The exquisite card was Grey, patterned with cloud motifs, edged in gilt, as thin as a feather. On its face was painted the towering black city walls of Ludsea, with the volcano as a backdrop. Brand put it down, and the sunlight that had been blocked could once again pour through the skylight, cut into a pool of shattered gold that spilled across the Red robe of the Wizard opposite him.

Ekronia's Adversity Furnace

(Adversity Heaven III)

Any 30

[Boundary — Lair]

When "Furnace" enters the field, Attach it to a Land Card.

Tap, any 2, sacrifice an Ekronia Soldier: give "Furnace" two Energy counters.

"When travelers pass over the Great Plain, they look north to the North Ludsea Volcano, shrouded day and night in black clouds, fire-light roaring into the sky."

"This is…?"

"A band of mercenary found it at the entrance of a Dungeon. They knew my people were looking for similar things, so they sent it over. That Dungeon is in the mountains near the Silver Mine. I suspect there will be more Destiny Cards inside." Char said via Mind Communication, "This card should have been created by a Travel Mage called Trisman. Among the many Travel Mage of the past three thousand years, he counts as an outstanding one. He created a Dark World called the Ecronia Plain, Ekronia's Adversity — it's a very famous Black-White deck. This card is one part of that set, meant to be used together with the others."

Brand looked at his Mage Attendant. "How come I've never heard you mention any of this before?"

"I only found out recently myself, ever since I leveled up." Char shrugged.

"That deck is powerful?"

"Of course. Ekronia is one of the top Travel Mage of all time. If we can find his legacy, we'll be rich." Char replied.

Brand wasn't that optimistic. Back in the game, Dungeons around Shafelund were as numerous as cattle, but that didn't change the fact that this was a Newbie area. The Shafren Silver Mine's Rune Dwarf underground ruins were an exception; how valuable the treasures in other places were was still up in the air.

"You didn't keep going deeper?"

"The mercenary only went a little past the entrance. The rooms further in were choked with silt and mud, impossible to proceed. By the look of it, it should be a tomb, and not from our era."

Sealed area?

Brand's interest was piqued. A sealed area was often an unexplored Dungeon; the first exploration usually yielded a decent haul. But the cards in his hand seemed to have some fated connection with tombs—was he going to switch Profession to grave robber in the future, that promising line of work?

"Then let's go have a look. How did you get here?" The two had only exchanged thoughts for a moment in Mind Communication; only Furlo was aware of it. The others merely felt the hall go quiet, then saw Brand raise his head and sweep his gaze across the hall.

"By carriage, of course, Lord." Char smiled faintly.

Brand nodded and looked at Caglis. "Caglis."

"Here, what is it?" Caglis was, as always, spacing out. He snapped back to look at him. The corner of Brand's eye twitched with pain. "As one of the most solemn and proper nobles in Erune, it's a miracle your father hasn't kicked you out of the house."

The young man scratched his head with a grin.

"Go prepare a ship bound for Ambeser."

"A ship to Ambeser?" Caglis reacted quickly. "I'm going to Ambeser? Lord, what orders do you have for me?" he asked, brows dancing.

"Not you, me."

"What, Lord, you're leaving Lengshan Domain for Ambeser, why?"

"You talk too much. Are you going or not?" Brand asked irritably. In every respect this fellow could be called one of Tonyger's finest young men, but he was so lazy it gave people headaches. Brand couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for Sir Min Tai; the old gentleman had probably blown his top more than a few times.

Caglis shrugged. "I'll go, of course I'll go, why wouldn't I? It's the Lord's order. A merchant ship bound for Ambeser, I get it. I'll tell them it's just carrying a batch of Ordinary passengers." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

That was more like it. Brand turned back to Fini. "You like it here a lot?" He had already overheard the Tree Elf Girl's conversation with Medisha. Fini nodded. The Tree Elf Archer had been left behind by the Druid to live long-term in Lengshan Domain; they also wanted to find a place suitable to settle in.

"But Valhalla still isn't big enough."

"It's fine, anywhere nearby is okay, Lord." The female Elf Archer Captain replied forthrightly.