Pillar of Yita

He took one last look at the letter, then quietly tucked it back into his coat and patted it to secure it.

This letter might stay here for a while, he thought silently.

...

As Hilveld walked out of the Royal Palace Square, she heard an unexpected voice coming from behind:

”Wait, Hi...Hilveld?”

It was clearly a girl’s voice.

The voice was somewhat soft, full of disbelief.

She paused slightly, her hands cautiously gripping the handgun hidden behind her, finger on the trigger. But the next moment, upon recognizing the voice, she relaxed, let go, and turned around. Standing not far from her was a girl dressed like an apprentice, looking somewhat naive, wearing a gray-white robe and with faint freckles on her face. Her light golden hair was tied into a braid.

The girl’s light cyan eyes were as beautiful as turquoise, looking at her with great surprise.

”Hilveld, you’re really in this place?”

Facing the girl, the noble lady smiled slightly. She greeted, ”Florence, long time no see.”

The girl’s face changed slightly, and she walked over, grabbed her arm, and pulled her towards a nearby corner. Hilveld seemed to be very familiar with this girl and allowed herself to be pulled forward. When they reached the street corner, the girl named Florence turned around and looked at her seriously:

”Hilveld, why are you still in this place?”

”You knew I was in this place?” Hilveld asked.

The girl paused for a moment before answering, ”Not long ago, the royal spies reported seeing signs of you in Fanric. I guessed you’d come to Istania.”

”Then why are you here, Florence?”

”I came with Lord Laval as his assistant. Father asked me to learn some things from Lord Laval.”

”It seems Lord Earl plans to marry you off. Do you have a preferred choice?”

Hilveld jokingly asked as she looked at her childhood playmate.

The girl’s face turned red but quickly became serious: ”Let’s not talk about that. It’s not safe for you here, His Majesty hasn’t forgotten about your father’s matter.”

”The kingdom sent another envoy group to Istania?”

Florence nodded: ”Yes, Lord Laval is the captain.”

”You came for me?”

Hilveld’s gaze went beyond the girl, observing the people coming and going in the square. She had already noticed the Colin people.

”Well, not really,” Florence replied. ”But with so many kingdom people around, if you’re not careful you might be discovered, and if you’re captured...the outcome wouldn’t be too good...”

Only then did Hilveld turn her gaze back, smiling slightly to reassure her: ”Don’t worry, I’ll be leaving here soon.”

”Alright,” Florence glanced back over her shoulder. ”I have to go back, Hilveld. Lord Laval instructed me to do some errands, I can’t stay long. Anyway...sometime later, I’ll definitely come out to find you. Where are you staying?”

Hilveld whispered something to her.

After hearing it, the girl nodded hurriedly, then hurriedly and clumsily turned around and walked back.

While walking, she kept signaling Hilveld to leave the place quickly.

The noble lady found it quite amusing at the moment. Nonetheless, she gazed in that direction silently until the girl’s figure disappeared at the other end of the square. Only then did she lightly shake her head, as if thinking of something, and left the place in contemplation.

...

Fang Hong walked out of the Oathkeeper Clan’s old clan leader’s residence, exhaling a breath of relief.

Saisheer indeed agreed as he anticipated; to help—among those trustworthy people around, the old clan leader of the Oathkeeper Clan, and Aleph, both were least likely to interfere in this matter—also the least suspicious, his most dependable external aid.

With their help, although not guaranteed to immediately find Affia’s whereabouts, it ensured control of the Royal City’s situation to prevent the captors from leaving Quistack. It could even be achieved just by having the old clan leader order a thorough inspection of those entering and exiting the city gates.

Even though Quistack harbors a grey area with various thief brotherhoods who might control some smuggling channels out of the city, if the future King of Sand and the Right Minister simultaneously gave orders, those in the grey area would definitely not dare act against the Istania Royal Family’s strength.

After all, being gray depends upon some people turning a blind eye to survive.

And in fact, he had already made contact with the ’Woodpecker’ side—as long as there’s money, these people can do anything for anyone. The Seven Seas Travel Group is certainly not lacking funds at the moment.

Affia being their friend, the Seven Seas Travel Group wouldn’t be stingy in such matters.

With both official and unofficial powers, his certainty increased considerably.

After leaving Saisheer’s residence, he headed directly to the square where the Adventurers’ Guild was located, to that familiar tavern—

Xiangzi and Luo Yu were already waiting there, only upon seeing him approach, they both shook their heads. Luo Yu finally spoke: ”Ade, they are not here.”

Fang Hong then looked at the Invoker also standing aside—the person was a member of the Southern Alliance, or rather, former Southern Alliance. In fact, this place was one of the contact methods Ye Hua left him not long ago because the Ranger King was currently on a mission for the Alliance, making communication may not always be possible.

Furthermore, the communication system itself was intermittent—

The Invoker, previously instructed, seeing Fang Hong looking over, promptly replied: ”Mr. Ade, Chairman Ye Hua and the others have already left Quistack. As for when they will return, we don’t know...”

Fang Hong was taken aback, blurting out: ”Did they go to the Phantom Sea with King of Sand Barbaltan?”

But evidently, the Invoker was incapable of answering this question, remaining silent instead.

Fang Hong understood immediately; Ye Hua likely headed for the Phantom Sea, or at least, King of Sand Barbaltan had given them some instructions. But these tasks were considered the Southern Alliance’s secrets, hence the Invoker wouldn’t disclose them, and it was understandable.

He couldn’t help frowning slightly. Ye Hua’s absence from Quistack, although anticipated, was rather inconvenient...

...