Belial was the captain of an elite spy squad under Maufrey's command.
At this moment, he was concealed on the leeward side of a barren hill far from Highfort Fortress, observing the military stronghold undergoing renovation through "far sight."
The former Highfort Fortress had naturally built strong defenses on its north side to resist the Empire, while its southern defenses were relatively weak.
After Duke Sigmund occupied this place, his first priority was naturally to heavily fortify the southern walls. Various defensive magic arrays were inscribed, and magic towers were erected one after another.
Not only that, three camps arranged in a triangular formation were newly established outside the fortress, clearly expanding the actual controlled area and managing this strategic location as tight as an iron barrel.
However, Sigmund's specific fortress renovation plans weren't the focus of this trip. He appeared here only to surveil.
According to reports from subordinates planted inside the fortress, a batch of marked supplies was about to be transported out through the south gate.
This batch of supplies was neither materials for constructing defensive arrays nor ordinary military provisions. It shouldn't have appeared in Highfort Fortress's southern area—its nature was extremely suspicious.
Belial even somewhat suspected whether Sigmund was secretly doing business with human forces.
However, just the movement of one batch of supplies proved nothing. Lady Maufrey wanted substantive evidence that could actually strike at Sigmund, which was why he appeared here.
When the sun sank west and the afterglow dyed the walls dark gold, three wagons without any family emblems, covered with heavy canvas, drove out from the fortress's south gate. Their specifications completely matched the intelligence descriptions.
The leader was even a Blood Knight on record, though not wearing that knight's armor, clearly not wanting to draw attention.
The wagons turned directly toward the dense forest to the east.
Belial didn't immediately follow—the risk of exposure was too high.
There was only one road through the dense forest suitable for wagons. He planned to wait near the exit.
He was acting alone this time, not bringing squad members. In missions requiring extremely covert tracking, numbers weren't an advantage but could become a burden.
In terms of stealth, tracking, and concealment skills, he was confident he far surpassed those subordinates.
Their value lay in weaving intelligence networks and fixed-point surveillance, collecting clues, while the final confirmation and tracking was handled by him personally.
His caution was also necessary—before them, an entire spy squad had disappeared.
However, he didn't see that convoy at the forest exit. By speed calculations, they should have come out already.
Unless... the unloading point was inside the forest?
This was strange. Even if trading with someone, the other party would still need to transport the goods away, right?
Not coming out this road—could they be turning back and boldly passing by outside Highfort Fortress instead?
After thinking, he took off his shoes, eliminating walking sounds.
He also sprinkled magic-suppressing powder and deodorizing powder on himself.
Only then did he infiltrate the forest.
The forest wasn't pitch black. Scattered glowing mushrooms illuminated the forest's contours for travelers.
The Empire already knew fungal mats were equivalent to Puchi supply lines and had been clearing fungal mats near the border after the war.
But while open terrain was manageable, in forest terrain like this, unless they burned the entire forest, they couldn't completely clear the fungal mat.
Therefore this was one of the few areas near Highfort Fortress where mushrooms still grew.
After a period of searching, he finally found the wagons that had just finished unloading.
Those goods were piled by the roadside, while the demons transporting goods were loading crates of jars onto the wagons.
This scene thrilled Belial. He felt he was very close to the secret Sigmund had hidden.
But this also made him increasingly cautious, carefully hiding himself in the darkness.
Though the distance was far, Belial's keen hearing still let him catch their conversation.
"This is the last crate."
"Really, we've transported so many times and still don't even know who the other party is."
"Are you tired of living? Don't be curious about all that. Isn't getting to split one jar per trip enough?"
"True... hehe..."
"You all, quiet!"
At the Blood Knight's rebuke, the team fell silent and turned the convoy around to return.
Belial didn't continue following the convoy but watched that batch of goods from afar.
He needed to confirm who Sigmund's trading partner was!
And soon, there was movement over there.
Pop—pop—
Hollow cattle and horse Puchis emerged from holes one after another. They swallowed the packaged supplies—one Puchi per package—then turned and squeezed back into the holes.
"Puchis?"
Belial looked around, trying to find the Puchi master's figure.
He didn't see a Puchi master, but discovered something that shouldn't exist.
It was a long strip-shaped object like a white tattered sack, lying quietly on the fungal mat.
Understanding the surrounding environment was a basic skill for advanced spies. Belial clearly remembered that position had definitely been empty before!
This made his hair stand on end. Though he didn't know what it was and hadn't yet seen the actual trading partner...
Belial felt he couldn't stay any longer and immediately wanted to retreat.
"You've been watching so long, don't you want to know a bit more?" The white tattered cloth wriggled, emitting a viscous and disgusting echo that made Belial shudder. "Like, how that delicious 'wine' is produced?"
Exposed! When? Without hesitation, Belial retreated rapidly, turning to run!
"That's right! Run! Once you're out of the forest, you'll be safe! You're faster than the last one!"
...
The convoy had just emerged from the forest edge when the lead Blood Knight suddenly reined in his horse.
He turned back, looking toward that forest dotted with fluorescent light.
A night breeze swept past, making the branches and leaves rustle.
"My lord, what is it?" The half-vampire retainer following close behind asked.
The Blood Knight remained silent for a moment, slowly withdrawing his gaze from the forest shadows: "No, nothing. Probably just the wind."
...
Having the Empire backing you is great—no shortage of any supplies.
In terms of vast territory and abundant resources, even the Kingdom was far inferior to the Empire, which occupied the most fertile regions.
Mycelium Puchi Fortress defenses were being built to the highest defensive standards. Without these rare materials from the Empire, Lin Jun really couldn't obtain them elsewhere.
This was also why Lin Jun did the "wine" business together with little West.
Too bad it was a 70-30 split, with Lin Jun only taking seventy percent.
Clearly Lin Jun was the one dealing with all these spies, putting in so much effort yet only getting this little share—Lin Jun felt shortchanged.
But having known little West for several months now, considering they had a life-and-death friendship, Lin Jun accepted this loss.
Captured spies could also fill the human materials repository—a virtuous cycle.
It was just a bit troublesome stuffing people into tunnels. Lin Jun planned to learn Puchi transformation recently. That way, even outside the tunnels, others would just see Puchis playing together.
Taking out the fortress defense materials list, Lin Jun scanned the inventory, checking off items one by one, until the end.
Mermaid tears? Siphonworm crystals?
Ocean stuff, huh...
Could fishman tears work?
Lin Jun remembered the seventh layer's fissure that was entirely seawater. How were those fishmen doing now?
(End of Chapter)
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