Of course, there was one more thing to take care of before setting off.
Kamlin gave the captured guards two options.
First, join the rescue team and go to Pejite City to help the refugees there.
Secondly, they were to leave with their "master," but they were not allowed to take any supplies with them.
The vast majority of people made the choices that anyone of normal intelligence would make: without food and water, where else could they go?
As for the former nobles who ordered their subordinates to commit the atrocities, Kamlin confiscated all their weapons and supplies and left them to fend for themselves in the desert.
They will soon be able to personally experience the despair felt by those who had been plundered by the bandits.
These guys deserve to die.
When Mu En turned his attention to this area, the rescue team had already set up camp on the outskirts of Pejite City.
From a distance, it appears as a colossal city standing on the edge of the Sea of Corruption.
The earthen-yellow city wall, as high as thirty meters, rises abruptly from the ground and stretches as far as the eye can see, almost like a man-made mountain ridge.
Mu En estimated that the area enclosed by this city wall was probably larger than the second ring road area of the capital in his previous life.
It is unknown how many generations the Dorok People spent, or how much manpower and resources they used, to build such a large-scale defensive fortification on this barren land.
According to a local who recently joined the team, the wall was built to protect against insect infestations.
After all, one could see the Sea of Corruption just three kilometers away by looking up. At such close range, traditional methods such as insect whistles were no longer sufficient to ensure safety.
At the foot of the city wall, what should have been an open buffer zone of sand is now densely covered with all sorts of tents, shacks and other simple shelter structures.
These buildings spread out haphazardly, turning almost an area several kilometers outside the city into a shantytown.
As Mela had described earlier, those who accepted Tolmekia's offer to leave, or who mustered the courage to migrate further north, were ultimately only a minority.
Moreover, this shantytown isn't entirely populated by refugees; it's also home to many speculators.
They are eagerly awaiting the end of the conflict so they can rush into the Sea of Corruption to resume their "business," or seek opportunities to answer the association's call and earn hefty commissions through force.
That's right. Although they are nominally a "resistance army," according to the information we've gathered, the Explorers' Association is actually in control of the Pejite City.
They openly recruited skilled adventurers and mercenaries to join the battle by posting notices directly outside the city, using high amounts of gold coins and spoils as bait.
This kind of transactional war, where "money buys people to risk their lives," is a unique and chaotic spectacle in Pejite.
Ironically, this unique wartime economy resulted in a greater number of caravans, mercenaries, and transient people outside the city than in peacetime, creating a chaotic and distorted "prosperity."
Therefore, when the rescue team members, along with the group of former noble guards who were later "recruited," arrived, it did not cause much of a stir.
At this moment, in a camp a little far from the main settlement area, Kamlin and Meila had just finished reporting on their journey and were now seeking guidance from the Erdtree.
"The biggest problem now is that we're too late," Kamlin said gravely, sitting at a table inside the black tent.
"The war is nearing its end. Although sporadic gunfire still echoes within the city, the city gates are no longer completely sealed off as before, and limited personnel and supplies are now allowed to enter and exit."
"Regardless of the internal situation in Pejite, it will be difficult to find anyone willing to leave with us."
Kamlin believed it would be nearly impossible to persuade people who had just seen hope of returning home to abandon their homes, which were within easy reach, and instead follow a "rescue team" of unknown origin whose destination was in the far north.
The actual situation has also confirmed this.
Despite having locals and mercenaries acting as persuaders in the group, very few responded.
Even a few groups of fools, tempted by the prospect of profit, attempted to rob the supplies, but were easily "taught a lesson" by the Blessed Warrior.
"If nothing unexpected happens, we're unlikely to gain much more from this trip."
Kamlin felt deeply ashamed because he had failed to complete the task of recruiting more believers for the Erdtree.
You should know that he made a vow before he left.
"It seems I've come back at just the right time."
Mu En, however, did not seem dissatisfied; on the contrary, her tone sounded quite relaxed.
" Kamlin, have you forgotten that you possess something unique in this world—my power?"
Kamlin paused slightly in the tent, then explained, "But Lord Divine Tree, I'm worried that publicly displaying your extraordinary power in such a chaotic and complex environment might attract unwanted attention."
He certainly hadn't forgotten, but he still understood the principle that possessing a treasure can be a crime.
In such a chaotic place, even a little grain of food can attract people to fight over it, let alone the miraculous power of the Erdtree's Favor, which can bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded.
"Silly child," Mu En's voice carried a hint of amusement, "Who told you to show it off in public?"
"You mean—" Kamlin asked, bewildered.
Mu En organized her thoughts and then passed the new information flow through the link.
Through his recent interactions with Muska in the Castle in the Sky world, he has gained experience in dealing with such situations.
"Through healing methods, starting with the most vulnerable refugees, we secretly spread our faith."
Only those who remain loyal to the name of the Erdtree can be saved.
"Don't they see the Valley of the Wind as a sanctuary? Then reinforce that image and attract more people to seek healing there."
"Now, I will teach you how to use ' Order Healing '."
"This Incantations can cure the Sea of Corruption Disease."
Complex streams of knowledge flowed into Kamlin's consciousness; the Order Healing was a pure medical Incantations that "removed harmful substances from the body."
Even deep lesions that cannot be eliminated by the Law of Regression and have become completely integrated with the patient's body can be cleared.
The moment Mu En unlocked this Incantations, he contacted Elder Tia, the medical expert, to conduct a test.
The results proved that this Incantations could completely cure the incurable disease unique to this world— the Sea of Corruption Disease!
Some speculate that the disease is a curse from the Sea of Corruption, while others guess it's caused by toxins, but no one can determine its cause, and no one can cure it.
The patient could only watch helplessly as they gradually stiffened and eventually died in agony.
Through Tia's experiments, it was demonstrated that Order Healing can directly remove lesions from a patient's body, restoring their health.
Although it is unknown whether the illness will relapse, it is an undeniable fact that the elderly, who were terminally ill, were able to get up and move around again.
"What!?"
Upon hearing the information Mu En provided, Kamlin could hardly believe it.
Although the relationship between the Sea of Corruption Disease and the Sea of Corruption cannot be determined, the Kingdom of Pejite is close to the Sea of Corruption, is indeed a high-incidence area for this disease.
Curing Sea of Corruption Disease is far more appealing than simply treating external injuries.
Kamlin's eyes gradually brightened, even showing a hint of excitement.
As expected of Lord Erdtree!
However, he then became worried that this news might be leaked to those greedy people.
"As for security, there's no need to worry."
Seeing Kamlin's concern, Mu En added.
"Once loyal believers are selected, they can contact me to convert them into Blessed."
"Furthermore, I will continue to monitor this area and ensure your safety."
The environment in Pejite is even worse than the most chaotic region of the Northern Kingdom in another world.
There, at least there are police and churches to maintain basic order, but here it's practically anarchy.
This team is a perfect example to serve as a case study for Dola and the others.
"Yes! I will never fail to live up to your kindness, Lord Erdtree!"
Kamlin rose respectfully and bowed to the north.
After the conversation ended, he looked up at the tent blanket outside, his eyes filled with eagerness. "It seems it's time to play the role of a doctor in a fairy tale, walking among humans and healing suffering."