Avi found solace in the fact that the system wasn't overly stringent; he didn't have to equip each person with a full set of armor—any decent iron armor was exorbitantly expensive, far beyond what they could currently afford.

Both Avi and Rafe were in relatively good condition. The primary tactic of the Cheating Mercenaries still relied on the two captains creating openings, followed by the members charging in to break the enemy lines. Thanks to this strategy, Avi and Rafe had amassed considerable experience.

Avi, Level 15, Constitution 13, Agility 12, Intelligence 16, Charisma 14

Rafe, Level 16, Constitution 25, Agility 10, Intelligence 5, Charisma 6

In just a short span of time, they had each leveled up twice, a progress Avi was quite content with.

Though there was a minor issue with the experience provided by the goblins not being sufficient for both of them to level up, it wasn't necessarily a setback.

The main repercussion was Avi's need to meticulously manage the allocation of skill points; each point had to be distributed with utmost care. Through the experiences of the past two days, he realized the importance of skills within the Riding and Slashing system.

"One skill point to enhance the trading skill, preventing those swindlers from further exploiting me," Avi contemplated, "This skill, which incurs negative returns if not improved, must be prioritized, or it would entail significant loss."

Regarding the remaining skill point, Avi focused on two particularly beneficial 'team skills':

Eloquence — This skill bestowed the ability to persuade others, not only refining one's speechcraft but also augmenting adaptability in communication.

First Aid — This skill granted the ability to revive the dead in battle; members who sustained fatal injuries would survive owing to this skill. The higher the skill level, the greater the chance of survival.

By now, Avi placed full trust in the descriptions provided on the panel, and these seemingly magical effects bolstered his confidence in leading the team.

"Eloquence appears somewhat akin to trading. Would upgrading these two skills simultaneously yield additional benefits? After all, bargaining itself can be considered a form of debate, and possessing two skills to economize would be advantageous, but..."

Avi's attention shifted to the description of the First Aid skill.

"Reviving the dead... Remarkable, isn't it? With a sufficiently high skill level, would casualties in battle become almost non-existent? This would undoubtedly facilitate the training of advanced troops."

"However, as of late, they've only encountered goblins and orcs; the members who had ascended to mercenaries were already capable of handling them. It seems that First Aid may not be necessary in the immediate future?"

Although casualties had yet to occur, in the business of swords and bloodshed, such occurrences were inevitable. Should a soldier perish in battle, not only would their experience be squandered, but their equipment would also be exceedingly difficult to recover.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The sight of the advanced troops he painstakingly nurtured being felled with a single stroke, even the most callous individual would struggle to maintain composure.

After much deliberation, Avi opted to temporarily table this matter.

"Let's address it when the need arises. For now, upon our safe return to the city, I'll enhance Eloquence to negotiate with merchants. If unforeseen circumstances arise en route, I'll consider other skills. This is perhaps the most prudent approach; after all, temporary skill points take effect immediately."

Following a brief overview of the data on the panel, Avi gained a more precise understanding of the overall combat prowess of the mercenary group. With equipment commensurate with their capabilities, they could effortlessly dispatch ordinary bandits; failing that, they could contend only with goblins.

"For now, contending with goblins suffices."

Soothing himself with a slightly self-congratulatory tone, Avi rose and rubbed his somewhat numb legs.

Beside him, the members of the Cheating Mercenaries rested and engaged in light chatter. A few of them congregated amidst the grass, conversing and singing, occasionally regaling their teammates with tales of their exploits over the past two days.

The ambiance as a whole left Avi thoroughly content.

"Alright, break's over!" he declared emphatically, "Let's prepare to return to the city!"

Returning to the city promised food, rest, and peace of mind, sparing them from the winds and fears of the plains. For most of the members, this was welcome news.

The crowd cheered and rejoiced, except for Rafe, who approached Avi with an unsatisfied expression.

"Boss, haven't we had our fill of kills today? How about we wander a bit longer?" Rafe proposed.

"I fear if we continue, the team might not be able to sustain their energy," Avi replied. "You and I might have horses and not feel it much, but the others are on foot. Running around and fighting for half a day has exhausted them enough."

"But those snotlings only like to come out and play dead at night," Rafe argued. "Wandering a bit longer might allow us to chop off more green heads. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Hmm..." Avi found himself somewhat swayed by Rafe's argument.

Thanks to several consecutive victories, the morale of the Cheating Mercenaries was high, and their supplies were relatively ample. The stamina of the members seemed capable of enduring a while longer.

Avi glanced at the panel, carefully confirming the status of each person. On the panel, everyone's health status was represented by "Life Points," offering a clear indication of their injuries. Fortunately, except for a few minor injuries, the life points of most people were nearly full, indicating that the current enemies posed little threat.

Given this, why not maximize the efficiency of their tasks?

"You raise a valid point. As usual, I'll leave it to you," Avi conceded.

"Got it!"

Rafe retrieved his sword from the ground and waded into the crowd, delivering a passionate speech. Before long, the members were cheering loudly, urging Avi to command them to continue hunting for goblins nearby.

Though Avi didn't catch the exact words of Rafe's speech, he heard mentions of "Captain's treat, drinks," and "feast" or something similar.

"No matter the situation, money talks the loudest..." Avi couldn't help but smile wryly. "I even wonder if Rafe's attributes are real. Did I really not boost his intelligence and eloquence?"

Regardless, at least the outcomes were favorable.

Their fortune held, and it didn't take long for them to encounter the next hapless group of goblins. Avi and Rafe led the charge, dispatching the few orcs, while the rest of the team swooped in to clear the battlefield.

The mercenaries who had advanced in rank were skilled fighters, their morale steadfast. They could even collaborate to dispatch the orcs charging alone, streamlining the battle.

However, valor always exacted a toll. Two mercenaries sustained injuries in the skirmish, not fatal, but sufficient to impede their normal activities.

"If we have injured members, the team's marching speed will significantly decrease. Can we return to the city before curfew?" Avi pondered anxiously, gazing at the sky. "If we're unable to return, we might run out of provisions by tomorrow morning, and once we're deprived..."

That was the scenario he dreaded most.