"Why?" Hao Yun asked puzzledly.
Biscuit Tang replied somewhat helplessly, "Because the Dark Elf clansmen who handle rentals all know that helping the Black Magic Association recover out-of-control zombies not only earns them a hefty reward but also reimburses their travel expenses back to Cold Moon City. So, naturally, they'll charge a high price. But don't worry, since we can use Elf Biscuits, Doom Ore, Amand Flowers, or Ag's Fairy Grass as equivalent exchange items, we can still afford it."
"We can exchange with Elf Biscuits too? Then there's nothing to worry about! Because when we left Fog Town, they gave us a lot of Elf Biscuits as food!" Hao Yun said, immediately handing over a bag of untouched biscuits to Biscuit Tang.
Biscuit Tang happily took the bag of biscuits, tasted one from inside, and said satisfactorily, "Hmm, not bad. I can feel the presence of Doom energy in these biscuits, indicating they're authentic Elf Biscuits. We can use them for trade. If they were downgraded Elf Biscuits made by the Wright Elves, just one bite from the other party would give us away!"
Although with the help of Hao Yun and Dao Lao, Biscuit Tang's group had enough biscuits for travel expenses, the two of them couldn't feel entirely happy at the moment. Because, since Lao Senwen asked if their prepared biscuits were authentic Elf Biscuits, it meant that Elinna was replenishing Doom energy at all times. This further proved that Elinna was indeed continuously improving her mastery of Black Magic. It also demonstrated that there must be a definite connection between the residual Black Magic power left by Anselin and Mould energy.
After a day of preparation, Hao Yun and Dao Lao had been carefully instructed by Biscuit Tang, allowing them to more accurately mimic the behavior of zombie soldiers. However, to reduce the chances of their disguise being discovered, Biscuit Tang and the others ultimately decided to make Hao Yun and Dao Lao look more like zombie soldiers. As for how to make Hao Yun and Dao Lao look like zombies, it was quite hardcore.
First, Biscuit Tang had Paladinord return to the location where the battle took place yesterday and retrieve the heads of four zombie soldiers. Since the heads of these zombies were much larger than those of normal people, Biscuit Tang and the others directly hollowed out the heads of the zombies and then directly placed them on the heads of Hao Yun and Dao Lao. In this way, the two of them looked no different from the zombie soldiers wearing heavy armor and half-open helmets.
However, although this upgraded disguise was more flawless, it was really hard on Hao Yun and Dao Lao. Especially Hao Yun, who not only had to endure the putrid smell emanating from the zombie heads at close range for a long time but also had to face the physiological fear brought by the zombies in a closer way.
Hao Yun knew that Biscuit Tang and the others did this out of kindness. After all, in the upcoming mission, if there was even a slight flaw in his disguise, it could bring disaster to Biscuit Tang and the others. Plus, there were so many elves watching him, including two beautiful and ethereal elf sisters. Therefore, even if Hao Yun felt distressed and physically uncomfortable at the moment, he had to endure all the pain firmly, and with a thumbs up to everyone, he indicated that he was feeling fine now, and this disguise was simply too cool.
However, feeling guilty for making Hao Yun and Dao Lao do this, and also to help them disguise themselves as much as possible, Biscuit Tang and the others decided to select two lucky individuals through drawing lots to accompany Hao Yun and Dao Lao in disguising themselves as zombies. In this way, their team would appear more like a normal patrol team of the Dark Elf clan. After all, to ensure their safety, no team would go out to find out-of-control zombies without deploying zombie soldiers. Otherwise, if they couldn't effectively control the out-of-control zombies, the consequences could be unimaginable.
After the two unlucky ones disguised themselves as zombie soldiers, they stood respectively in front and behind Hao Yun and Dao Lao, so as to better accompany them in their actions and distract others' attention when necessary. After adjusting the formation and practicing the real actions of the four zombies again, everyone finally prepared to set off in satisfaction. However, at this moment, Hao Yun was shedding tears of bitterness. Because, it was okay for him and Dao Lao to be zombies, but now there were two more zombies by his side, doubling the rotten stench emanating from them, making Hao Yun feel like dying.
Everything was ready. So, led by the elves from the Dark Elf clan at the forefront, with the elves from the Wright clan in the middle, Biscuit Tang holding the Dead Spirit Control Token leading four zombies at the rear of the formation, they all walked out of their temporary hiding place and headed towards Cross Camp.
Here, we have to mention Paladinord again because his reconnaissance ability was really strong, so over the next few days, Hao Yun and their team always managed to cleverly avoid other Dark Elf clansmen appearing nearby. After leaving the Giant Stone Forest on foot for several days in a row, they finally saw the Cross Camp situated on the Cross Road in the distance, on a piece of undulating desert.
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As this place was remote, the scale of Cross Camp was not very large. However, despite its small size and being a waystation, there were still many soldiers stationed here. Moreover, the entire camp was still surrounded by a sturdy stone wall, and several sturdy guard posts were built up and down the gentle slopes around the camp, making this heavily guarded camp look exceptionally safe.
Furthermore, because both the interior of Cross Camp and the roads leading to it were illuminated by torches, even though it was pitch black now, the guards stationed in the guard posts around the camp could still easily see everything within a radius of one or two kilometers.
