Our Family Has Fallen

“Greatly surprised? I just hope this troublemaker doesn’t stir up any trouble.”

Leon held no expectations for the so-called surprise mentioned in Aaron’s letter.

“Prince Aaron will arrive in Eldenborg in a few days. Butler Hunter, please prepare a welcoming ceremony.”

Leon said, putting down the envelope.

“Prince Aaron? Coming to Eldenborg?” Old Hunter was stunned, but he didn’t ask any questions. Instead, he went to prepare the welcoming ceremony for Aaron’s arrival in Eldenborg.

In any case, with the son of the Imperial Royal Family coming to Eldenborg, as a scion of the Douglas family and the de facto controller of Eldenborg, he naturally had to entertain him well.

Putting away the envelope, Leon didn't dwell much on Aaron's impending visit.

After all, having just defeated the Mad Shark King and established dominance, the situation in the southern part of the empire had stabilized considerably.

The mermen who used to come ashore to attack coastal Heron villages were far fewer than before.

Even if mermen dared to land again, they weren't from any established forces, mostly just scattered forces that were crushed by the village and town guard teams with a single blow.

Nothing to worry about.

Leon's current focus was on developing discreetly, prioritizing the upgrade of the Divine Arts on his panel and his Walking Meditation.

As noon approached, Alicia finally got out of bed and joined Leon for lunch.

After lunch, Leon returned to his room and had just finished a meditation session when he heard Ratahn report:

“Young Master, a man named Zachary, claiming to be from Jellyfish Town, is requesting an audience outside the cathedral. He says he is the town mayor and has important matters to discuss with you.”

Zachary?

Leon still had some impression of that name. According to Baron Pierce's records, Mayor Zachary had performed quite well during the punitive expedition.

He was the first to report to Leon after discovering that intelligence about the punitive expedition had been leaked prematurely.

“Bring him in. Have him wait in the cathedral,” Leon pondered for a second.

“Yes.”

...

Inside Rose Cathedral.

“Greetings, Young Master Leon.”

Seeing Leon enter the cathedral, Zachary quickly rose from the long wooden bench and performed a standard bow.

After bowing, Zachary pulled out a pouch, and the crisp sound of gold coins clinking could be heard from within:

“It’s been a few days, Young Master Leon, and your radiance surpasses before! The tales of your bravery in defeating the Mad Shark King are being recounted even by the residents of my town…”

Leon waved his hand, cutting him off. “You know I’m not concerned with superficialities.”

He looked at Zachary, noting the fatigue on his face, and returned the bag of gold coins. “Just tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Yes…” Seeing Leon’s direct attitude, Zachary no longer used the smooth rhetoric he employed with other nobles. Instead, he got straight to the point:

“Young Master Leon, I have ventured here today, hoping you can lend a hand.”

“Beneath my family’s territory, a very peculiar set of ruins has been discovered. The situation within… perhaps only someone like Young Master Leon has the ability to properly resolve it.”

Ruins?

Upon hearing this, Leon immediately grew interested.

The term “ruins” was a general one, referring to sites left behind by people hundreds or even thousands of years ago.

It could be the tomb of a certain Archduke from centuries past, the abandoned former residence of a small town’s residents after they relocated, or the desolate remains of a royal court that vanished overnight due to an unforeseen calamity.

All these could be called ruins.

However, most ruins were just that—true ruins—with no practical value.

A few rare ruins, such as those burying a royal court, might contain many treasures.

“Tell me, what’s so special about these ruins?”

Leon asked, looking at Zachary.

A moment later, after listening to Zachary’s explanation, Leon understood.

These ruins were located beneath Zachary Manor and had existed since Zachary’s ancestors moved to Jellyfish Town three hundred years ago.

When they first discovered the ruins, Zachary’s ancestors briefly investigated them and found that the ruins had existed for at least five hundred years, yet their outer walls were still perfectly preserved.

Ruins that could remain well-preserved for five hundred years were undoubtedly quite extraordinary and surely contained many treasures.

However, because the ruins were protected by some kind of power, Zachary’s ancestors tried every method but couldn’t open the ruins’ entrance, eventually giving up.

