But the one in front of me... no matter how you look at it, is just a slightly arrogant researcher enjoying his bedtime.
The other person's composure and sarcasm felt like an invisible slap across his face.
“Routine inspection! The seas have been turbulent lately!” Rick barely suppressed his surging anger and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.
Even if planting a mark on a suspected target is an unspoken rule in the Holy Dragon Islands, he cannot bring it up openly, as that would be a violation of regulations.
The dragonborn guards behind him exchanged glances, the tense atmosphere becoming somewhat awkward.
“Of course, I understand. Safety first.” 'Toby Zan' put down his coffee cup and gave a considerate smile. “So, is the inspection complete? Are you all satisfied? Or would you like me to check my coffee cup for any hidden teleportation scrolls?”
This blatant mockery made a vein throb on Rick's forehead.
He gave Toby Zan a deep look, his gaze seemingly trying to see right through him.
In the end, all he could manage was a suppressed growl from his throat: "Go!"
After saying that, he turned around abruptly, filled with resentment and doubt, and strode out of the room. The guards followed closely behind, their heavy footsteps fading into the distance with obvious resentment.
The hotel corridor returned to silence.
Tobizan's smile vanished instantly, his eyes becoming empty and cold, like two lifeless glass beads.
He remained seated, motionless, like a forgotten, exquisite doll.
In fact, this was a masterpiece specially made by the puppeteers of the Enlightenment Society, a clone puppet that integrated part of Toby Zan's consciousness and carried the puppeteers' precise control.
The real Tobyzan was already beneath the rocks of the Sea Lizard Rock, preparing to dive into the deep sea.
Outside the hotel, the night wind carried the salty smell of the sea.
Standing in the shadows of the street corner, Rick looked back at the lit window on the third floor of the Stone Bay Hotel. His doubts, far from lessening, grew wildly like vines, suffocating him.
The other person is too clean, abnormally clean!
"Something's definitely up to!" Rick clenched his fist, the scales rubbing together with a faint sound. "Strengthen patrols in the western waters! Report all suspicious activity immediately! I want to see what you're up to by deliberately luring me here!"
He had a feeling that the sea breeze tonight carried an unusual and dangerous atmosphere.
...
The icy, bone-chilling seawater instantly enveloped my entire body, and immense pressure pressed in from all directions.
Grom, Shadowclaw, Jules, and Tobyzan ingested the Deep-Sea Algae Gel, and the effects of the Shark Breath Fruit dissolved in their mouths, providing oxygen for underwater breathing.
In fact, as legends, they already possessed the ability to breathe underwater.
However, no one can guarantee that there are no areas within the Dragon Clan's sacred grounds that suppress legendary realms. Caution is the best policy, and this is the foundation for the Enlightenment Society to establish itself on the continent.
Shadowclaw silently unfurled the shadow cloak, and the thick, inky darkness rapidly spread, completely engulfing the four figures.
It forms a moving, shadowy sphere that blocks out light and some water pressure, and silently sinks into the dark abyss.
Toby Zan's voice rang in the minds of the three through the mental link: "The dolls on the island have been investigated. The dragonborn guard broke down the door. Although we managed to get away with it for now, he is very suspicious and has increased patrols in the western sea area."
A fierce glint flashed in Grom's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately issued a new command through the mental link:
"Plan changed! Abandon all attacks. From now on, proceed in complete silence and stealth! Avoid any dragons, dragonkin, or even lone low-ranking whelps you encounter along the way, unless they are directly blocking your path!"
All four were legendary and experienced experts, and they instantly understood Grom's decision.
In the dragon's lair, even the slightest exposure could attract the encirclement of pure-blooded dragons.
Being ganged up on wasn't so scary; what they were really afraid of was alerting the dragons and causing their mission to fail!
The silent infiltration was far more mentally taxing than expected.
The four of them were like specks of dust crawling through a giant beast's lair, each step taken with extreme caution.
In the cold, inky sea, the shadowy curtain erected by Shadow Claws resembled a miniature, moving domain, enveloping the four as they slowly sank.
The surrounding area is a jagged and bizarre canyon, dotted with glowing corals and seaweed that cast swaying, grotesque shadows in the darkness.
"Stop!" Jules' urgent mental message pierced the minds of the three like fine needles.
Deep within the narrow passage ahead, several giant, python-like shadows silently writhed among the rocks.
Giant Abyss Eel!
These are the pets and food kept by the dragon clan on the Holy Dragon Islands.
Their massive, barrel-like bodies coiled around the jagged rocks, their enormous mouths, filled with sharp teeth, slightly opened and closed, sensing even the slightest vibrations in the water. The ferocious aura emanating from their territorial instincts almost pierced through the shadows.
Force your way in?
The instantaneous fluctuations and tremors of magical energy are the best warning for the dragons.
"Stay close to the wall, walk slowly, and don't disturb."
Grom's instructions were cold and concise.
With a slight thought, Shadow Claw caused the viscous shadow curtain to silently adhere to the cold, rugged seabed rock wall, as if it were a living thing.
Like geckos, the four of them crawled extremely slowly across the slippery rock surface using only their physical strength.
They held their breath, minimizing their presence, and cleverly used the giant eel's blind spots and shadow curtains to perfectly conceal their aura.
Time seemed to stand still, and every tiny movement was terrifying.
They glided past the sleeping abyssal predators, just meters above them. The four of them could even clearly see the sticky fluid shimmering with an eerie light seeping from the rough scales of the giant eel below. The cold, slimy sensation seemed to penetrate the shadows and reach straight to their hearts.
Having narrowly escaped the giant eel's lair, before they could even catch their breath, a powerful, orderly aura emanated from the water.
Jules's senses alerted him again: "Dragonborn Patrol! Five riders, deep-sea lizards, sonic probes, completely covering the trench ahead! They're scanning this way!"
That was the only relatively safe route to the heart of the mountains, but it was now firmly controlled by a well-equipped deep-sea dragonkin patrol.
Five dragonborn warriors, clad in scales and exuding a fierce aura, rode atop a giant deep-sea dragon lizard, wielding spears that emitted special sound waves for detection. Like five moving lighthouses, they scanned back and forth rhythmically in the absolute darkness.
The leader among them possessed legendary strength.
Even if all four of them acted at the same time, it would be absolutely impossible to stop the other party from issuing a warning signal.
Their patrol routes have effectively sealed off the entrance to the deep trench.
"Dive! Get into the mud!" Grom made the decision immediately.
Shadowclaw suddenly manipulated the shadow curtain, carrying the four of them like heavy stones as they rapidly sank to the bottom of the deep trench outside the Dragonborn's detection range.
The black sea mud, emitting a strong, putrid stench, instantly enveloped them.
The inky blackness of the shadowy curtain blended perfectly with the murky sea mud, becoming indistinguishable from one another.
The four of them were like four rocks that had sunk into the mud for thousands of years, clinging tightly to the cold, icy seabed, their heartbeats seemingly stopped.
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