"Your officer wants to see us?"

The clerk looked up at their beasts of burden and the massive platform, his expression revealing a sense of astonishment. He nodded: "Yes, you're adventurers, right? Our officer has something to discuss with you."

Fang Hong turned around to look at the others. Luo Yu remained silent, while Parker and Xiangzi were indifferent, though the latter had one hand on his sword, eager to challenge rather than meet the officer.

The Big Catfolk beside them took out his pipe, wiped it, completely unconcerned with the soldiers below.

He looked towards Hilveld again, and Miss Ship's Officer gazed at him with amusement, meaning the Captain's decision is decisive. Only Atira spoke: "Ade, this is the only option, perhaps we should try it." Tianlan and Gita nodded in agreement.

Fang Hong pondered for a moment, nodded. Yet he didn't rush to respond, instead telling the clerk below that they needed to discuss it before deciding. The clerk was empathetic, understood their decision, and replied that he could wait for them to decide without any hurry.

Fang Hong finally returned from the ship's side. But he wasn't going to discuss; he swiftly released three Clockwork Fairies that 'buzzed' suspended in mid-air — then looked not far to Luo Yu and asked: "Luo Yu, at this level, is there any spell for invisibility or at least to cover vision?"

The Clockwork Fairies, though tiny, are easily visible in daylight conditions without any visual cover due to their golden appearance.

Although some people paint the Clockwork Fairies with gray wood lacquer, it's a magic power insulator that severely affects the transmission of magic power, requiring a larger Resonance Crystal to connect with the Magic Guided Reactor's Central Crystal.

Fang Hong wasn't that affluent.

Upon hearing, Luo Yu's Magic Wand glowed, and a Void Crystal appeared in his hand. He thought for a moment and answered: "Refraction Art might achieve that, but it's not true invisibility, and it's easy to detect up close."

"What's the specific data?"

"Within ten meters, without any obstructions or interference, a perception of 40 or above can easily spot it—"

"What about beyond ten meters?"

"Approximately increases by fifty percent every ten meters."

Fang Hong calculated briefly, feeling it should be sufficient, then nodded: "Cast the spell."

Luo Yu closed his eyes, the three golden patterns on the Magic Wand flashed by, merging azure Water Element Magic into the Void Crystal. The process was swift, only took a second or two. Once the crystal emitted a vibrant light, he cast it forth, the crystal vanishing in a swirl of light, with the Clockwork Fairies becoming semi-transparent under the glow.

Sophie watched this scene from the side, her eyes slightly brightened, couldn't help but glance at Luo Yu next to her.

Meanwhile, Fang Hong raised his hand, releasing the semi-transparent Clockwork Fairies, with no one noticing below. He lowered his Wind Goggles, then indicated to the clerk below that he needed to bring a few people along.

The clerk nodded agreeably.

"Could Miss Atira come with me," Fang Hong looked at Sophie: "Does Miss Sophie wish to join?"

Atira and Sophie both nodded.

The three of them descended the rope ladder one by one, and the woodcutters below stayed at a distance, only Lady Kuisu approached alone, inquiring what had happened.

Fang Hong shook his head at her, indicating it was nothing concerning. The clerk glanced at Lady Kuisu, then led them to Tulip Fortress, the soldiers lowered their spears at his signal, standing aside, only watching with caution.

Fang Hong noticed the soldiers' equipment was quite splendid, unlike worn out, and discreetly scanned with the system to find most soldiers were about level ten.

Information stated Dulun City Guards recruited soldiers with a minimum level of six to seven; level ten was considered elite. He glanced at the two Heavy Cavalry by the roadside, the system showed ??? level.

??? Might not necessarily indicate much higher than him because there were no warning signs, or possibly lacked comprehensive information, or due to insufficient knowledge and experience to analyze. After all, gauging humanoid creatures' strength requires abundant knowledge and experience, more complex than average creatures, but these two Heavy Cavalry's level should at least be comparable to his.

Knight Captain, he thought.

This certainly wasn't the original garrison of Tulip Fortress, much different from the old and weak he imagined, either replacing defenses recently or additional reinforcement.

They arrived beneath Tulip Fortress, the clerk waved towards the ramparts, the guards above raised the gate, lowered the drawbridge. The drawbridge descended creakingly, crashing onto the ground, dust billowing.

Fang Hong coughed twice, couldn't help but fan with his hand. As they passed through the gate, he finally got the chance to ask the clerk about this: "I've been to this place a few times before, Tulip Fortress didn't seem this way previously?"

The clerk turned to look at him, replied: "Don't you know?"

Fang Hong was startled: "Know what?"

The clerk seemed relieved, then answered: "Nothing, a minor issue arose in the south, it hasn't affected Tulip Fortress here, just a precaution."

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