Chapter 96: Secrets Hidden in Mist
Although Iron Bar Town was just an unremarkable small town in the empire, it played a crucial role—evenit could be said that one of the empire’s lifelines. Here lay a tremendous mission; here was stationed one of the empire’s eight great legions, the Black Tooth Legion. Here stood what was regarded as the strongest defensive wall on the continent, coupled with natural advantages that made its defenses nearly impregnable.
Here, there were always at least two warriors of the Sword Saint level, and countless mercenaries and magicians as well. This was Iron Bar Town—a town on the outskirts of Collins Forest, the empire’s defensive barrier against magical beast invasions and the guardian of the borderlands.
All these facts placed before Rod made the town seem filled with wonders, making it appear grand and magnificent in his eyes. Looking at the city walls surrounding the town, Rod wondered silently—was this really the town with so many miraculous aspects? It didn’t seem like the formidable defense described at all. Though it was slightly better than Fire City, it was still worlds apart compared to the imperial capital. He didn’t know how to describe it—his hopes were dashed by endless disappointment, leaving him at a loss for words. With a sigh, tinged with confusion and disappointment, he entered the town. Immediately, he was drawn to the bustling scene: over 80% of the people walking back and forth on the streets were mercenaries—various kinds, from individual fighters to groups of mercenaries. There were also countless magicians, with no shortage of tasks for them. He wondered how many people gathered here; none of them seemed ordinary. If these people could form an army, it would be strong enough to confront any formidable force—of course, assuming they could coordinate well.
Seeing these people, the noisy market, and the various stalls and shops, he thought to himself that if Iron Bar Town had strong defenses, these people must be a significant part of that strength. As he moved forward, passing by those mercenaries and observing the surroundings, he realized it truly was a place where mercenaries gathered. Over 50% of the shops here were armor stores, filled with all kinds of weapons and armor for the mercenaries to choose from. Right after that were hotels—numerous ones lining both sides of the streets, filled with lively chatter. There weren’t many other types of shops, and everything seemed simple, as if the town existed solely for mercenaries.
Looking at the late hour, with no intention of reaching the Warcraft Forest today, he found a small hotel and settled in. Almost everyone there were mercenary travelers, making it quite lively with a relaxed atmosphere. Seeing the mercenaries sitting in groups in the hall, drinking heavily and eating heartily, he smiled slightly. The occasional hearty laughter made the atmosphere even more lively. Of course, there were also conversations among men, as well as boasting after drinking—praising their own achievements and talking about recent events. There were also some major news stories, which were essential topics for conversation before and after meals. “It’s a pretty good place!” Feeling the atmosphere, Rod knew that from this moment on, he had stepped into a new realm, a new world, and a new life. He had to adapt quickly—survival of the fittest, and he couldn’t be the one left behind. Making up his mind, he went to his room, rested briefly, picked up a few personal items, left the rest unimportant things in the room, and headed downstairs. Gathering information was essential; otherwise, in an unfamiliar place, entering the dangerous Collins Forest alone tomorrow would be suicide. The best place to gather information was naturally the bar—a place full of mixed crowds where it was easiest to get news. After some searching, he found a small bar and went in. It seemed the bar was quite busy, with nearly a hundred people inside, all mercenaries! There were burly men, middle-aged strongmen, and even seemingly frail magicians! Laughter and chatter filled the air, making it hard to hear individual voices clearly. Frowning, he found an empty seat, ordered a cocktail, and sat quietly, pricking up his ears to listen carefully. All he needed to do now was listen. “Captain, we’re entering the Collins Forest tomorrow. Are you sure?” he faintly heard a man asking.
“What’s there to fear? When has our Wild Fox Mercenaries ever failed a mission? Hmph, this time we’ve invested heavily—going to such lengths for that guy. Out of fifty members, forty have come: one Gold Warrior, five Silver Warriors, eleven Bronze Warriors, twenty Advanced Warriors, and three Intermediate Warriors. This lineup isn’t the strongest, but no one else will get anything from us!” Another man retorted with a cold snort.
