Chapter 399


    Hm? Balder blinked in confusion, half expecting that vin was teasing him, but the voice and tone didn’t quite match.


    The little white turtle seemed to be growing more amused by the second, finding Balder’s plump figure to be quite theical sight. “ls your whole


    family like this, or did you put in the effort to achieve such ayered appearance?


    Ha! Balder stared at the small white turtle in surprise. “Can it talk?


    vin shrugged. “When I summoned the Kings of Old, they gave it to me as a gift.”


    Clearing its throat, the little turtle spoke authoritatively, “Youngd, mind your tone. Chubby one, step outside. We have important matters to discuss


    —very important.”


    “Me? Go outside?” Balder pointed toward the door, still shocked. Was it a talking Magi-Monster? Could it be a sacred beast? vin was bing


    more impressive by the moment, with the protection of a royal effigy and now a sacred beast!


    ‘lll have a chat with it first.” vin said, equally curious about the little creature.


    Balder reluctantly exited the room, looking back three times with each step before gently closing the door behind him.


    The turtle was no bigger than a fist, resembling an exquisitely carved ivory, smooth and lustrous figurine. It stretched its tiny limbs to relieve the


    stiffness from being confined for five days and nights. "Those ancient ones are quite pleased with you. Strike while the iron is hot and talk to them—


    get this chain off me. Let''s deal with matters as theye, solve problems that arise, and please, let''s not keep using such brute methods to restrain


    me, alright?”


    “You''ve been living inside the Royal Mausoleum for a thousand years?” vin was still skeptical


    “I was young and naive, lured into a cave, and then chained for centuries. Centuries, can you grasp that? How many centuries does one have in a


    lifetime, and I''ve just wasted them in a daze.” The turtle held up its head, shaking it sorrowfully, almost shedding tears. It meandered around, bobbing


    its head. “But let''s leave the past behind. I am generous and forgiving, and I''ll consider guarding their tomb my duty. But what''s the situation now?


    The Royal Mausoleum is gone, they have departed, and it should be time to let me go. yet here I am. chained to your neck. Let’s be reasonable, shall


    we?"


    Despite its youthful appearance. the turtle spoke with the wisdom of the ages.


    vin took it into his hand, examining it closely. “Why did the Kings deceive you into the Royal Mausoleum? Why not another Magi-Monster?”


    “I was kindhearted, innocent. I was barely a millennium old, young and ignorant.”


    vin couldn''t help but chuckle. A thousand years old and still naive? "I don’t believe you!”


    The turtle replied earnestly, “I know it''s hard for you to ept, but it doesn''t matter. Let''s make a deal. If you free me from this chain, I''ll grant you


    three favors.


    “You''re that powerful?


    “Powerful? Heh, immensely so! I, the venerable one, am handsome and dashing, with might that reaches the heavens and wisdom unmatched.


    Matters of the heavens, the earth, and the mortal realm—if you can ask it, I can achieve it. Three favors, and you won''t regret it.”


    vin narrowed his eyes.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "So, what do you say? Consider it.


    Keeping me tethered to you is


    inconvenient fer both of us. If I’m not


    happy and refuse to help when you


    need it, youll have no power over =~


    me, right?” The turtle tried to look


    solemn, but it was cursing madly


    insid& Its inner self seemedto be


    jumping and pointing at vin,


    urging him to make a deeision. The


    turtle craved freedom! It wanted to


    roam the world, swim the four seas,


    court all thedy turtles, and spread


    its seed—it had been restrained for a


    millennium!


    vin remained calm. “I''m still very curious about your rtionship with the Kings. Why are they so insistent on binding you?"


    If the turtle nad indeed been


    tethered for araillennium, vin


    seriously wetdered if it had


    committes.some heinous act or


    offendectthe Kings in some way.~


    Otherwise, why would they keep it


    chained? Being confined in the Royal


    Matisoleum was one thing, but now


    it Was affixed to the Golden Heart—it


    was Clear they were intent on an


    eternal struggle.


    ?“


    The turtle looked at him innocently,


    stretching itsdimbs and wagging its


    tail. “Do I look like a creature capable


    of vile acts? Contact those ageless


    ones and either free me or giveme a


    fy w


    straightforward answer on hew to


    b eak these chains. I can’t just hang


    there indefinitely, can you2I have my


    pride.”


    NovelDrama.Org


    vin squinted at the creature, suddenly realizing how odd the situation was—he was staring down a turtle. He touched the chain and felt the turtle’s


    shell. “How have you lived for so many years?”