Chapter 6: Adventure in a Foreign Land

From the description of the black bear sub-human, Mels and the others quickly learned about the history and current state of the Ark Continent. Regarding history, what the black bear sub-human said was basically the same as what the Forgotten Ones had told them, except that he described the ancestors of the sub-humans as exceptionally great, while belittling the Federation and humans to be more insignificant than weeds. Mels took this in stride, as it was similar to human civilization—no matter which country's history, it would always glorify itself and disparage its adversaries, which was almost a common flaw among all living beings, so there was nothing particularly strange about it.

The current balance of power on the Ark Continent was what Mels cared about most, as they needed to travel to the western side of the continent, which meant crossing the entire sub-human region. Therefore, knowing which creatures lived there would help them avoid unnecessary trouble, which was very important for Mels and the others.

Under Mels's repeated urging, the black bear sub-human finally smiled and said, "Hehe, you little ones are so impatient, as if you're planning to travel around the entire continent! Alright, I'll tell you. The Bear Clan, my race, lives in the northeast of the Ark Continent. Our level of technology ranks in the middle among the five major races. Although we don't have the ability to occupy the lands of other races, we have no problem defending ourselves.

The Lion-Tiger Clan, with the highest physical prowess, occupies the vast southeastern lands of the continent. Although they are almost stuck in the primitive civilization era, their formidable combat strength is still beyond compare for ordinary folk. Even when facing the Eagle Clan, which has the strongest technology in the central part of the continent, the Lion-Tiger Clan shows no fear. For many years, the two clans have been hostile toward each other, and wars often break out. Although the Eagle Clan is technologically advanced, they lack the physical prowess of the Lion-Tiger Clan, and the population difference between the two clans is huge, so the Lion-Tiger Clan still holds the stronger combat power.

The Beast Clan and the Sea Clan live in the western part of the continent. The Beast Clan occupies most of the northwestern lands, with technological capabilities slightly lower than ours but still much higher than the Lion-Tiger Clan. Since they have always pursued a defensive policy, and the resources in that region are not abundant, while the Eagle Clan is engaged in conflict with the Lion-Tiger Clan, they live relatively peacefully. The Sea Clan in the southwest are natural masters of the water, with technology second only to the Eagle Clan. However, they are inherently peace-loving and have hardly participated in any wars for thousands of years. They also maintain good relations with the other clans, so no race would want to invade them.

Apart from the five major races mentioned above, various small races live all over the continent. Most of these races are ethnic minorities and pose no threat to the five major races, so they coexist peacefully. However, you must not underestimate these ethnic minorities, as they control almost all long-distance trade on the continent. Whether it's the warring races or the peaceful ones, they all need the rare goods these minorities bring, so the sub-humans on the continent show them a certain level of respect."

"According to what you said, apart from the Eagle Clan and the Lion-Tiger Clan being at war, the rest of the continent should be quite safe, right?" Mels immediately asked after listening to the black bear sub-human.

"Hah, if only it were that safe. What I mentioned are only the wars between the major races, and currently, the Eagle Clan and the Lion-Tiger Clan are also in a ceasefire. To be honest, even if these major races go to war, it doesn't affect us ordinary folks much—at most, prices might rise a bit. The most terrifying thing on the continent are the bandit gangs. These groups, formed by ethnic minorities or prisoners and deserters from various countries, target merchants like us who travel between cities. They are not only well-equipped but also move as swiftly as the wind. Basically, anyone who encounters them meets a bad end. Although the various races despise them and have conducted multiple crackdowns, the results have been minimal. In the end, they can only turn a blind eye and let them be. Alas... It's only us ordinary folks who suffer. When we encounter those demons, we don't even know how we'll die..."

Just as the black bear sub-human was loudly complaining, a sharp whistling sound reached Mels's ears. Before he could react, a massive explosion followed. Amid the explosion, the previously stable Float Car suddenly rocked violently like a small boat in a storm. The black bear sub-human nervously steadied himself and turned on the external monitor.

