Vesper led the entire Night Hawks team a short distance, then stopped at a small crossroads long deserted. Here, a merchant convoy was already waiting.

  Night Hawks' escort group immediately attracted attention. The merchant team seemed quite compact, with about twenty people. According to Theo's observation, the group consisted of eight guards wearing rough leather armor, about ten assistants, and two leaders: a captain and a vice-captain.

  The most notable point was their transportation. The convoy's largest and most solid cart was pulled by a large Rockback (Stone Beast). The creature had thick rock-like skin, looked slow but extremely powerful and docile. Other auxiliary carts were simpler, pulled by horses and mules.

  Vesper's appearance heralded the imminent departure.

  Vesper dismounted from his Strider, his expression also considerably milder but still maintaining seriousness. He walked to the convoy's two managers, beginning communication and preliminary introduction of his teammates.

  While attentively observing Vesper, a warm, trustworthy voice rang out behind:

  "Ves is introducing our internal team, so the journey won't be misunderstood or suspected by employers." Finn steered his Strider behind Swift and Shadow.

  Theo looked at Finn, nodded, adjusting his voice to be more sincere: "Thank you!" But his eyes still looked intently at the merchant convoy, shining with obvious curiosity.

  Finn noticed Theo's gaze—he smiled asking:

  "Any questions? I can explain for you two."

  Just waiting for that, Theo immediately asked the question he'd been calculating:

  "This is a small merchant convoy, only twenty people. Can they afford to hire us, or do we charge very cheaply?"

  Finn immediately understood the calculating nature of the recruit's question. He smiled answering:

  "Usually we don't accept missions from small convoys like this. Our main customers are medium-sized merchant teams, about fifty people—they are the main customer targets."

  Theo frowned—a thought flashing through his mind:

  "Did Vesper accept this mission to train us?"

  Seeing Theo's frowning action, Finn smiled, he continued:

  "Our destination isn't Mycelia—it's just along the way, so Ves accepted this mission. Though a bit slower, there's additional income along with..."

  Finn winked toward the two young men.

  At this point even innocent Liam understood the implication: conveniently training two fresh recruits. Liam's lips curled, eyes somewhat mischievous. Anyway, it was a beginning.

  Seeing the two recruits had understood, Finn smiled and continued:

  "By the way, I want to explain about our group a bit so you understand more clearly. You already know positions and division in the team, but you need to know one more quite important thing.

  That is, our combat style is divided into two main types:

  First, includes me, Ves, Rowan and Ronan. We originate from academy, tend toward systematic methodology, have reasonable skill division, not too imbalanced, not too flawed. We fight based on tactics and even coordination.

  Second, includes Sable, Boris and Torvin. They originate from the wild—might be inheritance, might be taught by others... They tend toward freedom, might have one skill that's very excellent, but also have very crude skills—they have clear weaknesses; if targeted, it's very dangerous. Ryel is wild school, but he's an exception.

  These are characteristics in the team you must note."

  Pausing a bit, Finn continued, voice gently reminding:

  "When learning with Ronan and Ryel, this will directly affect your learning efficiency. Especially Theo—what Ryel teaches will be very chaotic, not following any methodology. Ronan will be better. You two need to note this."

  Finn raised his arm again, lightly patting Theo's shoulder:

  "Anything confusing, you can ask me, or Rowan—she's very wise. We'll try our best to explain—of course each person excels in different areas, but asking for a bit of explanation probably isn't wrong, right?"

  Finn winked again at the two young men.

  "But Theo must give me that chicken soup recipe."

  Theo and Liam glanced at each other—a knowing smile appeared. After that, they both sincerely bowed thanking Finn once more.

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  The information Finn introduced helped them somewhat understand the composition and structure of Night Hawks team, making it easier for them to integrate with remaining members, whether academy school or wild. Finn's support was the first warm ray of light in the mercenary's cold environment.

  Vesper returned. He climbed onto Sep, steering it back toward the team, assigning positions to members with decisive voice: "Ryel, scout. Ronan and I clear the way leading the convoy, with guards. Rowan and Finn control the middle group. Boris and Torvin on flanks. Sable support at rear. Ryel and Ronan instruct the recruits."

  Ronan looked toward Vesper and nodded. Ryel, eyebrows somewhat furrowed but seeing Vesper's stern gaze looking at him, also nodded. Ronan glanced at Liam then led the way forward. Liam was still dazed not understanding Ronan's intent—Theo lightly punched his friend's shoulder then signaled Liam to follow. The young man just woke up, hastily urging Swift to run forward.

  Ryel, eyebrows still lightly furrowed, looked at Theo then also went toward leading the convoy front. Unlike last time when they just did reconnaissance missions together, Ves didn't require him to instruct recruits. This time was a direct mission from Vesper, making Ryel feel annoyed. Unlike Ronan who had systematic guidance from academy, all his skills were learned over long time by himself—a bit from here, a bit from there—not systematic, very hard to transmit. Glancing once more at Theo following behind him, feeling somewhat headachy.

  'Should I just tell him to watch me shoot then learn by himself?' Ryel rubbed his forehead then silently sighed, 'Can't do that—Ves will stare daggers. Not worth being dragged out for scolding.'

