Chapter 431: Chapter 260: Lanxi City, the Legendary Realm
He looked at Laura and Pat and said, "As it happens, I brought plenty of alchemical ingredients with me. Take me to the Whig Society’s headquarters. Let’s go together and figure out how to handle this sudden crisis."
"That’s great!" Pat made no effort to hide his delight, nodding immediately.
Laura also nodded at Fang Zhen, but she added,
"Fang Zhen, do you remember Karen?"
"Oh, I remember. How is he?" Fang Zhen asked.
"Karen is doing alright—no major issues. But he suffered a huge blow back in the Ellick Territory. Since his return, he’s become withdrawn and melancholic, always lost in thought."
"You probably know his father—the vice-president of the Whig Society. Seeing the son he was so proud of turn into this... well, you can imagine the vice-president isn’t in a good mood."
"He’s already put the word out. He said that if he meets you, he wants to fight you to see if you’re as strong as the legends say."
Fang Zhen was a little surprised to hear that.
He’d thought Karen had pretty strong mental fortitude; he’d always been so energetic. He never expected him to fall into a depression after coming back.
’Then again, it makes sense. Conceited people often harbor deep-seated insecurities. It’s because they’re insecure and don’t want anyone to see it that they don this armor called arrogance.’
’If that was the case with Karen, then it was understandable.’
’But what kind of person was this vice-president?’
’To become the vice-president of the Whig Society, he must have a few tricks up his sleeve. He should know at least one or two Fourth-level Curse Seals, right?’
’And his character and personality must be respectable, I assume.’
Fang Zhen guessed.
Fang Zhen looked at the children behind Pat and said, "Are you planning to take these children back to the Whig Society’s headquarters?"
"Yes, the Whig Society’s headquarters isn’t far from here. There’s only one place on the entire island that could be considered a city. The rest are just scattered villages like this one."
"But all the villages on the island are with us," Laura explained.
Pat suddenly burst out laughing, as if his recent brush with death had had no effect on him at all.
Watching him, Fang Zhen thought that Pat really was a simple, carefree soul.
Pat added, "Let me tell you, you’ve come at a bad time. Every village on this island has its own specialty dish, and each one is different."
"I really wanted to eat our way through all the delicious food on this island with you. A real hero needs big muscles, great strength, and a hearty appetite."
"I’ve got a good feeling about you."
Fang Zhen smiled.
’Pat was just that kind of simple soul. He was a good person to have as a friend. Amid the endlessly escalating competition of modern society, being with him brought a moment of peace.’
Just then, Laura interjected, "Give it up, Pat. The island is crawling with aberrations. Who has time to cook for you?"
Pat’s face fell at her words. "You’re right. Old Terry, the one who made the best tender-bone fish, was killed by the aberrations... I’ve lost count of how many people I knew who have died," he said.
He couldn’t hide his emotions. His expression instantly turned to grief. He slammed his fist into a nearby palm tree, his eyes welling with tears. The powerful blow left a deep imprint of his knuckles in the trunk.
For a moment, Fang Zhen felt a pang of empathy.
’Even though this is the Otherworld, the bonds between people are just as real.’
’Watching friends and family fall to the aberrations one by one, it was inevitable for locals like Pat to be swept up in their emotions. Their drive to exterminate the aberrations and free humanity wasn’t just a logical conclusion; it was a raw, visceral need.’
’Perhaps that’s why the Whig Society, despite always being on the back foot, has never failed to rally people to its cause.’
"Let’s go. I’ll accompany you to the Whig Society’s headquarters. I’ve brought plenty of Alchemy Pills—they’re what you need," Fang Zhen said.
Rationally and emotionally, Fang Zhen was on the side of the Whig Society—or rather, on the side of humanity.
He might hesitate to fight in a war against other humans, but when it came to the aberrations, he believed in total eradication. No quarter given.
’First, I need to get to the Whig Society headquarters.’
Although Fang Zhen was extremely confident in his own abilities, it was clear this "instance" was a faction-based conflict, not a stage for a one-man show of force.
Without the Whig Society’s support, it would be hard for him to complete all the objectives and clear the instance. He couldn’t possibly face down an entire army of aberrations by himself.
’After I get to the Whig Society, I’ll also need to meet with its president.’
’Besides completing the main quest for this instance, I also want to consult with the president. I wonder what insights he has about the Extraordinary Realm.’
...
「A little over an hour later」 Fang Zhen and the others arrived at the Whig Society’s island headquarters.
"We’re here. That’s Lanxi City up ahead," Laura said, pointing forward.
Fang Zhen looked from a distance and saw a small city ahead. Although not particularly large, its walls were extremely high.
The walls were heavily guarded, giving the entire place the air of a war fortress. Yet this castle-like city was nestled in a sea of trees, with a water source behind it. The lush surroundings gave it a surprising vitality, creating a strange fusion of military bastion and thriving oasis.
’The city planning seems quite good, too. Whoever designed this headquarters has excellent taste.’
Fang Zhen and the others walked up to the base of the wall, where they saw Guards patrolling the ramparts.
