Whispering Verse

Exploring new areas requires some extra preparation to prevent appearing in very dangerous places. Shade cannot expect that every exit of the "space maze" will be as convenient as the "Church of the Forgotten".

After simply tidying up, it was already half past nine. Just as Shade was about to say goodbye to Xiao Mia and set off, there was a knock on the door downstairs.

After opening the door, I was surprised to see Lesia standing at the door, but Her Royal Highness did not go upstairs:

"Are you going to the Green Lake area now?"

Considering that going to a strange city would consume a lot of time, so that they would be away from home most of the day, Shade, Lecia, Dorothy and Carina all told them about their exploration plans so that they did not have to worry.

"Yes, if you had come five minutes later, I might have left. What's the matter, Lesia?"

Her Royal Highness the Princess stood in the foyer and signaled the maid outside the door to close the door first. However, the carriage did not leave immediately, but stopped directly outside the door. Considering Shade's career as a detective, this would not arouse suspicion.

"Since you are going to the Green Lake area, I want you to do me a favor."

Those beautiful eyes looked at Shade, and it was difficult for Shade to refuse.

"of course, I......"

"Don't agree in a hurry. This is not a simple matter. It will probably cost you a lot of time and energy."

Lecia said, and seeing her serious expression, Shade also listened carefully.

"I told you some time ago that when I went to the Green Lake area, I was definitely not the person responsible for negotiating with Delrayon. However, my father arranged another task for me and asked me to be responsible for part of the negotiating delegation with the Green Lake area. Communication work. Organizing the intelligence sent there and informing my father is a paperwork task for the intelligence department."

"Are you sure the delegation will be led by Carina?"

Shade asked again, and Lesia nodded:

"Yes, but she will not leave immediately, but will go after the negotiations have made substantial progress. At the same time, Kasenlik will also send people to Tobesk to connect the follow-up matters of the negotiations. And I hope you , Shade, can convey to me the progress of the negotiations in the Green Lake area at any time. The newspaper can rely on steam pipeline signals to transmit news, so we can receive news about the earthquake at Fort Midhill the next day, but the negotiation information needs A more secure method of delivery, it takes at least three days to send the full text from the border. And you can bring the full text back the same day."

Shade nodded. He understood what Lesia meant, which was to rely on the time difference to let her grasp the information about the negotiations in advance. And this time difference is enough for the princess to do a lot of things.

"As long as I can help you, I don't mind a little trouble. But who should I ask for information? Or, how can I get information?"

Shade asked, Lesia shook her head apologetically:

"The first delegation is all my father's confidants. Without my people, my people will not be able to participate until at least two weeks later, so..."

"So, it's the turn of MI6's ace agent and the Gray Gloves' ace spy."

Shade smiled and said:

"I will try my best to help you, but I can't guarantee that I will be able to get the information you need."

"It doesn't matter, as long as you are willing to help me."

Lesia gave Shade a hug, then raised her eyes to look at him:

"I know you are busy with more important things. I hope this matter will not affect your impression of me."

This soft tone is very much like Dorothy's.

"It doesn't matter. After all, I originally wanted to explore the negotiations. This is a major event that affects world stability and the progress of civilization."

Shade said with a smile, but Lesia could see that there was no smile in his eyes at all:

"The two major human kingdoms in the Old World have been at peace for a long time, and now they are in dispute over the border lines and vital trade routes. In the era of rolling steam waves, resources and markets have given rise to more ambitions in the country, while developing and balancing the internal Conflicting needs have given rise to more ideas among careerists. Lesia, do you think this negotiation is just a simple negotiation?"

"of course not."

The red-haired girl immediately shook her head:

"The principalities under the kingdom are eager for the war to start again so that they can get rid of the control of the big powers; the careerists who hope to promote their titles or obtain military honors hope to gain more opportunities through war; not to mention the New World Expansion Corps, which is not without the old The outbreak of war on the mainland gave them the idea of ​​establishing a new country in the new continent. Even my father and the 'Lion Lai En' of the Southern Kingdom must have had the idea of ​​using a border war to temporarily alleviate the internal conflicts in the kingdom."

"So, civilization is once again facing a juncture at this moment. Although I have no intention of getting involved in politics, I have to make sure that I know what is going to happen."

"You want to prevent a possible war?"

Lesia asked, and then she was a little surprised to see Shade shaking his head:

"War is also a part of civilization. If there was no war, how could Delarion and Kasenric unify the northern and southern realms? The days of peace have been too long, and it would be a good thing if some conflicts could break out. I don't comment on whether There should be a war, I just want this to end with the minimum cost.”

