433-441

Chapter 433: Talent Fusion

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

There was a reason for Rhode's hesitation because from the start, he had no intention of building the Hell Lord Talent.

Compared to the Summoning Master Talent and Soul Messenger Talent, the Hell Lord Talent was a much more mediocre talent focusing on self-sufficiency and comprehensive development. But, as the saying goes, there's nothing perfect in this world. The Hell Lord Talent's comprehensive development was configured in a way that the damage output wouldn't be as powerful as the Soul Messenger Talent and it wouldn't be as efficient as the Summoning Master Talent in terms of providing assistance. There was once a player who had filled all the skill points in the three Talent Trees as an experiment. In the end, he concluded that the output from the Soul Messenger Talent and Summoning Master Talent was stronger than the Hell Lord Talent. Furthermore, all the damage output of the Hell Lord Talent was in team battles; in dungeon battles or PK, it wasn't impressive at all. The only merit was during individual missions where its endurance abilities would bring a certain advantage.

To be frank, this advantage wasn't attractive to Rhode, nor most other players. However, there were some lone rangers who were used to playing games alone and treated MMORPG games as single-player games. Furthermore, they often explored the gaming world alone and were unwilling to bicker with others over the distribution of spoils. This was why the Hell Lord Talent was considered cost-effective for them as they loved to go on adventures alone and lacked support in many aspects. With certain probabilities, the Hell Lord Talent could provide them with Soul Cores and save them a lot of time and money from spending on auction purchases.

Compared to the other two Talent Trees, the Hell Lord Talent allowed the holder to summon the most spirits by using its talent 'Spirit Disaster'. This talent allowed the holder to manipulate corpses within a certain range into using own summoning spirits to engage in battles. Furthermore, this would only consume a low amount of spiritual energy and usually, this skill would be enough to turn the tide in battle.

However, the biggest drawback of this talent was that the holder could summon spirits of the undead attribute only. This also signified that when the holder with this talent met a Fire Elemental Mage, Holy Knight, or Cleric, he could only prepare to lose...

It definitely wasn't Rhode's style to hang himself on the tree, which was why he had no intention of building the Hell Lord Talent.

But Rhode had to reconsider everything. The Hell Lord Talent's only advantage was its endurance and right now, wasn't that what he needed the most?

Will it be worth it to waste precious skill points on this talent just for the sake of this endurance ability alone? Rhode couldn't decide. In terms of endurance, it wasn't that the Summoning Master Talent and Soul Messenger Talent had none. The Soul Messenger Talent had another Talent, [Legion Soul], to work in collaboration with [Legion Horn]. Rhode just needed to fulfill a condition and he could cast [Legion Horn] without exhausting any spiritual energy. As for the Summoning Master Talent, there was a Talent, [Intense Meditation], where Spirit Swordsmen could increase the rate of spiritual energy recovery during battle.

However, this was where the problem was. These two talents were located in the later and deeper stages of the Talent Trees. Even though Rhode received two skill points every time he leveled up, he needed to be at least level 40 to 50 before he could activate these talents. On the other hand, the [Soul Territory] could be filled to its maximum as it was located on the First Stage on the Hell Lord Talent.

However, it wouldn't be that simple as Rhode had pre-planned the build for his two Talent Trees and most importantly, he didn't know if he would be able to reset his skill points in this world. This was why he had been cautious in distributing skill points. After all, Talent Trees must be interrelated, where active skills could stimulate passive skills and passive skills could influence active skills, increasing probabilities, and damage. All these affected how one handled these skills effectively and required paying particular attention to. Itd wasn't as simple as just increasing the skill points of whichever talent that seemed great. The entire Talent Tree was like stacking blocks where the entire block would collapse if one drew three blocks from the bottom.

If Rhode moved these three skill points to the Hell Lord Talent, that would mean that he had to give up part of the other Talent Trees. To Rhode, this was a question of whether it was worth it or not. Was it necessary for him to make such huge changes for the sake of endurance in an extra Talent?

Rhode had two choices: to modify his existing plans and add the three skill points to the Hell Lord Talent or to continue focusing on developing one Talent Tree and achieve the specific talent that he wanted in the shortest time.

In the end, Rhode made a decision.

As his levels increased, it was getting incrementally harder for him to increase his levels as the EXP requirements were much higher. The EXP that he received from killing Vulture and the Necromancer had increased his level by two and even if he managed to complete the two upcoming 5 Star Missions, the EXP might not be enough to successfully raise him to level 40. His endurance ability was a problem which he needed a solution the most. Furthermore, Rhode needed to conserve his spiritual energy for the next 5 Star Mission. Considering the importance of priority, Rhode made a self-evident decision.

"Talent, activate." The Talent Tree system emerged before him as he commanded. The Soul Messenger and Summoning Master Talent were abnormally glaring while the Hell Lord Talent was dimmed fully. Rhode reached out for the Talent Tree before him and slid across.

A line of system prompt emerged.

[Consuming 3 skill points on selected Talent Tree — Hell Lord unlocked]

[Hell Lord First Stage Talent Unlock: Soul Territory. Bone Signal. Death Incantation]

[Received Halo Technique: Soul Territory LV3 (The holder can absorb the spiritual energies of the creatures that the holder has killed by 30%) Quantity stackable]

[Halo Technique Awakened]

Rhode let out a sigh of relief and stored the remaining skill points. At this moment, he required only the Soul Territory while the other two new talents weren't that attractive to Rhode and he had no intentions on activating them. A line of system prompt suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[Talent Tree Fully Activated. Executing Fusion Command]

"Eh?" Rhode puckered his brows as he had never heard of the 'Talent Tree Fully Activated' and 'Fusion Command'. However, as Rhode was doubting, the bleak Hell Lord Talent Tree suddenly shone in rays of glaring, golden radiance while the other two Talent Trees began to glow correspondingly. The dazzling rays of light forced his eyes shut.

After a few seconds, Rhode re-opened his eyes to examine the Talent Tree again. And what presented itself baffled him.

At this moment, the Talent Tree system had totally transformed into something unlike before.

The three Talent Trees system used to be separate. But now, they seemed to be the roots of a tree. The path of the three Talent Trees intertwined densely. Although there weren't many changes in general, some of the talents belonging to the Summoning Master Talent had become under the Soul Messenger Talent while the Hell Lord Talent had a few techniques belonging to the Soul Messenger...

What is this all about?

Rhode's mind went blank and he realized that his past plannings were most likely useless now. Rhode couldn't understand why his Talent Tree system would have such a change.

He flipped through the past records of the System Prompt and read the line of [Talent Tree Fully Activated. Executing Fusion Command]

Is this a preinstalled function of the Talent Tree?

In the game, the Talent Tree didn't have such a function even when some players had activated all three Talent Trees. But why did this happen to me?

It was Rhode's strong point to give up thinking about an unresolvable problem. He threw all the doubts to the back of his mind and began to examine the Talent Tree carefully. Rhode was fortunate that all the talents that he possessed belonged to the first three stages only and their differences were still fairly obvious, so there weren't many changes to the talents which he already had. However, in the later stages, the talents were more tangled. There were some talents that fused into totally different kinds that he wasn't aware of and Rhode hopelessly realized that all the hard work that he had put in for the build of the Talent Tree might need to be abolished...

However, apart from this, Rhode found something unexpected.

There used to be the representative names below each Talent Trees respectively. In other words, there would be [Summoning Master], [Soul Messenger], and [Hell Lord] at the lowest end. After the Talent Trees fused, there weren't any changes to their positions. However, Rhode noticed that the lines extending below their names were entangled.

But there was no information stated in them. Rhode tapped on the interface but there was no reaction, as though it was a texture bug.

What exactly is this?

Chapter 434: The Key's Whereabouts

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

In the end, Rhode wasn't able to figure out what the new Talent Tree was about and he roughly guessed that it would be an ultimate talent. However, he had no idea why this talent didn't reveal any information at all. Could it be that this world was similar to the gaming world where the information had to be patched before it could be revealed fully?

Rhode felt that this was too improbable.

However, he didn't have the time to consider something which he couldn't figure out anymore because Gillian had returned to the inn and brought some bad news for Rhode. Rhode's group had been noticed by the Eagle City's internal officials and Gillian had also detected many people were observing them in the dark. Moreover, she faced some harassment, but these troubles were nothing for the Fire Elemental Lord. Even though a majority of Eagle City civilians weren't hostile to them, there might be accidents waiting to happen if this went on for long.

Other than this piece of news, Gillian also brought along some good news. She had received intelligence on the key for the underground maze. The four key fragments were currently in the safe of an auction house, waiting to be auctioned off as an ornament. If Rhode wished to get his hands on them, the only way would be to participate in the auction.

But the problem was...

"This auction only permits the local noble celebrities of Eagle City to participate?" Rhode frowned with a solemn expression as he gazed at the piece of paper in his hand.

Meanwhile, Gillian shrugged her shoulders and curled up on the sofa like a domestic cat. "That's right, Master. I've tried bribing but it didn't work as only insiders could partake in it. Although this can't be considered as any shenanigans or conspiracy, the requirements are too difficult for people of our identity."

"This is really troublesome..." Rhode puckered his brows as this was a great opportunity. Furthermore, it would be for the best if he could obtain the key fragments through this auction. Otherwise, he might need to travel all over the place and retrieve them through dishonest methods. Although Rhode didn't have any mental conflicts using these methods, he was concerned that the messy situation in the Eagle City might bombard his reasons and objectives. Overall, it would be wise to obtain them legally and avoid any criticism.

