Deepstone City

Deepstone City.

As one of the most prosperous cities in the northern part of Paffield, it possessed a unique characteristic unlike any other city. A deep, massive open-pit mine formed its very core. Originally, Deepstone City was just an ordinary small mining town, but after the natural mineral deposits beneath it were discovered, it transformed into a bustling city of ore. The entirety of Deepstone City was built upon this enormous open-pit mine.

When viewed from above, Deepstone City resembled decorations on the inner walls of an inverted cone-shaped pit, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. It appeared small and unremarkable, but only when one was within it could they truly grasp how impressive a city it was. The roads, appearing only a finger's width from above, were actually wide enough for four carriages to pass side-by-side. And those seemingly dense clusters of small holes in the distance turned out to be enormous cavernous dwellings when approached. Here, the grand and the small merged perfectly, creating a stark contrast that was enough to make anyone remember the city's existence.

Like other cities, Deepstone City also had its social strata, but its method of division was slightly different. Those qualified to reside on the uppermost ground level were the nobility, who enjoyed the sunlight and the cool, sweet river water, living comfortable lives. The commercial and commoner districts occupied the first, second, and third layers of the mine. Further down was the slum district, where not only was it perpetually dark, but even food and water were scarce. Rumors also claimed that demons haunted the dark depths of the pit, abducting people for food. Therefore, unless they were desperate or miners who specialized in excavation, no one would choose to live in such a place.

"Deepstone City..."

Stepping off the carriage, Mace's expression was unusually solemn. He stood by the roadside, gazing at the vast, dark pit not far ahead, which seemed almost bottomless, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Although I've been here many times, every time I see this city, I can't help but marvel—Holy Soul bless me, I truly can't believe humans could dig out such a massive, unfathomably deep cavern."

As he spoke, Mace licked his lips and turned to look at Rhode, who stood beside him.

"Mr. Rhode, I wonder if you've heard, but even the oldest miners in this city have never seen what lies at the bottom of this enormous pit. It's truly a mysterious and wondrous thing. They dug this mine, yet there's no record of what's below. It's hard to imagine, isn't it?"

"Indeed."

Rhode nodded but didn't say much. Unlike Mace, he knew what lay beneath this mine. After all, it was one of the ten great mysteries of the Dragon Soul Continent. For ordinary people, perhaps they wouldn't dare to take the risk. But for players who didn't care if they died, as long as they could solve a mystery, dying a hundred or eighty times was no big deal.

However, sometimes, the sacrifices they made were not equivalent to what they gained.

Entering the city, the first feeling everyone had was quiet. Contrary to their expectations of a lively and prosperous city, it seemed very peaceful here. The only sounds breaking the silence were the occasional horse-drawn carriages carrying goods speeding through the streets and the faint, distant sounds of metal and ore being struck.

Rhode was not immersed in the magnificent spectacle of the city like Mace. He raised his head, gazing at the edge of the mountains against the azure sky. His gaze swept past the mountain range, and he seemed to faintly see the golden castle nestled by Fairy Lake, and the slender, charming, yet resilient figure residing within.

In a daze, Rhode seemed to return to those blood-stained hills. The dazzling red sunset, as if venting its anger in its final struggle, cast its last rays. Under the shroud of that red light, a figure clad in magnificent armor knelt on one knee. Before her stood a hundred thousand troops, yet they halted their advance before a single person.

The figure, kneeling with a sword, shrouded in blood and the crimson sunset, remained motionless. She lowered her head; her meticulously maintained golden hair was now disheveled, and even the feathers on her pure white wings began to fall with the wind. Yet, even so, her eyes, without hesitation, gazed steadfastly at everything before her. Upon seeing Rhode's appearance, she slightly turned her head. After a moment, her pale pink lips curved upwards, revealing a dazzling smile.

"Is that so... That's great..."

She whispered to herself, then closed her eyes.

Subsequently, darkness enveloped everything.

It was then that Rhode found his second goal for moving forward. It was after this that he resolutely abandoned his identity as a free player, formed a guild, and began to attempt to change the entire game world. He succeeded; he successfully changed three eras with his own hands. But Rhode was not satisfied, for deep within his heart, a single trace of regret still lingered.

He once thought he would never have a chance to make amends.

And now, the opportunity was right before him.

Rhode knew what this continent was about to face—an unprecedented catastrophe for all living beings. It appeared peaceful and serene now, but that was merely the calm before the storm, brief and fragile, liable to be shattered at any moment. In its place, there would only be devastation.

But Rhode was not in a hurry; rushing would be useless. From this point forward, if everything went according to plan, he would have at least one to two years of stable time. This was enough for him to complete his preparations, and after that, his focus would be on how to continue surviving in the coming tempest.

If possible, Rhode would not choose such a risky path, but he knew how terrifying the approaching storm would be. No one on the entire Dragon Soul Continent would be spared; all living beings would be swept into it. Rather than burying his head in the sand and facing it later, it was more prudent to prepare countermeasures beforehand.

