Chapter 40
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Quest Reward is Another Quest
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As the faint light of dawn began to illuminate the wasteland...
Jinwoo had finally finished sorting through all the spoils of war.
It had taken time to transfer most of the gold bars and money pouches from the ore cart.
"Goddamn heavy..."
"Kieek..."
He didn't forget to give water and rations to Falcon, who was panting with exhaustion.
"Drink it slowly."
He also pocketed a portion as labor fees.
With this much, I won't have to worry about funds for a while.
He shook the now-heavier money pouch and muttered in satisfaction.
Of course, Jinwoo's real goal wasn't this shiny metal.
Hidden at the very bottom of the ore cart, beneath the other gold bar crates—a dark brown rectangular object.
Jinwoo picked it up and opened it.
It was an old leather ledger.
This is the item Barrett valued as much as his gold.
[Twin Rocks Secret Deal Ledger.]
[Main Quest: Purge the Nest of Corruption (2/2) Completed!]
[Core Item: 'Sheriff's Secret Ledger' Acquired.]
[Fame and Rewards Acquired.]
Jinwoo skimmed the quest completion window lightly before immediately opening the ledger.
The yellowed, rough pages were densely filled with faded ink—letters and numbers.
The amount of crystals exploited from Twin Rocks over the past several years.
The quantity of gold bars siphoned off.
And records of every black money handover to the Trade Federation—who received it and via what routes.
All prime, valuable intel.
As expected, this is the real jackpot.
The ledger was a perfect blueprint exposing the veins of the Trade Federation's massive system.
Jinwoo meticulously traced the flow of money and goods, page by page.
From the moment I have this, the main quest really accelerates.
One of the key branching points in [Rising West] was this Twin Rocks quest.
After securing Barrett's ledger...
His eyes repeatedly lingered on one name that appeared over and over.
[Transport Lead: Mana Transport Train 'Ares']
[Cargo: High-Purity Mana Stone Crystals (A-Grade)]
[Destination: Crimson Mountains Temporary Supply Base]
...The Ares!
A vivid memory from his game days flashed in Jinwoo's mind.
The moving fortress.
It transported the Trade Federation's army from the harbor to the interior.
And conversely, carried inland-exploited minerals, jewels, and treasures of the Atlas civilization back to the harbor.
The Trade Federation, researching Atlas civilization tech, was obsessed with high-purity mana stones.
Just deploying this expensive armored train for transport showed how much effort they poured into it.
And this contains its operation logs and routes.
A mere corrupt sheriff knowing too much suggested he was scheming his own big picture.
As Jinwoo was about to close the ledger's final page...
"Hm? What's this?"
His gaze locked onto a faintly scribbled note at the very bottom of the page.
[Final money laundering and gathering point estimated to be Golden Oasis]
That's... way later.
Golden Oasis was too far to head there now.
There are still more quests ahead.
Jinwoo decided to focus on the bigger, surer prey right in front of him.
This ledger clearly pointed to his next hunt.
The status window should pop the new main quest any moment now.
Jinwoo's gaze stretched beyond Twin Rocks.
Toward the Crimson Mountains, glowing red—the next stage.
That was the moment the massive armored train was added to Ghost's hunting list.
The next day, before dawn broke, as dusky darkness enveloped Twin Rocks...
The gunfire and explosions had raged all night.
And rumors swirled about the sheriff's disappearance!
The residents, tossing sleeplessly in anxiety and strange anticipation, cautiously opened their doors at the murmurs from the village entrance.
And they doubted their own eyes.
"W-What's that?"
Wooden crates piled like a mountain at Twin Rocks' entrance...
"Crates? All of this is..."
A large signboard was stabbed into the foremost crate, big enough for anyone to read.
[I've brought back what belongs to you. GHOST]
"G-Ghost?"
"Could it be the one who taught those Cobra bastards a lesson?"
"All of this... is really ours?"
The residents approached the crates as if entranced, unable to believe it.
Someone mustered the courage to open one.
Kiiik!
Objects gleaming dazzlingly in the morning sun revealed themselves.
Neatly stacked gold bars.
Glittering silver and gold coins.
And all sorts of bills and bonds!
The assets soaked in the residents' blood and sweat, stolen by Barrett and the Cobra Gang over the years.
"Oh, God...!"
