Chapter 27: The Giant “Late Bell”
As Li Wen got closer to the inner city of Amber City, she could feel the unusual dead silence and desolation even more.
Li Wen reached the end of the stone bridge, and a towering city wall blocked her path. Amber City did not need to defend against anyone; if it had to count, it would only be the exiled from the outer city, so the city wall was meant to stop those exiles.
Unfortunately, too much time had passed, and this city wall was no longer guarded. The stone city gate was open, welcoming anyone to enter.
Li Wen walked in, as if entering a giant graveyard.
All buildings in Amber City shared a uniform black style. It was difficult to find traces of human life here; everywhere was empty. According to the intelligence from the strategy team, there were at least three places that absolutely should not be approached: the Bell Tower, the Council House, and the Witch Scolding House.
The buildings of these three places were highly recognizable and were not in the same direction as the Amber Temple in the center of the inner city, making them difficult to encounter.
Li Wen was unfamiliar with the way and had difficulty discerning directions, but according to the strategy guide, as long as she kept walking along the path she entered, she could reach the Temple and avoid most dangers.
Although this statement was a bit strange, since it was produced by the strategy team, it should be ninety percent credible.
So Li Wen walked straight ahead. As expected, she didn’t encounter anything unusual on the way. From a distance, she saw a pyramid-like building. That was the Council House, where the nobles and Twilight believers discussed political affairs in the city.
The nobles of Amber City were said to be descendants of the long-lived, who had completed the initial establishment of Amber City and were the initial components of the Twilight Witch’s believers.
After walking for who knows how long, Li Wen felt she should have reached the Temple by now, but there was no building that looked like a temple in front of her, only a towering tower.
It looked almost exactly the same as the spire at the entrance, only taller. It was entirely deep black and did not look like any temple.
Li Wen keenly sensed something was wrong.
“Come here, over here.”
A voice sounded directly in Li Wen’s mind. After hearing it, Li Wen couldn’t even resist and walked straight towards the tower.
At the top of the towering tower, a giant sat there.
“That’s right, little one, right here.”
Li Wen felt her whole body relax and regained control of her body.
She looked up at the giant. The giant was wearing a tattered cloak, thin and withered all over, not at all like the giants Li Wen remembered. Giants were a species from the mythological era, and it was almost impossible to find their figures in the present world. Mountain monsters and the High Mountain Race were more common, and it was said that they were descendants of giants.
However, in this city, which had been forgotten by the river of time, the appearance of such a long-vanished existence did not seem strange.
“I am the guard of this Bell Tower, you can call me ‘Late Bell’,” the giant said, speaking in the common Terran language, its voice booming, making Li Wen’s ears feel uncomfortable.
Bell Tower?
Li Wen’s mood became very subtle. The Bell Tower was one of the three forbidden zones in Amber City mentioned by the strategy team. She had either taken the wrong path, or the strategy was wrong.
There was another possibility: the giant had used some means to bring her here unknowingly.
But wasn’t it said that the long-lived would not pay attention to invaders? Li Wen felt she had been deceived.
“I just entered here by mistake, I have no other intentions.” Li Wen pondered her words and spoke cautiously.
Heaven knew what state this giant long-lived was in. If she offended him and was not allowed to set foot in Amber City again, it would be funny.
The Giant Late Bell spoke, its voice like thunder.
“I don’t care about your purpose, nor will I stop you from walking in this city, but I have some things that need you to complete, so I let you live and come before me.”
Li Wen’s heart leaped.
“What do you mean?”
“Literally, it means I let you survive.”
Was this when they were talking about the Blazing Orb? Li Wen suddenly understood. She had been wondering how such a low probability happened to her; it turned out a long-lived was messing with things behind the scenes.
Although she didn’t need the help of a long-lived at all.
“Although the facts are hard to accept, this is the situation. Without me, you would have died at that time.” The Giant Late Bell did not seem to understand Li Wen’s uniqueness as a player, which was understandable, considering Amber City had not been in contact with the outside world for a very, very long time.
“That Fire Mage, did you kill him too?” Li Wen suddenly asked.
“I only needed one survivor.” Late Bell admitted generously.
In other words, from the moment they entered Amber City, they had been monitored by a long-lived.
“You said there are things you need me to do. Do those things have anything to do with the Amber Temple?” Li Wen asked tentatively.
“Relax, little one, this has nothing to do with the Amber Temple or the Original Text of the End.” The giant chuckled, like a kind old man. “I know why you’re here. Ah, the perfect Twilight System, a symbol of eternity and the end… Ever since our Master ascended higher, or perhaps passed away, the Twilight Pillar has been vacant. Whether it’s humans, elves, or even demon gods, all covet the Twilight System. Of course, you do too, right?”
“Don’t you covet it?”
Li Wen did not answer directly but retorted.
“During the End Ritual, all living long-lived swore to the Master not to tamper with the Original Text of the End.”
I see, it’s not that they don’t covet it, but that they cannot covet it.
The oaths of the transcendent were binding, especially since this oath was made before a pillar god like the Twilight Witch. Naturally, even the long-lived could not violate it.
“Then what do you need me to do?” Li Wen said calmly. A player like her would accept any task as long as the reward was sufficient, and whether to do it or not was her own business.
“A very simple request.” Late Bell slowed down its voice, like a kind old man. “I would like to ask for your help to find someone in the outer city, that is, through the other door of the spire.”
Its tone was as casual as asking to find anyone on the street.
The people in the outer city were nothing but exiled criminals. In the Golden Age, releasing a long-lived exiled to the outer city would be a serious crime.
“After you find him, tell him this is Late Bell’s request, and he will understand and follow you obediently.”
Li Wen found this matter too ridiculous.
“What about the reward?”
“I saved you.” The Giant Late Bell was amiable, seemingly never getting angry.
“I want a reward.”
The Giant Late Bell was silent for a moment, then said, “You cannot enter the Temple. The Daughters of Amber will tear you apart, just like they did to previous intruders. But I can help a little, this does not violate the oath.”
“Are you saying that people have entered Amber City before?” Li Wen frowned. This was something she had never heard of. “Then why do you want me to do this? Could it be that those people were unwilling before?”
This was not something they could decide and refuse at will.
“No, they are not like you.” Late Bell shook its giant, withered head. “You are favored by fate. This… only you can do it.”
Li Wen suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
