“Well if it isn’t the people saving those settlers.” A youthful soldier greeted them near the gate while a group of armored guards took in the boxes of trinkets, the horses, and the settlers into the settlement.

“Moved from the other front I assume?” Ishmael approached the soldier.

“Indeed we are! Princess Evelin sent us here as extra reinforcement after the ratslayers dealt with the infestation.” The soldier turned to the settlement behind him.

“So much needs to be done, I hope you can handle those bandits like the rats.” He laughed.

“Hey you’re part of the task, remember that kid.”

“O-Of course!” They walked inside, the soldiers finally noticed Quellin dragging the chained bandit captain, gaining the attention of a more decorated soldier from the reinforcement.

Mono and Lia stayed alongside the settlers, refusing to leave their side even in the safety of the settlement.

“Bandit captain, he looks like a familiar face.” The man muttered in a deep tone.

“We were planning on gaining information on any bandits remaining in the area, hopefully, higher ranked ones to cut the head off this thing.” Without a response, the soldier grabbed onto the cuffs. Quellin didn’t try to resist, simply letting go once his hands grasped around the binding.

“We can take it from here-”

“Not so fast.” Before the man walked off, Ishmael grabbed at the chain as well.

“We are part of this mission of pacifying the region. We deserve to have a hand in gaining information before you do whatever you want with the prisoner.” The man sighed but looked at Ishmael with a nod.

“Very well,” He pointed at a newly built tent, smaller than the rest. “We will bring him to the tent for interrogation. Once you have what you require, we will send him to Stone’s Edge for judgment.

“A fair deal.” The man walked away, handing the prisoner to Ishmael.

This place really went through a quick makeover

Rubble and corpses were gone, more guards stood around the camp, and defenses were rebuilt and improved upon. Wagons periodically arrived with supplies to drop off, from food to materials and weapons were dropped on the sand for the guards to store.

I hope this is the same for the other settlements in this place. Apart from that they are rather swift with repairing and reinforcing. Interesting.

—-----

A single lantern dangling above lit up the room. Quellin attached the cuffs and fetters to a wooden chair while everyone else stood around him, arms crossed, itching to rough him up. His armor and weapons lay on a nearby table, perhaps they can sell it for extra money.

Quellin eyed the man with a deepened fury, turning to Ishmael with a question in mind.

“What specific information do we require from him captain?” Ishmael narrowed her eyes on the prisoner.

“Any important people or camps he may know about. Now wake him up.” Quellin launched his fist into the man’s stomach, causing him to gasp loudly, sucking in air through his mouth.

After seconds of coughing, he finally set his eyes on the team, slowly looking around. The light, the small tent, the team. His eyes drooped down with a smug smirk.

“Great, captured. So this is how being a kidnapped settler feels like.” A mixture of laughter and violent coughs came out of his mouth.

"Just like what those people from your camp suffered, all we're missing now is a letter from you begging to be saved." Kayd spat, his mouth was quicker than his thought of restraining himself. Ishmael turned to Kayd with a glare, as if ordering him to be quiet for now. With a sigh, she began.

“We need information on slaver camps and hopefully your leaders. Spill them up or suffer a worse fate.” The man spat at Ishmael in response.

“Ya people from the civilized kingdom, all talk little action. T’was no wonder we took down those camps easily.” He laughed again.

The tension in the room was obvious, an expression of hatred rested on their faces.

I wanna cut off his head already…Just like those other outlaws before…

A similar thought lingered in everyone’s mind. But Ishmael had the final say.

“Might I remind you, your allies aren’t here. They’re all dead and can’t save you, not to mention how we killed them. We can spare you their fate if you tell us where they are.” She explained with an unimpressed tone, wiping her cheek.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

“Hah, you ain’t getting anything from me. You think of yourself as better because of that rich man lingo? You’re not getting a peep out of me.” Ishmael smirked but sighed in disappointment.

The man continued talking afterwards, this time speaking in incomprehensible slang and informal speech Kayd wasn’t used to. No matter how many times Ishmael threatened him, he remained hesitant.

“These bandits haven’t changed a bit. This is why I prefer killing them and finding any paper from the camp.”

“He’s just mocking us, and telling us what he did to prisoner guards.” Ikari stepped forward, staring at the man with curiosity.

“You understand him?”

“Yup, spent a good chunk of time with outlaws before. Practically became a second language to me.”

“Well, this will make things easier.” She cracked her knuckles and looked at the team.

“Make sure not to kill him.” To start, Quellin delivered a series of punches, enough to draw more blood from the man's face. He spat back with a smile.

Kayd followed, delivering a slew of slow but light cuts across his body. Swift but precise, ensuring each one was pain-ridden but not lethal. The rest followed with their own forms of punishment, stopping just before he would either die or get knocked out. All the while he grunted, screamed for a few moments, or kept looking back at them with a smile.

—-----

Bloodied weapons and fists, along with blood dripping down the chair. It had been an hour, they used up their anger to break the cruel bandit captain, hoping it was enough. Quellin and Kayd felt the most relieved and also delivered the most punishment.

