Chapter 156 Dwarven Territory

The Mafa royal family doesn't plan to make the news of the planar invasion public yet.

The Mafa intelligence department received information about a battle outside Caberlon and suspected that the magicians from the Celestial Plane were taking action. They sent elites, intending to secretly deal with it, but unexpectedly encountered Suren.

Dora glanced at the detestable fellow still gorging himself, a flash of wisdom disappeared from her eyes, she pursed her lips, turned around, and said into the communicator, "Let's go, team retreat."

As she spoke, she walked directly towards the Mechanical Market.

In an instant, the few passersby disguised as civilians who had been browsing the stalls also left together.

A handsome man, who resembled Dora by about fifty percent, quickly caught up and asked a series of questions with confusion, "Dora, are we leaving now? Did you discover any clues? Who was that person you were talking to just now?"

"I have a general idea. For the remaining work, leave a team to check the scene."

Dora replied, then looked at the young man and corrected him, "Also, when carrying out official duties, please address me by my rank. Understood, Major."

"Understood, Colonel!"

The handsome man also looked helpless.

But as if he thought of something, he frowned and pondered, "However, I feel like that guy just now looked a bit familiar... like a certain sea pirate? Oh, I'm not saying your friend is a pirate, it's just that you don't know, after you were kidnapped by the Dawn Pirate Group, I almost memorized all the Dawn Group members on the wanted list."

In his mind, anyone who could chat happily with his sister was likely a friend or acquaintance, certainly not some dirty pirate.

Unexpectedly, Dora responded with a "you're an idiot" expression, "Heh, does being able to talk and laugh mean we're friends?"

The handsome man paused for a moment, finally understanding the underlying meaning in his sister's words, "Ah... doesn't it?"

Dora rolled her eyes and retorted, "You're only realizing it now?"

She ruthlessly mocked, "Heh, with your vigilance. If I had to rely on my idiot brother to rescue me after being kidnapped, I'd probably have been killed already."

"..."

After being ridiculed, the handsome man didn't feel embarrassed at all, but had long been accustomed to it.

But after a moment of thought, his expression suddenly became serious, with a hint of offended anger, and he said, "That guy kidnapped you, Dora, and dares to show up in Caberlon? Humph, I'll teach him a lesson!"

Dora waved her hand, her tone as always loving and killing, and squinted, "You? Forget it. If that person really fought, you'd only add another ransom for the family. Without a general-level combatant, don't even think about catching him."

Handsome man: "That powerful?"

"..."

Dora rolled her eyes, not planning to explain further.

The group walked down the market and got on their respective motorcycles.

At this moment, the adjutant brought over a box and said, "Colonel, this is a rare metal and blueprint we just bought in the market."

"Mm."

Dora expressionlessly took the box and got into the specially modified closed carriage.

When the surroundings were isolated, her previously relaxed expression suddenly disappeared, her rationality as cold as a machine.

Recalling the situation when she met Suren just now, she thought of something, "That guy seems to have discovered something..."

Speaking, she seemed to be answering herself, "Heh, a very interesting person."

At this time, Dora opened the box in her hand, took out a piece of gleaming metal, and murmured as if looking at a satisfying meal, "Zabil Alloy? Good stuff... Looks like it came from the Mountain Dwarf tribe."

While talking to herself, the metal melted into liquid metal in her hand, and then was gradually absorbed and disappeared.

The motorcycle sped away.

In the carriage, Dora, not knowing what she was thinking, had a trace of confusion in her mechanically cold eyes.

......

The next day, the weather was clear.

Last night, Suren killed those two invaders from the Celestial Plane. After learning that the Ouroboros Circle was a Mountain Dwarf tribe's totem, he planned to go and see it himself.

However, the terrain of the Beast Mountain Range is complex, and it is said that there are eighth and ninth-order magical beasts hidden deep within, making spatial teleportation very risky. Moreover, although there is a map, it is not accurate. The best option is to find an adventure group familiar with the route in that direction to follow.

Before noon, Suren and Number Nineteen rode their motorcycles to this adventurer camp two hundred kilometers away from Caberlon—Wangjin Outpost.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving, they found the town almost overcrowded.

