The next morning, Theo, Leonardo, Bell, Ryan, and Robin lined up together with other water porters in front of the Paul that was standing at the platform.

Paul looked at the 20 columns of lined-up groups before clearing his throat and throwing his glance at each group leader.

Nora, the leader of the 15th group wasn't an exception.

Finishing looking at his subordinate, Paul moved his glance at the rest of the "Red horses" members.

"I hope everyone had enough rest and ready for the job," said Paul, smiling and looking at the yawning members, "Don't forget that we are still competing against Chris and his people, and I think there is no need to remind you what is put on stakes,"

Just this reminder was enough for many members to get serious and an atmosphere of preparation to battle appeared in the air.

Paul smiled when he felt the battle-ready spirit among his subordinate.

"As usual, go get the water and return as fast as possible, be careful, don't get killed by the rare monsters, help each other if you meet the danger,"

"By the way, there are few newbies in our squad, help them and look after them if they are in your squad," said Paul, stopping his gaze at the members of the 15th group, "Listen to your scouts, and return alive,"

Finishing talking to his comrades, Paul took a glass with certain liquid before raising it and looking at his people.

"For the safe return," said Paul, drinking the glass with alcohol together with other personnel that would stay here in the camp.

Only participants of the sally continued to stand in their places and looking at how few others drank alcohol and wished them a safe return.

Finishing with the last procedure, Paul put the glass away before nodding to his people.

A short time later, the elite water porters started moving out towards their carriages with prepared empty leather containers. Soon, all the elite squads in the expedition camp left on their carriages and horses in search of water.

***

As new members of their squad, Theo and others were instructed to look after the leather containers so that nothing happened with them while charioteers controlled the reins to follow after the rest of the group.

In short, they got a simple and easy task and had enough time to spend it in conversations.

So, Theo and Robin who ended up appointed on the same carriage got lucky to meet quite a talkative and funny charioteer called Shaun. He was an ordinary old man without any abilities just like the rest of the auxiliary personnel in the group who only knew how to control horses.

He had a funny hat on his grey-haired head and wrinkled face that told about his many years.

At first, Theo didn't pay attention to him but slowly got immersed in his conversation with Robin when he heard some useful information from him.

"So, our scout leader is famed for his marksmanship, right?" asked Robin.

"That's right, young man, all our scouts are very precise when it comes to bow shooting, but the scout leader is something else. I once participated in the sally with them to the quite dangerous areas, and at a certain moment, several monsters appeared from the front," explained Shaun, reminiscing, "There were several carriages with only 5 elite water porters and him. I began to bid goodbye to the horse that kept me company for many years when I saw those huge, terrifying wolves. However, just as they started moving, the scout leader unleashed his bow and literally several moments was enough for his arrows to pierce through the middle of their heads."

"There were around 8 of them, and he finished shooting in just several moments. He was like an arrow shooting puppet!" explained Shaun, sharing his impressions about that story.

His story picked Robin's interest, and the youth moved his glance and looked at the back of their scout leader that continued to move forward.

Theo who also listened to his story smiled before inclining back on the carriage when he noticed several scout members slowly approaching them.

They seemed to be talking about something and didn't pay any attention to Theo and others.

"Is it true? Have they finished clearing those territories?" asked one of the scouts, looking at his comrade.

"Yes, I literally spent a huge sum of merit points to get this intel, they have already killed all the nagas that rampaged in there, and returned control over all significant locations," explained another scout.

"So, this is the thing we talked about before, right?" asked the scout with clear enthusiasm in his eyes.

His comrade nodded while they were passing near Theo's carriage.

"Yes, we have to talk with our captain, my guts are telling me that soon more squads and squadrons would be sent there. This is a nice chance to earn merit points or even promotion."

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The duo continued to move further, and soon Theo could no longer hear what they were talking about.

These small pieces of information were enough for Theo to get an overall situation on the battlefield.

In short, it looked like the vanguard that the expedition camp has sent finished dealing with nagas on their territories and prepared footholds for the further invasion.

If their words were true then it wouldn't take long for the Headquarters to send the next bunch of forces to strengthen footholds and make sure there is no unexpected hidden danger. So, it wouldn't take long for the departure of the bigger vanguard than before in the same direction as before.

Besides Theo knew that vanguard left towards the area mainly covered with fields and forests. So, he expected that it wouldn't become a problem for them to get rid of few groups of nagas that left swamps to rampage local villages and forts.

It was just a prelude to the war, the real battlefield would start when expedition forces would enter swamps where nagas had more advantages than their opponents.

However, with the increase of the expedition forces, more and more auxiliary and support personnel would be sent to the battlefield, and Theo knew that he had to show himself if he wanted to reach the real battlefield, not with main forces or even slow-moving support personnel.

So, Theo clenched his fists and raised his glance at the beginning of their group that started increasing its speed.

