Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Freya scrutinized Lin Gui for a moment, then finally smiled helplessly.

She gently pushed the priceless barrier stone back in front of Lin Gui.

Vice-captain Aubrey promptly handed over a small metal box engraved with protective runes.

Freya carefully placed the glass bead and the two letters into the box and sealed it tightly.

"Sigh," she said, looking at Lin Gui with a complex mix of emotions.

"Your reward is too high; its value is not much less than that of a semi-divine artifact."

"Accepting it would be taking advantage of you too much."

"We, North Wind, accept your request."

"We will deliver the items to you as requested on our return trip."

"As for payment, let's talk about it next time we meet."

The barrier stone is certainly tempting.

But what Freya valued more was the friendship with this seemingly high-ranking mage who had repeatedly demonstrated his abilities.

His current strength may not be top-tier.

But Freya was convinced by his decisiveness and composure far beyond his years, as well as his terrifyingly precise control over magic.

As long as he doesn't die young, one day his name will resound throughout the entire continent of Akara.

"I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together again in the future," she said sincerely.

The North Wind Caravan will rest for a few days at Blackwater Port, so parting at this moment seems a bit hasty.

But Freya knew in her heart that the other party would leave soon.

I've been traveling almost non-stop for nearly half a month.

It was not just about delivering a message.

Sure enough, after Lin Gui retrieved the barrier stone, he began to manipulate the levitation technique.

The orc Grom and the barbarian warrior Barton carried his wooden crates out of the carriage.

The raft floated up again and hovered beside him.

Seeing that Lin Gui was about to leave, Shia immediately grabbed Eve's hand and was about to jump onto the raft.

A finger gently touched her shoulder.

Shea turned her head in confusion and found that it was the forest elf Lysa who had called out to her.

She couldn't understand why this fellow clansman, who had been hostile to her from the beginning, would suddenly approach her when they parted ways.

Although they had fought side by side, their relationship was far from reaching the point where they needed to say goodbye in private.

Lysa leaned close to Shea's ear and remained silent for a long time, so long that Shea almost couldn't help but ask.

The deep, clear voice reached her ears:

"...Live well and don't appear in any of the city-states that have joined the city-state alliance, Shia Windseeker."

"The Federation Council... is about to begin purging all half-demons."

"If you don't want to implicate the little mage, and if you don't want to lose your life, then run!"

"Run away to a place where no one can find you."

Shia's heart leaped, almost bursting out of her throat.

She looked at Lysa in disbelief.

Lysa's expression remained calm, and her voice was even lower:

"Your fighting stance, bow-drawing habits, and power-generating techniques... are almost identical to mine."

"We were originally mentored by the same elven ranger."

"That's what made me recognize you."

She gave Xia a deep look.

"Remember my words."

After saying that, she turned around and decisively returned to the North Wind Caravan, never looking back.

Shea stood frozen in place, her palms icy cold.

Eve tugged at her sleeve, wanting to comfort her, but when she opened her mouth, she didn't know what to say.

The city-state alliance's tolerance for half-demons has reached its limit.

The expulsion order against the half-demons is about to officially take effect.

For Shia, the only option is...

Hurry up and get to Avalon, or to a remote, isolated city-state.

Eve sighed, and finally could only say to Shea, "Shea, we should get going."

Shea paused for a moment, then nodded.

The wooden crate was securely fastened back into the raft.

Before leaving, Lin Gui hesitated for a long time, but still reminded Freya:

"Captain Freya, don't linger in the borderlands."

"The Kuroshio Current may have originated there."

Freya raised an eyebrow slightly.

The Cult of Light's Holy Maiden's prophetic abilities have never failed.

Freya also believed that the other party knew about the saint's prophecy.

And even under these circumstances, the other party still said that the Black Tide might be born in the borderlands?

Her original plan was to return to the capital of Carter to rest and wait for the 20th Black Tide to pass.

For a trading group like theirs that traveled across continents.

The worst thing is being swept into the Black Tide during transport, which almost certainly means certain death.

But Lin Gui's warning... if it were anyone else, Freya would just take it as a joke.

