The Secretly Rich Man

Chapter 1761

It wasn’t long after before the place went silent again…

Since no more arrows were being shot out, it was only fair to assume that the terrifying mechanism had finally ended…

Breathing a sigh of relief, Lech then fearfully said, “To think that such a death trap would be here of all places, Mr. Crawford…!”

Nobody could have foreseen this… However, that didn’t change the fact that this had been caused by one of Lechs’ men. The culprit himself had been pierced by dozens of arrows and was currently lying in his slowly encroaching pool of blood… What a terrible way to die…

Still, this was what happened when people randomly touched things in here. With that in mind, Lech then glared at his men before yelling, “Listen up! The rest of you aren’t allowed to move until I say so!”

Hearing that, all of Lech’s men simply nodded and remained standing where they currently were… Not that any of them were daring enough to touch anything anymore. After all, who knows what they could trigger next? The next trap they triggered could very well be the end of them!

Seeing that his men weren’t objecting, Lech then turned to face Gerald again before asking, “What do you think we should do, Gerald? The exit’s been sealed shut!”

As Lech had said, there was now a gigantic stone blocking the exit, which meant that there was no way they were going to be able to leave the way they came in from. With that in mind, they could only look for another exit…

“…Cave-like structures definitely have more than one exit, though the problem lies in how difficult it is to find them!” replied Gerald.

Hearing that, Lech then ordered, “Alright, listen up, men! There has to be a way to leave this place, so let’s start looking for an exit!”

With that, everyone from Lech’s team began scanning high and low for a way to leave the underground palace…

Gerald and his party, on the other hand, stood before the wheel, studying it to see if it had any way of getting them out of there…

Sometime later, Ray declared, “…Mr. Crawford! There appears to be a mechanism of sorts down here that can be turned!”

Upon hearing that, Gerald squatted down and saw that Ray was right. There was indeed a round mechanism that looked like it could be turned…

Old Flint himself then said, “If my guess is correct, turning that round mechanism should activate this wheel!”

Momentarily turning to face Old Flint, Gerald then nodded. He believed in the old man’s wisdom, so he quickly began turning the mechanism without any hesitation…

Soon enough, a loud ‘clank’ could be heard.

After realizing that the wheel itself was starting to turn, Gerald and the others quickly took a few steps back, fully vigilant since nobody knew what was going to happen next.

The wheel itself only stopped turning after it slowly spun by a hundred and eighty degrees… And the second the turning ended, an explosive sound was heard!

Turning to face the source of the sound, everyone watched as an opening slowly revealed itself on the wall where the wheel ended up facing once it stopped moving. By the time the stone slab was fully lifted, everyone could only stare wide-eyed at the new entrance before them.

Quickly shaking the shock off, Gerald then said, “Let’s go!”

With that, he and his party instantly entered the new opening. Naturally, Lech and his men quickly followed after as well.

While they had anticipated this to be their ticket out of here, it was anything but… As it turned out, it was the entrance of yet another underground palace!

There were towering stone pillars on either side of the newly uncovered underground palace, and beside each pillar was a platform. The middle of each platform gave off a faint light, illuminating just enough for all of them to see where they were going…

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“Hot d*mn! To think that there was another palace down here! In fact, this one looks much larger than the previous one!” exclaimed Ray.

“Please be careful, everyone! And don’t do anything stupid!” warned Gerald, hoping that everyone had learned their lesson about randomly touching things.

“Copy that! Still, what are those things, Mr. Crawford…? They look so luxurious!” asked Ray as he walked toward one of the platforms to get a closer look.

“Those are Treasure Glaze Platforms. They’re specially used to light up candlesticks used for sacrificial rituals. The fires in them can last forever!” explained Old Flint when he saw that Gerald was making no effort to reply.

Upon hearing that, Ray was rightfully shocked. To think that such magical items existed…

His awe was cut short, however, when everyone suddenly heard one of Lech’s men scream in agony!

By the time they turned to look at him, his entire body was already burning! With scorched skin and eerily hollowed-out eyes, it wasn’t long before all that remained of the man was a pool of blood on the ground!

With how gruesomely he had died, everyone was understandably terrified.

Though they made sure to distance themselves from that pool of blood, the same thing soon happened to yet another of Lech’s team members! Before the second member died, however, Gerald and the others were able to notice several black, spider-like creepy-crawlies crawling all over the poor man’s body.

Before they could even register what was going on, everyone froze when millions of tiny ‘squeaks’ could suddenly be heard all around them!

Immediately looking around to investigate, Gerald realized that countless of the spider-like creatures had appeared and were currently all over the surrounding pillars and on the ground!

