"W...What should we do? Do we need to return to Stolitsa city and inform soldiers from the Rayaume kingdom?" Ria suggested with a voice that was not sure about the idea herself. Her uncertainty was mirrored by the silence that greeted her suggestion.

Yohei was the first to nod at the idea. "To be safer, we need to inform the soldiers."

Before Yohei finished responding, Hauve chimed in with shining eyes. "Plus, we can receive a reward from the kingdom."

Yohei sighed, a little annoyed because of Hauve's remark. "Yes, that's too. Well, so what's our next move?"

They were silent for some time. No one responded, meaning everyone agreed.

"Okay," Yohei finally said. "Now we are getting ready to return to Stolita City."

After deciding what they were going to do, Yohei stood up and walked towards their tent. He started to pack his stuff. As he gathered his belongings, Ria pulled Yohei's sleeve and whispered something to him. Yohei then nodded and stopped packing.

"Guys, Ria has other suggestions. Since it is still not certain that this cave is the bandit's base, it would be better if someone checked the inside of the cave. Meanwhile, some returned to Stolitsa City to inform the city's soldiers. So when the soldiers arrived here, we could tell for sure the location of the bandit's base. What do you think?"

Kin, Clark, Ken, and Hauve stopped what they did and started considering Ria's proposal. After a few minutes. Kin, Ken, and Hauve nodded in agreement. Clark didn't respond yet, he still thinking about the possibilities that could happen.

Eventually, he spoke up something that was weighing on his mind. "Then how do we choose who goes? Just one person alone can't return to Stolitsa City. I'm unsure anyone could pass through an area with so many monsters alone. And I'm also not sure that one person is enough to confirm the position of the bandit's base."

The group exchanged glances, they all couldn't answer Clark's question. Suddenly Ken raised his hand. "I'd better go to Stolitsa City myself. I'm sure that even if I'm alone I can get there. Besides, it seems like this cave is quite big so more people are needed here."

Clark tried to respond as politely as he could. "It's not that I don't believe in your abilities, Ken. I'm sure you'll make it there alone. What I'm afraid of is that you will avoid the main road and walk through the forest and it will take longer for you to arrive at Stolita city."

Yohei was the first person to respond to Clark's concerns. "Clark's right, Ken. I, who have worked with you for a long time, also believe in your abilities, but going alone is too risky. I'd better go with Ken. My speed can keep up with yours. Then Clark, Ria, Hauve, and Kin will stay here and try to find the location of the bandit's base. How does that sound?"

No one can refuse the plan put forward by Yohei. "No one seems to disagree with me so Ken, let's get ready."

Yohei and Ken started getting ready. Rin and Clark helped them. Kin and Hauve took out some HP potions or mana potions from their bags and gave them to Yohei and Ken. Yohei and Ken took it and put it in their bag. After Yohei and Ken were ready, they said goodbye to Kin, Hauve, Ria and Clark then ran out of the cave. Not long after, they went out of sight of their friends into the forest.

After Yohei and Ken departed, Kin, Hauve, and Ria tidied up their tent before they went back to rest. As Kin finished tidying up, he looked around to find Clark. "Ria, Hauve have you seen Clark? He suddenly missing."

Ria pointed toward the cave's entrance. "The last time I saw him was near the mouth of the cave, but now he's gone."

"Looks like he went into the cave. Earlier I caught a glimpse of him walking past the cave's entrance." Said Hauve.

"No...no... no...What do we do now? Should we follow him?" Kin looked uneasy.

Hauve tried to calm Kin down. "Wait...wait. Calm down Kin. It's better not to rush things in this situation. It's better to wait for a while. Maybe he won't be long."

"I... I agree with Hauve. We'd better wait, Kin." Ria agreed with Hauve's advice

5 minutes passed.

15 minutes passed.

30 minutes passed.

After 1 hour, Kin started to feel anxious. He cannot wait any longer and starts to take some of his things, ready to look for Clark. Ria and Hauve couldn't hold Kin anymore. They helped Kin prepare the things he might need.

While they were getting ready, suddenly at the entrance of the cave leading to their tent, they could hear footsteps echoing near to their place. They quickly extinguished their campfire and took out their weapons. The footsteps start to get louder and closer. Suddenly 2 bandits emerged walking into their cave, and the fire from the torch carried by the bandit became the only source of light.

Moving as quietly as he could, Kin sneaked up to the bandits while still stuck at the cave wall. When one of the bandits approached and was within Kin's attack range, Kin, who had used the skill 'Assist' NPC Major Glav, launched an attack on one of the bandits.

[Continues Pierce lv 5]

[Attack in a line with all your strength towards the enemy continuously until your mana runs out or the attack fails to hit the enemy. Inflicts 150% of each attack hit.

Skill requires: 500 mana.

Skill cooldown: 10 minutes.]

[The enemy is unaware of your existence. You hit a vital area. Critical Strike. You have injured the enemy by 49,280]

[The enemy is unaware of your existence. You hit a vital area. Critical Strike. You have injured the enemy by 49,280]

[The enemy is unaware of your existence. You hit a vital area. Critical Strike. You have injured the enemy by 11,290]

[The bandit members have died]

[You contributed to killing the bandit members. You gain 43,940 exp.]

After the first bandit died and shattered into dust, Kin directed his attack at the next bandit.

[You have injured the enemy by 12,320]

[You have injured the enemy by 12,320]

During the third attack, the bandits managed to dodge Kin's attack. Kin tried to attack the bandit again but the bandit had already run away towards the entrance of the cave. Ria used her magic and a fireball appeared flying towards the bandits. However, the bandit managed to evade it by turning at the entrance of the cave. When he vanished from Ria sighed, the bandit suddenly bounced back and shattered into dust.

Clark appeared with a smirk. "I was only gone for an hour but you guys almost got caught."

"Where have you been?!" Kin raised his voice.

"Relax Kin, I just want to confirm the location of their base." Clark replied calmly.

Ria and Hauve appeared behind Kin. Hauve then patted Clark on the shoulder. "What did you find in there?"

"I didn't find much. Maybe I'm not that deep yet." Clark replied, his tone switched to uneasy. "it was too dark and I didn't dare bring a torch so I couldn't go that further."

He then invites Kin, Ria, and Hau back near the now-extinguished campfire. Clark described the condition inside the cave. In general, there is nothing special about the cave, only the size of the cave is large enough so that 5 people can pass through at once. Several stone pillars help support the cave. By using this pillar, Clark can go quite far. Until it became too dark and forced Clark to turn back.

"We should sleep for now. To avoid attracting attention, it is better not to light the campfire." Clark advised. "Also we need people to stand by and guard our campsite."

Everyone nodded in agreement with Clark's suggestion. Hauve was the first to guard their camp. Kin, Clark, and Ria went into their tents and rested.