The Empire's northeastern border.
The north wind wrapped in snow dust blew across the frozen tundra. Although the temperature had warmed up, the fleeing demons wouldn't return so quickly. Nowadays, this place appeared quite desolate.
However, recently there were a few more active figures in this area, but they were not demons.
Thump thump—
A rock was moved aside, and the dwarf Pollock popped his head out. He looked around and, after confirming there were no demons nearby, struggled to climb up.
This passage beneath him connected the Northern Territory with the Mountains. The internal space had been modified by traveling dwarves, making it perfectly suited for dwarven passage. There were several such passages nearby.
Even if the demons discovered them, they could only let weaker individuals like goblins enter. Other larger demons would get stuck in the passage and lose most of their combat power.
However, because demonic activity here had decreased, they hadn't been discovered yet.
After Pollock climbed out, he didn't leave immediately, but turned back and forcefully pulled the people behind him out.
Among them were his family, friends who believed his assurances and came to take a look, and a fellow traveler he hadn't expected prior to this—Master Marco!
Master Marco was a master blacksmith who enjoyed great fame even in Forgefire City.
It was just that at this moment, the Master's face, baked into a copper-red color by forge fires all year round, also looked somewhat blue in the cold wind of the Northern Territory.
One of the Master's attendants hurriedly hung a constant-temperature pendant around his neck. Only then did the Master's complexion slightly improve, but his voice still carried a bit of stiffness: "Ancestors above... this wretched place... is ten times colder than the rumors!"
"Cold?" A bare-chested Pollock felt it for a moment, only feeling the crisp breeze brushing his face was exceptionally cool and refreshing. "Master, it was truly cold for a period of time before, but now it's much better."
Marco knew a thing or two about the temperature changes in the Northern Territory, but looking at Pollock, who seemed to feel no chill at all in this world of ice and snow, he still secretly smacked his lips.
Pollock said that was the warming effect brought by the mycelium, but Marco hadn't heard of Puchi Masters on the human side gaining similar abilities, so he could only temporarily think of it as a different variety of mycelium.
"Honestly, Master," Pollock rubbed his hands, his face overflowing with heartfelt joy, "I still feel like I'm dreaming! When I met you in the Blackrock Tavern back then, I just brought up the new furnaces we have here in the Northern Territory with the mindset of giving it a try. I really didn't expect that a big shot like you would actually be willing to run to this Northern Territory with me!"
What he didn't say aloud was that because he completely didn't dare to fantasize about recruiting a master-level figure back then, he hadn't bothered to remember exactly how many envy-inducing contribution points recruiting a master blacksmith could be exchanged for before he set off.
What Pollock didn't know was that his encounter with Master Marco in the Blackrock Tavern was not accidental from beginning to end.
From that low cave entrance, over ten more people filed out successively.
These people were not craftsman apprentices or helpers carrying tools, but were uniformly dressed as fully armed warriors or mages, looking exactly like a well-equipped, experienced mercenary squad.
Pollock didn't feel too strange about these people.
After all, unlike his own worthless life, the Master's life and wealth were worth much more. Plus, the Master didn't lack money, so hiring people to protect himself when going out was normal.
It was just that these guards were actually not hired by Master Marco. Their true employer was the Deepforge Clan of the Mountains, and even Master Marco was the same.
Lin Jun's action of releasing the indebted dwarves back to the Mountains to recruit people couldn't be said to be done with great fanfare, but it absolutely couldn't be considered a covert operation either.
Originally, it wasn't a big deal, but when this matter was cross-referenced with the invitation letter sent earlier by Thorin, the rebellious youngest son of the Deepforge Clan, it immediately caught the attention of Thorin's eldest brother.
Therefore, an investigation commission was issued from the core of the Deepforge Clan.
The commissioned ones were a highly reputable senior mercenary squad, as well as Master Marco.
Calling it a commission, in reality, whether it was the mercenary squad or Master Marco, they both owed the Deepforge Clan favors and didn't have much room to refuse.
It was precisely under the meticulous arrangement of the Deepforge Clan that this team bearing a special mission "coincidentally" sat at the same oak table with Pollock, who was spraying saliva in the tavern describing the Northern Territory to his companions. After listening to his enthusiastic narration for a long time, they finally gladly accepted his invitation and embarked on the journey to this frozen land.
Unfortunately, once stepping onto the fungal mat, unless they constantly maintained telepathic communication, Lin Jun could hear all their whispers.
...
After everyone squeezed out, Pollock searched around, pushing aside snow piles everywhere, and finally found a Puchi with half its body buried in the ground.
Pressing forcefully on the mushroom cap three times, the Puchi popped up from the hole, then directly strode its short legs and walked toward a pre-set path. Pollock immediately called for everyone to follow.
There were quite a few similar Guide Mushrooms near the cave entrance. Searching with a purpose, they weren't hard to find.
Puchis had short legs and didn't walk fast, so keeping up wasn't difficult.
Following the Guide Puchi for a short half-day, they arrived at a rest station that had been built long ago.
Inside, various Puchis and supplies were fully available.
While the other dwarves were still somewhat at a loss, Pollock had already connected with a few Heating Puchis from the Puchi warehouse behind the rest station and brought out several leather packages marked with "LV6" patterns.
Opening the packages, he poured the mushrooms and frozen meat inside all at once into the Heating Puchi, then casually gathered some snow and stuffed it in. Not long after, a Puchi instant-version of mushroom and fat-worm meat stew was ready.
Pollock enthusiastically distributed it to the other dwarves.
Pollock's family and friends all took it curiously and took a bite. For a time, bursts of slightly weird moans sounded beside the Heating Puchi.
The dwarven mercenaries maintained their vigilance, silently gnawing on the dried mutton they brought.
Master Marco, looking at Pollock and the others' enjoying appearance, had the mind to taste it, but under the mercenary captain's advising look, he still held back.
Finally, in the warm environment created by the Heating Puchi, the group passed their first day after arriving in the Northern Territory.
The following few days were mostly the same. Following the Puchis, they rushed from one station to another, with food and shelter at every station.
What was originally thought to be a very arduous journey ended up feeling like coming out for a picnic.
Master Marco originally thought they were heading into a dragon's pool or a tiger's den this time. But now, although he hadn't seen the so-called Mushroom Fortress yet, this highly professional arrangement still settled his originally somewhat nervous heart a lot.
Perhaps, the other party was truly a newly emerging faction with some decent blacksmith shops?
A short half-month later, looking at the majestic city before his eyes.
Master Marco blinked his eyelids hard to confirm he wasn't hallucinating.
"This scale... is even bigger than Forgefire City, right..."
(End of Chapter)
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