Outside the bustling heart of Sedona City, nestled in a secluded valley near the imposing Forbidden Mountain Range, lay the hidden training grounds of the elf sniper squad. This remote location, shrouded in secrecy, was their sanctuary—a place where they honed their skills away from prying eyes, preparing for the critical roles they would play in Lucas's grand plans. The valley, with its steep, rocky walls and dense foliage, offered natural camouflage, making it an ideal site for covert operations.
The Forbidden Mountain Range was riddled with countless such valleys, their numbers stretching into the hundreds within the vicinity of Sedona City alone. Some were reachable within half an hour's journey, while others required days of arduous travel through rugged terrain. Lucas, ever strategic in his approach, had declared several of the closest and most concealed valleys off-limits, designating them as military zones under strict control. These included the valley used for the daily training of the War Wolf squad, as well as the one currently occupied by the elf sniper squad, both of which were heavily guarded and sealed off from unauthorized access.
"Young Master, are you really going to personally oversee their training?" Mina asked, her voice tinged with curiosity as she adjusted the leather armor that hugged her lithe frame. In her hands, she held two daggers, their blades glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. Her sharp eyes scanned their surroundings with the vigilance of a seasoned predator, her cat ears twitching at the slightest sound.
"I need to see their progress for myself to feel at ease," Lucas replied, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, his tone calm but resolute. "In the future, there will be special missions that will rely heavily on their unique skills."
"Special missions?" Mina's cat ears perked up, her eyes lighting up with interest as she turned to face him, her expression earnest and almost adorably serious. "Young Master, I can take on missions too, you know!"
Lucas chuckled softly, his dark eyes glinting with amusement as he glanced at the War Wolf squad members scattered around them, their forms blending seamlessly into the shadows of the valley. "You already have a mission," He said, his voice warm but firm. "I want you to assemble a special team of beastkins to serve as guards for the castle. Their primary duty will be to protect Nicole, Annie, Helen, and the others."
The safety of the beast-eared girls had always been a priority for Lucas, but recent events had underscored the urgency of the matter. Just a few days ago, the appearance of the notorious Poison Fang, who had targeted Amelia, had served as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows. Lucas knew he could no longer delay in bolstering their security, and he trusted Mina to handle the task with her usual efficiency.
"What?" Mina blinked, her cat ears drooping slightly as she processed his words, her mind momentarily overwhelmed by the responsibility. 'Train a team of beastkins? Me?' She thought, her tail swishing nervously behind her.
Seeing her hesitation, Lucas's smile widened, a hint of mischief in his dark eyes. "Don't worry, you won't be doing it alone. Enlist Freya's help—she's been a bit idle lately, and this will keep her occupied. You focus on selecting the candidates, and let her handle the training."
Mina let out a visible sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing as she nodded eagerly. "Yes, Young Master," She said, her voice brightening. The thought of delegating the training to Freya was a welcome reprieve—she was confident in her ability to identify suitable candidates, but the intricacies of training were another matter entirely. 'I'll need to choose carefully,' she thought, her mind already racing with possibilities. 'Perhaps an all-female beastman team would be best. But which races would be the strongest?'
Lucas, sensing her thoughts, added a clarifying note, his tone measured but firm. "Think of them as knights—focus on their ability to protect, not on assassination skills. For covert operations, we already have the War Wolf squad and the elf sniper squad."
"Understood," Mina replied, nodding thoughtfully as she mentally cataloged potential candidates. Bear beastkins, with their immense strength, and cow beastkins, known for their endurance, were at the top of her list, but she knew she would need to review the options more thoroughly once they returned to the castle.
"City Lord, we've arrived at the valley where the elf sniper squad is training," Chris reported, jogging up to Lucas's side, his breath slightly labored from the exertion. This valley was known only to the elves, Mina, and a select few personnel responsible for transporting supplies, its location a closely guarded secret.
"Let's go in and take a look," Lucas said, his voice calm as he stepped forward, his dark eyes scanning the entrance to the valley. As he entered, he noticed several wooden cabins under construction in a nearby clearing, their frames rising steadily under the skilled hands of the workers. The sight was a testament to the elves' industriousness, but Lucas's focus was on the training grounds deeper within.
"Young Master, Elisa and the others are training at the far end of the valley," Mina said, pointing to a narrow path that wound its way through the dense foliage, leading to the heart of the valley—a natural arena perfect for rigorous training.
"Lead the way," Lucas said, giving Mina a playful pat on her backside, his dark eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Eek!" Mina yelped, her cheeks flushing a bright shade of pink as she shot him a shy, reproachful glance, her cat ears flattening against her head. With a huff, she turned and began walking ahead, her hips swaying slightly as she led the way, her tail swishing in a mix of embarrassment and amusement.
