69novels Chapter 288: New and old accounts, constant turmoil
Chapter 288: New and old accounts, constant turmoil
From the three-way intersection of the main road of Yatan, along the direction leading to the main gate of the Royal City of Rodel, avoiding the patrolling golden soldiers, there is a secluded path on the left side of the main road.
I walked through the long and narrow cave, just like in the game, and found the amber starlight fragments in front of the twin statues of Marlennia and Michaela, and quickly and carefully collected them.
——Luckily, it wasn’t taken away by anyone.
——Also, I also collected the seeds of the golden phantom tree near the fork in the road. It seems that those fire-crazed people haven’t come here yet?
——Or, in their eagerness to get on with their journey, they simply tried to break into the royal city of Rodel?
It's a little hard to figure out what the Mad Fire Man is thinking, but I can't care about it now. I'd better take the Starlight back first.
"······Zero, is this really your first time coming to the Yatan Plateau?" Suddenly, Blaze looked at the quiet redwood forest and asked me puzzledly.
"Huh? Why do you ask?"
"To be honest, at first I thought it would take a lot of time to find the amber starlight, especially in such a remote location. But I didn't expect you to come straight here, as if... as if you hid the starlight here with your own hands."
——Uh, Yabai (Oh no), I was in a hurry to get on with my journey, but I didn’t expect to be caught in a loophole.
——Brother Wolf is really perceptive, but now is not the time to tell him about my life experience.
"Hahaha." I laughed dryly twice and had to think of an excuse, "...Brother Wolf, you know that I have a good relationship with my gang of wandering merchants, Kale. In fact, I learned about Starlight from them."
"Really?" Blaze frowned slightly, seeming a little suspicious.
But soon, he accepted my point: "No matter what, if we get Starlight, General Latan can be saved. Let's go back and report."
"Ah."
So, the two of us hurried back without stopping, and while it was still dark, we bypassed the camp of the golden soldiers and crossed the ancient ruins cliff.
The lava earth dragon had indeed hardened completely into stone, and this monster's nest had been cleaned out before, and the monster's corpses had been thrown under the high cliff, so there were no obstacles along the way.
It took us about two days and two nights to get back to Rhea Lukalia College and pass through the north gate.
Taking the elevator at the main entrance, it seems that the Azalea Church has been converted into a haven for the Sons of Platinum, with a statue of the "Full Moon Queen" Lena placed in the center of the church.
"Lord Zero, and Lord Blaze, you're back." As soon as Lenia saw us, she ran over happily to greet us. Then, she made a few gestures and said something to Franken, the son of platinum, who immediately ran towards the depths of the academy.
I guess he went to report the news.
"It seems that you have learned how to communicate with the Son of Platinum, Lenya." I said with admiration.
The other party also responded with a smile: "Thanks to Sister Letina, not only the words of the Son of Platinum, my archery and sensing abilities seem to be much better than before! However, I also have to thank Master Zero for giving me this opportunity~"
As she spoke, Lenya looked behind us curiously again, "Hmm? Didn't Diaros come back with you, Master Zero?"
——Oh, no! I haven’t figured out why Xiao Di went there!
“That… uh…”
Just as I was hesitating, Wolf Brother Blaze sighed and said bluntly: "Lena, we are sorry. Diaros..."
"Did something happen to him?!" Lenya's eyes widened and her whole body was obviously tense.
"It's not a serious accident. Diaros should have been taken to the Volcano Residence by Laya." Now that things have come to this, I can only tell the truth.
But Lenya still looked incredulous: "Why?"
"He seems to be eager to seek power, and Laya happened to mention that there are many powerful people in the Volcano Mansion. As a result..." I carefully looked at Lenia's eyes, and at the same time, I quickly made a promise, "Don't worry, Lenia, with Laya here, Diaros should be fine in the Volcano Mansion. After I solve the problems here, I will definitely go there to find him!"
After a moment of silence, Lenia couldn't help but sigh: "That idiot, wouldn't he benefit a lot from following Master Ling?"
I was slightly relieved that Lenya didn't blame me too much.
The other party came over again, grabbed my hand, and pleaded, "But please, Master Zero, bring that idiot back. After all, no matter what, Diaros is my closest relative, please!"
"Sure, sure!" I nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
"If you plan to go to the Volcano Residence, old friend, I have heard an interesting rumor." A mean voice sounded from behind.
The image of his bald head and rubbing his hands together has automatically lit up in my mind: "Patch, you're still here."
"What are you talking about! You are too polite, old friend! You want to go to Yatan Plateau for such a good time, but you don't even take me with you!" This guy Patch even put his arm around my shoulder and got close to me.
I wanted to push the other person away with disgust.
And Lenia asked curiously: "Brother Patch, do you know how to get to the Volcano Mansion?"
