Chapter 115: Reconnaissance Mission
Chapter 115: Reconnaissance Mission
If the Artisan's Workshop was bustling with activity, then the Lord's Manor, on the eve of the operation, exuded a sense of calm order amidst the preparations.
The Awakened, tasked with gathering supplies and communicating, assessed each individual's combat readiness, constantly consolidating information and making judgments based on the current situation.
This was the current function of the Lord's Manor.
As Linsey walked through the manor, she didn't even enter the main building but observed the guards and Awakened scurrying back and forth in the courtyard, immediately feeling a sense of urgency as if she were in a strategic stronghold.
Even the manor servants, who wouldn't be participating in the battle, had a more serious demeanor than usual.
Linsey entered the main hall of the manor, and today, Andre wasn't in the study on the second floor but in the grand hall on the first floor.
In the hall, a table held a map of the surrounding terrain and topography of the Hidden Frontier town, even marking the distribution of hunter huts.
Although the overall exploration of the Hidden Frontier was not thorough, detailed maps existed for areas where people frequently ventured.
At that moment, Andre stood by the table with the map, discussing the counterattack plan with Alana by his side.
"Uncle Andre, may I have a moment of your time?" Linsey asked.
Andre, upon hearing Linsey's greeting, naturally didn't refuse.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
Andre led Linsey to a small room adjacent to the hall.
Once they were alone, Linsey revealed the purpose of her visit:
"I wanted to ask if you know about Flow Crystals and Moon Demon Scale Powder."
Upon hearing the names of these two materials, Andre's expression changed:
"These are the materials used by Spatial Mages to create Teleportation Arrays!"
"Linsey, can your skills also create a Teleportation Array for the town like a Spatial Mage?" he asked, his body tensing.
Linsey didn't want to exaggerate her abilities, so she honestly replied, "It's unlikely that I could build one, but I can certainly repair it."
Andre's tense body relaxed immediately.
Spatial Mages are a profession with an extremely difficult entry barrier, so their numbers are scarce. High-stage Awakened among them typically reside in renowned megacities, and their ability to construct Teleportation Arrays is one of their most crucial skills.
This monopolistic work has never been replaced by anyone!
If Linsey were only repairing the array, it wouldn't be an issue.
But if she could build one like a Teleportation Mage...
At this thought, Andre couldn't help but remind Linsey to conceal her abilities.
Once Linsey nodded in assurance, he gave the same response as Iriel:
"Unfortunately, the Hidden Frontier doesn't provide the conditions for these two materials."
"As far as I know, the town doesn't have them either."
This dashed Linsey's hopes of repairing the Teleportation Array.
The two returned to the hall, but unlike Iriel, Andre didn't dismiss Linsey. Instead, he waved his hand and led her to the dining table in the hall, pointing at the map before them.
"Linsey, your timing is perfect. I have a task for you."
Linsey's expression turned serious.
"Is it related to tomorrow's counterattack against the Beastfolk?"
"Indeed," Andre confirmed with a nod, then pointed to the southern part of the town on the map, "Before the battle, we must conduct reconnaissance. The suitable people from the town for this task entered the forest yesterday."
"The information they've sent is currently sufficient."
"But to be safe, I'd like you to confirm the situation as well."
"Upon hearing this, Lin Sai immediately understood the nature of the task at hand and sought further confirmation.
'What information do we have at the moment?' he asked.
Andre provided a detailed overview: 'The main areas of concern are the east, south, and north. The south is the top priority, as it's home to both aggressive beasts and corrupt venom spiders. The north is next, as the mine there has been attacked, as you know, and we must retaliate. As for the east, it's the least likely direction for beasts to reach the town due to the vast terrain, so we'll leave it for last.'
Lin Sai nodded in understanding. As a participant in these events, he knew Andre's assessment of the reconnaissance priorities was sound.
'Where do I need to go?' he inquired.
'With less than a day left, I can only cover one direction for now,' Lin Sai stated.
Andre responded without hesitation, 'Head south. It's the most dangerous area, so we need our best people there for reconnaissance.'
'No problem!' Lin Sai exclaimed, unafraid and even eager for the challenge.
Before setting out, he wanted to confirm more details about the counterattack and asked, 'Uncle Andre, have you already formulated a plan for the beast retaliation?'
Andre was open with his student, 'The reconnaissance over the past two days has given us a preliminary understanding of the beasts' situation.'
'The beast horde in the south is a day's journey from the town, while the north is only half a day away, and the east has scattered small groups of beasts, making it the easiest to handle. I plan to execute the entire operation within five days.'
'On the first day, we'll focus on eliminating the beasts in the east and ensuring the forest's north-south connection is severed to prevent further congregation. On the second day, we'll concentrate on clearing the northern beast horde. For the final three days, we'll pool all our strength to annihilate the corrupt venom spiders and large beast hordes!'
As Andre outlined his plan, a confident smile graced his face, indicating his firm grasp on the situation.
Lin Sai was delighted to see his teacher so vibrant and full of life.
He promptly inquired about the specifics of the upcoming task: 'Regarding the beasts' habitats, their numbers and types, and any signs of activity... Uncle Andre, aside from these, is there any other information I should pay attention to?'
Lin Sai's reconnaissance plan was sound.
However, considering his student's combat abilities, Andre offered an additional word of caution: 'Try to remain hidden and avoid alarming the beasts.'
'Before we launch the attack, I'd like them to remain unaware and unsuspecting.'
Lin Sai nodded vigorously, assuring, 'No problem! I'll be careful!'
Accepting the task, Lin Sai left the Lord's Manor and headed straight for the southern edge of the town.
Due to Andre's recent publicity, the town's residents were aware that the Awakened were preparing to launch an offensive against the beasts threatening the town.
As Lin Sai walked through the town, many people greeted him and inquired about the plan. Through these conversations, he noticed that the atmosphere was not one of fear or tension but of high-spirited enthusiasm! After the incident where beasts invaded the farmlands, a retaliatory strike born of hatred was the perfect remedy to boost morale.
As he left the town, Lin Sai turned his attention to his own interface.
Sure enough, the corresponding task had already appeared in his task list:
[Preemptive Strike]
[Mutated beasts are lurking! Take the initiative and eliminate this crisis before they launch their attack!]
[Task Reward: Silent Blade, Attribute/Skill Experience Points.]
(End of Chapter)"
Chapter end
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