Before leaving the ancient labyrinth city, Law didn't say goodbye to Giles. During this time, he also didn't pay attention to Giles and his severely injured companion's situation.
Lending a hand to help was because they were fellow Dark Continent explorers, not out of kindness or enthusiasm.
Therefore, Law wasn't enthusiastic enough to care about Giles' subsequent situation.
Moreover, the danger level in the Ancient Labyrinth City now was historically the lowest. Frankly speaking, it had become a treasure land that could be developed for a long time.
For Giles and Kincaid, it was probably an opportunity not to be missed.
Of course, it wasn't without risks.
Currently, there were still many wandering-type Brions in the ruins and embryo entities revived and freed due to restored electricity.
Additionally, there was a hidden risk: the lurking Gatekeeper Clan, unknown when they would attack again.
However, compared to before, the danger was much lower.
Law and his group left, while Giles and Kincaid actually remained in the Ancient Labyrinth City.
They didn't know Law's group had already left. Even if they knew, it wouldn't affect their next plans.
Kincaid, who luckily survived, didn't feel any sense of relief. Regarding death, he had long been mentally prepared.
Since not dead yet, continue completing the tasks assigned by the International Permit Agencies.
After his injuries stabilized relatively, Kincaid's suggestion was: collect useful items that wouldn't affect mobility, then leave here as quickly as possible.
Don't be greedy… otherwise, they'd miss a rare opportunity.
Kincaid understood this better than Giles.
Compared to Kincaid's calmness and decisiveness, Giles found it hard to let go.
He had failed and retreated here many times, and now was the best opportunity.
During this time, he kept searching for intact herbs but, regrettably, never found any, only finding two types of seeds.
Though very unwilling, what could he do?
About a week after Law's group left the Ancient Labyrinth City, Giles and Kincaid also left this ruin that had buried countless expedition members.
Looking back, their expressions were complex.
Kincaid whispered, "Are they still in the ruins?"
"Don't know." Giles turned back, focusing on the road ahead, saying in a peculiar tone, "Regardless, wish them luck."
"Hmm, wish them luck. As for us, we need to think about how to return safely to the Imaginary Continent."
"Only... rely on luck." Giles' tone was grave.
Hearing this, Kincaid fell silent. If the Gatekeeper Clan's stance had fundamentally changed, the guides might not necessarily safely escort them to the Imaginary Continent.
But now they had no choice. As Giles said, they could only return to the landing point and try their luck.
If the guides refused to escort them, they could only remain on the Dark Continent.
Law's group easily returned to the coastline, then focused on traveling.
As long as they followed the coastline, they could reach the Red Rock Land where they first landed on the Dark Continent, then enter the underground world from there.
For Law's group, the danger coefficient of the Dark Continent's coastline was basically negligible.
During the journey, the team atmosphere was less tense than before, and everyone was relatively relaxed.
Traveling along the coastline, they occasionally saw behemoths breaking the sea surface in the distant sea.
The stirred waves were like shattered glass, and under sunlight, it formed rainbow bridges.
Whenever hearing giant sea beasts' commotion and looking towards the sound, it always reminded Tonpa and the others of the old turtle, which whereabouts was unknown, and those massive sea beasts in the deep ocean, so huge their ends couldn't be seen.
The Dark Continent was vast. The time needed from east to west couldn't be roughly estimated by anyone.
But just following the coastline was like traveling on an unlimited-speed highway, allowing them to maximize speed.
Going to the western Dark Continent, to the Red Land, to the underground world… just a matter of time.
Imaginary Continent, Boundary Great Wall.
On the flat ground, in the center, a giant tree stood quietly.
A treehouse was built in the middle section… This is the residence of the Gatekeeper, Blue Shadow.
Inside, shabby and simple. Blue Shadow sat on a wooden chair. On the table before him was a mirror.
The mirror reflected Red Shadow's appearance. Voice came from it: "I order you to retract the command. If you understand, comply honestly."
Red Shadow's tone was bad, his face clearly displeased.
Compared to the nearly furious Red Shadow, Blue Shadow looked calm, saying indifferently, "I won't retract it."
Hearing Blue Shadow's stubborn answer, Red Shadow's expression turned ugly, suppressing anger as he growled, "Blue Shadow, I'm ordering you as the clan leader, not requesting you as your elder brother!"
"So what? Even if you obtained the Stone Book's key, you can't interfere here, including my responsibilities." Blue Shadow's expression remained unchanged, his tone still calm as water.
"You...!"
In the mirror, Red Shadow's face was full of rage.
Correspondingly, he could also see Blue Shadow's calm, water-like expression on the other side.
"Anything else? Clan Leader." Blue Shadow said calmly.
"..."
Red Shadow said no more, angrily ending the ability, cutting off communication.
He wanted Blue Shadow to retract the command imposed on the Guides, completely cutting off the retreat for humans on the Dark Continent.
He originally thought such thing to be simple, so he didn't expect this result.
In the treehouse, Blue Shadow lowered his eyelids, suddenly sighing deeply.
"I am not a pawn you planted. Now, you should finally understand."
"Reform can indeed bring change, but the changed situation might bring catastrophic disaster."
"Have you ever considered that?"
Blue Shadow stood up, and went to the treehouse entrance.
As usual, he sat at the platform edge, alone quietly watching sunrise, sunset, wind, rain.
Decades, centuries, even millennia.
As long as the [Mobius] residing within him existed, such days would continue endlessly.
But Blue Shadow had a premonition: This long life might end not far in the future.
And the source of trouble was the clan's reform.
"Initiative... has always been in 'their' hands. Absolutely impossible... to seize."
…
At a vast plain, the grass tips are like blades.
Just a light touch, and bodies would split in half.
Don walked atop the grass tips, holding a small piece of amber-like translucent crystal.
While walking on grass, he looked down at the crystal in his hand.
Through the clear crystal, a small segment of a human finger was visible.
"Coo, you should clearly understand: staying within bounds is what the Gatekeeper Clan should do. When you're complacent about your identity, unaware, that clan persistently collecting relics now only needs to lift a finger to destroy everything you're proud of."
Don muttered to himself, looking down. Behind him was the vast, unobstructed Ink Plain.
"I, perhaps, should have chatted with you a bit longer."
Wind came… the plain suddenly rustled, like insect chirping.