"Be careful not to let Mr. Ande see this, or you'll be in trouble."

Startled, Fang Hong quickly turned around to check.

The noble lady then smiled slightly, blinking: "And I'm not that fragile."

Indeed, she wasn't that fragile—

Fang Hong wanted to show off too, picking up a crate in each hand and chasing after. But not far out, he took a big tumble. After all, an alchemist's physique is still somewhat lacking compared to a gunslinger's.

Reluctantly, he was forced to summon his Walker.

Phales Copper Bay placed his luggage on the back of the carriage, jumped up, and watched the two walk into the snowstorm before turning around to ask, "Your student?"

The old man Fang Hong imagined to be inside the house was actually sitting inside the carriage, looking through the frost-covered window at the disappearing figures of Fang Hong and Hilveld, noncommittally: "More or less."

"What kind of answer is 'more or less'?"

"'More or less' is just 'more or less.'"

"Why did you suddenly agree to go south?" the dwarf asked, a bit puzzled.

"Old habits die hard," Ande replied, "the northern snow is heavier this year."

"Indeed, it has thickened quite a bit."

Phales Copper Bay saw Fang Hong slump and tumble into the snow.

"Why doesn't he use a Construct to help?"

"I remember that kid is a Combat Artisan."

Ande took a breath, gently let down the curtain, and replied only: "Who knows, maybe he's just an idiot."

...

Returning to Dulun, after the dormant period, the city began to regain a bit of its vitality.

Mostly because the nobles intended to celebrate the upcoming hunting season. Once the snow stopped a bit, people cleared the streets and decorated them with colorful drapes, giving the city a slight festive atmosphere.

The gallows in the square had also been removed, leaving only a bloodstained ground. Just a few days ago, Fang Hong had witnessed a conflict among the natives; soon after, the City Defense Force dismantled the gallows.

On the surface, the hunting season restored a bit of the past scene to Dulun, but underneath, everyone could sense the turbulent undercurrents.

Before returning to the inn, Fang Hong and Hilveld came face to face with a group of people.

They surprised him. These people wore heraldry with a black flame, members of the Shadow Throne guild, most of whom were Invokers. One of them blocked their path and asked, "Are you a member of the local adventure group?"

Fang Hong hesitated for a moment, looked at them, and seeing no hostility, gently nodded.

"Would you consider joining our Southern Alliance?"

"Southern Alliance?" Fang Hong was taken aback: "Wasn't it disbanded?"

"What do you mean 'disbanded'," the person was clearly displeased: "It's just a reorganization. And didn't you know that the Southern Alliance's reorganization was the Super Competitive League's decision? In the future, the south will be an important competition zone in the country."

The person continued: "Now this is the reorganized Southern Alliance. If you join now, the core guilds still need members."

Fang Hong shook his head. He was just asking out of curiosity and definitely didn't plan to join this so-called Southern Alliance.

But the person clearly wasn't planning to let them go until he thoroughly explained that they were adventurers from the north just passing through. After confirming multiple times, did the person finally let them leave, albeit suspiciously.

After all, no matter how broadly the Southern Alliance's reach spread, it couldn't cover the whole Colin Ishurian's adventure group. After these people left, Fang Hong entered the inn and saw Lady Kuisu stepping out.

"Captain, you're back?" Lady Kuisu was a bit surprised to see him.

Fang Hong brushed the snow off himself, nodding, then asking, "What's with those people outside?"

Lady Kuisu shook her head, looking outside: "A few days ago, the Southern Alliance announced its reorganization. Those people are the—"

Fang Hong suddenly reacted: "Wait, let me guess, the main force of this so-called new Southern Alliance isn't the original three big guilds, is it?"

Lady Kuisu nodded: "I don't really know much about your Holy Choosers' guilds, but I heard it's something called BBK Alliance, mainly comprising the Shadow Throne and a few other guilds... I'm quite familiar with these guilds."

Fang Hong thought to himself: indeed, the Super Competitive League wouldn't easily give up. However, rebuilding the Southern Alliance, without the cooperation of the Alchemist Alliance, does the Shadow Throne and its few guilds really have that much influence?

Upon inquiry, it was of no surprise that the situation had become chaotic in recent days.

Although the Southern Alliance had already disbanded, much like the disbandment of the V.E.M before, the current Southern Region seemed to be gradually dividing into two factions. But having read the message from Sophie before, there was an unsettling premonition in his heart.

Having witnessed the division of the V.E.M, this division of the Southern Region likely would not be completed so easily.

The Super Competitive League surely still had a fallback.

...

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