"Let's go inside."
Standing at the entrance of the ruins, Rowen stubbed out his cigar and gestured for the soldiers to commence their operation.
One of the biggest shortcomings in most treasure-hunting tales is that only a select few embark on the expedition. When unforeseen events arise, they always find themselves short on manpower, which heightens the tension and danger, leaving the protagonist to narrowly escape death.
But Rowen wasn't here for the thrill.
At his command, heavily armed Marine soldiers raised their shields, scaled the ruins, and descended into the interior using vines through a hole they had carved out.
Instead of entering through the front door, they had, with the help of some seasoned veterans, created a direct path into the ruins.
This was a classic case of strength in numbers.
The traps that had once claimed many treasure hunters in the original story were simply dismantled. Every gun turret and arrowhead lurking in the corridors was neutralized and removed by the soldiers, then discarded outside.
Staring at the now-riddled ruins, Alva finally snapped out of his daze after a long pause.
This isn't what I imagined treasure hunting to be like!
Are you here to dig up treasures or demolish buildings?
If Acier were to witness Rowen's actions, he would undoubtedly be dumbfounded.
'Where are my traps?What happened to all those traps I set up? They were just here a moment ago!'
Inside the corridors, soldiers had already lit torches along the walls, illuminating the path.
Rowen strolled leisurely down the corridor as if he were on a sightseeing trip. The soldiers had cleared all the traps and pitfalls along the way, laying wooden planks to make the route more navigable.
If no one mentioned it was a ruin, anyone arriving here might mistake it for a mining site.
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), the path ahead is blocked by magma. We're currently clearing it. Please wait a moment."
Before long, they arrived at the magma hall that had been a pivotal location in the original story, showcasing Buru's exceptional skills.
The hall was surrounded by bubbling, steaming red-hot magma, and at its center was a high platform holding a peacock piano. Playing the piano according to a specific musical score was required to proceed further.
However, this elegant and artistic trap was no match for the Marine soldiers' practical approach.
As the saying goes, "Scholars can't argue with soldiers."
First, the soldiers used makeshift tools to hammer randomly on the piano keys, triggering arrows to shoot from the walls. After repeating this process dozens of times, they exhausted the trap's ammunition.
Next, they used tools to dig trenches, slowly redirecting the magma away.
"Why not just use the peacock piano? Isn't it said you can solve this by playing the score?" Alva asked curiously.
"Apologies, sir," A soldier promptly replied. "The score is made of paper, and it's too degraded to be legible. Key parts of it are missing."
Alva: "..."
"Fair enough, I suppose there's no other choice."
"3, 2, 1… Detonation!"
Boom!!
A small amount of explosives blasted through the magma chamber's walls, revealing dark drainage channels. Predictably, under normal circumstances, playing the correct melody would have allowed the magma to drain through these channels.
After the blast, soldiers used pickaxes to clear the rubble. Before long, someone exclaimed in excitement:
"Sir, we've found a staircase leading further ahead!"
"Excellent, keep moving!"
Rowen was thoroughly pleased with the soldiers' efficiency. Thanks to the widespread use of the Thunder-Lightning Stimulation Device, even ordinary soldiers had their strength enhanced by a factor of one or two. They were now the perfect workforce for physically demanding tasks.
Noticing Alva's increasingly bewildered expression, Rowen chuckled ans spoke.
"I think this footage could be broadcast across the sea. We'll call it, 'Theory on the Correct Posture One Must Have While Seeking Treasure.'"
Alva: "..."
'Do whatever you want. I've become numb to this by now.'
Before long, at a cliffside, the team dragged aside the corpses of a Triceratops and a Pterosaur. Then, over a hundred soldiers raised their rifles in unison.
"Ready..."
A junior commander standing nearby swung his hand down sharply.
"Fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With every gunshot, Alva felt his enthusiasm for treasure hunting dim further. What were once challenging aerial targets rendered difficult by updrafts were now obliterated under the barrage of bullets, revealing the path to the next section.
At the crocodile trap near the entrance to the lab, Rowen recalled that Acier had left a hidden door to activate the mechanism directly, providing access to the laboratory.
Otherwise, it would have been absurd for him to go through all this trouble every time he entered.
But seeing the soldiers so enthusiastic about their task, Rowen decided to let them continue.
"Are you serious? You've messed up three times already!"
"Hmph, just watch and learn!"
Two soldiers bickered as they attempted to insert a key into a wheel-shaped keyhole.
Zzzzzz!
The sound of electricity crackling filled the air, enough to make an ordinary person writhe in pain. But for these soldiers, who had undergone Thunder-Lightning Stimulation Device training, the current was barely more than a tickle.
With an impassive expression, the soldier retrieved the key and pursed his lips in frustration.
"I'm done. Next!"
Before long, the mechanism was successfully unlocked, and cheers erupted as the group noticed the newly revealed passage.
However, at that moment…
Ka-Cha!
A crisp sound echoed through the hall. Everyone turned around to see the floor at the center of the hall descending, revealing a dark, ominous passage.
Standing by the controls, Rowen held a lever that hadn't been there before, with a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), could this be…?" Alva, sensing a growing unease, asked hesitantly.
"Ah, that's right! I found it earlier. Remember, I'm a Thunder-Lightning Human— there's no metal that can escape my senses."
"Then why didn't you…"
Alva's mouth twitched as he trailed off.
"Don't give me that look… Just think about it. What if this was some sort of self-destruct device? If the path ahead wasn't open, we'd all be trapped here."
The soldiers exchanged glances, then reluctantly chose to believe Rowen's explanation.
What other choice did they have?
Dealing with a senior officer with a mischievous streak was their unfortunate reality.
To move efficiently, the group split into two teams. One, led by Alva, scouted ahead, while the other followed Rowen down the newly revealed passage. This led them straight to Acier's laboratory.
"Pure Gold!!"
Seeing the large chunk of Pure Gold encased in a container, Rowen's lips curled into a smile.
"We've finally found it!"
Since Acier had no reason to destroy himself along with his work, the ruins' self-destruct mechanism hadn't activated. Rowen smashed the container and grasped the Pure Gold in his hand, issuing an order: "Find the exit quickly. Today, we've secured a monumental achievement!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
The Den Den Mushi diligently recorded every moment of the treasure hunt, including the awe on everyone's faces as they discovered the Pure Gold.
In the dim light, the glittering gold seemed almost surreal.
However, unnoticed by the others, Rowen turned his back to the group for a brief moment. His fingers moved deftly, sliding a second shimmering piece of gold from his sleeve into his palm.
The real piece of Pure Gold was stashed into his sleeve, concealed beneath his Justice cloak.
As the soldiers' cheers echoed around him, Rowen's smirk widened.
"Pure Gold, oh Pure Gold, don't let me down."
(End Of the Chapter)
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