“Run! Hurry!” yelled Gerald as he immediately dragged his party toward the innermost part of the underground palace.

Of course, Lech and his remaining men followed closely behind, though soon enough, both parties found that it was useless. They were completely surrounded by endless spiders! There was simply nowhere to retreat!

“W-what should we do, Mr. Crawford?!” asked the anxious Ray in a fearful voice.

A single spider was scary enough, but now that there were millions? It was beyond terrifying, to say the least.

Frowning deeply, Gerald then yelled, “Try using fire!”

Hearing that, everyone quickly gathered whatever they saw that could be burned before lighting them up and tossing them to the ground.

To their horror, many of the spiders persevered, and the fire was nothing more than a temporary obstruction for them!

With that in mind, it wasn’t long before more of Lech’s team members got into contact with the spiders and turned into pools of blood as well…

Seeing that, Gerald and the remaining survivors were terrified out of their minds… None of them wanted to die so terribly…

Calming himself, Gerald racked his mind for a solution, until suddenly, an idea came to him.

Looking at Juno, Gerald then quickly asked, “Juno! Do you have anything that repels insects with you?”

Upon hearing that, she nodded before replying, “I-I do have a can of insecticide with me! I don’t know how useful it’ll be, though!”

“Just give it to me! Hurry!” instructed Gerald as Juno quickly fished out her insecticide from her bag.

Thankfully, Juno had brought along that can of insecticide to deter insects from biting them while they were in the forest. To think that it would actually be a life saver…

Regardless, the second the insecticide was in Gerald’s hand, he immediately sprayed it on the surrounding spiders… and it seemed to work!

The second they came into contact with the insecticide, the spiders rapidly began retreating! They were saved!

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“…Thank god you brought along this young woman, Gerald…! Otherwise, we would’ve all met our maker today…!” muttered the still fearful Lech, as he expressed his gratitude toward both Juno and Gerald.

Had Juno not brought along that can of insecticide, they’d surely have died today…

Following that, Gerald then broke the can open before rubbing some of the liquid inside on his clothes.

“Rub some of it on your bodies! With any luck, it’ll continue warding off the spiders!” instructed Gerald.

Hearing that, everyone then quickly began doing just that, making sure to rub as much of the insecticide as possible onto their clothes and shoes. Hopefully, this would keep the spiders away…

Now that the crisis was over, Old Flint then said, “…I’m guessing the vampires raised those spiders. If my analysis is correct, any blood that the spiders suck can later be retrieved by the vampires for their own consumption…”

“How abominable! To think that they would actually raise such horrible creatures!” scowled Gerald.

Then again, it made sense. Only the vampires could think of such a vile tactic…

Regardless, Gerald and the others then resumed inspecting the area soon after…

toward them—from the deeper parts of the underground palace—as

enough, they were greeted

the door

remaining men as they instantly began pushing the

no matter how much they pushed, the stone door never moved an

then said, “Since it can’t be opened by force, I’m sure there’s

the area in search of mechanisms that would trigger

found a spot on the walls that could be pushed. Pushing it down hard, the stone began moving backward… and soon enough, a loud sound could be

stone door began quivering, and soon enough, it began

truly are amazing, Mr. Crawford!”

momentarily gape in awe. Past the door, was a large, glazed house, alongside two stone bridges. Adding that to the fact that the floor was paved

the stone bridges. However, upon peering below, what awaited them wasn’t a river nor a pool… Instead, it appeared

bridge and soon found themselves standing right before the glaze

the center most part of the vampires’ territory!” declared Old Flint as

that all of them had finally reached the deepest part of the vampires’ territory… The entire journey truly had been difficult, and many large

Chapter 1764

the others noticed a problem, that being the fact that

that, Lech immediately ordered, “Men, unlock

took a few tools

after, a clatter could be heard, signifying that the unlocking process was a

sure to follow behind him. Upon entering, however, they quickly realized that the insides were mostly barren aside from a large disc in the middle of the house that was

what could that be…” muttered the slightly

at the disc, I’m guessing that only

in a dissatisfied tone,

nothing of

territory! I’m sure

hearing that, the disappointed Lech could only choose to believe the old man’s

to start searching the place for valuables. Gerald and his party, on the other hand, remained in the glaze house, hoping to uncover any information from the

and his teammates discovered a secret room at the side of the

widened. This place was filled with riches and treasures of all kinds! Upon closer inspection, there was even a giant pellet-making furnace in the middle

to notice

captain! Are we taking them away as well?” asked one

is that? Of course, we’re taking them! They’re

that, his men then immediately began taking action, carrying everything valuable—that they could—out of the room. Naturally,

that point, Gerald and the others had already left the house. When they saw Lech and his

and his party had other objectives. With that in mind, there was

stop Ray from whispering, “Those people

heed. Let’s just focus on taking care of ourselves!” replied

Flint himself then added in a serious tone, “They’ll be punished sooner or later. After all, those treasures are cursed! Whoever takes them will surely not have a good end. With that

is right. No matter how precious the items you encounter are, never take them!

