“345... 346... 347...”
Grom crouched on the ground, counting the Black Crystals one by one.
His rough fingers picked up each crystal, bringing it close to his eyes for careful scrutiny. His gaze was focused, and he even softened his breathing.
To the side, Balin stared blankly at the heap of loot that had piled up like a small mountain, remaining silent for a long time.
This quantity was naturally incomparable to the several tons he would personally transport when leading a team, but it was enough to refit four magic crystal cannons.
The key was...
From the moment he left until he returned, less than two hours had passed.
That kid had "yanked" this much out of the Blackwater Forest in that short time.
Even with the boost from that ridiculous flying vessel's speed, this was far too fast.
Did the Lord-tier demons in the Blackwater Forest not notice him?
Balin looked up, casting his gaze toward the busy Lin Gui.
“Did you... not encounter any Epic demons on the way?”
At this moment, Lin Gui was working with Theia and Eve to secure the last few supply boxes to the rear of the flying vessel using heavy iron chains.
The flying vessel could only hold three people; any extra items had to be towed like this. With this vessel, the speed of their upcoming journey would jump to a new level.
Lin Gui had decided to travel light.
The hundreds of return-letter wooden boxes that took up space were all left at the Shield City post office. He felt very at ease having the dwarves look after them.
He only brought three boxes containing essential supplies and tools for crossing the wilderness.
After locking one box firmly, Lin Gui paused at Balin’s question.
“I encountered some.”
“But I avoided all of them.”
Actually, it wasn't exactly "avoided."
He had directly fired up the Wind Pressure Cannon and roared past just dozens of meters above the head of an Epic demon.
The creature had been napping in a mountain hollow, snoring like thunder. It had only blankly lifted an eyelid, scratched its neck, and fallen back into a deep sleep.
By the time it realized something had flown past, Lin Gui was already several kilometers away, his wake long dissipated.
Furthermore, given his own weak High Rank presence, it was difficult to provoke the true aggressive instincts of such a being. As for the low-rank demons, they couldn't even detect any fluctuations beneath his Shroud of the Gloomy Night.
In this way, he had spent barely forty minutes flying to the mining area. Had it not been for the time spent searching for the disguised mine entrance that the dwarves had deliberately hidden, along with the need to meditate on the spot to restore the mana exhausted during his earlier tests... Lin Gui estimated he could have finished the round trip in half an hour.
Balin stared intently into Lin Gui’s eyes.
He could hear that there were unspoken parts hidden beneath the other man's calm tone.
Lin Gui met his gaze frankly, without flinching or looking away.
“Now that the Black Crystals have been obtained, Lord Balin, can you let us go?”
Balin suddenly looked like a deflated skin bag, his shoulders sagging.
In the end, he nodded helplessly, and even his beard seemed to lose its spirit.
“Fine...”
“It seems I’ve truly failed the request that kid Copperhammer gave me.”
However...
His eyes flickered slightly, and his thick fingers rubbed together unconsciously. It seemed there was still something stuck in his throat that he couldn't bring himself to say due to his pride.
Lin Gui understood perfectly.
He took a small cloth pouch from his belt bag and placed all the remaining sixteen Barrier Stones gently into Balin’s palm.
Balin took them. The stones felt heavy, carrying the warmth of the man's body.
He coughed twice, a trace of embarrassed flushing flashing across his face.
“Let’s go! To my private treasury right now!”
“Anything you like in there—take it all! I won’t feel a shred of regret!”
“No need.”
Lin Gui shook his head, his tone gentle yet firm.
“We are already prepared on our end. It is time to set out.”
He stepped aside and pointed to the flying vessel behind him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“As for the reward...”
“If this vehicle breaks or needs upgrades and modifications in the future, I hope the Fortress Lord can lend a hand then.”
Balin looked deeply at Lin Gui, his gaze complex.
Then, he straightened his back, his expression turning solemn.
He struck his right fist heavily against his left breastplate, letting out a dull thud. He performed the highest etiquette a dwarf shows toward a close friend and benefactor.
“Lin Gui, kid.”
“I, Balin Heavyhammer, have noted this favor.”
“Whenever you need help, come find me at Shield City at any time.”
“This city's gates will always be open to you.”
A solemn promise from an Epic expert.
Lin Gui felt this was more precious than any divine artifact or treasure. He smiled, spoke no further, and leapt onto the flying vessel with practiced ease.