But... Were there really no other ideas?

Rhode shifted his attention to the door and stood up. "Gillian, look after Anne and make sure she doesn't get into any trouble. I'll be right back."

"No problem, Master," Gillian was slightly astonished and the fox-eared young lady revealed a pensive smile while winking at Rhode. "Aight, I wish you all the best~"

As a matter of fact, Rhode's method was simple and direct. Since they had no right to enter the auction, the only way was to find someone who could and bring him along. Although Barter was qualified, Rhode had no intention of seeking his help since both of them were eventually competitors. Moreover, Barter was currently not in the Eagle City, so it wouldn't be easy to get his help on this.

However, this didn't mean that Rhode had no suitable candidate for this job.

"Mr. Rhode." As soon as Rhode entered the parlor, Natasha greeted him with a wide smile and lifted the ends of her skirt slightly while scuttling towards him. This time, this rich daughter of the city owner was wearing her usual, exquisite dress, unlike the miserably tattered clothes while they were on the run. Furthermore, it seemed that she was much staunch and courageous after going through that tough period of time. On the other hand, Grendy followed Natasha closely as usual and it seemed that both of them were really close. "I didn't expect you to visit me. If it weren't for you and your men, we definitely wouldn't have escaped from the hands of that Necromancer... I'm really sorry for not expressing our gratitude before."

Natasha's expression turned gloomy because when Natasha and Grendy arrived at Eagle City that night, they were brought back home by the city owner and Safety Officer immediately. Meanwhile, Rhode's group was led to the Battle Angel Army encampment to hand over the Bone List. As the situation was hectic, the city owner thanked Rhode's group and left briefly, leaving Natasha and Grendy without the chance to thank their benefactors. They felt unsettled because even though Rhode indeed wasn't concerned about their life or death when they first met, they had seen how Rhode did his utmost to protect them afterwards. If it weren't for him, perhaps neither of them would have made it back alive.

"Don't worry about it, Miss Natasha; we weren't mindful of that. It's a perfect ending since everyone is well and alive." Rhode consoled the depressed young lady. "To be frank, there is something that I hope Miss Natasha can help me with..."

"What is it?" The young lady lifted her spirits and raised her head hurriedly to gaze at Rhode. "If it is something that we can help with, I will definitely do my best, Mr Rhode."

"Actually, it isn't that big of a deal," Rhode spread his arms apart and explained. "It's like this, Miss Natasha. I want to take part in an auction that is going to be held here, in Eagle City. To be honest, something that I desire will be auctioned there. But I guess you are also aware that this auction is only opened to local noble celebrities and outsiders like me definitely can't get into the auction house. That thing is very important to me and if possible, I hope you can offer me some help to obtain the rights for us to participate in this auction..."

"Auction?" Natasha was slightly taken aback as she didn't expect that Rhode would be here for this purpose. She had participated in the Eagle City auction and she was aware that there was such a prominent rule. However, rules were dead and humans were alive. It was possible to bring friends along, but the organizers must be informed beforehand. No matter what, the behind-the-scenes supporter of this event held high influence in this region and if one ever broke their rules without informing, they would definitely bear grudges.

Natasha didn't understand too much of the complex matters, however, she felt that she could give Rhode a hand on his favor. "I don't think there's a problem, Mr. Rhode. Please wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."

Natasha turned around and left the parlor, leaving Rhode and Grendy. Rhode shrugged his shoulders and didn't speak a word as he lifted his teacup and savored the fragrant red tea, admiring the scenery curiously while awaiting Natasha's good news. Then, Rhode turned towards Grendy. The young swordsman stood straight up and revealed an awkward smile after detecting Rhode's gaze. "Mr. Rhode, this..."

"I can see that you two are pretty close." Rhode nodded at Grendy. "How are you two doing?"

"Thanks to Mr. Rhode, everything is fine," Grendy answered with a hesitant expression. He observed the surrounding for a brief moment before approaching Rhode and spoke in a soft tone. "... Although I shouldn't say this, I heard from my father that Eagle City hasn't been too peaceful lately, so please be careful, Mr. Rhode. Also, I heard that someone is attempting to harm you."

"Thanks for your reminder," Rhode nodded in acknowledgment slightly. As he had heard from Barter on this previously, he was mentally prepared for Grendy's reminder. However, did it mean that their actions would become apparent soon since even Grendy is aware of it?

At this moment, Rhode sensed a sinister, ice-cold stare from behind him.

However, he didn't turn around instantly. Instead, he placed the teacup on the table and shut his eyes, focusing his perception on that line of sight... But that person suddenly withdrew his stares and fled swiftly.

Who exactly is that?

Kacha. Soon after Rhode returned to his senses, the parlor door opened and Natasha entered, grinning from ear to ear.

"No problem, Mr. Rhode, I've spoken to my father about it." Natasha handed three badges to Rhode. "There won't be any problems as long as you, Gillian, and Anne enter the auction house and display these three badges before it starts... Grendy and I will be there too, so please be assured."

Great.

Although Rhode's mind was occupied with that line of sight, his expression didn't reveal his thoughts. Instead, Rhode stood up and accepted the three badges. "Thanks for your help, Miss Natasha."

Chapter 435: A Complicated Auction (1/3)

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

As night fell, the winds swept across the prairie and brightly-lit lanterns signified the start of the Eagle City's Flash Auction. As an auction that strictly limited the number of participants and their identities, the Eagle City's Flash Auction was set up in dark, gloomy coloration. Just like the world has its own day and night, the Flash Auction had its own black and white sides and anything could be sold and purchased here. The main items would mainly consist of treasures, armor, and magical equipment that mercenary groups or guilds had obtained during their adventures. Sometimes, there would be rare gems, materials, Magic Herbs, or even humans for sale. However, these transactions were extremely confidential and the auction would disallow them unless it was being sold by their trusted partners.

The Flash Auction was located in the busy east district of Eagle City, far from the Battle Angel Army encampment. It seemed like the organizers were aware that although the Battle Angels weren't interested in getting involved with these shady matters, they weren't dumb enough to provoke them by setting this event under their watch.

The main streets were bustling because it was time for people to return home from their daily errands. However, it was quiet and solemn around the auction house with fully armored guards blocking the roads to provide the attendees a peaceful, quiet, and safe environment. Several noble celebrities donned in their rich attires had arrived at the venue in their chariots, chatting cheerfully and wittily. After all, most of the attendees knew one another due to the strict rule of the Flash Auction. But without a doubt, there would always be new faces that would steal the show.

As Rhode and his group exited the chariot, many nobles turned their gazes towards them. It wasn't just due to their unfamiliar faces, but also their oddly charming appearance that attracted their attention.

Rhode led the group with his trim black, formal attire with a brown wooden cane in his hand. His shoulder-length hair flowed smoothly while his dark eyes squinted slightly. Although Rhode was donned in an undoubtedly male attire, everyone who witnessed his fine, beautiful oval face couldn't help but mistake him as a female. However, there was an undeniable faint, ice-cold aura emitting from his expression that warned everyone just how dangerous he was.

If Rhode could be said as an untouchable, beautiful ice sculpture, Gillian would be the alluring cocktail. The bright red off-shoulder dress outlined Gillian's seductive curves and ample chest ingeniously. Her long pink hair fell softly on her fair, tender shoulders, letting off an elegant charisma while her fluffy tail and ears heightened her loveliness. A glance at her was as though downing a cocktail, leaving one burning and yearning for more.

Anne was equally dazzling.

Anne didn't dress up as Rhode and Gillian did. Instead, she was clad in her usual white leather while carrying her large, heavy shield on her back. However, this was exactly the touch of difference that the well-dressed nobles felt from her. Furthermore, this young lady had a vibrant, youthful smile which left them a favorable impression.

Of course, it wasn't purely due to their outstanding appearances that made them the center of attention. As a matter of fact, although this was the first time that these nobles had met Rhode, they had heard of his name for a long time. Thanks to the Midsummer Festival, Rhode had received practical benefits and left a deep, favorable impression in many of the nobles' hearts. Many nobles favored him for his mightiness and furthermore, they suspected that his mysterious background might actually be very powerful. After the Midsummer Festival, many of them felt that perhaps a new force would rise in this country soon.

Because of this, many nobles weren't surprised to see Rhode's group in this auction. Instead, some of them were considering if they should use this opportunity to gain a closer relationship with him. Even though Rhode's powers were in Paphield and not here, he had Marlene and Lize, two powerful political backings. Perhaps the nobles might even stand a chance to work with the Senia Family and the King's Party, which would definitely be worthwhile.

However, this was only an auction venue and not a drinking party. It wouldn't be well-mannered of them to greet directly.

"Mr. Rhode. Miss Gillian. Miss Anne." Natasha lifted the ends of her skirt lightly while approaching the group. Meanwhile, Grendy was clad in his armor and following closely behind her. The young swordsman was astounded as soon as he witnessed Rhode's group. He lowered his head shyly and bowed to the three of them.

"Miss Natasha. Mr. Grendy. I'm glad to see you two here." Rhode greeted them and observed the surroundings as he could sense that there were many people in the crowd sizing them up with gazes filled with curiosity, excitement, unfamiliarity, and alertness. However, this was a normal reaction to expect since this was a small venue and Rhode's group was indeed filled with outsiders. But Rhode was here for the auction only and he had no intention of mingling with the crowd. Natasha led the group towards the auction venue.

