Pillar of Yita

”But you can still come down yourselves, can’t you?” Parker couldn’t help but ask.

”Have you forgotten how it trapped us on the seventh level for five whole hours? If we hadn’t also passed through the Underground Abyss to get down here, we would have arrived on the twelfth level only to find the moment had passed. And don’t forget, we were attacked in the Underground Abyss as well.”

Parker was suddenly enlightened.

But everyone else seemed rather somber.

”Infighting?” Sophie shook her head, turning to look at Fang Hong, ”Xiaya, what do you think?”

”Of course that’s impossible,” Fang Hong shook his head, ”The people who come down are not fools. How could they engage in large-scale infighting in the Dead Silence Zone? If that were Toragotos’s plan, it would be foolish.”

”But I think, it might not be so foolish.”

He looked at everyone, ”So there must be a third party on the battlefield, lurking in the shadows, darkly waiting for a fatal opportunity to realize Toragotos’s plan.”

His words cast a chilling tone, making everyone involuntarily glance behind themselves.

But Fang Hong continued, ”As everyone knows, the laws of the Black Holy City were established by the hands of the Xinsas Serpentfolk. Those great Serpent People of old, with the power of the Sun Gods, completed this Trial Ground. From the limited information gathered—it is known that even Toragotos cannot break through the fifteenth level’s law restrictions here. From the moment it left these ruins in its youth, it has been unable to re-enter.”

”Therefore, it can only rely on the strength of mortals to fulfill its plans, possibly—as you might have guessed—the involvement of the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team.”

Fang Hong paused.

Then he continued, ”But it could also be someone else.”

”Someone else?”

Just then, the static crackled again in the communication channel.

The voice of military personnel came through: ”Mr. Xiaya, the investigation you requested has results. We have confirmed that from the second half of last year to now, there has not been any Spire in Norsenica, nor have there been any rumors or hearsay about an Obelisk in this region.”

”Mr. Xiaya, do you have any other questions?”

”No, thank you.”

”You’re welcome, Mr. Xiaya.”

Fang Hong then gently closed the crystal in his palm and looked up at everyone.

But first, he glanced at the Lady Noble beside him—since the second half of last year to now, there has been no Spire in Norsenica, nor have there been any rumors or hearsay about an Obelisk in this region.

This meant his previous conjecture was correct.

The Rain Listener claimed to have brought back a map from Norsenica, a mere smokescreen, a tactic to mislead and confuse, leading everyone including him to believe it involved rumors about an Obelisk.

But in fact, it was not so.

Thus, the only possibility remaining was—the object transported back then was truly the Divine Body.

Yet there was a slight issue, Fang Hong realized if Toragotos wasn’t competing with Hilveld over a map concerning the Obelisk, why then would the latter know the Lady Noble’s identity? He glanced curiously at her, and Hilveld, wise as always, immediately understood what her captain was thinking.

She smiled slightly, indicating no malice in keeping secrets.

Fang Hong sighed. The other party had said this was all related to his father, and he believed the Lady Noble had not lied, but the specifics of the connection now seemed even more questionable.

However, he wisely did not bring this up. The focus now was on Toragotos, not on Hilveld’s father—brashly addressing this would merely make the others target Hilveld. Fang Hong was not interested in shifting the focus elsewhere.

Besides, he already had his answer in mind.

He raised his communication crystal, finally responding, ”Whether the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team is on Toragotos’s side, we cannot be sure, but the Rain Listener can’t escape suspicion either. More importantly, the other factions on this battlefield...”

”Whether it’s the Blood Oath Alliance,” he glanced back at the Night Lizard People tied down on the ground, ”or these Night Lizard People, they all could be our enemies.”

”But you must understand, if one side is our enemy, another side will potentially be our ally, since the Blood Pool will necessarily crave fresh blood and souls—surely this is a crucial step in Toragotos’s plan,” Fang Hong answered, ”thus if we choose the wrong opponent, not only will we fail to stop Toragotos, we will actually become its accomplice.”

Everyone grew quiet.

”Then how should we differentiate?” Tainaric’s voice was somewhat grave, marking his first speech in a long while, as if at this moment, this Prince from Andasok had truly come to accept this reality, ”We do not have much time left, my human brethren.”

”Enough, I think I have the answer now.”

Fang Hong answered.

Everyone looked at him in surprise.

But Fang Hong picked up his communication crystal and whispered, ”Mr. Ambassador, I now need one last favor from you.”

Instantly, the Ambassador’s voice came through the crystal: ”Mr. Xiaya, just say the word.”

”Please help me find someone.”

”Who?”

”Her name is Elisa, a member of the Rain Listener’s Elite Corps. Please take someone—ID is Lonely White Field, I’ve already sent the communication code to Miss Virus. Please search for this lady in and around a Milaila Temple on Fenris Isle in Perus Valley.”

”I guess she won’t be too far away.”

”But be careful of ambushes, and ensure her safety.”

...