"Wow, there really is a ruin here!"
Leonardo saw the first group arrive—not strangers, but William’s team, those who could fly.
Compared to others, they were clearly much faster.
After them, more people capable of flight began to arrive.
Leonardo even spotted Levi Harvey with his flying boat.
And even more ca using carriages, climbing the volcano without any real difficulty.
With so many people appearing, the black-armored figure seed startled.
Unfortunately, his face was hidden beneath a helt.
"Stop!" he suddenly shouted when several people were about to start destroying the ruins.
His voice was loud enough to halt everyone.
Instantly, all attention turned to him.
"Is he the one who’s been capturing monsters at night using a World Artifact?"
"So he’s the one who discovered this ruin?"
"Does that an he wants to monopolize it?"
"Impressive... he actually managed to hide it all this ti."
"But who exactly is he?"
"Whoever he is, no one has the right to monopolize a ruin."
"Right! He can’t fight everyone!"
"Keep going! Destroy the pyramid!"
Even though they paused for a mont, people still moved forward.
Even the monsters continued smashing the pyramid, completely ignoring the humans unless they got too close.
Leonardo remained hidden, watching the armored figure closely.
Would he reveal his face now to intimidate everyone?
"Eh..."
Leonardo was stunned when the figure actually removed his helt, revealing an old face with gray hair.
’Damn...’
That face was familiar.
He had t him before.
The Head of the Z City Association.
How could it be him?
With his level, he shouldn’t be able to enter this volcano—but Leonardo knew.
He had a clone.
This... was the clone.
"Is that the Association Head?"
"What level is he? Isn’t he above Level 50?"
"No, that’s his clone. There are rumors Mr. Maxwell has one."
"Does that an the clone lives independently?"
"Seems so... but they share the sa mind."
Those who were rushing forward imdiately hesitated.
He was powerful.
Not just that—he was a senior figure among Awakener Associations, respected even by other city leaders.
His influence was unimaginable.
He was even more feared than Jas Harvey.
"Everyone, it’s not that I want to monopolize this ruin. However, there is only one item inside. There is nothing to compete over."
This statent shocked everyone again.
"Only one item?"
"It must be extrely valuable."
"No... not just valuable. Priceless."
"So what if it’s priceless? Are you going to compete with the Association Head?"
"Is there no chance? Does he not allow competition?"
"..."
"Everyone, the item inside this ruin is not even for ."
Another bombshell.
"What?"
"Mr. Maxwell, then for who?"
People were even more shocked.
After all, who could make him work for them?
"This is for the Association. It will be used for the benefit of humanity."
’What nonsense...’ Leonardo thought.
Benefit of humanity?
That was a Diamond Skeleton—usable only by a Knight.
This old man was clearly lying.
But unfortunately...
his reputation made people believe him.
Now, even fewer dared to act.
However—
Leonardo’s greed didn’t disappear.
How could he give up that skeleton?
Wait?
No.
Waiting ant more risks.
Better to take it now.
Without relying on others, he had only one option—
Elent Bomb Orb.
It appeared in his hand, hidden along with him in Invisible Mode.
Whoosh!
He teleported it directly two ters above the pyramid.
It appeared silently...
fell...
and shattered—
completely unnoticed due to the pyramid’s massive size.
But the mont it broke—
BOOM!
A gigantic bolt of lightning erupted.
Just one—
but it ford a massive mushroom-shaped explosion.
The shockwave alone collapsed the volcano.
Most people were blasted away.
Even those who couldn’t fly were thrown into the air.
Those closest to the pyramid?
They were instantly reduced to ashes.
"Damn it! Who did this?!"
"Was that an Elent Bomb Orb?!"
"That’s like a missile!"
The survivors gasped.
That single lightning strike was terrifying.
If it exploded in Z City, even if the blast radius was limited—
the shockwave alone could destroy a tenth of the city.
After all, what structure was stronger than a volcano?
Though the lightning disappeared quickly, smoke and dust filled the entire area.
Without wind, it wouldn’t clear anyti soon.
(Boss, I got it!) Ellie’s voice suddenly sounded.
(Leave imdiately!) Leonardo replied.
Whoosh!
A powerful wind suddenly swept through, dispersing the smoke and dust.
Leonardo saw that it was the Association Head.
He used sothing similar to an Elent Orb, but weaker—
just a burst of wind.
In an instant, everything beca visible—
including the underground chamber beneath the pyramid.
The Association Head prepared to move—
to take the item.
But from above...
there was nothing.
Empty.
"What the hell?"
"There’s nothing?"
"That’s impossible. Ruins are never empty."
"Did soone already take it?"
"Right... who threw that bomb?"
This turned into a heated discussion. The Association Head imdiately descended into the ruins on his flying mount to investigate.
On the other side, Leonardo—still invisible—swiftly left the area.
On his way, he spotted Elsa and Mary.
The two of them were traveling toward the Hot Desert in an open private carriage.
Whoosh!
Leonardo sent his shadow toward them, blocking their path. They had no choice but to stop.
"Anderson?" both of them were stunned when they saw him.
Then—
Leonardo tossed a Phantom Veil Orchid toward them.
In his hand, the orchid was ignited by his black flas, instantly turning into a thin wisp of smoke—no more than cigarette smoke.
They didn’t realize what it was.
Unknowingly, they inhaled a trace of it.
Their eyes widened instantly—
as the effect hit them.
"From now on," Leonardo said coldly,
"obey and do exactly what I say."
"Anderson, what did you give us?" Mary asked.
Despite the overwhelming sensation she felt, panic still filled her voice.
"Was that... a Phantom Veil Orchid?" Elsa realized without needing confirmation.
Mary’s eyes widened upon hearing that.
"Why would you do this?" she asked.
Both of them were confused.
There was no reason for Leonardo to go this far.
If he only wanted to use them, that video alone was already enough.
Besides—
at most, they were only useful for minor things.
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