Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong also took this opportunity to dart out along the corner of the wall like a shadow. He advanced in a direction that formed an angle between the Shadow Throne group and Enan Modkaiser.

As both parties drew closer and just as Fang Hong was about to enter the Clockwork Fairy’s field of vision, Miss Ship’s Officer finally fired her gun—a flash of fire—but the first shot missed. She quickly adjusted the trajectory, and the second shot shattered the Clockwork Fairy in mid-air.

...

Inside the room, the Alchemists of Ragnarok paused in unison, only then realizing what had happened.

”I’ve been discovered.” One of them removed his wind goggles and said to the others.

”Saw it.”

They immediately asked another person: ”Fire, do you have any more Clockwork Fairies over there?”

But that person shook his head: ”I only sneaked in one here, and it’s on the other side of the square. I’m afraid it won’t make it in time.”

The others exchanged looks until someone suggested: ”Then let’s alert the Shadow Throne people first.”

”Do you know their communication channel?”

”I have one here.”

And as that Ragnarok member brought out the communication ID, Fang Hong was already close to the Shadow Throne squad.

He was hiding in a recess of a building, quietly observing the others through the Clockwork Fairy. The Shadow Throne people were hurrying toward the target location, apparently not aware of what had happened yet.

This squad had seven people, and him alone, given the unknown levels, it was quite tricky to deal with so many.

Combat Artisans are adept at fighting outnumbered, but that’s just a saying. When the opponents aren’t fools, sometimes you still have to rely on level and equipment suppression—with a bit of luck, too.

Of course, more often, you need auxiliary support from teammates.

The only one he could rely on was Hilveld, but Miss Ship’s Officer was unfortunately unarmed, so at best, she could only help him hold off the others for a bit.

He looked up again; time was running out for him to think. From the high-altitude view, the Shadow Throne and Enan Modkaiser were drawing ever closer.

In fact, after leaving the square, they entered two different streets, and these two streets slanted to meet at a triangular junction. It’s conceivable that the Shadow Throne people chose this route to minimize the chance of being spotted by the target.

At this moment, the only obstacle between the two sides was the triangular junction, with a lone bar sitting at its center. Just by passing that bar, they would be able to see each other—

It was at this moment that Fang Hong paused.

Because he suddenly saw one of the Invokers in a coat constantly keep a hand near his ear—it certainly wasn’t a communication device, and this habitual action was something he often did himself—it was a characteristic gesture of an Alchemist.

Adjusting wind goggles.

Adjusting the lenses didn’t require a tap, let alone such force, but the other’s action at this moment suddenly made Fang Hong think of a possibility. That the Ragnarok Combat Artisan had previously shared the Clockwork Fairy’s vision with this Alchemist.

But that Clockwork Fairy had been knocked down by Hilveld, and the other party didn’t yet realize, merely assuming there was some malfunction with their wind goggles. You know, over 60% of malfunctions can be fixed by a tap.

But this time, the other was destined to be disappointed.

Fang Hong quietly turned his head, then peeked out from the recess, gesturing to Hilveld behind him—of course, he hadn’t learned tactical signaling, and though Miss Ship’s Officer knew semaphore and how to use signal lamps, it’s uncertain if she could understand his clumsy gesture.

That’s really hard to say—

He could only try his best to let the other understand his meaning: to attack the Alchemist first, as they might be the sole communicator with the Ragnarok people.

Fang Hong didn’t know if Miss Ship’s Officer understood, but he saw her raise her gun, and after aiming at the Alchemist’s position, he felt a bit more at ease. He thought to himself, his Miss Fox did not disappoint him.

And then he turned his head back, and at that moment, the Shadow Throne people were passing through the bar.

The bar was named ’Piper’s Court’. He had been there several times before with Parker and Xiangzi; it was located at the triangular street corner, the first junction outside the square.

He remembered it had a glass window on the other side, behind which was a bakery with no place to hide.

As the Shadow Throne people were about to bump into the others, Fang Hong dared not hesitate any longer, stepped out from the recess, and hurriedly followed. He had already prepared for the worst, scouting escape routes while on the other side, Miss Ship’s Officer could calmly retreat from another direction.

They could still communicate through the Clockwork Fairy, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.

He calculated how to extract the Native from so many hands, but before he finished thinking—it turned out the others had suddenly stopped.

Fang Hong was a bit startled, not by their reaction—but because after they passed ’Piper’s Court’, the street on the other side was empty—they had pounced on nothing.

Fang Hong quickly switched to a high-altitude view, only to find the other side of the street was also empty—he had carelessly lost sight of the young duke. But now the question was, the other party had been on this street a moment ago, where did they disappear to now?