Contrary to what the gate guard had suggested Captain Fan had no desire to speak to them at this time. “I don't want to waste my time repeating myself. I'll go over the rules for the next round once the first round has concluded. All of the teams that have passed will be gathered together in the courtyard and I'll give my address at that time. Until then I suggest you get some rest.”
With a dismissive wave of his hand Captain Fan made it clear he had no further time for them and they should leave. As they exited the officer's cabin Tsubame sighed, “I was hoping we could at least get a hint of what the next round will be. I was hoping to get a leg up on the competition.”
“I think resting up will be enough of an advantage. If each round is as nerve-racking as this one I think managing fatigue will become an issue. While the other teams tire themselves out beyond the walls for some temporary gains this round, we'll be fit to take the lead next round. As my mother once said, 'a weary mind often sows the seeds of failure,'” Ming Jia Ying offered her opinion.
Lin Liqin agreed, “Rest will definitely be a factor. The guard mentioned a bonus for being first, hopefully that will afford us a little leeway in the points while we use this time to recuperate. I don't know about you two, but the last couple hours felt like days to me.”
There wasn't much to Fort Grendel. It was located at the root of the valley and was backed up against a mountain face to the south with large timber walls facing the other three cardinal directions. The east and west walls had small gates for personnel, while the north wall serviced the road leading out through the valley and had a large gate that carriages could pass through.
It didn't take long for them to find the barracks that had been designated as a rest area for the contestants. As they were making their way there the west gate that they'd come through opened once again to reveal a lone figure. As he made his way into camp electrical sparks would occasionally slither along his limbs causing spasms in their wake. This was one of the side effects that Tomo had informed Lin Liqin of. During the tribulation a cultivator's subconsciously imposed limits would be removed while they adjusted to their new power. This meant they could utilize one hundred percent of their power, but much like overexerting a muscle it could cause internal damage.
An arc coiled around the young man's leg and the resulting spasms brought him to his knees. Lin Liqin wasn't sure why, but in that moment he rushed forward to help him, despite fearing the boy's power with every fiber of his being he couldn't help but remember the way the others had looked at him at the inn. As an orphan himself, Lin Liqin had a soft spot for strays and even though the young man before him was a member of the Ku clan standing in the middle of his family's territory, Lin Liqin had never seen anyone that seemed so alone.
Seeing the man in the hawk mask rushing towards him Ku Wang Xiaobo cautioned with a voice tinted with fear, “Be careful! Don't touch me!”
Lin Liqin paid the warning no mind, a thin layer of golden aura enveloping his body as he reached the boy. Despite the added layer of protection a tendril of electricity ran across his hand and left it feeling numb, but did no damage. “Don't worry about me, I'm tougher than I look,” Lin Liqin reassured as he helped him back up onto his feet.
At that moment the east gate opened for the only other lone contestant. Ming Jia Ying had seen him during Tomo's visit to the palace, but even Tsubame and Lin Liqin could guess at his identity from his striking resemblance to his younger brother Ku Shen. As he made his way into the outpost Ku Xue watched Ku Wang Xiaobo limp to a nearby bench with Lin Liqin's help.
Unfortunately, the wooden bench began to hiss and smoke under the assault of Ku Wang Xiaobo's lightning elements, threatening to burst into flames at any moment. Seeing this, Ku Xue circulated his Chi. As a fellow earth cultivator Ming Jia Ying was sensitive to Ku Xue's manipulation of the elements, but it lacked the characteristic pulse of her and her mother's technique. If theirs was a bellowed order his was a whispered plea, and the earth acquiesced. Another bench made from stone quickly formed next to Ku Wang Xiaobo. There was none of the usual upheaval associated with earth techniques, the ground was undisturbed and the bench looked as if it had been there for years.
Ku Xue approached, offering a cane of polished stone that Ku Wang Xiaobo accepted as he moved to the new bench. “Thank you Crown Prince for your deference.”
