'Then… before I go, I should take a quick look.'
Having defeated the Earth Branch and Ouroboros, I'd gained quite a bit. So, I checked my status screen for the first time in a while.
───────────────
Name: Carl Marcus
Rank: ─
Assignment: ─
Strength: 22 (+19) (+20%)
Stamina: 23 (+19) (+20%)
Dexterity: 11 (+19) (+20%)
Luck: 14 (+19) (+20%)
Tenacity: 12 (+19) (+20%)
Leadership: 7 (+19) (+20%)
Ether Sensitivity: 42 (+19) (+20%)
Honor: 12
Traits: [Sturdy Constitution], [Insomnia], [Agile Reflexes], [Superhuman Willpower], [Hand Tremors], [Nearsightedness], [Sudden Deafness], [One-Hit Kill], [Firepower Specialist], [Heavy Rounds], [Possession], [Sniper's Time], [Beast Hunter], [Pacifism], [Blade Rounds], [Fear Rounds], [Path of a Hero], [Ruler of the Skies], [Relentless Tenacity], [Will of Stone], [Indomitable], [Poison Resistance], [Hunter's Nemesis], [Master of Earth]...
Abilities: [Steel Body (Lv.5)], [Emission (Lv.3)], [Ignition (Lv.2)], [Ether Imbuement (Lv.2)], [Overdrive (Lv.1)]
— Reinforcement Serum is currently applied.
Currently applied Serum Types: Alpha, Sigma, Psi, Omega.
───────────────
It had been a while since I checked my information screen.
Some stats like Strength, Stamina, and Ether Sensitivity had risen slightly compared to before, but honestly, the increase wasn't significant.
In fact, aside from those three, the rest of my base stats were completely overshadowed by bonus stats.
'Not surprising.'
My recent growth had come primarily from equipment and Janus's evolution, so my personal growth had naturally lagged behind.
No matter how much I moved and fought, physical growth didn't happen that easily.
'Still… considering I just cleared the Orange Line stage, it's impressive nonetheless.'
Even if my base stats weren't particularly overwhelming, the important part was how much they were boosted by traits and serums.
Combined, my overall capabilities were on par with late-stage levels.
'Still, it's a bit frustrating how slowly my base stats are growing.'
Honestly, I wished I could retreat somewhere and train, but with how things were going, that just wasn't feasible.
'Anyway...'
Now that I'd checked my status, I remembered something I had forgotten.
'Come to think of it… I still haven't found any clues about what Brigadier General Victor asked for.'
While I was preparing for the Silk Road, Victor had made a request of me.
To locate the missing-in-action Blue Line reconnaissance unit.
But just as expected, I found no trace of the unit, and as a result, I couldn't fulfill his request.
'It's a bit disappointing, but it can't be helped.'
It would've been great if I could've used this to repay one of my debts to Moebius, but it was fine either way.
After all, whatever Victor was hiding, I didn't believe it would pose a threat to Ark.
'Then...'
I gripped Horus's bone reins and turned him around.
Time to find the Sandstorm Caravan.
* * *
It wasn't hard to locate the Sandstorm Caravan's current location.
At this time of year, the Caravan typically rotated through a fixed set of temporary trading points along the route—and all I had to do was scan those points from the air.
'There it is.'
As always, the Caravan's temporary outpost was concealed by a camouflage net and a plasma defense perimeter.
That setup might fool wild beasts and monsters—but it couldn't fool my eyes.
'Even the highest-grade camouflage nets can't hide that peculiar sense of distortion.'
Granted, the whole point of using camouflage was to prevent monster attacks, so maybe from a marketing standpoint it helped reassure prospective clients.
"Wait here for a bit."
[Keehehet.]
I left Horus circling above and jumped to the ground.
Naturally, I took on the guise of the Turncoat Pawn once more.
Last time, when I revealed my identity to the Sandstorm Caravan, it was not as Carl Marcus—but as the Turncoat Pawn.
Because of that, if the Caravan and Ark began formal interactions after the completion of the Silk Road, there was a risk that someone might piece together the link between Carl Marcus and the Anti-Morte campaign led by Pawn.
But I wasn't too worried.
'If it comes to that, I'll just present a stand-in.'
More importantly, the risk was worth it for what the Silk Road represented.
The Silk Road episode was that critical to Ark.
["It's been a while since we've seen these folks. It's weird, but kind of nostalgic."]
