Chapter 173

Chapter 173. The Old Survivor of the Tower and Ancient Secrets

Eli ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍pressed both hands against the cold, smooth black door and was just about to exert his strength to push it open when a burly figure swiftly stepped in front of him.

Wolfgang ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍shielded Eli behind his broad shoulders.

“My ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍lord, it is dangerous. Let me do it.”

With ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that, the knotted muscles across Wolfgang’s entire body instantly tightened and flexed, and Gold-Tier strength surged through him.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍let out a low roar, pressed both palms against the black door, and suddenly exerted force!

However, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the seemingly ordinary black door did not move in the slightest. It did not even make a sound, as though Wolfgang’s tremendous strength, powerful enough to shake a city wall, had vanished without a trace.

An even deeper growl rumbled in Wolfgang’s throat, and his hind legs braced firmly against the ground.

Several fine cracks were even forced into the hard stone beneath his feet. His entire body trembled slightly from the extreme effort.

Yet that black door remained as if it had been cast together with the entire tower, standing immovable and majestic.

At the side, Buck frowned slightly and was just about to step forward to help.

Just then, an aged voice suddenly came from within the door, carrying a trace of displeasure at being disturbed.

“Who is outside? Have not enough of you died already?”

The sudden voice left all three men outside the door stunned.

Eli and Buck quickly exchanged a wary glance. Eli drew a deep breath and replied in a low voice through the door.

“Greetings. I am Viscount Eli Pendragon. The army of the Western Frontier has recovered Monta City.”

There was a moment of silence behind the door. Then that hoarse voice carried an undisguisable trace of excitement and trembling.

“Oh? The army of the Western Frontier? You... you have finally fought your way back?”

The voice paused, as though its owner were trying to calm his emotions.

“This door can only be opened from the inside. Please wait a moment.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wolfgang, who was still pushing with all his might, felt the opposing force from the door suddenly vanish.

He staggered and nearly pitched forward. Fortunately, his reaction was swift, and he immediately steadied himself, a trace of embarrassment appearing on his face.

So the door had never been meant to be pushed outward at all.

Amid a dull grinding sound, the heavy black door slowly opened inward, revealing a gap that gradually widened.

The scene behind the door unfolded before the three of them.

It was an exceptionally spacious hall with a towering ceiling. The interior was dimly lit.

The only light came from a few cold shafts of moonlight that had been cleverly guided down from somewhere near the top of the tower. They fell like pillars of light, illuminating the motes of dust drifting through the air.

The walls of the hall were not ordinary brick and stone. Instead, they were carved with countless complex, ancient, and strange runes.

As though they possessed life of their own, the runes slowly flowed beneath the moonlight, exuding a mysterious aura.

The entire space was filled with the scent of dust and history.

An old man dressed in a tattered gray robe stood just inside the door. His hair and beard were both white, and his face was withered.

He looked extremely old, his figure stooped, but in those deeply sunken eyes there was a sense of... vicissitude.

At that moment, he was sizing up the three men outside the door with an examining gaze.

“Greetings...” The old man’s gaze swept over Wolfgang, whose frame was burly and whose aura was ferocious, then over Buck, who stood steady as a mountain.

Finally, his gaze fell on Buck, who had the calmest bearing.

“Viscount Pendragon? Forgive this old man’s ignorance, but I have never heard of such a family name in the Western Frontier...”

Clearly, he had mistaken Buck for Eli.

A helpless smile appeared on Buck’s face. He took a step aside and allowed his true lord to stand in front.

“Elder, you have mistaken us. This is Viscount Eli Pendragon, my lord.”

The old man’s gaze instantly focused on Eli.

When he clearly saw Eli’s young face and striking short white hair, disbelief and shock burst from his cloudy eyes.

He looked Eli up and down and murmured to himself, “A viscount? So... young?

“White hair... Are you... an illegitimate son of King Augustus who was left outside the palace?

“Mm... if that is the case, then being granted the title of viscount at such a young age would make sense...”

Listening to the old man mutter to himself, the corner of Eli’s mouth could not help twitching. He had no choice but to clarify.

“Sir, you misunderstand. I am not His Majesty the King’s illegitimate son.

“I come from House Black of the Royal Domain. I am a Frontier Lord who came to the Western Frontier of my own will, and through my merits, I was promoted to viscount by Sir Lucius La Roche, Governor of the Western Frontier.”

“Oh?” The surprise on the old man’s face deepened, and he looked at Eli doubtfully.

“A Frontier Lord from the Royal Domain, yet already a viscount at such a young age?

“Did you recover Storm City by yourself? Or... did you successfully court a young lady of the La Roche Family?”