“Cousin Xue is fine, Cousin Xiaobo. I'm only a prince by virtue of my birth just as you're only a member of the Ku Wang branch by yours. I don't deserve to be propped up any more than you deserve to be held down.”
Up until this recent summit many of the other members of the Ku Clan's younger generation had been dismissive of Ku Xue because he rarely flaunted the power and influence of his position, however Ku Wang Xiaobo had always admired him from afar since he was one of the few family members that never made him feel less than. “As you wish, Cousin Xue,” Ku Wang Xiaobo nearly choked on the last few words. Being so overly familiar with a member of the main branch family left his mouth feeling dry but brought a genuine smile to his face.
Ku Xue couldn't help but smile in return. “You're the only other person who entered the tournament solo. I imagine we both felt like we had something to prove. I wish you luck in the coming rounds. I'll be watching.” As Ku Xue turned to leave he glanced at Ku Shen's team before commenting, “You seem to possess a moral compass that most of my brother's helpers lack. I'll be watching you as well.”
They watched as Ku Xue made his way to the officer's cabin. After checking that Ku Wang Xiaobo was fine on his own the trio left him on the bench and continued on to the barracks for some much needed rest.
Midday the following day saw the end of the twenty four hour waiting period for the carriages that had brought the contestants at the beginning of the round. Some teams had already retreated, but for those carriages that remained it was time to go. Those that were empty were to return to the capital, while those that sheltered team sponsors, such as Ku Shen, were scheduled to arrive at the outpost where they could either rendezvous with their team or await their arrival.
While Ku Shen had imagined a large amount of discarded supplies behind the nearby rocky outcropping he wasn't shocked to see the empty clearing as the stagecoach rolled past. He was however pleasantly surprised to find his team waiting for him when they entered Fort Grendel and even more so when he was informed they were the first team to complete the round.
By this point Ku Qin Zemin and Ku Yu Zhengzhong's teams had arrived along with a few others. The crown prince and his two cousins occupied one corner of the barracks while Ku Shen and his Lesson Three were gathered in the opposite corner. While no words were traded, tension hung oppressively over the room and was enough to force the poor teams caught in the middle to seek fresh air outside. Ku Shen ignored the glances his family members were sending his way and addressed his team, “I hear there was quite a bit of excitement during the first round and nearly half the teams have already dropped out. You've preformed brilliantly so far, keep this up and there may be a bonus in it for you. As a matter of fact, I might be interested in making this a long term arrangement.”
“Unfortunately Prince Shen, we have other business that will take us far from Gaia soon. This is just a fun side job while we have some free time. But it never hurts to make friends in high places and when next we're in need of employment we know who to come to,” Ming Jia Ying declined as diplomatically as she could. Seeing Lin Liqin give a light nod of approval raised her confidence in her answer as she met Ku Shen's gaze.
Ku Shen shook his head helplessly, but didn't seem offended at having his invitation turned down. “That is unfortunate,” he said before getting down to business, “So, what do we know about round two so far? And I'm allowed to resupply you again between rounds, was there anything you needed?”
Tsubame was the one to answer this time. She once again adopted her childish persona, blowing a raspberry before stating, “That Captain Fan wouldn't tell us anything. Said he only wanted to say it once, so he's waiting for the last team to arrive. He didn't even tell us how many points we got or how to use them.” She slumped in her chair looking quite defeated by the captain's reticent behavior.
Ku Shen thought for a moment before coming to a solution, “There are really only two possibilities. This outpost is here to protect a government controlled silver mine. There is a mine shaft near the mountain face towards the back of the fort. So either they'll send you back out into the woods or down into the mountain. However, I have no idea what the objective of either expedition could be.”
“We've already got a good idea of what lurks in the forest. What we need is a map of the mine,” Lin Liqin added.
Ku Shen shrugged, “Even as a prince I'm not sure I'd be able to get that for you. Word is this mine is running thin, which is why it's being used for the tournament, but until the fort is officially decommissioned it and the mine are still classified imperial secrets. The captain will have the only map of the mine above ground, but I doubt he'd let me look at it, let alone borrow or copy it. The good news is they should have floor maps posted on the walls of the mine to prevent you from getting too lost if they do send you down there.”
