The Clan Also Discovers the Enemy's Whereabouts

Since the destruction of his tribe, Baroque had never ceased searching for his people and tracking down his enemies. Unfortunately, those elusive mercenaries had disappeared without a trace after selling off the orc captives.

Only last year, when Baroque returned to the tavern in Black Crow Town to seek clues, did he, after killing a dozen gravediggers and drunkards, get some information from a terrified man. He mentioned that Black Crow Town's mayor Huda had left the Paddington Kingdom with his subordinate Misa and the leader of the Scorpion Mercenary Group, Captain Sawa, seemingly on an escort mission. There was no indication of when they would return or if they would ever come back.

Those damned mercenaries not only destroyed the orc tribe and looted a vast amount of mineral wealth, but they also offended Baron Monroe, the feudal lord overseeing Black Crow Town. That wealth belonged to the baron, and if Huda and Sawa's Scorpion Mercenary Group stayed in Black Crow Town, they would surely be eliminated by the enraged baron.

Baroque had given up hope of finding his enemies in the short term. However, today in Doron City, he unexpectedly encountered Misa. Thank the totem spirits and the departed clansmen—soon there would be enemy heads to honor their spirits!

Baroque no longer felt the urgency to leave. He turned to the blacksmith owner and said, "Oh, my master also needs some short throwing spears. Could you show me your selection of throwing spears?" He pointed to a display room filled with various weapons.

"Of course, please follow me." The blacksmith owner, delighted at the prospect of more business, almost bowed as he led Baroque into the weapons display room.

Baroque barely paid attention to the array of weapons inside, casually picking up a few metal throwing spears while keeping an eye on Misa, who was negotiating with another blacksmith outside. He then asked nonchalantly, "Oh, you also repair weapons? That man's longsword looks quite damaged. Can it be fixed?"

The blacksmith owner proudly replied, "Of course, our shop is the best in Doron City. That gentleman outside, Mr. Misa, is a powerful battle energy warrior. His longsword is almost deformed from frequent infusion with battle energy, but it can be restored to its original state, or even better, by tomorrow."

"Oh, Mr. Misa is a battle energy warrior? Then he must serve in Doron City's city guard, right?"

"No, Mr. Misa is a mercenary, part of the Scorpion Mercenary Group with a few other battle energy warriors. They haven't been in Doron City for long but have extensive experience from traveling far and wide. Many trade caravans hire them for protection," the blacksmith owner answered perfectly, revealing everything Baroque wanted to know.

"Is that so? Wonderful! My master also needs to hire some mercenaries. Where is the Scorpion Mercenary Group staying?" Baroque asked with feigned excitement, pretending to be frustrated about missing Misa.

"Don't worry, I know where the Scorpion Mercenary Group is staying. They have rented a place in the northern part of the city, a lodge owned by my relative. I can send someone to take you there."

"Thank you so much, you are truly a kind person," Baroque replied with a broad smile, appearing grateful. He then ordered several hundred short throwing spears and noticed the blacksmith shop also sold leather armor. He ordered a hundred sets of leather armor as well. Including the black iron battle axes from before, the total order amounted to nearly a hundred gold coins, making the blacksmith owner almost faint with excitement. The entire blacksmith shop was abuzz with activity!

Baroque didn't want to attract too much attention, so he arranged for the blacksmith to deliver the throwing spears and leather armor to a location outside the city and quickly left. Now that he knew the name of the lodge in the northern part of the city, finding it would be simple.

The blacksmith worked quickly. By nightfall, they delivered the weapons and armor outside the city. Although puzzled about why such a large order needed to be delivered to a remote area, Baroque paid generously, so the blacksmith had no further questions. As long as there was money, they didn't care if the goods were thrown into a ditch.

Thanks to Prince Alvin's high-quality storage ring with its large space, Baroque easily stored all the throwing spears and leather armor, taking up only a small corner. He returned to Doron City before dark, found the lodge called "Wind Dragon," and indeed saw the Scorpion Mercenary Group members. He only recognized Misa; he didn't know the appearances of the other enemies. Tonight, he planned to memorize their faces.

