Chapter 285: NEW SETTLEMENT MISSION AVAILABLE

Chapter 285: Chapter 285: NEW SETTLEMENT MISSION AVAILABLE

The green safe-route marker had been removed from its original position.

Its replacement pointed toward a passage Soren had forbidden anyone from entering.

The old stone corridor led toward damaged underground foundations.

Foundations connected to the ancient network beneath Ironwood.

Raku’s eyes narrowed.

"Whoever moved this wanted someone to walk into that passage."

Mora’s smile disappeared.

"Why?"

"That’s what we’re going to find out."

One guard approached.

"Commander, we checked the nearby posts."

Raku rose.

"And?"

"Two more markers were moved."

Mora went still.

The guard swallowed.

"One points toward an unstable drainage channel. The other redirects traffic away from the western medical shelter."

Raku looked toward the forest.

Three markers.

Three different locations.

All changed after the attack.

His jaw tightened.

"Close the entire route."

The guard straightened.

"Yes, Commander!"

"And bring me the patrol records."

Raku turned toward Mora.

"Did Tovan’s builders move any of these?"

She shook her head.

"I checked. They haven’t worked here since yesterday afternoon."

"Who had access?"

"Guards. Builders. Healers delivering supplies."

Raku’s tail slowly lashed.

Too many people.

Mora looked toward the sealed passage.

"You think there’s another traitor?"

Raku didn’t answer immediately.

Then he looked at the knot again.

"I think someone is still working against us."

Soren received the report before breakfast.

He was standing beside Tovan, examining a map of Ironwood’s damaged foundations, when Raku approached.

Kael was nearby, reviewing the children’s training schedules with Nerin.

Swanly sat beneath a shaded awning, drinking warm broth while pretending she hadn’t been listening to every conversation around her.

Her ears immediately turned.

Raku bowed his head.

"My lord. We found something."

Soren looked up.

"Speak."

Raku placed the recovered warning marker on the table.

Nerin’s carved notch was still visible.

"Three markers have been moved. One was deliberately redirected toward a sealed underground passage."

Nerin immediately straightened.

"Three?"

Raku nodded.

"You found the first."

Swanly lowered her bowl.

"Wait. Nerin found this?"

Kael glanced toward her.

"He reported it last night."

Swanly looked at the deer.

Nerin’s ears lowered.

"I didn’t want to worry you while you were resting."

She stared.

Then smiled.

"Good."

Everyone turned.

Nerin blinked.

"Good?"

"Yes!"

Swanly stood and walked toward him.

"You noticed something dangerous and told Raku instead of trying to investigate alone."

His ears turned pink.

She patted his arm.

"I’m proud of you."

Nerin froze.

Kael’s tail moved.

Soren looked away.

Raku stared at the two of them.

Then looked at Mora.

The bear female was smiling.

He frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’re smiling."

"Am I forbidden?"

Raku sighed.

Soren tapped the table.

"Focus."

Everyone turned.

He looked at the markers.

"How many people knew the original routes?"

Nerin answered immediately.

"Most of the builders. Several guards. Tilla helped distribute the first copies."

Soren frowned.

"And the new routes?"

"Only the people involved in repairs."

Kael’s golden eyes narrowed.

"So whoever moved them had access to our internal plans."

Raku nodded.

"Exactly."

Swanly stared at the marker.

"Could someone simply be trying to confuse people?"

Mora shook her head.

"Not with those destinations."

She pointed toward the sealed passage.

"There’s no reason to guide anyone there unless you want them hurt."

Silence.

Soren slowly straightened.

"Keep the discovery quiet."

Raku nodded.

"Already done."

"Replace the dangerous markers, then assign guards to watch the routes without announcing why."

Kael stepped forward.

"I’ll have our hunters look for unfamiliar scent trails."

Nerin raised one hand.

"I can compare the carving positions with my original records."

Soren nodded.

"Do it from the safe paths."

Nerin smiled faintly.

"Yes, my lord."

Swanly looked between them.

Her stomach tightened.

Ironwood had barely survived one disaster.

And now someone inside their home was apparently preparing another.

She glanced toward the sleeping forest.

Then toward the family shelter.

Her children were playing there.

Safe.

For now.

A familiar golden flash appeared in her vision.

HOST.

Swanly blinked.

What?

NEW SETTLEMENT MISSION AVAILABLE.

A large panel unfolded.

SYSTEM MISSION

FORTIFY IRONWOOD: THE LAST SAFE TERRITORY

Complete the following phases to receive rewards and unlock the possibility of establishing a safer settlement elsewhere.

* Secure evacuation routes and emergency shelters

* Strengthen medical stations, water safety, and food storage

* Establish reliable early-warning and patrol defenses

* Stabilize vulnerable boundary infrastructure

FINAL REWARD: 6,000 POINTS + TERRITORY RELOCATION SURVEY ACCESS

Rewards require verified completion. Materials, labor, and time are not included.

Swanly stared.

Then slowly smiled.

Six thousand?

The System fairy appeared beside the panel.

THE REWARD WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IN STAGES, HOST.

I know how to read.

THEN PLEASE NOTICE THAT YOU MUST COMPLETE THE WORK.

Swanly’s smile faded.

Excuse me?

YOU CANNOT PURCHASE AN ENTIRE FORTRESS WITH ONE BUTTON.

What kind of useless System are you?

THE KIND THAT HAS KEPT YOU ALIVE.

Swanly rolled her eyes.

Then noticed the final reward.

Territory relocation survey access.

Her expression changed.

Wait.

The fairy nodded.

IF ALL PHASES ARE COMPLETED, THE SYSTEM CAN BEGIN SEARCHING FOR A POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE SETTLEMENT LOCATION.

Swanly stopped breathing for a moment.

A different home.

Far from the ancient Heart.

Far from the Veskari.

Somewhere her children might actually grow up without learning how to recognize underground monsters.

Her fingers tightened around the bowl.

But the fairy continued.

RELOCATION WOULD STILL REQUIRE TRANSPORT, DEFENSES, SUPPLIES, AND A SAFE ROUTE. COMPLETING THIS MISSION DOES NOT GUARANTEE A VIABLE DESTINATION.

Swanly sighed.

Of course.

Still.

It was a possibility.

And right now, that was more than they had yesterday.

She lifted her head.

"Soren."

He turned.

"Yes?"

"I have an idea."

Kael immediately looked suspicious.

Soren’s eyes narrowed.

Swanly gasped.

"Oh, come on! Can I not have ONE idea without both of you looking terrified?"

Kael folded his arms.

"Depends on the idea."

Swanly pointed toward the damaged map.

"We rebuild Ironwood properly."

Soren blinked.

"We’re already rebuilding."

"No. I mean properly."

She stepped closer.

"Raised emergency shelters. Safer water channels. Better warning systems. Protected medical stations. More than one evacuation route."

Tovan’s ears lifted.

Swanly continued.

"And we separate the things that can wake underground monsters from the paths our children use."

Soren studied her.

Kael nodded slowly.

Raku looked interested.

Mora leaned forward.

Nerin’s green eyes brightened.

Swanly smiled.

"If we’re staying here, we make this place harder to destroy."

Soren looked at the damaged map.

Then toward the people repairing their homes.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Finally, he nodded.

"Then we begin."