It didn't take long.
Lin Gui controlled his staff, hovering before the massive iron gate.
Theia watched the colossal structure with a mix of curiosity and wariness.
Knock, knock.
Lin Gui raised a hand and rapped on the cold metal surface.
The sound echoed with a dull thud.
He had expected the ten-meter-high giant gate to open slightly, but instead—an ear-splitting screech of grinding metal echoed from his side.
He looked down.
A small door, only waist-high to him, had opened at the bottom of the massive gate. A particularly sturdy-looking dwarf with a beard braided into several thick plaits crawled out.
It was the same leader who had been barking orders from the highest window just moments ago.
When he stood up straight, the top of his head barely reached past Lin Gui's waist.
At the moment, the dwarf leader looked up, staring sternly at Lin Gui with sharp eyes. He held out a thick palm, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Human, I need to check your pack.
"I have to ensure you aren't carrying any communication devices or other dangerous items."
Lin Gui shook his head, remaining seated on his staff.
"There's no need. I told you I wasn't going in."
He opened his satchel right in front of the leader. One by one, he pulled out a thick stack of letters and handed them directly to the dwarf leader.
"This is for Copperhammer Stoneheart.
"This is for Ironhammer Stoneheart."
...
The dwarf leader clearly hadn't expected this kind of handoff. He looked a bit dazed, flustered as he took the letters one after another.
His eyes, once filled with vigilance and authority, now went round.
They stayed that way until Lin Gui steadily placed one of the letters on the very top of the stack. The dwarf leader's gaze swept across the name on the envelope, and his entire body stiffened.
That letter... was unexpectedly addressed to himself.
The dwarf leader wasn't too surprised to see a letter addressed to him; after all, Copperhammer still owed him a fair amount in gambling debts. However, his expression grew serious the moment he noticed the unique dwarven seal on the envelope.
A letter that required a seal meant it contained information the sender didn't want others to see.
He ran a finger over the seal, and runes lit up briefly before fading away. He pulled out the parchment and quickly scanned the familiar dwarven script.
The further he read, the stranger his expression became.
Most of the letter's content, surprisingly, was not about Copperhammer himself, but was instead describing a human mage who risked his life to cross dangerous lands just to deliver letters, all for a shockingly low fee. It described how he had braved the wilderness with only the power of a High Rank to deliver letters from a small place called New Covenant City.
In the letter, Copperhammer made a solemn request: when this mage arrived at Shield City, he hoped his old friend would look after him.
【He is a kindhearted human.】
Copperhammer had clearly foreseen Shield City's wariness toward humans. He made sure to explain in the letter:
【This human mage named Lin Gui is aware of my true identity.】
【If he has a 'long-eared' companion with him, she is just like our Stoneheart Clan.】
【Both are descendants of the Demon King.】
When he saw the words "descendants of the Demon King," the dwarf leader's eyes narrowed.
【But rest assured, she cannot be a member of the evil Demon Race.】
【This long-ear is silly and naive; moreover, she had no reaction after learning my true identity.】
【She couldn't possibly be one of those fanatics.】
【In short, they are trustworthy people who brought me family letters from our other brothers and sisters.】
【And I intend to head to New Covenant City to find my brother.】
【I hope you can properly host this kind human who brought me news of my brother's safety.】
【In the latter half of the letter, Copperhammer reported the whereabouts of other Stoneheart Clan members scattered abroad.】
【Lines were filled with relief upon seeing that Bronzebeard and the others were still alive and well.】
【I believe everyone in Shield City will be happy to hear this news.】
At the very end of the letter, Copperhammer wrote emphatically:
【By the way, the main reason I sealed this letter is that I don't want this little mage to see its contents.】
【That fellow is planning to head toward the Wall of Sighs next.】
【If possible, try to keep him from going there—whatever you do, don't let him through.】
【It's too dangerous; even the Fortress Lord cannot cross it.】
【Most who try to cross end up dying there.】
【And those who come out are mentally deranged and end up hanging themselves!】
【You know better than I do how terrifying it is in there.】
【You also know how many dwarven scouts have been lost to the Akara Continent's greatest Forbidden Zone.】
【I don't want him to die there.】
【I'm counting on you, brother. You must stop him from going any further.】
At that moment, Lin Gui's voice drifted over.
"Since all the letters have been delivered, we won't disturb you any longer.
"Remember to deliver each letter to the appropriate dwarf; it's very important to me."
He adjusted his staff, making a move to depart.
The dwarf leader snapped back to reality and lunged forward, grabbing Lin Gui's shoulder.
"Wait!!"
Lin Gui was jerked sideways by the pull and looked back with a strange expression.
"Is there something else?"
An awkward look flashed across the dwarf leader's face. After all, he was the one who had just been rushing them to leave, and now... to fulfill Copperhammer's request, he had to keep Lin Gui and the girl here.
He wracked his brain, then suddenly slapped his forehead and asked gruffly, "Are you two headed to the Wall of Sighs?!"
Theia nodded from the side. "That's right!"
"That's a Forbidden Zone—the biggest one at that!" The dwarf leader barked, waving his large hand.
"Are you trying to get yourselves killed, barging in like that?"
"If you ask me, you should come into the city and rest for a few days before setting out!"
"When the time comes, we'll send someone to give you a lift!"
"We have a dwarf here who is capable of crossing the Wall of Sighs."
"When the time is right, I'll contact him and have him take you along. It'll be safer that way."
Lin Gui looked puzzled.
"I recall... has anyone ever actually crossed the Wall of Sighs?
"If they had, your Northern Dwarven Kingdom's supplies wouldn't need to take such a massive detour."
Ignoring the comment, the dwarf leader reached out and tucked Lin Gui under his muscular arm, dragging him off the staff.
"Oh, forget about that! Just come inside!"
He shouted up to the dwarves watching from above with a booming voice.
"What are you lot just standing there for? Open the gate!
"This is a good friend of Copperhammer!
"He is a benefactor of the Stoneheart Clan!
"And that makes him our benefactor as well!!
"Properly host these friends who crossed countless perils just to bring us letters from home!!"
The dwarves above still hesitated.
"What if... what if he's an Inspector sent by the Alliance..."
"To hell with that!" the dwarf leader roared. "If he were an Alliance Inspector, would he be delivering letters to Copperhammer and the others?! He'd have burned them at the stake by now!
"Use your heads!!
"Open! The! Gate!"
Accompanied by the heavy rumble of mechanical gears and the screech of grinding metal, the massive iron gate slowly swung inward, revealing a gap.
The scene behind the gate rushed to meet them.
A blast of scorching air carried the scent of coal smoke and metal. Massive furnaces glowed like sleeping volcanoes, with deep crimson light pulsing in their depths. The rhythmic clanging of hammers echoed from every direction, never ceasing.
A web of suspension bridges and elevators connected the various platforms carved directly into the mountain's heart.
The entire city looked like a massive, bustling fusion of a mine and a forge.
The dwarf leader strode through the gates, still clutching Lin Gui firmly. He puffed out his chest with pride, his voice booming over the industrial cacophony.
"Well then, friends from afar! Welcome to the Fortress City—Shield City!"
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