"We'd better stay away from here for a while."
Let's rewind the time a bit.
When the four strike team members plus their squad leader emerged from the stronghold together, the captain immediately made this decision.
"The Haradrim lost dozens of soldiers here. This can't be hidden for long. They'll definitely send people to search this area."
Though Harad was called the Southlands, their military organization wasn't so barbaric or crude. Forget dozens of men. They'd investigate even if one person went missing.
This was the same for Gondor's strike teams; every person was precisely recorded.
"Unfortunately, I was unconscious before reaching the Haradrim outpost across the river and couldn't gather any useful intelligence."
"They not only captured me with vile lies and traps but also took a new recruit."
During their relocation, the Ranger captain confided: "I remember that soldier clearly. He trained exceptionally hard back in Gondor and volunteered for the front lines, saying he wanted to cleanse his family's shame and prove himself."
"Family shame?"
Levi picked out a keyword that interested him.
Seeing Levi's interest, the captain explained: "His ancestor once betrayed the people of Gondor, following the Corsair King of Umbar."
"But that was over a thousand years ago. Those of his family who remained in Gondor have proven themselves to be decent people, and his generation has been actively joining the front lines to ambush corsairs and Haradrim barbarians alongside us."
This should have been a heartwarming story; unfortunately...
"I shouldn't have been so strict with him that day."
"Did you two have some conflict?"
The captain sighed deeply. "Yes."
He continued: "A month ago, I gave him quite severe punishment for leaving the unit without permission during rest time to pick wild fruit. The next day, he was captured by the enemy during an ambush against a Haradrim squad."
"We haven't heard any news about him since."
At this point, the captain's tone slowed slightly.
"But that incident... was also strange. The ambush went very poorly that day. The Haradrim were quite alert. Only our first sneak attack worked, after which we had to retreat to cut losses."
"Many were wounded in that operation. They're all recovering in a relatively secure hidden camp."
"That's where we're headed."
"Life is always unpredictable. My condolences."
Levi comforted the Ranger captain: "He wasn't injured when captured, was he? If his constitution is strong enough and his will firm enough, and if the Haradrim have some use for him, there's still a chance he's survived until now."
"I hope so."
The captain replied: "When I was still in Gondor, a wise old man in grey robes once told me. Though we cannot change what has already happened, we can decide our own actions after things happen."
Sorrow couldn't change anything; all people could do was make their own decisions immediately after tragedy struck.
"Since I've returned alive, there's still a chance to make amends for some things."
"Very enlightened."
This topic ended temporarily with Levi's comment.
The group walked north along the main road built by Gondorians a thousand years ago when Harondor was still under Gondorian rule, then left the road where it curved and headed west.
Soon, a small lake appeared before them. The vegetation and grass around here were much more abundant than in other regions, looking quite vibrant.
This small oasis was completely silent now, with only gentle wind sounds indicating it wasn't a painting.
Wind from outside the oasis carried drought and heat, but all this dissipated when passing through the leaves and grass.
"Truly a fine place."
Levi walked around the lakeside, testing the water, feeling coolness at his fingertips.
"Where's your stronghold?"
Standing up and walking to the Rangers, Levi asked with hands on his hips. The Rangers were gathered around a tree with a slightly crooked neck, looking left and right as if waiting for something.
When Levi approached, the Ranger captain walked toward him, but before he could speak, Levi suddenly stopped, his gaze focusing on nearby bushes.
"Huh...?"
Where did this health bar come from?
Levi reached out to part the "bushes," and suddenly the bushes moved, turning around to look at him with innocent large eyes.
"Eh!"
The sudden change startled Levi, who quickly stepped back several paces. When he stepped on some "grass" behind him, he suddenly felt his foot slip into empty air.
"Ahh!"
He disappeared from the ground. Leaving behind a classic Wilhelm scream.
Hiss.
The Ranger captain gasped and quickly slid down a rope with the other Rangers.
Thud.
"Quite unexpected. The worst injury I've sustained in Harad so far is fall damage, and in this manner..."
Levi got up, dusted off non-existent dirt, and looked up. Only then did he see several Rangers and their captain sliding down through an entrance.
"Sorry, I should have warned you. How are you?"
"I'm fine."
His health immediately refilled. Levi waved his hand and looked around: "This place is certainly well hidden."
Before him was a natural sandstone cave in a circular shape with a very large space. It could probably fit several hundred people if packed.
Looking up, there was a large opening above where threads of sunlight squeezed through leaf gaps, adding some natural light.
Though the opening was large, it wasn't easily discovered. That crooked tree above perfectly concealed the cave entrance. Levi had stepped through the leaves and fallen down.
"I thought... never mind."
Levi shook his head, giving up on making excuses for his misstep.
But now he truly experienced firsthand the concealment of the Rangers' clothing. When Rangers and Dúnedain stood by trees wearing those green and brown mixed garments, they blended perfectly with trunk and leaf colors.
You really couldn't tell they were people without looking carefully. The Haradrim living in constant anxiety had good reason.
In just those few words, several Rangers had been alerted by the falling sound. They silently approached until seeing their own people before relaxing their guard.
"Captain?"
They seemed surprised.
"I've returned alive, thanks to this friend who saved me."
The Ranger captain introduced: "Many of you should have heard his name. He is the founder of the free cities, bane of evil creatures, Legend Levi Stonecraft."
Though brief, the introduction was enough for everyone to connect the rumors they'd heard with the person before them.
"Greetings to you."
The Rangers saluted in turn. Levi nodded in response.
***
These Rangers were exceptional men, tall and fair-skinned with dark hair and grey eyes. Their proud faces carried touches of sorrow. Swords hung at their sides, and they held bright spears or great bows nearly as tall as themselves. The archers carried large quivers filled with long arrows fletched with green feathers. They wore garments of varying shades of green and brown, as if crafted to blend with the forest and clearing. Green bracers adorned their arms, hoods covered their heads, and masks concealed their faces, leaving only bright, keen eyes visible.
—Reference: The Lord of the Rings III - The Return of the King