ebookslot Chapter 484 - 481 – Greedy Eyes
Chapter 484 - 481 – Greedy Eyes
The next day, the sun was already quite high in the sky when Sylvia finally woke from her restless sleep. The clock on the wall showed around 10 AM. Golden-yellow sunlight gently slipped through the gaps in the luxurious curtains of The Dragon Inn’s room, illuminating the space with warmth that should have been soothing, but still felt heavy and clinging to the body. The cool morning air carried the aroma of freshly baked bread and smoked meat from the kitchen downstairs, mixed faintly with the scent of herbal healing ointments and dried sweat that still lingered on the bedsheets from yesterday’s battle. Sylvia’s undead body felt stiff, her muscles protesting even though her supernatural regeneration had worked hard throughout the night. The small wounds on her arms, back, and sides had already disappeared without a trace, but the mana and mental exhaustion still clung to her like a heavy shadow that was difficult to shake off.She sat on the edge of the large bed, her long black hair messy and covering part of her pale face. Sylvia rubbed her face with cold hands, trying to dispel the remnants of nightmares about Mušmaḫḫū’s roars and the screams of Thrain and Lirael. The victory had indeed been achieved, but it tasted as bitter as leftover poison on the tongue.
Beside her, Alicia and Stacia were still sleeping soundly. Alicia curled up like a child with Qilin in her arms. Her usually spirited beautiful face now looked tired yet peaceful, her long eyelashes fluttering gently in her dreams. Stacia slept sprawled out with her mouth slightly open, her ancient grimoire still loosely held against her chest, its pages rising and falling with her breathing. Sol slept at the foot of the bed in his small human form, his golden fur rising and falling slowly, his expression calm after the exhausting battle.
Sylvia let out a soft sigh, her voice almost inaudible. The memories of yesterday’s battle were still fresh: Mušmaḫḫū’s soul-shaking roars, Thrain’s death by black lightning, Lirael’s scream as corrosive acid melted her body, and finally the explosion of holy chains that ended it all. Two lives lost for an ancient monster that now belonged to them. Was the price worth it? she thought coldly.
"Wake up," Sylvia said softly through group telepathy, her voice gentle but firm in her sisters’ minds.
Alicia and Stacia stirred slowly, groaning softly as they opened their eyes. It took them nearly half an hour to fully prepare. A steaming hot bath helped loosen their sore muscles, followed by changing into simple yet elegant clothes a black-and-white dress for Sylvia, soft blue robes for Alicia, and grayish-purple robes for Stacia. They went downstairs to the inn’s comfortable dining area.
That morning’s breakfast felt luxurious: warm bread fresh from the oven with melted butter, thick meat soup with carrots and potatoes, herb-seasoned scrambled eggs, sliced fruits, and soothing herbal tea. They ate in comfortable silence, occasionally exchanging understanding glances. Not many words were spoken. Their bodies and minds were still in the process of recovery, and the grief over yesterday’s casualties still hung in the air.
"The guild today," Sylvia finally said while sipping her warm herbal tea, the aroma of mint and honey soothing her throat. "They must be waiting for the corpse. Let’s finish the matter as quickly as possible."
Stacia nodded while eagerly chewing her bread, trying to regain her strength. "I’ve prepared a special storage space with double seals. That corpse... its aura is still incredibly strong even though it’s dead. I can still feel the remaining darkness of Tiamat inside it."
Alicia stroked Qilin, who sat obediently in her lap, his golden fur soft under her fingers. "We have to be careful. The Emperor and the princes might come. This isn’t an ordinary monster. There must be schemes behind it."
After breakfast and a short rest, the three of them headed to the magnificent Hunters Guild. The sun was shining brightly on the capital’s streets, but a cool breeze from the mountains still blew, carrying the scent of flowers and road dust. The streets were as busy as usual with merchants, adventurers, and civilians, but many glanced at their group with looks of admiration, respect, and curiosity. News of the victory over Mušmaḫḫū had spread quickly like wildfire in the dry season.
In the guild courtyard, the atmosphere was already lively. Party Wild Bear and Party Eternal were already waiting with grim expressions. Gorn Thunderfist stood firm, new scars on his face and right arm clearly visible, his eyes still filled with grief over losing Thrain. Elara Silverwind greeted them with a faint smile, though her emerald-green eyes still showed deep sorrow over Lirael.
