Chapter 639 : Visitors from White Stone Fortress

Gaia ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍and Zoe exchanged a somewhat surprised glance, but Hughes did not bother with the two of them. Instead, he turned to Erwin. “Erwin, the most dangerous one on this trip is actually you. Zoe and Gaia are Transcendents; it will be easier for them to extricate themselves. But you are a Mortal.”

“I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍will be fine, my Lord.”

Erwin ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍answered without the slightest hesitation.

“I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍have already been to Rhine once and have had some contact with the local forces. Moreover, the Ashes’ Alliance will provide assistance. Over there, we will not be isolated and without support.”

“And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if this truly is a trap, then even Transcendents would face the same danger.”

That ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was true. Whether it was the Church of Candlelight or the Mechanical Sanctum, neither would lack experience in dealing with Transcendents.

If Gaia and Zoe were to venture alone into danger, escaping would not necessarily be any easier for them than for him, a Mortal.

“This operation is extremely dangerous. You must prioritize caution. Completing the mission comes second; your safety is the most important. Judging by the style of the Church of Candlelight and the Mechanical Sanctum, you should be able to return without issue—at least, that was the case before.”

The Church of Candlelight had always maintained a good reputation. The Mechanical Sanctum was indeed arrogant and conservative, but its name was not bad either.

But all that had been before the Empress was assassinated. Now that the other party’s attitude was unclear, it was better to be cautious.

“I will write a formal document. You will deliver it. As for the transaction with the Mechanical Sanctum, you may exercise full discretion. Bring several Steam Rifles with you. If they want them, you may give them all. As long as we can obtain the technology, none of that matters.”

The three of them nodded together. Although this diplomatic mission carried some risk, it was still within controllable limits. After all, they were merely visiting; the two sides had not truly become enemies.

“I have already made arrangements with The Imperial Truth. There is a train departing Blood Harbor tomorrow morning. You will set out then.”

Northlands, Principality of Octavia, White Stone Fortress.

This was the border between the Empire and the Northlands—the westernmost edge of the Northlands.

Though it was a frontier, it had scarcely experienced war. The reason was simple: although the two sides were adjacent, the difference in elevation was enormous.

To the west of White Stone Fortress stood a sheer cliff thousands of meters high. The nearly vertical precipice was covered in Permafrost. No one could scale it. The Empire called it the Wall of Despair.

From White Stone Fortress, one could overlook the territory of the Empire. But from the Empire’s side, one could see only the white snow atop the cliff.

In those days, Octavia had crossed the Wall of Despair through a secret passage passed down through her family for generations. After crossing, she had left behind a large quantity of Firearm Powder and blown it up completely.

That narrow path had been almost the only passage between the two sides. Without it, no one could climb the Wall of Despair again.

Frey was a native of White Stone Fortress. From birth, he had never seen his parents. The Black-Hand Boss had taken him in and taught him a few ways to survive.

The Black-Hand Boss had adopted many orphans. Through them, he controlled more than half a street—leading the way, delivering goods, running errands, stealing—anything that brought in money.

The Black-Hand Boss possessed a theft skill so uncanny it seemed divine. If one so much as crossed paths with him, something would inevitably go missing. Coupled with his decent fighting ability—and rumors that he had some unclear connection with Transcendence—he had never once been caught by the city guards. He was a figure of note within White Stone Fortress.

Frey’s dream was to become someone like the Black-Hand Boss someday: to have his own territory and a few dozen men under him. It would be quite imposing.

Unfortunately, that dream shattered when the Expeditionary Army arrived.

When the Expeditionary Army came, the local lord of the city refused to surrender. In the morning, he had even sent people into the city to preach resistance to the end. By noon, his castle had been riddled with holes. By the afternoon, the Expeditionary Army had already begun hiring people to clear the rubble in the city. It was said that his corpse could not even be shoveled up whole; in the end, they packed two bundles of reddish gravel and buried them hastily.

As for Frey’s dream—the Black-Hand Boss—after a public trial, he was sent off with a single bullet.

Frey still remembered what he had looked like at the end. There was not the slightest trace of imposing dignity. After the verdict was announced, he cried like a lump of rotten mud. When the soldiers of the Expeditionary Army went to drag him away, the ground was smeared with filth.

Frey himself had also been sent for judgment and sentenced to forty months of detention. Even now, he had not finished serving it.

However, that was actually not much. The Expeditionary Army’s trials were meticulous. Most people were found guilty of something or another and had to atone through detention. So everyone had to work for the Expeditionary Army.

But speaking of this work…

Frey licked his lips.

These Expeditionary Army soldiers were like magicians, always conjuring up all sorts of wondrous things. When he had followed the Black-Hand Boss, he had rarely eaten his fill. But now, under detention by the Expeditionary Army, every few days he would get to gorge himself on a proper, hearty meal.

“Honored sirs, my name is Frey. I am familiar with all of White Stone Fortress. Just tell me where you wish to go.”

Frey spoke with a respectful expression.

Seeing that he was young, the Expeditionary Army had assigned him the task of guiding visitors, with the added duty of carrying luggage.

He had done this job before. Only back then, he could casually pick up a bit of extra income from his guests. Now, that was no longer possible.

He subconsciously sized up his current guests. A sturdy man, rigid in manner—he looked like some military lord—but he deferred to the two young ladies.

Frey’s gaze instinctively drifted toward them.

They probably did not go out much. The money pouches tucked inside their clothes were stuffed full, as if afraid others would not know where their money was kept.

Rich young ladies. Fat sheep.

Of course, times had changed. It was impossible to skim any extra now. The Black-Hand Boss’s grave was still in the wasteland outside the city—he had dug it himself.

His gaze flickered away in an instant, but the next moment, the girl’s eyes locked onto him.

Frey was somewhat surprised at her sharpness. It seemed she was… a vigilant fat sheep.

“Raise your head.”

Frey inwardly cursed his luck and subconsciously glanced to the sides, considering how he might run. Then he remembered that this was already the territory of the Expeditionary Army. Not even the Black-Hand Boss had managed to escape the city.

He could only force out a pitiful expression, shrinking slightly as he slowly raised his head to look at the two of them.

The girl who had spoken glanced at him and asked curiously, “Your hair doesn’t look like that of a Northlander. From the Empire?”

“My lady, I have lived here since childhood. I have never been to the Empire—”

He noticed her slight frown and immediately changed his tone mid-sentence.

“—but they all say I have Imperial blood. Perhaps I was actually lost from the Empire.”

“Imperial features, and so slick at cutting corners. What can you do?”

Frey’s eyes darted as he prepared to muddle through with an excuse—when he saw the girl reach into her pouch and pull out several Rios.

He swallowed.