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Chapter 91 I'll be the captain, who's in favor and who's opposed? (6/6)

Xiu Qi simply watched quietly without saying a word.

Link shifted his feet uneasily, while Ado tilted his head in confusion, seemingly not understanding why these people were arguing.

Most of the other teams in the area have already chosen their captains, either the most experienced veterans or the strongest professionals, and they will soon reach an agreement.

Only their team was stuck in a stalemate.

The two teams, which were originally on good terms, were now arguing heatedly.

Cade and Allen glared at each other, neither willing to back down. Their teammates, each fighting for their own side, escalated the argument.

"Enough!" Cade growled. "Arguing like this won't get us anywhere! According to adventurers' rules, if you're not happy, fight! Whoever wins becomes the captain!"

Allen's face darkened: "Fine, let's fight! You think you can get away with that?"

The conflict was about to escalate, but Xiu Qi showed no intention of intervening.

Captain Cade, a veteran with extensive adventure experience, didn't take the young Xiuqi seriously at all.

Although Allen was more agreeable, he still believed that Hugh was too young and not qualified to compete for the captaincy.

Xiu Qi was too lazy to say anything. Since the other party didn't take him seriously, he would just wait and see.

Despite their words, the two captains retained a shred of rationality in this situation; the fight did not escalate, but the struggle did not cease.

Time ticked by. The surrounding battalions had all chosen their captains and were heading to the supply depot to collect their provisions. But their regiment remained locked in a stalemate.

Neither Cade nor Allen would back down, and both of their proposals were rejected by the other. Their team members also split into two factions, glaring at each other, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Soon, ten minutes were up.

Captain Raymond stepped onto the platform again: "Captains, step forward! Collect your area allocations and supplies!"

The forty selected captains stepped out of the crowd and stood in front of the platform. Only the 11th Regiment did not step forward.

Raymond frowned and looked over: "Eleventh Regiment! Where's your captain?"

Cade and Allen took a step forward at the same time, then stopped at the same time, staring at each other.

"What's going on?" Raymond's tone turned stern.

"Reporting, Commander!" Cade shouted. "We are negotiating—"

'

"Negotiation?" Raymond interrupted him. "I gave you ten minutes! All the other teams have made their selections, why are you the exception?"

His gaze swept over Cade and Allen, then looked at Xiuqi behind them, a knowing glint in his eyes.

Such instances of neglecting important matters due to power struggles are not uncommon among adventurers. However, with a major war imminent, such behavior is intolerable.

Just as Raymond was about to forcefully appoint a captain, a gentle voice suddenly rang out.

"let me see."

The white-robed mage, Airon, slowly descended from the platform and walked towards areas 31-33. His steps were unhurried, and adventurers automatically parted to make way for him.

Cade and Allen immediately straightened their backs and looked nervously at the kingdom's elite mage.

President Elon walked up to the three of them, his gaze lingering on Cade and Allen for a moment before turning to Xiuqi.

"What's your name?" he asked, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Xiuqi, President Airon." Xiuqi bowed respectfully.

President Airon nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "I've heard about your work. You did a great job wiping out the goblin tribe and recovering the caravan's supplies."

Upon hearing this, both Cade and Allen's expressions changed. They clearly hadn't expected this young mage apprentice to have such a record. Master Elon looked at the two of them: "Why are you arguing?"

Cade, forcing a smile, replied, "We're discussing who should be the captain..."

"Ten minutes of negotiation and still no result?" Master Elon shook his head. "Time is precious. Since you can't reach a conclusion, then I will make the decision."

He paused, and amidst everyone's surprised gazes, pointed at Xiu Qi.

"Xiuqi, from this moment on, you are the captain of the 11th Regiment."

The square was silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Cade's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth as if to say something, but under Master Elon's calm gaze, the words stuck in his throat and he couldn't utter a sound.

Allen's face turned pale and then red, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the longbow turned slightly white.

The team members behind them were even more incredulous. Letting such a young mage apprentice be the captain? Are you kidding me?

Master Airon seemed oblivious to the crowd's reactions and continued calmly, "Shuqi, come forward and collect your area allocation and supplies."

Xiu Qi nodded calmly and stepped forward: "Yes, Chairman."

He walked towards the platform, feeling countless gazes fixed on his back—a gaze filled with doubt, incomprehension, jealousy, and curiosity...

Commander Raymond looked at Xiu Qi as he approached, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He picked up a scroll and three cloth bags from the table and handed them to Xiu Qi.

"Eleventh Squadron, responsible for Sector 11." Raymond unfolded a map, pointing to an area in the northwest of the Gray Forest. "This is a detailed map, marking the known demon activity points. Remember, your mission is to clear out, not annihilate. If you encounter a strong enemy, seek reinforcements immediately; don't be reckless."