"Wolf... Wolf Tribe Bandits!" Looking at the images transmitted by the external monitor, the black bear sub-human gasped in shock and muttered with a trembling voice. Through the black bear sub-human's tall figure, Mels saw a small screen in front of the sub-human displaying five or six black metal Float Cars. Although these metal Float Cars were small in size, they were incredibly fast, and their front ends and roofs were equipped with metal tubes capable of firing beam weapons. At that moment, these vehicles were circling the Float Car Mels and the others were riding in, following closely as if surrounding them.

"Listen up, you bastards inside! If you don't stop the car, I'll blast your mother into the sky!" Through the sensors, a frantic shout accompanied by wild laughter reached Mels and the others' ears.

"Sigh... It's fate, fate! I never expected those guys to have anti-detectors installed. It seems it's my destiny to die here, but it's a pity for you kids. If you hadn't met me, you wouldn't have fallen into the hands of these demons." The black bear sub-human mournfully slowed the vehicle to a stop and said to Mels and the others.

The kind and honest black bear sub-human's words at that moment strengthened Mels's resolve to protect him. Mels gently placed a hand on the black bear sub-human's shoulder and said, "Uncle, don't be too nervous. Maybe things aren't as bad as we think. After we get out of the car, don't say anything. Let us handle it. I promise those scoundrels won't be able to harm you." Although the black bear sub-human didn't believe Mels's words, he noticed a gleam in Mels's eyes that he had never seen before. It was this gleam that made him nod involuntarily.

With trepidation, he stopped the Float Car. The black bear sub-human tremblingly opened the door and stepped onto the ground, with Mels and the others following closely behind. At that moment, the Wolf Tribe Bandits' vehicles had also stopped and scattered around. After a quick observation, Mels noticed that these Wolf Tribe Bandits were very cautious. Besides two wolf-headed sub-humans stepping out of each vehicle, one person remained in each car, manning the heavy beam weapon on the roof and aiming it at the black bear sub-human's Float Car.

"Damn it, I waited here all day just for such a measly haul!" The leader of the Wolf Tribe Bandits glanced at the size of the Float Car and angrily cursed before swaggering toward Mels and the others, seemingly intending to attack.

Seeing that it wasn't the best time to strike yet, Mels glanced sideways at Sol. Sol immediately understood Mels's intention and, mustering his courage, bent over and bowed his head, putting on a humble appearance as he approached the bandit leader and said, "Sir, we've been looking for you for so long! I've traveled thousands of miles to find you because I have important news to share."

"Huh? Are you from the Lion-Tiger Clan?" The bandit leader, as if only now clearly seeing Sol's appearance, fearfully took a few steps back, drew the small Beam Gun from his waist, aimed it at Sol, and said, "Don't come any closer! If you have something to say, say it from there!"

"Yes, yes! I won't come closer. Please don't be alarmed." Sol agreed while secretly cursing, "Bastard, so you're nearsighted! If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have put on such a performance. What a waste of my energy and time!"

"Kid, you just said you were looking for me. What's the matter? If you dare lie, I'll shoot you dead right now!" the leader snarled viciously.

Judging from the Wolf Tribe Bandit leader's reaction, he seemed quite wary of the Lion-Tiger Clan. Seeing this, Sol's eyes lit up, and he mysteriously said, "Brother, actually, we are escaped prisoners from the Lion-Tiger Clan, and we came here to join your group. Coincidentally, we ran into this black bear, so we tricked him into coming here as an offering to you. Additionally, we bring big news: the Lion-Tiger Clan recently imported a batch of high-quality crystal ore from the Bear Clan, and it will pass through here in the next few days. Hehe, I wonder if you're interested in this matter?"

"You..." The black bear sub-human looked at Mels and the others in fear as soon as Sol finished speaking. However, Mels glared at him angrily, giving him no chance to speak.

"Bullshit!" Sol never expected that the lie he had concocted would provoke a furious outburst from the Wolf Tribe leader. The leader glared, raised his Beam Gun, and said, "Damn it, how did you know I'd be here? If business hadn't been so bad lately, who would come to this godforsaken place? And since when does the Lion-Tiger Clan need crystal ore? They're a bunch of old-fashioned folks who don't even know how to use ore. What's the point of importing it? You damn liar, if you keep spouting nonsense, I'll kill you!" "Oh no, brother, you really don't know? After the Lion-Tiger Clan was defeated by the Eagle Clan, they're not the same as before. They're now working hard to equip their troops with new weapons. This batch of ore is already the third one," Sol said.