Guild Master Marcus Blackthorn, a middle-aged man with a sturdy build, black beard, and sharp eyes, immediately approached upon seeing them. "You’ve come. Excellent. The rear arena is wider and safer. We’ll bring out the corpse there. Emperor Helios and several princes have been waiting since morning. This will be a major event."
They all walked toward the guild’s large arena, a spacious open sandy field surrounded by tiered stone stands, usually used for tests or party battles. On the special seats shaded by a luxurious gold-and-red tent sat the Emperor along with five princes and several high-ranking imperial officials. The Emperor was a middle-aged man with a neat beard, a simple crown on his head, and the strong aura of a ruler. His sharp eyes evaluated everything, as if he could read the souls of those before him. The princes wore luxurious clothes embroidered with gold and jewels, their faces full of pride and calculation.
Stacia stepped into the center of the arena as instructed. She took out her grimoire, its pages spinning rapidly in a mana wind. "Spatial Storage: Grand Release!"
A shimmering white-purple light appeared in the center of the arena. Mušmaḫḫū’s giant corpse materialized gradually, its long body stretching across nearly half the arena. Even though it was now a cold corpse, its aura was still incredibly powerful and oppressive. The ancient dark pressure of Tiamat spread in all directions, causing many ordinary spectators in the stands to shiver violently and instinctively step back. Several high-ranking imperial officials retreated a step, their faces deathly pale. Even the Emperor frowned deeply, his eyes widening slightly in rare surprise.
"This monster..." one prince muttered in a trembling voice, his hands gripping the armrest of his chair. "So huge... and its power is still felt even after death."
Guild Master Marcus looked dizzy and overwhelmed. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "How are we supposed to handle a corpse this big... The scales, blood, bones, and its dark core are extremely valuable, but storing and processing them will take a lot of time and money."
Sylvia stepped toward the Guild Master with calm steps. She whispered softly into his ear, her voice cold but clear, "I will buy the entire corpse for 2000 gold coins. Right now. No bargaining."
The Guild Master was greatly shocked, his eyes widening. 2000 gold coins was an enormous sum, even for the corpse of a legendary ancient monster. But seeing Sylvia’s calm, firm expression and the powerful aura still lingering around her body, along with the pressure from the waiting nobles, he finally nodded quickly. "V-very well. Deal. This is a beneficial agreement for the guild."
Sylvia took out a thick bag of gold coins from her system storage and handed it over without hesitation. The Guild Master briefly checked the contents with trembling hands from joy, then nodded in satisfaction. Sylvia immediately signaled Stacia.
"Store it again."
Stacia activated her spatial magic once more. A shimmering light appeared, and Mušmaḫḫū’s giant corpse vanished in an instant, leaving the arena empty and silent. The spectators fell into stunned silence, and whispers began to spread through the stands.
From the special seats, the princes looked at Sylvia’s group with clear and intense interest, especially the three sisters. Their eyes focused on Sylvia, who stood with a cold and powerful aura, her long black hair fluttering gently in the evening breeze. One prince, a handsome man with dark brown hair named Prince Darius, smiled faintly while whispering to his brothers.
"Those girls... especially the one with black hair and red eyes. Her power is extraordinary. If one of them becomes our partner, our position in the palace will be much more secure. Their strength can be used for the family’s ambitions. Whatever their origins, they are worth approaching."
The other princes nodded in agreement, their eyes full of political calculation, personal interest, and greedy ambition. "The three of them are beautiful, powerful, and mysterious. We must approach them carefully. Gifts, party invitations, or even political marriages... anything can be tried."
Sylvia felt those greedy gazes like needles on her skin. She only smiled coldly in her heart, her facial expression remaining calm and unreadable. They see us as tools for power, she thought. But I am not a doll that is easily played with. Let them try.
The Guild Master completed the official payment and awarded the mission rewards, including the honorary title "Legendary Hunter," access to the guild’s artifact vault, and rare material bonuses. However, the atmosphere remained heavy due to the grief over the two fallen comrades. Gorn and Elara received their awards with somber faces.
They left the guild with tired but vigilant steps. Behind them, the princes continued to watch with greedy eyes full of plans and calculations. Their victory over Mušmaḫḫū had brought wealth, great fame, and honors, but it had also drawn unwanted attention from the palace. Their journey in the capital had just entered a new stage full of political intrigue and hidden dangers.