Twenty or thirty large adventure team steam castles were ready to go, and tens of thousands of adventurers were jammed in the town, the noise deafening. More and more adventurers were arriving from all directions.

People wore adventure gear, and various field combat supplies were carried on their mechanical exoskeletons. Guns, ammunition, and boxes of supplies were constantly being transported to the mechanical castles of the major adventure teams.

"Hey, Galen, don't stand there like an idiot, hurry to the Mercenary Guild, there's a large reclamation mission! You get three thousand crowns a day for doing nothing, and the combat reward standard and harvest distribution ratio are the highest I've seen in recent years. I estimate you can earn at least hundreds of thousands on this trip!"

"Where are you reclaiming, with such a high bounty?"

"Go to the 'Giant God Mountain' area. Vice President Boer of the Adventurer's Guild organized it. It is said that the backer is a big boss from a mining group. Anyway, they don't lack money."

"Oh, I remember that mountain range seems to be the territory of the Mountain Dwarves? Those dwarf fellows don't like dealing with humans and aren't very friendly either."

"Who cares. This time Vice President Boer is leading the charge, and at least dozens of large adventure teams will participate. Those dwarf treasures hidden in the caves should also see the light of day."

"..."

Suren and Number Nineteen walked along the way, frequently hearing adventurers talking about the Mercenary Guild's lucrative employment mission.

Others don't know why someone suddenly wants to reclaim that mountain area, but Suren is very clear that it must be those Celestial Clan guys behind it.

Moreover, he also guessed why they would make such a big commotion.

Judging from the military intelligence obtained from the Moses family, the combat power of the Mountain Dwarf tribe is not weak.

More than a dozen dwarf tribes are active near the Giant God Mountain, with an unknown number of Mountain Dwarves.

These dwarves are said to be descendants of the mythical dwarves, with Celestial Divine Power, and are good at forging various magical equipment, so their combat power should not be underestimated.

The Celestial Plane currently only has the seventh-order "Hundred Magician Corps" in Caberlon, according to the intelligence.

They simply don't have the ability to take down the dwarf tribe by force.

But if they want to find the Ouroboros Circle as soon as possible, the best option is to spend some money and recruit adventurers to scout the minefields.

Anyway, this alchemy plane is already their hunting ground in the eyes of those people from the Celestial Plane. The money will ultimately end up in their own pockets, so the hiring price doesn't matter.

......

The Beast Mountain Range has always been the most important source of resources for Mafa, and large-scale reclamation operations occasionally occur, so adventurers are used to it.

These reclamation events often attract a large number of adventurers.

After all, almost every large-scale exploration will discover new mineral deposits or ancient ruins.

Although the risks are not small, if they can survive, they will surely earn a fortune.

Suren and the two walked out of the Bounty Guild and accepted an employment mission.

Number Nineteen asked, "What should we do now?"

Suren: "Proceed according to the original plan."

He originally wanted to pick an adventure team going in that direction, but now, almost all adventure teams are going to that dwarf tribe.

Moreover, through his senses, Suren also discovered that there were many people with abnormal soul fluctuations in the town.

Some magicians have quietly hidden in the mobile mechanical castles of those large adventure teams.

Looking at one of the recruitment signs, Suren said, "Let's go ask that 'Iron Shield Adventure Team'."

There are five magicians in the mechanical castle of this adventure team.

Number Nineteen nodded tacitly.

The two walked over.

Wangjin Outpost is an adventurer supply and frontline camp. Some small adventure teams will temporarily team up here. Large teams will also temporarily recruit some needed professional members based on the mission.

"What level of mechanical modification?"

"Level three light armor combat mechanical skeleton modification. Also, a level three marksman, with a part-time intermediate doctor."

"Marksman, huh? If you provide your own ammunition, you can join us, otherwise, forget it."

"No problem."

"..."

Level three modification is equivalent to the combat power of a third-order professional, which is the level of most civilian mechanical warriors.

Number Nineteen's life prosthetic limb is probably around the level three modification, so reporting this level is not considered high-profile.

Suren didn't want to reveal his abilities in combat, so he reported a remote marksman profession.

However, marksmen are not popular in Mafa.

Because mechanical exoskeletons allow for more precise and stable performance than the human body, almost everyone is a sharpshooter. As long as you modify a slightly better auxiliary shooting device, almost everyone can score ninety-nine rings on a fixed target.