As they approached the training area, the sharp, commanding voice of Elisa, the elf squad leader, echoed through the valley, her tone laced with urgency. "Fire! Faster! Your stringing speed is too slow!" She barked, her words carrying a sense of frustration.
Lucas's brow furrowed, his keen ears picking up on the flaws in the training regimen even before he saw the elves in action. 'This isn't right,' He thought, his mind already analyzing the situation. 'They're focusing on the wrong priorities.' Quickening his pace, he stepped into the clearing, his presence immediately drawing the attention of the elves, who were lined up in front of a row of stationary targets, their bows drawn and arrows nocked.
"Oh? City Lord!" Elisa exclaimed, her emerald eyes widening in surprise as she turned to face Lucas, her long, pointed ears twitching slightly. She quickly straightened, her posture shifting to one of respect as she awaited his instructions.
"Stop this training immediately," Lucas said, his voice calm but authoritative, his dark eyes sweeping over the elves with a critical gaze. It was clear to him that their current exercises lacked innovation and failed to push their skills to the next level.
"Yes, my lord," Elisa replied, her voice crisp as she signaled for the elves to lower their bows and form a neat line, their eyes fixed on Lucas, awaiting his next words.
Lucas stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back as he addressed the squad, his tone measured but probing. "Your target practice—have you already achieved a hundred percent accuracy with stationary targets?" He asked, his dark eyes locking onto Elisa's.
"Yes, my lord," Elisa answered confidently, her chest puffing out slightly with pride. "We were just working on increasing our firing speed."
Lucas nodded, his expression unreadable as he continued, his voice taking on a challenging edge. "Very well. But have you practiced shooting at moving targets? Have you tried placing a bun on someone's head and shooting it off? Have you tested your accuracy at extreme distances, beyond your current limits?" With each question, he watched as the elves exchanged uncertain glances, their heads shaking in unison, their confidence faltering under his scrutiny.
Elisa's face flushed with embarrassment, her pointed ears drooping slightly as she realized the gaps in their training. "City Lord, I will arrange for those exercises immediately," She said, her voice eager to rectify the oversight.
"Hold on," Lucas said, raising a hand to stop her, his dark eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "What about your camouflage training? How is that progressing?"
Elisa's expression brightened, a confident smile spreading across her lips as she straightened, her emerald eyes gleaming with pride. "We've already completed it, my lord," She said, her voice ringing with assurance. "For us elves, camouflage comes naturally—it was hardly a challenge."
"Oh? That quickly?" Lucas said, his tone laced with surprise as he turned to Mina, who looked equally puzzled, her eyes wide with confusion. Raising an eyebrow, he turned back to Elisa, his voice taking on a challenging edge. "In that case, let's see a demonstration. You have twenty minutes to prepare. Show me your skills in the deadwood forest just outside the valley. Begin now."
"Yes, my lord!" Elisa shouted, her voice sharp and commanding as she rallied the elves, who quickly gathered their gear—bows, arrows, quivers, and camouflage cloaks—and dashed out of the valley, their movements swift and coordinated.
Mina watched them go, her cat ears twitching as she turned to Lucas, her voice soft and slightly awed. "Young Master, I had no idea they'd progressed so quickly," She admitted, her eyes reflecting her surprise. She had overseen the elves' initial training on the first day, but her attention had since been diverted to establishing the express mail service, leaving her with little time to monitor their development.
"Let's not jump to conclusions until we see the results," Lucas said, shaking his head, his dark eyes thoughtful. He hoped the elves' camouflage skills were as impressive as Elisa claimed—if so, they could be deployed as a combat-ready unit far sooner than anticipated. His mind briefly wandered to Dahlia, who had likely begun selling the goods he had sent to the royal capital. 'By now, word of Sedona City's innovations must be spreading,' He thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips. 'It won't be long before we attract the attention of those who matter—both allies and enemies.'
"City Lord, should we set up camp here?" Chris asked, stepping forward, his voice respectful but practical.
"No need," Lucas replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Once we've finished the inspection, we'll head to the Whispering River to take a look." His gaze drifted toward the horizon, where the river's distant waters shimmered under the afternoon sun. The fertile lands on the opposite bank were prime for cultivation, but their potential could only be fully realized if a bridge were built to facilitate transportation. Relying on boats, with their limited capacity, would be far too slow, especially once the region's grain harvests reached their peak. A steel bridge, while ideal, was beyond the current technological and industrial capabilities of Sedona City, given the scarcity of steel and the complexity of construction. Instead, Lucas had decided to focus on a more feasible solution—a pontoon bridge, constructed in a section of the river where the current was calm and steady.
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