White Blade and Black Hat

The scout ran up to the man and reported.

“Report, Captain Morlock, I have scouted. There are only around 120 skeletons and about 20 werewolves and elves acting as combatants inside the camp. Non-combatants include 50 jungle elves, about 60 werewolves, and several other outsiders.”

“So detailed?”

Morlock found it strange that his scout could so easily report on the inside of the camp.

“Because their camp isn’t finished yet. There are no city walls for cover, so none of the outsiders inside could escape my ‘Eagle Eye’.”

The scout explained, but Morlock still felt something was off. While he hesitated, a short man beside him spoke up.

“See? My information is accurate. Most of their camp’s fighters have already left. The ones inside are predominantly ordinary outsiders incapable of fighting. Isn’t this exactly what you all are hoping for?”

Hearing the short man, morlock remained hesitant, but from the conversation, it was clear that this was a slave-hunting squad hunting outsiders!

Of course, there were many kinds of slave-hunting squads, most being small groups searching for solitary outsiders in the jungle—not very large-scale. But there were also exceptions, since the slave trade was so lucrative that no one could resist the temptation.

Thus, some mercenary groups had converted into slave-hunting squads.

Think about it: hunting monsters all day long would only net you a few dozen gold coins. But if you fought similar battles in the forest and captured outsiders, the gains would be far greater.

For instance, if they hunted a level-2 monster, the average income was only 5 gold, and a level-3 monster fetched just 10.

But with the same effort, nab a werewolf, and the selling price reached 120 gold coins. Elves were worth even more: males started at 300 gold, and females fetched at least 50% more than that. Hunting monsters simply couldn’t compare!

And right now, there were 70 werewolves and 60 elves here. If they added this up…

That would be a fortune, a staggering income!

The enormous profit rattled Morlock’s reason. Although he’d done plenty of surprise raids on outsider camps before, he’d never encountered such a large camp before.

“My god, over 130 outsiders—and most of them are the most sought-after werewolves and elves on the market…”

“Captain, let’s go for it! They only have some skeletons, and the outsiders’ weapons can’t compare to ours. If we strike first, this job is as good as done!”

Beside Morlock, two squad leaders were flushed with excitement. Confronted with such enormous profits, their ability to think logically had vanished.

Seeing this, the short man behind the mask revealed a triumphant grin.

“In any case, I’ve given you the information, and now you’ve confirmed it yourselves. Therefore, you need to pay my fee of 30 gold coins.”

The short man rubbed his hands. Morlock signaled to a subordinate.

“Here, this is your payment.”

A sack of gold was handed over. The short man took it and counted it carefully.

“The amount is correct, so our transaction is finished. Until next time.”

He wanted to leave, but a few men suddenly blocked his way. The short man turned to Morlock.

“Captain Morlock, what do you mean by this?”

“Just telling you not to talk when you go back.”

Morlock warned him. The bigger the profit before him, the more cautious he became. Otherwise, he never could have led the ‘White Blade Mercenary Group’ to win a B+ grade mercenary badge.

“Relax. As an information broker, I have my professional code. Since I sold the intel to you, there won’t be a third party hearing about this.”

“Good, then take your money and go. We won’t see you off.”

“Looking forward to our next cooperation.”

The short man, saying that, hurried away with his money once they let him pass.

Watching him go, a squad leader sidled up to Morlock and said,

“Captain, this action is a major deal, so I suggest…”

He spoke while drawing a finger across his throat.

“Are you an idiot? This so-called ‘Black Hat’ info broker just left the tavern with us in full view. If you kill him now, who would dare sell us information in the future?”

“That… was thoughtless of me.”

“Forget it, get ready. Time to move.”

Following Morlock’s command, everyone’s eyes brightened.

“Captain, you mean…”

“This job—we’re doing it.”

Morlock said, having just compared the combat strengths.

On the other side: 120 skeletons, 20 werewolves and elves. Here: 100 fully armed mercenaries.

It looked like they were at a numbers disadvantage, but don’t forget, the enemy’s main force was skeletons—that garbage-tier monster would be wiped out instantly by his mercenary group.

He only had to worry about the elves and werewolves, and their numbers were not high. As soon as the battle started, victory would be his!

130 outsiders—selling them to the big merchant guilds, even at wholesale price, would mean tens of thousands of gold coins.

But he wouldn’t stop there. With so many outsiders, he could easily hold an auction, invite the big-shot nobles with more money than they could spend, and the coins would come flooding in.

Do it!

“Delay brings trouble. Pass it down—everyone get ready. Move at nightfall.”

“Yes!”

With the order passed out, the mercenaries rubbed their hands in anticipation. As the sky darkened and the blizzard raged, morlock felt that even the heavens were helping him.

On the other side, the short man didn’t leave. He was covertly observing from afar, with a hawk perched on his shoulder.

Judging by his skilled movements, it was obvious he was an old thief.

“Stupid humans—the moment they see gold their brains stop working.”

Behind the ‘Black Hat’ mask, the short man gave a mocking smile. Watching the ‘White Blade Mercenary Group’ getting ready, he glanced over at the Darkmoon clan’s camp.

But it was precisely thanks to these greedy humans that today’s good show would unfold. He needed to report the intel to his ‘master’ right away.

As for the outcome of the coming battle…

He didn’t care. Given the current balance of power, even if Serea’s subordinates survived, they’d be badly damaged. What would she have left to fight against him with?

With that thought, black Hat slipped away. But he did not see that, after he left, another pair of eyes was watching the ‘White Blade Mercenary Group.’

Ordinary people might not be able to spot the White Blade Mercenary Group, but the one hiding in the woods was—

Doluka’s eyes shone as sharply as those of a snow leopard. In this jungle, every flower, leaf, and tree was a familiar companion, so no one could detect her hiding.

It was only because she had received Serea’s orders that she was out here on a wide patrol. She hadn’t expected to stumble upon this fully manned, Elite force of a hundred men as soon as she set out.

“They’re clearly lurking here to target the camp. I absolutely can’t let them succeed.”

Thinking this, Doluka immediately turned back. She had to make preparations right away and use the method taught to her by the Queen to deal with these humans!

Last time, an enemy captured the camp because of her mistake. This time, she would not be indecisive as before.

The shame of failure—this time, she would wash it away herself!

(To be continued…)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep