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In a narrow area of the hollow, there was a very concealed cave. Shirtless men with black snake tattoos on their shoulders were seen entering and exiting the cave entrance from time to time.
Mengdie signaled Edward and the others, and they crouched down, circling towards the top of the cave. Sisco, the mage, spread his hands and chanted continuously. Small fireballs, like fireflies, began to move in all directions above his palms. As they traced their path, the map being created became increasingly accurate. After completing the circuit, his palm showed a detailed 3D map of the terrain, identical to the surroundings of the Black Flame Snake. The cave's location was marked with a red dot and labeled "Target." Naturally, Mengdie couldn't understand any of it.
After mapping the surrounding terrain, Mengdie identified several other potential entry points, which Sisco also marked. With everything prepared and the sun set, they decided to return to prevent worrying the other mercenaries.
A boisterous voice suddenly erupted from below their feet, startling Edward into drawing his long sword! The mages also raised their staves, channeling energy between their staffs and fingers.
After a moment, there were no signs of movement, but the voices underfoot continued, seemingly a conversation among several people. Mengdie crouched down and, after searching through the grass, came to a large rock. She listened intently with her ear against the rock, then began to dig beside it. Edward joined in, and his sword quickly cleared a large area of soil. When Mengdie carefully removed a layer of soil, a line of light shone through.
"...Directly above the bandit camp."
After observing for a moment, Mengdie turned back and whispered softly. Sisco nodded, and with a slight movement of his fireballs, the geographical location was marked.
Linda clasped her hands and murmured softly. Moisture from the soil rose and gathered to form a mirror thinner than a strand of hair. She positioned the mirror above the small hole, adjusting the angle. Soon, part of the camp's interior was visible to everyone.
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The cave was spacious and lit with glass oil lamps. Hundreds of similarly dressed men sat in groups inside the cave, eating meat and drinking. Around them, young women in tattered clothes, shackled at hands and feet, served drinks. Linda magnified the mirror slightly, revealing the fear and despair on the women's faces. In the center of the cave, on a flat area, a stone chair held a man resembling a bear, drinking heavily. Next to him, the girl pouring his drink seemed only as big as his arm!
In front of the man, many injured women knelt, apparently farm girls from nearby villages. They looked both astonished and terrified, some crying, others pleading with the bandits to let them go.
Captives.
This thought naturally came to everyone's mind. As Mengdie silently observed the interior layout, she suddenly sensed something off about Edward. She turned to see him clenching his teeth, his face red with anger, and his sword-hand bulging with veins. His current demeanor starkly contrasted his previously ineffective appearance.
"These bandits! Always attacking travelers, harassing villages. They commit all kinds of atrocities! Looks like they've attacked another village, huh? Damn it!"
Sisco and Linda exchanged glances, pleased to see Edward's righteous indignation. Still, they remained cautious. Sisco silently chanted a spell, and a web of purple electricity spread at Edward's feet to restrain any rash actions.
"Mengdie, what should we do now? I propose we storm in!" Edward's grip on the sword tightened.
In the mirror, the large man got up from the stone chair and stood in front of the prettiest girl. He nodded approvingly, grabbed her hair, and yanked her up, making her scream in terror and kick wildly. The man seemed to enjoy the scream, grabbing the girl's clothes and ripping them open.
The girl's screams intensified. She covered herself, kicking the man's chest. But her strength was too small to bother the man. Instead, her screams further excited him. He pushed her onto the chair, preparing to force himself on her. The surrounding bandits cheered excitedly, while the shackled girls turned away, unable to watch.
"That beast!!!" Edward drew his sword, ready to plunge into the hole! Sisco's electric net activated, numbing his body with harmless currents but unable to quell the fury in his eyes!
Mengdie's fists clenched too, but rationality told her that with just the four of them, they couldn't possibly fight the 300+ men inside. The most important task was done; any further anger had to wait until the army arrived tomorrow.
Under the man's control, the girl fainted from fear. Losing interest, the man turned to the remaining girls and grinned, "Brothers, we need some dancers! Drinking without women dancing is too dull. Well, you all dance for me! If you dance well, I'll let you go tonight. Now, start dancing!"
The girls huddled together, forced to dance amidst the bandits' lewd laughter. Seeing the girls temporarily safe, Mengdie sighed in relief, pulled Edward, and quickly retreated with Sisco and Linda towards the camp.
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