Several days later.

Standing in front of the stand with affinity-improving resources, Theo and Leonardo moved their glances at the unique-looking sign near to them.

A smile and knowing look appeared on her face as she looked at quite dusty customers in front of her.

Of course, she recognized them, and a glance at their dusty and sloppy clothes already told her many things. They must have hurried here and tried to come as soon as possible.

So, she let them see this affinity improving resources and then tell them about the news.

However, it was already unnecessary because Theo and Leonardo knew how to read.

Finishing reading that sign that stated that they will auction these goods at the auction after this war. Merit points will be the major currency.

“Looks like, there was a quiet rivalry for these resources,” said Leonardo, releasing a sigh as he turned from the sign and looked at Theo. “What will we do now?”

Theo, that has long ago started thinking about a solution, turned at the woman nearby.

“What is the initial price? How many people showed interest in these resources? Will you auction them one by one or all in one go?” asked Theo.

The woman was ready. Releasing a sigh and breathing deep, making her big bosom move, she started explaining.

“In short, over two hundred people showed their interest in these goods. The initial price will be 120,000 merit points for one resource. We will auction them one by one,” answered the woman with a polite smile on her lips.

Leonardo, that was quite enchanted by her attractive and deep neckline, shook his head and raised his glance at her face.

“How did you end up with all four affinity-improving resources without selling at least one of them?” asked Leonardo, narrowing his eyes.

Theo subconsciously nodded to himself, agreeing with this question. He was glad that his strongest rudimentary abilities were now showing themselves.

“I don’t know. It’s a mystery for me,” said the woman, shrugging her shoulders, “Several days after you left, that sign appeared on the stand while more and more customers showed interest and wanted to buy them.”

Both youths showed their disappointment and quickly exchanged glances before thanking the woman and leaving the shop.

“So, what’s our plan?” asked Leonardo when they moved away from the shop.

Theo was holding his chin, thinking about their situation.

“Well, let’s analyze it,” said Theo, “We both have around 150,000 merit points, which we earned both via service and a part-time job. That sum is enough to buy a ‘Wind leaf’ or ‘Ice essence’ in the best-case scenario,”

Leonardo nodded, agreeing with his words.

“However, the incoming auction changes everything. We had some chances before, but now they are minimal,” said Theo, moving his glance at Leonardo, “There would be too many people that would try to buy at least one of them, especially after the war. Our current resources are just not enough if we at least want to get one of them,”

“Yes, you are right,” said Leonardo, releasing a sigh. “Looks like we will have to agree to Paul’s volunteer mission.”

Theo nodded at his words.

“Well, let’s make some preparations, then. If we agree with that, we should depart tomorrow morning, “ said Leonardo, with an excited smile on his lips. “It would be the real thing, I would be proud to share with my father,”

...

..

.

Several hours before, the same morning.

Standing in line in front of Paul, Nora, and other captains, Theo and Leonardo concentrated their attention on the dispirited Paul who appeared before them.

A glance at his face was enough to realize that he has some bad news to share.

Moving his glance through a decreased line of his subordinates, Paul released a sigh before clearing his throat and making a serious and resolute face.

“I will be frank,” said Paul while water porters quickly realized the seriousness of the situation just from his voice. Instantly, many adjusted their postures and concentrated their attention on him.

“Today I got a new order when we arrived here. It states that I should prepare a special group of water porters that will leave today to the front lines,” said Paul, looking at the expressions of his people, “The mission will be dangerous. However, those who agree will get good awards when they return.” Many faces brightened up when they heard him.

“I will send a group of six-eight water porters there. Your knowledge on how to purify water and other stuff your captains showed you will be very useful. However, there can be many dangerous situations because you will serve near the center of swamps. You need to have good battle capabilities,” Instantly, many faces darkened as they remembered the last battles they took part in during the siege on the hill.

Understanding and noticing the changes that were happening with his people, Paul released a sigh and was quick to solve a potential problem.

“Don’t worry, I won’t force anyone. It’s a full volunteer mission. Our commanders know that the “Red horses” suffered casualties and still recuperate after the recent battle and made it volunteer for us. Others will send their groups on the front lines." His words were like a bucket of warm water, and instantly many faces relaxed.

