The Elf Miss glared at the two of them, then transford into a Paradise Bird and perched on Fang Hong's shoulder. Tata raised his head beside her and gently stroked her magnificent feathers with his hand.
The deeper they delved into the rift, the wider the space seed to beco, with signs of man-made carvings starting to appear all around. Not long after, the Papalarian suddenly stopped, feeling around the surrounding walls. When Elisa ca closer with a torch, Fang Hong could then see there was a dead end ahead.
To be precise, there was a wall.
Gray-yellow bricks, each the size of a Papalarian's head, neatly arranged, and in the center of the wall was a sealed stone gate.
This was exactly as Bunigu described. The Big Cat stepped forward, pushed with his hand, and the stone gate creaked backward, creating a gap. The torchlight flickered, and the sll of dust imdiately pervaded.
The Big Cat coughed, waving his paw in front of him. After the dust settled, everyone could see a staircase leading downward into a dark and deep passage, like a gaping black maw.
Fang Hong took the torch from Elisa, preparing to enter first, but the Big Cat held him by the shoulder:
"Bunigu didn't tell the truth."
Fang Hong turned his head back, unsurprised: "I know."
He had suffered many losses and been deceived often; if he couldn't see through this, wouldn't he be a real fool? But he replied: "After all, it's not entirely lies. This secret passage is of so use to us. Rather than listen to him, why not see for ourselves what lies below?"
The Big Cat released his shoulder in mild surprise, glanced at Hilveld beside him: "Ade, it seems you've learned quite a bit from Miss Ship's Officer; I was about to remind you, but it looks like it's unnecessary."
Fang Hong coughed lightly: "This was my own thought."
Hilveld just smiled without speaking.
"But that ring?"
"If the opportunity arises, I'll take a look," Fang Hong responded: "I didn't lie when I promised him. But I'll prioritize everyone's safety. Don't forget, I have a Clockwork Fairy; so things don't need to be seen 'in person' to risk oneself."
Reed saw his clear thought process, relaxed, and did not pursue further questions.
However, the Papalarian suddenly reacted, holding the ring and asked: "Wait a minute, since you both know there's a problem with the ring, why toss it to ?"
Reed glanced at him: "You solve the trouble you've created."
"What trouble did I create?"
"Atira—"
Parker quickly raised his hand in surrender, shouting: "Alright, alright, as the Night Thief of the group, it's only right for to take on so risk. No need to say more, I'll shoulder this responsibility."
Elisa laughed heartily, not forgetting to add: "Stay away from later, Parker."
The Papalarian's eyes rolled, nodding quickly.
After this brief episode, the team continued onward.
The construction history of Idus's underground tunnels predates even the flourishing of this city—originally established as a fortress at the kingdom's border. The Istania People, also known as the Desert People, were in opposition to the Kingdom for over a hundred years before they belonged to Colin Ishurian.
The earliest Idus was established to manage the kingdom's frontier and prevent the invasion of the Sand People. Its tunnel system primarily comprised the original Hidden Arsenal Cave and Underground Grain Supplies, expanded several tis as the city grew, forming its later scale.
In Idus's prosperous tis, these andering underground passages beca havens for smugglers, the Thief Brotherhood, and various black markets and slave traders, representing the shadow side of Idus, unreachable by sunlight.
But both light and shadow crumbled into ashes in the great fire over a hundred years ago; after the city was reduced to ruins, it plunged into a long-unseen darkness.
The once-thriving underground black market and smuggling corridors, after a century of decline, now remain only as a network of dust-laden underground passages, imrsed in a world of pitch-black silence.
The group proceeded through the corridor, the torchlight extending with their steps forward—a few deep shadows occasionally etched on one side's walls due to broken columns, stretching long like monstrous chilling claws.
Beyond the rustling footsteps and self-induced psychological fear, their journey was actually quite calm, encountering nothing.
Occasionally, vibrations would cause a layer of sand to drip from the ceiling, causing a montary scare.
The Underground World seed devoid of danger; Idus was a dead city, the disaster from a hundred years ago dismantled everything, even the Undead Creatures leaving few traces. Additionally, over the years, adventurers and scholars frequently visited; what few monsters might wander the ruins have been thoroughly cleared.
Speaking of Idus, it's known as a famous ruin of Colin Ishurian, but compared to other similar places, its allure for adventure is much less.
On one hand, it's too remote; on the other, people believe there's nothing left of value here. The Blood Shark Sky Pirates managed to explore here for nearly two months unnoticed due to this very reason.
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