Moreover, the ammunition consumption cost of marksman professionals is much higher than that of melee mechanical warriors, which is not welcomed in adventure teams that are trying to earn money.

Fortunately, Suren also mentioned a scarce doctor part-time job, which is why the Iron Shield Adventure Team recruited the two of them.

......

The Iron Shield Adventure Team is an old brand adventure team. The leader, Brooke Locke, is a veteran mechanical warrior with level six modification. He has a total of three or four hundred people under his command, and can be considered an experienced old brand adventure team.

Before long, the supplies and recruitment were completed, the steam boiler of the mechanical castle was activated, and black smoke billowed from the tall chimney with a "rumbling" sound.

The team officially set off.

Leaving Wangjin Outpost to the east, they entered the hilly mountains of the Beast Mountain Range.

The mechanical castle moved a bit like a super-sized armored RV. It pursued heavy armor defense, so it wasn't very comfortable, and the bumps were very strong.

Moreover, if you observe carefully, the rusty castle will always shake off some metal parts of unknown use on the bumpy road. Fortunately, there are accompanying mechanics who, although they will always roar with impatience about what parts have failed, can always keep this seemingly broken mechanical castle moving forward...

The tracked mechanical castle can handle most road conditions and is not slow. The cannons and armor in the castle are the last bit of life insurance for adventurers when they encounter danger.

Suren didn't care where they were going and relaxed with Number Nineteen in the assigned soldiers' barracks. In his perception, there were five magicians in one room of this castle.

By keeping an eye on these people, he would always know the movements of the Celestial Clan.

Suren was not in a hurry to act.

Because it was still more than half a month's journey to the territory of the Mountain Dwarves, he could always find a more suitable opportunity. Moreover, he always felt that the Celestial Clan had other plans.

In this way, the mechanical castle moved forward through the mountains, stumbling all the way.

Even the old brand Iron Shield Team, familiar with the forest, only knew the general direction.

The climate of the Beast Mountain Range is diverse. Sometimes a dense forest dozens of meters high can grow overnight, leaving no road at all.

Moreover, as they went deeper, the terrain gradually became complex, with rainforests, swamps, mountain streams, quicksand...

When the mechanical castle entered the Beast Mountain Range for the third day, the speed slowed down.

Everyone got off and started walking.

Mechanical exoskeletons allowed everyone to carry heavier equipment. They carried their equipment and walked towards the depths of the Beast Mountain Range.

They didn't encounter any major problems along the way.

The Beast Mountain Range is full of various magical beasts, but as long as you avoid some top predators, there is almost no danger.

Large groups like them, with hundreds of people, will be deliberately avoided by many magical beasts.

The most troublesome thing was encountering a pack of magical wind wolves at night, which killed two unlucky fellows who went to the forest for a romantic tryst, and injured more than a dozen people. But mechanical warriors have a natural advantage against magical beasts. Mechanical arms are not afraid of bites, and can be repaired and replaced after being damaged, regaining combat power.

In this way, after walking in the jungle for more than ten days, they gradually approached the territory of the Mountain Dwarves, which adventurers rarely venture into.

At the end of the field of vision, a towering mountain peak has appeared.

That mountain is like a giant sword inserted into the earth. This is a well-known landmark of the Beast Mountain Range—Giant God Mountain.

Few adventurers know what's there, but Suren knew from the information he obtained from the Moses family that the source of Activating Silver was there.

Once, Mafa's official surveyors discovered that place, but had a fierce conflict with the dwarf tribe. Later, they also discovered that there was a very dangerous cursed space there, and ultimately gave up invading and exploiting it.

According to the mythology passed down by the dwarf tribe, two gods once fought here. One of them was killed on the spot. Underneath the mountain range is the corpse of the god, and the mountain peak is that sword.

Suren is skeptical of myths and legends, after all, that mountain peak looks like an active volcano.

However, the formation of Activating Silver can be explained as a fossil after the death of a god.

If he really wants to know what's going on there, he has to get closer and take a look.

......

On the other hand, just as Suren and his team were approaching the vicinity of Giant God Mountain.