"Understood." Xiuqi took the map scroll and the cloth bag.

The bag contained supplies: three signal flares (one red, one green, and one yellow), a small bottle of antidote, five rolls of bandages, and three days' worth of standard rations.

"Now," Raymond raised his voice, "all squads, line up in order of your zone number and prepare to depart!"

The atmosphere in the square instantly became tense.

The adventurers did a final check on their equipment and armor.

Xiuqi returned to the group and gave one communication firework to Cade and one to Allen, keeping the red one for himself.

"Yellow means reconnaissance is needed, and green means safe advance," he explained simply. "If we encounter an enemy we can't handle, I'll launch red flares. Once you see them, either come to our aid or launch your own red flares to call for help from neighboring battalions."

Cade and Allen accepted the fireworks, their faces still grim, but they nodded nonetheless.

"Now, let's go." Xiu Qi said no more and turned to walk towards the exit of the square.

Ado and Link immediately followed. Cade and Allen exchanged a glance and then led their respective teams after them.

As they crossed the square and headed out of town, the streets were already packed with townspeople.

Men, women, the elderly, and children—everyone stood by the roadside to see off the demonic expedition team.

May you return safely!

"Drive all those demons back to hell!"

"The merciful Lord will protect you!"

Shouts, blessings, and applause rose and fell.

Some people threw flower petals at the adventurers, some offered homemade bread and dried fruit, and others held up portraits of their loved ones with tears in their eyes.

This is a unique farewell ceremony in the border town.

Every large-scale expedition carries the risk that some may never return. Therefore, every farewell feels like a final goodbye.

Xiuqi walked at the front of the group, with Ado's huge body behind him, like a moving city wall.

He saw familiar faces on the street.

At the entrance to "Traveler's Rest," Mrs. Adeline stood with several waitresses.

When she saw Xiu Qi pass by, the landlady waved vigorously, a glimmer of tears in her eyes: "Mr. Xiu Qi! You must come back! I've reserved the best room for you!"

Xiuqi nodded to her.

Standing in front of the blacksmith's shop, Baal, carrying his iconic giant hammer, grinned and said, "Kid! Kill a few more demons and I'll give you a discount when you get back!"

Secretary Erwin stood at the entrance of the town hall, bowed slightly to Xiuqi, and wore a gratified smile on his face.

At the entrance of the Adventurers' Guild, Lina and Perse stood side by side. Lina waved, while Perse, the young and beautiful receptionist, had dressed up specially for the day, her light blue dress swaying gently in the morning breeze. She watched Xiuqi's back as he walked at the front of the group, a complex and indescribable look flashing in her eyes.

Perth remembered the first time she met Xiuqi. At that time, he was still an unknown mage apprentice, taking on the simplest collection quests.

He later brought surprises time and again: wiping out goblin tribes, taming ogres, and now growing into the captain of an expeditionary force.

This boy is growing up at an unbelievable speed.

"He'll come back, won't he?" Perth whispered to Lina beside her.

"Of course," Lina said confidently. "Mr. Hugh never disappoints."

The group continued onward and soon left the town gates, embarking on a dirt road leading to the grey forest.

Looking back, the outline of Summertown gradually faded into the morning light. The guards on the town wall waved to them, and the clock tower rang its farewell bells.

The sound of bells echoed in the morning air, long and heavy.

Xiuqi turned around and looked ahead.

The outline of the gray forest was now clearly visible. The woodland, shrouded in gray mist year-round, appeared particularly eerie at this moment. Even from miles away, one could feel the ominous aura emanating from it.

The aura of the demonic tide.

"Speed ​​up," Xiuqi ordered. "Reach the edge of Area 11 before noon."

The group quickened their pace. Ado's heavy footsteps left deep footprints on the dirt road, and his armor made a rhythmic metallic scraping sound with each step.

Link walked beside Xiuqi. The boy's previous tension was gone, replaced by focus and vigilance. His hand remained on the bowstring, and his eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.

Cade and Allen each led their respective teams behind them.

Although the two were unconvinced, they maintained basic discipline in the face of the mission. Their teammates were also on high alert, weapons drawn, ready to fight at any moment.

The dirt road gradually became rugged, and the surrounding trees began to grow denser.

The thick, gray forest-like feeling in the air became more and more pronounced, and you could feel a moist resistance in your nasal cavity when you breathed.

What's even more unsettling is the silence.

The edge of the forest, which should have been filled with the sounds of birds and insects, was eerily quiet.

No squirrels leaped among the treetops, no birds sang on the branches, and even the wind seemed to have stopped.

Only the sound of their synchronized footsteps echoed through the deathly silent forest.