Light Fortress
Chapter 340 - 32 Heavenly Dog

Chapter 340: Chapter 32 Heavenly Dog

Gu Castle Fortress.

Snowflakes swirled in the air, and the cold wind was as sharp as a knife.

Within the attic, the light of the fire flickered, casting a warm glow.

"To meet with you, under Quasi-General’s command... it’s a great honor."

The man wearing a black mask sat upright in the guest chair, his demeanor formal and poised. Though his words were of gratitude, the tone of his voice carried not a hint of thankfulness... The raspy yet forceful sound echoed in the spacious attic parlor, indicating he was well-prepared.

"The honor should be mine..."

Before he could finish, a young voice interrupted him.

Sitting opposite the man, the Quasi-General’s subordinate was puffing on a cigar, legs crossed nonchalantly. His tone was even more perfunctory, equally devoid of any sense of honor.

The young Quasi-General patted the head of the big dog sitting at his feet. That Labrador evil dog was panting, steaming breath hissing from its tongue, and trying to please its master by nuzzling its nose against the palm of his hand.

Man and dog, both thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"The ’Heavenly Dog,’ famed as the chief among the three dogs... it’s not something just anyone can see."

Lin Lin slightly raised his eyes to the pitch-black mask on the face of the man sitting across from him, carved with the image of a ferocious evil ghost with interlocked fangs. The mask was a sinister and chilling portrayal, instilling a sense of dread in anyone who glanced its way.

One of the three "capable generals" under Duke Zhuxue’s command.

Each was stationed at a different fortress at the North Continent’s True Wing, only leaving their posts for major events... The irony of this statement felt quite pronounced at the moment.

Lin Lin was well aware of why Heavenly Dog had come to find him.

Calculating the time, the two sentries who had been ordered to request his departure from Gu Castle should have also returned to the advanced city to report their results... In truth, the so-called "results" didn’t need to be reported; Zhu Xue knew better than anyone that no matter how many sentries were dispatched, Lin Lin would not be persuaded to return to the advanced city.

"Three years, and another three years..."

Heavenly Dog enunciated each word, his voice stern, "You should make a trip back."

After saying that, his tone softened.

"...These are Lord Zhuxue’s exact words."

Indeed... he was being summoned back to the advanced city.

The moment Heavenly Dog’s airship entered Gu Castle Fortress, Lin Lin guessed the purpose of his visit. Yet even so, he still felt a headache coming on because the fellow before him was not as easily deceived as the previous sentries.

His own dog, ’Niuniu,’ which normally loved to bully the weak, was now pretending not to see the true ’evil dog.’ It dared only to crouch beneath him, licking his palm and wagging its tail, begging for affection.

If it really came to releasing the dogs.

His dog... was no match for Zhu Xue’s dogs.

"Regarding this matter... my response should have been made very clear by those two sentries," Lin Lin said with a smile. "I cannot leave Gu Castle Fortress right now."

Heavenly Dog narrowed his eyes, and an invisible aura began to slowly ripple across his body.

The Evil Ghost Mask seemed to come to life!

In an instant, the mask’s fangs seemed to grow gradually, the entire face distorting, expanding—

"Woof—"

The Labrador evil dog sensed the danger and leapt up, positioning itself behind its master, baring teeth and growling threateningly, the energy chain around its neck crackling with sounds, pulled taut as if Lin Lin would let go at any moment and it would pounce.

Well, well... quite an act.

Lin Lin gave his beloved dog’s head a pat, barely concealing his smirk. Knowing the dog’s temperament, if he were to let go of the leash now, the atmosphere could turn very awkward.

"What now... you plan on making a move on me here, to take me back to the advanced city?"

Lin Lin reached out to press a button on the table.

A dim light emanated from the bookshelves in the attic, enveloping both of them.

What is this?

Heavenly Dog frowned slightly.

"Although the fortress here is in a harsh environment with outdated technology... we still have things like ’real-time projection’," Lin Lin said calmly. "One more press of this button, and the images from this attic would be transmitted to the communicators of the commanders of Gu Castle’s thirteen squads. I can assure you, within a minute, your airship will be blasted to smithereens. It doesn’t matter if you’re Heavenly Dog or any other dog, and even if Duke Zhuxue himself came, it would be no use to attack me within the walls of Gu Castle."

The eyes beneath the Evil Ghost Mask flickered slightly.

Lin Lin discerned the Heavenly Dog’s intentions; this creature seemed to be weighing its options... Indeed, as one of the Fortress Guardians of the True Wing Fortress, the Heavenly Dog had an extensive understanding of the North Continent Fortress’s defense measures, as well as its garrison deployments.

Could this madman truly be contemplating taking action?

The next moment.

The distorted ghastly face of the mask slowly returned to its original form.

The stiff bristles on the back of the labrador evil dog also fell back into place.

"Do not misunderstand, Quasi-General’s subordinates,"

the Heavenly Dog said softly, "I am simply delivering a message on behalf of Lord Zhuxue... What I am doing is fundamentally no different from what those two sentries did before. However, compared to them, I am better at reflecting the Duke’s attitude."

As the chief of the three dogs, the Heavenly Dog personally arrived at Gu Castle Fortress.

This was sufficient to indicate...

that Duke Zhuxue was serious about this matter.

"The North Continent faces many troubles. Times have changed, and instead of the front lines, you should be appearing elsewhere... Gu Castle Fortress is indeed important, but you are not the only one who can hold it." The Heavenly Dog slowly leaned forward, bringing with it an immense sense of oppression once again.

The labrador evil dog returned to its taut, vigilant state, droplets of saliva beginning to dribble down; in fact, as soon as its gaze met that of the Evil Ghost Mask, its thoughts had already frozen over, along with its entire body stiffening.

The Heavenly Dog slowly extended a hand.

The black sleeve fluttered without any breeze in the attic.

Like scattering embers.

Eventually, the cold, five fingers rested upon the snarling, grimacing head of the large dog.

The man wearing the mask spoke in a gentle voice, caressing the dog’s head twice, and said, "Quasi-General’s subordinates, a biting dog doesn’t bark."

...

...

Not until the Heavenly Dog had left.

The oppressive atmosphere in the attic lingered, the fireplace flames danced, the fire seeming to cower low.

That "ferocious spirit" of a labrador evil dog maintained its aggressive stance, staring at the wooden door that had long since closed... Yet half an hour later, its legs still trembled uncontrollably.

"Coward."

Lin Lin sneered and scolded, "You eat so much yet don’t have the guts to fart!"

The large dog whined dejectedly with its head hung low.

It wasn’t that the dog didn’t dare to attack... but that the enemy was too formidable.

Lin Lin sighed in frustration, not continuing to blame the dog... He rubbed his temples, lost in deep thought.

He was certain that the Heavenly Dog hadn’t used any Extraordinary Power, yet it radiated an unusually powerful "presence"... How did it manage that?

This visit had clearly taken a serious turn.

The summons from the advanced city was becoming more and more urgent.

How much longer could he delay?

"Tick-tock."

"Tick-tock."

As complicated thoughts tangled, at the moment the attic clock pointed to the exact hour, a strange voice unexpectedly appeared in Lin Lin’s mind.

"Ling Qisan..."

He paused.

Thinking he had experienced auditory hallucinations.

"I am the ’Key’."