Chapter 27: This Is the Marvelous Tool We'll Use in a Moment

Humans in this world are not at the top of the food chain; hunting magical beasts is not an easy task.

These oddly shaped creatures are either thick‑skinned and fleshy, or swift and agile.

Some special species are born with innate magic, and a too‑weak party can be counter‑killed with a moment's inattention.

And even the squads that got lucky and secured a haul are not necessarily safe, since adventurers' hearts are exceedingly complicated.

There are young people who join with fiery enthusiasm, hoping to make a name for themselves.

They are trustworthy and reliable, yet easy to deceive and exploit; their voices are loud but their wrists are soft, becoming guns in others' hands.

There are also seasoned veterans who are deep‑thinking, greedy and lecherous.

As long as money is involved, they will kidnap, loot, murder, traffic people—everything except the professionalism of mercenaries.

Therefore, a competent adventuring party like the Iron Chain Squad would not stay together the whole time like children on a picnic.

Lao Bo'er, serving as archer and hunter, acts as a sentry to scout and blaze trails around the perimeter.

Anna and the two youths, as the core combat force, form a triangular guard around the party.

As for the physically "fragile" mage AdaiEr, they will sit securely at the center under the protection of pillar combatant Stone, ready to deal damage.

Thus, when any movement occurs nearby, Lao Bo'er will be the first to sound the alarm.

At the same time, the three warriors will contract or expand toward the center based on intel, facilitating support from the ranged combatants Stone and AdaiEr.

Although this time healer Ji Ming joins as logistics, his role is similar to the mage: stay in the center, heal promptly, and don't wander.

It is precisely because he sees this professionalism that Ji Ming feels at ease to chat a few words with Stone.

If these adventurers were each reckless and lax, they'd be like the disposable side‑kicks in anime that can be wiped out at any moment…

"Ha ha, this job's pretty good, I forgot to turn off my potion‑brewing furnace at home, see you later, see you later…"

Now, having scouted a special situation, Lao Bo'er swiftly returns to the squad, raising both arms to signal the team.

Fortunately it was a false alarm; this adventure's luck is good, the encounter is neither a beast nor other adventurers looking to double‑cross.

"Two red‑antlered white deer!"

He gathers everyone, and Lao Bo'er gestures the size.

"Adults, both antlers are fully grown, they can fetch a good price!"

Ji Ming may not be a hunter, but he knows that the deer antlers of this beast are a core ingredient for a strength‑enhancing magical pill, and are highly sought after on the market.

Moreover, the larger, fresher, and more intact the antlers, the higher the price; with all three factors combined, the value can even double.

They hadn't expected to find such a big haul right away, and the squad's atmosphere instantly heated up.

As the saying goes, knowledge comes in order, and each discipline has its specialty.

No one in the party knows hunting better than Lao Bo'er, so command naturally shifts from captain Stone to him.

He grabs a stone and begins drawing on the ground, directly assigning everyone's tasks.

"Later I'll drive them here first, and Anna will be responsible for separating them…"

The hunter's logic is simple: split and disperse.

First, cause the red‑antlered white deer to panic and inadvertently split, then have one of them run into the ambush.

Later, Charlie and Beli will be responsible for capturing one alive, while Stone, Ji Ming, and AdaiEr will capture the other.

"If luck's on our side, we get a big haul and might be able to head straight home."

A quick pre‑battle pep talk, and everyone darts toward their assigned spots.

Stone and the two others set their positions behind dense thickets; they will obscure the prey's sight, forcing a fatal mistake.

But Ji Ming has never been one to rely on a single safety net.

Upon arriving, he immediately ponders where the white deer will charge from and where to lay the trap.

Thinking of his own twisted luck, perhaps the Grave‑Digging Technique is exactly for him to dig a trap at this moment…

After pinpointing a suspected beast trail, he removes the cloth sack on his back.

But before he can pull out the shovel, a low call comes from behind.

"Hey, doctor, why are you still standing there?"

He turns around and sees Stone and AdaiEr both crouched in the grass.

"Um, captain, don't we need to set up traps?"

Stone shakes his head.

"It's too late; when the time comes I'll shoot the white deer's leg to cripple it, you and AdaiEr hold it down, and once I tie the rope it'll be done!"

Ji Ming thinks it makes sense and has to curb his Lao Liu desire.

He first removes the medical kit slung over his shoulder to avoid it breaking later, and places the cloth sack he carries on the ground for ready use.

He gazes into the distance, calmly squatting beside Stone.

Stone glances sideways, a hint of puzzlement on his face.

The medical kit is understandable, but this cloth bag is…

"Doctor, I've been meaning to ask, what do you have in the cloth sack on your back?"

"Shh…"

Ji Ming raises his forefinger to signal silence, then says mysteriously.

"This is the marvelous tool we'll need in a moment."

"Huh?"

At this moment Lao Bo'er has already moved, using the shrubbery for cover as he gradually approaches the prey.

The two red‑antlered white deer are highly alert; when one lowers its head to graze, the other inevitably lifts its head in vigilance.

Thus Lao Bo'er doesn't wait to get close; with a few steps still between them, he suddenly leaps out of the grass.

"Roar!"

He exaggeratedly spread his arms, quickly approaching while emitting a tiger-like roar from his throat.

The white deer was frightened stupid by this indescribably terrifying creature, even staggering for two seconds before running off in the opposite direction.

In the panic, the two deer, whose movements had been somewhat coordinated, gradually pulled apart due to obstacles like tree roots and bushes.

Anna seized the moment, charging out from the grass beside her toward the deer lagging behind.

The one in front didn't see her at all, but the one behind got a clear look.

Faced with the imminent threat, they didn't think for a moment and decisively changed direction.

Consequently, the two deer went in different directions.

"Well done!"

Old Bo'er shouted his praise, then continued chasing the leading deer.

"Get ready!"

Anna also strode forward, relentlessly pursuing in the woods, driving the hind deer to flee wildly.

However, hunting, this ancient practice, is inherently full of randomness; even the most perfect plan can turn into a leaky sieve anywhere.

Just as the hind deer was about to enter the ambush circle, a forest wind blew, and a poisonous snake inexplicably dropped from the treetops above.