In the suburbs of Jinghai City, within the Smith family's villa, Donald slowly revealed the clues to the Smith family's hidden treasure to Elder Seville and Irving.
"You should rember the Benevolent Sanatorium where I used to stay, right? Although the Benevolent Sanatorium is officially a very upscale sanatorium, in reality, there is an entrance to an unknown space beneath it. This entrance was discovered by an ancestor of the Smith family. One of our ancestors ventured into this unknown space.
Upon his return, he recorded in the family genealogy that there was hidden treasure in the unknown space. He also continuously tried to re-enter the unknown space. Unfortunately, his endeavors were unsuccessful. This ancestor passed away five years after discovering the entrance.
Before his death, he endlessly recited the existence of the treasure within the unknown space to his family," Donald recounted.
At this point, a terrifying thought seed to cross Donald's mind. His face quickly turned pale with fear, and he began to cough violently. After a few minutes, his coughing finally subsided.
"Initially, none of the Smith family believed the ancestor's story. This was because he had shown signs of ntal instability before discovering the entrance to the unknown space. However, with the ergence of the Shelter Ga, we suddenly realized that the information recorded by our ancestor in the family genealogy seed to have a connection with the ga.
Our ancestor had docunted that our world was on the brink of destruction and that the Shelter Ga would descend upon us. After verifying the ancestor's records, all mbers of the Smith family, including myself, began to believe in the existence of the hidden treasure. The problem was that we had no way of accessing the entrance to the unknown space.
The entrance was located beneath the foundations of the Benevolent Sanatorium. Even if you wanted to enter, it would take a long ti to excavate the sanatorium's foundations. You must understand that the residents of Benevolent Sanatorium are highly influential. Excavating its foundations would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention.
That's why I never investigated the hidden treasure of the Smith family. My unfilial son, Joseph, did attempt to explore the hidden treasure, but he never found the opportunity to dig a passageway under the Benevolent Sanatorium," Donald explained.
As he spoke, Donald's gaze suddenly turned peculiar, resembling a hawk eyeing a dying prey. He looked at Irving and then at Elder Seville with this strange expression. "Are you really planning to enter the Benevolent Sanatorium to seek the treasure in the unknown space?" he inquired.
Elder Seville's expression remained unchanged in response to Donald's information. He nodded and turned his gaze to Irving. "Donald has revealed all the clues he knows. Are you willing to cooperate with us now?" he asked.
Irving let out a cold laugh. "You now control both Donald and Benjamin. Do you think I have any choice but to cooperate with you?"
"Of course, you can refuse to cooperate with ," Elder Seville responded. "After all, neither Donald nor Benjamin are particularly important to you."
Irving's reply was equally icy. "I don't have your low moral standards. I won't easily sacrifice others."
Elder Seville didn't mind Irving's sarcasm. He simply wanted to ensure that Irving would act alongside him. "If that's the case, then let's get moving. We still have so distance to cover to reach the Benevolent Sanatorium."
"Wait! Release Donald first!" Irving demanded, blocking Elder Seville's path. He didn't want Elder Seville to continue holding Donald's life in his hands. After all, Donald was crucial to both Vicky and Irving. If Donald was previously only important to Vicky, his revelation about the Smith family's hidden treasure had made him equally important to Irving.
Although Donald's description suggested the treasure's location was fraught with danger, Irving was not one to fear risks. Moreover, he'd rather the treasure fall into his hands than those of the Night Blades. At least if Irving obtained the treasure, he would protect the Smith family's safety.
Elder Seville wore a faint, mocking smile. He looked at Irving and asked in a low voice, "Do you really think I would release Donald now? If I did, would you still cooperate with ?"
Irving coldly retorted, "Don't forget, we are bound by a contract. Are you that lacking in confidence in your Night Blades' contracts?"
Irving hoped to use reverse psychology to get Elder Seville to release Donald now. However, his plan ultimately failed. Elder Seville was overly cautious.
"Yes, we are bound by a contract, but a contract alone is not enough to ensure your cooperation. Therefore, I will temporarily hand Donald over to other mbers of the Night Blades," Elder Seville declared.
As soon as he finished speaking, three Night Blades warriors entered the study.
"Don't worry. As long as you cooperate and help find the Smith family's hidden treasure, I will imdiately have Donald released," Elder Seville assured.
