Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Wealth "borrowed" from the residence of Duke Joseph.

After Elvia's initial inventory and valuation, its value reached at least forty million gold coins.

Even Lin Gui was somewhat surprised by this number, and he couldn't help but ask.

"Given Duke Joseph's wealth, if he sets his sights on something at an auction, wouldn't no one be able to outbid him?"

"He won't get involved," Elvia explained with a smile.

"Because he's the one who organizes the royal auctions."

"Many of the so-called 'final auction items' even come directly from his treasure trove."

"He won't participate at all, and neither will anyone from his faction."

Elvia became exceptionally busy for the next two days.

She needs to launder this enormous, illicit wealth through clandestine channels.

This can be transformed into legitimate funds that can be openly and legitimately presented at auctions.

At the same time, she is also actively mobilizing her remaining intelligence network.

Go search for the "Tomb of Katria" that Lin Gui can't forget.

Although she still thought it was pure nonsense, what if it was true?

If they cannot obtain crucial information about Rogue and Avalon from Princess Diana.

Her life was still in Lin Gui's hands.

It's always good to have a few backup plans.

In addition, she specifically reminded Lin Gui to remove the ridiculously expensive "Search for the Queen's Tomb" commission posted at the Adventurers' Guild.

Because the Adventurers' Guild is basically made up of her people.

Besides, I recalled the Duke's plan to assassinate the Saint, which was aimed at me.

Elvia's expression turned cold, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

It's time to go and reunite with those who think I've lost power.

I need to have a heart-to-heart talk with those "loyal subjects" who dared to participate in such a crazy plan as "Assassinating the Saint" behind my back.

Meanwhile, Lin Gui wasn't idle either.

There is one "person" who absolutely knows the exact location of the Queen's Tomb.

That's the system.

"System, how long can the lingering resentment of the soul within the hero's remains sustain itself?"

[5 days]

The system responded concisely.

Lin Gui calculated the time.

Five days later, it was exactly the day he had agreed with the North Wind Caravan to leave the capital and head to Shield City.

He pulled up the delivery route map for that special commission again:

[Delivery Route: Withered Rift → Katarina Capital → Tomb of Katarina]

"System, where exactly is the Queen's Tomb located?"

[This information requires the host to explore independently.]

The system's response was as usual.

Lin Gui wasn't surprised and asked again in a different way.

"So, you're sure it's inside 'Carter's Capital,' right?"

【right】

"Is it the capital of Carter in the narrow sense, or the capital in the broad sense?" Lin Gui pressed.

【? ? ? 】

The system seemed to pause for a moment after receiving this question.

Lin Gui patiently explained, "Does it refer to the main urban area of ​​the city-state of Carter, or does it include all functional areas within its sphere of influence, such as the surrounding mining areas, wheat fields, hunting grounds, and so on?"

[...within the city]

The system's response seemed to carry a hint of barely perceptible helplessness.

Lin Gui's eyes lit up as he grasped the key point: "One last question, is it buried deep in the ground? A traditional burial?"

[...No, the host has a direct route to reach it.]

"Very good." Lin Gui nodded and asked the last, and most crucial, question.

"The mission objective is to 'deliver' the hero's remains to the Queen's Tomb. So, how does the system determine the boundaries of the Queen's Tomb area?"

【? ? ? 】

This time, the system remained silent for an even longer period, seemingly performing complex logical calculations.

After a long while, the cold, mechanical voice sounded again:

[Within a 1-kilometer radius of the Queen's Sleeping Coffin, the area is considered the mission completion zone.]

Will there be any notifications?

[A special request will automatically pop up and trigger, just like when you contact Rona.]

[Host, what do you want to do?]

The system's tone carried a rare hint of human-like doubt.

Lin Gui smiled faintly and revealed his plan to silence the system once again:

"It's very simple."

"It has a diameter of 1 kilometer."

"Then I will spend these five days carrying the skeleton and flying all over the surface and known underground spaces of the entire Carter capital."

"A thorough, comprehensive search."

"A 1-kilometer coverage area is enough for me to include every high-rise building in the capital."

[...Theoretically, if the host persists, there is indeed a possibility of finding the target using this method.]

[…Host, good luck!]

The system seemed stunned by this simple, crude, yet incredibly effective method.

In the end, all I could offer was a dry word of encouragement.

