"Holy Shit..."

Ethan's shocked voice echoed in the surroundings; it was full of astonishment and disbelief.

Arthur and the others' eyes widened in disbelief, and every chest tightened as if the group had collectively forgotten how to breathe.

The soldiers froze in their tracks. The archaeologists stood rooted to the spot, their faces pale yet flushed with shock.

Even Gunner, who is usually as steady as a rock, nearly dropped his rifle.

Ethan's jaw hung so low that a faint line of drool dripped at the corner of his lips.

Arthur was the first one to quickly snap out of his shocked state.

His eyes swept over the unimaginable sight that lay before him.

The reason why all of them were shocked to the core as if they had seen some abominations is that right in front of them stretched a hall filled with treasures beyond their wildest imagination.

Two colossal mountains of gold bars loomed like miniature fortresses, their neat stacks glimmering under flickering torchlight.

Scattered around them were carpets of gold and rolling hills of gold coins and precious stones.

Filling both sides of this hall were towering wooden chests piled high and filled to the brim with precious stones spilling out in cascading waves.

Rubies gleamed like drops of blood; emeralds sparkled like frozen forests; diamonds, some clear and others tinged pink, reflected shards of light across the hall.

Necklaces coiled in glittering tangles rested alongside all kinds of crowns made from precious stones, rings, bracelets, anklets, etc.

In another far corner of the hall stood huge rows and columns of weapon racks disappearing into far corners: blades adorned with jeweled hilts; polearms engraved with ancient glyphs; shields polished to a dull shine, all standing pristine and seemingly untouched by time.

Opposite them were racks brimming with armor: breastplates embossed with the Azurian crest; helmets shaped like fanged beasts from old myths; gauntlets and greaves crafted for warriors.

And in another far corner is a series of massive bookshelves carved from dark wood lined with scrolls bound in cracked leather.

Some shelves held sealed tomes locked tight by rusted clasps while others displayed parchment rolled up neatly with strings made from unknown materials.

Hanging on the walls are murals, some also adorning the stone pillars between these treasures, each painting protected beneath sheets of hardened resin.

They depicted a civilization that once rivaled the ancients: emperors seated on magnificent thrones; armies stretching across horizons; temples soaring into the clouds.

Everyone was too stunned to speak as they just stood rooted to the spot with mouths hanging wide open until Professor Adrian finally broke the silence.

His voice trembled as if struck by lightning.

"This… this… this... this is!" he stuttered, his voice barely a whisper.

His face was flushed crimson, veins throbbing at his temples.

He gasped for breath, sharp and wheezing, as if the weight of the moment might crush him. "Do you understand what this means?!"

Kaelen, usually the quiet one in the group, clutched his chest and murmured in awe. Dr. Ren's eyes widened, glistening with disbelief as tears threatened to spill over.

Suddenly, Ethan's booming voice erupted through the hall like thunder.

"Boss! We've struck it! Hahahaha!" His arms flung wide open, nearly colliding with Gunner as he laughed joyfully.

His laughter echoed off the vaulted ceiling, filling everyone around him with a contagious energy that made their hearts race as they all revealed excited smiles.

Arthur remained composed but couldn't suppress a thin smile that crept onto his lips.

The archaeologists surged forward like kids on Christmas morning, circling shelves and chests while speaking in loud voices filled with joy.

"According to the records..." Adrian cried out excitedly, "when Emperor Vaerion VII vanished, so did the empire's entire treasury!"

Each word cracked with unrestrained joy. "That disappearance was a catalyst for chaos; without its wealth, the Azurian dynasty crumbled into ruin!"

Kaelen added breathlessly, "Then this… this hall… it's it! This is the legendary treasury, the lost treasure of the Azurian Empire itself!"

Gasps rippled through the group like wildfire.

They exchanged wide-eyed looks before turning back to gaze upon unimaginable riches laid out before them.

Their eyes sparkled with something almost primal, hunger.

Arthur inhaled deeply; he could almost taste gold in the air.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Gunner's tense voice sliced through the excitement.

"Boss… I think our internal systems are back online."

Arthur raised an eyebrow and glanced down at his tactical visor as data streams blinked back to life around him.

Holt checked his wrist console next to him. "Communications are back too! The interference is gone!"

A heavy silence fell over them as realization dawned.

Ethan suddenly froze mid-laugh; dread washed over him like ice water. His smile faded into an uneasy frown as he spoke softly: "If our systems are online… then that means…"

The air grew thick with tension.

"…the magnetic field surrounding Ayzion Mountain has disappeared."

Ethan continued cautiously, "Which means those criminals hiding out here will know something is amiss,especially Ravik's men who are still on the outside."

The others immediately frowned when they heard what Ethan said, their excitement evaporating in an instant.

"We need to alert the reinforcements at the mountain base," Gunner said coldly, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "We can't let this news leak out. They have to secure this site until we..."

"Stop."

Just then, Arthur's voice cut in sharply, clear and commanding, halting everyone in their tracks.

All of them turned and looked at Arthur with confusion but didn't dare question him.

With a calm demeanor, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small silver watch, pressing down on its center.

A soft hum filled the air as the watch illuminated, projecting a sharp hologram above it,a miniature figure shimmering with crystalline clarity.

A humanoid being emerged from the glow, its eyes deep voids of radiant blue that seemed to pierce through everything around it.

"Patriarch," Evolon's mechanical voice sounded warmly. "How are you doing?!"

Arthur's lips curled slightly into a rare smile; his nerves seemed to relax when he saw Evolon.

"Evolon," he replied earnestly. "I need transport carriers dispatched here immediately. Send heavy-armored security units along with a full search team,we must prepare containment protocols."

He lifted his wrist and described Ravik's Crimson Jackals' symbol firmly: "Relay this symbol to the units stationed at the mountain's foot."

"They are to eliminate every last one of Ravik's remaining men and anyone else who dares approach this place."..

Evolon's eyes flickered as data streamed across its interface.

"Understood."

With that, the hologram faded away, leaving Arthur's watch dark once more.

Turning back to his team with unwavering authority, Arthur declared,

"Gather all treasures into one central location! Handle fragile artifacts with care and prepare everything for immediate extraction."

"Understood!" came the thunderous response from his squad.

The archaeologists scrambled toward ancient scrolls and precious relics, their hands moving frantically as if afraid they might lose everything if they paused for even a moment.

Soldiers hefted chests filled with history, dragging weapon racks and securing armor; metal clanged against metal as chaos erupted in what had been a solemn hall just moments before.

As for Arthur, he stepped deeper into the hall, his boots crunching over scattered coins as he surveyed murals depicting long-forgotten tales alongside piles of artifacts.

His mind was racing with countless thoughts. What he saw after he completed the puzzle earlier really left him in deep shock.

That crown symbol made him realize that Emperor Vaerion VII might be hiding a huge and terrifying secret because that crown symbol is something Arthur is really, really familiar with.

And it's this same crown symbol what made his heart nearly jump out of his chest.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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