Chapter 98

"This thing?"

Luolin also picked up the stick-shaped weapon in his hand. He fell silent for a moment, then directly transformed it into several common weapons.

Longsword, spear, shield, bow and arrows...

After several demonstrations, Xika also showed a somewhat surprised expression.

"Can it transform into all weapons?"

"Theoretically, yes."

Luolin nodded, though he hadn't fully tested it all yet.

"So Captain Luolin has been hiding his abilities all along."

Xika also smiled, and even Kafurin beside them cast a glance, but immediately looked away when meeting Luolin's eyes.

Luolin laughed helplessly a few times.

"Although I can freely transform weapons, I'm not proficient with all of them. Though I've been working hard to learn, the results still aren't great. Besides, I don't have the corresponding skills for each type."

Luolin laughed dryly.

"Ordinary people spend their entire lives studying just one weapon, one profession. For Captain Luolin to manage several is already no easy feat."

Xika expressed his understanding.

"However, once you can fully master it and freely switch during combat in the future, you'll undoubtedly be much more formidable than a single profession."

Xika judged. Luolin neither boasted arrogantly nor was excessively modest. He simply said:

"I hope so. I'm working hard at it."

Luolin said, and then there was no more to add. The atmosphere between Kafurin and Ailuka remained silent and awkward.

Before long, Aoge also returned. There were some visibly wet marks on his clothes.

"I just washed this with water myself, otherwise it would leave a smell."

Noticing Luolin's gaze, Aoge explained. Luolin nodded without saying anything.

"Well then, let's continue on our way."

Seeing that everyone had no issues, Xika spoke again.

"However, before that, we need to make more careful arrangements."

But Xika continued.

"As you saw earlier, those goblins were only around level ten, and our average level is so much higher, yet we still nearly had an accident."

Xika was good at summarizing lessons from failures, which was also why he kept getting stronger, and his summary was very practical.

"So, from now on, we all need to be even more careful."

Xika continued.

"However, through what happened earlier, we've at least become more familiar with each other's combat abilities."

Speaking of this, Xika looked toward Luolin.

"Captain Luolin can freely transform weapons. His flexibility is the highest, and moreover, he can also use a shield. I think he'll be a great combat asset."

Xika immediately pushed Luolin forward.

Aoge hadn't been present earlier, so hearing this now, he was even more shocked.

"Wow! Not bad, brother!"

Aoge cheerfully patted Luolin's back.

"Hehe, it's nothing really. But don't pay too much attention to me."

Luolin didn't want that.

"I can only transform, but that doesn't mean you can treat me as proficient in all classes. For example, I can produce a staff, but I can't use magic like Kafurin. In my hands, a staff is just a decoration at best—I can only use it to hit people."

Luolin said helplessly. He didn't have the relevant skills, so that was how it was.

"Similarly, I can use a bow and arrow, but I can't possess a hunter's detection skills and trap skills."

"I see, so you can only freely transform weapons?"

At this moment, Xika finally had a deep understanding of Luolin's abilities.

"However, even so, it's still very impressive. Captain Luolin, could I trouble you to be responsible for protecting Kafurin? She's the most important backline damage dealer and needs protection. You can become a shield while also attacking enemies—you're the most suitable choice."

Xika assigned this task to Luolin. Of course, he wasn't giving orders as the overall captain, but rather asking Luolin.

Luolin could refuse if he wanted to.

However, under these circumstances, Luolin seemed to have no reason or need to refuse.

Since it was about protecting Kafurin, Luolin glanced at her, only to receive an eye roll in return.

"If you don't want to, forget it. I don't need someone like you to protect me anyway."

Kafurin said.

"Hey! What do you mean? We just saved you, didn't we?"

Ailuka immediately jumped out, and the two looked like they were about to start arguing.

"Miss Ailuka, your strength is so remarkable that rather than protecting teammates in the rear, you're more suited for fighting on the front lines."

Xika said.

"That's right, don't waste your brute strength."

Luolin also quickly chimed in.

"Who are you calling a violent woman?"

Ailuka glared at Luolin.

"I clearly didn't say that, okay?"

Luolin was helpless and speechless.

"Hmph!"

"What are you 'hmph'-ing about?"

However, reasoning with Ailuka was the most foolish behavior, so Luolin gave up.

