Since they had found the guard who was silenced, it was clear that the Lost Research Institute was not far away.
“Did you kill these people?”
“Yes, yes…”
Faced with Rocky’s icy gaze, Eyer quickly lowered his head, not daring to meet his eyes.
“How many people did you kill, do you remember?”
“This…”
Suddenly asked about this, Eyer was stunned; he really didn’t remember how many guards he had killed to keep the secrets of the institute, because all he wanted back then was to keep a tight lid on the secrets, so he killed everyone he couldn’t trust.
“Think hard!”
Seeing Eyer stammering and unable to answer, Rocky shouted at him, making Eyer shiver all over.
“Sir, it should be eight people…”
“Eight people? But there are only five corpses here.”
As Rocky spoke, he looked down at the corpses on the ground. Indeed, as he said, there were only five corpses. If Eyer was not mistaken, that meant three corpses were missing!
When he mentioned this, Eyer also looked down at the corpses on the ground, noticing indeed that there were fewer than when he had left. This realization made his face turn pale as he quickly looked up at Rocky:
“It’s demons! Sir, it must be the demons that ate the corpses!”
“Hmm… that’s possible…”
This time, Rocky didn’t counter Eyer but simply nodded in agreement.
Although he had never seen a demon with his own eyes, remember that the original Rocky was a proper nobleman, educated at a higher level. So, through what was recorded in books, he knew quite a bit about demons.
One thing he remembered the most was that, according to the books, demons ate humans!
This was not just a rumor; it was a fact written into textbooks, so it should be correct. If demons indeed ate humans, then it assured that demons truly existed nearby! They were the ones who had taken the three missing corpses!
“Sir, let’s, let’s leave… It’s too, too dangerous here with demons around…”
Thinking of possibly encountering demons again, Eyer was terrified. Although he had encountered a demon once before, at that time he was accompanied by thirty guards. By sheer force of numbers, they had managed to escape the demon’s attack, yet even then, more than ten had died.
And… Eyer only encountered one demon last time!
Just one demon, and thirty armed and trained guards fled in total disarray!
So, when Eyer realized there were still demons nearby, he was utterly panicked. Now, there were just the two of them, Rocky and himself. Rocky might rely on Void Magic Armor, but he was a cripple and would surely die if they encountered a demon!
But how could Rocky listen to him? He continued forwards without even bothering to respond, leaving a terrified Eyer to hurry after him, not daring to stay alone in that place.
So, the two walked another hundred meters through the forest, then once again found corpses on the ground.
Just like before, numerous guards’ corpses lay haphazardly on the ground, only this time, there were obvious signs of battle; some corpses were even torn apart, creating a very gruesome scene.
“Were you attacked by demons here?”
This time, without needing Eyer’s explanation, Rocky already figured out what had happened.
“Yes, we were attacked here. The entrance to the research institute… it’s behind that huge rock…”
Nodding, Eyer pointed with his hand toward a huge rock in the distance.
Following the direction of his hand, Rocky indeed saw a huge rock nearby, its size like that of a small hill, standing out prominently in the forest.
At last, they had found it!
Seeing the huge rock, a surge of excitement filled Rocky’s heart, and he grabbed Eyer and leaped into the air, flying directly towards it.
Moments later, he landed steadily in front of the huge rock and truly saw a large door on the rock wall!
It looked like Eyer hadn’t lied to him after all! There really was a Lost Research Institute here!
Setting Eyer aside, Rocky quickly walked up to the stone gate and noticed a pattern imprinted on the thick door.
“This is…”
After brushing all the dust off the stone gate, the pattern revealed its true form, looking like a crest…
“This seems like… seems like a national emblem… I must have seen it somewhere…”
At a moment like this, his past memories served him well. The old Rocky might have been timid, but he loved to read, and had read a variety of books, so the pattern on the stone gate seemed familiar, as if he had seen it in one of those books before.
“I remember now! This is the emblem of Kohen Country!”
After careful thought, he recalled seeing this pattern in a book about the history of the Land Era. This was the national emblem of Kohen Country!
