Chapter 102: Clearing

After the Bremen city staff left, Gao De put away the summons and immediately took a public carriage to the magic potion shop in the Siren District.

Since he had decided to participate in this large-scale hunting and clearing operation, he needed to prepare thoroughly for battle.

He needed to purchase combat supplies.

First, he bought five sets of “Blue Light Potion.”

One set cost three gold coins.

That totaled fifteen gold coins.

In fact, if not for fear that carrying too much would hinder his mobility, he would have bought more.

The “Blue Light Potion” replenishes mana for apprentice mages and accelerates mana recovery.

A second-rank apprentice mage, when not at full mana, can restore most of their mana within half an hour by drinking one bottle and then sitting quietly to channel the method.

A third-rank apprentice can also restore most of their mana within half an hour.

The name “Blue Light Potion” was likely chosen to sound more impressive; in plain terms, it’s just “Basic Mana Recovery Potion.”

He also bought one set of “Basic Healing Potion,” also three gold per set.

It’s used to treat external wounds, but has no effect on injuries caused by supernatural forces.

However, many zero-rank earth vein creatures lack supernatural abilities and are merely physically strong.

So the “Basic Healing Potion” might still be useful.

Lastly, Gao De wanted to purchase one or two alchemical items for survival.

First, he already possessed the Mistfang, which served as an offensive magical weapon.

Second, this battle prioritized caution and survival.

As long as he remained alive, even the fiercest earth vein creatures would be dealt with by other mages.

Unlike solo expeditions, where encountering an earth vein creature often meant life or death, requiring both defense and offense.

But the points he thought of, others thought of too.

And Gao De was not among the first to receive the summons, so by the time he began looking for alchemical items, it was already too late.

Almost all the good stock had been sold out.

What remained were either defective goods, items he couldn’t afford, or ones he wouldn’t use.

After visiting several shops without success, Gao De reluctantly gave up.

Fortunately, the Fierce Bat’s origin point had landed on [Blade Shield], he thought with relief.

Judging by this, regardless of other outcomes, the potion-makers and alchemists within the city would profit handsomely from this new earth vein outbreak.

“Perhaps my repair business could see another surge after the battle?” Gao De wondered.

After all, magical items are most likely to be damaged during combat.

After finishing all arrangements, the city’s public carriages had ceased operations.

Gao De had to spend twenty-five copper coins to hire a light two-wheeled carriage to return home.

Back home, he washed up, packed his belongings lightly, hung a “Resting” sign on the door, and collapsed into bed.

For the next few days, he’d be sleeping outdoors and needed to rest well.

The night passed without incident.

As dawn barely broke, Gao De woke up half an hour earlier than usual and prepared himself a hearty breakfast.

After eating, he took his pack, stepped outside, and arrived at Black Horn Square fifteen minutes before the scheduled seven o’clock.

But the square was already filled with a crowd waiting.

Some familiar faces whispered among themselves; others gathered to make new acquaintances; some stood in corners observing silently—no one raised their voice; all maintained proper decorum.

Their behaviors varied, but all carried bulging packs.

They were all non-official mages from Bremen City.

Normally, finding a mage wasn’t easy, but now that the summons had been issued, Gao De realized Bremen City had far more mages than he’d imagined.

Though most were merely apprentices; actual full mages were likely few.

At the square’s entrance, several tables were set up, each staffed by several workers, with long queues forming before them.

Gao De joined the shortest line.

The process was simple: present yesterday’s summons, sign your name and mage rank, have a staff member stamp the departure date, and receive the corresponding payment. By the time all summoned mages who had gathered at Black Horn Square completed registration, it was already half past seven.

After another half-hour of tedious waiting, as the sun rose high and everyone grew restless, a female mage in a deep green magical robe finally arrived.

“All set?”

She asked softly, her tone showing no apology, only undeniable authority.

The female mage appeared to be in her thirties, slender-faced with prominent cheekbones and eyes sharp as a hawk’s.

Though a woman, no one dared underestimate her—this was the aura of a mage.

Her arrival instantly brought a coolness that calmed the tense atmosphere.

“All ready. We can depart at once,” the registration officer stepped forward and whispered.

The female mage nodded slightly, scanning the crowd.

Wherever her gaze fell, complaints from the wait vanished instantly.

“Prepare to depart,” she said softly, yet her voice carried across the entire square as if amplified.

“I know her—Magister Viersha, a second-rank enforcer mage.”

Someone in the crowd whispered.

Gao De’s heart tightened.

A second-rank mage!

A first-rank mage was already enough to inspire Gao De’s respect—how much more so a second-rank mage?

At the same time, Gao De felt reassured.

With a second-rank mage leading, as long as he stayed cautious and didn’t act recklessly, he’d likely be safe.

At Magister Viersha’s command, the mages of Black Horn Square, under official guidance, formed two long lines and departed in a steady procession.

Outside the city gate, city guards and a convoy were already waiting.

The force remained mostly apprentice mages.

During the apprentice stage, a mage’s physical condition differs little from an ordinary person’s.

In fact, due to their higher social status, they often avoid physical labor and may even be weaker than common folk.

So without transport, marching on foot alone would exhaust the apprentices—how could they then fight monsters? Even with vehicles arranged, comfort was not to be expected.

The sturdy wooden frames could endure heavy loads and long marches, but shock absorption was poor.

The wheels were wide, with wooden hubs, capable of traversing muddy or uneven terrain.

The carts were covered with thick canvas, beneath which lay supplies.

The mages sat directly atop the canvas.

Eight mages were assigned per carriage.

Compared to the mages who had carriages, the city guards had it far harder.

Most city guards could only walk alongside the convoy.

But their role was purely logistical; the mages were the main combat force, so their fatigue didn’t matter.

Once all mages were arranged, the convoy officially set out.

What followed was a long, endless journey.

The battle scars left by yesterday’s Fierce Bats had not yet been fully cleared; occasional remains and severed limbs of the creatures still littered the road.

The convoy Gao De was on was headed to Kamengde City.

Their main task was to clear earth vein creatures lingering near the road between Bremen and Kamengde, restoring safe passage between the two cities.

At first, the road was wide, and occasionally farmers, emboldened, could be seen harvesting wheat in fields beside the road.

About an hour later, the convoy entered deep woodland, and no human figures remained on either side.

As required, the mages in the convoy had to spread out along the road, hunting earth vein creatures on both sides.

They had to ensure no earth vein creature remained within two kilometers of either side of the road.

Only then could the road’s safety be preliminarily guaranteed.

In Gao De’s view, this operation could simply be called “Clearing and Road-Building.”

(End of Chapter)