Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Not long after.

Lin Gui manipulated his staff, hovering it in front of the massive iron gate.

Shia, wary yet curious, examined the massive iron gate.

"Thump, thump".

Lin Gui raised his hand and knocked on the cold metal door.

The sound echoed dully.

He had assumed that the nearly ten-meter-high gate would open a crack next.

result--

A screeching, grating sound came from beside me.

He looked down.

At the bottom of the giant door, there was a smaller door that only reached his waist.

A dwarf with an unusually stocky build and a beard braided into several thick braids was emerging from the small door.

It was the same leader who had just been giving orders from the highest window.

He stood up straight, his head barely reaching Lin Gui's waist.

At this moment, the dwarf leader was raising his head, staring intently at the forest ghost with his sharp eyes.

He extended his large, calloused hand, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"Human, I need to check your package."

"Make sure you are not carrying any communication devices or other dangerous items."

Lin Gui shook his head and remained seated on his staff.

"No need, I said I wouldn't go in."

He opened his luggage right in front of the other person.

Then he took out the thick stack of letters one by one.

It was handed directly to the dwarf leader.

"This is from Copper Hammer Stone Heart."

"This belongs to Iron Hammer Stoneheart."

"..."

The dwarf leader clearly hadn't expected this method of "handover".

He was somewhat taken aback and hurriedly accepted the letters that were handed to him.

His eyes, which were originally full of vigilance and authority, were now wide open.

Until Lin Gui placed one of the letters steadily on top of the pile of letters.

The dwarf leader's gaze swept over the name on the envelope, and he froze.

That letter... was clearly written to himself.

The dwarf leader looked at the letter written to him, not too surprised.

After all, that guy Copper Hammer still owed him a lot of gambling debts.

But when he noticed the distinctive dwarf seal on the envelope, his expression immediately turned serious.

A letter that can be sealed must contain information that the sender doesn't want others to know.

He traced the seal with his fingertips, and the runes lit up and then went out.

He pulled out the letter and quickly scanned the familiar dwarven script.

The further he read, the stranger his expression became.

Surprisingly, most of the letter wasn't about Tongchui himself.

Instead, it describes a human mage who risks his life to deliver a message across perilous terrain, yet charges an astonishingly low fee.

It describes how he used his high-level abilities to deliver a message across the wilderness from a small town called New Testament City.

In his letter, Copper Hammer solemnly requested:

When the mage arrived in Shield City, he hoped his old friend could take care of him.

He was a kind human being.

Copper Hammer clearly foresaw the wariness that Shield City had towards humanity.

He specifically stated in the letter:

This human mage named Lin Gui knows my true identity.

[If he's accompanied by a companion with "long ears," she's just like us, the Stoneheart Clan.]

They are all offspring of demon princes.

The dwarf leader's gaze sharpened when he saw the "Demon Prince's Heir".

[But don't worry, she couldn't possibly be one of those evil demons.]

[This long-eared creature is both silly and naive, and it didn't react much after learning my true identity.]

[He couldn't possibly be one of those lunatics.]

In short, they are all trustworthy people; they brought me letters from my other siblings.

And I plan to go to the New Testament City to find my brothers.

I hope you can treat this kind human who brought my brother peace well.

[In the latter part of the letter, Copper Hammer reported the whereabouts of the other Stoneheart tribesmen who had been scattered elsewhere.]

The author's words were filled with relief upon seeing that Bronzebeard and the others were still alive and well.

[I believe everyone in Shield City will be happy to hear this news.]

At the end of the letter, Copper Hammer emphasized:

[By the way, the reason I sealed the letter...]

Most importantly, I don't want this little mage to see the contents.

That guy's going to the Wailing Wall next.

If possible, try not to let him go; absolutely do not let him go.

[That place is too dangerous; even the Lord of the Fortress cannot cross it.]

Most of those who attempted to cross died there.

Those who emerged all suffered mental breakdowns and ultimately hanged themselves!

You know better than I how terrible it is inside.

[You know how many dwarves who ventured into this forbidden land of Akara have perished.]

I don't want him to die there.

Please, brother, help me stop him from going on like this.

At this moment, Lin Gui's voice came:

"Now that all the letters have been delivered, we won't bother you any longer."

"Remember to deliver all the letters to the appropriate dwarf; this is very important to me."

He manipulated his staff, making a move to leave.

The dwarf leader jolted and suddenly grabbed the forest ghost's shoulder.

"etc!!"

Lin Gui was pulled to the side by him, and turned around with a strange expression.

"Is there anything else?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across the dwarf leader's face.

After all, he was the one who urged others to leave quickly.

And now... in order to fulfill Copper Hammer's request, he has to leave Lin Gui and the others behind.

He pondered deeply, then suddenly slapped his forehead and asked in a gruff voice:

"Are you guys going to the Wailing Wall?!"

Shia nodded in agreement: "Yes!"

"That's forbidden territory, the most forbidden territory at that!" The dwarf leader waved his hand.

"You just blindfolded yourselves and barged in like that? Are you out of your minds?"

"If you ask me, let's go into the city and rest for a few days before setting off!"

"We'll send someone to give you a ride when the time comes!"

"We have a dwarf here who can cross the Wailing Wall."

"I'll contact him then and we'll go together; it'll be safer that way."

Lin Gui looked puzzled.

"I remember... the Wailing Wall has never been crossed by anyone, has it?"

"Otherwise, your Northern Dwarf Kingdom's supplies wouldn't have to go through such a long and roundabout way."

Without a word, the dwarf leader grabbed the Forest Ghost from his staff and tucked it under his strong arm.

"Alright! Anyway, come on in!"

He shouted loudly to the dwarves watching the spectacle above:

"What are you waiting for! Open the door!"

"This is Copper Hammer's good friend!"

"They are the benefactors of the Stoneheart tribe!"

"They are also our benefactors!!"

"Let's give these friends who crossed countless dangerous places to deliver letters to us a proper welcome!!"

The dwarf above was still somewhat hesitant:

"What if... what if it's an inspector sent by the Alliance..."

"Damn it!" roared the dwarf leader.

"If he were an inspector from the Alliance, would he really send a message to Copper Hammer and his group?!"

"We should have burned them long ago!"

Use your brains!!

"Quickly! Open! the! door!"

It was accompanied by a heavy mechanical hum and the roar of metal rubbing together.

The massive iron gate slowly opened a crack inward.

The scene behind the door came into view.

The scorching heat carried the smell of coal smoke and metal.

The enormous furnace resembled a dormant volcano, with a dark red light surging within.

The clanging and banging sounds came from all directions, never ceasing.

A network of suspension bridges and elevators connects the various platforms carved into the mountainside.

The entire city is like a huge and bustling combination of a mine and a forge.

The dwarf leader forcibly pulled the forest ghost into his arms and strode into the room.

He proudly puffed out his chest, his voice ringing out loudly amidst the noise:

"Alright, friends who have come from afar!"

"Welcome to Fortress City—"

"Shield Fortress!"