Chapter 540 - 507: Luring and Killing the Skyshattering Thunder
The Blood Eagle flew over Forest Lake, circling low to conduct careful reconnaissance. Da Fei had determined that all the hundreds of prison guards were gathered and resting at the convoy by the lake. However, not a single sentry was posted outside the forest, something that surprised Da Fei greatly.
Da Fei relayed the reconnaissance findings to Hangeval, who responded with a cold smile, "Brother, don’t underestimate the dwarves’ little tricks. However, they’re just leftovers from my childhood games, watch me handle them!"
Da Fei was clueless and just nodded, "Alright!"
The troops advanced swiftly across the desert, reaching the edge of the forest in no time. Hangeval waved his hand, and the team immediately halted.
Hangeval chuckled to Da Fei, "Are you interested in checking the forest with me?"
Oh man! I’m a prime suspect here! Da Fei could only laugh awkwardly, "Sure!"
Hangeval nodded, "Then follow me closely, don’t wander!"
Were there landmines here? Da Fei activated his Stealth, following Hangeval and a few officers into the forest. The rest of the troops and the other dwarves awaited orders outside the forest.
Now, Da Fei had penetrated deep into the forest, when Hangeval motioned with his hand, "Stop!"
Da Fei stopped immediately, then Hangeval pointed to the ground, then to the trees, "Do you see it?"
Da Fei looked around bewildered, and eventually spotted a tree branch bent by a rope, with a hint of a trip cord visible in the underbrush. Oh man, are there actually landmines?
Hangeval chuckled, "This whole area is filled with such little tricks. If our troops rashly entered the forest and accidentally triggered the ropes on the ground, the branches would bounce and shake, making any noise noticed by the prison guards by the lake. They would either rush over in a swarm or sound alarms so loud that every bird in the forest would be startled, bringing the full force of the pursuing army right back!"
Da Fei blinked in shock, "So there are these kinds of traps after all!"
Hangeval shook his head, "These aren’t traps. Such little tricks lack lethality, defensive power, or magic power. Anyone, even animals, can discover and dismantle them. They don’t even qualify as traps, so they’re outside the range of Reconnaissance Skill. Similar tricks include precarious boulders on high slopes, threatening river levees, and rotten bridge piers over large rivers, phenomena that lie between half-manmade and half-natural. They aren’t within the scope of Reconnaissance Skill detection, but when utilized properly, their lethality is astonishing—"
At this point, Hangeval solemnly stated, "So, my friend, I know your Reconnaissance Skill and even similar auxiliary professions are surprisingly high, but you’re not invincible. You could very easily fall for some simple little trick, just like numerous smug master thieves have been tripped up by these cops’ childish pranks—like placing a toppled wine bottle on a table edge or behind a door. Or tracking a thief easily by painting half-dry paint on the floor to catch their footprints, or by smearing honey on walls to use the movement of bees or ants to follow them, et cetera. These aren’t things you can handle just by relying on so-called God-level Skills. Your only option is to be meticulous, observe, and analyze!"
Oh man! Even in games, there’s so much to learn about catching thieves! Just having high skills isn’t enough! In that instant, Da Fei thought back to when Anlicia used the bees to break through God-level magic illusions.
Da Fei bowed in gratitude, "Thanks for the guidance, brother!"
Hangeval chuckled, "Only then can I confidently entrust my brothers to you, alright, now that their tricks are exposed, let’s show them our advanced technology!"
Da Fei couldn’t help but feel stunned, entrust them to me confidently? How many times had he said this? Why did it sound like a will? Does it mean his passing of the Inheritance Power and skills to me is a sign of his impending death?
Was he going to die? In that moment, Da Fei remembered the old grandmother in Heaven, and an unspeakable feeling surged to his heart. Well, I have no feelings for male heroes, especially bearded dwarf male heroes. You can go in peace after passing on your skills and experience, I’ll remember you.
...
Now, aside from the Earth Element, the group stealthily entered the forest, ambushing outside the opponent’s "defense line." As for Da Fei, none of this concerned him now. To avoid getting caught up, he kept a distance, watching the live broadcast through Little Fei.
Then, the Forest Demons silently vanished among the trees, and the Flower Demons’ Poison Fog eagerly awaited, ready to bring the show to life!
First, a faint fresh breath, unnoticed by anyone, slowly spread toward the lakeshore. At this point, the Forest Demons were now weaker than when they first surrendered, so their sleep-inducing mist was even harder to detect.
Under the slow invasion of their mist, the prison guards, already bored out of their minds, couldn’t help but yawn incessantly. As for those already asleep, it was needless to say; their snores echoed like thunder.
Then, the Flower Demons made their move, gently releasing their pollen-laden Poison Fog into the forest, until the entire lake was enveloped in a faint mist.
Oh yeah! They had to get caught in this one!
With the timing just right, Hangeval waved his hand, and the dwarves sprang into action. They tiptoed over the trip cords and slowly advanced toward the lakeside. These dwarves, usually boisterous, now moved with the stealth and alertness of tigers and leopards hunting in the forest, completely overturning Da Fei’s previous understanding of dwarves. Honestly, such an operation could only be pulled off by highly intelligent NPCs; if it were the players’ regular troops, they’d be completely oblivious, walking right into traps for the players to see.