Kayd panted, just like the others, they were out of breath or wiped the excess blood from their weapons and clothes. Ikari stood by the man, ready to translate whatever he said next.

He wiped the blood from his sword, satisfied with what appeared to be another task done, and a step closer to taking out these bandits and gaining more titles.

The hunger was within him, he felt an ounce of satisfaction as the criminal started muttering in Ikari’s ear, a small smile appeared on her face before relaying the response to Ishmael.

“Cracked knuckles?” He asked Quellin, still in his armor with hands covered in red.

“None, dull sword?” Quellin replied.

“Not at all.” An hour or more had gone by, no doubt the guards and people outside heard what was going on. Nobody seemed to try to see what was going on.

I think that’s enough, I need a rest and a moment to cool off.

With a heavy sigh, Kayd walked through the tent entrance.

Outside, Lia and Mono were talking in the middle of the camp. The settlers were nowhere to be seen, but the two seemed happy.

Wonder what those two are talking about, they seem happy. Probably plants and herbs.

He sat down, the sun was nearing dawn but the heat remained. His mouth felt dry, but he ignored it for now. What matters is gaining more of those titles, and completing the tasks.

A couple of titles so far, but not enough to compare to the achievements of my classmates…I need more if I want to get on equal footing with em.

He cleaned his blade to pass the time, hearing the muffled whines and shouts from within.

Guess they aren’t done yet.

A few minutes passed, and the builders continued working without rest while the soldiers continued their patrols. The smell of cooking meat emanated from an open kitchen nearby. A small group of settlers gathered near it to grab a slice from the cook.

Kayd smiled, ignoring the temptation to grab a bite to eat.

Need to focus, even though I'm starving right now. I’m sure I can buy more meals from the kingdom after this anyway

“Hey Kayd.” Kayd looked up. While lost I thought, Lia had noticed him.

“Oh, wait, where's Mono?”

“He went out to check on the settlers again. He seems really attached to them. He reminds me of fellow healers in my cathedral when we held internal duties.” She sat next to Kayd. They quietly looked around without a thought in mind, taking in the moment to relax with a nice sight around them.

“You seem to be quite close to him,” Kayd commented.

“You think so too? He said he likes flowers and plants and also likes helping people too! So he’s practically like me! I even advised on how to use cacti for medicine and bandages.”

“At least you two are getting along well. Anything else?” Kayd asked, some rambling from the resident medic may be decent background noise to relax with. And perhaps he may learn something new.

The rest of the time was spent relaxing near the tent, Lia continued with her advice on healing and harvesting.

—---

“And that is why I always used Bloodfern leaves when increasing or decreasing pain.” After a while of talking, she paused to finally breathe.

“Apart from that, he encouraged me to explore more when I showed him my journal. Even told me of a few plants he knew in the forest. Maybe I can try searching for plants here once we settle down during this mission.”

“Plants? In the desert? The only thing to find here is cacti, I don't know if a tree can survive here.” Kayd laughed.

“Life persists everywhere, even in the unforgiving desert, with just hope and a drop of water, life can bloom.”

“Umm, what?”

“Sorry, just another one of my cathedral’s quotes on hope. They are pretty inspiring.” Lia replied. With nothing left to talk about, she took out her journal and began drawing.

The entrance of the tent flew open, Quellin and the rest of the team were exhausted, most of their body covered in crimson.

Just in time, the soldier from earlier approaches them. This time his helmet off, revealing a scarred and bitter expression.

“Got your information?”

“Yeah, took a while. He’s all yours now.” Ishmael stretched her arms wide as the soldier walked past her into the tent.

Her hatchet, boots, hands, and even forehead were covered in red.

Ikari immediately dropped to the floor while Quellin looked at his drenched gauntlets.

“Hey Kayd, how about borrowing that clothing cleaner you bought?” Ishmael laughed.

“Not now, of course, we have a job to do. All of you prepare and gear up, a new hunt is in our midst. I’ll get Pip.” Ishmael ordered, they spent another minute taking in the uncomfortable but relaxing rest they were having.

Not long after, Mono returned, his expression changed from joyful to utter shock and horror at seeing the team.

“Never seen people drenched in blood before?” Ikari laughed.

“Well, r-rat blood maybe but never human!” He stammered.

“You’ll get used to it.” She reassured.

With everyone in one place, they took in a final minute of safe rest before heading out to Pip.

--------

A veil of darkness clouded the desert around them, warm air still lingered as Pip marched on through the dark.

“I can’t see anything in this dark, can we at least light a candle or something?” Ikari complained.

“We need to be as unseen as possible. Just bear with it for now Ikari.” Ishmael replied, Kayd stumbled around with arms out trying to navigate himself around the area. His body struck against his teammates.

I hope we get there already. I need more of those titles, and to save more of those people. Perhaps we can get more side quests and rewards while doing it, along with their thanks.