Yarra’s Adventure Notes

Chapter 43 - 43 33 Goal Frozen Hell_1

?43: Chapter 33 Goal, Frozen Hell_1 43: Chapter 33 Goal, Frozen Hell_1 (In gratitude for everyone’s help, there will be two updates today.

If you’re passing by, please give a shout out.

Your support is my greatest motivation.)

Indulgence looked Pannis up and down and said in a puzzling tone, “Tell me honestly, how strong are you really?

How did you manage it all by yourself so easily?”

“Just as you saw.” Pannis shrugged and responded.

Indulgence smirked, “I don’t believe it.

Even Gold Ranked professionals might not be able to do what you did.

You finished it without a hitch, yet you want me to believe you are only Silver Rank?

Do you think I’m as naïve as a child to believe that?”

“I can swear to all the gods I know.” Pannis raised his hand and said, “I have never used any strength beyond Silver Rank.”

“Is that so?” Even with Pannis’s words, Indulgence did not let his suspicions rest: “You must be lying.

But never mind, a clever woman is supposed to leave a man some space for lying, hehe.”

Annoyed, Pannis rolled his eyes, expressing his dissatisfaction: “Just keep telling your story.”

“The story ended there.” Indulgence regained his seriousness, “What I saw was nothing more than a brief record.

I became interested in these stories only after I had finished reading the records and started seeking out historical materials.”

Pannis nodded and said, “A secret guarded by the entire nation being reduced to a brief record is already quite amazing.

But where is the location?

Surely this isn’t something you found in the historical records as well?”

“There’s a pretty vague description.” Indulgence said, somewhat embarrassed, “There’s just one sentence: ‘The spare passage is hidden under the thick ice layer.’ So, as long as you know where the thick ice layer is, you can roughly determine the location.”

“What a hassle.” Pannis lagged his head, tapping his forehead, “I should have thought of this earlier.”

“What’s going on, Pannis?” Catherine, who was sitting next to him, nudged him with her elbow, “Do you know where it is?”

“Yes, I know.” Although Pannis said he knew, his face still had a troubled expression: “I wish I was wrong though.”

“Oh?” Indulgence, feeling curious, asked, “I know I shouldn’t ask for specifics but I’m a bit curious.

Can you tell me where it is?

You seem quite troubled.”

“Frozen Hell.” Pannis did not hide this from Indulgence: “In the entire cave underground, the only place that could be described as having a thick ice layer is the Frozen Hell.”

“Are the magical creatures there powerful?” Indulgence asked, “More powerful than the legendary giant python?”

“There are no magical creatures in that place, not even a single one.” Pannis answered with certainty, “This is the warm heartland of Neville.

Despite being demonized, the magical beasts or wild beasts cannot change their previous habits.

Few magical creatures here can adapt to the cold environment.

The giant python that lived in the Frost Realm was already at its limit.

Even with its strength, it couldn’t bear the extreme temperatures in Frozen Hell.”

“Like the Perpetual Icefield?” Catherine asked tentatively, “Though I have never been there, I’ve heard that it’s unimaginably cold.”

“Yes, just like the Perpetual Icefield, as cold as that.” Pannis agreed with Catherine’s conjecture.

“Isn’t that great?” Catherine asked, puzzled, “We can use crystals to keep warm and withstand such low temperatures.

Without any magical creatures to interfere, we can search the passage at ease.”

“Yes, it’s great.” Pannis, holding his head in his hands and speaking in an almost moaning tone, “But I think it would be even better if the floors of the spaces measuring tens of thousands of square meters weren’t completely covered in a thick layer of ice.”

“Oh my God.” Lina jumped at the words of Pannis, “How are we supposed to search there?”

“That’s what I’m saying.” Pannis sighed, “Bit by bit melt the ice and explore…

To explore such a vast area, it seems pretty much impossible to me.”

“Hehe, Hehe.” Indulgence laughed awkwardly, “This isn’t my fault.

All I did was tell you what I knew.

Whether it is easy to find or not is beyond my control.”

“It’s fine.

I have an idea.” Pannis put his worries aside, “Your information is very helpful, thank you.”

“Hmm?” Indulgence sensed Pannis’ meaning, “From what you’ve just said, it seems like you guys are going to go on your own, without needing my help, right?”

“Of course.” Catherine answered for Pannis, “Our deal was that you provide us with information and we help you with your mission.

The deal is now complete, we can handle the rest ourselves.”

“Think about it carefully.” Indulgence spoke, somewhat disbelieving, “With a legendary rank thief on your side, many puzzles would become so much simpler.

For the sake of my past camaraderie with Pannis, I can offer further assistance beyond our usual trade agreement.

Are you sure you don’t need me?”

“You should leave as soon as possible.” Lina waved her hands in a ‘shooing’ gesture, “Your presence is too stimulating.

Heidi and others are too overwhelmed to even come out for air.

So, not only Princess Heidi, but also several others don’t wish to make their presence known.”

Vivian vigorously nodded in agreement.

