Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Stimulated by the fresh meat, the dwarf people unleashed an unprecedented enthusiasm.

They carried the stones and ran as fast as they could.

The bricklaying was so fast that it left afterimages.

Even Grom, who knew them well, was amazed:

"These guys are much more energetic than when they're drinking contests."

The post office rose from the ground at a visible speed, the walls quickly took shape, and the roof began to be laid.

Grom knew that this delaying tactic wouldn't work.

He stroked his beard, racking his brains for a way to keep Lin Gui with him.

Lin Gui, however, took the initiative to walk over.

"Chief, I heard from Captain Freya that—"

"Was their wheel-less train modified here?"

Grom snapped out of his reverie and nodded.

"Freya? Oh, you mean that little girl with an amazing alcohol tolerance?"

"Her wheelless train was indeed modified here."

"It was given wings and invisibility runes."

He looked at Lin Gui and asked, "What, you also have a vehicle to modify?"

Lin Gui nodded.

"You know, I am a messenger."

"My job is to deliver messages across the wilderness and between city-states."

"My raft can't keep up with me anymore."

"I need a vehicle that truly meets my needs."

After hearing the request, Grom's eyes suddenly lit up.

He chuckled and slapped his thigh.

"Hey! I know a master!"

"In this respect, he's top-notch!"

Without saying a word, he put his arm around Lin Gui's shoulder and led him inside.

"Come on, I'll take you to see him!"

"His workshop is on the upper floor, near the city lord's mansion."

Grom walked along, introducing the craftsman in a warm tone, as if he were simply recommending an ordinary artisan.

The group walked through the winding passage, going deeper and deeper.

When the guards along the way saw Grom, they all bowed and made way for him.

Finally, it stopped in front of a heavy wrought iron door.

A faint, rhythmic, and heavy pounding sound came from inside the door.

Grom pushed open the iron gate.

A wave of heat mixed with the smell of metal hit us.

In the center of the workshop, a dwarf stood with his back to the door.

He wore blacksmith's clothes covered in coal dust, and his muscles were well-defined.

Holding a heavy hammer, he struck the red-hot iron block again and again.

Sparks flew everywhere.

Hearing the noise, he stopped what he was doing and slowly turned around.

He revealed a face with distinct features.

His beard was short and neat, and his eyes were calm.

The moment Shia saw him, her hand shot up to her lower back.

And then it abruptly stopped halfway through.

She leaned close to Lin Gui's ear and whispered:

"Lin Gui...this guy is terrifyingly strong."

Grom looked at Shea in surprise.

The Epic-rank has reached a state of unparalleled mastery in controlling their own energy.

Ordinary people wouldn't notice a thing.

This long-eared girl can actually sense danger?

What Grom didn't know was that Lin Gui noticed even faster than Shia.

As he entered the room, his foot had already subconsciously taken a half step back.

The dwarf before them was surrounded by an invisible, heavy pressure.

Although it has not been leaked, it truly exists.

The feeling Lin Gui had was no less than that of the epic Banshee Queen he had seen at Eagle Fortress.

Calm, profound, like a mountain.

In Shield City, to reach this level...

There is only one person.

Lin Gui bowed slightly, performing a standard mage's salute, his voice respectful yet not humble:

"Lord of the Fortress of Shields, Guardian of the Fortress."

"I am Lin Gui, and it is my honor to have an audience with you."

Fortress Master Balin raised an eyebrow slightly.

He glanced at Grom, his eyes questioning.

Grom was also bewildered. He lowered his voice and asked Lin Gui:

"How do you know this is the fortress lord?"

Lin Gui remained calm.

He didn't say it was his intuition honed through countless perilous situations.

He simply replied:

"It allows my extraordinary companions to be unaware of my specific rank."

"Aside from powerless commoners, there are only epic-level powerhouses."

"And in the Fortress of Strong Shields, who else could be an epic-level powerhouse?"

Balin gave Lin Gui a deep look, then suddenly laughed.

"Good, very perceptive."

"As expected of the human praised by Freya."

He put down the hammer and wiped his hands.

"Alright, friends who bring us news from our distant relatives."

"What do you need me for?"

Grom quickly stepped forward.

He tiptoed close to Bahrain's ear and began to whisper.

As they spoke, they deliberately used a dwarven secret technique, a barely perceptible energy fluctuation enveloping the two of them.

It prevented the sound from being transmitted.

During this time, he also secretly glanced at Lin Gui a few times.

That self-deceiving look made Lin Gui smile helplessly.

He could guess what it was about without even hearing it.

They simply want to tamper with the vehicle modification process.

Buy him time and trap him in the Fortress of Shields.

However, Grom may be disappointed.

After explaining the vehicle requirements, Lin Gui prepared to take his leave.

