ACT3 Smugglers Pass

Hwiiiing!

Cold wind raged around the valley like a piece of ice.Snow was piled up from a snowstorm that ended a while ago but the wind blew it everywhere like a storm.In the midst of this white storm was a black wolf.

Phew

The black wolf, also known as Ark, sighed.

I expected it but this really is no joke.

Ark said as he looked at the area where he had to cross.Ark was currently in a deep valley halfway up a mountain.He was also grabbing protruding stones on a cliff like someone rock climbing.It wasnt just Ark stuck on the cliff.Shambala, Lariette and 200 chosen people from the expedition force wearing thick fur followed Ark.All of them were using gear to grab the protruding rocks.But recently those protruding rocks couldnt be seen at all.

We cant move this way anymore.

Ark examined his map and the surrounding terrain before shaking his head.Then he turned his eyes to a cliff opposite him that was dozens of metres away.

Racard, check the cliff on the other side.

Okay.

Racard emerged from Arks thick fur from changing into Dark Wolf.He flapped his wings and flew to the other cliff before returning after a while.

I checked it. There is a way to move down on the opposite cliff.

Im glad. I was worried we would have to turn back. Shambala.

Ark turned around and grabbed the rope that Shambala pulled out of his bag.Ark then tied the rope firmly to a stone nearby and gave the other end to Racard.

Find a suitable rock on the other side and tie it firmly.

I understand.

Racard flew to the other cliff while holding the rope.The snowstorm was intense and he couldnt check it fully but the rope stretching between the two cliffs seemed to tighten.And Racard immediately flew back.

Thats it. I tied it firmly so it wont come loose.

Ark pulled the rope several times and confirmed the weight that could be safely held by the rope.There was a loud roar in the distance.The winds that blew in the valley were so rough that anything would shake.No, if it was already a different rope then it wouldve probably already been broken.However, the rope Shambala carried was a magic item with high durability so it didnt break that easily.

It is windy so only 1 person should move at a time.Ill move to the other side first to check it out.

Yes, please be careful.

Lariette blew out a white breath as she replied.Ark nodded before using the rope to move to the other cliff.

Ku ku ku ku, ku ku ku ku!

It happened when he was 2/3rd of the way there.All of a sudden the entire mountain seemed to shake.

Again! Everybody stick closely to the cliff!

Shambala shouted as he clung to the cliff.In fact, this was a snow covered mountain and light earthquakes occurred a few times.But even a light earthquake was a tremendous threat to the people on the cliff.Small stones falling from the cliff above them could deal huge damage.Dozens of people without any rope had previously been hit on the head and lost their lives.But fortunately that unhappy accident didnt occur this time.

Phew, we survived that one.

Ark holding onto the rope as well as Shambala, Lariette and the 200 troops sighed with relief.However, this time the problem wasnt the rocks falling from the cliff.

Ku ku ku ku, ku ku ku ku, ku ku ku ku!

What the? Theres no shaking so where is this sound coming from?

Ark tilted his head to one side and looked at the cliff.Shambala who was surveying the area paled and cried out with a stricken look.

Ark, the valley!

Ark reflexively looked and he also paled like Shambala.A huge tidal wave was pushing through the valley at tremendous speed towards Ark.The huge tidal wave consisted of snow and rock!Thats right. The snow piled up on the upper reaches of the valley had collapsed, causing an avalanche.Ark who confirmed the avalanche quickly moved his eyes to the other side of the valley.It would take at least 3~4 minutes to reach the other side of the valley.That was enough time for Ark to be turned into finely minced meat.

Damn, its already late! Everybody climb up as much as possible before the avalanche hits!

Shambala shouted and the soldiers quickly ascended the precipice with their gear.However, Ark who was dangling from the middle of the rope stared blankly.

Oh my god, the destination is right in front of my nose!

A voice filled with exhaustion flowed from Arks mouth.Ark thought back to yesterday evening when he had received the information from Lariette.

Please explain more!

The scene had returned to yesterday evening when Ark had grasped Lariettes hand.Ark quickly dropped his hands and the two people blushed..

Anyway, Lariette explained the secret passage in detail.

The minstrel called it Smugglers Pass.

Smugglers Pass?

Originally smugglers use this pass to move items between Schudenberg and the Sinius Principality.So it was called Smugglers Pass.

Anyway, it is possible to go beyond Pabiun Fortress using this passage?

Yes. I guess but

Lariette sighed as she looked through her memory and shook her head.

I said that but I dont remember too well.

You dont remember? What?