Therefore, just as Hao Yun and his team saw the layout of Cross Camp, they were also spotted by the guards stationed in the guard post on one side of the camp. So, Hao Yun saw a light beginning to sway in the guard post, as if the guards inside were greeting them.
Biscuit Tang immediately signaled everyone to stop moving forward, then ran to the front of the team and raised his arm, making a few strange gestures toward the direction of the firelight. Then, by the bright firelight ahead, Hao Yun saw several soldiers riding creatures with long, curved antlers on their heads, resembling a cross between a deer and a horse, their entire bodies covered in dense brown fur, quickly approaching them.
"Stay calm, everyone. I've just greeted them using a special communication method of the Dark Elf clan. They just want to send someone over to conduct a simple check on us, then they'll let us continue getting closer. From now on, follow my command, and remember not to make any sudden moves," Biscuit Tang quickly instructed before the cavalrymen approached him.
"Good evening, officers! Is this Cross Camp? Ah! We finally made it! The journey was quite an adventure!" Biscuit Tang approached the cavalrymen with enthusiasm, greeting them proactively.
"Good evening! Who are you people? Where are you from? Are you planning to stay overnight at Cross Camp?" The seemingly lead cavalryman raised his hand roughly in response to Biscuit Tang's greeting, then asked in a stern tone.
"Yes, officer. We are an independent team specialized in searching for out-of-control zombies. My name is Harvey, and they are all my followers. The two zombie soldiers behind us are our own, and the other two are the out-of-control zombies we found outside," Harvey introduced his team composition proactively while waving the Dead Spirit Control Token tied to his waist in front of the cavalryman.
At the same time, Biscuit Tang pretended to scold the soldiers behind him, "Hey! What are you guys standing there stupidly for? Can't you see the officers? Don't you know how to greet them?! Oh well! Please forgive me, officers, my subordinates here are all uneducated rough folks who can't even perform basic etiquette!"
"Never mind, never mind. If they had some spirit, they wouldn't end up picking up trash everywhere," the leader said nonchalantly, showing disdain and contempt in his words towards Biscuit Tang and his people, who made a living by finding out-of-control zombies.
As an old hand who had been roaming the border areas of the Dark Elf clan for many years, Biscuit Tang naturally immediately understood the meaning behind the leader's words. So, he quickly approached the leader with a smiling face and said, "Hey there! Look at what you're saying! Although the treatment from above is limited, how can we, as civilians of the Dark Elf clan, mistreat you brave warriors who defend our homeland? Especially me, Harvey, how can I stand by and watch you officers work hard here on night duty?"
As Biscuit Tang spoke, he also took out several large packs of Elf Biscuits and handed them to the cavalrymen. He kept saying, "Hey there! We earn hard-earned money too, so this is just a small token of appreciation. Please accept it, officers!"
Due to the long-term war, Elf Biscuits of the Dark Elf clan were always in short supply, making it much less available to non-soldiers participating in frontline combat. In this situation, soldiers stationed in remote areas found it even harder to get sufficient Elf Biscuits.
Therefore, after seeing Biscuit Tang generously giving out large packs of Elf Biscuits, the soldiers' eyes bulged with joy. You see, the Elf Biscuits Biscuit Tang gave them were enough to cover their salaries for a month! Seeing this treasure hunter, no, this treasure hunter being so generous, the attitude of several soldiers naturally underwent a 360-degree transformation on the spot.
"Oh! Why are you bothering so much? We're all comrades here, you're being too polite! Oh right, may I ask, are you gentlemen planning to stay at Cross Camp overnight? If you'd like to hang out here, we'll arrange accommodation for you right away!" The leader said enthusiastically, skillfully hiding the large bag of Elf Biscuits in his cloak.
Seeing the soldiers' attitude change from serious and indifferent to warm and friendly, Hao Yun and his team's nervousness relaxed. Biscuit Tang even casually patted the leader's mount twice and said, "Hahaha! Let's trouble this gentleman here! Actually, we plan to stay here overnight. Also, tomorrow, we'd like to rent a few flying beasts to quickly send those two zombie soldiers back to the factory in Cold Moon City to avoid further trouble caused by the spells on them."
Hearing Biscuit Tang's words, the leader's expression changed strangely again, and at the same time, he secretly delighted in his heart: "Wow! I didn't expect them to be so rich? They even want to rent a few flying beasts? Hmph, I'll have to ask the boss at the rental station to raise the price again later. In this way, I can get some more commission! Haha! I'm so lucky today!"
Thinking of this, the leader jumped off his mount and enthusiastically invited Biscuit Tang and his team, "Since that's the case, let's not stand around here! Let's hurry back and rest. We have to hit the road tomorrow. Everyone, please come with me!"
After arriving at the camp, the cavalrymen first helped Biscuit Tang and his team register, then quickly arranged accommodations for them. They also assisted them in renting several flying beasts at a price slightly higher than the market rate. Once everything was arranged, Biscuit Tang and his team went to rest in the barracks specially prepared for them.
However, to prevent Hao Yun and Dao Lao, the two zombie soldiers, from losing control again, Biscuit Tang had no choice but to follow the camp's rules and lock them in a separate, enclosed warehouse.