My Computer Leads to an Instance Dungeon-Chapter 78: Ambush

The letter had no salutation at the beginning and no signature at the end, giving it a rather abrupt feel.

It didn't seem like a real letter, more like a supply management checklist.

However, that didn't stop him from understanding the information.

After Fang Zhen read it, his first thought was that someone was supporting the Dogman Tribe from behind the scenes.

The meat, bread, and other supplies were exactly what the Dogman Tribe needed.

Back in Redstone Town, Fang Zhen had found it strange; it didn't seem logical for the Dogman Tribe to occupy the Redstone Town Mine.

Although he'd heard from Quade that there was a water source in the mine, the food supply was a problem.

The Dogman Tribe had forty to fifty members. Even with their small statures, they would still consume a significant amount of rations. Half the consumption of a human was still a lot.

The mine produced no food, only water. And given the Kobolds' behavior of not leaving after capturing the mine, a question arose: where did their food come from?

If this were a purely game-like dungeon, it wouldn't matter. But based on the previous dungeon, the Dark Path, even dungeon monsters needed to eat and drink.

Fang Zhen had never figured this out, but his focus had been on clearing the dungeon, so he hadn't paid attention to these details.

Now, the letter before him made Fang Zhen feel like he'd solved the mystery.

Although he didn't know who was behind it, someone was supplying the Dogman Tribe.

And while the identity of the supplier providing food to the Kobolds was unknown, the ones carrying it out were very likely the mercenary Rex and his crew, who were still in Redstone Town and with whom Fang Zhen had already clashed.

"Well now, this Rex is playing a wild game."

"On one hand, he escorts people through the Dark Path, past the goblin blockade, occasionally moonlighting as a robber. On the other, he's smuggling food to the Kobolds from god-knows-where."

"He's completely figured out the Redstone Town racket. He's created a whole closed-loop economy."

Fang Zhen said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

His gaze fell back on the letter.

The letter answered the question of the Kobolds' food source, but it also raised new ones.

Who exactly was supplying the Dogman Tribe?

And what was their goal?

Fang Zhen couldn't believe someone would provide so many supplies to the Kobolds for no reason.

Given the productivity of a medieval setting, these supplies weren't cheap; they represented a small fortune.

The Redstone Town mercenaries involved might be Rex's crew, but who was behind Rex?

The person behind the scenes, supplying the Dogman Tribe—they must be after something, right?

They couldn't be doing it out of the goodness of their heart.

Thinking of this, Fang Zhen made a decision.

It was time to find Rex and settle their score.

"Heh, my issue with Rex was just a personal grudge before, and I didn't have time to deal with him."

"Now that my main business is finished, it's time to settle the score."

With this letter in hand, Fang Zhen would be fully justified even if he took out Rex's entire crew.

If the townspeople of Redstone Town knew Rex was the one supplying food to the Kobolds in the mine, they would probably tear him and his crew to shreds in a rage.

Fang Zhen wouldn't lose any prestige over this; in fact, he might even gain more.

Besides, Fang Zhen had a few guesses as to who was behind Rex.

The question wasn't actually that difficult.

A little thought made it clear. Given Redstone Town's previous situation—the Dark Path controlled by goblins and the noble territory it belonged to at war—it was unlikely anyone had the time for conspiracies like supplying Kobolds.

The only other possibility was to the north of Redstone Town, the Baron's Domain that was blockaded by soldiers.

Redstone Town only had two routes out. Since it wasn't coming from the south, it must be coming from the north.

Fang Zhen guessed that the person behind the scenes was most likely connected to someone in the northern Baron's Domain.

That was the only way to explain how such a large quantity of supplies could get through the blockade and into Redstone Town's territory.

Although he had little information, Fang Zhen felt his reasoning was sound.

He just didn't know what the potential mastermind in the northern Baron's Domain was after.

Having thought it through, Fang Zhen put the letter away.

There was no other loot to collect inside Miner Ding.

"Quade, let's take one more look with me. If there's nothing else important, we'll head back to Redstone Town."

"Heh, I'd call this a triumphant return," Fang Zhen said.

Fang Zhen and Quade checked Miner Ding one more time.

