Detour

This time, it was much easier than his first trip around the seventeen swallowed city-states.

Lin Gui didn't need to go out of his way to find ghosts and open post offices anymore.

Every time they flew over a location, he simply dropped off the wooden box corresponding to that city-state.

Then he would turn around and fly straight to the next stop.

Upon arriving at Shadowmoon City, Lin Gui made a deliberate stop.

He issued a warning to the wooden box containing the elven spirits.

“Shadow Blade Lynn is inside, and she's in spirit form.”

“According to Clotina's description, she might pose a threat to you.”

The wooden box fell silent for a moment.

Then, the voices of several elves sounded one after another.

“Life and death... we've long since looked past it.”

“We just want to see our home again.”

Another voice softly added:

“We've already died once.”

“If we can see our home again, and find traces of our family...”

“There's nothing to fear in dying a second time.”

Lin Gui fell silent for a few seconds and stopped trying to persuade them.

He placed the wooden box steadily on the edge of the ruins.

Then, he slammed the lever of the wind pressure cannon.

The flying vessel accelerated abruptly, shooting into the sky like an arrow from a bow.

Lin Gui didn't want to run into that terrifying elven assassin again.

Even if she was only in spirit form.

Lin Gui had been driving steadily at maximum speed along the way.

At first, Lin Gui had been considerate of the “passengers” inside the wooden boxes.

He had deliberately kept the speed gentle.

But before long, those spirits who had been idle for sixteen years...

...actually began to urge him on excitedly in his mind.

“Faster! This is too slow!”

“Make it more thrilling! Young man, I see the cannon at the back of your flying vessel isn't even fully open!”

“Yes! Speed up! Go, go, go!”

“This is so fun! It's like riding on a giant eagle!”

The corner of Lin Gui's mouth twitched slightly.

This familiar feeling...

...brought him right back to the day of the test flight in Shield City, when the dwarves had roared and urged him on.

Then, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

The customer was king.

Could he refuse the king's request?

Naturally not.

Lin Gui no longer cared about Eve's pale face behind him.

He ignored Hannah's suddenly high-pitched shrieks.

He pushed the wind pressure cannon to its maximum.

The flying vessel turned into a blurry gray shadow, tearing through the mist.

It covered the remainder of the journey at its absolute top speed.

Until finally, it landed gently outside Mirror-Shadow City.

The moment the flying vessel came to a halt, Hannah stumbled out.

She leaned against a section of a ruined wall and began to dry-heave violently.

Eve was still sitting in the second row.

Her hands gripped the armrests tightly, her knuckles white.

Her short, pale gold hair was somewhat messy, and her purple eyes stared blankly ahead.

It was as if her soul hadn't caught up from the wild ride yet.

Hannah rested against the wall for a long time before she finally stood up straight.

She turned to look at Lin Gui, her eyes filled with a complex gaze.

The speed of that flying vessel... was truly terrifying.

When she and Roger had headed north, it had taken them a whole week to reach this place.

But Lin Gui's flying vessel had taken less than a day.

And that was even after taking a massive detour around the Wall of Sighs.

It was truly... a monstrous speed.

Her throat tightened, and she couldn't help but dry-heave a few more times.

Lin Gui waited for her to recover before speaking:

“Do you need me to take you inside Mirror-Shadow City?”

At the moment, the flying vessel was parked outside the city walls.

Looking down from high above earlier, Mirror-Shadow City was immense in scale.

Though not as ridiculously large as Blackwater City, it was still comparable to the Carter Royal Capital.

Hannah shook her head, her voice still a bit hoarse:

“No need. Leaving me here is fine.”

She looked up at the towering city walls before her, her gaze gradually becoming alert.

Then, she pulled out a piece of paper from her coat and quickly scribbled a few lines.

She folded it and handed it to Lin Gui.

Lin Gui looked down.

It was a handwritten letter of asset transfer.

In the letter, Hannah clearly stated that she was transferring all the assets belonging to her and Roger in Avalon...

