Exploring Technology in a Wizard World-Chapter 1292 - 1290: For Happiness

Before he finished speaking, Mario exclaimed in surprise because he felt the ground slightly give way under his feet, and he was slowly sinking into the earth.

What’s going on? Quicksand? Swamp?

Before Mario could figure it out, there was a "crash," and the ground beneath him suddenly gave way, causing him to fall into a tunnel below.

"Swish!"

The nearby soldiers quickly gathered around to watch Mario, who had fallen in, from above ground.

Mario shook his head and stood up, looking around the tunnel with some confusion and bewilderment at first, then his eyes widened, and his breathing became rapid.

"Huff—huff—"

"This... this is it!"

"Ah!" Mario screamed with excitement, stumbling over his words, "I... take back what I said earlier, the people above aren’t fools, there’s really a tunnel here, there is! I... I’m going to get promoted, my rank is going up... up three levels! Three levels!"

The comrades on the ground watched Mario’s incessant shouting and exchanged glances, showing complex expressions, as if they had witnessed someone step in something fortuitous.

Sigh, how come I didn’t get the chance to step in this "fortune" myself?

At this moment, a team leader with a face full of muscle approached, standing on the ground, glanced at the ecstatic Mario, and couldn’t help but shake his head. His rank was much higher than Mario’s, so he wasn’t envious like the ordinary soldiers; he was simply happy—happy about discovering the tunnel because it meant recognition for the Red Maple Cavalry Group.

And amidst this happiness, he noticed something in the distant village, vaguely seeing shadows of people running frantically into the village, quickly disappearing.

...

Inside the village, shadows ran towards the village chief’s house, unable to stop shouting, "Chief, Chief, it’s bad, they’ve found it, they’ve found it!"

...

"What, they’ve found it?!"

Close to noon, in the command room of Reef Rock Castle, Kun Darsie, the Chief White Robed Staff, upon receiving the latest intelligence from the messenger, only had to glance at it before exclaiming.

In the room, Commander Soron Bonaparte and Richard both looked over, with Soron showing a questioning expression.

Staff Kun quickly looked at Soron and explained, "General, it’s like this, the Red Maple Cavalry Group has discovered a tunnel entrance about eleven miles north of Blue Water Bay, and it has been confirmed as the one infiltrated by the Sika Kingdom army."

After explaining, without waiting for Soron to speak, Staff Kun expressed his bewilderment, "General, this really doesn’t make sense, that place is far outside our previously defined scope, very close to a residential village. In fact, intelligence indicates there’s a village nearby. If the Sika Kingdom army really came out from there, it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed."

Soron looked at Richard and spoke, "Lord Richard, what do you think?"

"Well..." Richard pondered for a few seconds and said, "A tunnel entrance appeared where it shouldn’t have, and a village appeared where it shouldn’t have, so maybe there’s something questionable about that village."

Soron frowned, puzzled.

Richard didn’t explain, only looking at the White Robed Staff, "Mr. Kun, could you tell me the direction of the village from the tunnel entrance?"

"Um, it’s north," the staff said, glancing at the intelligence to confirm, "yes, it’s north."

"North, huh. Alright, let’s send the army to search the entire village, including the ponds, fields, and forests around it," Richard said.

"Why?"

"Because I feel that north is not an auspicious direction, maybe there are other tunnels, maybe more than one," Richard said slowly, very seriously.

The staff’s eyes widened, his face full of disbelief, if not for the difference in status, he really wanted to ask if Richard was joking.

This is a matter of war! Could he not be a bit more serious?

What kind of reason is it for a direction to be inauspicious?

Has anyone ever heard of this?

"Lord Richard, your idea..." the staff couldn’t help but say.

"No, it’s not an idea, it’s an order," Richard corrected.

The staff’s expression became stiff, the first time Richard could predict the tunnel entrance seemed too coincidental, really not believable, twice was reasonable.

Another tunnel? And not just one?

Is this a tunnel or a rat’s nest?

The staff looked at Soron as if seeking help, hoping Soron would say something against it, to stop Richard from continuing this absurdity.

Who would have thought, Soron was silent for a few seconds, only saying, "Execute it."

"Yes." The staff responded with a sigh, truly helpless.

...

Orders issued, relayed through layers, quickly executed.

Shortly past noon, the peace of White Crow Village was shattered.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter..."

The dense sound of hoofbeats echoed, with the cavalry of the Red Maple Cavalry Group rapidly galloping in, arriving at the edge of the village.

The villagers, hearing the commotion, stepped out of their houses, casting flickering glances as they watched the cavalry enter.

Short and stout Winter approached, forcing a smile, attempting to curb them, "My lord, may I ask what’s the matter? Why have you come to our village? We just paid our taxes this year, without any arrears."

"Shut up!" Mario glanced at Winter, chiding, "What nonsense! This time we’re not here to collect taxes from your village, and even if we were, we wouldn’t need to mobilize us. The reason we’re here is that there’s an order, suspecting that there might be a hidden tunnel in your village, so we’re here to search."

"Tun... tunnel?" Winter’s face turned slightly pale, "What tunnel, we don’t know anything about it, right, chief?"

As he spoke, Winter looked at the wrinkled elder behind him.

The elder nodded quickly, looking timid and cautious, voicing to Mario, "M...my lord, there’s really no tunnel in our village."

"Whether there’s a tunnel isn’t up to you, it will be determined after the search. Alright, stop blocking the way." Having said this, Mario flicked his whip, scattering Winter from the path, and headed straight to the village center to search, while the rest of the cavalry fanned out like mercury, searching every corner of the village.

At this moment, Mario was extremely excited, with his blood boiling.

No excitement, no boiling would do.

Not long ago, he was just an ordinary soldier, with the rank of a Private, and now he was promoted three levels, already a Senior Centurion!

Just one step away from becoming a Lower Centurion!

A Centurion!

Before, this was something he couldn’t even dream of, now it was just a step away!

Once promoted to Centurion, his life’s worth could be said to be made.

First of all, issues regarding retirement wouldn’t be much of a concern.

Moreover, even if retired, the benefits would be extremely high. Not to mention zero worries about food and drink, and enjoying a good life.

However, with advantages, there are disadvantages as well. The downside is, reaching the level of Senior Centurion, he is already considered lower-ranking officer level, so it’s almost impossible to continue rising in rank just by simple combat kills; cutting heads until the Longsword breaks would be difficult, bigger war merits would be essential.

Either command a small victorious battle, or as before, find another tunnel.

The team leader told him, the order from above was: Anyone who finds another tunnel, soldiers get promoted two levels, officers one level.

This couldn’t compare to the initial promotion of three levels, but it was enough.

At this moment, Mario really didn’t want anything else, just wanted to find a tunnel, and he would fight to the death anyone who dared block him!

Charge!

A lifetime of happiness hinges on today!