Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength-Chapter 1222 - 1216: Mountain

Ronald and his two companions continued their journey at sea, truly savoring the rare tranquility and subtle happiness.

Especially since they didn't lose their way and had Ronald, who flew at an astonishing speed, leading the travel; for Heloise and Patricia, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this an intriguing sea journey.

Unfortunately, they were still traveling with a target in mind, so this enjoyment was not pure.

The Griselde fleet they were pursuing was an absolute focus that couldn't be ignored on this 'journey'.

Ronald understood the importance of priorities.

So, though he immensely enjoyed the pleasant ambiance, he was not careless while traveling, maintaining quite a good efficiency.

Then, just two days after they commenced their journey again.

Amidst the morning glow, the three flying companions spotted three Griselde cruise ships stationed on the sea, alongside a legendary wooden sailing ship sent by Entrolord.

Gazing at the rare scene ahead, Heloise blinked and incredulously asked:

"Ronald, is this... a mountain?"

What shocked Heloise was not the three Griselde steamships, but rather a mountain appearing in their view.

——This was understandable.

Because right in front of the Griselde fleet's current anchorage was a giant mountain floating on the sea!

Even as rare as a steel giant ship might be, it truly lacked that shocking element in the presence of a floating mountain.

Compared to Heloise, who was in complete shock.

Patricia, who had once acted together with Ronald on Anluo Island, suddenly recalled the origin of this mountain:

"It's that floating mountain the pirates talked about, where you can learn spells!"

"..."

Under normal circumstances, Ronald would already be answering Heloise and Patricia's questions right away.

But at this moment, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

Because the shock within Ronald's heart was far more overwhelming than that experienced by the two girls.

He recognized this mountain floating in the air!

Isn't this the Barrier Mountain he had ventured through with Bapulor in the Infinite Negative Field?!

"How... how could this be?!"

Although he previously had a vague premonition, when his hunch turned into reality in front of him, this indescribable emotion still caused Ronald to chuckle involuntarily.

Upon hearing Ronald muttering to himself in such a tone.

The nearby Heloise and Patricia certainly noticed the weight of this emotion:

"Ronald, what's wrong?"

"Does this mountain have any problems?"

"..."

Ronald took a deep breath, earnestly adjusting his mood. He finally began to explain to the two girls beside him:

"You both know, I entered the Infinite Negative Field that contained the sealed Barrier Mountain Wizards."

"And this floating mountain on the sea is precisely the stronghold crafted by the Barrier Mountain Wizards in the Infinite Negative Field!"

"..."

Once the simple explanation was spoken, Patricia and Heloise also couldn't avoid reacting like Ronald did earlier.

Both girls were almost entirely devoted to the mystic side of things all their lives.

So from their identity and perspective, they naturally understood how much crucial information was contained in Ronald's brief words.

——The Barrier Mountain Wizards' creations were strongholds within the Infinite Negative Field.

In nature, this is the enemy stronghold once created by the world's casters as their greatest adversary.

And in essence, the only stronghold operated by the Barrier Mountain Wizards contains unmeasurable treasures of extraordinary value!

"..."

"No wonder those pirates could learn spells so easily after getting inside."

At this moment, Patricia was the first to speak, exclaiming emotionally.

In the swordswoman's knowledge, the idea that an ordinary person could simply wander into a place, flip through some things, and learn spells was—a place like that, only Griselde's Royal Academy might possess such foundation worldwide.

Now that the Barrier Mountain Wizards' base was laid bare before them within reach.

The level of research achievements they possess wasn't that hard to understand.

Patricia's sentiment also awakened the nearby Heloise, but as an operative, her focus was inherently different from that of Patricia, who had a swordsman's identity:

"Wait a minute! Since people from Griselde have their fleet moored here, does this mean they are currently exploiting resources inside this mountain?"

Patricia naturally nodded:

"Indeed."

"..."

While the two girls unfolded a discussion over the information before them.

Ronald, adhering to the most prudent course of action when confronting the unknown, first deployed his Detecting Magic to gauge the specific situation.

However, as this detection range expanded, the scene became bizarre.

Because within his Perception Magic, Ronald couldn't find any familiar individuals.

Apart from the three steamships and the wooden sailing ship safeguarded by a clearly visible barrier spell, he only discovered within the Barrier Mountain's mass a significant number of individuals in a state of Fury.

Where were Griselde's investigators? The elite casters from the civilian side? And the clergy sent by the church?

Ronald was utterly baffled.

Having previously obtained information on Anluo Island, he comprehended well that those rampaging individuals in Barrier Mountain were indeed the pirates active on the Shaded Ocean.

Yet, this information was insufficient to resolve his inner bewilderment.

To know that Griselde's fleet members possessed forces that even Ronald himself couldn't guarantee to completely overpower if he launched an assault with an intent to annihilate.

Who could have made them vanish entirely? 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Had Gwendolin come back?

Although that great being was sinister, their promises upon departure usually didn't involve deceit, did they?

Ronald's mind was in a whirl.

But the current situation was such that he couldn't find any familiar traces at all.

Such important information, Ronald naturally couldn't hide from the two girls beside him, thus before actually heading into Barrier Mountain for investigation, he first reminded the two next to him:

"Heloise, Patricia, next I plan to head over, you both must stay safe."

The two girls certainly sensed the unease in Ronald's tone as well.

They knew how potent Ronald's Detecting Magic was, so they were immediately sensible enough to realize—the man beside them surely knew something.

"Ronald, have you discovered something?"

Ronald immediately explained:

"Everyone on the Griselde fleet, including the First Princess Claudia, the church's Holy Priest, and the original text holder of the Book Scroll Research Association—now I can't sense any of them!"

"Within the entire Barrier Mountain, the only thing I can detect are those pirates leeching all resources with greed!"