"All this is ours?"
Astoundment instantly turned to joy.
Residents hugged each other, weeping and laughing.
The square transformed into a festival ground in a flash.
Right then, another commotion erupted at the village entrance.
"W-What's that?!"
"Everyone, hide!"
The cheers cut off abruptly.
Dozens of armed soldiers marched orderly into the village, drawing their gazes.
Strange folk, all armed with gleaming silver guns tinged blue.
"G-Get the guns, now!"
"Hide the kids and women! Hurry!"
Some young men fumbled for their shotguns, but the intruders were already close.
Fear and despair clouded the residents' faces again.
Some armed residents glared warily.
"Wait! Don't shoot!"
Then, someone approached slowly, hands raised.
The intruders were Kellogg and the rebels.
Kellogg dismounted stiffly and walked toward the entrance crates.
His steps silent against the villagers' wary stares.
Kellogg's eyes went to the sign.
Good! They know Ghost too!
He pointed to the crate with the 'GHOST' sign stabbed in.
"Don't be afraid! We're not plunderers!"
A resident gripping a shotgun shouted in a trembling voice.
"W-Who are you?!"
Kellogg answered confidently.
"We're the ones fighting the Trade Federation's tyranny! See the words on that sign? We received his orders too! We're comrades carrying on Ghost's will!"
"How can we believe that?!"
As a resident challenged, Batu behind Kellogg signaled.
"Then we'll show you proof."
Rebel soldiers led in another line of wagons from the entrance.
Atop those wagons were the crystals from Twin Rocks they'd seized from the Trade Federation yesterday, loaded full.
"We've brought your things here!"
"T-The Trade Federation's wagons!"
"See? We didn't come to take—we came to return what's yours!"
Kellogg declared.
That moment, the wary glares in the residents' eyes began to waver.
The anonymous hero Ghost, who returned their stolen wealth.
And the rebels, bringing back the village's crystals they'd lost.
"You're really giving this back to us?"
"Of course! This belongs to you all!"
An old man grasped Kellogg's hand, tears streaming.
"Thank you... truly, thank you, young man!"
That was the start.
The residents' wariness melted like snow, replaced by gratitude and welcome.
They brought water and food for the rebels, treated their wounded.
The rebel soldiers, awkward at first, felt their hearts swell at the genuine hospitality.
"The boss was right..."
"We must become a liberation army for the people!"
Kellogg clenched his fist, watching his men mingle with the villagers.
They're all understanding my vision!
He was once more awed by the greatness of this Ghost.
While we were looting wagons, you rooted out the village's cancer—the gang—and returned their wealth!
Gazing at Twin Rocks' sky, now welcoming new masters, he vowed firmly.
Ghost... I'll carry on your will, no matter what!
Twin Rocks boiled with a festival of liberation.
Bonfires blazed in the square, and residents sang and danced with heartfelt laughter for the first time in years.
Kellogg's rebels were swiftly welcomed as sturdy guardians of the village.
"Good, they're blending in well."
Jinwoo watched the entire scene indifferently from a hill far from the village.
"The real work starts now."
The Trade Federation's transport convoy was wiped out.
With the unscheduled tribute cut off, they'd send scouts to check.
Well, the rebels cleaned up the traces. The Federation will think bandits did it. No issues for now, but...
How they handled the aftermath was up to them.
An unguarded vault gets raided by other thieves eventually. If they guard it, it'll help the quest.
Jinwoo's focus was solely on the old leather ledger in his hand.
And the words on the new system window that had just appeared before him.
Pierce the Heart of the Steel Serpent
📍 Stage 1: Analyze the 'Secret Ledger' information to grasp the armored train 'Ares''s operation route and weaknesses.
The Steel Serpent, Ares...
He reopened the ledger and carefully reviewed the records on the Ares.
Operation cycle, stops, main defensive armaments.
Even the name of the supply overseer.
All stuff I already know.
His gaze paused once more on Barrett's scribbled note.
[Golden Oasis]
Still too far for now.
Jinwoo decided to focus on the bigger, surer prey at hand.
He tucked the ledger deep into his bosom.
"Business in this village is done. Let's go, Falcon!"
"Kieeek!"
He turned Falcon's reins.
Next destination: the Crimson Mountains, striking with red rocks and jagged peaks.