“I'm sure we'll figure something out,” Lin Liqin sounded untroubled as he put a hand on Ming Jia Ying's shoulder. She tacitly understood that he wanted her to try and map the mine herself, but that would have to wait until they had some privacy.
The next two days passed by uneventfully. A couple more teams arrived the second day, but the last big influx of contestants came in the final few hours of the first round. A few of these teams were still trying to catch their breath while others were treating their wounds as Captain Fan exited his cabin to address the crowd.
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With the help of a wind technique his voice was amplified, but it wasn't clear if it was his doing or one of his aids. “Congratulations on completing the first round! This round was meant to test your ability to navigate hostile territory. Those of you that arrived on the first day will receive one thousand points, second day awards five hundred, and the third day is two hundred and fifty. In addition each contestant badge that you liberated from enemy teams is an additional one hundred points. Pelts also award bonus points; fifty for each wolf, a hundred for a lynx, two hundred and fifty for a bear, and five hundred for a dire bear. We will also be handing out special commendations for exemplary service; Ku Shen's Lesson Three receives five hundred points for being the first team to complete the round, Ku Xue and Ku Wang Xiaobo also receive two hundred and fifty points each for most badges and most pelts respectively, in addition they will both be awarded a one time bonus of one thousand points for entering the competition solo. Lastly, there were originally twenty six teams, but only twelve completed the round. In honor of reaching the top fifty percent each team will get a one thousand point bonus.”
There was a break in Captain Fan's breakdown of the first round's events while a few footmen brought out a chalk board with the current rankings and points for each team. Despite hearing the captain list off the numerous bonuses he'd claimed, many were surprised to see Ku Wang Xiaobo's name top the rankings, taking first position with 4450 points. However, no one was surprised to see Ku Xue take second place with 4150 points. Ku Yu Zhengzhong's team, The Dominators, would have taken second with their 3200 points if it weren't for Ku Xue's solo bonus. A respectable fourth place went to Ku Shen's Lesson Three for 2500 points. Ku Qin Zemin's Siege Squad took fifth with 2000 points. From there the points rapidly fell off with most of the remaining teams receiving the minimum amount of 1250 points for the round.
Captain Fan was ready to move on, but opened the discussion to the crowd, “Before I begin explaining the details for the second round are there any questions?”
A hand came up and Captain Fan waved for them to speak, “I had friends in another team that never arrived... um... What happened to the teams that didn't make it?”
“Don't worry. Those teams that were eliminated were recovered by tournament proctors. While none died and they are currently being treated by the best healers in the empire, I caution you not to get complacent. The danger you face here is very real and many of them will carry the scars they earned today for the rest of their lives. If any of you wish to withdraw you may take one of the carriages back to the capital before the start of the second round.”
Ming Jia Ying and Lin Liqin were both shocked to hear there were proctors watching the match. Neither of them had been able to detect these elite guards with their Druid sensing techniques.
Another hand rose, belonging to Ku Yu Zhengzhong this time. Once again Captain Fan beckoned and Ku Yu Zhengzhong could barely contain his mercantile instincts as he asked, “How does the point store work?”
“It will be easier to explain the function of each item once we've gone over the objectives for the second round. As such that discussion will be left to our quartermaster when the store opens. I can tell you, however, that the points you spend will effect your ranking in the tournament and that it will be first come first serve by order of arrival, so Ku Shen's Lesson Three will get to shop first.”
Several envious glances passed their way and Ku Shen's haughty smirk didn't help to easy the tension. Thankfully Captain Fan was in a hurry to continue his explanation. He cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention and without waiting for further questions dove right back into the topic at hand, “Supply lines and communication are the life blood of any empire. The second round will test your ability to carry out one of the most basic yet most vital tasks any citizen can preform. You will deliver a cart of goods to our sister outpost, Fort Beowulf, and return with a delivery receipt. The goods in question? Why, silver from our very own mine of course. Each team will be given a cart containing twenty kilograms of silver. The most direct path to Fort Beowulf is through the mine to the other side of the mountain. Any silver you deliver will count, so while in the mine teams may dig for additional silver if they choose... or pilfer it from their opponents.” A smile crept across Captain Fan's face as he watched the teams eye each other suspiciously.