Her short pigtails bobbed up and down as she said, “The demonized energy within you is getting stronger.

Leaving now would be best.

If you leave after a few more days, you might become severely ill.

So, please go back as soon as possible.”

“You lot…” Indulgence blinked, seemingly puzzled by their thoughts, yet in the end, he laughed, “It’s interesting that you guys are worried about this.

Pannis, your friends are quite amusing.”

“Employer.” Pannis corrected in his usual manner, “Their thoughts are difficult for most people to understand.”

“Employer?” Indulgence shrugged, “Your attitude towards Passion implied you regarded him as an employer.

But towards them?

I suggest that pulling away is not how one treats their employer.

Anyway, I won’t bother you all further.

I accept your kindness.

I will be on my way now.”

True to his word, Indulgence packed his things right away.

“Farewell to the four interesting beauties.

Thanks for your concern.

I’ll take my leave now but we will meet again if there’s a chance,” he waved to the ladies before vanishing into the vast darkness.

“So, this is a team leader level figure from the enigmatic Shadow Hand?” About ten minutes after Indulgence left, Vivian finally spoke, “He seems like an interesting person.

The Shadow Hand isn’t as terrifying as people say, it seems.”

“Please don’t get the wrong idea.” Catherine hastily corrected Vivian’s somewhat dangerous thoughts.

“This time, we may have had the advantage because of Pannis.

If not for him, I wouldn’t dare cooperate with someone from the Shadow Hand without Guild supervision.

Who knows when we might be left with nothing but skeletons.”

“Um..” Vivian shrunk back, making a terrified face.

“Alright, stop trying to scare us, big sis.

I get it.”

“Honestly, the Thieves’ Guild isn’t as terrifying as it seems.” Pannis interjected, shaking his head, “While most are as Catherine described, there are some exceptions.

In any case, it’s always better to proceed with caution.”

“Pannis, you mentioned having an idea to her.” Lina finally relaxed after seeing Indulgence leave and questioned him with a smile.

“What idea was it?”

“Here’s my thinking.” Pannis drew a diagram on the mushroom top, “No one has ever verified it, but there are rumors of a large lake at the center of Frozen Hell.

It remains unknown because it’s perpetually covered by thick ice.

After receiving Indulgence’s hint, I had a thought.

The entrance to the passage might be hidden inside the lake.

after all, the rock walls there are too hard due to the low temperature, making it nearly impossible to dig out a passage by manual labor.

My guess is that a natural passage was used instead.

A passage wide enough for human access wouldn’t be easily concealed by suspended ice layer.

Even if the passage gets covered with ice, the interior of the passage would be filled with hardened ice making it impossible for the Naren Empire individuals to get in back in the day.

Therefore, I believe the passage is within the lake, and that the passage contains flowing water instead of ice, providing them a way to breach the hard ice surface of the lake and into the natural passage while constructing the research station.”

“I see what you’re getting at.” Catherine followed Pannis’s thought process, and nodded in agreement, “That makes sense.

The construction of the research station had to be humanly possible after all.”

“However, we must take measures to keep warm, particularly when heading to the Frozen Hell.” Pannis pulled out four fire-attribute crystals, each with a capacity of a hundred taels, from beneath the crystal lamp.

“Four of these crystals will be used per person.

Wrap one around the back of your neck, one around your waist, and one each around your ankles.

Make sure to replace them as soon as you feel they are no longer emitting heat.

Please pay attention to this.”

“Alright, we’ll keep that in mind.” Catherine even took out a pen and paper to make a note of it.

“Is there anything else?”

“Another thing, after locating the lake, I will be the one to go underwater for exploration.

You all will stay put.

Just set up the array and encampment and don’t move.

At all.

I’ll borrow a piece of the Resonance Crystal.

In case of an emergency which forces you to move, use that crystal to alert me and I’ll come up immediately.”

“We noted that too.” Catherine said, “But you’re going alone underwater?

Is that wise?

Why not let me accompany you?”

“It’s better not.” Pannis dissuaded her, “Staying above ground guarantees the full combat power of your adventure team.

I can handle any underwater magical beasts easier if I’m alone, since you haven’t practiced the stealth skills of scouts and thieves to effectively evade them.”

“Alright, since you’re the expert.

What you say goes.” Catherine agreed, “Is there a third point?”

“The third point is, once I go under, you must keep an eye on where the ice breaks.

I wouldn’t want to have to break the ice again when I come back up.” Pannis said earnestly, “My safety depends on it.”

“Rest assured, we will do our utmost to guard your retreat.” Catherine stood up and solemnly vowed in the manner of a knight.

“Please don’t.” Pannis held up his hand, “Prioritize your lives.

If the hole really does freeze over, there’s still hope.

We can think of another way to break the ice.

But if you throw away your lives, there will be no hope left.”

“I will make a balanced decision.” Catherine did not make any promises this time, “Is there a fourth point?”

“No, that’s all.

The rest are minor issues.” Pannis replied.

“Alright, then let’s set off.

Our destination, Frozen Hell.”