"Do you, the Hero, also know about this matter?"
The disappearance of the current Saintess, although it has been a while, the information related to it is still strictly controlled, only disseminated within a narrow scope. Even the Clerics and Nuns at the Border are not clear about this matter. Logically speaking, the Hero should not have known.
The Fourteenth Princess also looked at the Hero in surprise, and the two of them started to discuss their recent experiences.
"So that's what happened… Such a thing happened."
[Sergeant's Understanding of the Ancient Royal City]
"Was it him who told you, no wonder."
Listening to the Hero mentioning the previous visit by the Cruising Bishop, the Sergeant nodded in acknowledgment.
"Did he not tell you about any other matters?" The Sergeant's tone carried a hint of probing.
Faced with the Sergeant's indirect probing, the Hero shook his head in confusion.
"I reminded him that Lady Saintess's disappearance might be related to the Black Gate, and he left very agitatedly.
"I was also planning to visit the Church afterward, but I don't know if he's still there."
If it was to investigate the disappearance of the Saintess, it's not surprising that the Cruising Bishop had left the Border.
[Is the Cruising Bishop still at the Border?]
"Hmm, is that so, perhaps he has his considerations..."
The Sergeant pondered for a few seconds, but still did not say much.
"Regarding your guess, although somewhat far-fetched, it actually isn't without reason."
Returning to the Hero's conjecture about the Black Gate, the Sergeant's attitude was non-committal. Although there was no evidence, considering the extent of infiltration by the Black Gate within the Kingdom's dark sides, most malicious incidents could be linked to them.
Often, some seemingly ordinary cases of burglary or murder, upon a bit more investigation, would reveal that the locks and Dark Magic Scrolls used by the robbers were produced by the Black Gate.
"But after all, the disappearance of the Saintess is an internal affair of the Church, and before they actively seek help, it's not advisable for us to intervene directly." As a general of the border army, the Sergeant could also represent the Kingdom.
"Sergeant, let's talk about the Ancient Royal City then. I've only seen some descriptions in the Royal Family's archives, but if I'm not mistaken, you once participated in its Exploration?"
The Fourteenth Princess timely spoke, carrying a tone of curiosity.
"I saw your name on the list of explorers at the time, and I suppose there wouldn't be a second person with both your name and the capability of exploring that place in the Kingdom."
Hearing the Fourteenth Princess's words, the Hero looked forward with anticipation at the stout man in front.
"Your Highness is not mistaken, but to say it was an Exploration might not be quite appropriate."
The Sergeant recalled the past, his expression nostalgic.
"After all, we didn't truly delve into the core prohibited areas. At best, we conducted some investigative tasks in the outskirts.
"But even such investigation was quite arduous and resulted in the loss of many expensive instruments. After that, the area was officially declared a prohibited zone, and no one has attempted to approach it since."
His expression was complex, clearly showing that it was a memorable experience for the Sergeant.
Then, he extracted a sheet of white paper from the file, and under the fast-moving hand of a Legendary Strongman, a lifelike sketch quickly emerged:
A lightless sky covered by heavy, tangible clouds, and above the clouds, a dilapidated metropolis floating in the high sky.
The ruined city mostly submerged in the sea of clouds; the shattered city walls and fragments of buildings floated in the sea of clouds as if unbound by gravity.
Within the sea of clouds, thunder painted black soared like sea dragons, diving like sharp spears onto the earth below, turning the land beneath into a lifeless dead zone devoid of any grass.
"This, is the scene I witnessed back then," said the Sergeant solemnly.
"This is [], also the ruins of Miracle City destroyed by []."
1. The original capital of the Kingdom
2. Relics of the Ancient Kingdom♛
Both unconsciously held their breaths, gazing at the sketch of the ruins of the ancient Royal City on the paper, while the Sergeant's steady and powerful voice drew the girls' thoughts into that desolate and ancient scene.
"The overwhelmingly chaotic environment of Magic Elements there makes it nearly impossible for life to survive. Even Professionals would find breathing difficult, and movement extremely arduous. And for ordinary people, merely being there could be life-threatening.
"That's not all; the clouds surrounding the Royal City contain extremely violent Magic Power, constantly generating thunder comparable to Mid-level Magic. If stimulated by external elements, its intensity would grow exponentially. A slight mishap, even for a Legendary Strongman, would make it difficult to escape unscathed.
"The last remnants of an ancient Foreign Country in the world, destroyed by a Magic Disaster, the already shattered Miracle City, that is the natural barrier located in the [] part of the Kingdom—"
[East South West♛ North]
"Cloud Top Ruins, the Ancient Royal City."
[LV (Critical Success Extreme Failure +50, Saintess Disappearance +15)]