Chapter 72: This Small Town Is Not Simple

  Thanks to the 3 update tickets from book friend 【绝望地狱天使】, but I really don't have much time to write recently, and all my drafts are prepared for New Year's greetings, so I can only say sorry!

  Actually, from New Year's Day to the third day are all second updates, you can vote at that time...... I'm serious.

  I am a self-important divider line

  At dusk, Trinser's troops found the location of the abandoned wooden boat mentioned by the Mercury Lamp thief gang.

  "What the devil is this place!?" Looking around at the desolate and rugged environment, Tringle couldn't help but exclaim, "It's already so late now, am I supposed to camp out in this wilderness with my noble self?!"

  Just as Trinser was about to explode in anger, a scout ran up to him: "Report, sir. A small town has been discovered on the plain not far from the forest. Judging by the map, it should be Oktin Town in the northwest of the Empire."

  "Is there a town like Kalinda nearby? I've never heard of it?"

  "Er, because the Empire didn't send any administrative officials to this town, it's really too remote. But Octin Town is indeed part of the Empire, and the townspeople acknowledge that."

  Tringham nodded: "En, you've done a good job, I'll remember it. When I get back, I'll reward you."

  The scout heard the words and couldn't help but feel puzzled, but since there was a reward, he didn't want to leave empty-handed: "Ha, thank you, sir."

  What great timing for your report, Brother Investigator...

  Alicia looked at the scout who was walking away with a puzzled face, then turned to Angie beside her and said, "Looks like we won't be sleeping in tents tonight."

  Anqi nodded in agreement: "It's really good news. The mosquitoes in the mountains are too scary, I've been bitten many times. Eh? Lady Eriol, why is your body..."

  The little loli took out a slender glass bottle filled with strange ** from the space bracelet and held it in front of An Qi, smiling: "Mosquito repellent, one gold coin per bottle. Want some?"

  "Don't you think this price is a bit outrageous?"

  "Oh dear, it's not that bad. I was just making a low offer."

  "...isn't it a problem for this phrase 'starting price from the ground' to come out of a businessman's own mouth?"

  The little loli's mosquito repellent didn't sell out. Because after walking a few steps towards the direction of Oak Town, a gloomy and cold feeling suddenly swept in, almost making Eriol think she had fallen into the lake on a three-nine day.

  There is danger in that town!

  The little loli's face suddenly turned very unsightly, An Qi hurriedly asked: "Erichiya-sama? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"

  "No, I'm fine, An Qi."

  "What's going on? We're a regular imperial army, can a small town like this pose a threat to us? Or... is the town actually occupied by bandits and all the townspeople are their disguised men? No wonder the kidnappers got off the boat here. Can't let the army go in without defense, they'll be ambushed!"

  But how to convince that arrogant viscount? Should I tell him that my woman's intuition indicates danger ahead? A loli telling a middle-aged man that she has a woman's intuition, this situation is ridiculous no matter how you look at it.

  It's not like that! Those lolis who start dating in elementary school are just old cucumbers with a layer of green paint, they don't count!

  I feel like I'm about to be buried under a brick thrown by a pseudo-lolita fan group...

  Cough cough, please wait until this chapter ends before clapping.

  Elisha thought for a moment before stepping forward to address the departing Trinser: "Viscount, look at how late it is. The residents of that Octen town must have already rested, right? If we bring this army of one thousand people into the town like this, won't that be disturbing the people? It's not good for your noble reputation."

  "That's true. What advice do you have?"

  "Why don't we just let the soldiers set up camp here, and you take a few guards into town to rest? Anyway, we still need to continue searching for the bandits' trail in the mountains tomorrow, so camping here will also save us some marching time."

  "Not bad, how can I sleep in a place where birds don't lay eggs?" Trinser pointed at Erihlya and said, "Your suggestion is not bad. In that case, considering you and your subordinates are all girls, why don't you all come together? I'll treat the hotel expenses."

  Is this what they mean by "smart people being outsmarted"?...

  Alicia opened her mouth to refuse, but couldn't find any excuse, so she had no choice but to say with a mixture of laughter and tears: "Thank you, Viscount."

  When the little loli with a hint of divinity returned to her own team, Sae asked: "Why did you let the army camp here? Don't give me any nonsense about disturbing the people, only that idiot Viscount would believe such things."

  "Think about it, why would the kidnappers abandon their boat in a place like this where it's hard to hide? And they're still holding hostages, so they can't move quickly. As soon as we find this river, we'll be able to follow the current and catch up with them right away. Do they really think they can take on the military? If they were that confident, they would have taken over Calen already, no need to hide and kidnap people along the way. And our scouts haven't found any signs of them in the surrounding area, which means those kidnappers are hiding in Oakton town."

  "But aren't they still holding hostages?" Angie was suddenly shocked, "Are the townspeople all blind or something?"

