Chapter 107:Arrived
Chapter 107: 107:Arrived
By the time the convoy rolled through the final bend in the mountain road, the sun had already begun sinking behind the western peaks.
Orange light spilled across the valley, bathing the checkpoint in a warm glow that contrasted sharply with the thick steel walls surrounding it.
Checkpoint Nine was noticeably larger than Checkpoint Eight, instead of being built on open plains, it occupied an entire mountain pass.
Reinforced concrete walls stretched from cliff to cliff, sealing off the only drivable route through the hills. Massive floodlights had already begun flickering to life atop the watchtowers, despite the fact that there was still daylight, while heavy autocannons overlooked every approach.
The checkpoint had clearly been designed with one purpose; to hold the pass.
Silver slowed the vehicle as the line of incoming traffic came into view.
"...Looks busy."
Ravenna leaned slightly toward the windshield.
"It is, there are more vehicles than I imagined."
Nearly twenty vehicles waited ahead of them. Some were military transports while others belonged to independent hunting parties
Several cargo trucks loaded with supplies stood farther back in line, escorted by contractors carrying heavy weapons.
Brian’s convoy quietly joined the queue. Silver parked a respectable distance behind them.
"There is no point in rushing."
Ravenna folded the map and slipped it into her bag.
"Yeah, we’re stopping here anyway."
The inspection moved surprisingly quickly. Two checkpoint officers walked between the vehicles while scanners checked for hidden beasts, contamination, and contraband.
One officer stopped beside Silver’s window.
"Identification."
Silver handed over his contractor identification card together with Ravenna’s temporary travel permit. The officer glanced over both before scanning them with a handheld device.
"Destination?"
"Delta Sanctuary Four."
"Purpose?"
"Vehicle repairs and resting."
The officer’s expression softened slightly.
"Got into an accident?"
Silver nodded.
"Got jumped by a beast, thankfully no one was hurt."
The officer returned both cards.
"Welcome. Checkpoint Nine is currently operating under Yellow Alert."
Silver looked up.
"Because of the worm incident?"
The officer nodded.
"Preventive measures. The Subjugation Team confirmed that it was dead but with us being nearer to the yellow zones we’ve had two near scares in just one month. This is just in case."
"So things have settled down."
"For now."
He pointed toward a large illuminated board inside the checkpoint.
"Read today’s notices before leaving tomorrow, there are several updated danger zones."
"We will."
The officer stepped aside.
"Proceed."
The gates slowly opened and Silver drove inside. The first thing he noticed was the sheer amount of activity. Checkpoint Eight had felt almost sleepy after the worm attack while Checkpoint Nine felt alive.
Contractors moved everywhere, mechanics repaired damaged vehicles beneath large maintenance sheds, supply officers directed incoming cargo trucks andhunters carried freshly harvested beast carcasses toward processing warehouses.
Portable stalls sold equipment, ammunition, preserved food, maps, and medicine. Everywhere people laughed, argued, negotiated, and prepared.
The atmosphere reminded Silver more of a small frontier town than a military installation. Ravenna quietly observed everything through the window.
"...There are a lot more people."
Silver nodded.
"It’s because it’s closer to Delta Four and the now famous Detroin Town."
She smiled faintly.
"I think the latter is the bigger reason."
Brian led the convoy toward the registration office before parking nearby. The moment everyone climbed out, Claire stretched dramatically.
"I am officially tired and need two days of sleep."
Jonah laughed.
"You’ve been sleeping half the drive are you a sloth or something?"
"I was strategically resting, there is a difference. My eyes were just closed but my mind was completely active. "
"You were snoring."
"I absolutely was not, I guess you need to see a psychiatrist, you’re hearing things again."
Brian ignored the familiar argument before looking toward Silver.
"You two heading inside?"
Silver nodded.
"First, good idea. The rooms disappear quickly."
The registration building stood near the center of the checkpoint. Unlike the older checkpoints, this one operated almost like a hotel combined with a military office.
Several reception desks lined the entrance while electronic boards displayed available rooms. Silver immediately noticed that there weren’t many left.
"Two-person room."
The receptionist typed quickly before glancing at the monitor.
"One night?" Silver nodded then added. "Possibly two."
She entered the request.
"Room 214, second floor. Payment?"
Silver used his contractor account. The amount wasn’t particularly expensive. Travelers moving between checkpoints clearly received subsidized accommodation.
The receptionist handed over two key cards.
"Breakfast starts at six, curfew begins at ten, and roof access is prohibited... the latter is important. "
Silver accepted the cards.