"I've spoken to my father and you can use our private compartment today. Please be assured, Mr. Rhode. With us here, we believe that the item that you want won't be snatched by others," Natasha spoke with a friendly smile and with a hint of pride in the expression. It seemed that this young lady was proud of her family and she seemed to have her own views on matters now. That torture must have affected her a lot, and it developed for the better. But...

Rhode suddenly felt a sinister stare from the crowd. However, it lasted for only a second.

"What's wrong, Mr. Rhode?" Natasha asked curiously as Rhode stopped his movement and observed the surroundings. After exchanging glances with Gillian, Rhode shook his head.

"No, it's nothing. Let's go." Rhode lifted his head and entered the auction venue.

The entire auction venue wasn't huge in scale. It was similar to a circular theater, with trapezoidal rows of seats before the stage. The luxuriously decorated private compartments were located in the comfortable, open areas by the walls beside the 'stage' and the observers inside had a panoramic view of the entire auction. At this moment, the private compartments were fully occupied and the compartments were covered with red velvet curtains supported by brass brackets in order to prove the guests with a quiet, comfortable space.

As the city owner of the Eagle City, the treatment was clearly better. Not only were there soft, comfortable sofas, there were even delicious wine, fruits, cakes, and food. There was a list of auction items on the mahogany table before them and Rhode spotted his target quickly. The keys to access the underground maze was ridiculously named on the list as a 'Magical Adornment'. However, this wasn't much of a surprise because, after all, this key didn't look like a key at all. Instead, it looked like a slate puzzle.

Soon, everyone sat in their seats and Rhode naturally was seated with Gillian and Anne while Natasha and Grendy were beside them, whispering into each other's ears excitedly regarding the auction. An old man in a butler uniform stood quietly by the side, ready to serve everyone.

"Have you sensed it, Master?" As Rhode flipped through the list, Gillian leaned to his ears sneakily and whispered.

"Of course. But, let's wait and see." As the two of them spoke, the bells tinkled crisply and the magical radiance revolving around the theatre faded dramatically. Within a few seconds, the bustling venue restored its peace gradually. All the distinguished guests in the private compartments and the ordinary guests by the seats sat straight and shifted their attention to the stage before them.

An auctioneer in a tuxedo stepped onto the stage.

The auction had officially began.

Chapter 436: A Complicated Auction (2/3)

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

From the start, the enthusiasm in the auction wasn't that great as the auctioned items were mainly irrelevant. Although the items were popular amongst the noble ladies, Rhode had no interest in them at all. He was waiting for the opportune timing patiently. Natasha had successfully bid herself a beautiful crystal sculpture with 1500 gold coins while Grendy was eager to give bidding a try as he seemed to have taken a liking for a magical sword.

Soon, the auctioneer revealed his 13th auction item... That was a pair of beautiful Emerald Earrings. The auctioneer explained that this pair of earrings was made with an ancient craftsmanship and it was perfectly preserved. Fine silver lines wrapped around the emerald, arousing everyone's hearts. This pair of earrings had a starting bidding price of 800 gold coins...

However, this price was nothing for the vain nobles. The bidding for this item began and its price rose to 1600 gold coins. Normally, it would be rare for a pair of Emerald Earrings to be sold at this price. However, Natasha and Grendy didn't have any reactions because it seemed that they were used to the lavish splurges of these nobles. On the other hand, Anne widened her eyes in shock as she laid by the window and stared at the earrings

"That's ridiculous... A pair of earrings can be sold for at least 1000 gold coins... Anne definitely can't afford it..." Anne gawked at the pair of earrings on the auctioneer's hand and shook her head. Rhode squinted his eyes slightly before raising his arm and gesturing to the old butler. The butler announced.

1800 gold coins.

After hearing Rhode's bidding price, many bidders had given up. Within all the bidders, only one was left and he bid after hesitating for a long time.

2000 gold coins.

Rhode's expression remained unchanged as he raised his arm again.

2500 gold coins.

This bidding price stomped the other bidder completely. After hesitating for a while, he chose to give up. The auctioneer struck his gavel thrice and the pair of Emerald Earrings was delivered to Rhode's compartment. After paying off the sum, Rhode took over the earrings. However, Rhode didn't even look at it once. "Anne."

"Eh?" As Anne turned around, Rhode tossed the pair of earrings to her, which startled the young lady. Anne caught the earrings with her fast reflexes and she was baffled. "Eh? Leader, this..."

"This is for you. You can have it." Rhode turned around and observed the ongoing auction. Anne stared at the Emerald Earrings in her hands and after a few moments, the young lady unveiled a brilliant smile and nodded at Rhode delightfully. "Thank you, Leader! Anne will keep it then!"

Anne stretched her hands out and put on the earrings impatiently. The young lady scuttled to Rhode's side wildly and hugged his arm. "How does it look, Leader? Nice?"

"Of course. It looks great on you." Rhode caressed Anne's hair gently while Anne squinted her eyes like a satisfied cat. As Anne returned to the window to continue observing the auction, Rhode turned his gaze to Gillian who was sitting beside him and secretly pinching his thigh. Rhode knew that this fox-eared young lady must've been envious even though she didn't reveal it on her expression. He let out a hopeless sigh. "Don't worry, I'll get one for you too."

After bidding for the Emerald Earrings, Rhode spent another 3000 gold coins to bid a Ruby Ring for Gillian and the fox-eared young lady finally released him from her pincers. Natasha and Grendy exchanged looks curiously because they didn't know why Rhode wanted to take part in this auction. But it seemed that Rhode must be similar to the other nobles, who probably just wished to bid for something rare and interesting.

As though to confirm their guesses, Rhode continuously bid for three items at 4000, 3500, and 4600 gold coins for a Crystal Necklace, Platinum Bracelet, and a bracelet made up of rainbow gemstones respectively. Natasha was baffled as Rhode gave her a conception that he was a noble who had too much to splurge. These accessories weren't too useful and she thought that Rhode wouldn't have any interest in them. But now, Rhode actually spent over 10k gold coins. Could it be that his hobby was in collecting these accessories?

The first segment of the auction came to an end and Rhode's target for the day finally appeared. The four slates namely the 'Beautiful Magical Adornment' displayed before the auctioneer. According to the auctioneer, this was an item discovered in a historical ruins by a mercenary group.

The minimum bid was 4500 gold coins.

The nobles didn't fancy such items. As a matter of fact, the nobles' characteristics were similar to peacocks where they favored eye-catching and dazzling items. These ancient, mysterious, heritage items were too deep and profound for them.

However, not everyone was uninterested in such an item with a sense of mysteriousness. Soon, someone rose the bid.

4800 gold coins.

When there's a first, there will be a second and a third. However, such an item eventually wasn't useful for most of the nobles and their bidding prices weren't astronomical. When it was Rhode's turn to bid, the price was set at 6200 gold coins. Rhode made a decision instantly.

6500 gold coins.

This price set the entire auction into dead silence. However, in the shadows of this auction venue, a crafty-looking man was staring at Rhode while licking his lips slyly. "Ivan, shall we?"

"Do it and let's observe the situation first." A man, with his face covered by the shadow, responded with a deep voice. The man sounded as though he was in his thirties. "We've opposed a few times but we eventually failed. Don't forget why we're here. That man is definitely not here for these useless items and ornaments. Observe the situation, but don't attract that man's attention.

"I understand," the man nodded and lifted his bidding plate.

6800 gold coins.

This bidding price changed the atmosphere of the entire auction venue. Everyone was whispering ear to ear while examining the four slates on the stage as they couldn't figure out how this weird looking thing could fetch such a high price. Suddenly, the private compartment above them accepted the challenge.

7000 gold coins.

Rhode had no intention of giving up.

7200 gold coins.

The other bidder went into silence for a moment and announced their price.

7500 gold coins.

Now, it was Rhode's turn to fall into silence. He didn't respond immediately; instead, he sat on the sofa, lifting the wineglass casually while gazing down at the auction venue. At this moment, the others in the compartment were looking at Rhode with uncertainty because they knew that the bidding for this item that Rhode wanted wasn't that easy.

"Leader?" Anne puckered her brows and gazed at Rhode. However, Rhode was as though a sommelier, appreciating the delicious wine in his wine glass. It was only after the auctioneer knocked on his gavel once when Rhode made a hand gesture.

7700 gold coins.

This time, no one challenged him.

"Ivan?" The man shrieked in shock while his companion hiding in the shadows groaned. "Give up."

"Give up? Ivan, are you sure? That guy seems to want this thing a lot." The man gazed in doubt and frowned. "You see, that guy is willing to pay 7700 gold coins and although we don't know what's so special about that thing... Shall we experiment it?"

"There's no need to." The man in the shadows gestured with his hand decisively. "Didn't you see? That man didn't respond instantly after the second bid from the other bidder. He must be hesitant of his desire for this item; if not, he wouldn't decide to bid for it only after the auctioneer strikes the gavel once. This shouldn't be the item that he wants because there is no reason for him to hesitate for so long. Also, he raises the bid by 200 gold coins every time and didn't attempt to raise the price by a huge amount to force the other bidder away. This goes to show that this thing isn't necessary for him... Continue to observe. It's not over yet."

"Alright, I understand." The man nodded convincingly as he indeed didn't notice these behaviors... It seemed rather logical to him.

The gavel struck thrice.

Rhode let out a sigh of relief and placed the wine glass on the table. At the same time, he retrieved a handkerchief and wiped the sweat in his palms. As a matter of fact, Rhode was nervous even though he seemed nonchalant. Ever since he entered this auction venue and sensed some malicious stares, he was worried that someone would give him a hard time during the auction. Indeed, there were a few occasions when someone rose the bidding price purposely. Rhode had observed that the opposing bidder came from a particular seat below him.

