Chapter 599 — Face to Face

The pinnacle base of the Typhon Empire and the base built by the Cecils were utterly different in style—judging by Gao Song's eye, if the Cecil pinnacle base embodied the power of arcanotechnology, a fusion of steel, machinery, crystal, and magic, then the Typhon base was a costly magical marvel—this complex, occupying a ring of ground larger than the Cecil pinnacle base, had more than eighty percent of its structures "shaped" by the hands of mages themselves.

The Typhonites opened their gates and dispatched knights to guide the guests. Soldiers in black standard-issue armor watched with curiosity and a trace of wariness as those strange steel vehicles drove into the base in formation. Gao Yang sat in the back seat of the first vehicle, quietly observing everything in view through the window. He saw many stone houses arranged neatly along a central axis stretching forward, several spire-topped towers scattered among the buildings, hazy illusory "Mage Eyes" hovering atop the towers, and soldiers in orderly armor standing guard with heightened vigilance on several watchtowers along the base's perimeter, wary of every stir in the wasteland region.

Orderly, disciplined, impressive.

Amid observation and thought, the convoy, led by several Typhon knights, arrived before a stone fortress likewise "shaped" by magical power. Gao Yang saw a middle-aged man with thick black hair and a stern expression standing not far off, surrounded by a cluster of knights. The man wore a black greatcloak that appeared ordinary but was in fact made from the pelt of some high-tier magical beast, with a dark blue coat beneath, adorned with gold watch chain, sash, and other ornaments. His gaze rested on the strange steel vehicles driving toward him, yet Gao Yang could discern no emotional fluctuation whatsoever from that excessively deep and reserved gaze—nothing of the Typhon Emperor's feelings.

Amber, also sitting in the back, leaned over and muttered softly: "He's a bit shorter than I imagined."

Gao Yang responded: "That's because you've been at my side too long."

As they spoke, several arcanotech vehicles braked to a simultaneous halt before Luo Yan Augustus, and then every vehicle opened its doors on the side or rear at once. Attendants and soldiers in blue uniforms or white light armor disembarked with astonishing discipline and coordination, forming up as guards on both sides of the convoy in the blink of an eye. Only then did an attendant open the door of the first vehicle, and Gao Yang Cecil and his close guards stepped out.

Luo Yan Augustus watched all this in silence and solemnity, his eyebrows twitching imperceptibly.

This Duke of Ansau had neither led an entire army, nor arrived with a handful of powerhouses in the manner of a legendary champion.

Yet he was still displaying... a certain kind of power, and the effect was superb.

After withdrawing his gaze from those magical vehicles once more, the Typhon Emperor stepped forward, actively moving to meet the already-disembarked Gao Yang, laboriously brewing a smile on his face: "It is my honor to meet a legendary hero such as yourself—welcome to the Typhon camp. It has been made ready to receive an honored guest."

"The honor is likewise mine," Gao Yang extended his hand to shake with Luo Yan Augustus—this simple greeting of extremely high universality originated from the Age of Exploration and remained widely used to this day—and he responded casually to the other's pleasantries, "This is an impressive camp. I can see the courage and perseverance it embodies."

Amber stood to the side and slightly behind Gao Yang, bored enough to want to roll her eyes. This "high-ranking people exchanging pleasantries" manner of speaking made her drowsy, but she feared that if she actually rolled her eyes she'd be slapped against the wall by Gao Yang afterward, so she held back. Just then, she suddenly felt a gaze fall upon her.

Following the sensation, she saw a female knight standing not far behind Luo Yan Augustus, tall and upright. The young woman had gray hair falling over her shoulders, and both her figure and features could be considered fine, yet her gaze was rather cold, seeming to conceal a hint of hostility.

Amber blinked, and the relevant intelligence immediately surfaced in her mind.

That should be the current generation's "Wolf General" of the Typhon Empire, Anluo Wendell. Apparently, because her father had gone missing in Ansau-controlled territory, she harbored hostility toward Ansau.

Amber thought for a moment, felt she'd found something to do, and simply glared back, locking eyes with Anluo.

A moment later, the young Wolf General Anluo Wendell shifted her gaze away with some awkwardness and embarrassment.

She had never met a noble so lacking in refinement. Inexperience caused her to come off worse in the staring contest, and she couldn't help but think: Are all Ansau people this barbaric?

Amber, meanwhile, felt her mood brighten from this small victory and muttered softly: "Yay—"

This secret clash between the Cecil intelligence chief and the Typhon Wolf General went unnoticed by anyone. Gao Song's attention was almost entirely devoted to observing the Typhon Emperor before him and speculating about his character. After a round of rather insubstantial pleasantries, he, along with Amber, Suoyou, and the others accompanying him, were led into Luo Yan's temporary residence.

A banquet—not exactly sumptuous, but already precious beyond measure in this wasteland—awaited them.

Nothing could be grown on the wasteland, and the monsters roaming everywhere were clearly difficult to serve as food. The Typhon camp's supplies, like the Cecil camp's, depended entirely on rear-line logistics. Under such harsh conditions, even what Luo Yan Augustus could offer his guests was extremely limited, but clearly no one truly cared about the banquet itself... at least, no one except Amber.

After letting Amber go forage on her own, Gao Yang naturally carried his wine cup over to Luo Yan Augustus. The people around them automatically stepped back a little distance, maintaining their guard duties while leaving space for the Duke and the Emperor to converse.

"I hope you won't mind this meager hospitality," Luo Yan revealed a faint, barely-there smile. "Our supplies do not come easily."

"It is the same on our side," Gao Yang said calmly. "I understand well the harsh conditions at the edge of the wasteland—in fact, the so-called 'difficulties' we face here today would have been unimaginably luxurious conditions seven hundred years ago. At least now we can stand in a relatively safe camp, holding a cup of wine, and talk."

He gave the golden cup in his hand a slight swirl. The dark red liquid within rippled gently, reflecting an alluring luster.

"That is precisely why we must cherish this hard-won safety and prosperity all the more," Luo Yan raised his cup slightly. "To you, and to the pioneers who created all this seven hundred years ago—my respects."

Gao Yang accepted the salute with composure, and then Luo Yan continued: "The reason we have come here today is to ensure this safety can continue to be maintained, is it not?"

"Of course," Gao Yang said, while unobtrusively watching every flicker of expression on Luo Yan Augustus's face. "But not everyone wishes this safety to endure. Some whose minds are unhinged will even actively sabotage the safety barrier that allows us to survive. What is your view on this?"