Pillar of Yita

That said, was the Dawood not returning to Tansnier? The people on the airship should be aware of everything happening at Bain Fortress, and he had even discussed this matter specifically with Luo Hao and others.

This raises a new question: where did the Dawood go?

Fang Hong couldn’t help but rub his brow, feeling a headache coming on. Ultimately, it was all because of this sandstorm. Without the communication failure, it wouldn’t have been this troublesome.

He sorted out the cause and effect, asking the other party for some details. It’s undeniable that this organization calling itself the ’Woodpecker’ Brotherhood, though its name seems unreliable, is quite skilled in their business. With just a few words, he had already outlined the general context of the whole matter.

However, this outline didn’t mean much to him. The real question was, how could he meet that Grand Princess?

He paused, then asked the core question, ”Where is Princess Rupert being held under house arrest?”

”In a palace north of Quistack.”

”Do you have a map of that place?”

The Half-Person was startled. ”Mr. Ade, we are legal merchants.”

Fang Hong almost laughed. If you call yourselves ’legal’ merchants, then there truly wouldn’t be a Grey Area in this world. ”I’ll pay extra for that map.”

”Alright, five thousand Lysel.”

Fang Hong shook his head inwardly. So, are the laws of Istania only worth five thousand Lysel? He nodded in agreement, and the Half-Person, looking at him, couldn’t help but remark, ”Pardon me for being blunt, Mr. Ade, but even with a map, you won’t be able to enter that place.”

”I never planned on breaking in anyway, but at least I need to know what kind of place it is. This is related to my business, and I must be cautious.” Fang Hong offered an offhand response, but as for what he truly thought, the Half-Person clearly didn’t believe him. Fang Hong didn’t care whether the other believed him or not. Of course, he wouldn’t reveal his true information to the other.

Who knows if these informants have any sense of ethics; they might turn around and sell him to the Royal Household, making a double deal.

However, he indeed didn’t plan to break in, or that would be the worst scenario. It’s not the same as Bain Fortress, where he had no choice. Intruding into the palace of Istania carries too many implications, and even if he weren’t caught, once the word gets out, Stargate Port would come looking for trouble with him first.

So he asked again, ”If I want to meet Her Highness the Princess, is there any way?”

Initially, he simply asked casually, thinking that these people wouldn’t have any means to help him sneak into the palace. But unexpectedly, the Half-Person’s eyes twinkled, and he truly gave a suggestion. ”Mr. Ade, we really don’t have a way for you to meet Her Highness the Princess. However, if it’s just sneaking into the palace, there is a way.”

Fang Hong looked at the other with some surprise, ”For example?”

”Through the Adventurers’ Guild.”

”The Adventurers’ Guild?”

”The Royal Household sometimes issues exclusive quests, and if you try to complete these quests, you might get to meet the palace steward.” The Half-Person smiled awkwardly, ”But that’s all. No matter what, they won’t really let you meet Her Highness the Princess at this time. A friendly reminder: It’s better to prepare your ’business’ in advance.”

This suggestion stirred something in Fang Hong’s heart.

He actually also thought of this method because he remembered a rumor circulating widely in the community not long ago. Completing various tasks released by the Colin Royal Family at the Golande Adventurers’ Guild could provide a chance to enter the Tulip Palace.

The Tulip Palace is the palace of Colin Ishurian, and although it’s just a day tour, this discovery triggered a high level of discussion within the community at the time. After all, in the eyes of the Invokers, Colin Ishurian’s palace grounds were still quite mysterious and novel.

While the situation in Istania might not be the same as in Colin, it still serves as a potential avenue for investigation. He didn’t expect the ’Woodpecker’ Brotherhood members to also think of this.

After the transaction was completed, the Half-Person put away the money, nodded his hat, bowed to him, and then turned to leave.

Watching the figure leave, Fang Hong then picked up the letter from the table, opening the thin paper slip inside.

On it was scribbled the name ’Hummingbird’, but it was presumably not a real name, just a codename. Linking it to the shield emblem the person wore, Fang Hong suddenly realized that the misunderstanding wasn’t on their part, but his own.

Their shield emblem represented not the ’Woodpecker’ organization, but just themselves.

On the slip, there was also a hastily written address, which was likely not their home address, but just a contact location. If he wanted to find these people again, with this slip, he wouldn’t need the bishop’s recommended contacts anymore; he could just take this slip to the contact location written on it.

After the Half-Person disappeared outside the inn, a young man who had brought him to this place approached, acting as the ’informant’ for him, being a Believer of Marlan, basically half in service of the Holy Sanctuary.

Watching the departing direction of the Half-Person, he said, ”You gave him too much money, Mr. Ade.”

Fang Hong shook his head.

Of course, he knew that the two bags of money totaled ten thousand Lysel, actually half would have sufficed. But he currently didn’t have the mind to worry about that and having just made a fortune from Bain Fortress, he didn’t need to be overly concerned about it. Moreover, the information was indeed worth that price, and others might not know, but wouldn’t he be clear about that having just left Bain Fortress?

”Where to now, Mr. Ade?” the young man asked.

”You go back first, and tell Bishop Faris for me that I may need to stay here a bit longer. Have him find a way to refund the ship ticket,” Fang Hong replied. ”I’ll go take care of something shortly, and I might not return to the Holy Sanctuary today.”

The young man looked at him and nodded.

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