CH383 - CH384

CH383

Royce panicked; he didn’t have 50,000 magic stones.

He knew Case was greedy but hadn’t expected such avarice.

Case, coldly, said, “Can’t pay? Your cargo could easily cover it.”

“Sir, please wait. I need to discuss this; 50,000 is too much,” Royce pleaded.

“Discuss? Forget it. I’ll inspect your cargo for issues.”

Case and his men headed to the lower deck, unchallenged.

They were North Slope city officials, with the right to inspect.

Royce, alarmed, contacted Sam via communication stone, trailing Case.

He couldn’t let Case seize the dragon bones; it would be a huge loss.

He quickly informed Sam of the situation.

Sam, in his room, frequently checked his stone for news, monitoring Helag’s situation.

His contacts on the airship kept him updated, ready to alert him of any changes.

Seeing Royce’s message, Sam’s face turned pale.

“Damn Case!” Sam cursed, furious.

Despite paying so much, Case now demanded 50,000 magic stones, his greed boundless.

But Sam was powerless against Case.

Case’s rank allowed him to crush Sam like an ant.

Moreover, this smuggling was different.

The dragon bones were secondary; Helag’s presence was crucial.

Helag’s survival meant Sam’s survival; he had to ensure Helag’s safety.

Sam messaged, “Pay him!”

50,000 magic stones was steep, but he had no choice.

Even 500,000 would be worth it.

It wasn’t about money anymore; it was life and death.

Meanwhile, Case reached the airship’s lowest deck entrance.

Before him was a door, leading to stairs and the cargo area, where Helag’s crate was.

Case eyed the door, ordering, “Open it!”

“Wait, sir! We’ll pay 50,000 now!” Royce, panting, pleaded.

Case raised an eyebrow, “Now it’s 100,000.”

“100,000!” Royce was stunned, the price doubling.

He hesitated, then informed Sam of the increase.

Crash!

A communication stone flew from Sam’s house, shattering a window.

Sam rushed out, retrieving the stone, and continued messaging.

Case, expressionless, told Royce, “This is punishment for disobedience. Next time, it won’t just double.”

“Sir, check your stone. Sam said he just transferred it,” Royce said quickly.

Case checked, seeing the transfer, and smirked, “Sam’s alright. Let’s go, guys. They’re law-abiding merchants; nothing to inspect.”

They left the airship.

***

Helag monitored the situation, tense as Case neared the door, ready to act.

If Case found him, Helag would have to fight.

Case was a first-level crystallized wizard; the others were first-level too. Helag could handle them, but the aftermath would be troublesome.

If a fight broke out, staying on the airship was impossible. He’d have to hide in North Slope and find another way out.

Helag watched until Case left, then relaxed slightly.

With Case gone, the trouble ended; it was the airship’s last day at the dock.

At dawn, the airship would depart.

As dawn broke, the airship began its journey to Silver Beach City.

It was a long trip, taking a month and a half by airship.

This was if everything went smoothly.

The airship flew over the polluted zone, where delays could extend the journey.

In the polluted zone, anything could happen.

With the airship airborne, Helag felt more at ease.

The next stop was Silver Beach, where he could relax.

***

In the polluted zone, beneath a barren hill, lay a spacious underground cave.

Three wizards worked on an array, nearly complete, awaiting activation.

Among them was an old man, with two younger men in their twenties or thirties.

After inspecting the array, the old man asked, “Has the airship departed on schedule?”

“I heard it has, following the planned route. It should pass overhead in five days,” a young man replied.

The old man nodded, “And the medium? It’s on board?”

“It’s in the lowest deck, loaded in Sord City. Lunsis is on board, handling things,” the young man said.

“Good. Let’s hope all goes well. In five days, we’ll witness the god’s arrival!” The old man showed fervor.

They’d prepared long for this, waiting in the polluted zone for the airship.

They planned to use the wooden carving as a medium, sacrificing the airship’s passengers to open a portal to the Abyssal Plane.

