Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Red Clay Collar.

It was once a large frontline city-state with a population of 300,000.

The city walls were high and the garrison was well-stocked.

It guards the last line of defense on the eastern side of the red soil desert.

It is the Alliance's most fortified outpost in the southeast.

But after this person became the city lord, out of the 300,000 people, only more than 60,000 remained.

three years ago.

Before the aftershocks of the Spark Revolution had subsided, the Reignition Society was established.

The alliance's most elite censorship forces were drawn from and reorganized to form an organization dedicated to purges.

They have only one task.

Uproot everyone connected to the Spark Revolution, regardless of distance or relationship.

Red Earth Territory was among the first city-states to be purged.

Because this place is very close to Starfire 3 City.

Some of the residents' relatives and friends in the three cities have connections in the Red Earth Territory.

Theodore Black was then an inspector sent by the Overturning Fire Society.

He oversaw the entire cleaning operation.

He summoned all the prominent figures in the city and said...

As long as those connected to Xinghuo are handed over, everyone else will be fine.

Some people believed it.

Some people gave up their neighbors, their friends, and even their relatives.

Theodore accepted the list and thanked them with a smile.

The next day, he arrested everyone who had submitted their names and secretly executed them.

The reason is simple.

They knew who Xinghuo's people were, but they didn't report it beforehand.

This shows that they are also covering it up.

This logic is utterly absurd, but in that purge, it was enough to kill people.

Street after street was cleared out.

One family after another was taken away.

No one knew where they went, and no one dared to ask.

The corpses were piled up outside the city and burned for three days and three nights.

The ashes were swept up by the wind and covered the entire city-state.

The number of people dropped from 300,000 to just over 60,000.

Now, when Theodore appears on the street.

The bodies of the survivors will still involuntarily tense up.

They dared not meet his gaze, and their steps would unconsciously take a step back.

That fear was etched into their very bones; it had become a part of them.

Theodore seemed to be used to this reaction.

He didn't even glance at those people.

His gaze remained fixed on Lin Gui, his smile polite and gentle, as if he were catching up with an old friend.

"Lord Lin Gui, there's no need to be nervous."

"I meant no harm."

"I just heard that Captain Lieyang, who came from afar, was passing through this place, so I thought I'd come over and say hello."

He turned slightly to the side and made a "please" gesture.

"If you don't mind, how about we meet at the City Lord's Mansion?"

"At the same time, there is something I would like to ask your team."

"The Seven Coins Post Office transport team traveled thousands of miles in just a few days."

He paused for a moment, as if savoring the weight of those words.

Even after receiving the guard's report, a hint of surprise and apprehension flashed in his eyes.

"I believe this is not difficult for you."

"Of course, I will provide satisfactory compensation."

"I hope Seven Coins Post Office won't refuse."

Lin Gui was very familiar with this person's deeds, and even witnessed the cleansing here firsthand.

How does Lin Gui react to this butcher and enemy?

That means there is no response at all.

The moment he stepped into the Red Earth Territory, he anticipated that he would be noticed by the Overturning Fire Society.

But I never expected it would be him.

Today, 3 years later.

Despite his high position and great power, he was still guarding this desolate border city.

As for the so-called entrustment.

Lin Gui gently grasped the other person's outstretched hand, then released it and said.

"Sir Theodore, you should know very well that our transport team will be going to Dawn at the end of the year."

"In just a few months, we will be heading to Dawn."

"I don't think I'll have time to handle your request."

"We came to Red Earth Territory not only to see the grandeur of the Red Wall, but also to deliver a message."

"This is the original intention behind the establishment of our transport team: to act out of remembrance."

"Now that all the letters have been delivered, we need to hurry back."

"On the way back, it's estimated that we'll be heading straight up to dawn, without stopping along the way."

Theodore's expression remained unchanged, and a smile still lingered on his lips.

But he responded so quickly, as if he had been prepared all along.

"There are two golden routes to the north towards the dawn."

"One route is Huangshating and Qianta in the northwest, which is the route you came from."

"And the other one..."

He paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on Lin Gui's face for a second, his tone carrying a sense of certainty.

"I guarantee it will be safer and the distance will be shorter."

"We can reach the Thousand Towers faster and head north towards the dawn."

"Since Lord Lin Gui is in such a hurry to return to Dawn to resume his post, why don't we follow that route?"

"My commission happens to be for a city-state along the route."

Lin Gui narrowed his eyes.

There are indeed two recognized golden routes from the Red Wall to the Thousand Pagodas.

One route involves traversing an endless desert, which requires passing through a forbidden area.

The other route was the one he took to Qianta.

He stared into Theodore's eyes, and a tension tightened in his heart for a moment.

From the moment the Red Earth Territory guards reported it, the other side had their eyes on them.

No, to be precise, he came into the sights of the Overturning Fire Society the moment he stepped into the central city-state and openly delivered messages for the lower classes.

The magic tower in the Red Earth Territory allowed Theodore to receive information about him immediately.

Including that title that only circulated among letters.

If I hadn't become part of the transport team, especially not at the blazing sun level.

It's likely that the other party has already made a move against him, this high-level wandering mage.

The power of the Overturning Fire Society, even as the spark is forgotten.

It can still execute someone who may be connected to the Spark or who has revolutionary tendencies without reason or evidence.

The request mentioned by the other party is most likely a test.

or……

The other party had begun to suspect his identity.

After all, there was still one person alive in the Spark organization who knew him and what he looked like.

Elvia instinctively took a half step back.

Avoiding Theodore's gaze, he shook his head at Lin Gui.

She was implying to him not to accept.

Lin Gui shrugged and readily agreed.

Because he has nothing to fear now.

"If it doesn't delay our transport team's schedule, that's fine."

"only--"

He paused for a moment, his tone carrying a businesslike indifference.

"Our transport team only pays seven copper coins for delivering messages."

"For the others, the fees will probably have to be charged according to the standards commissioned by Lieyang."

"This could be very expensive, Your Excellency Theodore."

Theodore was somewhat surprised, as if he hadn't expected the man to agree so readily.

But he quickly smiled, a gentle and confident smile.

"Don't worry, the reward will satisfy the captain."