Chapter 2906 - 969: Weren’t We Supposed to Be Soldiers on Payroll? How Did We End Up as Guerrillas Behind Enemy Lines?

Chapter 2906: Chapter 969: Weren’t We Supposed to Be Soldiers on Payroll? How Did We End Up as Guerrillas Behind Enemy Lines?

Beside Deril Lake under the night sky, players and rangers are extracting usable supplies from the fallen Gold Vessel. They pack ammo and provisions into their psychic packages as much as possible, leaving those that can’t fit in a pile on the ground.

These items were gathered from Transylvania to be sent to the halflings, and abandoning them here seems a pity. Therefore, after consulting with Captain Yala, Xugou and Art decided to send someone to the nearby Shield Dwarf territory to have them come and collect the supplies.

The Shield Dwarves here have been steadfastly defending their pass against the Gnolls, and they count as allies to our side. Transporting so many supplies to them will surely earn significant favor with the Shield Dwarf faction.

However, no one is planning to leave just yet, because Brother Qu received a direct command from Old Qin on the forum. They must wait until Brother Qu and Captain Mia finish their discussion before taking further action.

On the far side of the lake, away from the temporary camp, Old Qu disassembles his Cannibal Demon’s Hammer for necessary maintenance, while speaking softly to Mia beside him, who is doing the same:

"All the other airships have successfully reached the vicinity of Charldo Harbor. They will arrive there in an hour. Through our foreigners’ special communication channel, I learned from Lord Qin that a still-operating halfling factory is near our crash site. The Gnolls we killed were guards near that factory."

"Hmm?"

Captain Mia, wiping a disassembled barrel with a cloth, looked up in surprise and said:

"Hasn’t this area already been occupied by the Gnolls? How could there still be a factory running? The Gnolls don’t seem the type to manage machines."

"That’s exactly what I wanted to talk about."

Brother Qu looked into Mia’s bloodshot eyes glittering in the dark and explained:

"Lord Qin suspects that the factory employs halflings and locals as slave labor, forced by the Gnolls. Given the current actions of the Gnolls on the Ligurian Peninsula, any factory they leave operating is likely producing guns, ammunition, and explosives for them.

If we let this factory continue, it will endlessly produce weapons to arm the Gnolls.

Therefore, Lord Qin hopes we can try to destroy it, under the premise of ensuring our safety. If possible, rescue the enslaved individuals too.

Our expeditionary force came to support the war on the Ligurian Peninsula, but it’s not just Charldo Harbor that needs help on this land. We can’t simply ignore what we encounter.

Of course, Lord Qin also mentioned the danger involved in this matter.

We foreigners don’t mind; death is as routine for us as eating. But you can choose to opt out of accompanying us and wait with Captain Yala’s crew at Polut Pass for the airship that will later come to pick you up."

"But even if we are picked up and taken back to Charldo Harbor, we still have to fight, right?"

Captain Mia shook her head and said:

"Fighting is the same wherever we fight. As long as the target is the Gnolls, I have no problem, and neither will my soldiers! But if we’re going to take action, we need to do it quickly. It’s already midnight, and there are only six hours until dawn.

Given the current composition of our team, the rangers’ combat effectiveness will be seriously weakened after daylight."

"Alright, then we rest for twenty minutes and proceed toward the factory!"

Brother Qu decided, saying:

"We have three Dragon Knights as the vanguard. Ordinary Gnolls can’t stop us, and if everything goes smoothly during the raid, we estimate the battle will be over by dawn."

"Hmm."

Mia nodded and then quietly began assembling the weapons that had been maintained. Brother Qu scratched his head, wanting to say something, but didn’t know how to start a conversation. After hesitating for half a minute and seeing Mia about to leave, he finally spoke:

"Well... about Norse and Papillon, I’m very sorry."

"Hmm?"

Mia looked at Brother Qu in surprise and said:

"My friends died in a war to protect our homeland. They died honorably and were posthumously awarded the Transian Defender honor. Their families will be able to enjoy prestige for life back home. You do not need to feel regret over this, Major Qu.

In fact, I should thank you for training us back then, or we wouldn’t have had the courage to fight to the last moment in that situation..."

"That’s why I feel sorry. I should have trained you all more diligently back then."

Old Qu quietly said:

"To be honest, I just considered you to be named cannon fodder at the time... That was my real thought, until we completed that dangerous sniping together; I then realized we aren’t so different.

We’re just born into different worlds, but we’re the same, whether emotionally or with sorrow, these feelings are universal.

I’m still young and haven’t experienced the sadness of losing a loved one, so I can’t imagine how you persuaded yourself to get through it after those events. I’m sorry I was thousands of miles away when you needed me.

But... but seeing you safe and sound, I... how should I put it, I’m quite happy."

"Sigh, why would you think I’ve already moved on?"

Captain Mia shook her head and said:

"I’m still not used to the daylight. Every time I doze off in the sunlight, I return to that desperate moment. I’ve heard from some of your people that veterans who have experienced battlefield tragedies often have similar symptoms, and I seem to suffer from a more severe case, not just physically, but mentally as well.