His words were blunt, yet carried a teasing edge.

At the side, Buck finally could not hold back a quiet laugh. He found this strange old man rather interesting in the way he spoke.

As for Eli, who had unintentionally been half exposed by those words, a trace of awkwardness appeared on his face. He coughed lightly.

“Sir, why not introduce yourself first? Why are you alone inside this tower?”

Hearing this, the teasing look on the old man’s face gradually faded, replaced by deep weariness and sorrow.

He sighed faintly. “Me? Heh... This old man is named Ochi Gabriel...

“I am the Count of Monta City, a poor astrologer, and... a coward who could only hide away and cling to life when disaster descended...”

“The Count of Monta City? The Gabriel Family?” Eli was startled. “You... you did not die?”

“Yes, I did not die.” There was not the slightest trace of relief in Count Ochi’s voice, only endless bitterness.

“When the Federation army breached the city, I hid inside this tower that our family has guarded for generations, and by chance, I escaped disaster.

“But my wife, my children... they...”

He shook his head and did not continue. His sunken eyes were faintly red.

“Since Monta City has already been recovered by you, and the Golden Lion banner flies again, this old man’s duty may be considered fulfilled.

“If you have no other questions, I will take my leave. There are still some... matters I must handle.”

“Count Ochi, please wait.” Eli suppressed the sympathy in his heart. “I have a question.

“Did the Federation army that occupied Monta City not try to enter this tower before?”

“They naturally came in,” Count Ochi said calmly, his tone quiet.

“Those who came in to explore with curiosity or greed... all died.”

He raised his cloudy eyes and looked at Eli.

“I have answered your question, young man. But remember, excessive curiosity can truly kill the cat.”

Eli’s heart tightened, and he immediately understood.

It seemed that after paying some unknown price, the Federation army had judged this tower too strange and dangerous, and had ultimately given up on exploring its depths.

That also explained why Count Ochi had been able to hide here until now.

“Then what exactly is the origin of this tower?” Eli pressed, his gaze sweeping over the flowing runes on the walls.

“This tower?” Count Ochi also raised his head and looked toward the unreachable top of the tower, then answered softly.

“This tower is an ancient relic. It is said to have been built in an age so distant it can no longer be traced, a creation from that glorious era of magic—a true Mage Tower.

“This tower has twelve floors. My father told me, and my grandfather told my father, and my great-grandfather told...”

“Sigh. In short, the Gabriel Family has passed down the same warning from generation to generation.

“Guard this tower, but never attempt to explore it deeply. Above all, do not enter the ninth floor or higher. Otherwise... misfortune will follow.”

“Misfortune?” Buck repeated in a deep voice, his hand unconsciously tightening around the hilt of his sword.

“Yes, misfortune. It may even cost lives,” Count Ochi said with certainty.

“Those Federation soldiers who refused to believe in such things searched the lower levels and found nothing. Then some of them worked up the courage to go higher...

“And after that, they never returned. Ah, right.” As though he had suddenly remembered something, he added,

“For a thousand years, apart from its age and mystery, the most famous rumor about this tower has been this—

“It is said that it was once used as a prison, and that the elven queen of His Majesty Roderick La Roche was imprisoned here...”

“An elven queen was imprisoned here?” Eli’s brows furrowed tightly, and his heart shook.

Almost instinctively, he touched the pocket at his chest. Inside it was the elven harmonica Talilar had given him.

At that moment, he felt as though the harmonica had begun to warm faintly. As expected, this place had a profound connection to the elves.

Perhaps... he should find an opportunity to ask Irene about it?

“My lord,” Buck said, stepping forward, his voice grave with warning.

“This place is likely extraordinary, and it hides unknown dangers.

“Since we have already met Count Ochi and have a rough understanding of the situation, why not leave for now? Viscount Armand is still waiting.”

Eli suppressed the curiosity in his heart and nodded. For now, this truly was not the time to investigate more deeply.

He turned toward Count Ochi.

“In that case, Count Ochi, please come with us to meet Viscount Armand.

“He is the commander who recovered Monta City this time, and an important vassal under Marquess Winterbourne. At the moment, he is preparing a victory banquet at the lord’s residence.

“As the Count of Monta City and the lord of Monta City, you should appear before him.”

“Viscount Armand? A man of the Winterbourne Family?” Count Ochi’s cloudy eyes shifted slightly.

“Yes,” Eli said firmly.

Count Ochi fell silent for a moment before finally nodding slowly.

With his stooped body, he stepped out of the black tower where he had hidden for so long.

“Very well... it is time to meet him... It is time to face reality...”