He wasn't in a hurry to modify the vehicle.

As for the construction of the post office and the acceptance of weekly tasks.

He had already gotten information out of Grom during their drinking contest last night.

The dwarf chieftain knew nothing about Avalon.

They knew even less than Elvia.

Elvia had at least heard nursery rhymes, while Grom had never heard of them.

Even those in power who managed the affairs of Strongshield were unaware of it, let alone the other dwarves.

Naturally, there would be no letters sent to Avalon.

He had asked the system before.

To trigger a weekly commission nowadays, you need at least 100 commissions.

In other words, at the next stop, heading to Avalon, Lin Gui can only receive the long-term commission reward of delivering Shia.

As for information about the Wailing Wall...

If the dwarves truly knew the safe routes, why would they entrust the North Wind Caravan with a detour of thousands of miles?

Wouldn't it be closer to cross the Wailing Wall directly from the Dwarven capital?

It's important to know that the Dwarven capital is located directly north of Shield City.

They are separated only by the Wall of Sighs.

It is precisely because the dwarves cannot cross the Wailing Wall that they are forced to rely on the network of city-states to transport supplies.

Therefore, Lin Gui had no hope.

Instead of asking around in Shield City, it's better to go directly to the outer perimeter of the Wailing Wall.

In order to breach the Wailing Wall, the dwarves offered an unimaginably high bounty.

As a result, many bounty hunters are active at the outer nodes of the Wailing Wall.

This information was given to him by the scholar Eli.

Compared to the stronghold of Shield City in the rear, the intelligence provided by the bounty hunters on the front lines is much better.

It is clearly more valuable for reference.

Therefore, for Lin Gui, there are only two reasons left to stay in Shield City.

Build a post office and modify vehicles.

Neither of these two things is mandatory.

After receiving Grom's whispered message, Fortress Lord Balin turned to the Forest Ghost and asked:

"You also want to build a wheel-less train?"

Lin Gui shook his head and waved his hand.

The oak staff floated into his hand from behind, and he extended three fingers, speaking calmly:

"I only have three requirements for the vehicle I want to modify."

"Small, fast, and agile."

"If possible, it needs to be installed—"

"A device that can convert magic into stable wind power."

"Wind pressure cannon".

Upon hearing the last three words, both Bahrain and Grom were taken aback.

Balin hissed and put down the hammer in his hand.

"Little guy, that's a wind pressure cannon."

"There are only three gates in the entire Fortress of Shields."

Its value... is immeasurable.

Lin Gui naturally understood the value of the wind pressure cannon.

If it weren't for the extremely rare forging materials...

The wind pressure cannon is enough to trigger an industrial revolution in this apocalyptic world.

That's something that can replace a mage and convert magical energy in the environment into wind.

He looked up at Bahrain.

"Wind pressure cannons are indeed precious."

"But for the Stronghold of Shields, its role—"

"It shouldn't be stronger than a semi-divine artifact."

As soon as Lin Gui finished speaking, a magic staff floated out of the wooden box.

Its entire body is streamlined, and the staff is inlaid with blue runes.

It is a semi-divine artifact—the Wind Whisperer's Scepter.

Lin Gui grasped the staff and handed it to Balin.

"I'm willing to make this exchange."

"A semi-divine artifact?!" Grom exclaimed in surprise.

He snatched the staff and held it up to his eyes.

Bahrain also stepped forward, his eyes wide.

The two carefully examined every inch of the staff's texture, their breathing gradually becoming heavy.

Semi-artifact.

That is the ultimate glory that all master craftsmen pursue throughout their lives.

That was the pinnacle of all creations of the Akara continent.

It is a creation that perfectly blends skill and magic.

The entire dwarf race might not produce even one such creature every fifty years.

The city of Shield is not without masters capable of forging a semi-divine weapon.

But they all went out to make money for Shield City.

I vaguely remember going to the capital of Carter and having a bow made there.

The way they looked at the scepter was like that of a pilgrim.

The fingertips trembled slightly as they lightly touched the runes.

A warm yet powerful energy pulse emanated from the staff.

It is absolutely true.

Xia couldn't help but speak up from the side.

"Hey, Lin Gui, are you really going to change?"

"That's a semi-divine artifact!"

Her voice was filled with heartache.

Lin Gui turned his head, his expression calm.

"This staff is with me."

"It did not perform its intended function."

"To drive it..."

He paused.

"At least reach Freya's rank."

"I can't wait that long."

For Lin Gui, exchanging a semi-divine artifact that might shine in the future for a vehicle that could accelerate his delivery points was a win-win situation.

This deal wasn't a loss.

Although semi-divine artifacts are precious, if Lin Gui can truly live and ascend to legendary status...

Getting one isn't difficult.

If all else fails, go to the City of a Thousand Towers and steal one.