As Vera finished speaking, Iul quickly asked his question: “Then why didn’t you team up with him?” Vera tapped his head irritably, very naturally, as if they had known each other for a long time.
She crossed her arms, looking puffed up in annoyance, “I was just about to go up and strike up a conversation, but that veteran started fighting with others again.” Aqina’s amber eyes shone amazingly bright, “Fighting again?
How was the battle?” You have to realize, that veteran had just finished fighting with recruits.
Upon hearing that they were fighting again, not only was Aqina curious, but even Tatiana looked at Vera without blinking, waiting for her to continue explaining.
Vera didn’t beat around the bush, but she first nervously looked around, lowering her voice.
“You might not know this, but every recruit trial, there are people who pay to buy nameplates just to get a higher score.” “And this has long since become an industry chain in the black market.” “Many soldiers who committed mistakes and were kicked out, as well as some desperadoes, have become mercenaries who specialize in hunting recruits for money.” “They infiltrate the trial grounds, hunt recruits, and steal nameplates.
These people are known as ‘Scavengers’.” “Scavengers?” Tatiana repeated the word, her brows furrowed, “I’ve heard veterans mention it, but I always thought it was just a rumor.” “It’s not a rumor.” Vera’s voice lowered further, trembling with lingering fear, “The veteran encountered Scavengers that day.
Three of them, all wearing gray-white camouflage, their faces painted with greasepaint, moving without a sound, like ghosts.” “They surrounded that fishing veteran from three directions.” “I thought he was done for; after all, he had just finished a fight and must have been tired.” “Plus, it was one against three, and the opponents were experienced desperadoes, but then…” Vera’s eyes widened, as if she had returned to that scene.
“The veteran sensed someone, but didn’t even put down his fishing rod.
He was sitting on that rock, with his back to them, still reeling in the line.
He only moved when the first Scavenger crept up not far behind him.” “How did he move?” Iul pressed.
“I just saw him set the fishing rod aside,” Vera gestured with her hands.
“The bow was right by his side, but he didn’t even pick it up.
Instead, he hooked it with his foot, and the bow suddenly appeared in his hand, then his other hand drew an arrow from the quiver.
I didn’t even see his movements clearly; I just heard three swooshing sounds.” “And then?” Aqina pressed.
“Then those three Scavengers all fell down.” Vera swallowed, “One was shot through the throat, one right in the center of the forehead.
Another tried to run, was shot in the knee, and then got another arrow to the chest.” “The whole thing took less than ten minutes.
The veteran didn’t even look at the corpses, just set the bow aside like that, and continued to pick up the fishing rod to reel in the line.
And guess what?” The three shook their heads in unison.
“The fish bit,” Vera said with a hint of a shriek, “While reeling in the line, he muttered, ‘Almost let you get away’.
When that fish was pulled up, the blood of those three Scavengers had just flowed to the creek, staining the water red…” Silence suddenly fell.
Only the crackling of the firewood remained.
Aqina felt goosebumps rise on her back.
This was a one-sided slaughter.
A veteran with this kind of strength definitely didn’t commit a mistake or come here to play around.
It was some kind of special mission.
“What happened next?” Tatiana wanted to know the follow-up.
“Afterwards, the veteran started cleaning the fish,” Vera said, “But I didn’t dare go out, because before those Scavengers died, they shouted something.” “What did they say?” “He said, ‘You can’t escape, our people will find you, take your nameplate, and your life’.” Vera mimicked that hoarse tone, making Iul shiver uncontrollably.
“How did the veteran respond?” Aqina asked.
Vera shook her head.
“He didn’t respond, just kept fishing.
When the fish bit, he cleaned and grilled it.
After eating, he started collecting the spoils.
He first found the identity tags hanging on them.
They were black iron plates, with something that looked like a wolf or a dog on them, baring its teeth and looking fierce…
The veteran muttered ‘filthy things’ and threw those plates into the water…
Then he stripped their equipment clean.
Crossbow bolts, daggers, rations…
he even took off their boots, saying the leather was good and could be sold for money.” “Then he left.
Before leaving, he glanced in the direction where I was hiding, scaring me so much I didn’t dare breathe.
But he just smiled, didn’t say anything, turned around, and disappeared into the forest.” After Vera finished speaking, she let out a long sigh of relief, as if she had shed some heavy burden.
“So I didn’t even dare to strike up a conversation; his strength is too intimidating.