"Well, you should have seen it too, that Iron Maiden, wuwuwu——"
Before Patch could finish his words, I quickly covered his mouth and shouted in his ear with gritted teeth: "Stop talking!"
Everyone couldn't help but look at us with puzzled eyes.
And I could only smile and say, "It's just a rumor. Alas, this guy's rumors are always unreliable. He has hurt me several times. It's better not to listen to them."
——I guess what Patch meant was that the kidnapped girl doll under the waterwheel had a teleportation device inside its body, and once swallowed, one could be teleported to the Volcano Residence.
——Although this is true from the perspective of the result, after being teleported there, it is a dead-end trap in the Volcano Mansion.
——The dolls of the kidnapped girls will be made into spicy stuff by the double bosses!
——Besides, anyone with a discerning eye knows that Lenia is very concerned about Diaros. If she listens to Patch and tries to die, won’t the world line converge again? It’s the end of her!
But my words seemed to have caused strong dissatisfaction in Patch. He forcibly pried my hands apart and shouted, "Old man, this is not right. When have I ever cheated you?!"
"Haven't you cheated me enough? Before in the Mengliu Cave, it was your teleportation trap that caused me to fall into the misty forest and be chased by three rune bears! If it weren't for Brother Wolf's rescue, I would have been finished! Right, Brother Wolf!" I cleverly brought up Blaze.
Although Brother Wolf seemed a little confused when being called out suddenly, he quickly responded: "Oh, Ling, you mean when we first met, right? That's right."
"Mmm, look!"
With Blaze's testimony, Patch's aggressive rebuttal immediately softened, and he smiled and said, "Well, I was wrong that time, but, but you've screwed me over a lot, haven't you?"
"Same here. Anyway, your gossip is not completely reliable, so it's better not to spread it." I shut Patch up with one sentence, and then turned around and assured Lenia, "Leave Diaros's matter to me, Lenia. If you are really worried, please wait a little while. After I have dealt with Kalia's affairs, I will definitely accompany you to find him!"
"Well, it's a deal then, Lord Zero." Lenya responded with a smile.
"Then isn't it time to fulfill the agreement you made with me, Lord Ling?" His deep and solemn voice startled me.
——As soon as this wave is over, another wave comes!
I turned around and saw the "Blood Finger Hunter" Yura behind us.
It seemed that he came here with Patch, but my attention was completely drawn to Patch and I didn't pay attention.
And Yura continued to remind him, "Did you hear the news about Eleonora when you went to Yatan Plateau this time?"
——It is indeed the case!
Thinking back to before it was published, I always felt like something was missing. It turns out that what was missing was not Patch, but the agreement with Yura!
——He helped to defend Rhea Lukalia, and in exchange, I promised him that I would tell him the information about "Pure Purple Blood Finger" Eleonora.
"Well... To be honest, I only know that the other party is most likely on the Yatan Plateau, but the specific location..." I swallowed.
——In the game, Yura found Eleonora in the Second Church of Marika.
——In the end, he was defeated by his opponent, and his corpse was stolen by the Mad Fire One, who turned into a man named Xia Bolili.
This old hunter saved me from danger several times, and I really couldn't bear to see him die like this.
"I heard that Eleonora is very interested in the power of dragons, right?" I changed my mind and asked Yura back.
The other party also nodded.
"To be honest, this time when we climbed up to the Yatan Plateau, we met the 'ancient dragon' Lance Shanks. She seemed to be wandering around the Thunder Hill outside the royal city, so...if Eleonora knew this, I think she would be nearby too." I looked at Blaze.
The other party also gave a positive response.
——After all, it wasn’t a lie.
"If, old hunter, you want to go find that ancient dragon, you can try to tell her my name and communicate with her. Although Lance Shanks has a little weird personality, she is not a bad person. If we can get her help, it should be more convenient to find Eleonora." I thought of this delaying tactic. On the one hand, it can prevent Yura from going to the Second Church of Marika immediately. On the other hand, if Lance Shanks is really willing to take action, Yura will not fall easily in the hands of the bloody fingers.
"Really? Thank you so much for your guidance." Yura bowed slightly to me.
——It seems that the old hunter is still planning to go alone to find his destined opponent.
I couldn't help but add, "Old hunter, please be careful. If you are willing to wait a little longer, I can go with you to deal with the bloody finger."
“...Thank you. But as long as the Blood Finger is not removed, the threat to my compatriots will not diminish. Please leave this matter to me.”
I was about to say a few more words when Franken, the son of Platinum, came back with Mugram.
"Zero! And Blaze, you are finally back." He greeted them happily and also brought a verbal summons, "Lady Lenara is waiting for you two. Please come with me as soon as possible."
——Hmm? The Queen is back at the academy?