Chapter 222: Night Raid

Chapter 222: Night Raid



One of the guards thought for a moment and said to his companion, "Jeff, go and report this to Miss Veronica. She's an expert in birds, and she might know if there's something wrong here."

"Alright, I'll go right away," said the young guard named Jeff. Thinking of the beautiful young lady who could control the white seagulls, his heart raced, and he immediately turned to deliver the report.

At that moment, Veronica was already engaged in a fight with the Bloodfeather Hawklet 'Bloodfeather' and the Storm Ravens in the backyard of the Administrative Hall, even without Jeff's report.

'Bloodfeather' was the first to notice the sudden increase in Storm Ravens. Although still a fledgling, its innate ferocity had allowed it to learn to fly the day before.

Naturally, it considered the Administrative Hall where its owner Ren was located, and even the skies above Harbor Town, as its own territory.

Upon seeing so many Storm Ravens, Bloodfeather immediately launched an attack on one of them.

Initially, Veronica didn't sense anything amiss, thinking they were just some crow-like birds or perhaps mutated crows.

Ren, concerned for Bloodfeather, immediately summoned it back.

...

"Hsss! Hsss!"

No wonder my Blood Rage Bow Technique, which is only at level 5, could already master the secret technique in advance. The key issue lies here.

The critical problem is that this has become an unprofitable deal.

"Lord Ren, do you want to prepare some of this? It takes effect very quickly. With a single hit, it can knock out a bull in just a few seconds, and for larger sea creatures, it might take a few more arrows."

"This is a bird that wizards often control for attacks and reconnaissance. It's highly likely that there's a third-rank wizard apprentice or wizard nearby who specializes in negative energy and is controlling these Storm Ravens."

Although Bloodfeather was at a disadvantage, it remained unharmed due to Veronica's Water Shield Spell. It continued to fight spiritedly, pecking and tearing at its opponent with its sharp claws.

Thanks to the 30% experience bonus from the Legendary Weapon Master's exclusive talent 'Basic Extraordinary Insight,' the experience bar for Blood Rage Bow Technique level 5 surged significantly, reaching level 5 (1498/2000).

The twin-tailed girl quickly entered, looking anxious. "Lord Ren, Lord Trevor, please come quickly! There's a wizard apprentice nearby controlling Storm Ravens to spy on us."

On the other side, the twin-tailed girl weakly asked, "Can I use the decoy doll for the magical tool that increases defense?"

The Storm Ravens originated from Storm Bay, located thousands of kilometers away.

"But strangely, the situation doesn't match the information you gave me. The opponent seems to be a marksman, and in a very short time, they've killed over eighty of my Storm Ravens."

Trevor asked, "Nathaniel, Miss Veronica, both of you are experienced wizard apprentices. Can we track down the enemy's location through the Storm Ravens?"

"Also, send a message to Nehru. Tell him about the current situation. If he wants me to take action, he'll have to pay more. It's not that I'm asking for more, but Nehru's information was incorrect. So, ask him if he agrees to two boxes of shadow steel ingots."

The icon displayed a drawn bow with an arrow ready to be fired. The arrow had three more arrows in front of it, flying in mid-air.

"As for the third time, I can't quite remember."

Seeing that its owner had arrived, 'Bloodfeather' let out a loud caw, its morale soaring!

If he wants me to go, Nehru will have to pay more! "Zenina, just keep the Storm Ravens at a distance for monitoring. Once the target leaves Harbor Town, inform me immediately."

At the same time, Vexman immediately asked, "Can you describe in detail how they discovered the issue with your Storm Ravens?"

Ren quickly took out a sharp arrow, nocked it, and aimed at a Storm Raven. With a 'hsss' sound, the arrow instantly struck a Storm Raven the size of a hen that was surrounding 'Bloodfeather.'

When the trio arrived at the backyard of the Administrative Hall, Nathanial had just reached the yard. 'Bloodfeather' and over ten Storm Ravens, each the size of a hen, continued their fierce battle.

It seemed that the 'Storm' in Storm Raven was not just an empty name.

Instinctively, Trevor reached for his longbow, ready to take down the flock of Storm Ravens.

"Hmm? A marksman?" Zenina, the black-robed woman, was taken aback by Vexman's words.

This is the true value of the Weapon Master (Legendary) profession's exclusive talent 'Basic Weapon Proficiency!'

"However, judging by the number of crows they've attracted, they're likely a third-rank wizard apprentice like us, not a wizard."

A rapid knock on the door interrupted Ren and Trevor's archery lesson.

"Are there any other individuals around the target that we should be cautious of?"

