Chapter 97

"Once again, our route will be the same as before. We'll enter through the East Gate, pass through the market area, and then avoid this place, this place, and this place..." Ronald took out a map and explained to everyone.

The areas he pointed to on the map were painted black, indicating that these were the crash sites of the Netherdray Empire's flying warships and the regions with the densest Malignant Fog. There were also some orange areas, where the Malignant Fog periodically spread and where various foul creatures roamed. During the adventure, they should try to avoid entering these areas.

After the previous few adventures, the areas marked in green on the map, which were known safe zones, would be the main route for this expedition. Ronald's ultimate goal was to reach the center of the Danze Ruins, where the former noble residences of the Sun Elves were located. There, many treasures that had lain dormant for a thousand years awaited the adventurers to uncover them.

Although the "Lucky Coin" team did not reach their destination during their previous expeditions into the Danze Ruins, they gathered a lot of information and gained sufficient experience. The safe routes recorded on the map alone were of immense value.

After explaining the route, Ronald carefully put the map away in his chest—this map was an invaluable treasure for adventurers entering the Danze Ruins, easily arousing others' greed.

The moment they stepped through the East Gate and entered the Danze Ruins, Gordon felt a oppressive force envelop his entire body, as if he had entered another world. He knew this was the effect of the rampant magical energy from the Malignant Fog. The deeper one's connection with the Weave, the more easily they would be disturbed by this force.

Fortunately, although Gordon could touch the Weave during meditation, he did not rely on it to cast spells. He felt a bit uncomfortable, but it did not substantially affect his spellcasting ability.

The "Lucky Coin" team was not the only one entering the Danze Ruins through the East Gate, but everyone tacitly chose different routes to proceed.

The halfling ranger "Sour Pear" led the way about twenty meters ahead, while Ronald, holding a long spear, walked at the front of the group. On the flanks were the dwarf Grago and the cleric Cynthia, both holding shields to protect the two spellcasters in the center—Gordon and the bard Gregory. The keen-eyed ranger Sera brought up the rear, ready to spot any unwelcome followers at the first sign.

The well-practiced and well-equipped formation clearly showed the "Lucky Coin" team's extensive adventure experience. Gordon felt lucky to join this team. Everything was perfect except for the bard's indifferent attitude toward him.

The outer areas of the Danze Ruins, near the city walls, had been thoroughly explored by adventurers over the past few centuries. Relatively speaking, it was a very safe area, but there was little to gain. So Gordon had the leisure to appreciate the scenery of the ruins.

They were walking on a straight road. On their left, the ancient buildings were covered with green vines and various wild grasses. Occasionally, a breeze would blow, causing the branches and leaves to sway, sending the scent of grass to their noses. The green plants and the ruins formed a picture that was both desolate and rich in historical atmosphere.

Gordon couldn't help but marvel at what kind of city the Sun Elves, who were renowned for their architectural and artistic skills, had built in their prime.

However, if the street on the left was a beautiful historical landscape, the scene on the right was somewhat eerie. Gordon saw that the originally gray-white building walls were stained with a blood-red color. The vines climbing the walls also had the same color. Gordon noticed that the vines were covered with tumor-like growths, which reminded him of the mutated giant wolf.

"These are all caused by the Malignant Fog," Cynthia explained, seemingly noticing Gordon's gaze.

"I see. The scenery can be so different just across the street. The Danze Ruins are truly unique."

"You haven't seen anything yet. Be prepared, mage," the bard's voice came from behind.

Gordon didn't bother to argue with him. Although it was his first time in the Danze Ruins, the adventures he had experienced in "The Ancient Era" were far beyond what the "Lucky Coin" team could match.

But the mage didn't boast about his past glories. The knowledge and experience from the game were helpful, but he couldn't rely on them completely.

"Damn!" The team leader Ronald suddenly cursed.

"What's wrong?" Gordon thought something unexpected had happened, but he found that both Grago and Cynthia were used to it, with expressions that seemed to be trying to suppress laughter.

"If I had a bow, I would shoot that damn ferry bird and roast it to eat!" Ronald waved his fist at the sky. There was a patch of yellowish-brown liquid on his shoulder armor—apparently, it was the droppings of the bird that had just flown by.

