chapter 65 using Bandit badge

Infiltrating the Bandit Den – A Madman's Gambit

Kaelith walked through the dusty, uneven path leading deeper into the bandit den, his posture hunched, his steps erratic. His Trickster's Mask had altered his face into that of a grimy, wild-eyed madman, his hair greasy and tangled, his clothes torn and stained with fake blood.

The bandit camp was as filthy as expected. Crude wooden huts and ragged tents were scattered haphazardly, while the air reeked of cheap alcohol, sweat, and unwashed bodies. Bandits sat around campfires, sharpening their weapons, or loudly boasting about their crimes. Some were gambling, others were arguing over stolen loot, and a few were passed out drunk on the ground.

Kaelith kept his pace steady, forcing himself not to look around too much—he couldn't afford to draw attention. His madman disguise worked well; most of the bandits barely glanced at him before turning away.

> "Idiots. You're all so comfortable in your filth that you don't even realize death has already entered your den."

As he continued deeper, a burly, scar-faced bandit suddenly stepped into his path, blocking the way. His thick arms crossed over his chest, and his beady eyes squinted in suspicion.

> "Oi, you! Who the hell are you? I don't remember seeing your ugly mug before."

A few other bandits nearby paused their conversations, turning their heads toward them.

Kaelith froze for just a fraction of a second, but he quickly recovered, twisting his face into an ugly snarl. He staggered forward, his movements jerky and unpredictable, as if he were half-mad from battle or intoxication.

> "Huh?! You questioning me, you brain-dead rat?!" Kaelith spat, his voice filled with anger and disdain. "Do I look like some outsider to you, you dog-faced bastard?!"

The bandit's brows furrowed, and his grip on his belt tightened.

> "You talk a lot of shit for someone I don't know."

Kaelith clicked his tongue, shaking his head as if disappointed. His hands reached into his ragged cloak, and before the bandit could react, he pulled out a small, bloodstained object—a Bandit Badge.

> [Bandit Badge – Proof of Rank Among Bandit Groups]

The scar-faced bandit's expression changed slightly as he saw it.

Kaelith smirked inwardly, recalling where he had obtained it.

> "Ah, right… The two fools I killed near the auction house. Their lives were worthless, but their badge? Now that's valuable."

He shoved the badge into the bandit's face, his voice turning more aggressive.

> "Are you fucking blind?! I was out handling business near Green Haven, and now some two-bit grunt like you is standing in my way?! What, you think you're the boss now?"

The other bandits around them watched with interest, some chuckling at the confrontation.

The burly bandit hesitated, his expression shifting from suspicion to uncertainty. He glanced at the badge, then back at Kaelith, as if trying to piece things together.

> "Tsk, fine. No need to get so damn loud about it," the bandit muttered, taking a step back.

Kaelith snorted.

> "Next time, use that empty skull of yours before barking at the wrong person."

Without waiting for a reply, he brushed past him, his steps still erratic like a true lunatic. The moment he was in the clear, he allowed himself a small smirk.

> "That was close. Good thing bandits aren't known for their intelligence."

Now that he was inside the camp, it was time to gather information, locate the bandit leader, and most importantly—find clues about the kidnapped goblin prince.

> "Let's begin the real hunt."

Scouting the Bandit Den – The Madman's Watchful Eyes

Kaelith wandered through the filthy camp, his madman act still holding strong as he muttered nonsense under his breath and occasionally twitched his head. The bandits barely spared him a second glance, assuming he was just another lunatic among their ranks.

He scanned the entire camp with sharp, trained eyes, taking in every detail while appearing as if he were aimlessly wandering.

The bandit den was spread across a rocky valley, surrounded by dense forests on three sides. There were roughly built wooden huts, tents made from stitched-together hides, and several crates stacked near makeshift tables where the bandits drank and gambled.

> "Hmph, typical."

He quickly estimated their numbers—around thirty in total.

Eight were lounging around the central campfire, boasting about past raids.

Five were guarding the entrance, lazily leaning against wooden stakes.

A group of ten was practicing combat, swinging their rusty weapons at straw dummies.

The rest were either patrolling or sleeping in their tents.

From his keen observations, he noted:

Most were Level 2, meaning they were weak but dangerous in groups.

A handful were Level 3, likely the more experienced ones.

Weapons were basic—mostly short swords, daggers, and a few crossbows.

Defenses were minimal—there were no solid walls, only wooden barricades and spiked fences.

> "Not bad. If I play my cards right, I can wipe them out in one go with my mini bombs."

However, as he continued scouting, he noticed one area that stood out—the non-entry zone.

At the far end of the camp, a large wooden structure stood apart from the rest. Unlike the makeshift huts and tents, this building was reinforced with thick wooden logs, and the area around it was completely off-limits. Two heavily armed guards stood by the entrance, both Level 3 bandits.

Even more suspicious was how no other bandits approached the area—not even the drunk ones.

> "That must be the treasury or an important storage area. But why the extra security?"

Kaelith narrowed his eyes.

> "No sign of the Bandit Leader… Could he be inside? Or is he just not here right now?"

He had hoped to catch a glimpse of the leader, but after scanning every visible part of the camp, there was no sign of him.

Possibility 1: The Bandit Leader is out on a raid and hasn't returned.

Possibility 2: He is inside the treasury building, planning something important.

Possibility 3: There is another hidden location within the den.

> "I need more information before making a move."

For now, he had successfully scouted the entire camp, memorizing its layout and defenses.

> "Time for the next step… finding clues about the kidnapped goblin prince."

Kaelith took a deep breath, maintaining his madman persona as he casually walked deeper into the camp, heading toward the bandits who looked the most talkative. If he wanted information, he'd have to trick it out of them.