System server: [Yes, the server you're thinking of is Halt, the mentor of Will and Gilan, the Forest Ranger in charge of the Redmount Barony, and the second captain of the Forest Rangers.]
...Alright, this is a great thing. Halt is a character from The ranger's apprentice that I've read about. He's a forest ranger. For those who don't know, forest rangers operate directly under the king's command. They only follow his orders and hold the same authority as the king in their region. A forest ranger is a master archer who could hold his own against Legolas for a while—though if he stays still, Legolas would absolutely outperform him in archery. Legolas is a top figure in archery, that's indisputable. Even while moving, he can hit targets. That scene on the ladder in the Battle of Helm's Deep is still fresh in my mind. The Forest rangers are also excellent archers, especially Halt's apprentice Will. But forest rangers are not just ordinary archers. They are also master cartographers, camouflage experts, skilled in military tactics—especially Halt, a senior ranger with experience in many battles and a master of military strategy. They are also good in politics, trade, and intelligence gathering. They speak three or more languages. There was a great quote about the forest rangers in the book: 'For each state, there is a forest ranger.' There were 50 forest rangers, but one of them has the capacity to change the course of a war. So now you're giving me one of the best members of such an organization? Nice.
In addition, each forest ranger has the capability to train an archer unit. When Will was still an apprentice, he managed to establish an archer unit from 100 slaves in just over a week, and they did great in battle. Similarly, Gilan gathered the kingdom's rogue hunters and turned them into a regular elite archer unit. If I can join the campaign to Erebor, I'll have a reliable and fun crazy old man by my side. I'll have a blast.
At that moment, I heard the sound of hooves from behind. When I looked back, a short, small but strong figure came toward me—someone a little taller than a dwarf but shorter than a human, with green cloak, long bow at the side of his saddle, and black hair that looked like it had been chewed by a goat…
He stopped and looked at me with suspicion. "Did you summon me to this world?" he asked.
…He's really a direct guy, I was at a loss for words.
"Yes, it's an honor to meet you, Senior Forest Ranger Halt," I said.
"Ah… so you know me! Good, that makes things easier," he replied.
We shook hands, both giving a show of strength, and it ended in a draw.
"A tough knight, huh! Horece would have loved you. So, you want to found a kingdom? That's a tough job, especially in a world like this," said Halt.
"Do you know this world?" I asked.
Halt's face darkened when he heard this.
"Yes, those who sent me here added information to my memories. It was a disturbing and disgusting feeling. If anyone tries to enter my mind again, I will use them as a target and shoot them with arrows, hehehe..." Halt said.
'Okay, this is a little creepy. I hope you never meet Lady Galadriel. I don't want to be the arch-enemy of Elven civilization,' I thought.
"By the way, Halt, have you seen those who sent you here?" I asked.
"No! I saw some kind of window, and while I was on my deathbed, they asked me whether I'd want to embark on a new adventure and help a scrawny guy trying to establish a new kingdom!" said Halt.
He said this in a very sarcastic way… and when he spoke like that, I understood why Horece always targeted Halt.
"Alright, I'm going to take on a mission. If we succeed in this mission, we'll gain a lot, and we can lay the foundations for the kingdom with that money. So we need to hurry," I said.
"Go ahead, your ass is in good hands,"
Halt said this with a grin, and my face darkened as I continued on the road. Meanwhile, Aberlard was chatting with Shadowmane, and the road passed by a bit strangely but cheerfully. We arrived in Bree in the afternoon without any issues.
Together with Halt, I searched for Gandalf in Bree's market and inn, but I learned that Gandalf had already left with a few dwarves. No one knew where they went—at least not the people—but I knew. They were probably meeting tonight. From here, Shire is half a day's journey on horseback. We replenished our supplies and set off quickly.
Halt spoke quietly from between his lips.
"Young man, we're being followed."
I looked at him and replied softly.
"I know, we've been followed since we left the inn."
Halt both praised and teased me with a hint of sarcasm.
"Not bad. Not bad at all, for a knight, of course."
This tone was already starting to give me a headache, and I complained about it.
"If you don't make fun of others, nothing will be lost from your body, old man"
Halt shrugged and continued his teasing with a small gesture. Meanwhile, he didn't forget to throw a little threat under his breath.
"But that's where the fun is. Besides, if you call me 'old man' again, I'll shoot your knees out with my arrows."
This time, it was my turn, and I didn't hesitate to respond challengingly.
"Go ahead, old man!"
Halt just chuckled and gave a half-grunt.
"Heh!"
We changed our path and entered a deserted side street. Four people followed us into a dead-end alley. Three melee fighters and one archer… they were wearing clothes with a jackal emblem.
I recognized the emblem right away, so I spoke to the group with a slightly mocking tone—though more with disdain in my voice.
"Hah! Silver Jackal, mercenary company."
These guys were the lowest mercenaries and bounty hunters. They'd sell their own wives and children for money, and rumors said they supplied living slaves to the vampire kingdom. I had ruined many of their operations through my employers.