The Old Blacksmith Adventure Team had arrived at Eagle's Nest Creek, an inconspicuous coordinate on the Beast Forest map, but only they, the Blacksmith Team, knew about it.

Not far past there is the location of the Sandstone Tribe of the Mountain Dwarves.

This is the territory of the dwarf tribe, and they no longer welcome human adventurers to approach.

The Blacksmith Team and his party placed the hundreds of barrels of wine they brought on the stone beach as usual.

Before long, the sound of "clop" "clop" hooves echoed in the mountain stream, and a group of dwarves riding antelope sped over.

The leader was a dwarf with brown braids in his beard, this was High Chief Baumund of the Sandstone Tribe.

He saw that the human who came was not his old friend Yale Ferguson, frowned, and stopped alertly a hundred meters away.

"Little Brooke, I only allowed your adventure team to enter our tribe's territory because of your father."

Baumund's brown pupils did not focus on his favorite wine, but surveyed the group, and said in Mafa's common language, "You should know that the dwarf tribe does not like to deal with strangers. Moreover, you brought some outsiders that I feel very bad about."

The blonde young man, Brooke, said nonchalantly, "Chief Baumund, my father is feeling unwell, so I brought you your favorite wine this time. This time the quantity is even greater than before, and there's also expensive gold rum, which is a western sea liquor. I think you and your clansmen will like it..."

He was still complacently introducing the goods he brought, but he didn't notice that the faces of the dwarves had become very solemn.

The dwarf tribe is not stupid. On the contrary, they can clearly feel the cunning hidden in the eyes of humans.

This is an emotion they don't like.

It makes them feel like they're dealing with greedy and cunning goblins.

A hint of displeasure appeared in Baumund's eyes, and he said, "Little Brooke, for the sake of my friendship with your father, I will accept this batch of goods and give you a batch of high-quality ore. But remember, next time, just follow the usual habits. Our dwarf tribe doesn't like outsiders."

Brooke thought that his liquor would make the liquor-loving dwarves happily accept it, but he didn't expect them to refuse.

Moreover, he didn't come this time to exchange for a bit of ore, but for another purpose.

Looking at the dwarves' guard, he knew that this conversation probably wouldn't go too smoothly.

Brooke looked behind him.

At this moment, a person walked out of the Blacksmith Adventure Team.

She lifted her cloak, revealing the black and white nun's habit inside.

This was none other than Jonahbel Martha, the Forbidden Sister of the Holy Army.

She looked at the dwarves in front of her, her eyes shining with a strange and mysterious luster, and showed a friendly and seductive smile, and said eloquently, "I have always heard that the dwarf tribe is a simple and kind forging race..."

Her voice echoed pleasantly, as if there was a magical power that made the listeners inexplicably fall into a relaxed and trusting state.

However, just as these words came out, the magical runes on Dwarf Baumund's helmet flashed, and as if he had discovered something, he suddenly flew into a rage, "Damn it! You despicable followers of the Outer Gods, you actually attempt to pollute our faith!"

Faith pollution is an offense to their patron god, and a spiritual enslavement.

Baumund couldn't see that this group of guys had come with malicious intent.

The dwarves are kind, but also very irritable!

Hearing this loud shout, all the dwarves raised their weapons and began to charge.

"Metal stimulating helmet, no wonder it can resist Soul Seizure..."

Jonahbel was not at all surprised that her secret spell was seen through.

She never expected to learn the news of the treasure so easily, she was just trying.

On the contrary, looking at the raging dwarves, she murmured in her heart, "Half-dwarves who have lost their faith in gods, actually still have divine power protecting them? It seems that even if that thing is not here, there are other treasures..."

Without killing this group of dwarves, the things hidden in the underground treasury will not be so easy to obtain.

She looked at the dozens of dwarves charging towards her, raised her staff, and twenty or thirty black-robed magicians behind her simultaneously chanted magic spells.

In an instant, the huge mountain stream collapsed and the earth cracked.

ps. Sorry, I haven't sorted out my thoughts yet, I'm a bit stuck. I asked for leave yesterday and will make it up later.

－－－－－－Outside topic－－－－－－

Thanks to 'Happy bad guy' 1100, 'Kim Taeyeon's godda' 500, 'Crimson Red Snow', '20220327164639783'... Thank you all for your rewards and support.