I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 379 The Valley's Dilemma

The Bagnian soldiers guarding the Tia family were highly vigilant, and the captured black and white bear could not persuade them with words.

Fortunately, before Monokuma was forced to take action, more soldiers arrived at the scene, and among them, someone recognized Monokuma... He had seen Monokuma wielding his Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) on the battlefield.

Oh, this is really a good thing... This made Monokuma put away his plan to draw his weapon and subdue everyone present.

The place where the maid Martha led the black and white bear was a trap; the narrow crevice in the rock was the bear's escape route.

It was a clever design. The only ones who could force Martha to take her to the family's hideout were the Miniese soldiers, who were burly and clad in armor.

Such a narrow crevice in the rocks can only be traversed by slender women. If danger were to arise, Martha could take the opportunity to escape, while simultaneously leaving the enemy to her allies hiding nearby.

Even a seasoned player like Monokuma fell for it.

The moves may be old-fashioned, but they are really effective.

This is a trap. The Tia family's hiding place is not here. Their real hiding place is two kilometers away, in a narrow valley separated by a mountain.

The valley is well hidden; it is like a carefully stitched wound in the earth, deeply embedded between two steep mountain walls.

The entrance is not an open door, but is cleverly half-hidden by a huge rock beam covered with moss and vines that extends diagonally from the mountain. Unless you get close, you can hardly tell that there is a passage behind the rock beam.

The stream flowing from the mountaintop forms a thin, silvery waterfall here, plunging into the deep pool below. The murmuring water provides a source of water and perfectly masks human noise.

Martha walked to the back of the rocky ridge, parted a thicket of hanging vines that were almost integrated with the mountain wall, and revealed a narrow, inward-sloping entrance that could only accommodate two people walking side by side.

A cool breeze carrying soil, moss, and moisture wafted out from the cave entrance.

"This is it."

Martha turned to the side, her voice standing out clearly against the gentle murmur of the waterfall.

The black and white bear stood in front of the entrance, its tall body almost filling the entire gap. After gesturing, one couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of nature.

Even if the Tia family were discovered at this entrance, the Minieses probably wouldn't be able to break through for a while.

Once the black and white bear had crawled inside and passed through a dark, cramped cave that could barely allow it to pass, the view suddenly opened up before it.

The valley was unexpectedly beautiful. Sunlight streamed down from the tops of the towering, narrow cliffs, forming several bright beams that pierced through the thin, misty fog that filled the valley.

Underfoot lies soft, moist moss and lichen, interspersed with tenacious little flowers and ferns.

The stream that could be heard from the entrance converges here into a crystal-clear pool. The water overflows from the pool, forming an even smaller stream that meanders through the valley, nourishing this secluded oasis.

The air was as crisp and clear as freshly melted snow. Taking a deep breath, I was greeted by the fragrance of grass and trees and the scent of damp rocks, which instantly washed away the oppressive feeling in the cave.

It has a fairytale-like beauty.

However, beneath this natural beauty lies a heavy and tense atmosphere.

Monokuma's keen eyes quickly swept across the valley, instantly grasping the crux of the problem... there was a lack of essential supplies for survival.

The valley floor is not particularly spacious, about the size of two football fields, and is divided by streams and small pools.

People huddled under the rock face, using natural hollows or makeshift shelters made of tarpaulin and branches.

Fuel was clearly scarce here. In the small fire pits used for heating and cooking, instead of firewood, damp moss and dry grass burned, emitting thick, choking white smoke.

A pitiful little pile of thin branches and a few barely collected dry shrubs lay nearby; this meager reserve would clearly not last more than a few days.

The valley is cool and damp, and the lack of fuel means that it is impossible to effectively heat the house, dry clothes, or heat food.

The food shortages are even more alarming.

Here, you can't see any trace of domesticated livestock or any decent stacks of grain.

Only a few women were carefully processing what were clearly wild vegetables, mushrooms, and small fish scooped from the pond.

Their actions were marked by an almost desperate frugality; they couldn't bear to discard even fish scales and wild vegetable roots.

An old man dressed in worn-out clothes sat on a stone, struggling to eat a small piece of dark, coarse wheat cake that looked rough and hard to swallow; that was probably their precious staple food.

