WorldCrafter - Building My Underground Kingdom-Chapter 190: Expedition
Chapter 190: Expedition
Ben’s jaw tightened. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Makes me wonder if we missed something right under our feet.”
Elvira looked up, her expression turning serious. “Then we’d better find it before they do.” frёeωebɳovel.com
“I’m leading an expedition tomorrow,” Ben said. “Out to a cursed ruin, gonna scout the surrounding area while we’re at it. You want in?”
Elvira raised an eyebrow. “A cursed ruin?”
Ben nodded, then explained, about the old Nephirid veterans, their strange illnesses, and the curses they get from ruin.
Elvira fell silent, her gaze distant as she listened. When he finished, she stayed still for a moment longer, clearly thinking deeply.
Then, finally, she said, “Get me a blood sample. I’ll run some tests. If I can find a cure… If they’re loyal to you, they will be asset to us..”
Ben chuckled under his breath. “You say that while sulking. Still can’t stand them, huh?”
Elvira’s voice dropped, colder now. “Why don’t you see my memories? Than you will understand why I hate them.”
Ben shook his head. no, it can affect my judgment toward the Nephirid, and it will be detrimental for our plan.?”
He met her gaze. “So? You coming or not?”
Elvira let out a soft sigh, shaking her head.
“I want to, but no. If what you said is true, we need this power source finished as soon as possible. And someone has to inspect the city too, make sure there aren’t any hidden traps left behind.”
Ben nodded. “Allright. I’ll send Zarnak to you in the morning. He knows the layout. He can guide you through the city.”
“Good. If anything’s hiding here,” Elvira said, “we’ll find it.”
They spoke a little longer, details, plans, supplies, before Ben finally left.
Back at the city lord’s mansion, he headed straight for the archives. He combed through it all, searching for overlooked details.
Time passed on…
If this were the surface, the sky would be softening with dawn by now.
But down here, there was no sun. No moon. Just the steady tick of crystal clocks placed throughout the city, and the loud sound of the great bell that rang once with each passing day.
Now, Ben, once again disguised into Tzarek, stood outside the city gates.
In front of him, the Nephirid veterans had gathered. He glanced over his shoulder. His lips than turned into grin, “I know you come Kaela.”
“Hmph, city lord or not, I’m keeping my eye on you. Don’t think you can do whatever you want.”
The moment she say this other young nephirid also nodded their head, as for the veteran, they’re too excited to go back to the ruin, not caring what other nephirid think.
It’s not they don’t know, they just choose to ignore it.
As the group began to move, boots crunching against gravel and charred soil, Ben fell into step beside one of the older Nephirid, tall, hunched slightly, with a scar running from his temple down to his collarbone.
“Name’s Tharn, right?” Ben asked, glancing over.
The old Nephirid gave a sideways grin, exposing one sharpened fang. “Yes. Fought under the sixth banner back when the Deepwall still stood. Can’t say I expected to go on another crawl through cursed ruin at my age.”
Ben chuckled. “Figured you’d be tired of sitting around.”
Tharn let out a laugh. “Sitting’s what makes bones rot faster. Give me a sword, a reason, and something ugly to kill, I’ll walk straighter than half these pups.”
Ben replied with a nod, there’s another reason he bring them with him. To gain their loyalty.
They choose to stay on Karahl-Zir, despite having option to move to another city. Despite Malvek doesn’t care about them, he will still accept them with open arm, as this mean accepting the young nephirid under his army.
Ahead of them, the terrain began to slope down into ridges, the ruin entrance hidden in the folds of stone.
“So,” Tharn continued, narrowing his eyes, “why isn’t Zarnak joining this?”
Ben glanced at the others. “He’s got a different task, checking the city, making sure it’s safe.”
“Hah.” Tharn spat. “Figures. Always did prefer staying inside instead of getting dirty.”
Ben shrugged. “Someone’s got to do the boring work.” He paused, then looked ahead. “What do you all know about the Gravenhold city-state?”
Kaela, a few paces ahead, turned and snarled, “Bunch of greedy bastards. They’ll come back, I know it.”
A younger Nephirid muttered, “They always do…”
Tharn sucked his teeth. “They weren’t always like this. Back then, Gravenhold was respected. Solid partners. Their builders worked fast, their trades were fair.”
“So what changed?” Ben asked.
Tharn’s eyes darkened. “New regent. Once he come to our city, things start to change. Prices rose. Demands grew. They got arrogant, playing around with their shiny trinket.”
“Trinket?” Ben asked. “You mean those relics?”
Another veteran chimed in. “Yeah. Don’t know where they found ’em, but ever since, they acted like we owe them our life.”
Ben narrowed his eyes. “If they were such good partners, why didn’t you all take the relics too?”
Tharn scoffed. “Didn’t trust ’em. I’d take a blade I know over some glowing trinket any day.”
Ben didn’t respond. But inside, the thought festered.
‘So the relics aren’t new… Of course they’re not. Malvek probably set this in motion years ago.
A backup plan in case something goes wrong. Or to keep the old city lord on place…’
And this mean one thing, Malvek was even more dangerous than he seemed. A man who came prepared didn’t move for greed alone.
‘What’s his real goal? Is this about revenge? Reclaiming power? Returning to the capital? ‘
Remembering Malvek family background Ben start considering how much have he prepared.
‘If this is about summoning daemons… then everything adds up. With a daemon on his side, Malvek would have the strength he need.’
But then Ben suddenly stopped mid-step, not because of the thought, but because of a presence.
A group was approaching, and they clearly doesn’t have any good intent.
