Amber Sword

Brand once again felt the calmness of the half-elf princess. He had actually thought of this question as well, but while the princess, who didn’t even understand the common knowledge that there was only a ’Lord’ underground, lacked deeper understanding, he was well-versed in Jogen Digan. Judging based on the little he knew naturally drew a stark contrast between them.

He also turned to look at Barbara, seeking an answer. His plan was still an idea, but whether it could be implemented required more details. He knew that no victory in war was achieved by mere guesswork.

"Compared to your dim-witted grandfather, the princess is obviously much smarter, in fact, not far from your guess," Barbara mentioned Oberg VI once again, causing the half-elf girl to press her lips to contain her anger. Witches scorn worldly power, which is one reason they are shunned by society. Yet she couldn’t understand why the old witch was so respectful towards Brand, nor what Brand had done to help them. She listened as Barbara continued, "Besides spells, we have secret knowledge passed down by witches for generations. One of these secrets mentions an ancient hall abandoned since the ancient era, hidden within a gorge’s crevice under Ambeser, leading to the hills north of the port."

"That’s impossible," she finally spoke: "Former King Ai Ke built Ampezel Port here nearly seven centuries ago. Throughout these centuries, Ambeser people have repeatedly explored the terrain surrounding and beneath the port to verify if the Ande Fulei Grand Temple’s foundation is unstable, but there’s never been any rumors of ancient ruins."

"But, Princess, you must also admit that before the Erueins built this port, this place was not a no-man’s land. Besides the Silver Elves, other civilizations thrived here long ago. A secret is a secret precisely because it remains unknown," Barbara smiled.

"I remember now, you’re talking about that seeping ancient passageway," Brand recalled there was indeed such an ancient ruin near Ambeser, though weathered long ago, leaving only a corridor within underground cliffs. Inside lurked a Spider Mother of unknown age, a level 57 BOSS.

Truth be told, if possible, he’d prefer not to provoke that creature. A giant Spider Mother of Side of Truth strength in narrow terrain, along with her countless offspring and spider webs, made Brand shudder at the thought.

The crucial aspect is that he had never heard of the ancient passageway leading to the hills north of Ambeser, only knowing one side went deep into Anlek’s mountains.

"Lord, we actually don’t know the condition beneath that hall." Hearing Brand speak, Barbara was more certain of his identity. Everything matched the prophecy; witch secrets seemed an open book to him, ready to be read. "But since the Lord knows of this passageway, it must exist."

Princess Griffine believed this time, for Brand wouldn’t deceive her. She turned back: "Brand, is what she said true?"

"I’ve heard of such an ancient passageway," Brand had sweat on his forehead, almost revealing his secret. He cursed inwardly at the old witches’ trickery using the so-called ’witch secrets’. "But does it truly lead to the hills north of Ambeser? Hmm, wizard documents don’t mention this." Brand thought that, at this rate, former forum data was becoming a wizard document library.

"This is our generational secret, naturally it’s correct. The corridor connects with one side to the mountains and the other to the northern hills."

"Then it should be right, and basically matches what I know," Brand confirmed quickly, suspecting the ancient passageway might have another secret path underneath. He grew curious as players had explored it due to its proximity to Ambeser, yet none had found this additional secret path after decades.