"Getting hit by bird droppings while walking on the road, it seems Captain Ronald's luck isn't very good today," Gordon laughed.

"Shh..." Cynthia raised her finger to her lips and whispered to Gordon, "Don't let the captain hear what you just said, or he'll get angry, hehe."

The gentle Cynthia, like a clear spring in the forest, couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle when she mentioned Ronald's anecdotes: "Our Captain Ronald has a nickname in the mercenary world, 'The Unlucky Spear.' It's said that ever since he started learning spear techniques at the age of eight, he has been plagued by bad luck. Things like the snacks hidden in the cabinet being eaten by rats, being drenched by water from the second floor of a building while walking on the street, and buying cheese that was full of maggots and past its expiration date. Such small misfortunes, like dark clouds, almost always envelop Captain Ronald."

"Even after he started worshipping the goddess of luck, Tymora, his situation didn't change," the taciturn dwarf added.

"Following such an unlucky person, aren't you afraid of being infected by bad luck?"

Gordon hesitated but didn't voice his thoughts.

"But even though the captain is usually plagued by bad luck, he always manages to turn the tide in critical moments during battles, even saving the entire team. That's why we all willingly follow him," Cynthia said.

After chatting a bit more about Ronald's amusing stories, the ranger Sour Pear, who was scouting ahead, suddenly sent a message.

"An injured adventurer found ahead."

The group followed Sour Pear's direction and arrived at a ruin filled with broken stone pillars.

A woman was lying on the cold ground, looking quite decent, but her chestnut hair was covered in dust, and her armor was damaged. There were several wounds on her exposed skin, oozing blood, making her look very disheveled.

"Kara? By Tymora, what happened to you?" Ronald walked a few steps to the woman, his face grim.

Clearly, the woman knew Ronald, or Sour Pear wouldn't have informed the group.

"Hey, Ronald, your face is still as ugly as ever," the woman named Kara replied with a weak smile.

"Hehe, Mr. Mage, let me tell you, Sister Kara and the captain are old acquaintances. During the last adventure in the Danze Ruins, our 'Lucky Coin' team and Sister Kara's 'Swift Falcon' team worked together. After returning to Ash Town, I heard that Sister Kara went to the captain's house every night..." The ranger Sera leaned in, her face full of gossip.

But before she could finish, her mouth was covered by Cynthia, "A child paying attention to such things, how shameful?"

"I'm not a child anymore, at least in some places, I'm bigger than Sister Cynthia," Sera pouted, speaking softly.

Cynthia glanced at her chest and was speechless.

The conversation between the two girls almost made Gordon laugh out loud. He looked around, his eyes emitting a faint amber light, and his expression suddenly became serious.

"We were ambushed by a large number of foul creatures in the temple area. All my teammates were killed, and only I managed to escape..." Kara recounted her ordeal in the ruins, her face filled with sorrow.

Ronald's expression was heavy, as if he could empathize with her, "At least you survived, Kara. We adventurers are always gambling with our lives. Try to look at it more positively."

"Yes, at least I survived," Kara managed a weak smile, "Can you help me up?"

Ronald nodded, put his arm around Kara's waist, and just as he stood up, he suddenly heard the bard exclaim, "Freeman, what are you doing!"

He turned his head and saw Gordon holding a bone wand, firing Melf's Acid Arrows in three different directions. But there were no enemies around. What was the mage doing?

Just as this question flashed through his mind, Ronald caught a glimpse of a cold, sharp object out of the corner of his eye.

"Kara, you..." He never expected that Kara, with whom he had a deep relationship, would suddenly turn on him, pulling out a dagger from behind and aiming it at his chest while they were in close contact.

Just after Gordon fired the acid arrows, a voice of panic rang out, "Damn, we've been discovered, attack... ah!"

The voice was cut off by a scream. The places where Gordon's acid arrows had been fired, which had been empty moments before, suddenly exploded, splashing acid, and screams followed one after another.

Three figures in black robes, holding crossbows, quickly became visible to everyone. The leather armor on their chests had been corroded by the acid, and the flesh and organs inside had been dissolved into black liquid.

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