In the black night, the full moon hung high and bright.

Along the winding road, two carriages stripped of their clan emblems traveled on. Having spent the entire afternoon making records, the company pressed on through the night toward Hydrapower City.

“I can’t believe they actually let Kaden and the other one come with us.“

The coachman, who looked a bit feverish from having been caught in the rain, frowned and grumbled within the carriage.

Yang Zicang glanced back at the carriage behind them. Seated in it were Qiao Bing and He Yishu, along with Kaden and the monster-like, unconscious Shirley.

“Perhaps it’s because… they no longer care anymore in this world, ” Ebiser said, melancholy filling his heart. “The most important thing is to build good relations with us, and with Mr. Buchen the Fogfolk, to find a way to leave together. That is the priority, ah. “

As he spoke, Yang Zicang, who had been squeezed next to Lianna by the jolting cart, leaned against the window and couldn’t help but ask:

“Mr. Ebiser, may I ask if you know why so many people seem aware that this continent is nearing its doom? Wouldn’t news like this cause panic? “

Less than a fortnight ago, the old gentleman who had developed the cold forge technique had mentioned that, as early as ten or twenty years ago, people had exploited doomsday theories to trick others into paying for “ticket money. ” But that had never touched upon the core reason. To be honest, similar prophecies had appeared in every era on Earth. Some surviving predictions still exerted a lingering influence thousands of years later.

Yet that afternoon, Harald clearly knew the inside story, as did Ben, who had already had his shoulder shattered by a single gunshot.

They were ordinary natives who had never possessed any bloodline powers or “Elite Clan ” status.

Ebiser thought deeply. The coachman, whose face was flushed with fever, stared back at him with mournful, uneasy eyes, as if seeking one final confirmation of the explosive rumor he had learned over the past two days.

“As for the talk of apocalypse… although this is not something that should be spoken of openly… “

The moment Ebiser spoke, the Coachman shut his eyes tight, gasping, and no longer dared to move a muscle in his head.

“But it has already appeared in various newspaper stories, celebrity interviews from ancient to modern times, and fables for little children. In general… it’s only missing the line ‘This story is not fiction’ written in these fables and novels. “

Lina nodded, then turned her fair tender cheek and said seriously to the young man:

“So sometimes, the truth is actually hidden in storybooks that are interesting to read. “

Yang Zicang thought for a moment, then looked up and said, “So even little kids know this truth—I get it now. “

“Hey! ” Lina shouted very angrily, “I’m not a little kid anymore. I… some of my classmates are already engaged! “

As she spoke, her face turned crimson.

……

By early morning, the carriage—with Yang Zicang secretly urging the horses to go faster all along—had already sent a few passengers, dizzy from the jostling, to the Fog Citizen rental district in Hydrapower City.

As long as one had a Fog Citizen ID, finding the rental district was not a difficult matter.

Upon stepping out of the carriage, Lina was struck speechless by the towering skyscrapers before her eyes. The last time she had come here, she was held in her sick mother’s arms, heading to the rental district to seek help—years had passed in the blink of an eye.

These buildings, reminiscent of the eighteenth century, still left Yang Zicang—who was used to seeing jungles of 21st-century concrete and steel—quite astonished inwardly.

After gaining an understanding of the Fogfolk rental district, He Yishu, who had received expedited paperwork, took his leave, as there happened to be a train to Blackwick Consult departing today.

However, Ebiser and the others had already missed their train, which wouldn’t arrive until the evening two days later, provided it wasn’t delayed.

So, upon the suggestion of the local “District Affairs Liaison, ” Ebiser opted to accept the security escort of a new protection team. Until this batch of specialized security personnel arrived, temporary protection would be provided by two Fogfolk stationed there, both of whom were individuals who had activated the Bloodline Resonance Statue’s Pulse Rings.

“Mr. Hero, where are you going to stay? ” Lianna clung tightly to Yang Zicang as he moved about the hall filling out documents, like a fangirl, clutching in her hand a shiny piece of paper she had gotten from who knows where. The commemorative card was covered in countless fine pearl powders, forming a pattern that looked like a heart.

“Can you give me an autograph? I want to write down everything that happened on our journey and keep it with me always. ” Lianna murmured softly as Yang Zicang finished another form.

The blue-haired District Affairs Liaison chuckled, “Our Mr. Hero, if you haven’t decided where to stay yet, the Hengyin Tower next door has rooms available. The current room rate is seventy percent off! We also support our exclusive ‘um, what’s it called’ payment. Need a room? “

“Yes, sure. “

The liaison winked, then stood up and left from the cloth sofa across the table.