  "I see," said Reiko, "This town doesn't even have an administrative officer from the Raya Empire, let alone a garrison. It must have been taken over by thieves' guilds long ago? Now it's become a den of thieves."

  "Mei's elder sister is right. If we swagger in, I guarantee most people won't see tomorrow's sun."

  "But now the viscount is asking us to go together!" Long Jiaotian said flusteredly, "Isn't this jumping into the net?"

  "Long Jiaotian, you don't have to follow him," Little Loli comforted. "Later, I'll tell the viscount that you plan to follow the doctrine and spend a night in the wilderness for ascetic practice. He won't suspect this reason."

  "What will you do then?" Long Jiaotian asked worriedly.

  Little Lori smiled calmly: "How can you get the tiger cubs without entering the tiger's lair? An Qi, if that idiot dies, how confident are you in gaining control of the army?"

  "If you tell the soldiers your identity yourself, there shouldn't be any problem."

  "What if I'm not here?"

  "Huh? What do you mean by that?"

  Akane gazed deeply at Eri: "You're thinking of using yourself as bait, and then being taken to their hideout by the enemy."

  "I object!" Angie almost jumped up at the words.

  "It's alright, it's alright." Eriol smiled and made a cute face, "There won't be any danger, I'm quite confident in the cuteness of this loli face of mine, should be able to deceive quite a few weird uncles."

  Everyone: "......"

  So it's indeed three sentences that can't leave their usual style? You're not at ease unless you've ruined the tense atmosphere with a comedic tone, are you?!

  "It should be possible to explain it to the soldiers using newspaper photos." The first to recover, Akane thought, "But Anki and I will definitely have to go with you into Oak Town, how are we going to get out?"

  "Of course it's a parachute!" Little Lori pointed up at the sky, "It's a very exciting free aerial experience, don't refuse."

  Akako: "...... Is there an insurance salesperson around here?"

  Alicia: "Why ask like this?"

  Mei: "Your expression reminds me of a black-hearted merchant from the Roland Empire."

  Eri (crying): "Onii-chan Reiko, you're so cruel!"

  "Alright, now I can be certain that you as bait won't get hurt at all."

  I am the divided line who has been moe-ed.

  A shabby inn in a remote small town, originally an excellent venue for martial arts films, gunfights, and detective films. But if the owner is a withered old man who looks like a ghost, holding a lantern that flickers in the gentle breeze, and the creaking wooden floorboards make a "creaking" sound in the drafty corridor, and there are no other guests in the entire gloomy inn...

  It's just like a scene from a horror movie!

  Eriol thought that even if Trill, who was walking ahead and shivering with fear, were to collide with the sister wearing a sailor fuku at the corner - no, not the sister, but rather Sazae-san - it wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary.

  "Hmm, this one feels too cheap. How about a black long-sleeved doll wearing a sailor suit and tied with a red ribbon, just like the other one that likes to give gifts? Wouldn't that be more fitting for the current atmosphere?"

  Shaking off the absurd thoughts in her mind, Eriol carefully observed the old man leading the way. The Eye of Truth clearly showed that this seemingly half-buried old fellow was actually a 4th-level thief.

  It's indeed become the lair of a bandit gang.

  "Sir, your room is here." The old man stopped in front of a door. "Your guards' rooms are around you. Young ladies, your rooms are on the third floor. Please follow me."

  Ignoring the complaints of dissatisfaction with the room from Trin, the old man led Eriol and the others to a room on the third floor and then left.

  "That idiot!" Elisha puffed up with anger, grabbing the hard pillow on the bed and hitting it repeatedly, as if the pillow was Trinser. "Coming to this poor and remote place, still putting on a pretentious air, saying things like 'I am the commander of the Karen Garrison', 'specially came here to catch thieves', 'my army is camping in the mountains so as not to disturb the townspeople's rest'... all pouring out at once!"

  Anqi was also speechless for a moment, but Saeko remained calm: "So Eri, what do you plan to do next?"

  "Have the Argentum lamps send you back to your posts immediately. The enemy is likely to launch a surprise attack on our army tonight!" Eriol said, opening the window and gesturing for the Argentum lamp to come down. "Anqi-senpai, please organize the defense properly. This unit is our trump card in defeating the bandits, we absolutely cannot afford to suffer significant losses!"

  "I understand." Angie bowed to Little Lori and said, "You be careful too."

  The mercury lamp flapped its wings and landed on the windowsill: "There's no one around now, hurry up and leave!"

  Anqi and Saeko stepped forward, and were caught by the chairman's hands, one on the left and one on the right, then...

  A little less than one meter tall, a small doll-like creature carried two human girls into the sky, much like toy airplanes with real bombs hanging underneath, it was such an astonishing sight that the little loli who saw them off jumped onto the bed and rolled back and forth without any reserve.