Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Grouping Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Grouping Ronan sized up the young Linus, who also glanced at him, but soon diverted his attention away.
Ronan felt that this guy seemed to look down on their group a bit.
However, thinking from another perspective, as a Level 5 Apprentice, it might indeed be embarrassing to mingle with a group of Level 2 or 3, even some Level 1 lower-level Wizards.
Linus probably didn’t closely examine his own strength and still thought he was Level 4.
It might be because he had just broken through, and his spiritual power hadn’t completely stabilized yet.
“Everyone is almost here.
Only the siblings Andre and Nicole didn’t come.
Being Half-Elves, they aren’t very accustomed to interacting too much with others, please understand.
I will convey the content of the meeting to them later..”
Old Wells specifically looked at the young Linus and emphasized: “Andre and Nicole both have the strength of Level 3 Apprentices, and they have very rich experience in forest scouting and hunting, which is very helpful to us…”
Upon hearing about Half-Elves and their scouting and hunting experiences, Linus’s previously furrowed brows visibly relaxed.
Ronan was surprised; he didn’t expect Old Wells to even pull in this pair of Half-Elf siblings.
he just learned the names of these Half-Elf siblings.
“Let’s officially start then.”
Old Wells straightened his attire and looked at everyone, saying in a deep voice: “The news of the Black Witch Land invasion has been essentially confirmed.
Everyone gathered here wants to lead a good life.
Based on my experience, from the initiation of the conflict to the actual beginning of the invasion, there should be a not so short buffer period…”
Old Wells reiterated his previous meeting’s strategy of temporarily living in the forest, seeking refuge in the towns when the crisis really starts to avoid the increasingly crazy price hikes within town, and trying to maximize the use of everyone’s hard-earned finances.
He also added a few benefits of living in the forest, such as not worrying too much about food and avoiding the conflicts and disputes that are continuously erupting where Wizards congregate.
In the end, Old Wells said: “..Of course, temporarily residing in the Tree House District also involves certain risks, which requires all of us to actively cooperate and keep watch together.
I believe as long as we are vigilant enough, detect dangers early, and evacuate in time, there shouldn’t be any major problems…”
“My suggestion is to designate a fixed area where everyone is located, schedule daily patrols, and if anything happens, we could quickly rescue and alert…”
Old Wells took out a stack of leather paper from his bosom and distributed it to everyone.
“I have connected everyone’s residence and made a patrol route map.
Take a look, and if you have any suggestions, please let me know…
If more people join later, I will promptly make modifications.”
Everyone looked down at the map in their hands.
Ronan glanced at it and noticed that Old Wells’s map was quite detailed, marking not only the patrol routes but also safe activity areas, areas not recommended for entering, danger zones, positions of nearby water sources, food-gathering spots, and some emergency supply storage locations.
It was evident that Old Wells had indeed put a lot of effort into this during this time.
This map used the residences of each member of the small group as nodes, and Ronan’s home was clearly marked on it.
Ronan noticed that the spot marked as Linus’s residence was located closest to the town, giving the whole map a subtle feeling as if it were devised around him.
Ronan didn’t say anything; it was already unbelievable that Old Wells could pull in a Level 5 Apprentice, and if he treated him the same as everyone else, that would really be odd.
“..and there’s a manual of skills and precautions useful for patrolling, which Andre is organizing.
I will distribute it to everyone when it’s ready.”
Old Wells paused, then said, “Next, let’s make arrangements for patrolling…
My suggestion is, pair up in twos…”
Old Wells had just started speaking when he was interrupted, the young man speaking was Linus.
“I’m not used to working with others, I can do it alone.”
Linus’s voice was cold, carrying a hard edge that brooked no disagreement.
Old Wells didn’t say much, he just nodded in agreement, “Then Linus will go solo, I’ll pair up with Vinicia, the Jolin couple can pair up, Ronan and Jacob, and finally the Andre siblings who definitely don’t want to be split up…”
Old Wells quickly assigned the groups, then looked towards Ronan.
It seems Old Wells had already discussed the groupings with some people beforehand, and now he mostly wanted to hear his opinions.
Ronan nodded, indicating he had no issues.
During the grouping process, he took the time to recognize everyone present.
There wasn’t much to say about Linus; Vinicia was that shy girl who lives near Tree Spring, now taking turns with Old Wells to care for Porter’s daughter, Cheryl.
She had been there the whole time but hadn’t spoken a word, her strength is of a Level 2 Apprentice.
The Jolin couple are a pair of wizard spouses, both Second-level Wizard Apprentices.
The male was chubby, wearing a pair of crystal glasses, looked a bit timid, compliant, and indecisive.
His wife, however, was much more assertive, and she had asked Old Wells several questions when reviewing the patrol routes.
The remaining person in Ronan’s group was Jacob, the blonde chubby boy who had spoken first, a Level 2 Apprentice.
He seemed quite happy to be grouped with Ronan, continually stealing glances at him, looking like he wanted to greet him but was too shy.
After the groups were assigned, Old Wells said some words of encouragement and motivation, and finally distributed small wooden boxes the size of a palm to everyone, saying, “This is a flare box, if anything happens, just crush it, and others who see the signal will come immediately…”
Ronan toyed with the small wooden box in his hand, his spiritual power seeping into it, finding it only filled with some blackish mysterious powder.
He had seen this item at a stall in the Wizard Market – it was a precautionary toy invented based on Magic Potion.
Just as he was thinking about it, he suddenly heard Linus’s questioning voice.
“Why not use Communication Stones, they’re faster and more convenient…”
Everyone couldn’t help but look up at Linus after hearing this, no one spoke.
Ronan looked at this Level 5 Wizard full of pride and felt speechless.
A Communication rune itself costs over a dozen low-level Magic Stones in the market.
Aside from Advanced Apprentices, who can afford such an Advanced Auxiliary Magic Tool.
This guy probably forgot that they are just a group of Lower-level Wizards living in the Tree House District, not willing to spend money to move to the city even as war is on the brink.
Linus soon realized the folly of his own words, his face unable to hide his embarrassment, he huffed and did not continue speaking.
Ronan stared at him, thinking to himself: Probably only someone who owns a Communication Stone would suggest such an impractical idea.
might be quite wealthy.