The mercenaries had taken all the rooms on the northern side of the lodge. These rough men couldn't stay idle at night; they spent their money in taverns or on other vices, leaving not a single copper coin. As night fell, the mercenaries were still out. Baroque rented a nearby room, read his shaman scroll, and waited patiently.

Around midnight, the mercenaries returned in groups, drunk and rowdy. Baroque's eyes, with their vertically slit pupils, keenly observed each mercenary through the dim light, memorizing their faces. Especially the two men with Misa—if he wasn't mistaken, they were likely Black Crow Town's mayor Huda and the Scorpion Mercenary Group's leader Sawa, the main culprits.

The mercenaries quickly fell asleep after returning to their rooms. Only Misa and the other two stayed together in a room, their light still on, seemingly discussing something. Baroque was about to jump out of the window to eavesdrop when he stopped, noticing a few figures outside the lodge.

Two tall figures, dressed in black and with their faces covered, quietly climbed over the lodge's wooden fence, moving through the stables. The horses only snorted and stamped a few times, not alarmed. The figures seemed to be searching for something and finally approached Misa's room.

Baroque was intrigued—could there be others interested in the Scorpion Mercenary Group? He silently followed the two figures to see what they were up to.

The two figures, unaware of being followed, pressed against the wall under the window, avoiding the light, and listened quietly. Inside, the three men were having an excited conversation.

"Sawa, are we really going to do nothing while escorting the Wald Trade Caravan into the Gravel Wilderness?" a deep voice asked, seemingly dissatisfied.

"Huda, I know what you're thinking. Put away your greed. Wald's caravan might be small, but don't forget his status—he's a royal merchant authorized by the Paddington royal family. He's going into the Gravel Wilderness on royal orders to purchase special goods from the desert lizardmen. If you dare to touch that money, aren't you afraid the royal family will find out and make sure you can never set foot in Paddington again?" Sawa replied disdainfully, hating Huda's greed.

"Haha, Sawa, do you know why most of the Scorpion Mercenary Group listens to my orders now instead of yours? A mercenary is someone who risks their life for money. Since becoming mercenaries, our lives are worthless! For gold, we wouldn't hesitate to provoke the Paddington royal family, the imperial royalty, or even the church. Over the past year, I've led the Scorpion Mercenary Group to earn big, and everyone has received generous rewards. But you? You only preach caution, letting many opportunities slip away. The men are very dissatisfied with you!" Huda said smugly, ignoring Sawa's grim face.

"They see the gold but not their comrades' severe injuries. What we've done goes against the mercenary code. If people find out we've killed our employers and looted their wealth, we'll be outcasts on the Soren Continent."

"Haha, I left no evidence; no one will know. Sawa, if you don't tell, who will know what we've done?"

"Huda, I refuse to target Wald's caravan. If you insist, we'll have to part ways," Sawa said, standing up and leaving. Before he exited the room, Huda and Misa exchanged a glance and said, "Alright, alright, Sawa, we'll stick to guarding the caravan as you wish."

Sawa paused, his anger subsiding. "That's best. Wald's payment is generous. If not for our knowledge of the Gravel Wilderness, he wouldn't have hired our small mercenary group."

After Sawa left, Huda showed extreme disdain. Misa asked softly, "Are we really going to do nothing? Wald's caravan has valuable goods and at least a hundred gold coins. The men are eager for action!"

"Ignore him. Since destroying the orc tribe, Sawa has become cowardly. He's nearly useless. We'll pretend to comply for now. Once in the desolate Gravel Wilderness, we'll do as we please," Huda replied, grinning with Misa.

After a while, Misa and Huda went to sleep. The two eavesdroppers quietly retreated and exited the lodge through the stables.

Removing their face coverings revealed two handsome orc faces. Baroque, who had been following them, was astonished and then amused. No wonder the figures looked familiar—they were his clansmen, Barotan and a young orc named Angray. It seemed his people had also discovered their enemies!

Baroque, who had been tailing them all along, was astonished and then couldn't help but laugh. No wonder the figures had seemed increasingly familiar; they really were his own clansmen, Barotan and a young orc named Angray. He hadn't expected that his tribesmen had also discovered the enemy's whereabouts!