Pillar of Yita

Accompanied by a rumbling, the stone gate slowly slid open to both sides, like the long-stagnant underground air restored to flow, a pungent smell shrouded in decay rushed towards him.

Fang Hong couldn’t help but take a step back, while glancing at the triangular slate recessed within the stone wall.

The designer behind this stone door must be an Alchemist; operating it requires a certain multi-parallel capability, so it’s no wonder that those three were busy here for half a day without opening this door.

However, he didn’t feel particularly lucky because of this.

Fang Hong was silent for a moment, looking at the dark entrance, and instead thought, if the Descendants of Flor stopped here.

What about Eve?

Could it be that he’d really guessed wrong?

He couldn’t help but glance at the Elf Miss beside him. Atira was also looking at the dark entrance, and reminded him: ”Be careful, Ade.”

Fang Hong nodded.

Having arrived at this place, it’s naturally impossible to return without result; he had to go in and take a look. Besides, Eve mentioned letting him come to this underground of the City Hall, because there might be some clues below.

The reinforced gloves on his hand emitted a sizzling sound, with brass gears and hinge devices gently operating, while the transmission devices inside the two Energy Angels emitted a humming sound, entering with him side by side.

After the initial rotten smell dispersed, only the thick dusty feeling remained in the darkness, as if countless tiny dust particles were suspended in the air, inhaling a breath would fill the entire lungs.

It made him cough once or twice involuntarily.

But like an echo, a similarly hollow cough replied from afar.

Fang Hong was shocked, instinctively looking forward — the darkness couldn’t form a fog in front of his eyes, the underground passage was just a grayish tint.

But deep in the corridor, empty.

Just as he thought it was an illusion, a soft sigh was heard, like a ghost’s lament, echoing throughout the underground.

Fang Hong was greatly startled, throwing the Illumination Crystal towards that direction, but the light source arced and landed, raising a cloud of dust.

Other than that, nothing.

Atira also steadied herself against the wall and walked forward.

”Did you hear it, Miss Atira?” Fang Hong stared at that place for quite a while before turning back and asking.

Elf Miss nodded.

Fang Hong felt certain in his heart, meaning it wasn’t just his own hallucination. He looked around, seeming that there really were things under the City Hall.

At this moment, his Communication Crystal lit up.

Fang Hong pressed on it, a moment later, Rolin’s voice came through:

”Ade, I’ve asked. No one saw any of the Descendants of Flor passing through the defenses in any direction, though it doesn’t guarantee they haven’t taken another path—”

Fang Hong was silent for a moment, indeed he already knew this.

”Are the Dragon Knights on the battlefield?”

The voice seemed surprised: ”Dragon Knights?”

Fang Hong nodded.

”Still there, you care about this?”

”No, thank you, Rolin.”

”You’re welcome,” Rolin chuckled: ”Just hope, next meeting isn’t life or death.”

Fang Hong couldn’t answer this. Considering his relationship with the Dragon Worship Sect, such a scenario was very possible.

He silently extinguished the Communication Crystal.

With their Dragon Knights still on the battlefield, unless they’ve committed two Dragon Knights at once, it signifies the previous Dragon Knight he’s seen has left the underground.

It seems they didn’t proceed directly to the City Hall as he imagined.

Those opponents with very average capabilities before seem to be just a very ordinary squad of the Descendants of Flor on this battlefield.

Certainly not reaching elite strength.

Then if their core objective really was this City Hall, it remains doubtful even now.

Rolin’s words further endorsed this.

But if it’s not the Descendants of Flor who took Eve, who could it be?

Sky Pirates?

Seems unlikely, if it were Sky Pirates, Rolin wouldn’t withhold information. Furthermore, from previous interactions with Pudra, Sky Pirates seemed totally unaware of the underground sealing.

Then it must be someone else.

Who could it be?

Fang Hong pondered as he walked forward, his thoughts wandering, already entering a dust-laden hall. It didn’t qualify as the City Hall’s underground, merely the storeroom one level below the main building.

Rows of long-carbonized, decayed wooden shelves, stacked with gray dust, some still distinguishable in former shapes, rolls of Parchment.

Just a touch crumbles into ash, weathering into powder.

This place looked to store records of Idus City chronicles, census registration papers, foundational to the Kingdom’s regional governance.

Yet these foundations along with the ash, now completely lost their value.

Fang Hong moved through a thick layer of dust, feeling no real regret for the mountains of documents.

Documents left here were the least important, countless Scholars have long visited underground, taking away extensive records of Idus City.

Modern knowledge of this ancient city comes from those documents.

He lightly pushed, a carbonized shelf collapsed with a rusty sound, dust flying up. He fanned with his hand, took out a journal, preparing to distinguish which direction he should head.