Plague Marsh

The weather was nice the next day.

In the outer city square of the City of Radiance, thousands of Steam Locomotive are densely packed and ready to go.

Ghoul-class Mechanical City, War Elephant-class Mechanical City, and all sorts of oddly shaped troop carriers, single-soldier motorcycles, flea cars, and engineering vehicles.

The Steam Boilers roared incessantly; billowing white smoke rose into the sky, obscuring the sun; towering chimneys stood in a jumbled array, making it look like a steel forest.

The All-out War Conscription has been issued. Within three days, hundreds of thousands of hunters will depart from the city to venture into the "Ashen Forest." The hunting extravaganza has begun.

Early in the morning, Rein arrived at the meeting point outside the city that he had arranged with Karl and his grandson.

From a distance, he saw Karl standing in front of a very strangely shaped steam car, turning some parts.

Rein walked over, his gaze involuntarily falling on the steam car.

This is not the typical four-wheeled, boxy steam car.

It has five rows of wheels, with the largest one in the middle measuring two meters, seemingly used to stabilize the vehicle and provide power; the ones at the front and rear are slightly smaller, probably used for steering and balance.

It has wheels, but also four sturdy mechanical legs, and decorative features like a large dog-faced hood and a dog tail.

Well.

The overall shape makes it look like a large dachshund, about six or seven meters long!

Although this vehicle doesn't look particularly flashy at first glance, a closer look reveals ingenious details and a high-tech feel. Unlike ordinary steam-powered vehicles on the street, this is more like a cutting-edge "concept car."

Rein stroked the vehicle's body and exclaimed in amazement, "Karl, did you design this steam car? It looks incredibly functional!"

Designing a dachshund like that, I doubt anyone but Karl could have had such a childlike whim.

"Yes."

Karl seemed quite satisfied with his work, pointing to some of the vehicle's designs and saying, "Grandpa can't handle severe bumps; otherwise, the shock would affect his brain and cause him to faint. That's why this vehicle has many extra shock-absorbing features and a special suspension system. And those mechanical legs are for handling complex terrain, ensuring stability throughout the entire journey."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Rein looked intently in the direction Karl was pointing.

Looking through the partially covered sheet metal, he discovered that the interior of this sausage-shaped steam engine was truly magical; the five rows of wheels were not as simple as they appeared on the outside. They were all connected to a very sophisticated suspension and shock absorption system. Large and small brass gears intertwined, looking extremely complex. In terms of function, materials, and structure, it was vastly different from ordinary motorcycles.

After introducing the vehicle, Karl couldn't help but add, "Brother Rein, let me tell you, don't let its small size fool you. Many of the technologies on it are unique and top-of-the-line. Even a single bearing or valve component is patentable!"

"Sausage?"

Rein's eye twitched, and he had an "I knew it" look on his face. He then praised, "Karl's mechanical skills are naturally very impressive."

Tuster was taking a nap in the driver's cab when he was awakened by the sound of voices.

He waved his gloved Mechanical Arm at Rein, saying, "Rein, you're here."

Rein smiled and waved to the old man, "Good morning, Grandpa Tuster."

Rein helped Karl hang some instruments that couldn't fit into his storage ring on the back of the "Sausage".

Before long, an announcement came over the loudspeaker (don't ask, it's the steam-powered high-tech speaker).

"Hunters heading to the 'Plague Marsh,' prepare to depart in fifteen minutes! Stay close to 'Radiance Thirteen' Mechanical City, or you'll be late."

"Hunters heading to 'Red Stone Canyon,' prepare to depart in fifteen minutes! Stay close to 'Radiant Twenty-Five' and 'Thirty-Three' Mechanical City; latecomers will not be waited for."

"Hunters heading to the 'Karna Poisonous Swamp', prepare to depart in fifteen minutes! Stay close to 'Radiant Nineteen' Mechanical City, or you'll be late."

"."

The vast and resounding voices continued to echo among the large army gathered in the square outside the city.

This time, the hunters were led by the City of Radiance, which also sent dozens of "Ghoul-class" and seven or eight "War Elephant-class" Mechanical City to accompany the expedition.

These massive war castles are the greatest guarantee for pioneering the land.

Destroying a barbaric civilization is not as simple and brutal as just hunting in the wilderness; it requires some necessary strategies.

Each Mechanical City will arrive at its designated destination, build a camp, and form a large encirclement of the "Ashen Forest," slowly encroaching upon it.

Finally, they rallied into a legion, supporting each other and sweeping away everything in their path.

These Mechanical City also serve as logistical support bases for the hunters.

It provides essential facilities for land reclamation, such as field hospitals, equipment supplies, and machinery repair.

The mission that Rein and his team were assigned was to go to the "Plague Marsh" to participate in the construction of the base.

The capable lie hunters set off yesterday, taking on frontline missions such as "hazard mitigation," "road and bridge construction," "map creation," "monster hunting," "establishing communication base stations," and "setting up outposts."

