Chapter 117 Matthew's Expectations
April 13th.
The third day of establishing the ogre camp!
Dark Forest, Troll Valley.
A gentle drizzle of misty rain fell continuously.
A veil of mist covered the entire valley.
Occasionally, piercing howls echoed through the fog, carrying the eerie cold unique to the Dark Forest.
The blackened tree trunks glistened slightly, as if they were breathing again after soaking up the moisture.
From the buried pits, resilient plants were already sprouting tender shoots from the churned-up earth.
They grew rapidly, greedily soaking up the sunlight in the absence of tall trees above, flourishing quickly.
"One, two, one!"
The ground trembled slightly.
These bright green shoots swayed gently, seemingly welcoming their arrival.
Over 100 soldiers marched forward in perfect unison.
More than 500 wagon drivers anxiously scanned their surroundings, relaxing slightly only when they saw the unburned remains of the trolls.
Over 50 wagons loaded with supplies struggled through the muddy roads.
And this was just the first batch of supplies; hundreds more wagons were being loaded up to follow.
Along with the convoy came adventurers filled with curiosity.
The first wave of adventurers who had ventured into Troll Valley, those who survived, had made a killing.
Attracted by the huge profits,
Adventurers who had reached Level 5 and earned over 50 contribution points from Bay Territory were reorganizing into teams and joining the expedition.
With over a thousand people, including four to five hundred armed forces, the once-dominant troll tribe of Troll Valley was thoroughly crushed, leaving them free to roam.
They encountered no danger on their journey and safely arrived at the ogre camp.
This only boosted everyone's confidence!
At least, Troll Valley wasn't as dangerous as they had imagined!
Soon, many began eagerly discussing how to make a fortune in Troll Valley!
After all, yesterday, Alice's adventurer team had been personally commended by the lord right before their eyes.
Each member received a valuable enchanted piece of equipment.
Everyone was green with envy!
The ground at the entrance to the ravine, littered with troll bones, left every adventurer in disbelief.
"Were they all killed by fireball spells?"
"That's right. Look at the fractures in the bones; they were torn apart by sheer force..."
"You can tell from the marks on the ground. Was it really over a hundred fireball spells cast all at once?"
"Very likely. I can't even begin to fathom how powerful that mysterious arcane master must be..."
"Don't think too much about it. With the arcane master's sweep, that troll tribe won't be able to resist anymore. We should start moving..."
"Exactly. Before Alice's team returns, we should take advantage of the time!"
"You're right... Wait… What's that?"
"Is that... ogres?"
"Yes, those are ogres, and they've already been tamed!"
The tall Beelzebub walked over with some sentries and exchanged a few words with Leon, the leader:
"These ogres are already accustomed to work, but we must still forbid others from interacting with them."
"Also, make sure the adventurers don't start digging."
Knowing what lay underground, Leon nodded silently.
He looked at the female ogres wielding axes, diligently chopping wood, and couldn't help but be amazed.
"I never thought it would actually work... Did the arcane master really pull this off with arcane methods?"
"I wonder if the lord plans to add these ogres to the battle ranks as well."
"If they could also be trained, that would be quite something..."
After letting his mind wander for a moment, Leon led the convoy toward the troll camp.
Beelzebub chatted with him while giving an overview of the camp and the surrounding area as they made the final handover.
He would soon return to Bay Territory to carry out the training tasks assigned by the lord.
"The barbarian soldiers have impressive physical talents, but their lack of systematic training and combat skills prevents them from fully utilizing their potential..."
Beelzebub was tempted by this opportunity and could sense an underlying message in the lord's words:
"The lord trusts us greatly and hopes to entrust us with important responsibilities."
"The lord values us highly, without distinguishing us from others..."
Thinking this over, Beelzebub couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
He watched Leon, under the guidance of Old Village Chief Field, organizing patrols, establishing rules for the adventurers, and discussing the development of the camp.
Beelzebub listened carefully, absorbing as much as he could about management and organization.
Now, Beelzebub understood why, despite their strength, the barbarian tribes had never been able to defeat the Eastern Empire over hundreds of years.
"Perhaps the war has already been lost..."
With that thought, Beelzebub solidified his resolve, letting go of distractions and fully committing himself to Bay Territory.
There was a brighter future here!
The two groups completed their handover.
The potential soldiers, led by Leon, would be stationed in the dangerous Troll Valley.
Not only would they guard the troll camp, but they would actively hunt down the remaining trolls and dangerous magical creatures.
Matthew had high hopes for them, hoping they would hone their skills, gain battle experience, and rapidly improve their strength.
Led by Beelzebub, the barbarians, along with the well-compensated adventurers, began their journey back to Bay Village.
Stories of wealth needed more "advertising"!
By noon,
Hundreds of elderly villagers pushed food carts, weaving between fields and meadows.
"Lunch time!"
"Take a break!"
The rich smell of food filled the air, accompanied by cheerful shouts, spreading across the flat plains.
The farmers, who had been hard at work all morning, gathered with smiles.
They chatted about the details of the morning's work while asking what meals were being served today.
Every face shone with hope for the future.
The enticing smell of food spread across the fields, briefly bringing peace to the busy landscape.
A group of soldiers emerged from the nearby Dark Forest, drawing curious gazes from everyone.
The barbarians in the group eagerly raised their heads and waved, excitedly explaining to the crowd:
"It looks like it's Beelzebub's team..."
"And there are adventurers with them. Judging by their smiles, they must have made a lot of money..."
"I've heard many adventurers have struck it rich..."
"Adventurers may earn more, but they also face far greater dangers than soldiers..."
"That's true. The lord treats soldiers very well—there's no doubt about that..."
"It's a shame I haven't been able to meet the standards after months of training..."
"Then keep training for a few more months."
"Haha, that's true!"