Pillar of Yita

However, this underground river seems to have changed course; after the water dried up, it formed this cavern cluster.

In a place like Istania, where the climate is arid, such situations occur from time to time.

Fang Hong was cautiously watching for any guards suddenly appearing ahead, or maybe two or three Clockwork Fairies, while letting his Silver Bee hover in the air and activating silent mode—this was the benefit brought by a larger power system—it finally could accommodate a small Guy Crystal.

In fact, aside from the Clockwork Fairies, most flying constructs—including Succubi, including Annihilator QV700—use Guy Crystals as lift sources. Of course, other than a magic-guided construct like QV700, which uses Guy Crystals as its main power source and inherently flies silently, other flying constructs can enter a hovering state through Guy Crystals.

Fang Hong had also used this method multiple times, allowing the Succubi to ambush over the enemy’s heads, achieving a surprise attack effect.

And today, it was finally the Clockwork Fairy’s turn.

However, he was not hovering for an ambush at this moment, but rather to observe the surroundings.

Because he discovered noticeable artificial excavation marks on the walls of this cavern cluster; those knife and axe-like engravings on the naturally formed cave walls were not difficult to discern, and perhaps the excavators never intended to hide this fact.

This realization made Fang Hong aware that the originally naturally formed cavern cluster seemed later expanded by human efforts.

The handiwork of smugglers?

It’s not out of the question.

But the original scale of the cavern cluster doesn’t seem small; did smugglers truly need to go to such lengths?

Moreover, this place is too convenient as a smuggling hideout, with ample space and complexity, and the exit facing the inner side of the strait, completely invisible from the surface. No matter how you look at it, this cavern cluster seems naturally predisposed to be such a hideout.

He heard that the Grand Princess once cleared out this place, with her meticulous and decisive character, why wasn’t this place filled in?

Fang Hong thought if it were him, he would definitely do that—

In either the magical world or the real world, filling in a cave isn’t really a troublesome thing.

But he temporarily suppressed this doubt in his heart, letting the Clockwork Fairy continue to fly forward. The artificially excavated passages within the cavern cluster spiraled upward—the flights of stairs eventually converging into a gigantic underground foyer-shaped cavern, forming a spiral shape leading upward to a sealed hatch—

Fang Hong then saw the hatch open, and a group of guards climbed down from there. Upon seeing a Ranger among them, he quickly retracted his ’Hornet-I’.

Under cavern conditions, even the silent mode of the ’Hornet-I’ was virtually ineffective before Nightingales and Rangers of the same level.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly.

Yet, with the information gained, it was enough for him to discern many things.

Everyone had already walked to the other end of the long pier, reaching beyond the crack in the rock when a streak of silver light flew out from it, landing in Fang Hong’s hand. Only then did Fang Hong lift his wind goggles, and Little Fatty next to him hurriedly asked:

”Boss, how is it?”

”Found the way,” Fang Hong replied.

”Boss, you’re awesome!” Little Fatty exclaimed.

The members of Shield of Lufu also gave their thumbs up. Having a Combat Artisan in the team is indeed a considerable relief.

Strangely, Fang Hong didn’t feel a sense of urgency or anxiety from the guards that appeared earlier, indicating they weren’t aware of an intrusion. This made him uncertain if they had truly been discovered.

Although logically, given how he took down the Clockwork Fairy, they couldn’t have been unaware of an intrusion.

Was there a lapse in the information flow?

Or was it as he initially suspected?

The group stepped into the cave; the surroundings dimmed, yet this time no one mindlessly lit torches. Everyone appeared very cautious, except for Nightingale of Shield of Lufu, who took out a Dim Light Crystal. The weak glow of the crystal was perfect for such an environment.

At this moment, Fang Hong saw Luo Yu halt in front, the Elemental Staff in his hand glowing faintly, a light spreading from the crystal in his grasp, enveloping four or five people centered on him.

Fang Hong felt a peculiar sensation spreading within him, due to the varied and bizarre spells of Eteliria, he couldn’t quite ascertain what spell it was.

Based on experience, it seemed to belong to the prophecy system.

Little Fatty curiously asked: ”What’s this spell?”

”Comprehend Sign Language,” Luo Yu answered—not with words, but with a hand gesture, as if everyone naturally understood the meaning of the words.

Little Fatty was a bit surprised, ”Is this a spell of the Arcanist?”

”I just learned it recently,” Luo Yu replied to them.

Clearly, everyone had been working hard these days, and he naturally hadn’t been idle.

”This spell is indeed very useful under these circumstances,” Little Fatty gestured as he ’spoke’, ”At least we don’t need to communicate through words.”

Luo Yu cast the spell two or three times, completing the empowerment for everyone—of course, no one else could assist him—Little Fatty’s team was almost a pure melee-focused team, primarily made up of Swordsmen, Iron Defenders, Guard Knights, Dual Swordsmen, and Nightingales, with the addition of Miss Priestess.