Plus, the Scavengers have already targeted him, even if I teamed up with him, I’d only be a burden.” Tatiana silently added a piece of wood to the fire.
Aqina fell into deep thought.
Scavengers, black market trading of nameplates.
This explained a few things.
Why some veterans in this trial were crazily hunting recruits.
Why some squads acted so ruthlessly, leaving no survivors.
It turned out it wasn’t just for scores, but for money.
“Wait.” Iul’s expression changed drastically.
“I remember now.” The three looked at him in unison.
He licked his dry lips, his voice trembling.
“In my original squad, there was a noble’s son.
He once bragged that his family had already made connections for him to be given special care.
Ensuring he could easily get at least ten nameplates in the trial.
To get an ‘excellent’ rating and be assigned directly to a good unit.” “I thought he was just bragging at the time,” Iul smiled bitterly, “Now that I think about it, the day we were attacked, the enemy suddenly escaped from my traps.
And they left me behind and ran; it might not just be because they couldn’t win.” Aqina’s face darkened, “You mean…” “Those veterans who attacked us might be Scavengers.” Iul’s voice grew lower and lower.
“And my teammates, I’m afraid they had long since colluded with the enemy.
They deliberately released them from my traps, and then abandoned me.
I originally thought they used me as bait to attract the enemy’s attention so they could run away.
But thinking back carefully now, I’m afraid they had planned to sell me out and let the enemy finish me off.” Vera gasped, “They can do that?” “Why wouldn’t they?” Tatiana sneered, poking the fire with a branch.
Sparks flew everywhere.
“The nobles of Snezhnaya, what wouldn’t they do?
Paying for lives, paying for a future.
To them, it’s just a cost-effective transaction, as long as they pay.” She looked at Iul, her eyes complex, “Kid, you’re lucky to have survived.” Iul held his injured leg, only now feeling a surge of lingering fear.
If Aqina and the other hadn’t happened to run into him and chosen to save him, he would probably have become a ghost long ago.
His body would have remained forever in the ice crevice, never to see the sun.
The group fell into silence again.
Only the crackling of the firewood and the sound of the wind and snow howling outside remained.
After a long while, Tatiana spat, “These scumbags.” “The nobles’ hands reach really far,” Aqina sneered, “They can even trade in the Fatui recruit trials, no wonder Snezhnaya is getting worse and worse.” Vera whispered, “So what do we do now?
There must be more than just that one group of Scavengers; there might be quite a few mixed into this trial.” “And they have clear targets,” Aqina analyzed, “Specializing in killing recruits and stealing nameplates.
Recruits are easy to deal with, the nameplates are valuable, and those of us who have a certain number of nameplates are even fatter sheep.” “How are Scavengers usually identified?” Aqina asked Vera.
Vera tried hard to recall, “They all wear gray-white camouflage, almost blending in with the snow.
Their faces are covered in greasepaint, making it hard to see their features.
Their equipment is mixed, not uniform, but it’s all high quality.
When I was hiding and watching, I noticed their crossbows were the standard military crossbows that only veterans have, but the serial numbers on them had been filed off.
Also, they hardly spoke when moving, communicating entirely through hand gestures.” “Black iron plates…” Aqina repeated, murmuring, “Is that their identification?” “It should be.” Vera nodded, “When the veteran threw the plates, I caught a glimpse of numbers on them.
Although the characters were small, I could still vaguely see them.
Three plates, the numbers were consecutive: seven, eight, and nine.” Tatiana looked up sharply, “Consecutive numbers?
That means they have at least one squad, maybe even more.” The atmosphere became heavy again.
Tatiana gripped the military knife in her hand, “Kill one if one comes, kill a pair if two come.” “I’m afraid it’s not that simple.” Iul smiled bitterly, “If the Scavengers act in groups and are well-trained…
the four of us, with my leg still lame, if we really get into a fight, our chances of winning aren’t good.” Aqina was silent for a long while.
She knew Snezhnaya was dangerous, but she hadn’t expected even a recruit regiment to have reached this point.
That even the recruit trials had spawned an industry chain.
At this moment, the System, which hadn’t appeared for a long time, spoke up.
<Host, congratulations on unlocking the Snezhnaya recruit trial, hidden side quest ‘Scavengers’> <Side quest description: Under the shadow of the Snezhnaya recruit trial, black market trades using human lives as chips are lurking.
Scavengers prowl like hyenas, hunting young lives.
Will you become prey, or in turn, become the hunter?
This choice may affect your later career advancement, please consider carefully, Host.>