Chapter 277


    E didn''t want to keep her grandfather waiting too long and suggested they leave as soon as


    possible. If he couldn''t find her, he might do something dreadful.


    "Just leave like this?" They wished they could take all the treasures from the cave, especially the


    Life''s Spring, as each drop was exceedingly precious.


    "Take what we can now, and we can alwayse backter." vin fashioned some stone jars


    from materials in the cave, filled them with Life''s Spring, and packed his satchel with Elixir Fruit.


    "Can we reallye back?" E, holding a small fox, saw the creature''s longing eyes fixed on the


    Life''s Spring. It was reluctant to leave, as if it wished to soak in it forever.


    "Perhaps," vin said, bowing respectfully to the eighteen statues surrounding them. He promised


    in his heart. “I take your legacy with me, and I won''t let it be buried in obscurity.”


    "What legacy have you received exactly?" E asked, her curiosity piqued for the third time.


    "I haven''t fully studied it yet. But it might be the secret of immortality," vin admitted, trusting them


    enough to give a hint.


    "Immortality?" The three gasped in unison.


    Cedrick gazed at vin intently. Immortality! Cedrick had to admit that his heart surged with desire.


    Who wouldn''t yearn for eternal life, for an endless existence?


    Immortality? Mari stood firm, her resolve like ice. This was the hidden secret of the ancient kings!


    No wonder it had attracted the mighty warriors from the Warrior Tribe of the East.


    E clicked her tongue teasingly. "Immortality, eh? How many wives are you nning to take?"


    vin choked on his response. "Immortality is theoretical. If you shatter me, I will still die."


    "Aren''t you afraid we''ll spill your secret?" Cedrick challenged. Such a secret would drive everyone


    mad.


    "If I were, I wouldn''t have spoken of it."


    E linked her arm with vin''s. "Quick! Marry me, or I''ll tell everyone."


    "E,dy, conduct yourself with dignity."


    "I am bold in love as I am in hate," E retorted, ncing purposely at Mari.


    Mari remained silent, unimpressed by the shamelessness.


    "We must depart," vin said, hoisting the satchel and leaving the cave.


    The outside world had quieted down. Roald and his men had left, as had the mercenaries, leaving a


    stark emptiness and silence.


    Godfred waited outside the barrier, and upon seeing vin emerge, he sighed with relief. "You''ve


    finally emerged."


    He was frustrated, having waited by the barrier, unable to enter, feeling as agitated as a cat wing


    at the door.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "Is it over outside?"


    "Most have left. The Cobalt Strike forces have withdrawn."


    They swam through the passage and gazed toward the direction of Antis. It was now dim and


    devoid of its former lustrous light, with only the murky tides churning, asionally lifting stones in a


    silent turmoil.


    vin watched for a long while before departing, hoping the kingdom''s treasures would satisfy the


    greed of the powerful so that, in time, the incident would calm, suspicions would fade, and the


    investigation would end. As for the Cobalt Strike, it would be up to Mari to mediate. If she could


    appease the Botanic Haven Elder, all would be well.


    Shortly after their departure, the passage copsed, boulders tumbled down to seal the cave


    entrance, and the true Royal Mausoleum was once again submerged in darkness and tide as if it


    had never existed.


    Within the Royal Mausoleum, the Ivory Turtle still stared longingly at its chains. "Break, please


    break," it pleaded.


    After a moment, the turtle wailed in despair, "You''ve deceived me! Ah, the cruelty! What about our


    agreement? How much longer will you ancient, undying beings imprison me? Wait, the legacy..."


    The turtle scurried out of a small hole, searching for vin and the others who had received the


    legacy. Where are they? Gone?


    The turtle paused, darkness enveloping its vision as it fainted from overwhelming grief.


    The shoreline remained bustling with activity as countless Magi-Monsters and mercenaries had yet


    to disperse, with predatory birds circling overhead. Although Antisy in ruins, the struggle for


    magical treasures continued, moving from the seabed to the shore, and from the shore to the forest.


    Mercenaries battled fiercely while Magi-Monsters hunted. The chaos left a trail of corpses, all lured


    by the promise of magical treasures.


    A group of mercenaries noticed vin and hispanionsing ashore with their satchels and


    charged heedlessly at them.


    The fourpanions'' expressions turned cold as they activated their energy shields. The


    mercenaries turned and fled decisively. Four Advanced Mages were not to be trifled with—time to


    find an easier target!


    But as they retreated, another group lunged at them, and after that group was fended off, yet


    another emerged.