The carriage stopped on the road at the foot of the mountain.
The coachman wearing a metal mask reminded them:
"When you finish the mission, follow this road east for three kilometers, and you'll find me at the fork there.
"If more than a week passes, you'll have to walk back to Zion City."
"Got it."
Looking up at the hill that leaned against the Vinel district,
if this had been the world where Yi Chen lived, it would certainly have been developed into a tourist attraction. They might have installed a cable car, added some entertainment facilities, or even built a temple at the summit.
But there were no elevators or cable cars here—not even stone steps had been laid along the mountain path.
The four of them could only tread up the steep mountain trail, using the trees for support and experiencing the most primitive joys of mountain climbing.
Along the way, Yi Chen even chewed on a few strips of bark, then sensed the conditions among the hills by touching the plants.
Nothing happened along the way. Let alone danger, they did not even see a single small animal.
It was deathly silent.
As they climbed the final stretch of the slope, through the gaps between the trees,
a wall built from large, roughly hewn stones and the clinic's front gate, cast from pitch-black steel, gradually came into view.
Gargoyle sculptures had been placed atop the wall, resembling those in Zion City.
However, most of them were already covered in cracks and gaps. Some were even completely shattered, having lost their intended function.
"We finally made it..."
Edmund stretched lazily.
The movement looked casual, but he was actually adjusting the team's formation.
Dagobert, carrying the greatsword, immediately moved to the front.
Edmund and Julianna positioned themselves side