Thus, Gita became angrily silent.

It was Hilveld who smilingly explained for her, "Simply put, just imagine the entire Phantom Realm of Dolifen as a huge Earthbound Spirit that keeps reappearing because its longing has not dissipated."

"In fact, there have indeed been sightings of a strange woman appearing all over the city," Ditke suddenly added, "Some say she is the embodiment of the Dolifen Phantom, they call her — the Nonexistent Madam."

As he said this, he seemed to think of something and stopped talking.

The little French girl frowned, looking disgusted, "So are we essentially inside a giant ghost? Ew, so gross, I wouldn't have come if I knew."

Everyone couldn't help but be defeated by the little girl's bizarre thoughts, rolling their eyes involuntary.

"Since it's an Undead Phantom Realm, hasn't anyone tried to dispel it?" Fang Hong asked, turning back.

"Of course, there have been attempts," Gita replied, "Brother Ade, the priests from Elpaxin Oli Temple come here every February to conduct a dispelling ritual, and even the Great Holy Temple in Golande sends a specialized Staff-Wielding Bishop to lead the ceremony, but to little effect."

"If it's to little effect, then why bother with such a grand effort every year?" Tianlan didn't understand.

"Alright, Tianlan," Atira shook her head. "Don't always argue with Gita."

"Oh—"

Just at that moment, a skeleton shakily climbed out of the nearby ruins, pushing away rubble and emerging from beneath a fallen wall, debris falling off it in a noisy cascade.

Atira happened to look in that direction and, without thinking, took a spear from behind her and threw it in that direction, piercing the skeleton and bringing it down.

But the Lady Elf, upon seeing where the skeletal frame had fallen, let out a soft "hmm."

She walked over, and Fang Hong also saw the object and followed. He even got there first, pulled out the spear, turned over the skeleton, and pulled out a piece of torn cloth from underneath.

He shook the dust off the cloth, spread it out, and a red painted emblem unfolded on the fabric.

A battered Dragon Head with one horn missing.

"Ah—!"

Tianlan saw the object in Fang Hong's hands and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, while Fang Hong looked to Atira, who also watched the emblem with a grave expression.

"This seems to be part of a cloak, but this skeleton is probably not the original owner; there must have been a battle here before, and that's how the cloak was left," Fang Hong glanced at the fallen wall and pointed at a spot, "This break looks fresh, I recognize this mark — Piercing Shooting, the other side had a Night Hawk, but it's unclear who was attacking whom."

"Was it them?" Tianlan ran up and asked.

Atira and Fang Hong nodded simultaneously, both a bit surprised; they hadn't expected to find a clue so soon — the opposition was indeed in the city.

Before they could take a closer look at what had happened nearby, they heard Parker calling out urgently from ahead.

"Gita, Gita, come look, is this the thing that those people who attacked you were carrying?" Fang Hong turned back to see a Papalarian waving something and running their way.

This guy apparently never learned what 'being quiet' meant, nor how he managed to get the Thief Blade in Sanxiak.

Fang Hong couldn't help but touch his mask with some irritation.

...

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