Rhode bid for a handful of accessories previously in order to bait out his enemies. After confirming who his enemies were, he gave up on a few bids on purpose and took down a few at the same time. This was to confuse the enemies of his real intentions and apparently, it worked out pretty well.

However, it wasn't over yet.

Rhode couldn't let off these people with potential threats to him.

The keys to the maze were delivered to Rhode and he kept it in the Spatial Bag safely. Then, he picked up the list of auction items again, focusing his attention on the finale of this auction.

Chapter 437: A Complicated Auction (3/3)

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

After bidding for the keys, Rhode had accomplished his mission. While waiting for the entire auction to end, he continued to entertain himself by watching the other nobles bid for the remaining items. Got to say, the organizers indeed had impressive goods to attract the noble celebrities in Eagle City. There were some treasures and equipment which even Rhode couldn't help but drool at. However, he didn't bid for them because their prices were too expensive. Furthermore, Rhode's rich experience in the game had proved that he could obtain equal or even mightier replacements if he had enough time to hunt for them. Therefore, it was meaningless for him to squander money on them.

On the other hand, Grendy struggled to bid against the nobles for this particular magical sword. The price of the magical sword rose steadily and Grendy purchased the sword with Frost Attribute for a total of 50k gold coins. Anne shook her head as she couldn't understand the point of spending 50k gold coins on just a sword. Rhode had no views on this and although he felt that the price was on the high side for a magical sword with only a Frost Attribute, the money eventually wasn't his and he had no right to intervene.

After the bidding for the magical sword, the atmosphere in the entire auction venue was hyped. The originally quiet auction venue was now filled with soft humming as many nobles seated below were whispering from ear to ear. At this moment, the auctioneer struck the gravel thrice, silencing the entire place and capturing everyone's attention. A few seconds later, some fully armored guards stepped onto the stage and surrounded the auctioneer with solemn expressions. Furthermore, there were two Mages standing by the edge of the stage, gazing at the crowd vigilantly.

What's that?

Curiosity took over Rhode as he observed this dramatic set-up. No matter what, this auction event was already considered a highly private event and for the organizers to be this strict in safety precautions, it went to show how unusual this next auction item would be. Rhode once again went through the list on his hand in detail. However, the list didn't provide any information on this upcoming item. It seemed that the organizers were knowledgeable and extremely confident in their auction items. If not, they definitely wouldn't organize it in such a way.

A few strong men lifted a wooden crate covered by a red cloth onto the stage carefully. The auctioneer glanced at the wooden crate that was larger than him and let out a cough before turning towards the crowd.

"Dear ladies and gentlemen, this next item that you're about to see will be the most valuable piece of this entire auction..." The auctioneer snapped his fingers and tugged the red cloth off the wooden crate. Then, two of the guards stepped forth and unlocked the sealed crate, revealing its hidden content to everyone. In an instant, the entire auction venue shrieked in horror.

It was a ginormous beast.

The beast was wolf-like, however, it was larger than any ordinary wolf by multiple times. It was clear blue in color from its head to toe with a sparkling sapphire inlaid in its forehead. The beast seemed extremely exhausted, curling in the small enclosure and not moving an inch. Perhaps one would believe that it was dead if its eyes weren't swirling.

A Demonic Beast?

Rhode was wide-eyed as soon as he recognized the round, gorgeous gem in the middle of its forehead. At this moment, the auctioneer began to introduce their exclusive. "After looking at this Demonic Beast, I guess everyone must be thinking that it is a living creature, right? But, it's a pity because it isn't a living creature. This is a grand result of alchemy."

"Eh?!" The crowd was startled and as though expecting such a response, the auctioneer smiled proudly before wearing a bracelet on his left wrist and commanded the huge wolf. "Get up!"

The enormous wolf got up obediently to the auctioneer's command and the crowd felt something was off as soon as the light shone on the terrifying creature. The wolf didn't have any fur, unlike any other wild beasts. Instead, its fur was substituted by iron-plated armor which knights wore and the armor shone under the magical radiance blazingly.

Is that a Construct?

The entire auction venue turned quiet and soon, whispers from the amazed nobles broke the silence. After all, as a result of the ancient magical era, Constructs possessed formidable might. Furthermore, they wouldn't die or rebel and they were the favorites for many Mages. However, due to various reasons, their creation methods were gradually lost over the years. Although there were Constructs in ruins and graveyards like the Golems, they were uncontrollable. There was once a team of adventurers that excavated a similar Construct; however, it became wasted material as they couldn't gain control over it. And now, a controllable Construct stood before the nobles' eyes which piqued their interest.

The auctioneer gestured to the guards and they placed a full set of knight armor by the huge wolf. Then, the auctioneer pointed at the armor and commanded. The huge wolf snapped its mouth open, sucked in a deep breath and howled at the armor.

"—!" A green light beam blasted from its mouth and in a blink of an eye, the entire knight armor vanished in a puff of gray smoke. The crowd held their breath instantly as they couldn't believe their eyes. Then, the auctioneer once again requested for the guards to place the exact same armor on the stage. Under the auctioneer's command, the wolf began to claw and rip the armor with its teeth, shattering it into bits in a split second.

The auctioneer stepped to the center of the stage. "As all of you have witnessed, this is an absolutely perfect Construct."

He lifted his hand with the bracelet and announced loudly. "It will serve you loyally forever and it will become your most capable guard which no one can ever defeat!"

There was an uproar amongst the nobles instantly. Got to say, this auctioneer managed to peak their interest wonderfully. After all, all the nobles were afraid of death and they couldn't guarantee that their companions would protect them loyally. However, if they were to have such a wonderful Construct, what else was there for them to be afraid of?

But...

"Why would they sell it if it is really so good?" Anne laid on her stomach by the window and asked dubiously. "If Anne has such a wonderful thing, Anne will keep it for myself. Why must Anne sell it to others?"

"That's not our problem to worry about." Rhode gazed at the sapphire gem on the Iron-plated Wolf's forehead with a slightly sunken expression. This gem wasn't any ordinary gem; it was one of the ancient Spheres of Mystery: the 'Endless Forcefield'.

Even though this Sphere of Mystery was one which Rhode didn't own, he had seen it in the game before. It once belonged to a Mage guild and it held powerful attributes that could turn a territory into a magical forcefield. Furthermore, all objects with magical content within its range such as the alchemy potions, magical equipment, and even magic skills would be enhanced multifold. The development of the player guild flourished with this Sphere of Mystery. Initially, it was used with a purpose to threaten the position of Rhode's Starlight. However, the guild leader and vice leader fought each other over a woman and split the whole guild apart. The Endless Forcefield went missing and many claimed that the vice leader had broken it while some claimed that the leader had sold it to another guild. Although the opinions differed, the whereabouts of the Endless Forcefield was still a mystery. Rhode had only seen a picture of this Sphere of Mystery and never did he expect to see the real thing here...

This is one excellent item.

"Minimum bid starts from 100k and every increasing bid is a minimum of 10%!" announced the auctioneer.

Multiple bidding plates were raised instantly. In a short period of time, the price of this Iron-plated Wolf had risen to 150k gold coins.

Rhode had no hesitations and he joined in the snatch. "200k gold coins."

As soon as this bidding price was announced, the nobles got into a frenzy. However, they had no intention of giving up just yet. One after another, the bidding plates were raised, and the price climbed steadily. When it was Rhode's turn to bid again, the price had gone up to 300k gold coins.

"L-Leader, are we really buying this thing?" Anne stared at Rhode with widened eyes while Natasha and Grendy were bewildered. Why would a swordsman need such a thing? He shouldn't need this to protect himself, right?

Rhode didn't respond to Anne's question. Instead, he revealed four fingers.

400k gold coins.

The entire auction venue fell into silence yet again. The nobles exchanged looks and although they weren't convinced, they had no choice but to give up. After all, 400k gold coins were much more than they could 'splurge extravagantly' on even though this Construct seemed to be as formidable as the auctioneer had guaranteed. Furthermore, this large sum of money was almost equal to their annual income and not anyone could just afford it. Although Eagle City was large and filled with noble celebrities, their wealth couldn't be compared to the riches in the South. Therefore, most of them chose to back off. But not everyone gave up.

Soon, another man raised his bidding plate.

450k gold coins.

Rhode's expression remained unchanged as he extended all five fingers.

500k gold coins.

He was dead serious on getting this Endless Forcefield.

However, it wasn't only Rhode who took interest in this thing. Although the other bidder hesitated with Rhode's counter bidding, he eventually increased his bidding price: 530k gold coins. Natasha stood up in shock, gawking at the compartment where the bidding plate was raised. Then, a trace of uncertainty and hesitation revealed on her face. "It's the compartment of Earl Tyler. Mr. Rhode, I think you should forget it..."

"Earl Tyler?" Rhode twitched his brows while Natasha nodded in acknowledgment before sitting down with a fearful expression. "Yes, Mr. Rhode. Earl Tyler's family is the second strongest here. Not only are they powerful, I have also heard a bad rumor about them... I heard that they were associated with the Southern merchants and those who opposed them were eventually gone. Rumor has it that they were murdered or sold... And..."

"Earl Tyler has a huge influence in Eagle City too." Grendy continued Natasha's words with an aggrieved expression. "Many nobles are terrified of Earl Tyler and don't dare to go against him. You see, Mr. Rhode, you are the only one fighting with him over this auction item... Although you are our guest and we shouldn't intervene..."

