The mercenary group assigned to guard duty has been stationed for two days, with only one more day left before the witching night of the full moon.

After two days of training, the newcomers have largely integrated into the team. There were two minor raids by small groups of beasts during this time, which the mercenary group effortlessly repelled, earning valuable experience as a reward.

Using this experience, Avi upgraded most of the troops, originally 'hirelings', into Imperial Swordsmen or Imperial Spearmen, and upgraded the 'conscripted militia' into mercenaries.

Avi initially thought he could train troops who couldn't use spear wall formations to participate in forming them. However, he quickly realized that those without the spear wall formation attribute in the lineup seemed lost. Not only were they unable to arrange themselves properly, but they also affected those around them.

"Perhaps the markings on this system aren't just giving them a so-called attribute," Avi pondered. "It's likely that the system merely visualizes and displays real-world situations using concrete words and data. Troops without that particular attribute themselves are probably not proficient in using the corresponding formations."

With this in mind, Avi decided to gather these people for daily training. He wanted to see if they could break through themselves and learn spear wall formations through rigorous training.

Two days passed, with no significant progress. Instead, it left the troops who already knew spear walls somewhat confused. He had no choice but to halt this training and instead let these people undergo basic training like the others.

Nevertheless, the nightly perseverance in training was not entirely without benefit. The new recruits gained a considerable amount of experience, enough to support them in upgrading their troop types once again.

In the end, Avi obtained thirteen Imperial Swordsmen, seven Imperial Spearmen, and seven Imperial Archers.

In addition to the previous personnel, they now had 18 militia archers (nine injured), 11 scout riders (one injured), 16 pikemen (seven injured), 6 greatswordsmen (three injured), 13 Imperial Swordsmen, 7 Imperial Spearmen, and 7 Imperial Archers.

There were also the mercenary leader Avi, cavalry commander Airen, infantry commander Rafe, and Manid.

This is the entire current roster of the mercenary group.

"Overall, these people are more than capable of defense but lack endurance in holding out," Avi said to Airen, who was sitting across from him. "A single wave of attacks can certainly be held off, but if the Orcs continue to attack our camp, we might collapse."

"If Your Excellency has any tasks for me, feel free to speak," Airen replied.

"I want you to take a trip to the forest and see if there are any gathering beast herds around. If there are too many enemies, we'll retreat early. It's not worth risking our lives for that knight commander," Avi said, "This task is very difficult. Rafe is too simple-minded, and Manid is too weak. I need to stay here to command, and the only one I can rely on is you."

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"I understand," Airen nodded firmly. "I'll leave now. If I don't return by dusk, please assume I've been slain by Orcs and make sure to leave here as soon as possible."

"I—"

Avi wanted to say that he would avenge him, but seeing Airen's resigned expression, he suddenly felt that saying so would be an insult to him.

"I will."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

Airen then stood up and mounted his warhorse, swiftly leaving the camp through the rear passage and heading towards the forest.

"Stubborn fool, where are you going? Are you going hunting? Take me with you—"

Rafe's shouting rang in Avi's ears. After a while, he angrily ran up to Avi: "Boss, that stubborn guy rode into the forest on his own, and he wouldn't take me with him. It's infuriating!"

"He's gone on reconnaissance," Avi replied, his tone grave. "Be prepared. If he hasn't returned by dusk, we must evacuate from here."

Rafe's expression immediately turned serious. Glancing around, he leaned in and whispered to Avi, "Boss, do we have any food left?"

At that moment, Avi keenly sensed the inadequacy of the information he had provided Rafe.

Three hours later, after the mercenaries had finished their lunch, they busied themselves with repairing the defensive fortifications in anticipation of potential attacks.

Observing his team working fervently, Avi paced back and forth in the camp, a growing restlessness gnawing at him. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something ominous loomed on the horizon.

"Boss, Airen is back!" Manid's voice echoed across the camp.

Upon hearing the news, Avi's body tensed. Gripping his sword tightly, he rushed to the back door, only to find Airen, drenched in blood, being helped by Manid towards the camp.

"What—?" Avi hurried to support Airen, his concern evident. Turning to Manid, he inquired, "How severe are his injuries?"

Manid shook his head solemnly. "He's got a few cuts on his legs, but nothing too serious. Mostly scratches and scrapes."

"I'm fine, Your Excellency," Airen reassured weakly, his voice strained. "I encountered a pack of hounds in the forest."

Avi's heart sank at the confirmation. "Just hounds?"

"No," Airen responded, his voice strained. "There were also some horned beasts, but they were few in number. I couldn't get a clear look as the hounds caught wind of my presence."

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Avi nodded. "Your report is invaluable. Rest now, and I'll devise a plan."

"Your Excellency," Airen interjected, stopping Avi in his tracks. "I scouted a considerable area in the forest. There aren't many enemies, and they've only recently arrived from the north."

"I see. Manid, tend to Airen's wounds."

"Leave it to me, Boss."

Exiting the tent, Avi's expression flickered with uncertainty.

The beasts' origin from the north aligned with the knight commander's and the margrave's speculations. Their primary target likely lay in the villages surrounding Middenheim.

However, the prospect Avi dreaded most was that the herd, finding Middenheim fortified, might redirect their aggression. And this camp, plagued by misfortune, could be their intended target.

In such dire circumstances, Avi leaned towards the latter scenario. Confronting a full herd meant slim chances of survival, a risk Avi couldn't afford to take.

"Regardless, I must reach out to him now."

Time was of the essence. Avi mounted his horse, ready to journey to the knight commander's camp to deliver the urgent message.

"Rafe, I'm heading to the knights' camp. I'll return shortly!"

"Understood—"

As Avi departed, he urged his steed to gallop, the urgency of his mission evident. Soon, the camp vanished from view, replaced by the desolate landscape along the road.

The witching night approached, casting a shadow over the land. Within Midden's realm, the populace shuttered themselves indoors, while provincial troops rallied near towns and fortresses, preparing for the impending onslaught of Orcs and Greenskins.

It would be a macabre spectacle, a carnival of slaughter orchestrated by unclean hands. And time was slipping away for Avi and the duplicitous mercenary group.