Chapter 739: A Handshake Agreement
Wait, Roland’s heart stirred. Didn't this sound exactly like the giant evil beasts that roamed near the Great Snow Mountain?
“Similar to a wild beast?” Before he could even ask, Agatha preemptively said, “Could it be you who entered the Devil's Camp and devoured the Black Stone Tower?”
“Devil… Camp?” Pasha's tone was somewhat bewildered. "Besides repairing the ruins and opening the path to the Radiant City, we haven't let the Devouring Worm go anywhere else—after all, it consumes too much food, which is difficult for us to afford."
Roland roughly explained the anomalies the witches had encountered in the Misty Forest and west of the Western Region, and had Scroll retrieve Soraya’s drawing of the giant beast’s devouring, “The tracks of both monsters point to a huge snow mountain, and their size is far greater than that of wild beasts.”
“It is indeed the Devouring Worm,” Pasha said after taking a deep breath after looking at the lifelike "photograph", "I'm afraid the snow mountain you mentioned also contains an underground civilization's ruins! According to ancient texts, they used to be all over the Dawn Realm. Wherever there were high mountains, there were traces of the worms. This can be seen from the riddled interior of the mountains. This record is not an exaggeration."
“But you believed the underground civilization had completely perished.”
“That's right, but the worm is just a shell, and its method of operation is the same as the original carrier. As long as a soul is transferred, it can be controlled to move.”
Hearing this, Roland's heart sank. He looked around and found that the expressions of the witches present had also become serious. Clearly, everyone had come to the same conclusion—the worm's two deployments, once against Agatha's research tower and once against the Devil's Camp, after excluding the three parties, the only remaining possibility was the race that had never shown its face.
Could it be that they discovered the ruins of the Snow Mountain and possessed the worm's shell?
If it were just that, it would only be a minor matter.
Following this line of thought, what if the Snow Mountain ruins also had a magic core and a carrier? Would the other party drastically improve their level of magic theory as a result, thereby creating instruments of divine punishment against the witches?
Also, according to the ancient texts, the more majestic the mountains, the larger the cities built by the underground civilization may be… Although the Snow Mountain isn't as vast and undulating as the Impassable Mountain Range and the Dragon Spine Mountains, its main peak is the highest in this region. If there really are a large number of shells there, he can't leave it alone.
“Your Majesty, please be sure to assist us in exploring this snow mountain!” Celine suddenly said anxiously, "If there are finished instruments stored there..."
“And the various carriers mentioned in the ancient texts—if they fall into the hands of the enemy, I'm afraid it will bring us great trouble.” Although Pasha's voice still sounded calm, judging from the rapid shaking of her tentacles, her inner fluctuations were no less than Celine's.
At the same time, noisy discussions rang out behind the meatball, and it was obvious that this news had caused a great wave among the remnants of Taquila.
Roland quickly understood the reason for their excitement.
Compared to the insensate bodies of the Divine Punishment Army, the carrier, although completely detached from the human form, was much better in this regard. At least they could feel hot, cold, sour, and painful, and they also had a certain sense of smell. Having been locked in a void cage for hundreds of years, it was no wonder that they would be so concerned about the news of a new carrier.
“Your worries are indeed very reasonable,” he said, feigning contemplation. “I had always planned to explore the Snow Mountain in the Western Region, but I lacked effective transportation and didn’t want to let the witches venture out alone, so I had to postpone it. With the cooperation of the Devouring Worm, it would be a good opportunity…”
“We will start the migration as soon as possible,” Pasha responded solemnly.
They were discussing a way to cooperate earlier, but unexpectedly, the opportunity came so quickly. In fact, even without the other party's request, Roland would have launched an investigation into the interior of the Snow Mountain. In addition to the need to eliminate potential threats near Neverwinter, he was also full of interest in this carrier that could easily dig large-sized tunnels underground.
Just imagine it, and you can understand how extensive its uses are!
Previously, he planned to turn the Impassable Mountain Range into a natural barrier to resist devils,
But it was not easy to achieve this in engineering. The roads between the mountains were rugged and steep, and the climate changed drastically. Just transporting cement and bricks was a headache. In addition, to garrison troops for a long time, in addition to the fortress turrets, barracks, roads, and necessary living facilities had to be built near the fortifications, which was a great challenge for the abilities of Hummingbird, Lotus, and others.
But with the Devouring Worm, he could completely dig a straight passage from behind the mountain, directly connecting the defensive points entrenched on each peak with the hinterland of Neverwinter. The ammunition depots and barracks built underground could effectively avoid the invasion of blizzards, and the flat tunnels could be used to lay railway tracks, using steam trolleys to transport soldiers and supplies.
Above is a reinforced concrete bunker, and below is a living area and a traffic line connecting in all directions. This is the true meaning of a natural defense line.
In addition, the underground pipelines and sewage pipes that are indispensable for urban construction are not a problem in front of the Devouring Worm. He could even declare that in this era, Neverwinter had an underground drainage system that people could travel through unimpeded. It can be said that before the tunnel boring machine was invented, this thing was simply a magical tool in the civil engineering world, and its role was no less than that of the magic core and the biological computer.
“I hope this is the beginning of us building trust.” Roland got up and walked to the light curtain, reaching out to the other party.
“Your Majesty, this is…”
“A handshake, representing a preliminary consensus between the two sides.” He said calmly, looking at the behemoth that was several meters taller than him.
The latter hesitated for a moment, then extended the thickest tentacle on its head, spiraling down and sticking to the palm of his hand.
It's a pity that Soraya isn't here, Roland thought. Otherwise, this scene would most likely be recorded in history.
When the phantasm connecting the two places began to distort, he suddenly asked, "Ah… By the way, you said that every high mountain may have left traces of the underground civilization, so what about the mountains under the deep sea?"
“Are there mountains under the sea?” Pasha asked in surprise, "According to ancient texts, their activity range is limited to the Dawn Realm, and there is no sign of them going to sea. Because most carriers are heavy and inconvenient to move in the water. Why do you ask this?"
“It's nothing, I'm just a little curious,” Roland shook his head.
They only appear in the Dawn Realm… It seems that the strange undersea spire and the telescope have nothing to do with them. But the huge stone gate watched by the old telescope, and the continent that can only be reached at high tide, whose territory is it? A third force always lurking in the dark?
I hope Lightning can find the answer.
While thinking, the purple light curtain disappeared without a trace after a burst of distortion.
The reception room returned to its former appearance.