Black Hearted Mage

This was a meticulously crafted map from the Ludwig School of Magic, meticulously marking various regions and important locations. Within the vast expanse of the Yellowstone Mountains, several striking landmarks stood out. The target Rodman and his team were seeking was one of them.

It is speculated that if this place is indeed the tomb of a wizard, then the owner of the tomb most likely passed away before the collapse of Ludwig Castle. You know, Ludwig Castle was once the site of the famous Ludwig School of Magic. At that time, magic was flourishing and at its peak, and wizards possessed astonishing magical powers and creativity.

Because of this, these wizards' tombs are often filled with a variety of mysterious alchemical artifacts and countless insidious magical traps. It's no exaggeration to say that entering such a tomb is like stepping into a dangerous den, fraught with danger. However, as the saying goes, "Fortune and honor are sought in danger," risk always accompanies opportunity. The more perilous the wizard's tomb, the more precious items it contains.

Kaisas's ancestors left behind a travel journal, documenting many thrilling adventures. During one such journey, they stumbled upon a magician's tomb and successfully delved into it. Their haul was beyond imagination: dozens of boxes of high-grade magic crystals alone! These crystals, imbued with powerful and pure magical energy, were coveted treasures for any magician.

At that moment, an old carriage was galloping eastward along the road. Ever since leaving the bustling Violet City, it had been like a wild horse, galloping along the wide, flat road with reckless abandon. The sound of hooves echoed through the air, stirring up clouds of dust, as if it too was eager to embark on the adventure ahead.

Rodman, riding a black horse, followed closely behind the carriage, appearing somewhat uneasy, turning his head occasionally to glance back. His nerves were so tense that they felt as if they might snap at any moment, constantly worrying that the Roland Mercenaries were secretly following them. Their expedition was crucial; if they were discovered and interfered with by other forces, it would be extremely troublesome.

At the same time, Caesars, who was sitting in the carriage, carefully handed the precious animal skin scroll back to Beatrice beside him.

The map clearly marked several key locations, all of which were located in the central Yellowstone Mountains. For ordinary people, that area was practically forbidden. Even seasoned mercenaries rarely ventured there. The reason was simple: the Yellowstone Mountains were incredibly steep, riddled with sheer cliffs and deep valleys, where even the slightest misstep could lead to death.

After a full half-day's journey, the small mercenary group finally arrived at a quiet and peaceful village. They decided to stop here for a while and temporarily leave their horses and carriages there.

The towering Yellowstone Mountains, like a winding dragon, stretched across the east not far away. Its majestic and magnificent sight inspired awe. According to the established plan, they would next embark on the steep and rugged path on the west side of the mountains.

Rodman seemed quite familiar with the villagers. When he saw the elderly but still strong farmer, he immediately approached and greeted him warmly. After a brief greeting, Rodman pulled a dozen gleaming silver coins from his pocket and handed them to the man.

The farmer was overjoyed when he saw this. He quickly reached out to take the silver coins, patted his chest with a smile on his face, and promised Rodman solemnly: I will take good care of these horses and will never let them go hungry!

Led by Rodman, an experienced and strong mercenary captain, a team of five fearless mercenaries is marching at a vigorous and rapid pace towards the towering Yellowstone Mountains. They know that time is running out and they must successfully reach the summit before sunset, because it will be relatively safer to spend the night on the top of the mountain.

After bidding farewell to the peaceful village, they quickly followed the winding, rugged mountain path. Before long, they reached the foot of the majestic Yellowstone Mountain. Rodman methodically began preparing for the climb. He deftly removed a sturdy rope and an incredibly sharp magic steel hook from his backpack, and without hesitation, he removed the heavy cloak he wore so he could travel light.

Caesars was no stranger to the narrow path leading to the mountaintop. He had once treacherously climbed this same path, but unfortunately, he had encountered a terrifying assassination attempt along the way. The situation was dire, and he was practically in despair. He had been forced to embark on this perilous path out of sheer desperation.

To ensure safety, a tough animal hide rope was tied tightly around Beatrice's slender waist, the other end of which was tied to Rodman's powerful frame. With everything ready, Rodman took the lead, steadily stepping onto the steep and treacherous path. Following closely behind was the petite Beatrice, carefully following Rodman's steps as she climbed.

Looking back, Stella, clad in light leather armor, followed closely behind Beatrice with a dashing presence; the energetic young warrior Wagner was no slouch either, maintaining a steady pace. Leading the charge was, of course, Caesars, his sharp eyes alertly monitoring the surroundings to ensure the safety of the entire group's rear.

Given Beatrice's young age, she inevitably struggled with the steepness of the mountain. Nearly half the path was nearly vertical, requiring not only the coordinated use of her hands and feet but also considerable arm strength to navigate. However, Beatrice's strength was evidently limited, and whenever she encountered an insurmountable obstacle, she relied on Rodman, who was ahead of her, to pull the rope firmly, allowing her to continue her slow climb.

As they climbed, Caesars discovered the lava puppy's weakness: it was extremely afraid of heights. At first, the puppy would lie on the edge of the backpack and howl a few times. But as Caesars climbed higher and higher, it became silent, curled up in the backpack and shivered.

As the sun set, the mercenary team finally reached the top of the mountain. While the others sat down to rest, Caesars set up a magic circle at the end of the path. He would know immediately if anyone came up.