To his slight surprise, when Fang Zhen found the cavern in Miner Ding that led to the underground river, he discovered a soft rope ladder leading down to it. And in the river's current, there was a wooden grate.

Not only that, but there were even some supplies caught in the grate.

Realization dawned on Fang Zhen.

He had been wondering about the supplies, enough for over a hundred people. Wouldn't it have been difficult for Rex to bring them into the mine without being noticed?

Now Fang Zhen roughly understood. The underground river likely had another entrance. Rex and his men probably had the merchants delivering the supplies bring them to that other entrance, where they were simply dumped into the river after some basic preparation. The current would then carry the supplies right here to Miner Ding.

Once Fang Zhen figured it out, he found it rather clever.

At the same time, his estimation of the Dragon-Scale Dogman Priest rose.

Even if an ordinary Kobold had some intelligence, it probably wouldn't be enough to learn to read.

But this Dragon-Scale Dogman Priest was exceptionally gifted. Not only could it use Magic, but it could also build a Summoning Array and even seemed to recognize some simple words.

Its intelligence and abilities were far beyond that of a typical Kobold.

'Perhaps this was a boon from its draconic bloodline reawakening?'

But no matter how powerful it was, the Dogman Priest was dead. Its head had been split open, and it had even contributed a so-called 'brain stone.'

There was no other loot worth collecting in Miner Ding, so Fang Zhen called Quade and they headed back the way they came.

As they passed Mine Cave C, Quade, who was already heavily burdened, couldn't help himself when he saw the corpse of the Heavy-Armored Dogman. He moved to pick up the warhammer it had dropped.

Fang Zhen found this a bit odd.

Quade explained, "My Lord, clearing the battlefield is an important part of my training as an Attendant."

"The enemy's armor and weapons are to be recovered."

"They can be reused, and they are also symbols of the Lord Knight's achievements and honor. It is necessary to keep them."

Fang Zhen listened and thought it made a lot of sense.

'Covering an entire wall of a room with the equipment and weapons of bosses I've killed... that would be pretty badass,' Fang Zhen thought.

Fang Zhen hadn't taken the Goblin Leader's equipment mainly because he felt it was too crude and shabby; collecting it would have been embarrassing.

The Heavy-Armored Dogman's weapon, however, was quite good. It was a stylish metal warhammer with a certain rugged beauty.

"Alright, collect the warhammer and give it to me. I can't use that armor, so you can keep it."

"You get a share of the spoils too."

Fang Zhen said.

"Really? I praise your generosity, my Lord!"

Quade was overjoyed to hear this, his face lighting up with praise.

Fang Zhen smiled. He couldn't fit into the Kobold's heavy armor—it was too small, and not durable enough. To him, it was just high-grade junk.

But if it were repaired, for Quade, it would be an heirloom-level treasure.

Quade was exceptionally happy, and it seemed to give him a burst of energy.

In less than 10 minutes, Fang Zhen and Quade walked out of the mine.

The night wind brought not just a chill, but a coldness. A star or two could occasionally be seen in the night sky before vanishing back into the darkness.

The light in the forest was dim.

Fang Zhen was about to take the equipment to his motorcycle.

Suddenly!

A short figure darted out from the side of the mine entrance!

Fang Zhen's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively thrust his long spear in that direction.

But when he got a clear look at the person, he abruptly stopped his thrust, forcing the spear to a halt.

The person was none other than Leon, the young boy from Redstone Town. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Leon, having nearly been skewered by the spear, turned deathly pale. He took a step back and almost fell over.

Fang Zhen was slightly surprised and shook his head.

"Don't approach me so suddenly. I have combat instincts. I almost hurt you by mistake," Fang Zhen said.

He retracted the long spear and stood it upright.

"What are you doing here? It's dangerous near the mine at night."

Fang Zhen asked.

Hearing this, the color returned to Leon's face, and he remembered why he had come.

"Sir! You told me to keep an eye on Rex, and I've been following your orders."

"I've discovered their plot!"

"Rex and his crew are lying in ambush in the woods up ahead! They're planning to ambush you and take your life, Sir!"

Leon said.