On the day they were about to set off, Luo’er gathered everyone on the lakeside meadow and arranged them in a line, apparently with an announcement to make—though everyone already knew what it was likely to be.
Though they were used to Luo’er’s solemnity, everyone felt slightly uncomfortable dealing with this unexpected situation.
Once everyone had lined up, Luo’er strode to the front, hands clasped behind his back, and solemnly announced to everyone: "Starting today, the Advance Team will undergo a leadership change; I’ll be taking over the captain’s responsibilities from Tangmo, and will strictly fulfill my duties as captain."
"What a fuss," Hu Daoke couldn’t help whispering to Cheng Ziang.
"Shut up!" Cheng Ziang said coldly, in no mood to chat.
"Congratulations!" Tangmo clapped enthusiastically. Her zealous response left Luo’er quite at a loss for how to react.
"Now I’m going to rearrange team personnel," Luo’er coughed and continued. "Hu Daoke, Baiyue, step forward!"
The two of them stepped forward as instructed.
"You two are the snipers of the team, responsible for reconnaissance and long-range Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free!
"We’ve always been the sniper team," Hu Daoke retorted, shrugging.
As soon as he finished speaking, however, Baiyue sneakily kicked him and he surrendered: "Understood!"
Luo’er was left somewhat uncomfortable by Hu Daoke’s laid-back attitude but decided to continue with the personnel reassignment.
"Cheng Ziang, step forward!" Luo’er continued.
Cheng Ziang was far more serious and formal than Hu Daoke. He stepped forward, looking intently at Luo’er.
"Starting today, you are the deputy captain of the Advance Team. Your primary duty is to take over the captain’s responsibilities in my absence and lead the team to complete our missions," Luo’er announced.
"Understood!" Cheng Ziang nodded, replying gravely.
"This doesn’t sound auspicious at all," Tangmo murmured under her breath, feeling as if Luo’er was talking about his last wishes.
Luo’er shrugged, pretending he didn’t hear her. His arrangements had solid reasons; among the entire team, the only person likely capable of leading besides himself was Cheng Ziang. The Advance Team often undertook dangerous missions, and Luo’er couldn’t guarantee his own safety, as was the case this time. So instead of asking Cheng Ziang to step up as captain after an unforeseen incident involving Luo’er, it was better to designate him in advance to avoid any hesitation or objections.
Since the team had been formed almost a year ago, Luo’er had finally taken full control. After all the efforts he had made to go from being distrusted by his teammates to becoming the backbone of the team, seeing him willingly take on the captain’s duties eased everyone’s minds.
Of course, this internal transfer of power would have to be approved by Headquarters upon their return. Although Wang Xu didn’t care, Luo’er felt he should follow procedure.
After completing the transition of power and personnel appointments, the team continued their journey to Ronisca. This possibly marked the smoothest leadership transition ever. Luo’er, through his diligence and capability, earned everyone’s approval and rightfully became the captain. Tangmo, pleased, didn’t object—she felt good about him leading the team.
Entering the Lining River Canyon also meant entering the territory of Ronisca. Despite Luo’er’s surprise, there were no soldiers stationed along the border between Ronisca and Masya. If Luo’er recalled correctly, High-peak people had very few ground forces—less than twenty thousand, with the majority being airborne infantry.
With the presence of airships, the High-peak people had developed unexpectedly advanced tactics. In an assault, they typically deployed two airships—one providing fire Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free!
Taking advantage of the superior mobility of their airships, the High-peak people had developed a leapfrog-like airship landing tactic: they would ascend to the stratosphere to prepare, send out reconnaissance aircraft to find weak spots in enemy lines, then lower both airships to a Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free!
Once the landing zone was cleared, the airborne infantry aboard the landing airship would arrive via a transport plane to secure the position, while the airship would hover at a Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free!
These strategies were very familiar to Earthlings, particularly used by modern Earth armies, especially the U.S. military. During the Second Otherworld War, multinational troops stubbornly resisted for five days before their defenses crumbled under the pressure of the High-peak people’s relentless offense, eventually leading to a full retreat.
Despite the High-peak people’s small population, they were by no means pushovers. Luo’er would much rather be their friend than their enemy. While Headquarters and the High-peak people were currently allied, their interests had diverged over the past thirty years. It was for this reason that Headquarters had secretly dispatched the Advance Team to Ronisca for reconnaissance.
