Chapter 51: Selecting Task Areas

"In that case, Sami, let's choose two adjacent task areas and keep in touch using 【Message】."

"No problem!"

Sami agreed immediately; mutual support was the very purpose of their cooperation. Although the reality of the mission had changed somewhat, the foundation of their cooperation would not change.

"Look, some people have already started choosing their task areas." Dewan suddenly pointed at a few of the Apprentices; they were already moving toward the position where the Golden-robed Mage was.

"We need to hurry too." Xia Duo looked at the other three. "Do you know the situation in the Green Pearl Forest? Which area is more suitable to choose?"

He was from Earth and had been in Savile Town for less than a year; he only knew the name of the Green Pearl Forest and the indistinguishable rumors from the mouths of Adventurers.

"This—"

Sami and the others looked at each other, but not one of them could provide any specific information about the Green Pearl Forest.

"Xia Duo, I haven't even left the town since I was a child!" Sami said.

Immediately after, Dewan added, "Me too."

"Dien—"

The three of them looked at Dien simultaneously.

Dien shook his head hurriedly. "It's true my home is outside the town, but it's to the west of the town, and you have to walk for a while after crossing the Wofu Fort River. Besides, before joining the Mage Tower, I never left the village, and I haven't even heard the name Green Pearl Forest more than a few times."

"Sigh—"

Putting it that way, it was actually Xia Duo, the outsider, who knew the most information; he had spent over half a year in the South District where Adventurers gathered!

And the places where Adventurers went to work were, to a large extent, the Green Pearl Forest.

But how much of that information was just bragging by Adventurers who had drunk too much, or perhaps information leaked with a mix of truth and falsehood to conceal their real activity areas?

Xia Duo did not mention these experiences of his, so as not to cause them to misjudge the danger of the mission. "Let's not consider these for now; let's go choose our task areas as soon as possible."

"Okay!"

As the four of them moved, more and more people began to crowd toward the Mage. The Golden-robed Mage frowned, waved the short staff in his hand, and a gust of wind appeared out of thin air, instantly calming the surging crowd.

"Official Apprentices choose first!"

The Golden-robed Mage pointed casually at an Official Apprentice who had just rushed to the front. "Starting from him, line up in order!"

After a commotion in the crowd, several neat queues were quickly formed, and starting from that Apprentice, they went up to choose.

"I choose Area 25."

"I also choose Area 25."

"26."

"26."

Small groups had already formed while lining up, and the Official Apprentices who chose first almost unanimously started picking from the middle areas; these areas were moderate in size, and the number of Orcs they might encounter was also moderate.

Added to the cooperation agreements that might exist between them, it would not be an exaggeration to call them the best positions.

As for the deep forest, the chance of encountering Orcs was the smallest, but these areas were also the largest in range; once they encountered Orcs and couldn't defeat them, it was very likely they wouldn't be able to wait for support.

However, quite a few Apprentices were quite familiar with the Green Pearl Forest, so they directly chose areas they were familiar with, and these areas were often the furthest east.

Perhaps they had enough confidence to clear such a large area, or perhaps they had calculated that there were fewer Orcs wandering into those areas, and it was within their range of handling.

In short, everyone had their own plans. When it was Xia Duo's turn, he had already discussed it with Sami and the others; he and Dien chose Area 12, and Sami and Dewan chose Area 13.

They were all very unfamiliar with the Green Pearl Forest, so they simply chose one that was convenient for mutual support. Of course, the area furthest west near the Wofu Fort River could not be chosen.

Orcs did not have high average Wisdom, and coming along the river was the most likely scenario. If they really rushed toward that side, wouldn't they just be looking for trouble for themselves?

Xia Duo noted and counted; there were 61 Official Apprentices in total. After they finished choosing, the remaining areas they deemed bad were left for the Ordinary Apprentices.

Regarding this, the Golden-robed Mage did not express anything; after all, letting the Official Apprentices choose first was something he had proposed himself.

After everyone had finished choosing, the Golden-robed Mage put away the light-shadow map and pointed to the stone building next to the Training Ground. "Follow me inside!"

Perhaps the influence of that gust of wind still existed, so this time the Apprentices did not swarm in, but the Official Apprentices went first, with the Ordinary Apprentices following behind.

The interior of the stone building seemed to have undergone some repairs and tidying up. Now it was a place similar to an office. In the center was a huge desk, on which several piles of Documents were messily stacked, along with some equipment he couldn't understand.

Seven Official Mages dressed in exquisite Mage Robes were surrounding the desk, checking the Documents at hand, and occasionally recording something with a pen. As soon as the Golden-robed Mage entered, he sat in the obviously empty seat.

He said to the Apprentices who had not yet fully entered: "Those who chose Areas 1 to 10 come here; others go to the other Mages according to your choices."

After speaking, he took out a small gray cloth bag from his golden-silk Mage Robe, held the bottom of the bag, and poured it onto the desk—

Whoosh—

A pile of Metal Badges, no bigger than Gold Coins, fell out of the gray cloth bag, knocking over the Documents stacked on the desk.

"Huosite, Pulaisite." The Golden-robed Mage looked at the two Official Mages opposite him. "You start too; hurry up with the time."

"Okay." One Mage replied immediately. "Those who chose Areas 11 to 25 come to me; the rest go to that Mage Pulaisite."

Hearing the instructions, all the Apprentices responded and moved, quickly filling this office, which had originally looked quite spacious, to the brim.

Xia Duo followed behind Dien to Mage Huosite's side, but quite a few people were already crowded in front.

Mage Huosite took a Metal Badge from the desk, looked at the Apprentice closest to him, and asked, "Which number did you choose?"

"Area 17." The Apprentice answered immediately.

Then, Xia Duo saw Mage Huosite reach out and wipe the back of the Badge. A faint light flashed, and a portrait of only the upper body actually appeared on the back of the Badge.

Mage Huosite handed the Badge to that Apprentice and instructed at the same time: "Go to Training Ground No. 2 to find your squad; the squad leader behind will tell you. Get out."

This Apprentice hurriedly took the Badge and squeezed out of the crowd.

Next, the Apprentices received their Badges one by one and then left.

Soon, Xia Duo also received his own Badge. After leaving the stone building, he carefully examined this Badge, which was small enough to be held in the palm of his hand, while following the flow of people toward Training Ground No. 2.

There was nothing strange about the front; it was the image of a Mage Tower standing on books. Xia Duo had already seen it many times in the Savile Territory; this was the emblem belonging to the Saville Family.

The portrait on the back was what he was concerned about—

At a rough glance, it is indeed the image of Xia Duo, and no flaws can be seen, but upon closer inspection, this portrait is actually composed of countless instances of the Netherese numerical symbol "12".