Seeing Sol's serious expression, the bandit leader hesitated. At that moment, one of his underlings whispered to him, "Boss, what that kid said might be true. Recently, the brothers have been spreading rumors about seeing many Lion-Tiger Clan warriors entering Bear Clan territory. It's very likely related to the crystal ore! If what this kid says is true, just reporting it to the chieftain would earn you enough rewards to last you years!"

Although the Wolf Tribe Bandits spoke softly, Mels could still hear them clearly with his skills. Seizing the opportunity, Mels said to Sol, "Sol, come back. Since they don't believe us, we'll find someone else. Such good news won't go unnoticed."

"Damn it, who do you think I am? Do you think you can just leave whenever you want?" the Wolf Tribe leader snarled viciously. Having grown up among bandits, Mels was all too familiar with such situations. He snorted coldly, stared at the bandit leader, and said, "Hmph, kill us if you want. Hehe! I'm just afraid that if you kill us, you'll soon be killed by your own boss!"

Mels's words startled the bandit leader, who thought, "This bastard is right. If this is true and I don't report it to the chieftain, missing out on such a big deal would probably get me chopped into eight pieces by the chieftain!" The thought of the chieftain's cruelty made the bandit leader nervous, and a few more drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

Just as the bandit leader was caught in a dilemma, unsure of what to do next, one of his subordinates stepped forward and said, "Boss, why not take them back to see the chieftain and let him decide? If they're lying, the chieftain will know he's been tricked and will only kill them, not blame you. If what they say is true, the chieftain will be happy, and your rewards won't be small!"

"Hehe, good plan! You're really clever. If the chieftain gives rewards, you'll get your share!" the bandit leader said joyfully. He then turned to Mels and the others and said, "Alright, I'll believe you this time. Someone, quickly unload the goods from the car! I need to hurry back and report!"

"Sigh, with just these people, how long will it take to unload? By the time you're done, it'll be dark!" Mels deliberately said.

Hearing Mels's words, the bandit leader thought it made sense and shouted at the bandits guarding the Float Cars, "You lot, stop watching and get down here to help unload! If you delay this important matter, I'll skin you alive!" Under the bandit leader's command, none of them dared to object. So, the bandits who were originally on guard duty also left their vehicles and joined the unloading.

This was exactly the opportunity Mels had been waiting for. Seeing that the bandits had let their guard down, Mels quietly signaled to Sha Luo and the others. The group, having received Mels's command, didn't hesitate. In an instant, before the bandits could react, Mels and the other four moved like tigers descending a mountain, darting into the midst of the bandits.

"You... Ah—" The bandit leader only felt his vision blur. Before he could even draw his weapon, Akafir's figure was already in front of him. With a sinister smile at the leader, Akafir's flying palm struck the leader's heart meridian. Without even time to speak, the bandit leader left this world in confusion.

Instantly, screams erupted all around. A few bandits who reacted faster threw down the goods in their hands and prepared to fight back but were quickly killed by Mels and the others. Although sub-humans were physically strong, without martial arts training and having lost their powerful beam weapons, they were no match for Mels and the others. In less than a minute, all fifteen bandits had been killed by Mels and the others.

"Who... who are you people?" The black bear sub-human, who seemed unfamiliar with the power of martial arts, looked at Mels and the others in terror, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"Uncle, don't worry. We're not bad people, and we mean no harm to your Bear Clan. However, we have our own mission, so we can't tell you our true identities. Alright, let's help you load the goods back onto the car, and then we'll go," Mels said to the black bear sub-human.

Hearing Mels's words and seeing his smile, the black bear sub-human seemed less frightened than before. In fact, he understood that there were many extraordinary people on the continent, but since it was his first time encountering them, he was at a loss. When he realized that Mels had not only saved his life but also meant him no harm, he naturally stopped being afraid.

While Mels and the others were loading the goods back onto the car, the black bear sub-human mustered his courage and beheaded the Wolf Tribe Bandits one by one. Puzzled by his actions, Sha Luo frowned slightly and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Hehe, you don't know? The Ark City garrison has posted notices offering huge rewards for anyone who eliminates these bandits. I figured you probably didn't know about this rule, so I helped you cut off their heads. When we reach Ark City, you can exchange them for money," the black bear sub-human said to Sha Luo, shaking the string of heads in his hand.

