BXBX NOVEL Chapter 108 A Troublesome Bandit Chief
Having heard Guard Captain Fredric\'s words, Arthur spoke again.
"I think the smartness that Bandit Chief Dozla is showing is definitely due to the cultists too. I reckon there might be someone from the cultists guiding or advising him.
Or maybe even ordering him. The letter does say that the cultists are evidently getting the bandits to watch out for the insane animals." Arthur said in detail.
"It might be like that." Fredric nodded his head.
He could see the value in Arthur\'s words and the letter he had brought served as the link for why the bandits might be trying to infiltrate Roran town.
"I guess we need to deal with the bandit chief then." Arthur replied.
"I wish to do the same. But reaching him is the problem." Fredric said with a frustrated tone.
"We already know where he is though, right? Trunel Woods." Arthur replied.
"Yeah, but Trunel Woods are expansive. Not to mention, the place where Dozla lives is hidden deep inside. There are several complex areas one needs to pass. Not to mention, he has traps set up everywhere." Fredric explained.
"But for someone of your strength they shouldn\'t be an issue, right? I don\'t think the Bandit Chief would compare to you either." Arthur asked.
As far as Arthur could tell, even the chief of a large bandit group like Dozla wouldn\'t be above level 90. To the players, he was simply out of reach, but to a NPC like Fredric, the man was still the same as a rabbit.
He could probably cut off the bandit\'s head in one slash.
"I can\'t afford to leave the town unguarded though. If I am to go to the Trunel woods and hunt for Dozla, it would take me days. Not to mention they could still trap me.
And now that we know cultists are involved, there is no saying what more they can do. With magic and curses on their side, things would become even more complex." Fredric explained.
After hearing that, Arthur realized the concerning thing. With the bandits trying to infiltrate the town, and the cultists mixed in them, Fredric leaving could be very dangerous.
They were bound to have some bandits watching the departure of Fredric outside the town. Once the bandits knew the one person stopping them was gone, they would take advantage.
"Even with Caleb here?" Arthur asked in doubt.
"Caleb has his own obligations. He has to consider his guild first and then the town. He might help out from time to time, but if I leave my post, it would be too much for him to watch the entire town.
The mages of the town are not as strong either. We have strong non-magical fighters, but lack similar mages." Fredric replied.
"What about the resident mage of Roran town?" Arthur inquired next. "Resident mages are usually strong."
"Resident Mage Hudd is strong, but she\'s also our last life of defense. Her magic is exhausted in maintaining the repelling barriers of the town already." Fredric stated.
Hearing all this, Arthur understood that they were in a conundrum.
Dozla could keep on harassing them by sending in spies, but they couldn\'t go to hunt him down. Arthur thought about it for a bit before an idea appeared in his mind.
"What if… we can draw Dozla out?" Arthur wondered.
"Draw him out? Hmm… if he leaves the Trunel forest, or even his hideout, I can certainly kill him." Fredric said. "But getting him to do that would be close to impossible."
"Not entirely…" Arthur said, an idea forming in his mind.
He was starting to connect the incomplete information that he had about the events and could somewhat tell how the things would now happen.
\'Seems like the changes in the town happened due to the infiltration of the Roran town by bandits. They caused damage to the town and the NPCs, causing the change to happen.
Thus, when the players originally arrived in the town, they got an entirely different experience.\' Arthur thought to himself. \'The cultists were also the key in this. Without them, the bandits wouldn\'t be able to do much.\' He reckoned.
"What do you intend to do?" Fredric questioned.
"If you give me some time to prepare. I might have a plan that can draw Dozla out." Arthur answered.
"You can really do that?" Fredric asked in doubt.
"I can, yes… at least I can try. I don\'t think you would face any loss." Arthur replied calmly.
Fredric stroked his beard as he thought about it for a few minutes. Arthur waited in silence in that time before the man spoke again.
"Very well. If you can form a plan to do that, we\'ll try it out." Fredric replied. "But if you intended to face him with your current strength, I don\'t think it would be possible. You would only be wasting your life." He warned.
"Of course. I don\'t intend to face the man." Arthur shook his head.
He knew that even for him, Dozla would be an almost impossible target to kill. At least if he did that head on.
\'But there are more ways to kill a person than doing it on your own.\' Arthur thought. \'I should be able to make it work, but I\'ll have to check somethings out first.\'
"Alright then. I\'ll wait for your plan, Adventurer Arzhur." Fredric said before taking out a small pouch. "Here\'s your reward too." He added.
>Quest Completed!<
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Quest: Talk to the captain of the Roran Town about the Bandits and their actions.
Grade: Uncommon
Difficulty: Intermediate
Reward: 20 Coins, 30% experience.
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The notification popped up in front of Arthur while his experience bar also rose up.
It quickly exceeded the 60% mark, putting him halfway to Level 11.
\'Good… I just need to hunt a few more mobs to reach Level 11.\' Arthur was pleased by the reward.
The coins given might seem a bit less, but for just a reporting quest, they were still quite good.