Chapter 2299 - 98: Crow's Prophecy I_3

Shaya continued: "Even though you are currently wanted, there are still plenty of people who admire you, especially in this place. I haven't revealed your identities to others, otherwise it would probably attract a crowd."

Fang Hong was a bit speechless, thinking to himself if it was really that exaggerated?

But he felt the Gatekeeper's curious and reverent gaze, suddenly realizing that the other might not be joking. Yet the only question now is, how exactly are those bards promoting their stories?

As a young man, of course, he thoroughly enjoyed such attention.

However, his true masterpiece was in Fenris, where discussions related to the event were incredibly scarce. The military and the Super Competitive League had jointly blocked all related information, forbidding people to discuss the incident's details.

Of course, the military did it to protect him, but the Super Competitive League's intentions were unclear. People privately speculated about who that Alchemist was, often comparing him to the 'unknown' Alchemist.

The comparisons resulted in various conclusions, mostly based on insufficient evidence. What left Fang Hong amused was that most did not accept that the Dragon's Alchemist and Fenris' Savior were the same person. The reason was simple: all related posts in the community were strictly regulated, nearly prohibited, but discussions comparing their identities were not banned.

Thinking in reverse, they concluded that the two could not be the same person.

This simple and direct logic seemed very convincing to the ordinary person.

Yet this matter was highly significant, and Fang Hong did not know how much the Descendants of Flor had gathered, whether they had already inferred his identity. Those with more information remained silent, tacitly keeping quiet, but he felt someone might have already guessed who he was.

At that time, the military cut off the signal from his entry into the Pyramid to his final confrontation with the Lizardman God, ensuring the conversation with Hilveld that might reveal his identity did not circulate outside. But at least a few places received that signal.

Among them were Colin Ishurian's Royal Household and the Artisan Association.

The military claimed it was to protect the suspect — this explanation he learned from Alice, and the suspect was naturally herself. For the same reason, the outside world did not know what role the twin sister played at that time.

Fang Hong couldn't know if the Descendants of Flor got hold of this footage. If they did, it's entirely possible they have deduced his identity.

However, since no party had spoken out, he felt it best to remain silent. Especially regarding Toragotos and the Dragon Worship Sect, not knowing he was alive was his safeguard.

So even if it was a pity, he kept this secret closely guarded.

Thinking of this, Fang Hong couldn't help but touch his chest, where the mithril mask concealing one of his greatest secrets lay.

Shaya didn't notice his subtle movement, and after the Rangers entered the room, Fang Hong, by the light outside, finally saw the situation inside. It seemed like an abandoned house; the empty room had no furniture or vessels, all the doors sealed shut except for a narrow passage.

The passage did not lead to the back of the house but downwards. The Rangers walking in front seemed accustomed to entering and exiting this passage, without hesitation, they followed the stairs downward, disappearing one after another.

"Where does this lead?" Fang Hong asked, looking in that direction.

"This passage leads out of the city," Shaya replied while glancing back, where the Gatekeeper was closing the wooden door outside, dimming the room's light, making it pitch-black again, "Soon the Crow's Claw Knights will search this place and may discover the passage. In the future, it will have to be abandoned. But it's fine; it's just one of our backup routes."

Listening, Fang Hong was a bit stunned. He sensed from Shaya's words that their conflict with the Crow's Claw Sanctuary was more than it seemed — it wasn't a chance eruption. Judging by their preparations, it appeared to be a long-standing conflict.

This meant the conflict might be prolonged.

He couldn't help but be curious, since leaving Idris to here, what exactly transpired during that time.

Moreover, the openness with which the other spoke about these things made him wonder if there were really no consequences?

Shaya seemed to understand his thoughts, finally speaking: "Don't worry, since I invited you here, I won't hide anything. Since Little Kong is willing to trust you, then I can choose to trust you too."

Fang Hong hesitated, unable to resist asking: "So what exactly happened with the Oak Knights?"

"I have to start from when you —" Shaya paused, correcting herself, "when they split from Yugudola. After that, the Knight Order divided in two, and Yugudola held high prestige in the order, so most followers left with them, including two Elite Brigades."

Listening to the mention of this matter, Fang Hong couldn't help but feel awkward.

Though he didn't know how Shaya felt internally about this situation, there seemed to be some resentment — the Seven Seas Travel Group had witnessed Tabopolis's split, and while they didn't intervene, from the other side's perspective, they seemed to ally with Yugudola and others?

This was apparent from Shaya's initial adjustment in her speech.

Yet Shaya moved through the dark passage with calm demeanor and tone, like narrating something unrelated to herself: "During that time, the Knight Order was in poor condition, but fortunately, it reached an agreement with the Rainbow Alliance — actually negotiating with the Silver Forest Spear to let us join the Alliance. With an investor joining, along with Tabopolis's original notoriety, the Guild slightly regained its vitality."

"I don't intend to discuss matters about the other side," she replied, "after they left, they had nothing to do with us. Under the name of the Oak Knights and our name, it's as if two Tabopolises existed at the same time. Afterwards, top leadership quickly drafted newcomers from the Youth Training Camp into Eteliria; Little Kong joined at that time, and later, we took these new members to Beikao for training, where we encountered you in Idris —"

Her tone suddenly became silent: "But we did not anticipate several major events happening to the Guild shortly after we left the Northern Territory."

...