Pillar of Yita

It seemed both parties were in the midst of a discussion.

As soon as they entered, a Dual Swordsman from the Rain Listener Guild approached them and said to Elisa, ”Elisa, where have you been? Everyone was looking for you in the channel, why didn’t you respond? The Jiefulite Red Cloak Team has asked us over, and it’s just our side left.”

Upon hearing this, Elisa turned back with an apologetic look and gestured to Fang Hong that she might need to leave temporarily.

Fang Hong nodded at her, indicating his understanding.

Actually, he could have let Elisa take him with her, but he certainly didn’t want to meet with the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team, who knew what trouble could arise.

Elisa clearly thought the same and didn’t suggest it either, simply leading the way in that direction. It was only then that the Dual Swordsman from the Rain Listeners noticed Fang Hong’s presence and quickly thanked him in surprise:

”Hello, Mr. Ade, I didn’t expect you to come too, thank you very much for your help before.”

”Don’t mention it,” Fang Hong replied, and then asked, ”Speaking of which, when did you run into the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team?”

”Just a moment ago.”

”Has Miss Elisa been with you the whole time?”

”Yes,” the man thought for a moment and then added, ”She only left for a while just now, and then brought you guys over.”

Fang Hong nodded again in response.

He looked again at the center of the arena, as it seemed an argument was brewing there, with the bickering voices carrying over from the distance.

The speaker seemed to be the leader of the Blood Oath Alliance on this occasion: ”Ladies and gentlemen, the pressing issue now is to find that woman. The other party obviously controls the Dark Force of this place, as you’ve all experienced how thorny they can be from the previous combat.”

Hearing the words ’that woman’, Fang Hong narrowed his eyes.

At this point, a Captain from the Free Adventure Group stood up, speaking on behalf of others, ”We all understand this principle, but the question is, what’s in it for us? Your Blood Oath Alliance is one thing, but the people from Jiefulite love to treat others as cannon fodder, and this is well-known far and wide.”

”Hey, what did you say?” A Dwarf from the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team stood up, glaring at the speaker.

Fang Hong looked carefully and noticed that there were indeed more members of the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team than when he had seen them before on the fifth level. It seemed he hadn’t encountered all of their main forces.

However, it made sense; there was no way the Rain Listeners could have stood off against them for so long if the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team and the Blood Oath Alliance joined forces.

Because of the recent surge in international points, the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team’s BBK Alliance ranking has also shown a trend toward challenging the ’Top Ten’ domestically. The team has become unmatched in the domestic circuit for a time and, in the Rainbow Bay area, they are surpassing other guilds—almost rivaling the Silver Forest Spear.

Still, outside the sphere of their influence in Fenris, there are plenty who don’t give them face, and clearly, the Captain from the Free Adventure Group is one of them, not giving a damn about them: ”Why so agitated? Have you finished deleting the community posts, or do you regard us as one of those Mercenary Corps?”

The Jiefulite Red Cloak Team’s faces turned visibly dark, but before they could respond, a shifty-looking guy from the Blood Oath Alliance stood up, speaking in a shrill voice, ”Who can verify the truth of those community posts—after all, those mercenaries are only interested in profit, don’t they know this is a life-risking business?”

He spread his hands: ”Who can make heads or tails of the Dead Silence Zone? Aren’t we also in the Dead Silence Zone right now? I think it’s clear that the person who posted is just grandstanding.”

Fang Hong’s brows twitched as he glanced at the guy, grinding his teeth, barely stopping himself from lashing out—if it weren’t for remaining unresolved matters with Hilveld, he would have punched the guy with a Rocket Fist right then and there.

Not caring where he was.

The Dwarf from the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team had trouble tolerating it as well, and hastily waved his hands, ”Okay, now is not the time to discuss this. Let’s get back on track, everyone. Listen, the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team will never accept an unfair deal—and don’t forget, that woman’s threat is not only to the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team and Blood Oath Alliance but to everyone present.”

He pointed at everyone there: ”You, and you, you’re all in the same boat. You’re not helping the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team or the Blood Oath Alliance solve the problem; on the contrary, we are helping you clear the trouble. She has killed so many people, not just Invokers, but also the Rat People villages under Andrett’s command, and we’ve been tracking her to this place. Now, we’re not asking for more than for everyone to come together to locate this common threat.”

The Dwarf raised his voice, ”Of course, I’m not claiming the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team are any kind of justice warriors, just that we’re doing our duty as the Chosen, and I hope everyone still remembers the words of the Stargate Declaration—we all have a responsibility to oppose the Dark Forces—”

”That’s right,” the shifty-eyed man from the Blood Oath Alliance chimed in, ”When we confront that woman head-on, the main force will still be our friends from the Blood Oath Alliance and the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team. You’re looking for benefits from us? My friends, we didn’t ask you for anything, and that’s already a concession!”

Sophie, too, was watching the scene through the Light Page and then spoke to Fang Hong, ”That Dwarf is the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team’s sixth team Captain, ID Stirling. Don’t be fooled by his choice of a Dwarf appearance and fiery temper; this person is actually very meticulous and also serves as their team’s tactical analyst.”