After all, the coming doomsday is the sharp sword hanging above his head. If the secular kingdom can remain peaceful and stable, that is what Shade hopes.

Shade assured Lesia:

"I will try my best to get information about the negotiations. Just wait for my news."

"You have to be careful yourself. The Green Lake area is the border after all and is much more chaotic than Tobesk."

She stood on tiptoe and kissed Shade slightly, then raised her eyes to look at him:

"You smell like Luvia almost all over you."

"Hmm...is your sense of smell always this sensitive?"

Shade said awkwardly, but Her Royal Highness pointed her finger at Shade's mouth to stop him from saying any more:

"I can't always be with you, and that's fine. But I haven't had a date with you since the Roundabout last week. That night... was a pleasure, Knight. This weekend, do you want......"

She whispered a few words into Shade's ear, then blushed and waved goodbye. Shade raised his eyebrows and sent Lesia into the carriage outside the door. While thinking about the weekend date, he was preparing to officially start a new adventure.

In the basement of his home, Shade bid farewell to Little Mia who was standing at the top of the steps, and then entered the hidden wall. He stretched out his hand to touch the statue of the ancient god. As he recited the incantation, a thick white fog quickly surged around him, and he entered the fog.

[Outlander, you have entered the ‘space maze’. 】

[Message from the ancient god "Original Crack": ]

[Existing space landmark: 7. 】

"Saint Teresa Square, under the sea cliff of Coldwater Port, the old tower of Mount Sikal, the vineyards of the White River Valley, the lighthouse of the island in the center of the Pantanal Lake, the Church of the Forgotten, the Temple of the Night..."

Shade looked at the seven worn-out road signs on the path in the white mist, sighed softly, took out a flint and rubbed it with the stone in his left hand. As the sparks flickered, luck had come to him.

The one-time extraordinary properties of flint and steel disappeared, and Shade held up the white stone crystal in the fog:

"Offer sacrifices to the labyrinth of space."

The stone turned into a wisp of white mist and disappeared into Shade's hand. At the same time, "she" prompted:

[New information obtained: New space landmarks can be searched. Please select a direction. 】

"southeast"

As he finished speaking, the trail in the thick fog extended further into the distance. In the new area of ​​the trail, dilapidated road signs that seemed to have been ravaged by time for hundreds of years were revealed bit by bit.

Shade walked over and placed his hand on the rotten wood.

[The original rift will guide you. 】

The surrounding white mist slowly dispersed, like a curtain moving to both sides. This was a sign of leaving the space created by these ancient gods.

Shade cautiously looked at the surroundings that were gradually becoming clearer. When his sight touched the statue of the ancient god in the darkness, the statue emitted a soft light, illuminating a new dark circular space.

"oh?"

I originally expected to be able to find clues directly related to the puzzles in this area as I did in the Church of the Forgotten. But unfortunately, this time there was nothing in this circular space except the glowing statue of the god.

There were no boxes containing last words and treasures, no bones, no parchment left behind, not even dust. Of course, there shouldn't be dust here in the first place.

"Then let's go out and have a look."

Shade did not bring the [Night Watch] with him, but the [Key to Yggdrasil] was around his neck, hanging together with the "Witch Detection Badge". After the hidden wall disappeared, the outside of the passage was indeed matte black. But due to the special nature of this place, no smell can invade.

So Shade walked out of the wall and immediately frowned. Different from the decaying or even decaying smell that he would smell every time in the past, this time he smelled clearly the smell of food, which meant that this place was being used and had an owner.

“Similar to White River Valley Vineyard?”

Close your eyes and listen in the dark. There is no heartbeat around you, but there are continuous "ripples" of heartbeats above your head. This means that there are quite a few people above:

"The good news is that I probably won't have to climb mountains, swim, or explore the wilderness, but the bad news is that this is most likely a downtown area."

After confirming that no one entered the confined space for the time being, Shade lit up the light of his finger. The silver moonlight illuminated the surroundings. When Shade saw the wine barrels, water tanks, flour bags and shelves with bread and fresh fruits and vegetables in the corner, he confirmed that this was the basement of a restaurant, hotel or pub.

"It seems like this is really an urban area."

Seeing some newspapers padded under the basket containing bread to prevent moisture, Shade walked over and took a look at the contents of the newspapers. First, it was confirmed that it was Delrayon's article, and then it was confirmed that the half-blocked news headline was "Green Lake Winter Ice Fishing."