Halt furrowed his brow and asked me with suspicion, "Do you know them?"
I briefly explained the situation to Halt, and just from that short explanation, his face changed. I could feel his intent to kill.
I turned to face them, already using a mocking tone and a dismissive approach, and asked, "Mr. Pigs who think they're men! What can we do for you?"
The bald man looked at me and, barely holding back from my insult, responded with a disgusting smile.
"Wow, how lucky we are. We were looking for the Grey Wizard and his dwarves, but I didn't know you were looking for them too. Are you after them for the reward, Black Knight?"
The burly man beside him continued, "Too bad, they're our targets, and now that we see you here, isn't this a bonus, boys?"
They all laughed, taking my mockery as fuel. I, however, became even more disdainful and asked Halt.
"What a cliché, huh, Halt?"
Halt, without reacting, answered me flatly.
"Different worlds, same IQ. Can't you see how speechless he is?"
I looked at him, considering whether I could take him on and sighed inwardly, thinking, 'What are the odds of bringing Horece in? This guy is beyond me.' I stepped forward and provoked the group.
"You're not worth my sword."
After my words, I saw the anger on their faces, and taking this opportunity, I moved swiftly. The three of them drew their weapons and rushed at me. Halt had already shot the archer with a single arrow, piercing the man right between the eyes. The others stiffened at his deadly marksmanship, but I had already reached them. I quickly punched one in the stomach, making him drop to the ground, vomiting bile. The second man swung a mace at my head, but I grabbed his rising arm at the wrist with one hand, while my other hand squeezed his throat. That move sealed his death. The third man had already been killed by Halt. I kicked the man I had struck in the stomach, then, as he writhed on the ground, pressed his face into the dirt and whispered into his ear.
"Do you know why my bounty is so high?"
The bald man, so frightened, shook his head frantically. I ignored it and continued, reinforcing his fear with my words.
"Because I've wiped out every hunting party sent after me and cleaned up all your outposts in Enedwaith. I was given this task, and I made good money from both my employer and your outposts. How do you think I got this armor?"
Though I couldn't see his face, I could feel his terror from the way his body shook. I also realized that he had no idea why my bounty was so high. Probably, his clan's leaders had covered that up. After all, I had led a team of 20 knights and wiped out more than 20 outposts. The thought made me grin—it had been such a profitable job. Anyway, they couldn't see my smile behind my helmet. Just then, Halt's voice reached my ear.
"Why are you grinning?"
I froze, turning my head to Halt with a look full of suspicion, my eyes questioning him through the helmet. Halt seemed to read my mind, giving me the answer before I could even ask.
"I could tell from your body language."
This answer without a question made me even more nervous.
"Halt, be honest, are you reading my mind?"
Halt just grinned and didn't answer. Instead, he asked me, "What should we do with him?"
The bald man, who had been listening to our conversation, pleaded.
"P-please, my lord, d-don't kill me…"
When I saw the tears streaming from his eyes, my stomach turned, and I asked sarcastically.
"Did you show mercy to your previous victims?"
The bald man was even more terrified and started to urinate himself. I could smell the stench, and it made my stomach turn. But there were some things I needed to confirm, so I gritted my teeth and carried on.
"Tell me, who put the bounty on the Grey Wizard and the dwarves? I'll give you a painless death."
I spoke in the coldest and most ruthless tone. I hated these men to my core. I had seen what they did, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
The bald man, overwhelmed with terror, began begging me for mercy. Although I wanted to torture him, I didn't want to attract too much attention here. I'd already lost 20 minutes, and if Gandalf left, I would be late.
So, I decided to break his psyche with my words. I turned to Halt, still holding the man, and asked in a cold, mocking voice.
"Halt, which method is better? Should we make deep wounds that don't kill him immediately, fill a bag with his blood, and let him drown in it? Or should we skin him alive and see how long he lasts?"
The man, hearing my words, cracked under the psychological pressure, and before Halt could even answer, he began speaking in a sobbing voice.
"P-p-please, my lord… p-p-please… I don't know… huhh huhh…"
I pressed his head even harder into the ground and maintained my mocking tone.
"Are you sure?"
With fear controlling him, he spoke again.
"I-I don't know his name, b-but people say he's a pale orc…"
I immediately tagged the first person that came to mind because he seemed like the most likely culprit.
"Hah! Azog, just as I suspected."
I asked him how many groups there were here, and learned that there were 12 groups, which meant 48 jackals in total, all scouring the surrounding areas. I snapped the man's neck, ending his life, and walked toward the horses. Halt had quietly observed me the entire time, looking at me with a strange gaze. He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but didn't. I raised an eyebrow at him and, annoyed, asked.
"What?!"
Halt looked at me and innocently replied, "What, what?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, my voice tinged with a bit of reproach.
"Nothing, just looking," he said.
"Halt, either you talk, or you wake up bald one morning!" I said, my voice a little harsh.
Halt looked at me and laughed.
"I'd like to see you try, young man."
I was so angry that I quickened my pace towards the horses and set off, heading toward Shire.