This entry cannot be completed simply through effort alone.
Even with the support of the [Magic Potion Workshop] entry, itâs uncertain when a high-level Alchemist could be trained!
However, Luo De is still a bit unwilling to let go.
"It seems that to complete this entry, I need to seek some external assistance."
Luo De couldnât help but ponder to himself, "Since I can bring in a Forging Master, could I also enlist a Potion Master?"
"I wonder if the Dawn Society has any..."
...
...
On a vantage point outside Feiyu Village, east of Eagle Ridge.
It is a not-so-tall hill, covered with sparse bushes and wild grass, along with a few scattered pine trees.
Of course, the important thing is this position offers a view of the entire Feiyu Village and the surrounding rolling hills.
Cook, the Loyal Blade of the Cold Blade Clanâs senior Knight, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing deeply into the distance.
He is a middle-aged man around forty, tall and broad-shouldered.
His brown hair is neatly combed, his face angular, features distinguished, and deep brown eyes exuding experience and calm, along with a hint of arrogance.
He wears finely crafted armor, bearing the emblem of the Cold Blade Clan.
At this moment, his similarly dressed deputy approached from below the hill, with apparent anxiety on his face,
He stopped in front of Cook, bowing respectfully,
"Commander, all the reconnaissance teams we sent out have returned one after another."
The deputyâs voice carried tension,
"But regrettably, we havenât found any trace of Madre and his men."
He paused, "Itâs as if those people never came, completely vanished."
"Disappeared?"
Cook chuckled lightly.
He continued to stand with his hands behind his back, gazing at the never-ending hills ahead,
"I donât believe he disappeared, unless theyâre dead."
Cookâs voice was calm, imbued with the coolness of a battlefield veteran,
"Either heâs already fled."
"Or theyâve found a very hidden refuge, hiding deep in the mountain forests."
Cook waved his hand and ordered, "Bring the map."
"Yes, sir."
The nearby Guard immediately handed over the scroll, which the deputy quickly unrolled.
Cookâs gaze was as sharp as a hawkâs, scanning the entire map, calculating various possibilities,
"You see, based on their previous trajectories, moving from north to east, several villages beside us might be their targets."
"But almost a week has passed and we havenât found them, indicating they had already learned of the news and escaped."
"Madre is cleverer than we imagined, such a pity..."
Cook withdrew his gaze, looking toward the distant mountains, "Now that itâs winter, they might freeze to death in some dark corner."
The deputy heard this, sighed slightly, and remained silent.
"What should we do next?"
The deputy cautiously inquired, his tone probing,
"Should we consider retreating? At our current consumption rate, our supplies can sustain us for at most one more week..."
Although sometimes the army can "borrow" some food from local residents to maintain supplies, they canât plunder like those robbers.
The army of over four hundred mostly relies on their carried rations, consuming thousands of pounds daily.
This substantial logistical pressure gave the deputy a headache.
"These problems should not be our concern."
Cook wore a casual smile, "You should first communicate with the Hawk Clanâs commander."
"If they are willing to provide necessary food supplies, weâll continue the search here."
"If they think itâs a waste of time and food, then we withdraw the troops directly."
Cookâs tone was relaxed,
"After all, weâre here to help them solve problems, and this is their territory; food issues shouldnât be our worry."
"Yes, sir."
The deputy bowed courteously and then quickly descended the hill to convey orders.
Soon, the Hawk Clanâs commander personally responded to Cook.
Unsurprisingly, the Hawk Clan readily agreed to the food supply request.
Cook didnât shy away from sending more reconnaissance teams out for a thorough search, following the trajectories of previously attacked villages.
Those areas rarely visited, such as valleys, caves, deep forests, were all searched one by one.
However, after several days of effort, the results were still fruitless.
Just as the commanders of the two armies were pondering their next steps, a horse galloped into the village.
"Commander, itâs bad!"
The rider, evidently exhausted after a long rush, stumbled down, barely able to stand.
Ignoring fatigue, the rider reported loudly,
"News from Mount Wind Village in the west, three nights ago they were raided!"
"All village guards were killed, their corpses hung on the racks in front of the village!"
This news was like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone present stunned.
"Damn bastards!"
Sharon, the Hawk Clanâs commander, rose abruptly from his chair, slamming the table fiercely,
"These bastards are challenging us!"
In contrast, Cook, though visibly gloomy, remained calm.
"Did they raid for slaves like before?" Cook asked the rider.
"No, sir!"
The rider answered without hesitation, "Only food and Silver Coins, but they burned the village!"