“Then please book me a high-floor room. “

After finishing speaking to the gentleman, Yang Zicang turned to look at Lianna, who had already become deeply attached to him.

“Alright, Miss Lianna. Consider this a shared memory between us. “

He picked up his pen and wrote his alias on the commemorative card in the Mutao language; after a moment’s thought, he added a blessing: “May we meet again in the future. “

“Yay! ” Lianna on the sofa happily raised the commemorative card with both hands, her slender legs crossed and swinging joyfully.

……

Zorro was seated in the newly reopened office of “Hirst Detective Agency, ” a room exquisitely decorated with the air of an old tailor’s shop.

In the lounge outside a panel of dark brown-tinted glass, several customers and resting personnel from nearby security companies and newspaper offices were seated:

Owing to the reputation around the “Hero’s Detective Agency ” and “Court Honorary Reporter Mr. Conrad ” on this street, two or three security companies offering protection services had already sprung up nearby.

Zorro withdrew his gaze and looked at the person in front of his seat. “You’re a Fogfolk, aren’t you? Why haven’t you headed to the west of the continent at a time like this? “

Anxi, standing behind a wooden mannequin in a suit, let out a soft chuckle at this obviously purposeful guest.

“Huh, even the bosses of those outsiders aren’t in a hurry, so why should I be? “

Zorro squinted, tapping a finger lightly on the table a couple of times. He turned to glance at a newcomer pushing open the door with a cup of coffee, then looked back at Zorro and said:

“I just asked them. They said their boss isn’t in a hurry because Hero sir isn’t in a hurry either. “

Anxi was taken aback for a moment, then snorted with a chuckle:

“Sir, if the only reason you’ve come to see us today is for matters like these, you should head to the newly opened café next door. These days, that’s where most people go to fish for information. “

“Mm-hah, thanks. ” Zorro leaned forward and said in a low voice, “I’ve heard you folks have been making quite a stir around here. Besides this protest sweeping the entire continent, there’s been something about guilds and self-governance, and all that. Is there anything worthwhile out of it…? ” He rubbed his fingers together as he spoke.

A flicker of surprise crossed Anxi’s eyes as he scrutinized Zorro’s earlobe carefully.

“Sorry, nothing. Please leave now, sir. I have to see my next customer. “

“Mm-hm, all right, all right. ” Zorro chuckled as he rose, giving an apologetic nod before turning to push open the door and walk out.

……

These past two days, Yang Zicang had finally found some time to properly relax and unwind.

Lianna had been sticking to him all the while. Strolling through the streets with an energetic, lovely young girl like her wasn’t actually all that difficult—on the contrary, it reminded Yang Zicang that it had been only less than a year since he himself had been just like her, a simple college student still hitting the books, with the same carefree outlook.

Together, they had two wonderful days of joy.

Ebiser couldn’t care less anymore. After all, even if they did reach the next era and his daughter ended up with a friend as powerful and trustworthy as this in the future, he could finally feel a bit more at ease about her future.

As the sun slowly descended in the sunset, Yang Zicang saw the girl, now dressed in a fluffy skirt, back to the entrance of this courtyard.

He noticed that there were actually a dozen or so City Guard soldiers standing around.

“Mr. Ebiser, did you end up using that writ of passage? “

“Ha, over the past two days, they’ve already sent a patrol team to make a special detour around our place two or three times. This morning, the two Mist residents who leased the land said they had matters to attend to and had to leave first, so I thought to ask them to stand guard here temporarily. Don’t worry, the team arranged for the land lease is supposedly scheduled to return to Hydrapower City by train tonight. “

Ebiser pulled the girl over and continued speaking to Yang Zicang:

“On this journey, if it weren’t for you, Mr. Buchen, I truly can’t imagine what would have happened. I am so very grateful to you, and to Mr. He, who helped along the way but didn’t even stay for a farewell meal from me. “

“There’s no need to say that. I am also very happy to have met you. You are my first group of friends in this world. “

“It’s really great to hear you say that. “

Amid Lianna’s smile, Ebiser took a few glances at her and said:

“In the future, after we have moved to the Next Era Land, I hope that on some day there, we will see Mr. Buchen visit our home. In that new home, I hope we can live together like one clan. Ah, I’m not good with sentimental talk, so I apologize for that. “

“Daddy~ ” Lianna shook her father’s arm. Though a hint of disappointment lingered in her heart, she had long known this day would come, and they might meet again in the future, so she wasn’t particularly saddened. In fact, she was quite happy that her father had invited the ‘Hero’ to visit them on the next continent.

