle hanging around his neck.
A stretcher team quickly ran over.
Several dozen minutes later.
On a busy patch of grass.
The Priest had finished treating him and patted Shen Ye's shoulder.
"Brave young man, you survived an undead giant's Stone Hammer. That's truly remarkable."
"Thank you for treating me," Shen Ye said gratefully.
He touched his chest.
His broken breastbone was completely intact, without even a trace of injury.
Just then, an officer entered the camp with more than a dozen trusted attendants.
Shen Ye noticed that the entire camp had grown much quieter.
Looking at the officer again, he seemed young, only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, but the trusted attendants behind him drew attention.
There was a white-haired old man in gray robes carrying a staff, a grand knight in full armor, and a mysterious figure in a black robe, holding a black book and wearing a faceplate.
Several female warriors holding powerful crossbows stood at the outer edges of the group, carefully watching their surroundings.
Who exactly is this, with such an impressive entourage?
Shen Ye wondered silently, his heart rising into his throat.
Unexpectedly, the group walked along, looking around, and finally stopped in front of his stretcher.
The officer studied Shen Ye and asked,
"Which lord do you serve?"
"The lord of Rhine," Shen Ye said.
Everyone around them looked over.
The officer paused, then softened his tone. "I'm very sorry. Your territory has already been occupied by the undead... Do you have anything to prove your identity?"
Shen Ye handed over the Nightmare Crystal.
"This is our lord's plea for help," he said with a sorrowful expression.
An attendant beside the officer took the crystal and passed it to the robed old man behind him.
The old man chanted a spell.
A panicked voice immediately rang out from the crystal.
"My lords of the Empire."
"If anyone can bring troops to save our Rhine Territory, I am willing to pay three hundred gold coins, as well as a substantial Land Deed!"
"I am Lawrence, lord of Rhine!"
"Please, you must save us!"
The voice faded.
The old man nodded. "That is Lawrence's voice. There's nothing wrong with the crystal either."
The officer sighed and looked at the others.
Everyone wore a mournful expression.
There was nothing they could do.
The situation in Rhine Territory was simply too tragic.
This messenger might have been the only survivor.
"Messenger, get some rest first. Don't dwell on it for now."
"Thank you, my lord." Shen Ye's eyes were red, as though he were struggling to hold back his grief.
"Rhine has already fallen. Why don't you go to the Empire's rear and find somewhere to live?" the officer said.
"No, my lord. I want to stay on the battlefield," Shen Ye said.
"Why?"
"I want to avenge everyone. I won't stop until I'm dead."
Shen Ye's words rang with conviction, and his tender youth made them all the more moving.
I still have to find the Assassins' tent and collect my reward. You're sending me away already?
"You look quite young. Why were you chosen as a messenger?"
The officer questioned him further.
He was both checking Shen Ye's identity and showing concern, thinking about making arrangements for his future.
Shen Ye froze for a moment, then reacted quickly.
"I run fast-among everyone my age in all of Rhine County, no one runs faster than me."
Shen Ye jumped off the stretcher and devoured the second "One of Us" trait.
With that, he gained another 3 Attribute Points.
His total Attribute Points rose from 4 to 7.
He added all 7 Attribute Points to his original 2.9, giving him 9.9 Agility.
It was an unprecedented figure.
"My lord, watch me run," Shen Ye said earnestly, his tone pleading.
"All right, let me see," the officer said.
Shen Ye sprinted at full speed, rushing like a gale to the camp entrance and startling the guards stationed there.
He turned and ran back to the officer.
Then he ran to the entrance again.
And back again.
"Stop!" the officer hurriedly shouted.
Shen Ye stopped before him, panting as he asked,
"Do you think I can stay on the front lines?"
His armor was battered and broken (carefully selected by Big Skeleton), his body was covered in blood (picked up from various corpses after rolling around too many times), and his youthful face (fifteen! Only fifteen!), paired with his deeply yearning gaze (if he didn't act convincingly, he would be exposed, and being exposed meant death), instantly moved everyone around him.
"My lord, let him stay and take revenge alongside us."
"Yes, give him a chance."
"Rhine's spark must not be extinguished just like this, my lord."
"Let him join us. I'll take good care of him."
"Such a fine young man should go to the rear for further training, my lord!"
"I think he'll become either an Assassin or a grand knight someday."
Everyone chimed in at once.