Published: March 12, 2025
Taiwu sat in the tiger-shaped war chariot, looking through the reinforced glass at the land outside. It was evident that the land here was very fertile, comparable to that of their Atlantis Continent. Although there were no crops growing, wild grass had grown tall, showing just how fertile the soil was.
However, this was exactly what puzzled Taiwu the most. He understood very well that ordinary people would not abandon such good land and move away, yet the people of Ark Continent had done just that. There could only be two explanations: either they had found a better place to settle, or something had happened that forced them to leave.
It was this latter reason that he needed to verify. His curiosity was not the only factor; it also pertained to the future of the O'Neill family. They had been traveling the inner route for three days, encountering cities both large and small. Judging by the scale, the population of Ark Continent must be enormous, far more than that under the control of the O'Neill family. The more Taiwu thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
Moving an entire continent with such a large population was no easy task. Even if they were to relocate, where would they go? Not to mention the logistics of moving a city's population to another city; it involved many variables. The sudden and strange relocation of Ark Continent raised many red flags for Taiwu.
Lost in thought, a voice suddenly interrupted him. “Taiwu, what are you thinking about? You look quite absorbed,” said Lushiming, the chariot driver.
Taiwu turned to look; Lushiming was not just any chariot driver but a mecha pilot, a position of higher rank. Yet, Taiwu did not dare to underestimate Lushiming. He had once been an excellent mecha pilot but had sustained severe injuries in a battle. After recovering, he could no longer pilot a mecha, so he became a chariot driver, ranking higher than ordinary drivers. He was also the most renowned chariot driver in the O'Neill family.
Taiwu did not dismiss Lushiming’s inquiry. He replied solemnly, “Brother Lushiming, I’m increasingly uneasy. Look at how fertile the land is in Ark Continent; if nothing had happened, the people wouldn’t have moved away. The size of the cities we’ve passed—over a dozen of them, not to mention the villages—suggests that the population must be in the tens of millions. For so many people to leave such fertile land, it must take a great deal of resolve. This means something significant must have happened, and we must be cautious.”
Lushiming turned to look at Taiwu intently, making Taiwu feel somewhat uncomfortable. “What’s wrong, Brother Lushiming? Did I say something wrong?” Taiwu asked in confusion.
Lushiming shook his head, saying, “No, you’re not wrong. I just didn’t expect you to think so deeply about this. It’s a pleasant surprise. You’re right; the relocation of Ark Continent is indeed suspicious. This matter concerns the survival of our O'Neill family, so we must be careful.”
Taiwu nodded and continued, “Brother Lushiming, I remember your injury was sustained during a battle with someone from the Warrior Continent, right? Are those people really that strong?”
In recent years, Atlantis had been relatively peaceful. Taiwu had not faced anyone from the Warrior Continent or the Magic Continent, so he was unaware of their strengths. Now presented with the opportunity, he naturally wanted to ask more.
Upon hearing Taiwu’s question, Lushiming’s expression changed slightly, and he nodded solemnly. “Yes, they are very strong. At that time, I was already a divine-level mecha pilot, and I was only in my twenties—a well-known genius of the O'Neill family. Naturally, I was full of confidence, thinking I was invincible. Once, I heard that a magic secret mine was discovered on a deserted island between the Warrior Continent and our Mecha Continent. Although the deposits were small, it was enough for us to use for a while. When I got the news, I didn’t think too much and piloted my mecha to that island.”