“Don’t be careless. Though our force is large this time, don’t forget the Silver Fox Mercenaries and several other large mercenary groups. I heard the Wolf Pack Mercenaries and the Giant Mercenaries have arrived too. Hmm, it’s said those five-star mercenary groups will also send people. Our strength pales in comparison to theirs, so don’t push yourself too hard. Act according to the situation—get what you can, and if not, there’s nothing we can do. There’s only one item, and with so many people here, don’t force it!” Another sigh followed, spoken anxiously by a middle-aged man.
Soon, the conversation of four people sitting at a table nearby caught Rod’s attention. What those three were talking about left Rod puzzled. The Wolf Pack Mercenaries and the Giant Mercenaries, two four-star mercenary groups, plus five-star groups—all coming for one thing? What could it be that warranted such attention and pursuit? If that were indeed the case, Rod believed the mercenary groups mentioned were only the surface-level forces; unseen, countless other organizations might have sent people as well. No wonder Iron Bar Town seemed so bustling today. The item they were competing over left Rod bewildered. If even five-star mercenary groups were involved, it must be something extraordinary.
His interest was immediately piqued, and he leaned forward slightly to hear more clearly.
“Hmm, true enough. It all depends on luck. Let’s finish our own mission first. By the way, Acher, are the rations, weapons, and necessary supplies ready? We’ll set off early tomorrow morning!”
“Everything’s ready. Hey, that damned guy—causing all this fuss without even knowing what’s going to happen!”
……
After listening for nearly an entire night, Rod still hadn’t gotten the information he wanted from them. They never revealed what that item was, and even after they left, he remained confused, only able to guess it might be some kind of magical beast. This only deepened Rod’s frustration.
But he gained a lot from the rest, and even learned some practical experiences that he believed would be very helpful to him. He thought to himself that Rod knew he hadn’t come here in vain this time!
In the following time, by listening carefully to the conversations of others, Rod learned a great deal. He also heard them mention that thing, but everyone referred to it by a code name without revealing any specific details, which only deepened his confusion.
Like a sponge absorbing vast amounts of experience and information, Rod was so engrossed that he forgot about time and didn’t want to leave that place. It wasn’t until evening, when fewer people were around and there was still half a cocktail left in his glass, that he decided to head back to the hotel.
With a sense of reluctance and frustration, he left the bar. The streets gradually quieted down, and he returned to his hotel. Once in his room, he organized the information he had gathered. Thinking that he would be entering Collins Forest the next day, Rod sighed bitterly. At least he still had three things to prepare.
“The first thing is to prepare maps and manuals for Collins Forest. These were created by strong warriors who have entered Collins Forest over the years after summarizing their experiences. There are detailed maps from the outside to the middle of the forest, and if you have enough money, you can even get maps of the interior. As for who created them, that’s unknown.
The small manual explains various situations, the distribution and levels of magical beasts, as well as restricted areas. These are essential items before entering Collins Forest, and he learned about them at the bar. He was secretly glad he had gone there; otherwise, entering without any preparation would have been suicidal.
The second thing is to prepare dry food and necessary medicines—their usefulness goes without saying. These are easy to obtain. The third thing is armor, weapons, and daily necessities that must be carried!”
Thinking about these three things, Rod frowned. The rest were manageable, but when it came to armor, his mood soured. Damn armor! It reminded him of the flimsy set of armor he had managed to get in the capital, thinking he had struck a great deal. But in reality—!
Thinking of this, he took out his bundle, touched the armor inside, and sighed. Opening it, though he couldn’t use it, he still couldn’t bear not to take a look. With a sigh, he slowly opened the bundle, unwilling to face the thing that had caused him so much pain.
“What’s going on!” In the next moment, Rod’s incredulous voice came from inside the room. He stood there with wide eyes, unable to believe what he saw. What lay before him filled him with shock and confusion, stirring up turmoil in his heart like a thunderbolt out of nowhere.