Chapter 890

Chapter 890: Secrets in the Forest

Facing this seemingly enthusiastic Viscount, the guests in the hall stood up one after another, raising their wine glasses to praise the host’s generosity and nobility.

Although everyone had some doubts, they still maintained the usual etiquette of banquets, complimenting each other, congratulating on the good harvest, and saying that life was going well.

Seeing the varied expressions of the crowd in the hall, Viscount Moroz was not surprised. He was never one who enjoyed social gatherings, so he did not expect much genuine sentiment from these people. His goal today was simply to ensure that key individuals were present.

Descending the stairs, the Viscount greeted each guest briefly, attempting to establish familiarity and rapport.

“This must be Miss Mesia? Please forgive my previous rudeness.” After greeting the officers, he approached the stunning young woman in the hall, while the young men who had been chatting with Lolan Hill politely stepped aside.

Bowing slightly, Viscount Moroz examined the black-red dress-clad girl closely. Even by his stringent standards, she was flawless, especially her swan-like delicate neck, which was truly captivating.

Even someone like him, who was no longer young and had extensive experience, found himself enchanted. The other guests in the hall would surely be even more captivated.

This unexpected encounter left Viscount Moroz somewhat surprised, but it did not disrupt his original plan.

“May I ask, Miss Mesia, which family you come from? Someone of your stature must have noble bloodline,” he cautiously probed.

“I’m sorry, that’s a secret.” Lolan Hill raised her glass, partially concealing her face as she spoke.

This was something Lottie had taught her; in the world of nobility, withholding information could actually pique interest rather than cause trouble. It was indeed unfair.

“What a pity,” Viscount Moroz feigned regret, then shifted the conversation to literature and local customs. Seeing he could not glean any special information, he had to abandon it, as there were more important matters to attend to.

As the banquet progressed, guests began to mingle, enjoying the food and getting acquainted. Most praised the food, indicating that Viscount Moroz was a man who understood the finer things in life.

However, Lolan Hill was somewhat troubled. Another neatly dressed officer approached her.

This imperial officer was handsome, wearing a dark red uniform with gold embroidery on the collar, buttons, and cuffs. A rose emblem adorned his chest, signifying his direct allegiance to the royal family.

“I believe I’ve seen Miss Mesia somewhere before,” he said confidently, raising his glass as soon as he approached.

“It might be a misunderstanding.”

“I don’t think so, because such a beautiful girl would be unforgettable,” he praised the girl smoothly. If she were any other girl, she might have succumbed to his charm.

“Thank you for your kind words,” Lolan Hill replied without rebutting, leaving no room for further conversation.

“I’d like to invite Miss Mesia to dance. Would you honor me with this?” seeing that the girl remained unmoved, the officer had to make a direct invitation.

“I’m sorry, I don’t want to dance tonight.”

The girl declined again. Only then did the officer leave, his steps less confident than before, as if he was still pondering her interests.

After greeting several guests, Viscount Moroz returned to the center of the hall. He clapped lightly to stop the band playing, drawing everyone’s attention.

“It’s very pleasant to meet so many friends tonight. Having you all here is an honor.”

“Your Excellency is too kind,” some guests replied.

“However, I have another matter to discuss with you all. Would you spare some time to listen?”

He clapped again, and the servants and band members began to leave until only he and the guests remained.

The door creaked shut, leaving only the windows slightly open. Night wind blew through, flickering the candles in the hall.

“I imagine you’re curious why we dismissed the servants. This is related to what I’m about to say.”

“Rather than trust those of lower status, I trust all of you who attended my banquet. So, I’ll explain the recent events.”

He cleared his throat, leaning on his staff like a cane.

“Recently, many demonic beasts have appeared in the nearby forest. You’ve heard about this, haven’t you?”

“Why do such incidents rarely occur elsewhere, yet so frequently here, and many are new?”

“This is because there’s an ancient ruin near the outskirts of the forest. Its magic has affected the surrounding wildlife.”

Below, the guests were shocked—this was a significant secret.

“This ruin is also our family’s secret. Long ago, my ancestors established it, but over time, much of the knowledge was lost. Now, we only know it’s close by, but we’re not sure what lies within.”

“To uncover this mystery, our family has done extensive research, investigations, and excavations. Finally, in my generation, there’s hope to unravel it.”

“But unfortunately, this wish has been shattered.”

“A despicable thief stole the key artifact needed to unlock the ruin, leaving me angry and helpless. It has trapped us in the city, making us endure difficult days.”

He bowed in apology, earning goodwill from many locals. Despite not bringing tangible benefits, Viscount Moroz was easier to deal with compared to other greedy and harsh nobles. People lived peacefully for years, paying extra taxes occasionally.

“After waiting for days, I tried every method to retrieve the key, but regrettably, I failed.”

