“A mountain giant bear... that's no ordinary magical beast. Once a hunt begins, it definitely won't be quiet. The entire depths of the forest will be disturbed, and even the outskirts might be affected.”
He looked up at Matthew, his tone carrying the caution of an experienced veteran:
“Before that, we'd better lie low. Once the storm blows over and the forest regains its peace, it won't be too late for us to take action.”
Hearing Instructor Calm's explanation, Matthew understood.
No wonder the few pounds of magical beast meat they had initially agreed upon had suddenly jumped to over twenty pounds.
However, this generous gesture was exactly proof of Calm's strength.
While twenty-odd pounds of magical beast meat didn't seem like much, its rarity and actual value far exceeded ordinary gifts.
And this was merely a gift, not the compensation for taking action.
After all, Brody had casually handed over ten gold coins last time. While that might have been a deliberate gesture of goodwill and a display of financial power, the nature of that mission was to escort a caravan, where the risks were relatively clear and manageable.
But this time was different. It was an invitation for Calm to participate in hunting a mountain giant bear.
The danger of such an operation was far beyond that of a regular escort mission.
With these thoughts in mind, Matthew asked, “Instructor, is this mountain giant bear... a mid-tier magical beast?”
“No, not yet,” Instructor Calm shook his head. “A true mid-tier magical beast is a tough nut to crack that only Gold Rank Class holders dare to touch. Their strength is a qualitative leap from low-tier ones. At its core, the mountain giant bear is still a low-tier magical beast.”
Calm paused for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts to be more precise, before explaining further:
“It's somewhat similar to the kobold priest, a special product within its species. Examples include the mountain giant bear, the Shadow Wolf King, and so on...”
“You can think of it as their bodies possessing exceptionally vast and pure life energy, far exceeding ordinary magical beasts of the same rank. They also grow an 'energy core.' It is this very core that will provide concrete assistance for my old acquaintance to break through from the Brass Rank to the Silver Rank.”
“Correspondingly, the strength and intelligence of such special magical creatures are also significantly enhanced.”
As Matthew listened to Instructor Calm's explanation, he compared these words with his own experiences.
He recalled the massive paw prints he had occasionally spotted in the snow while practicing his archery on the outskirts of the forest.
At the time, he hadn't thought much of it, simply assuming they belonged to some large creature.
Looking back now, those were highly likely the footprints left by the mountain giant bear.
This realization sent a shiver down Matthew's spine. He felt fortunate that he had good luck and made the right decision to reduce his trips to the creek.
If he were to encounter such a ferocious beast alone, it would probably be extremely difficult to handle.
What shocked him even more was the information-gathering capability of the instructor's old friend.
During this season when the heavy snow blocked the mountains and cut off information, the other party was actually able to precisely track down this special magical beast's whereabouts...
“I understand, Instructor.”
Matthew snapped back to reality and nodded.
Instructor Calm cast his gaze out the window into the deep night, his tone carrying a trace of imperceptible solemnity, as if he were talking to himself:
“This forest... is truly undergoing a massive change. A magical beast like the mountain giant bear, which should have been entrenched much deeper inside, has actually appeared in the forest near our village.”
Hearing this, Matthew looked at Instructor Calm's solemn profile and asked, “Instructor, have you accepted your old acquaintance's invitation then?”
Calm did not answer immediately. He withdrew his gaze from the window, remaining silent for a brief moment before slowly speaking:
“I haven't accepted yet. Hunting a mountain giant bear is no small matter. I need more time to consider it, and I also need to see if their preparations are thorough enough.”
“However, with this mountain giant bear constantly lingering around the outskirts of the forest, it remains a massive hidden danger after all. If it ever completely leaves the forest and breaks into Stone Mill Village... the consequences would be unimaginable.”
Matthew nodded heavily, his mind racing.
He recalled the three men he had just seen in the courtyard. The leader was a Brass Rank powerhouse, only a single step away from the Silver Rank, and the two behind him had steady auras, likely Class holders as well.
If Calm and Matthew were added to the mix, that would make a lineup of two Brass Ranks and three Black Iron Ranks. Hunting a mountain giant bear didn't seem entirely winless.
Yet Matthew also knew that behind this "feasibility" lay massive variables.
On one hand, there was indeed strength in numbers. If they coordinated well and had a meticulous plan, the success rate of the hunt would be greatly improved.
His old acquaintance had specially sent such a generous gift, showing clear sincerity and absolute determination.
On the other hand, just as Instructor Calm had said, the mountain giant bear was a "special product" among low-tier magical beasts. Its strength far exceeded the norm, and hunting it would cause a massive commotion, likely disturbing the entire forest.
If any accident occurred during the process or if other dangerous creatures were drawn in, the situation could spiral out of control in an instant.
What made Matthew even more vaguely uneasy was: why did the mountain giant bear appear on the outskirts of the forest near the village in the first place?
Was it just wandering by chance, or had some upheaval occurred in the depths of the forest, forcing it to migrate outward?
If it was the latter, then successfully completing the hunt would be an absolute blessing for the village and Matthew!
After all, if the mountain giant bear left the forest and came to Stone Mill Village, the destruction it would cause would be catastrophic!
“No use overthinking.”
Matthew told himself in his mind.
The priority right now was to increase his own strength.
If Instructor Calm ultimately decided to participate in the operation, perhaps he should also consider tagging along. This wasn't just about joining a hunt; it was a rare opportunity.
First, it lay in the "connections" shown by that old acquaintance. To easily present magical beast meat worth several gold coins as a "small gift" meant their resources and network were definitely extraordinary.
If he could establish a connection through this operation, he would have an additional avenue when searching for a Blue bow.
Second, the risks of the operation itself were manageable.
Although the target was a "special product" among low-tier magical beasts and far more dangerous than normal, the plan was to execute it on the outskirts, leaving a clear path for retreat.
More importantly, this team led by two Brass Rank powerhouses, with all members being Class holders, was already considered a top-tier lineup in the Anda Town area. As long as the plan was detailed, their chances of winning were not low.
Of course, the premise of all this was Instructor Calm's judgment.
The instructor was highly experienced. His final decision would surely be based on a comprehensive assessment of his acquaintance's team and the state of the mountain giant bear.
Thinking of this, the scales in Matthew's heart had already tipped.
“Risks and opportunities coexist, but the weight of opportunity is heavier.”
Particularly when the reason for the giant bear's abnormal appearance on the outskirts remained unknown.
If there really was a massive change in the depths of the forest, eliminating this impending threat to the village as early as possible was a "good thing" that could not be missed, whether for the village or for him personally.
If he didn't participate, then he would need to race against time even more to hone his archery and combat techniques, accumulating enough strength to explore the kobold nest.
Rate on N.U.
