Archer's Adventure Manual

Chapter 176 The Strange Rockfall Town

"My name is Lake, you can call me Commander. Based on your priority, you need to be at the back of the line now. Do you have any objections?" Lake briefly explained the legion's rules.

Loran and Barton naturally arrived at the end of the legion, and the well-trained soldiers couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority when they saw the two casually dressed men.

"Keep going! Rockfall Town should be just ahead. Everyone stay alert and be ready for battle at any time. We have superior equipment and powerful tactics; any monster will fall to our legion!"

Lake was at the forefront, encouraging everyone.

The soldiers in the legion echoed loudly, not because of Lake's encouragement, but because these were facts, and it was the soldiers' pride that gave them the confidence to face the monster.

In past battles, their script had always been smooth sailing; no monster could resist them, and their legion was the greatest nemesis of monsters.

Barton was also quite impressed. It was the first time he had seen such well-trained soldiers, and they were indeed very different from the adventurers he usually dealt with.

Loran was more concerned about the situation in Rockfall. Familiar figures came to mind: Old Smith, Instructor Lena, and the barbecue restaurant owner he had only met a few times.

Although they weren't particularly close, Loran sincerely hoped they could be alright and shouldn't become victims of the monster war.

They were now very close to Rockfall Town. Loran looked up and could see some of Rockfall Town's towering buildings, such as the huge clock tower.

People would ring that big bell in the morning to remind everyone that a new day had begun.

Strangely, as Loran approached Rockfall Town, he didn't see a single monster. Instead, he saw villagers working and cultivating the fields nearby.

Team leader Lake was also quite surprised. Why did Rockfall Town look so normal? It didn't look like it had been ravaged by war at all.

Lake led his legion to the field, looked at the farmer working there, and asked curiously, "Hello, we are the legion from Plasson. I would like to ask you about the situation in Rockfall Town."

The farmer looked up at Lake, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said with a smile, "The situation in Rockfall Town? Everything is fine there now."

"The lord has provided us with plenty of food, and we have many new clothes to wear. Everyone is happy and joyful... I am happy now too."

After saying that, the farmer continued working on the farmland with his hoe.

Lake was stunned. He carefully looked at the detailed mission information, but why was it completely different from the information provided in his combat charter?

Loran, at the rear of the column, was also puzzled. He asked a soldier curiously, "Hello, sir, wasn't Rockfall supposed to be dangerous? Why does it look...okay?"

The soldier being questioned was delighted to hear Loran address him as "commander" and readily answered, "Well... as far as I know, a legion had already arrived here before we did, and they may have already resolved the crisis in Rockfall Town."

"As you know, a professional legion like ours can handle such horrific incidents involving monsters very quickly."

The soldier spoke with a very proud expression on his face, as if it were true.

Patton couldn't hide his joy upon hearing the soldier's words. "If that's true, then my parents should already be waiting for me in town!"

Seeing the excited Patton, the soldier nodded slightly. "Yes, that's what our legion does: help people achieve a better life."

Loran, however, disagreed. If he were arriving in Rockfall for the first time, he might have thought there was some truth to what the soldier said.

But he had already been attacked by villagers on his way to Rockfall Town.

Something inexplicable happened to that villager; three large snakes grew from his back... Before this, he was no different from any other villager.

If he hadn't deliberately exposed it, Lorraine and Barton might never have known his secret.

Who can say for sure whether this farmer, who is currently tilling the land, harbors a monster within him?

After asking the farmer some questions, Lake decided to go into town. He did not believe what the farmer said; he only believed the information provided to him by the capital city of Plassen.

Rockfall Town is now surrounded by monsters, in dire straits. The first advance team lost all contact after arriving in Rockfall Town, their fate unknown.

Although the strength of the first advance team was not comparable to that of their legion, they were still talents belonging to Plassen, and many of them had been the pride of Plassen.

Yet this group of people, upon entering Luoyan Town, seemed like a drop of water falling into the sea, without causing a ripple.

Under such circumstances, Rockfall Town could not be safe; at the very least... he had to find that advance team first.

"Soldiers, don't let your guard down! Next, we're entering Rockfall Town!" Lake shouted, leading his legion forward.

Before long, they arrived at an entrance to Rockfall Town.

There were two guards at the entrance, and everything seemed perfectly normal.

"Hello, soldiers! Are you stationed here to prevent monsters from invading the town?" Lake greeted the two guards warmly.

The two guards were slightly taken aback when they saw the large, imposing army behind Lake. They seemed somewhat bewildered. "Greetings, sir. May I ask who you are...?"

"Oh, we're here to help you. We've heard there are a lot of monsters around Rockfall Town lately. Do you know anything about this place?" Lake asked.

The guard suddenly realized, "So they came to help us, but the monster problem was already solved by the advance team ahead of us, and our town is safe now."

"However, since you've come all this way, we can't let you leave empty-handed. Let's go into the town and take a look! I'll report to the lord."

When Lake heard the guard say this, he couldn't help but wonder if the trouble had really been resolved by the advance team.

Lake's attitude was questionable. Regardless of whether it was true or false, he decided to go in and see for himself first.

"Alright, go report. I'll take my men and wander around Rockfall Town," Lake said calmly.

The guard jogged off to report the situation.

As Lake led his legion into Rockfall Town, a fragrant aroma wafted towards them.

The aroma of rye bread wafted gently from the old bakery on the street corner.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the eaves, and Lake saw several children playing and frolicking in the sunlight. A woman sat on a low stool by the door, sewing clothes with a needle and thread.

