Luciel moved silently among the rocks and mounds, blending into the shadows.
He ca across a towering boulder and used his spider silk to propel himself forward.
In the open stretches, he relied on Mimicry Stealth, creeping slowly as he observed the thieves’ patrol routes and defenses.
"Interesting... so that’s how it’s set up," Luciel muttered as he studied the half-moon-shaped valley.
To reach the center hill, one had to first climb either of the two hills on the sides, then cross suspension bridges that connected to the middle. Bloodbeard’s ho sat right at the heart of that central hill.
The first obstacle was getting past the guarded entrances on the side hills. From what Luciel had observed, each entrance was manned by at least twenty n, with patrols frequently passing through.
"Not bad. Their defenses are pretty tight," Luciel sighed.
He could sneak in using Mimicry Stealth, but he would still need soone to open the gates for him.
"Forget it. Better to climb straight in from the outside."
Instead of wasting ti forcing his way through the guarded paths, Luciel decided to scale the central hill directly. He couldn’t afford delays—who knew when Bloodbeard might return?
Creeping to the foot of the hill, he quickly discovered several hidden sentries.
Click...
Within minutes, Luciel eliminated them one by one with the help of his Red Ghost Spider.
"This leader really is cautious," Luciel murmured.
He then summoned his companion. "Xiao Cai, co out."
A shadow shifted, and the three-colored lizard slithered to his side, nuzzling his palm.
Luciel smiled and patted its head. "I’ll give you sothing to help with your evolution, but you’ll need to work hard later."
The lizard tilted its head blankly and hissed in response.
"Alright. Let’s move."
Luciel shot a line of spider silk to the cliff wall and began climbing. His beasts followed close behind.
The climb was steep—about a hundred and fifty ters, nearly the height of a thirty-story building. Thanks to his silk, Luciel made steady progress, though so jagged overhangs slowed him down.
By the ti he neared the top, his movents grew cautious. Any slip or sound could give him away.
Finally, he reached the summit. But what he saw made him pause.
At the top stood a massive wooden do. Firelight flickered through the cracks, revealing that the structure was far larger than he expected.
"What’s this do for?" Luciel whispered. A possibility struck him—could this be Bloodbeard’s personal residence? Or maybe... his treasure vault?
Luciel’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Very likely."
Breaking in by force wasn’t an option. If people were inside, smashing through would only alert them. So he circled the do, searching. The cracks were too narrow—until he heard voices from within.
"My father’s away. That ans I’m in charge now!"
"No! No one enters without the boss’s permission."
"Move aside, I just want so water."
"Boss Blood Knife, you know your father’s temper. Don’t put us in a bad spot."
"Don’t use my father to threaten !"
Boom!
The sound of a door being kicked echoed, followed by a string of curses. Then silence.
Luciel smirked. "Bloodbeard’s son, huh? If even he isn’t allowed inside, there must be sothing valuable hidden there."
Using his spider silk, he climbed lightly to the top of the do—and there, he found it: a long crack, ten ters in length, nearly ten inches wide at its broadest point.
"Perfect. Just big enough to squeeze through."
But Luciel didn’t rush. Instead, he sent the Red Ghost Spider in first. When it returned without issue, he lowered himself inside.
The interior stunned him.
The hilltop had been hollowed out to form a vast chamber, with the do serving as its roof. Beneath him was a square wooden hatch—the entrance guarded from the other side, where the argunt had happened.
Luciel glanced upward again, noticing the large brackets, gears, and thick ropes. His eyes widened.
"So... the do can actually be opened like a lid. That explains the long crack."
He stepped deeper inside, and then his breath caught.
Green.
The chamber was divided into sections, and in one of them, vibrant green plants grew.
Luciel’s heart stirred. Since coming to the wasteland world of Nine Heavens, he had seen little but desolation. Yet here... were living crops.
He knelt beside a small patch, brushing his fingers over the leaves. "Cabbage?" He tore a piece and sniffed. His eyes lit up. "It really is cabbage."
Nearby, wooden shelves held other crops—red and green fruits he imdiately recognized.
"Tomatoes..." Luciel chuckled. "Bloodbeard, you’re my lucky bag."
In the corner, he spotted yet another familiar sight—a small tea tree.
"And even tea trees? Incredible."
There were still several plants he didn’t recognize, though so were withering, on the verge of death.
"Strange... why wouldn’t Bloodbeard eat these before they die?" Luciel wondered. Then the answer struck him.
Unless... they were too precious to consu. He must have been trying to preserve them at all costs.
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