Pillar of Yita

”Gray Shadow?” The fat man gasped: ”If you deploy that thing, what about the direction of Rainbow Bay? Moreover... deploying the United Fleet requires Alliance approval...”

”I’ve got the approval,” Loya bent down and drew a piece of paper from the stack of documents on the low table, ”It’s simple, the other party is on the Grey List. We just need to follow the official channels.”

He placed the paper on the low table and replied lightly: ”Everyone, what I’m saying is that it’s wise to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut; otherwise, there will be endless troubles.”

Everyone fell silent.

But after a moment, they nodded successively.

...

Fang Hong looked at Luo Yu with surprise, his voice muffled by the biting cold wind:

”What, Uncle and Aunt want to see me?”

Tianlan couldn’t keep a secret at all, and this wasn’t really a secret either. Fang Hong had already heard from her that Luo Yu’s parents were Invokers.

Though they weren’t top-tier, they had some renown among the Invokers. With their influence, they managed to get Luo Yu into the Oak Knights Youth Training Camp.

Though Luo Yu hadn’t mentioned this personally, Gita inadvertently brought it up a couple of times — it seemed his parents had high expectations for him.

His parents were Free Summoners by origin, but they arranged for him to join the Oak Knights, a higher status, naturally hoping their son can achieve even greater success.

Luo Yu didn’t disappoint them; he showed remarkable talent in the Youth Training Camp. According to the trajectory of the Oak Knights, heading to the Second World was quite possible.

It was surprising to Fang Hong, weren’t his parents retired and returned to Earth many years ago? Why would they suddenly be in Eteliria to see him? Was it due to Fang Hong’s recent rise in prominence, making them interested in meeting their son’s somewhat famous Captain?

This wasn’t self-promotion. Since the battle at Kailan Ao, the Seven Seas Travel Group’s fame in the community skyrocketed, a one-against-thirty-three lopsided combat — even Fang Hong learned afterward, finding out the opposing side deployed a lavish force of thirty-three airships.

But sinking three ships, damaging two others, and the Seven Seas Traveler was unscathed, swaggering through the blockade without giving the opposition a chase chance.

The glory of this battle rivaled some of Loofah’s early famous fights. However, unexpectedly to Fang Hong, there was no further discussion about the Dragon’s Alchemist thereafter.

Because everyone was speculating who exactly was the alchemist master onboard, some suspected it was Nether, given online rumors about him having taught Fang Hong certain things.

Others directly speculated it was the never-seen teacher.

Indeed, Fang Hong had such a teacher, but the person was far from being a craftsman. To his dismay, nobody considered that the one who acted back then was him.

Of course, how could that be possible?

But Luo Yu’s parents wanting to meet the Captain might suggest they’ve somewhat recognized Fang Hong’s abilities. Fang Hong couldn’t help but entertain such thoughts.

However, Luo Yu remained silent, simply nodding.

Fang Hong lifted his gaze towards the port direction; the military had escorted them through the Old World’s Ladder, the last port before entering the Cloud Sea.

This was actually within the territory of Ishurian, part of the northern chains of Mount Eldron, but they avoided passing through the Holy Mountain, opting instead for the safer Howling Wind Passage.

This was a Dwarven port; though they carried the Colin People’s Wanted Order, the Dwarves’ close cooperation with the military allowed them to turn a blind eye.

They would conduct their final resupply here before heading to Crosswind Harbor, and before arriving at Rainbow Sky Canyon, these were their last two stops.

Fang Hong withdrew his gaze from the snow blades of the mountains and asked again: ”Did Uncle and Aunt say where they planned to meet us?”

”In Gula,” Luo Yu replied.

Fang Hong thought for a moment; Gula was a Neutral Port, where they could indeed dock, and it used to be within Oak Knights’ sphere of influence.

He waved at Forest nearby: ”Praise, could you bring the map over, please?”

Forest Praise nodded to him from afar and brought over the map amidst the wind and snow.

They had traversed directly through the Southern Region alongside Lady Kuisu’s group via the Nevade Trail to reach this place. The Seven Seas Traveler had coordinated with them before heading north, setting a meeting point here.

Mr. Greyrock naturally arrived too. Tianlan and Ai Xiaoxiao were delighted to reunite with him after a long absence, but Mr. Greyrock only mooed happily upon seeing Miss Atira.

Fang Hong unfurled the map, drawing several lines on it: ”... After leaving Eldron, we need to first escort Miss Beiji to near Golande, but fortunately, it seems to be on our route. Then we’ll take the road north, returning to Rainbow Sky Canyon. To meet Uncle and Aunt, it might be a week or two later.”

He looked at Luo Yu and asked: ”Any issues with that?”

Luo Yu simply nodded but still frowned.

”Why do you look upset, Luo Yu?” Fang Hong couldn’t help but inquire, ”It’s not that big of a deal. There’s no need to be concerned about it. They’re your parents; you’re a member of the Seven Seas Travel Group. So even if they want to meet me, it’s only natural.”

He patted Luo Yu’s shoulder, ”And it won’t take much time. After seeing Mr. Mazak and the others, we’ll head to Scepter Coast. Then we can consider how to obtain the Second World ticket. Your parents have high expectations for you, but we have even higher expectations for the Seven Seas Travel Group, don’t we—”

...