Abyss Sequence-Chapter 385 - 42: Frein City
Gass City, Mayin City, Pearl City...
The caravan traveled along the developed trade routes, but this time, they did not begin their return journey at Pearl City.
After inquiring with the local residents of Pearl City and learning the general direction of the next city, the caravan set out once more.
The elves of Pearl City knew that the Elf City was not by a river but built beneath a hilly area.
That’s right, it’s an underground city.
The city named ’Frein City’ is completely situated underground, with no part exposed to air and sunlight.
Just as humans have different ethnic groups, elves also have different branches.
The elves residing in Frein City belong to a branch different from the elves Yan Luo and the others usually encountered.
The formal title given by the Elf Race to these elves is ’Cave Elves,’ although many elves also refer to them as Dark Elves.
It’s not because these elves have dark skin, rather this branch of elves has skin whiter than most elves, almost to the point of transparency.
They are called Dark Elves merely because this branch of elves is not suited for surface living and sunlight.
The ancestors of the Dark Elves hid underground to escape danger, continuing to thrive there. By the time surface elves discovered them, they had evolved to have bioluminescent vision and skin unsuited for sunlight.
Constant growth in narrow underground spaces has stunted the height of these elves.
Mature male elves have an average height of over 1.97 meters, and mature females stand around 1.83 meters, but Dark Elves average between 1.71 and 1.75 meters for both genders.
This seems decent, but for elves, it appears somewhat short.
Upon reaching the target area, the vehicle’s radar increased search power to seek out a cave leading underground.
Before long, the caravan discovered a suspected cave and drove towards it.
The caravan stopped outside the cave, and Sasa turned towards Lady Yafugonia, who was hiding in the back seat, and said, "Lady Yafugonia, we’ll rely on you to take this trip."
Lady Yafugonia nodded and, carrying the letters of introduction from the Lord of Gass City and the Lord of Pearl City, walked towards the cave.
The caravan waited silently outside the cave. After about half an hour, Lady Yafugonia finally emerged from the cave.
Walking out of the cave with Lady Yafugonia was an ’petite’ elf in stature.
This elf, as the rumors described, was petite, only 1.73 meters tall, ordinary by Blue Star standards, but here in Alfheim, it seemed somewhat short.
Lady Yafugonia brought the male elf to the armored car Yan Luo was driving, opened the door, and sat inside.
Subsequently, Lady Yafugonia introduced the male elf sitting with her in the car to Yan Luo and Sasa, "This is Zoffer, our guide."
Zoffer looked at Yan Luo and Sasa, suppressing his astonishment.
Humans, indeed!
When Zoffer heard from the Lord that a human caravan had come to Frein City, he was skeptical. But upon seeing Yan Luo’s short, narrow ears, he believed the Lord’s words.
No matter the branch, elves have long, thin ears, which enable them to hear more sounds.
Human ears are round and blunt; this is the main way to distinguish humans from elves.
Zoffer composed himself and started guiding Yan Luo and the others.
To receive external goods, Frein City made the entrance and exit caves very spacious, so even a cargo truck like a steel behemoth would not feel cramped when entering.
The convoy formed a long line, and except for the lead armored vehicle, other vehicles handed driving control to the onboard system to ensure they followed the signals from the preceding vehicle.
Yan Luo drove at the front of the convoy, navigating in circles within the winding caves according to Zoffer’s directions.
There were many forked paths; without a guide, it would be easy to get lost and even fail to find the way back.
This is how Frein City deals with surface demons.
Like other Elf Cities, Frein City has a barrier, but this city’s barrier primarily confounds invaders’ sense of direction.
Without guidance from a Frein City resident, outsiders would never realize a seemingly dead-end passage is actually the entrance to Frein City.
Passing through the wall, Yan Luo’s view suddenly expanded.
"Wow..." Sasa couldn’t help but marvel.
They were now 121 meters beneath sea level, where a massive underground cavern existed, with stalactites hanging down from the top. Light refracted into a myriad of colors, thanks to glowing insects fluttering around the cave.
More astonishingly, bioluminescent moss covered the cavern, growing on the ceiling like a faint starry river, hanging upside down.
Frein City’s residents had laid two rows of stones growing with glowing moss, forming a clear path from the cave entrance at the edge of the cavern all the way to the gates of the magnificent underground city.
Underground lacks the building material resources found on the surface, and it’s not suitable for vegetation. Thus, Frein City is a city built from countless stones.
Even so, this city can accommodate a population of up to a million elves.
Frein City is the largest city for Cave Elves, as their population has never been large.
The cargo trucks didn’t drive into the city built from black and gray stones because Frein City has no roads suitable for vehicles.
From its design inception, the city did not plan for traffic lanes; all pathways were suitable only for walking, and many walkways were suspended mid-air and connected to adjacent buildings.
There’s no choice; if we can’t enter, then so be it!
The Lord of Frein City, a particularly elderly-looking elf, was carried out of the city by several elves.
He was so old that just looking at him made one feel he might draw his last breath at any moment.
The sight of the rigid lines of the vehicles made the Frein City Lord’s clouded eyes light up a bit as he moved his lips, seemingly speaking.
Immediately, the male elf standing beside the Lord turned to Yan Luo and the others, "His Lordship wishes to know what goods you have brought."
Translation needed?
Yan Luo raised an eyebrow and took out a tablet computer, handing it to the elf standing before him.
The male elf quickly learned how to use it and respectfully squatted down to present the tablet to the Lord.
The Frein City Lord took a few breaths and slowly moved his hand to slide the screen, moving his lips again.
"Building materials needed?"
Before the translating elf could speak, Yan Luo asked.
The male elf looked up at Yan Luo in surprise.
Even the Frein City Lord seemed slightly amazed, nodding his head slightly and moving his lips.
Yan Luo nodded, "We do have building materials for sale, but we didn’t bring much this time. If you wish to purchase, we can bring more next time."
The Frein City Lord gestured twice with his hand and said something again.
His voice was so faint that no one else heard it, but Yan Luo heard it clearly.
"Interested in purchasing building materials that can expand quickly and have considerable impact resistance? We have them available, but we’re unsure what type you want to buy. Are you looking for cost-effective, high-price, high-quality, or low-cost but not-so-great quality?"
To the others, Yan Luo appeared to be talking to himself.
However, the elves in Frein City were quite surprised because their Lord’s voice had been lost during a magic experiment, and typically, other elves couldn’t hear him.
But this human could hear?
"Are building materials your most urgently needed goods? It may take more than thirty days before we return next time."
"What can you offer us in exchange?"
"Magical knowledge?"
Yan Luo appeared to be performing a monologue, speaking all by himself from beginning to end.
But everyone present – both humans and elves – knew Yan Luo had successfully communicated with the Lord.
After pondering for a moment, Yan Luo turned to ask Sasa, "Is magical knowledge useful for Blue Star?"
Sasa scratched his head, "Maybe useful... I guess?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
At this time, Lady Yafugonia interjected, "Frein City’s research on magic is the most advanced among all the cities in Alfheim."