Anyway, this girl was tsundere—no matter how unwilling she seemed now, she would still do it that way when the time came.

"Captain Xika, it's decided. Let's do it this way. I'll be responsible for protecting the high ground tower."

"What high ground tower?"

Kafurin was stunned.

"Don't worry about these details."

Luolin waved his hand and said.

"We should think about what to do next."

Actually, Luolin had learned some things, such as the habits of goblins.

"Those three goblins just now were sentries, right?"

Luolin asked, and Xika nodded.

"That's right, they should be."

Sentries were a type among goblins. Actually, they weren't really a species of goblin, but rather a name people gave them based on their characteristics.

The characteristic of these goblins was that they moved in groups of two or three, with at least one proficient in reconnaissance.

These characteristics were undoubtedly demonstrated by the goblin with the bow and arrow at the end.

And 'sentries' never appeared alone. There was no need for something called a sentry if they were solitary. Whenever 'sentries' appeared, it could only indicate one thing—

"There's probably a goblin tribe nearby."

Xika said heavily.

Goblins, one of the most numerous magical creatures, most individuals aren't strong, but if there are enough of them, they become a significant threat.

The appearance of a 'sentinel' was undoubtedly a warning that they would likely encounter a goblin tribe next.

"It's fortunate we didn't let even one escape just now, otherwise it would have been very troublesome."

Aoge also said that if they had let even one of those three little ones escape just now, they would face many troubles ahead.

However, although they didn't let that situation happen, the appearance of a 'sentinel' was undoubtedly not good news.

"If we continue forward on this road, we'll very likely encounter them."

Xika said.

"But if we change routes now, it will waste quite a bit of time, and even if we take another route, we might still encounter other troubles."

Xika's meaning was clear.

If they retreated now because of the goblin tribe, they would retreat when facing difficulties later as well. In that case, when would they ever reach their destination?

However, after all, this team wasn't his alone, and Xika wasn't a dictator.

"Then let's go with majority rule. Should we choose to continue forward, or take another route? Those who choose the former, raise your hands."

As he spoke, Xika raised his own hand.

Those who also raised their hands were Luolin and Ailuka.

It seemed Aoge and Kafurin didn't think so.

"Captain?"

Aoge was stunned. In his impression, Xika wasn't this kind of person. He had always sought stability in everything, and wasting some time didn't matter, but why today...

Xika didn't answer Aoge, didn't respond to him.

He just swept his gaze around once.

"Three to two, it seems the result is already out."

Xika said.

"Then, let's choose to continue on this road."

Xika completely followed through with what had been agreed upon. Although Aoge and Kafurin found it strange, they didn't say much.

"If we encounter any troublesome situations, everyone be careful. Try to fight together as much as possible. Captain Luolin, I'll leave Kafurin's protection to you, because she's very vulnerable to attacks when casting spells."

"Mm."

Luolin nodded without looking at Kafurin.

"Good, let's continue forward. Don't waste any more time."

Xika straightened his body and walked at the very front of the team, followed by Aoge, Ailuka, Kafurin, and finally Luolin.

This way, Luolin and Ailuka were positioned to protect Kafurin in the middle, which was just right.

However, Kafurin seemed to feel somewhat embarrassed by this positioning and didn't say a word.

Luolin stared at Kafurin's back for a while from behind, then his gaze moved past Kafurin and fell on Ailuka.

After looking for a while, Ailuka seemed to sense something and turned her head back, meeting Luolin's gaze.

Luolin was in a daze for a moment so he didn't look away. When he came back to his senses, Ailuka's gaze had already changed in flavor.

"I chose to take this road on my own just now, not because I raised my hand after seeing you raise yours."

Ailuka suddenly said.

"Huh?"

Luolin was somewhat confused. What was this person talking about?

But Ailuka didn't care whether Luolin had heard clearly or not. After saying it, she didn't repeat it, but Luolin's complete silence still made Ailuka feel somewhat annoyed.

"Hmph!"

She let out a light snort and turned her head back.

[Resentment +100]

The system's voice echoed in Luolin's mind. Luolin blinked his eyes, carefully pondering what Ailuka had just said, and only then did he react.

However, this only made Luolin feel even more helpless.

This girl Ailuka...

Was truly an incorrigible tsundere, wasn't she?

There was absolutely no denying it now. She was probably angry because Luolin had shown no reaction after hearing those words.