Its been two years since Ive gone through that path so I dont remember the whole way.It was also summer when I went through there.The path is also quite steep so at least 20 of my colleagues had died.The minstrel said that Smugglers Path is a dangerous place where the smuggler had to risk their lives.I dont know what it will be like in winter

That isnt a problem.

Ark said with flames in his eyes.If the Bristania expedition took the leadership then Haverstein would be replaced as commander.Then Arks monopoly rights would fly away.Ark would have a huge amount of stock and go bankrupt.It wasnt simply the game that he would become bankrupt in.He would also become bankrupt in reality.It was a problem with his life at stake!He had to do everything possible to pass through Pabiun Fortress.He couldnt hesitate in the game just because there was a risk of dying.

Ill take care of the rest so Lariette-nim should just tell me what you remember.

Ark listened to Lariettes expression and indicated the location on the map of the Albana Mountains.Ark was able to figure out the approximate route of Smugglers Pass.

But I cant just go there blindly with only Lariette-nims words.I have to gather information about the surrounding terrain.

Summon Demon, Racard!

Ark gave the map to Racard and said.

Check the terrain carefully and mark any difficult spots on the map.

What? You want me to fly around the freezing snowy mountains?

If you complete this well then Ill give you one holiday whenever you want.

Really?

This is important.

Understood!

Racard flew towards the mountains with an expression filled with desire for a holiday.Arks life was valuable so he needed to check the route meticulously.If Ark died several times then he could recover the stats lost.But if he incurred a debt and became bankrupt then he wouldnt be able to recover.Thats why Ark meticulously checked everything despite not having much time.It was quicker than having to turn back several times.Once again, Ark would become bankrupt if the Bristania expedition was in charge.And the time remaining was 6~7 days.If the Schudenberg expedition captured Pabiun Fortress in 2~3 days then they would take a few days to move to the Silrinad.

The expedition could use the Smugglers Pass to capture Pabiun Fortress.The problem is that there are only four days left.If a problem occurred on Smugglers Pass then everything would be finished.There is only one chance.Despite the urgency in my heart, I have to collect as much information as possible to increase the chances of success.

This was Arks judgement.So he impatiently waited for Racard to return.After 12 hours had passed, Racard tearfully returned with a runny nose.

Ohh..c-cold, everything seems to be frozen.

Did you examine it?

I-I checked it. There is a lot of snow piled up but Master should somehow be able to move to the other side of the mountain.Well, thats by my standards.The places that I saw are indicated separately.

Racard replied as he handed back the map.He opened the map and saw the new route that Racard drew.The parts that Lariette couldnt remember and had been left blank were connected with dots.

Okay. Ive secured the necessary information!

Ark immediately visited Haverstein with the information.

Viscount-nim, I have a way to solve this!

A way? What are you suddenly saying?

Haverstein asked.He was still worrying about the news that Bristania was marching towards Silrinad.

A way to capture Pabiun Fortress.

Capture Pabiun Fortress? What is it?

Haverstein hurriedly asked.Ark opened the map on the table and summarized Lariette and Racards information.Haverstein frowned at the map before he looked towards Ark.

This issmugglers? Smugglers Pass?

Did you know about it?

Haverstein stared at Ark with an astonished expression before shaking his head and saying.

No, Ive 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 couldnt find anything so I thought it was just a rumourit really exists?Where did you get this information?

Should he say that a minstrel in a tavern gave the information? Judging by Haversteins anxious expression, he couldnt joke around at a time like this.

I got my hands on it accidentally.

The route drawn on this map is really Smugglers Pass?

Yes. The person who told me is reliable and I confirmed the information using my pet.

If you say so then Ill 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.Thats 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 Smugglers Pass.

Moving 30,000 troops isnt 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 Arks response. His expression cleared and he nodded.

The method you mentioned

Yes. Currently the expedition cant penetrate Pabiun Fortress because of the monsters stationed there.But to be precise, it isnt because of the monsters.The problem is that the Black Obelisk Forest would resurrect the killed monsters.

Thats right. The monsters from Pabiun Fortress had received considerable damage from the expeditions attacks.But the reason it didnt 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 isnt possible to stop the resurrection.Its also impossible for the users to go behind the fortress. It isnt 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 wouldnt it be a user controlling the monsters in Pabiun Fortress?

But a user wouldnt know about Smugglers 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 Smugglers 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 wouldnt 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 dont 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 Smugglers 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, youll have to get through Smugglers Pass and destroy the obelisks within three days.

It is possible. No, Ill 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.

.Isnt that impossible?

Haverstein smiled and murmured.At the same time, an information window appeared in front of Ark.

-The Expeditions Commander has accepted Ark-nims strategy.

* Art of Communication increased by 30.

* Political Power increased by 20.

* Achievements increased by 500.