**Chapter 12
{ The Bandit Camp }**
The world existed in a state of balance.
It wasn’t biased toward anyone.
Bandit camps were unique in that everyone born within them emerged as a fighter—no need for a profession stone.
They were born as combatants, each receiving a random set of equipment suited to that profession.
No elders.
No children.
No women.
Nothing but fighters.
Their training speed was higher than the average person of the same rank.
Meaning: a bandit of Common grade would train faster and become stronger than someone of the same grade with the same training skill.
But alongside these advantages came certain flaws…
Their average talent was lower compared to other humans—or other races.
No loyalty.
Not toward each other, nor toward their enemies.
They only followed strength… or benefits.
So the moment the two bandits saw they were surrounded, they abandoned their companion and ran.
To be honest, they were never friends to begin with—just a group gathered for one purpose: profit.
And the moment the slightest spark threatened their lives, to hell with profit.
“This is tough,” Noa said with a frown as he observed the scene.
He stood beside Boban, Liu, and Lord Ian.
Before them, in the distance and hidden among the trees, lay the bandit camp.
Honestly, calling it “hidden” wasn't accurate—the bandits had cleared the trees around it and set up several watchtowers, along with strict patrol routes.
It was an unusual sight for a bandit group.
“They must have someone skilled inside,” Liu said confidently.
It would be strange for bandits to be this organized unless someone capable was leading them.
“I heard their leader has a strange background,” Boban said.
“How did you hear that?” Noa asked, puzzled.
“He speaks the human tongue,” Liu replied.
Boban speak mockingly.“ I learned a few words.”
Goblin language had become a mandatory skill Ian insisted everyone learn—especially now that goblins existed among their ranks.
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Not knowing how to communicate would be fatal for the budding village, creating factions and tearing it apart from within.
The special thing about the Science and Studies Building was that once something was created, it could be replicated easily and effortlessly afterward.
Even though this didn’t help in advancing it further, it was still incredible.
If we considered Aliano himself, or any other researcher…of course they could reproduce what they made easily—but it would still take effort.
Maybe half the effort… or a quarter, depending on their proficiency.
But the Science and Studies Building eliminated that factor entirely.
“Their leader has a strange background…” Ian thought.
“So she might not even be a true bandit.”
“Perhaps, my Lord… the world is full of chaos. Even a king can become a beggar if the flames of chaos burn him,” Liu said.
“You’re right… let’s go back. The idea of attacking this place is hopeless,” Ian said.
The others nodded and followed him.
“What about the mine?” Noa asked.
“We’ll abandon it,” Ian ordered firmly.
The group frowned, but no one challenged his command.
Abandoning it truly was the safest choice.
With the intelligence level of the bandit leader, she would quickly realize which group didn’t return, where they had gone… and eventually trace it back to Ian.
“My Lord… can’t we move the bodies somewhere else and make it seem like they were killed by monsters?” Noa suggested suddenly.
“We can’t,” Liu replied.
“Why not?” Noa didn’t understand.
“If they were ordinary people, we could,” Ian said.
“But there are two problems. First—the man in the first level. Someone like him isn’t supposed to die to monsters in this small region. Second—and more important—is the mysterious in all of this… their leader. We know nothing about her except that she’s a lightning mage. Who says she doesn’t have a way to know the truth?”
“Why don’t we make them fight each other?” Boban said.
“How?” Noa asked.
“…That!! I don’t know,” Boban admitted shyly.
“Then don’t talk,” Noa sighed.
“No, Noa—Boban has a point,” Ian’s eyes brightened.
“Really?” Boban blinked, shocked.
“Yes. We turn them against each other. It’s a brilliant plan.”
Ian smiled as a solid strategy formed in his mind—one that would hit two birds with one stone… maybe even three.
---
“Haaaaah…” one of the bandits on the tower yawned lazily.
“Is this boring shift not over yet? We’re bandits for heaven’s sake! Why are we guarding towers?”
“Just shut up and follow orders… or you know the consequences,” his companion warned.
In front of the cave stood four wooden watchtowers, each manned by three bandits—at least one of them a bowman.
Rustle…
A faint sound echoed from the distance.
“What was that?”
“Probably some animal.”
“Good. It’s been a while since I trained.”
“Let them come… at least it’ll make this stupid shift go faster.”
The bandits atop the four-meter wooden watchtowers argued in boredom as they stared toward the distant bushes, expecting a group of animals to emerge.
It wasn’t anything unusual—just a routine event that happened almost daily.
It wasn’t even worth ringing the warning bells hanging from the towers.
Suddenly, the bushes rustled and a small wolf pup emerged.
It was tiny, with silver fur and wide curious eyes, sniffing around as if searching for something.
“Just this?”
“A wolf pup?”
“I thought something interesting was coming.”
“So disappointing… just kill it already and end this damned boring shift!” one of them shouted impatiently.
The archer raised his bow and fired.
The arrow shot forward faster than the little wolf could comprehend. It was only a pup, still discovering the world, unaware of the eternal hostility between humans and beasts.
The arrow struck its chest and killed it instantly.
It was too weak to withstand such an attack.
“Tsk!… boring.”
“When will this miserable shift end?!”
“I’ll go down and handle the corpse.”
“Leave it. Its blood might attract more animals,” another replied—unaware he had just stepped into a trap.
From afar, Ian watched the scene and smiled.
“It’s time.”
Rustling rose behind the bushes—this time louder… heavier.
“Told you we should’ve left it. It’ll bring more beasts for us to play with,” one bandit said eagerly.
“I hope so. I’m dying of boredom.”
“Wait… why are there so many footsteps?”
“Tsk… coward. What’s so scary about a group of—… oh my mo—ther”
The bandit froze in terror as dozens upon dozens of wolves emerged from between the trees, their eyes burning with rage—especially the massive alpha wolf in the lead.
The moment it saw its dead pup, it released a terrifying howl and charged.
Awooooooooo!
The entire wolf pack howled and surged forward like a raging flood.
“Danger! Danger!” the bandits screamed, ringing the bells frantically—but it was already too late.
Aaaaaaaaah!!
The screams began.
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