having trouble leveling up

[Cenerentolla]

I'm on level 16, 1 point away from level 17. I've been sitting there for the last 2 days.
I have been following the quest and have successfully attacked bandit camps and killed the first bandit leader. I have secured that sector with a storehouse and other buildings.
In the last hour I've attacked two more bandit camps thinking that i might get that 1 point of xp that I need.
But no.
How do I get that last point of xp?

[Xypheron]

You only receive experience points from an adventure after the entire mission has been successfully completed.

If you only need one point, then attack one of the bandit camps on your own island with a few units (suicide mission). The xp awarded from attacking your own bandits are immediate, and you don't have to kill off the entire camp. But beware, make sure you attack with units that will survive any first-strike bandits, like dogs, (but some bandit leaders also have first-strike ability) to score at least one fatality against the bandits.

Good luck!

- Xy