As the saying goes, "Food and forage before movement" . Even in a state of extreme anger, Avi didn't forget this ancient saying. Two days later, he led his team to make a detour to Midenheim.

They set up a temporary camp at the foot of the mountain where Midenheim was located, stationed with both men and horses. Strictly speaking, this could be considered the outskirts of the city fortress, but it was safe enough.

At this point, Boris had already disbanded the provincial armies from various places and returned with the forces belonging to Midenheim to his fortress.

The return of the mercenary group didn't surprise him. Boris dictated an order, sending the agreed-upon bounty and additional rewards to Avi's group stationed at the foot of the mountain.

"You have integrity, and Midenheim welcomes any warrior with integrity, regardless of who they are," the messenger said earnestly in front of Avi. "I apologize for my previous words and actions in the light of the Holy Fire."

"Now that you know what kind of people we are," Avi said expressionlessly, "let's get straight to the point. We want our reward, is that too much to ask?"

"Of course not. These behind me are." The messenger's attitude and tone were completely different from before, speaking as if to his own army. "We sent people to inspect the stronghold you held, and they did a great job. These supplies are a reward for you."

"Well, thank you then." Avi gestured for Manid to have the things unloaded from the cart behind the messenger, including the heavy sack at his feet.

The scene before Avi was different from usual. In his sight, there was a label provided by the Riding and Chopping System on the sack, which read: Gold Coins *2000. This was also the effect brought by the "Museum Skill", just like in a game.

"With the previous commission, it adds up to three thousand gold coins, which is a good price, but not enough." Avi thought to himself. "I left eleven bodies at that stronghold, and three more on the way. Most of the equipment was also consumed in battle; this price is just a slight surplus for me."

The three severely wounded soldiers who died from infection on the way left a deep impression on Avi. He remembered vividly the importance of medicine on the battlefield—especially for him, with the system. Having medicine meant there was a chance of survival, significantly reducing the mortality rate.

"Where did these supplies come from? They don't look very new."

"The warehouse," the messenger said bluntly. "Recently, the craftsmen have designed new armor, so it's better to give these old ones to those who need them rather than disposing of them. That's what Lord Boris meant."

"Then we accept."

"I look forward to fighting side by side with you someday," the messenger said, giving Avi and his group a thumbs up before leaving. "Well done, mercenaries."

"Rafe, you and Resarite stay here in this temporary camp to rest and regroup. Manid, Airen, and I will go into the city to buy some necessities."

"Young man—no, with our current relationship, I should call you captain," Resarite timely walked up to Avi and said, "If possible, bring back some muskets. I can help you train a squad that is accurate and effective with muskets."

"Sounds good. If I can manage it, I'll definitely bring back some muskets!"

Avi's group rode up the mountain, hardly seeing any civilians along the way. Every two hundred meters, they encountered a patrol that stopped them for thorough questioning before allowing them to pass.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"It seems like this war is a losing proposition," Manid said, swaying in the saddle. "Although we fought for pride, the actual money lost is far too much."

"Gathering provincial troops, mobilizing for battle, requires a considerable amount of money," Avi replied. "Just bringing the army out of the fortress and assembling it consumes a lot of food and forage. The subsequent expenses of equipment loss in battle, compensation for casualties, and recruiting new soldiers are significant."

"I have read about this before. As you said, mobilizing for war incurs immense costs. The expense of completely exterminating the greenskins cannot compare with the long-term toll of prolonged conflict. In fact, they are incomparable," commented Avi.

"That's why the Empire needs to unite to wage war effectively. If each shop on the street acts independently, how can prices be raised?" Maneed often used his business acumen to make analogies. "Only by coming together can we raise prices and earn profits to further expand."

"However, the problem lies in the fact that each Elector Count has their own agenda. The merchants of Marienburg contemplate independence, the relationship between Midland and the Emperor remains uncertain due to past electoral issues, and Nordland is preoccupied with repelling Norsca..." Avi gestured helplessly. "Every region has its own troubles and concerns, and everyone feels that their own matters should take precedence. It's not an easy task for them to unite peacefully without encountering formidable external threats."

"Let's hope the new Emperor Karl can emulate the feats of Sigmar, rejuvenating the Empire and driving away greenskins, beastmen, and the like from human territory," Airen sighed with sincerity. "By Sigmar's grace, the suffering inflicted upon the people of this world has been too much. Why not save them from this sea of agony?"

"Sigmar... probably has his own concerns," Avi recalled the lore he had read while playing Total War: Warhammer before. At this moment, Sigmar was ensnared in the Tempest of Heaven, preoccupied and unable to heed the prayers and calls of his faithful. "If it weren't for that, at least Archaon wouldn't have fallen to the position of the Everchosen," Avi ruminated, deciding not to share this with Airen. Maintaining a belief to sustain oneself was indeed advantageous...

Upon arriving at the spacious equipment store owned by Old Durinbar, the dwarf craftsman was preparing to close up shop. Seeing Avi's group, he didn't seem particularly pleased but still received them.

"You've arrived at an inopportune time. During the recent battles, the provincial army looted all my wares. Now, whatever's left isn't anything worthwhile; just take what you want, leave the corresponding money, and you're good to go!"

"Please, take a look and see if there's anything suitable," Avi instructed.

Manid and Airen nodded in understanding and proceeded to inspect the shop. From their perspective, although the remaining equipment might not meet dwarven standards of quality, it still ranked as above average in the eyes of humans.

With his expertise in 'Lootology 3', Avi could estimate the equivalent value of these equipment pieces in gold coins. Although some had noticeable flaws, they would suffice for an ordinary team consisting neither of elite nor common soldiers.

"The previous battles inflicted considerable wear and tear on my equipment. Nevertheless, these items are still relatively new; we'll take them," Avi declared. "By the way, do you happen to have any rifles for sale?"

"Rifles? Haha, I have plenty of those! People around here aren't particularly fond of ranged weapons, so they've left quite a few with me," Durinbar chuckled as he approached a nearby door, retrieved a key from his pocket, and unlocked it. "Since you're participating in this war, it means you can have a look at these weapons. But let me tell you, the rifles you people use are like toys, hardly worth controlling!"

"Indeed, that may be the case in the dwarven realms, but dwarves are an ancient and wise race," Avi remarked thoughtfully, showcasing his intelligence. "In terms of craftsmanship and technology, we naturally pale in comparison."

"Hmm, that's a fair point," Dwarves always enjoyed hearing praise for their race, and Durinbar was no exception. "Should you damage any of these gadgets in the future, you can bring them back to me. Most of them were fashioned by my own hammer, so I know how to repair them! Of course, you'll need to provide some gold coins as compensation. How does that sound?"

"That would be most agreeable," Avi said with a rare smile. He remembered that he would soon launch an attack on the greenskins occupying the camp. At that time, who knew how many more casualties there would be?

More equipment was always better. In the future, recruiting new soldiers wouldn't mean going into battle empty-handed.

All in all, this war had brought them wealth and renown, as well as the valuable coach-captain, Rafe, as a companion, not to mention a wealth of experience.

All things considered, it could be deemed a success—so thought Avi.