The name of 'Secretary City'.
There is a limit of one opening per month.
All of them made Kieran think of a 'broker'.
"Since a year ago, 'Secret City' has appeared near Broken Stone Town, selling potions and props that are not commonly seen in the market on a regular basis, attracting merchants, mercenaries, bandits, and robbers who came to the High Road. From time to time, one or two treasures will appear!"
"No matter how you look at it, it is exactly the same as the 'Mishi' in the huge city!"
"It's such a coincidence to put such an obvious 'sign' near Gravel Town, and let 'Modi' send someone to completely destroy Gravel Town..."
Qin Ran, who was talking to himself in his heart, narrowed his eyes slightly.
Qin Ran, who never believed in coincidences, smelled the breath of conspiracy.
Therefore, he needs to know more detailed information about this 'Secret City'.
He wanted to know what the 'Broker' was up to.
Of course, this is most likely a trap for 'latecomers'.
Therefore, Kieran needs old Piccolo to go with him.
…
Carrying two cages and a bundle of fresh grass, Old Bick walked on the scabbed ground with difficulty. The red, hard, and irregularly raised ground made Old Bick's feet ache.
But the innkeeper dared not make any complaints.
Not only because of Qin Ran standing behind him, but also because this is a folk custom followed by the locals.
The local people know that the High Road is formed by the god Fenrir who sympathized with human diseases, plagues and famines, and walked on the road covered with iron thorns.
Following the footsteps of the god Fenrir, his blood began to flow on the road of iron thorns, and the iron thorns that could not be swallowed by the flames began to soften.
Eventually, it disappeared.
Disappeared together are human diseases, plagues and famines.
as well as…
God Fenrir.
According to legend, the god Fenrir exhausted his last ounce of divine power, and his polluted torso turned into a scabbed land, where no grass grew, but hard stones.
But the people thanked the god Fenrir.
This barren land is honored as the High Road, and the god Fenrir is honored as the Supreme God.
But there are also those who disdain and self-criticize Fenrir.
When they pass through the High Way, they are cursed.
Old Piccolo, who was born near the High Road, was deeply affected by this curse, and he didn't dare to blaspheme Fenrir at all.
Qin Ran also knew this legend from simple memory.
But it was different from old Piccolo's fear and awe.
Kieran only maintained the most basic respect for the god Fenrir.
Because, strength.
Kieran had seen the real god before.
Each is not impartial.
Even, in some respects, some of them are even more than a righteous man.
At least, a man of integrity will not betray a friend.
The legendary god Fenrir, Kieran didn't know what the other party's integrity looked like, but he didn't quite trust the other party's 'self-sacrifice'.
Therefore, Kieran only respected the opponent's strength.
The strong should be respected.
Following behind Old Bick until noon, the two stopped.
"My lord, it's just ahead."
Old Piccolo pointed to a hill in the distance.
From the outside, this hill is no different from the hills along the way, but in Kieran's perception, there is a deep and uncomfortable atmosphere inside the hill, or more precisely, underground. It's like standing on the edge of a cliff without handrails at night, leaning over and looking down.
Apart from the darkness, there is the bottomless abyss.
Qin Ran narrowed his eyes and looked around.
Old Bick on the side took out a water bottle and dry food.
All are must-haves for travellers.
The kettle is large and contains enough water. The dry food is mixed with some wheat bran to make the dry food drier and easier to store.
"My lord, do you need it?"
Old Piccolo, who was holding dry food and water, asked.
Qin Ran shook his head.
Just when Old Bick thought that Qin Ran couldn't eat, he saw that Qin Ran also took out the water bottle and dry food.
The kettle was very delicate, and when the lid was turned off, a faint sweet smell wafted out, obviously honey was added to the water.
Dry food is fine white bread baked with some dehydrated grapes in it.
But what surprised Old Bick the most was that Kieran pulled out a ham from his backpack.
Watching Qin Ran cut meat slices from the ham with a knife, chew them carefully on the white bread, and drink saliva from time to time.
Old Bick suddenly felt that the dry food, which was still delicious just now, became hard to swallow, especially the wheat bran, which made his throat hurt even more.
The water also became tasteless, with a faint fishy smell.
Old Bick didn't dare to ask Qin Ran for food.
Because, when this idea just came up in old Piccolo's heart, Kieran just glanced at him.
The coercion contained in his gaze made old Bick feel suffocated, and there was an illusion of an ancient beast eating slowly in front of his eyes.
Can't speak!
If you ask for it, you will be killed!
no no!
It was eaten!
The information brought by the hallucination was accurately received by Old Bick.
For the next half hour, Old Bick was not only trembling, but he didn't even dare to vent his breath, for fear of disturbing Qin Ran's 'eating'.
That's right, eating!
Old Bick had never seen a person who protected food like Qin Ran.
Only some beasts do.
Of course, Old Bick didn't dare to say such words at all.
Undoubtedly, this lunch is destined to be a torment.
When he saw Qin Ran put away the water bottle, Old Bick really let out a sigh of relief. He couldn't wait to pick up the necessary props and set out on the road at a faster speed than before.
Soon, they came to the hill.
Old Piccolo looked down.
When he came across a stone the size of a palm, Old Bick's face lit up with joy.
"Found it, my lord!"
As he spoke, Old Piccolo pushed the stone vigorously.
Click.
Amidst the sound of the machine spring, a secret door appeared on the ground in front of the hill.
The secret door is not closed, it has been open since it appeared.
A thick black smoke that blocked the sun shot out from the front of the hill, enveloping the old Piccolo standing there.
As for Qin Ran, as soon as the smoke sprayed out, he dodged to the side.
However, the black smoke did not give up.
It attacked Kieran like a tarsal maggot.
"My lord does not need to resist."
"This is a necessary process to enter the 'Secret City'. As long as we are in it, we can let the rooster crow to dispel the darkness and see the dawn!"
Old Piccolo, who was in the black smoke, reminded Kieran loudly.
This is not the first time.
Along the way, Old Piccolo has warned him several times.
But just like the first time, Kieran also didn't want to be enveloped by the black smoke.
As long as Kieran is not stupid, he will not do this if he rashly puts himself in the process set by the 'broker'.
Not to mention... Dawn.
Isn't it always in his hands