Chapter 233: Ruins of Gold

"Is this it?"

Regis asked, as his eyes remained fixed on the peculiar view outside the window.

Beside him were Pandora and Killian, who had similar expressions that were filled with shock.

At the entrance of the strange site stood a well-kept black sign adorned with elegant golden patterns, its letters intricately engraved in shimmering metal:

Ruins of Gold.

Aurum had a crestfallen expression on his face as he spoke with a grave voice, "Yes. This is where my beloved daughter and I’s family resides."

His eyes seemed to have a myriad of emotions dancing within.

Sadness. Nostalgia. Loneliness.

Meanwhile, Aurelia dug further into her father’s embrace; her eyes tightly closed as she gripped his garments tightly.

Noticing this, Pandora looked at her with a worried expression.

"Should we take a rest first?" She whispered to Regis.

However, it was overheard by Aurelia as she opened her eyes narrowly, "I’m fine... Thank you, Pandora. But I’m fine."

"Are you sure, Lia?" Aurum looked at her with a caring gaze.

"Mhm."

Knock— Knock—

At this moment, knocks could be heard on the carriage door.

They then saw through the window that there were already people gathering around their carriage.

The looks of curiosity in the crowd’s faces were filled with wonder at the special carriage that seemed to reek of luxury.

Aurum chuckled, "Oh, I guess we’ve been carried away staring at the sight for too long. I think it’s better if we get out of the carriage now."

***

Meanwhile, outside the carriage...

"Sir, this area is a protected zone of the Montrelle City Council. I’m afraid you’ll have to move and park your carriage somewhere else."

One of the patrolling guards approached the coachman, who was still seated on the driver’s perch, speaking in a firm but courteous tone.

"Why aren’t you driving them away, huh!?"

"This is where my wife and daughter died, how can you just let them park their carriage here!?"

"That’s right! Why are you speaking to those people when their clearly being disrespectful!?"

...

"Please wait for a moment. Our Patrol Captain is currently resolving matters..."

The aggrieved voice of the crowd echoed in the area as one of the patrolling guards tried to calm them down.

"What do you mean!?"

"Just tell us that you can’t do so because those bastards seem rich!"

"Is this the level Montrelle City has fallen to!?"

...

Normally, the guards would have promptly driven away any carriages blocking the entrance or loitering near the perimeter of this protected area.

However, the unusually luxurious carriage made them have second thoughts.

Therefore, they did not dare approach the situation too recklessly, afraid of causing unnecessary conflict with the other party.

The coachman went down the driver’s perch and took off his hat with a slight bow, "My apologies, Sirs. But I’m afraid I can’t move the carriage without my lord’s instructions."

Hearing his words, a difficult expression appeared on the patrol captain’s face.

’Ugh, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Why did this happen during my duty...’

At that moment, someone in the crowd shouted, "This place is where our loved ones are! It’s not a landmark to sightsee for travelers like you!"

As he yelled, he hurled a stone toward the carriage window.

"No—!"

The patrolling guard, who had been trying to calm the situation, noticed it and moved to intercept, but it was already too late.

Clack—!

The sound of the stone hitting the window glass echoed through the area, and a heavy silence followed.

Along with these events, the guards’ faces all froze.

Knock— Knock—

As knocks sounded from inside the carriage, the coachman immediately smiled at the guards and put on his hat.

"Excuse me, my lord is stepping outside the carriage."

Tap— Tap— Tap—

As the sound of finely crafted leather shoes hit the steps of the carriage, the figure’s face was soon revealed to the crowd and the guards.

It was a face that reeked both of familiarity and unfamiliarity.

However, his golden gaze alone was enough to remind everyone of who he was.

"S-Sir Midas...!"

The patrol captain was the first to react, quickly stepping forward and bowing deeply.

The other patrol guards followed suit, mirroring their captain’s gesture.

"We are honored by your presence."

Aurum smiled slightly, "I’m sorry. I was too engrossed in my own thoughts that I didn’t realize that we’ve been blocking the entrance for too long."

He then stepped forward and faced the speechless crowd before him and bowed down.

"I deeply apologize for this blunder, my fellow citizens."

After Aurelia and the others came down the carriage and settled behind him, Aurum looked at the coachman and smiled wryly.

