Worthless Profession: Dragon Tamer

Chapter 177, Exploration Routes

Translator: Silavin

Tu Jing led Lu Fan on a casual tour around the camp. Along the way, they saw many soldiers coming and going. Everyone who saw Tu Jing stood as straight as a spear, fully displaying the attitudes soldiers should have.

Tu Jing merely nodded in response, which was considered a greeting.

After walking around the camp, Lu Fan gained a basic understanding of this place.

Stationed here were 500 elites of the Griffin Legion. The Griffin Legion had a total of 3000 men, which was a battalion.

The Griffin Legion was one of Dragon Country’s four ace military units. They were the elites of the elites among Dragon Country’s military. Those who could enter the Griffin Legion were all carefully selected. Each person was above Level 70, and there were strict requirements for their Professions as well.

The Griffin Legion was made to be akin to a sharp knife, specialising in surprise attacks, striking directly at the enemy’s heart. They particularly excelled at decapitation operations. Therefore, those who could enter the Griffin Legion must be able to keep up with the Griffin Legion’s rapid attacks without falling behind.

Generally, only Knights with Sky Mounts and a small number of Hidden Professions could meet this requirement.

Dragon Country had a national secret, which was the location of the Griffin Nest. Every year, the Griffin Nest could supply Dragon Country with nearly 100 Griffin Mounts. At the same time, Dragon Country would select 100 powerful and loyal Knights each year, gifting them Griffin Mounts. It was only after intense training, that they were allowed to become members of the Griffin Legion.

Taking into account casualties and losses, the Griffin Legion maintained a steady size of about 3000 men. And their commander was none other than the Northern Marquis, Tu Jing.

Although there were only 500 people here, as the elite force of the Griffin Legion, this small military camp was capable of overthrowing a small country. Their strength could not be underestimated.

Inside this camp, although the dormitories, canteen, guard posts, and command post were simple, they had everything they needed.

According to Tu Jing, this place was originally just a wasteland. He led the Griffin Legion to reclaim it, and after a month, the camp had taken its initial shape.

Two months later, everyone had thoroughly taken root here, even connecting to the internet and reestablishing their intelligence network. This allowed Tu Jing to monitor every move in Dragon Capital from here.

Their ability to adapt to the Wilderness left Lu Fan in awe. If such an elite force were to penetrate deep into enemy territory, the opponent would likely be in great trouble.

After touring the camp, Tu Jing took Lu Fan back to his own quarters. It was a small Western-style building in the centre of the camp.

Although Lu Fan said he did not need special treatment, Tu Jing could not possibly let Lu Fan squeeze into the dormitory with a bunch of rough men. He had arranged for the boy to stay in a small study in his own quarters.

The environment was better there. Firstly, Lu Fan could rest well, and secondly, he was closer to Tu Jing. If any accidents were to occur, Tu Jing could immediately step in to protect him.

After bringing Lu Fan to the study, Tu Jing gave him a map with numerous routes densely drawn on it.

“These are our exploration routes for reclamation missions.” Tu Jing casually said, sitting in the study’s chair and beginning to explain the mission he would be assigning to Lu Fan tomorrow.

“Now that you’re here, you’ll do reclamation missions with my men. Reclamation missions are to explore unmapped areas and create maps to record the area. Except for the hundred people who need to stay at camp as guards, everyone else will be arranged to set out. They would constantly advance and create more exploration outposts, moving and mapping out unexplored areas.”

“On this map that I’ve given to you, there are over a hundred exploration routes drawn on it. You can choose any one you like. I’ll arrange for you to join an Exploration Squad, and your Seniors in the team will teach you how to survive in the harsh Wilderness.”

Lu Fan nodded, knowing he had not come to the Far North for a vacation.

He looked carefully at this map and found that besides the hundred-plus exploration routes, there was also a very eye-catching marker – a red dot.

At the same time, around this red dot, there was an outline spreading outward, seemingly depicting something.

However, this thing’s outline was too massive. Currently, only about a quarter of it has been mapped out in the explored area.

Lu Fan guessed that this was likely the true face of the Blood Moon he had seen. It was obvious that the map exploration around this Blood Moon was progressing very slowly.

The exploration routes in the other directions had already extended thousands of kilometres. However, this particular direction had a dozen or so obstructed routes, exploring less than 300 kilometres.

Seeming to notice that Lu Fan was looking at the exploration routes near the Blood Moon, Tu Jing voluntarily spoke up. “Don’t consider the exploration routes near ‘that thing’. It’s too dangerous for you. I suggest you first choose something in the direction of Route 30 and Route 78. These two routes already have quite a few outposts set up, so exploration should be easier. At the same time, there are many resources you can get on these two routes. You can also gain Experience Points and Skill Books from the Monsters there.”

