In the minds of the residents of the Outer Harbour, the church on the Laster headland had been abandoned by its followers many years earlier.

The crumbling walls of the mystical religious style now stand on the dark rocks of the sea cliffs, and the courtyard is deserted, except for a few unattended icons, where beggars and vagabonds from the harbor hide, turning it into a den of thieves and a place of filth.

The nobles were reluctant to allocate a few children from the city's coffers to completely clean up the place, and the guards of the port tacitly allocated it outside their own defense areas. Over time, it seems that the sins of the entire Gula are gathered here, and ordinary people will not easily approach this place.

But that changed a few months ago, when a group of knights claiming to be the gods of ravens and storms arrived, and with the permission of the Archon, they captured the Sanctuary and claimed to have reclaimed it. Although the knights had made the place equally heavily guarded, and no one else could approach it since, it was never the same as before.

Only occasionally do the residents of the Outer Harbour talk about where the beggars and homeless people end up.

There was often a consensus on this, and the Grey Knights were aloof and unforgiving, and most of them went to the dark dungeons beneath the Temple. But not many people will sympathize with these people.

Inside the church, the silent aisle suddenly echoed the sound of footsteps in the tunnel.

The long hallway passes through a row of tall rose arched windows, which the Grey Knight calls the Atonement Walkway, which leads to the inner hall behind it and the resting place of the monks.

Outside the arched window was the dark Kukai, in the pre-dawn depths, without a trace of starlight.

The owner of the footsteps stopped, and suddenly looked at the figure that appeared in front of him.

The figure seemed to be an oblique silhouette, extending from the statue in front of the arched window, and slanting diagonally on one side of the wall. A tall figure gradually separated from the shadow, and stood motionless in front of him, a gray robe, and below it seemed to be empty, except for two purple flames.

The flame flickered, staring at him.

A tremor flashed in the heart of the owner of the footsteps, and he gently lowered his head, "Everything is done." Although the target is temporarily lost, the opponent cannot escape...... It's just that...... It's going to take a little time. ”

A hollow voice came from under the robe, not high, but it produced a rumbling thunderous sound that echoed in the mind:

"Even if you go through multiple universes, time is always scarce, even for eternity."

"I understand," said the owner of the footsteps, whose face was in awe, and every time he experienced such a conversation, he could not help but surrender more to such might and power—just as they had said.

He hesitated and replied, "But ......"

"Those people are going to come here." The voice interrupted him.

The owner of the footsteps raised his head and looked at the other party with some surprise: "Here? ”

The flame flickered: "Yes, this is what 'he' told you. ”

"Him?" The owner of the footsteps suddenly reacted, and he knew that the existence of the Crowclaw Sanctuary above the four caretakers: "Holy Son? ”

The shadow didn't answer, but silently acquiesced to the answer.

"But how did the Son know?"

"Someone will tell him the answer, this game has been laid out a long time ago."

The owner of the footsteps had a look of disbelief on his face, as if he realized something.

The purple flames burned silently only in the darkness.

The owner of the footsteps looked at the distorted shadow and stood in place for a long time before asking, "How long can the stargate remain closed?" ”

"I'll leave you plenty of time, but don't waste our strength—"

The owner of the footsteps nodded hurriedly: "I understand, we will guarantee that nothing goes wrong." ”

But when he had finished speaking, he raised his head and watched the flame flicker, but he did not make a sound, and hesitated for a moment before replying, "...... In addition, we have a lot to lose......"

He paused and continued, "...... The Alliance's branches in Al Pahim and Gula are feared to be uprooted, unlike other countries, which are wary of external forces. At most, we can buy a few people, but to no avail...... This time the alliance will probably be hit hard, and they may even come up with a bill to change the rules again...... They have the potential to change the rules of the table......"

"Changing the rules?"

"Yes," the owner of the footsteps nodded again, "...... You can imagine the Empire, the Kaurin-Ishurian alliance and Rotao, the Giant Tree Hill and a number of kingdoms large and small to form the 'Stargate Project', but in this project, there are only a few players who can change the rules of the game, and they are one of them......"

The hollow voice quietly interrupted him:

"You don't have to explain to me your inefficient and redundant systems."

The owner of the footsteps paused: "But ......"

"Looks like you're still a little confused—"

The owner of the footsteps stopped, and was silent for a moment before replying: "Yes, I don't understand a little, why is the other party so important, and it is worth handing over this move?" Is it for the Ring of Golden Flames? Or is it the Radiance of the Firmament? Or the crown of Hellin, or the map on the obelisk? But none of this matters to us, and we can get the legacy left by the Noumerin Elf without him. ”

The flickering flame watched him silently.

"You'll know the answer."

"But the mystery will be revealed after all this is over."

"That kid is right in the middle of this web."

The owner of the footsteps silently opened his mouth and looked at each other with some shock.

