Squad Games [Squad Building LitRPG] [Book One Complete]

Lothar found The Baron in quiet conversation with the prisoner they had isolated. He understood why he was spending so much time with him. But he still found it a little creepy.

"Can I have a word?"

"Of course," said The Baron.

They left the House of Corrections for the barracks, where the infantry and most of his mercs were staying.

"News on the prisoner exchange?" The Baron asked.

"Ah. No, still waiting for Li to get an agreement on that. He's optimistic, though. Lurin wants to see us."

"What do you think, Stiff?" The Baron asked him.

"By the twenty-circles of fiery Gehenna!" Lothar exclaimed. The Baron had transformed into the prisoner he had been speaking with. "Spookily accurate. But please turn back."

"Of course," The Baron said, returning to his usual self. "I do need to get it right, you know?"

"I know."

They entered the barracks. In the yard, The Hoffmeister was working thirty of the infantry.

"He's really taken to the role you've given him," The Baron noted.

"Yes. About as enthusiastic as you with this business. Gives me a little optimism we might make a better job of the mission next time."

Lurin Veinfinder was waiting for them in his room. "I've made the devices," the dwarf explained. On the table were five rectangular shaped lumps wrapped in the same nondescript cloth.

Lothar looked at them warily. "How dangerous are they?" He had visions of the barracks burning down well before they were used on the enemy.

"Not at all. I've erred on the side of caution. Much more likely that one or two don't go off at all than they go off when they're not meant to. But so long as most work, they should have the impact we're after."

"What do I need to do?" asked The Baron.

"Keep 'em dry. Place them on the carts and light them. The housing is highly flammable, but it'll take a good while for the explosion to come. As I say, I've made them safe."

"How's it going to look if he's lighting things on the carts?"

Lurin shrugged. "That's not my problem."

"I'll figure something out," The Baron said.

Lothar let them iron the details out. He had plenty of errands to run. Settling into a new city was a job in itself, never mind trying to evict invaders from said city. He supposed he should drop in on The Hoffmeister. He felt bad for even thinking it, but the man's reports tended to be excessively long and detailed. He seemed incapable of cutting out the superfluous.

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When he arrived in the yard, Georg spotted him immediately and hurried over. "Good news, Stiff!"

"Oh?"

"I've been training the soldiers up in between guard duty and rests, and it's paid off!"

Some of your soldiers improved their stats:

Apple Infantry:

Agility +1

Some of your mercs improved their stats:

The Hoffmeister:

Intellect +1

Hit Points +1

Action Points +1

Some mercs levelled up:

Georg 'The Hoffmeister' Hoffman is now Level 4

"By Gehenna! That really is good news, Georg! And congratulations on levelling up, as well."

"Thanks, Stiff!" Georg had a big, beaming smile. Then it faltered. "I only wish old Pecs was still with us. I always envisaged us levelling up together."

Lothar patted him on the shoulder. "I know. But I'm sure he's looking down on you, and he's cheering you on. Eva will be happy as well. A well-earned pay rise!"

"She is. Things are looking up. Thanks again, Stiff. I know I got a bit emotional back when Victor bought it. Wasn't like me."

"You're talking to someone who's been in the game more years than I'd like to admit. I've lost people. I've been where you were, and I understand."

Lothar's wilderness crew was small, consisting of Jaelin, Mila, Twerk, Sharptooth, and Hubert. "Start out slow," he advised them. "Familiarise yourselves with the landscape and locate imperial activity. I'm giving you authority to expand operations beyond that if you think it's safe. But it will be difficult to help you if things go wrong."

"What about those ballistae in the main square?" Wilson asked.

"I have a plan for that, and it doesn't need everyone. Getting a foothold in the Wildwood will be more useful in the long term. Taking Benxi won't solve our problems if the enemy still control that territory."

They nodded their understanding. He didn't say it out loud, but he was taking a risk. Most obviously, sending Mila out of the city left him with only one medic; and Oripione was newly trained. But Sharptooth and Hubert were better off in the forest. Jaelin and Wilson would be missed, but he had plenty of capable fighters left in the city.

***

Oripione fought Greenblade with training swords and shields, yet the human took it seriously. She enjoyed it, too—a smile coming to her face as the exercise became more intense. It was nice to see—Ashlyn acted as if she had the world on her shoulders most of the time.

Oripione thought they shared the same sense of freedom on the training yard. The world retreated, and all that mattered was the back and forth; the footwork; muscles straining and lungs gulping in air.

Greenblade was better with a blade—a natural talent that couldn't be completely taught. But Oripione made sure she learned as much as she could.

They took a break, taking on water as the exercise in the sun took its toll.

"Ah, good," came a voice. The Hoffmeister must have been watching the last part of their bout. "If you're finished, I could use your help."

"Who said we're finished?" Greenblade asked.

"No one, I suppose. But you're both already skilled with swords. I'm trying to train the infantry in spears, and I could really use some help. Back when we had Pecs, Usa, and Izil, we had quite a spearwall going. It's hard to demonstrate what needs to be done on my own."

"I only ever made it to competent with the spear," Greenblade said doubtfully.

"Better than nothing," The Hoffmeister said, clearly not willing to take no for an answer.

"Well, I'm nothing," said Oripione. "I don't know the first thing."

"You can learn with us. If you can wield a sword like that, I'm sure you can use a spear."

Ashlyn gave her an encouraging grin, and Oripione had no choice but to relent.

The girl thought she was ugly now she had her scarred face. If only she could see in herself what Oripione saw, she wouldn't think that.