“However,” said Paul with the same serious expression on his face, “If I won’t send anyone, our influence and reputation might suffer from this. You all know the competition among the elite water porters’ squads in recruitment,”

“The mission will be risky. However, Nora, one of our captains, agreed to join and lead others during it. Those who decide to join will have to talk with her and prove that you are eligible,” Some members nodded while others just like Theo and Leonardo released a relieved sigh, glad that they don’t have to take part.

...

..

.

The next afternoon.

Theo, Leonardo, Ryan, Bell, and Robin lined up in front of a group of scouts in dirty uniforms. The dirt-covered even their hair, making it hard to see their natural colors.

There were no horses and any additional weight behind them. Besides, their brown uniform was already covered in swamp dirt.

However, the biggest thing that attracted attention was a captain’s bandage on a woman’s hand with short hair.

“And this is the help we get from headquarters?” asked the scout with bounded hand, “We asked for professionals, specializing in water search and its detoxication and they send us water porters, the young and useless ones!”

“Shit, I knew that punch in the face for that bastard would end badly for us, leader,” said Raimund. “How will we execute our orders with so small support from headquarters?”

Other six scouts nodded, supporting his statement.

“Leader, you know that yourself. Though an expedition army sends new groups of knights and scouts to the swamps every day, burning everything on their way, and have already conquered many forts, nagas still control the surrounding territory on the center, poisoning water supplies and creating traps,” said Ainz in a very informative manner.

“Those nagas forced us to retreat just a few km away from the furthest fort. Even we, the best ex-adventurers, honed with many hardships, can’t do anything when all the freshwater sources we found were poisoned,” said Robert, the only scout that looked relatively clean.

Their company seemed as if they would have continued their quarrel if not for a sudden energy technique that hit a tree near them.

*Boom*

An energy technique pierced the tree, dividing it in half.

As if ignorant of what she has just made, Nora calmly approached them and stopped several meters away.

“Nora and her elite group have arrived to serve,” cried Nora, adjusting her posture and giving an official army salute.

Her subordinates also copied and saluted to the noisy scouts. They didn’t care that water porters heard them when they talked and quarreled.

Though Nora and her people seemed polite, their eyes were cold as they looked at the scouts.

Almost instantly, an invisible tension appeared between scouts and elite water porters.

Theo and his group felt offended when those scouts didn’t even ask for their names and called them useless, while scouts looked down at the young people that didn’t look like they would solve their problem.

Such atmosphere continued for several moments before Raimund started laughing loudly.

“What a battle spirit. I like them,” said the scout, laughing loudly. “They differ from the previous group. They at least look like elites. Let them stay, Ned,”

“Indeed, that energy technique was not bad. She is a silver knight and looks much more experienced than others,” added Robert.

“I agree,” said Ainz.

Even two similar-looking men nodded to his words.

Seeing that men like the new group of water porters, Ned released a relieved sigh before raising his hand and saluting himself.

A moment and all the scouts followed their leader, saluting themselves.

“I am Ned, captain of this independent scout group,” said Ned, pointing at his people,” The one that laughed is Raimund, the informative one is Ainz, the clean is Robert, those two silent ones are Miko and Riko,"

Scouts nodded as he introduced them.

Though all of them looked very similar in their dirty scout uniform with the same weapons, Ned’s method of introduction was very easy to memorize.

Nodding to their words, Nora quickly introduce herself and wanted to move to her subordinates when Raimund stopped her.

“Wait, Nora, you have proved yourself by your character and that energy technique, but not your people,” said Raimund, approaching her, “So, it’s a bit early to ask for their names, let me give them funny nicknames so that we could quickly memorize them.

Nora wanted to say something when she heard Ned’s voice.

“It’s futile Nora, Raimund was always like this since the times we were adventurers. Besides, his words have a grain of truth, it’s very dangerous here, and we won’t save useless ones all the time,” said Ned, moving his glance behind Nora.

When he finished his words, Raimund was already standing a meter away from Theo and others.

At first, Raimund seemed to stare at them before suddenly pointing at Bell.

“You will be a snob,” said Raimund before pointing at Ryan and Robin. “Stick without nicknames for now. 1st and 2nd would be enough.”

A moment later, he stopped on Theo and Leonardo.

Both youths looked calmly at his eyes while he continued to look at their faces and bodies.

