Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

"Oh, right, Lyle, there's one question I forgot to ask. It concerns whether you're qualified to proceed with everything that follows. I hope you're prepared."

Can you climb a tree?

Following Echer's finger, Lyle looked up at the sky.

About thirty meters above the ground, a dozen enormous wooden structures, each the size of a sports field, are erected on the trunk of a giant tree, blending seamlessly with the surrounding greenery. Lights can be faintly seen illuminating the depths of the dark forest.

"Livessee, the land of the jungle, the land of the trees."

Chapter 82 Audience with the Queen

Maybe I made climbing trees seem too easy.

Fifteen meters off the ground, Lyle thought to himself, gripping the carved gap tightly with both hands. Panic and exhaustion mingled in his heart, and cold sweat gathered at the bottom of his mask. Lyle felt a bit short of breath and was on the verge of fainting. Fortunately, the strange smell of herbs dispelled his drowsiness.

Lyle looked at Echel, who instead of using the grooves evenly carved into the tree trunk, took out two arrows and, like a climbing axe, went his own way.

This tree climb was no easier than rock climbing. There were no safety measures or natural blocks to stand on. Lyle overestimated his physical strength. The strength he regained by pausing was like water squeezed from a sponge—it couldn't be taken in and couldn't be taken out again.

“Echel, why don’t you make these grooves bigger, or build a ladder?”

Echer heard Lyle's words. In the darkness, he released one hand, supporting himself with only one, and turned to face Lyle, but in the darkness, Lyle could only see a blurry outline.

"Climbing trees is almost an instinct for the people of Lewesser, as simple as eating and drinking. Stop complaining, Lyle. It's already embarrassing enough to make you use the children's ramp. Why don't you spend the time climbing a few more meters?"

Echer continued to climb upwards as if walking on flat ground, like a monkey, an old monkey.

"But this damn children's passage almost killed me."

"My dear Lyle, this is all your own fault," Medusa said sarcastically, still perched on his shoulder.

"Why don't you open your bag? That would solve the problem."

A leather bag? I'll give it a try.

Lyle managed to open the small opening of the leather bag, but before he could even put his arm in, he was grabbed from behind.

The water-flowing tentacles of the talent orb wrapped around Lyle's waist, while the spherical ends of the two large tentacles stuck to the tree trunk, acting like auxiliary limbs to help Lyle climb upwards.

Echel muttered, "A shortcut, well, Lewesser only cares about what works."

The two successfully entered the floor of the enormous aerial kingdom, which was a small terrace with no residents around. It served as a buffer zone, where if enemies invaded, they would have to crawl through the area before being attacked in a superior force with no cover.

A rickety rope bridge connects to a slightly larger platform, where a small bag of fireflies hangs faintly in the window of a house embedded in the giant wood.

"Shall we go this way?" Lyle looked at the rope bridge swaying in the air, which looked like it would break at the slightest touch.

Echel shook his head. “I have a better way.” He pulled a green vine that was readily available nearby, tugged at it a few times to make sure it was secure, and tied it to the end of the arrow. Echel then took out his enormous bow from behind him, nocked an arrow, and drew it.

With a loud bang.

The arrow, with unexpected force and speed, pierced the high ground opposite. The sound was like a bullet being fired, and the impact caused the vine bridge to shake more violently.

“Echel, you wouldn’t be thinking of…”

“It’s exactly what you think.” Before she could finish speaking, Echel grabbed the end of the vine and jumped off the platform.

Like Tarzan, he moved nimbly and naturally in the air, just like a part of this green landscape.

However, this move triggered a chain reaction.

As Echer was still swinging in the air, a rustling sound came from the branches and leaves of the opposite platform. Arrows with a cold glint were nocked on fully drawn bows and aimed at Echer in the air.

A thousand arrows piercing my heart, it could happen at any moment.

Echer landed successfully on the opposite side, kneeling on one knee. Before he could stand up, a figure with a drawn bow aimed at him.

"..."

"Sir."

The surrounding figures awaited the shadowy figure's command.

"..."

"Alert lifted, leave this area."

"Your will." The ranger retreated back into the bushes, as if he had never existed.

The shadowy figure stretched out a hand. "You don't need to do this at all, sir. The loud noise of the Silver Falcon Bow will wake up the sleeping residents."

Echel gripped his hand. "If it weren't for the distinctive sound of the silver falcon, would you have shot your former superior down from the sky, Kyland?"

"You won't die from the fall, you and I both know that."

"You heartless wretch, how is Lewesser now?"

"Everything is normal, just as you asked ten days ago."

"Okay, I'll go check on everyone."

“Wait a minute, sir, have you forgotten something?” Kailand pointed to Lyle on the other side of the drawbridge. “Guest, or enemy?”