Kohen Country was a massive nation during the Land Era, with extensive territories and strong military and economic prowess, rightfully considered a global powerhouse at the time.
This powerhouse nation, a stalwart during war periods, had established numerous research institutes to develop new weapons and equipment; it seems like the institute before them was indeed one established by Kohen Country then.
“Wait here for me,”
After confirming that this was a research institute left by Kohen Country, Rocky turned to look at Eyer, clearly planning to enter the research institute alone.
“Don’t, don’t leave me here! My lord! Please!”
However, upon hearing this, Eyer panicked immediately, as he dared not stay in this place alone!
But Rocky completely ignored his plea and directly pushed the stone gate with his hands.
“Hm?”
As Rocky pushed the stone gate with his hand, it felt as though he was pushing a mountain, and the stone gate did not budge at all.
He then placed both hands on the stone gate and exerted force fiercely, but still, the gate did not open.
“What’s going on…”
This result made him frown. With the augmentation of Void Magic Armor, he had reached the level of a Fourth Level Warrior, far surpassing ordinary people. How could he possibly not push open this stone gate?
“There must be a mechanism!”
A moment later, he realized, the reason the stone gate could not be opened by brute force was definitely that there was a mechanism.
Thinking this, he began to search around.
But after feeling up and down the stone gate, even walking around the massive stone twice, he found absolutely no mechanism.
“What should I do now…”
“Hehe, keep thinking…”
Seeing Rocky blocked, Eyer could not help but sneer inwardly.
He too had tried to open the stone gate when he discovered this place, but all methods had been useless, so he knew Rocky would definitely also fail.
The inability to open it was for the best, so Eyer did not have to stay here alone, he thought gleefully.
“Right! I should use magic power!”
But just as Eyer was reveling in misfortune, Rocky suddenly slapped his forehead, having finally thought of something.
He then placed his hand on the national emblem of Kohen Country and started channeling the magic power within his body towards the stone gate.
Subsequently, a thunderous boom was heard, and the stone gate in front of him began to vibrate violently, then slowly opened!
It worked!
Watching the stone gate slowly opening, Rocky breathed a sigh of relief, turned back to look at the bewildered Eyer, smiled slightly, and walked through the stone gate.
“My Lord! Wait for me, take me with you!”
Seeing that Rocky truly opened the stone gate and was actually leaving him behind alone, Eyer hurriedly rushed over.
Unfortunately, being lame, he was not quick on his feet, and before he had taken two steps, the stone gate slowly closed…
Ignoring the cries and screams of Eyer left outside, Rocky discovered upon entering the stone gate a tunnel that led underground, indicating that the research institute was built underground.
This was a clever decision, for with the strength of the Demons, if the institute had been built on the land’s surface, it would undoubtedly be easily destroyed; building it underground was different.
“I hope this time I really find something…”
Taking a deep breath, Rocky, with a trace of anticipation, started walking towards the depths of the tunnel.
However, he had barely taken a few steps when lights appeared before him, and the magic lamps on the tunnel walls lit up all at once!
“There’s… there’s still mana here?!”
Looking at the magic lamps lighting up the tunnel, Rocky was somewhat surprised. This research institute had existed for nearly a hundred years; how could there still be a mana reserve?
Truly miraculous.
No wonder the lords of the major Sky Cities were willing to pay a large sum for the coordinates of the Lost Research Institute. This place was indeed extraordinary.
Being immediately stunned upon arrival at the institute undoubtedly bolstered Rocky’s confidence, so he immediately continued walking towards the deeper parts of the tunnel.
Yet, just like earlier, as soon as he attempted to move, the situation occurred once again!
This time, a voice came from the depths of the tunnel!
“Someone has finally found this place…”
“Who!”
Hearing someone speaking, and moreover speaking to him, not only was Rocky shocked, but he was also frightened!
“Come… come quickly… I do not know who you are, but I have been waiting here too long, so hurry.”
The voice coming from the depths of the tunnel paid no heed to Rocky, continuing to speak, seemingly eager for him to come quickly…!