Irving was not easily swayed by Elder Seville's assurances. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
Elder Seville's face twisted into a smug smile. "You can't be sure whether I'm telling the truth or not because you never held the upper hand to begin with."
With a dismissive wave, Elder Seville signaled for the Night Blades to take Donald away.
Vicky, visibly anxious, confronted Elder Seville. "If you do this, I won't help you, and you're violating our previous agreent."
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"Ms. Tang," Elder Seville replied, "I haven't violated our agreent. I said I would release your grandfather, but I didn't specify when."
At that, Elder Seville cast a sealing spell on Benjamin, who was outside the study window. "The person who ca with you is also not allowed to join our mission. Of course, if you assist in finding the Smith family's treasure, I'll release him too."
With that, Elder Seville took a few steps forward. Irving and Vicky were left with no other options. Irving knew he couldn't quickly overpower Elder Seville, and to ensure Donald's safety, he and Vicky had no choice but to follow Elder Seville's lead.
Elder Seville didn't head straight to the Benevolent Sanatorium. Instead, he first went to the Smith family's old mansion. The Night Blades had already searched the mansion and found the family genealogy. As expected, they discovered the information Donald had ntioned. After noting down the details from the genealogy, Elder Seville tossed it to Vicky.
"From now on, you can carry your family's genealogy. Once we enter the unknown space, I will need the assistance of the Smith family bloodline within you."
Though Irving and Vicky were both seething with anger at Elder Seville's actions, Irving managed to suppress his rage and maintain his composure. He understood that anger would be useless in their current situation, as Elder Seville held all the cards. Their only chance to turn the tables would co if Elder Seville encountered trouble.
Entering the unknown space in search of the Smith family's treasure might just be the perfect opportunity for Elder Seville to face so difficulties. Irving patted Vicky on the shoulder. "Don't worry too much. I will ensure your safety during this mission. Besides, the Night Blades won't harm us until they find the Smith family's treasure—they need our help."
Vicky took a deep breath and nodded. She knew that for now, they had to bide their ti and play along until an opportunity to turn the tide presented itself.
Vicky's expression softened slightly after hearing Irving's words.
"Irving is right. Until we find the Smith family's treasure, you are indeed very important," Elder Seville's voice echoed. "So, Ms. Tang, you don't need to worry about harming you."
The reason Elder Seville made this statent was to let Irving and Vicky know that he could hear all their conversations. Vicky shot a cold glance at Elder Seville. Although she couldn't make Elder Seville pay just yet, she had already marked him as a mortal enemy in her heart.
"I finally found your grandfather's diary," Elder Seville announced, holding up an old notebook and waving it in Vicky's direction. "We've gathered everything we need. Let's head to the Benevolent Sanatorium imdiately."
Without hesitation, Elder Seville led Irving and Vicky to the Benevolent Sanatorium as quickly as possible.
When they arrived, they found that many Night Blades mbers were already there. The Night Blades had excavated a tunnel under the sanatorium's foundation and were close to uncovering the entrance to the unknown space ntioned by the Smith family ancestors.
"Master! We're about to find the entrance to the unknown space. Just a little more ti," one Night Blades mber reported hastily upon seeing Elder Seville.
Elder Seville nodded. "No need to rush. First, ensure your safety. We can't be certain there are no traps around the entrance to the unknown space."
Just as Elder Seville finished speaking, a scream echoed from a short distance away, the anguished cry of a Night Blades mber.
The sudden scream froze everyone in their tracks. Elder Seville's eyes narrowed as he quickly assessed the situation. "Everyone, stay alert!" he commanded. "Proceed with caution and check for traps."
Irving and Vicky exchanged a tense glance. This might be the opportunity they were waiting for. If the entrance to the unknown space was indeed laden with traps, it could provide the distraction they needed.
Elder Seville moved closer to the source of the scream, spotting a Night Blades mber lying on the ground, writhing in pain. It seed he had triggered so kind of ancient chanism. The rest of the Night Blades quickly gathered around, their focus now split between assisting their injured comrade and continuing the excavation.
Irving seized the mont to whisper to Vicky, "Stay close and be ready. This might be our chance."
Vicky nodded, her resolve hardening. They had to wait for the right mont to act, but they were ready to seize any opportunity that presented itself.
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