Noticing the change in the temp, Shaun became serious and concentrated his attention on the road in front of him.

"Get ready, and prepare to look after the cargo, we will move fast for the next hour," said Shaun, increasing the speed, and following after the group.

At the same time as carriages started gathering speed, scouts and horse riders followed after them, creating a formation, putting at least one rider to each carriage.

***

2 hours later, all the carriages stopped near the lake with clean water, and each group started making their preparations.

Scouts left to look after surroundings to look after any potential danger, charioteers approached the lake, letting Theo and other water porters quickly grab containers and pour water in them before the carriage wouldn't turn around, preparing for the return journey.

At the same time as Theo and other newbies were preparing water containers, Nora returned from the conversation with the scout leader and noticed that more than half of her old comrades were watching how newbies prepared water containers, advising from time to time.

"Hey! Don't hurry, you haven't finished pouring all the water, container can fit, return it to the lake," said one of the water porters.

"Be gentle, and put containers orderly, so that it wasn't difficult for others back in the camp to unload the cargo,"

"Put them as close to charioteer's seat as possible, and don't put them near the edge!"

Nora spent several moments watching how her comrades were sharing their wisdom with newbies before clearing her throat and attracting their attention.

"Do you really think that we have so much time to let newbies prepare containers by themselves?"

Noticing the change in expression on their faces, Nora smiled.

"Have you forgotten about Chris and his guys? Do you want to lose to them once again?"

Her words were like a cold shoulder for many spectators and moments later all the elite water porters started pouring water into containers and loading them at the carriages.

In short, her words were enough to change the atmosphere and increase the pace of work.

At the same time as experienced water porters were showing how to do their job, Theo and other newbies watched and copied their techniques, learning their wisdom in the process.

***

Half an hour later, groups started leaving the lake one by one.

Finishing loading the last carriage, Nora looked at Theo and other newbies.

"Take their horses, and follow after me," said Nora, pointing at 5 horses, belonging to other members.

"You will return on the carriages and make sure so that cargo wouldn't fall in the process," ordered Nora, looking at the owners of those horses.

While Theo and others climbed the horses, carriages and other group members finished preparations and were ready for the return journey.

Scouts were already at the start of their column while charioteers were only waiting till the start of the movement.

"Okay, let's move out," cried Nora, using her battle energy to increase the sound of her voice so that everyone could hear her.

Several moments later, the 15th group started their return journey, increasing their speed with each passing moment.

Nora, Theo, and other newbies were moving at the back of the column, protecting the rear.

They continued to travel in such manner for another half an hour till the moment Nora didn't turn slow down, letting Theo and other catch to her.

"Since it's your 1st sally, I won't be too strict with you guys," said Nora, looking at Theo and others, "However, you should have already realized that there is a strong competition between elite squads and even among each group of the same squad. We all struggle to increase our effectiveness to earn more merit points than our opponents. Since you have joined my squad, I am expecting you won't spoil our effectiveness and would make everything you can to increase it."

"Think about councils you heard, and think about ways on how to work faster and more effectively," explained Nora, looking at them, "You should have noticed that my colleagues haven't accepted you as their comrades yet, and if you want to stay in this group, you would better make enough efforts to show them and earn their respect, so that they didn't consider you as a liability."

Her words were harsh but true and almost all the newbies nodded with serious expressions on their faces. All of them noticed how other members looked at them and ignored them except for charioteers that were even lower than them in terms of status. Each of them found interesting people they wanted to talk to, but couldn't when they noticed how others looked at them. However, Bell made a "Hmm" sound, disagreeing with her.

"I don't consider myself as liability, you should have already seen my prowess on the arena, I just need to show it and the problem would be solved," said Bell, looking directly at her eyes.

Nora just smiled when she heard his words.

"Don't forget that you are a water porter, you might be an elite one, but you are still water porter," explained Nora, looking at him, "We have professional scouts to accompany us not only to find the closest water source but also to get rid of monsters and other problems we might stumble across our way. I admit that you are strong, and your unique battle energy would be very useful in emergencies if our scouts wouldn't be able to deal with problems by themselves.

"However, only those water porters that travel in wild territories or near the battlefield can meet such obstacles, and before getting there each water porter would be reevaluated and new squads and groups would be formed. In short, you will have to prove yourself as an effective member, not a strong one," said Nora with a clear clue in her words.

"So, you better stop being arrogant and open your eyes and ears to engulf as much knowledge and wisdom as you can. You never know when such simple things can save your life," said Nora, throwing her serious glance directly at the eyes of Bell.

Bell wavered when he heard her explanation and nodded with a serious expression on his face.

"That's it for now. Think about my words, and don't relax. Though it's safe around the expedition camp, some monsters live nearby anyway." said Nora, increasing her speed and quickly catching up with the carriage.

Theo and others didn't say anything and just continued to gallop after her, thinking about her words and the new information she shared with them.