Mercenary Wars

Chapter 97 World Map
As it turns out, trolls are a resilient race.

Despite the speed and agility of Gaugano, the level 6 troll did not give up easily, but relentlessly pursued him for a long time.

It wasn't until Gaucano had charged forward at breakneck speed, reaching near the Third Examiner's camp, that he finally stopped.

Even so, he threw another short spear, causing Gaucano to stumble once more, before reluctantly turning and leaving.

On the way to the Third Examiner's Camp, Gaucano was worried that the Third Camp might also be taken over by the trolls.

Fortunately, this did not happen.

He also saw the fourth camp examiner who had come to deliver the message at the third camp; that was the level 5 hunter riding the black panther, who seemed to have just arrived.

Upon seeing Gao Jiano, the level 5 hunter exclaimed in surprise, "How did you get here?"

"I ran here," Gao Gano said, panting, as he put Calcro on his back.

"They ran here?" The hunter was incredulous, then looked at the black panther beneath him.

"Awooo..." The black panther let out a low growl and showed an innocent expression, as if it was explaining something to its master.

“I’m better at running.” Gao Jiano didn’t elaborate on the issue, then changed the subject, “The Fourth Camp was attacked by trolls, and there were at least seventy or eighty trolls involved in the attack.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, "There are probably no survivors left in the fourth camp, and I don't think the third camp is very safe either. We need to notify the second and first camps as soon as possible and retreat to the hunter's post together."

"Are we going to have another troll war?" some people in the camp couldn't help but discuss with worry.

"By Mosa, these savage trolls must be punished!"

"What will happen to the hunters who are still participating in the assessment in the valley if we retreat to the outpost?"

May Mosa bless them.

"I think we should send someone to inform them..."

After a brief discussion, the examiner in charge of the third camp announced the decision: the survival hunters in the camp would be responsible for finding and notifying the candidates, while the others would retreat to the hunters' outposts.

Once the decision was made, everyone immediately set off towards the hunter's outpost.

Perhaps because the news was delivered in a timely manner, no further incidents occurred. The group from the third examiner's camp successively arrived at the second and first camps, and finally retreated safely to the hunter's outpost together.

Hunter's outpost quickly gathered a total of several hundred hunters, guards, priests, and others to guard against the trolls.

With hundreds of men on guard, the incident at the Fourth Examiner's Camp was unlikely to repeat itself here. Exhausted, Gao Gano immediately found a place to rest at the Hunter's Outpost and fell asleep.

As a result, he was woken up again after only a short time of sleep.

"Gaucano, wake up! Where's John?" It was Calcroo, looking anxious, who woke him up.

Gaucano rubbed his eyes helplessly and sighed, "You should know the spell 'Divine Interference,' right?"

“Divine intervention!” Karklo’s eyes widened, his face gradually turning pale.

Gaucano was silent for a moment, then continued, "The blessings that the holy name Maximilian bestows upon mortals are mostly 'divine interventions.' John ultimately used this blessing spell, sacrificing himself to make you immune to all harm."

“Of course, you might not remember it very clearly, because divine intervention also comes with a strict immobilization effect, freezing your mind and body until the spell is lifted,” he added.

After hearing Gauguin's account, Calclo sat on the ground, stunned for a moment. Then, he suddenly broke down in tears.

Gaucano didn't know what to say, so he could only pat him on the shoulder to comfort him.

After a while, Calcro's emotions calmed down a bit, but he was still choked up: "I've ruined another friend, and my whip-wielding boy too. He came with me on an adventure, and then..."

Gaucano still didn't know what to say, he just listened.

Calcro wiped away his tears: "My power is practically a curse. If I didn't have this power, none of this would have happened!"

Gaucano doesn't think so.

Although the full story is not yet known, judging from the information available, while Calclo's two deaths of his friends were certainly related to his abilities, there is no direct causal relationship between them.

Calcrown "caused" the death of the whip-wielding boy because he forgot the limitations of his own abilities, unknowingly leading the boy to a dangerous place, which resulted in the boy's sacrifice.

After the death of the whipper, Calcro became cautious, but perhaps due to psychological trauma, he rarely mentioned his abilities and limitations to others. This led John to assemble a five-man squad on his own initiative, greatly diminishing his own capabilities.

In Gaugano's view, these were avoidable oversights, and at least after this incident, Calclo should be able to avoid them.

Putting all that aside, Calcro's ability to foresee danger is undoubtedly still enviable.

At least Gao Gano himself believed that if any of the holy names refreshed with the same blessing ability as Calcro when he leveled up, he would most likely choose it without hesitation.

After crying his heart out, Calcrow suddenly decided to avenge John and, sword in hand, prepared to re-enter the valley.

Gao Jiano quickly persuaded him to calm down.

After calming down completely, Calclo suddenly frowned and looked down at his clothes: "Why are my clothes so tattered?"

“Uh.” Gaugano paused slightly. “When I led you out of the camp, many trolls tried to attack you.”

Calcrown still frowned: "Why are you attacking me? I can't move at all."

“Who knows,” Gaucano shrugged. “Maybe it’s because ‘Divine Intervention’ makes you look like a very conspicuous golden statue.”

“Okay.” Calcro didn’t delve into the matter. He changed his clothes and sat down in silence.

Gaucano observed him for a while, and after confirming that his mental state was stable, he fell asleep again.

He fell asleep shortly after.

Calcrown took out a scroll and spread it out on the ground; it turned out to be a world map.

Although it's called a world map, only the western half of the Farallo continent is drawn in detail.

As for the vast ocean south of the Broken Islands and East Fararo east of the Kiso Mountains, while not entirely blank, there is only an outline and some legendary place names with low credibility.

For example, somewhere on the Eastern Continent, there is still a sign that reads "Fodoran City." This city, belonging to the Blood Elves, obviously cannot exist in this world anymore.

Gazing at the world map before him, Calcro sighed and murmured to himself, "Perhaps I am destined to explore everything alone..."

……

(End of this chapter)