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Chapter 708: Border Guards
Chapter 708: Border Guards
Two guards stood frozen, unable to move a muscle. They were entrusted with the crucial task of guarding the floating bridge at the edge of the Middle Ring World, and both were Awakened, at the third and fourth stages.
However, their strength was no match for Alice, a Sixth-Stage Awakened. The disparity between their powers was as vast as an ant before an elephant, rendering their struggles feeble and futile.
Alice, however, did not press her advantage. She stated her purpose and immediately released her hold on them, her voice calm and composed.
"Please?"
The two guards glanced at each other, their faces a study in confusion. Typically, when humans face extreme threats and then suddenly have that threat lifted, they tend to swing to the opposite extreme. But these guards showed no such reaction.
The Righteous One's will had soothed their panicked minds, allowing them to clearly perceive their situation and thoughts.
"Please," they said, stepping aside to make way for the bridge.
Alice's demeanor and the vast difference in their powers told them what to do.
The Righteous Lioness, seeing the situation, smiled at the guards and led the way across the bridge.
Lindsey followed, muttering under his breath, "Again, she's conveying her will to others."
The Seventh Sea Alliance's artist could transmit emotions to others, and the Righteous One was doing something similar, conveying her will.
Their abilities seemed remarkably alike, but Lindsey, having experienced both, discerned a subtle difference upon closer inspection.
Alice and Lindsey stepped onto the Pillar Sky Island. After they had walked a short distance, the two guards behind them were still staring at each other, their eyes reflecting the bewilderment one feels when confronted with a colossal being.
Soon, there was movement ahead. The Pillar Sky Island, which encircled the Middle Ring World, was only 2 to 3 kilometers in diameter, with most of its area occupied by the pillar itself.
Lindsey and his group had barely set foot on the island when the other guards in the camp at the opposite end reacted.
"Intruders on the island!"
"Didn't Old Yu and his team send any messages?"
"An attack?"
The camp erupted into chaos for a few seconds before over twenty armed individuals burst out.
Leading them was a Fifth-Stage Awakened, followed by a mix of Awakened individuals of varying strengths and ordinary people wielding weapons.
"Hmm?"
Lindsey's attention was drawn to a young boy holding a flame lance. The boy's eyes were unusually red and swollen.
[Human Male - Recently Awakened, crying all night.]
Lindsey realized what this meant.
Yesterday had been Harvest Day!
Even in this remote border area, there were lucky individuals who gained Essence and set out on a path to change their destiny.
But joy quickly turned to sorrow.
This young man might have dreamed of returning to a safer area, receiving training in Source Essence Techniques, and leaving his life as a border guard behind.
Yet, in just one night, Lindsey and Alice had appeared before him.
"Halt!"
The leader of the soldiers, a Fifth-Stage Awakened, stepped forward. He stared intently at Alice, his eyes taking in her clear and dignified appearance.
"This young lady..." he began, his voice carrying a natural confidence.
Alice cut him off, "We are from Mooncry Mountain Range—"
The world has brought us here, preparing to head towards the City of Law. We mean no harm and have no ill intentions."
"..."
The man fell silent.
For Alice had once again displayed her Essence.
In the presence of a Tier 6 powerhouse, the man's fleeting confidence vanished without a trace, and like a chameleon, he lowered the weapon in his hand:
"Alright, I believe you two have come with good intentions!"
"No! Nothing happened here today! One of our brothers successfully awakened yesterday, so we partied all night and is still sleeping soundly in the tent."
As he spoke, the man turned around and signaled to his subordinates with his eyes.
He was about to escape to the camp behind the pillar.
But before he could take a few steps, he was stopped by Alice's shout:
"Please wait a moment."
"We've just arrived in this world and are unfamiliar with the current situation of the Dust Path World. Could you tell us about it in detail?"
"..."
At this moment, the man had his back turned to Alice, his expression as somber as if mourning a deceased parent.
But the next second, he turned around.
The man revealed to Lindsey and Alice an incredibly bright and enthusiastic smile:
"Feel free to ask us anything!"
"I'll answer to the best of my knowledge!"
As he spoke, he pounded his chest vigorously:
"And I'm not boasting!"
"As guardians of the Middle Ring World's borders, we're quite well-informed about various matters, and there's rarely anything we don't know!"
Alice was accustomed to the man's attitude.
But instead of indulging in his flattery, she calmly replied:
"You don't need to try so hard to please us."
"As I said before, we're just passing through this world."
"We're willing to pay for the information."
As she spoke, Alice took out several gold coins.
These were coins minted by the Forest Capital's mint, and during her months there, Alice had also saved some through her work.
The Dust Path World was unlike the Tear Mountain Range.
It hadn't completely turned into a wasteland, and even amidst the turmoil, the value of gold coins had risen.
"..."
The man across from her averted his gaze.
He looked at the several gold coins resting in Alice's white palm.
After much hesitation, he still didn't dare to reach out:
"Madam, answering questions is but a simple task, unworthy of such a reward!"
Alice retracted the gold coins, and her tone shifted:
"Then let's do an equivalent exchange?"
"As you guard the border, I'm sure supplies are hard to come by. So, in exchange, we'll provide some meat, and you can tell us about recent events in this world."
The Awakened man across from them could resist the temptation of gold coins.
But upon hearing 'meat,' his pupils dilated, and his principles retreated.
As a warrior guarding the border, the poverty in this borderland was indeed unbearable.
"Meat... meat! That's perfect!"
The man's face lit up with genuine enthusiasm:
"Miss, sir, follow me quickly!"
"We also have some stored wine in our camp. If you don't mind, you can come and try some."
"There aren't many other supplies in the Dust Path World, but the wine made from fruits is worth mentioning."
(End of Chapter)
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