"Please drive the carriage to the Midas Mansion, and inform the servants to prepare a hot meal for you, as I’ve instructed. Thank you for driving us here."

"I-It’s my pleasure, Milord!" The coachman bowed respectfully before closing the carriage doors and driving away.

Regis looked around and saw the expressions of the people.

’The corruption energy in their minds, and the darkness in their hearts...’

His face turned grave as he noticed the traits that his Corruption Manipulation and Sinful Arbiter of Darkness allowed him to sense.

Killian also had a serious expression on his face, not daring to slack even by a little bit.

Aurelia hid behind her father’s back, as if afraid.

Pandora looked at her in worry, but decided that it was not an appropriate time to talk to her.

The patrol captain then approached respectfully, "Thank you for following the order of the city, Sir Midas. We’ll be going on our way now, as we still need to patrol the city. Please call us if you need help."

As soon as they received Aurum’s acknowledgement, they immediately walked away after bowing.

It looked as if they could not wait to get out of there.

Now, without the guards, Aurum smiled politely towards the crowd, "Once again, I’m sorry for the inconvenience we’ve caused. It was not our intention to disrespect this place..."

The crowd remained silent at his words.

However, Regis could sense a faint emotion in their eyes.

Hatred.

’This... They’re not staring at Aurum, but...’

Like him, both Killian and Pandora also noticed it; the fact that the crowd was staring at Aurelia with hatred in their eyes.

Just as Pandora was about to take a step, Aurum subtly gestured with his hand at waist level, signaling her to wait.

After a minute or so of silence, Aurum bowed slightly again, "Then, we’ll be going in first."

He turned his back on the crowd and hugged his daughter close to him with his other arm.

Seeing Pandora and the others’ expressions, he merely shook his head subtly and whispered, "We can’t."

As they neared the entrance of the Ruins of Gold, the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves.

"Isn’t that Aurum Midas?"

"No wonder that carriage was so luxurious..."

"He’s been away for years. Why did he suddenly come back now?"

"I don’t know, maybe he already had a new family? I mean, look at the kids with him."

"But why is he visiting his wife and other daughters’ graves here?"

"I don’t know, maybe to introduce her to his new kids?"

"That’s sick!"

"I know, right? Hahaha"

...

Aurum’s ears twitched, but he paid them no heed.

Regis and the others, especially Aurelia, felt rage brewing inside their hearts.

Seeing that they did not react, some people in the crowd became bolder.

"You’re right. Since he’s so rich, maybe he already has a couple of concubines!"

"But that’s his daughter, right?"

"Ah, the cursed child who slaughtered most of the others who awakened with her... along with their families?"

...

At this moment, Aurum’s steps slowed down.

"Hey, quiet down! You know he can hear us, right?"

"So what? What’s he gonna do? Tell his demon of a daughter to turn us to gol—"

THWACK—

The man could not finish his words before something suddenly caved in his right cheek.

"Ouch!!!"

The people around him were puzzled.

"Why are you acting like that?"

"Something just hit me—!!"

The man felt a searing pain in his groin as he collapsed to his knees, his pants becoming visibly stained as well by an unknown liquid.

"What the hell? Have you gone crazy?"

"N-No! Something really hit me—"

"Argh!!"

"Don’t disrespect the graves of our family with your craziness!!"

The people surrounding the man scolded him and quickly dragged him away, leaving a trail of liquid staining the path behind him.

Aurum, Aurelia, and the others looked back and watched the scene with faces full of confusion.

However, Regis’s chant sounded in a whisper soon after.

[Lux Aeterna]

Killian and Pandora knowingly glanced at each other, barely suppressing their giggles.

"What happened..."

Just as Aurum wondered out loud, Aurelia seemed to have realized what happened and hurried to Regis, giving him a hug.

"Thank you..."

Regis smiled awkwardly, "Don’t worry about it."

"Hic... Thank you... Hic... Thank you so much..."

However, hearing Aurelia’s sobs, a gentle expression appeared on his face as he caressed her back.

"Don’t cry, you’ll still introduce us to your family, remember?"

But just then, he felt a sharp gaze fall on him.

He looked up and saw Aurum staring at him intently— only for the expression to vanish a second later, as if it had never been there.

Aurum cleared his throat with a cough and turned to lead the way, "Let’s go."