Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 774 - 767: Itinerary Arrangement

Chapter 774: Chapter 767: Itinerary Arrangement

If we were to assume that Cheng Ziang is the son of Yalunte and Princess Lin, it’s clear that he doesn’t know about his parents’ true identity, given the nature of the questions he’s asked. As a result, the headquarters have likely withheld this information from him.

Judging solely on Cheng Ziang’s appearance, it can be somewhat perplexing. While it’s been noted that he doesn’t resemble King Gudelv, he only bears a passing resemblance to Princess Lin too. Shariya even spotted traits that the Shani people from the headquarters possess.

If Cheng Ziang were genuinely a descendent of Yalunte and Princess Lin, he really doesn’t resemble either of his parents.

Carrying such doubt, Shariya didn’t dare to guess Cheng Ziang’s identity recklessly, adopting a cautious approach instead. After all, if the headquarters have concealed information about Cheng Ziang, it certainly means they have their own considerations. If she were to mess up, it might strain the relationship between the Church Court and the headquarters.

Hearing Shariya’s words, Cheng Ziang fell back into a long silence. Shariya didn’t speak it out explicitly, but taking into account Tangmo’s previous assumption, he had a vague idea.

However, to entirely clarify his origin, he needs a well-thought out plan. As such, Cheng Ziang had no intention of sharing these thoughts openly; instead, he planned to quietly conduct his investigations with caution.

"Excuse me!" After a long silence, Cheng Ziang abruptly stood up, while simultaneously making an abrupt departure before Shariya could even react.

"How did it go?" Seeing Cheng Ziang emerge with a grave expression from the Principal’s office, Luoer couldn’t help but ask with care.

"We’ll discuss it later." Cheng Ziang glanced at him and replied with a low voice.

"Alright, then wait for me." Understanding the importance of the appointment, Luoer nodded and patted his shoulder before entering himself.

"Good morning, Dean Shariya!" Stepping into the office, Luoer greeted respectfully.

"Oh, Captain Luoer, good morning. Your subordinate just..." Seeing the door reopen and Luoer entering solo, Shariya didn’t immediately catch on.

"I know, I was right outside the door." Luoer nodded in affirmation.

"It appears that Captain Luoer is already aware of the matter involved." Listening to Luoer’s reply, it dawned upon Shariya, she nodded in realization.

"Although it’s his personal matter, and I should not probe, as the Captain of the Advance Team, I have a role to play when team members have personal issues." Luoer responded.

"Frankly, I fail to understand your headquarters’ actions. It’s clear that the boy is closely related to the princess and Yalunte. Yet, why does he harbor so much doubt about himself?" Shariya asked Luoer.

"This is a decision made by the top brass at the headquarters. We, as ground operatives, naturally do not have the right to know." Luoer responded with a smile.

"Well," Shariya responded with a smile and a shake of her head before continuing, "So, Captain Luoer, you’ve come to find me. Is there something you need, or are you also interested in learning about the boy’s lineage?"

"Of course not. After all, it’s Ziang’s personal affair. Even if I wanted to intervene, I couldn’t. I came to find you mainly concerning some formalbusiness." Luoer shook his head.

"Please proceed!" Shariya gestured for him to continue.

"Dean Shariya, as you should know, thanks to the good relations between the Church and the headquarters, the Church has leased the Lipei district and its periphery to the headquarters..." said Luoer.

"Congratulations!" Shariya responded with a smile.

"You’re too kind," Luoer nodded, accepting his congratulations, then continued seriously, "The headquarters initially planned to open the Otherworld Gate located in Lipei as planned, to reconnect the two worlds. However, we just suffered some unforeseen incidents. The summoner, Fu’en, who has the ability to open the Otherworld Gate, was assassinated by our enemies. The headquarters, once heard that Dean Shariya has some insights regarding the opening of the Otherworld Gate, specifically sent us here to discuss this matter with you."

Luoer’s statement was somewhat awkward. In fact, their reason for seeking Shariya this time was mainly because Shariya had proactively indicated that he had knowledge of some records about how to open the Otherworld Gate, thus setting the basis for the Advance Team’s mission.

"Captain Luoer, you are too considerate. If I can assist your department, I will certainly share all that I know. However, as of now, I do not possess much information. What I have are just some superficial details. If we need more specific information, it might be necessary to visit the Grand Library in the Holy City," Shariya said with a smile.

"We really appreciate it, Dean," Luoer said gratefully.

"There’s no need to be so formal, aren’t we friends?" Shariya looked at Luoer and said with a smile.

Shariya was quite fond of Luoer’s courteous demeanor. It made him seem steady and reliable. Although in the Northern region, half-elves were always very respectful to the natives, the feeling from Luoer felt different.

Those half-elves had been subjected to discrimination and insult since they were young, so they were used to such ill-treatment. But Luoer was different; although he was also a half-elf, his temperament was completely different from the half-elves Shariya normally met. It even gave him the feeling that Luoer was the top leader of the headquarters.

No doubt, being treated with such courtesy by a person like Luoer greatly satisfied Shariya. Initially, he had held deep stereotypes towards half-elves, but Luoer was definitely the first one to break these prejudices.

With Luoer’s emergence, Shariya understood that half-elves, too, can have dignity in life. That was why it wasn’t surprising that Feliz was so devoted to him.

"However," after the pleasantries, Shariya couldn’t help but express his concern, "You all... it might not be suitable for you to go to the Holy City..."

"I understand," Luoer said magnanimously. "Dean Shariya, there’s no need to apologize for this. We fully understand your predicament. So, to spare you any embarrassment, we intend to arrange for Cheng Ziang to accompany you to the Holy City and seek information related to the Otherworld Gate."

"I’m sorry about this..." Shariya said apologetically.

"No, we don’t feel offended at all. Dean Shariya, you shouldn’t feel guilty about this," Luoer waved his hand and said.

Luoer was perfectly aware that, at this point, the headquarters’ influence over the Church Court hadn’t reached an absolute level, so certain taboos needed to be avoided wherever possible.

The Church of Light preached the doctrine of supremacy of the pure Human Race, and held a hostile attitude towards all mixed-races. Naturally, Luoer, being a half-elf, belonged to the lowest level of mixed-races; having him accompany Shariya to the Holy City would be akin to a humiliation to the Church Court.

Among the remaining team members, Hu Daoke, being a half-beastman, didn’t hold a significantly higher position in the Church Court’s eyes compared to Luoer. Baiyue, being a sub-beastman, was viewed as a peripheral mixed-race and was even unqualified to be excluded by the Church Court.

Feng was also a peripheral mixed-race, and Baiyue treated her almost the same. As for Tangmo, she didn’t possess any obvious mixed-race traits, but the beings from the Otherworld could easily tell what mix she was.

This was a unique ability of the beings from the Otherworld - the capability to distinguish mixed races. As Tangmo was a dwarf mix, her dwarf traits weren’t explicit, even her ears hadn’t fully transformed, so virtually no one on Earth could tell her mixed-race at first glance. However, beings from the Otherworld could.

This was like Luoer’s ability to differentiate Eastern Europeans, Western Europeans, and Northern Europeans at a glance; it was an innate skill.

Therefore, after thinking it through, the only one who could communicate with the Church Court directly was probably Cheng Ziang, who was part Aud-blooded.

Moreover, as Shariya just mentioned, Cheng Ziang has a royal noble demeanor, which, undoubtedly, could earn him many points.