Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1480 - 508: Return Journey and Upheaval (Part 3)

"I certainly did. However, their primary objective is to reach the third underground level, and they are even planning to descend further into the fourth. Do you honestly believe they would pay any mind to my suggestions?" Terrio replied, his gaze shifting downward.

"This..."

Rein and Haleem swapped looks, finding themselves momentarily speechless.

"Lord Terrio, will your refusal to join this mission result in any negative consequences for you?" Haleem inquired, unable to hide his concern.

"Not particularly. This operation is being spearheaded by the Military Department. In truth, my lack of participation is probably a relief to them. Those three individuals all share military roots. Furthermore, when they ascended to the rank of Dawn or reached the level of Sword Saint, they received substantial backing from the Military Department, which makes their circumstances entirely different from mine."

Terrio dismissed the concern with a casual wave of his hand.

"Understood," Rein said with a nod.

It was clear that even among those at the Epic rank, there were varying levels of intimacy and distance. Factions existed among such powerful figures, whether within the borders of the Empire or the Federation.

...

That night, after joining Rein for a formal banquet, Sword Saint Terrio departed.

However, Rein practically forced Haleem into a late-night discussion by candlelight, keeping him occupied until nearly two in the morning before allowing him to return to his quarters.

Truthfully, had Haleem’s current knowledge of goblin engineering not been almost entirely drained, Rein wouldn’t have let him leave so soon. Such chances to learn were far too rare to waste.

The outcome was undeniably fruitful; Rein’s progress toward 'mastering goblin engineering knowledge' had impressively climbed to 63%.

It wouldn't be much longer before Rein satisfied the requirements for this specific job change.

.....

The following morning.

Rein, Haleem, and several high-ranking officials from the Zetaya local government gathered at the airship docks to greet the Empire's delegation.

Across the western skies of Zetaya, a long procession of airships of various dimensions approached in two orderly columns, drifting slowly toward the city.

Simultaneously.

At the encampment near the cave, a robust man with short hair and piercing, eagle-like eyes arrived.

Unlike the Dawn Wizards Elvin and Garrett, who traveled with retinues, he came alone. He bore a strange, flat-headed greatsword with a black blade riddled with cracks, appearing as though it had been shaped from raw, unrefined ore.

The weapon had a peculiar characteristic: its tip was completely flat, looking as though the point had been deliberately severed.

"Lord Guiterrez, you have finally arrived. Garrett and I have been expecting you for some time."

"Elvin, it has been a while. Ah, I see Lord Gatler is present as well," Guiterrez greeted them with a smile.

With a prominent, angular jaw and thin lips, he possessed a very rugged look. Even his attempt at a smile appeared somewhat strained.

"By the way, Lord Guiterrez, perhaps you should take some rest—" Elvin started, but Guiterrez cut him off.

"There is no need, gentlemen. I am in peak condition."

"I believe we should not dally. I reviewed the basic mission details while traveling. We can discuss the finer points as we move forward," Guiterrez said, waving off the suggestion.

As the most senior veteran among the three, he held the authority to command the conversation.

"Haha, Lord Guiterrez is as decisive as ever. He is certainly much more reliable than that individual who retreated out of cowardice," Elvin remarked with a laugh.

Though he spoke no names, everyone present understood exactly who Elvin was mocking.

"Haha, perhaps Lord Terrio simply didn't feel like putting in the effort," Garrett added with a chuckle.

Guiterrez, however, did not share in the amusement. Instead, his brow furrowed slightly.

He was well aware of Terrio’s true power and suspected there were deeper reasons for his withdrawal, though he chose not to probe the matter at the moment.

Shortly after, a party of more than ten people, guided by three researchers, began their trek toward the Floating City Ruins.

Prior to their entry, everyone except the three Epic powerhouses was placed under a Deafness Technique to shield them from the influence of the whispers.

With two Dawn Wizards and a Sword Saint leading the charge, the group moved with great speed. They easily dispatched two patrols of mechanical land birds and soon reached the vicinity of the temporary camp where Haleem’s team had previously been cornered.

However, the breach Rein had previously carved into the first underground level had vanished.

"Eh? Where did it go? It was supposed to be right here," a researcher muttered, scanning the floor in a state of confusion.

"The structure must have restored itself," Gatler stated. He crouched down, pressing his right hand—which crackled with electricity—against the floor to sense the area, his voice low.

"Lord Guiterrez, neither Elvin nor I possess the skills to penetrate such dense metal plating. We must ask for your assistance."

"Very well, leave it to me," Guiterrez replied with a nod of agreement.

In the blink of an eye!

He performed a massive leap of over ten meters, swinging his Black Sword violently toward the floor...

Four dark sword beams instantly slammed into the metallic surface, carving the outline of a square.

"Boom!!"

Standing just outside the marked lines, Guiterrez followed up with a heavy punch.

He expected the metal floor to collapse into a square hole, but his expression suddenly shifted.

From the jarring vibration that traveled back up his arm, he realized the metal layer beneath had not been severed by his four sword strikes.

"It is incredibly thick!"

Guiterrez couldn't help but shout in surprise!

"What? You didn't break through?"

Elvin and Garrett were equally stunned!

Based on Haleem's reports, the young Epic expert from the Empire, Rein, had used Metal Series Witchcraft to melt the floor. They had assumed that if a youth could manage it, a seasoned Sword Saint would have no trouble cutting through it.

"In that case..." Elvin began to speak.

Suddenly, Guiterrez's expression turned grim. "Get ready! Something massive is approaching—it is likely the mechanical octopus mentioned in the reports!"

It was clear that their delay had drawn the attention of more mechanical monstrosities.

...