Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Underground City

Map? Mentioned last, according to her, it’s more precious than all the treasures and equipment on her.

Galos glanced at the small change she took out, then fixed his gaze on the Wanderer.

“Kill you, and all these are mine.”

He said, “You’re trading with my things? That hardly buys your life.”

The Wanderer knelt on the scorched earth, trembling hands holding a rolled-up, yellowed parchment map. She had already stripped off her leather armor, her inner clothes soaked with cold sweat, and her forehead still stained with the blood of her companions.

Under the moonlight, the edges of the map in her hand glimmered faintly with a metallic sheen, as if woven with Secret Silver Thread. It was not something an ordinary adventurer could own.

“If you kill me, you’ll only get an ordinary map. It requires a special way to reveal the path.”

The Wanderer pleaded, “I ask for nothing else, only to survive. Please forgive my previous offense.”

Galos did not answer. His tail gently brushed over the map, the edges of each Dragon Scale as sharp as a blade, yet under his control, they fitted snugly without damaging the map.

He picked up the map with his claws and examined it carefully.

The surface was a chaotic mess of threads, showing no signs of any map, as if encrypted in some way.

“Raise your head and look at me.”

“Tell me, where did a low-level adventurer like you come by clues of a Legendary Alchemy Tool?”

Galos asked.

Though a Young Dragon, his words carried an undeniable authority, instinctively compelling the Wanderer to lift her head.

This was an innately tyrannical Evil Dragon, still in its young phase. We were incredibly unlucky to encounter such a member of the Dragon Race… The Wanderer trembled with fear under the gaze of the Red Iron Young Dragon’s black Dragon Eyes and said, “It’s like this.”

The course of events was haltingly recounted by her.

Because of her fear and panic at the moment, her words were a bit jumbled, but Galos understood the gist of it.

Simply put.

This map was obtained while the Wanderer was at a tavern, using a mix of seduction and thievery skills, from a rookie adventurer.

While drunk.

The rookie adventurer boasted that this map was related to the whereabouts of a Legendary Alchemy Tool, coming from the now-lost Gray Dwarf Dungeon, with the place marked as “Marne’s,” which is where the former Underground City lay.

In Marne’s Dungeon, thousands of Gray Dwarf corpses are buried.

Its downfall is rumored to be due to the uncontrollable nature of the Legendary Alchemy Tool, which was also lost in the Gray Dwarf Dungeon.

Gray Dwarf Dungeon Marne’s.

It indeed existed and thrived for a time, producing many powerful weapons and equipment, with some ancient pieces still circulating.

But with the passage of time, the flow of time.

With Marne’s demise, buried by the earth, scarcely anyone knows precisely where this Underground City was located.

The news of the Legendary Alchemy Tool still draws many adventurers into searches, but without success because the location of Marne’s remains unknown.

Initially, the Wanderer didn’t believe that the rookie adventurer’s map could document where Marne’s Dungeon was.

But later, a Count of her city-state flew into a rage and issued a warrant.

She then realized that the adventurer was the Count’s son.

Obsessed with adventure stories, the Count’s son stole this map from his home, intending to form a team to explore, only to be harshly struck by reality.

Before he even left the city, the team hadn’t assembled, and both his money pouch and map were swiped by the Wanderer; if not for the crowd, even his underwear would have been taken.

Galos shook the map and said, “Your words sound like an ephemeral story, not fact.”

The existence of the Gray Dwarf Dungeon is mentioned in his inheritance.

This is an Underground City buried in the currents of history; that much is true.

As for its downfall, there are countless theories, none confirmed, but the most widely circulated is the Wanderer’s claim of destruction due to the uncontrollable Legendary Alchemy Tool.

Besides that, there are other theories.

For instance.

That they touched upon the true essence of alchemy and were not tolerated by the gods, resulting in their divine punishment and destruction.

Hmm… Among many bizarre theories, the credibility of the uncontrollable Legendary Alchemy Tool taking them down is notably high.

As for the Gray Dwarves.

This intelligent species belonged to the dwarves, possessing the dwarves’ strength and excellent forging talent, but with characters completely distinct from normal dwarves. They were insidious and venomous, detested by most races, and generally not welcomed by other intelligent species, living long in Underground Cities.

Meanwhile.

The Wanderer fervently guaranteed, saying, “I swear by the peace of my deceased companions! Swear by the names of my grandparents! I have not told a single lie!”

Galos grinned, “You know the cost of deceiving a Dragon, is ten times worse than death.”

He gazed at the Wanderer and tossed the map back to her.

“Point out where the Underground City is for me.”

Upon hearing this, the Wanderer hesitated.

This was now her only bargaining chip with the Dragon in front of her; she didn’t want to throw it away directly.

After thinking for a moment, the Wanderer’s face showed a humble and ingratiating smile, tentatively asking, “Noble Dragon Race, would you pardon my offense once you know the coordinates of the Underground City?”

Offense?

Galos was indifferent to this.

He chuckled and said, “I swear by my mother’s name, I am indifferent to your offense and allow you to walk out of my territory unharmed. A weak existence like yours does not matter whether you live or die.”

The situation was dire.

The Wanderer had no room to negotiate, also afraid of angering the Evil Dragon in front of her, so she flattered, saying, “I believe in your promise, a Dragon’s promise is more valuable than gemstones, and a word from a superior Dragon Race like you is worth a thousand gold.”

Immediately.

The Wanderer took the map and, under Galos’s gaze, walked to an empty spot, raised the map to the moonlight, and then tore it fiercely apart.

The fragments danced but did not fall to the ground.

They twirled in the air, revolving, gathering again to form a brand-new map.

Galos picked it up again for a look.

Engraved on it was a section of wilderness terrain, including Iron Pine Hills, featuring wastelands, lakes, and forests… depicted with exquisite detail, and at the southeastern corner, a circle was outlined with silver thread, specially marked.

“Based on the map markings, Marne’s Dungeon is under an abandoned mine shaft.”

The Wanderer flatteringly remarked, “With your strength and wisdom, you’ll surely acquire the Legendary Alchemy Tool and become a formidable Giant Dragon feared throughout the wilds in the future.”

Galos gazed at the map without acknowledging her, merely signaling with a claw, while Samantha craned her neck with curiosity, her gaze falling on the map.

The Wanderer slowly retreated.

Galos gave her a fleeting glance and didn’t stop her.

Seeing that there was no intention to halt her departure, the Wanderer turned and hurried into the thick of the night, fleeing at full speed without daring to stop for a moment, weaving through the colossal Iron Pines on the hills.

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