  Walking while thinking, no one spoke. One person lazy to talk, one person knew the other didn't like talking much.

  Before long they'd reached the convoy front. Ryel heard Ronan speaking with Liam. His voice decisive, slow and full of discipline, as if every syllable was carefully considered:

  "Starting now, you will walk following the convoy, walking while practicing these three movements for me."

  Ronan stood straight, both hands gripping spear, spear tip slightly raised. Two legs spread front and back. He inhaled deeply, forcefully exhaled. The spear shot forward—fierce, absolutely precise, not trembling a millimeter.

  Breathe out, retract spear, adjust shoulder posture. He inhaled deeply again, continuously thrusting forward, even creating a light wind vortex through Liam's messy hair—speed, danger. Retract spear again, exhale simultaneously. The breathing sound clear, rhythmic—even Theo standing far away could hear.

  Ronan adjusted movement again, this time legs. Inhale deeply, then his figure like lightning shot left, then right. Retract spear, he looked at Liam. Voice rang out dryly, without emotion but undeniable:

  "Each movement ten times. Each time use full strength. Before each time must regain breathing rhythm. Remember?"

  Liam nodded, eyes brightening. He inhaled deeply, replicating Ronan's entire movement sequence. Hands still trembling, but breathing not missing one beat.

  Ronan's eyes flashed a very discreet gleam of light.

  Ryel observed, eyes narrowing: perhaps...

  He looked at Theo, then stopped. Ryel jumped down from Strider—Theo also immediately jumped down from Shadow.

  "Today you also walk following the convoy. Use this."

  Ryel's voice was hoarse, tone very hard to describe.

  He held out a strange tool: two black wooden sticks connected by a black cord. Holding one end in each hand, Ryel simulated drawing bow motion—pull slowly, release slowly. Then turn body, still repeating movement. Then run, still simulating like that.

  Theo immediately understood. That cord functioned like resistance bands. This simulation practice aimed to increase endurance and strength for back, along with mobile archery ability. Though his movements were somewhat chaotic, not following any methodology, even sometimes unreasonable, but with G's data collection ability, Theo had analyzed a reasonable practice method for himself.

  He nodded receiving the tool from Ryel. He was like a weight lifted, turning to mount the Strider smoothly, but Theo saw very clearly the speed was obviously faster than normal. Though normally he displayed serious coldness, through contact, he recognized Ryel was somewhat lazy and wandering. Sometimes Theo thought, when hiding in darkness, Ryel would sit flat on ground or body completely relaxed becoming a salted fish leaning against oak trees.

  Theo watched Ryel's figure gradually fade, then ordered in his thoughts:

  "G, optimize training method. Establish plan and time frame."

  G immediately responded, displaying a detailed data table in Theo's inner vision. The system had divided the training process into three main phases lasting throughout twenty days, accompanied by a tight recovery plan.

  In the first five days, the main goal is building core endurance for back and shoulders. Theo will walk six hours daily, maintaining Rockback's pace. He focuses on drawing bow motion and holding static for sixty seconds per draw. Each set repeats twenty times, with ten-minute rest between sets. System notes especially emphasize stabilizing shoulder muscles and maintaining controlled breathing.

  Next, from day six to day twelve, the plan shifts to developing maximum strength and increasing reflex speed. Theo will intensify fast bow-drawing simulation and coordinate with body rotation movements. G requires fifteen rotations per side, focusing on torque and shortening draw/release time to only two seconds.

  The final phase, from day thirteen to day twenty, aims at maintaining precision and combating tension. Theo will shift to light jogging while simulating continuous aimed bow-drawing for ten minutes with G's help—an overly good condition for conserving resources while reaching optimal goals.

  The plan also includes fifteen minutes of deep muscle stretching nightly for recovery (should apply muscle softening exercises from 'basic concealment method'), ensuring body doesn't suffer muscle wear. An important suggestion G provided is appropriately increasing movement weight (or resistance level) during training if Theo feels body has adapted.

  With this plan, Theo quickly began implementation—Ryel's resistance tool had been transformed into a precise and systematic training instrument.

  Theo was very impressed by this strange tool. It very realistically simulated bow string movement and feedback force, unlike common resistance bands. This was extremely effective in precisely training specialized muscle groups for bow-drawing, something Theo previously could only train with heavy objects or body weight.

  With six hours daily for training according to schedule (though Ryel never mentioned how long to practice), Theo still had abundant time for other work. He could allocate remaining time to absorb mana, research new magical medicines, or dedicate to perfecting Remnant Wind final phase—yes, he'd completed practicing Thorn Stepping previously. Additionally, he could still prepare more food to restore necessary nutrition for both him and Liam after high-intensity training sessions.

  Arranging Strider Shadow completed, he walked near Liam concentrating on training. Theo said nothing, quickly beginning the first exercises according to G's schedule.

  Time quickly passed. Sometimes Ronan swept past training Liam and reminded him of mistakes, adjusting spear posture. Sometimes he also attentively reminded Theo's footwork, though he was training by completely different method. Ronan's tight supervision covered both recruits, though through completely opposite training methods.