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(Thanks to Guaxixi5 for the 400 Qidian coin tip!!)

The commanders of the Sanctum of the Sun had their reasons for sending newcomers to check the forested mountains in the rear.

During the long war, the high elves' professional Arcane mages on the battlefield had long since learned to use the magic the Sunwell channeled into the land to detect hidden Troll rogues. They could connect with the Sunwell's magic in the land within a certain range and sense other forces that had passed over it. Thus, they could easily find the rogues and destroy them.

The high elves had once believed this method was foolproof, and more than 200 years ago, they learned a painful lesson because of it.

Back then, under the rule of their wise leader Zul'jin, the Trolls invented a potion that could conceal the power of early-stage beginner rogues. Using this miraculous potion, they sent large numbers of Troll rogues through the forested mountains and into the rear of the high elf lines. With plots and poison, they nearly succeeded in breaking the high elves' blockade completely!

After the war, the high elf commanding lords reflected on their mistakes and strengthened the defenses in the mountains, stationing advanced soldiers on the front lines there to stop Trolls from breaking through. At the same time, the Arcane mages' research showed that the potion could not be improved and could not conceal more powerful Trolls, so newcomers began to be assigned to the rear defensive line in the mountains.

The elves had set countless traps throughout the mountains. It could be said that crossing them was impossible without six or seven days. During that time, squads of elves would scan the area one after another, making a large-scale breakthrough by Troll rogues impossible.

Of course, a few could still slip through.

"So, you stupid pigs, do you understand?"

Early in the morning, apart from the two rangers who had gone to sleep after their night watch, the other elves had all washed up and were listening by the lake to Solarian's less than courteous instructions.

"Even if you find rogues, they'll be no stronger than us at most. Charge in bravely! Don't go running around like fools when the time comes!"

Someone soon took offense at the insult.

"We won't run!!"

"Exactly, exactly..."

Even a few Priests made solemn assurances.

But as Kael'thas looked at them, he had to admit that Solarian's words had been effective. At least they had prepared them mentally.

"Let me say something. Everyone, you still shouldn't charge in recklessly. They're rogues..."

Kael'thas continued, "Rogues are experts at using poison. If you find them and can attack from a distance, it's better to do that."

Otherwise, getting poisoned would be trouble. He had heard that among the poisons the rogues used 200 years ago, some were potent enough to kill advanced professionals outright! If anyone fell victim to that kind of poison, none of the Priests present would be able to save them!!

This was something everyone had known from the start. Reminded of it by Kael'thas, the elves grew wary and put aside their impulsive thoughts.

Next, following their assigned duties, the elves began carefully searching the forested mountains.

But to their disappointment, their work yielded no results. After many days, they had found nothing.

Perhaps because of the battlefield, Kael'thas had new, simple quests every day. He had already been close to level 21, so he comfortably reached level 22 during this time and successfully completed his analysis of Fireball. After a while, he became the member of the squad who had retained the most enthusiasm.

The other squad members, unaware of the reason, all came to admire Kael'thas.

At last, however, the situation changed. One morning, Solarian received a message from the squad searching the neighboring mountains.

While hunting for breakfast, that squad had found some crumbs of air-dried rations in a rabbit's mouth. After examining them, they determined that the crumbs had most likely been dropped by a careless Troll while eating.

Since the crumbs were still in the rabbit's mouth, and some had not even been swallowed, the elves suspected the Troll had left only recently and was probably entering Kael'thas's squad's territory. They had immediately sent a magical message to notify them.

"So? There are probably Trolls in our territory now?"

After listening to Solarian, Audilon's face grew somewhat grave.

"No way..."

Liadrin shook her head. "I think it's unlikely. Even if the rabbit ate those rations only recently, that doesn't prove the Troll ate them recently too, does it?"

"It might have eaten them some time ago, and that Troll..."

"Has already passed through our search area."

Her words went straight to the point. That was indeed the most likely possibility, but a ranger stepped forward to voice his doubts.

"I disagree. We've set countless traps in the area. They couldn't have passed through without triggering any of them, could they?"

"He's right, and we scattered a lot of colorless powder, but there haven't been any signs of Trolls either!"

The latter speaker was a Priest, and she too stepped forward to share her thoughts.

Colorless powder was a magical item used specifically to detect rogues. Every squad had been issued some, and Kael'thas's squad had scattered it evenly throughout the forest on the afternoon of their first day.

The powder was colorless, odorless, and extremely fine. Once scattered, no one could see it, but it would cling to creatures passing through and alert elven mages in the distance when it took effect. Unaffected by weather or moisture, it was a very convenient item.

Over the past few days, however, the colorless powder had given Kael'thas's squad no indication of Trolls. At most, it had only clung to animals.

"No, any Trolls capable of getting here should be very clever..."

Kael'thas shook his head. He did not agree with the two of them, for a very simple reason:

"Our companions ahead of us set up the same obstacles. If these Trolls managed to get this far, it means they're very cunning and won't be caught by things like these!"

"His Highness is right!"

Solarian nodded. Although she would agree with almost anything Kael'thas said, the situation was indeed as he described it. They would be facing a group of very clever Trolls.

"Hmph, but no matter what, we have to do everything we can to complete our mission!"

She then turned to Liadrin and the others, snorted, and said:

"If we know Trolls might be in the area we're responsible for and still let them pass, we'd be failing the other elves on the battlefield. I will never allow such disgraceful conduct!!"

"Neither will I!"

Audilon thrust his sword into the ground and voiced his agreement in a deep voice.

"..."

The other elves smiled and quickly stood as well. They straightened up and looked expectantly at Kael'thas, waiting for his orders.

"Mm, then we'll all head out and search. Let's get moving right away!"

Kael'thas nodded, his hand gripping the slightly warm hilt of his sword. Then he turned and fixed his gaze on Solarian.

"I take it you already have a good idea?"