Since the people outside were already clearing the cave, Roger felt there was no need to buy any handy tools from the system shop.
Being able to save a sum of points to exchange for new skills and equipment was a good deal no matter how he looked at it.
The sound of pickaxes striking rubble echoed through the passage, playing in harmony with the digging sounds coming from the other side of the blockage.
The two had no unnecessary conversation, silently taking turns swinging the pickaxe.
As time passed, the digging sounds from the other side grew clearer, and Knight Stine's shouts through the voice-amplifying device could finally be heard.
By the time Roger's pickaxe finally snapped in half with a crisp crack, a gap had finally appeared in the collapsed rubble.
The blue-white light of a lighting crystal filtered through the gap, causing both of them, who had been in the dark for a long time, to squint their eyes at the same time.
The digging on the other side stopped abruptly, and Knight Stine's voice drifted through the gap, clear as day even without the voice-amplifying device this time.
“They're in here! Keep digging, widen the gap!”
Both sides began clearing the surrounding rocks simultaneously. Several hands reached through from the other side, and Roger and Irene worked in tandem from their side to move the rocks out of the way.
The gap widened at a visible rate, eventually growing large enough for a person to squeeze through sideways.
Roger signaled for Irene to go first. She nodded, squeezed through the gap, and was immediately met by hands on the other side pulling her out of the rubble.
In the brief moment she took to squeeze through the gap, Roger turned and quickly walked over to the corpse of the mutated goblin, storing it into his system inventory.
Only after completing this did he turn around and squeeze through the gap.
On the other side of the blockage, the light from torches and lighting crystals illuminated the cave entrance.
Knight Stine stood at the very front. Seeing them emerge, he let out a visible sigh of relief. “Thank goodness you're both alive.”
“Almost didn't make it,” Roger said, brushing the stone dust off his body. He didn't go into detail about their experiences inside the cave, instead asking abruptly,
“By the way, has the scout team roster been submitted yet?”
Knight Stine was slightly taken aback by the sudden shift in topic, then shook his head. “Not yet. But don't worry, you won't be shorted on your reward.”
He assumed Roger was simply anxious to get his bounty.
For a mercenary, talking about money first thing after surviving a brush with death was completely normal.
“In that case, could you avoid putting my real name on the roster? Just write any random name instead.”
As soon as Roger spoke, Knight Stine looked puzzled, while Irene's expression seemed to ask what he meant by this.
“For reasons that aren't convenient to explain,” Roger replied simply.
After all, he didn't want the mole to learn his real name.
“Don't put my name on it either then,” Irene chimed in, seemingly catching on.
Seeing both mercenaries suddenly make this request, Knight Stine didn't bother to press further and simply said,
“You two might as well explain it to the Baron in person after we go down the mountain tomorrow.”
Over the next short while, Knight Stine brought up the latest military intelligence.
Count Nigel's reinforcements would arrive tomorrow morning to relieve them at the nest entrance, as well as take over the search and excavation work inside the cave.
Once the defense line was handed over, Baron Raymond's troops could descend the mountain and return to camp.
Irene let out a sigh of relief at the news. She was clearly exhausted by the high-intensity combat of the past few days and only wanted to rest now.
Roger had no intention of objecting either. After all, he also needed to recuperate, update his skills and equipment, and organize the intelligence he had gathered.
Furthermore, although the goblin nest looked large on the surface, the areas that could actually be explored were limited, and the deeper passages were blocked anyway. It was better to leave them for the noble lords to dig up slowly.
After Knight Stine told them they could go rest, Roger patted Irene on the shoulder and gestured for her to follow him.
“What is it?” Irene asked once they stopped in a quiet corner.
“We need to get our stories straight,” Roger replied after confirming no one was nearby. “If the Baron asks what we saw in the cave, we say we were waiting for rescue right next to the collapsed rubble the whole time and didn't go anywhere else.”
Irene also lowered her voice. “I've been meaning to ask since you said you didn't want to use your real name. Do you think there's another mole? You don't want your name exposed?”
“If I were a cultist, I certainly wouldn't plant just one mole,” Roger replied.