The portal would be brief but enough for their god to descend.

Once the god arrived, it would sweep across the Land of Dawn.

The old man and his companions were thrilled at the prospect.

On the airship, Helag held a small wooden box, deep in thought.


CH384

The small wooden box was among the goods Sam smuggled, a favor for the mustached man.

Sam didn’t care much about the box, knowing it was likely an Abyssal cultist’s artifact.

He was indifferent, as long as he made some money.

The box sat among other crates, unremarkable and seemingly worthless.

Even opened, it appeared to contain only a wooden carving, at best a trinket.

The carving was new, not even an antique, thus not valuable.

But Helag knew its significance; the red insect inside was glaringly obvious to him.

The box’s Abyssal aura was faint but noticeable to Helag.

He recognized it from the tavern, recalling the wooden box.

Initially cautious, Helag left it untouched.

Once the airship left North Slope City, out of Eye of the Storm’s reach, Helag retrieved the box.

Opening it, Helag examined the carving, focusing on the small creature inside.

These creatures’ functions were often inscrutable; Abyssal Plane creatures were diverse and unpredictable.

Many required specific conditions to reveal their abilities, not apparent from appearance alone.

Helag didn’t destroy it, planning to see who claimed it in Silver Beach City.

Tracing it might yield rewards.

After some study, Helag set the box aside, resuming mental power compression.

The journey was dull, so he focused on cultivation.

The airship flew high over the polluted zone, piercing the clouds.

Below, the old man and two youths stood, hearing the distant roar, knowing the airship had arrived.

“It’s here. Activate the array; it will connect with the medium,” the old man instructed.

The trio infused the array with magic, revealing glowing runes with an unusual aura.

On the airship, Helag suddenly opened his eyes, looking at the wooden box.

Opening it, he found the red insect inside the carving agitated and growing.

It seemed ready to burst from the carving.

Helag slapped the carving, scolding, “Quiet down! Don’t disturb my cultivation.”

Releasing a hint of his aura, the insect calmed, lying still.

Below, the old man frowned, “Why no response? More magic?”

“Keep infusing magic!” he ordered.

The youths complied, intensifying their efforts, making the array glow brighter.

But it only glowed more; the next step didn’t commence.

Normally, after activating the array and connecting with the insect, its hidden power would activate, triggering the array below and forming a portal shadow.

But nothing happened.

The old man suspected insufficient magic, but even with increased effort, the array remained inert.

“What’s wrong…” he wondered.

“Contact Lunsis, check the situation,” he instructed.

A youth nodded, leaving the array, cutting his hand, and drawing a green insect.

Placing it on the wound, the insect, smelling blood, eagerly fed.

Soon, it swelled and turned red.

The youth swallowed it, feeling a burst of energy.

He whispered, “Lunsis, the array hasn’t progressed. Check it out.”

On the airship’s second deck, a scruffy man heard the voice and sat up.

Most laborers were asleep, the room filled with unpleasant odors.

Lunsis, expressionless, rose and headed to the lowest deck.

A devout follower, he appeared ordinary but held divine power.

He knew the wooden box, having placed it on the lowest deck.

No one had visited since, so it should be untouched.

Lunsis, due to his low status, couldn’t easily access the lowest deck.

Though unguarded, discovery meant being thrown overboard.

Dignity was for noble wizards, not laborers.

If caught attempting access, they’d be executed.

This was the airship’s strict rule.

Lunsis understood but had no choice.

The plan’s failure was unacceptable.

Even at the cost of his life, the plan must succeed.

Lunsis silently approached the lowest deck’s door, secured with a heavy lock.

He didn’t need a key; his left hand swelled, veins bulging, fingers becoming claws.

Grasping the lock, he crushed it into scrap.

With divine power, Lunsis gained sharp claws and enhanced strength.

This divine gift was rarely used.

With a clang, the lock fell, and Lunsis opened the door to the lowest deck.