The risks are high, but the corresponding Contribution Points rewards are also very substantial.

Doctors, mechanics, merchants like Rein, and some other casual observers, all started following the Mechanical City today.

It's slow and the pay is low, but at least it's safe.

In short, all the capable fighters went to the front lines to explore and hunt for treasure, while the noobs and slackers stayed with the Mechanical City as the logistics force.

They assembled and set off in a grand and imposing manner.

The Mechanical City led the way, its massive tracks carving deep furrows.

Hundreds of oddly shaped small troop carriers followed along the flat road created behind the Mechanical City, stretching for several kilometers.

Those "Ghoul-class" Mechanical City, which are like small county towns, can accommodate at least several thousand people, but Rein and his group are not qualified to go up there.

That was the private property of the Five Great Families in City of Radiance, and only forces that were on good terms with them and the "Mage Corps" that served as the pioneering legion of the City Lord's Mansion were allowed to reside there.

Rein didn't mind; the car was quite comfortable.

In any case, on the wasteland, when such a large army sets out, there are very few foolish monsters that dare to attack.

Even if they did, they were riddled with bullets by the various cannons and sniper rifles on the Mechanical City before they even got close.

And you know what? Although Karl's "Sausage" wasn't exactly flashy in appearance, its shock absorption was truly amazing. Even the slightest vibration, like placing a cup of water on the train, wouldn't cause it to rattle. This level of comfort was unimaginable for other Steam Locomotive.

If it were any other Steam Locomotive, not to mention the bumpy ride on complex roads, the constant churning of the boiler would shake a person to their core on a long journey.

Therefore, Rein was able to meditate and practice medicine normally on the motorcycle.

There hadn't been any large-scale battles yet, so the doctors were quite relaxed.

But Karl, as a mechanic, was busy from the moment he set off.

As the Mechanical Legion marches into battle, every day some of its vehicles break down and need repair.

Karl always seemed to be short of money because his grandfather needed a top-tier Life Potion every week to stay alive. Those potions weren't cheap; a single dose cost several million. Over the years, this was a terrifying expense.

At first, Rein didn't understand why Karl and his grandfather were living in such poverty.

They clearly possess a wealth of cutting-edge mechanical technologies, and have even invented some that, once patented, could generate substantial profits.

He only learned about Tuster's experiences when he was young later, and then he understood that the old man's refusal to apply for a patent was because he was already disillusioned with the Mechanist Association that had expelled him.

Advanced patents are only affordable to the top elite class, but Tuster deeply resents the top elite class!

This stubbornness led Tuster to prefer burying his technology along with him rather than selling it to the corrupt and powerful figures who had once harmed him.

As a result, a mechanical repair shop that was originally quite profitable could barely make ends meet after deducting the cost of medicines.

Rein also carefully examined Karl's grandfather Tuster's condition.

His "Gang Thread" can warm and stimulate muscle growth, which is originally a very symptomatic method for muscle atrophy caused by paralysis. But the unknown toxin in Tust's body is very troublesome. Even if the Gangxian temperature training stimulates muscle growth, it will soon return to its original state.

Just like a computer virus, if it's not completely eradicated, it will quickly reinfect you.

Without addressing the toxin, a cure is impossible.

The fact that even Teacher Ilubeck couldn't cure the toxin meant that it was an incurable disease for the entire medical community at the moment, Rein naturally helpless as well. All he could do was periodically prepare [Golden Liquid] to ensure Tuster's basic life was maintained.

With little to do during the trip, Rein spent almost 24 hours a day meditating.

The twenty times the time in his dream gave him ample time to process the knowledge.

The amount of knowledge one gains in a month is equivalent to several years for others.

Rapid progress.

He also took the time on his journey to carefully review the research materials and medical records left behind by Ilubeck.

He now understood that Ilubeck seemed to have anticipated his capture long ago, which was why he had already arranged a study plan for Rein.

Among the remaining materials were the teaching outlines of the Royal Medical Academy's instructors. It showed where to begin learning potions, referring to books that progressed from basic to advanced levels, and where to start practicing.

It was organized in a very clear and detailed manner.

Looking at the many notices written in clearly new handwriting, Rein understood the teacher's good intentions.

That old man really cared a lot about his apprentice.

With these learning outlines, he no longer needed to be like a headless fly, not knowing where to start; he could simply follow the steps and learn systematically.

Of course, there's also the "Six Forms of Combat," which he diligently practiced in his dream, and gradually mastered.

And so, a little over a month later.

Rein and his group followed the Radiance Thirteen Mechanical City to the designated location— the Plague Marsh.

This is a large swampy area in the southern part of the "Ashen Forest", a notoriously dangerous area.

Their mission was to establish a base on the edge of the swamp to provide logistical support for the hunters.

Transitional chapter. (Facepalm, begging for recommendations!)