Though the Lining River canyon, similar to the cold corridor, is a wind path, their effects are sharply distinct. Warm and humid air currents from the east coast of the continent pour into Waran and the canyon, then along the Lining River canyon, into Masya, bringing abundant precipitation to the agricultural production along the Lining River.
Barely a hundred kilometers into the Lining River canyon, the first spring rain brought by the warm and humid air currents set upon the Advance Team’s path. Fortunately, there was a layer of oilcloth on the top of the carriage to prevent rain from hitting them. Yet the damp air still brought gusts of chill, to the point where the group had to huddle together for warmth.
The coachman, a native Marsyan, wore simple cotton and linen clothes. Unaffected by the cold and damp air, his resilience was admired by all.
Of course, Cheng Ziang was even more deserving of admiration. Although it was said he had the bloodline of Snow Elves, Hu Daoke felt he was more like a snowman reborn. While everyone was shivering under blankets, only he sat alone at the back of the carriage, seemingly oblivious to the chill brought by the damp and cold air.
Traveling was torturous, especially in such persistent rainy weather. They still hadn’t left the canyon after many days of such weather, and everyone felt as if they were covered in mold.
Finally, after roughly ten days of travel, they escaped the Lining River canyon and arrived at the foot of the Aifansi Mountain Range, where the Lining River and Waran meet. There was a simple but busy High-peak people’s village. To the northeast of the village, there was an air port designated for the docking of airboats. Anyone who wanted to enter Helros by land would have to travel by airboat from here to the city on the mountainside.
Gazing up at the towering mountain range, then at the airboats taking off in the distance, Hu Daoke couldn’t help but grumble, "Do these High-peak people really have to build a city on top of a mountain?"
"Keep it down, people here understand Tasta language!" Cheng Ziang walked up behind him, gave him a kick, and warned.
"I guess they won’t understand if I speak Chinese." Hu Daoke glanced around and suggested.
"Are you an idiot," Cheng Ziang glared at him, then cursed, "Speaking Chinese would give us away. Don’t forget that the High-peak people are partners with the Headquarters."
"So I should stay silent." Hu Daoke pouted and said pitifully.
After paying the fare, Luo’er dismissed the coachman. Now they needed to find accommodations before preparing to blend into the group leaving for Helros on the airboat the next day.
The Headquarters had planned multiple strategies for this mission to ensure that the Advance Team could complete their task. They had also anticipated that the Advance Team might need to enter Helros through a land route and had prepared a transit stamp for them.
This mark was something like a passport; only individuals of other races possessing this mark could stay at a Ronisca inn or board an airboat. Without it, the High-peak people would not budge even if the Advance Team were rich.
To enter Helros, some changes had to be made to the Advance Team, starting with Luo’er’s black hair. His black hair was too conspicuous in the eyes of the High-peak people, and he didn’t dare to lie about being a Southerner like he did with Yila. The High-peak people had traveled all over, so they would not be fooled by an excuse of being a Southerner.
As soon as they arrived at the foot of the mountain, Luo’er consciously put on a hood to cover his hair. The Headquarters had prepared a convenient gold hair dye for him, which could easily turn his black hair gold, a common hair color for Wood Elves and mixed breeds.
After finding an inn, Luo’er could hardly wait to start dyeing his hair. In no time at all, he finished the job on his own.
"You seem frivolous for some reason." Looking at Luo’er’s gold locks, Hu Daoke jokingly said.
"Really?" Luo’er was taken aback, subconsciously reaching up to touch his hair.
"Not at all, Luo’er looks coolest . Though, black hair is also cool!" Tangmo came up and touched his hair and said.
Baiyue also mustered the courage to touch Luo’er’s hair, comparing it with hers, wondering if she should dye hers too.
To be honest, if it weren’t for the noticeable pair of ears on her head, she would look more like a Snow Elf. Her fair skin and silver hair made her look nothing like a Sub-beastman in any way.
"Luo’er, Luo’er, I want to dye too!" Tangmo egged on from the side.
"You’d better not." Luo’er glanced at her and said.
"Because you’re already a High-peak mix." Luo’er said helplessly.
Tangmo was taken aback and appeared lost in thought. Her dark red hair was the best disguise. Ever since entering Ronisca, basically, all the High-peak people they had encountered had dark red hair. Although Tangmo had inherited most of the Earth people’s features, her luscious hair had followed the Dwarf Race’s genes.