Lu Fan did not respond immediately. After thinking for a moment, he quietly opened his System Panel and found the Divine Grade Treasure Map. He began to compare the coordinates on the Treasure Map with the map in his hand, to see which exploration route was closest to the coordinates.

After this comparison, Lu Fan was stunned to find that the coordinates of the Treasure Map were behind the Blood Moon, in the truly unexplored area. Moreover, the location was very far from camp, requiring nearly 2000 kilometres of further advance based on what had already been explored.

Lu Fan immediately felt a headache coming, because even without Tu Jing saying so, he knew that exploring the area behind the Blood Moon was extremely dangerous. Otherwise, the Griffin Legion would not have only explored a mere 300 kilometres after being here for over a year.

[Wanting to complete several years worth of work for the Griffin Legion in just one month is not going to be easy but…] After thinking about it, Lu Fan felt like he should give it a try. In any case, Lu Fan could not possibly leave this Divine Grade Treasure Map unclaimed.

[Damn it. What if I manage to dig up another Dragon Egg? Even if I can’t reach the coordinates of the Treasure Map in a month, I can at least help the Griffin Legion speed up their exploration progress. Perhaps in less than a year or two, Senior Tu could lead more men to expand the explored area to include the coordinates written on the Treasure Map. By then, I can directly go there using a Transport Array and claim the Treasure Map.]

Having made up his mind, Lu Fan pointed at the exploration route extending towards the coordinates and said to Tu Jing. “Senior Tu, I want to choose this exploration route.”

Tu Jing looked at it and helplessly said. “Kid, are you deliberately trying to argue with me? I know you’re very strong, but in the Wilderness, strength doesn’t determine everything. What you need is experience. You’ve already seen how difficult it is to traverse this exploration route”

“I need to warn you. Casualties of Griffin Legion have all occurred on this route. Are you still going to choose this one? If something happens to you, I’m afraid your principal will come after me with a vengeance.”

Lu Fan smiled and said. “Senior Tu, from the time we first met, I always get the impression that you’re someone who doesn’t fuss over the details, right?”

“You’ve stated that besides hiding from assassins, another point of me coming here is to get stronger. If I choose exploration routes that have already been explored by the Senior Brothers of the Griffin Legion, what’s the point of me coming here? Since I’m here, I want to choose the most difficult route! The National Trial is imminent, and there’s no time for me to waste time trying to adapt. I need strong pressure to become even stronger.”

After hearing this, Tu Jing was silent for a second. He shook his head and laughed. “Damn it kid, you’re a lot like me. When I was still a soldier, I was just like you, always charging into the most dangerous place.”

“Fine then, I won’t fuss over it with you. How about this, tomorrow, you’ll come with me to take a good look near ‘that thing’. If you still insist on taking this exploration route after that, we can set out in the afternoon. It just so happens that the people tasked to explore this route have been resting for two days, and will continue to set out tomorrow. You can go along with them.”

“Haha, sure.” Lu Fan readily agreed.

That evening, Tu Jing took Lu Fan to the canteen, ate a very unpalatable dinner, and then let Lu Fan go to rest.

Early the next morning, when Lu Fan woke up, it was still pitch black all around.

The cold polar night made Lu Fan feel uncomfortable, but thinking that the people of the Griffin Legion had been living here for a year, Lu Fan did not dare have any complaints.

After a simple wash-up, Tu Jing also brought the camp’s adjutant to the study and gave Lu Fan two sets of Griffin Legion Uniforms.

Firstly, these uniforms could keep him warm, and secondly, they could help Lu Fan better integrate into this camp.

After putting on a uniform, Lu Fan felt like he really did look like a Griffin Legion Trainee.

After another simple breakfast, Tu Jing directly led him out of the camp, saying as they walked. “In a while, you will follow me to take a look near ‘that thing’. During this time, don’t stray too far from me.”

After saying this, Tu Jing directly summoned his Arctic Griffin King and mounted it.

Lu Fan summoned out his bone wings, flapped them and flew up. He ascended into the air half a metre high with Tu Jing, and they flew towards the Blood Moon from there.

Tu Jing looked at Lu Fan with interest and asked. “By the way, why doesn’t a Silver Dragon Rider like you ride a Dragon?”

Lu Fan smiled embarrassedly and said. “My Pet Dragon’s Level is still too low and hasn’t entered their Maturing Period yet. So, I can’t ride them yet.”

“Oh, I see.” Tu Jing nodded, “If your Pet Dragon could be ridden, you’d be a suitable addition to our Griffin Legion…”

Because of Tu Jing’s presence, they advanced very quickly. Even when they encountered many High Level Monsters, all of them were cleanly and efficiently killed by one spear thrust from Tu Jing. Thus, it was as if there were no Monsters.

After about an hour, Tu Jing and Lu Fan finally arrived at a place less than ten kilometres from the Blood Moon.

At such a close distance, even though it was a polar night, with Lu Fan’s eyesight, he could clearly see the true face of this Blood Moon.