After a brief rest, Gauss quickly collected the valuable monster materials at the scene.
Once the collection was complete, he removed the scents from himself and Ying, then followed the tracks in the snow, backtracking to find their base camp.
After walking a distance, Gauss knew he was getting close to his destination.
The ambient temperature was rapidly rising as he progressed.
The snow on the ground had melted, revealing the damp black soil beneath.
"Boom!!!"
From time to time, loud rumbling sounds came from the huge valley ahead.
Gauss gestured to Ying to move cautiously.
Then the two of them carefully surveyed the surrounding terrain while slowly approaching the source of the sound.
"Heh, heh, heh!"
In front of the valley, ugly jackal-wolf soldiers were guarding the entrance on the fortress walls, their eyes constantly scanning the unobstructed plain in front of them.
Fortunately, Ying’s way of advancing was very stealthy and safe.
She used her shadow ability to envelop Gauss into the ground, then quietly approached, bypassing the front of the fortress wall, and went up along the bare, steep slopes on both sides.
Reaching a higher vantage point, and confirming that no enemies were around, their figures emerged from the shadows on the ground.
"Phew—"
Gauss put on his Eagle Eye monocle, looked down at the giant scene in the valley below, and couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.
This... was overwhelming.
He swallowed.
Below, the valley plain was like a bustling giant forge.
Dense as ants, the monsters were constantly transporting wood from outside the valley and then pouring it into the fiercely burning giant forges.
There were not just one or two forges, but dozens lined up along one side of the valley’s rock walls!
Each one stood three to four stories tall, built from rough stone and some kind of dark red clay, with furnace mouths that gaped like the blood-filled maws of giant beasts, spitting scalding heat waves and rolling thick smoke.
The furnace bodies glowed red-hot, distorting the surrounding air.
The heat emanated continuously from here, melting the snow and vaporizing the moisture, shrouding the entire valley in a stifling, acrid mist.
Although it was winter, it felt as scorching as midsummer here.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Molten iron was poured into molds, and after it had set, other ogre blacksmiths wielded metal hammers to repeatedly pound the rough iron ingots that still glowed dark red, eventually forging them into rudimentary shapes of swords, axes, and spears.
Goblins and Kobolds were performing the subsequent work, using grindstones to sharpen the edges of roughly forged weapon blanks, or binding handles to axe heads and spear tips securely with beast sinews and twine.
Gauss felt a shiver run through his scalp as he watched.
This "production line" was truly spectacular.
He also caught sight of several larger outlines, frames made of huge timber and beast hides. Though he couldn’t see their full appearance, judging by their scale and structure, they were very likely catapults or siege towers.
The entire valley was a massive, noisy, filthy yet efficient monster factory.
Tens of thousands of monsters worked within, with roars, hammering sounds, and the roar of flames intertwining into a savage grand sound wave, continuously battering Gauss’s eardrums and thoughts.
Perhaps his astonishment was due to his long-held perception that monsters were a disorderly, chaotic group of low intelligence. Such large-scale assembly line "production" activities never associated with them in his subconscious.
But the scene before him clearly shattered his understanding, or rather, was more reasonable.
Though the lower-level monsters were stupid and irritable, they were often supremely obedient to more powerful monsters. Even among monsters, there were those born wise, and these high-intelligence individuals’ capacity for creation and organization was no lesser than human sages. Under the control and driving of these elite individuals, a vast number of monsters could operate like a legion.
Gauss took out the "Memory Ball" he had brought in advance for recording.
He intended to take this latest intelligence back.
He continually adjusted the direction of the ball, trying to capture as accurately as possible the many activities and scenes taking place in the valley.
As for taking advantage of the monster legion’s unpreparedness to launch an attack.
Gauss naturally had no such irrational intention.
Sure, he could cause hundreds or thousands of kills in a short time, but what then? The Two-legged Flying Dragons, the commander-level individuals among the monsters, and the tidal wave of lower-level monsters would thoroughly engulf the two of them.
After finishing the recording.
Gauss waved to Ying.
Decisively letting her take him away from this valley area.
Before leaving, he scouted around a bit more.
Such a large-scale monster legion, once on the move, wouldn’t require a small space, so the monsters would definitely expand the corresponding direction of the roads.
Combining the function of the map in his mind, he observed the directions in which the monsters were felling trees and discovered roughly three directions.
One of these directions pointed towards Gray Rock Town.
Indeed, Gray Rock Town was one of the targets of this medium-large tribe.
"Let’s head back."
Having gathered enough intelligence, Gauss did not linger.
He mounted his steed and swiftly rode towards the outskirts of the Jade Forest along the road.
After leaving the forest, he transferred to the Red Dragon Dragon Beast Hephaestus and sped towards Gray Rock Town.
Based on his recent observations, most of these monsters were armed, indicating that war might not be far off.