Chapter 41: Setting Off Again
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"Your name is Suburban Wolf? What’s this Swift Rush Talent all about?"
Gu Su glanced down at the Skeleton Minion’s Attribute Panel. His tone was direct, with no time for pleasantries.
[Suburban Wolf (Level 0, Summoned Creature, Minion): Experience (0/100), Attack 1, Defense 1, Life 10, Talent: Swift Rush]
Addressed by name, Suburban Wolf immediately adopted a humble and respectful posture, lowering his bony hands slightly as he answered.
"My lord, it’s like this!
As long as I’m leading the squad, the movement speed of all Skeletons under my command will double!
Whether we’re rushing to provide reinforcements or just doing manual labor, our speed will be greatly increased. With me around, I guarantee we can get more done in less time!"
"So, a hauler."
Gu Su fell silent for two seconds after hearing this. He gently stroked his chin, a flash of understanding in his eyes. He now knew what this type of Minion was for.
’It’s not that great on Skeletons, though. If it were on a Flying Team, it would be a top-tier Talent.’
With this in mind, Gu Su still gave his orders to Suburban Wolf. "Alright. That’s a practical development path.
Your old Skeleton Squad is currently at the small puddle, transporting water, Exotic Beast Skeletons, and silt.
Go over there now and take charge of the operation."
He paused, then added another order in a tone that brooked no argument. "With the buff from your Swift Rush Talent, the work over there will definitely finish faster.
Once everything is properly moved, catch up with me immediately to help me take inventory and transport any subsequent spoils.
I’ll leave a White Crow on standby in the territory. It will lead you to my position. Don’t delay."
Suburban Wolf didn’t dare hesitate for a second. He respectfully accepted the order, turned decisively, and led the Skeletons under his command away, striding quickly toward the small puddle.
The moment he turned, a faint wisp of black energy appeared on the previously bare tombstone in front of the Gravepile he had crawled out of. The energy swirled for a moment before a line of clear text slowly materialized.
"Suburban Wolf Squad (25/25)." This clearly marked the squad’s designation and its at-capacity status.
Only when Suburban Wolf and his squad had completely vanished from sight did Gu Su’s gaze slowly shift, falling upon the six Walking Dead standing silently in wait nearby. A contemplative look flickered in his eyes.
He knew perfectly well that the movement speed of these six Walking Dead was absurdly slow, at best a third of an Ordinary Skeleton’s. If he took them out to battle, he and his elite squad would likely have finished the fight and collected the bodies while these few Walking Dead were still dawdling on the road, not even close to the battlefield.
It was no wonder the Walking Dead were jokingly called the "eternal city defenders." With such a sluggish pace, they were indeed only suited for garrisoning the territory and completely unsuitable for accompanying an expedition.
However, everything had its pros and cons. While the Walking Dead’s speed was a concern, their strengths lay in their solid Defense and immense Power. Whether garrisoning the territory, standing guard, mining, or doing heavy manual labor, they were highly capable and extremely practical.
As there were no mines discovered around the territory yet, Gu Su quickly assigned them their tasks.
They were to patrol inside and outside the Graveyard Demon Territory, keeping a close watch on the surroundings for any sign of trouble. This would prevent any careless monsters or enemies from taking the opportunity to invade and destroy the territory’s foundation while he was away.
After giving orders to the Walking Dead, Gu Su watched them disperse to various parts of the territory with heavy, clumsy steps, each taking up its patrol post. Only then did he consider the territory’s defensive arrangements settled.
Then, he turned, waved to the Undead Squad that was already assembled and waiting, and ordered in a deep voice, "Move out!"
This time, he was leading a squad with a clear division of labor: three Magic Skeletons, five Elite Skeletons, and eleven newly converted Ordinary Skeletons.
The Elite Skeletons would handle melee damage and tanking, while the Magic Skeletons would provide ranged support and control. It was a decent-sized force, sufficient to handle most unexpected situations.
As for the new Skeletons, they were all cannon fodder, meant to draw enemy aggro.
The reason for such a hasty departure was an urgent message relayed just moments before by a White Crow out on reconnaissance.
About two thousand meters away from the Graveyard Demon, an Orc settlement had been discovered.
According to the White Crow’s detailed scouting, these Orcs all had rough, greenish skin. They were burly and powerfully built, standing between 1.6 and 1.8 meters tall—a full head taller than the Goblins he’d encountered before. They emanated a violent aura and looked extremely aggressive at a glance.
More importantly, their numbers weren’t small. There were about thirty of them, making them a group that could not be underestimated.
But what put Gu Su on high alert wasn’t the Orcs’ numbers or size, but the weapons in their hands.
They were no longer wielding crude branches and wooden clubs like the Goblins. Instead, they held sharp pieces of iron, scavenged from who knows where and polished until they glinted coldly. Gripped in their thick palms, the blades radiated a deadly edge, their killing power far greater than that of ordinary stone weapons.
’This means the fighting is about to jump from the Stone Age straight to the Iron Age.’
Gu Su murmured to himself. A grave look flickered in his eyes, but beneath the solemnity lay a sliver of unconcealable excitement.
’Stronger enemies often mean richer rewards.’
In addition, the White Crow brought back another crucial detail.
The Orcs were gathered around the ruins of a collapsed building. A massive bonfire blazed within the rubble, with large chunks of raw meat skewered over it, sizzling and dripping fat. The rich aroma of cooked meat, mixed with the stench of blood, drifted far and wide.
Judging from their arrogant expressions, relaxed behavior, and complete lack of defenses, they had clearly taken complete control of this area. They were the local tyrants for a kilometer or two in every direction, accustomed to running rampant without ever meeting a worthy opponent.
Gu Su knew that an enemy like this would be anything but easy to deal with.
’They have numbers, they’re powerfully built, they have advanced weapons, and they occupy ruins, which are easy to defend and hard to attack. If I rush in for a direct confrontation, my Undead Squad will likely suffer losses. It wouldn’t be worth the cost.’
’But on the other hand, if I can successfully take down these Orcs, the rewards will surely be immense.’
’Thirty Orc corpses would be enough to convert a large batch of powerful Undead, further strengthening my forces.’
’The iron weapons in their hands could also be distributed to my Skeleton Squads, significantly boosting their melee combat strength.’
’More importantly, their arrogance might just be the best way to defeat them.’
’As the local overlords, they’re not used to considering other possibilities.’
’They’ve probably never been lured into a trap or ambushed before.’
This was Gu Su’s chance to take them down.