Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 568 - 35 Grand Highland City_1

Chapter 568: Chapter 35 Grand Highland City_1

Grand Highland City, nestled among towering mountains, was flanked by unending mountain ranges on both sides, sandwiching it in the middle. As the gateway to the southern Mountains of the Dwarf Country Kulan, it was an architectural treasure created by the joint efforts of the three dwarf tribes. Anyone who has been to this city can’t help but admire its city design and architecture. Grand Highland City is rated among The City of a Thousand Islands in the Sea Country and the Elven Royal Court in the Lost Forest as one of the three wonders of the world’s cities.

Grand Highland City is a three-dimensional city built between two steep peaks. Geographically speaking, it should be considered a canyon city, which Hill Dwarves generally favor. However, this city actually blends the common habits of the three dwarf tribes and is not just limited to being a canyon city.

The city’s central part is located on the surface of the canyon. A towering city wall seals the entire canyon entrance. It reaches a dizzying thirty meters high and an astonishing twenty meters thick. The construction materials for the city wall are not just earth and stone, but consist of two meters thick of earth and stone, lined with one meter thick metal plates, and then another layer of two meters of earth and stone. Even under continuous bombing by strategic magic and a numerous crystal cannons for over a dozen days, it’d be tough to breach the city wall’s defense. The city gate made from pure metal is situated in the middle of the wall and is usually hidden underground. But in emergencies, it can rise directly upward while its deep sliding tracks are embedded inside the city wall on either side of the gate. Unless you completely destroy the gate, it’s impossible to knock it down with siege equipment.

Upon passing through the city gate, there is a sixty-meter wide street, known as Flame Street. The buildings on both sides of the street are erected at the foot of the mountains, but that’s not all. Above each building, four or five other buildings extend upward along the slope of the mountains. Each building only has one floor, with half built on the leveled slope needed for space and the other half is carved straight into the mountains, forming rooms that merge with the external half. Looking upwards along the mountains, it seems as if half a house covered the slopes, creating a very strange visual effect. However, these rooms are quite convenient to use. Stone steps are available for ascending along the slope. In addition to this, there are also cargo rails for lifting equipment. They just need to be registered and the user bears the cost of the consumed crystals.

Following Flame Street, you can enter the interior of Grand Highland City. Inside are two circular valleys- a smaller one of approximately thirty square kilometers, and a larger one of nearly seventy square kilometers. They are closely positioned next to each other, and when viewed from the air, they look like two nested discs. Flame Street extends from the entrance and runs through both valleys, serving as the main thoroughfare. The rest of the routes are arranged in concentric circles, layer by layer towards the center. Along each circular route, there are a large amount of buildings distributed beside the road. Numerous uniquely exterior buildings are constructed on the slopes of both valleys, just like along Flame Street, leading the entire Grand Highland City to develop three-dimensionally.

If anyone thinks that this is all there is to Grand Highland City, they would underestimate the power of the dwarves. Below the city, there is another layer of the underground city with a shape and size very similar to the upper layer. However, the lower city is mainly standby buildings and not open for public use, with less than a quarter of the area available for outsiders to enter. In this design, the three dwarf tribes can find what they need; Mountain Dwarves live in buildings on the slopes, Hill Dwarves reside in the ground buildings, while the Cave Dwarves typically can only be found in the underground shadow city.

As the southern gateway of the Dwarf Country in the Mountains, the only overland gateway, located at the intersection of Beastmen Prairie, the Sea Country, and Mountain Country, and with no other large cities within one hundred and fifty kilometers radius from these three countries, many believe that Grand Highland City should be a prosperous commercial city. However, only those who have been to the city know its disappointing reality – that Grand Highland City only has a very ordinary commercial and service industry. The true prosperity of the city lies in its transportation and wholesale industries, followed by the mercenary industry responsible for armed escort, and the adventurer industry. After giving it some thought, it does make sense, since the city is essentially a transit fortress. The peculiar-looking architectural complex and the underground city were designed in response to war. Even in times of peace, no country wants its fortress converted into a commercial and tourist center that anyone can peruse, so the current state of Grand Highland City isn’t surprising at all.

