Pillar of Yita

In the long course of trade and war, the ancient city-states gradually united to form a nation with a traditional coat of arms—adorned with stars and the Hailin Crown—whose name is familiar to all today:

The Colin Ishurian Alliance.

The capital of the kingdom—Golande, the ”Crown of Morning Light”—is located at the northernmost tip of this ancient continent, in a long fjord formed by the turbulent waters of the White Tower Estuary that divides the land.

Before the Colin People left the land, they had already named this empty fjord—Aegna.

Fang Hong stepped onto the deck amidst Tianlan’s incessant chatter and saw just such a scene—before the Berio, the towering strait was gradually opening its arms, with gray-white Rock Mountain forming two cliffs that slowly unfurled, adorned with dense forests.

Atop the forest was a lighthouse, guiding the Berio to slow its Speed with its light. Not far away, Luo Yu and the Big Cat People were lying on the ship’s rail, looking down at the flying Griffon Knights, who were loudly directing the airship to turn in a direction with their Colin language thick with local accent.

On the mirror-like surface of the Sky Sea, countless airships of all sizes floated amidst a riot of colors.

But the captain of the Berio was clearly an old hand with rich experience, and without waiting for the others to approach, he had already steered the airship into the prescribed course, the Griffon Knights gave a signal that they could pass, and then flew high and far away.

Luo Yu turned around and saw them flying towards another ship not far behind.

”How much longer do we have to wait?” he asked.

The Big Cat Person had obviously been here before and gestured with his sharp claws: ”We wait for the pilot ship to come out and lead us.”

In the direction he pointed, several small boats were zigzagging out of the fjord, hoisting flags from afar, steering this way. The massive Berio was slowing down with a long whistle, waiting for the pilot ship to approach, and it had gently begun to enter the fjord into the bay.

Fang Hong saw the terrain on both banks gradually leveling out, the gray-white rocks being replaced by dark green forests, and ahead the fjord forked, with two rivers forming waterfalls at the Luyuan, a white cascade plunging into the Cloud Sea.

There, on the solitary island in the heart of the river, hidden deep within the Emerald Forest, were the gray-white high walls and the sparkling red spires.

Though he had never been to the capital of this kingdom, he recognized it at a glance—that was Golande, the ”Crown of Morning Light.”

This capital city of the kingdom had a different kind of grandeur compared to nearly vertical cities like Elpaxin, with its scattered districts, walls, and bridges divided by the rivers into several sections, spread out on the lands on both sides of the bay.

And at first glance, it seemed to have no boundaries.

However, the first thing every person arriving here would see is always the heart island surrounded by dense forests, with a long bridge stretching out from the center, one hundred and forty arches almost perpendicular to the bifurcation after the waterfall, like a fine white line.

At the end of that line is the radiant pearl atop the Golande Crown—King’s Square.

It is the kingdom’s most legendary square.

For on the White Stone Monument there, to this day, are the ancient pledges of the Elf Avenquin, the Dwarves from the Sanctified Forge Hall, and the Colin People, an oath that is the foundation upon which the Colin Ishurian Alliance stands today.

Fang Hong walked next to the Big Cat People and Luo Yu, looked around, and noticed that no others were in sight.

He couldn’t help but ask, ”Where are the others?”

Upon hearing this, the Big Cat Person turned around, letting the bay breeze blow through his mane, raised a claw, and shook it at Fang Hong: ”Don’t ask, little guy, you’ll find out soon enough.”

”Soon enough?”

Fang Hong looked at them with suspicion.

But Luo Yu honestly replied, ”Actually, Miss Atira and the others are helping Parker with his disguise.”

It then dawned on Fang Hong that he, Parker, Hilveld, and Xiangzi had all appeared on ’live broadcast’ together, so they each needed a change of identity before going ashore. He and Xiangzi were fine since they had worn masks at the time; a simple change of costume would suffice.

Hilveld’s situation was a bit more complicated since she was still a target for the Prime Minister’s party, but Miss Hilveld was no stranger to Golande. She had managed to avoid detection from the Prime Minister’s party before and surely had her ways this time too.

And her not volunteering the information also meant that he, the ”Lord Captain,” needn’t worry.

The most troublesome one was Parker—

Because the Papalarians were so rare in the Northern Continent, standing out no matter where they went, disguising or masking themselves was pointless. He was like a tag that inevitably led to assumptions about the group’s identity.

Fang Hong had considered this problem, but Princess Briana told him not to worry; she had a way.

Exactly what that way was, the Elf Princess had not divulged.

He couldn’t help but grow curious, ”What are they planning to do, and does the disguise really need so many people’s help?”

”Princess Briana said she’s not too familiar with Papalar style, so she asked Miss Atira for help,” Luo Yu answered, ”Miss Hilveld is there too, acting as the Princess’s assistant, but I don’t know what the ladies are actually up to.”

”Style—?”

Fang Hong was about to ask more, but suddenly, he opened his mouth wide in shock.

Because he clearly saw a cute-looking Papalar girl with a round face walking up from below deck. She looked at Fang Hong and the others with her dark eyes, curiously asking, ”What are you all looking at me for?”

”Wait, is my disguise all right?”

It was only then that the Big Cat Person patted the petrified Fang Hong from behind: ”Princess Briana told us that she has a gender-swapping belt—”

”In fact, since the Numelin Era, such magic items have been extremely rare and valuable. But as you see, Her Highness was very generous; she has already given it to us.”

Fang Hong: ”...”

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