In the next morning, Rean's group left through the north gate of Cinquel City. This time, they removed their Sect Robes since it would only scare the bandits away. Whether Rean and Roan are stronger than Luina or not, the fact is that they still look like kids. So it would be quite convenient for them. After all, they would be considered easy targets.
According to the information delivered for them, the Gold Hands Bandit Group wasn't all in the same place. The paths to Avato City take at least two days to be traversed, so the area of coverage was enormous. Because of that, this bandit group was separated in at least 10 to 15 smaller groups that surveyed the several routes available between the cities.
Rean's group plan was quite simple. Bait one of those groups out and use them to find the rest. But for that to work, they can't let any of them escape. Otherwise, chances were that the escapees would inform the other groups, which would turn things harder for them.
With that in mind, Rean's group was divided into two. Roan and Luina would follow them from the shadows, while Oritis and Rolim would pretend to be escorting Rean as if he was some kind of Young Master. Rean was even using some expensive clothes, while the two guys on his sides used a guardian's attire.
There were several roads that lead them to Avato City, but there was obviously a Main One. However, Rean's group purposely avoided this to not be caught by a big group. They wanted to first capture one of the smallest ones to gather the necessary information.
At first, Luina was against this arrangement. Why should a proud member of the Lagan Sect like her hide her identity? That wasn't any different than the bandit groups themselves. She seemed to be overflowing with confidence that they wouldn't need such low-level tricks. A head-on attack would be enough with their strength.
Roan, however, immediately denied such an idea.
"Are you really a Lagan Sect Inner Disciple? What a joke, to think that is the level of their minds."
Luina narrowed her eyes. She felt anger because of those words, but she knew better to not find a problem with Roan.
"What you talking about?"
Roan sighed, and Rean shrugged his shoulders.
"After you got the information from the City Guards Headquarters, did you make any other inquiries?"
Luina immediately shook her head. All the information necessary was already there, after all.
Roan then continued.
"That's why you can't see the big picture. Rean and I went around, making a few questions to the low-level guards. It seems like our group wasn't the first to try to eliminate the Gold Hands Bandit Group. Do you know what happened to the rest who came before?"
Luina was taken aback.
"Could it be that they died? No, that's doesn't make sense. If they had died, our sect would definitely have found about it. Wait, why is it not in the information provided to us beforehand?"
Roan ignored her surprise and simply answered the question.
"For the sake of this mission, I'll tell you a few things. It's not that no one died. From what we found, there had been one or another fatality. However, since there was always a group of at least 4 to 10 sects members, the loss of a single one or two wasn't that important. But this was not where the main issue relies upon."
Roan then pointed to his and Luina's Sects Badges.
"The issue is the sects' pride. Do you really think that our sects would admit that they couldn't get rid of a few bandits? Ha! What a joke. The City Guards can't spread the news to not offend the sects, and the sects can't reveal the information to not be looked down upon. So, only after talking with the low-level city guards that don't have any influence that we found out the truth. We just gave a few spirit stones to them, and they immediately bent."
Luina's complexion began to get worse. That meant that this bandit group was a lot more troublesome than she thought.
Roan continued.
"At this very moment, you are about to follow into the same steps as your predecessors. This useless pride of yours will eventually bring your ruin. If you want to fail this mission, that's is fine, but don't drag us down with you. There are a few people in the world who have brains."
Roan then turned around and was just about to leave when Luina stopped him. Doesn't matter how prideful Luina is; after hearing to this point, even she had to admit that simply charging into the bandits' nest would lead to a disaster.
"I... accept your idea."
Still, the main reason for her change of mind was Rean and Roan's strength! If they didn't completely trash Oritis and Rolim the day prior, she wouldn't take a single word of theirs to mind.
Roan looked behind and nodded.
"You won't regret it. I might as well tell you this. How do you think the ones who failed before will feel after they find out you completed this mission successfully? Or better, the elders of your Lagan Sect Mission Hall definitely know the truth. So their impression of you would be much more important. However, if they see an Inner Sect Disciple failing against a few bandits... hehe."
Luina couldn't help but feel a chill on her back. In just a few words, Roan made her visualize both glory and scorn. She even began to think that perhaps this mission is a test given by the sect, not just a simple task. Oritis and Rolim also had severe expressions. Although they are from the Outer Sect, they are still proud members of the Lagan Sect, after all.
Back at one of the secondary roads to Avato City, Rean's group continued moving forward. Roam and Luina kept following them by foot in the shadows. Four hours after they departed, the prey finally ate the bait. Suddenly, a group of fifteen mounted cultivators appeared in their front. The majority was Energy Gathering Realm ones, but they still had three Foundation Establishment members. But that wasn't all. In places where they couldn't see, a few more bandits were ready to charge at Rean's group in case they tried to escape.
This hidden group was what Roan planned to strike exactly. Without getting rid of this group first, there would be no way to prevent someone from escaping their net. The difficulty of this mission would be directly related to this very first combat.
Rean's group immediately entered in a battle against the fifteen mounted bandits. However, they hid their real strength and pretended to be barely holding back. Without any of them notice. One head after another was being sent flying in the hidden places around the main battle.
Luina went to the right side while Roan went to the left. Roan had to give Luina a mental nod. She was a dual daggers user, and her dagger style was quite good. Although she couldn't be compared to himself, she was definitely stronger than Ria and Amanda from the Blue Orchid Outer Sect District.
'As expected of an inner sect member, I guess?'
They eliminated all the scouts cleanly, and only then did they charge out of the forest.
Suddenly, a whistle came out of the trees around. As soon as that happened, Rean's group smiled and revealed their real cultivation. The bandits were taken aback by their sudden display of strength. In just a few seconds, almost all Energy Gathering Realm bandits fell.
The Foundation Establishment ones noticed that they fell into a trap and immediately turned around to flee. However, Rean was already expecting it. Light Element covered his body as he shot forward.
'Death Style, First Form, Stellar Piercer!'
Two rays of Light Element and Spiritual Energy pierced right through two of the Foundation Establishment enemies. The last one, with cultivation in the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment, felt terrified with what he saw. He also couldn't tell why the scouts that he left around hadn't appeared yet. However, considering that this was a trap, he could at least imagine what happened to them. He urged his horse, even more, trying to leave this place at all costs.
Too bad, though. Roan had already positioned himself, waiting for that chance. With another Stellar Pierce, he killed the bandit's horse with a single strike in the head. The bandit, obviously, fell on the ground straight away. Of course, with his Foundation Establishment, he quickly recovered. It's just that when he tried to run, a black shadow appeared on his side. What shocked him, even more, is that the enemy looked to be only a kid too!
'Since when are kids this strong?!'
He tried to use his sword to fend the enemy off. But that was useless. If even Peak Foundation Establishments aren't a match for Roan, then let alone a Middle Stage one.
*Switch!*
The next instant, the bandit already lost one of his legs. He immediately fell on the ground in pain, but his expression changed in the next second.
Roan pointed his sword at the guy while showing an evil smile. He looked me like the reincarnation of a demon. Well, this bandit wasn't totally wrong.
"Hey there, I wonder if you would be willing to answer a few questions."
In the bandit's eyes, that wasn't a kid anymore, but a wolf in sheep's clothing.
