Chapter 53: Collecting Equipment, Leaving the Camp

Those Ordinary Apprentices assigned to the western front also arrived, and with their squads, they surrounded the entire military supply office until it was packed solid.

While chatting with Captain Jibu and the others, Xia Duo waited for the people in front to collect their military supplies; from Captain Jibu, Xia Duo also learned that although the Territory had received strong reinforcements, it still required a large number of soldiers.

Most of the original soldiers in the Territory had been drafted to the main battlefield, including even some armed forces forcibly requisitioned from various merchant associations.

However, at the mention of those merchant associations, a look of resentment appeared on Jibu's face, but he quickly hid it and changed the subject, "Mage Xia Duo, what is the Mage Tower actually like inside? I heard people say you can even grow food in there? Can you really grow food inside the tower?"

*Cough*—

If not for the fact that he was certain he had never known this Captain Jibu before, Xia Duo would have thought the other party knew he worked in the Arcane Garden; however, the Mage Tower had regulations against revealing the secrets of the Mage Tower to outsiders at will.

But as to what exactly could be called a secret, Xia Duo found it hard to judge, so he could only say nothing and also changed the subject: "Captain Jibu, have you never thought about becoming a Mage?"

"Of course I have!" Jibu recalled the scene of seeing the neighbor's child pointing a finger to ignite a fire when he was young, and sighed, "But what's the use of thinking about it? My father is in poor health, and the family relies entirely on my mother washing clothes for others to make a living; how could I abandon them to enter the Mage Tower!"

"Mage Xia Duo, don't ask the Captain; he gave it up for his family. Now me, because there are several brothers in my family and someone to take care of things at home, I thought about relying on my own efforts to become a Mage, but who knew I wouldn't even pass the tower entrance examination!"

Jiexi's words made the group laugh out loud, which also diluted the somewhat dull atmosphere from just before. Jieli hammered his younger brother's arm and laughed, scolding: "That's just because you're too stupid. If it were me going, I might have passed."

Xia Duo shook his head; with the build of the Jiexi brothers, even if they became Mages, it would feel strange. Such strong bodies were born to be Warriors.

As they chatted, the members of the squad became much more familiar with each other. The only exception was Aiwa; from the time Xia Duo joined the squad until now, he hadn't said a single word. It really made one wonder if he was a mute!

……

Soon the crowded mass of people gradually dispersed, and Xia Duo and the others also received their items from different supply officers.

Except for Captain Jibu and the Jiexi brothers, who were already soldiers, everyone else received a piece of light Leather Armor, and even Xia Duo received one.

As for weapons, they were standard-issue Long Spears, one-handed swords, and bows and arrows. Everyone except Xia Duo had a set, and the three of them—Jibu and his men—also had an additional wooden shield covered in Iron.

Of course, the core material for this operation was also indispensable—Magic Scrolls.

A total of four wooden Scroll Cases hung from a belt. During the handover, Xia Duo carefully counted them; inside were the four types of scrolls: 【Magic Weapon】, 【Bear's Endurance】, 【Bull's Strength】, and 【Cat's Grace】.

There were 4 copies of each.

Although he felt that having only this many scrolls wasn't enough, as soon as he thought about the fact that the scrolls inside were worth nearly 2,000 Gold Coins, Xia Duo could immediately understand why there were so few.

Nearly two hundred Apprentices were drafted; just think how many scrolls would have to be issued! Think how much money that would be worth!

However, Xia Duo also felt that with the Mage Tower's consistent style, it was impossible for everyone to be issued 16 scrolls; perhaps it was based on combat intensity, or perhaps only Official Apprentices could receive so many.

But regardless, the weapons and equipment had been received, so it wouldn't be long before they went to the battlefield!

……

Carrying their respective weapons and equipment, Jibu led everyone to their squad's camp and even ate the army's lunch while they were at it.

Bread, meat, lettuce leaves—except for the lack of alcohol, Xia Duo felt the food here was even better than at the Mage Tower, at least in terms of quantity, it was much more sufficient.

After the meal, the group had just returned to the camp, and Xia Duo was preparing to find time to study 【Arcane Mark】 when Dien came looking for him.

"Xia Duo, are you going outside to buy anything?"

"Can we still leave the Military Camp now?"

"Of course we can." Dien had just run a distance and slightly steadied his breath before saying, "I just saw someone go out and come back, so I immediately came to notify you."

"What do you want to go out and buy? Don't they have everything in the camp?"

"This—" Dien scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, "I want to go home and take a look. I saw people queuing to enter at the South District gate earlier, and I'm a bit worried about my family."

"……"

"Fine, it just so happens I want to go out too."

Xia Duo considered it and agreed. Moreover, he remembered that the Dwarf Bulutuo had once promised him he would help him hammer his Iron Dagger a few times. With the prospect of fighting Orcs imminent, every little bit of improvement helped.

However, regarding Dien's worry, Xia Duo didn't actually take it to heart. If he were the Lord, regardless of the considerations, he would have brought all the Apprentices' families into the town.

Wier Lingzhu had a reputation for being skilled in governance; he had likely thought of this long ago.

Before leaving, Xia Duo specifically changed into the Leather Armor bearing the Territory Badge before going out with Dien. They only had to show the previously issued Badge to the guards to successfully leave the camp.

"Xia Duo, thank you for coming out with me. You go wander around outside and head back quickly; I'm going home."

"Wait."

Xia Duo hurriedly stopped Dien, who was about to run toward his home, "Do you have any relatives or anyone in town? Go check there first; you might get a surprise."

"Alright, I'm off."

……

Savile Town, South District, Bluto's Smithy.

Perhaps because the Adventurers had all been drafted, the Dwarf Bulutuo's smithy was quite idle now. After lunch, taking advantage of the alcohol, Bulutuo was tapping away at a piece of red-hot Iron ingot.

He was quite satisfied with this kind of life, but for some reason, he always felt something was missing; it didn't feel right.

After hammering hard a few times, Bulutuo grabbed the wine bottle beside the anvil and took a few gulps, which finally refreshed him a little, and he began to hammer the Iron ingot again.

"Uncle Bulutuo, long time no see, did you miss me?"

Eh? This voice? Bulutuo immediately turned his head back, so excited that even his beard, braided into a small pigtail, stood up, "Oh! By the Holy Hammer, look who it is! Xia Duo! I thought you'd been sold off by Lao Nier!"

Hearing Lao Nier's name, Xia Duo couldn't help but curl his lips, remembering the scene of passing by the entrance of the Old Neil Inn just a moment ago.

Because Xia Duo was wearing the Territory soldier's Leather Armor and had deliberately conjured a ball of greenish flame on his finger, it had given Lao Nier quite a fright; that expression was truly spectacular.

Of course, that wasn't the end of it, but for now, that was all Xia Duo could do.

Lao Nier was no simple character either. He had previously heard from Captain Jibu that because a large number of soldiers had been temporarily drafted, there was a shortage of meat, so several inns and butcher shops in the Territory had sent over cheap meat, including the Old Neil Inn.

Looking at it this way, the man had become a military supplier; Xia Duo dared not take any action, so he could only scare him first to collect some interest.

……