CHAPTER 498: CHAPTER 476: PALACE IN THE MOUNTAINS

Removing the rain cape cloak, Horn took the handkerchief and wiped the rain from his face and neck.

Jeanne was still feeling a bit drowsy. Her eyelids were slightly swollen as she stared at the rock cave behind the vines on the mountain wall not far away: "Is it safe?"

"Of course, we dispatched people in advance to search the entire secret passage and the cave," Raphael glanced back at the two demon hunters being held captive, "But this passage is a dead end; there won’t be any attackers."

"Dead end?" Aijia Lang, shackled with iron cuffs and foot chains, raised his head and asked incredulously.

Standing under the temporary rain shelter at the cave entrance, Horn looked around.

The entrance of this passage was previously the location where giant spiders were entrenched. Currently, most of the giant spiders from Daze Village have been driven to the mountains.

To this day, there is still a sentry station next to the dredging project to guard against giant spiders coming down the mountain to attack.

But the spider ranch in Harbin hasn’t made much progress yet; the monthly production of spider silk fabric is merely one or two hundred yards.

This isn’t even considered a luxury item but is specially provided, allocated only to the decision-making level of the Salvation Army and the elders.

The textile industry on Autumn Dusk Island still mainly focuses on linen and wool, barely self-sufficient.

"Your Eminence." Brune, who was temporarily recruited, gave Horn a hat-salute and held a Holy Gun, "We checked again; it is indeed safe."

"Have you found any trace of that Favalari?"

"No," Jilo, beside Brune, responded, "he is very careful and left no trace."

"Alright." Horn took Jeanne’s hand, "Let’s go take a look."

Descending from the edge of the cave along the wooden ladder, Horn turned his head and immediately saw the rows of stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling.

When the torch light shone on the stalactites, it reflected a faint, crystal-clear yellow-green color, which was the natural crystallization of minerals shimmering.

Reaching out to touch the rock wall, Horn seemed to feel a frog’s slimy surface with mucus, wet and sticky.

The flame of the pine resin torch danced on the damp rock wall, casting undulating shadows, as if the cave itself was breathing.

Horn twitched his nose; the air here was surprisingly cold and heavy, carrying a faint smell of rotting wood.

Could it be that these people came out from this stalactite cave? Then how long must this stalactite cave be?

Moreover, how did they prevent giant spider invasions?

Those giant spiders are cavern-dwelling creatures; there’s no reason they wouldn’t use such a well-situated cave.

"Your Eminence, please follow me."

Stepping on the cold hard stones beneath, under the guidance and escort of the Holy Gunman, Horn and his group continued forward, soon coming upon a distinct artificially cut passage.

"Is this it?" A Guard Holy Gunman grabbed the back of Aijia Lang’s neck, raising his head to look at the artificial cave ahead.

"Haven’t you walked it several times? If you ask me again, do you think it will change?" Aijia Lang struggled, gritting his teeth and glaring.

The Holy Gunman, who wanted to impress Your Eminence, became furious, raised his hand ready to slap: "What boasts does a captive make?"

"Enough." Armand, standing by, stopped him, "Don’t be disrespectful before Your Eminence."

"Mr. Aijia Lang, is it?" At this moment, Horn approached the demon hunter and raised the fluorite lamp in his hand, "It would be helpful if you could lead the way."

Raising the fluorite lamp, its daylight-like brightness illuminated the dark long cave. Aijia Lang, the old demon hunter, and several Guard Holy Gunmen holding torches walked at the forefront.

Following them were Cheka and the gendarmes, with seven or eight gendarme guards behind Horn.

Walking beside Horn, Jeanne interlocked fingers with Horn, always ready to "lend Jeanne a hand."

This cave within the cave started extremely narrow, allowing a person to pass by turning sideways. After some distance, the path gradually widened.

Jeanne’s white nose twitched slightly; she seemed to smell a grassy scent.

Judging from the condensation droplets on the sword hilt’s counterweight ball, the temperature was dropping, and the moisture in the air was increasing.

"Your Eminence, this way." The Guard Holy Gunmen at the forefront, hunched and ingratiatingly made a gesture to Horn inviting him forward.

Seeing the blue light ahead, Horn held high the fluorite lamp, leading Jeanne out of the cave within the cave.

Behind them, Vite, Armand, and Raphael followed in single file, taking their positions at the cave entrance.

After standing for about ten seconds, Armand turned around, asking the guiding old demon hunter and Aijia Lang: "Is this what you call a passage?"

The size of the "passage" before them exceeded everyone’s expectations, with a mountain wall dome over ten meters high, and a cavernous space whose boundaries couldn’t be seen.

The exhibited area was so large it could even accommodate Joan of Arc Castle.

The sound of a subterranean dark river echoed, and moss that emitted an eerie blue glow formed a sea.

The crystals on the rock walls reflected phosphorescent moss, torchlight, and fluorite light, casting everything in sight under a layer of light blue gauze.

It felt as if bathed in moonlight; Jeanne looked around, unable to help but think to herself.

Before Raphael could remind Horn, Vite suddenly shouted behind them.

"Why, why is there a palace here?"

Following Vite’s gaze, Horn was surprised too.

Below the towering rock wall, there was a palace, built or even embedded in the rock wall.

The palace style was peculiar, neither Ancient Aier nor the current classical Gothic style.

But the form was similar to some illustrations Horn had seen in ancient texts, though he couldn’t recall which ones.

Nevertheless, why did it feel like it wasn’t built on the rock wall but had been neatly cut in half and adhered to the rock wall?

Or perhaps half of this palace was hidden within the rock wall?

Otherwise, why build such a half structure?

It wasn’t only Horn who felt this way; Jeanne also watched the palace with her head held high, feeling an inexplicable angst despite the inspection.

"......"

In bewilderment, a strange whisper seemed to be heard again.

Just like when Horn was blessed by the Holy Father, the whisper sounded then; she thought it was the Saint Master communicating with her...

No!

Jeanne’s complexion changed; she immediately pulled an elixir from her pocket, drank a sip, closed her eyes and waited. The whispers indeed disappeared.

Opening her eyes and gazing at Horn’s back, Jeanne immediately realized she needed to warn Horn.

"Brother...Brother, what’s wrong, brother?" Pushing Horn’s shoulder, Jeanne saw the same bewilderment on Horn’s face as hers moments ago.

"Nothing, just zoned out." Horn shook his head, clearing the stray thoughts from his mind, "Raphael, are you sure it’s safe here? I want to go up and have a look."

"Not a living soul, Your Eminence, but I fear the possibilities," Raphael worriedly watched Horn’s eagerness, "The Pope Country’s three counties and eleven villages weigh on your shoulders; if those murals couldn’t be copied or pried away, I wouldn’t want you to take the risk."

"What’s curious about those murals?"

"This palace, we confirmed, is ancient. The mural content is the biography of the Saint Master..."

"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!" The cold, damp air triggered several sneezes from Armand, who then wiped his nose with a handkerchief, "What’s intriguing about that? Is it because only half the palace exists there’s something missing?"

Raphael took a deep breath: "It isn’t what’s missing, it’s what’s extra..."