313.Chapter 311 Clan 310 Bloodclaw are civilized jackals, I

Chapter 311 310.Clan Bloodclaw are civilized jackals, and we understand that tribute is the higher form of vassalage!
The Smuggler’s Woodland is connected to the Filthy Swamp, and Missy has explained to Murphy the reason for this place’s appearance, that it is currently an “optional path” from Transylvania to the Dark Mountains, and from there to the Genoa Peninsula through the passes guarded by the Dwarves of Brass.

Of course, the name “Smuggler’s Woodland” sounds unorthodox, and a decent person would definitely not use this place.

For example, when Miss Miriam, the Scarlet Consul, went to Genoa Peninsula to study, her official route was to cross Lake Shulpus to Cato area, and then from the station connected to Genoa Peninsula, she could take a train all the way across the Genoa Peninsula to the port of Chardonnay.

The greatest advantage of this route was its safety.

The biggest disadvantage is that you need to pay taxes and there are halfling tax collectors under the Steam Lords’ Council along the way, which means that a lot of contraband can’t be taken out of the country, and thus the smuggler’s woodland road came into being.

In the hundred years before the Ten Years’ War, this was the hottest smuggling route in Transylvania and the rest of the continent, and during the era when the Blood Vulture Clan ruled Transylvania, the taxes collected from these smugglers alone were enough for the vampires to live an extravagant life.

Because the smuggler’s woodland was once an important property of the Blood Vulture Clan, the vampires set up a tax station here.

Unfortunately, the damned Ten Years’ War destroyed everything.

The former tax station had also been abandoned beyond recognition, years of no one repairing the place had left it crawling with moss and vines, many of the walls had collapsed, and the statue of Salokdar that was erected in the courtyard had only half of its weathered body left.

But two months after the end of the Ten Years’ War, the place had a new owner.

Clan Bloodclaw didn’t occupy it, the jackals preferring to stay in the woodlands rather than in this very constrictive human building, but Hogg had repopulated it as an outpost camp for the clan.

As the players rushed over to collect their debt, a group of “innocent” jackal barbarian patrollers in the camp were caught in the middle of it.

If it wasn’t for Ms. Dorothy of the Blood Rats gang intervening to stop them, these jackals would have been crushed on the spot by the angry players.

Now these beaten and swollen jackal people are detained in the abandoned courtyard, more than 200 small players gathered here in great numbers, waiting for the chief of the Blood Claw Clan to come to “ransom” in an aggressive manner.

The old players are all very sitting still, this will and mud truck old brother they discuss things.

However, the crows and crows followed more than 100 new players just into the game is not so “decent”, they are like transit ants throughout the abandoned courtyard everywhere scavenging, and even broken boxes have to kick open to see if it is hidden treasure.

There are also active guys who have already run into the forest, shouting that they are clumsily enclosing an unlucky deer.

They are incredibly excited to look like they are doing something great, but people who are used to living in the city can’t say it’s impossible to catch a deer that has escaped the hunting of jackals, only that the probability is infinitely close to zero.

Ten years of war did not affect the smuggler’s woodland, but ten years of no hunting has made this narrow woodland creature accompanied by “treasure” everywhere.

However, these active guys are very obedient and did not go far, mainly because of the character level of 1, they are also afraid of running out of the “safe zone” after the danger, and the blood rat gang members are alone to occupy a piece of area.

From the vigilant posture of their tight guards, we could see the difference between them and the players, as if they were clearly separated from each other.

Dorothy “Razor”, who had wrapped herself up like a dumpling to avoid direct sunlight, sat by the ruins of a collapsed house, playing with the claw blade in her hand with vampiric dexterity, while her eyes kept lingering on those “new faces” she had never seen before.

She noticed that this group of warriors were as impulsive and curious as before, but a few of them were indeed “professional”.

For example, the group of men who were patrolling the heights of the ruins with their retinue’s hunting crossbows, and the three men with a distinctly “military look” who had wandered away from the crowd but were looking for the high ground.

“So they’re also mountain warriors recruited by Lord Murphy from that ‘Ceres’ tribe of yours?”

Dorothy said curiously to the apprentice Frosttooth’s Claw, who was hiding in the shadows, hardening a vicious looking bone dagger, and nodded her head in response to her mentor’s query Tooth nodded in a low and succinct voice:
“Well, it’s a compatriot.”

“Just how many of you are there?”

Dorothy trailed off with a blink:
“I’ve had contact with mountain folk before in my life of bouncing around, how big should a tribe of mountain folk be that can hand over nearly three hundred young adults in one breath? And with all due respect, you don’t look like mountain people at all.”

“We weren’t.”

Tooth glanced at the “background information” that had been updated on the character screen, and he whispered:

“We just live in the mountains, and our settlement pattern isn’t the same as that of ordinary mountain people. Well, there’s news!”

He pointed to the sky, and Dorothy whipped her head around to see the mighty Starworld Scorpion Lion gliding down from the forest on flapping wings. The terrifying giant landed with a dexterity that didn’t match its size, shaking the mane on its neck to gather its wings and picking up a fresh leg of lamb from its own summoner it nibbled on it right where it was.