Centurion Torres, who was following behind the black and white bear, introduced the bear to the former in a low voice, his voice filled with fatigue and worry.

"This is the shelter. Her Highness the Princess is currently in that cave over there."

He pointed to a large natural cave deep in the valley, hidden by a thick curtain.

"Currently, there are still more than two hundred people in the valley. Among them, there are more than one hundred and thirty Bagnian soldiers who are guarding the area, and more than sixty members of the Tia family, including Her Highness the Queen, her family members, servants and others."

He paused.

"Sir, our situation is dire. We escaped in a hurry and only managed to take a small amount of supplies. The valley can provide shelter, but there's not much food to eat, and our fuel is almost gone. The soldiers only get a little food each day and have to take turns on guard duty, which is very exhausting..."

When will the main force arrive?

The black and white bear slowly surveyed the "oasis" surrounded by sheer cliffs.

The clear pool water is beautiful, and the air is fresh, but all of this cannot cover up a cruel fact: it is a beautiful cage, a wasteland where resources are about to be depleted.

More than two hundred faces, etched with hunger, exhaustion, and fear, are facing a threat far more imminent than the pursuers from Minicia in this seemingly safe haven… hunger and cold.

"The main force has arrived, but I don't recommend that they come here now."

Monokuma thought for a moment and then said.

“There are Minisians everywhere outside. The people who came here on Chris’s orders are fighting them. The battle is currently very close.”

Although Monokuma arrived here alone, he wasn't a solo player. He could find out how other players were progressing through the main storyline simply by visiting the official game forum or popular game groups offline.

The players are very skilled and can easily take on five opponents at once. However, they have to cross more than 200 kilometers and be blocked by the Minieses along the way. There are no supply stations along the way, and they can only fight with the supplies they carry.

This environment is a bit harsh for players. Therefore, there aren't many players in the mountains right now, probably only four or five hundred.

How many Minisians live in the mountains?
Black and White Bear didn't know the exact number; he only knew there were many, because in the two days he had been in the mountains, he could see traces of them on every major mountain peak. Scouts and search teams were everywhere, and crucially, the mountain paths were blocked.

He only needs to log off and glance at the posts to know that the Tiger Crossing Battle Group, which had raided in a couple of days ago, is now like an old ox stuck in the mud, unable to move an inch.

Black and White Bear didn't dare to call over the Mountain Tiger Squad. They had a large number of members, but the Minisians following behind them were even more numerous. If they came over, they would not only be of no help, but would also kill the NPCs hiding here.

But hiding forever isn't a solution.

Monokuma glanced at the situation in the valley once more, then turned away.

"Captain, how many more days can the valley hold out?"

"At most five days."

How many men can you send out to fight?

"A maximum of thirty people."

Torres Centurion sighed deeply.

"The Minisians were too aggressive recently, and many of us were injured in the fighting and lacked medicine..."

There was no need to say anything more; just by seeing the situation in the valley, even the black and white bear could understand his predicament.

"Wait a moment, I'll notify the other rescuers and discuss a plan."

Monokuma said this to Centurion Torres, who nodded without asking how to communicate.

Within the Bagnian Defence Force, most people knew a little about the Prince's Guard's magical powers, so Centurion Torres wouldn't ask such a foolish question.

Black and white bear found a relatively clean spot in the canyon, lay down, and logged off.

After leaving the game, he quickly logged into a chat group, which was full of guild leaders and commanders of various battle groups, all of whom were influential and powerful players.

+Monokuma: I've found the hiding place of the Tia family.

Xiao Dao: What? Where are they? My men have gone in and killed seven or eight hundred Minesians, and we haven't found anything yet. How did you find them all by yourself?
Xiao Dao: Lao Xiong, where are you right now?
Old Li: ...What are you planning to do, kid? Black Bear is one of my men, isn't this a bit inappropriate?
Xiao Dao: Stop talking nonsense. This is a main quest that concerns the interests of all players. If your people discover the quest objective, you can get extra credit in the quest settlement. The quest is the priority now.

Xiao Dao: My men captured a Miniese officer, and after interrogating him, we learned that the Tia family didn't take much with them when they fled, and they are definitely short of food, medicine, and clothing now.

