Pillar of Yita

At the very moment Eve shouted that sentence, Fang Hong turned his head and saw that place. The narrow space of the prison cell wasn’t large, with few choices within the standing room - yet the gloomy darkness of the underground held no effect on him.

The place Eve referred to was on a protruding stone slab by the bedside.

But Atira reacted faster than him. Facing Count Westwood Sibika, she stepped back, stepping onto that stone slab. The slab sank with a deep sound, and a muffled rumble came from the stone wall behind them, opening up a dark opening beside them.

Atira forcefully jolted back without hesitation, causing Fang Hong, who hadn’t reacted yet, to stumble straight inside. Then she withdrew her foot, leaping into the passageway behind as the stone gate closed with a rumble.

The series of actions sounds complex, but in truth, it was completed in an instant. Fang Hong only felt a strong force hit him, causing him to fall into the passage, landing awkwardly. He grew anxious, fearing the Elf Miss intended to face the enemy alone, giving him a chance to escape.

But as the stone gate closed, Atira had already emerged from the darkness, pulling him up from the ground, and dragging him forward to run. Fang Hong was pulled a few steps before he collected himself, shouting, ”Lady Daisy is still outside!”

Nini, being an energy entity, returned to his body the moment he fell into the passage. But Lady Cat did not react as quickly, already locked outside the stone gate. Although Fang Hong felt ’Count Westwood Sibika’ shouldn’t be so petty as to hold a grudge against a cat.

But considering Lady Daisy’s extraordinary qualities, coupled with her being Cris Rogersel’s pet cat, perhaps ’Count Westwood Sibika’ might actually recognize her.

However, the fact that the visitor was ’Count Westwood Sibika’ and not the Phoenix Duke’s eldest son, truly surprised him. But when Fang Hong calmed down, he realized it was unexpected yet reasonable.

The other’s actions during the Fanric Thornfish People’s invasion were indeed suspicious, despite various irrationalities, the matter concluded with a simple trust in outsiders and Rolin’s betrayal. But upon closer inspection, people were merely distracted by the latter incident, while the other’s actions during the Continental League exhibition didn’t fit as mere credulity towards outsiders.

The current head of Westwood Sibika family’s generation not even conducting basic assessments on their heirs is clearly unreasonable. Most who become Alchemists are calm and meticulous; lacking insight into people wouldn’t make a good craftsman.

But all these are ultimately trivial daydreams, as the events have unfolded before him, pondering any longer holds no significance now. Unable to expose the other’s conspiracy publicly, nor thwart their current plans.

Moreover, the occurrence was so abrupt, he even forgot about recording it. But fortunately, he recorded the conversation with Nikopolas earlier, which could serve as corroboration – assuming he can safely leave this place.

However, Fang Hong still couldn’t understand the matter of Phoenix Duke’s eldest son. Which one is the body-thief among the Wanderer’s ranks, or is the Phoenix Duke’s eldest son actually another strategic piece? The purple flame monster during the Hall of Thousand Doors - is it related to this person?

These thoughts flashed through his mind. In the darkness, Atira answered ambiguously, ”No chance to bother with Lady Daisy, if she’s smart enough, she won’t face that person.”

Fang Hong understood her implicit meaning, both evidently held suspicions toward Lady Cat, the enigmatic air surrounding her indicating a secret lies within.

They continued to run forward, and behind them ’Count Westwood Sibika’ seemed not to be pursuing, the seemingly endless passage connecting to the circular hall Miss Tata spoke of.

What function that hall served, Fang Hong had a vague guess. He could also deduce the reason behind ’Count Westwood Sibika’s’ leisurely pace. If that place were what he imagined, there shouldn’t be any way leading out.

Just then, the ring in his hand started heating up once more, phantom voices flooding into his mind. It was a conversation between two people, one being the real ’Count Westwood Sibika’ outside, who was the Wanderer of the Ailin Green family from a century ago.

The other person was Praetor Garcia.

”She killed someone yesterday.”

Praetor Garcia’s tone was filled with disdain, ”I know, it was those two prison guards, just two insignificant fellows, find a way to deal with it, you don’t need to ask me about this, right?”

”It has nothing to do with their insignificance,” the Wanderer’s voice was mild, ”It indicates the timing is almost ripe, one leads to another, she’s barely able to contain the flame inside her anymore. She’s a Dragon, no matter how pitifully she pretends, it can’t change this fact.”

”Honestly, Al, if it weren’t for us, I believe it could be changed.” Garcia replied, ”Of course, she’s the essential path to our success. I can hardly wait now, once we control Colin Ishurian’s Royal Household, don’t forget the promise of granting me a duchy.”