Mage Legend
Chapter 147: Episode 51 Temple (Part 4)

Along the way, everyone was exceedingly cautious, fearing that traps or monsters might appear from the walls again; the massacre outside had left a profound impression on everyone’s minds. Fortunately, such threats did not reappear, and they smoothly entered the temple’s living quarters.

From the central passage, many small paths radiated outwards, leading to various rooms. Matron Batana commanded her subordinates to disperse and search each room, to ensure nothing was missed. Watching the actions of the Dark Elves, Lynch began to doubt whether the matron’s purpose was really to "destroy" this place; to the Mage, this mission felt more like a search, a quest for something.

The rooms of the living quarters were all identical, their simple furnishings long decayed under the ravages of time. Only the remnants on the floors and the mottled walls hinted at the past setups of these rooms, silently recording the rise and fall of the entire temple.

Upon receiving reports from her subordinates, Matron Batana showed no particular reaction, as if she already knew the item she sought was not here. She ordered a portion of the mercenaries to stay and prevent anything from leaving while she led the elite troops—the core fighting strength of her family—forward.

Lynch, unable to suppress his curiosity, naturally continued following among the Dark Elf ranks, eager to uncover whatever secrets the temple might hide.

After passing through the living quarters, the passage finally culminated in a massive circular hall. In an instant, Lynch felt as if he had returned to the golden halls of the Dwarf City; the majesty was much the same. Though not a ray of light shone down, to Lynch, it was as clear as if it were daylight, everything visible in sharp detail. The most striking sight in the hall was the colossal statue across the passage—a statue of a one-armed, one-legged, one-eyed, one-eared humanoid. Its severed leg was supported by a large metal column. Upon closer inspection, Lynch noted it was likely made of the same refined gold as his own arm, of incalculable value; its severed left arm, however, was void of anything; an eye socket, empty save for a transparent diamond. Yet, without insight vision, it would be impossible to directly spot the diamond.

The gigantic statue, from base to top, stood a full twenty meters tall, with its surviving hand reaching upward to support the hall’s dome. At the dome’s peak, a large fresco, its colors aged and faded, depicted a scene Lynch could just faintly discern—a person ascending towards endless light, countless people below calling out in reverence and great excitement. Lynch noted particularly that the person soaring towards the light had a prosthetic fitted on their left hand, which strikingly resembled his refined gold arm.

As Lynch focused on the fresco, a woman’s voice sounded ahead. She knelt before Matron Batana, speaking in an incredibly respectful and humble tone, "Honored Matron, according to the agreement you’ve made with us, these treasures should belong to the mercenary group."

Treasures? What treasures? Lynch scanned the surroundings, finding nothing that could be deemed treasures. Had these people fallen under an illusion? He deactivated his Eye of Insight, and indeed, six large chests appeared out of thin air in the hall’s center, filled with various treasures; Gold Coins and gemstones seemed to glow in the dark, elegant necklaces and crowns lay carelessly on the ground like worthless trash, while a few sharp swords, still appearing incredibly deadly, quietly rested in the corners of the chests.

Indeed, very enticing things, but they were merely illusions. Lynch regarded the human woman kneeling before the Matron, feeling both admiration and pity. Being a mercenary organization in the underworld, particularly in a place like Dark Elf City, having a female leader could foster better relations with the Dark Elves. Yet, even so, a mercenary leader dared not lightly demand any rewards from the Matron. Negotiations were something that only occurred among the Dark Elves, who always held a lofty position over other races. That this woman dared to ask the Matron for the treasures as spoils was truly brave.