Mystery: The Last Shepherd

Chapter 160 The Mysterious Big Shot
After dark, Luze arrived at the head of the Backlund Bridge.

This magnificent bridge spans the Tasok River, connecting the east and west sections of the city. There are 15 bridges across the Tasok River in the entire city of Backlund, and this one is the largest, capable of accommodating four carriages side-by-side.

Moreover, the bridge is specially designed so that the bridge deck can be raised by a steam engine, allowing taller ferries to pass through.

Due to the bridge's convenient access, a large number of impoverished people who made their living by boats gathered around it. Correspondingly, illegal buildings sprang up haphazardly, like superfluous human tissue, extending rapidly along the riverbank. This area gradually became known as the "Backlund Bridge District," becoming a slum similar to the eastern part of the district.

As the night breeze blew, Luze saw Sophia at the bridge pier. Her bright red hair shimmered in the crimson moonlight.

"So slow!"

She said with dissatisfaction, "I've been waiting for so long!"

"Why all the nonsense?"

Luze glanced at her. By this time, he had already used the Rose Bishop's flesh magic to change his appearance, making him look like the one Sophia had seen the previous night. Although he could have done it better with the abilities of the "Faceless Man," since he didn't particularly need to impersonate a specific person, Luze was too lazy to expend his spiritual energy on herding.

"Let's get started quickly, don't waste time."

He said.

"Watch your attitude!"

Sofia shouted.

Although she said that, her hands quickly began to move. She carefully took a pea from her pocket.

Lu Ze raised an eyebrow slightly.

Didn't you say you were going to the Extraordinary Ones' Gathering? Why are you taking out peas?
But his question was quickly answered.

Bathed in moonlight, the pea began to grow rapidly, soon bursting through its shell and sprouting a tender green bud. A strange sound emanated from within the bud—a clear, childlike voice.

"Walk on the yellow brick road, walk on the yellow brick road"

The voice prompted them.

Yellow brick road?
The streets of Backlund are all concrete; there are no yellow bricks to be found.
Lu Ze subconsciously looked down and suddenly realized that a path paved with yellow bricks had indeed appeared beneath Sophia's feet. The path stretched forward, its end somewhat indistinct, its destination unclear.

"Come here quickly!"

The red-haired girl called out to him, and Lu Ze walked over and stood next to her.

"Don't look up ahead, look down at the yellow bricks on the ground, and walk along the yellow bricks to reach the meeting place."

Her voice carried a hint of nervousness.

The two of them started walking at the same time, their heads down as they stepped on the yellow bricks, accompanied by Pea's cheerful tone.

Luze kept his eyes fixed on the yellow bricks as he walked toward the Backlund Bridge. But gradually, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the scenery on both sides of the yellow brick road was beginning to blur, and the concrete bridge surface was being replaced by strange light and shadow.

There seems to be something in the light and shadow.

Although he was curious about what was inside, he remembered Sophia's warning and didn't rush to look. Instead, he continued walking until the yellow bricks disappeared.

Looking up, a strange palace appeared before me.

This is a building entirely constructed of pea vines. The vines intertwine and weave to form the walls, steps, and dome. The palace is magnificent and opulent, and because it is made of plants, it exudes a vibrant green vitality, making it exceptionally attractive.

The palace was surrounded by wilderness, and it was impossible to tell where it was, but it was definitely outside the city of Backlund.

That's really impressive.
Lu Ze looked up and exclaimed sincerely that this was the most fantastical scene he had ever seen since his transmigration. However, while the architecture was beautiful, it lacked a proper entrance; how were they supposed to get in? "Creak."

As if in response to his question, vines swayed down the palace walls, extending in front of them and quickly weaving to form a hanging basket with a seat. Seeing Sophia effortlessly sit down, Luze followed her and entered the basket.

The vines quickly rose up and carried them into the palace.

Inside the palace was a grand hall that matched his imagination of what the interior of such a building should be like: a vast space, towering walls, a throne with a raised foundation in the middle and back, and carpets extending down to divide the hall into two parts.

Needless to say, everything mentioned above is also made of vines.

Inside the hall, there were now many similar gondolas, each containing at least one person. Everyone sat facing each other across the throne, separated by a carpet, like courtiers in a confrontation, paying homage to the king.

The vines hanging down from the top of the hanging basket acted like a half-concealed curtain, blocking the faces of the people inside and ensuring considerable privacy.

Wow, with such extraordinary methods, I'm starting to believe that the person who organized this party must be a very important person.

Lu Ze thought to himself.

He looked towards the seat at the head of the table, but due to the obstructed view, he could only see a pair of long, slender legs clad in black leather boots. To see the other person's face, he would have to openly stick his head out of the hanging basket.

Lu Ze wasn't that stupid. He just glanced up and, finding he couldn't see anything, obediently sat back down and waited for the party to begin.

Above the auditorium, gondolas moved back and forth continuously, but after a while, no more new people joined.

"It's almost time, let's get started."

A woman's voice came from the throne, soft, calm, and devoid of any emotion.

Good evening, Your Majesty.

Everyone spoke respectfully in unison, including Sophia. Lu Ze, unaware of this beforehand and without time to speak, could only imitate them, bowing slightly towards the person at the head of the table.

Queen?

It's quite imposing.

He thought to himself.

Immediately afterwards, the woman on the throne seemed to move slightly, and strange things appeared on the carpet. They had translucent humanoid bodies, and they floated politely between the hanging baskets, communicating with the people inside, as if they were servants of the queen.

Through the communication of unseen servants, transactions were quickly completed. Occasionally, there were those who openly sought items or assistance, which the servants would note down. The corresponding information would then automatically appear on the inner wall of the basket, which was very convenient.

"Ding ding."

Sofia rang the bell inside the basket, and soon an invisible servant floated before them, bowed, and awaited their instructions.

"Please tell the Queen that we have obtained what she wanted."

The way of life.

The invisible servant bowed for a moment, then straightened up.

He said nothing, but the gondola that Lu Ze and the others were in suddenly began to move, drifting towards the Queen. To everyone's astonishment, a vine wall suddenly rose up, dividing the hall in two and separating them from the Queen and Lu Ze.

The basket was slowly untied, and they stood below the steps where the owner of the black leather boots stood.

(End of this chapter)