However, as Ren gazed at the large flock of Storm Ravens circling in the sky, his expression remained calm and collected. He swiftly nocked, drew, aimed, and released his arrows, and the speed of his entire sequence of actions was increasing.

As a Marksman, Trevor was well aware of the difficulty of achieving Ren's level of skill.

"Storm Ravens?" Trevor furrowed his brows, as if something had occurred to him.

It was rare for such a discrepancy to exist between intelligence and reality.

The remaining three individuals immediately turned their attention to Ren.

More importantly, after this period of training, Ren had gained significant insights into anticipation in archery, and with a quick observation, he could grasp the flight path of the Storm Ravens.

"Major Marika, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

Not only did the target's preferred weapon differ, but the strength of the personnel around the target was not just a female novice Wizard Apprentice as Nehru had mentioned; there was also a Marksman and another Wizard Apprentice.

Ren's arrows flew with a rhythmic precision, and the intervals between the vibrations of his bowstring were almost constant, giving onlookers the impression of a musical performance.

"The Federation Navy? Then they're in cahoots with that Trickster Wizard."

"Additionally, if the target is indeed Lord Ren, do any of you have items that can enhance his defense?"

Veronica's face showed confusion, as she had not expected Ren's archery to be so formidable.

On a secluded beach in Fishing Town,

It seemed that with this exclusive talent, he could master the exclusive secret techniques of certain Supernatural Skills on other weapons faster than ordinary people. As the Storm Ravens fell one by one, nearly a hundred of them, the black-cloaked Zenina, who was several kilometers away, felt a slight dizziness.

The current situation of the target had deviated significantly from what Nehru had described.

At this moment, Ren's attention was drawn to the last piece of information.

He was well aware that when Nehru had approached him a couple of days ago, he had provided a detailed description of the target, stating that he was a young Grand Knight skilled in using dual-handed hammers. However, there was no mention of him being a Marksman.

Soon, the group gathered in Ren's Governor's Office to discuss the matter.

"After Major Marika's reminder, I recalled that I had heard something similar before. It seems that within the Eagle Federation Navy's Battle Squad, there are a few troublesome individuals who are extremely adept at decapitation missions." Nathaniel spoke solemnly.

The Storm Ravens flapped their wings vigorously, circling rapidly, and Ren could vaguely discern the flow of air currents, which seemed to be forming a tornado.

"Well done, Lord Ren," Trevor exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up.

"Trevor, I can't track them, but I can recognize that they're using the Shadow Magic 'Crow Summoning'."

"Let me think... There was a mention of these large crows in the situation report when Major General Joaquin of the Fourth Fleet was assassinated."

It wasn't until Bloodfeather, whose size was comparable to the Storm Raven, took down one of them that the enemy quickly summoned over a dozen Storm Ravens. This sudden development startled Veronica.

Black feathers, which had fallen earlier due to the flapping of the Storm Ravens, were now swirling in the air around Ren, forming ring-shaped patterns that circled him.

Just as Trevor was about to nock an arrow and prepare to shoot, Ren stopped him and turned with a smile, saying, "Lord Trevor, as a Marksman, you should focus on the potential enemy nearby."

Looking at the backyard filled with black feathers, Major Marika also realized that the enemy was not to be underestimated.

If the 'Crow Summoning' spell, which was not particularly powerful, was just an appetizer, it was clear that the subsequent attacks would be even more formidable and difficult to defend against.

Huh? As Ren noticed the sudden unlocking of a secret technique in archery, he couldn't help but feel delighted and surprised.

"Furthermore, the duration of the battles was extremely short. In the case of Major General Bravo's assassination, from the moment the cry was heard until the guards rushed in, only ten seconds had passed."

Veronica and Nathaniel, who were about to cast spells, paused their incantations and looked at Ren in astonishment.

Lastly, the fact that the enemy had repeatedly employed assassination attempts suggested a strong possibility that they preferred or were more skilled in covert operations rather than direct combat.

Ren was slightly startled because, just then, the system notification appeared: "Your Blood Rage Bow Technique has improved. Experience gained: 1159."

In the gaps between several tall rocks, a bonfire burned brightly.

At this moment, Ren's archery skills had taken a qualitative leap compared to a few days ago.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Upon hearing this, Trevor also agreed that the hidden enemy posed the greatest threat. He nodded and said, "Agreed!"

If it were an ambush, and the enemy continued to evade or hide, Ren knew it would be challenging to take down a battle-hardened Grand Knight within ten seconds. From this, two deductions could be made.

"Yes, sir!" Zenina took a step back and began casting her spell.

—Harbor Town Administrative Hall.

"I heard from my mentor that this magic, when cast by a formal wizard, can summon thousands or even tens of thousands of crows for an attack."

