Haverstein stared at Ark with an astonished expression before shaking his head and saying.
“No, I’ve heard of it before. That there was a secret route smugglers used to travel between Schudenberg and the Sinius Principality somewhere in the Albana Mountains. The border guards searched for a few years but they couldn’t find anything so I thought it was just a rumour……it really exists? Where did you get this information?”
Should he say that a minstrel in a tavern gave the information? Judging by Haverstein’s anxious expression, he couldn’t joke around at a time like this.
“I got my hands on it accidentally.”
“The route drawn on this map is really Smuggler’s Pass?”
“Yes. The person who told me is reliable and I confirmed the information using my pet.”
“If you say so then I’ll have to trust you……”
Haverstein sighed as he looked at the map again and muttered.
“Like I said, the border guards investigated for a long time before dismissing it as rumours. That’s because the Albana Mountains are so steep that it is impossible to think there is another route other than Pabiun Canyon. Moreover, winter is when the Albana Mountains is the most dangerous. It will be impossible to move 30,000 troops through Smuggler’s Pass.”
“Moving 30,000 troops isn’t necessary.”
Ark answered bluntly.
“What do you mean? There are tens of thousands of monsters stationed at the fortress. In order to fight against them……”
Haverstein spoke before suddenly closing his mouth. It was because of Ark’s response. His expression cleared and he nodded.
“The method you mentioned……”
“Yes. Currently the expedition can’t penetrate Pabiun Fortress because of the monsters stationed there. But to be precise, it isn’t because of the ‘monsters.’ The problem is that the Black Obelisk Forest would resurrect the killed monsters.”
That’s right. The monsters from Pabiun Fortress had received considerable damage from the expedition’s attacks. But the reason it didn’t fall was that the black obelisks restored the monsters after a period of time. The effects of Earth Blast lasted 24 hours so the monsters could be restored in time. Even if the Gripper died while using Earth Blast, they would just be restored so the situation repeated again and again. It might seem weak but it was a successful defense tactic. There was no doubt that someone was controlling the monsters.
‘The Black Obelisk Forest had deliberately been placed to the rear of the fortress so it isn’t possible to stop the resurrection. It’s also impossible for the users to go behind the fortress. It isn’t perfect but the movements could be controlled to some extent.’
It was unthinkable. But Ark had already heard from Global Exos that users were involved with the enemy. Then wouldn’t it be a user controlling the monsters in Pabiun Fortress?
‘But a user wouldn’t know about Smuggler’s Pass.’
Ark moved his finger along the line drawn on the map and smiled. He could use it to bypass the fortress and move to the Black Obelisk Forest.
“If we blow up the Black Obelisk Forest then the problem will be easily solved.”
Ark had thought of a plan the moment he received information about Smuggler’s Pass. Of course the black obelisks would just be restored. However, the time it took for the black obelisks to be restored was incomparable to the resurrection time of monsters. The court magicians determined that it took about a week to ten days to appear again after it was destroyed. They could wipe out the monsters and capture Pabiun Fortress in that time. Once they occupied the fortress than the resurrection of the obelisks wouldn’t be a problem anymore.
“But there will be quite a few monsters at the Black Obelisk Forest…..”
“Draw them out.”
Ark pointed to Pabiun Fortress on the map and said.
“Those who died in the battle yesterday will be restored by now. As you know, the number of monsters for each black obelisk is fixed. In other words, if those guys don’t die again then no more monsters will emerge from the Black Obelisk Forest. If the expedition force rallies all the troops and attacks Pabiun Fortress then all the resurrected monsters will attack.”
“You want us to attack the fortress until all the monsters leave the Black Obelisk Forest?”
“Yes. The Black Obelisk Forest is approximately 1 kilometre away from the fortress. You can just arrange the siege weapons and stay behind them to minimize the damage while attacking the monsters.”
“Certainly…..”
Haverstein murmured in a cheery voice. So a plan was developed to capture the impregnable fortress. But the success of the operation depended on one important prerequisite.
“In the end, the issue has returned to the starting point. If there are fewer troops then it will be easier to make it through Smuggler’s Pass. It will also take a minimum of one day to capture Pabiun Fortress after the obelisks were destroyed. In order to reach Silrinad before the Bristania expedition, you’ll have to get through Smuggler’s Pass and destroy the obelisks within three days.”
