As the night wore on, Avi and Rafe trudged wearily back to the encampment, exhaustion evident in their every step. Upon entering through the camp gates, Avi's eyes fell upon ten untamed horses prancing about in an open area, while several mercenaries bustled around, gathering fodder to nourish these magnificent beasts.

"What's going on here?" Rafe approached, his voice tinged with curiosity, "Why are these horses running loose?"

"Captain Rafe," one of the mercenaries greeted casually upon recognizing him, "Before Captain Airen departed, he instructed us to allow these horses more freedom for exercise, to improve their strength and riding capabilities."

"Well, that does make sense, but releasing these horses within the camp poses a risk of them escaping," Avi interjected, "The hustle and bustle of camp life can disrupt their natural routines."

"But Captain Airen said—"

"What were his exact words?"

"He simply said, 'Allow the horses more freedom for exercise, it's beneficial for their health,' without further explanation."

"Yes, by 'freedom,' he meant beyond the camp fences, not just within the confines of our encampment," Avi chuckled, "So let's not entertain thoughts of slacking off; gather a few more men and escort them outside to properly care for their needs."

"Yes, Captain..."

Reluctantly, the mercenaries led the horses beyond the camp perimeter for grazing. As anticipated, once outside the camp, the horses became lively, much to the annoyance of the nearby villagers.

"Take them further away, don't disturb the villagers!"

Observing Avi's visible agitation as he shouted, Rafe couldn't help but marvel, "Boss, why can't these numskulls be as astute as me? I have to spoon-feed them everything, it's exasperating!"

"Oh, cease your jesting, big guy," Avi retorted with a stern gaze, "I haven't seen you exhibit any remarkable intelligence either!"

"Fine, since you doubt me, I'll stay up all night! I was planning to catch some sleep first, but now I'll show you my prowess!"

"What do you have in mind?"

"It's a secret!"

With that, Rafe hoisted his colossal sword and marched back into his tent with an air of defiance. Watching his deliberate theatrics, Avi couldn't help but stifle a chuckle.

"Coping with Rafe's temperament is quite the ordeal, but perhaps he could indeed emerge as a leading figure in our team in due course," Avi pondered, "If he could rally those scattered strongmen into our allies, they possess a penchant for battle greater than any orc; they might prove to be formidable assets in combat."

This line of thought stemmed from the failure of their previous 'strategy.' Avi had intended to station men at the cave entrance to ambush subsequent waves of greenskins.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

However, Rafe revealed that the lone strongman informed him that there were no more greenskins arriving; they themselves were born in the wilderness and were digging here to engage in skirmishes, without any additional comrades.

To harness these strongmen, they needed to await the growth and proliferation of spores scattered upon their demise, a process whose duration was uncertain.

Furthermore, owing to the unique reproductive method of greenskins, where they disseminate spores upon maturity and also upon death, it wouldn't be long before more greenskins emerged in the vicinity, accompanied by a creature known as the Skweeg and goblins.

"We must bolster our strength without delay," Avi muttered to himself, "Tomorrow, when Airen and the others return, we must meticulously plan the allocation of equipment and troop types. Thereafter, our focus should shift to recruitment efforts, fortification of our positions, and the like."

With such thoughts lingering, Avi retired to his tent after dinner, quickly attending to his nightly routine before slipping into a deep slumber. In the hazy moments before sleep claimed him, a sudden thought flickered through his mind: What was Rafe up to? However, this fleeting thought soon dissipated in the embrace of sleep.

The next day arrived.

Due to his exhaustion, Avi slept until nearly noon before stirring awake. As he emerged from his tent, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he found Airen and Manid had returned to the camp with their entourage. The mercenaries lounged around the dwindling campfire, engaged in idle chatter, patiently awaiting their leader's awakening.

"How long have you been back..." Avi began, only to be interrupted by Rafe, who bounded over with a solemn expression. "Boss, I need you to see what I've done."

"Huh...?" Avi mumbled, still drowsy. "Oh, right. What's going on, Rafe?"

"Look at this!"

Rafe thrust something into Avi's view. As Avi focused, he saw neatly arranged firewood before him.

"Firewood? What's the big deal?"

"Boss, can't you see how perfectly aligned and visually appealing it is?" Rafe declared enthusiastically. "Take a good look; this is my masterpiece. It might be the only thing you'll ever see—"

"Wow, impressive, impressive," Avi replied, his tone betraying his lack of interest as he sidestepped Rafe. "Truly remarkable, an experience for the ages."

"This is art, boss, you have to appreciate it—!"

Ignoring Rafe's impassioned plea, Avi turned to Airen and inquired, "How did things go?"

"Exceptionally well, sir," Airen replied with a grin. "We've secured a haul of equipment that rivals Mr. Rafe's creations."

"What?! Don't tease me!" Avi exclaimed, almost jumping in surprise. "Is it true?"

"Airen is just joking with you, boss," Manid chimed in with a chuckle. "The goods have already been delivered to the side gate. You can inspect them yourself. Our dwarf friend is reliable; he provided only the finest wares."

"Dwarves have a natural talent for craftsmanship. Even their ordinary work would be considered high-quality here," Airen added.

Venturing outside the camp, Avi indeed spotted two carts parked nearby, with the carters taking a break and quenching their thirst. Upon Avi's approach, they greeted him casually and allowed him to examine the merchandise they had brought.

"We've assembled everything as per your instructions: full sets of plate armor, chainmail, horse armor, two-handed swords, and pikes, along with ten cavalry sabers and accompanying leather armor."

"How much did all of this cost?"

"We've used up all the funds you provided," Airen admitted, sounding somewhat sheepish. "Mr. Manid did his best to negotiate, but the other party—"

"In the future, refrain from bargaining with him," Avi interjected firmly. "Durimbar is our partner; his prices are already discounted, and he's a loyal customer. Besides, he's a dwarf; what he says goes."

"I understand, boss," Manid replied with a sheepish scratch of his head. "It's just a professional habit. Always trying to haggle, you know..."

"Just be careful not to earn his ire; it won't make your life any easier," Avi warned. "The equipment is excellent. Tonight, we'll have a half-celebration and finalize plans for recruiting and commencing work officially tomorrow!"