Pillar of Yita

”The complex terrain of Void Canyon will provide us cover, and the earth element reactions from the land will also mask the wind element disturbances of the Seven Seas Traveler. Here, we are actually safer than on the open sea.”

”But Miss Hilveld, how are we going to leave this place?”

”I’m afraid we have to change our route, everyone, they should have already blocked the overseas routes of Nogness.”

Under the flickering light of the lamps, Miss Hilveld’s pale fingertips traced a line northward on the thick parchment map, ”But we can head north along the Great Rift Valley, pass through Obey Wetlands, and delve into the Old World’s Ladder Mountain Range—”

Everyone fell silent.

Even though they had won two battles during the day, the latter was barely a victory.

With the size of the Seven Seas Traveler, it’s difficult to keep fighting all the way like this.

Moreover, supplies are also a problem.

But is it really safe to go inland?

Fang Hong hesitated as he looked at the map. The Old World’s Ladder Mountain Range starts in the west at Nogness and extends east to the Ka Cuilan Strait, branching out from the Eldron Plateau. Its northern steep cliffs are the southern limit of Colin Ishurian’s Southern Region, while its southern part blocks the warm, moist air from the Grey Whale Archipelago, making it one of the most lush rainforest areas on the continent—Asuka, one of the homelands of the Lizardman race.

This route has intricate and complex terrain, great for hiding, but its treacherous nature is far beyond that of the Kudi Mountain Range and Crimson Mountain Range they have encountered before. This mountain range nurtures the second and third highest peaks on the continent, where snow and ice never melt throughout the year, surrounded by piercing cold winds. He doubted whether the Seven Seas Traveler’s modest size could pass through that area.

”Although it is dangerous, on one hand, it’s also safer. More importantly, we have no other choice but to try this route. The current condition of the Seven Seas Traveler is not optimistic; we must find a place to stop and rest.”

Hilveld’s voice was very calm, ”I’m afraid only on this route can we find a suitable hiding place.”

As everyone was discussing, Elisa suddenly pushed the door open and came in.

She glanced at the others, and finally her gaze fell on Fang Hong, speaking: ”Captain, there is a communication request here, it’s from...”

”...that guild from Orlenze we’ve contacted once.”

Fang Hong was slightly stunned, then remembered that guild.

At that time, they had bought a batch of Earth Origin Crystals from them and later went through some twists and turns. Just as they were about to get the crystals, something happened.

Since then, the Seven Seas Travel Group has been on the run, unable to care about anything else, plus the transaction, though verbally agreed, was never followed by any actual exchange of money, so it ended inconclusively.

But why is the other party contacting them now?

His first thought was whether this might be a trap.

But it didn’t quite seem like one, who would believe an obvious trap like this?

”Is it the guild called Artistry?”

Elisa gently nodded.

Inside the conference room transformed from the Air Combat Deck, it fell silent for a moment, and everyone seemed a bit surprised; some even expressed opposition.

For example, the Papalarian, ”I don’t think we should bother with them, it’s probably a trap. Knowing we’re now fugitives and still coming to contact us, what good intentions could they have?”

”You’re the fugitive.” Tianlan was not pleased, hitting the table and saying: ”If you can’t speak well, say less.”

Fang Hong asked: ”What do they mean?”

”It seems to be related to that batch of Earth Origin Crystals, Captain.”

Do they still want to sell the Earth Origin Crystals to them, or are they trying to extort some money?

He thought about it, feeling a bit tempted by the Earth Origin Crystals, and decided it wouldn’t hurt to listen to what they had to say.

After all, no matter what kind of trap, listening wouldn’t hurt.

And if it really was a trap, he might be able to turn it around and gather some intelligence about the other party.

So, at his gesture, Elisa brought the Communication Crystal.

After polishing the crystal, amid the flickering red light, a voice rang out: ”Is this Captain Ade?”

The voice sounded a bit hesitant, like a young person’s voice, but that wasn’t surprising; most Invokers were young.

The sound of whistling wind could be heard from the other side, not like being inside a building, but rather out in the wild.

Fang Hong was silent for a moment, then replied: ”Yes, what can I do for you?”

”...It’s about those Earth Origin Crystals. Does Captain Ade still want those things?”

Fang Hong was slightly dazed, ”You still intend to sell those Earth Origin Crystals to us?”

He paused, ”But that doesn’t seem necessary, or do you think we would pay a higher price for them?”

But the other side replied: ”Captain Ade, you misunderstood, we don’t intend to sell the Earth Origin Crystals to you at a high price.”

”Then what do you mean?”

”We would like to ask you to do us a favor, using the Earth Origin Crystals as a reward.”

Fang Hong immediately fell silent.

He instinctively felt it was a trap; how could there be such a coincidence?

But as he pondered, the other party spoke again: ”Captain Ade, do you still remember Mr. Sillian?”

As if fearing they didn’t understand, the young man added another sentence, ”He was the gentleman who came to negotiate with you that day.”

Fang Hong certainly remembered that person.

At that time, he had come representing Artistry to negotiate with them, and during that negotiation, they devised a way to expose the tricks of the spy named Tus.

Fang Hong still had quite a deep impression of Mr. Sillian, who was serious and principled, speaking logically and reasonably, a native. In that negotiation, if it weren’t for his consistently rational approach, it wouldn’t have been so easy for them to turn the unfavorable situation around.