Fort Guster.

Snow flew, and the cold wind cut like a knife.

Inside the attic, the firelight flickered, offering warmth.

"Brigadier General... it is an honor to meet you."

The man wearing a black mask sat on the guest chair, proper and upright. Although he spoke words of gratitude, there was not a hint of appreciation in his tone. His voice echoed in the spacious attic reception room, husky and strong, clearly prepared.

"The honor should be mine..."

Before he could finish, a young voice interrupted him.

The "Brigadier General" sitting across from the man was chewing on a cigar, legs crossed. Compared to the former, his tone was even more perfunctory, conveying even less of a sense of honor.

The young Brigadier General reached out to pat the head of the large dog at his feet. The Labrador was sticking out its tongue, panting hot air, and fawningly nudging its master's palm with its nose.

Man and dog were having a great time.

"The 'Tengu,' rumored to be the head of the Three Hounds... not just anyone can meet him."

Lin Lin slightly raised his eyes, focusing on the black mask on the man's face, which was carved with a snarling "ogre." It was a rather ghastly depiction, one that would inspire gloom in anyone who looked at it.

The three "capable aides" under Duke Casting-Snow.

They were each stationed in different fortresses on the Northern Continent's Eastern Wing. Only when major events occurred would they leave their posts... and that statement sounded rather ironic at this moment.

Lin Lin knew very well why the Tengu had come to find him.

Calculating the time, the two sentries who had been ordered to ask him to leave Fort Guster should have returned to Advance City to report the results... in fact, the so-called "results" didn't need to be reported at all. Casting-Snow understood better than anyone that no matter how many sentries were sent, it would be impossible to invite Lin Lin back to Advance City.

"Three years and another three years..."

The Tengu spoke, word by word, his voice stern, "You should go back for a visit."

After saying that, his voice softened.

"...These are Duke Casting-Snow's original words."

As expected... he was being summoned back to Advance City.

From the moment the Tengu's airship entered Fort Guster, Lin Lin had guessed the other party's intentions, but even so, he still felt a headache, because the guy in front of him didn't seem as easy to fool as the previous sentries.

"Niu Niu," who usually liked to bully the weak, was pretending not to see the real "ferocious dog," only daring to lie at his feet, licking his palm and wagging its tail in supplication.

If he really had to unleash the dogs...

His dog... was no match for Casting-Snow's dog.

"Regarding this matter... my reply, I believe those two sentries should have conveyed it very clearly." Lin Lin asked with a smile, "I still cannot leave Fort Guster."

The Tengu narrowed his eyes, and an invisible aura slowly rippled outwards from his body.

The ogre mask seemed to come to life!

In an instant, the fangs on the mask were gradually growing, and the entire face was twisting and stretching.

"Woof—"

The Labrador sensed the danger, abruptly rose to its feet, came behind its master, bared its teeth, and growled menacingly in its throat. The energy chain fastened around its neck crackled and buzzed, taut as a bowstring, as if it would leap out at any moment if Lin Lin loosened his grip.

Good heavens... he's putting on quite the act.

Lin Lin patted his beloved dog's head with a wry smile. Knowing its cowardly nature... if he released the leash at this moment, the atmosphere would become very awkward.

"What... you want to make a move on me here, and take me back to Advance City?"

Lin Lin reached out and pressed the button on the table.

A dim ray of light shone from the bookshelves in the attic, enveloping the two of them.

What is this?

The Tengu frowned slightly.

"Although the environment here at the fortress is harsh, and the technology is backward... we still have things like 'real-time projection.' I just need to press it again, and the images from inside the attic will be transmitted to the communication devices of the thirteen companies in Fort Guster." Lin Lin said calmly, "I can guarantee that within a minute, your airship will be blasted into nothing. Dare to attack me in Fort Guster, and it doesn't matter if you're the Tengu, or any other dog, even if Casting-Snow comes in person, it won't do any good."

The gaze behind the ogre mask flickered slightly.

Lin Lin saw through the Tengu's thoughts. This guy seemed to be weighing the situation... in fact, as one of the garrison commanders of the Eastern Wing fortress, the Tengu was quite familiar with the defense measures and deployment of the Northern Continent fortresses.

Is this madman really going to make a move?

The next moment.

The distorted ogre face on the mask slowly returned to its original form.

The fur standing on end along the Labrador's back also settled down.

"Don't misunderstand, Brigadier General."

The Tengu said softly, "I am only conveying a message on behalf of Duke Casting-Snow... what I am doing is essentially no different from the previous two sentries. However, compared to them, I am better able to represent the Duke's attitude."

The Tengu, the head of the Three Hounds, had personally come to Fort Guster.

This was enough to show...

Duke Casting-Snow was serious about this matter.

"The Northern Continent is facing many troubles. Today is not the same as yesterday. Compared to the front lines, you should be appearing in other places... Fort Guster is certainly important, but it is not as though only you can guard it." The Tengu slowly leaned forward, and a huge sense of pressure assailed him once again.

The Labrador returned to its tense, alert state. Large drops of saliva began to drip down. In reality, its mind had already frozen after making eye contact with the ogre mask, and its entire body had become stiff.

The Tengu slowly reached out his hand.

The black sleeves moved without wind in the attic.

Like scattered embers.

Finally, the cold, bony fingers landed on the head of the snarling dog.

The masked man's voice was gentle as he stroked the dog's head twice, saying, "Brigadier General, a dog that bites doesn't bark."

…

…

Until the Tengu left.

The pressure inside the attic remained. The fire in the fireplace leaped, the flames pressed down very low.

That "ferocious" Labrador remained in its attacking posture, staring at the wooden door that had long since closed... however, half an hour had passed, and its legs were still trembling uncontrollably.

"Coward."

Lin Lin sneered and cursed, "You eat so much for nothing, and you can't even let out a fart!"

The dog drooped its head and whined dejectedly.

It wasn't that it didn't dare to attack... it was that the enemy was too powerful.

Lin Lin sighed with disappointment, but didn't continue to scold it... he rubbed his forehead and fell into deep thought.

He was certain that the Tengu hadn't used any supernatural power, but he had exuded an unusually powerful "presence"... how was that done?

This visit was clearly serious.

The summons from Advance City was becoming more and more urgent.

How much longer could he delay?

"Tick."

"Tick."

Complicated thoughts swirled, and at the moment the clock in the attic pointed to the hour, a strange voice appeared in Lin Lin's mind out of nowhere.

"Zero Seven Three..."

He was stunned.

He thought he was hallucinating.

"I am [Key]."