Chapter 42: The Deception of the Magic Puppet

With an abundance of supplies at their disposal, Theresia’s team commenced a meticulous, carpet-style search.

Unsurprisingly, the sealed castle indeed harbored clandestine chambers.

Mountains of precious materials, alongside glittering gold and silver treasures, shimmered brilliantly beneath the glow of magical lamps.

A resounding cheer erupted from the throats of Theresia’s team members.

It was a known fact that Theresia had promised all treasures unearthed during the labyrinth’s exploration would belong to them; she only sought the reward for clearing the 100th floor.

Should Theresia herself covet any of these treasures, she would be obligated to purchase them with an equivalent sum in gold coins.

The raiders charged toward the piles of treasure, yet only Theresia and Lola remained where they stood.

No, amidst this ocean of wealth, the elven secret treasure Theresia sought was nowhere to be found.

She had even specifically asked Lola to use her senses, confirming its absence.

At their current pace, they would require at least three more months to thoroughly explore the entire castle.

There was no alternative. As pioneers, Theresia enjoyed the benefits of being first, but also had to endure the hardships of blazing a trail.

It was then that Lola, after much hesitation, spoke to Theresia, who stood beside her.

“Theresia, I have something to tell you. You must remain calm.”

Theresia raised an eyebrow, waving her hand dismissively. “Speak,” she declared. “I am the calmest Black Dragon you’ll ever meet.”

‘No matter how calm, she’s still a Black Dragon,’ Lola mused, recalling the day she was blasted away, though much of it had been her own fault.

She pursed her lips. “I just finished studying the guardian monster and the light particles it scattered. You know, we elves are quite knowledgeable and curious about magic…”

“Lola, I am a dragon, and a Black Dragon at that.” Theresia cut Lola off, then spoke to her gently. “Dragons don’t have much patience, and Black Dragons have even less. Do you want to know what we do to dragons who beat around the bush? I strongly advise you to explain what you want to say in under fifty words from now on.”

“Of course, given our personal friendship, the bond between dragons and elves, and the fact that elven mages are as fragile as paper, the usual boisterous dragon greetings won’t be applied to you. But you also know that more than one elf in this world desires to become a White Dragon Knight.”

Lola instantly condensed the nearly thousand words swirling in her mind into fewer than fifty. “I discovered that the guardian monster is very close to being a magical construct, and the light particles are merely glowing magical particles, possessing no other properties. Therefore, I suspect something is amiss.”

*Boom!*

A gauntleted fist slammed into the castle wall. The sturdy wall shattered and splintered like glass, revealing the solid earth layer behind it.

This was a colossal castle situated deep underground.

Of course, that information was meaningless. What mattered was how to appease the now furious Black Dragon.

Lola hastily erected a barrier, trembling as she spoke. “I only just figured it out myself. After all, I’m only 170 years old; I’m still a child. Realizing this now already puts me far ahead of my peers.”

Although Theresia wasn’t particularly skilled in magic, the education every young dragon received from their clan included a very detailed curriculum on magic.

They might not be able to cast spells, but they had to understand the principles and how to counter them.

Thus, she understood Lola’s implication.

They had been fooled.

From the very beginning, the massive body and terrifying pressure had been an elaborately orchestrated deception.

A remarkably subtle and difficult-to-detect magical construct, also known as a magic puppet.

By attaching a portion of their spirit to the magic puppet, mages could perform remote operations from a safe location.

However, the creation process for magic puppets was exceedingly complex. The more intricate and lifelike they were, the higher the magical proficiency required, not to mention the naturally fluid movements and attacks of that guardian demon.

Clearly, their adversary was a cunning and experienced mage, possessing extraordinary skill in crafting magic puppets!

Even the second phase, which Theresia had been so confident in solving, was merely another one of that mage’s deceptions!

The resounding crash also jolted the expedition members, who had been engrossed in the treasures, back to reality. They assumed the Most Vicious Dragon was displeased with their lax behavior and had issued a warning through her actions.

Without needing a command, everyone immediately gathered before Theresia, standing in orderly rows.

At this moment, Theresia radiated murderous intent, and a suffocating, terrifying dark aura continuously seeped from her armor.

The expedition members bowed their heads deeply, simultaneously reflecting on their shortcomings. They were, after all, meant to make history alongside the Most Vicious Dragon, so how could they become so complacent over a few paltry gains?

Their Most Vicious Dragon had promised that all these treasures would be theirs.

Theresia’s reputation among the expedition members was excellent. She was never stingy with money, possessed immense power, and never betrayed her comrades. The chances of returning alive from a labyrinth with Theresia were exceptionally high.

However, if anyone crossed the line, she was equally ruthless; she would execute them on the spot rather than wait to settle accounts on the surface.

Two of the bolder members, trembling, spoke up. “Most Vicious Dragon, our search has confirmed there are no traces of the guardian monster within this treasure mountain. Should we continue to advance?”

Though reluctant to leave the treasures, their lives were more important, and crucially, the treasures wouldn’t disappear.

Theresia spoke chillingly. “Gentlemen, I hired you because you are extraordinary adventurers in various fields, beings Montoire can be proud of, and partners I am willing to trust. However, the mistake you’ve made goes far beyond being blinded by the money before you. Tell them your discovery, Lola.”

After Lola recounted her findings, astonishment quickly gave way to inexpressible shame among the group, especially for the expedition members responsible for magic.

They had not realized until now that the massive monster was merely a magic puppet. The level of terrifying magical power and control required to make a magic puppet perform such complex and natural movements was unfathomable.

“To manipulate such a colossal magic puppet with such skilled precision, the operator must be nearby! We should go back now!”

“Don’t be foolish. We’ve been exploring for so long; they must have slipped away by now.”

“Damn it, if we let them spend more time creating another such huge magic puppet, we’ll be in trouble.”

…

The group erupted into a cacophony of disorganized discussion, utterly inefficient, and even veering into blame-shifting.

Theresia felt only weariness; they were truly a disorganized mess. Yet, it was also true.

If any of these individuals possessed a clever coordinator, Theresia wouldn’t need to organize these avaricious individuals to clear the 100th floor of the labyrinth.

“Enough!”

Just two words, and silence once again descended upon the scene.

Everyone lowered their heads, awaiting Theresia’s next command.

“What I want now is not to know the mistakes you have made, nor whose fault is greater or lesser. That is meaningless to me. When punishment descends, every one of you will bear equal responsibility!”

“I believe what you need now is an outcome that will prevent me from inflicting punishment! Learning from the squawking, wide-mouthed ducks of this world will not help you achieve this goal. Do you truly believe that guardian monster will simply deliver itself to us?!”

“Are we, then, delivering ourselves to them?”

Just as Theresia’s words faded, another voice echoed through the air.

The expedition members exchanged glances, searching for the audacious individual who dared to interrupt the Most Vicious Dragon.

Regrettably, this individual was not among them, leaving them no chance to atone for their sins.

Theresia’s gaze snapped towards the corridor behind her.

She detected six distinct presences.

Another expedition team had entered the 100th floor besides them?!