Although Sha Luo had been ruthless in the previous battle, she couldn't stand the sight of the heads now. Smelling the pungent blood, she waved her hand in displeasure and said, "This is too disgusting. Just throw them away!"

"Sigh, I really don't know who you people are. Judging by your skills, you should be experts from the Lion-Tiger Clan, but your experience is like that of children who've never left home. As the saying goes, money is essential when traveling. Yet you don't want it," the black bear sub-human said.

Seeing that the black bear sub-human seemed about to throw away the fifteen heads, Sol immediately shouted, "Don't throw them away! I want them, I want them!" He then picked up a blood-stained piece of clothing, wrapped the heads in it, and happily tossed them into the back of the truck. Watching Sol's personality of wanting anything that could be turned into money, Mels shook his head slightly. However, Mels also knew that although Sol loved money, he adhered to the principle of earning it righteously. Trying to bribe him into doing something evil would likely be a waste of effort.

After half an hour of busy work, the black bear sub-human's Float Car was back on the road. Now, the black bear sub-human was no longer fearful but instead drove his Float Car with joy. In fact, Mels didn't know that while the bandits' heads could be exchanged for high rewards, the weapons they carried could also fetch a good price on the black market. The black bear sub-human gave the heads to Mels, while he kept the weapons for himself. The profits from selling those weapons were even greater than what he would earn from selling the entire truckload of goods. With such a good deal, how could the black bear sub-human not be happy?

A little over an hour later, the Float Car carrying Mels and the others approached a large city. Similar to cities on the Carshu Continent, this city consisted of walls, outer city districts, inner walls, and an inner city. However, the walls here were made of metal and only about two meters high.

The closer they got to Ark City, the more Float Cars there were nearby. Conversely, the security forces near the city gates weren't as strong as imagined—just a few Bear Clan soldiers in military uniforms checking the documents of incoming and outgoing vehicles.

After about ten minutes of queuing, Mels and the others smoothly entered the city. The black bear sub-human parked the vehicle in front of a fine hotel and said to Mels and the others, "I know the owner here. Wait for me here while I go exchange the rewards. I'll be back soon to accompany you. You must be hungry, right? Order some good food first. I'll return quickly."

The thought of not having eaten real food for a long time made Mels and the others' mouths water, and they immediately agreed to the black bear sub-human's request. After getting out of the car, Mels realized that the architecture here was vastly different from that on the Carshu Continent. On the Carshu Continent, even the imperial palace was built with bricks and mortar. But here, even small civilian houses were exquisitely beautiful, constructed with an unknown metal-like material for the framework and decorated with colorful metals, glass, and other items.

On the streets, most of the traffic consisted of various Float Cars. The items carried by the sub-humans were also bizarre: some held strange metal boxes and talked to themselves; others carried small screens the size of a palm, watching moving images on them; there were metal horns that played music without anyone operating them; and various flickering lamps whose functions were unknown. All of this made Mels and the others feel as if they had entered another world, marveling at the technological level of the Ark Continent.

"Let's go. We'll have plenty of time to see more later," Mels said to the others with a smile, seeing them standing dumbfounded at the hotel entrance. Under his urging, they remembered their purpose for coming here and awkwardly laughed as they entered the hotel.

As soon as Mels and the others stepped into the hotel, a Bear Clan member who looked very much like the black bear sub-human appeared before them with a beaming smile. This person immediately addressed Mels and said, "You must be Mels, the one Lex mentioned. Please, come in."

"Lex? How do you know my name?" Mels asked curiously, looking at the Bear Clan member.

"Hehe, it's Lex who brought you here. He just called me, so I know your names. By the way, I'm Tuck. You can call me Uncle." Perhaps the Lion-Tiger Clan's low technological level was well-known on the Ark Continent, as this Bear Clan member named Tuck didn't seem surprised by Mels and the others' ignorance and patiently explained to them.

After hearing his explanation, Mels realized that the Bear Clan member who had brought them here was named Lex, and the small metal box in Tuck's hand was a "telephone" that could transmit voices to each other. Now that he understood the other's identity, Mels didn't hesitate any longer and smiled, gesturing for everyone to follow Tuck to a quiet private seat on the second floor.

