Emperor's Reckoning

Chapter 1250: What Joke?

Azleid watched them go, a mix of frustration and admiration flickering in his eyes.

One of the group leaders, eager and unable to contain himself, asked Azleid, "Young Master, it seems like we have passed the incredible maze!"

"The treasure is ours... er... I mean yours, of course!" another leader chimed in, his voice dripping with sycophancy.

Azleid furrowed his brows, turning around and crossing his arms. His mind was elsewhere, haunted by the image of Lyon’s burning, incredible prowess that had decimated the foul beings with ease. Amidst the chaos, Lyon had emerged as a force of nature, a bigger version of the chaos itself. He was unstoppable, dispatching enemies without wasting a single breath.

Azleid paid no heed to the discussions around him. His thoughts were consumed by Lyon’s overwhelming strength, replaying the scene over and over in his mind. He barely registered the group leaders as they began to argue, their voices rising in a cacophony of blame, cursing, and insults over the share of the treasure they had yet to see.

The leaders’ voices grew louder, accusations flying as each tried to assert their claim. "You were supposed to lead us to the treasure!" one shouted.

"You think I didn’t? You’re the one who got us lost!" another retorted.

"Enough!" a third leader bellowed. "We wouldn’t be in this mess if you all hadn’t insisted on following him!"

Azleid remained silent, his gaze distant. The petty squabbling of the leaders seemed trivial in the face of the power he had witnessed. He was no longer interested in the treasure that had driven them here. All he could think about was Lyon and the unstoppable force he represented.

As the leaders continued their bickering, Azleid turned his back on them, walking away. The image of Lyon, bathed in the light of his own power, lingered in his mind. He knew that Lyon was someone who could not be ignored, someone whose strength and determination were unmatched.

Azleid made his way to the deeper part of the ruin. Surprisingly, the deeper he ventured, the more beautiful the surroundings became. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering gemstones, and even the dust seemed to avoid accumulating in this hallowed place. The air was fresher, carrying a faint scent of ancient incense, and the ambiance was serene, almost sacred. It was a stark contrast to the foreboding exterior, an unexpected oasis of elegance and tranquility.

Meanwhile, Lyon and the others were making their way back toward their lavish carriage, their spirits high after the day’s adventures.

"Ah, welcome back, Your Majesty!" Yoji greeted with a broad, cheerful smile. His eyes twinkled with anticipation. "With that grin, I know this one was fruitful!"

"Hahaha, indeed!!" Lyon pointed at himself with a playful smirk, "I still got this adventure thingy after a lifetime!"

"It’s actually not fair if you think about it," Cecile said with a giggle, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You have not just an abundance of experience but a literal lifetime! Compared to you, they are just kids with a map playing treasure hunter."

"That’s for sure," Maria chimed in, her laughter a melodious addition to Cecile’s.

"By the way, why were you running in the maze like that?" asked Rui, the Moon Hare, his long ears twitching with curiosity.

Ma, the Undying Horse, materialized as a small, ethereal pony the size of a palm. His translucent form shimmered in the sunlight. "It’s because of a rumor," he said with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"A rumor?" Lyon raised his brows, momentarily distracted from the others prepping for their next journey.

"Yes," said Ma, his tone becoming melancholic. "As we roamed the era in search of you, we separated each to our own ways. I got pretty lonely running along the shore, the mountains, the clouds. Then, when I heard there was a great treasure recently, I immediately thought of one of you!"

Lyon’s pupils shrank, and even the other mythical beasts were visibly taken aback.

"You mean, the pig?!" asked Rui, his eyes wide with surprise. It was a rare moment to see Rui so astonished.

"Who else loves treasures that much?" Ma laughed, his tiny form shaking with mirth. "So I thought that I would check it out, and the rest you know."

"It’s incredible that you didn’t meet any false entity," said Rui with a sigh, his long ears drooping slightly in disbelief.

"The pig, did you meet him? Uncle Ma?" asked Lyon, his eyes hopeful but wary.

Ma shook his head, his ethereal form shimmering faintly. "Sadly, no."

"I see," Lyon said with a dismissive wave of his hand, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "But he really has high taste; no random treasure could catch the glint of his eye."

Meanwhile, Azleid covered his eyes from a sudden flash of light. As his vision adjusted, he was taken aback by the sight before him. The chamber was filled with heaps of silver and gold, a veritable sea of glittering wealth. But what drew his attention was a single chest, set atop a grand staircase. Unlike the others, this chest was open.

"Of course you would take the most precious one," Azleid muttered, his voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and awe as he ascended the stairs. He approached the chest, finding it predictably empty. His brows furrowed in confusion as he noticed something inside. "Is that..." He reached in and pulled out a piece of paper. "A drawing of a pig’s nose?"

He stared at the crude drawing, a mix of irritation and bewilderment on his face. "What kind of joke is this?" he thought aloud.

Back with Lyon and his group, the conversation continued, filled with laughter and stories of their shared past. The sun’s rays continued to bless them, casting a warm glow over the scene, highlighting the bond between them. The adventure was far from over, and each step they took was a step toward new discoveries and deeper connections.