Vlad’s eyes narrowed as he stood before the mural, an ominous aura practically radiating from the paint and stone. The inscription carved into the base of the artwork revealed only three words—"Jurassic Civil War."
Although there was no grand legend or lengthy explanation, those three words alone hinted at a tumultuous Chapter in the Dino People’s history. That civil war involved the entire world, not just a single kingdom.
His gaze shifted to the podium beneath the mural, where a small handbook rested. Its worn cover bore no title, and at first glance, it appeared unremarkable. Yet, from experience, Vlad had learned that even humble objects in a place could prove immensely valuable.
Wasting no time, he began disassembling the runic formation safeguarding the podium. He worked methodically, step by step, just as he had done with the other displays in the hall. After a few minutes of intense focus, the formation flickered and shut down, granting Vlad free access to the small book.
Opening it carefully, he skimmed the first page. A rueful smile flickered across his face.
"Diary of Marshal Aluran."
"Not a grimoire or a cultivation technique," Vlad muttered, "just the diary of some general who led armies against the corrupted Dino People. Fascinating, yes—but not what I came here for."
Nonetheless, he dropped the old diary into his space ring, refusing to discard it outright. Sometimes, diaries or historical records contained hints of treasure locations or descriptions of powerful relics, and Vlad wasn’t about to risk overlooking anything that might benefit him later.
With that taken care of, he departed the mural hall, returning to the long corridor beyond. Over the next several minutes, he methodically explored adjacent rooms and passages, discovering materials that could be sold for a decent sum—though none matched the value of what he had acquired in the mural chamber.
Eventually, after half an hour of careful scouting, Vlad arrived before a corridor that appeared to lead to the mayor’s office. Before he could continue, a familiar presence joined him: the small yellow cat appeared at his side, wearing a broad grin.
"How did it go on your end?" Vlad asked, nodding toward the corridor from which Jormungandr had emerged.
The cat’s grin widened. "I found some decent materials and a few trinkets used as decorations. But my biggest prize turned out to be... bones!"
Vlad raised an eyebrow. "Bones?"
"Apparently, the Jurassic culture believed in displaying the skeletal remains of their heroes as a sign of respect and gratitude," Jormungandr explained. "And you know how many interesting things we can do with the remains of powerful warriors. I suspect these might belong to some formidable champions."
A spark of amusement danced in Vlad’s eyes, and he smirked. "It seems that dogs are not the only ones good at digging up bones, eh?"
Jormungandr’s ears twitched in mild annoyance at the playful remark. Without warning, he leaped onto Vlad’s shoulder and delivered a kick with his little paw. Even though Jormungandr was more than capable of wielding devastating spells, his physical strikes felt like a gentle tap against Vlad’s formidable physique.
They shared a moment of lighthearted banter, but the humor soon faded. Both turned their attention back to the double doors ahead—likely the entrance to the mayor’s office. If any part of this mansion remained heavily guarded, it would be here. Even though no living Dino People roamed the halls, automated defense formations could flare up and reveal immense power if they detected intruders.
Stepping up to the door, Vlad and Jormungandr directed their A.I. Chips to scan the surface and any concealed wards. When they found no immediate threats, Vlad employed his Runic Mastery to check for hidden triggers. The results, again, came up empty.
They exchanged a cautious nod, gripped the door handles, and pushed them open. Inside, they were greeted by a massive room of lavish proportions—an ostentatious display of wealth that bordered on absurdity.
Tall portraits and exquisite art adorned the walls. A massive, golden desk took center stage, constructed from what appeared to be pure Sage Tier metals. Flanking the desk were impressive statues forged from unknown ores, each shaped like an imposing dinosaur warrior. They loomed in the corners like silent sentinels.
Yet, the pièce de résistance was a white throne set behind the desk, crafted from a material that surpassed even Sage Tier. Its pale surface glowed with a faint, ethereal luminescence.
Vlad and Jormungandr shared a glance, a silent message passing between them.
"Someone was trying a bit too hard to compensate," Vlad commented drily.
"In normal circumstances, a grand throne is standard for a powerful official," Jormungandr mused, "but this is downright overkill. I’d bet it was meant to intimidate visitors and hide the mayor’s personal insecurities."
However foolish the display might have been, for the two Sky Seed Depravitas, it was pure gold—literally and figuratively. The excessive show of wealth filled their hearts with delight at the thought of acquiring all of it.
They carefully checked the desk, the statues, and various corners of the room for runes or magical traps. Once satisfied that no lethal mechanisms stood in their way, Vlad lifted the entire golden desk, placing it into his space ring. Moments later, the statues joined it, clanging softly as they were whisked into dimensional storage.
Content with their haul of valuable metals and ores, the pair started to make their way toward the exit, extremely happy to see that their worries about traps were unfounded—only to pause in tandem as their A.I. Chips alerted them to something behind one of the large paintings on the wall.
Vlad and Jormungandr exchanged an intrigued look. "The mayor left all this extravagant stuff out in the open yet bothered to hide something behind a painting?" Vlad mused aloud. "It must be worthwhile."
The little cat nodded. "Precisely. If the massive desk and statues were left unguarded, then whatever is hidden back there could be something truly special... or dangerous."
In short order, they shifted the painting to one side, revealing a smooth patch of wall. Following the subtle guidance of their A.I. Chips, they pressed certain sections of the stone in a specific sequence. A panel slid open, revealing a secret compartment hidden within the office.