Steel steam and flame

The journey became much more boring before we entered the border area. Isa and the others showed no signs of vigilance at all. Cassia followed Toynby, listening to his explanation of the border line from time to time.

This man-made primeval forest spreads along almost all the borders of the Flame Alliance, forming a winding line. However, like the empire, large areas of the border area have always been uninhabited areas. Unless there are natural mountains blocking it, there will not be any inhabited areas. The forest area in some places is equivalent to that of a small country, but the width of most forest defense lines is about five to six hundred kilometers, which also makes the cities of the Flame Alliance look more crowded. But this is only a comparison between the Empire and the Far Sea Commonwealth. The three giant countries never lack land area and necessary resource reserves.

"The acephaphyllus tree that the deputy just mentioned is just one of the defense measures in this primeval forest. There are many vines with poisonous thorns on the plant traps, and there are also some mushrooms that grow under the dead leaves all year round. Plant-like plants multiply in large areas, and the spores they emit are poisonous. The difference is only in strength. In addition, according to the characteristics of the Flame Alliance, they have also specially raised a large number of second-type creatures in these primitive In the forest, but not in a free-range form. One such creature is enough to destroy the ecological balance of a large forest. A certain time will be selected, driven by professional animal trainers, to conduct a sweep of the defense line. "

"The time of the sweep is unknown, at least we have never encountered it in these years." Toyinby said happily, "A few other forces were unlucky enough to encounter it. According to their description, 90% It was impossible for anyone to survive the sweep, and at that time they had no other idea except to run away desperately.”

"Think about it, every time you enter the Flame Alliance from the border, there are unknown risks associated with it."

"I hope it won't happen this time." Cassia added. Toynby shrugged, "Don't worry, we are all lucky people."

Three hours passed quickly, and we were thirty or forty kilometers deep into the forest, but compared to the total width, it was only a small number. In another half hour, Cassia and the others successfully joined the assisting team. But there were only three teams with a total of fifty-four people waiting there. Isa explained that the teams were dispersed to prevent the number of people from exposing themselves. But in the end they will all meet up at the seller's stronghold.

In Cassia's opinion, apart from the necessary combatants, the rest of the assisting team are mobile warehouses. Ammunition and spare weapons, necessary pharmaceutical reagents, protective clothing, and a lot of compressed high-energy food, etc. These things are all fastened to the metal frame in an orderly manner, and the metal frame is designed by professionals and relies on the operator's physical strength. While not interfering with the basic mobility, it also maximizes the carrying capacity.

After training and running in many times, without Isa giving orders, after exchanging some information with the three captains, the team immediately dispersed into several small teams, separated by dozens of meters from each other, and began to move towards the seller's stronghold. The four adjutants were also separated, but Cassia was placed near the middle, very close to those who served as mobile warehouses. Knowing that this new member is taking care of herself, it suits Cassia's idea. Having the experience of crossing the southern forest in the empire, this ordinary forest will not be difficult at all.

Soon after advancing, Cassia discovered that each member of the team's rear wing was carrying a small water bottle that dripped slowly. Although there is no smell, it should be a reagent used to mask the smell. Seeing that Isa and others didn't care much about the traces, Cassia could only treat it as this was enough. Originally, she wanted to take out the blade, but after thinking about it, Cassia decided to observe it for more time before making the next step.

The route forward is not a straight line. I learned from Toynby during the break that the route from the border to the interior of the Flame Alliance is never straight. It is a winding route. Sometimes in order to avoid certain dangerous areas, Going around in a big circle is also common. On the border, there are not only teams that patrol back and forth on time, but also some permanent agencies. Toynby calls them "forest guards". Similar to secret sentries and early warning personnel, they are all people who are good at hiding. They are usually a team of three to five people and live on the border all year round.

Encountering forest guards is also a troublesome matter, because they can send out signals at any time and attract a large number of patrols. In an emergency, the Fire Alliance border military base somewhere unknown will dispatch troops to assist.

However, the response method is roughly the same as that of the patrol team, just give money. This kind of thing happens everywhere, and no one can have trouble with money. Cassia recently let him go because of the association's affairs, and because of the conditions of the captain of the association headquarters. After all, in many cases, with a little reconciliation, the final result can often satisfy both parties.

By mid-afternoon, the mist formed by the acetaminophen trees dissipated. After taking off the mask, the team's march speed increased significantly. But then evening came, and the forest fell into darkness ahead of time. Isa ordered to choose a place with many ancient trees to rest and wait until the next day to continue the operation.

At this time, the captains who each led people to conduct surveys around the resting place returned. One of the captains found Isa, and after a short conversation, Cassia, Toyinbi and others were called in. Three other captains followed along with several people in the team who were familiar with the Flame Alliance.

After walking about five or six hundred meters, a group of people stopped by an ancient tree. The roots on the ground were bunched together, full of explosive power. On these roots, there are several marks left by sharp claws, about thirty centimeters long.

"It was only left in the last day or two. I found three places. There should be more than these." said the captain who made the discovery.

"Traces of wolf claws." At this time, a team member said, he touched the claw marks left with his hand, and got closer and smelled, "It's a gray wolf, probably the most common one. But I can’t tell whether it’s a mutant, but it doesn’t have a special smell, so it’s definitely not toxic and not very dangerous.”

"Could it be left behind by the patrol team in the intelligence report?" Someone else asked, "Didn't you say that a patrol team passed here recently?"

Isa didn't speak. She glanced at the traces and then looked into the depths of the forest, but she couldn't see anything at all in the darkness of the evening. Her face was full of contemplation, and she looked very uncomfortable. Muriel answered at this time, as if to explain, "No, the duty of the patrol team is only to search for intruders already on the border, warn or directly eliminate them, and will not leave any traces, including the bodies of the intruders. This trace It is obviously a kind of information, it may be a road sign, it may be a guide, it may also circle a territory. But the trace is so obvious that it can be observed directly with the eyes. If it is not done intentionally, it is left in a hurry. It’s too late to do it any other way.”

"Either way, it's not a good thing for us."

"Toyinby, I would like to trouble you to take a few people and take some time to follow the traces for a certain distance. I'll give you an hour. If the traces are continuous, we can only stay away from the route connected by the traces tonight. Probably avoid them.”