Touching your poor jumped out of the saddle and quickly walked over to the old dirt bike brother to report to them:
“I saw a large number of jackals coming this way from that forest clearing, they are pushing a lot of crates with sundries on them, it seems that that ‘mountain armor’ didn’t go back on its word. They are indeed not thieves or robbers.”

“Whether they are or not they’ll have to take inventory of our goods first!”

The second group of traveling scholars who turned their race into vampires, Xiao Zhou, leaning on a vampire-style magic cane, hid in the shadows wrapping his body in a cloak and said in a gloomy tone:
“According to the value estimated by One Punch and Sao, if it’s less, then it’s proof that these jackals have taken kickbacks! They need to be punished severely!”

“First, let the brothers wandering in the forest return, lest they be taken hostage.”

The veteran mudslinger spoke to Tepal, who was standing next to him with his sword, the latter nodded and climbed hand over hand to the top of the house that hadn’t collapsed yet, and took out the brass horn he had hung on his waist that he had found somewhere, and put it in his mouth to whimper and blow.

This was the signal agreed upon in advance for the small players wandering in the forest to hurry back.

At the sound of the horn, the players around the abandoned courtyard immediately returned, while the “scout trio” rushed back while whispering and sharing the news.

“I just went and dug up a tree.”

The short and chubby “Border City Prodigal Son” shook the mud from his hands and said:
“I dug down a meter and uprooted that little tree, all I can say is that it’s very realistic, even the details like the soil wrapped around the roots were done to a subtle degree.”

“I climbed up the tree to see the terrain.”

The tall, skinny Mr. Violet Grand played with a few rusty Dwarven round shield copper coins in his hand as he narrowed his eyes and said:
“At least where I saw it was very natural, there weren’t any incongruous traces of artificial weaving, it was exactly the same as how we feel when we look out over the mountains in the real world, and I’m a professional in this regard.

I can guarantee that there aren’t any traces of artificial repairs in it, and if you’re willing to listen, I can even analyze the feng shui of this forest for you.”

“Uh.”

The “Mustard Micro Idiot” with the most imposing figure glanced at the rabbit in his hand, he shrugged his shoulders and said:

“I’ve shot a rabbit, so if we roast it later and have a taste, we’ll be able to find out just how far this thing’s ‘mimicry’ can be simulated. If it wasn’t for the ‘logout’ option, I’d feel like I’d traveled back in time. Do you guys know how hard it was for me to beat this rabbit?

The damn thing is even more agile and bigger than a realistic rabbit.”

This comment caused the three guys with “history” to fall silent.

They quickly returned to the abandoned camp to meet up with the other three “companions”, and compared to the three scouts, who were no different from normal players, the three silent and professional brothers in front of them could clearly see the difference.

The oldest and most experienced, Border Town Wanderer, frowned at the three guys in front of him and reminded him:
“I know you’re elites seconded from your brother departments to assist, but please be ‘professional’, I mean, relax, okay? This isn’t on your side, don’t let the others notice the difference.”

The comment caused the three in front of them to look at each other in disbelief.

Their names were also interesting, “Paid to Touch Fish”, “Paid to Feed Fish”, and “Paid to Eat Fish”, so it seemed that they had agreed on a “style” before entering the game. “Style”.

Facing Brother Prodigal’s reminder, Touching Fish glanced at the rowdy little players gathered next to him, and he said somewhat helplessly:

“We already knew the content of the mission before we were seconded, but the problem is, it’s very different from what we imagined ah, that said, is this the kind of thing you guys deal with every day? This doesn’t fit our imagination of the ‘secret agent’ profession ah.” “Boo hoo hoo hoo!”

Mr. Ziwei Da immediately stepped forward to make a silencing motion as he chided:
“Don’t say that here!”

“Looks like we’ll have to have a meeting tonight.”

Mustard Micro Idiot shook the rabbit in his hand as he said:

“Regarding your mode of action afterward, but for now at least please don’t tense your bodies, you have to understand that this thing is theoretically a ‘game’. So please show the relaxed posture of playing a game, that said, don’t you guys usually play games?”

“Play, or I wouldn’t have been chosen to come in.”

Paycheck Eat Fish looked down at the hunting crossbow in his hand as he said with an egg on his face:
“But who plays games like this? It’s not that we’re nervous, it’s just that the damn thing is so real, and you know it’s always good to be a little wary when entering a new environment. That said, if we die here, we won’t be brain dead or anything in reality, right?”

“No, that’s been confirmed.”

Border City Wanderer waved his hand and said:
“So feel free to play boldly, and don’t be too purposeful. We’re only in the information gathering stage at the moment, so theoretically, you guys opening maps in the game and collecting information on NPCs is also considered a part of information gathering.

I’ve heard that there’s already a guild called ‘Scarlet Hammer and Sickle Regiment’ formed by a bunch of veterans in the game, and Lord Maxim’s Cadman People’s Army is also recruiting new recruits, so since you three are specialized in the right field, you might as well try to join one of them?”

