Soon, a series of information about Peter appeared before Sean's eyes. Just as Sean had guessed, Peter's job class was indeed not a second-tier "Warrior" but a third-tier "Veteran."
Although his personal attributes were not as splendid as Durune's, he had no obvious weaknesses. His current strength, agility, and endurance were all at thirty points.
While his intelligence attribute was slightly lower, not reaching twenty points, his willpower attribute was as high as forty points. This indicated that Peter had fought countless bloody battles and emerged with an extraordinary determination. In other words, he was exceptionally resolute.
Sean was quite satisfied with this result and asked, "Can you use a bow?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Peter's eyes, but he still nodded and said, "Yes."
Sean didn't inquire about Peter's archery skills. In fact, any soldier who claimed to be proficient in something had undoubtedly dabbled in it. While they might not be exceptionally skilled, they would still be much better than those amateurs.
Besides, Sean's requirements for archery were not particularly high. Of course, Sean couldn't help but be curious about Peter's exceptional personal attributes. It was impossible not to be.
Although the job class "Veteran" was a third-tier class, in reality, whenever a soldier of any job class retired, their combat class would become "Veteran." This means that even if a fifth-tier soldier retired, their job class would still become third-tier "Veteran."
However, the job class change meant that there would be no further promotion or change in the future. However, the skills learned and personal attributes acquired during their service would not disappear.
Therefore, even among the third-tier "Veterans," some individuals could have personal attributes as high as fifth-tier or even higher. Thus, judging the strength of a veteran could only be done based on their personal attributes.
Regarding Peter, Sean firmly believed that he was at least a fourth-tier soldier before retiring, and there was even a possibility that he had reached fifth-tier at some point.
However, all of that was now in the past, and Sean had no intention of delving into the other's story. He simply turned to Hale and said, "Mr. Hale, please remove him from the list and choose another guard or someone else... I have only one requirement, and that is absolute obedience to my command."
"What did you say, kid!" The middle-aged man who had already shown a displeased expression towards Sean immediately confronted him when he pointed to himself, wanting to exclude him from the team.
"Just a mere hunter, and you really think you're a sharpshooter?" Sean turned his head, coldly staring at the middle-aged man. "My team doesn't need anyone who disobeys orders."
As he spoke these words, Sean exuded an unparalleled aura of coldness.
Although he might currently be a first-tier professional, back in the game, he was once a commanding figure in a top guild's raid team.
When his charisma and presence were unleashed, they were on par with the generals in this world. It was precisely this aura that deeply intimidated the middle-aged man and caused slight changes in the expressions of the others.
However, Peter's face showed pure admiration because it reminded him of his time in the military, as if the blood within him had ignited in that instant.
"You have only five minutes. We will depart after five minutes," Sean said solemnly.
"Do we have to wait for daylight before we act?" Haley asked.
"In the Forest of Falling Stars, it makes no difference whether it's dark or light," Sean explained. Since Haley and Durun were the employers this time, Sean wanted to show them enough courtesy. "It will take at least half a month or more to cross the Forest of Falling Stars and reach the Kingdom of Pallorea. But in sixteen days, it will be the night of the full moon... Trust me, you wouldn't want to see what happens when the surge of magic occurs inside."
Upon hearing Sean's words, Haley and Durun seemed to realize something and quickly began preparing.
The middle-aged man with the wooden bow, on the other hand, was genuinely excluded. This left him feeling dissatisfied, as he had intended to make some extra money here.
In the end, he glared at Luthar resentfully and left the makeshift camp. The vacant position was filled by another substitute guard from Haley's team.
Five minutes later, Sean led a group of nine people, including Haley, Cecilia, and Durun, into the Forest of Falling Stars.
From the outside, the forest appeared as a lush growth of trees, but due to the perpetual mist surrounding it, one could not see what was inside.
