165: The King in Yellow (Thanks to Elio for the tip)

Chapter 163: The King in Yellow (Thanks to Aelio for the tip)

The armor let out a clanking, metallic friction sound, step by step closing in on the intruders.

Arthur extended the hand wearing the ruby ring.

The ring immediately glowed red, and the armors stopped in their tracks.

“Good, it worked.” Arthur looked at the room on his right, “Let’s go this way first.”

After repeatedly overcoming difficulties, Xiao Lingdang had complete faith in Arthur.

The two passed between two suits of armor.

Pushing open the door and entering the room, they found it was a study.

The room was very dim, with red curtains drawn over the windows, but the fire burning in the fireplace kept the interior from being too cold.

An elegant mahogany desk and a matching high-backed chair faced the door and the fireplace.

Above the fireplace hung a wooden-framed painting depicting a windmill situated on a rocky cliff.

In the corners of the room were two chairs with soft, thick cushions.

Along the south wall were tall bookshelves reaching up to the ceiling.

Next to the bookshelves was a movable wooden ladder, allowing the owner to easily reach books on the higher shelves.

According to the intelligence, this room held no danger and was one of the few safe spots in the entire house.

Provided they could deal with the armored guards at the door.

Of course, using the previous owner’s ring could also help them avoid their attacks.

Arthur recalled the items he needed to take.

He walked to the desk and took a key from a drawer.

Then he went to the bookshelf and began searching for the book that could open the secret room.

“What are you looking for? I’ll help too,” said Pixie.

“A red-covered book with no title on its spine.”

“No problem, I’ll search up high, you search down low.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Lingdang flew to the very top shelf of the bookshelf.

It had to be admitted that the collection of books on the shelves was quite extensive.

From history, warfare, and alchemy, there was everything imaginable.

Several shelves also held first edition novels and poetry collections.

These books were not cheap, which was testament to the Duerst Family’s wealth.

The key was that, after so many years, these books had been preserved remarkably well.

“Hey, I found it!”

Xiao Lingdang’s shout pulled Arthur’s thoughts back to reality.

He looked up at her location.

“This one!” She pointed at the book with her finger.

After Arthur confirmed it, he gestured for Xiao Lingdang to pull out the book.

As the red-covered book was pulled out, the bookshelf rumbled, and an entrance appeared before him.

A cold draft slowly flowed out from the entrance, and faintly, a few low wails could be heard.

“Are you sure you want to go in?”

“Don’t worry, little one, nothing will happen.

“But, we need to prop the door open first.”

Arthur retrieved one of the chairs and wedged it in the middle of the doorway.

Then he walked in, with Xiao Lingdang following close behind.

After they entered, the bookshelf slowly began to close.

But it was jammed by the sturdy high-backed chair.

The light from the scepter illuminated the entire secret room.

The first thing they saw was a skeleton.

The robe on the skeleton had long since decayed.

The wall where its hands rested was covered with scratch marks.

This poor fellow was probably trapped and died in this secret room when the bookshelf closed.

Arthur didn't know what kind of despair he experienced in life, but from the scratch marks on the wall, it was not difficult to see that it must have been a very painful experience.

On the other wall, stood a heavy wooden cabinet with beast-claw feet, its door ajar.

A skeleton wearing leather armor lay slumped in front of the cabinet door.

Arthur approached to examine it and saw that it was a human skeleton, probably with the previous skeleton.

This person triggered the cabinet’s dart trap.

Three darts were stuck in this unfortunate fellow’s leather armor and chest cavity.

The skeleton’s left hand tightly clutched a letter, sealed with the Dark Lord’s wax.

Arthur took out the letter and put it away, then continued to examine the cabinet.

Inside the cabinet were three spell scrolls: Blessing, Protection from Poison, and Spiritual Weapon.

There was also the deed to this house, the deed to a windmill, and a signed will.

Arthur picked up the will and quickly read it.

The will was jointly signed by Gustav Duerst and Elizabeth Duerst.

It stated that upon the parents' passing, the house, windmill, and other family properties would be left to Rosaval Duerst and Thornbolt Duerst.

Rosaval and Thornbolt should be the two children they first met.

Arthur thought.

He put away the will and then checked the two deeds.

Clearly, the Duerst Family had made its fortune from the windmill.

However, after Marcus conquered this place, the family’s inheritance was reduced to only the largest windmill.

This mill is still located east of Lakeside Town today.

It was one of the few things not destroyed when Marcus conquered this place.

“Arthur, you have to see this,” Xiao Lingdang called out.

Arthur put all the items away and came to Pixie’s side.

He saw a small bookshelf filled with scrolls about otherworldly summoning rituals and communication with otherworldly beings.

One book, titled “The King in Yellow,” caught Arthur’s attention.

At first, he thought he had misread it.

Because the book’s title was written in Druid.

It wasn’t until he confirmed it repeatedly that he was certain he hadn’t misread it.

“earth mother above!” the young priest couldn't help but exclaim, “What on earth did you people get involved with?”

Seeing him so agitated, Xiao Lingdang asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I think I have a bit of an idea about what happened to this family.”

“Let’s get out of here first, damn it, this place makes me sick.”

The two walked out of the secret room, and Arthur opened the letter from the Dark Lord in the study.

A strong curiosity drove him, wanting to unravel the entire story.

Arthur only hoped this wasn’t a sign of his SAN value dropping.

The words on the letter were beautiful, yet they could not dilute the horror of its content.

To my most pathetic servant:

I am the chosen king of the dark forces of this continent.

I know you wish to overthrow my rule.

For this, you have sacrificed countless lives on that hidden altar.

Even though you have tortured and tormented countless visitors in the dark dungeons.

However, remember this: you and your followers are merely ants barely surviving in my territory.

You claim I am cursed, and that I have plundered your wealth, your love, your son.

How ridiculous and pathetic.

Are you cursed by darkness?

On this point, I completely agree.

But this darkness does not originate from me.

Though I long to crush you completely.

But I prefer the process of you gradually becoming a monster.

When that being from another world turns you and your followers into pathetic, mindless monsters.

At that time, I will personally visit and personally bury all of you.

Your Master, Marcus Vandro.

After reading the entire letter, Arthur roughly pieced together a complete story.

He let out a long breath and said, “What a bunch of fools.”

“They actually wanted to gain power from another evil god to fight against Marcus.”