Ba the days when the Orgdom and the Sherlock Dynasty vied for dominance over the Old ti, their battles pluhe heavens ah into chaos. The war raged on for over three turies, culminating in the destru of the Orgdom by the Sherlock Dynasty. Millions of orcs were massacred, but the Sherlock Dynasty itself was drained by the turies of flid eventually fell to the rising Fars Empire.

  heless, the Orgdom had once been a top-tier power of the Old ti. Legehat the sughtered orobles had hidden vast treasures before their demise. These tales were well-known and, in some cases, proven true, as adventurers who discovered these treasures became wealthy and iial.

  For seasoned individuals like White Wolf and Louis Simy, a dubious treasure map would evoke nothing but skepticism. Yet for the low-ranking adventurers, such "restraint" was a luxury they did not possess. Just as they had flocked to Yorktown for the rumored legacy of a demon huhey were easily swayed by the allure of a treasure map, no matter how questios ins. After all, someone was to pay them; even a futile trip wouldn’t leave them at a loss.

  Particurly clever was Charlot Meburg, who, after fag White Wolf’s derision, adjusted the map’s backstory. No longer a sedhand-store find, it became a cherished relic left by his uncle, lending it a veneer of credibility.

  The remaining adventurers, stirred by his words, joined Charlot’s eam. Only two groups deed his invitation, and they departed Yorktown without dey.

  Charlot turned around, beaming, and said to White Wolf, “Mr. White Wolf, sell me all your ale!”

  “I’ll treat everyoo a drink.”

  The adventurers erupted in cheers, and the area before the massive wooden lodge became a raucous celebration.

  …

  Charlot drained his mug of ale in one gulp, then smashed it forcefully onto the ground. He raised his head a out a furious roar!

  He had always carried himself with a gentle demeanor, which was true to his nature. Whether in his previous life as a mathematics teacher or in this one as a civil servant handling administrative duties, Charlot had been a mild-mannered individual.

  But Warden Magru Trell had signed his dismissal order, casually erasing a lifetime of Charlot Meburg’s hard work. Worse, he had forced Charlot to betray Menielman Soumet and brazenly suggested he’d discard Charlot like a used rag afterward. Charlot had endured enough.

  Previously, Charlot had resolved to bide his time ahe humiliation. Perhaps Menielman would emerge from her political struggles and offer him a lifeline. However, in that moment, Charlot recalled being hunted by the detectives from the Fierce Horse Detective Agency. A surge of fury rose within him, shattering his illusions.

  Wiping the traces of ale from his lips, Charlot g the hundred-plus adventurers he had vio join him. An idea, once familiar yet never seriously sidered, surfaced in his mind.

  Since he was already on the run, uo return to his cushy role within the gover, living the quiet life of a "sary thief," why not aim for something grand?

  “Damn it!”

  “Nobles and kings—are they borer than anyone else?”

  “A king is merely one who ands soldiers!”

  “Right now, my strength is weak, and this rabble of adventurers is hardly useful. But one day, I will and thousands of warriors, return to Strasb, and sever Magru Trell’s head. He’ll learn there’s no good end in messing with a transmigrator.”

  Huang Haisheng, a man of peaceful times, had never faced the horrors of war in his previous life. Revenge had never been on his agenda. Even while being pursued, he had sidered it mere "self-defense."

  But in that instant, Charlot finally uood the phrase, "One who wields a bde iably develops a thirst for blood." Was his persuasion of these adveruly about some mythical treasure from the a Orgdom?

  He didn’t even have a treasure map. And even if he did…

  What use was a mere treasure map?

  Even if he found the treasure, he’d still be a wanted man in the Fars Empire.

  Even if he fled to another try, he’d still face oppression by corrupt officials.

  Charlot’s mind cleared, and a newfouermination filled him. Surveying the rowdy adventurers, he raised a hand to the sky and shouted, “To everyone who joins me on this treasure hunt, I, Kainan, son the aors of the orcs that your future fortunes will not fall short of a hundred gold écus!”

  “Let’s move out!”

  With a swift kick, he shattered the suitcase he had used to ceal his identity. It held nothing of value anyway. Grabbing his alchemical staff and the Vampiric rapier gifted by Louis, he strode fidently out of Yorktown.

  The adventurers, awed by his anding presence, began dropping their mugs and following him. Ohe first few joihe others fell in lirailing after Charlot in groups of two and three. The scattered crowd started to coalesce, showing the fai signs of unity.

  Watg the mess left in front of his lodge, White Wolf remarked, “Louis! Your friend is extraordinary. He’s destio aplish great things.”

  “However…”

  “Why do I sehe air of a desperado about him?”

  “You don’t deal with desperados.”

  Louis Simy chuckled wryly. “He’s an imperial civil servant.”

  “And a highly promising o that.”

  White Wolf raised an eyebrow. “What kind of promise?”

  Louis Simy replied, “His panion is the daughter of a t.”

  White Wolf stared at him in astonishment, then murmured, “No woo marry a t’s daughter, you’d he spirit of a desperado.”

  Louis Simy spread his hands; that wasn’t what he had meant.

  …

  Oside Yorktown, Charlot called out, “Who knows the way to Machubi’s ruins?”

  An adventurer immediately shouted, “I’ve been to Machubi!”

  Charlot smiled faintly. “Excellent. Please, sir, lead the way.”

  Machubi had been a fortress of the a Orgdom, once renowned as the impregnable Machubi. The Sherlock Dynasty had takeronghold through ing and the abze, redug it to ruins.

  turies ter, the site was desote, shrouded in terrifying rumors. Only a handful of adventurers dared visit in search of fortune.

  Hearing they were heading to Machubi, some adventurers hesitated. The tales surrounding the fortress were too grim. However, seeing that this was no small party but a group of over a hundred, led by a Transdent, they found renewed ce. Besides, rumor had it that Kainan held a treasure map that could guide them past dangers. Emboldehey pressed on.

  Charlot’s choiachubi stemmed from two reasons. First, this ragtag group couldn’t endure a long journey. Evee troops struggled with long-distance marches.

  Machubi was nearby, just over 200 kilometers from Strasb—a mere two- or three-day trek for the adventurers, making it aigly "manageable" target.

  Sed, in a week, he would owe them their first wages. While he could afford to pay…

  Well, he wasn’t particurly ined to.