Chapter 140: The Underworld
Though it was Lin Ming’s guess, he was more than confident. Yet, he still didn’t know the strength of the Giants’ powerhouse. They must be hiding a huge secret, but not in any ordinary cities.
He took out his map—the cities were scattered, yet, they were all surrounding the largest city in the center. If he wanted to reach it, he must pass through layers of different defenses. The effort to do so would’ve worn him out.
“I wonder how the Second-in-command is doing?” Lin Ming mumbled. Using Dark Magic, he located the man and flew to his side. Following Lin Ming’s arrival, everyone knelt.
Lin Ming hurriedly waved his hand to stop them. “If you continue to stay here, I’m afraid you would never be able to escape the fate of being traded,” he sighed, gazing at them with pity in his eyes.
The people flinched. “Please, help us again. You are our life savior!” Pleas surrounded Lin Ming.
Lin Ming only felt compassion and empathy for the people. Since he was a Tier 7 Mage, it wasn’t difficult for him to get a city to take them in.
Once he had completed their requests, he walked out of the city again, studying the kingdom on the map. He still owned the thought of heading to the next Giant City as he couldn’t accept that humans were treated as objects by the Giants. They could be eaten, enslaved, mistreated—even abused!
Taking another deep breath, Lin Ming strode forward. He needed to break the chain, stop the Giants’ shameless act once and for all.
“Where are you headed?” A voice interrupted.
“Master!” Lin Ming whipped around as he heard the familiar voice.
Gandulf was already standing in front of him, and he smiled.”Are you off to another Giant City?”
“Yes,” Lin Ming paused, his brows knitted together. “Could I ask something, Master? Why did none of the empires face the Giants off?”
“They have their reasons.” Gandulf had been expecting his question. “In fact, in the Giant’s Kingdom, there is a written rule banning the trade of humans. You had arrived at the most edge of the cities, which was why you bore witness to such a scene.”
Lin Ming was perplexed. “Since there is a rule, why are there still humans traded in more than half of the cities at the outermost border?” How could the Giants act brazenly?
“The humans carry no protection from the empires. Plus, there is no one to supervise the border cities,” Gandulf replied.
“No one to supervise? What are the rulers of the kingdom doing?” Lin Ming frowned again. Were the peripheral cities serving only as of the encirclement of the central city?
“The core of our world is located at the central Giant City. Numerous Underworld creatures exist there. Thus, the Giants have been guarding the area. We humans have always sent experts to help them out, while the same goes for other races. Those who own power have always gone to the middle and never the border. That is the reason behind.”
Lin Ming was at a loss for words. He had thought the Giants’ eradication was necessary. However, the last thing Lin Ming had expected was that the Giants were protecting the core from foreign invasions. He didn’t know how to proceed now, and he inhaled a deep breath to keep his mind steady.
“No matter what, the Giants are wrong to treat humans as objects!” Humanity was distinctive, and as a human, Lin Ming felt the need to protect humans. Just because most of the people traded were ordinary people, he shouldn’t give up his faith.
“You are right. It is indeed time we put a halt to this matter.” Gandulf nodded, and he changed the subject. “Right. Soon, it would be the next decade, and it is my turn to protect the core.”
“They need you to protect the core?” Lin Ming sounded reluctant, and he asked, “Master, why don’t you seal the core?”
“That is because there are other Sage Tier Mages in the core. Our agreement states that none of us Sage Tier Mages could participate in the war. If Sage Tier Mages from both sides attacked simultaneously, the impact on both worlds would be too immense. And every ten years, we have three Sage Tier Mages guarding the core to prevent any ambushes.” Gandulf sighed. It would’ve been easier to seal the core, of course.
“Since their Sage Tier Mages aren’t engaging, the minions below Sage Tier wouldn’t pose any threat now, would they?”
“It does not look as simple as it seems. It’s not only about the intrusion of outside forces,” Gandulf answered.
At this instant, Lin Ming came to his comprehension. He stopped prying. Moments later, he spoke, “Master, I’ll come with you.”
“You will?” Gandulf smiled.
“Yes. Since no Sage Tier Mages would be involved, no one could pose a fatal threat to my wellbeing. I could even undergo my training while contributing to the world. So why not?”
Gandulf nodded in agreement. “Any warriors of the Underworld with the same level as that of ours would be stronger in all aspects. It would be great training. You shall also settle the human trafficking issue. That would be killing two birds with one stone.”
“All right.”
So Gandulf brought Lin Ming back to make arrangements for their trip, but Lin Ming didn’t need any.