That ancestor left behind information about the ruins, hoping that outstanding descendants would find a way to open them, retrieve the treasures, and strengthen the Zachary family.

This information was passed down for over two hundred years.

Generations of Zacharys spent considerable time and tried many methods, yet still couldn’t open the ruins’ entrance. Each family head could only choose to trust the wisdom of future generations.

By Zachary’s generation, he knew his own talent was mediocre and had little hope of opening the ruins’ entrance, so he had no intention of trying to open them at all.

However, though he had no plans to open the ruins, the protective barrier around them developed a fissure at some point.

This fissure was quite small, not enough for a person to pass through, but sufficient for things inside the ruins to affect the outside world…

“Ever since the fissure appeared in the ruins, many strange things have happened around my family’s manor. First, mad magical beasts attacked the manor, then servants reported seeing ghost shadows at night…” Zachary said with lingering fear:

“Recently, my two sons suddenly disappeared and were eventually found in front of that barrier around the ruins. According to them, they were inexplicably drawn to the ruins’ perimeter, guided by a certain voice…”

Evidently, his sons’ disappearance left Zachary extremely uneasy.

At this moment, Zachary disregarded the ancestral teachings that “the existence of the ruins must not be revealed to outsiders,” nor did he harbor any thoughts of exclusively claiming the ruins’ treasures to strengthen his family.

His only thought now was to resolve the problem of these ruins as quickly as possible.

Whether by repairing the barrier’s fissure or by forcefully breaking into the ruins with external aid to eradicate whatever was influencing his sons.

As long as the ruins could be dealt with, he would accept it.

“I came to request your help precisely because I believe your abilities are sufficient to solve the ruins’ problem, and your character has deeply convinced me.”

Zachary said earnestly and devoutly:

“You would never harm our family’s lives just to keep the ruins’ secrets sealed.”

He paused, then promised:

“As long as the ruins’ problem is successfully resolved, all treasures within will belong to you. I, Zachary, would not dare to claim even a bit.”

“I humbly ask Young Master Leon to help us this once. Our family will forever remember your kindness.”

After listening to Zachary, Leon pondered for a few seconds and said, “I’m quite interested in these ruins as well. I can help you.”

According to Zachary’s description, the ruins were nearly eight hundred years old.

After eight hundred years of erosion, the ruins’ protective barrier had only just developed a fissure, so the contents within were certainly extraordinary.

Leon wasn’t greedy.

It would be best if he could find a treasure of the caliber of the 【St. Elias's Skull】.

If not, other ordinary transcendent treasures would also be good.

After all, some treasures he couldn’t use himself could be given to Alicia and his Falcon warriors.

Even if there were no treasures, it would still be a great experience to broaden his horizons in the ruins.

“Excellent!” Seeing Leon agree, Zachary beamed with joy and quickly asked, “When would Young Master Leon be available to personally visit Jellyfish Town and inspect it?”

“Now.”

After saying that, Leon gathered his people, taking Alicia, Ratahn, and other guards, and followed Zachary to Jellyfish Town.

Of course, before heading to Jellyfish Town, he ordered someone to write a letter informing Viscount Finn and Bishop Miles of Stormveil City.

It’s better to be safe than sorry, and informing them by letter is not embarrassing!

Moreover, Zachary’s request this time was quite complete with elements. An eight-hundred-year-old ruin, a newly formed fissure, sons hearing a mysterious voice’s call, and ruins beneath a family manor.

With all these elements combined, Leon felt he still needed to be cautious.

He didn’t want to enter the manor only to pick up a letter that read, “Our family has fallen”…

...

Leon and his party did not ride ox-horses but mounted horned horses, led by Zachary towards Jellyfish Town.

However, halfway there, a problem indeed arose.

Alicia couldn't ride a horned horse, so she had to sit with Leon, one in front and one behind, on a single horned horse.

Having stayed up too late with Leon last night, Alicia was still listless even at noon.

But as they passed a certain intersection, Alicia suddenly straightened up, pressed her head against Leon’s chin, her expression hardened, and she said:

“There’s… killing intent!”