Chapter 726: Rhea
Charles reappeared in a guest hall filled with multiple sofas at the center and looked at the young lady sitting in one of those sofas while crossing her legs. She had long blue hair, azure eyes, and pale skin, and she appeared to be around 20 years old. She wore a long blue-colored gown-type dress made of white satin and embroidered with gold and silver threads.
As she noticed Charles appearing in the Guest Hall, she hurriedly stood up and bowed her head.
"Greetings, Mr. Charles. It's been a while since we saw each other."
Charles nodded, walked towards the opposite sofa, and sat down.
At the same time, he cast [Inspect] skill on her and observed her strength.
'Oh? Rank-5 [Moon Walker], huh? Her improvement has far surpassed the ordinary people. As long as she has given enough time, she will become a Legendary Powerhouse too.' But what surprised him was an owl hovering around her soul in the astral realm.
'Are they the ancient spirits?'
"What is the purpose of your visit? It isn't just to greet me, right?" He asked, not showing any past feelings for his disciples.
Rhea also sat down on the sofa and started to speak.
"Before I go to the main topic, thank you for helping Jessie in the Miracle City. She said that she would stay there for a decade and return after taking over full control of the Divine Throne."
"I understand." Charles didn't think much about her decision and waved his continued with the main topic.
"The main topic is about a certain Prophecy." Rhea started as she took a deep breath and spoke.
"It's about the Legacy left behind by the First King of Iron Kingdom, Ledger Boneflare. Some say it's an ancient Magic Tower, and a few legends say it has the power to change one's destiny. Alas, no one knows for sure. But two decades ago, the four guardian spirits of the Boneflare Family passed down a strange prophecy to the High Priest. Let me first tell you the prophecy lines." Saying so, Rhea started to utter the words in a strange, unique rhythm.
"Born in the Iron, but rise in the Moon.
She has three hearts but only two hands.
When she returns, her arrival will shake the home.
Chaos will descend, as well the opportunities.
She will rise to become a true Monarch,
Whenever she takes a step, citizens will kneel.
Not out of respect but out of hunger and fear of death.
She will extend her hand to save the kingdom from its doom.
Tell her to beware, beware of a Divine.
That one will stick to her, to steal her life.
Save her; she will save you.
Let her rest for a while, along with her heart.
When the hearts grow, she will lose one.
But if Fate allows, the lost heart will find me.
And I will give the Legacy to it.
Wait for the Destined Day."
"I've read this prophecy too. So, what are you implying?"
"I think we've found this Ancient Tower. It's in Duke Andy of Griffon Household." Rhea said as she took a document from her space ring and passed it to Charles.
"But when we tried to investigate more about the Ancient Tower, all our attempts went futile. Even the most elite members of the Silent Nightmare organization disappeared." She showed a hint of hesitation and soon added while bowing again.
"And I heard from Jessie that you have already entered the realm of Legendary. So, I came here to seek your help, Mr. Charles."
Meanwhile, Charles furrowed his brows and asked.
"Isn't that Griffon family the descendant of Marcus Griffon? After his death, his family shouldn't have posed any threat to you to eliminate them, right? Why did you keep them this long?"
A bitter smile appeared on her face.
"It's not that we haven't tried, but we couldn't. Even Lord Runeth said not to enter their territory unless it was essential. That's why the Magic Tower of Iron is still standing." She said as she looked at the faraway Tower through the opened window.
"Oh? That old man said that? Interesting." Charles slowly stood up from his seat and started walking to the window.
"If Runeth stopped you guys from interfering, it must be serious. It seems Sasha's other puppet is still lurking in this city." A cold glint appeared in his eyes. He knew very well that she wasn't a person who would easily give up on the Destiny Tower and pondered.
"We can't attack that territory right now. Wait for nine more months. A big opportunity will arise." Charles said as he looked up at the blue sky and asked further.
"What about the Legacy? Did you find any information about Titus? If the prophetic words are true, he will return from death, right? Is his body still preserved well?"
"Lord Runeth helped us to preserve his body in a strange crystal to slow down the time, too. But till today, we haven't gotten any information about Titus's reappearance. I-I don't care about the Legacy. All I want is for him to return in one piece." Rhea said while clenching her fist.
"Even if we take control of the Ancient Tower, there is no point in entering without the key. And from what I've gathered so far, this Tower seems to be a Dungeon, too, and appeared almost the same time as the others. And without the key, I don't think anyone can enter inside." Charles paused for a moment and soon added.
"And this Dungeon must have connected to all four of you. So, inform Noel and Jessie to return to the Iron Kingdom after nine months to participate in the new Expenditure."
Rhea nodded solemnly and spoke.
"I'll do as you say, Mr. Charles. Then, what should we do about the Griffon Household?"
"Leave them alone for now." Charles didn't put much thought into a measly household and focused on another matter.
"I also need a favor from you. When you return, inform Abel Wilson of Life Church to come and meet me if he wants to save his sister."
"Emilia Wilson?" Rhea also knew of the misfortune she had encountered during the Iron Kingdom's civil war and felt sorry for her.
"I'll pass this message to him." She answered and stood up from her seat.
After that, she bid her farewell to Charles and left the guest hall.
On the other hand, Charles slowly gazed at the Iron Tower and furrowed.
"I shouldn't waste my time from now on. There are only nine more months left before the next disaster strikes."
A second later, he enveloped his body in a crimson flame and disappeared from there.
...
A moment later, Charles reappeared in his room and took the Sage's Gem from his space ring.
"Zera," He called out.
A second later, an elven woman in her illusionary form appeared before him and bowed her head.
"Do you need my help, Master?"
Charles nodded and took a glass jar containing a Crystalline Eye from his space ring.
"Give this jar to Runeth and tell him to see if he can transplant this eye to me." He said.
"This is? An eye?" Zera looked clueless and puzzled while looking at his Eye of Faceless.
"Why do you need to transport this eye, Master? Do you have any problem with your current eye?"
Charles shook his head and explained.
"If I go by the normal method, upgrading my High Human bloodline might take decades or even centuries. Moreover, the vision skill is the most difficult to upgrade. But with this Myriarch's Eye, I can skip a rank itself."
"Oh? Myriarch... Is it the Trickster Class's 7th-rank name?" She nodded her head in understanding.
"I'll send this to the underground basement and inform Master Runeth about it." Saying so, she disappeared from there.
Meanwhile, Charles focused on the Sage's Gem and then took out the Crystal Dimension stone.
After that, he changed into his elemental form and entered the Crystal Dimension.
He reappeared before the gigantic Sun made of pure, chaotic fire a moment later and then took the Sage Gem from his pocket.
He then focused on the small bluish gem and tried comprehending more essences.
Surprisingly, his comprehension speed had increased even higher thanks to his increased wisdom power.
As he tried to understand every wisdom rule further, his wisdom eye started to glow continuously.
Time passed slowly.
Hours turned days, days turned weeks, and even months passed quickly.
On the other hand, Charles focused solely on his comprehension and comprehended the remaining 2600 wisdom essence streaks during the next two months.
Time moved at an incredible pace within the Crystal Dimension as his comprehension progression increased daily.
The more he understood the casualty manipulation skill, the more he realized how powerful it was.
'To fully utilize this skill, I must gather information about everything. To be precise, I must know all the world's information to utilize this skill fully.'
At the beginning of the third month, he entered a strange, enlightened state and managed to grasp some of the secrets of the next skill.
"Eldritch Analysis!"
