Chapter One Hundred Eighteen: Opening the Way

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【...Perhaps among the mountains, you will find what you are looking for and reap the rewards you need.】

"Is this just the same old answer?"

Colin rubbed his forehead, deciding not to press for more information.

Afterward, he began processing the "special talent" solutions while waiting for the "potato boom" to subside.

Yesterday, they had successfully induced the growth of over six thousand "potato sprouts," consuming more than a thousand Mist Points. They then planned to sell each sprout for ten Mist Points.

During the first half-hour of sales, all six thousand sprouts were snapped up, earning them a substantial amount of "Mist Points."

Following this, they continued to invest their earnings back into inducing more potato growth, greedily accumulating various other resources. This cycle would continue until the price of the potato sprouts stabilized and the profit margin vanished.

Just as with the "Blood of Filth" before, his primary goal was to spread the potatoes, allowing people to further loosen the system's shackles and reliance, ensuring they would have an easier time facing the coming disasters.

More accurately, if one day the system stopped issuing even black bread, they would still have food to fill their stomachs.

"...Let's see, on average, one potato plant should produce at least 200 sprouts. They get harvested as soon as they sprout, over and over again..."

Tsk... Colin couldn't help but imagine some rather decadent imagery.

Without dwelling on it, Colin led his people out of the "Level 5 Underground Stronghold."

Almost the moment he crawled out of the bunker, a thick, foul stench assaulted his nose, and Colin frowned slightly.

"A familiar smell..."

He raised an eyebrow but didn't pay it much mind. Once everyone was out, he looked at the manhole cover, and information appeared before his eyes.

【You are attempting to relocate your Level 5 Territory. This choice will cost 10,000 Mist Points. Confirm?】

Just as Colin was about to confirm with a pained heart, Russell, having thought of something, spoke up:

"By the way, aren't you going to leave these four survivors behind? And shouldn't you recruit some people into the territory? I see you're quite good at making money; you shouldn't be short on funds."

"Can it hold people while moving?" Colin was stunned; he truly hadn't considered that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought those four "dead weights" along.

【You surmise that you are merely moving the "entrance" to this space. As the space itself is the main body, it will not be greatly affected, though the interior and exterior worlds cannot pass through each other during the move.】

"...My ignorance is showing."

Colin pondered for a moment, trying to guess how many people would be appropriate to recruit. Excluding the costs for researching new explosives, expanding the war chariot, building a second war chariot, and even the plans for a Level 4 Territory...

【You believe that three hundred people might be the best choice, retaining two hundred Level 2 servants and one hundred Level 3 servants...】

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Watching the prompts continue to emerge, Colin’s breath suddenly hitched.

【You will spend... 24,900 Mist Points.】

Too, too expensive...

Colin’s brain throbbed; it felt less like his heart was bleeding and more like he’d been stabbed.

But...

After calculating carefully, this was indeed the better choice; it just depended on whether one could accept the cost.

Without hesitating too long, Colin took the group back into the stronghold, browsed the trading market, and bought several servants that others didn't want—those with minor injuries but otherwise in good condition.

To his surprise, he saved nearly a thousand Mist Points this way!

Some people were looking to offload their Level 3 servants for just a few dozen Mist Points and a bit of food.

Soon, all three hundred servants were in place, standing in neat rows under the sharp commands of Number One.

"I'll leave this to you, Number One. You must ensure they are proficient with the artillery and keep their 'High Spirits' status maintained..."

Colin patted Number One on the shoulder, leaving the dozen or so cannons behind, along with the four survivors.

Finally, he left three bottles of red potion for everyone to drink.

Diluted with water.

"Yes!" Number One straightened his back and replied.

While the two were talking, the three beautiful maids were looking at Russell:

"Are you really not staying? You clearly need more rest..."

*I need to be outside to rest. Right now, I have to lean against the wall just to make sure I don't splash outside when I use the restroom...*

Russell thought to himself while rubbing his kidneys, a smile appearing on his dark-circled face:

"It's fine, just stay here and be well..."

"How about we come along? We can take care of your meals and everyone else's..." the "cook" maid whispered.

*Then when would I get any rest? And this isn't safe at all...* Russell quickly rejected her request.

"It's dangerous outside. Just eat your fill; you don't need to eat well. In short, just wait for me here. Don't worry."

Before long, Colin spent the 10,000 Mist Points to initiate the move of the Level 5 Underground Stronghold.

Soon, the manhole cover detached from the ground and shrank to the size of a palm.

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To open it again, one only needed to toss it on the ground and visualize the intent...

"The Level 5 Underground Stronghold is too convenient. Since it can hold people while moving, couldn't it be used for all sorts of unexpected tactics?"

When surrounded and pushed into a desperate corner, just toss the manhole cover on the ground, and one hundred thousand soldiers would come to the rescue...

No, it’s more likely they’d just get crushed at the entrance; it's too narrow...

Without overthinking it, Colin tucked it into his backpack, led the group out of the "Family Graveyard," and returned to the gloomy sky.

In the short day or so, the outside world didn't seem to have changed; it remained just as dim, oppressive, and unsettling.

Beneath the mountains, that light still diffused across the sky, as if it had been there since time immemorial.

Colin looked toward the direction of the light and triggered a prompt.

【Perhaps in less than a day's journey, you will reach the place known as the "Ruins of High Court."】

【Warning! A Lord-level aberration resides there that you cannot avoid!】

*A gatekeeper?* Colin muttered. He wasn't too worried; with the advantage of a preemptive strike, he didn't fear Lord-level aberrations much.

What he feared was a situation like the "Withered Olive" land, where he was caught off guard from the start and unable to resist.

However, with the assistance of the "prompt," as long as he prepared well, he wouldn't fall easily.

"Right, let's recount the numbers... 22 people. Looks like we're good."

Colin’s original group consisted of 21 people. After leaving Number One and a few "veterans" behind to guard the manhole, he had recruited a few newcomers.

Then, Number One’s deputy took over as the temporary leader.

With the addition of the newcomer Russell, the group size hadn't suddenly ballooned, so there was no need to worry about any mandatory group activities.

After making sufficient preparations, Colin led his team into action.

At this moment, the mountains were shrouded in gloom, with only the dim, scattered glow of various-sized luminescent stones providing light.

The surroundings were silent, as if danger and peril lurked everywhere.

Just then, a bright flame pierced through the long-standing darkness of this desolate place.

In the lamplight, Colin carried a lantern, his boots treading on the uneven mountain soil, leading his group as they wove through the withered trees that littered the landscape.

The path was blocked everywhere by withered shrubs; there was no road leading forward.

But, with one swing of an axe, a path was made.