Grendy didn't complete his sentence as he wished that Rhode could understand their plight. Judging from Grendy and Natasha's gloomy expressions, it seemed that their family didn't have a good relationship with Earl Tyler. If Rhode were to contest with him over this auction item, both Grendy and Natasha would be put on the spot. After all, Earl Tyler would definitely stand against them since Rhode was a guest which they had invited. Although Rhode was their benefactor, their relationship hadn't developed to the stage where they were fine with putting their own family's fate in order for Rhode to win the auction item.

However, Rhode wasn't about to submit the Sphere of Mystery to others that easily. If that Earl whatever Tyler snatched it, then...

Rhode rolled his palm.

600k gold coins.

Grendy displayed an unpleasant expression while Natasha sighed slightly. Not only them, even the guests in Earl Tyler's compartment seemed rather hesitant. The auctioneer gazed at the silent crowd, puckered his brows, and announced with his lifted gavel.

"The guest of the city owner offered 600k gold coins. Are there any higher bidders? 600k gold coins!" The auctioneer struck the gavel heavily.

A burst of panic erupted in Earl Tyler's compartment and the bidding plate was raised.

650k gold coins!

Rhode lifted the wineglass and gave a toast to Grendy and Natasha. "Thanks for your reception, Miss Natasha and Mr Grendy. This auction was very interesting, and I enjoyed myself a lot."

"Eh?" Both of them couldn't believe their ears. They thought that Rhode would fight to the death with Earl Tyler. Instead, he gave up so willingly after listening to Earl Tyler's bidding price?

"Mr. Rhode, have you given up?" asked Natasha curiously.

"That's right," Rhode nodded in acknowledgment. "I don't have that much money to buy this thing..."

And since you don't allow me to buy it with money, I won't spend anything to get it then.

Chapter 438: Underground Maze (I)

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

Although Rhode wasn't able to bid for the Endless Forcefield successfully, it was something extra after all. Instead, the Maze Key was the crucial item and just obtaining it was good enough for Rhode.

And now, the pre-mission for the Castel Plateau Ruins mission awaited him: exploration of the underground maze.

According to the in-game players's excavation, this underground maze was situated in the Central Garden of Eagle City. The secret entrance would link to the underground maze through a tunnel and of course, this secret tunnel came with a long history... However, Rhode had no interest in how long its history was, nor how hair-raising it was. All he cared about was that this tunnel would lead him to obtain some equipment that would assist him in completing the main mission easily.

A portion of the players who were enthusiasts about the game's storyline felt that this popular method was simple, crude, and even lacked a sense of beauty. This was because these tunnels and secrets were the fruits of success which they had obtained after immersing themselves fully in the plot and consuming countless energy. Just like the fountain in the Central Garden, someone first discovered the secret tunnel hidden within it through a suicide note. After this player took great pains to source for the four slate key fragments and combined it, the tips carved on the back of the completed slate key fragments revealed that the secret was hidden in the fountain in the Central Garden...

However, Rhode saved himself all these troubles. At midnight, he stood by the fountain in the deserted Central Garden. After confirming that there wasn't anyone around, he stretched to find a steel chain behind the wing of the fountain sculpture and gave it a strong pull.

It was that simple, easy, free and unconstrained. And the satisfaction from finding the clues was absent. How boring...

A deep noise sounded beside their feet. The fountain stopped flowing and the pool of water in it began separating in half swiftly, revealing a pitch-black abyss. In a blink of an eye, the pool of water in the fountain was dried completely, displaying before everyone a flight of stairs leading to the bottomless darkness.

"Woah..." Anne was in awe as her jaw dropped.

Rhode observed the flight of stairs before him and started descending it with Anne and Gillian following closely. The entire tunnel was pitch-black; however, it wasn't dark enough to hinder Rhode's group. Gillian snapped her fingers and summoned numerous fireballs around them to brighten the path ahead.

The secret tunnel was rather narrow as it could fit only two people side by side. Wet watermarks remained on the slate and the entire tunnel was filled with fresh water vapor. Rhode focused his vision ahead while leading Gillian, followed by Anne.

"Although we have gotten the Maze Key successfully, Master, you aren't too satisfied it seems?" Gillian asked as she strolled casually, sizing Rhode up.

Rhode shrugged his shoulders. "A little. Although we did obtain the key, we didn't manage to get the Endless Forcefield, which was a pity. Even though it was possible to win it if I continued to bid, it wouldn't be a smart choice if I spent too much on it too. But I do have a plan, and that is after we have dealt with our proper business."

"Pfff." Gillian sneered at Rhode unexpectedly. "Master, I didn't think that you would be that interested in that thing... So I'm quite surprised."

"Isn't that normal?" Rhode twitched his brows curiously at Gillian's rather odd gaze, as though she were looking at a guy who had gone astray with drugs but escaped without knowing how lucky he was. It was too weird.

"I guess you must be aware of the powers of the Endless Forcefield. That could be said to be a magical crystal. If we can obtain it, we can use it with the Sphere of Mystery to exhibit considerably formidable powers. This way, we will gain the upper hand in future battles. Isn't that a good thing?" Rhode didn't understand Gillian's ridicule.

Judging from her attitude, this Endless Forcefield seemed to be something that shouldn't be messed with. However, Rhode couldn't figure the side-effects. After all, he had read the discussions about this Endless Forcefield on online forums and he was sure that there weren't any strange curses or side-effects. If there really were, the players wouldn't keep hushed about it, right?

"That's for sure a good thing, and I have no intentions of being rude to you, Master." Although Gillian's tone of words were as respectful as usual, they were filled with sarcasm. "But Master, you must know that things differ from person to person. The Endless Forcefield may seem like a valuable treasure to one, but... for others, it will only be a disaster."

"Eh?" Rhode slowed down his pace. "You mean that this Endless Forcefield is a disaster for me?"

"Yes, Master." Gillian chuckled and replied without the slightest hesitation. "Only those who delve into the mysteries of magic wholeheartedly have the right to use the Endless Forcefield. If one doesn't qualify, it is impossible for one to earn the recognition of the Endless Forcefield. Huhuhu... Master, the reason why you gave up on the Endless Forcefield wasn't solely because you were being considerate of Miss Natasha... But you were also aware of the potential dangers, right?"

"Eh?" Rhode sensed that Gillian placed an emphasis on the word 'wholeheartedly'. Out of the blue, a joke appeared in his head. It was a hilarious rumor which spread amongst the players in the game. The player guild that secured the Endless Forcefield had once been named the 'Magicians Guild' by many players. It wasn't solely because there was an abundance of powerful Mages in the guild, but also because most of them were basically single virgins. Many players mocked them and exaggerated that these players must have also become a true magician in real life. There was another rumor that this guild was filled with a bachelor's curse and any player who joined this guild would be cursed. They would break up with their girlfriends and join the ranks of bachelors gloriously...

Initially, Rhode didn't treat this joke seriously at all. However, after being reminded by Gillian, he recalled that there were indeed players who broke up with their partners after joining that guild. Furthermore, rumor had it that the vice leader had slept with the guild leader's then-girlfriend and led to the collapse of the guild... Could it be...

Cold sweat flowed down Rhode's back. To be frank, he was eager to give getting the Endless Forcefield a shot. However, he felt that there was an uncomfortable and conflicting emotions in the bottom of his heart as Earl Tyler continued to increase the bidding price. In the end, he rose his bid once and gave up directly after witnessing Earl Tyler's determination. Now it seemed that...

It can't be... Even if the Endless Forcefield has such powers, it shouldn't affect the real world.

"Huhuhu, I guess Master, you have discovered it too, right?" Gillian noticed that Rhode was struggling in his thoughts and she placed her tiny palm by her mouth and chuckled. Rhode turned over and stared at Gillian. However, the fox-eared young lady didn't seem to take it to heart.

"But... That was in the game and not in real life?" Rhode didn't explain the details since Anne was behind them. Although Anne wouldn't be interested in their discussions with that carefree nature of hers, it was still better to be safe than sorry.

"You can put it that way, but... who knows?" Gillian gave an ambiguous answer.

The fox-eared young lady always acted this way every time Rhode questioned her about her past and the connection between the game and the real world. It was apparent that she seemed to be aware of something, but she wasn't willing to tell Rhode and Rhode didn't know why. He had once suspected that Gillian came to this world the same way he did. If not, she wouldn't have known that much about his interpersonal relationships, especially when it came to his relationship with Canary. In the game, Rhode and Canary acted normally and their companions weren't aware of their secrets. Rhode and Canary would chat privately every weekend or during holidays and fix a date for their 'activity'. Of course, Rhode had always kept quiet about this and an obedient young girl like Canary wouldn't tell anyone about it either, so it was too suspicious that Gillian was actually aware of it.

If Gillian did come to this world like Rhode did, it was strange that her behavior was totally unlike Canary and Mini Bubble Gum's. Although Canary and Mini Bubble Gum were illusionary images of Rhode's memories, their nature and memories were original. Rhode could see that they weren't too mindful of this world like him. Canary and himself treated the humans here as normal human beings while Mini Bubble Gum treated them as NPCs. On the other hand, Gillian behaved proficiently as though she was her original self. Rhode sounded her out a few times but she had always been vigilant to act naive and avoid further discussions.

As Rhode pondered these thoughts, the group arrived at the bottom of the steps and were greeted by a huge, stone door.

