“Shut up, I’ve been busy so I forgot for a moment. I can’t afford to quarrel with you now. Damn, the slightest slip and the military supplies…..”
“What’s the matter?”
Then a woman walked out from behind Shambala.
“The problem? Nothing. Just…..eh? L-Lariette-nim?”
Ark flinched and closed his mouth. The woman who had appeared from behind Shambala was Lariette. Shambala saw Ark’s face and instantly smiled.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? We left together after you contacted me. Well, it is good. Since you have women assisting you everywhere. How about it? Aren’t you thankful?”
‘This guy…..!’
Ark glared at Shambala. In fact, the situation between Ark and Lariette was quite stressful these days. Many times he had thought about having a serious talk but he had been too busy. And Lariette had also noticed Ark’s thoughts. So it had become increasingly awkward whenever they met. The fact that Shambala took her along……
His intention was clearly to discomfort Ark.
“Is it a problem that I came?”
Lariette noticed their expressions and said. Well, it was a problem. A large one. But how could he say those words in front of a woman?
“Is there such a thing? I’m just happy since it’s been so long since we’ve met.”
Ark answered with an obviously awkward expression. Therefore the atmosphere quickly cooled. Shambala was trying to hold back his laugh that he was close to tears. Since the atmosphere was quite uncomfortable, Lariette quickly changed the subject.
“But what we you saying before?”
“Before? Ah, that’s right. Actually……”
Ark remembered and quickly explained the situation with the expedition. Shambala erased his playful expression and spoke in a serious voice.
“Hmm, it doesn’t seem to be going as well as I thought.”
“It’s not going well. Haverstein will lose his position after a few more days. Then I will lose my exclusive trading contract. This isn’t a situation where you can also stay calm. If I go bankrupt then Isabel will have to bear the costs of the stockpiled materials as well.”
“If that happens then my sword will always be aimed at your back.”
Shambala raised an eyebrow and spoke in a bloody voice.
“Are you really going to act like that? When your friend might be going bankrupt?”
“Can I really call you my friend after those words?”
Ark and Shambala started to argue with each other. Lariette who seemed to be pondering something carefully suddenly asked.
“That…..if you can’t attack the fortress from the front then how about striking from behind?”
Lariette’s words stopped Ark and Shambala’s argument. Then they both sighed and shook their heads.
“That….. If it was possible then we wouldn’t be worrying.”
“If you look then you’ll understand. The mountains are blocking the border between the Schudenberg and Sinius kingdoms.
The only way is to pass through Pabiun Canyon.”
“Isn’t there another route that crosses through the north of Pabiun Canyon?”
Lariette asked. She looked through her memories before explaining.
“I don’t remember correctly since it was in the early days when I started the game. Um…..While I was playing with some other candidates, I received a quest to find a hidden dungeon in the Sinius Principality.”
She avoided mentioning names but it was the days that she played with Alan. But in those days it was impossible for users to cross the border checkpoint. So Alan had paid a considerable amount of money to a minstrel in a tavern for information on how to cross the border. It was a secret route which bypassed the Pabiun Fortress.
“Therefore it was possible for me to enter the Sinius Principality with my colleagues.”
“Please explain more!”
Ark said as he suddenly grabbed her hands. But he quickly became surprised and removed his hands.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Ah, no.”
Lariette blushed at Ark’s reaction and avoided his eyes. After seeing the atmosphere between the two people, Shambala smiled and whistled.
“It was worth bringing Lariette along intentionally.”
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