Pillar of Yita

Since Fang Hong had already mentioned Princess Miaoxing beforehand, everyone wasn’t surprised at this point.

”Short Bay, where is that?” Tianlan asked.

After thinking for a moment, Luo Yu answered, ”I remember that it’s a natural anchorage to the northwest of Elpaxin.”

Atira came over with a map, spread it out on the low table, and moved her slender fingertips along the coastline towards the upper left, locating the inconspicuous place. ”About a day’s journey,” she replied, looking towards Hilveld at the same time. ”But how should Ade manage to leave the city?”

”That’s easy, the highest Chief Praetor of Elpaxin is Earl Shanduo, a neutral party who is not keen on making connections with you. As long as he doesn’t speak up, Captain of the Silverwind Knights, Sir Agar, can’t mobilize the Guard Army of Elpaxin either, so we have many methods at our disposal,” the noble lady answered with confidence.

The Elf girl looked up and exchanged glances with Mr. Big Cat, Reed, understanding what the noble lady meant. The Silverwind Knights could lock down the city gates and ports, but not all of Elpaxin’s exits were sealed. Wherever there were people, there would be a grey area, and whether it was the Thieves Guild or the Cloak Brotherhood, there would always be well-connected individuals who could safely smuggle someone out.

These people would not easily conflict with a territory’s supreme ruler, but as long as Earl Shanduo kept quiet, they couldn’t care less about any Silverwind or Golden Wind Knights—turning down good money was foolish.

”Haha,” Tianlan also caught on and looked at Fang Hong teasingly, ”So Brother Ade is going to be a stowaway again.”

Fang Hong couldn’t help but laugh and cry at that.

”Not just Ade,” Atira addressed everyone, ”Parker and Reed too. They are too conspicuous and have been seen in the Continental League, they can’t appear openly before others—right, when is that ship arriving?”

”At least a week, but there’s no way to be certain. We must arrive at Short Bay before then,” Hilveld answered.

”A week?” Parker exclaimed with a start, ”Does that mean we have to roam the wilderness for several days before that, oh my goodness, are you trying to kill the Papalarians? Needless to say, we can only have five meals a day in the wild.”

”But we only had three meals.”

”You know, it’s part of the Papalarians’ racial talents—”

Atira ignored the two bickering fellows but at least Parker had a point—a week was not a short time, and they needed to plan for the wilderness journey, which meant the original plan had to be drawn up again, a troublesome affair to be sure.

At that moment, Gita suddenly whispered, ”Sister Atira, everyone, I have an idea...”

”What is it, Gita?” Tianlan and Parker were still quarreling; the Elf girl gently tapped on the low table and quieted them down before the little French girl stuck out her tongue in embarrassment.

Gita then continued, ”I went to the Great Library in the Silver Tower this afternoon to look up information about the Dragon Worship Sect, to clarify what Dark Followers around Elpaxin were up to. I found some public records from the past decade and noticed that in the years 175, 177, and 178 of the New Era, the Adventurers’ Guild issued a mission involving cultists three times, asking adventurers to investigate the activities of Dolifen cultists—the most recent one was this May, and there’s been no response to that mission yet.”

”Dolifen?”

”Wait, wait, I know that place!” Tianlan immediately said, ”It’s an abandoned town with frequent sightings of Undead Creatures, and many go there for adventure.”

Fang Hong suddenly asked, ”Gita, do you mean we could check that out? Do we have enough time for that?”

Gita nodded slightly, ”Brother Ade, it’s in the Forest to the north of Short Bay. It used to be a small town that developed around this natural anchorage. A day or two is enough if we’re just investigating.”

Fang Hong looked towards Hilveld and Atira for their opinions.

The noble lady smiled slightly, ”I’m moving with you, I’m not so delicate, Mr. Ade need not worry about me. Just like we agreed, wherever you go, I go.”

He couldn’t help but scratch his head at that—

Meanwhile, Atira nodded. Her objective was to investigate the truth behind her brother’s death—or rather, to hold on to a glimmer of hope. Why, when Kid had only one resurrection record, was his body found in the swamp? Was it due to Starlight exhaustion, or was there some other cause?

