Roland set out with 103 people, came back with 193. Is this the legendary ultimate military tactic—fight more, get more?
"Guys, pick up the pace! We gotta make it to Rivendell!" Roland said, full of swagger.
"So, uh… Sir, where exactly is Rivendell?" Renol asked meekly. (In this world, Renol isn't the North Governor yet, so he's clueless about Rivendell's location.)
"…." Roland.
"Caslo, you know where Rivendell is, right?" Roland clung to hope.
ahem "How about we just check the map?" Caslo scratched his head.
"So… we're lost again?" Roland was speechless.
Seeing Renol and Caslo both nod "yes," Roland felt several black lines pop on his forehead. He buried his face in his hands. Last time they got lost was in Hobbiton hunting Bag End.
"Fine, let's look…" Roland sighed.
…
"This is the last elven refuge on the Eastern Sea, also known as…" Gandalf raised an eyebrow to introduce.
"Rivendell!" Bilbo whispered, awestruck by the view.
"Gandalf?" An elf approached.
"Ah! Lind, I'm here to see King Elrond." Gandalf said.
"Bad timing, Elrond's not here." Lind replied.
Suddenly, horseshoes sounded behind them…
"When the thrush knocks, standing by the gray rock, the sunset's last light from Dûrin's Day will shine on the keyhole," King Elrond read aloud the moonlit rune on the map.
…
Late at night, the exhausted Roland's group huddled around a campfire, poring over the crude parchment map, trying to find a clue. No luck, it looked like a toddler's doodle.
"Sir, maybe we should just go our separate ways…" Renol sighed.
"Are you kidding? We still have ten brothers with us." Roland rubbed his temple.
At his level now, Roland could probably take over a town in the Shire and become some local boss — but he couldn't risk missing out on main quest rewards.
"System check-in!" Roland glanced at the sky—past midnight.
"Check-in successful! Reward: 100 Lagrand Empire Rapid Infantry."
"No way, really stocking up troops!" Roland was surprised.
But infantry can't ride horses, so no cavalry boost. Plus, Roland's horse stash was running dry...
He summoned the 100 infantry, and soon steady footsteps approached. The alert Batania archers drew their bows.
"Friendly! Relax, guys." Roland rolled his eyes at their nervousness. No random orcs would attack a fully professional army… unless it was the orc horde.
"Sir! We're here to reinforce you!" The rapid infantry stood at attention, fists over hearts. The system implanted memories making them believe they'd come from the Shire to support their lord—Lagrand's last lord.
"Good work, rest up." Roland waved, and tents went up smoothly.
Roland took a good look at these infantry — his first real inspection. They're the most common foot soldiers of the Lagrand Empire. Not professionals, just regular folks with gear. In-game, they're cannon fodder, but here? They're legit.
Thanks to Lagrand's strong economy, even regular infantry had top-tier equipment (relatively speaking). These troops were recruited from the Rapid River valley, hence the name Rapid Infantry. They wore iron bucket helmets, leather-lined under chainmail, carried 5-meter-long pikes, iron-clad full shields on their backs, and steel maces at their sides. Armed to the teeth, but no skills since they aren't pros. Against even rookie pros in equal numbers? They'd get slaughtered.
…
Morning came. Roland led the troop out, or rather, they circled around…
"Spread out! Find elves! Damn it, can't find Rivendell, can't find elves either?" Roland had a sudden brainwave.
"Legendary! Legendary!" Caslo quickly laid on the flattery.
Renol covered his face—this lord was something else. Getting lost and tying people up for directions—first time seeing that.
Meanwhile, Lind was leading a patrol of 10 elven riders, crossing hills, streams, meadows—until they got surrounded. Nearly 300 foes closed in from all sides, weapons ready. Lind's stomach dropped. The weakest were the rapid infantry, but that five-meter pike wall was brutal. The heavy armored bow-riders circling outside looked no joke (mounted Batania archers were surprisingly deadly), and the full-plate knights with steel lances could wipe them in one charge.
Lind charged forward, shouting with fierce resolve, "What are you doing? Humans breaking the treaty? This is Rivendell!"
snicker Someone lost it.
Roland twitched too. That thick-browed guy storming up looked ready for a duel or something, but no, he was just there to put on a show.
"Perfect, you found Rivendell! Grab 'em!" Roland rubbed his hands.
"Gotcha! Watch this!" Loyal lackey Caslo grinned as they closed in.
"Cowardly humans!"
"WTF, no face-slapping please!"
…
"Sir! We got them all rounded up." Caslo said happily.
snort Renol stared in shock.
"What did you do to them?" Roland pointed at the eleven stunned elves.
"Well, they resisted… and we can't kill them…" Caslo mumbled.
"Shut up! What's with your mouth?" Lind slurred angrily.
"Uh, let 'em go…" Roland turned away, shoulders shaking with laughter. After a while, he turned back.
"Hello, can you tell me how to get to Rivendell?" Roland asked the "pig heads," barely holding in laughter.
"I have no idea!" Lind growled.
"What now, Sir?" Renol shrugged helplessly.
"Full alert! Wait for more elves to come. One missing patrol, there has to be a response." Roland sighed.
"Understood!" Renol left to set up defenses.
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