Pillar of Yita

The latter had no choice but to nod and agree.

”Sister Atira is just too indulgent with Miss Fuli,” Gita frowned and said, looking somewhat displeased.

Fang Hong was genuinely curious about Atira’s culinary skills, as he wiped the grease from his mouth.

Just then, a heated argument reached him from behind—startling him. He turned around to discover that people were discussing the conflict between the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team and the Silver Forest Spear in that direction.

Fang Hong was curious because the subjects of their discussion were the events that had occurred in the Elf Ruins the day before.

Since he hadn’t yet followed up on that incident on the community boards, the discussion was quite novel to him. It turned out that not long after, the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team and the Silver Forest Spear had returned to the Ruins and had a not-too-big but not-too-small conflict.

The cause was the struggle for a Giant Construct named ’Cerete’.

Although the Giant Construct was a product of a bygone era, with various flaws, it was at least powerful—and the Ice Longstone within it was indeed good stuff.

However, what Fang Hong truly cared about were the occasional mentions of a name in the people’s discussion.

Miya.

Having stolen the Hailin Crown right under the noses of the two major Guilds, she had naturally become the center of attention. Unfortunately, at that moment, the Dwarf Poet further away reached the climax of his performance, drowning out the discussion with incessant applause.

Fang Hong could only make out the words ’witch,’ ’Holy Pact,’ and ’Wanted Order’ amidst the din.

When the applause subsided, the discussion was once again centered on —primarily—himself. People were talking about the genius boy who had appeared on the community boards.

Someone confidently claimed that Fang Hong was a stowaway, hence the military’s interest in him.

This statement made Fang Hong break out in a cold sweat, nearly causing him to drop his fork to the ground. Atira caught the fork and asked him with concern, ”What’s wrong?”

”Nothing,” Fang Hong replied guiltily, ”I just choked a little.”

”Take your time,” Atira said gently, handing him the fork, ”Nobody’s fighting you for it.”

But Fang Hong felt like crying.

He still quietly followed the discussion nearby, relieved that not many people believed that person. Someone was refuting the ’ridiculous statement,’ making a more convincing argument—a stowaway wouldn’t have access to the system.

If someone without a system could achieve Dual Control, wouldn’t he become godlike with a system?

The man stubbornly insisted that this was why the military valued it so greatly.

But his claim met with laughter.

On one hand, Fang Hong was dying for the man to shut up, but on the other hand, he couldn’t help feeling a young man’s desire to show off. He was torn between wanting to stand up and tell everyone that he was that person, his thoughts suddenly incredibly complex.

However, Luo Yu suddenly spoke up; he seemed to have heard the discussion too: ”Speaking of which, I also saw that video. Whether he’s a stowaway or not, he’s seriously impressive.”

”Oh?” Tianlan challenged, ”Isn’t it just Dual Control? At most, that signifies some talent as a Combat Artisan, and he might not even be as formidable as Brother Ade.”

”Right, Brother Ade?” She looked over in this direction.

Fang Hong nodded, not sure how to feel.

But Luo Yu shook his head, ”It’s not that simple. I looked up the information on Morning Dawn Star afterward.”

Fang Hong felt a jump in his heart and hurriedly asked, ”What about it?”

The young man gave him a strange look before answering, ”When they were employed by the Descendants of Flor, they left a personnel registration form, but there was no Combat Artisan on it—only an accompanying Alchemist.”

Fang Hong’s heart skipped a beat.

”I’m done for,” he thought; he had forgotten all about that. At that time, he was just a nobody—how could he have foreseen so much would happen later on? That’s why he left his real ID on the registration form.

Fang Hong felt his hair stand on end.

But Luo Yu continued, ”That Alchemist, both in age and background, is quite close, but there’s one weird thing—he’s just a Level Two Apprentice Alchemist.”

”You’re not bullshitting, are you, Luo Yu?” Tianlan said incredulously, ”A Level Two Apprentice Alchemist? That’s even lower than our levels. How could he possibly control the Clockwork Fairy?”

”I’m just saying it’s possible.”

Tianlan frowned, ”Well then, what’s the weird guy’s name? I’ll find someone to help you check.”

”Don’t answer!” Fang Hong mentally screamed, ”These are Trisolarans! Don’t answer!”

That moment, he felt like a condemned prisoner. The gallows were right in front of him, and he had at most three steps left before him.

But, unexpectedly, Luo Yu shook his head, ”That’s unclear; the Descendants of Flor didn’t release any names.”

”Hmph,” the little French miss snorted softly, ”That figures; they suspect the Hailin Crown might still be with a Survivor of Liming, so naturally, they wouldn’t hand over the list.”

Fang Hong sighed with relief, suddenly feeling like he had narrowly escaped death.

But life’s great highs and lows can come so unexpectedly.

At that moment, a significant commotion arose at the entrance to the hall, causing everyone to stop their conversations involuntary, as they instinctively looked in that direction to see a group of people dressed in black coats, marching in an orderly fashion.

Fang Hong’s mind was still in a daze, and it took him a moment to recognize them, thinking, ”Those uniforms look familiar!”

But the remark of a person next to him nearly blew him out of his chair, ”Isn’t that the Stargate Special Action Team? What are they doing here?”

At that moment, Fang Hong nearly bolted.

...