Chapter 1 A Coincidence?

Having investigated the Dream Plane for many years, Hao Ren had already developed some habits: never let go of any seemingly coincidental clues, but never easily regard these clues as solid evidence. He compared the date provided by Becky with the end date of the Lockmarton incident in his mind, and found that they were the same day, but this did not mean that the two things were necessarily related—the universe is so vast that the probability of coincidences occurring is neither too high nor too low.

However, this kind of coincidence still made him care and made him pay more attention.

"Is there a problem?" Becky saw the change in Hao Ren's expression and asked curiously.

"It might be a coincidence," Hao Ren said truthfully, "The time of the energy pulse in the Dark Mountains was the day we opened the Koro Prison."

He had already shared his party's adventure in the Koro world with Becky, who knew about the Lockmarton incident.

"It might indeed be just a coincidence," Vivian frowned slightly, "But what happened in the Dark Mountains is still very concerning, especially since we are preparing to arrange for a group of 'remnants' to pass through the Wall of Reality. This kind of change is really disturbing… There are many legacies of ancient magic empires there, and some of the people we are bringing are also remnants of ancient magic empires, so perhaps the two will have some kind of 'connection'."

"Everyone in Holletta can be considered 'remnants' of the ancient magic empire," Lily disagreed with Vivian's view, "They have no problem living here, so why would something happen when a few people return from Earth?"

"In any case, I think we should go to the Dark Mountains to see what's going on," Hao Ren said, "I'm also very interested in the ancient magic empires. If they left any research materials and records about the goddess faith back then, it would be of great help to my research."

"I can give you an answer to this matter now," Ophra said very simply, "Although the investigation of the Dark Mountains is presided over by the royal family, in fact, that ruin group has always been frequently visited by adventurers, mercenaries, and nobles undergoing training, and it is not a forbidden place for outsiders. Although the investigation team has now blocked several areas where energy outbreaks are most frequent, I think if it's you… it wouldn't be a problem to get in."

Ophra showed a subtle smile at the end: "And I think many people are probably eager for you to go and take a look."

Hao Ren and his party once solved the shadow of world destruction that shrouded Holletta, eradicated the Eldest Son organization inside the planet, and saved the country from the muzzle of the Guardian Giant's warship. Although the civilians did not know the details, the kingdom's upper echelons knew how capable this group of "world-saving experts" was. In fact, if Hao Ren took the initiative to go and see the situation in the Dark Mountains, many people in the kingdom would be very happy—this was simply a national-level veteran doctor running to a village to provide free medical consultation!

As expected, just as Ophra said, the news that Hao Ren and his party wanted to go to the Dark Mountains to check the situation was immediately approved as soon as it was submitted, and the whole process was arranged properly—looking as if the family members of the patient had prepared a silk banner and were just waiting for the old expert to come and provide free medical consultation…

Becky nagged at home for a while, "I just came home to relax for a few days, and I don't have time to watch the new movies I downloaded before, I don't have time to play games, I don't have time to read novels, and I don't even have time to drink," but when it came time to set off, she still shamelessly followed along, preparing to "investigate" with Hao Ren. At that time, Hao Ren asked her strangely, "Didn't you just come back from the Dark Mountains?"

"I haven't been on an adventure with you guys for a long time," Becky said confidently, "I'm itching to see you guys showing off your achievements in text messages all day long—just treat it as if you're bringing a noob along."

Hao Ren found these reasons quite funny, but in the end, he still brought the female mercenary along. He knew that Becky was actually the kind of person who couldn't stay still, which could be seen from the fact that she couldn't stand the loneliness after being a noble for only two years and ran to participate in the Knights' Order to fight for merit. This former mercenary who had already entered the upper-class socialite circle still had a heart as white as snow and as free as the wind, just waiting for something exciting to happen to activate it.

With Marshal Ophra's help, Becky easily adjusted her schedule in the Knights' Order, and two days later, she came to the Dark Mountains, located in the southeast of the kingdom, with Hao Ren and the other two.

The Dark Mountains are located next to the southeastern border of Holletta. On the other side of the mountains is the country of the Mountain Elves. This mountain range, which stretches to the southern hills, is not as majestic as the Dragon Spine Mountains in terms of scale, but it is a natural barrier and treasure trove. It isolates many threats on the other side, including the Mountain Elves and orc tribes, and also provides the best quality magic potions and magical minerals for the southeastern part of the kingdom—the resources produced in the relatively safe area at the foot of the mountains are enough to support hundreds of thousands of people.