Just do it.

Lin Gui immediately returned to the stronghold on the seventh floor and carefully tied the package containing the remains of the hero Reinhardt to his back.

Then, he took a deep breath and activated [Night Veil] and [Levitation] simultaneously.

His figure silently rose into the air and merged into the sky above the capital.

He decided to start with the seventh ring of high walls, which is the outermost ring.

Like a tireless scanner, it began its circling flight along the towering fifty-meter-high city wall.

Beneath his feet, the Carter capital slowly unfolded like a vast, fragmented scroll.

The outermost layer was a refugee area where sewage flowed freely and shacks were crowded like ant nests.

The numb crowd writhed laboriously within it;

Further inside lies a more orderly but still dilapidated working-class area, where cooking smoke and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares mingle.

Further in, the light of the magic lamps gradually illuminates, interspersed with villa gardens in the wealthy commercial district.

And on the very core of the mountain peak.

The royal palace and the castle spires of the noble district were partially obscured by the clouds.

It exudes a cold, aloof radiance that keeps people at a distance.

He flew silently over all of this.

The skeletons behind them seemed to resonate faintly with the secrets of the capital city that had stood for a thousand years.

[…Keep it up, host. Theoretically, it is indeed possible to find it, and you've even…]

The system's voice rang in his mind again, carrying an indescribable meaning.

Day two.

There are two days left until the Cult of Light arrives in the capital.

There are 4 days left until the hero's soul completely dissipates.

There are 5 days left until we leave the capital and head to Shield City.

……

Carter's Capital, fifth floor, commercial district.

Beneath the hustle and bustle of the surface, in a deeper place.

Hidden within is another, completely different world.

Deep within the underground sewers, where sewage flows freely and the area is dark and damp.

Behind a hidden door disguised as a broken brick wall.

A deafening cacophony, mixed with the pungent smell of cheap tobacco and alcohol, assaulted the senses.

"Open! Open! Open!"

"Hahaha! Leopard! It takes everything!"

"Damn it! We lost again!"

Cheers, curses, and the crisp sound of dice striking the bone cup.

Frenzy and chaos.

This is an illegal casino hidden underground.

"Dice and Blood".

It was also an important secret stronghold for the rebels in the capital.

The dim magical light illuminated a variety of faces.

A gambler with bloodshot eyes, staring intently at the gambling table.

A scantily clad woman carrying a drink weaving through the crowd.

A drunkard, completely intoxicated and sprawled in a corner.

And then there are those fierce guards who seem to stand casually, yet whose sharp eyes scan their surroundings.

The air was so polluted it was almost stagnant.

Sweat, alcohol, tobacco, and a faint, pungent smell of blood mingled together.

This creates the unique atmosphere of decadence here.

Just then, the heavy curtain at the casino entrance was lifted.

A person wearing a dark cloak, covering their entire body.

But you can still see the shape of her beautiful curves.

They appeared abruptly in this chaotic place.

The previously boisterous noise instantly subsided, like a rooster being choked.

Countless eyes were focused on this uninvited guest.

Vigilance, malice, unease, anger... a complex mix of emotions flowed through those gazes.

The woman under the cloak seemed to chuckle softly.

Ignoring all the stares around him, he walked straight past the gambling tables.

They walked towards the more concealed iron gate at the back of the casino.

However, she hadn't even reached the door yet.

A figure leaned lazily against the door frame, blocking the way.

He was a man wearing worn-out leather armor and with a short sword hanging at his waist.

He had a scar on his face and eyes that held the arrogance and scrutiny characteristic of an adventurer.

The woman stopped, and a cold, mocking laugh came from under her hood.

"You don't recognize me so quickly? Ferguson."

The man known as Ferguson raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion:

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I'm now working for Boss Caesar."

"You can't go in."

The way Elvia looked at Ferguson.

An almost uncontrollable surge of jealousy and anger welled up within him, and the lines of his cheeks tightened.

Ferguson!

She had invested a great deal of resources and effort in cultivating this person.

I thought I could bind these skilled adventurers firmly with friendship and mutual benefit!

And what happened? After she lost power and was banished from the capital.

This guy switched sides to the rebels in the blink of an eye and became Caesar's lackey!

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions, which then turned into an even deeper laugh.

What is there to hate?

