After three days of arduous trekking through the Red Ridge Mountains, Fa, Arya, and Tisk finally arrived at Kesi Village at the foot of the mountain. This serene little village sat on the edge of the plains, with thatched roofs shimmering in the warm golden glow of the setting sun. The villagers were mostly humans and dwarves, living off farming and craftsmanship. Seeing the dust-covered trio, they cast curious yet friendly glances.
A few children gathered around Tisk's gleaming mechanical gear, running about and exclaiming in awe. "Look at that glowing iron hammer!"
A weathered human elder approached them, introducing himself as Odlin, the village elder. "Welcome to Kesi Village, weary travelers from afar. From the look of you, you've just come from the Red Ridge Mountains, haven't you?"
Fa nodded in response: "Yes, we're heading to Goldshang Fortress. We've heard you're quite familiar with that city—could you give us some advice?"
Odlin gave a meaningful smile and gestured for them to follow him to the village chief's home. The simple wooden house was filled with the aroma of baked bread and herbs. Odlin poured them cool spring water and began recounting tales of Goldshang Fortress.
"Goldshang Fortress is the third-largest trading city on the Murete Continent," Odlin said, his eyes flickering with complex emotions. "Twenty-five years ago, the four major races—humans, dwarves, elves, and orcs—signed a peace treaty and jointly established this city. Since then, Goldshang Fortress has become a melting pot of trade and culture, bustling with activity, but also rife with shady dealings."
Arya elegantly sipped the spring water, her elven keenness detecting something unspoken in Odlin's words: "It sounds like the city is full of opportunities, but also hidden dangers?"
Odlin nodded approvingly: "The elven lady is right. Goldshang Fortress's free trade policies attract countless gold diggers and adventurers. Beneath the surface prosperity, undercurrents surge. Corruption and criminal organizations run rampant, and the most powerful among them is the 'Jintelo Group.'"
Tisk furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowing behind his goggles: "Jintelo? Sounds like nothing good."
"Indeed not," Odlin lowered his voice. "Jintelo is the largest underground organization in Goldshang Fortress. As long as there's profit, they'll do anything—smuggling, trafficking banned goods, assassinations, kidnappings... no evil is beyond them. The city's enforcement teams have been cracking down on them, but these guys have deep roots and are hard to eradicate."
Fa stroked the Star Trail Short Blade at her waist, lost in thought: "We're going to Goldshang Fortress to search for clues about something. It seems we'll have to be extra careful."
Odlin nodded solemnly: "Never trust strangers lightly, especially those who offer help unsolicited. Jintelo's spies are everywhere; they're masters at exploiting travelers' needs to set traps."
The Team's Plans and Preparations
At Odlin's gracious invitation, the three stayed overnight in Kesi Village. The next morning, they shopped for supplies at the village's small market.
Tisk was particularly interested in a stall filled with peculiar mechanical parts. He picked up a gear glowing with blue light and turned to the vendor: "Is this from the scrap district of Goldshang Fortress?"
The vendor, a one-eyed dwarf, grinned, revealing gold-inlaid teeth: "Good eye! This is a treasure dug up from the old city's mechanical scrapyard. Rumor has it, it's a relic from the Star Era!"
Fa's star eye faintly heated up; she could see the faint energy fluctuations lingering on the gear, indeed related to star technology. She quietly nudged Tisk's arm, and the dwarf nodded knowingly, buying a few parts.
"These might come in handy for us," Tisk said, stowing the parts in his toolkit. "Goldshang Fortress's tech level far surpasses Silver Red Village; I need to prepare in advance."
Arya carefully selected at the herb stall, choosing several rare magical plants and minerals. "These can enhance my spells and make some emergency healing potions," she explained. "In a place like Goldshang Fortress, it's better to be prepared."
Fa bought some dry rations and water, and specifically purchased three ordinary cloaks and an eyepatch. "We need to keep a low profile; these cloaks can cover our conspicuous gear," she said. "Especially Tisk's mechanical equipment and Arya's elven features—they might draw unnecessary attention in Goldshang Fortress."
After shopping, the three returned to the village chief's house for final preparations. They spread out a map on the wooden table and planned their actions after entering Goldshang Fortress.
"We should split up," Fa said, pointing to different areas on the map. "That way, we can gather intelligence faster. I'll check out the slums and underground markets; they're dangerous, but often yield the most authentic information."
Arya nodded in agreement: "I can go to the bazaar and commercial districts. Elves aren't too conspicuous there; many vendors are willing to trade with elves because we're known for our integrity."
Tisk stroked his beard: "Then I'll head to the Molten Fire Forge and the mechanical district. Dwarves are common there; I can use the excuse of buying forging materials to inquire."
They agreed that no matter what clues they found, they'd rendezvous at the pre-booked inn by evening. "Remember, safety first," Fa said seriously. "If you encounter danger, signal and retreat immediately. Tisk, your little inventions should come in handy."
Tisk proudly pulled out several walnut-sized silver devices from his bag: "These are signal transmitters. In an emergency, crush one, and the other two will receive an alert and know your location. I've improved their stealth; Jintelo's detectors won't spot them!"
