Chapter 124: The Expedition

Ling was the only one Wu Qingsong brought into the tent. While the others didn’t necessarily need to know the details, he didn’t want to keep Ling in the dark.

“Please, take a seat,” offered Sacker.

The catwoman’s face remained veiled, stirring a sense of curiosity in Wu Qingsong. Was there an injury or perhaps something she wished to hide?

“Now, I think we can all afford to be a bit more forthright with one another, wouldn’t you agree?” Sacker proposed.

Wu Qingsong remained silent, allowing Nina to take the lead. He trusted her judgment and experience in such matters over his own, keen to see how she would navigate the conversation. Meanwhile, he pondered over the information the catwoman might have gleaned from their recent activities and conversations.

“Why have I never heard of you until now?” Nina asked.

Although Sacker had revealed his identity, it didn’t automatically make them allies.

The notion that ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ didn’t always hold true in this world. Often, conflicts between insurgent factions over territories and resources could be even harsher than those against the elves.

“The Batiz lineage is endowed with formidable magic, and the elves’ persecution of us is far more brutal than what you’ve experienced,” Sacker explained. “We’ve always maneuvered with caution along the desert’s fringe. A majority of our kin have even relocated to the northern wastelands. Yet, the moment our settlement location becomes known, destruction swiftly follows. Across centuries, we’ve endured relentless betrayals and slaughters, we couldn’t possibly fly our banners as openly as you do. If not for the high bounty your head, Moon Maiden, I would never have revealed my identity to you.”

“Was Sa Badel one of your men?” Wu Qingsong asked.

To his knowledge, the Batiz Kingdom wasn’t solely ruled by a single kin such as Silver Moon Kingdom but a kingdom composed of various races such as the jackalpeople and desert catpeople.

“He was not,” Sacker responded. “He was merely a descendant of a low-ranked warrior, virtually ignorant of Batiz Kingdom’s affairs. We tolerated him because he served as a decoy, allowing us to develop in his shadow. But he’s caused too much trouble, and I have successfully established my own identity, so we no longer need him. Lord Tagraedi, when I said you did me a favor, I was not lying.”

“Can an identity like a desert bandit help you in restoring your kingdom?” Wu Qingsong struggled to understand this logic.

“Being a desert thief at least allows me to walk in the sunlight instead of always hiding in the shadows. It also gives me the chance to accumulate wealth, select and train officers, and even openly seek the knowledge and power buried beneath the sands. These are the true foundations for restoring our kingdom,” Sacker said. “Without sufficient power, gathering a multitude of people is just like building castles out of sand, majestic in appearance but utterly useless, a waste of time and effort that collapses at the slightest touch. On the other hand, once you have power, people naturally gravitate towards you.”

This approach was entirely opposite to Nina’s, yet in a way, it wasn’t without merit.

However, the Batiz Kingdom had been extinct for nearly a thousand years, while the downfall of the Silver Moon Kingdom was just over a century ago. As remnants, the Batiz clan could only hide and flee, whereas the Silver Moon wolf clan could still operate on their ancestral lands. Likely, few remembered the Batiz clan, while the Silver Moon clan’s fame endured. Perhaps, this disparity was the root cause of their distinct ideologies.

“So, you wish to join this expedition?” Nina asked.

“Of course,” Sacker replied. “Anything that intrigues the Moon Maiden and the Hangman must be no ordinary secret. You both are undoubtedly powerful, but navigating the desert might not be your forte, and we surely know more about the Batiz Kingdom. Whatever is found below, we can divide it fairly. With the elves’ power being so formidable, neither of our forces could face them alone. What choice do we have but to cooperate?”

Nina shared a meaningful look with Wu Qingsong, her stance unmistakably clear.

“Fine,” Wu Qingsong conceded. “But should anything like tonight’s incident happen again, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

“Now that we are true partners, we certainly won’t repeat the same actions,” Sacker quickly assured. “You can both be at ease, there will be no repeat of tonight’s events.”

Wu Qingsong felt a hint of frustration, but it was evident that Nina was set on forming a temporary alliance with these individuals. Regardless, even if every word from Sacker was a lie, one truth remained unchallenged, against the elves’ might, only the united force of all rebels offered a sliver of success. Relying solely on the Silver Moon Wolf Clan and the Thirteenth Mercenary Group would never be enough.

With the addition of the desert bandit leader, their concerns seemed all but alleviated.

Sacker managed to gather more than forty camels for their ride and transport, along with ample water and food supplies. On their own, Wu Qingsong and his team would have been fortunate to secure even a third of such provisions.

Including himself and the catwoman known as Xeila, Sacker selected six of his best to join the expedition. Coupled with Wu Qingsong’s eight and the two members from Jerem’s exploration team, the expedition boasted eighteen individuals and over forty camels. Compared to an average treasure hunter’s expedition, their setup was extravagantly luxurious.

The desert thieves had a knack for herding livestock and showed a deep familiarity with the desert’s water sources and the locations of small oases. This knowledge allowed them to select the shortest routes, enabling swift travel to their destination. However, due to the lack of a precise location, the two badgermen could not specify the exact spot. They spent several days searching a potential area before finally came upon a vast stretch of enormous sand dunes.

“There it is!” one of the badgermen exclaimed, a weight lifted from his shoulders.

Beneath the sand dunes lay a tiny black dot. They made their way toward this dot for half the day until they finally arrived in front of it.

It was a tent that had been half-engulfed by the sand, anchored in place with stones to prevent it from being carried away by the wind. The tent was filled with sand, and the windward side had been torn, fluttering continuously in the breeze.

Next to it, the sand dunes revealed several large pieces of yellow sandstone, bearing evident signs of human shaping and carving. However, they were severely weathered by the wind, making it almost impossible to discern their original shapes.

“The entrance is buried again,” the two badgermen reported. “We stumbled upon this stone previously and spent nearly five days clearing a section of the wall to find an entrance.”

“The closest oasis is a two-day journey away, so water isn’t an issue,” Sacker commented, surveying the surroundings. “However, this area frequently experiences sandstorms. We need to quickly clear an area for shelter.”