Heavenly Inquisition Sword

Episode 1293. Would you like to explore more?

Elio and his party moved toward the mine rather than the mountain road on the right side of the fence.

After walking for a while, a guard post blocked the way.

Unlike other guard posts, there was even a Geomachang (拒馬槍) built by sharp-cut logs at the corner of the road.

Just looking at the well-maintained Geomachang, one can feel the will to block outsiders from entering.

One of the guards shouted as Tynlock and Fabian approached the post.

“Stop! If you come even one step closer, I will open fire. Who are you!”

Tynelock and Fabian’s bodies froze at the brief and intimidating command.

The two men, who had enough experience in the field, sensed that the guard’s horse was going to live.

It wasn’t just words, it was the momentum to fire a real magic gun.

Fabian straightened up and shouted.

“We are adventurers on our way to the Valley of Skulls!”

“This road leads to the mine. Go to the right side of the barrier to climb the mountain!”

“I have business in the Ferdom Mine!”

“What’s your business!”

“Our counts want to tour the mines!”

Hearing that there were great nobles, the guards soon returned to the post.

After a while, the guards poured out, aiming their magic guns.

Their expressions were a mixture of courtesy and wariness towards the great nobility.

The head of the guard approached Tinelock and Fabian.

“The counts of which kingdom are you?”

The head of the guard believed that the opponents were of course the counts of the Southern Kingdom.

It was because there was no reason for the Count of the warring empire to visit the mines of the Shade Kingdom.

Instead of answering, Fabian held out his Abyss entry permit.

In this case, evidence speaks louder than words.

A quiet voice flowed from the head of the guard who was looking at the Abyss entry permit.

“hmm!”

This is because one is the Earl of the Northern Kingdom of Baylem, and the other is the Earl of the Empire.

The head of the guard, who had tilted his head at that rare combination, looked at the Abyss entry permit again with startled eyes.

Eventually, the head of the guard politely returned the Abyss entry permit to the young adventurer.

“I didn’t know you were the heroes of the North. I will send a message to the mine, so please wait a moment.”

The head of the guard was thinking of notifying the mine because it was not something to be resolved on his own line.

Before long, a guard rushed toward the mine.

In the meantime, Elio and his party all gathered in front of the guard post.

The guards withdrew their guns and instead blocked the road with their bodies.

After a while, a group of knights came out of the mine.

After bowing to Viscount Norton Sherwood, who was in charge of managing the Ferdom Mine, the head of the guard briefly introduced the adventurers.

“These are the Saints of the Church of Shastra Parakti, Count Larva Omar and Count Elio Lagoa of the Northern Kingdom of Baylem.”

Every time the head of the guard was called, Luna Mylus and Count Elio Lagoa, Earl of Larva Omar, nodded their heads.

Each time Viscount Norton Sherwood bowed his head politely.

Since the opponents were the saints and nobles of the northern kingdom, they treated them as if they were their masters.

Especially in the case of Count Elio Lagoa, since he was known as a grand master, he tried hard not to offend him.

It’s only natural that you can’t compete with a Grand Master with an ordinary magic gun.

After the guard chief’s introduction, Viscount Norton Sherwood opened his mouth.

“I am Viscount Norton Sherwood, in charge of managing the Ferdom Mine. Did you visit the mines of the Shade Kingdom for some reason?”

Viscount Norton Sherwood knew the purpose of the visit, but pretended not to know.

He subtly emphasized that this place was the ‘mine of the Shade Kingdom’.

‘Traditionally, the southern and northern kingdoms are in an alliance state, but they should not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries,’ it revealed subtly.

This time, Fabian took the place of Count Helio Lagoa.

“I am Baron Fabian Cloud, a vassal of Count Lagoa. Our Count of Lagoa wants to see the inside of the mine.”

Viscount Norton Sherwood replied with a puzzled face but gently.

“It was Baron Cloud. Nice to meet you. But what about this His Highness the King has banned outsiders from entering the Ferdom Mine by royal order. That’s why even the nobles of the Shade Kingdom can’t enter. The other mines up the mountain shouldn’t be difficult to access. So take the Count and go to another mine.”

Fabian turned around without regret.

It was because it was a problem that he, a mere baron, could not do anything about.

He told Elio right away.

“Did you hear? It is forbidden to enter by order of the king.”

Elio, who nodded, approached Viscount Norton Sherwood.

“You said Viscount Norton?”

“Yes, Norton Sherwood.”

Viscount Norton Sherwood, mistaking the Count of Lagoa for pretending to be friendly, once again revealed his last name.

In fact, it was because Elio couldn’t even remember his last name.

“Anyway Viscount Norton. Do you think I must obey King Shade’s orders?”

Viscount Norton Sherwood flinched at the barrage of questions.

“yes? What are you talking about?”

“The King of Shades has banned entry, so he said to go to another mine. Isn’t that telling me to obey King Shade’s orders?”

“…”

Viscount Norton Sherwood didn’t dare to retort and blinked his eyes.

‘No matter how count you are, isn’t it natural that you follow the orders of His Highness the King?’

he muttered inwardly.

Even if he is not an ally, the king is a much higher status than the count.

Even the counts of the empire could not openly reject the orders of the king of the kingdom.

