At dawn the following day, the cheating mercenary band, having partaken of a simple breakfast (dry bread accompanied by cold water) under Avi's leadership, departed from Midensgate and proceeded along the path towards the raiding camp.

Due to recent rumors regarding the orcish threat, the road was sparsely populated.

Those encountered were mostly hurrying along with solemn expressions, and the neighing of horses served as the only friendly greeting between the two groups.

Not only humans, but even beasts and birds seemed to sense an impending danger and had retreated into hiding.

Creatures such as rabbits and pheasants, which were once a common sight in the bushes and grasslands, had become scarce.

Despite the late summer sun shining brightly in the sky and the refreshing breeze rustling through the grass, the eerie silence and desolation of the surroundings sent shivers down the spines of many team members.

Were it not for Avi's continuous emphasis on cultivating his charm to uplift morale, the cheating mercenary band might have already begun protesting against his decision.

"Charm: Enhances personal appeal and others' tolerance towards you. The higher the charm, the easier it is to persuade others to accept your views and proposals. This attribute can trigger a cascade effect with most social skills. Further exploration is advised."

Deep in thought, Avi pondered over the information displayed on the panel.

Previously, they had only encountered one or two orcs, which they could handle with their individual prowess and the advantage of their cavalry.

However, facing the impending onslaught of Green-Skin orcs, Avi couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

This feeling was shared by the mercenaries who had recently been promoted to Imperial Swordsmen.

Although Imperial Swordsmen and Imperial Spearmen were regular army units, they were still the most basic infantry in the Imperial Army.

Dealing with Green-Skin orcs effectively required numerical superiority.

The cheating mercenary band was lacking in numbers.

Before departing, the owner of the weapons shop had mentioned that the Green-Skin bandits who robbed them numbered around twenty.

With sufficient time, this quantity could easily overpower forty Imperial Swordsmen with minimal casualties. In summary, the upcoming battle would be challenging, and everyone present was feeling apprehensive.

"Boss, how much do you know about the Shattered Leaf Tribe?"

Rafe, perhaps feeling anxious, unexpectedly initiated a discussion on history and geography, a rarity.

With the assistance of his knowledge skill, Avi found it easy to respond to Rafe's query.

"The Shattered Leaf Tribe, actually known as the Tribe of Shattered Leaf, is a group of foul-smelling and erratic Green-Skins who seized a piece of land between the Westlands and the Nordlands, establishing their two strongholds: the Dark Abyss and the Destroyer Stronghold."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Since their territory lies between two regions, why hasn't anyone taken action against them?"

"Who knows? There's speculation that the position occupied by these Green-Skins is highly contentious. Sending troops from either the Westlands or the Nordlands alone could lead to misunderstandings, let alone joint action."

Unbeknownst to them, the group had already ventured into the Black Forest, which fell under the jurisdiction of Wismund.

This forest, shrouded in darkness and teeming with wildlife, remained untouched by Wismund's lumberjacks, casting a dark and oppressive atmosphere.

"So, instead of ensuring the comfort of us common folk, they'd rather allow the two electors to play their games?"

Rafe's anger flared as he cursed,

"These two idiots don't value human life at all!"

"Speaking such words is futile; after all, we're mere civilians," Avi remarked, "Furthermore..." Avi paused mid-sentence, his expression suddenly turning serious as he gazed ahead.

"Everyone, conceal yourselves!" Avi whispered.

The captain's command was quietly passed from one person to another, spreading throughout the entire group.

Nervously, everyone dropped to the ground, their anxious gazes fixed on Avi and Rafe. Both the captain and vice-captain were now prone on the ground, having dismounted, each holding the reins of their mounts and gesturing with their hands to keep the horses quiet.

Fortunately, these were war-trained steeds, and they refrained from neighing loudly at this critical juncture, thus avoiding unnecessary attention.

After a thorough observation, everyone understood the reason behind Avi's directive.

Green-skinned figures, covered in blood, were moving through the forest. Unlike the usual rowdy and aggressive behavior associated with typical orc sightings, their particularly low spirits seemed to indicate that this was not a formidable orcish force.

As the greenskins moved through the branches and shrubs, the rustling of leaves sounded especially harsh in the silence, adding significant psychological pressure on the soldiers of the cheating mercenary group.

They were unsure whether their captain's next command would be to charge or to retreat. Facing these green-skinned orcs, who had brought blood and destruction in their childhood memories, was a daunting prospect for them.

With the aid of his knowledge skill, Avi could intuitively assess the enemy's state:

Enemy morale: We shouldn't lose.

Our morale: Cowardly and fearing battle.

"This sentence structure aligns well with the way orcs speak," thought Avi. "It seems these orcs have just suffered a defeat, but... what defeated them? Our morale isn't great either; let's wait a bit longer."

The question didn't trouble Avi for too long. Approximately ten minutes after the greenskins passed, not far away, a sound similar to the neighing of horses but much rougher was heard. Accompanied by the crude insults, war cries of the greenskins, and the sound of hooves trampling fallen leaves and twigs, a bloody slaughter had already begun.

Rafe's expression changed abruptly as he forcefully pulled Avi's arm and whispered, "Boss, that thing is—"

"I know, stay calm!" Avi immediately stopped Rafe and reassured the soldiers behind him before having the chance to respond to Rafe's query.

"Orcs," he said. "Orcs and greenskins are fighting nearby, and it's quite intense."

"What do we do?" Rafe strained to lower his voice, which made his already hoarse tone sound somewhat higher, sounding rather comical.

Of course, no one laughed at him in such a critical moment. Everyone nervously looked at Captain Avi, as if he were the harbinger of their impending fate.

This situation added considerable pressure on Avi. He took several deep breaths. "Wait and see."

"Wait and see? Boss, come on, stop beating around the bush. Can't you speak plainly now?" Rafe's face turned red with anxiety.

"I mean, stay put and wait here for a while," Avi said. "Since it's greenskins and orcs, it's definitely going to be a fight to the death. Let's wait for them to finish, maybe we can take advantage."

"Those long-legged things are tough in this kind of terrain!" Rafe anxiously dug a small hole in the ground next to him with the grass he pulled. "Are you sure we can handle them?"

"Don't worry, I have a sense of measure. Just wait a bit longer."

Although Avi's tone remained calm, sweat had already covered his forehead. Waiting here was nothing short of a gamble: winning meant a safe return, but losing would mean total annihilation.

This time, the system couldn't help him; everything depended on his luck and judgment.

What would the outcome be?