If you encounter a group leader with some conscience, you might receive a hefty compensation.
But if you run into those heartless bosses who exploit loopholes, then it’s all over.
In Ivan’s view, Gauss is actually an anomaly.
He treats people as human beings, not as cannon fodder or tools.
He also lets team members undergo real-world training, but he won’t make them do anything beyond their capabilities or send them to their deaths needlessly.
"Is the injury serious?"
"They were all injured by falling rocks from the cliff earlier. Serdur has already treated them; their lives are not in danger, but they may need a few days of rest and observation."
"Okay."
Upon hearing this, Gauss nodded.
"Treat them well. If anyone is subsequently unfit for adventure, compensate them according to regulations."
His reasoning for saying this isn’t to discard them when they’re no longer useful.
Rather, it’s a beneficial outcome for both sides.
If the physical condition doesn’t allow, forcing them to continue the assignment would only bring greater risk, whether to their own safety or their teammates’.
"I understand."
Ivan nodded solemnly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the members of the Red Dragon Team who were happily looting the spoils, unable to help but feel grateful for their luck in having a leader like Gauss.
...
"Gauss, I’ve found quite a few valuable spoils here."
Ying had looted a number of treasures from the Kobold’s mining tunnel, likely belonging to the Kobold leader’s small treasury.
There were also several Spellbooks written in odd, skewed characters.
Large chunks of gold nuggets.
A small box of Magic Stones, mostly low-level ones, but also some twenty mid-level Magic Stones.
Other items were of little value.
His gaze quickly focused on those Spellbooks.
He picked them up and glanced through a few pages, decisively using [Fluent in Language], soon temporarily understanding those tadpole-like unfamiliar texts.
3rd-level Spell Memory Seal, 2nd-level Spell Hypnosis Spell, 2nd-level Spell Echolocation Spell.
Seeing their contents, he felt pleasantly surprised as it was better than he’d expected.
As a 3rd-level Spell, Memory Seal is not as potent as a 5th-level Spell that alters memories.
The former’s effect is to "seal" a segment of recent memory—that lasted less than five minutes—from the same day for a willing or restrained and unable to resist creature. Once sealed, barring unforeseen circumstances, the individual will forgot this portion as if a blackout from drinking.
Whereas altering memory, as a 5th-level Spell, is significantly more powerful, enabling permanent erasure of a memory or creating a new one on the target tailored to the caster’s requirement. Notably, the newly created memory integrates seamlessly as the target will subconsciously fill in the details.
Still, even so, Gauss considers the 3rd-level Memory Seal to be a good magic.
If someone witnesses something that shouldn’t be seen, it’s entirely feasible to seal part of the observer’s memory.
He needs some "flexible" magic.
The Hypnosis Spell’s effect is also compelling, able to hypnotize targets into performing specific actions or answering questions. Its drawback is that after hypnosis ends, the target may still retain some memory.
Echolocation is a sound wave-type magic, emitting bat-like sounds to determine the surrounding environment even in darkness.
Gauss speculated these spells were collected by the Kobold leader.
Especially the first two; it’s highly likely they were gathered as the leader worried its subordinates might notice and disclose its hidden treasures.
Gauss has always been interested in collecting magic and naturally accepted these before him.
Regardless of whether bought in town or scavenged from demons, if there’s learning value, he’s willing to give it a try.
The Red Dragon Team looted swiftly this time.
After gathering easy-to-collect materials and valuable items, everything left behind was smashed or burned.
This was because they couldn’t stay in one place for too long, as that would risk discovery by other monsters.
They destroyed the supplies to prevent later-arriving demons from using them after leaving.
The tools for mining, refining equipment, and workshops here could become arrows against human adventurers and towns.
After the quick loot, the Red Dragon Team soon retreated.
As usual, after clearing out a monster village, the Red Dragon Team took a break.
After his team members settled, Gauss moved to the open space outside the village.
He kept the power of [Precision] in mind, now in a relatively safe area, he could start some tests.
"Don’t let me down..."
His consciousness slowly sank in.
Deep in his consciousness, he gradually saw a fragment glowing brightly.
Just upon first contact, Gauss knew this was the Power of World Rules fragment.
It was breathtakingly beautiful, emanating grand waves.
As he concentrated his attention there, increasingly more information streamed out tirelessly.
"Whew——"
Gauss didn’t dare to "look" much longer, swiftly spreading his focus outward.
In just that second, his brain felt dazed.
He realized that with his current intelligence, let alone analyzing its essence, he can’t even "observe" it.
If this goes on, the flood of information would overwhelm his brain, causing irreversible damage.
He must be extremely cautious!
Gauss reminded himself internally.
This thing seemed very dangerous.
Yet he couldn’t help but admit, its powerful danger is immensely attractive to him.
Seemingly aware of its "host" observing it, the precise fragment emitted a special wave.
"Buzz!"
In an instant, Gauss’s dazed consciousness state improved.
Then he began to notice changes in himself.
"This is..."
Gauss noticed the few dozen Spell models within his consciousness resonated with the wave from [Precision].
"My magic appears to have changed."
He opened his eyes, feeling as if enveloped by an invisible force field.
Then looked towards the open space far away.
"Mage’s Hand!"
With a thought, an invisible hand instantly manifested.
This was the first Trick he mastered.
Initially, its casting range was 10 meters, and its movement required Gauss to continuously control.
Later, as his strength grew, the casting range extended to 25 meters without increasing its ring, but control was still required throughout.
Now, possessing the [Precision] fragment, everything seemed different again.
He looked at a sparrow on a branch not far away.
"Go."
With a thought, the Mage’s Hand moved towards it.
"Indeed, I no longer need to continuously control it; it will self-lock onto the target."
As the Mage’s Hand was about to arrive, Gauss deliberately made a sound, prompting the sparrow to fly away from the perch.
The invisible Mage’s Hand swiftly adjusted its trajectory in response to the sparrow’s movement.
"Chirp chirp chirp!"
Seized by the invisible Mage’s Hand, the sparrow chirped in terror.
Against its strength alone, escape was impossible.
Fortunately, Gauss held no intention of troubling it, so he commanded the Mage’s Hand to release it.
"So convenient."
Watching the sparrow fly away, Gauss couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
How to describe casting with this sense?
It was like abruptly switching from driving a traditional car to one with intelligent driving assistance, making magic execution particularly stress-free.
His every magic seemed endowed with enemy-tracking ability, and control was fine-tuned.
Even if Mage’s Hand exceeded its previous 25 meters range, it could autonomously pursue the target.
This was just the effect from a single fragment.
Gauss touched his chin, deep in thought.
If supplementing this precise power completely, would it become even scarier?
If this "locking" power sustained strengthening, could it create a chase surpassing common knowledge, even achieving unavoidable absolute hit?