It's so hard being a hero!

Vlad stared at the empty crater, his face looking as if he'd been punched a hundred times.

That's all?

He stood up abruptly, turned around, and glared at Harris.

"Who did it? Who did it? Where are the spiders? How did they do it?"

Harris shook his head.

“My lord, I don’t know either, but judging from the marks, it doesn’t seem like something a spider could do.”

He paused.

"Moving the entire underground cave is something no ordinary monster could do; it must have been done by a powerful being who understands spatial magic."

Vlad's face turned pale instantly.

Spatial magic?

What does that mean?

He swallowed hard, and his anger subsided by half in an instant.

"Then, what should we do?"

He asked, his voice weak.

Harris remained silent for a few seconds.

“My lord, I think we should report this matter to the Empire.”

"We can't handle it ourselves."

Vlad opened his mouth, wanting to curse, but found he couldn't utter a sound.

Because what Harris said is true.

What can a mere earl do against someone capable of moving a mountain?

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Okay! Report it."

He gritted his teeth and uttered those three words, his heart bleeding.

His mines and his money are all gone.

Chapter 44 Trouble Comes Knocking

Count Vlad stood at the edge of the empty pit, his face looking as if he had swallowed a fly.

He gritted his teeth and paced back and forth around the edge of the pit several times, trying to figure out what was going on.

"No, something's not right."

He suddenly seemed to remember something, then stopped and looked at Harris.

"By the way, what's the name of that Surott's daughter again?"

Harris's heart skipped a beat; he knew he was in trouble.

“Your Excellency, her name is Sophia,” Harris replied.

"Yes, it's her."

Vlad squinted.

"You told me before that she was the first to enter the mine and that she was the one who rescued the militiamen, right?"

“Yes.” Harris nodded.

"How did she know there was a spider kingdom in the mine? And how did she manage to rescue more than thirty people all by herself?"

Harris opened his mouth, unsure how to respond.

"besides."

Vlad got more and more into it, and his voice grew louder and louder.

"From what you said, after she saved the people, she also relayed a message from the Spider Queen, telling me to stop digging, saying that humans had invaded their territory first."

He gave a cold laugh.

"Now look what's happened, the entire Spider Kingdom has vanished. Do you think she has anything to do with this?"

Harris remained silent for a moment.

"Your Excellency, do you mean she tipped off the spider monster beforehand?"

"Otherwise, who else?"

Vlad flicked his sleeve and walked out of the mine.

"The spider queen was able to move the entire kingdom ahead of time, so someone must have notified her in advance, and the only human who came into contact with her was that little girl."

Harris followed behind him, wanting to say something, but upon closer reflection, it seemed to make perfect sense.

"Let's go back to the city."

Vlad mounted his horse.

"Go and fetch that Surott for me first. I need to get some answers."

In the afternoon, in the city of Kyle, at the Earl's mansion.

Sulot was led into the Earl’s mansion by two guards.

He was on patrol when a guard suddenly came over and said that the Earl wanted to ask him questions, which made him a little nervous.

“Surot”.

Vlad sat in a chair, legs crossed, looking down at him.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Sulot bowed his head in greeting.

"I'm asking you, what's going on with your daughter Sofia?"

This stumped Sulot.

"Oh? Your Excellency, what has happened to my daughter?"

Vlad raised an eyebrow.

"What happened? She's only twelve years old, and she went into the mine all by herself and rescued you from the spider monsters?"

Surott remained silent.

He knew he couldn't hide it anymore, but he didn't know how to explain it.

"I'm asking you a question."

Vlad's voice rose.

"What secrets does she hold? Is there some kind of deal she made with that Spider Queen?"

No, absolutely not.

Sulot shook his head quickly.

"She was worried about me, her father, so she..."

"So what?"

Vlad interrupted him.

"So what? Twelve years old, a Bronze-level adventurer? Hah, do you think I'm stupid?"

Surott lowered his head and remained silent.

Vlad stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

That smile was chilling.

"Fine, you won't tell, huh?"

He turned to look at the middle-aged man in a gray robe standing next to him.

"Morey, come here."

Morey nodded, walked up to Surlot, raised his right hand, and a pale purple light shone in his palm.

Mental magic and mind prying.

Surott's eyes instantly became empty, and he stood there blankly as if his soul had been ripped out.

"I'm asking you."

"Did your daughter Sophia notify the spider monsters in advance to move their home?"

Surott's lips trembled slightly.

Then he nodded.

"Yes."

Vlad's face darkened instantly.

"Did she make some kind of deal with that Spider Queen?"

"Yes."

Surott nodded again.

Vlad suddenly stood up and kicked over the chair in front of him.

"good very good."

He walked around the room twice, then pointed at Harris.

"Go, take some men and bring that little girl to me."

"Your Excellency, what is this?"

Harris hesitated.