“It is possible. No, I’ll make it possible.”
“Then you will go?”
“If there is a warrior more reliable than me in the expedition then I will concede it to them.”
“…….Isn’t that impossible?”
Haverstein smiled and murmured. At the same time, an information window appeared in front of Ark.
-The Expedition’s Commander has accepted Ark-nim’s strategy.
* Art of Communication increased by 30.
* Political Power increased by 20.
* Achievements increased by 500.
-The Expedition Army’s Crusade (Event Quest)
+ Sub Quest: Blow up the ‘Black Obelisk Forest’ operation
The Schudenberg expedition has been blocked by monsters and is unable to cross the border to the Sinius Principality. Ark-nim has proposed a new operation and the Expedition Commander Haverstein accepted.
Operation Overview: Use the secret route that smugglers use to travel between Schudenberg and the Sinius Principality to bypass Pabiun Fortress and destroy the Black Obelisk Forest before the monsters can be restored. While the special attack corps is approaching the Black Obelisk Forest, the expedition army will attack Pabiun Fortress to draw the attention of the monsters.
Once Haverstein accepted Ark’s proposal, it was immediately registered as a sub quest. Of course, this mission wasn’t one that Ark could do alone. So Haverstein summoned the unit leaders and explained Ark’s plan. However, Haverstein’s decision was received with backlash from the leaders.
“You’re leaving such an important mission to the one in charge of supplies? It is ridiculous!”
“Even if he is the one who came up with the plan, this is too excessive!”
“Yes, a warrior should take over this mission!”
When the strategy was explained and Ark was designated the one in charge, the leaders immediately made a disturbance. The users also opposed it. This was a huge mission concerning the fate of the expedition. If the operation leader completed it successfully then they could get enormous achievement points. The users couldn’t give up such a chance. But Haverstein asked the room with a fierce expression.
“Do you really think Ark doesn’t deserve the mission?”
“Of course!”
The leaders answered simultaneously.
“Look again and answer. Do you really think there is anyone better than Ark?”
The unit leaders started at Ark after hearing the same question. In the next moment….. Their eyes widened with shock.
“Of course since he is a merchant…..heok, what, what the?”
“T-that was Lord Ark……then Lord Ark is……”
The leaders stuttered with a stunned expression. They looked at the place Ark was standing just now. But Ark wasn’t visible when they looked again. He had changed into a wolf with black fur. From Schudenberg to Seutandal, there were no users in New World who didn’t know the name Dark Wolf after he defended Lancel from the bandit group.
“He is Dark Wolf.”
Haverstein smiled and replied. The users’ doubts were also calmed after Dark Wold’s true identity was revealed.
“The ones that played a key role in the Bristania expedition were Bread and the magician Redian. But Schudenberg also has a warrior comparable to them. That person is Dark Wolf. Do you think there is anyone more qualified than him?”
The leaders all closed their mouths. After that the establishment of the special forces was quickly conducted. There was significant achievement points involved so there were many eager applicants.
‘But there is a time limit so it isn’t possible to take a lot of troops. 300 people should be suitable. We also have to quickly go through Smuggler’s Pass so the users should be at least level 300.’
Ark carefully looked around the troops and selected 300 people to share the quest with. It was a situation which emphasized speed so they also couldn’t bring many supplies. Equipment and food necessary for hiking was required. But there was one essential item that couldn’t be omitted.
-Starlight Bomb (Special)
A special bomb developed by the Magic Institute with Holy Power inscribed on it. It particularly exerts a strong power over enemies with the demonic attribute. The development isn’t perfect so it will take a significant amount of time for the bomb to blow up. But it has a strong explosive force that is capable to destroying the black obelisks. So it can be utilized to destroy the black obelisks.
“The fate of Schudenberg expedition lies with you.”
Haverstein said after handing over the Starlight Bombs to Ark. But the destiny of the Schudenberg expedition had never been on Ark’s mind.
‘I’m only interested in protecting the money! I can’t forgive any monsters that interfere in my business! I will blow all of them up!’
A motivated