However, Count Elio Lagoa was rather angry at that common sense.

The problem is that I can’t refute what he said.

To be precise, since the grand master spoke like that, I couldn’t reply.

It is because the law is far away and the fist is close.

Fabian, who had stepped aside and watched the conversation between the two, sneaked in.

“Isn’t Viscount Sherwood’s King of the Shade Kingdom forbidden access by outsiders?”

“That’s right.”

“But we, the Escatos Kingdom, are allies of the Shade Kingdom, so we are not outsiders, are we?”

For a moment, Viscount Norton Sherwood shook his head.

Originally, an outsider meant anyone other than a mine operator.

So even the nobility of the Shade Kingdom could not enter.

But Baron Cloud secretly changed it to an alliance between the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom.

It’s just a pun, but there was no other way for now.

If he faced the Grand Master of the North and was destroyed, only he would suffer.

“I heard and saw it. The North is an ally of the South, so you can’t call them outsiders.”

“Then please guide me.”

Fabian looked at Viscount Norton Sherwood with a coy glance.

Viscount Norton Sherwood hesitated no longer.

Having made up his mind, he immediately changed his attitude.

“Welcome to the visit of Your Excellency Count Lagoa and Your Excellency Count Omar. I will guide you through the Ferdom Mine in detail.”

Soon after, Viscount Norton Sherwood turned around and glanced at Baron Vicious Sherwood, his cousin and commander of the Tornado Musketeers.

Baron Vicious Sherwood noticed his will and left quietly.

Viscount Norton Sherwood introduced the village in detail before entering the mine.

Of course, to give Baron Vicious Sherwood time to move.

“That building is the mine management office I use. The one on the left is the building of the Knights and the opposite is the building of the Musketeers.”

Elio silently nodded.

I was curious about the inside of the mine, but I didn’t want to rush and spoil the good atmosphere.

Viscount Norton Sherwood took a tour of the village and introduced all the buildings.

After about an hour, Elio’s patience slowly showed the bottom.

“Viscount Norton is starting to get bored. When are you going to show me the mine?”

Viscount Norton Sherwood, taken aback by the blatant remark, said with a forced smile.

“Since you are an honored guest, I wanted to show off the Ferdom Mine, but you thought too much. I will take you to the mine now.”

Soon after, Viscount Norton Sherwood turned to the entrance of the mine.

Mine was different from the air.

Unlike the refreshing outside, the cave was cool and damp.

After about a hundred meters inside, a pit the size of a well came out.

A rope was wound around the large pulley above the pit.

Viscount Norton Sherwood’s finger pointed at the long rope.

“If you go down about 30 meters, you will find a mana stone mining site. You will need to use this rope to go down. So far, no great nobles have gone down to the mining site. Would you like to go further down?”

Fabian looked at Count Elio Lagoa with perplexed eyes.

The thought of having to descend down a cramped, dark pit was frightening.

After thinking for a while, Elio spoke to Count Omar of Larva.

“Sir Omar wants you to stay here… how is it?”

He is also a human being, so he was reluctant to go down, so he wanted to leave behind the sword master, Count Larva Omar.

“I will. I’ll take care of this place, so feel free to go down.”

Elio’s face brightened at the words of the veteran Count Larva Omar.

“I will also defend this place with Count Omar.”

Afraid to go down, Fabian jumped to stay.

But Elio wouldn’t allow it.

“no. You have good hair, so you should go down with me. Howard Tynlock Crea, the three of you, stay here with the saintess.”

“yes.”

The three answered with one voice.

Then Luna Mylus opened her mouth.

“I’ll go down too. I want to see mana stones in their natural state.”

“Please.”

Elio did not object.

Luna Mylus was a strong and wise person, so there was no reason to stop her.

When Baron Howard Solon and his party hesitated, Elio said with a smile.

“The three of you stay by Sir Omar’s side here.”

“yes!”

The three people who didn’t want to go downstairs responded bravely.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Fabian got lucky again.

“Since the saintess is gone, even if I stay…”

“No.”

“Ah yes…”

Fabian withdrew with a melancholy face like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

Soon after, Viscount Norton Sherwood and Elio Luna Mylus paladin Almet Hareb Fabian climbed the rope and slowly descended underground.

About thirty meters below ground, the burrow was level again.

The cave was narrow, but still enough for a person to stand upright.

After going inward for about twenty meters, several roads came out like anthills.

From then on, miners began to appear one by one.

Viscount Norton Sherwood, who was leading, glanced back.

‘Damn, he’s following me grossly.’

I don’t know if the nobles are saying that there’s something to eat in the basement that nobles don’t enter because they’re afraid.

Eventually, when he reached the end of the cave, he pointed to the front and said.

“The miners are digging up mana stones over there. Mana stones are in crystal veins, ninety-nine percent are crystals, and mana stones are about one percent. Abyss mana stones have a high mana content, so they are traded at a higher price than mana stones mined on the ground. All the other oysters are like this, would you like to look around more?”

The ancient artifact was found somewhere in the mana stone mine’s cave, which stretches like an ant’s burrow.

Viscount Norton Sherwood’s face was relaxed, as it would have been more than enough time for the entrance to be blocked by Vicious Sherwood by now.