Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 151 (Part 2)

Given the kingdom’s desperate situation, it was unlikely that they would have traveled over a month by carriage to hide their treasure in such a distant place.

“Ah! I didn’t consider the location.”

“But isn’t it possible that they deliberately hid the treasure far away to prevent it from being discovered?”

“When the treasure was hidden, the Kingdom of Bolas was not in a particularly stable situation. And if it was in the Cedra Forest, that’s an even bigger issue. That place underwent large-scale civil engineering work, overturning the land extensively. If something had come out of it, someone would have taken it already.”

At that moment, all three, including Marquis Richmond, recalled what kind of place the Cedra Forest was.

The Cedra Forest was close to the territory of Aramia, but it was a directly governed royal domain, not a noble’s land. Since the founding of the kingdom, it had never once belonged to a noble.

“Earlier, you mentioned three locations. Where is the last one?”

“Risten, in the southern region of the Kingdom of Levain.”

“Risten, Risten… Ah! Isn’t that the place with one of the most prominent iron ore mines on the central continent?”

“That’s correct.”

Once again, Rodin searched through the atlas and opened it to display the southern region of the Kingdom of Levain. The terrain shown through the illusion was completely different from the actual geography.

“Uh… I don’t know if I should say this, but it doesn’t resemble it at all.”

“Yes. It looks entirely different to me as well.”

“Same here.”

Marquis Richmond, Hamilton, and even Harrison all shared the same skeptical opinion.

Rodin did not deny it either. The fact was that, at a glance, the two landscapes looked entirely different.

“This place, now famous for its iron mines, became mountainous about 1,500 years ago due to overlapping volcanic and tectonic activity.”

“Is that so?”

“Before that, it was a gently sloping hill.”

Rodin took a pen and drew over the large iron mine marked in the atlas, reshaping it into a gentle hill.

It now bore a slight resemblance to the terrain shown in the pendant’s illusion.

“When the volcano formed, lava flowed from here. Now, it has become a river, but originally, this area was all flat land.”

He swiftly erased the large river winding around the iron mine with his pen. Then, he reduced the size of the current waterway and slightly altered the river’s shape.

The resemblance to the terrain in the pendant’s illusion grew stronger.

“Here. A village was established when the mine was developed. But in the past, this place was just a barren field. The land was rough, and there were many hills.”

“Hills?”

“When the village was built, people leveled the terrain to make travel easier. If we erase that here—”

“Ah!”

The map, which had been gradually resembling the pendant’s, now almost perfectly matched.

“This place was formed by a volcano. There must have been many geographical changes we are unaware of.”

“Mage Rodin, do you believe this is the location?”

“I believe it has the highest probability.”

Although he phrased it as a belief, Rodin was convinced. No matter how much he recalled the continent’s geography, there was no other place that fit the description.

The only concern was whether the treasure had remained there all this time.

It had been thousands of years since the fall of the Kingdom of Bolas. Though the area had been abandoned under new rule, up until a few decades ago, it had been home to many villages. Naturally, many people had lived there.

It was difficult to believe that ruins in a place where people had lived and traveled frequently would have remained untouched.

“This place is, hmm… Hamilton.”

“I’m not entirely certain, but it appears to belong to Baron Ezic.”

“Father, will you go there?”

“I’m not sure. I suppose we’ll have to seek Baron Ezic’s cooperation.”

If someone had already discovered and taken the treasure of the Kingdom of Bolas, all these deliberations would be meaningless. Thus, they had to proceed under the assumption that the relics of Bolas remained undiscovered.

If they sought Baron Ezic’s cooperation—

It was possible. The baron did not have an accurate map, whereas Marquis Richmond did.

However, in return, a portion of the relics they obtained would have to be handed over to Baron Ezic.

What if they explored secretly without seeking cooperation?

If they found nothing, it wouldn’t matter. But if they did find the treasure, that would be the problem. There would be no way to transport cartloads of treasure unnoticed.

“Excuse me, Marquis.”

“Yes? Ah, Rodin. What is it?”

“You seem to have a lot to consider, but rather than doing so at my house, why not return to the lord’s castle? I’d like to rest.”

Ever since the location had been pinpointed, Marquis Richmond and his group had been visibly restless. Their eyes were filled with greed.

“Not that I can judge them.”

If they had been harming others or exploiting them for their own gain, Rodin would have condemned them. No—he might have even taken action himself.

But merely coveting wealth and being blinded by treasure wasn’t something he could criticize. It was only natural for humans to lose their rationality in the face of profit.

Rodin himself had momentarily lost his composure when he first saw the legacy of the Kingdom of Rophelia. It was impossible to remain indifferent before an overwhelming fortune.

Rodin understood their greed and their momentary loss of reason. He was simply exasperated that they were behaving this way in his own home.

“Ah… I’ve been rude. I won’t forget your kindness today.”

“The matter isn’t over yet. Treasure is important, but don’t forget about that chest.”

“Ha… I’ve been too materialistic. I lost myself in greed. I apologize, Rodin.”

“It’s fine. Now, let’s go. You need to witness the destruction of the copper plates.”

Rodin used Magic Hand to lift the chest. It floated in midair as Marquis Richmond’s group followed.

Rodin placed the chest in a spacious clearing used for training. Marquis Richmond immediately unlocked it.

Inside, over a hundred copper plates were neatly arranged. Seeing them standing upright, Rodin felt frustrated.

“Damn old man. Just wait.”

To make a report, he would have to travel to the Landes Magic Tower. No matter how much he delayed, it couldn’t be put off for more than three years.

“Harkna, wasn’t it?”

The Landes Magic Tower was located in the city of Harkna in the Kingdom of Rain. Traveling from the Richmond Marquisate would take at least a month.

“Might as well get to work.”

Using Magic Hand, Rodin lifted the copper plates and scattered them onto the ground. First, he counted them to ensure the number was correct.

“Everything checks out. Then, let’s proceed with destruction. Ignite!”

The most effective way to destroy copper objects was to melt them. Since copper had a lower melting point than iron, it could be easily liquefied at a certain temperature.

Scarlet flames engulfed the copper plates, and the scorching heat filled the clearing.

Before long, the copper plates began to soften and warp, soon melting into the dirt.

It took less than ten minutes to melt over a hundred plates.

Rodin could have accelerated the process, but he deliberately controlled the speed. The act of melting the plates was a crucial procedure that had to be witnessed by others.

“It’s done.”

“Well done, Rodin.”

“Yes. With witnesses present, this concludes the matter.”

“Thank you. I will repay this favor someday.”

“Sure. Now, go.”

Rodin’s words were an unmistakable order to leave.

Marquis Richmond let out an awkward laugh and exited the house, remembering the shameful display he had just shown.

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