As Avi rode ahead of the carriage, he couldn't help but feel a sense of incredulity wash over him.

"Though I understand dwarves to be grudge-holders, isn't this a tad excessive?" Avi remarked to Arian. "He remembers that it was thirty-seven days ago, right after lunch, when he noticed a hoof print on the cloth loaded onto the cart!"

"Your Excellency, while I struggle to comprehend it myself, according to the texts I've perused, dwarves indeed possess such a temperament," Arian confessed, equally perplexed. "As a human, I find it challenging to fathom the dwarven mindset; perhaps they view us similarly."

"Perhaps, but it's truly uncertain whether that hoof print was left by an orc. Well... regardless, the outcome favors us, which is rather fortunate."

They deliberately moderated their voices to avoid detection by the carter. However, it seemed the carter was indifferent to their conversation, solely focused on completing the task and returning to Midenheim.

This journey proved considerably safer compared to the routes the mercenary group had traversed before. Besides occasional interrogations by patrols from the provincial army, Avi and his companions encountered minimal obstacles.

Out of a sense of duty, as well as for the sake of retribution, the dwarf artisan Durinba had provided them with a top-quality carriage and draft horses. The well-maintained wheels turned almost effortlessly and smoothly, complemented by the light load, resulting in exceptional speed.

The twelve horses trailing behind were all well-trained, trotting obediently alongside the carriage without causing any disruption.

It took them two and a half days to return. As they neared the camp, Avi grew increasingly anxious about potential orc attacks during their absence. Relief washed over him only when he caught sight of the stacked lumber and fortifications.

"Boss, you're back!"

Though it was already evening, Rafe spotted them from a distance, abandoning his axe to rush and embrace Avi upon his dismount. The other mercenaries followed suit, warmly welcoming their captain, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and excitement.

The camp was arranged meticulously according to Avi's instructions. Although the outer palisade was not yet complete, most of the necessary timber had been prepared.

Half of the front ditch had been dug, and the campfire blazed brightly, casting light over an area of about a dozen meters around it.

"Everyone has done a commendable job!" Avi exclaimed, heartened by the sight. "The equipment on the rear wagon is what I purchased. Those preferring spears should opt for halberds, while those favoring swords should choose greatswords. Each person will receive a set of armor! Followers, select a horse for yourselves and arm yourselves with a musket!"

No one contested Avi's decision. Instead, they eagerly flocked to the wagon to select their weapons and gear. Meanwhile, the carter continued to protest loudly, demanding they unload the goods and leave his wagon and horses alone.

Amidst the commotion, Avi seized Rafe, who was about to quench his thirst, and inquired, "Has anything of note occurred during my absence?"

"Not much, really. Some villagers from nearby settlements came offering their assistance, but I informed them that you were absent and that we would decide whether to accept their aid upon your return. I simply sent them away!"

"Mmm... that's reassuring."

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Avi had intended to dismiss the need for such caution, but considering Rafe's limited intellect, he refrained from voicing his thoughts, mindful of potential future complications.

"During this period, some creatures with elongated hooves charged towards us, but their numbers were few. All were dispatched and incinerated," Rafe continued, "Boss, regarding the traps we set and the... ah yes, pikes, they proved incredibly effective!"

"That's the palisade," Avi corrected him before inquiring, "How many orcs precisely made an appearance?"

"Not many, only as the sun was setting did they emerge from the forest. Roughly counting, there were only about a dozen, and they were poorly armed, far weaker than those we encountered in the forest!"

"Only once? When did they arrive?"

"Twice, once yesterday, and the other just now, um... approximately two hours ago. We had just finished clearing the corpses here when you returned."

This refined version maintains the professional tone while adding a touch of literary flair to enhance readability and engagement.

"Is the quantity the same each time?"

"Not really," Rafe pondered for a moment. "The first time, there were only a few, and they fled as soon as we started fighting, but I still managed to strike one down. The second time, there were more, about a dozen."

"In that case, it's highly likely to be an orc reconnaissance unit," Avi thought to himself. "Despite their fusion with beasts, they still retain human intelligence. It's not surprising that they've developed such a military structure."

If that were indeed the case, it meant the likelihood of a large-scale retaliation by the orc horde was increasing. It was dangerous not to prepare quickly.

"Rafe, hurry and have the brothers do more work while there's still some time before sleep. Try to get our camp repaired before bedtime!"

"Got it."

Rafe didn't ask further and promptly went to carry out the order. To him, Avi was both his brother and his leader. Whether it was as a brother or a leader, there was no need to question, just follow through.

Avi himself sat by the campfire and began operating the panel.

The first thing that caught his eye was that the Empire Spearman (with shield) and Empire Swordsman were both eligible for upgrades. These two units corresponded to the Empire Halberdier and Empire Greatswordsman, respectively.

Due to their regular training during this period and the previous battles in the forest, they had accumulated a considerable amount of experience, sufficient to complete this upgrade.

Without hesitation, Avi clicked to upgrade. However, he regretted to find that both the Halberdier and Greatswordsman had already reached the top tier and could not be further upgraded. This meant that for a long time to come, he would have to rely on these two units to form the core infantry line.

"Although not high-end, these, along with the Spearman and Swordsman, are the Empire's core forces," Avi thought. "Although their quality may be inferior to other factions, their quantity is more than enough."

Next, he turned to the followers. There were some subtle changes in the newly equipped follower units, now named Followers (Vanguard Knights).

"Damn, what a bargain!"

Avi almost exclaimed aloud, but he restrained his excitement and placed his hand on the prompt beside the panel. The system displayed a text before him:

Vanguard Knights are often promoted from veteran soldiers in the Empire Corps, or from skilled equestrians and instructors. They are often hired by nobles at great expense to train their children, but this does not mean they are not skilled in combat. Vanguard Knights are often equipped with semi-automatic rifles distributed by the Imperial Engineering Academy, not only powerful in firepower but also highly mobile.

"In the game, this thing is really useful."

Avi thought. "It's almost like the real-life Dragoon Cavalry, but in reality, Dragoon Cavalry usually dismount when moving and shoot when dismounted. In the Warhammer world, Dragoon Cavalry can shoot while riding and still maintain a certain degree of accuracy, which is quite impressive."

However, he also noticed that because the followers did not have enough experience, their attributes were relatively discounted compared to the true Vanguard Knights, which was expected.

The existing funds were not enough to equip them with protective and lightweight cavalry armor, so these followers still wore leather armor, which was much less defensive than true Vanguard Knights.

Moreover, the difference in warhorses meant that their actual mobility might not be as strong as that of the genuine Vanguard Knights.

"Indeed, reality is not the same as the game... Well, whatever. Anyway, having such a force is already very good for me now. As long as I use them well, dealing with small bands of orcs shouldn't be a problem."

The mercenaries were fully equipped. The armor Avi purchased was not as exquisite as the authentic military units, but for a mercenary group, it was still of high quality. Looking at the fully armed members walking past one after another, he felt genuinely satisfied from the bottom of his heart.