Fortune

“But the others were amateurs. Some of them would just toss a valuable piece into any old box and bury it in the ground. A lot of artifacts were ruined” Spencer, standing nearby, chimed in, “Carlos himself raided a new major tombs in his youth but retired later on. It’s the gangs he trained that went wild, looting dozens of tombs over the years.”

His face grew somber. “According to their confessions, some of these were significant tombs.”

John nodded. “We’ve already contacted an archaeological team to begin rescue excavations on these major combs, hoping they aren’t too badly damaged.”

Spencer continued, “But judging by the way they treated the artifacts, it’s clear they didn’t care about preserving the tombs themselves.”

Madison glanced at John, then at Spencer, blinking thoughtfully.

Finally, it was Tanya who spoke up. “Mr. Zuros, if there’s something you need eel free to tell Maddie she can help, she will”

John didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he looked at Madon

Madison nodded in response

Relieved, John and Spencer exchanged a look and shaled together. “Alright we’ll get straight to the point. There’s indeed something we need your help with, Madison

“It’s like this. “We learned the locations of the tombs from Carlost accomplices, and most of them are now being excavated. But there’s one tomb that we can’t seem to enter

“Can’t enter?” Madison asked, puzdat

Spencer nodded. “That’s right. Bet oddly enough, Carlos and his gang had no trouble entering it. It’s just our archaeological team that has this issue.”

They had encountered many strange things in their line of work, but this was the first time they’d come across a tomb they couldn’t physically enter.

“Green Auroca had to rehim to his monastery, so he sent me to find you,” John said, somewhat embarrassed “Madison, we hate to keep bothering you, but… this in really important”

Madison passed her lips slightly as she pondered

Spencer didn’t push her. Instead, he said, “If it’s too much trouble, don’t worry about it. We don’t want to violate any rules of your world of mystic arts. It’s taboo, we wouldn’t want to impose.”

After all, each field had its own nudes.

Having worked in archaeology for many years, Spencer had encountered people from the world of mystic arts and knew that some factions had strict endles of conduct for their

Imembers.

Some forbade their members from getting involved in tomb raiding or archaeology because, in their view, both activities could hinder cultation.

“Actually, I’m more concerned that it would be a problem for you two?

Madison replied, “If it is out of town, I might need to bring along a couple of ghosts.”

Both Spencer and John were befuddled,

Brought what? Did they hear that right?

felt as if she could almost see something there.

In the cast oving car, Tanya cautiously glanced as the back sea

Madison was seated in the middle of the back seat, with both sides seemingly empty, Yet, despite the empty arts, Tumya felt a

quickly, she tumed back around and booked away

“You didn’t have to come along. Il you’re sound,” Madson said in Tiny

The tomb was located in Nova dry, alittle mert a three–hour drhee from Diverview.

Tanya shuck her head firmly “No way! How could let you go alone? I’d never be able to relaxd!“

Jondant, who was driving, chuckled “Mrs. Locke, you just want to join in on the fun

Tanya retorted, “You’re the one who wants to join in on the fun!

As soon as he found not Malison was going to Nova City, Juntas immediately volunteered to drive

MB, seated by the window on the lett, leaned against curiously watching the passing scenery.

Ewy since her death, she had been trapped in the monastery for dreads. Now, following Madison, she couldn’t stray too far to keep her astral body pare

As Mia’s astral body seemed to drift through the car, almost lingotske, Madison reached out and ectly polled her back. “To can go explore once we get there.”

“Really? Lean?” Mawso excited she embl handly runtam bersell.

Hearing Mia’s delighted voice, Jordan sighed withaly. “When we get thee, I’ll take you out to play.”

Mibrated. “Thank yon, Jondan. You’re the best!”

Tany edged closer to the car door, staring straight ahead. The last thing she wanted to know was who or what–they were talking to

Upon arriving in No City, they were met by someone

parchaeological tram It was Tyler Garner, a student of Charles Tyler first took them to their accommodations.

The archaeological teams was staying in a nearby village close to the dig site. Since diere were quite a few of them, they had rented two smull collages to house everyone.

After Madison selledin, Tyler looked amund and said, “Ms–Leckr, Mr. Corin asked me to check if you need anything special arranged?“”

He already knew from Charles that Madison would be lainging some

Madison shook herhead “No.“That win. The necessary Just take ine to see the tomb.”

“Wright”

Tanya lolowni Madison, while jurkantnck Miaout to explore the ana

was a small

When they arrived at the tomb site, they found Charles and Rob standing is the mud, both wearing boots, utterly battled by a head–high stonestele. Next to the stole was a hole jest big mough for a person crawl through.

“Madison, your re hand!” Charles and Rob scrambled up as soon as they saw her

Tyler reached out thrip this, but they both brushed him of

charles probibed Madeon’s hand and led her to the stele, “Based on the inscriptions and what Carlos‘ gang said, this seem to be a tomb from 2,000 years ago

“This tomb is really strange. We tried in pry these open, but it wouldn’t budge. We didn’t want to damage anything inside and decided to enter through theel the tomb raiders dug to see if there were any traps.

“But as soon as our team members went in, tury’d start having trouble breathing. If they kept going they’d even lose consciousness.

duarles recounted as he thought about the few students who were still recovering.

Madison circled the outside of the tunnel before saying. “There’s themes of mystic arts carved on one corner of the stele, it’s meant to ward off both the living and evil sports

Charles immediately leaned in to examine the stele closely “li reilly is the runes of mystic artı! la that what’s coming the problem?–

Madison stared at the stele. “This stele doesn’t just stop people from going —Lalso keeps whatever’s inside from coming out.“”

Everyone present felt a chill run up their spine, and alleyes tumed to the touch. They desperately didn’t want to know what exactly Madison meant by “whatever’s inside“.

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