Half-convinced but intrigued, Andrew followed Chantelle to the other side of the camp. Tiana, Logan, and a few others exchanged uncertain looks before trailing behind.
Under a large tree, Tora had already been untied and was now seated on a flat rock. The wounds on his body left by the Blood Ghoul no longer festered. The edges had turned a healthy red, and the poison had clearly worked its way out.
“Mr. Lloyd, I owe you my life. Thank you,” Tora said as he spotted Andrew. He pushed himself to his feet and dropped to one knee.
Andrew motioned for him to sit, checking over his condition. Then he smiled and said, “Congratulations, Captain Tora. The necrotic venom is completely gone.”
Tora nodded, visibly relieved. “I didn’t think I’d make it out alive. When I came to and realized you were all gone, I figured you’d gone deeper into this cursed place.”
Andrew replied, “You figured right. We did, but we came up empty-handed.”
Logan, growing impatient, jumped in. “Captain Tora, you said you knew where the treasure entrance was. Just tell us, and we’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”
Tora looked directly at Andrew. “I don’t know if it’s the actual entrance, but I believe it leads somewhere else important. So, Mr. Lloyd, I can’t promise it’s what you’re looking for… but it might help.”
Andrew’s eyes lit up. He had not expected a breakthrough to come so suddenly. “Go ahead, Captain. Whether it leads to the treasure or not, I’ll remember you helped.”
Tora nodded. “It’s an old dry well. Come with me, Mr. Lloyd. I’ll take you there.”
Ten minutes later, the team geared up and returned to the ruins once again.
This time, with Tora guiding them, they no longer wandered aimlessly. He led them straight to an ancient well. It was so deep that they could not see the bottom. The opening was wide enough for a grown man to descend without issue.
Tora pointed down into the dark, and he seemed terrified as he said, “This is where I saw a Blood Ghoul crawl out, Mr. Lloyd. When they’re not active, Blood Ghouls retreat to underground lairs—places soaked in dark, heavy energy.
“So, I figured even if this isn’t the treasure entrance, it has to lead somewhere important. Maybe once you’re down there, you’ll find a way into the treasure vault.”
Tiana’s voice was sharp and full of doubt. “Tora, are you seriously expecting us to jump down a bottomless pit filled with those fiends? Are you trying to get us all killed? You call this a lead? It seems more like a death trap.”
Tora shook his head quickly. “No, it’s not like that–I truly believe this could help. But if you don’t trust me, just forget I said anything.”
Andrew stared into the well for a long moment, then slowly started to smile. “Captain Tora, this is a huge lead. You’re right. Whether or not it’s the entrance, there’s no doubt it connects to something critical. At the very least, we might find clues that get us closer.”
Logan hesitated. “But Andy… are we really doing this? I mean, that place is full of Blood Ghouls!”
Andrew nodded. “We’re going… We have to. The more I think about it, the more I realize that this treasure from the Fallen Crimson Dynasty might not be just a vault full of riches.
“There’s a good chance it’s actually a top-tier geomantic tomb. And what people have been after all this time might be the treasures buried with it.”
Chantelle was taken aback. “Mr. Lloyd, what makes you think that?”