Chapter 238: Speed is of the Essence
July 5th.
The crimson moon had yet to set.
The entire Dark Forest was eerily silent.
Only the occasional sound of killing echoed, soon followed by quiet once more.
A cool breeze brushed Matthew’s face.
Seeing the lingering energy of the Haste spell fading, Matthew immediately cast a spell from a scroll:
4th-level spell—Mass Haste!
The light, nimble energy enveloped each soldier, making their movements more rexed and their steps faster.
All the soldiers marched silently, maintaining steady breathing as they traversed the dark forest.
Yaya flew overhead, scanning for any unexpected movement or disturbances.
Cavalry scouts from the inspection squad patrolled the area, their bodies cloaked in “Silence” spells.
It was a quiet march.
Old John, leading the group, couldn’t hide his amazement.
He had never imagined an army advancing in such a manner.
No Spellcaster had ever been willing to waste precious spells just to assist regur soldiers.
But Lord Matthew had done it without hesitation, with resolute determination!
The cost of scrolls alone for this march had reached seven to eight thousand gold coins, all to ensure they reached the troll castle four hours before dawn.
Just like in the past, Lord Matthew put the lives of his soldiers first!
Having such a lord was like a blessing from the goddess herself!
The soldiers moved quickly, while ten kilometers behind, a mass of adventurers was following closely.
They had already received the bounty missions from Bay Territory, just as the seasoned adventurers had said:
“The difficulty won’t be too high, and the rewards will be very generous.”
The adventurers looked around at their countless companions and reveled in the freedom of moving unhindered through the once-dangerous Dark Forest.
Marching through the night to the designated location, there was a high chance of no fighting.
Each of them would earn five gold coins!
Even in the bounty-rich Bay Territory, most mid-level adventurers needed about three days to earn that much.
Typically, they only made that amount by capturing trolls or joining successful adventuring teams.
For most novice adventurers, earning that much money wasn’t easy.
It often took them about half a month, and they sometimes had to take significant risks.
Most adventurers had already tasted the sweet rewards of Bay Territory.
Today, it was especially sweet.
After about six hours of travel.
Following roads cleared over the past two days, they successfully avoided the troll settlements.
They then took a hidden path, quickly scaling the mountain.
Finally, they stopped in a dense forest, entering pre-dug underground pits.
“Everyone, drink a bottle of magic yam potion.”
Matthew gave the order, drinking a bottle himself and closing his eyes, entering a meditative state.
The soldiers obeyed, drinking the magic yam potions and swiftly falling asleep.
Leon, who had been waiting, inspected each soldier's condition, marveling at Lord Matthew’s meticulous pnning.
“Simuted battle drills before the fight.”
“Adventurers clearing troublesome paths.”
“Kobolds digging hidden rest spots.”
“After all these preparations…”
“They marched overnight and still have time to rest…”
Each aspect of the pn surpassed Leon’s expectations.
Leon imagined what it would be like to be Lord Matthew’s enemy.
It was highly likely that he would be ambushed without even realizing it...
Setting aside his thoughts, Leon focused on patrolling and checking the soldiers.
Occasionally, he gnced at the distant troll fortress hidden in the trees, filled with deep admiration.
He aspired to be like Lord Matthew someday.
Predict the enemy’s moves, strike like lightning!
………
Matthew opened his eyes calmly, his mana fully restored.
He turned to see Leon with bloodshot eyes:
“How are things?”
“Everything is proceeding as pnned.”
“The first two groups of trolls have already left the castle, a total of 1,872.”
“They are about two and three hours away from the castle, respectively.”
“The castle’s defensive guard currently numbers 678.”
“The troll settlement below the mountain has been surrounded.”
“The bait team led by Alice is in position, and they’ve ‘captured’ ten trolls.”
“The soldiers finished eating an hour ago…”
………
Leon reported the information in detail, and just knowing these facts made him feel he had grown immensely.
Sensing that the time was right, Matthew couldn’t help but take a deep breath. He patted Leon on the shoulder and smiled, saying:
“Rest for four hours. When you wake up, you’ll take charge of the defense.”
Leon nodded enthusiastically, pleased by the trust he heard in Lord Matthew’s voice.
That special feeling had always driven him to move forward!
Matthew exited the underground pit, gncing at the sleeping kobolds, and nodded toward the eager Yaya.
She unfurled her wings excitedly. Once Matthew climbed onto her back, she fpped them and swiftly took off.
As they ascended, Yaya’s scales shimmered, blending seamlessly with the sky.
This was a technique Matthew had taught her, taken from the mutated swamp crocodile Old Six.
Advanced Skill—Camoufge LV1, gradually blending with the surroundings, providing a +3 bonus to Stealth checks.
From the sky, Matthew surveyed the troll castle below.
After scouting three times, he confirmed that everything matched the pn and had Yaya fly to the hidden location, where he issued the command:
“Begin the bait pn. Everyone, prepare for the assault!”
The order quickly reached every soldier’s ears.
Brimming with confidence, they made their final preparations.
The battle was about to begin!
Victory was certain!
………
In the troll castle.
The warm sunlight bathed the patrolling trolls, making them feel drowsy.
Each troll soldier stood idly, bored.
They feared the terrifying punishments of the troll priests, so they dared not wander.
But the castle hadn’t seen a proper attack in decades, leaving them listless and unmotivated.
It was understandable why the troll soldiers felt this way.
To the north y the main base of the Rotten Moss Cn, boasting nearly 100,000 elite trolls.
To the east and west were hunting grounds they had controlled for centuries, where even the slightest change was noticed.
To the south was a steep slope, with thick walls preventing any chance of an attack.
The trolls’ daily tasks involved selecting hunting spots in the southern Troll Valley.
Hunting “disobedient” trolls and offering them as sacrifices to the unpredictable troll priests was their only reprieve from boredom.
It was also their way of passing the time.
FALCON-N
