Chapter 626
, Master Marco
Chapter 626, Section 625: Master Marco
The northeastern border of the empire.
The north wind, carrying snow and dust, swept across the frozen ground. Although the temperature had risen, the fleeing demons would not return so quickly, and the place now appeared quite desolate.
However, recently there have been some more activities in this area, but they are not demons.
dong dong——
A rock was moved aside, and the dwarf Pollock poked his head out. After looking around and confirming that there were no demons nearby, he laboriously climbed up.
The passage beneath them connects the North to the mountains. Its interior has been modified by the dwarves who travel there, making it suitable for their passage. There are several such passages nearby.
Even if the demons discover it, they can only let weaker individuals like goblins enter. Other demons of different sizes will be stuck in the passage and will lose most of their fighting power.
However, because the demons have been less active here, they have not been discovered yet.
After Pollock climbed out, he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he turned around and pulled the people behind him out with all his might.
Among them were his family, friends who came to see him because they believed his assurances, and a companion he hadn't expected beforehand—Master Marco!
Master Marco is a renowned master blacksmith in the forging capital.
At this moment, however, the master's face, which had been tanned to a coppery color by the furnace fire over the years, appeared somewhat bluish in the cold wind of the North.
One of the master's attendants quickly hung a temperature-regulating pendant around his neck, and the master's complexion improved slightly, though his voice was still a little stiff: "Ancestors above... this hellhole... is ten times colder than the rumors say!"
"Cold?" Pollock, shirtless, felt the breeze on his face and was particularly cool. "Master, it was really cold for a while before, but it's much better now."
Marco knew a little about the temperature changes in the North, but looking at Pollock who seemed completely unaffected by the cold in the icy landscape, he secretly clicked his tongue.
Pollock said it was the insulating effect of the mycelium, but Marco had never heard of human Puji Masters having a similar ability, so he could only temporarily think of it as a different type of mycelium.
“Honestly, Master,” Pollock rubbed his hands together, his face beaming with genuine joy, “I still feel like I’m dreaming! When I first met you at Blackrock Tavern, I was just casually mentioning our new furnace in the North to you, on a whim. I never imagined that someone as important as you would actually be willing to come all the way to the North with me!”
What he didn't say was that, because he hadn't dared to dream of recruiting a master blacksmith, he hadn't bothered to remember how many enviable contribution points he could exchange for a master blacksmith before he set off.
What Pollock didn't know was that his encounter with Master Marco at the Blackrock Tavern was by no means accidental.
More than ten people filed out of the low cave entrance one after another.
These people were not craftsmen's apprentices or helpers carrying tools, but rather fully armed warriors or mages, resembling a well-equipped and experienced mercenary squad.
Pollock wasn't too surprised by these people.
After all, unlike his own worthless life, the master's life and fortune were much more valuable. In addition, the master was not short of money, so it was normal for him to hire people to protect him when he went out.
However, these guards were not actually hired by Master Marco. Their real employers were the Deep Furnace Clan of the Mountains, and even Master Marco was the same.
Lin Jun's act of releasing the indebted dwarves back into the mountains to recruit more people was not exactly a high-profile operation, but it was certainly not a secretive one either.
It wasn't a big deal in itself, but when this matter was compared with the invitation letter sent earlier by Tolin, the rebellious youngest son of the Deepfire Clan, it immediately caught the attention of Tolin's elder brother.
Thus, a commission to investigate was issued from the core of the Deepforge clan.
The task was entrusted to a reputable and experienced mercenary team, as well as Master Marco. Although it was called a commission, both the mercenary team and Master Marco owed a favor to the Deepforge Clan, leaving them little room to refuse.
It was through the meticulous arrangements of the Deepfire Clan that this group, carrying a special mission, happened to sit at the same oak table as Pollock, who was enthusiastically describing the North to his companions in the tavern. After listening to his passionate tale for a long time, Pollock finally accepted his invitation and embarked on a journey to this frozen land.
Unfortunately, once she stepped onto the fungal carpet, Lin Jun could hear all the whispers unless they kept communicating verbally.
……
After everyone crawled out, Pollock looked around and dug through the snowdrifts, finally finding a poop with half its body buried in the ground.
After pressing the mushroom cap three times, it popped out of the hole and then strode off along the pre-set path. Pollock immediately called for everyone to follow.
There are many similar guide mushrooms near the cave entrance; if you look for them purposefully, they are not difficult to find.
Puji has short legs and doesn't walk fast, so it's not difficult for her to keep up.
After following the guide for half a day, we arrived at a rest stop that had been set up in advance.
It contains all kinds of puji and supplies.
While the other dwarves were still somewhat bewildered, Pollock had already connected several heated Puji from the Puji warehouse behind the rest stop, and brought out several leather packages marked with LV6 patterns.
Open the package, dump the mushrooms and frozen meat inside into the heating pot, then stuff in some collected snow. Before long, a quick and easy version of mushroom and worm stew is ready.
Pollock generously shared it with the other dwarves.
Pollock's family and friends curiously took a bite, and for a moment, strange groans echoed from the heating pan.
The dwarf mercenaries remained vigilant, silently munching on the dried mutton they carried.
Seeing how much Pollock and the others were enjoying themselves, Master Marco was also tempted to try some, but he refrained from doing so after being advised by the mercenary captain's gaze.
Finally, in the warm environment created by the heated Puji, the group spent their first day in the North.
The next few days were similar; following Puji, we traveled from one station to another, with food and lodging provided at each station.
What I thought would be a very difficult trip turned out to be like a picnic.
Master Marco originally thought he was going to a den of wolves, but now, although he hasn't seen the so-called mushroom castle yet, the highly professional arrangements have calmed his somewhat nervous heart considerably.
Perhaps the other side really is an emerging force, with some decent blacksmith shops?
About two weeks later, looking at the magnificent city before me.
Master Marco blinked hard to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.
"This scale... is even bigger than the Forging City..."
(End of this chapter)