Xiao Dao: I reckon some of them have already starved to death. My men are in the mountains with some food and medicine. If we don't get the supplies over there quickly, and the mission targets starve to death, our main mission will be ruined.

Monokuma: Indeed, the situation regarding mission objectives here is not good. We lack everything, including food and firewood. There are only thirty people left who can go out to fight, and the remaining old, weak, sick, and disabled can only last for five days before running out of food.

Monokuma: But I can't reveal their location, and I can't tell Old Li either.

Olaf: ?

Monokuma: Right now, they can't afford any exposure; letting other players come would be more risky than rewarding.

Xiao Dao: But didn't you say they're short of supplies and can only last for five days at most?

Xiao Dao: If you don't tell me the location, how can my people keep going when they have to deliver the supplies?

Xiao Dao: How about I have someone find a place to hide the things, and then you can have those NPCs sneakily take them?

Monokuma: You can give it a try, but it's only a temporary solution.

Xiao Dao: Then tell me, how do you solve the root cause?

Monokuma: I don't know, that's why I'm asking for help here.

Monokuma: In my opinion, the mission targets are extremely weak. I doubt they have the ability to relocate at all. Sending them out to return to Bagnia now is tantamount to forcing them to their deaths.

Olaf: This is a real pain, guys. Wait, the Varangian Legion is on its way. We'll be at the mission area in two days. Once we get there, we'll wipe out the Minisians in the mountains and then move the mission objective.

Old Li: That's unreliable.

Monokuma: Think of a way to get the Minieses to leave this place.
A brief silence fell over the chat group; the flow of information seemed to freeze. This was indeed a thorny issue. Getting an enemy with overwhelming numerical and geographical superiority to voluntarily leave the core search area was easier said than done.
+Old Li: Let them leave? Unless we can destroy their stronghold, or... make them think there are bigger fish here? A diversionary tactic? But our main force is stuck outside, what can we use to divert them?

Xiao Dao: Luring the tiger away from the mountain... Old Li, you've reminded me.

Xiao Dao: @Black and White Bear, is there anything that the Minieses on your side are particularly concerned about? Like the position of their commander?

Xiao Dao: Or... their own logistical supply point? If we can create a larger, more attention-grabbing target, it might temporarily relieve the pressure on your side, or even create a moving window.

Olaf: My men are almost here! Varangi's axe thirsts for the blood of the Minieses! Hold on, and we'll break through!

Black and White Bear: @Olaf, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.

Black and White Bear: @Xiao Dao, your thinking is correct. What the Minieses care about most right now, besides the Tia family itself, is their own security, supplies, and command system. With so many troops deployed into the mountains, the logistical pressure must be enormous.

Old Li: Logistics...right, supply lines! The Minisians must have established outposts and supply depots somewhere outside the mountains to support the consumption of so many troops in the mountains.

Old Li: If we can destroy or seriously threaten their supply points, the troops in the mountains will inevitably panic, and may even be forced to withdraw troops to reinforce or protect new supply lines!
Xiao Dao: Brilliant! Strike the snake at its vital point! @Black and White Bear, what can you get out of that Centurion Torres? They were being pursued before, so they should have observed the general movements of the Minisians and their possible supply routes.

Olaf: My men can cooperate. As long as they know the general direction, my men can sneak over there!
Black and White Bear: White Rock City, the nearest city is White Rock City. Your map should show this place. It should be the logistics warehouse for the search team here.

Olaf: Then I'll go fight White Rock City; it's closer to me.

Monokuma: @Xiaodao, I need your men to create chaos in the mountains, the bigger the commotion the better, whether it's a feint or multiple attacks on the patrol teams, to divert their attention.

Black and White Bear: Then those who haven't entered the mountains yet should immediately attack White Rock City. Even if they can't take it, they should surround it and block the caravans heading up, so that the Minisians in the mountains will also run out of food.

Xiao Dao: No problem, I'll arrange for someone to do it right away.

Old Li: You can leave Baiyan City to me. The main force of Han Tang warriors is nearby. I can share this information with other players now and let them cause trouble near Baiyan City.

Monokuma: Oh, and remember to send some supplies in quickly. They need to get into the mountains within five days, or the mission target will starve.
(End of this chapter)