Vlad’s greed and ambition surged as he considered the possibilities. Even if they managed to uncover just one Legendary treasure, it would be an extraordinary jackpot. Even if the artifact wasn’t useful to them, they could easily exchange it at the Golden Sky Fortress for something that suited their combat styles.
No matter how he looked at it, this expedition was a golden opportunity.
However, beyond the allure of wealth, there was something far more critical that Vlad needed to clarify.
"What about the danger?" he asked, his voice even.
Agamenon, who had been alight with excitement and greed, immediately sobered. His expression grew serious. "It won’t be small, Brother. Even though thousands of years have passed, the defensive formations in that place were once strong enough to deter Legends. If even a fraction of their original power remains, they could still be more than enough to eliminate Sages like us."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Actually, that’s one of the main reasons I contacted you. According to our intelligence, the defensive formations protecting the stronghold are all runic-based. Given your skills as a Runic Master, you’d be the perfect person to act as our scout."
A meaningful light flashed in Vlad’s eyes. It was clear now—Agamenon wasn’t inviting him out of kindness but because he wanted to leverage Vlad’s Runic Mastery.
Vlad wasn’t offended. This was the way of the world. Even among friends, alliances were formed through mutual benefit, and in an expedition —where unimaginable treasures lay in wait—everyone needed a clear purpose.
He nodded, his voice steady. "My Runic Master abilities have improved significantly. As long as the complexity of these formations doesn’t exceed Rank 4, I should be able to disable them."
Agamenon’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but a broad grin soon spread across his face. "That’s excellent! I had assumed you were still at Rank 3. That was one of my concerns about integrating you into the expedition. But if you’ve already advanced to Rank 4... that changes everything."
Vlad simply nodded, acknowledging the compliment.
Then, he added, "I want my three companions to be included in this expedition as well."
Agamenon’s brows furrowed slightly as he considered the request. He remained silent for a few seconds before giving a slow nod. "That’s fine. They can be part of my team. The entrance to the secret dimension is set to open in about a month and a half. There will be four other teams joining us."
Vlad’s eyes narrowed slightly. The knowledge of this hidden plane wasn’t exclusive to the Solaris Family. That meant there were already multiple factions aware of its existence.
"Who are they?" he asked, his voice neutral but sharp.
Agamenon immediately understood the unspoken intent behind the question—Vlad wasn’t asking for names. He wanted to know whether these other groups were trustworthy allies or potential threats.
Agamenon took a moment to analyze his words before responding.
"Each of the four teams is led by a representative from a powerful Greacian family. One of them is a close friend of mine, someone I can trust. As for the other three... let’s just say I wouldn’t hesitate to fight alongside them on the battlefield, but I wouldn’t trust them to guard my back—especially if a valuable treasure suddenly appears."
Even though Agamenon hadn’t named names, his careful choice of words revealed that he was well-trained in diplomacy—likely due to his noble upbringing.
Vlad immediately understood. "So, one team we can trust. The other three? We can fight with them, but the moment a treasure of real value appears, they’ll likely try to stab us in the back."
Agamenon gave a small nod of agreement.
Vlad exhaled slowly, his mind already calculating the risks. Even without the ancient defenses, this expedition was already shaping up to be a battlefield of its own.
Finally, he nodded at Agamenon. "I’ll be waiting for your summons, Brother. In the meantime, I’ll be honing my abilities."
Agamenon smiled and extended his hand. Vlad clasped it firmly before turning and leaving the residence.
Returning to his own residence, Vlad wasted no time in summoning the Sky Seed Depravitas. Within minutes, the trio appeared in his private chamber.
Vlad’s gaze swept over them, and without hesitation, he shared everything he had learned through Agamenon and the A.I. Chip.
He ensured absolute secrecy, knowing that even whispers of such an opportunity could attract unwanted attention.
As they listened, a fire of ambition burned in their eyes. The promise of wealth and power was irresistible. However, as the reality of the expedition sank in, their expressions turned solemn.
Once inside the secret plane, they wouldn’t only have to worry about ancient defenses—they would also have to keep a close watch on the other teams. Even the one team that Agamenon considered trustworthy could not be entirely relied upon.
After all, when great wealth was at stake, even the most honorable people could succumb to greed.
"We can’t afford to miss this opportunity," Ouroboros murmured, her eyes sharp. "But we also can’t afford to underestimate the dangers."
Vlad nodded. "Our strength allows us to fight most Sages, but we don’t know who else will be there. Some of the other teams might have fighters who’ve comprehended Laws—and if that’s the case, we’ll need to be prepared."
His words sent a chill through the room. They all remembered Urion’s guardian, the Shadow Law user who had effortlessly nullified Vlad’s strongest attacks. A single mistake against a foe like that could lead to certain death.
Fafnir’s jaw tightened. "We need contingencies. If we encounter a Law user, we’ll need more than brute force to survive."
Vlad nodded. "We have a month and a half, which isn’t much. But it’s enough time for me to engrave Rank 4 runic sets into each of you."
The three Sky Seed Depravitas exchanged glances, their expressions hardening with resolve.
They knew the power of Vlad’s runic mastery firsthand and how flawlessly they complemented their battle style. If they honed those Runci Set, their battle strength would rise an entire level.