Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

What was even more unsettling was that the one thing they feared most-the Blood Ghoul was nowhere to be seen in the coffins. Instead, each casket held scraps of decayed fabric and a mess of crude burial items scattered carelessly inside.

The others gathered around, studying the contents with growing intensity.

Tiana gave a soft chuckle. "Looks like you were spot-on, Andy. This Fallen Crimson Dynasty treasure really is just a massive tomb."

Chantelle stared at the three open, empty stone coffins. Then, she asked, "But if that's the case... Where did the bodies go?"

That one question silenced the entire group.

Logan gave a forced laugh. "Maybe this tomb is so ancient that the corpses turned to dust?"

No one joined him. After all, anyone with half a brain knew that under sealed conditions, it was almost impossible for a body to decay to the point of total ash.

Even if the flesh rotted away, the bones would remain. However, these coffins were completely empty.

Something felt off.

Andrew, calm as ever, finally spoke. "These coffins probably belonged to the Blood Ghouls. They're just not here right now. Maybe something disturbed them, or they sensed us coming and moved elsewhere."

The unease returned, and the group's faces turned pale again.

Andrew quietly shut off his high-beam flashlight and issued a calm command. "Everyone, turn off your flashlights. Switch to the tallow torches."

Chantelle frowned. "Mr. Lloyd, but flashlights are way more reliable. Why would we switch to torches when ours are waterproof and impact-resistant?"

Andrew lit his torch without looking at her and said, "Torches are still the best tool for exploring underground tombs. One, they help you test the air quality—if the flame dies, you're short on oxygen. Two, they scare away certain evil.

"Of course, you're free to keep using your flashlight. But if something happens, I'm not responsible."

Chantelle's heart jumped. She

quickly said, "Alright, torch it is. But Mr. Lloyd, ever since something happened to the two people t brought over, it feels like you've been targeting me."

Andrew looked her straight in the eye. "I'm not targeting you. I just think you're dumb."

Chantelle's face flushed red, but she bit her tongue. Normally, she would have fired back instantly.

But right now, deep underground with death all around them, she realized Andrew was the only one holding it together. Even Logan did not give her the same sense of security.

Once everyone lit their torches, Andrew stepped into the narrow passage at the back of the stone chamber. "Let's go. Stay close and don't fall behind."

They were now at least 300 feet underground, and from the slight downward slope of the path ahead, they were still going deeper.

Even Andrew, with all his experience, was secretly stunned.

Could it be that this massive tomb hidden beneath Gallow's End was actually a burial site for fallen royalty? If it was, then the scale of it was absolutely absurd.

A secret royal tomb, buried in a

forgotten canyon, so hidden that not

a single record or text had survived

to tell its story Only a few

families

With scraps of the treasure map

even knew it existed.

In a feudal society, pulling something like this off was nearly impossible. That only

proved how extraordinary this tomb truly was.noveldrama

This tomb might truly hold treasures vast enough to rival kingdoms.

However, Andrew did not care much about treasure. His mission was to solve the mystery of the map.

Andrew was now completely certain Rafael, Magnus, Axel, and that foreigner-Stanley-knew about this tomp Odds were they even knew the identity of whoever had been buried here.

So, did all these people gather at the same time, in the same place, just for the treasure?