Before the teams could recover their composure Captain Fan continued, “The point store will open in a moment. Each team will get a half hour to shop. Any purchases made during that time will be confidential, but the other teams will be able to see your point total change in real time. I should also mention that we'll be staggering each team's departure time for round two based on your rankings after you've spent your points. So, if you want to get a head start on your opponents you'll need to hold on to some of those points. Now, once all teams have had a chance to shop privately the shop will remain open for any teams that wish to make last minute purchases. Do be mindful though that some items have limited stock. Ku Shen's Lesson Three please head to the quartermaster so that we may begin.”
Ku Shen led his team towards the equipment shack near the mine entrance. Opening the door revealed a makeshift store that had been installed. The four walked between shelves with plaques depicting bonuses that could be purchased as well as tags indicating their price and the available stock. A balding man with spectacles and bony fingers holding a clipboard approached them to say, “I'm the quartermaster and you can address me as such. Let's see here, twenty five hundred points, alright. Let me know if you want to buy something or have any questions.”
Lin Liqin immediately asked while examining a nearby plaque, “Quartermaster, this here says we can purchase an additional cart of silver for two hundred and fifty points. Is that a good deal? We don't even know how many points Fort Beowulf will give us for them.”
The quartermaster sighed heavily, “Figures the captain'd leave out some of the important bits. Probably wants to see who's got enough wits to ask after the details. To answer your question, the price starts at five hundred points a cart. I can already see the next question written on your face. The price gets locked in when you start your transaction, so all of your carts sell for the same price, but the next person to sell will get ten points less for every cart you sold. And that will continue down to a minimum value of one fifty.”
“So at two hundred and fifty we could potentially take a loss,” Tsubame mused.
“Too true lass, important to note the risk, but you could also double your points if you're quick enough,” the quartermaster added.
Suddenly Ku Shen addressed his team, “You don't have to tell me the specifics, but the method you used to haul away the supplies I brought for the first round, what are the limits?”
Tsubame and Ming Jia Ying both glanced at Lin Liqin who fixed Ku Shen with an evaluating look before he answered, “The limits are manageable if I'm given enough time to preform the necessary techniques, but it requires privacy.”
Ku Shen just nodded and didn't ask further, instead he guided them to a plaque on one of the back shelves. It offered ten additional carts of silver for one thousand points. Ming Jia Ying remarked, “It has potential,” but she was focused on another plaque nearby before asking the quartermaster, “This one says we can hire one of the fort's soldiers to guard our convoy. Do we get to pick or are they randomly assigned?”
“The captain already has a few men on standby in case any teams pick that up. Let's see, two fifty, well for a thousand I guess you could pick for yourself,” the quartermaster offered.
Lin Liqin was unsure of Ming Jia Ying's plans, but he could see the gears moving behind her eyes as she put the pieces together. Now that it was a negotiation he stepped up, “Two fifty already seems more than fair, we just want to ensure we aren't being saddled with dead weight.”
“If you want a say, you got to pay. I can bring it down to seven fifty, but officers are excluded,” the quartermaster countered with a smile. The rank and file never had to haggle for their equipment and he seemed to be enjoying this new game.
With mock surprise Lin Liqin responded, “So one thousand included the officers? That was actually quite generous, but you can't possibly believe the average grunt is worth three quarters as much. Why don't we call it five hundred?”
The quartermaster thought for a moment before nodding, “I think we could do five hundred. The five Captain Fan selected were issued special gear for the mine, but if you choose someone else they can only take the equipment they were issued for this tournament. That seem fair to you?”