……

"Lonely boat?"

Canghai Guzhou withdrew his attention from the crystal in his hand, turned his head, and looked at his partner.

Qiao Li looked at him and frowned: "It's not the first time you've wandered your mind today, what's wrong?" ”

"I'm not distracted, Jory," Canghai Guzhou shook his head, and he looked at the crystal in his hand again, "It's just that I just received a message." ”

"News from the president?"

Canghai Guzhou bowed his head slightly: "They are here." ”

A glint of doubt flashed in Jory's eyes, but he was immediately relieved: "The mission of the empire is over?" I came back sooner than I expected, but now that the people of Moon Dust have lost their target, they have come at an inopportune time. ”

"No, the situation on the Empire's side is very complicated, only some people have returned, and the others are still there, but that's enough," Canghai Guzhou replied: "As for the people on the Yuechen side, it doesn't matter if they have lost their targets, the latest information has been transmitted back, and we have already mastered the whereabouts of the other party." ”

"The latest information?" Jory looked at him with some surprise, is there any other information channel for the Jeffrey Redcoats? "Didn't they go missing in the Traveler's Swamp, the abandoned mine that stretched south of the Egunn Forest, in what direction did they go? El Pahin? Dorifin? ”

"Neither."

Canghai Lonely Boat put down the crystal in his hand and gave the answer:

"Gulla."

……

The gaze hidden in the darkness was quietly watching the figures separated in the distance.

And when everyone had left, the master with the deep eyes slowly walked out of the alley; The middle-aged man with frosted temples only silently glanced in the direction where several people had left, and thought for a moment.

After a moment's pause, he seemed to have made up his mind, and strode forward, while pulling the collar of his deep coat with his hand—as if in this subconscious motion, covering the dark gray tattoo on his neck.

The middle-aged man looked up at the majestic buildings in front of him—a product of the golden age of alchemy—a time when great master craftsmen and artists had struck, and the town hall itself was just an imitation.

There was a look of remembrance in his gray eyes.

Countless hours of time, behind the pursuit and exploration of the truth, finally came to this place again.

Just like then—

At this moment, there is a forest more than a dozen miles away from Gula in the air.

The Seven Seas Traveler was quietly moored in a wooded clearing, its sails folded and hidden in the beautiful hull of the morning light, with a few more shocking bullet holes than it had been so long.

The Moondust men didn't watch them slip away, and sent their hunting fleet again at the last minute, but this time they were right - the Blue Fire hovered above the clouds, as if it were a neutral observer.

It's just that the people of Elite still bought time for the Seven Seas Traveler, and in the end, Yuechen missed the best time window.

After battling the Moondust caravels, they eventually broke through to the Guy mines, and the other side left a memorial to them in the confrontation with these shells.

One of the shells almost broke the tail mast, and the other flew past the port side, taking away half of the transverse sail. But the real losses were the two shells that crossed the hull, one of which, after piercing the left shield, penetrated directly between the galley and the infirmary, taking away the Paparals' favorite grill, and missing the pod with a single hit.

Another shell burrowed into the utility room and then pierced the plank on the other side, crossing the past. This shell caused less damage, but damaged one of the front ribs.

Fang Yu stood beside the cedar forest, clasped his hands, and looked at his boat with some heartache.

Although both Baggins and Luo Yu had assured him not long ago that this injury was nothing to the Seven Seas Traveler, it would be able to lift off again if it was repaired, and that it would be restored as long as it found a safe place to overhaul it once again. Just looking at the way the ship he had just arrived at became like this, he still felt a little guilty in his heart - this was the most valuable asset of the Seven Seas Brigade.

Of course, he was a little suspicious that the woman in Elite chose not to do it because of her answer.

However, Fang Yu did not regret rejecting the other party's invitation.

That's what he replied before, and it's the same now—

No matter how big the trouble is at the moment, but this is not something that can be exchanged, the Seven Seas Traveler can be repaired if it is broken, and even if it sinks, you can find a way to build another one.

But once the principle is lost, it is lost forever.

However, he didn't blame the Elite people, on the contrary, although the cold lady didn't make a move, the Blue Fire still bought them precious time. Therefore, not only did he not complain, but he was even a little grateful to the other party - of course, he knew that there was no need for the Blue Fire to be there.

Theoretically, he owes the other party a favor.

He was silently thinking about it, when suddenly a voice came from behind him:

"Ed," it was Alyssa's voice, "have you figured out how to infiltrate Gullah?" ”

He looked back just in time to see Miss Nightingale coming out of the woods, and she went to look around, and did not seem to find anything surprising. He thought for a moment and replied, "Momiji has a way, she has contacted the people in Gula City, and they may be able to find a way for us to sneak into the city quietly." ”

"Does Tapolis have men in Gullah?"