Elder Odlin approached, handing them a small cloth bag: "This is Kesi Village's special self-defense powder. If trouble arises, scatter it to temporarily obscure enemies' vision and buy time to escape. Goldshang Fortress is full of dangers—be careful."
With Odlin's blessings and warnings, the three set off on the final leg to Goldshang Fortress.
First Arrival at Goldshang Fortress
After about half a day's walk, the massive silhouette of Goldshang Fortress gradually came into view. The city's grandeur exceeded their expectations: towering walls fused stone craftsmanship with technological defense systems, embedded with shimmering runes and colorful circuits. At the massive gates, mechanical guards stood alongside magical sentries, inspecting the flow of people entering and exiting.
"Whoa," Tisk whistled, his eyes wide behind his goggles. "This defense system is incredible! Look at that energy flow—it's practically art!"
Arya frowned slightly: "The magical energy here is very chaotic, with various sources intertwined, plus interference from tech equipment... my senses are greatly affected."
Fa's star eye faintly glowed; she could see the interwoven energy fields above the city—blue tech energy entwined with green magical streams, forming a complex web. "This city itself is a miracle of tech and magic combined," she whispered, "but it hides countless secrets."
The queue to enter the city was long, with races mixed together: human merchants on mechanical horses, dwarf craftsmen pushing carts full of ore, elven mages floating in the air reading scrolls, and even a few orc warriors carrying massive weapons, drawing wary glances from those around.
When it was their turn, the guards carefully inspected their luggage. "Purpose for coming to Goldshang Fortress?" a half-mechanized human guard asked routinely.
"Trade and procurement," Fa replied calmly. "I'm a tech goods merchant; this is my bodyguard," she pointed to Tisk, "and this is my magical advisor." She gestured to Arya.
The guard scanned them with a glowing device, which beeped faintly when it reached Fa's right eye patch. "What's under the eyepatch?" the guard asked alertly.
"A prosthetic eye," Fa replied, prepared. "Childhood accident; installed a tech prosthetic. Need to check the documents?" She produced the pre-prepared proof.
The guard examined it closely, nodded, and waved them through. "Welcome to Goldshang Fortress. Follow the rules and enjoy your stay."
Once inside, the three were stunned by the sights. Wide streets bustled with hovering vehicles alongside magical mounts; towering buildings featured holographic ads competing with magical projections; the air mixed spices, ozone, and peculiar magical scents.
"This place is way too... crowded," Tisk commented, dodging a floating stall. "Even the air is stuffed full!"
Following the plan, they first found their booked inn—"Silver Star Inn"—located in the mid-city district, not too upscale but clean and safe. After dropping off their luggage, they shed their cloaks and prepared to split up.
"Remember, back by evening," Fa reminded again. "Clues or not, safety first."
Arya's Bazaar Investigation
Arya arrived at Goldshang Fortress's main bazaar, where the hustle and vitality reminded her of elven festival markets, but on a scale dozens of times larger and far more chaotic. Stalls lined up one after another, selling exotic goods from various worlds: glowing fruits, talking weapons, self-cooking pots, and all sorts of magical charms and tech devices.
As an elf, Arya didn't stand out in the bazaar—Goldshang Fortress had many elven merchants known for selling reliable magical items. Pretending to buy casting materials, she chatted with vendors while deftly steering conversations toward rare items and recent black market dealings.
Most merchants warily avoided the topic until she met an elderly elven merchant. His stall was filled with ancient magical artifacts, some looking incredibly old.
"Young kin, are you seeking something special?" the old elf asked in Elvish, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.
Arya replied in Elvish: "I'm seeking knowledge and history, elder. Especially legends about ancient artifacts."
The old elf thoughtfully stroked his long beard: "Ancient artifacts... that reminds me of some rumors I've heard lately. A batch of mysterious cargo has recently flowed into the black market, said to be related to the stars—very ancient and powerful."
Arya's heart raced, but she remained composed: "Related to the stars? Sounds intriguing. Where can one find such things?"
The old elf lowered his voice: "The underground market 'Shadow District.' But be careful; that's Jintelo territory. They don't like curious strangers." He paused, adding: "Especially elves. Jintelo's leader has a bias against our kind, thinking us too arrogant."
Arya thanked the old elf and bought some ordinary magical materials as cover. She decided to inquire at a few more places before returning to the inn to rendezvous with her companions.
Tisk's Molten Fire Forge Journey
Tisk arrived at Goldshang Fortress's industrial district, also known as the "Molten Fire District," because countless forges shrouded the area in perpetual heat and smoke. As a dwarf, Tisk felt right at home here; his gear and appearance no longer stood out.
He found the largest smithy, "Molten Fire Forge," where the sounds of hammering and machinery reminded him of home in Silver Red Village. The forge's overseer, Gru, was a muscular elderly dwarf with a beard singed unevenly by sparks.
"Another out-of-town dwarf!" Gru's booming voice drowned out the forge noise. "Here to buy or sell?"
Tisk raised his own hammer: "Here to learn and exchange, brother. I'm Tisk from Silver Red Village. I've heard Goldshang Fortress's forging tech is the most advanced on the continent."
