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While some people charged into the mountain thoughtlessly, others took a more careful approach.

“Looking for one Mid-level Aura Master to join our group. Anyone?”

“We need one Aura Master skilled in defense-type martial arts to take the vanguard position in our group. Is there anyone?”

The hired mercenaries started forming groups for their goblin hunts.

Although the goblins were mostly Rank 1 monsters, even Rank 2 Aura Masters wouldn’t dare to take on a horde of them alone. After all, the terrain was unfavorable to them. They could be ambushed from different directions, surrounded, and overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

They also had to be mindful of goblin poison.

“Van Helsing, right? I saw your fight a while back. You were very impressive. Would you like to join our team?” a Mid Rank 2 Aura Master approached Vaan.

However, Vaan shook his head.

“I prefer to work alone,” Vaan indifferently stated.

Shortly after, he ventured into the forested mountains alone without giving the Mid Rank 2 Aura Master a chance to persuade him._.

Although sending all the hired mercenaries into the mountain was not a wise move in the grand scheme of the punitive expedition goal, it worked well for Vaan, who wanted to freely move on his own without restrictions.

Nevertheless, Vaan could understand why Lord Helia made such a decision.

Such a large group of hired mercenaries was no different from a gathering of thugs; they lacked order and discipline. They would only disrupt the formation of other troops if the big shots tried to command them like a regular trained military.

However, scattering their forces in the mountains increased the higher chance of casualties.

And if hired mercenaries died before the expedition’s completion, Lord Helia wouldn’t need to pay them for their services.

The hired mercenaries were cannon fodders, especially those who blindly rushed ahead to secure more kills. They were either too arrogant or oblivious to the dangers of the Red Goblin Mountains.

“You… Wait! Let’s talk about this—!”

The Mid Rank 2 Aura Master wanted to chase after Vaan, but he was quickly stopped by a fellow teammate, a High Rank 2 Aura Master with a moderately large build and a buzz cut.

“Forget it. Lone wolves like him won’t work well in our team. He would only affect our coordination. We are better off without him.”

“Haiz, I guess it can’t be helped. I really wanted him on the team. He seemed like someone with a lot of experience.”

“That’s just how it is. Teams also have their own disadvantages and hassles, such as disputes over the spoil distribution.”

…

Shortly after Vaan entered the thick mountain forest, he made his way uphill, venturing deeper and deeper into the depths of the Red Goblin Mountains.

Several goblin bodies lay scattered on the ground and in bushes with fresh dripping blood as the path ahead was already cleared by the earlier hired mercenaries that entered.

Every single goblin corpse had its left ears removed without an exception.

Further up ahead, the sounds of battle could be heard in numerous locations. However, such battles did not last long before the green goblins were decimated by their invaders.

The green goblins lurking in the Red Goblin Mountains’ outer region were few and easily overwhelmed in both strength and numbers.

“Kree! Kuhk—?!”

Green goblins cried and gurgled as they were quickly slaughtered.

Vaan’s Omni-Sense gave him omnidirectional awareness of the situation happening all around him, including several surviving green goblins in hiding that the people ahead had missed.

Some hid up in the trees, and some in thick bushes behind trees. Their bodies shivered with fear at the cries of their fallen brethren.

Puchi!

Vaan unclothed his White Unicorn Spear and thrust it to the side as he passed a tree on his left, stabbing right into the head of a green goblin.

Blood spurted as he quickly retracted his spear just as fast and moved on.

He had zero interest in collecting their left ears, but he was also aware that not doing so would make him seem strange in the eyes of others.

Swoosh!

Vaan hurled his White Unicorn Spear at his next target, hidden on one of the big tree branches, roughly thirty yards ahead.

The white spear impaled the green goblin in the throat with precision. There wasn’t enough force to directly penetrate straight through it but more than enough to knock it off its tree branch.

As it fell, Vaan caught its knife with one hand before he gripped his white spear with the other and stepped on the green goblin’s chest.

With a quick twist, he ended the goblin’s life before he cut off its left ear and tossed it in his quick-made ragged cloth bag, which was previously used to wrap his spear.

Ding!

<Your spear mastery proficiency has increased>

<Your throwing mastery proficiency has increased>

…

At the same time, a team not far behind Vaan witnessed his actions and moved towards one of the trees he had passed with doubt. They quickly discovered an intact dead goblin with surprise.

After sneaking a few glances around, they cut off the green goblin’s left ear for themselves.

Although Vaan was far ahead, their action was no surprise to him. Given Lord Helia’s prestige, she could easily incite simple-minded mercenaries to steal and rob left goblin ears from each other for her vague promise of additional rewards.

Nevertheless, Vaan continued to advance and only killed the green goblins in his path. The deeper he ventured, the fewer hired mercenaries in his surroundings.

As everyone ventured deeper into the depths of the Red Goblin Mountains, they gradually spread out like casting a wide net to hunt all the goblins caught within without interfering with each other’s work.

However, the distance created between the mercenaries was also due to distrust. Just because they were on the expedition together didn’t mean they were allies.

Anything could happen in the wild if they could get away with it.

…

Ding!

<Antimagic spores have entered your body>

<Antimagic spores have been removed from your body>

‘Kyuu!’

Along with the system messages, Vaan received a telepathic message from Topaz, one filled with a mixture of joy and annoyance.

Nevertheless, Vaan understood he had entered the cursed region.