Chapter 90: Smuggling Tunnel
Dense experience prompts flashed through his mind, possibly hundreds, and Anse couldn’t keep up.
This was still because the fireball covered part of the cliff chains; if it all smashed into the dense kobold crowd, the effect would probably be even more explosive.
‘This fireball… is a bit bright.’ Anse’s eyes showed surprise.
The previous fireballs were mainly orange-red, but this one was somewhat yellowish with higher brightness.
Not only that, the range seemed a little larger, about one or two meters, with the outer edge mainly red, really looking like a sun from afar.
He sat motionless on his horse, elemental orbs swirling around him, the core levitating fire elemental essence leaving a streak of red light in the night sky, faintly visible.
‘They’ll come back, right?’
He watched the retreating kobold crowd, feeling a bit… reluctant.
The amount of combat experience is directly related to combat intensity and contribution; kobolds are relatively weak, but experience decay is minimal. One fireball earned nearly two thousand experience, much better than hard-fighting high-level monsters or professionals.
‘Who doesn’t love bullying the weak!’
Unfortunately, monster clusters are rare.
As the kobold crowd disappeared into the night, suppressed cheers rose around the castle, the noise gradually growing louder.
The crowd involuntarily looked toward that black horse knight, their eyes complex with awe, worship, hope, curiosity…
An elite warrior could also kill over a hundred kobolds with some time and effort, but would the effect be the same?
When that fireball rose, many professionals deeply felt the difference between full spellcasters and melee professionals for the first time.
In Faerun, the status of a mage is absolutely not exaggerated.
Salian and the others returned, and the crowd parted to make way.
Anse saw this, avoided the crowd, and went with them to a quiet corner.
“Still leaving?” Salian whispered.
This couldn’t be heard by those refugees, or their newly risen hope would shatter, and they might collapse on the spot.
“Yes.” Anse thought for a moment and said.
After that fireball, this place would definitely become a key enemy target, with troops concentrating here, loosening elsewhere—leaving now might be a good choice.
“Your Excellency wants to leave here?” A voice suddenly rang in everyone’s ears.
Their faces changed drastically, nerves taut, all moving closer to Anse, but scanning around, they found nothing.
“I’m here, no malice.” As soon as the words fell, a gaunt figure gradually emerged in the night, just two or three meters from them.
Anse narrowed his eyes; he hadn’t noticed someone approaching. But since the holy symbol didn’t alert, the other wasn’t evil alignment.
“I’m Sandre, a friend of Sir Casanova.” The man removed his hood, revealing a weathered face, looking at least in his forties.
“What is it?” Anse focused his mind on Sandre.
The dice spun slightly, quickly popping up his info:
【Sandre, human, level 9 rogue（thief）】
‘Cliff Fortress has decent strength.’ He thought.
Sandre’s gaze fell on Anse’s face, his expression admiring: “Thank you for the rescue, Your Excellency. There’s a waterway under Cliff City that goes through the peninsula straight to the bay. We can withdraw together.”
“Smuggling tunnel?” Salian frowned.
He’d run this route before and heard Claw Bay merchants and smugglers dug a waterway to avoid Dusk City’s “tolls,” but no one knew if it was real.
“You know?” Sandre stared at Salian’s face, feeling it somewhat familiar.
“Heard some rumors.” Salian didn’t dwell, continuing, “If there’s a waterway, why not use it? Why not let these refugees go?”
“The waterway is narrow, can’t fit.” Sandre looked bitter, “This isn’t the place to talk. Follow me into the castle.”
Salian and the others looked to Anse.
Anse thought for a moment and nodded slightly: “Alright.”
For now, this waterway might be the key to leaving.
Salian gathered all the crew and followed Sandre to the castle back door, where one gate was open, crammed with refugees.
Cliff Fortress guards already on standby pushed back the crowd, clearing a path for Anse and them.
The castle wasn’t large, with thick city walls; military facilities took up most, main keep in the center, corridors connecting front and rear walls.
At the main keep door, Kalenno waited outside with people; Anse, Salian, and Giant Tail entered the hall.
The hall was brightly lit, very spacious, enough for two or three hundred people.
Over a dozen people waited in the hall center; the leading man wore fine leather armor, gray hair and beard, upright posture, sharp eyes, exuding strong pressure.
“Welcome.” The man strode forward, a smile on his face, “I’m Tim Casanova, master of Cliff City. Thank you for your aid, Your Excellency.”
Anse removed his hood, smoothed his slightly messy hair back, his eyes quietly circling Tim: “I’m Anse. This is Captain Salian.”
Tim’s eyes flickered; he’d heard these names more than once. He asked doubtfully, “Ashen Knight Anse, and the elf ship captain Salian who tames storms?”
“If no duplicates.” Anse raised a brow, expression a bit awkward—this title was too cringy.
“We met a few years ago, Sir Casanova.” Salian chuckled.
“Silver Scale Bay disaster—I thought you…” Tim’s expression grew grave; Silver Scale Bay had clearly impacted him deeply.
“Lucky.” Anse replied.
At this moment, the dice spun slightly, popping up Tim’s attributes:
【Tim Casanova, human, level 10 warrior（knight）】
Tim was one level from advanced professional, but knights relied heavily on mounted combat—without a mount, his strength was greatly reduced.
“Heard from Mr. Sandre there’s a waterway under Cliff City; we want to borrow it to leave.” He had no time for pleasantries, changing the topic.
“Of course. Actually, I want to evacuate everyone, but the waterway’s too narrow—only fits a small boat at a time…” Tim briefly explained the waterway.
This waterway was expanded from an underground river, originally for smuggling and tax evasion. Later discovered by the Casanova family, who set a trap, dismantled the smugglers, took it over, and moved the entrance under Cliff Fortress.
The waterway was four or five miles long, widest ten meters, narrowest three or four; equipped with a few small rowboats, each holding few people.
After half a day, the Casanova family had only managed to send clan, some guards, and valuables; refugee evacuation just started. At this rate, most refugees couldn’t escape.
Tim didn’t state his idea, but Anse got it instantly—he wanted help defending to buy time for more evacuations.
“What’s opposite the waterway? Big ships? How to leave the bay?” Anse asked.
“A coastal manor there, occupied by kobolds, but the dock’s in a rocky beach, hidden by woods, undiscovered so far. They have no navy; the bay’s still ours, plenty of ships…”
“Hmm, how long do you want to hold? Our time’s short.” Anse stared into Tim’s eyes, “Emerald Kingdom has merfolk; one order from the Green Dragon Queen, and they’ll swarm downriver, filling the bay soon.”
“Before dawn, latest 3 a.m.” Tim replied promptly, voice firm.
“Our people go first!” Anse said calmly.
“As it should be.” Tim’s face bloomed with a smile, “I’ll arrange now. Tell me any needs anytime.”
A quarter-hour later, Cliff Fortress underground tunnel.
Dim lights flickered, water murmured; five small boats lined up, loaded with people.
Salian on the first boat, Kalenno on the last; five boats barely held over forty crew.
Anse stayed with Finn, Brat, and Giant Tail—enough to handle crises on both sides.
