Chapter 703: The Arduous Journey

Devitt, Claremont, and Abel did not drink too much wine during dinner.

After taking just enough food to satiate their hunger, they went up to the second floor with Raphael and entered a room at the corner.

There was no bed in the room, just a round table in the center and a bookcase on the left by the wall.

Raphael walked to the bookcase, opened the drawer, and retrieved a rolled-up map.

“This is the official map of Crow Island. You can buy it at the foot of the mountain for a few silver coins,” Raphael said by way of introduction while spreading the map on the round table.

“This map has been used many times, right?” Claremont looked at the rough edges of the map and speculated.

“That’s right.” Raphael used an extinguished candlestick to hold down a corner of the map and continued saying, “The territory of the forces on Crow Island is always changing. The route that the elf team ascertained previously did not have any forces occupying it. But now, the situation has changed a lot. The route has to be replanned.”

Four pairs of eyes focused on the map full of markings.

“This yellow line represents the route you will be taking,” Raphael explained. “As much as we try to avoid taking routes filled with clustered communities, there is still a possibility that you will encounter these four races of nomads – the Ent from the front mountain, the Trolls from the valley, the Dragons near the volcano, and the Snake-women from the cave.”

“We’ll have to go past their territory borders, right?” Abel asked.

“Yes, so you might be lucky enough to avoid clashing with any of them.” Raphael nodded as he continued, “The first to bear the brunt of this is naturally the Ent at the front mountain. The entmen are temperamental, sometimes they are pure and innocent, sometimes ferocious. They usually work in groups. If you walk into their formation, it’s likely that you will not be able to escape from it. Eventually, you will slowly be eroded.”

“Then, is there any way to break the formation?” Claremont asked.

“Most entmen are afraid of an open flame. Maybe it is your only chance to escape.” Raphael closed his eyes and thought hard, then he prompted, “Their formation will confuse a person’s sense of direction. This is also something that you should constantly be on guard against when facing them off.”

“How did you get this information?” Devitt asked.

“Before we were familiarized with this mountain, many of our comrades were ambushed by the Ent. This information was summarized by those who narrowly escaped death,” Raphael said. “As for the other three races, they are too far away so we have not seen them before. I hope that you can obtain some information about them before you officially face them. The power of the site elves can only go so far.”

“I’ve been wanting to say this right at the start. Captain Raphael, you all accomplished your mission very well,” Devitt said sincerely. “It’s up to us now.”

The next day, the fifty warriors set off in full combat gear.

As soon as they left the site estate, Raphael immediately sent a messenger down the mountain to dispatch a letter out of the island.

There were two letters. One to the main Elf City and the other was sent to Caradia.

“Your Highness Kant.” A soldier hurried to the door of the Senate Hall and bowed.

“Yes. What is it?” Kant raised his head and asked.

“General Derrick has returned to the city,” the soldier reported.

“Alright, prepare the horses, I will be going to the city gate,” Kant briefly ordered.

When Derrick walked through the city gate of Drondheim, a suppressed wave of homesickness hit him and made him tear up.

“Commander Derrick, welcome back!” Kant shouted exuberantly as he guided his horse towards Derrick.

Upon seeing Kant, Derrick dismounted from his horse immediately and bowed, “Your Highness Kant.”

“It is tough roughing it out in tenacious living conditions, you must be extremely tired. You may dispense with the formality, please get up.” Kant dismounted from his horse and helped Derrick up.

“Adonis left for Durandal about a month ago but you just arrived here. Is the project there alright?” Kant asked Derrick as they mounted their horses and rode together.

“The project is going well. The coal production of the coal factory is also steadily increasing,” Derrick reported.

“That’s good.” Kant nodded in relief. “Durandal’s construction is about to enter its second phase.”

The two chatted about the recent developments in Durandal as they rode towards the Palace.

“A simple banquet has been prepared in the Palace to welcome you. Let’s have lunch together,” Kant said to Derrick.

“Thank You, Your Highness,” said Derrick as he bowed.

The two of them took their seats in the side hall where Kant usually ate.

The attendants brought out the dishes prepared by the Imperial Chef and placed them on the table.

“Leave us,” Kant instructed.

The Captain immediately led the other soldiers out of the hall.

“The troops sent to assist the Elf Kingdom passed through Durandal on their way there, right?” Kant started the conversation.

“Yes, it has been nearly two months since they set off,” Derrick replied.

“It was only half a month ago that I received a letter from Devitt which he sent from the Elf Kingdom,” Kant said.

“Did they encounter any trouble on the way?” Derrick asked curiously.

“Not really. It was just a routine report,” Kant replied. “I heard that the leader sent by the Elf Kingdom is also a rookie.”

“Three rookie leaders?” Derrick said amusedly. “They might be quite suitable.”

“I also heard that you invited that same troop of soldiers to a banquet in the military barrack.” Kant laughed as well. “What do you think of the talents chosen by Captain Aubrey?”

“It goes without saying that the soldiers chosen by Captain Aubrey are very capable and full of combat power. It’s just that they are unfamiliar with one another, it would improve after the breaking-in period,” Derrick commented seriously.

“What about the two captains?” Kant continued asking after chewing a mouthful of food.

“One of them was my former comrade. I know him quite well. As for the other one, I only had a brief conversation with him during the banquet,” Derrick replied.

“Do you think they can take on the roles of the captain?” Kant said.

Let’s see. Perhaps because of them, there could be a more suitable and relevant standard in selecting a leader among the masses in the future,” Derrick implied.

After Kant heard this, he nodded in approval. “You’re right.”

Deep in the mountains, a troop of soldiers was creeping through the jungle, some soldiers even used tree branches to camouflage their bodies.

“We’re about to reach the estate of the Ent. Inform the soldiers behind us to be careful,” Devitt ordered the soldiers around him in a low voice.

“Yes.” A Caradia soldier replied.