Chapter 32: I’ll Buy You With Money

“Eh? Do you guys know me? We haven’t met before, right?”

Aeloma pointed at Lucas, then at herself, confirming again and again.

“We haven’t met, but why I know you isn’t important right now.”

Lucas slapped a few gold coins onto the table.

“Is this enough? I’m buying information—and your life.”

Aeloma glanced at the coins Lucas laid on the table.

If she guessed right, that was about half of the money Lucas was carrying.

“This much? I could live comfortably for a long time on this.”

Aeloma exclaimed.

“What exactly are you planning? Just buying information with so much money?”

“Not just information, but you as well.”

At these words, a flush rose to Aeloma’s cheeks.

“W-what do you mean? Even if I were desperate, I wouldn’t sell myself.”

Aeloma hugged her body protectively.

“I do have my limits.”

What was she thinking?

This was completely off.

Lucas, Noli, and Lina all looked at Aeloma as if she were a fool.

Sitting there clueless, Aeloma had no idea what the three meant.

Lucas sighed deeply.

“I mean this money is to pay for protecting you, understood?”

“Ah? Oh… that’s what you mean…”

Aeloma scratched her head awkwardly.

“I thought you wanted me to do that kind of thing… But no need to trouble you with that. I’m pretty capable—no one in Debis Port dares mess with me lightly.”

“Let’s put that aside for now. Tell us, has anything strange happened in Debis Port recently?”

Aeloma rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then stood up.

“Some things are hard to explain in words. But since you gave me so much, I’ll take full responsibility. Here, give me back my gear, and I’ll take you to see for yourselves.”

Noli hesitated, her eyes showing clear concern as she glanced at Lucas.

But Lucas gestured for her not to worry.

Even if Aeloma wanted to trick them, she couldn’t outsmart him.

Noli returned all of Aeloma’s equipment, and the three watched as Aeloma carefully put everything back on.

“Hmm, this feels more comfortable.”

Aeloma stretched and gestured for them to follow.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to see.”

True to her word, Aeloma didn’t run away after receiving the money.

She stayed within their sight and led the way.

She took them out of Debis Port’s main district and up to a nearby mountain.

From the summit, they could see the entire port spread out below.

But… what was that cluster of buildings in the distance?

And those Obelisks, growing as if out of the sea itself. How could such things exist here?

“See them? Those Obelisks.”

Aeloma pointed far ahead.

“Everything started dozens of years ago.”

Dozens of years ago?

That caught Lucas’s attention. He remembered clearly the kingdom had discovered strange objects fallen along the coast around that time.

“I wasn’t even ten then. Debis Port’s main district wasn’t here either. What’s now the main district was once just a cargo dock. Because of those Obelisks, they had to move the district here. Honestly, the port’s daily shipments dropped a lot after that.”

“What’s the deal with those Obelisks?”

Lucas asked.

Looking toward the Obelisks, Aeloma began telling the story of that ancient calamity.

One night decades ago, people heard a huge crash from the horizon, followed by the sound of something falling into the sea.

The next day, no one found anything unusual—just a small anomaly, so everyone carried on with their business.

But a month after the fall, one night, Debis Port was hit by a strong earthquake.

It destroyed large parts of the main district.

Then, suddenly, those Obelisks appeared on the sea’s surface out of nowhere.

At first, people paid them little mind—until the Obelisks brought a new disaster.

Anyone who got too close to the Obelisks never came back.

Some even reported faint lights near the Obelisks at night, but by morning, nothing remained.

As people disappeared one by one, fear spread, and no one dared live in that area anymore.

Nearly half of Debis Port was abandoned, leaving only the current district.

After Aeloma’s story, Lucas felt something was off.

Such a big event should’ve been recorded by the Knights, but why hadn’t he found any mention?

“I see… so that’s what it was…”

Lina bit her lip, pondering.

Noticing Lucas’s surprised expression, Lina looked curious.

“What’s wrong? This is recorded in the Knights’ records.”

Alright, it seemed he just hadn’t gotten to that part yet.

“The Knights only recorded an outline. No detailed info,” Lina shook her head, then looked at Aeloma.

“Aeloma, do you know why those people never came back?”

“Monsters.”

Aeloma answered simply.

“The abandoned area of Debis Port is now called Dead Port. It’s a monster-infested zone. Shipwrecks happen there for no reason, and no ship dares pass through anymore.”

Lucas grew even more interested.

“So how does this relate to you being out of money?”

Noli asked.

“Ah…”

Aeloma grimaced.

“Because I make a living off Dead Port. It’s dangerous, but the resources there are precious—like Black Pearls. Many Black Pearls sold on the market come from Dead Port.”

“So your job is…”

“Oh, just guiding people.”

Aeloma scratched her head.

“Some want to gather Black Pearls but don’t know Dead Port well, so they pay me to guide them. After all, Black Pearl harvesting is a big local industry.”

“Then why has no one been going to Dead Port lately?”

Lucas pressed.

“Why? Because there have been too many problems there recently. At night, you can see two very bright ship lights on the Dead Port’s sea surface, along with some strange noises. Plus, everyone who goes there doesn’t come back. Naturally, no one wants to risk it anymore.”

After speaking, Aeloma stared blankly in Dead Port’s direction.

That place definitely needed investigation.

Maybe the Eight Sins had a hand in all this.

“Aeloma,” Lucas patted her shoulder, “take us to Dead Port.”