In general, the "Dark Mountains" mentioned by the people of Holletta do not refer to the entire mountain range, but specifically to a part of the middle section. This part includes three mountain peaks and a large number of rugged and continuous mountains, as well as the dense jungles and unknown areas between the mountains. This area is the most dangerous part of the Dark Mountains, and also the part that contains the most treasures—many legacies of the ancient magic empires are still lurking quietly in the depths of the mountains. Some adventurers even rumored that the energy towers deep in the mountains are still continuously producing valuable solidified magic crystals and elemental crystal cores. This is almost a crazy wealth temptation, but behind the crazy wealth there is also a frightening danger: the legacies of the magic empires are powerful and mysterious, and have been out of their master's control for ten thousand years. Any relics found in the Dark Mountains basically have security facilities that indiscriminately attack intruders, and they add at least two digits to the mercenary association's register every year.

Mercenaries and independent adventurers who die on the adventure will be marked with a black frame in the membership statistics of that year, and will be removed from the list in the second year.

All of the above were the materials that Ophra gave to Hao Ren before departure, and some scattered stories about mercenaries and adventurers were told by Becky along the way.

Recalling these fragmented pieces of knowledge, Hao Ren looked at the dark mountains and forests: this mountain range, like its name, has a gloomy and dark tone as a whole. It is not known whether it is due to the special local soil and water environment or the magical energy left by the ancient magic empire. The plants in this area grow particularly luxuriantly, and the most luxuriant is a kind of tree called "Shadow Fir." This black-green plant covers the entire mountainous area with a deep color. Even in areas not covered by forests, the rocks exposed on the mountains are mostly black and gray, as if connected to the dark clouds that linger over the mountains all year round, making it particularly depressing at a glance.

While still some distance away from the Dark Mountains, the data terminal sent a remote telemetry report of the energy readings: "More than thirty active energy points have been detected within the range, and there are hundreds of suspicious reactions in a dormant state—irregularly distributed throughout the Dark Mountains area. In addition, when this machine scanned the three mountain peaks, it sensed very strong feedback ripples. This machine suspects that the three mountain peaks have been artificially modified, and their rock composition is very different from the soil and stone in nature."

"It's really a place full of 'treasures'…" Hao Ren couldn't help but sigh and told the others about the situation detected by the data terminal.

"In ancient times, the Dark Mountains were once the junction and buffer zone of several magic empires," Becky explained. She had read these materials when she had nothing to do after accepting the task related to the Dark Mountains, "Most of those legends are incomplete, but many legends point out that the ancient magic empires had a series of joint research institutions in this mountain range—at that time, the magic empires had developed to their peak, and the pace of mortals exploring the truth of the world was getting farther and farther, and finally reached the point where any single magic empire could no longer move forward, so they began to jointly study some more terrifying and powerful forces, and the Dark Mountains were one of their largest test sites. Do you see those wandering glimmers in the sky? Those glimmers cut off the Dark Mountains section, including the three mountain peaks, from the entire mountain range, and can be seen from a very far distance. Those glimmers are the ancient energy barrier called 'Lorisza's Wall'. Many scholars in the kingdom believe that this barrier was released by an out-of-control ancient elven relic in the mountains, and Lorisza was the name of the elven magic emperor of that year, so you can imagine how strong the magic empires were back then."

Hao Ren looked up and saw the glimmer Becky mentioned. It was floating behind the clouds, looking like a hazy sunset hiding in the clouds at first glance.

If he hadn't had the information, Hao Ren would have found it difficult to imagine that these glimmers were actually the energy barrier covering the entire mountain range, and had been operating from ten thousand years ago until now, still blocking the stray energy in the Dark Mountains.

"The test site of the ancient magic empires…" Vivian's voice was a little ethereal, "We actually ignored such an important place…"

"Our investigation was not as in-depth as it is now, and the secrets exposed by the Eldest Son and the Guardians completely shifted everyone's attention. Everyone was busy paying attention to whether there were any surviving Eldest Son organizations and Guardian Giants on the planet." Hao Ren shook his head, his tone also a little regretful.

Becky also shook her head: "It's not just that, more importantly, even if there are relics of the ancient magic empires, it will be difficult for you to find anything useful. No matter how powerful the magic emperors of that year were, they were just mortals, and no matter how strong the things they created were, they were just stones and metals that were easily weathered. Ten thousand years have passed, what can be left? What is left in this mountain range is actually only large areas of wandering unowned energy and the ruins that are about to be weathered away. Those 'ancient treasures' rumored outside…"

The female mercenary shook her head with a wry smile as she spoke: "When I was a mercenary, I almost believed it, but when I came here on business this time, hehe…"

(Noon has passed!)