But the other party was Lin Gui, a little mage whose whole being was full of unbelievable nonsense.

She looked at the other person and finally just nodded solemnly.

"Okay, I've got it."

Lin Gui's reminder was just a casual remark.

Even he himself doubted this absurd idea.

They maneuvered the raft and began to drift away, bidding a final farewell to the North Wind Caravan.

Lin Gui then led Shia and Eve away from Blackwater Harbor and flew into a sparse forest.

As seen on the map, Blackwater Harbor and Shield City are not far apart.

It is roughly the same distance as the distance from Twilight Fortress to the capital of Carter.

Blackwater Harbor is itself part of the defensive system of Shield City.

It is the safest stronghold with the fewest demons in the entire defensive line.

This is why dwarves feel comfortable using this place as a transit point for supplies.

The raft flew smoothly at low altitude.

Although the journey was short, Lin Gui remained vigilant.

He called out to Shia a few times, signaling her to be aware of what was happening ahead.

The silver-haired ranger, curled up beside the wooden crate, showed no reaction.

It wasn't until Eve gently touched her arm that Shia looked up as if she had just woken up.

She slowly moved to the front of the raft, her long legs dangling over the edge, swaying listlessly.

When reporting on the situation at the front, his voice was somewhat unsteady.

Lin Gui slowed the raft down a little and turned his head to look at her.

"What's wrong? You seem so listless."

Shea shook her silver hair, her voice muffled.

"Ryza recognized me...she saw through my identity."

Lin Gui was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

The Thousand Illusion Mask is a legendary disguise item; even Freya couldn't see through it. How did Ryza manage to see through it?

Noticing his confusion, Shia explained in a low voice.

"We were taught by the same elven ranger mentor, and our fighting styles and archery stances are exactly the same."

"Back then, I was the only one with silver hair in the entire ranger class, so she recognized me when we were fighting in the sea."

Lin Gui asked thoughtfully, "Then why didn't she expose her?"

Shia shook her head, her eyes filled with the same confusion.

"Since she chose to remain silent and they've broken up, why are you still acting like this?"

Shea smiled wryly and pursed her lips.

"She warned me never to appear in the Alliance City-State again, just like Elvia's last words."

Lin Gui was even more puzzled.

"Isn't this exactly what we wanted? To send you to Avalon, where you can live freely."

Shea tilted her head back, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Yes, starting from the Black Demon Forest... we've traversed mountains and rivers all for this goal."

Her voice trailed off: "The thought of parting with you so soon makes me very sad."

Lin Gui stared straight ahead, his tone calm.

"After I send my reply, I will come back to Avalon to see you if I have the chance."

Shea suddenly leaned closer, her warm body almost touching hers, and a faint scent of grass and trees lingered around her nose.

She tilted her head back, her emerald green eyes gleaming with cunning.

"Will he really come back to see me? He won't just turn around and forget about me, will he?"

Lin Gui's body stiffened slightly, and he subconsciously leaned back.

I felt a little uncomfortable from her sudden closeness.

He looked away, his voice remaining steady.

"Don't worry, I mean what I say, I'll come back to see you."

As for the time... Lin Gui could only apologize to Xia.

Anyway, elves have long lifespans, at least three times that of humans, so Shia probably won't mind.

However, Xia seemed to sense Lin Gui's little scheme. She snorted, took Lin Gui's arm, and leaned almost against his shoulder.

"You must come back to see me at least once a month!"

Lin Gui sighed helplessly and gently removed her arm from his.

"It took us more than two months to get here from the New Testament, and four months just for the round trip, Shea."

"Four months it is! Pinky promise!"

Without saying a word, she grabbed Lin Gui's hand, forcibly made a pinky promise, and then squinted her eyes in a warning.

"Alright, this is your human custom and contract."

"I heard from the children in Karan neighborhood... that those who don't obey will go to hell, where the Blood Demon will devour their hearts and rip their bones out!"

Lin Gui looked at their little fingers hooked together and was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

What kind of contract is this? Isn't this something for kids?

Behind her, Eve watched this scene quietly, a faint smile curving her lips.

Her short, ginkgo-colored hair swayed gently in the wind.