Chapter 439: Underground Maze (II)

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

The stone door was three meters tall and carved with a beautiful, mysterious relief sculpture. A square slot in the middle of the door was apparently an installation for opening it. Although the entire stone door looked ordinary and was mediocre at best—the knock of a hammer would effortlessly smash it to bits—Rhode could sense a strange aura coming from it. It was obvious that these fine relief sculptures weren't simply relief sculptures. Instead, they were powerful magical traps that would perhaps trigger if the method of inserting the key was wrong or if the door was forcefully opened.

However, this wouldn't pose a problem for Rhode, who held the correct key. Although he couldn't understand the secrets behind the patterns of this magical trap, he was clear of the steps in the strategy in opening it. Rhode retrieved the four key fragments from his pouch and inserted them into the slot in the sequence he remembered. The four key fragments aligned and embedded perfectly with the entire pattern of the huge stone door. The dusty, stone door opened slowly.

A cold, chilly wind blew through the gap and the fireballs around them faded into nothingness.

"Miasma." Gillian scrunched up her face and she returned to her normal expression after a mere second. "Master, you must be careful, okay? There may be a bunch of corpses and naked, skinless creatures extending their tongues dashing out from there. This is more interesting, isn't it?"

"Don't worry, this degree of miasma won't affect me much. Also, corpses are nothing new to us anymore." Rhode turned around and gazed at Gillian as he stepped into the pitch-dark maze.

Rhode didn't understand too much of this maze's history since he wasn't interested. Rhode knew the types of species lurking in this underground maze and that was all he needed to know.

There were no signs of light apart from the fireballs that Gillian had cast. The fireballs shone upon their surroundings and thick layers of moss inhabited the stone walls around them. Coffins filled with ghastly white bones were laid out in a hideous mess while spider webs were spread out along the tunnel. The footsteps of the trio were the only sound in this silent tunnel.

"Leader, what exactly are we looking for here?" Anne was overcome with boredom as she fiddled with her hair.

"We're looking for an important magical equipment which will help us a lot for the next guild mission. Anne, you must be wary too." Rhode explained patiently.

"Don't worry, Leader!" Anne brandished the shield on her hand proudly. "Anne will smash any creature that comes in our way!"

"No, what I meant was that you must be careful in controlling your strength... Because I don't want to be buried alive." Rhode stopped walking. Anne swiftly turned around to lean against Gillian while lifting her shield and vigilantly inspecting the dark tunnel.

"Ughh..." It sounded as though there was a person mourning inarticulately. It could have been the lamentation of the deceased or the deep howl of a wild beast. If a normal human being was in their shoes, perhaps he would be at his wits' end. However, the barking of a neighbor's chihuahua would be more threatening than this voice to the trio.

"It seems that they are finally here to protest." Rhode shrugged his shoulders and drew two daggers from his waist.

These two daggers were the ones Lydia had entrusted the Battle Angel Army to reward Rhode with. At this point in time, Rhode hadn't figured out exactly how he could awaken these two daggers. However, since they were weapons, they should be linked in countless ways with battles. Rhode had decided to battle with these daggers instead of his Crimson Blade. From another perspective, these daggers were a great aid to him. After all, the Crimson Blade's sharpness was its biggest merit. Also, apart from its unique technique, the sword's attribute was similar to an ordinary weapon. Furthermore, Rhode couldn't possibly let it absorb his blood anytime, anywhere. In other words, the attributes of these daggers outclassed the Crimson Blade and their might could be said to be on par with Star Mark and Succubus. However, the only flaw they had was their lack of a distinctive feature.

Considering that Rhode needed to consume his spiritual energy to summon a card from the Holy Sword Card Deck while these daggers didn't need his spiritual energy, he felt that it was a real bargain. Rhode decided to use this underground maze as a training location for the daggers. After all, there wasn't much danger and Rhode could use this chance to feel their formidable powers through actual battles.

In the darkness, the two daggers displayed their exclusivity. Their sharp blades glowed with magical radiance as though they had detected an approaching danger. And they were right, because at this moment, dark, slow-moving figures came into Rhode's sight one by one.

They were shriveled corpses in skin and bones. Holding a sword in their hands, their empty eye sockets emanated weak, fading flames of their last remaining soul as they growled unpleasantly.

Maze Zombies.

"Gillian, don't attack." Rhode took a forward stance, at the same time alerting Gillian. "I want to give them a test."

"Sure, Master." Gillian snickered and backed off in a few steps. She leaned against the stone wall while folding her arms leisurely. "I'll stand here and admire your skills then."

"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Rhode slashed dazzling radiances in the pitch-darkness with the two daggers. "I'll leave those at the back for you, Anne. Be careful; hold back your strength."

Rhode dashed forward in the blink of an eye.

Although these Maze Zombies were sluggish in their movements, their actions were swift. In a blink of an eye, the Maze Zombies snarled nastily and slashed their sword at Rhode. Rhode didn't dodge even though he could easily sneak between their attacking interval. He stopped advancing and brandished the daggers in a criss-cross stance before him.

Clang! The ear-deafening collision shook the seemingly 'extremely delicate' Maze Zombie violently. Rhode was firm on his feet as he squinted his eyes to sense the feedback of the daggers' powers, trembling, weight, and balance. After all, the technique for dual-wielding swords was completely different than that for a single-handed sword. Rhode had to find the most suitable battle style and strategy. As for these Maze Zombies...

Rhode raised his right arm abruptly.

Gracier sliced the Maze Zombie's sword and hand instantly. As it stumbled backwards, Madaras pierced its throat in lightning speed. Rhode took one step forward and slashed its throat sideways. The sharp blade utterly severed the Maze Zombie's skull and at the same time, Rhode withdrew his right arm before stabbing the other Maze Zombie.

Glinting starlight erupted from the dagger and in a split second, the defenseless Maze Zombie was shredded into pieces. However, this wasn't enough to stop their aggression as another Maze Zombie pounced forward with razor-sharp teeth, attempting to tear his flesh and devour him wholly.

However, before its teeth could sink into Rhode's flesh, a glaring magical radiance flashed. Gracier penetrated its skull from the bottom-up and sent it into the depths of the abyss.

Not too bad.

Rhode pushed the dead Maze Zombie away and flicked off the remains on his dagger. At the same time, he lowered his head and gazed at the daggers. Rhode was amazed that it was as though the two daggers had become the perfect extension of himself. Also, he was able to slay the enemies flawlessly as though he had been using the daggers for a long time.

Why do I feel this way?

Rhode's eyes glistened curiously. Suddenly, two clear and sweet-sounding laughters sounded in his head.

"Huhuhu..."

"Hehehe..."

Rhode looked up but he couldn't find anything apart from the Maze Zombies.

His ears fell into the silence of the tunnel again.

Chapter 440: Underground Maze (III)

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

The following battles were not challenging for Rhode's group at all. After all, this underground maze was just an ordinary location and any player could clear it by himself. Furthermore, Rhode had two companions alongside him and the Maze Zombies didn't stand a chance. These pitiful zombies had turned into Rhode and Anne's training props and it was equally a great chance for Anne to get accustomed to her newfound Wind Elemental prowess.

"Heyah!" The young lady dodged the counterattack of a Maze Zombie before swinging the heavy shield to crush its waist. Her powerful strength split the zombie in half and smashed the wall behind it. Anne stood up and took in a deep breath while Rhode nodded in satisfaction. "Well done. For your next target, aim for its head only. Remember, do not attack other parts of its body. If not, this will be considered a failure. Understood?"

"Yes, Leader, Anne understood!" The young lady nodded with a brightened face and she lifted the shield immediately. "Manaitamod!"

Her large shield began to shrink and modified itself using the young lady's arm as its base. In a blink of an eye, the shield had wrapped around Anne's arm entirely like an armguard. However, as this armguard was oversized, it seemed as though Anne's right arm had become a gigantic steel hammer. After the transformation had completed, Anne took a step back with her right foot and leaped back to land a heavy punch on the Maze Zombie that snuck up on her.

Bang! The transformed heavy shield on Anne's arm was extremely solid and it supplemented her powerful strength. In an instant, the Maze Zombie's head and chest shattered pitifully.

"Heyah!" Although Anne finished the zombie up with one single punch, she seemed rather depressed. The young lady leapt back and dodged the venom that splattered from the Maze Zombie. At the same time, she gazed at Rhode and asked hesitantly. "Leader, does hitting the neck counts?"

"No," Rhode replied sternly.

"Alright, Anne understood!" Anne nodded unwillingly and out of the blue, another Maze Zombie came charging towards her with a rusty longsword. This enormous Maze Zombie snarled as it hacked at Anne's skull. Even though Anne was maintaining her posture while speaking to Rhode, she sunk her body and rolled over sideways to avoid the attack immediately.

The Maze Zombie lost its balance after missing its target. Anne thrust out her slender right leg as she turned and tripped the zombie to the ground.

"Ah! Failed again!" Instead of continuing her attack, Anne hugged her head in regrets. "Leader said Anne must give a single killing blow... It seems that this habit is really hard to change... Forget it, Anne will try again!"

Anne raised her arm without delay and moved to the next target.

These battles, or rather, training, were for Rhode to explore his compatibility with the two daggers. Whereas Anne's training was to master the control of her strength. Ever since the trio entered this underground maze, Rhode had set numerous tests for Anne where she could only crush the Maze Zombies into half or only strike their skulls. She needed to kill them in a single hit and moreover, she mustn't be damaged by any of them within a time limit. Furthermore, while defending against their attacks, she had to ensure their attacks landed on the center of her shield.

Rhode wished that this training with cumbersome requirements and meticulous details would help Anne master her precise control over her elemental strength. On the other hand, instead of resisting such harsh requirements, Anne was having the time of her life as she had never experienced such challenging training requirements before.