Echel slapped her face. "My damn memory. Come here, Lyle, it's alright."

Echel shouted from the other side, and Lyle had no choice but to climb the suspension bridge, swaying precariously in the wind.

"Ground people?"

"Have you ever seen such a terrible Lewesser?"

"No, he's worse than the worst student I've ever taught."

"Heh, this is his first time, Kailand. I remember the first time you crossed the suspension bridge, your legs were still trembling when you came across, [Lord E.E.C.]"

The deliberate imitation echoed in Keland's ears.

Kailand rubbed his forehead. "My lord, what brings you here this time?"

"To the Queen."

Kailand glanced at Lyle, who was halfway there. The water tentacles of the Talent Ball hadn't left the rope, yet Lyle still seemed to be crawling.

"Business?"

"You do not have sufficient permissions to tell you."

“That’s a private matter. His Majesty is in the Dawn Palace on the top floor. You can go directly up there. I will replace the guards along the way.” Kailand disappeared into the night.

Echer picked up Lyle, who lay sprawled on the ground like a lump of mud.

"What a disgrace! You're someone I had high hopes for. Show me your backbone!"

"Courage can't reduce a thirty-meter elevation difference. Have we arrived yet?"

"No, we're at the bottom of Lewes, we need to get to the top."

"How far."

"Your backbone cannot diminish your height."

"..."

……

Using three adjacent giant logs as flooring, the temple, adorned with the embellishments of human civilization on top of nature's artistry, is not grand but quite exquisite. In the tree canopy, it welcomes the first rays of sunlight belonging to Lewesser—that is the location of the Temple of Dawn.

The girl wore a crown of laurel leaves on her head, and her long golden hair cascaded onto the wooden board. She knelt down, listening to the chirping of insects in the most relaxed posture.

With lightning speed, he picked up the weapon at his feet, drew his bow and arrow, and pointed the emerald green longbow adorned with vibrant flowers at the window with its hanging wind chimes.

"Who is it! Show yourself!"

The leather boots pattered on the clean floor as the figure naturally entered the room, stealing the show.

“Your most loyal admirer, my darling, is your Grandpa Echer.”

Echer opened his arms and strode forward.

But Kayla did not lower her bow.

What was the birthday present you gave me last year?

Looking at the wary Kayla, Echel puffed out her chest proudly and answered, "It's a hundred pairs of limited edition pure white silk stockings from the Charming Ladies' Fashion Boutique in the City of Wanderers, a truly fitting gift for my darling!"

Kayla lowered her weapon, but a wry smile played on her lips. "I really hope you're wrong, Grandpa. Anyway, welcome home."

Following Echer's suggestion, Kayla gave her a smile and a big hug.

“My darling goddess, you’re still wearing my gift.”

Kayla took a step back with her long legs, her face flushed with a charming blush. "Hmm... I only wore it because Grandpa liked it. Yes, it's also very helpful for hunting. There won't be any more itchy scratches from the leaves on my skin. Yes, that's it."

"My darling, this isn't for you to hunt. You look so much more beautiful. Those little bastards are smitten with you, aren't they?"

Kayla rubbed her head, her long golden hair rippled like waves. "Maybe so. After I put it on, they started looking at me strangely. The elders kept hinting at things to me, and Uncle Karl, in his spare time, kept emphasizing the fundamental methods for consolidating a kingdom's rule. It seemed like everyone's daily work was to urge me to get married. That feeling was really awful."

Echel put his arm around Kayla's waist and, in the moonlight, led her in small, quick steps.

"Yes, my darling, that feeling was just as bad for me, but I have to say, you're actually of marriageable age now. When I was your age, I was already married to your grandmother."

"Then, because she was a womanizer, she didn't have her father until she was thirty."

"Ahem, Kayla, perhaps it's time for you to choose a suitable husband. In this peaceful time, having an heir to inherit the country is a king's duty to his people and the hope of the entire nation. You should think it over carefully..."

Kayla fell silent.

Then it was interrupted by a series of thumping sounds, like a drowning monkey stretching its arm out from behind the window and grabbing the windowsill.

Lyle rolled inside, sprawled on the floor, panting heavily.

Why don't you install a floor-to-ceiling window?

Chapter 83 Bear Clan Assassin Echer

“Grandpa?” Kayla looked at Echel, hoping to get information from him about the disheveled uninvited guest in front of her.

“Mr. Lyle Bouler, my new friend in Twilight Memories, is here primarily to see my baby, and secondarily because he needs your help with something.”

Kayla gave a helpless smile. "I understand what you mean, but Mr. Lyle will probably be sad. Is he someone similar to you now?"