However, it was peculiar that although the Forest of Falling Stars was home to numerous fierce monsters, these creatures had never ventured out of the mist to attack the surrounding towns.
This was the reason why several areas around the Forest of Falling Stars were able to thrive.
But once they passed through the dense fog, the world revealed by the Forest of Falling Stars was completely different!
Looking up, the sky above the forest was not dominated by the canopy of trees, but a night sky full of stars, with the moon of Miracle Continent clearly visible.
Besides the breathtaking night sky, the environment of the Forest of Falling Stars was not particularly harsh. The forest was filled with fragrant flower scents, and the ground was covered in tender grass that felt like walking on a plush carpet.
The forest was also adorned with ethereal, pale blue luminescence resembling fireflies, adding a haunting beauty to the woodland.
Many people present were witnessing such a beautiful sight for the first time and were momentarily entranced. Sean couldn't help but recall his own experience when he first entered this forest, similarly captivated by its beauty.
However, he knew very well that the forest was not merely about its scenic charm. Hidden beneath its beauty lay dangers that could shock even those at the fourth-tier profession level. Even a slight carelessness could lead to disaster.
"Alright, everyone, snap out of it."
After waiting for about ten seconds and seeing that many people were still in awe, Sean had to clap his hands to draw their attention. "We didn't come here for picnics or to admire the scenery. Don't forget that you have a job to do!"
Upon hearing Sean's words, these people immediately snapped out of their daze. They hadn't forgotten their responsibilities, but they were simply awe-struck by the sight of the Forest of Falling Stars for the first time. However, once they realized their mission, they lost interest in admiring the scenery and quickly formed a defensive formation, protecting Haley, Cecilia, and Sean in the center.
Sean had no objections to this arrangement. Although he had the ability to protect himself as long as he didn't get surrounded, in the eyes of others, his first-tier strength wasn't much different from Haley, the merchant, and Cecilia, the magic apprentice. However, Sean was the guide for this expedition, making him the most important and crucial member of the team. Therefore, it was necessary to protect him.
As a result, Durun became the leader of the group, while Sean remained within the protective circle, only indicating the direction to move forward.
The fully armored knight wore light armor instead of heavy armor, understanding the inconvenience of maneuvering through the forest with heavy gear.
The four guards, including Sean, dispersed on the left and right sides of the core formation. This time, they followed Sean's advice and equipped themselves with reinforced round shields and curved blades instead of heavy shields and long spears. However, they retained their medium-sized armor, which meant their carrying weight wasn't reduced. While it made movement in the forest somewhat inconvenient, it ensured their flexibility and defensive capabilities during battles.
As for Old Peter, the retired veteran, he was responsible for guarding the rear of the group. He wore simple leather armor and carried no additional armor. However, he did wield a spear in his hands, had a longbow slung over his back, and carried a scabbard with a short sword attached to his calf.
The remaining archer in the group seemed to be aspiring to become a fourth-tier profession, a Ranger. Instead of moving with the group, he roamed on either side of the formation and occasionally went ahead of Durun. Although his movements seemed a bit awkward, it was clear that he possessed basic scouting skills. The most notable aspect was that he carried a short bow and two swords—a long one and a short one—in addition to a quiver strapped to his thigh, indicating his preparedness for different combat situations.
After the group had been advancing for half a day, a black wolf with green stripes suddenly appeared in their sight.
There was a momentary confusion in the team upon seeing this monster. They had the archer in charge of reconnaissance, so why hadn't he given a warning before the appearance of the monster? The quick-witted Durun and Cecilia were the first to realize that the reason lay with the tender grass covering the ground of the Forest of Falling Stars. These grasses effectively muffled all movement sounds!
Conventional scouting methods would be rendered completely ineffective in the Forest of Falling Stars!
In that brief moment of confusion, Sean, who was well aware of the dangers of the Forest of Falling Stars, was the first to shout, "Wind Marked Black Wolf! Everyone, prepare for battle!"