Upon seeing Lake's army, the woman quickly pulled the children back, saying, "Don't block the way, can't you see the uncles are coming?"

After saying this, the woman looked up and gave the passing legionary soldiers an apologetic smile.

Lake nodded to her, but his gaze remained fixed on her.

Further ahead, there is a small square.

In the center of the square stood a large tree, under whose shade were several rough wooden tables where a few elderly people with gray hair sat chatting.

Everything was so ordinary and natural.

Barton seemed a bit puzzled. "The layout of Rockfall seems... to have changed a bit. I remember Rockfall didn't look like this before. Maybe it's because I haven't been back for too long. Garen, what do you think?"

Loran thought for a moment, then frowned and said, "I haven't been away from Rockfall Town for long... I've never seen this street before. It's probably newly built. If monsters invaded this place, then it's not surprising that it's been renovated."

Lake led everyone to a spacious square and ordered, "Everyone, rest here for a bit! We'll wait here for the Warren nobles; I think they know the situation in Rockfall best."

Following Lake's advice, the soldiers rested on the spot and began to chat casually.

"This is different from what I heard. Wasn't it said that the area around Rockfall Town was terrifying and full of monsters? This is just like any other town... there's no danger at all."

"Hehe, there are many tricks to this. Sometimes the lord's orders are not necessarily for you to do this. Maybe there is something going on inside the Plassen and he deliberately sent us a task."

"I do find this town strange... Look at the way those people look at us, they're not afraid to make eye contact with us at all. Usually, when I walk down the street, many ordinary people are afraid to make eye contact with me!"

"Haha, you're not a local soldier, what are they afraid of you for? Don't be so arrogant."

The soldiers were having a lively discussion, but they remained on guard, though they were surprised by the significant discrepancy between what they had gathered and what they had been told.

Barton recalled the scene when he came in: the seemingly ordinary villager suddenly had three large snakes grow out of his back.

As Barton's gaze swept over the villagers, a chill ran down his spine. Could these villagers also be...?

Barton looked at Loran, and Loran naturally understood what Barton meant.

"Barton, don't forget our purpose. We're here to visit relatives and friends. Why don't we go now?" Loran said earnestly.

Barton thought of his parents, nodded, and said, "Okay!"

Before leaving, Barton told Lake that he was leaving, and Lake did not stop him. After all, there didn't seem to be any danger here, and he wasn't one to meddle in other people's business.

Lake was now focused on finding the first advance team and had no time to deal with Loran and the other two.

And so Loran and his companion left the legion's ranks and entered the town.

The route through Rockfall Town that Loran remembered was no longer quite applicable. He felt that Rockfall Town had changed quite a bit, but some landmark locations were still recognizable.

If Lorraine is like this, then Barton is even more so; he can barely find his way home now.

So Patton could only pin his hopes on his neighbors, and he inquired about the neighborhood where his parents lived.

"Hello, sir, do you know where Rock Street is in Rockfall Town?" Barton asked an old man with gray hair.

The old man didn't look well; he coughed twice, seemingly deep in thought.

Barton was also somewhat wary. The last time a villager acted strangely, he had turned into a three-headed snake and tried to bite him. The old man in front of him might also be strange.

However, after thinking for a while, the old man finally spoke up, "Rock Street... it used to exist, but it's gone now, gone."

"Rock Street is gone? Why?" Barton was getting anxious. It was the only address he could remember. Now that everything had changed, how was he going to find his parents?

The old man thought for a moment, then pointed in a direction, "Rock Street, go that way."

Barton: "...?"

"Sir, didn't you say Rock Street no longer exists?"

The old man shook his head helplessly, "Rock Street is gone, but the direction it used to be was Rock Street, and that won't change."

Patton suddenly realized, "I see, thanks!"

The two walked in the direction the old man pointed. Loran also had a sense of familiarity, as if the Adventurers' Guild was just a little further on.

Sure enough, after walking a few steps, he saw the iconic little square, but the square was not filled with adventurers as usual.

The square here seems to be abandoned... Only townspeople come and go, setting up a few scattered stalls and hawking their wares.

"Oh right, this is the Adventurers' Guild. If you walk a little further ahead and turn the corner, that's my parents' address, but..." Barton looked at the lifeless Adventurers' Guild.

This place has ceased operations. The guild looks fairly tidy, but there's no one inside.

"Where have all the adventurers gone?" Barton wondered, but upon reflection, he found his idea somewhat amusing; a disaster had indeed occurred in Rockfall Town.

The fact that the adventurers didn't appear in town can only mean that they either went out or were killed by monsters.

The first advance team has just started repairing Rockfall Town, so of course the Adventurers' Guild has no one left.

Lorraine patted Barton on the shoulder. "Now that we know the location, let's go take a look."

Barton nodded and followed the route he remembered. After going straight and turning, he arrived at the location he remembered, and Barton's heart began to race.

Because he saw a familiar house, a house that held many of his childhood memories, and he still couldn't forget those happy days.

"The house... is still there!" Barton's voice was strained as he cautiously knocked on the wooden door, his hands trembling.

Loran watched this scene nervously from the side, still unable to understand what had happened in Rockfall Town.

But Barton's parents must know something, and if he could, Lorraine would love to see that wooden door opened.

Barton's heart was in his throat. He stood at the door for what seemed like an eternity, and finally...

"Creak." The wooden door opened.