That's right, that's what adventure is like!

Chapter 88 Planning

Seth pulled a handkerchief from his person and was carefully wiping away the bloodstains from the wounds on his face when he heard Roland's words and was slightly taken aback.

"The Blue Crystal Heart? Why are you interested in that?"

Roland didn't explain, but instead looked at a black line on his wrist.

This thing came with him to the Blue Crystal Mountains, along with a piece of information that inexplicably appeared in his mind.

"Find and seize the Blue Crystal Heart within three days."

"

This is probably the last test that organization gave them.

Seth followed his gaze to the black mark, and knowing better than to ask any further questions, scratched his head and said, "I once heard about the Blue Crystal Heart from a quartermaster officer. It's said to be extremely precious."

Harvey leaned against the earthen wall, slowly stroking his matted beard with his large, thick fingers, then suddenly sneered, "Ha, not just precious, this stuff is ridiculously expensive!"

Seeing that both of them were looking at him, he continued, "What do you think we're doing fighting like this?"

"Isn't it all about reclaiming territory?" Seth's eyes held a hint of doubt. "The Empire retreated here, so we'll fight until here, isn't that right?"

"idiot!"

Harvey angrily cursed, then realized the situation and lowered his voice: "How could it be that simple?"

"Think about it carefully. Although the Blue Crystal Mountains are a strategic pass, they are resource-poor. With the empire's strength, there's no need for them to hold it to the death. Why are they still wasting their time here?"

Roland nodded slightly; what he said made sense.

According to the situation map Yog gave him, the Empire's reinforcements are already on their way. When they arrive, they will crush not only the Blue Crystal Mountains, but the entire kingdom. Defending here is just a waste of resources.

If that's the case, why does the empire want to stay here?

The answer is obvious.

"The Heart of Blue Crystal —" Harvey's tone was slightly complicated as he sighed softly, "My grandfather once told me that this thing is a high-magic crystal that is only formed once every few thousand years in the entire Blue Crystal Mountain Range. Judging by the time, it's about time for it to be successfully formed."

"High magic? How high can it be?" Seth asked with some curiosity.

"—High enough to be used to build the core of a floating city."

Seth's fingertips trembled, nearly causing him to drop the handkerchief: "Floating city? Isn't that just a legend?"

"Legend my foot!" Harvey glared at Seth. "I told you dwarves' talent is engineering. Did you even bother to look it up in the books?!"

Seth gave an awkward laugh and didn't dare to continue the conversation.

Harvey continued, "Floating cities are not a legend. Many powerful forces, including the Empire, have them, but they don't usually deploy them because they consume too much energy."

"A single Blue Crystal Heart is enough to keep a floating city running for decades, making it extremely valuable strategically. That's why both the Empire and the Kingdom are keeping an eye on it."

After saying that, he looked at Roland again, his voice low: "Kid, don't blame me for not warning you, this thing is not something we can touch, and even if we get our hands on it, we can't protect it."

Roland nodded, but his mind was already elsewhere.

As he expected, this test was extremely difficult. Not only did he have to survive on the battlefield, but he also had to seize the treasure that both sides coveted.

If the Empire obtains this Blue Crystal Heart, it will undoubtedly become even stronger, giving it an extra advantage in the struggle for supremacy on the continent.

If the kingdom obtains it, although it will not have a floating city to use, it can still buy some breathing room by trading it with the empire.

For that organization, its value was no less than that of the dragon egg.

They really don't suffer any loss at all!

Roland let out a slow breath and looked at Harvey: "If I wanted to get my hands on this, when do you think I'd have the chance?"

"You One"

Harvey, seeing that his reminders were completely useless, gritted his teeth but still offered a solution: "If you really want to get involved, the only way is to find a way to infiltrate the army, find out the exact location, and then you'll have a chance to get your hands on it."

.

"There's no chance with the Empire; they won't accept non-native soldiers. The only option is to try our luck with the Kingdom, since we're short of manpower right now."

He looked Roland up and down and nodded slightly: "Your strength is not bad. As long as your identity can be verified, there shouldn't be any major problems."

Roland nodded.

The three quickly discussed their plan, fabricated a story that was half true and half false, and then went to rest.

Two hours later.

Harvey gently nudged Roland's shoulder with the handle of his axe, and when Roland opened his eyes, he whispered, "Let's go."

"

Emerging from the cave, the blue crystal tree's light was much dimmer than before, and fine dewdrops condensed on its leaves, making the entire forest seem to be immersed in blue mist.

The fires atop the mountain had died down, leaving only a few burning spots, and the sounds of battle in the distance had disappeared, indicating that they had entered a period of rest and recuperation.

Harvey glanced at the marks on the ground, saw that the stone was still there, breathed a slight sigh of relief, and put it back into his bag.

He walked in front, cautiously surveying the surroundings, and led the two onto a small path, slowly making their way along the winding mountain wall.

This area is still under imperial control, so it's never too much to be cautious.

Seth looked at him like this, and his voice became more complicated.

"We used to live in Longwind Valley," he suddenly said, his gaze falling on the pitch-black battlefield below the hillside. "I wanted to go on an adventure, so I came to Broken Rock Town."

Roland didn't say anything and continued walking forward.

Seth organized his thoughts, then looked at his brother who was leading the way, his voice hoarse.

"It was after that cemetery mission that I learned that Changfeng Valley had been occupied by the Empire, and my brother was forced into exile and then joined the king's army."

"I chased after him all the way here, trying to help him escape the army, but it was too late when I arrived, and I got trapped myself. I never expected that our last meeting would be here—"

Harvey walked at the front, snorting coldly, clearly displeased with his foolish behavior, but ultimately did not scold him.

"And then?" Roland asked.

"And then?" Seth gave a bitter laugh. "And then there was nothing more. The war just got bigger and bigger, and now we can't get out of here."

He turned to look at Roland, his eyes filled with weariness: "I'm telling you this to tell you that it's easy to get into the army but hard to get out. If you're not absolutely certain, you still have a chance to turn back."

Roland remained silent.

Seth, thinking he didn't believe him, pointed to the nameplate at his waist, the runes on it radiating magical energy: "Every soldier has this. It can not only track their location, but also determine whether they are friendly forces."

"Why not just throw it away?" Roland asked.

"It's not that easy," Harvey sneered as he turned around. "The king may be stupid, but he's ruthless to his own people. This rune is stained with blood. If we go too far away, those high-ranking officers will notice it."

He paused, then said in a low voice, "Escape isn't impossible, but you'll need to have some connections, understand what I mean?"

Roland looked at the light in the dwarf's eyes and understood that the dwarf was already plotting something, but he did not ask any further questions.

Everyone has their own goals, and he's currently preoccupied with his own, so naturally, he's prioritizing the Blue Crystal Heart.

The three continued walking in silence. About half an hour later, Harvey suddenly stopped and raised his chin in front of him.

"We've arrived."