Pillar of Yita

”Let them fly and see.” Ande said.

Fang Hong just about understood the other’s meaning. He glanced at Hilveld, who nodded at him, clearly indicating that this was the true purpose of bringing him to this place.

Their small actions did not escape the old man’s notice, but he pretended not to see and did not expose them. He already knew what kind of temperament the little girl from the Albert family had.

One, two, three...

The Clockwork Fairies, with a buzzing sound, hovered mid-air in the basement. As their numbers increased, it seemed as if a golden cloud shadow was hanging from the ceiling. Even the Dwarf Goblins in the basement involuntarily paused, staring at this scene with their big black eyes in astonishment.

For a top-tier Combat Artisan, achieving this scene wasn’t difficult. However, for someone of Ande Ulriel’s status, it’s obvious that he wouldn’t do something so trivial out of boredom.

It was not until there were twenty Clockwork Fairies that Fang Hong stopped and looked at the old man.

This was his limit for control without using his Fairy Master powers. To continue further, he would need to borrow Miss Tata’s strength. But this wasn’t like on a chessboard; summoning Meimei would cause quite a commotion.

But it was enough.

Ande lifted his head, his gaze sweeping through the golden cloud layer, then silently waved his hand, signaling him to take back the Clockwork Fairies. Without needing to establish a connection, the process of reclaiming them was much quicker than releasing them. Fang Hong waved his hand, and as if suddenly, the Clockwork Fairies neatly flew back into the Xiangzi.

This recall gesture also unintentionally displayed his exquisite control over the Clockwork Fairies. After all, in practice, he often had to control more than twenty Clockwork Fairies; twenty was far from his limit.

”What level are you?” Ande watched and just asked.

”Level fourteen.” Fang Hong replied.

The old man waved his hand: ”I mean your Alchemist level.”

Fang Hong was momentarily dumbfounded. ”Three-star Golden Star Artisan, maybe... since I haven’t measured it since leaving Golande...”

After hearing this, Ande didn’t immediately express his stance.

He simply took out a pipe, handed it to the Dwarf Goblin nearby to light it by the fire, then took the pipe back and took a puff. From the pipe, the embers alternated between bright and dim, making the old man’s face appear more three-dimensional under the firelight.

”Unbelievable.” He said.

He lifted his head, looked at Hilveld, and spoke: ”Speak, little girl from the Albert family, where did you find this freak?”

Hilveld laughed: ”Well, Mr. Ande?”

”What do you mean, well?” Ande said grumpily: ”I don’t know what your intention is in bringing him to me.”

”You will find out soon, Mr. Ande,” Hilveld turned her head and whispered to Fang Hong: ”Lord Captain, let Miss Tata come out for a moment, rest assured, Mr. Ande can be trusted.”

Fang Hong nodded. Without needing to speak, Miss Fairy sensed his intentions and crawled out from behind the hood, calmly observing the surroundings.

”See what this is, a Fairy Lady.” Ande squinted his eyes.

But suddenly the old man realized something, sharply took a deep breath, almost stepping back, and in an almost unsure tone muttered: ”Wait... this is... it can’t be...”

He lifted his head and looked at Fang Hong and Hilveld: ”This is...?”

”Miss Tata is a Dragon Soul.” Hilveld replied.

Ande’s pipe even fell to the ground, and Lulu hurriedly picked it up for him.

”You finally found it?”

But he immediately shook his head: ”...No...Fairy Dragon Souls have existed...”

”But...”

”Your father’s idea was too bold, just a Fairy Dragon Soul serves no purpose...”

Fang Hong listened to the old man muttering to himself, not understanding what he was saying, but Hilveld patted the back of his hand to calm him. Only then did she speak to Ande Ulriel: ”Miss Tata is just one aspect, but the real reason I brought him to you is Ade.”

”This little guy?” The old man looked at Fang Hong, but suddenly froze—Fang Hong saw that the old man was completely stiff, like he had been hit with Petrification Magic. After a while, Ande asked in an almost ghostly voice: ”...Wait a moment, you can’t be telling me...he is the contractor of the Fairy Dragon Soul...?”

Hilveld hadn’t replied.

The Fairy Lady calmly nodded. ”Mr. Ade is indeed my Knight.” She replied crisply.

Ande Ulriel, this legendary Alchemist, an old man nearly seventy years old, now looked at Fang Hong with an open mouth like a child who had never seen the world. He murmured: ”Little girl from the Albert family... if you now tell me this is just a joke... I can still promise not to get angry...”

Hilveld smiled sweetly: ”But this is no joke. I saw Ade manipulate Meimei with my own eyes, and he can provide boosts to himself. That’s something an ordinary Fairy Master cannot do, is it not, Mr. Ande?”

”Either I’m insane.” Ande Ulriel shook his head vigorously: ”Or you are all insane.”

Lulu timely handed over the pipe again; the old man took it but, after contemplating, placed it down again.

He was visibly agitated, pacing back and forth.