Lin Liqin glanced back at Ming jia Ying and saw the desire in her eyes. Then he offered his hand to the other man, “Looks like you've got yourself a deal Quartermaster. You drove a hard bargain.”
The quartermaster was all smiles as he quickly wrote on a piece of paper before passing it to Lin Liqin, “This is a writ of temporary reassignment.” He switched back to his clipboard and jotted down a few notes before returning, “You have two thousand points remaining and about fifteen minutes left until it's the next team's turn.”
Ming Jia Ying exuberance rang out beside her voice, “We'll be done in just a moment. We're taking the ten extra carts for a thousand and this one also for a thousand. If I'm reading it right it states for every five carts worth of silver we deliver the price for every subsequent cart is doubled.”
“That is correct,” the quartermaster confirmed as he set the ten extra cart plaque's stock to sold out and reduced the bulk multiplier's stock to one. “That's the last of your points. I hope the captain made it clear how departure times work. With zero remaining points you'll be going last. Oh well, you all seem like a lively bunch so I'm sure you'll be alright. I'll be rooting for you.”
The quartermaster moved to hold the door for them indicating it was time for them to leave. As they stepped back out into the courtyard the quartermaster double checked his clipboard before calling for Ku Wang Xiaobo.
They walked past the barracks which was rather boisterous with all the teams now rooming there together. Soon Ku Shen guided them to a quiet corner near the fort's outer walls before turning to face Ming Jia Ying, “So Yingying, what's the plan?”
Ming Jia Ying glanced around, not only did they appear to be completely alone, but she could feel Ku Shen circulating his Chi and the wind currents suggested he was preventing their voices from carrying beyond their little gathering. “As you've deduced, we have the means to carry large quantities of resources with ease. We will use that technique to transport the silver undetected to Fort Beowulf.”
“Undetected? You heard the quartermaster, you'll leave last. The other teams will likely setup ambushes along the path through the mine and anyone with half a brain will be able to figure out that the team that spent all their points will have a hefty haul,” Ku Shen nearly scoffed.
“The captain said the mine was the most direct path, not the only path. The writ of temporary reassignment will be given to our coachman, who per the quartermaster's orders is allowed to take his carriage with him. So we'll ride in comfort over the mountain while the other teams fight under it,” Ming Jia Ying explained.
Not just Ku Shen, but Lin Liqin and Tsubame were left speechless by the young girl's simple yet ingenious plan. Seeing that they had nothing to add, Ming Jia Ying carried on, “There's also an optional gambit we might employ. While the bulk multiplier will ensure a fair price and plenty of return on our eleven carts worth of silver, we could potentially increase it further if we convince other teams to pool the silver with ours. If we get there before the other teams we can guarantee them the highest sale value for their carts while using them to drive our own prices higher.”
After their strategy meeting they decided to go watch the score board for a bit to get an idea of how the other teams were spending their points. Surprisingly, when they arrived they noticed that Ku Wang Xiaobo's points remained unchanged, but Ku Xue had spent over half of his landing at 1900. Lin Liqin speculated, “Xiaobo likely wants to enter the mine first in order to avoid as much conflict as possible. He still seems to be feeling the after effects from using his Chi in the first round. He might spend some of his points during the store's open hours just before the start of the second round, after he has a better idea of how many points second place has.”
Ku Shen conjectured, “That sounds plausible. He's been hiding his strength this whole time, so he obviously prefers to avoid direct conflict when possible. Brother Xue on the other hand is much more straight forward. I'd wager the majority of the points he spent were on extra silver, if not all of them.”
While they were speaking Ku Qin Zemin's team exited the shop and their point total dropped a modest 500 points, bringing it to 1500. Ming Jia Ying theorized, “Zemin likely bought an item or two with limited stocks. Now that he's seen what the store has to offer he's taking his time to contemplate how to most efficiently spend his points during the store's open hours.”
“You seem to have a good understanding of Cousin Zemin, Yingying.” Ku Shen raised an eyebrow as he glanced at her, but said nothing further.