"Thank you."
Room 214 looked almost identical to the one they had stayed in at Checkpoint Eight. It had two single beds, one shared desk, a wardrobe, a private bathroom, and a small refrigerator; nothing luxurious or uncomfortable, just enough to rest and recharge before the next hunt.
Silver closed the door behind them before automatically checking the windows and the emergency exit map. Satisfied, he finally set his backpack beside one of the beds.
Ravenna had already claimed the other. She removed her sword belt before sitting comfortably on the mattress. A small sigh of relief left her.
"...Feels familiar."
Silver chuckled.
"It does."
Neither of them felt awkward. Sharing a room had already become normal after everything they had experienced. It was just separate beds but shared responsibility, there was nothing more complicated than that.
Silver opened the curtains slightly. The room overlooked one of the main streets inside the checkpoint. People continued arriving even as evening settled over the mountains. Several more convoys entered through the main gate while others prepared to leave before darkness fully arrived.
Ravenna joined him at the window.
"...They’re still coming."
Silver nodded thoughtfully.
"The road’s getting crowded but, I expected more hunters."
"So did I."
Instead, there were researchers, merchants, independent contractors, and even several family groups accompanied by hired escorts. Everyone seemed to be heading in roughly the same direction.
Detroin Town.
After unpacking only the essentials, the two decided to explore the checkpoint.
The streets remained surprisingly lively. Children belonging to merchant families played near the central square while contractors browsed equipment stalls before tomorrow’s departure.
Silver noticed something interesting. Almost everyone discussed the same topic.
"...Did your team hear about the underground warehouse?"
"...Someone recovered three intact generators..."
"...No, I’m telling you, they found old military rations..."
"...Association increased the bounty yesterday..."
"...Apparently another team disappeared..."
Rumors spread through every conversation. Each person seemed certain they possessed the truth, yet every version differed. Ravenna quietly listened.
"So many stories."
Silver smiled.
"That usually means nobody knows anything."
They wandered into a large outdoor market occupying the checkpoint’s central plaza. Unlike Sanctuary markets, this one catered almost entirely to contractors.
Rows of preserved beast meat hung from iron hooks. Portable stoves cooked fresh meals using ingredients harvested from surrounding Green Zones. Weapon maintenance stalls sharpened blades while armor craftsmen replaced damaged plates.
Silver stopped beside one particular stall. The owner sold hand-drawn regional maps. They were more detailed than military versions.
The elderly merchant noticed his interest.
"Heading toward Delta Four?"
Silver nodded. The old man smiled knowingly.
"So’s everyone." He unrolled another map. "This one includes abandoned settlements."
Silver studied it carefully. Several locations weren’t marked on his own map.
"Useful."
The merchant nodded proudly.
"I’ve traveled these roads for fifty years. I update them myself."
Silver purchased one without hesitation. Knowledge rarely came cheaply but this one wasn’t expensive. As they continued walking, they passed a gathering of contractors surrounding a large notice board.
Curious, Silver stepped closer. Most notices advertised routine hunting requests. Escort missions, material deliveries and small beast exterminations. But then... one notice occupied the center.
*SPECIAL ASSOCIATION BOUNTY
LOCATION: DETROIN TOWN
Recovery of pre-Collapse technology.
Rare beast materials.
Exploration rewards based on contribution.
Exercise caution.
Unidentified environmental phenomenon under investigation.*
Silver read the final sentence twice. It said environmental phenomenon not a beast or contamination; it was something else. Ravenna noticed his expression.
"You don’t like that wording."
Silver shook his head slowly.
"It’s too vague. Intentionally vague."
They eventually reached the checkpoint dining hall. It was considerably larger than expected. Long wooden tables filled the spacious room while dozens of contractors shared meals after returning from hunts.
The atmosphere was surprisingly cheerful. Someone laughed loudly in one corner, another group argued over cards and several mechanics compared damaged equipment. It felt... Human.
Brian spotted them almost immediately.
"There they are!" He waved them over. "Our food’s better than whatever you’re planning."
Claire enthusiastically nodded while already eating.
"It really is."
Silver looked toward Ravenna. She shrugged lightly.
"I don’t mind."
Silver smiled.
"Neither do I."
As the two carried their trays toward the table... Neither of them noticed several nearby groups briefly looking their way.
Simply because two very young contractors had arrived carrying themselves with a confidence uncommon for Rank Ones. Some noticed while others merely returned to their meals.
Outside, more vehicles entered Checkpoint Nine and with every arrival, the number of people planning to leave for Detroin Town the following morning continued to grow.