A surprisingly relaxed comment.
From Esther's perspective, the Sandstorm Caravan had once been a sworn enemy during her Shadow Corps days—but it seemed she didn't really hold any lingering feelings now.
"You'll be seeing them a lot more from now on."
["Really?"]
"Yeah."
Once the Silk Road was fully established, its main players would naturally be Ark, the Sandstorm Caravan, and the Kronos Union.
Other minor factions would likely join over time, but those three would form the core.
["Well, I don't mind. Gotta admit—messing with them last time was pretty satisfying."]
Esther chuckled.
Of course, this time wouldn't go quite the same as she expected.
'Should be around here.'
Since I'd been here once before, finding the entrance—even if it had changed location—wasn't difficult.
Despite relocations, the Caravan always used the same core security protocols.
"…Who goes there?"
As I approached the entrance, a sentry pointed a gun at me, clearly on alert.
Still, the fact that he asked who I was before shooting showed he understood the fundamentals of being a merchant.
"Customer."
"…What?"
He clearly hadn't expected that answer—his expression twisted in confusion.
"I want to speak with Ayla about a transaction. Tell her Pawn has come. She'll understand."
"…Please wait a moment."
At the mention of Ayla's name, the guard seemed to reconsider whether I might really be a client and rushed off.
After a short wait—
A familiar face emerged from inside.
"…Pawn?"
The Daughter of the Sands—Ayla.
It had been a long time.
"It's been a while."
"I was worried something had happened, you know—you disappeared for ages."
"Of course not."
"So, are you here to sell something today? Or maybe you're looking for something?"
Ayla put on that merchant smile of hers.
That wouldn't be bad, but today I'd come to the Sandstorm Caravan for a much bigger deal.
"This is something much larger."
"Hmm… color me intrigued. Ah, let's head inside. We've got some excellent tea in stock."
"Sounds good."
Ayla smiled.
Of course, I doubted that smile would last for long.
She was about to be very surprised.
* * *
As Ayla had said, she must've sourced some excellent tea leaves—because even a novice like me could tell the aroma was something else.
But while we sat before that lovely tea, Ayla was momentarily stunned.
"Formal trade with Ark… I mean, it's something we've always hoped for, but—is that really possible?"
When I brought up the Silk Road, Ayla reacted as if she couldn't believe it.
The Sandstorm Caravan hadn't been completely disconnected from Ark until now.
It was just that the trading routes had always been too dangerous for regular exchanges.
"It's entirely possible. I've already cleared the path we'll use."
At that, her expression completely changed.
Like a greedy miser catching wind of gold.
In truth, this proposal probably wasn't all that surprising to someone like Ayla or the rest of the Caravan.
Merchants thrive on information, and surely the Sandstorm Caravan had already noticed the strange events unfolding in the western regions of Ark.
"…Don't tell me—you're the one who's been stirring up the Church of Morte lately?"
"I am."
There was no need to deny it.
Even if I had, anyone could put the clues together and figure it out.
"How did you even… No—what's done is done. If you're bringing this up now, I take it everything's ready?"
"It is."
Ayla's golden eyes gleamed.
She knew just how much profit this opportunity represented.
Of course, I had no intention of letting her run wild with that greed.
"Don't try to bargain. This offer is already skewed heavily in your favor."
"…True."
I preempted her, and Ayla clicked her tongue in mild frustration.
Naturally, she wasn't foolish enough to try squeezing petty gains out of such a major transaction.
Her golden insight wouldn't allow it.
"A massive trade route centered on Ark… I never thought this would be possible."
"But you'd figured something was up, right?"
"Well, the disappearance of the Church of Morte's branches did seem suspicious. If you hadn't come to us, we might have tried to act first."
The conversation flowed surprisingly smoothly.
But that was expected.
I had meticulously prepared for this Silk Road episode.
"Oh, and one more thing."
I handed over all the gear I'd been storing in the [Rift Space] to the Sandstorm Caravan.
Now that the Silk Road was about to go live, those items would drop in value—so I had to sell them quickly.
"Hm… If you'd sold these before the Silk Road news broke, I could've offered you a better price… You know that, right?"
"You don't strike me as foolish enough to slash prices over that."
I held the reins here.
Trying to save a few coins by undercutting me could cost her a fortune.
It was a reminder to do business with integrity.
"You really are… something else."
Ayla smiled.