It did not take long.
Lin Gui maneuvered his staff, levitating in front of the massive iron gate.
Theia sized up the massive iron gate, her wariness mixed with curiosity.
“Thud, thud.”
Lin Gui raised his hand and knocked on the cold metal surface of the gate.
The dull sound echoed.
He had expected this massive gate, nearly ten meters high, to crack open next.
Instead—
A harsh, grating screech echoed from beside him.
He looked down.
Only to see a small door, barely reaching his waist, built into the very bottom of the massive gate.
An exceptionally stocky dwarf with his beard braided into several thick plaits was squeezing out of the small door.
It was the leader who had been barking orders from the highest window just moments ago.
Even standing at his full height, the top of his head barely cleared Lin Gui's waist.
Right now, this dwarven leader was looking up, staring seriously at Lin Gui with sharp eyes.
He held out a thick, stubby palm and spoke in an unquestionable tone:
“Human, I need to inspect your pack.”
“To make sure you aren't carrying any communication devices or other dangerous items.”
Lin Gui shook his head, remaining seated on his staff.
“No need. I said I wouldn't go inside.”
He opened his satchel right in front of the dwarf.
Then, he took out the thick stack of letters inside, one by one.
He handed them directly to the dwarven leader.
“This is for Copperhammer Stoneheart.”
“This is for Ironhammer Stoneheart.”
“...”
The dwarven leader clearly had not expected this method of “handover.”
Looking somewhat stunned, he hurriedly fumbled to take the letters handed to him.
His eyes, previously filled with wariness and majesty, were now wide and round.
Until Lin Gui steadily placed one particular letter at the very top of the stack.
The dwarven leader's gaze swept over the name on the envelope, and his entire body stiffened.
That letter... was actually addressed to him.
Looking at the letter addressed to him, the dwarven leader was not too surprised.
After all, that fellow Copperhammer still owed him a fair amount of gambling money.
But when he noticed the unique dwarven seal on the envelope, his expression instantly turned serious.
For a letter to be sealed like this, it had to contain information that was not meant for other eyes.
He ran his fingertip over the seal; the runes lit up and then faded.
Pulling out the parchment, his eyes quickly scanned the familiar dwarven script.
The further down he read, the stranger his expression became.
Most of the letter's content was actually not about Copperhammer himself.
Instead, it described a human mage who risked his life to deliver letters across dangerous territories, charging an astonishingly low fee.
It described how he had set out from a small city called New Covenant City, crossing the wilderness to deliver letters with only High Rank strength.
Copperhammer earnestly requested in the letter:
“When this mage arrives at Shield City, I hope you, my old friend, can take care of him on my behalf.”
【He is a kind human.】
Copperhammer had clearly anticipated 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.】
Upon seeing “descendants of the Demon King,” the dwarven leader's eyes narrowed.
【But do not worry, she cannot possibly be one of those evil Demon Race members.】
【This long-eared girl is silly and naive, and she didn't react at all even after learning my true identity.】
【She cannot possibly be part of that group of lunatics.】
【In short, they are both trustworthy. They brought me letters from my other brothers and sisters.】
【And I also plan to head to New Covenant City to look for my brother.】
【I hope you can show good hospitality to this kind human who brought me news of my brother's safety.】
【In the latter half of the letter, Copperhammer reported the whereabouts of the other Stoneheart Clan members scattered abroad.】
【When he saw that Bronzebeard and the others were all still alive and well, the lines were filled with relief.】
【I am sure everyone in Shield City will be happy to hear this news as well.】
At the end of the letter, Copperhammer wrote with emphasis:
【By the way, the main reason I sealed this letter...】
【...is because I didn't want this little mage to see its contents.】
【The fellow is heading to the Wall of Sighs next.】
【If possible, try to stop him from going. Absolutely do not let him cross.】
【It is far too dangerous there. Even the Fortress Lord cannot cross it.】
【Most of those who attempted to cross died there.】
【And those who did make it out lost their minds and eventually hung themselves!】
【You know the horrors within better than I do.】
【You also know how many dwarven pathfinders were lost to this greatest Forbidden Zone of the Akara Continent.】
【I do not want him to die there.】
【Please, my brother, make sure to stop him from going any further.】
Just then, Lin Gui's voice drifted over:
“Since all the letters have been delivered, we won't trouble you any longer.”
“Remember to hand all the letters to the respective dwarves. This is very important to me.”
He maneuvered his staff, making a move to leave.
The dwarven leader jolted awake and suddenly reached out, grabbing Lin Gui by the shoulder.
“Wait!!”
Lin Gui was pulled askew by the sudden yank. He looked back with a strange expression.
“Is there something else?”
A flash of embarrassment crossed the dwarven leader's face.
After all, he was the one who had just been urging them to leave quickly.
But now... to fulfill Copperhammer's request, he had to keep Lin Gui and his companion here.
He racked his brain, then suddenly slapped his forehead and asked in a gruff voice:
“Are you two heading to the Wall of Sighs?!”
Theia nodded from the side. “Yes!”
“That is a Forbidden Zone, the greatest of them all!” The dwarven leader waved a massive hand.
“Are you trying to get yourselves killed, blindly rushing in like that?”
“If you ask me, you should come into the city to rest for a few days before setting off!”
“When the time comes, we'll send someone to guide you!”
“We have a dwarf here who is capable of crossing the Wall of Sighs.”
“I'll contact him then and have him take you along. It'll be much safer that way.”
Lin Gui showed a look of doubt.
“I recall... hasn't no one ever crossed the Wall of Sighs?”
“Otherwise, the supplies for your northern dwarven kingdom wouldn't need to take such a massive detour.”
Without giving Lin Gui a chance to argue, the dwarven leader snatched him off his staff and tucked him under his sturdy arm.
“Aiya! Just come inside first!”
He bellowed up at the spectating dwarves above:
“What are you still standing around for?! Open the gate!”
“This is Copperhammer's good friend!”
“A benefactor of the Stoneheart Clan!”
“And our benefactor as well!!”
“Treat these friends who crossed countless perils to deliver our family letters with the utmost hospitality!!”
The dwarves above still hesitated:
“What if... what if he is an inspector sent by the Alliance...”
“To hell with that!” the dwarven leader roared.
“If he were an Alliance inspector, would he still deliver letters for Copperhammer and the others?!”
“He would have had them burned at the stake long ago!”
“Use your brains!!”
“Open! The! Gate!”
Accompanied by a heavy rumble of operating machinery and the screech of metal grinding,
the massive iron gate slowly cracked open inward.
The sight behind the gate rushed to meet them.
A wave of scorching air rolled out, thick with the smell of coal smoke and metal.
Massive furnaces stood like sleeping volcanoes, dark red glows surging deep within them.
The clanging and hammering of metal echoed from all directions, never-ending.
Crisscrossing iron chain bridges and lifts connected the various levels of platforms carved into the mountain's interior.
The entire city was like a massive, bustling combination of a mine and a foundry.
The dwarven leader marched inside, forcibly keeping Lin Gui tucked under his arm.
He puffed out his chest proudly, his voice booming exceptionally loud amidst the din:
“Alright, friends from afar!”
“Welcome to the Fortress City—”
“Shield City!”
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