64 Ranger Escort

Returning to the cave, the group made their way back to the Ranger encampment. Several of them were already waiting outside, having noticed that the entire area appeared to be clearing up. With the return of Zanir and his men, cheers went out throughout the crowd.

Having been assigned to guard this area, the Rangers hadn't been able to see their families in months. It wasn't that they didn't get any time off, but that the majority of them simply lived too far. There was no way they would be able to travel all the way home and back, without abandoning their mission.

Now, none of that mattered, as the area had been cleared! They would all be able to go home and get time to spend with their loved ones. Good news spread through the camp quickly, many of the fires had already been prepared and set up for a feast. With the confirmation they needed, many were even cracking open drinks to celebrate.

With a drink in one hand, Garth came over, congratulating everyone. Motioning his men, they brought drinks over for the champions. Toasting, they asked about the battle, curious as to how they overcame such a strong opponent.

Enjoying the simple ale and food, Zanir and his men recounted the tales of how they fought the lich. While they were doing that, he also had his men bring out some ingredients. Knowing that the Rangers had been out in the field for an extended stay, he knew they'd appreciate some cooking.

Preparing a simple dish of biscuits and gravy, he served some sausages and a salad to round out the meal. Paired along with some high-quality ale, everyone was in heaven, as the sounds of laughter and conversation rang out into the night.

"Zanir, we can't thank you enough for what you did. With this mission complete, we can return to headquarters. Let me know if there's any way we can repay you."

"Actually, I was wondering if there was any way you know of, that I could get my men healed. Some of them suffered during the attack, while others have older wounds and injuries."

"Sorry to hear that. If you're willing to come back to our headquarters, they have medics and healers there. It's the main trading outpost and mission hub for the Rangers, so they'll also be a good chance for some healing herbs or potions. It's going to expensive though, just to warn you."

"I'm a trader myself, and I have many quality goods for sale. I'm sure that my company has many things that could interest even the most demanding of customers."

Hearing an opportunity, the men discussed many different things. The Rangers had specific needs, due to the extended missions that they went out on. The equipment that they needed had to be strong and light, but also durable.

At this point, he found out that they'd been using modified equipment, and had a deep interest in the quality and designs he'd used. Although these Rangers had managed to adapt some of the gears, he knew that they were still lacking.

These kinds of customers would be especially keen to purchase some of the equipment that he had. After all, he could produce things that were tactical and modern. Special Ops, military, and even quality hiking gear would be worth its weight in gold to these rugged Rangers.

With this in mind, he designed a few high-quality backpacks. Packed with plenty of compartments and features, they were sturdy, rugged, and lightweight. Balanced straps were reinforced for extra comfort, while also having an option to clip together, evenly distributing the weight.

Hearing that they had a few test products, Garth, and the Rangers were interested. Having everyone stand back, Zanir demonstrated a stellar performance using his ghost hand. Turning into a large green dragon, it looked otherworldly, as it opened its maw.

Falling from the dragon's mouth, was a small pile of the backpacks he'd just made. Having seen the Ranger troops logo, he had the system embroider it in the spot where a brand logo would normally go. With a deep green camo design, they looked great.

Seeing them for the first time, they didn't realize just what these strangely shaped bags were. Expecting the confusion, a short demonstration was all it took, to see the Rangers eyes light up. Passing out the bags, they filled them up with supplies, to test them out.

Strutting around with the fully loaded backpacks, the Rangers had grins about a mile wide. The makeshift sacks that they had tied together always hurt, especially during long marches. The difference with these advanced packs was like night and day.

Hearing the reports coming back, all of the other Rangers wanted to order backpacks. They wanted to know how much they cost, and how soon they could be produced. Reassuring them, he let the Rangers know that they were affordable, and could be produced rather quickly.

Before the Rangers could get too excited, he also let them know that they sold top-quality hiking boots. Explaining the features briefly, he told them about the built-in shock absorption and gel insoles. Right away, the men were like lightning to approach him.

Anyone who had to take long marches knew the value of quality footwear. It could make or break a trip and multiplied every other factor on a long journey. Every single Ranger didn't hesitate to try out the professional boots that he brought out.

Falling in love with the boots right away, they knew that they had to have them. Knowing this, they once again looked to Zanir, hopeful that he wouldn't gouge them with high prices. Making a valuable connection was worth far more to him than temporary profits. Selling them at a decent rate, he solidified his reputation with the Rangers.

The next morning, the comfortable equipment had filled the Rangers with vigor. Checking on the cave to confirm it was cleared, everyone moved out together in a large group. Chatting together, the men and Rangers marched in the direction of the headquarters.

Noticing that his men took a slower pace, Garth couldn't help but ask, as he was curious as to what they would be looking for. Seeing that they would occasionally point out interesting flowers and fauna, they understood when Zanir used his ghost hand to absorb them.

Explaining that the artifact could send samples back to his company, the Rangers were impressed. Laughing, they told Zanir and his men that they didn't have to stoop and scour the land. Garth explained that his group had studied the surrounding regions extensively.

Pointing out a few ordinary looking items, their knowledge was confirmed when the system said they had slight mutations. Working out a deal, the Rangers agreed to point out the interesting and valuable items, as long they agreed to sell their gear to headquarters.

It would take about two weeks of rugged marching before they reached the isolated headquarters. He had a feeling that this was going to be a very profitable trip, with the Rangers help, they could save a lot of time and get plenty of new things along the way.