A small leap of joy stirred in her heart as she thought that this invitation, not even carrying an address, would surely be another intriguing challenge for a Fogfolk like him. Perhaps this very uncertainty would make him come after all!

With a wave of his hand, as the encroaching dusk began to fall, Yang Zicang bid farewell to the father and daughter who wanted to keep him for dinner, and returned to the “Eternal Resonance Tower, ” a hundred-meter-high skyscraper standing beside the Fogfolk’s New Street.

Night fell.

Yang Zicang settled into a suite on the thirtieth floor.

On the wide, soft bed, Yang Zicang studied the Bloodline Statue for a while before placing it by his pillow. Glancing at the howling, wind-swept darkness outside the window, he pulled down the lampshade to dim the light and closed his eyes to sleep.

The long night was tranquil and deep.

At some unknown hour, the window suddenly rattled with an unusual noise amidst the wind.

Yang Zicang snapped his eyes open, a glint flashing in them. Outside the window, a man wearing an eye mask was hanging there!

“Zorro! ” Yang Zicang lifted his head in shock from the large, soft pillow.

The agile man’s figure outside the window hung from a rope. Masked, he nodded with a smile, gently tapped the window twice, and traced a faint “well ” character on it with his finger.

Yang Zicang joyfully threw off the covers, rushed to the window, and slid it open from the inside after unlatching it.

“Old pal, finally caught up with you. ” A familiar voice came through.

“It really is you! What, were you looking for me? ” Yang Zicang glanced down at the pitch-black ground below, like an abyss. “Whoa, be careful, don’t fall… that would hurt like hell. “

“Save the talk and just make me some room. “

With that, amid Yang Zicang’s hearty laughter, Zorro swung the rope and leaped in through the window. With a bend of his knees and a quick stand, he dusted off his clothes and turned to remove his eyepatch.

His scar had faded significantly, and his face was starting to look heroic and handsome.

“Whoa, look at what we have here! ” Zorro said in a mock-surprised tone, pointing his finger at the statue beside Yang Zicang’s pillow, genuinely astonished in his heart.

“Haha, just scored this two days ago. What about you? Got one? “

“Whoa, thanks to you. I should be close. “

Without any hint of standing on ceremony, Zorro walked over, peeled off his gloves, locked his hands behind his head, and flopped himself onto the soft, plush bed.

“Ah, I had such a comfortable sleep, but it made me go looking for you forever. You know, I was about to get ready to head out and board the ship. “

“Because you saw the newspaper? Mm, sorry, I used the ‘Crystal of Serenity,’ which probably made me miss your contact request. “

This guy had already traveled to the western edge of the continent? Yet he’d journeyed thousands of miles back just to see him.

It was actually rather touching when you thought about it.

Yang Zicang was just pondering whether he should deactivate the effects of the ‘Crystal of Serenity’ whenever no one was around, when he saw the man lying horizontally on the bed shake his head.

“Don’t jump to conclusions. You’ve done well. Using the Crystal of Serenity to protect our Folkfolk identity is a great way to avoid unnecessary trouble. Since you could pull off a parade of that scale, and got hold of a statue so quickly, it doesn’t surprise me that you obtained the crystal, haha. “

“You mean youdidn’tcontact me using the model? “

Yang Zicang looked at him in surprise, then turned his head toward the glass window. “Oh, wow… “

“Haha, how about that? You’re moved by my heroic deed of traveling a thousand miles to deliver ‘Radiance,’ aren’t you? Mm-hmm? “

“Traveling a thousand miles to deliver ‘Radiance’… ” A glimmer flashed in Yang Zicang’s eyes.

-｛Distributor May Valkyrie indicated with rich experience: I am giving birth to a new brilliant prelude.｝

His eyes suddenly brightened.

“Was there something else you needed to see me about? “

“Of course. To be precise, to ensure that my quest to find a friend didn’t end the moment I jumped through the window, I made a wish to myself before I even set out. This time I came to you, I want to borrow something from you. “

“What do you want to borrow? “

Even if it wasn’t for Zorro’s thousand-mile return journey this time, based on the silent cooperation they had when they jointly transmitted top-secret intelligence from the Lost Illusion Company, Yang Zicang felt no resistance in his heart over this borrowing matter.

This guy was willing to ask to borrow it, which meant he must have already planned to do something and intended to follow through.

Zorro suddenly leaped up from the bed.

“Don’t get upset when I tell you. “

“Hold on, ” Yang Zicang warily exclaimed, “You’re not planning to ask for my holy relic, are you? “

“Hehe, no, it’s not that. ” Zorro folded his arms and said, “What I want to borrow is that elusive long spear of yours! “