Chapter 217: Return

The caravan was set to depart today, and Helag found them while they were queued for inspection at the city gate.

The travel fee was one gold coin, and Lins could travel with the caravan, with food and drink provided.

The gold coins Helag used were provided by Parker and matched the common currency specifications of this world.

Thus, Helag didn’t worry about revealing any information through the coins.

Helag patted Lins on the shoulder, “Work hard, kid. Don’t come back until you’ve become a knight.”

Lins nodded excitedly, “Sir, I will become a knight!”

The caravan continued its journey, with Lins waving from the wagon’s front.

After sending the kid off, Helag turned and headed towards the southwest city gate.

He planned to check out the border military camp.

Having thoroughly understood the city’s situation, Helag had a complete mental map of Oberstein, with every building meticulously recorded.

These details would later be drawn into a map to be handed over to Parker at Base 27.

Exiting through the southwest gate, Helag noticed many adventurers near the border.

They were all looking towards the Lim Mountains, hoping to spot something.

Despite the dangers within the Lim Mountains, these adventurers were undeterred and eager to explore.

Adventurers from afar continued arriving in Oberstein, each wanting to take their chances.

After a brief pause, Helag pretended to stroll leisurely, gradually approaching the military camp.

The camp was surrounded by wooden walls, and adventurers had to stop 200 meters away, unable to get closer.

Helag found this distance sufficient, as Deep Blue’s environmental scan could cover most of the camp.

Activating the scan, Helag quickly took in the camp’s layout, visualizing it in his mind.

He soon spotted Severus, whose second-level wizard aura was unmistakably strong.

Helag didn’t dare focus on him for long, quickly scanning other areas.

Lingering could alert Severus to being watched.

Knowing the second-level wizard was in the camp was enough.

Helag shifted his focus elsewhere.

After a sweep, he found only a few scattered wizard apprentices, with no full-fledged wizards.

There were also some high knights and knights.

Having confirmed Oberstein’s strength, Helag returned to the city, heading to the residential area behind Asna’s home.

With a glance at the environmental scan, he flipped into the backyard.

The door was locked, but Helag easily unlocked it with a touch of magic.

Entering Asna’s room, he opened the wardrobe and stored a pile of clothes in his spatial ring.

Opening a drawer, he found various colored undergarments and decided to store those as well.

After gathering the everyday clothes, Helag noticed a picture on the bedside table of Asna and her brother.

In the picture, Lins looked just a few years old, faintly resembling his current self.

Asna appeared young too, probably around eleven or twelve.

Helag decided to take the picture as well.

After securing the back door, Helag flipped out and left the city, finding a secluded spot in the nearby forest to hide.

Throughout, he kept Deep Blue’s environmental scan active, ensuring no one approached.

He took out parchment, a quill, and ink, and began drawing a map of Oberstein and the distribution of the border military’s defenses.

He marked the positions of the three elves and the second-level wizard.

Of course, people moved constantly, so these were just references.

Having finished the map, Helag waited for nightfall before returning.

Returning in broad daylight would be too conspicuous and risk detection.

Helag wasn’t in a hurry, monitoring his surroundings continuously.

A few hours later, night fell.

Helag remained still, as many people were still active despite the darkness.

In the distance, the sounds of drunken revelry occasionally echoed.

He planned to wait until after midnight, the safest time to move.

Patiently waiting, Helag finally moved in the dead of night, when silence enveloped the area.

“Shadow Corner.”

Helag transformed into a shadow, moving towards the Lim Mountains.

The route was similar to his arrival, with no trouble encountered.

On the way back, Helag noticed some changes in the patrol soldiers’ positions.

He noted this, though it wasn’t crucial.

In wizard-level warfare, ordinary people played no significant role.

***

Returning to Base 27, Helag handed the map to Parker, saying, “Oberstein currently has one second-level wizard and three crystalline-level elven wizards. I didn’t see the second-level elven wizard; not sure where they went.”

“Besides these, there are three first-level gaseous wizard adventurers, with other forces negligible.”

Parker nodded, “Seems there’s no hidden power. The second-level elven wizard likely went for reinforcements and won’t return soon.”

He glanced at Helag, “Well done.”

Parker then gathered the base’s personnel, “This is our first combat operation. The goal is to eliminate or capture Oberstein’s second-level wizard and three crystalline-level elves.”

“Mr. Parker, please let me join this operation,” a second-level wizard immediately volunteered.

Many others followed, eager to participate.

Everyone knew this was a prime opportunity to earn merit.

Facing three crystalline wizards and one second-level wizard, only the latter posed a challenge; the elves were manageable.

Base 27 had eleven second-level wizards.

Parker raised his hand, signaling for silence.

Once quiet, Parker spoke, “I know everyone wants to participate. This is our first field operation, so it must succeed and be executed flawlessly. All second-level wizards will join me. Ideally, we capture all four alive.”

Parker’s words sparked cheers among the second-level wizards.

With Parker’s involvement, success was almost guaranteed.

Parker was the only third-level wizard in the base, the top combat power.