"Please sit for a moment. I'll have the kitchen prepare some dishes for you," Tuck said before turning and leaving.

After Tuck left, Sol was the first to speak. "Boss, it seems we won't be able to reach the Federation anytime soon. What should we do now? Are we going to live forever in this strange world?"

"There's no other way. Given the current situation, there's deep hatred between the Eagle Clan and the Lion-Tiger Clan. To reach the western side of the continent, we must pass through Eagle Clan territory. It seems we need to come up with a plan, or else..." Mels paused here, then looked up at Sha Luo and said, "Sigh... If only we had a few more of these rabbit masks. Unfortunately, the masks the Forgotten Ones gave us only have two left, and they're lion masks." "Brother Mels, don't worry too much for now. Let's eat first, then try to gather information from Lex and Tuck to see what we can do to cross Eagle Clan territory," Sha Luo comforted Mels gently. In fact, Mels knew that such matters couldn't be decided quickly, so he could only nod in agreement. While they were talking, Tuck returned with several waiters carrying trays to the second floor. Although sub-human food was somewhat strange, it tasted quite similar to human food, likely because sub-humans also had human blood. However, the lack of difference in food was a relief to Mels and the others, as it meant they wouldn't have to worry about food.

Although the group wasn't particularly hungry, having not eaten real food for so long, they still enjoyed a hearty meal until their stomachs were completely full.

Standing nearby, Tuck noticed that Mels and the others had stopped eating and stepped forward to say, "Hehe, the starters at our humble shop aren't bad, right? If you have no objections, I'll have the waiters bring the main course."

"Ah!" everyone exclaimed in unison. Sol stood up in surprise and said, "Boss, are you trying to make us burst? Those were just starters?" He pointed at the table, which held no fewer than twenty plates.

"Huh? Is there a problem? The Lion-Tiger Clan only eats once every seven days, consuming at least twenty kilograms of meat and fifteen kilograms of fruit each time. I've been running this shop for many years, so I definitely wouldn't get this wrong," Tuck explained with a smile.

"Oh no, we have no idea about the Lion-Tiger Clan's habits. This is trouble!" Mels thought to himself. Just as Mels was unsure how to respond, Green Hair spoke up first. "They just ate two whole sheep yesterday, so of course they can't eat much today. Boss, don't mind them. Just sit down and chat with us." After hearing Green Hair's words, Tuck smiled slightly, nodded in understanding, and waved for the waiters standing nearby to leave.

"Oh, my apologies. I didn't realize you had all already eaten," Tak said with a practiced smile.

"No problem at all. Boss, actually, there's something we wanted to ask you," Mels said, sighing in relief before changing the subject. "We need to travel to the desert west of the continent to find something. But with the Eagle Clan and the Lion-Tiger Clan at war, we're unsure how to pass through the Eagle Clan's territory."

"I see. Normally, the Eagle Clan wouldn't bar the Lion-Tiger Clan from crossing their lands. But recently, travelers say they've suddenly tightened border controls for some reason, claiming to be hunting someone. Nowadays, not just members of the Lion-Tiger Clan, but any race without the proper papers won't be able to pass safely," Tak explained frankly.

"Sigh... What are we to do? Our business is urgent. If we can't get through..." Mels said anxiously.

"Don't fret. Lex is my big brother, and you saved him. I'm immensely grateful and have been wanting to repay you. Now that I can actually help, I'll do everything I can. Please stay here for a few days. When my brother returns, I'll talk with him and see if we can obtain a travel pass for you," Tak said with a smile.

"That's excellent! Thank you so much," Mels replied. Just as he finished speaking, Lex came hurrying up the stairs with several bear soldiers in military uniforms.

After a quick scan of the room, he spotted Mels and the others. Lex suddenly raised his hand, pointing at them and shouting, "Over there! They're the ones who killed the Wolf Tribe Bandits' men!" Before his words had even faded, the bear soldiers charged menacingly toward Mels's group.

Confronted with this situation, Mels and the others were instantly gripped by tension. They had never expected the seemingly friendly Lex to bring bear soldiers! Had their identities been exposed? Were these bear soldiers the military police, here to arrest them?