And what was the connection with that strange brooch?

In the Cloud Sea Region, especially the north of it, the main Cult Organization operating there was the Dragon Worship Sect. Any clue related to them was not something she would easily overlook.

Moreover, there was a ready opportunity and time.

Fang Hong reflected for a moment and then added, ”The missions from the Adventurers’ Guild aren’t canceled without reason. The absence of a reply suggests the issue might not yet be resolved. And if the adventurers lack the ability to deal with it, the Guild typically waits half a year before dispatching a higher-level investigation team. Our timing is just right if we head out now.”

Having heard his analysis, Atira looked at the two of them with a gentle gaze, ”Thank you, Ade, Gita.”

It was then that Hilveld chimed in from the side, ”So, everyone, now that we have confirmed the itinerary, the next step is to prepare for it. Have you all thought about how you’re going to leave the city?”

Upon hearing this, Atira and Tianlan both turned their gaze towards Fang Hong.

Fang Hong, utterly confused, looked back at them as Reed, the lion man holding a pipe, said, ”Miss Hilveld joined this team in your name, and both Miss Atira and I are acting with you. Therefore, this established Adventure Group is nominally yours, young human boy.”

”What?” Fang Hong seemed to grasp the situation for the first time.

Tianlan couldn’t help but snicker and said, ”Yes, Brother Ade, Captain, can you now show us a clear path?”

Fang Hong was flabbergasted, involuntarily turning to look at Luo Yu and Gita, but seeing as they were merely trainees, they naturally had no objection to this arrangement. Parker, on the other hand, was clamoring to be the captain, but unfortunately, no one took the pitiful Papalarian seriously.

In the end, scratching his head, Fang Hong bravely said, ”Well, I think we can split into two groups to leave the city. Aside from me, Parker, and Mr. Big Cat, everyone else can depart Elpaxin through legitimate means, saving us quite a bit of money—”

It was a good start; at least he first thought of saving money, which coincidentally matched the wise Miss Sicape’s intentions.

Having gotten the ball rolling, Fang Hong began to get the hang of it and discovered the task wasn’t as daunting as he had thought—his lifelong dream and his past experiences were starting to come into play. ”Right, we might need to prepare more supplies because we probably won’t be entering any settlements before leaving Tarun, so the originally planned one week of food and two days’ supply of water is definitely not enough. Also, can we get supplies on the Berio, Miss Hilveld?”

”It’s possible, but it’s better to bring your own since I don’t like to rely on strangers.” Hilveld said with a slight smile, bestowing upon him a new title, ”Future Captain.”

The nickname nearly made Fang Hong stumble to the ground.

”I’ll take care of purchasing supplies, Brother Ade,” Tianlan volunteered confidently. ”By the way, Luo Yu, how much longer do we need for the transfer of the Beast of Burden?”

”I’ve just settled the rental costs. Purchasing would require a new contract and at least two days,” Luo Yu responded, ”I will use these couple of days to rush the repairs on the transport platform.”

Having heard them both, Fang Hong nodded. ”Then we have two days to contact those guys who make a living in the gray areas.”

”Leave that to me, Ade.” Atira stepped forward.

But Hilveld shook her head, ”The Lower City Area is not safe, Miss Atira. I’ll go with you, at least Xiesta has the skills to protect us well.” Atira looked somewhat surprised at the Noble Lady and nodded at her in response.

”Thank you.”

Hilveld answered with a smile, ”Don’t mention it, we’re a team.”

Watching this unfold, Fang Hong suddenly felt that the Noble Lady’s previous proposal might not have been so unreliable after all. She seemed to have a peculiar ability, a mere change in designation, yet under her management, it brought the team closer together.

He looked at Tianlan, then at Gita and Luo Yu, as if he could truly see the beginnings of an Adventure Group forming—alas, they were trainees. Once their training was over, they would inevitably leave.

How great would it be if Tianlan, Luo Yu, and Gita could stay?

But would they want to?

This sudden thought startled even Fang Hong himself, and he quickly shook his head, dismissing the immature idea. Only Hilveld turned back to give him a curious glance.

...