...entirely to Lin Gui and the “white-haired elf Theia.”

To prove its authenticity, she reached into her coat again and pulled out an object.

It was a small pillar, exquisitely crafted, with a faint glimmer flowing over it.

One look was enough to tell it was no ordinary item.

She handed the pillar to Lin Gui:

“Give this to the ruling official in Avalon.”

“This is the voucher. With it, you'll be able to claim the assets I've gifted you.”

Lin Gui took the pillar and looked up:

“Didn't you say it was only Roger's secret stash?”

“What is... all this extra stuff?”

Hannah smiled, though her smile looked somewhat desolate under the sunlight.

“Just think of it... as compensation for my lover tricking you.”

She waved her hand and turned toward the city wall.

“Alright, it's time to say goodbye.”

With those words, she leaped gracefully.

Using both hands and feet, she scaled the high wall like a cat.

With a few bounds, she disappeared over the top of the wall.

Lin Gui and Eve watched her depart.

Eve leaned in, looked at the letter, and said softly:

“This... looks like a suicide note.”

Lin Gui nodded.

“Yes. She... intends to go to her death.”

He paused, his voice turning deep:

“It seems Kilian, Roger, and the others failed. They might have already perished in the Voiceless Rift.”

Anxiety welled up in Eve's eyes:

“Will that affect Avalon's safety? If Demon King Gusion is dead, will the barrier that allows Avalon to exist in the Wailing Corridor...”

Lin Gui fell silent for a moment.

As someone who had eavesdropped on Morpheus's meetings every day in Avalon...

...he naturally knew of the many contingencies Gusion had left behind.

If those contingencies were truly effective, even if Gusion and the experts who went north were completely wiped out...

...Avalon would not collapse. In fact, its defenses would be reinforced, making it even safer.

However... their top-tier combat forces would be severely depleted.

He didn't answer, turning instead to walk toward the back of the flying vessel.

He unfastened the steel chains securing the Mirror-Shadow City wooden box and opened the lid.

One glass bead after another floated out, spinning excitedly.

“We're home! We're finally home!”

“Thank you, young Messenger! You are truly our savior!”

The spirits surrounded Lin Gui excitedly, their spiritual lights dancing.

Just as they were eagerly about to disperse to search for their families...

...Lin Gui spoke up to stop them.

“Wait.”

All the beads paused in unison and turned toward him.

Lin Gui looked at the spirits, his voice calm:

“Could I ask you to do me a small favor as well?”

The glass beads immediately surged forward, their spiritual lights flashing.

“Of course! Just say the word, young man!”

“As long as it's within our power, we'll definitely help!”

“Yes! Even if we can't do it, we'll find a way!”

Lin Gui raised his eyes, looking toward the towering walls of Mirror-Shadow City.

“Help me ask your families in the city.”

“Ask about anything concerning 'living people' that has happened in Mirror-Shadow City within the past four months.”

“Also, about Miss Hannah from just now.”

He paused, then added:

“If possible, help me track her whereabouts.”

“When I return, lead me to her.”

The glass beads agreed without the slightest hesitation.

“Don't worry! Leave it to us!”

“We'll go ask right away! We'll definitely find out!”

“Just wait, benefactor, we'll be back soon!”

They spun around Lin Gui excitedly a few times before scattering.

Through cracks in the walls, drainage outlets, broken window openings...

...they slipped silently into Mirror-Shadow City and vanished.

Eve walked up to Lin Gui's side and asked softly:

“Do you plan to get involved?”

Lin Gui lowered his head, looking at the small pillar in his hand.

In the vision of his Eyes of the Netherworld, it was emitting...

...an exceptionally powerful, almost tangible soul energy.

A faint light flowed slowly within the pillar, breathing as if it were alive.

He gripped the pillar tightly and raised his eyes to look at the city wall.

After a long silence, he finally spoke in a low voice:

“If I have the ability to do so.”