Chapter 290 - 269: Sea of Fleeting Blossom Archers _2
Under normal circumstances, players can only carry one transport cart at most. After learning the sub-skill "Transport Cart," which is part of the Advanced Logistics Skill, they can carry additional carts depending on the level of their Logistics Skill—three more with Advanced Logistics and a total of five with Master-level Logistics. This means a player can typically carry six carts via their skills. These six carts can accompany the player in campaigns across different regions. If the player’s Vice Hero also masters Logistics, they can carry another six carts.
Then there’s the Merchant License. The higher its level, the more transport carts a player can hire from the Chamber of Commerce. However, the additional carts hired from the Chamber of Commerce can only travel on a few fixed trade routes and will not follow the player into battle.
Looking at the entire China Region, there’s presently no convoy that can match Fleeting Blossom’s standard of 20 transport carts. Of course, even 20 carts only amount to a transport capacity of 200 loads, which is just half of what a Medium Ship can carry, but the expenses for cart drivers and horses are much more costly. Land transport simply cannot compete with sea transport.
Realizing the disparity in land transport, Fleeting Blossom went all out to prepare for the project to dig a sea canal after receiving information about it from Elanee.
Therefore, Fleeting Blossom came here for two major tasks. The first, to seek assistance from the NPC military for the Epic Quest of opening a sea canal. As for the second, naturally, it was to take advantage of the army’s power to make an appearance in the competition.
At this moment, a prideful Fleeting Blossom declared from inside the cart, "Luckily, I made it just in time for the last call for registration. I’ll give my wife a big surprise in a moment."
After two days of observing the preliminary matches and listening to explanations from various professional experts on television, Little Li had made swift progress and was no longer the novice to the game she once was.
Little Li chuckled, "You don’t seriously think you can take first place, do you?"
Fleeting Blossom smiled faintly, "Participation is what counts. After all, strength is paramount in the game. Why do the women of Bloodrose look down on me? They simply think that as a merchant player, I lack combat ability. I admit, under normal circumstances, I can’t fight. But the rules of the competition are different. As long as it’s your possession, you can bring it to compete, so, I will let them see just how terrifying my strength really is!"
Little Li laughed heartily, "Why bother proving anything to those women."
Fleeting Blossom shook her head with a proud smile, "They’re really not worth acknowledging. The main reason is, if I advance in the competition, I’m likely to encounter Da Fei. Currently, professional teams from various countries are preparing Super Heroes to besiege him, and with his amateur level, he probably won’t be able to go much further. I can take this opportunity to help him clear some obstacles, as a gift for meeting the world’s number one amateur expert."
Little Li’s eyes widened, "So that’s what you were thinking?"
Fleeting Blossom laughed heartily, "Do you think it’s easy to befriend top players? At the very least, one must have considerable strength to be considered useful to them!"
Little Li gave a wry smile, "Aren’t you afraid he’ll take advantage of you?"
Fleeting Blossom chuckled, "It seems his slogan is ’Chinese don’t attack other Chinese.’"
Little Li snorted, "He’s killed more Chinese in the country than anyone!"
Amidst the jokes and laughter, the convoy arrived at the station. A one-eyed hero wearing an eyepatch was already waiting at the post.
Elanee got out of the cart with a smile, "General Gandor, the high-proof liquor you requested has been completed on time."
The one-eyed hero emotionlessly opened a jar in the cargo hold. As a rich aroma of alcohol wafted out, his expression brightened, "Good! Excellent! Such high-proof liquor is indeed not for sale. Lady Elanee, Miss Fleeting Blossom, I am truly grateful for your supply of materials."
— System Prompt: You donated 200 units of high-proof wheat liquor urgently needed by Strong Crossbow Town, earning +20,000 reputation with Strong Crossbow Town, +1000 Kingdom Merit, and your reputation in Strong Crossbow Town has become Trusted!
Finally trusted! It was worth the effort after all the gifts I gave to you, the grain I personally cultivated for you, and all the good liquor I brewed!
Fleeting Blossom smiled and said, "For the glory of the Empire, it is necessary. Oh, General, do you remember the canal security plan I mentioned last time?"
