Firefly Journey

Chapter 133 Walking in the Snow (6)

"Where...are you going next?" Lin Yuanran asked.

Before coming, Cassius Bello had told him that if he encountered difficulties in the North, he could seek help from the Nell brothers. At the time, Lin Yuanran inquired about the details and learned that the Nell brothers had already gathered several small tribes in the north, forming an alliance, and now their power was considerable.

These brothers were originally fugitives from the principality, so it's quite remarkable that they've managed to thrive in the North.

Lin Yuanran's way of contacting them was also very simple: Cassius's clay figurines, one for each student in Class 29. Even if they were at the ends of the earth, Cassius could know their whereabouts at any time.

He wasn't familiar with the Nell brothers, and since he could support himself, there was no need to bother them.

Claudia said, "Black Mountain Tribe."

"Black Mountain Tribe?"

"Yes, the Black Mountain tribe is a tribe of dark-skinned minotaurs. They are physically strong and have survived in the North Wind Tundra for thousands of years. They are still one of the most powerful tribes in the North."

Claudia relaxed her brow: "Three years ago, I saved their tribe's young chieftain, so they were the first people I formed an alliance with."

The races of the ancient continent are diverse, and they share a common characteristic: the harsher the environment in which a race lives, the stronger its physique and willpower.

The Minotaur tribe is one of the best tribes in the North. If Claudia could form an alliance with them, her confidence in vying for the throne would be greatly strengthened.

Lin Yuanran weighed the current situation in his mind. Boros had suddenly launched an attack, and the two people who had gone with him to find the reporter were likely already dead. Victor was missing, and it would be extremely difficult for him, a mere St. Louis student, to reverse the predicament.

However, he had his teacher's clay figure, and although he didn't want to bother the Nell brothers, he could still inquire about the situation in the North.

Since the other party allowed Mr. Victor to leave the camp on his own, it means they did not intend to harm him. Otherwise, there would have been no need for such trouble. Boros had many opportunities to make a move, and if he wanted to, he would have done so long ago. Why go through all this trouble?

Viktor's greatest value lies in his identity as a war correspondent.

So his usefulness lay solely in broadcasting the battlefield situation through the media. Clearly, the war in the northern tundra was caused by the Debasa Empire, and naturally, they did not want to reveal their brutality to the people of the Pan-Ancient Continent.

Lin Yuanran quickly sorted out his thoughts and guessed that the other party probably wanted to control or coerce Viktor into working for the Empire, thereby achieving the goal of beautifying the Empire.

Of course, anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that in recent years, the military power of the Debasa Empire has grown increasingly powerful, posing a threat to all countries on the continent. No matter how it tries to whitewash itself, it cannot escape the fate of being hated.

However, regardless of race, the people at the bottom of society do not actually have a deeper level of thinking. They are often only concerned with their daily meals and have no idea about the level of power transition.

If Lin Yuanran hadn't taken over this body, and if Cassius hadn't taken him out of Torreg Town, Ario might still be an ordinary small-town boy, worrying about a piece of black bread every day. He wouldn't have had the extra energy to think about the conflicts between countries. He would rather have spent that time thinking about how to get his next meal.

It's somewhat ironic that the Debasa Empire was simultaneously expanding its military power while also being mindful of its reputation. However, a good reputation is crucial; it creates a favorable impression on potential subjects, facilitating their assimilation.

After careful consideration, Lin Yuanran roughly understood who his opponent was.

The other party is very likely the Empire's forces in the North!

Thinking of this, Lin Yuanran suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. The gap was too big. He even wanted to give up. It was just 3 gold coins. He could earn that by doing other things.

It was just a thought. Lin Yuanran felt that since he had accepted the commission, he had to be responsible to the end. Unless something threatened his life or property, he had to do it.

He secretly resolved that he would try his best to find Viktor by any means necessary, and would give up if he encountered problems beyond his capabilities.

Lin Yuanran revealed his theory about the enemy, and Claudia agreed wholeheartedly.

Although there are many vagrants and bandits in the North, they are not a significant force. If there were a superhuman skilled in mental magic, they would not be just a group of bandits.

The northern tribes, who were actually victims of the empire's invasion, were eager to expose the empire's actions to the world, so how could they possibly lay a hand on a war correspondent?

Using the process of elimination, it's not hard to conclude that this is most likely the work of the Empire.

Lin Yuanran said, "If you successfully form an alliance with the Black Mountain Tribe, could you help me persuade them to help find Mr. Victor?"

One person's strength is ultimately limited, but if more people are mobilized, the probability of finding the reporter will be greater.

Lin Yuanran had already sent a message to the Nell brothers through the Mudman, but that was still not enough. There were many tribes in the northern tundra, and the more help they could get, the better.

Claudia thought for a moment and said, "No problem. In the eyes of the northern tribes, war correspondents are people who come to help them. They respect them and I believe they will be happy to serve."

"When do we leave?"

Claudia took out a map from her spatial artifact, marked the location of the Black Mountain Tribe, and then traced her finger across the map before finally landing on a point that roughly indicated their current location.

“It’s about ten kilometers to the north, not too far,” Claudia said.

Lin Yuanran asked, "Do you have any people in the Black Mountain Tribe?"

Claudia nodded: "Yes, the main body of the Black Mountain tribe is indeed minotaurs, but they are never xenophobic. If they conquer other tribes, or refugees and bandits, they will also absorb them to strengthen the tribe's power."

My people infiltrated in this way. Lisa handled everything; I don't know exactly who it was. However, we definitely have a special way of contacting each other. Once we get there, everything will be fine.

"Hmm." Lin Yuanran responded, sticking half his head out of the tree hole. The wind and snow had lessened a bit.

"It's already dawn. Should we go now, or..." Lin Yuanran asked.

Claudia was alright; she slept for a while after finishing her watch over the first half of the night. Lin Yuanran, however, was overwhelmed with the reporter's situation and had no sleepiness whatsoever.

Claudia said understandingly, "Why don't you rest for a while, and then we'll set off?"

Lin Yuanran said, "No need. Without the Blackwing Tiger, given our speed and this damn weather, it will probably take us several times longer than normal to cover a dozen kilometers. It's better to set off sooner, as the snow has lessened considerably now."

"As long as you're okay."

Claudia emerged from the tree hole, letting the snowflakes fall on her as if nothing had happened.

Lin Yuanran then came out. The temperature outside was extremely low, and he couldn't help but tighten his clothes.

Claudia reached out and handed her a glass bottle:

"I can't carry men's clothes with me all the time. Here, take this bottle of red sorghum liquor. It will warm you up a lot after you finish it."