She should have realized long ago that there are no truly loyal ministers in this quagmire of power.

There was no childish friendship like that of playing house.

Yes, it's just a naked exchange of interests and the law of the jungle where the strongest fist prevails.

"Open the door." Elvia's voice turned cold.

"If you don't want me to expose your entire rat swarm to the city defense forces right now, then open the door for me!"

Ferguson was clearly unmoved by her words, remaining blocking the doorway and replying calmly:

"Princess, you wouldn't do that."

"If you expose this, all the things you've done with us will also be revealed."

"When the time comes, you'll probably be the first one sent to the gallows."

"Hahaha!" Elvia exclaimed as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"As expected of my 'confidant' whom I've cultivated for many years, he truly understands me!"

But the next moment, an almost insane determination and rage suddenly erupted from her!

She took a sudden step forward, almost touching Ferguson.

He extended his gloved hand and said, word by word:

"You have five seconds to open the door."

"Or, I can leave now and tell everyone who wants to kill me their whole plan to assassinate the Holy Maiden of Light and frame me for it!"

If it were the old Elvia, she might have weighed the pros and cons, and might have even backed down.

but now……

Her life is still in Lin Gui's hands!

Moreover, she also learned of the insane plan of this group of rebels to kill her, even at the cost of dragging the entire upper class of the capital down with them!

What else does she have to worry about?!

At worst... at worst I'll kneel down and beg that bastard Lin Gui to take me on his way to Shield City!

With that guy's unpredictable stealth abilities protecting her, who can find her? Who can harm her?!

Thinking about it this way, being poisoned and controlled by Lin Gui has actually become her biggest lifeline...

Otherwise, they wouldn't even know how they were played to death by these "own people"!

Elvia's unexpectedly tough stance.

And those earth-shattering words, "Assassin Saint."

This caused Ferguson's previously composed expression to change drastically, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Just as Elvia's extremely oppressive countdown was about to reach "1".

"Alright, Ferguson."

A slightly deep, magnetic male voice came from behind the wooden door.

"Let our princess come in."

Ferguson silently stepped aside.

Elvia snorted coldly, pushed open the heavy wooden door, and stepped inside.

The room behind the door was even darker and filled with smoke than the outside.

The pungent smell of the cheap tobacco made her cough a few times.

She frowned and waved her hand to disperse the smoke in front of her.

In the center of the room, a large wooden table was scattered with maps and wine bottles.

A middle-aged man with a hideous scar on his face was sitting on the edge of the table, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

He looked at her sharply.

It was none other than the rebel leader, Caesar.

At the same time, Elvia also saw several familiar faces standing behind Caesar.

Those adventurers possessed powerful auras and had reached the extraordinary level of strength.

When they met Elvia's gaze.

An unnatural awkwardness appeared on their faces, and they subconsciously avoided eye contact.

Elvia sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

He walked straight to the opposite side of Caesar, pulled up a chair and sat down, his tone sarcastic:

"I didn't expect that Mr. Caesar would 'invite' all my most capable warriors over after I've only been away from the capital for a short while. What a clever move."

Caesar chuckled, exhaled a smoke ring, and spoke in a calm yet undeniably authoritative tone:

"It's all about individual ability. Everyone has to live for themselves, doesn't she, Seventh Princess?"

Elvia's eyes twitched slightly, but she did not continue to press the issue.

She knew very well that she was known as the "Lion" in the capital.

Despite possessing exceptional political acumen and insight, her armed forces have always been a weakness.

Now that her top combat force has been almost completely depleted, she has no resources to launch an attack even if she wanted to.

She came here not to seek revenge for the betrayal.

"Caesar," Elvia leaned forward slightly, her voice carrying a cold questioning tone.

"Should I call you stupid, or just plain dumb? You actually dared to plot the assassination of the Holy Maiden of the Church of Light? And you even wanted to use my name?!"

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Caesar's eyes.

The extraordinary adventurers behind him instantly unleashed their power, subtly blocking the entrance.

His gaze toward Elvia was filled with undisguised killing intent.

The air in the room suddenly froze.

Elvia smiled nonchalantly and even casually crossed her legs.

She dared to venture into the lion's den alone, so she must have had a backup plan.

Caesar stared intently at Elvia, slowly stubbed out his cigarette on the table, his voice low and dangerous:

"How...how did you know about this?"