“Alright, then we’ll try.”

The three brothers nodded, and then quickly climbed up above the ruins of this abandoned camp, each finding high ground to lurk.

The positions they looked for were all places where they could overview the entire situation from high up, enough to ensure that they could intervene first in any disturbance below.

Soon a group of a dozen or so barbarian soldiers appeared outside the camp amidst the very iconic roars of the jackals’ tamed mounts, the hyenas.

These real “monsters” made the small players immediately stirred up, the furry body of the jackals and very beastly appearance and ferocious features very much in line with the image of “wild monsters” in the minds of the players.

Not to mention the fact that everyone who hangs out on the forums knows that the veteran players just had a tough fight with the jackals in Transylvania!
These were enemies!
“Don’t mess around! No attacking!”

Full Risk Half Hang shouted loudly for the players not to initiate an attack, and this was when the NPCs of the Blood Rat Gang finally made a move.

With the blood wings flapping, Ms. Dorothy and a male and female vampire servant behind her landed in the middle of the players, because Dorothy who was wearing a full set of leather armor of the family guards and a scarlet cloak of midnight was an important NPC at first glance, so the small players were quiet and concentrated, waiting for her to send out the quests.

“Lord Murphy, Consul Miriam, and Lady Adele have all appointed me to be the facilitator of this ‘negotiation’.”

Dorothy said in a husky tone:
“But I need some assistants. Especially the veterans who personally participated in the attack on Camp Kenport as the recipients of the spoils of war, you will also be required to participate in the negotiations and work to fight for the interests of the Scarlet Fortress as well as your group.

I will need five men.”

“Wait, Ms. Dorothy.”

Dirtbag asked immediately, frowning:

“What should I say about the distribution of the loot? If you call this a ‘negotiation’, then it means that both Lord Murphy and Consul Miriam are ready to accept the possibility of this group of jackals being around for a long time?”

“You are very resourceful, warrior, indeed.”

Dorothy said with a nod:

“Prior to your arrival, scouts from the Blood Rat Gang had been in contact with the Bloodclaw Clan, and their chief, Hogg, is a Jackal with a difference; to put it simply, he wishes to be part of the answer this land needs.

Not part of the problem.

This jackal chieftain wishes to pay tribute to the Scarlet Fortress for their long stay in the Smuggler’s Woodlands, and Lord Murphy has left the decision on this matter to me and you; after all, you were the ones who helped them escape death in Kenport’s camp, and as such, you also have the power to decide their future.

His exact words were ‘He trusts in the wisdom and decisions of the warriors, and the decision you make is Lord Murphy’s decision and Transylvania’s answer’.”

“Ding.”

As Dorothy finished speaking, the quest prompt lit up on the player interface of the young players at the same time:
[Side Plot Quest – ‘Tribute is an advanced form of vassalage’ has been triggered!

Quest Description: Hogg, the Jackal Chief of the Bloodclaw Clan, wishes to become a part of the order of Transylvania and the Scarlet Fortress, and to this end, he is willing to offer up all of the proceeds that the Bloodclaw Clan has seized from the Battle of Andromeda Hills.

However, there is no precedent of jackals being domesticated by a civilized force on the continent, so Lord Murphy has given you the choice of whether or not to accept them.

As he said, Lord Murphy has absolute faith in the incredible intelligence of his warriors.

Please make your choice on behalf of the master of this land.

Quest Requirement: participate in the negotiations with the Bloodclaw Clan and seize enough benefits for the Scarlet Fortress!
Or launch a clean ambush on the upcoming Jackal Chief Hogg, thus declaring that the civilized forces and the Jackal camp are incompatible!

Quest Reward: New power ‘Clan Bloodclaw’ reputation opens OR special event ‘Clearing Smuggler’s Woodland’ triggered.

Hints!

This quest is a plot choice quest, the decisions you make will directly affect certain subsequent changes in the main plot of Transylvania, please make your choices carefully.

Tip!

The final choice of this mission will be decided by a vote of all mission recipients, the current number of mission recipients is 214, and the final vote will take place before the start of negotiations].

“Crap, is this what’s called ‘freedom’? It’s obviously just a very ordinary plot choice, why do I feel so responsible?”

The last member of the Sports Department’s foursome, “Shrimp Catchers”, scratched his head and complained:

“Why can’t this game be saved? I’d like to pick both and see what happens.”

“We chose to save Missy, and we chose to stay in Scarlet Fortress.”

The bull next to him reminded:

“The ‘plot choices’ in this game are not many, but each of them is very important, and they will indeed directly determine the subsequent advancement, as to why it feels like a great responsibility.”

Bull hugged his arms and spat out with a subtle mood:
“Because it’s so true. Our decisions will never just affect a CG segment, but very real deaths and lives passing away, all the NPCs in this game only have one life, if they die, they’re done.

Just like real life, there’s no such thing as an archive reboot.

So, seriously.”

(End of chapter)