Anne was indeed a talent in battle. Although she had a straightforward and innocent nature, Rhode discovered that her battle awareness was much sharper than most players. From the start, Anne couldn't manage the techniques of controlling her wind elemental powers. However, she was able to control the elemental powers in her body to a certain extent just after two to three hours. Even though she was still lacking in the subtle details of control, she did pretty well for commanding a heavy, steel shield.

Boom! Anne tossed the last Maze Zombie corpse on the ground and the trio arrived at the end of the tunnel. Instead of filthy corridors and rooms, a clean, gorgeous hall laid before their eyes. This hall was so wide that it could hold up to a thousand people. Moreover, this place was much brighter than the dusky, pitch-dark tunnel. Magical gems were inlaid on the walls and emanated with a pale radiance that lit the trio's path dimly.

This area should be the main sarcophagus chamber because there were over a hundred sarcophagi across the large space. The sarcophagi were arranged in order of social class and were stacked into the shape of a pyramid. The ordinary sarcophagi were set upright below the walls and the flight of steps while six exquisite sarcophagi were set in a circular arrangement above the platform. On the middle and the summit of the platform laid a silver box which fit the description that Rhode had seen on the strategy guide. That square box could be used to shut down the Castel Plateau Ruins' defense installations.

"Anne, how's your training? Do you need a rest?" Rhode asked.

"It's fine, Leader." Anne shook her head confidently. "Anne is fine! Anne will do whatever you say!"

"Good." Rhode nodded and pointed at the platform before them. "See those sarcophagi there? Those are filled with Maze Zombies, but Gillian will deal with them. Those six sarcophagi up there are yours and they contain six Zombie Witches. Although they aren't strong, do be careful."

"Zombie Witch?" Anne's eyes widened curiously at the six sarcophagi. "Are they the same as the Necromancer we fought with?"

"Although they are rather similar to Necromancers, there are still differences. The Zombie Witches are failed finished products with incomplete self-consciousness and are only capable of some low-level undead spells. But curses and poison gases are among these spells. I want you to be careful and keep a distance from them. Remember to use your elemental prowess to protect yourself. Understood?"

"Understood, Leader." Rhode could see the urge to jump straight into battle in her eyes.

But he needed to explain things clearly beforehand. "Anne, recognize the location of the six Zombie Witches. You'll deal with the three of them on the left while the other three on the right are mine. These zombies are able to fly, so don't allow them to. Although these Zombie Witches are intellectually limited, they aren't that easy to deal with. Remember, the gem in the middle of their forehead is their source of energy. Smash the gems and they will turn into normal corpses."

"Yes, Leader." Anne nodded again but this time, she turned around with a hesitant look. "But Leader, how are you so familiar with this place? Did you come here before?"

"Pfff!" Gillian let out a chuckle while Rhode's mouth twitched.

After all, Rhode explained the situation too clearly. Nobody would believe that he hadn't been to this place before.

Without a doubt, Rhode couldn't tell Anne that he had read through the strategy guide. Gillian's interest in watching Rhode get out of this situation was undoubtedly more than 120%. However, this wasn't any danger for Rhode.

"You see the six sarcophagi there? They are carved with unique inscriptions to seal the Zombie Witches and I know what is inside by looking at them..." Rhode coughed awkwardly while suddenly, Gillian burst out in laughter. Fortunately for Rhode, Anne nodded pensively and turned towards the hall. Rhode lifted his chin and gazed at the middle of the platform while placing his hand on the sword hilt by his waist.

"Let's go," Rhode said softly.

Anne was the first to storm towards the platform as she couldn't hold her anticipation in any longer.

"...!" Deep, low growls sounded and the covers over the sarcophagi suddenly flew open. Large Maze Zombies stepped out of their sarcophagi one by one. Their eye sockets radiated in scarlet, negative radiance and their long arms dropped on the ground while revealing five razor-sharp, splinter-like fingers. These Maze Zombies were a totally different type of species from the ones they had seen before.

Rhode obviously had no intentions of classifying these zombies before him like a human scientist. He darted forward in a line of afterimages and left just one word. "Gillian!"

"Yes yes yes, Master. I have been idling around for so long and now; it's finally time for some activities." Gillian grinned and entered the hall while lifting the ends of her skirt gracefully as though she were a rich young lady invited to prom. Sensing a sign of life, numerous Maze Zombies turned around and pounced at Gillian.

Unlike the previous Maze Zombies, these were much quicker. They dashed forward with four limbs like a dog while their swinging long tongues were dripping with gluey saliva. In the blink of an eye, two Maze Zombies arrived at Gillian's feet. They leaped up with sharp fingers and snarled at their target.

"Yes, this makes things slightly more interesting." Gillian continued to grin as she took a few steps back while swaying her fluffy tail. The fox-eared young lady lifted her right arm and snapped her fingers lightly.

The crisp, faint snap was totally unnoticeable in the spacious hall with the growls of the Maze Zombies. However, ferocious flames rose from the ground beneath her feet as though a countercurrent waterfall had swept the Maze Zombies away from her. In a blink of an eye, the zombies burned into ashes. Gillian clapped her hands gently and the flames that spurted from the ground inclined forward like waves ferociously engulfing the place, shrouding everything in sight with a sea of flames.

"Heyah!" Anne raised her shield in midair after dodging a Maze Zombie and smashed its skull. With the crisp sound of fracturing bones, the lively zombie mourned and crashed to the ground. Anne rolled over and used the momentum to strike another uninvited guest away.

"There's no more time to play with them. Let's go." Rhode's voice rang in Anne's ears as she was about to crush the third Maze Zombie. Two strange flashes interwove into a net of light and fluttered before Anne, shredding the zombies to pieces instantly. Rhode continued to dart pass Anne and dashed towards the platform.

Bam! The covers of the six sarcophagi burst open. Under the undulation of magic, the six skeletons in broken robes fluttered while holding the same staffs in their hands. Their dark, endless eye sockets were flickering with the dull, red radiance of their remaining soul. "Who's there! Trespassing this forbidden place!"

"Woah, Leader, they can talk?!" Anne questioned in astonishment.

"Yes, they can even greet us with 'Hello, how are you?'. Now, cut the crap and go!" Rhode ridiculed Anne's amazement and sprang forward.

Rhode turned into a shadow while shooting straight for a Zombie Witch. The Zombie Witches reacted swiftly by fluttering higher and at the same time, mouthing the words of a prayer. One of the Zombie Witches pointed its staff frontward and shot a dark beam of radiance at Rhode.

"Hmph." Rhode swung Madaras forward and blocked the negative dark beam.

Suddenly, a translucent ritual circle emerged before the tip of Madaras and the negative dark beam gradually faded before vanishing into thin air. Rhode jumped up vertically and pierced the Zombie Witch's forehead with his right dagger without any resistance.

Kacha. Rhode broke the gem on its forehead into two and vaulted away hurriedly. The Zombie Witch wailed painfully and spurted a mist of bottle green smoke before eroding into magical specks of dust.

"—!" Another Zombie Witch aimed its staff at Rhode. But a sudden wind prevented it from casting its spell.

Bam! A whizzing shield smashed the Zombie Witch's head perfectly and shattered its skull into fragments. The shield spun in a zigzag direction and swept up a burst of whirlwind instantly. The stream of air whizzed from the whirlpool and overwhelmed the other two Zombie Witches instantly.

"Phew..." Anne heaved a sigh of relief and wiped the beads of sweat off her forehead. "Made it on time, luckily."

Chapter 441: Underground Maze (IV)

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

The Zombie Witches' formation was instantly disrupted by Anne's threatening shield. Perhaps if it were the Necromancer or Lich, they would have a chance to retaliate. However, these magical creatures equipped with basic intelligence behaved differently. Zombie Witches were hesitant in this chaotic situation and scattered frantically to escape from Anne's whirlwind. At this moment, Rhode appeared behind a Zombie Witch.

Shing! Gracier secretly penetrated the Zombie Witch's skull without any resistance. The other Zombie Witch widened its mouth and converged the surging billows of magic into an intense shock wave. It released a strong blast at Rhode to avenge its companion.

Although this Zombie Witch had quick reactions, the flaw in its low intelligence exposed itself here: it disregarded its companion who was right before Rhode and due to this, its companion became the sacrificial victim of its own magical shock wave. After getting struck by the shock wave, the Zombie Witch hovering in midair was left with only its lower body. Instead of being concerned for its companion's miserable encounter, the Zombie Witch tilted its head as it couldn't figure out where Rhode was.

At this moment, an X-shaped radiance flashed before the Zombie Witch.

Rhode landed on the ground before the corpse of the Zombie Witch fell from the air.

The battle ended.

Standing on the peak of the platform, Rhode glanced below him. Instead of the Maze Zombies, numerous pitch-black vestiges stained the ground. Gillian was strolling through the hall towards the platform and sensing Rhode's gaze, the fox-eared young lady gave an OK gesture with her hand. "Master, no problem."

Boom! A deep collision sounded from the other side. Rhode turned over to find Anne rolling and getting up on her feet. The pitiful Zombie Witch beneath her feet had turned into meaningless debris.

Anne revealed a cheerful smile to Rhode. "Leader, Anne's part is OK too."

"Well done." Rhode observed the surrounding as he complimented.

