He drew the short sword from his waist with a backward motion, casting a beam of silver light in front of the person, deeply embedding it in the ground:
"Swear unto Marlan, you have a clear conscience."
The man glanced at the short sword, a scar twitched on his face, but he remained silent. After a moment, he changed his tone: "...I didn't expect you to become a Free Knight."
"Freedom is Order," the Big Catfolk replied, "Dale, don't dawdle."
His words barely settled.
A beam of cold light suddenly shot from beneath the man's left hand, which had been hidden behind him all along.
Yet the Big Catfolk's gaze did not shift a bit, his hand softly blocked the blow with the Scepter of Authority. A crossbow bolt from a hand crossbow spiraled to the ground.
He turned his head to look, a faint blue light shimmered on the edge of the bolt.
The Big Catfolk sneered: "You've remained unchanged, but these little tricks are useless. Show some real skills instead."
Only then did the man raise the curved blade in his hand.
...
All the way until he left the underground, Fang Hong's mind was in chaos, still pondering over the things Hilveld disclosed to him in communication earlier.
Theoretically, a Noble Lady naturally had no need to lie about this matter. But if her analysis was true, then why did Eve tell him that what was sealed underground was merely the Dragon's Heart.
Was it because she didn't know either?
But Fang Hong glanced at the conspicuous line of text in the system:
'Guardians of the Ancient Oath shall bear the Curse of the Dragon King.'
As a Heir of the Dragon Blood, did Eve truly not know about this? - Hardly. Remember when she completed the Sealing, she repeatedly cautioned him with utmost care not to delve deeper after the Sealing?
What lies beyond that Sealing?
Fang Hong only then realized, the fear came from the depths of her soul in memory.
Thus, the young lady didn't tell him the whole truth.
He recalled everything he saw underground at Aimumu Fortress.
Was that broken Dragon Slaying Sword truly the Holy Sword Moa? Is the Dragon King's Soul truly sealed within the snapped Holy Sword?
He also remembered the Sorcerer-Ghoul at the time, the origins still a mystery, and the exceedingly conspicuous Lady Daisy then.
Fang Hong couldn't help but glance at the Lady White Cat walking ahead with her tail upright, occasionally looking back at them.
But saying Eve didn't speak the truth.
The benefits he gained from the Dragon's Heart were indeed real. At his level of Strength, only with the complete recognition of the power contained within the Dragon's Heart could he accept this legacy unscathed.
And the recognition from the Dragon's Heart was obviously from the Dragon's Witch herself.
I.e., her embodiment of will here - Eve.
So what exactly is the purpose of all this?
Fang Hong couldn't make sense of it.
Atira noticed he was contemplating, silently staying by his side. Only Miss Nini, since waking up, had been comfortably sitting on his shoulder, swinging her little feet.
Looking utterly carefree.
Tata sensed his thoughts, gently spoke: "Mr. Knight, why not think from another perspective?"
Fang Hong was startled: "Another perspective?"
"Who took Miss Eve away?"
"Wasn't it the Descendants of Flor?"
"Why would the Descendants of Flor take her away?"
"Because..."
Fang Hong's mind lit up, changed his tone: "Miss Tata, are you saying Eve deliberately led us away from there?"
"It logically makes sense, Mr. Knight."
"Given the Descendants of Flor's knowledge of this secret, it indicates someone behind them understands the events that transpired in Idus."
"Those aware of the past insider events, should not be individuals Mr. Knight can deal with, at least so Eve saw it."
Fang Hong listened, feeling both distressed and annoyed, if he had realized this sooner, he wouldn't have let Eve leave there alone under any circumstances.
But thinking anything now is too late.
The only thing he can do is to save her from the hands of the Descendants of Flor before everything is finalized.
Yet another thought flashed in his mind.
What if those who took Eve weren't the Descendants of Flor?
"If not the Descendants of Flo," Tata replied calmly, "that person would only hide deeper, posing a greater threat to Mr. Knight."
Fang Hong couldn't help but shiver.
And while contemplating, they finally arrived at the end of the tunnel. He lifted his head, gazed in that direction, seemingly just a dead-end fork from the surface.
But the journal documented this exit, and Bunigu described this location.
Thus, he took the lead, pushing against the wall, which was really just a slate, the mechanism beneath barely damaged.
With a push, the door gave way slightly, then slid aside.
Once the door opened, a booming sound rushed into the tunnel, flashes from explosions illuminating his and the Elf Miss's faces stark white.
Fang Hong looked out and realized the location was quite advantageous.
In truth, it was a Lowlands, situated beneath a fissure. Looking upward, not far away stood the City Hall at the edge of a cliff - though now in ruins, still strikingly unique compared to surrounding buildings.
By the light of explosions, he examined the area, the terrain was unfavorable for either side of the conflict, thus no one engaged in contention around here.
From afar, barely any shadow of Sky Pirates and the Descendants of Flor could be seen.
However, on the side of the cliff, recessed areas seemed to have some broken entrances. Fang Hong, upon seeing those entrances, suddenly had a bold idea.
Perhaps he wouldn't need to go to the surface, he might find a way to enter the City Hall's underground.
But with the underground portion of the City Hall so exposed, surely Sky Pirates and the previous Scholars had thoroughly investigated it?
Fang Hong doubted there would still be useful clues down there, even if there once were, with time they should have long since vanished.
Could this be another method from Eve to ensure his safety?
But he couldn't ponder much over this now, after thinking for a moment, he turned back to Atira: "Miss Atira, could you transform into that... that form again..."
He gestured, indicating for the Elf Miss to assume the guise of a Paradise Bird on his shoulder.
...