Behind him, Eve curiousily looked at the smooth lines of this metal creation while extending her hand, her palm glowing with a soft white light.
Warm, pure mana flowed like a trickling stream, slowly pouring into Lin Gui’s body.
Theia, who was the last to board the vessel, sighed softly by the railing. She turned back to cast a lingering, reluctant look at this magnificent mountain-hollow city-state.
Rock walls were layered, lights shone like stars, and the sound of the furnace could be faintly heard.
Here, she had been completely accepted for the first time; she didn't have to hide her pointed ears or her bloodline. For the first time, she could walk with a straight back without being anxious. She didn't have to hide in post offices or mines like she had in the Carter Royal Capital.
After a final wave of farewell to Balin and Grom, the flying vessel slowly rose and steadily turned its direction.
The wind pressure cannon at the tail of the ship glowed with stored energy, and runes lit up one after another.
“Buzz—Boom!”
A pale green torrent surged out, dragging a long tail of light across the air!
The flying vessel accelerated abruptly like a released arrow, tearing through the air in front of it. It turned into a blurred gray shadow, soaring toward the hazy and mysterious land of legends beneath the northern horizon.
Toward the Wall of Sighs, it sped away through the sky.
【Retrieval finished.】
【Weekly Commission has been updated!】
【Destination: Avalon, the Land of Freedom】
【Number of letters collected: 0】
【Total letters being escorted: 0】
【Time limit: 31 calendar days】
【Route: Shield City → Blackwater Corridor → Bounty City → Wall of Sighs → Avalon】
【Since the number of escorted letters is 0, there will be no Weekly Commission reward upon arrival.】
------「May every longing cross the darkness and reach the other shore」------
【Note: 57 days remain for the special long-term commission to escort the half-elf ranger Theia.】
Meanwhile, several hundred kilometers away.
Deep within the palace of the Carter Royal Capital.
The once magnificent bedchamber was now filled with the smell of bitter medicine and the scent of decay.
The King of Carter lay upon the wide velvet bed, his face haggard and his eyes deep in their sockets. The gorgeous silk quilt covered his skeletal body, appearing hollow and heavy.
An old chamberlain knelt by the bed, reporting in a low, trembling voice:
“Your Majesty... last night, Duke Joseph’s carriage was attacked.”
“The Duke himself is seriously injured, and his eldest son... has perished.”
“This morning, the tax officer under the Eldest Princess’s jurisdiction was found drowned in his own bathtub.”
“On Prince Charles’s side, three knights have ‘accidentally’ fallen from their horses...”
The old chamberlain’s voice grew smaller and smaller, almost carrying a sob.
“Now, at the upper levels of the Royal Capital, everyone is in fear for their own lives.”
“Even the council has ground to a halt; no one dares to make a public stance...”
The King turned his head with difficulty, his clouded eyes staring at the magnificent dome.
He knew that the struggle between Charles and Diana had surfaced from the undercurrents. Assassinations, framings, purges... the methods once used for concealment had now become blatant and frequent.
The entire upper class of the Carter Royal Capital was sliding into a bottomless pit of chaos due to this struggle for the throne.
And he, the titular King of Carter, had long since lost the power to control the situation.
To obtain the Holy Saintess’s prophecy, he had nearly emptied centuries of the royal family’s savings. To trade for the support of the high nobles, he had handed over every practical power. Now, he was merely a marginalized king.
Even if he were to forcibly issue a royal decree to name an heir now... that decree likely wouldn't even make it out the door of the bedchamber.
Even if it did, it would be "refined" and "explained" by those below until it was completely unrecognizable.
A rattling sound came from the King’s throat, like a worn-out bellows.
The old chamberlain rushed forward, only to hear him squeeze out a few words with all his strength:
“...They are all just a pack of beasts...”
“Their own father... is nearly gone...”
“Yet they only care about fighting for power.”
“Before, they were all waiting for me to die. And now, I don't even need to die; it won't be long before they force an abdication.”
The old chamberlain lowered his head, silent for a moment, and finally said:
“Your Majesty, the Seventh Princess... is outside the door.”
“She requests an audience.”
The Seventh Princess—the daughter born from his one-night stand.
The King of Carter was puzzled.
Weak as she was, shouldn't she have left the Carter Royal Capital long ago to escape the coming purge? Why would she come to see him at a time like this?
Rate on N.U.
