In the wilderness, weeds were everywhere, and bones could be seen everywhere.
A small business group, under the protection of a dozen mercenaries, shuttled through the dangerous area and moved toward the Kingdom of Brianne.
This wilderness was the border between the Kingdom of Holm and the Kingdom of Brianne. Surrounded by mountains, magic creatures were rampant. Also, it was said that this area was the territory of Viken, the King of Calamities, who was the governor of Holm hundreds of years ago. Unlike the previous governors who were stationed in Renstadt, he carried out his own experiments at the edge of the Asso Empire. Therefore, there were a lot of strange creatures in this wilderness, which were said to be the defective products of Viken's experiments.
Of course, after Viken went missing, the powerful sorcerers, including his disciples, failed to find his' demiplane entrance 'here. So, nobody knew why he went missing, and nobody got his legacies and magic items.
Many sorcerers could only sigh about that. A sorcerer who was said to be close to the peak of legendary and a great master of blood power studies must've had unimaginable wealth and knowledge in his demiplane, but it had been obliterated in the river of time.
"There are always a lot of similar stories. Even today, many adventurers are wandering in the wilderness and the mountains, hoping to get Viken's treasures." Hassan, the vice-captain of the mercenary squad, said to his subordinate with both disdain and admiration, "They don't even need to think with their butts. Even if they find Viken's demiplane entrance, do they have the strength to get the treasures from it?"
"Viken's title is' King of Calamities'. He's good at blood power studies and body modification. I dare to bet this bag of wine that there are mutated monsters close to legendary in his demiplane and magic tower. Tsk. Chances are that Viken's demiplane has been discovered long ago, but those people have become the monsters' food."
His subordinate was a handsome young man. After a gloomy expression, he forced a smile and said, "They were all blinded by the brilliance of the treasures and swallowed their wisdom."
"Oliver, you're always so interesting. As expected of a bard." Hassan patted the shoulder of the young man next to him.
After interacting with him for three to four months, he realized that Oliver knew how to talk and was capable of doing things. Other than the fact that he liked to fool around with women, he was a rare good subordinate. But then again, which man who chose to be a mercenary didn't like to fool around with women? Of course, the perverts who liked males were an exception.
At this time, Grigra, the captain of the mercenary team, said with a cold face, "Don't discuss such things near the caravan in the future. Be careful not to be overheard by the night watchers."
"We're just telling stories," Hassan replied angrily. What did it have to do with the night watchers?
Grigra snorted. "According to the nobles in the caravan, the night watchers have been going crazy recently. Many mercenaries were burned to death as evildoers because they talked about the legends of sorcerers recklessly."
"Really?" Hassan was shocked. Oliver, who was thinking about his own matters, could not believe it either. It was true that the night watchers were crazy, but when did they become so crazy?
"You'll know when you try." Grigra casually answered Hassan's question that he did not expect an answer to. Then, he looked at Oliver thoughtfully, still wary of the new member who had only joined the team a few months ago. He must be hiding something. Chances were that he was an important fugitive. If it weren't for the fact that he had nothing to do with sorcerers and did not have the most basic spiritual waves of an apprentice, he would've tied the guy up and sent him to the inquisition. Only by being careful could one live longer!
Is the captain suspicious of me? Oliver shrank his neck and lowered his head, secretly deciding to leave the team before the 'journey' was over.
Ever since he fled from Renstadt, he had been caught in a dangerous and intense life. Although he was just a common murderer who had nothing to do with sorcerers and could not enjoy the treatment of being hunted by the night watchers, the mercenaries, adventurers, and sheriffs still forced him to confront them head-on several times.
Thankfully, he had gone through a lot of hardships and was no longer a rookie who knew nothing. He had learned a lot of battle skills by himself. Also, he was smart enough to carry all kinds of strange powders with him all the time. That was how he got rid of the danger and escaped to the border of the Kingdom of Holm, starting a 'new life'. A minor murderer like him was not qualified to enjoy the treatment of being wanted by the whole region. After he reached a remote place, he was naturally safe.
The dangers he had experienced recently told him that he could only wait for death if he was not strong enough. Therefore, having abandoned the God of Truth, he really began to meditate!
However, to this day, he still hadn't entered the meditation environment that was described in the description.
Regarding this, he did not panic or feel depressed, because according to the records on the staff, people with good talent would need six months to two years to be able to control the mind and enter the empty and ethereal state, and he had only tried to meditate for four months.
