Chapter 70 – Searching (End)
To enter the secret passageway, it would probably require 8 or so people.
If the numbers were too low so to speak, when they encountered dangers, not only would they be unable to mount any effective response, on the contrary everyone that entered would be at a loss.
However, if too many people entered, then one was that there wouldn’t be any carers above, and two was that truly, they currently also couldn’t really find so many people to send.
All the people put together from Howard’s and Lancas’ two squadrons was approximately only 30 odd people, removing the people that had died, the present amount of people was exactly just 30.
Those that were injured was 17 in total, the remaining all had a bit of combat capability, and thus there was only 13 people left.
But the problem was that although the current injured people were already treated by Rumont, and the wounds had also healed, but wanting to recover their fighting strength as it were, they still needed a period of recover and rest.
Before tomorrow’s daylight at the very least, the wounded few and their located injuries could not be recovered to the state before they were injured. And apart from the few that had injuries neither on hands or feet, the other people could not otherwise carry a sword within their hands, or temporarily walk either.
Under this circumstance, if these people encountered dangers, they would naturally be unable to respond to it. Thus, other than the people that entered into the dark passage, they still needed to leave people behind to carry out the safeguarding within the stone chambers.
Even though after everyone had found the secret passage, and regarded the chamber as being fully inspected all over. Yet not one dared to guarantee that after the place had gone through their thorough inspection and attention, that there would absolutely be none whatsoever of a problem to arise above.
It was also exactly because of this, that among the 13 people who could barely be considered to have some fighting strength, a part of them still needed to be taken out to protect the teammates that had temporarily lost their fighting strength.
This caused the originally sparse numbers’ combative strength, to be all the more lessened. Because Rumont didn’t get injured, thus it was a matter of course that he would need to go and join the detachment of squad members.
Originally, Fafnir had also intended on going together with him, but Commander Lancas and Howard both didn’t agree.
They made Fafnir remain behind with a few other team members together in protecting the other team members that still needed to rest and recover.
What’s more, from the fierce battling with the bugbears, during Fafnir’s exertion of killing his enemies, he also had blood all over his own body. Although the wounds weren’t heavy, but he still didn’t meet the conditions of being an unharmed member this time.
Because the counterpart had quite the convincing argument, thus even though Fafnir persisted somewhat, in the end, he could only helplessly express his acceptance.
Afterall, within the squad of Adventures, unless it was a question of principles, otherwise in general circumstances, constantly quarrelling over contradictions with one’s home squadron, was absolutely a bad affair.
What’s more, what the other said was also within reason, thus, although Fafnir at all costs wanted to make Rumont remain behind and go himself, it was still yet unsuccessful.
He could only exert himself to pat Rumont on the shoulders before having a face full of concern in telling Rumont to take care of himself.
With regards to the concern his good friend showed, Rumont was quite moved within. However, on the exterior surface, he still only gave a laugh before urging the other to be careful above ground and saying that he would be careful and such words.
Apart from Rumont and Lancas, there was still 6 others that would enter the secret passageway. Respectively they were:
Shaka1, a Rank 2 Warrior from Howard’s squad. Rosa2, a female Archer from Howard’s squad. Scarlet Mary3, a female Warrior from Lancas’ squad. Hero4, a Rank 2 Warrior from Lancas’ squad. Peter5, a Rank 2 Warrior from Lancas’ squad and Adam6, a professional Thief from Lancas’ squad.
Shaka. Don’t look at his name being rather delicate and cute, only, the person was a large wide-waisted robust male. This person was an expert in using the broadsword. His figure could challenge Sukhar’s. On this time’s adventure, he was a member of Howard’s squad that was considered to be an senior member; because he had ventured quite a few times, with rich experiences. Thus, during the bugbear’s sneak attack, he did not receive any injuries. Furthermore, he had valiantly split the bugbear that attacked him in two halves. Because of his strengths, he was thus also included in this time’s trip down.
Rosa. She was the only female within Howard’s squad. The reason why she had such repute within the squadron and why female members was rarely seen, was because this squadron was not particularly fond of accepting female members. Due to certain occurrences. Because there was a limit of age and physical strength for female Adventurers, some low Ranking female Warriors or perhaps other female occupations, would because of heavenly talents, view reaching Rank 5 and above as a Warrior to gain the the status of a noble as hopeless. They would frequently for the sake of earning enough for retirement, spend the night with another for a reasonable price. This kind of occurrence would frequently arise in many Adventurer squadrons, so much that some teammates of the same squadron would even specifically waste their money in creating a relationship. However, within Howard’s squadron, Rosa’s emergence was solely due to her own capabilities.
During normal times, she wouldn’t really enjoy talking. However, during times of battles, she would always be able display an enormous impact, shooting many arrows out that would hit the targets. Even though she was a female, with certain deficiencies in strength, but with the flexibility of her body as well as her feminine battle techniques, it still allowed her reputation among the Adventurers to be outstanding. As for those people that attempted to hit on her, they would also frequently be taught a lesson with a bloody nose and swollen face. It was precisely because she was so upright, as well as being capable that Howard’s squad had accepted her; becoming a true member of the team.