Fang Yu nodded.

While the two were talking, the others were getting ready to get off the boat.

Fang Yu saw Sand Night and Red Leaf walking far away together, and the two of them were followed by the leaders of the Redeemed One's party, Kweed and 'Gray Whistle' Blackbow.

In the battle not long ago, Kita and her party had already seen the level of the founder of the Redeemed, and they were not inferior to the brigade members who could fight several Fleur descendants alone, although it could only be the opponent's academy, but it was enough to tell the story.

And the dragon's blood flowing in this man's body may be from Ms. Misu, just like Dikter.

Except for these people, almost everyone else will go with them to Gula, and only a few will stay on the ship. After all, Gula Port is the largest port in the north, and it is second only to Al Pahin in Tarun, so it is not enough to see a little bit of people scattered into this port city.

But to Fang Yu's surprise, on the side of the sand night and the red leaves, he saw Sylvid dressed lightly.

Miss Navigator changed into her explorer's outfit, a white shirt with flowers, suspenders, a row of bullets hanging from her belt, and the leather holsters on either side contained the magic handcuffs that Miss Scapet had given them.

She carried a spear behind her, a small package, a magic furnace at the back of her waist, and boots that were convenient for trekking in the wilderness. The ship's master even tied her hair back and tied a long ponytail behind her head with a leather rope.

It's not that Fang Yu hasn't seen the other party's dress, but it was still when Doliven was there, he was slightly stunned, and asked the other party's meaning with his eyes.

Sylvid winked at him playfully, and it was clear that she was going to join them too.

Fang Yu remained silent, and only looked at the sand night to the side.

"Miss Sand Night, have you contacted the people in the city?"

Sand Night nodded: "They said they could help us figure it out." ”

"What do they have in mind?"

"Gura Harbor was rebuilt many years ago, and some of the original sewers were abandoned, but they still lead into the city, and now in the hands of the local Brotherhood of Shadows."

Fang Yu thought to himself that this kind of person could really be encountered anywhere, and smugglers seemed to be the most prosperous industry in Aitalia, but he still asked uneasily, "Do the guards in the city not know this?" ”

"Of course the guards know," replied Momiji, who was obviously familiar with these things, "but they will turn a blind eye when they get a favor from the Brotherhood, and of course not all of them, if we were under siege, we would certainly not be able to enter through these passages." ”

She paused for a moment, then added, "But right now, as we all know, we're in Ashtree Ridge, and it's impossible for the guards to guard against a few 'insignificant' people who have infiltrated the city. ”

Fang Yu knew it in his heart, but there was still a distance of more than ten miles from here to Gula Harbor, and the Seven Seas Traveler could only hide here, and it would take more than half a day to walk there, so it was better for them to leave as soon as possible.

He looked at Sand Night and asked, "Shall we leave now?" ”

Sand Night bowed slightly: "They'll pick us up in the evening, so we'd better arrive before then." ”

Fang Yu nodded, "Then let's go." He gestured, and then walked to the side, quietly taking Sylvide's hand and pulling her to his side, looking back at the other.

Sylvid smiled slightly, her face slightly pink: "Captain, I don't have to work so hard, I won't run away." ”

Fang Yu glared at her angrily: "You want to go with us?" Didn't you say that you would wait for news on the ship? ”

Sylvid pretended to blink innocently, "But according to Miss Sand Night's words, if someone in the city answers, this line is actually safe, right?" ”

But Fang Yu didn't believe his Miss Fox's words, especially when she smiled, he probably had to be careful. It's just that he always felt that there was something in the other party's words, and after thinking carefully for a while, he lowered his voice and asked, "You can't trust the people of Tapolis?" ”

When he asked the question, he suddenly realized that his ship's master lady seemed satisfied that she could find it.

Her eyes narrowed, with a hint of approval.

"Momiji and Miss Sand Night can both be trusted," Sylvid said with a smile, "but I'm not afraid of ten thousand, I'm afraid of what if, I can't trust anyone but you." ”

Fang Yu stopped, he had always trusted his ship's officer: "If you think this is unreliable, we can find another way." ”

"No, it's too late," Sylvid shook her head, "I don't have any basis, it's just a superfluous worry." But if I'm with you, maybe if something unexpected happens, I can help the captain figure out a way. ”

Fang Yu glanced at her silently, thought for a while, and acquiesced to the other party's willfulness.

It's just that he just wanted to let go of his hand, and Sylved looked at him with a smile and said, "Don't let go, Captain, let me enjoy this feeling a little more, okay?" ”

This casual remark made Fang Yu stunned for a moment, he looked at the other party, although he didn't speak, he still silently clenched the weak and boneless hand of Miss Ship Officer.

His face was slightly red, and he looked up, just in time to see Miss Nightingale looking at him with some amusement, and then gave him a thumbs up.

……