Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1455 - 499: The Meaning of the Whispers (Part 2)

"What is the source of that whispering? Haleem, do you require me to place a Silence Spell upon you?" Hernandez’s countenance shifted; he realized immediately that Haleem was struggling to resist the growing power of the murmurs.

"Hold on, I think I can interpret these voices," Haleem said, his brow furrowing in concentration.

"What did you say?" The three Epic powerhouses, Rein included, shifted their attention toward Haleem simultaneously.

The information Haleem suggested could be the vital link needed to uncover the mysteries hidden within these ancient goblin city ruins.

It was no surprise he was the most affected; his lower cultivation level played a part, but his intense focus on listening had also magnified the mental strain.

However, if a Silence Spell were cast on Haleem, he would be shielded from the influence but lose the ability to translate the meaning.

Furthermore, a Crystallization Wizard rendered mute is practically useless in the heat of combat.

"No! Just give me another moment," Haleem said, waving his hand in distress.

All joking aside, he was the least powerful among the group and had barely contributed during the previous skirmish.

Failing now would bring him a great sense of shame.

"I am certain of it—this is the Ancient Goblin Language!"

"Oh?" Rein’s interest was piqued.

He had initially suspected the whispers originated from some malevolent Evil God.

It appeared that was not the case.

"Leave!"

"Get away from this place!"

"That is it. The whisper uses the Ancient Goblin Language to repeat those two specific phrases," Haleem confirmed, clenching his fist as he fought through the mental agony.

This caused Rein to look at Haleem with newfound respect.

Clearly, a wizard who spends his life delving into ruins is no amateur; after nearly two centuries of life, he possessed specialized expertise and tactics for handling such crises.

"I cannot take much more! I have to shut out the sound immediately." Haleem clutched his head in pain.

"Haleem, should I apply the Silence Spell now?" Hernandez asked once more.

"No, I will use the Deafness Technique on myself. I am proficient in Lip Reading Skill, so I can still follow the conversation; it won't be an issue." Haleem began a rapid incantation.

Once the Deafness Technique took hold, the color returned to his face quickly.

"Leave? That makes no sense. We want nothing more than to exit this wretched place, but we are trapped." Sword Saint Terrio frowned, contemplating the situation.

None of the three, Rein included, could provide an answer to Terrio’s observation.

Terrio’s point was blunt but logically sound; they were eager to depart but lacked the means to do so.

Goblin tongue?

A warning to flee?

Suddenly, a flicker of Spirit Light ignited in Rein’s mind. "Is it possible a high-ranking goblin was warning the citizens to evacuate back then?"

After all, an Evil God or a foreign invader would be unlikely to communicate in the goblin dialect.

This suggested the source of the whisper was likely a goblin.

"Haleem, what do you know of the Ancient Goblin Empire? Was their final ruler a man or a woman?" Rein’s eyes gleamed as he turned to Haleem.

"The Goblin Emperor?" Even though Haleem had cast the Deafness Technique, he wasn't exaggerating his skill; he read Rein’s lip movements and understood the question instantly.

"Yes."

"The ancient records are quite thin. The final sovereign was a male by the name of Solson Gren." Haleem answered quickly after a brief search of his memory, though he was puzzled by the line of questioning.

"Not a female?" Rein felt a slight wave of letdown.

"No, however... if memory serves, that last emperor had a daughter. Princess Amora Gren was her name, and the texts describe her as a phenomenal mechanical prodigy."

A smile broke across Rein’s face. "If that is the case, I might have figured it out."

"Really? Lord Rein, what have you realized?" Haleem looked at him with curiosity.

Sword Saint Terrio and Hernandez were equally intrigued, their eyes fixed on Rein.

"I have a theory, but this isn't the place to discuss it; we should move." Rein glanced up at the opening above, where the sounds of pursuit were growing louder.

While the prototype and the mechanical octopus were likely too massive to fit through the breach, he wasn't sure if the patrolling mechanical land birds would drop down.

To keep out of trouble, it was best to relocate.

Fortunately, the underground level was expansive and packed with various machinery, providing plenty of cover.

...

Five minutes later, they gathered behind a massive gear.

Once Rein finished his explanation, the group fell into a stunned silence, their faces reflecting a mix of shock and respect.

"Lord Rein, what is our next move?" Sword Saint Terrio eventually asked.

"We have two choices. There is no mist down here, and the floor doesn't seem to shift. In theory, if we pick a direction and keep walking, we should find an exit."

"However, I am uncertain if there are flight restrictions here similar to the surface," Rein said thoughtfully.

"And the other option?" Terrio pressed.

"The second choice is to descend further." Rein pointed toward the metallic floor beneath them.

"Go deeper?" The three looked at him in shock.

Even if a path existed, wouldn't going deeper only increase the peril?

"Yes, the true answers lie below. I believe the next level will reveal the truth and confirm my theory."

Sword Saint Terrio and Hernandez shared a meaningful look.

Trena had been very clear before they departed; she wanted them to investigate the ruins as thoroughly as possible.

Considering the Federation's current state, it would be difficult to gather another team of Epic warriors for a second expedition anytime soon.

"Then we go down!" Terrio said with resolve.

"Excellent!" Rein preferred exploration anyway and was happy to proceed.

For one, if a Meditation Method existed, it was likely hidden in the depths; while the mechanical guardians above were formidable, they shouldn't be enough to slay an ancient Dawn Wizard.

Secondly, the current level of danger was still within his ability to manage.

"Pa!"

Rein’s right palm surged with a thick, dark silver light as he knelt down and struck the floor.

Dark silver ripples were instantly funneled into a small area, vibrating violently downward.

"Ding~ Ding~"

As the metal floor began to soften and sink like wet clay, a piercing alarm suddenly blared!

The dim green lights began to strobe frantically, and goblin remains dressed in work clothes started sprinting toward Rein’s location.

From the distance, a heavy "buzzing" mechanical roar began to echo, signaling the activation of some large device.

"I will hold them off," Sword Saint Terrio said, unsheathing his blade with a grim expression.

"No need, the path is open!"

Just as Rein spoke, the floor gave way, creating another massive hole just like the one above!

The sight below boosted the group's morale.

They looked down upon a massive manufacturing workshop for puppets and demon statues.

Rows of various models, both completed and unfinished demon statues, were lined up; they even spotted parts belonging to the prototype and mechanical octopus they had fought earlier.

Components hung from heavy chains, and the floor was slick with grease and covered in scuff marks; the pungent smell of motor oil reached them even from the opening.

The importance of a demon statue factory in goblin society was obvious, suggesting that Rein and his companions were nearing the city's inner sanctum.

It meant they were closing in on the truth.

"Let’s go!"

Sword Saint Terrio was the first to leap down, with the others following close behind.

"The whispering is definitely clearer now, and the pressure is mounting," Hernandez noted, his brow twitching.

The intensity of the murmur was such that even a Dawn Wizard like himself was beginning to feel the strain.

Rein scanned the room and saw several goblin figures that looked like researchers, their skin pale and withered like mummies, wearing laboratory coats.

"En...emies! My... demon statues... de...stroy these... enemies!"

Suddenly, a low, halting voice echoed from behind them, sounding like a child struggling to form words in the Goblin Language.

...