As for the forming tornado, it abruptly dissipated due to the dispersal of the Storm Ravens.

After a successful shot, Ren's hands moved like plucking a bowstring, swiftly drawing, notching, and shooting arrows in a fluid and graceful motion.

From this, it seemed unlikely that the enemy was the same Federation Warlock from before.

All the Storm Ravens in the harbor town were roused, and over a hundred of them gathered in a dark mass, heading towards the airspace above the Administrative Hall.

"The second time was when Brigadier General Bravo of the First Fleet's Fourth Division was assassinated. The report also mentioned black birds."

Ren felt he was getting a grasp on it, a certain knack of the secret technique 'Rapid Shot' within the Blood Rage Bow Technique.

Indeed, he had only misspoken the name, not the nickname.

The enemy was scouting! Without much thought, Veronica immediately ran towards the nearby training room, knowing that Ren and Trevor had been exchanging archery techniques there for the past few days.

[You have gained 118 experience points in the Weapon Master (Legendary) profession.]



In mid-air, the Bloodfeather Hawklet, under the protection of the Water Shield Spell, showed no fear against a dozen Storm Ravens and engaged in another fierce battle, causing black feathers to fall from the sky.

Read the error-free version at 69 Book Bar! 6=9+Book_Bar

"I'll take care of these crows. It's a good opportunity to test the results of my previous archery training."

"Yes, based on the 'Crow's Eye,' I initially assessed that there are at least two Wizard Apprentices and another Marksman alongside the target."

"The Storm Ravens you mentioned remind me of the crows described in several reports from the Empire's Southern Fleet."

Firstly, the enemy was incredibly fast, and their attacks with daggers were powerful and difficult to defend against.

In the lower right corner of the icon, there was a small line of text: Rapid Shot lv1 (Secret Technique) Effect: Utilize a rapid and continuous arrow-drawing and shooting method to fire as many arrows as possible in a short time.

Soon, Ren noticed a new icon on the Weapon Master (Legendary) panel, located above the Blood Rage Bow Technique.

"Oh, Lieutenant Marika, if you don't mind, could you elaborate?" Ren asked with a raised eyebrow.

(Note: The skill experience mentioned above has already benefited from the exclusive talent 'Basic Extraordinary Insight,' resulting in a 30% increase.) [Congratulations, you have unlocked the secret technique of the Blood Rage Bow Technique: Rapid Shot!]



It's not that he couldn't force his way through.

Now it made sense!

For a moment, Ren's arrows flew with incredible accuracy.

After a series of questions and answers,

Veronica paused for a moment before explaining, "Your Excellency Trevor, the enemy's crows were summoned using magic, and they don't usually stay around the caster. This is completely different from our process of improving and taming birds."

Ren immediately thought of something else.

"Yes, both died by the blade. According to the autopsy results at the time, it was determined to be a dagger, and reportedly, it wasn't an ordinary dagger, as both brigadier generals had suffered significant blood loss."

"But one man and one woman used magic, and the other had a battle bow. I believe my assessment is accurate," the Black Cloak Lady, Zenina, affirmed.

For a moment, Vexman couldn't help but hesitate.

Ren nodded.

Under Ren's precise and rapid-fire assault, in less than a minute, the large group of Storm Ravens began to disperse and flee in all directions.

After seven or eight consecutive arrows, the Storm Ravens finally realized that their numbers were dwindling!

The Storm Ravens that were killed were the subjects of Zenina's magic, 'Crow's Eye,' so she was experiencing a certain degree of backlash from the spell.

If the remaining two or thirty Storm Ravens hadn't escaped, perhaps Ren could have raised his Blood Rage Bow Technique to lv6.

Nathaniel, on the other hand, knew that his teammate Trevor had been teaching Ren archery these past few days, and he occasionally glanced into the training room. Therefore, he was even more surprised by Ren's rapid improvement in archery.

Another thing was that the Storm Ravens' eyes seemed slightly rigid, as if they had been subjected to some sort of controlling or surveillance magic, which instantly put Veronica on alert.

He was putting himself in the killer's shoes, estimating the time it would take to kill them, and thus assessing the enemy's strength.

Lieutenant Marika's words caused everyone to become solemn.

The girl spoke quickly as she walked, "I just saw that there were at least a dozen Storm Ravens around the Administrative Hall."

"That's right, Your Excellency Vexman."

In an instant, his shooting speed reached its current peak.

"Therefore, I believe this was likely just a reconnaissance mission, and the enemy will launch their real attack next!"

In an instant, the experienced Vexman became alert.

