Chapter 213: Chapter 212: The Team’s Progress
Ale opened her small notebook. "Over time, the Masked Lords have come to include many guild masters, Legendary Adventurers, and elites from all walks of life. Compared to before, it has become much more democratic.
"Also, because the Masked Lords use Magic Equipment to hide their identities, they theoretically cannot accept any bribes or threats, which ensures the fairness of their decisions."
And that was indeed the case.
When Colin had attended the welcoming banquet for the New Blood, the figures he saw wearing purple robes and gold masks were the Masked Lords.
The Magic Equipment concealed their body shapes and appearances; not even Prophetic Magic could determine their identities.
’This Half-Elf certainly had plenty of knowledge, she just didn’t know how to think.’
’As a Transmigrator,’ Colin thought, ’I saw so many different systems on the internet in my past life. Now, whenever I see something like this, I have a framework I can apply. Otherwise, there’d be no point in memorizing all this knowledge.’
"But I have another question, Mr. Colin."
Ale looked at her little notebook and said, "The books say there are still many allied kingdoms in the south. Why don’t they expand northward? After all, even if a city-state like Thousand Masts City is large, it’s still relatively weak compared to a kingdom."
"That’s why the City-States Alliance was formed."
Colin continued, "Thousand Masts City, Holy Tear City, Silver Star Court, Rommon, and many other Northern City-States have all joined the City-States Alliance.
"Although each city-state is highly autonomous and minor conflicts arise from time to time, they unite as one when faced with monster invasions or attacks from other kingdoms. By banding together like this, they don’t have to worry about the southern kingdoms’ expansion."
"Mm, I knew that part, but I don’t know why..."
Ale sighed and then asked, "So how did you notice all of this? I didn’t know any of it."
"Observation," Colin said. "Starting with the flatbread we just ate."
"The flatbread?"
"Yes."
"Look, half the people working in the Dock District are dockworkers. Their job is physically demanding and they’re short on time, so this kind of high-salt, high-energy food that you can eat on the go is bound to be popular."
Colin held up the wrap in his hand and said, "Ultimately, most things like human customs and systems are related to their geographical environment.
"Of course, it’s a different story for races like Orcs or Hobgoblins, which are heavily influenced by their Gods."
Ale nodded thoughtfully.
She then turned, gave Colin a slight nod, and said, "Thank you, Mr. Colin. You’re a very smart person."
"No need for thanks. This is also one of the conditions for you to join the party," Colin said with a wave of his hand.
The two of them continued chatting as they walked, and soon arrived at the entrance of the Black Heart Tavern.
Kase and Orelia, laden with bags of all sizes, were already waiting there.
Kase wore a thick leather jacket with a fur collar, giving him more of an Orcish look.
Orelia, on the other hand, hadn’t changed much.
On closer inspection, however, one could see that the small Round Shield on her back had been replaced by a much larger Kite Shield, and the clasps of Chain Armor could be faintly seen beneath her Leather Armor.
This was the defensive equipment she had spent a great deal of money to acquire from the Dwarves.
According to the system’s assessment, Orelia’s overall Defense was now two points higher than before—quite a significant improvement.
For a healer, Defense is very important. Unfortunately, this Tiefling’s physical constitution wasn’t great, so she probably wouldn’t be able to wear very heavy armor in the future. This was likely a lasting consequence of her wandering life as a child.
"Took you long enough, Colin," Kase said, sniffling.
"Why don’t you move into the Dock District in a couple of days? Then we could all head out together."
"I’ll need to make more money first," Kase said. "Gotta leave some for the tribe, and having those shorties modify my axe cost a lot, too."
"It’s a miracle they could modify that axe to be usable at all."
Colin said, glancing at the massive axe on Kase’s back.
The thing was still absurdly large. Although a few blood grooves had been carved into the axe head, it was doubtful how much weight they actually reduced. Several iron bands had been nailed around the rough handle for reinforcement, and a counterweight had been added to the end of the pommel to improve maneuverability.
[Super Battle Axe / Ordinary]
[Damage: 4-19]
[Unbearably Heavy: -4 to hit when used by a creature with less than twenty Power.]
After the modifications, they had at least managed to lower the Strength Attribute requirement to twenty points.
While the weapon was being modified, Kase kept insisting that heavier was better, while Langgrin argued that a weapon designed like that had no practical use. The two of them argued fiercely.
In the end, Kase still had to use his Frenzy state to wield the axe effectively.
Judging purely by the Panel, the axe’s maximum Damage was two points lower than before.
’However, with Kase’s Power, the axe’s damage is probably frighteningly high.’
"Mr. Colin, Miss Ale, could you help me?" Orelia said with a smile, walking up while holding two paper bags full of bread in her arms.
The two of them skillfully took the paper bags and went to distribute the bread to the struggling refugees.
As before, after the refugees had mostly finished eating, the four of them boarded the caravan Bob had recommended and set off north from Thousand Masts City.
The entire caravan consisted of four carriages.
The caravan leader had deliberately emptied one carriage for Colin’s party, squeezing its original cargo onto the other carriages. Colin’s group were also the caravan’s only guards.
After boarding the carriage, the group set off out of the city.
The slums fell away behind them as Colin surveyed the surrounding scenery.
Compared to when he had first left Thousand Masts City by carriage a few months ago, the golden waves of wheat were long gone, and the fields before him were now covered in a blanket of white snow.
Two of the blades had been removed from a distant windmill, and the canvas had been taken off the remaining ones. They drooped under their own weight, making the whole windmill look like a dejected Skeleton Giant.
The snow on the road wasn’t as clean as it was on the main avenues within the city.
Fortunately, most of the snow on the road had been packed down by other caravans, so it didn’t hinder the carriage’s progress, merely slowing it down slightly.
"First, we’ll head to Flint Village and check the tavern’s notice board for any bounties," Colin explained to the others. "If there’s nothing suitable, we’ll head further north and check other villages."
"I checked the bounty for White Frost again a few days ago. It’s up to three hundred Gold Coins," Kase bellowed. "You remember that one, right, Colin?"
Hearing this now, Colin didn’t feel particularly scared.
’It’s just a bear. Could it really be tougher than the Frost Giant Skeleton we faced before? We took down an opponent like that, so a slightly bigger bear should be no big deal.’
Colin smiled and said, "If we run into it, maybe we really can give it a try."
"Also, there’s another bounty that I’m sure you’ll be interested in," Kase added.
