Sunflower Village, also known as Sunflower Village, is located northeast of Magnolia, not far from the Kroba Grand Canyon near the border of the Fiore Kingdom.
However, the client for this mission is not the village chief of Sunflower Village, which is closest to the bandit hideout, but a joint commission from several nearby villages and towns.
A small village can barely satisfy the appetite of dozens of bandits, so nearby villages and passing merchants could all become their targets.
The nearby villagers were overwhelmed, so they pooled their money to hire mages to eliminate them.
Actually, this should be the job of the city's garrison, or on a larger scale, the border troops.
But the Fiore Kingdom is a permanently neutral country, perhaps because it has been peaceful for a long time, or because magic is prevalent, leading to the ordinary army being undervalued and not very capable in combat.
Maintaining town security is usually not a problem, but expecting them to go into the mountains to hunt down bandits is a bit too much.
Especially these bandits entrenched in such steep terrains.
The villagers had no choice but to place their hopes in the mages from the legitimate guilds.
At this moment, the three mages who accepted the commission had just settled their travel expenses and found an inn in town.
"The innkeeper said there are only two rooms left today," Rhode said, "No choice, I'll take one, you two can squeeze into the other, how about it?"
Alzack and Bisca's faces turned red as lanterns in an instant.
"Squeeze, squeeze... squeeze into one room? This, this..." the two stammered, almost steaming from their heads.
The two had been getting along well on the journey, and now were no longer deliberately keeping such a distance.
But suddenly suggesting sharing a room is evidently beyond their mental tolerance.
"Hahahaha..." Rhode couldn't stop laughing.
It took them quite a while to realize that normally it should be Alzack and Rhode sharing a room, right?
"Hey, Rhode! How can you make such a joke... such a joke..."
Bisca started with an angry tone, but it turned to embarrassment automatically as she spoke.
Alzack followed, "Y-yeah."
"Hahahaha, sorry, sorry, haha..." Rhode tried to stop laughing, "Ahem, well, let's put our luggage here first."
The three of them set down their things and went out to meet the client.
Rhode sobered up the moment they walked out of the inn:
"Although we've had some understanding previously, let me introduce my magic again.
First is Summoning Magic; the wild creatures I can summon have... their specialties are..., then there's Receiving Magic, with current forms being...
In short, the reconnaissance work can be left to me. In combat, if you need my cooperation, don't hesitate."
Alzack and Bisca were somewhat stunned, although they had some understanding of him, they hadn't paid much attention.
Now hearing it laid out like this, Rhode's abilities seem incredibly comprehensive.
Reconnaissance, transportation, search, defense, retreat, close combat, even poisoning, and recently he's researching how to fly...
Didn't he not know magic when he first joined the guild?
Can someone grow this much in just four months?
"Don't zone out now, it's your turn."
"Oh." Alzack snapped back, drawing his pistol and flicking it in a flourish,
"I'm proficient in Gun Bullet Magic, capable of firing tranquilizer rounds, flash rounds, smoke rounds, electric rounds, explosive rounds, and hurricane rounds with this gun. For me, alley skirmishes and complex terrains are the best battlefields."
Alzack seemed entirely different when holding his gun; when talking about magic, he exuded a confident aura, making his presence highly attractive.
Bisca was obviously the one drawn to him.
Rhode waited for three seconds before reminding, "And Bisca?"
"Uh, I use Requip Magic similar to Erza's. If her magic is called 'Knight', then mine should be called 'Gunner'."
Bisca slung her sniper rifle over her shoulder, looking just like she did on stage that day,
"My combat style is to switch to different firearms based on various environments and needs. If I were to mention a specialty, it would be defeating enemies from as far away as possible."
Rhode nodded. Though both use magic firearms, one prefers changing bullets, excelling in mid to long-range combat, and the other prefers switching guns, favoring ultra-long-range sniping.
This mission was well-chosen, perfectly suited for the two of them to cooperate in battle, a selection by Mira and me, no less.
The three went to see the client, but unfortunately, the other side couldn't provide any more useful information either.
After a while of questioning, Rhode only learned the general direction of the bandit hideout and that they might possess magic tools.
The rest had to be relied on their investigation.
Alzack watched as Rhode released River Crab and Shadow Wolves, saying, "I can also assist with covert reconnaissance."
Bisca also said, "I'm fine with disguise and concealment as well."
"Let's wait for now; it's the search phase. We'll talk after finding their base."
Rhode opened his backpack, taking out a map and paper and pen, quickly noting the general terrain connected with the River Crab's view while also checking for dangerous poisonous plants or insects, and marking potential convenient paths for travel.
Thinking it over, he took two books from his backpack and handed them to Alzack and Bisca, "Take these, better safe than sorry."
The two looked complicated, randomly drawing out a local basic map would be fine, but bringing along magic books as well was another story.
Such thorough preparation.
The two watched as Rhode noted advantageous ambush locations on the map and wrote down valuable terrain information and potential uses on paper.
Bisca marveled, "You're just like a 'Fairy Tail Strategist'."
Alzack, having never heard the title, asked, "What's that?"
"It's the title of the First Generation President Mebius, who analyzed intelligence with an exceptional mind, devising the best plans, and then led her companions to victory - a genius."
Bisca recalled, "I heard the guild underwent numerous major battles, each won with her strategies, earning her the title 'Fairy Tail Strategist'."
Alzack was amazed, "Isn't that what Rhode's doing right now?
Besides, didn't Gray complain that Rhode could effortlessly whip out a plan an inch thick? Just reading it would be exhausting."
Bisca nodded, "That's why I said, Rhode is like the Fairy Tail Strategist born in our generation."
"That's such an exaggeration! Gray's been spreading rumors about me too?" Rhode lamented discovering himself frequently rumored about.
"The First Generation President could memorize all enemy intel in her head and analyze enemy strength, magic, and action modes, simulating battles in her mind.
After extensive calculations, she'd deduce every potential battlefield outcome and orchestrate the highest-winning strategy, leading everyone to victory step by step.
Whereas I can only jot some battle plans on paper, dealing with a few low-intelligence foes, I'm far off from being a Fairy Tail Strategist."
Rhode had heard from Reby about the story of the First Generation President Mebius and knew his own limitations; the largest battle he commanded was a 5v5 skirmish...
Oh, not quite, the largest combat he experienced was 'Republic's Glory'.
But that was hardly a command, and with his bit of brainpower, how could he compare to the human calculator that was the First Generation?