The Black Mountain Blockade

Chapter 57: The Black Mountain Blockade

As they approached the northern exit of Forgotten Valley, a static fortress stood tall before them. The entire structure was built with black stone, and the city walls reached an impressive height of about 40 meters, spanning the length of Forgotten Valley. The fortress resembled an iron wall, stubbornly blocking any passage from Forgotten Valley. To proceed beyond Forgotten Valley, one had to pass through the Black Mountain Blockade.

However, upon closer inspection, the fortress was not as formidable as imagined. In fact, it appeared more like an elderly person. The walls were damaged, and the exterior seemed worn-out, indicating a lack of maintenance over the years. Originally, the fortress was constructed by the Purcell Family to prevent Magic Beasts from Carrion Swamp from entering Purcell Duchy through Forgotten Valley. However, these Magic Beasts had long since settled in the Black Wasteland and never made their way to Forgotten Valley. Consequently, the fortress fell into obscurity, with only a minimal garrison for public safety.

While the Black Mountain Blockade lacked an official garrison, its fighting strength was not to be underestimated. Numerous adventurers and mercenaries resided there, making it a place of unpredictable power. However, the presence of these individuals also contributed to the chaotic public security in the Black Mountain Blockade. The city garrison officers had a hard time maintaining order since adventurers and mercenaries were known to be unruly and prone to violence. Even the elite City Defense Force struggled to control them effectively.

As a result, the Black Mountain Blockade had transformed into a joint administration by several major Mercenary Groups and Merchants. Each group and merchant had their own domain, coexisting peacefully without encroaching on each other. However, due to the lack of tax revenue from this region, Purcell Duchy did not invest in maintaining the area. Consequently, the Black Mountain Blockade gradually became a haven for mercenaries, adventurers, and even fugitives.

This situation reflected the condition of the Black Wasteland itself—a treacherous place. For Purcell Duchy, the Black Mountain Blockade served as a secure border garrison since there were no enemies in the vicinity. This made it an attractive spot for all sorts of people, both good and bad. If the Black Wasteland had been more prosperous, the Black Mountain Blockade would have held strategic importance as a border garrison, allowing for trade and substantial tax revenue. However, the present circumstances relegated it to a mere oversight.

Given this situation, the city garrison of the Black Mountain Blockade was underwhelming for Green. He had no intention of entering through the main entrance and drawing attention. Instead, he chose to cross the city walls discreetly and disappear into Black Mountain City.

Black Mountain City boasted a vibrant commercial scene with weapon stores, medicine shops, equipment vendors, taverns, hotels, and restaurants scattered throughout. However, general consumer goods were scarce, as the majority of inhabitants consisted of adventurers, mercenaries, and very few ordinary people.

Green wasn't interested in most of the goods but managed to find a secluded equipment store. There, he purchased five black Magic Robes, complete with hats and long wooden Magic Staves. He also bought a set of armor for himself, not the most visually appealing but functional. The armor's most important feature was its helmet, which fully concealed Green's face.

The Magic Robes were intended for Zhao Hai, enabling him to play the role of a Dark Magician. Dark Magicians favored the thick, oversized Magic Robes with large hats that covered their entire faces. This attire had become the symbol of Dark Magicians and set them apart from other magicians. The armor Green purchased was for himself to play the role of a Magician's follower. It was common for Magicians to have followers, and these followers could assist them in battle and other tasks.

After buying the necessary items, Green also purchased some gear commonly used by mercenaries, including a mercenary backpack. This backpack was standard equipment for every mercenary and adventurer. Since they spent most of their time outdoors, they carried various supplies, rations, and spoils of war in these backpacks.

Green's intention was not to stay in the Black Mountain Blockade permanently. They were merely passing through, and nobody paid much attention to anyone passing by in this city. With Purcell Family's weak presence and lack of control in the area, Green wasn't worried.

Despite leaving the Black Mountain Blockade, Green remained vigilant and carefully observed his surroundings as he made his way into the mountains. He couldn't help but regard every bush and tree as a potential threat.

After navigating through the mountains, ensuring he wasn't being followed, Green arrived at the location where he intended to activate the seal. Without delay, the entrance to the space opened up, and Green swiftly entered. Once inside, the entrance closed, and tranquility returned.

Zhao Hai monitored the situation outside from within the space. He noticed Green carrying the large backpack and was momentarily surprised. Although the backpack's appearance reminded him of the mountaineering bags from his previous life on Earth, the material and craftsmanship were different. It lacked zippers and had coarser stitching, but the resemblance was striking.

Curious, Zhao Hai asked, "Grandpa Green, what did you buy that backpack for? We can't use it."

Green smiled and replied, "Of course, we don't need it for its intended purpose. However, having this backpack can help conceal the existence of the space. After all, Space Equipment is a rare commodity on the continent."

Zhao Hai immediately understood Green's intention and nodded in agreement, "You're right. I almost forgot about that." Green smiled and handed Zhao Hai the Magic Staff, saying, "This staff is also functional. It may not be the best, but it's lightweight and won't tire you out. The backpack contains a Magic Robe for you to wear."

Zhao Hai nodded and took the Magic Staff and the backpack. The Magic Staff was made of an unknown wood, light and slender, more like a bamboo pole than a sturdy weapon. However, Zhao Hai didn't spend much time examining it. He proceeded to the thatched-roof hut, discarding the Noble clothing that had been provided to him. The garments were magnificent but inconvenient for his current lifestyle. Since he had many tasks at hand, he needed clothes that allowed for easy movement. Merine understood this, and Green also didn't object. After all, Zhao Hai wasn't a person who cared about appearance. He now wore a set of wide, comfortable warrior's attire that had been slightly modified by Merine to fit him better. The loose fit allowed for optimal mobility, which suited Zhao Hai's needs perfectly.