“You will be the monk because your face reminds me of a friend of mine,” said Raimund, pointing at Leonardo, “While you will be the ‘Dyed’ one for the unnatural color of your hair,”

Finishing with this procedure, Raimund laughed before returning, while it amazed Theo and Leonardo that this silly-looking scout saw through Theo’s disguise.

Besides, others were also quite surprised to hear that Theo was using a disguise as they turned to look at him.

Theo explained nothing when Ned’s voice arrived.

“Fine, since the introduction is over, let’s move on and discuss our plan of actions,” said Ned, “And it would be better if we think more this time, saving yourselves from many problems,” His glance seemed to stop at Raimund for several moments, while that scout pretended he didn’t hear him.

...

..

.

Looking down on the groups of knights and mages that were creating walls and fortifications, Stella nodded to herself when she noticed Aurellia close to her, instructing and talking about something with mages.

Her sister quickly dismissed them and moved in her direction, inclining her head a bit to the left.

It was their unique signal they created when they were children and it meant that they need to talk in private.

So, five minutes later, both Stella and Aurellia entered Stella’s tent to make sure others wouldn’t hear their conversation.

“Have you read a plan, Barko’s adjutant delivered this morning?” asked Aurellia right away. The new plan was so significant that she wanted to talk with her sister, who could understand much more about tactics and strategy.

Expecting something similar, Stella nodded as she approached maps on the table.

“Indeed, the plan to open a 2nd frontier in the swamps to distract the nagas while our ships would disembark several thousand elite scouts and the 6th special to attack their rear lines is quite a plan,” said Stella, pointing at the maps, “At first, we distract and force to send more forces to protect from two-sided attacks, weakening their river defenses while our improved, strong fleet would pierce through it and disembark your squad in the enemy rear on the fields,”

“What if they realize our plan?” asked Aurellia.

“Nothing. It’s already late for nagas, we have already secured this island and almost finished fortifying it. If they realize our plan and increase their numbers near the river, we will just send those forces to the 2nd frontier, increasing the pressure on nagas. They just won’t hold decreasing and drying swamps for too long and will eventually retreat. Without swamps, they have few chances against us.”

“Their fate is already sealed. Of course, if they won’t destroy our fleet and eradicate 10,000 people, gathered here on the island. Only such a drastic change can reverse the overall situation for the enemy,”

“I see,” said Aurellia.

“By the way, have you recognized those magic cannons on those new ships?”

A proud smile appeared on Stella’s lips.

“Of course, father most likely ordered to borrow or buy merchant ships and placed our wall cannons on them. Besides, they enchanted and strengthened All of them for the actual battle operation. Looks like father really wants to get rid of those irritating nagas,”

Aurellia nodded at her words, agreeing with Stella.

Aurellia seemed to ask something when a sudden person appeared in the tent.

Moving their glances, their brows rose in surprise when they saw who just entered.

It was Alex, the “Star shooter”.

Both sisters had dumbfounded expressions on their faces when they saw the guardian commander responsible for family spy forces here. However, they instantly became serious when they saw his worried face.

The guardian commander, who they always remembered as funny and easy-going, was now worried and concerned.

“Sorry to interrupt you, young ladies, but the situation is urgent,” said Alex, looking at them.

“What happened?” asked both sisters.

“Nothing for now, but it might.” His concerned glance stopped at them for several moments.

“I will soon depart to complete a special and urgent mission and can’t continue to protect you from secret. So, I will leave a group of trustworthy and loyal people to do that in my stead.”

Both sisters showed no surprise when they heard him as if they had already long ago guessed that. This was typical behavior of their cautious father.

“I will be frank. Looks like there is a third party, taking part in this war. We don’t know what they want, but they belong to a powerful organization. So, young ladies, please be careful while I am away,” said Alex, looking at them.

They both nodded and just wanted to reassure Alex, a commander they considered as one of their uncles when a certain object started glowing in Alex’s uniform.

“I have to go. The hunt should continue,” said Alex as he looked at that object. “Young ladies, please be careful, don’t separate from each other. Your adjutants and guards have already been informed and will protect you.”

“Now, bye, young ladies,” said Alex, before turning and leaving the tent.

Both sisters could just nod and follow the figure with a big iron bow on his back till he disappeared from their sight.