Blackridge's Hidden Cache

Chapter 74 — Blackridge's Hidden Cache

Aether stared at the black crystal inside the compartment.

The name BLACKRIDGE was engraved beneath it.

Lyra crouched beside him.

"So they were using this place."

"Yes."

Aether reached toward the crystal.

The moment his fingers touched it, the system responded.

[Origin Key detected.]

[Key Type: Crimson Key.]

[Status: Dormant.]

[Compatibility: 89%.]

Aether lifted it.

The crystal was colder than expected.

Then Origin Sense spread outward.

Something was wrong.

"There's another chamber beneath us."

Aria looked at the platform.

"Another?"

Aether nodded.

"About twelve meters down."

Seris examined the stone.

"I can sense a weak life signature."

Aether immediately looked at the three survivors.

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"Stay here."

Lyra frowned.

"You just promised you wouldn't keep going alone."

Aether paused.

Then smiled.

"You're right."

He looked at all three girls.

"Come with me."

The four descended through the hidden opening.

The staircase was narrow and covered in mud.

At the bottom was a small storage chamber.

Wooden crates lined the walls.

Most had already been emptied.

Aether opened the nearest one.

Inside were dozens of Origin Stones.

Another contained medicinal herbs.

A third contained weapons.

Lyra whistled.

"Blackridge has been preparing for a long time."

Aether found something else.

A map.

He spread it across the stone table.

Six locations were marked.

Greyfall.

Crimson Marsh.

Blackridge territory.

And three unknown locations.

One of the three was crossed out.

Aether stared at it.

"Someone already failed here."

Seris pointed at another mark.

"This one."

A small symbol resembling a crown had been drawn beside it.

"What does it mean?"

Aether didn't know.

Then Origin Sense detected movement.

He turned.

The three survivors were standing at the entrance.

One of them looked nervous.

Aether immediately noticed the man's hand moving toward his waist.

"Don't."

The man froze.

"I wasn't—"

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"You were."

The man slowly removed a small communication stone.

"We need to leave."

"Why?"

He hesitated.

Then the stone activated.

A distorted voice came through.

"Report."

The survivor swallowed.

"We found the Crimson Key."

Silence.

Then:

"Who has it?"

The man looked directly at Aether.

Aether's expression became cold.

The communication stone suddenly shattered.

CRACK!

Aether had thrown a small piece of metal through it.

The survivor stepped backward.

"You..."

Aether grabbed him.

"Who were you reporting to?"

The man refused to answer.

Aether didn't need another explanation.

The man's hand moved toward a hidden dagger.

Aether struck him once.

The man collapsed unconscious.

He didn't kill him.

This man wasn't necessarily a combatant yet.

The other survivors immediately raised their hands.

"We're not with Blackridge!"

Aether looked at them.

"Then prove it."

One of them pointed toward the map.

"The crossed-out location."

"What about it?"

"Blackridge sent an expedition there."

"How many?"

"Twenty."

"And?"

"Only three returned."

Aether looked at the map.

"Where?"

The survivor pointed.

"The Sunken City."

Aether memorized the location.

Then he looked at the Crimson Key.

Two keys were now in their possession.

But the six-key network still required four more.

Aether folded the map.

"We're leaving."

Lyra smiled.

"Where?"

Aether looked toward the eastern horizon.

"The Sunken City."