At noon, the adventure team finally arrived at their destination, outside the main gates of Grand Highland City, protecting three dwarves in tow. Two carriages advanced side by side, with Bart and Bren acting as coachmen. As soldiers of the Councilor’s guard, they had to master numerous skills, driving being one of them. Councilor Cella was with the four young ladies in the two carriages running parallel to each other, explaining through the carriage windows dwarven customs and anecdotes. Pannis was riding his magic-powered motorbike at a slow pace alongside them, occasionally interjecting with strange things he saw when adventuring around the world, creating a harmonious atmosphere. As for the other magic-powered motorbike, they all saw how Freya touched it a few times haphazardly, causing the well-functioning bike to suddenly disassemble into parts that restructured into several odd-looking four-legged animals under her control and crawled into her equally large backpack.

"Look, this is Grand Highland City, one of the greatest constructions of our clan," Councilor Cella pointed out with proud the magnificent city wall and city gate, "I dare say, in the world of Yarra, no race can replicate this grand city. Even your City of Knowledge in the Neutral Land, though it may be more vibrant than here, it certainly can’t match the architectural brilliance here."

"I quite agree with you on that," Catherine nodded, "The architecture of the Holy City is just ordinary."

The two carriages slowly approached the city gate. The forty-meter wide gate, reaching a height of ten meters, could allow almost any cargo vehicle to pass in both directions. Inside the twenty-meter long tunnel-like gate, along both side walls, a row of fully armed dwarf defenders stood. These defenders, specially trained, can form a defensive line in three seconds if anyone dares to enter the gate without permission, barring the enemy out with their high defensive strength. On the outer side of the city gate, there is a row of stone houses where incoming caravans need to register the type and quantity of their cargo and pay taxes accordingly, with a designated person in charge of random checks. However, ordinary travelers do not need to register and can enter the city at any time.

Of course, Councilor Cella did not need to register. After Bren went over and whispered a few words with the captain of the defenders at the gate, a team of twenty defenders quickly ran out from the city, escorting the two carriages and the magic-powered motorbike into the city.

"We’re finally back." Bren and Bart visibly relaxed. Although they did not encounter any enemies on the last few days of the journey, the residual tension made them feel weak as they finally let down their guard. Bart waved his hand to call over a few defenders, "You guys take over. Follow Lord Cella’s orders, we can’t hold on any longer."

"You two, return to the camp first." Cella said, considerately. "Our race suffered severe losses this time. A large number of upper-rank professionals have died in battle, even General Xainada. This was the consequence of my decision. I will explain to the council and the Elder Council. You have no responsibility but rather, you are heroes of our race. After a few days of rest, I will prepare a reward ceremony and medal ceremony for you. Lastly, I have to thank you. I wouldn’t have made it back safe and sound without your desperate protection. You are not only heroes of our race, but also heroes of our Gold Family, my heroes. Thank you."

"Being able to protect Lord Cella and ensure his safe return is the greatest honor of our lives." The two were very emotional, but refused, "However, we cannot accept an award that came at the cost of our comrades’ lives. If you would agree, we would like to exchange our awards and medals for a collective honor for the entire guards."

"Don’t worry, their honor will not be erased." Cella’s expression also became a bit darker, he spoke softly, "I remember every single child clearly, they all died for me, I won’t forget a single one. So, the award ceremony is for all one hundred and twenty of you... you two, plus one hundred and eighteen sets of..."

Speaking to this point, Cella felt her voice choking up, quickly changed the subject, and was silent for a moment before continuing, "You two better rest after you get back. I’ll notify you to see me at the Elder Council in two days. We’ll discuss the specifics then."

"Yes." The two dwarves beat their chests hard and said loudly, "We will be ready for your summon whenever, my Lord."

After the two dwarf soldiers left, Cella sighed deeply and shook her head, "They’re all good kids, but it’s me who led them to this. The Shadow Hand’s captain-level assassin is indeed terrifying, forcing me into this situation."

"Planning on a revenge?" Pannis asked quietly, "Against the Shadow Hand?"

"Let it go." Cella shook her head, "If we want revenge, we should find the person who ordered the hit. Who would think about breaking the knife after their kin was killed? Of course, if given a good opportunity, breaking a few knives isn’t a problem, but if we start a war just to break a few knives, that would be stupid."

"Huh, that’s a good analogy." Pannis laughed, nodding, "Now that we’re in the city, please help us find an inn, Cella. Catherine, let’s split up for a while."

"Are you going to meet that dwarf elder you mentioned the other day?" Catherine asked, "Go ahead. We’ll wait for you at the inn after we find one. You can find out where we are directly from Councilor Cella." (To be continued. If you like this novel, welcome to qidian.com to vote and support. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)