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sure to repeat Old Flint’s message just to emphasize how dangerous it was to even touch the treasures in this place. While human greed was near

and his men had compiled enough riches to fill at least two large cars… Seeing how much treasure there was, it was no wonder why Lech and his men had been

are the treasures we got from that secret room, Gerald! Since both parties have contributed a lot to get this far, I’m willing to

didn’t come here for the vampires’ treasures. With

momentarily stunned. To think that Gerald

for treasure, then what did they come here

Since you’re being so kind, I’ll gladly just take all the treasure

that, Lech and his men

of Lech’s couldn’t help but ask in an astonished tone, “Were… they uninterested in the treasure,

only sneered in response, his

would have rejected my offer… Either they really do have another objective… Or there’s something even more valuable down

very least, he had more or less accurately guessed that Gerald and his party had no interest in the treasure since they were after some other important thing that was useless

would’ve never anticipated that Lech

Lech’s men began screaming, “S-spiders!

man who had shouted—who was currently attempting to flee backward—Lech stared wide-eyed as several humongous spiders began leaping out from the abyss under the stone bridge! Without even giving Lech and his men a fighting chance, the large

his men quickly realized that hundreds

instantly wanted to help them. However, they were promptly stopped by Old Flint who declared, “Stop! Not a

can’t we help them?” asked

The spiders aren’t coming for us at all! They’re only rushing for that group, which proves that the curse of the treasures is starting to take effect!” explained

hearing that, Gerald finally understood

Chapter 1766

spiders will only attack those who touch the treasures?” asked

party were instantly shocked. To

members were being swallowed alive by

Gerald—who was still standing by the door—the pitiful Lech who was getting

the other agonized members of Lech’s team

that Gerald could do. All of them had taken the cursed treasures due to their immense greed. In other words, they had brought all this upon themselves. With that in mind, Gerald could only watch helplessly

torn clean in half before being tossed right into the

up by the

for Lech and his group to

men had been dealt with, the

at them, in the end, the spiders never made a move on them. Instead, they simply returned into the abyss under the stone bridge along

for Gerald and his group. To think that the spiders would actually leave them be!

danger had passed. After a while, the still jittery Ray then turned to face Gerald and Old Flint

heading over to where Lech’s teammates had died… Even from afar, all the treasure they had been carrying could be seen lying in piles

Gerald’s nose couldn’t help but twitch, prompting him to ask,

Gerald was, Old Flint then explained, “…This is sandalwood incense. The vampires

replied, “So what you’re saying is that the smell—that had originated from the treasure—ended up transferring onto Lech and his men after they touched them? And that the spiders only attack

merely an overstatement. In the end, it was an explainable phenomenon that simply

they not been greedy enough to touch the treasure, the spiders

saying went, you reap

further about it anymore. Some things and people were simply destined to be ruined. While he wanted to say that Lech was simply unlucky, it was honestly not that much of

Chapter 1767

others

they were suddenly greeted by

feeling vigilant, Ray couldn’t help but look at Gerald as he asked, “…Do you hear

then replied,

until eventually, Gerald realized that it was coming from the very center of

is coming from over there!” said Gerald as he pointed at the

ears onto it… True enough, now that their ears were directly on the platform, the constant knocking became even

you think someone could be trapped

knocking, that may just be the case!” replied Gerald, feeling that only a living thing would be capable of

Gerald then instructed, “…Investigate the platform, Ray!

that, Ray instantly did as he was told. After a while, he noticed

the round platform, Ray then said, “Gerald, I think I’ve found

over to have a look, Gerald could see that a chain was attached to

of you, stand back! I’m pulling the ring! The second you feel that something’s wrong, I want you to leave this place immediately!” ordered Gerald as he looked at

distance away from him, Gerald then began

pull ring—the others held their breaths as they kept their eyes glued on the round

the clanking of chains soon

while, Gerald couldn’t be bothered tugging slowly anymore and simply yanked the chain—that was several

tugged any further, the round platform slowly split in two,

an inch, simply remaining vigilant as they waited to see

was—on the other hand, simply tossed the chain onto the ground before walking toward

the hole, Gerald couldn’t

Chapter 1768

appeared to

Brother Gerald?” asked

quietly signaled for them to come over to have a

members of Gerald’s party

“…Do you have any idea what that is,