Although the Zombie Witches were inferior to Necromancers in terms of powers, it seemed that Anne's reactions in battle when facing three of them were still rather great. Even though Rhode knew the tricks of Zombie Witches inside-out, he didn't explain the details to Anne because he wanted to put the young lady to the test and see how well she could bring her qualities out. It seemed that Anne had passed his test and this would be extremely helpful for the next battle. Rhode shifted his attention to the box before him.

That was a silver, squarish equipment in a shape of a box. It was carved with complicated patterns as though it was part of a certain ritual. A dull emerald gem was embedded above, lacking the luster of a magical gem.

Could it be that the powers inside it have been fully exhausted?

Rhode picked up the equipment and scanned the magical gem carefully. After all, the most basic way to judge a gem's magical powers was that the more glaring it seemed, the more magical powers it possessed. This was the same theory for equipment or weapons embedded with magical stones. In terms of price, a sword inlaid with a magical gem brimming with magical powers could be sold for thousands of gold coins. However, if the magical gem had lost its powers, the sword would only be sold for a dozen gold coins as it would be deemed low-grade. At earlier stages, this had become a source of income for Alchemists with the Production subclass. After mastering the techniques of Productions, these players could obtain or purchase low-grade magical items through adventures or NPC and profit after repairing and re-selling. However, there were also probabilities that the item repair would fail. Furthermore, with news of these methods spreading in succession, many picked up this skill. As a result, the price of the low-grade magical equipment increased dramatically. Moreover, with an abundance of magical equipment in the market, the increase in saturation and price reduction led to a steep drop in profits. Therefore, this was no longer a good source of income for Alchemist players with the Production subclass.

Rhode concluded that this magical equipment was utter trash. He wouldn't be able to use it unless it got repaired with its magical gem replaced. But... Rhode's forehead furrowed because the strategy guide didn't explain that he needed to repair this equipment. This portion wouldn't be deliberately abandoned if there indeed was this requirement to repair it. Moreover, even if the author had forgotten to include this detail, players would have added on in the comments. But, I don't remember seeing the players' comments on this issue, so what's wrong...

If this equipment required repair, it was a grave mistake to not bring Lapis along. After all, not every smith could repair magical items. Furthermore, with the probabilities in success rates, it would be best for Lapis who possessed the Behermes' alchemy skills to repair this equipment. At the same time, it didn't seem realistic to fetch her.

"Master?" Gillian's voice pulled Rhode back to reality. However, Rhode's eyebrows rose as soon as he realized that the dull magical equipment in his hands suddenly emanated faint magical radiance.

"This is..." Before Rhode could finish his sentence, a glaring beam of white light emerged from a gap in the middle of the platform ground. The hall was shrouded in radiance entirely and at the same time, Rhode found himself suspended in the air and the space around him had distorted...

"Damn it, Anne, Gillian, be careful! This is spatial teleportation!" exclaimed Rhode.

"Eh?" Anne curiously widened her eyes and scanned the surroundings. "No problem, Master."

Gillian remained as calm as usual. This fox-eared young lady was unconcerned, or perhaps, she was ready for it all along.

At this moment, a dazzling white brightness occupied Rhode's vision and he was vestured in the entirety of it...

When Rhode opened his eyes, the first sensation he felt was a cool breeze filled with the scent of soil.

"I don't remember that damned strategy guide mentioning that I'd be teleported by that thing..." Rhode held his hand against his forehead and grumbled as he struggled to get back on his feet. He found the half-conscious Anne half-kneeling on the ground while Gillian stood quietly beside her. The Fire Elemental Lord was used to such standards of spatial teleportation. She shut her eyes and positioned both hands before her like a wise and virtuous woman.

As soon as Rhode stood to his feet, Gillian opened her eyes and gazed at her master with a cheeky smile. "How was it, Master? Feels great?"

"That was terrible. I regret not taking a motion sickness pill in advance." Rhode stomped the ground a couple of times to force the dizziness away. He lifted his chin and gazed forward. Unlike the underground hall, Rhode could clearly see the glittering stars in the sky and the distinctive rays which only the Light Dragon Soul emitted. The moon hung in the air brightly and the waist-deep prairie in a distance swayed in the gentle night breeze. Rhode was familiar with this place and even though he had only been here a few times, he remembered this place deeply. Gazing at his feet, a perfectly round slate ritual laid quietly in the prairie.

"I was thinking why would a ritual would be in that kind of ghostly place... It seems to serve this purpose..." Rhode mumbled at the sight of the slate ritual.

Meanwhile, Anne stood up and unlike Gillian, this young lady had never experienced spatial teleportation. Her body shook as she got on her feet. She squinted her eyes and swayed left and right like a drunkard. She mumbled unintelligibly and stumbled her way to Rhode's shoulder. After a few moments, Anne opened her eyes and gazed at the man beside her curiously. "Urgh... Leader? Where are we... Feels so uncomfortable... What happened..."

"Spatial teleportation. We left the underground maze and this place is..." Rhode lifted his head. He saw a prairie occupied with broken stelae and subdued ruins. However, it was amazing that this exceptionally ruined landscape had a strangely mesmerizing atmosphere under the brilliance of the illustrious moon. "Castel Plateau Ruins."

Castel Plateau Ruins.

No one knew its true origins. From a player's perspective, Rhode knew that this place was once a huge city with a superlative civilization. However, this city sunk into the deep underground due to various reasons and turned into an underground city through and through. This happened a long time ago and Rhode and his team had accidentally entered this underground city and discovered the slate ritual set on this prairie.

According to the players, there must be something hidden in this prairie for it to have such an odd thing. Therefore, the players began their search and entered the entrance to the underground ruins. Although Starlight met unexpected obstacles, they advanced through and cleared this ruins dungeon smoothly. Due to this, Rhode wasn't sure of its history and the only information he gathered from the players was that this city used to be advanced in magic technology. However, the entire city sank after a massive magic experiment failed. As the experiment failed too abruptly, most of the citizens didn't escape successfully. The underground sarcophagi chamber which Rhode's group had entered was built by the citizens that had escaped safely. They hid in Eagle City and strived to make their city alive again. However, they weren't able to reach their goals. In the end, the city fell into an everlasting hibernation.

Rhode's group had been puzzled because this slate ritual should have been used for teleportation purposes. They thought that this slate ritual was for them to enter the dungeon tunnel and they spent a lot of time researching, which concluded with no results. After entering the dungeon, they were once again misled that this ritual was one that transported them to the surface after clearing the dungeon. However, it seemed like this ritual served the purpose of teleporting from the chamber to the tunnel of the ruins.

Although to be teleported to the entrance of the ruins was a big surprise for Rhode, he continued to remain calm. Initially, Rhode had decided to head to Castel Plateau Ruins the second day after he obtained the equipment. Now that his traveling time had been saved, it was all the better for him.

"Let's go." Rhode lowered his head and scanned the area before moving forward while Anne and Gillian followed behind him closely. Anne hadn't shaken off the dizziness yet as she covered her forehead and mumbled, swaying her way at the back.

As the trio ambled along, the soft grass patches transitioned into a solid, slab path. After years of wear, the smooth slab had cracked. Green grass grew stubbornly from between the chinks and gave some life to the scenery.

However, as they moved ahead, the scenery before their eyes transformed.

"Eh?" Anne looked around curiously.

The moon continued to hang in the sky and the night breeze was still as chilly while the prairie was rustling feebly as usual. However, Anne found her world blinded by depressing gray and all the colors had lost their vibrancy. Even Gillian and Rhode seemed to be lifeless, as though they were dead.

"Leader!?" Fear crossed Anne's face as she grabbed onto Rhode's arm frantically.

"Eh?" Rhode turned over and found Anne with an awkward expression.

Anne quickly withdrew her hands and didn't know what to say. Were her eyes having problems?

"Don't worry, Anne" As though Rhode was reading her mind, he patted her shoulder lightly. "We are in the Necromancer's territory and this place has been totally shrouded by lifeless aura. That is why you are seeing such depressing sceneries. Relax and use the power of your element to dispel them away."

"Okay!" Anne shut her eyes and began to put to use her elemental powers. In the blink of an eye, wind elemental powers wrapped around herself . When she opened her eyes, the gray, spiritless color had faded and vibrant colors once again returned.

"Phew..." The young lady heaved a sigh of relief.

It was certainly depressing for a cheerful young girl like her to accept such a dull-looking world. Even though Anne had fought in the underground, the duskiness of the underground world would still light up with the radiance from the flames and at least the world was still bright and dazzling. However, the world that filled her eyes before was lifeless, as though it were abandoned.

"Eh?" Rhode slowed down his pace.

A huge cave as though a monster's wide, enormous mouth presented itself patiently for its prey to enter. Although this was the entrance to the Castel Plateau Ruins, this was nowhere similar to the one in Rhode's memories. There were no Undead Soldiers guarding this entrance; instead, it was cold and empty. Apart from the broken walls and stelae that collapsed, there was a pile of bones scattered on the ground.

Scattered on the ground?

Rhode half-kneeled and picked up a bone by his feet. His brows knitted as soon as he recognized the clear scars on these bones. These were vestiges left by swords. Also, the marks revealed that it happened recently!

Could someone have gotten into the Castel Plateau Ruins before us?

Rhode's heart sank and he stood up to gaze at the entrance while his head was spinning. This Castel Plateau Ruins was a 5 Star Mission and no mercenary group had the qualifications apart from the guilds. In other words, only the members of a guild would be here. However, Barter denied that they would be heading here to complete their 5 Star Mission and he didn't seem like one who would lie. So, what exactly was going on? Who else would come to the Castel Plateau Ruins?

Rhode hesitated no more as he tossed the bone. "Let's go!"