With that thought, Rhode pulled at his cloak, concealing his face in the shadows. This face, whether in reality or in the game, easily stirred up trouble. It was better to avoid any potential problems.

"Mr. Rhode."

Just then, Ben, along with his subordinates and the stout young lady, also walked over. Perhaps because he had returned to his own territory, his demeanor exuded a bit more confidence than before.

"Thank you for your help; we were able to return in time."

"Is she alright?"

Rhode glanced at the pale, stout young lady hiding behind Ben and asked casually. Hearing his inquiry, Ben could only offer a wry smile.

"The young lady is not seriously injured, just a bit startled and bumped. Miss Lize has already treated her; there are no problems."

As he spoke, Ben hesitated before looking up.

"Um... do you have time now? The young lady would like to invite you to our home as a token of gratitude for saving her life..."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I won't impose."

Rhode shook his head, declining Ben's invitation.

"It was just a small gesture, nothing major."

"Is that so..."

Hearing Rhode's reply, Ben's expression became somewhat awkward, while a flicker of disappointment crossed Helen's face behind him, though neither of them noticed.

As a captain of the guards, although Ben's strength was not exceptional, he was quite adept at handling people. Hearing Rhode's refusal, he didn't press the matter and even showed a hint of relief. After all, despite not spending much time with Rhode, he had been under considerable pressure, constantly on edge, afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing and causing trouble. Now that the pressure was finally lifting, he didn't insist further.

"In that case, I wish you a safe journey. Upon my return, I will certainly report this matter to the Patriarch. I believe the Patriarch will be very grateful to you."

After saying this, Ben quickly left with the stout young lady. It wasn't until they had walked a considerable distance that Helen turned back, looking at Rhode's retreating figure, and her expression turned angry.

"You're such a waste! Didn't we agree to trick him back to our home so Father could find someone to teach him a lesson?!"

"Young lady, now is not the time for childishness."

Ben could only offer a wry smile to the willful, stout young lady.

"You and I both saw how powerful that gentleman is. If you try to cause trouble for him and something goes wrong, what then?"

"But he dared to hit me!"

Helen stomped her foot in anger, gritting her teeth. She didn't dare to lose her temper in front of Rhode, but now that she was away from him, the stout young lady finally couldn't contain her anger.

"Even my father has never hit me!"

Hearing Helen's words, Ben could only shake his head helplessly. He genuinely didn't want any further entanglement with Rhode; this young man was too terrifying. Although he didn't know if Rhode's strength was comparable to those from the Keller Family, he didn't want to bring any trouble to the Keller Family. If this young lady was truly displeased, then there was nothing he could do.

"Forget it, there will be plenty of chances to deal with him later."

Glaring viciously at Rhode in the distance, Helen spat out a harsh threat. Just then, as if he had heard her, Rhode raised his head and looked toward the two of them. This caused both Helen and Ben to turn pale. The chubby young lady hurriedly covered her mouth with her hands, as if she could stuff the words she had just spoken back inside. Ben also hurriedly turned around and began to walk away.

"We should go, Miss. If we don't get home before the master returns, things will become even more troublesome."

"Ah, yes, right, that's right, absolutely."

Hearing Ben's remark, Helen nodded repeatedly. She cast one last lingering, fearful glance at Rhode, and only after seeing that he had already turned his head away did she feel relieved, subsequently turning to hurry away.

"Mr. Rhode, we have arrived."

The young girl's crisp voice made Rhode withdraw his gaze. He looked at Lize, who stood before him appearing somewhat nervous, and remained silent for a moment before asking.

"This is your last chance, Lize. You may choose to refuse."

"No, Mr. Rhode."

However, Lize shook her head very firmly. Then, she looked at Rhode with focus, a complex expression emerging in her eyes.

"I have thought about this for a long time. I know that I am not the most suitable candidate, and I know that I am naive and inexperienced in this regard; I also don't know what I should do. But I know that relying solely on courage and conviction is not enough to achieve it. If you can help me realize my dream, then I will not refuse your proposal."

The young girl's gaze was firm and clear, without a hint of shadow, yet Rhode did not retreat because of this.

"I believe you have already seen my methods. I would like to know what you think of them."

"Eh?"

Hearing this unexpected question from Rhode, Lize was stunned for a moment before immediately lowering her head.

"I..."

"Tell the truth."

Although Rhode appeared to be only a few years older than Lize, standing before him at this moment, Lize felt a powerful pressure. It was the same kind of pressure she had once felt from her captain and her own father—the kind that compelled one to answer their questions. The once gentle air seemed to become as heavy as lead, and Lize even felt that breathing had become difficult.

"I... I don't know."

Ultimately, Lize shook her head.

"I really don't know, Mr. Rhode. I can tell you quite sincerely that your methods are truly far from what I had imagined, but... at least I do not dislike your way of doing things."

"I understand."

Hearing Lize's answer, Rhode nodded, then reached out his right hand and patted Lize on the shoulder.

"I will not let you down."

Following that, Rhode said.