Silent Crown

Chapter 331 Better to Return Earlier

"How's the result of the divination?"

"Sir, your fate is very strange," the elder said with a sigh. "The revelation says that you will meet what you are destined to meet."

Ye Qingxuan's features twisted. He would meet what he was destined to meet? Well, no sh*t! What was the point of getting his fortune told?!

The elder laughed. "Don't be angry. This is one of the best results."

Ye Qingxuan had no words. He did not see how this was a good result!

"When the Romulus Empire still existed, wizards were fortune tellers who stayed beside the emperor to decipher the messages from the heavens. Sometimes there would be messages of catastrophes or good news. However, no fortune is better than this.

"The future will always go toward the future. Your fate is your own choice and uncontrolled by others. If you're the emperor, you would be overjoyed with this fortune. You can continue forward with your destiny. I can see that your future stretches into the darkness. There are twists and turns but you might see the light."

After a long silence, Ye Qingxuan nodded. "I hope that is so."

"Then let's talk about the important matters." The elder sat across from Ye Qingxuan and loosened his collar. He said lightly, "If I've guessed correctly, you also work for the Underground Palace? Let's talk about that."

Ye Qingxuan straightened and prepared himself.

-

Hundreds of years ago, after the Romulus Empire officially dissolved, the remaining city-states survived for decades and centuries. Until fifty years ago.

Just like the original empire, the City of Wolves, the Romulusians' last home, was destroyed by the natural catastrophe. The mindless phenomenon Tide of Silver had swept past. Everything in its path was flattened. The thousands of miles were still flat has a mirror's surface. If one looked from above, one would see a smooth silvery expanse like a wound on the earth. The Romulusians had no homeland thereafter.

The wandering Romulusians took up the lowliest jobs—physical labor, porters, thieves, bandits, prostitutes… The beastly nature in them meant they would forever be ostracized from society.

But twenty-six years ago, Gaius from the City of Wolves made great accomplishments in the exploration of the Dark World. He received high status in the Sacred City Parliament as refugee with demon blood. He received recognition by various kings and the Pope's blessing.

Under his hard work, Romulusians were recognized and gradually accepted back into society. Their image grew more positive. They received much sympathy and aid. They saw an improvement in quality of life and profited from craftsmanship and similar industries.

However, six years later, twenty years ago, Gaius defected. His soldiers occupied the new colony on the other side of the sea and openly rebelled against the rule of the other nations and the Sacred City. The other nations instantly grew furious and began to chase the Romulusians away. Within a fortnight, the improvements were all gone. The entire process lasted fifteen years.

The Romulusians had lost everything. With nowhere to stay, they became wanderers on an endless road under flying insults and stones. Finally, they were led by six elders and followed the calling of ancient notes. They traveled to the barren lands of the south and found the land once promised to them by god.

However, years had passed. The fig trees and grassy plains no longer existed. The river no longer flowed with milk and honey. All that remained was a desert. It was Auschwitz. It was a paradise with nothing and it was where the Romulusians' stayed.

"We had to find an industry if we wanted to survive here." The elder asked, "Mr. Ye, if it were you, what would you do?"

Ye Qingxuan did not know how to answer. He really did not understand how to survive in a place like this. It was arid and impossible to grow agriculture. Without lush grass, breeding was out of the question too. All they had was yellow sand and barren land. They could not hunt either.

Trade? To be honest, there were no specialties here other than the Romulusians themselves. Other than slavers and traffickers, no one else would be able to find any business opportunities. The only thing he could think of was what the Romulusians had done before.

"So did you open the mine?" He sighed, understanding the context now. After arriving here, the Romulusians had dug a mine in order to survive. They signed a deal with the Chainsaw Fraternity to borrow a huge sum, but the mines they found were not rich. There were only sparse copper mines, metal mines, and some green gold. There was no value in digging. They could feed a small town but not Auschwitz. Even worse, they discovered the relic left behind from the Romulus Empire while digging. "It's even worse than the relic."

"It's a cemetery," the elder corrected. "Past elders had flipped through ancient texts and realized that the construction was ordered by the emperor when the Romulus Empire still existed. It's the final resting place for the great men.

"And then? And then digging stopped. No Romulusian dared to continue exploring. Disturbing the ancestors' spirits will put out the family flame. We could only seal the Underground Palace. Even the digging of copper mines stopped. To be honest, we still owe a huge sum to the Chainsaw Fraternity."

The elder rolled his psychedelic cigarette expertly and said lightly, "When the ten years are up and the loan matures, us old guys will probably have to sell ourselves and become their mechanic slaves."

Ye Qingxuan fell silent.

"Kid, don't be upset. This has nothing to do with you." The elder leaned on the rug. One hand grasped his smoke; the other caressed a bloody red rock. Squinting, he murmured, "Where were we?"

"The cemetery."

"Ah, yes, cemetery." The elder sucked in a mouthful of smoke and exhaled slowly. "You know the rest. One of your three kings, the King of Yellow, came to the cemetery of our ancestors for some reason. And then he disappeared.

"If bad luck is a curse, then we've been cursed by the gods. Everything bad happens to us. Now, your little group of musicians is here, stirring up trouble at our home. Next, you're all going to run into our graves and mess around. And we can't do anything about it.

"Tell me, what did we do wrong to be punished like this?"

Ye Qingxuan could not answer. "To be honest, I came here without knowing about the King of Yellow or the cemetery or Underground Palace," he said. "I thought I was coming as a history scholar to help patients. I never even thought about the Sacred City's reward. I hope you believe me."

The elder held his bare and dried belly and laughed. "I can hear the truth in your words. Continue. I'll do everything I can to help you."

"There's nothing to continue." Ye Qingxuan chuckled dryly. "These things are outside my capabilities. I just wanted to find a guide and take me around the Underground Palace so I can at least find out if the flu has anything to do with the palace. Elder, can you recommend anyone? I can pay him."

The elder fell silent. He smoked while seeming to space out. He stared at the plumes of smoke, sinking in the high of the illegal drug. He did not snap out of it until it burned to his fingers. Then he raised his eyes, climbed up, and snuffed out the smoke.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ye," he said. "This is the only thing I cannot do. To the Romulusians, there are three things that will make them be out for your blood—insulting their ancestors, putting out the family flame, and digging through their ancestors' graves.

"We won't agree whether if it's your request or the Sacred City's. You have a lofty goal, but don't say things like that in the future."

"Sorry." Ye Qingxuan felt a bit awkward. "I'll take note."

"You can go to the Church. That old guy should still have the records of the dig and some traces." The elder rose. "That's all I can help you with. The rest has nothing to do with us. I hope the Sacred City won't drag us into your matters either." He paused and looked at the tiny scales on his toes. "After all, we've already paid enough for the sin we were born with."

-

After lunch, Ye Qingxuan left the elder's home. Lunch was very simple but it had been days since he had edible food. It was clear that this counted as a rich meal in Auschwitz.

Afterward, Ye Qingxuan rejected the offer to 'have some fun.' The elder warmly saw Ye Qingxuan to do the door. However, when they were about to part, he reached out and grabbed Ye Qingxuan's shoulder.

In Ye Qingxuan's shock, the elder came up and embraced him tightly. "Mr. Ye, here is some advice," he murmured in the youth's ears. "You are a good person so this will be my only advice. No matter why you're here, leave this place as soon as possible for your own good."

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