Gru's eyes lit up: "Silver Red Village? I've heard of it! Your red iron quality is top-notch!" He enthusiastically patted Tisk's back. "Come, see our latest inventions!"
During the tour, Tisk cleverly steered the conversation toward rare materials and special artifacts. "I've been researching how to infuse star energy into forging," he said casually. "Heard Goldshang Fortress has some breakthroughs in that area lately?"
Gru's expression suddenly turned cautious: "Star energy? That's a dangerous field, friend. The alliance prohibits private research into that tech."
But a young dwarf artisan interjected: "But I've heard Jintelo folks are secretly collecting star-related artifacts, offering scary high prices!"
Gru glared harshly at the young artisan, who immediately shut up and returned to work. The old dwarf pulled Tisk aside and whispered: "Don't inquire about that, friend. Jintelo isn't to be messed with; their interest in star tech has made several craftsmen disappear."
Tisk's heart jolted, but he kept calm on the surface: "Thanks for the warning, brother. I'm just a curious craftsman; don't want trouble."
He pretended interest in ordinary forging tech, chatted a bit more, then bid farewell. Tisk decided to check the mechanical district next before returning to the inn.
Fa's Slum Exploration
Fa arrived at Goldshang Fortress's slums, which starkly contrasted with the rest of the city. The streets were narrow and filthy, buildings crowded and dilapidated, with tech and magic combined in dangerous ways—exposed wires intertwined with uncontrolled magical energy, creating hazards.
She pulled her cloak tight, her star eye faintly glowing to help identify potential dangers and malicious intents. Here, she saw a different Goldshang Fortress: the forgotten corner of prosperity, filled with despair and struggle.
At a street corner, Fa noticed several black-clothed men whispering, their arms bearing the same tattoo—a snake wrapped around a gear, exactly as Odlin described for Jintelo. She quietly approached, pretending to browse a nearby stall while eavesdropping.
"...the cargo transfers to the Shadow District's warehouse tonight; the boss says it's especially important..."
"...double the guards; heard some out-of-towners are inquiring about this batch..."
"...especially that elf woman; the boss says report her immediately if seen..."
Fa's heart sank—Jintelo already knew of their presence and was particularly focused on Arya. She needed to warn her companions quickly.
As she prepared to leave, she suddenly heard a commotion. An orc child ran frantically down the street, clutching a bundle, pursued by several Jintelo thugs.
"Stop, you little thief!" the lead thug shouted. "Hand over the stolen goods!"
The orc child hugged the bundle tightly, his face full of fear. Fa made an instant decision; she couldn't stand by and watch the child get caught.
She swiftly blocked the child's path, her star eye faintly glowing as she assessed the opponents' strength: "Three adults chasing a child—don't you feel ashamed?"
The thugs halted, surprised by the sudden stranger. The lead thug sneered: "Another meddler. Move aside; this kid stole from Jintelo. We're just reclaiming our property!"
Fa glanced at the trembling child behind her; the bundle revealed a worn iron orc statue and some glowing crystals. She turned back to the thugs, resolute: "I don't believe you. Let the child go, or I won't be polite."
The thugs exchanged glances and suddenly drew weapons—dangerous lances combining tech and magic. At that moment, Arya and Tisk arrived just in time.
"Fa! We got your signal!" Tisk shouted, charging with his hammer swinging.
Arya had already drawn her bow, magical energy gathering at the arrow tip: "Three against three? Fair enough?"
Seeing the odds against them, the Jintelo thugs snarled: "You've got big trouble now! Jintelo won't let you go!" They fled the scene quickly.
The Orc Child Kait's Secret
Fa turned to the orc child, asking gently: "Are you okay? Why were they chasing you?"
The child looked up, eyes teary: "Thank you for saving me. I'm Kait... I stole from Jintelo." He opened the bundle, revealing the iron orc statue, some gold coins, and a few glowing crystals.
"This belonged to my sister," Kait choked out. "Three years ago, she joined the border legion to find our father and left this with me to protect our mother and sister. But father's pay suddenly stopped, mother fell ill, and I needed money for medicine..."
Arya knelt down, gently checking Kait's condition: "Are you hurt? Did they harm you?"
Kait shook his head: "I'm fine, thank you. But I can't go home now; they know where I live..."
Tisk frowned: "This isn't good. Those Jintelo scum hold grudges; they'll definitely come after the kid and his family."
Fa decided: "Take us to your home; we'll ensure your family's safety. Then we'll figure out how to resolve this."
Kait hesitated but, seeing their determined expressions, nodded.
On the way to Kait's home, Arya whispered to Fa: "I heard in the bazaar that Jintelo recently acquired a batch of star-related cargo, hidden in the Shadow District."
Tisk added: "The dwarves at Molten Fire Forge said several craftsmen disappeared due to star tech research, all tied to Jintelo."
Fa nodded: "I heard similar intel. It seems Jintelo is connected to the Star Heart fragments somehow. But first, we ensure this child and his family are safe."
As they left the slum's edge with Kait, in the distant shadows, Jintelo thugs watched silently, seemingly waiting for reinforcements from Jintelo's hitmen.