Scarlet Mary. She was different to Rosa. This female was innately a restless type. She wasn’t regarded pretty growing up, her face was even showing a few freckles owing to weathering. But her figure was still quite appealing. Her voice was also soft. Making her be quite popular amongst her team. However, her treatment was different than Rosa from Howard’s squadron. The treatment of her teammates towards her was frequented with the objectives of having sex. Because bugbears was innately horny, thus when they faced females, they would often not act as fierce from the beginning. It was also because of this that she was able to survive the battle this time. And because she harboured the objective of the present Commander Lancas, she had thus, without the need of Lancas’ persuasion, taken the initiative in participating in the operation this time.
Hero. A capable Warrior within Lancas’ squad that had the strength of a Rank 3. Experienced with battles. His moves were vicious during combat times. Once he acted, he would in no way be merciful. A fierce character. Within Lancas’ squad, apart from Lancas, his martial skills should be classified as the highest. Thus, during the battle with bugbears, he did not receive a speck of injury.
Peter. A Rank 2 Warrior from Lancas’ squad. Relatively young. Within the entire squadron, probably only Rumont and Fafnir was younger than him by a bit. He had started making a living wandering about 4 years prior and had participated in many a battles. His battle strength was decent.
Adam. Occupational Thief. Rumont had always had a guard against this person; because of the person’s profession, which caused him have a great dislike from his first impressions. Because of the crossings between the people of the Thieves Guild, thus the impression Rumont got was that Thieves were a profession that people extremely loathed. Those that associated with this profession were all crafty by nature and dishonourable. However, from the present situation, Adam’s way of handling things was with a slippery conduct, but he nevertheless did not discover any bad sort of activity. This person’s assassinating techniques wasn’t quite comparable to the Assassin professionals, but because of his agile skills during the mutual combat with bugbears, he had also defended himself quite well. Thus, he was also included in the operations this time as well.
Looking at it on a whole, the present eight, apart from Rumont and the two members of Howard, the other members were all from Lancas’ squad. In addition, because Lancas handled matters flawlessly, these present people were all considered to be trusted aides of Lancas; especially the female that was called Scarlet Mary, who even revered Lancas’ words. This kind of balancing of members made Rumont have a strange type of feeling. But since he himself also did not have anyway of mounting any response, nor having any evidence of the counterpart playing tricks, Rumont neither displayed any expressions of restlessness nor objections
He could only all the more increase his vigilance, to well respond to any disadvantageous scenarios that could occur in the secret passage below.
However, after the preliminary confirmation of the personnel that would enter the secret passage, Howard, who had an injury on his left forearm had suddenly walked over from another area. “I’ll also go down.” he sounded in a gloomy manner. Originally, at the very beginning, when they said to leave the wounded above and rest, Commander Howard had not expressed any objections. However, during the time when everyone was discussing the arrangements for the secret passage, he had dazedly stared at the teammate corpses alone, before returning back and changing his mind.
This time, not only did Lancas object, even Shaka and Rosa had also expressed their objections towards the Commander’s decision. “Commander, your injury just got better, you still need to rest. The secret passage isn’t safe, you’re better off waiting above for our news.”
“That’s right Commander, your injury just got better, so don’t go alright.”
But due to Howard’s sense of responsibility as a Commander, he requested strongly to be included. Everyone was unable to persuade him otherwise. Knowing that he was feeling guilty because of his members, if he didn’t personally go, it was definite that he wouldn’t let it go, they could only relent.
As for the other Commander, Lancas, after his complexion had changed irregularly, he had agreed to allow Howard in accompanying the 8 down. Consequently, the squad that went to investigate below, had already gone from the preliminary 8 and becoming the current 9.
For the sake of advancing on inside, being quite possible to encounter unexpected matters, thus, before entering, everyone all complete a many preparations.
For example, lighting a fire, bring a sufficient amount of tools and materials for a fire.
The torch could not only it illuminate the way, in addition it could still allow the inspection of the air in the passageway. Although there was a constant wind blowing from down below, demonstrating that it was not a confined space below, but being careful was not a major faux pas.
As for weaponry, it was something even more tightly grasped in everyone’s hands.
Until everyone had properly prepared everything, the two Commanders had also organised the deployment for the situation above ground.
The time when they went down to investigate had arrived.
The 9 fully equipped personnel had each carefully entered from above and followed the long long stone steps down. Rumont was at the very back of the squadron, in the moment he went down, his sight was always carefully watching Fafnir and giving him a wave.
Afterwards, he went down.
1. [小卡 – Xiao Ka ]↩
2. [露沙 – Lu Sha]↩
3. [朱瑪麗 – Zhu Ma Li]↩
4. [赫羅 – He Luo]↩
5. [彼得 – Bi De]↩
6. [亞當 – Ya Dang]↩
Bo~ 