“To avoid future mishaps and prevent outsiders from discovering our family’s legacy, I must open it prematurely. But this requires collective effort.”

“I understand that this may not compel everyone. Therefore, I’ve prepared generous rewards.”

He tapped the floor with his staff, and the back door opened, revealing the butler pushing a cart filled with dazzling extraordinary coins and a few jewels.

“These are initial rewards. After the excavation, I’ll share 30% of the treasure with you.”

A murmur spread through the hall.

“How generous! Hard to believe.”

“This seems too good to be true.”

“But if someone offers free money, it’s not bad.”

“Or, we should follow his lead and see. He wouldn’t dare harm us. If anything happens here, the provincial garrison will send reinforcements.”

“Moreover, among the guests are people of high status. Why would Viscount Moroz risk anything?”

Several glances turned towards Lolan Hill.

After the guests exchanged views, they had their plans.

“Because the entrance is sealed, we need collective strength to break it. Inside, we need to explore the maze-like structure. This requires teamwork,” Viscount Moroz explained again, but some raised their hands, voicing objections.

“Viscount Moroz, I am just a common merchant from the city. Perhaps I can’t help much in this operation.”

“Mr. Difeng, I understand your concerns, but it won’t affect the plan. You don’t need to enter the ruin; you can wait outside.”

“Many of us lack combat skills, which I understand. Inviting everyone isn’t just for solving the mystery; it’s also to have witnesses.”

“If only a few were invited, some might worry about betrayal. With fair-minded gentlemen like you here, others will feel more secure.”

His words clarified some doubts.

Seeing Viscount Moroz speak, others couldn’t refuse.

“I have a question, Viscount Moroz. How will the treasures be distributed?” a man from the East asked, holding his wine glass.

“Everyone will receive 30%. If we find something our family needs, I’ll compensate with gold at market value.”

“Now I understand.”

Though skeptical, Yan Liuyan didn’t press further. Once he got his hands on suitable treasure, he wouldn’t let go easily.

“What if we find something special, Viscount Moroz? Some items shouldn’t be kept by individuals,” an officer sitting at the round table calmly asked.

“I’ll check them. If necessary, I’ll report to the royal court or the sages’ council,” Viscount Moroz answered carefully.

Next, he addressed a few more questions, then clapped for silence.

“Now, let’s head out. Time waits for no one.”

Leading the way, he brought everyone to the central courtyard of the castle, where soldiers carrying torches waited.

A long line of torches wound through the forest, heading deeper into the woods.

Riding on horseback, Viscount Moroz watched the long procession behind him. The figures were faintly visible in the flames. Finally, he felt relieved.

The first phase of the plan had succeeded.

After the disappearance of the holy white orb, he had suffered nightly torment, fearing someone might use it to open the ruin’s gates, taking away the precious item he had waited decades for, turning him into a laughingstock.

Knowing the ruin might be stolen, he couldn’t deploy guards, as it would point to hidden treasures.

Without guards and no key, he had to act quickly, gathering a group to break the seal. This prevented losing everything in the wait.

Fortunately, no one knew what lay beneath the ruin. His words had steered the conversation towards wealth, buying time. He had various ways to handle the situation afterward, even escaping overseas if necessary.

Revisiting his plan, Viscount Moroz moved forward, surrounded by guards, toward the steep area of the rear mountain.

Lolan Hill sat sideways on her horse, Miss Sharlin leading the way. She peeked forward curiously.

She hadn’t expected such a scene at the banquet. Viscount Moroz was bold and unconventional, using this method to break the deadlock.

Since the key was lost, he decided to sacrifice part of the treasure, binding everyone to his wagon, breaking the deadlock together. Such a formidable group made small organizations hesitant.

Not only did the group include local celebrities and nobles, but also powerful officers and adventurers. Their sudden gathering would be hard for even the ‘Fire-Eyed Warbler’ organization to counter, leaving them watching as Viscount Moroz took the treasures.

Though it seemed brilliant externally, Viscount Moroz knew the risks. The next crucial step was obtaining the holy relic unnoticed.

Without the relic, would the sages intervene? Though it wasn’t as sensitive as a relic from the Mercury Dynasty, it still mattered.

With the relic, the situation changed. To counter potential chaos, all relics unearthed had to be handed over to the sages’ council.

Under such regulations, apart from a few top nobles (like the royal family and four dukes), most relics would be seized.

“I won’t give up,” Viscount Moroz muttered to himself, watching the burning torches in the mountains.

He had sacrificed decades for this, how could he stop now? Even facing the sages, he wouldn’t retreat.

Everything was for the transcendent power beyond the ordinary, like the enchanting spells and magic in fairy tales, luring him closer to his dream.

Though no longer young, he had little chance of advancing in the Extraordinary Sequence. Yet, he still yearned for the power and transcendence he had never experienced.

The relic, second only to a witch’s power, was his last hope.

(End of Chapter)