“Alright, I'll do as you say.” Irene nodded without much hesitation, but she quickly raised a new concern. “But what if the mole tries to ask around about us through the Golden Falcon Group? And what about that goblin corpse...”
“I've already quietly dealt with the corpse. I'll find a way to handle the Golden Falcon Group.”
As Roger spoke, he was already planning his next move in his head.
However, before he could seek out the Golden Falcon Group, they came looking for them first.
That evening, the clearing of the collapse gap had come to a temporary halt, and the soldiers returned to the woods to find spots to rest.
Roger and Irene each found a corner to sit down. Steinbeck walked over through the crowd, still wearing his usual easygoing expression.
He explained his purpose in a conversational tone:
“I was just chatting with Artley. What are you two planning to do next? Your contract with Baron Raymond should be expiring soon, right? Once this battle is over, you'll have to find another employer.”
Irene didn't speak, only looking at Roger.
“We haven't decided yet,” Roger replied noncommittally. “We'll finish the battle at hand first.”
Steinbeck grinned.
“That's perfect then. Artley asked me to come over and see if you're interested in joining the Golden Falcon Group.”
He paused for a few seconds to let them digest the words before continuing:
“The Golden Falcon Group is in need of fresh blood like you. Don't worry about the pay; our contracts have always been much more generous than those of noble private armies, and we don't restrict our members from taking private jobs.”
“As long as it doesn't affect group missions, you can take on as many side jobs as you want, and the group won't take a cut.”
Irene was the first to speak. “Thank you for the offer, but I don't plan on joining any permanent mercenary group for now.”
Steinbeck nodded, seemingly having anticipated this answer, and then turned his gaze to Roger.
After a moment of thought, Roger also shook his head. “I don't plan on joining either. I'm used to being on my own, and I don't really fit into the rigid rules of team combat.”
Steinbeck didn't show the slightest displeasure, only smiling.
“Alright, as expected. Both of you are lone wolves; it's already a miracle that you two teamed up. But the doors of the Golden Falcon Group are always open. If you ever change your minds, just come find me.”
He turned and walked back toward where the Golden Falcon Group was resting, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows of the campfire.
After Steinbeck's footsteps had completely faded, Roger waited another ten minutes or so before standing up as well.
“I'm going for a walk.”
He deliberately bypassed the resting soldiers and made his way toward the Golden Falcon Group's camp.
By this time, Steinbeck had returned to the campfire and was talking with Artley and Lana. As Roger drew closer, he heard that they seemed to be discussing him and Irene.
“Both of them have solid foundations. As long as they're lucky enough to survive, they'll make a name for themselves sooner or later,” Artley's voice drifted over.
Roger quickly filtered through the magical items category in the system shop and found what he wanted.
【Name: Suggestion Dust
Quality: Excellent
Description: A colorless and odorless, extremely fine powder that can be carried through the air to adhere to the target's skin.
Once the dust has adhered, the user can give a specific suggestive command to the target. Upon hearing the command, the target will automatically accept it as a subconscious inclination.
The command must be simple, must not violate the target's core beliefs, and must not involve directly harming themselves or others.
After a single use, the dust will naturally metabolize and disappear from the target's body without leaving any trace.
Exchange Cost: 500 points】
“Points -500, balance 9,110.”
Roger pressed the exchange button, and a tiny black cloth pouch appeared in his palm.
Under the cover of night, he quietly crept near the Golden Falcon Group's campfire, stopping behind a boulder about a dozen paces away from the three of them.
Roger silently loosened the drawstring of the pouch while casting Windwalk.
He attempted to manipulate the wind elements inside his body, releasing them outward, and then let go of the drawstring, using the wind elements to drift the dust toward the three.
The dust dissolved and vanished the moment it touched their skin, leaving no trace behind.
Then, he lowered his voice, speaking at a volume just loud enough for the three to hear:
“I have a favor to ask of you three. Do not reveal any information about Irene or me to anyone.”
The reason he included Irene was to prevent the mole from tracing back to them.
All three of them nodded.
Without another word, Roger quietly slipped back to the resting area of Baron Raymond's troops.
Rate on N.U.