"But what are the four elements of earth, fire, wind, and water? How do they make up so many things? " As a young man who was interested in drama, Oliver's mind had always been scattered, so he thought about all kinds of inexplicable questions after learning meditation.
After the caravan moved for a while, Captain Grigra looked around and announced that they were going to set up camp. At the same time, he arranged for Oliver and the others to keep watch at night.
It was midsummer, but the wind was still cold in the wilderness, making people feel cold all over as if it was late autumn.
Oliver sat by the fire, looking at the stars in the sky and thinking about his own worries. According to the records on the staff, the location of the treasure was nearby!
He had already seen the obvious strange stone, the blood-red stone that looked like a creeping demon.
He had definitely not fled in this direction without a purpose!
What Hassan said earlier set off a storm in his heart. He almost thought that he was looking for the entrance to the demiplane of Viken, the King of Calamities. Fortunately, his head was still clear, and he knew the gap between legend and reality. For the time being, he set his target as a sorcerer who had once lived here — a sorcerer who had settled here in order to find Viken's treasure.
The night was getting darker and darker, and the wind was getting colder and colder. The other two mercenaries on patrol came back and kicked Oliver's body. "Get up, it's your turn!"
They extended their hands to the fire and put on a satisfied expression.
Oliver held the short sword in his hand and smiled at his companion. "Shall I patrol this side first?"
"What's there to argue about …" The mercenary mumbled and shook his head, turned around, and walked to the other side.
After patrolling to a secluded place, the smile on Oliver's face disappeared. Holding the short sword tightly, he directly left the camp and sneaked toward the strange stone.
"The exchange patrol area is ten minutes. I have to enter the place where the treasure is before then …" Oliver was highly focused, and he had an unprecedented soberness.
Three minutes later, he reached behind the strange stone without attracting the attention of the night watchers. He reached out his hand and rubbed something in the crevice between the stone and the ground.
One minute passed, and he did not find anything. Another minute passed, and he still did not find anything. Cold sweat gradually appeared on Oliver's forehead, but the more nervous he was, the more sober he became. His movements were not stiff or panicked at all.
Suddenly, his face lit up. His hands moved faster, and he dug out a lot of soil in the crevice. Then, he took out the blue, glittering staff and extended it into the crevice.
After a crisp crack, the staff seemed to have been embedded into something metal. Then, a faint blue light leaked out of the crevice, dyeing the nearby weeds into a weird color.
Without a sound, the ground of the wilderness behind the strange stone cracked open into a cave, which was paved with dark gray stone bricks.
Oliver took out the staff and rushed into the cave, running toward the depths crazily. According to the record of the staff, there was a mechanism to close the entrance inside, which also needed to be activated. He had to finish everything before the mercenaries found him so that he could pass safely.
Tap, tap, tap. His footsteps echoed in the channel, and Oliver saw the round hall ahead of him.
Around the round hall were quite a few stone rooms. The doors of the rooms were wide open, and everything inside was easy to see. Some of the rooms were filled with weird plants that were about to go bad, some with several bookshelves, and some with dazzling gems. The lights and shadows were flowing, making the room as beautiful as a dream.
"Wave Stone … Sun Stone … Ice Crystal …" As an ordinary person, Oliver's eyes were naturally attracted by the brilliant light at the first moment. The blue that was as deep as the ocean, as golden as the sun, and as translucent as ice together engraved the word "treasury" in the room.
"I'm rich …" Oliver had seen similar gems in the noblewoman's place before. Naturally, he knew how precious they were.
"Haha. I'm rich!" A rough voice echoed behind Oliver.
Oliver turned around in shock, only to see Captain Grigra walking to him in excitement and greed with a longsword in his hand.
"Captain …" Oliver called out in confusion.
Grigra burst into laughter, "Yes, I know you have a problem. I've been thinking of kicking you out of the team after the mission, but I didn't know that you were a good problem. Thank you for letting me find this treasure. Haha. I've lived for more than thirty years, and I've never seen so many gems before!"
"Thank God for your protection. I didn't forget to pay attention to you. Thank you for showing me the way and letting me find the treasure. So, to show my gratitude, I allow you to die here." Grigra drew a cross in front of his chest, planning to keep the secret to himself!
Holding the short sword and the short staff, Oliver stepped back in fear. He had no confidence in defeating the captain who was only one step away from becoming a Knight.
Grigra calculated the time and decided not to waste any more time. He lunged at Oliver with his longsword.
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