Chapter 687 — Euphemism
Blade of Dawn · Page 3 of 5
Duke Bai Yu Franklin listened somewhat blankly to Gao Song's words—his eyes had gone wide at the first half, and after hearing the second half he exclaimed with an exaggerated expression: "If you really use that 'spiritual nourishment' you mentioned, I'm afraid no one could hold out for more than two years—unless they're not only blind but also idiots."
"Sometimes people brainwashed by cults aren't much better than idiots," Victoria shook her head. "But I also believe His Majesty's plan will be very effective."
Gao Rong smiled and looked at Hetty again: "Hetty, is there any new progress regarding that 'nest' underground near Soren Fort?"
He was referring to the lair of the Church of the End of All Things in the eastern part of the Holy Spirit Plain—after the man-made god was slain, search teams had discovered an enormous fissure near Soren Fort. According to the intelligence Pi Yun provided, beneath that fissure should lie the main base of the Church of the End of All Things. The scale of that camp might approach that of the Fortress of Defiance, and part of its structure might even extend into the Eastern Region, burying countless secrets.
"The surface and the shallow caves and passages have been cleared, but we have not gone deep," Hetty shook her head slightly. "The structure below is too complex. The scholars are currently trying to decipher the patterns of its magical traps and mechanisms, and until then the teams dare not venture in rashly. Also, after Rebecca learned of this, she suggested the expert team throw bombs underground to disarm the traps—please rest assured, that has already been dealt with."
Gao Yang: "..."
"Ahem, understood," Gao Yang cleared his throat after a few seconds. "That is indeed the sort of thing Rebecca would do. But after all, the child has grown up, so when we talk we should still spare a thought for her dignity..."
"Yes, Ancestor." Hetty nodded with a solemn expression, while the two Grand Consuls beside her, Victoria and Bai Yu, exchanged a glance with a certain tacit understanding in their eyes.
Seeing that even Victoria, a person whose expression almost never changed, had the corners of her mouth curving upward, Gao Yang knew that Rebecca's exploits had probably already spread throughout Saint Sunil... Well, of course—if that girl hadn't stirred up one mess after another, a steady person like Hetty wouldn't be carrying such deep resentment as to make oblique remarks during a work report, reminding the Xuanyao Sect to watch out for a brat's mischief...
But frankly, it was a little embarrassing: when Hetty mentioned that the underground lair had many mechanisms and traps, the idea of blasting a path through had also popped into Gao Yang's mind—except what he envisioned was high-precision demolition technology, whereas the fireballs brewing in Rebecca's head were probably bigger than a city gate...
"Rebecca..." Gao Yang couldn't help but give a helpless smile and a soft sigh, then turned his head toward the window.
The autumn wind swept past the castle's towers, spiraling and threading between the intricate spires and wall-towers, bringing autumn leaves and the chill of the Northern Region. Unknowingly, this was already the fourth year since he had awakened as Gao Yang Cecil, and the fourth year since he had come to know people like Rebecca and Hetty.
"Four years already... the child ought to have learned to be a bit more steady by now, shouldn't she?"
The autumn wind swept through the castle courtyard, past the tall, straight dragonleaf trees and the neatly trimmed shrubs and flowerbeds. A withered yellow leaf spun down from high above and was gently caught by a somewhat slender hand.