Chapter 85

With the experience of their first successful hunt, subsequent hunting operations could only be described as the accumulation of successful experiences and continuous improvement.

Sul Dak and He Boqiang's coordination with their dual shields became increasingly proficient. The quality of the heavy infantry's square shields was too poor to withstand the full-force strikes of the demons. Recently, Sul Dak had broken at least three square shields, and even He Boqiang's dwarf chain shield was riddled with gashes from the demons' axes.

In just three days, the second squad managed to hunt four demons with some close calls.

The second squad's aggressive actions against lone demons directly led to the number of demons in the patrol squad increasing from seven to thirteen.

Moreover, these demons in the patrol squads developed a strong sense of caution. They no longer strayed easily, making it impossible for the second squad to find opportunities to kill them individually.

On the sixth day of reconnaissance in the forest, Sul Dak finally received the order to return from the fourth battalion.

Under Baron Sidney's strict supervision, the fourth battalion took just over five days to clear all the forest paths near the Moya Ridge and successfully rendezvoused with the 57th Regiment's second battalion at a mountain pass covered in dense forest.

After completing their patrol mission, the second squad returned to the fourth battalion.

In the dense forest, the heavy infantry of the fourth battalion had all taken off their heavy armor. They were bare-chested, carrying axes, looking more like lumberjacks, as if they had already adapted to their new role.

However, when the fourth battalion's soldiers saw the disheveled appearance of the second squad, they were genuinely shocked.

The entire second squad, led by Sul Dak, had their standard-issue armor almost completely damaged, requiring a large number of copper armor plates to be replaced. They had also broken three hardwood square shields, snapped two knightly longswords, and severely damaged the edges of other weapons. The axes they brought were almost all lost, but fortunately, the squad had acquired three single-bladed axes from the demon camp.

It was hard to imagine what the second squad had gone through to end up in such a disheveled state. Even a brutal melee would not have caused such severe losses.

However, the good news was that the second squad did not suffer any casualties during this dangerous reconnaissance mission. Although the soldiers looked disheveled, their spirits were high.

Most notably, Captain Sul Dak had a bulging linen bag hanging from his waist. The most experienced veterans didn't need to ask what was inside; even the old captain Sam showed a covetous look at the spoils.

Who would have thought that while other squads were sweating in the forest, cutting down trees, the second squad's soldiers would have such enviable spoils?

When Baron Sidney first saw the disheveled second squad, his face was as dark as a storm cloud, ready to burst into a roar at any moment.

But when Sul Dak approached Baron Sidney and whispered a few words in his ear, the young baron, who always wore a proud expression, brightened up and even praised Sul Dak in front of the other company commanders.

The fourth battalion chose to camp on a hillside at the mountain pass.

Although they had completed the task of clearing the forest, Sidney could not yet return to the 57th Regiment to report to Count Monty Gos. This was because Sidney had another mission: to select a campsite that was well-defended and strategically advantageous for the main force.

In fact, the selection of the main force's campsite was not within the authority of Count Monty Gos of the 57th Regiment.

However, this did not prevent the vanguard from making reasonable suggestions.

Most of the fourth battalion's soldiers had been clearing forest paths for the past few days, with only a few squads on duty in the nearby forest. Therefore, the squad leaders who had been on reconnaissance missions had the most say.

At a meeting of squad leaders and above in the fourth battalion, Baron Sidney specifically asked Sul Dak to provide some suggestions.

What could Sul Dak suggest? As a newly promoted second squad leader of the heavy infantry battalion, his perspective was limited to his squad of thirteen men. Finding a safe place for his squad might not be a problem.

But finding an ideal campsite for nearly three hundred heavy infantry soldiers in the fourth battalion was a bit too much to ask.

If he were to select a campsite for the mixed force expedition to Moya Ridge, considering the needs of the infantry, cavalry, construct knights, and the supply caravans, it would not just be too much to ask; it would be impossible.

Sul Dak provided Baron Sidney with a simple hand-drawn map, showing the terrain and river distribution at the foot of Moya Ridge. He also marked the routes where demon patrols were known to appear.

For this capable and considerate new squad leader, Baron Sidney had no more complaints.

That night, the soldiers of the fourth battalion learned from their company commanders that the reason Baron Sidney's usually sour face showed satisfaction was because Captain Sul Dak of the second squad had turned over four demon heads to him.

It was no secret that the second squad would receive generous rewards from Baron Sidney.

And the benefits Baron Sidney gained from this would bring him one step closer to a higher rank.

In fact, not every heavy infantry squad could hunt demons. To be precise, most squads currently could not do so.

The strength gap between soldiers and demons could not be simply bridged by numbers.

So, many times, when heavy infantry encountered demons in the wild, if they could not retreat in time, being hunted to death by demons was a common occurrence.

On the battlefield, the heavy infantry usually relied on the excellent military equipment of the Grin Empire, such as ballistae and catapults, to fight demons.

Additionally, the heavy infantry could rely on coordinated operations with heavy cavalry to inflict casualties on the demons.

Otherwise, they would have to hold off the demons' attacks and wait for the construct knights' support.

In the war against demons, the heavy infantry were often cannon fodder.

With the hand-drawn map of the area at the foot of Moya Ridge, after confirming from Sul Dak that a certain slope was relatively spacious, Sidney casually circled it with his charcoal pencil...

The campsite for the Moya Ridge expeditionary force was thus determined.

Although he knew that the higher-ups would never choose this location, Baron Sidney could at least be sure that his casual circle with the charcoal pencil would not place the camp in a valley or on a high cliff. At least it would show that he had carefully considered the selection.

Two days later, the main force of the Moya Ridge expeditionary force gradually arrived at the foot of Moya Ridge.

The supply caravans responsible for logistics followed closely behind. In addition to the thousands of expeditionary soldiers, thousands of mules carrying large amounts of supplies also crowded the forest path...

The forest path was initially designed to accommodate sixteen horses side by side.

Now, it needed to be widened again...