The General nodded with satisfaction, "You have demonstrated your capability numerous times; contributing to the grand canal undertaking of the Empire is also our military duty. Moreover, currently there are no wars, and the troops indeed need an opportunity to stretch their legs! I will give you 1500 Command Value worth of troops, you can go to the Ministry of War and collect them!"
Finally, she had troops! Fleeting Blossom was ecstatic: "Thank you, General!"
— System Prompt: You have completed the first stage of the Epic Quest, "The Grand Canal of the Empire," titled "Project Safety Preparation," and you have been granted an army with 1500 Command Value. You gain +500,000 experience...
Indeed, Fleeting Blossom focused on gaining influence in Strong Crossbow Town precisely because of the archer’s unique status as the town’s main unit type. Now with an official position and 500 points of Command Power, and Elanee being a Knight Lord with 1000 Command Power since her recruitment, if she recruited all archers, that would make 1500 men!
She truly is the world’s number one in military strength!
Here, let us introduce the Human Race’s level 2 unit.
The regular form of level 2 units is known as the archer: Attack 4, Defense 3, Damage 2-4, Health 7, Attack Speed 9, Move Speed 9, Command Value 1, special skill: Scattershot. Recruitment cost, 50 Gold Coins.
Looking at the real history of ancient warfare, archers were in fact quite difficult to train; the bow is not an easy weapon to master. Therefore, the hit rate of regular archers was very problematic, leading instructors to develop individualized training - the "Scattershot" special skill was thus conceived, sacrificing damage for a wild barrage of arrows. This could be remarkably effective with large numbers.
Even the hit rate of level 2 archers is problematic, so one can imagine the hit rate of level 1 Skeleton Archers from the Undead Race. In short, while level 2 units are the main force of the Human Race, regular level 2 units are basically unfit for combat; wasting ammunition is a minor issue, but missing a tactical opportunity is a serious problem.
It is precisely because bows, seemingly simple weapons, are hard to master that crossbows, terrifying mechanical inventions of human ingenuity, appeared. In European history, the crossbow was once regarded as a prohibited weapon among civilians. One of the most famous assessments is that "a lowly peasant could use it to kill a noble knight."
The formal military form of a level 2 unit is the Crossbowman: Attack 4, Defense 4, Damage 2-8, Health 10, Attack Speed 10, Move Speed 9, special skill: Precise Shot. Recruitment cost, 120 Gold Coins.
The biggest difference between archers and Crossbowmen in terms of data is that the damage increases from a terrifying 2-4 to 2-8 and the hit rate is greatly improved, making them completely different units. Once Crossbowmen are enhanced with Master-level Light Magic "Extraordinary Divine Power," the damage floor equals the ceiling, making it 8 points, which reaches the damage level of level 4 units—extremely terrifying!
This is indeed the main force for human players to dominate the world before level 50.
In reality, the Jungle Hunters, touted as the strongest level 3 unit of the Elf Clan, also have a damage range of 5-8, but the output is simply incomparable. However, the fatal gap between Crossbowmen and Jungle Shooters is in the speed of firing, coupled with Crossbowmen being more fragile, which leads to a miserable end when facing Jungle Shooters.
Additionally, with Crossbowmen’s lower damage limit being too low, once hit with Master-level Dark Magic "Weakness Curse," their upper damage limit equals the lower limit of 2! Truly a pitiful sight.
Also, the recruitment cost of Crossbowmen at 120 Gold Coins is known as the most expensive for level 2 units. Ordinary players genuinely can’t afford to die, for should they be harassed by a player specializing in annoying lightning Magic, it would bring them to tears.
In short, this is a unit type with equally obvious strengths and weaknesses, easy to start but difficult to master, and serves as an important dividing line between skilled and unskilled players.
As for the elite form of level 2 units, it is the Double Crossbow, capable of firing two arrows at once! However, elite units are generally only usable by NPC forces, so they are not up for discussion here.
Strong Crossbow Town, being the Imperial Center fortress, obviously would not just nurture these three forms of units. There is also a legendary level 4 special forces unit, Longbow Apache!
That’s right, Fleeting Blossom has her eyes set on this very unit! (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to recommend, vote monthly, and support us at qidian.com. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
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