Pillar of Yita

And now, there’s no need to think too much.

Just before entering the Black Goat Commerce Association’s residence, even Fang Hong himself hadn’t expected that, contrary to his guess—the association’s staff not only recognized them but seemed to have identified them the moment they walked in.

It’s imaginable that the size of the Black Goat Commerce Association’s residence in such a place is naturally not very large, not even an entrance hall, at most just an office.

And inside, there’s only one staff member. When they entered, the person was still busy writing at the table, raising their head upon hearing the sound to look in this direction.

The person had the typical characteristics of the Ancient Tower People, with high cheekbones that made the entire face look especially stern.

However, upon seeing them, a hint of surprise flashed across the stern face first, then the person stood up in disbelief.

”Are you Mr. Ade?”

This abrupt question immediately made Fang Hong and the group pause, looking at the person with a bit of uncertainty.

Luckily, this was the Ancient Tower; if it were anywhere in Colin Ishurian—except for Crosswind Harbor—he might have had to prepare to flee with others.

But here, he simply paused, suspiciously looking at the person, and quickly calmed down, asking: ”Who are you?”

The person raised their eyebrows and quickly answered: ”Mr. Ade jest, since you came to this place, you shouldn’t be unaware of who we are. Don’t worry, this is the Ancient Tower, even if someone recognizes you, there’s nothing they can do. Mr. Ade’s matters, the chairman has already informed us about them?”

Fang Hong thought that if here wasn’t the Ancient Tower, perhaps you couldn’t so leisurely stand and speak right now. But he quickly reacted and asked: ”Your chairman, Mr. Luen Linxiu?”

”That’s correct.”

Fang Hong slightly paused and couldn’t help but frown because, in his impression, Luen wasn’t this frivolous. How could he so easily reveal their matters to his subordinates?

The chairman of the Black Goat Commerce Association surely wouldn’t be unaware of the significance and dangers of their identity numbers.

And even if they weren’t on a wanted list, Nikopolas’s incident also required strict confidentiality.

Or perhaps the person in front is actually Luen’s confidant, and they just happened to meet here?

Seeing him fall silent, the staff member initiated the conversation: ”Mr. Ade, please forgive Mr. Chairman. He informed us about your matters out of necessity. Moreover, don’t worry, beyond a few key locations near Cloud Sea, the chairman hasn’t informed many people. I assure you, these individuals are loyal and reliable, they won’t leak any information.”

Fang Hong listened and couldn’t help but raise his head, not quite understanding what the person meant.

Yet Hilveld at the side helped him ask the question: ”You said he only informed these key locations near Cloud Sea, what does that mean?”

”I’m not entirely sure,” the Ancient Tower person shook his head, ”but it seems the chairman considers your northbound route to pass through these places. Not just here, in Golande, and Cloud Harbor, as long as Mr. Ade and you land at the port, we’ll soon discover it.”

Fang Hong was fairly shocked: ”Wait, there’s your manpower at the port.”

”Of course, Mr. Ade, actually our business has been shrinking quite a bit for the past few months. The primary task the chairman assigned us is to find you.”

”Find us?” Even Luo Hao seemed at a loss now. Although he hadn’t experienced the Dolifen battle, he had heard Fang Hong and others describe it afterward, and knew what role Chairman Luen played in it.

But this role clearly doesn’t seem to match the current situation.

”Yes,” the staff nodded, looking at them, ”actually, this information was left by Mr. Chairman months ago. He instructed us to keep an eye on your movements and told us if you headed north, you’re likely to pass through these places.”

He smiled: ”Frankly, I didn’t expect you would first arrive at the Ancient Tower. I wasn’t even prepared to greet you. It seems the people at the port haven’t returned either, they might be on their way back, or just missed you.”

Fang Hong felt a bit foggy and couldn’t help but ask: ”But I still don’t quite understand, we do know Mr. Luen, but why are you looking for us?”

”Two things,” the staff answered: ”Mr. Ade is heading north to hand something over to the chairman, right?”

Fang Hong nodded, if a piece of information counts as a thing, and they still have the lost power of the Golden Flame Ring to return to Mr. Mazak.

—If returning it to Mr. Mazak counts as handing it over.

”Then you don’t need to go.”

Only then did the staff look at them and straightforwardly answer.

”What?” Fang Hong was quite surprised: ”Why is that?”

The person shook his head: ”I don’t know the specifics, but these are Mr. Chairman’s instructions. More importantly, Mr. Chairman mentioned that when you return, he and Mr. Mazak might already be gone from Traveler’s Rest.”

Fang Hong was speechless, as if listening to an Arabian Nights story. The reason they headed south was that Mr. Mazak entrusted them to deliver a letter and the Golden Flame Ring to an old gentleman in Golande.

But in fact, the old gentleman also told them that this was actually a task and test given by the owner of Traveler’s Rest, aimed at investigating the truth behind the Dragon Witch incident by following Nikopolas’s path northward.

And now they have perfectly completed this task, not only allowing Mr. Mazak and Lady Misu’s ancestors, the dragon-slaying hero Yoshude and his beloved to achieve deliverance, but also peacefully returned the restless souls to the Starlight.

Additionally, they defeated the Wanderer.

Though they didn’t fully succeed, it’s apparent that the opposition likely cannot cause more trouble for a while.

Now they are supposed to wrap up and report the events of this journey to the task provider, however, the person in front tells them it’s unnecessary?

So what was their ’work’ throughout this year for?

Seeing their confusion, the staff seemed to realize it and spoke again: ”That’s one matter, Mr. Ade. Another more important matter is that the chairman has something to give to you all.”

”...Perhaps that item will answer your questions.”

...