After some thought, Ren continued, "Lieutenant Marika, regarding the two brigadier generals you mentioned, they should both be Grand Knight-level, right? What were their causes of death?

"As you wish, sir. At that time..."

Hmm? The two exchanged glances and immediately followed Veronica, quickly exiting the training room.

Ren smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry so much, I'm not that fragile."

"Then their target must be Sir Ren!" The twin-tailed girl beside them suddenly realized something and blurted out.

"Two wizard apprentices and another marksman? Their strength is no less than that of an elite squad from the Dragon Empire Navy." Vexman exclaimed.

According to the experience of Giant Bear Sword Technique, if one doesn't have 'Bow Mastery', it's only after reaching level 6 that secret techniques can be unlocked.

Zenina respectfully said, "Sir, Lord Nehru has finally replied. Although he was very reluctant, he agreed to your request for two boxes of Shadow Steel Ingots."

This situation was a bit unexpected for him at the moment.

Because when she and Sir Ren faced the Federation Warlock, she hadn't seen Ren display such powerful archery. Otherwise, that battle could have been even easier.

Vexman paced back and forth on the beach for a while and asked again, "So, after discovering your Storm Ravens, the opponent started shooting at them with arrows alone? And throughout the process, no one else intervened?"

After a moment of thought, both of them shook their heads.

Trevor believed that the best defense was a good offense, and as a marksman, he had the advantage against wizard apprentices who needed to chant spells and had average defense. Even if the opponent was a wizard, he wasn't afraid.

Ren immediately realized that it was indeed worthy of a Bloodfeather Eagle Beast specializing in close combat. This hatchling, just a few days out of its egg, already possessed such combat power.

"Of course, their wizardry must have been modified, which is why they attracted Storm Ravens with strength far beyond that of ordinary crows." Nathaniel, with his rich combat experience, immediately shared his judgment.

On the other hand, these dozen or so Storm Ravens gathered together to besiege Bloodfeather, creating ideal shooting conditions for Ren.

Even if he took action, his killing efficiency wouldn't be much higher than Ren's.

That was a bit strange.

"Reduce the enemy's movement speed?" Trevor pondered for a moment and quickly said, "I don't have that kind of magical tool, but I do have a paralyzing poison used to coat arrowheads to deal with large sea creatures."

"Yes, sir, I'm also quite surprised."

She frowned, rubbing her temples, and said, "Sir Vexman, perhaps I've found that Ren."

On the rooftop of the Fishing Harbor Town's administrative building, the sky above was clear, and the winter sun shone down, making Ren, who held a metal longbow, seem like a golden statue.

Soon, they realized that someone was actually on the ground, attacking them. A cacophony of noisy and sharp crow caws filled the air.

While casting a Water Shield Spell' on Bloodfeather to increase its defense, she carefully observed and soon noticed something odd about these crows.

"Is there any way to reduce the enemy's movement speed in a specific area?" Lieutenant Marika seemed to have thought of the same problem Ren was considering and spoke first.

Ren immediately fell silent, his eyes gleaming.

Veronica discovered that these crows were the rare Storm Ravens, and there was no habitat for them near Master County, or even in the entire Minster Province.

"Isn't he a formal wizard, but a third-rank wizard apprentice?"

Along with the crackling sound of firewood bursting, a flapping sound echoed in the sky, and a black crow descended, landing on the shoulder of the Black Cloak Lady, Zenina.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

At the same time, Ren's mind gained some memories of the secret technique 'Rapid Shot' exclusive to Blood Rage Bow Technique.

(Note: Rapid Shot is a secret technique and cannot be directly improved through skill points.) (Rapid Shot lv2 requires the following conditions: 1. Blood Rage Bow Technique lv8 or above (Bow Mastery can offset part of the level requirement); 2. Strength of 18 points or more, Agility of 22 points or more, and Constitution of 18 points or more.) Ren pondered upon seeing the phrase 'Bow Mastery can offset part of the bow technique level requirement'.

The sudden appearance of the crows startled the others inside the administrative building, including Lieutenant Marika, who was drafting a letter, and they all rushed to the empty space in the backyard.

However, Ren noticed out of the corner of his eye that Lieutenant Marika, who had been silent, was frowning slightly, deep in thought. So, he took the initiative to ask:

"Zenina, since that's the case, let's go for a walk!"

"Look, how beautiful the night sky is tonight." Vexman slowly stood up and smiled, gazing at the night sky shrouded in dark clouds, with only a faint glimmer of starlight.

"As you wish, sir!"

Zenina followed behind Vexman, half a body length behind.

As the two gradually moved away from the bonfire, their shadows stretched out, and soon, their figures merged into the darkness, disappearing from sight.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end