12 Chapter 12: The Source of Magic

The city guards already had an absolute advantage in numbers and equipment. After Lann joined the battlefield, their morale was greatly boosted, and they almost annihilated the bandits with an overwhelming momentum. 

In the end, only the seriously injured bandits were left moaning weakly on the ground. 

Lann followed the voice and approached the seriously injured bandit. He raised his knife and gained another experience point. 

The vice-captain on the side wiped cold sweat and stepped forward. He was really scared to death when Lann rushed out just now. 

"My Lord, please go and have a rest. Just leave the job of cleaning the battlefield to us." 

"No, I'll do it myself." Lann said determinedly. "In fact, from now on, I will always do it." 

The vice-captain was speechless. 

After finishing speaking, Lann stopped some soldiers who were trying to finish off the seriously injured bandits on the ground. 

"All of you, please don't worry about this. Go and count the casualties and take care of your injured companions. If you have extra hands, go collect the loot!" 

Looking at Lann who quickly stepped forward and stabbed another bandit, the two soldiers who were cleaning up whispered: 

"Our Lord Earl...is enjoying it too much, I'm a little scared." 

"Why do you think so? Shouldn't he be the one who sympathizes with us and gives us priority in rescuing and caring for the wounded?" 

"When you put it that way..." 

"Besides, he leads from the front. I always heard that the earl is the new combat champion, but I never imagined he was so brave. I only used to hear about knights like him in poems." 

The two warriors looked at each other: "It is indeed a Lannister!" 

At the same time, a line of translucent subtitles suddenly appeared in front of Lann's eyes, accompanied by a sound like a holy sigh in his ears: 

[Mission - Defense of the City. Iron Guard - Part 1 - Completed] 

[New mission discovered] 

[Defense of the City. Iron Guard - Part 2:] 

[Bloody combat is much more effective than physical training; could help form a competent unit quickly, but there is still a long way to go before they become truly elite soldiers. Some things are more important than training, like cohesion and faith.] 

[Character level +1] 

The experience of more than ten bandits and the completion of this series of missions directly helped Lann reach the next level again. 

Without any hesitation, add the extra ability points to the [Fleet Footed] ability by raising it to level (3/5). 

After upgrading the ability, the mission information caught Lann's attention. The bandit camp was wiped out, the troop training mission was completed, but the bandit suppression mission was not completed. 

What is the reason for this? Were there bandits who had escaped? Or is it because there is more than one bandit camp? 

Hey, there are thirty or forty people in this camp. If a few more people are added, they can form a small rebel army, enough to attack small towns. 

He looked around and saw two seriously injured bandits moaning weakly on the ground. Fortunately, he leveled up quickly, otherwise he probably would have killed them all before realizing that the quest was not yet completed. 

Lann gestured for two soldiers to tie up the seriously injured bandits. He told them to keep them alive so he could interrogate them. Meanwhile, the vice-captain came over to report the casualties. 

"Your Majesty. A dozen brothers were slightly injured this time, but it's not a big problem. Only three soldiers died, which is a very good battle loss ratio." 

The vice-captain's carefree attitude made Lann frown. 

"We have so many men and good equipment. Why did three people die?" 

Seeing that Lann looked upset, the vice-captain quickly explained: "These bandits are vicious and some of them are veterans. Our men are mostly rookies and sometimes when they see an ax approaching, they forget to dodge. Swords have no eyes, my Sir." 

Lann thought for a moment and asked: "How much are the pensions for wounded soldiers?" 

The vice-captain gave a much lower figure than Lann had imagined, that small amount would be of no help to those soldiers. 

Lann thought for a while and asked: "How much has been gained from the suppression of bandits this time?" 

The vice-captain quoted a figure that was much higher than the soldiers' income, and it was almost nothing for Lann's net worth. 

According to the old practice of nobles leading troops to suppress bandits, all such seizures would become the private property of the leading officers. The soldiers barely received a minimal part. 

Because of these soldiers often sought additional income and often 'bloody income' during war, which led to the common population seeing soldiers and officers as monsters. 

This also gave civilian mercenaries and monster hunters such as witchers a business. 

Lann looked at the soldiers who were bandaging the wounded, then turned to the vice-captain and said: "Divide the captured things among everyone. Share more with the brothers who died. You know what to do." 

The vice-captain was shocked by this decision, and it wasn't until Lann repeated it again that he nodded heavily and left. 

Then he heard the soldiers cheering again, which made Lann's mood much better, even faintly overshadowing his own joy of leveling up. He approached his horse and stroked its mane, making him neigh with satisfaction. 

"Lord Lannister." 

The vice-captain's voice suddenly sounded behind him. Lann turned around and saw the other person holding a box in both hands, bending slightly and handing it to him. 

"Didn't I say that everything should be divided?" 

"Of course, I don't dare to disobey your order." The vice-captain whispered. "But no one dares to ask for this thing." 

Lann frowned and raised his hand to take the box. It felt heavy and cold upon firsthand. It was a box made of some kind of metal wrapped with wood that Lann couldn't name. There were many weird and harmonious pattern carvings on it. 

"This thing was placed in the tent of their leader and wrapped in several layers of sheepskin." 

On the box there was a brooch that was broken. There was probably a lock on it, and it was obviously picked open. Lann opened the box and found a fist-sized transparent crystal lying inside, wrapped in red velvet and giving off a shimmering light. 

Lann stared at him, amazed. 

The vice-captain raised his head and glanced at Lann's stunned look. He understood in his heart and smiled proudly. 

"We have had trouble finding someone who would accept this. According to your orders, we must share everything, but no one wants this. Furthermore, based on the merits of the battle, you should also get a share." 

"I have seen crystals and diamonds of this quality before. All the lords and ladies like them, and even those arrogant Wizards will study these things." 

"This kind of thing is not what we should have, so I thought you would like it." 

As Lann listened indifferently to the vice-captain, a translucent message had already appeared in front of his eyes. 

[Discover the source of magic power and absorb it to obtain ability points.] 

"Of course, I like it." Lann nodded excitedly. "I will accept this as my share of the spoils."