"We need to walk a little further south, there's a flat area where we can camp!"

Rodman stood up and said, he walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down the mountain.

Everyone stood up and dragged their exhausted bodies along the rugged mountain top, slowly walking towards the south.

"Rodman, I've set up a magic circle here. I can sense someone coming up!"

As Caesar spoke, he pulled the dark red puppy from his arms. The little creature still looked quite plump, curled up in a ball, its fleshy, cuddly shape. Caesar gently pinched the soft skin behind its neck, fearing to hurt the puppy.

The surrounding Yellowstone, eroded by wind and rain, was a dark red, but slightly different in color from the puppy's fur. This slight color difference made Caesars feel a little worried: what if this naughty lava puppy ran around here and fell?

Caesars decided to give the tireless puppy a small warning. He picked up the pup and walked to the edge of the cliff, letting it take a good look at the bottomless cliff shrouded in mist. The pup seemed to instantly understand the danger before it. Its bright eyes were filled with fear. It quickly stretched out its strong front paws to cover its eyes tightly, and its whole body trembled continuously.

Seeing this, Kaisas smiled helplessly and gently placed the puppy on the ground. However, to his surprise, the little guy landed on the ground and quickly got into the backpack beside him like a flash of lightning. The speed of the action was simply jaw-dropping.

Kaisas shook his head, picked up his backpack, and continued south. The land was rugged and uneven, with uneven heights. Even finding a place to sit down would make his butt hurt.

Less than two miles later, they reached the flat area Rodman had mentioned, which turned out to be just a few flat rocks. As everyone took out their tents and prepared to rest for a while, Rodman suddenly stood up and observed his surroundings alertly.

"Rodman, did you find anything?" Caesar asked hurriedly.

"I always feel like something is wrong in the south. I'm going to take a look!"

"Rodman, let me go. The sun is about to set, and you don't have dark vision, so it's very difficult to see things in the distance!" Seeing Rodman frowning, Caesar stood up and said.

Caesars took firm steps, slowly moving south. This place was at the top of the western side of the Yellowstone Mountains. While the terrain was undulating, the difference in elevation wasn't significant. However, once they reached the southern region of the mountains, the dramatic drop became apparent, making the journey extremely difficult and arduous.

Caesars walked, stopping and starting, for about a hundred meters before suddenly stopping. A pungent, burnt smell filled his nostrils, arousing his alarm. He frowned, carefully discerning the direction of the scent, and then cautiously approached, following it.

A few dozen meters away, in a sheltered pit, lay a small pile of ash. Scattered around it were a few blackened, cleanly cut bones. Judging from their slightly sturdy appearance, they were most likely cattle leg bones.

Caesars was undeterred. He flicked his finger gently, and a magical tentacle extended from it, slowly reaching for the ashes. After a careful inspection, he found the ashes lacked any residual warmth, yet remained extremely dry. Drawing on his years of wilderness experience, Caesars quickly concluded that the ashes must have been left today. After all, the humidity of the Yellowstone Mountains was intense at night; if the ashes had been sitting overnight, they would not have been this dry.

From the few charred bones, Caesars used his keen observation to estimate the approximate number of the enemy. After careful analysis, he concluded that the enemy had only three or five people, and they were already here to explore the way.

Furthermore, by observing the two corks nearby, Caesars further deduced that the other party possessed considerable financial resources. These corks clearly came from bottles of fine wine, which must have been carelessly discarded at the foot of the mountain after consumption. The cleanly cut bones indicated that the food they brought was processed, which was three or four times more expensive than raw meat.

Caesars hurried back to the camping site and briefly told Rodman what he had discovered.

Upon hearing this news, Rodman couldn't help but reveal a hint of regret, muttering to himself, "I never thought that the last time we came to the Yellowstone Mountains, we were secretly monitored by the Roland Mercenaries, but I was completely unaware of their presence at the time!"

Seeing Rodman's face full of self-blame, Caesars appeared quite calm. He shook his head slightly and said softly, "Rodman, there's this magical artifact called the Magic Observation Mirror. Even if those watching you are miles away, with the power of this Magic Observation Mirror, they can easily monitor our every move. So, it's not entirely your fault that you didn't notice them."

The Roland Mercenaries were no ordinary force; their strength should not be underestimated, and the complex connections behind them were even more intricate. They would naturally be fully equipped with valuable and practical items like the Magic Observation Mirror.

Rodman nodded, turned around, and began to get busy. This guy was the captain of the mercenary team, and also the team's nanny. He was responsible for all the chores such as lighting the fire and cooking dinner.

Kaisus set up his armored leather tent and placed a piece of raw meat outside. The puppy, sensing the scent of food, cautiously emerged from the backpack. He turned his head to survey the surroundings, then, realizing it wasn't near the cliff edge, leaped onto the meat, howling.

Seeing the lava puppy tearing into the meat fiercely, Beatrice, who had nothing to do, walked over. When the puppy noticed someone approaching the food, it stopped eating, bared its mouth, revealing its four sharp fangs, and made a warning whining sound.

"Belis, it's best not to get close to it when it's eating. It's very protective of its food and will bite!"

Caesars reached out and touched the puppy's neck twice, and the puppy lowered its head and bit the piece of meat.

“It’s too small!”

"It's a little small now, but it will eventually grow up, and then I might not be able to defeat it!"