The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 186. Offshoot Tales

Chapter 186: 186. Offshoot Tales

**Chapter 1 : Isadora Nightkiss Escape**

This happened after Isadora pushed Lily. She had betrayed Lily on the Pensore stairs, leaving her tumbling down as Isadora snatched the Orion Cube. Now, she was deep in the labyrinth, running further into its winding corridors.

Captain Silver Eye rushed after Lily, leaving Vice Captain Burgess to chase Isadora through the shifting, dangerous paths of the labyrinth.

Isadora cast a glance over her shoulder. Pirates from Silver Eye’s crew were dropping down from all directions, blocking Burgess and buying her more time. Each one lunged at the vice-captain, their bodies moved by Isadora’s irresistible charm.

"Stop getting in my way!" Burgess growled, annoyed as he shoved yet another charmed pirate aside. "Damn it! How far does her charm extend?"

He clicked his tongue, ordering the crew to stand down. "Forget it! I’ll handle this alone." His frustration mounted, his eyes narrowing as he bolted after Isadora.

A sharp click echoed through the labyrinth as Isadora activated a charm. In an instant, she vanished, leaving nothing but an empty hall in her wake.

"Damn you, Isadora!" Burgess punched the stone wall next to him, his frustration boiling over. He looked around helplessly, but there was no trace of the seductive pirate. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shadowed figure approaching through the labyrinth’s foggy corridors. A man with a cigar in his mouth, exhaling thick, curling smoke.

It was a Federation Lieutenant, and next to him stood a silent Ensign, his eyes cold and focused.

"Finding that Manhunter isn’t easy once you lose sight of her," the Lieutenant said casually, blowing a cloud of smoke that drifted lazily into the air. The smoke coiled into a delicate shape, forming the silhouette of a woman.

Burgess’s eyes widened as the figure coalesced in the smoke. It was unmistakable: Isadora.

With a bitter sneer, Isadora stepped out of her concealment. "Tsk... Federation dogs..." she muttered under her breath, her lips curling into a scowl. Her eyes flicked toward the Ensign, and in an instant, her charm began to work, her gaze smoldering with an alluring intensity.

The Ensign faltered, but the Lieutenant snapped his fingers, and thick smoke immediately clouded the Ensign’s vision, cutting off Isadora’s power.

The Lieutenant took another puff of his cigar, unbothered. "Seems like someone got the Orion Cube. I suppose your wish is to gather the Orion fragments as well?"

"The cube belongs to us," Vice Captain Burgess growled, stepping forward, his eyes sharp and deadly.

"I don’t have the cube," Isadora said, lying without hesitation. "My partner, Temptress, has it." Her voice was smooth, convincing, but the Lieutenant’s face remained impassive.

"Doesn’t matter," the Lieutenant said coolly, exhaling another ring of smoke. "Capturing you is just as high a priority."

Suddenly, his body dissolved into smoke, surging forward in a swift, shadowy rush toward Isadora.

Reacting instantly, she activated another charm. This time, her body shimmered with energy as she sped away, darting through the labyrinth’s maze-like walls.

"Damn it!" Burgess cursed under his breath, watching her disappear again. He hesitated for a moment, unsure whether Isadora truly had the cube or if she was bluffing.

Just then, a voice echoed in his mind through the labyrinth’s communication charm. "That B!tch Manhunter has the cube... Don’t let her get away..."

It was Captain Silver Eye.

Without another word, Burgess’s body began to grow, swelling into his full form—now towering over seven feet tall. His massive strides propelled him forward, faster than ever, as he resumed the chase.

---

Deep within the desert region of the labyrinth, Isadora found temporary refuge. She stood in a barren expanse of golden sand, surrounded by the still figures of sand monsters. They were large and menacing, but under her charm, they stood watch, guarding her with empty, obedient eyes.

For the moment, she was safe.

"Now... just need a plan," she muttered, her hands gripping the Orion Cube tightly.

Suddenly, a low rumble shook the ground beneath her feet. Isadora’s eyes widened. She looked up just in time to see four figures closing in from different directions—Captain Silver Eye, Vice Captain Burgess, the Federation Lieutenant, and the Ensign, all converging on her position at once.

"Damn..."

Before anyone could make a move, the entire labyrinth shook violently. The walls and floor began to glow, and in an instant, everything around them dissolved into light. They were being transported outside, their surroundings shifting from the labyrinth’s treacherous interior to the open sea.

---

The sun blazed down on the ocean, where debris from the destroyed labyrinth floated across the water’s surface. Survivors—citizens, pirates, and Federation soldiers alike—were scattered across the sea and nearby land, disoriented and dazed. Several soldiers from the White Crown Army swooped in, flying in from above to assist the survivors, pulling them from the water and ferrying them to safety on Rosefall’s ex-Capital Island.

The Federation Lieutenant floated on the water’s surface, his legs encased in a cloud of smoke that kept him aloft. Nearby, the Ensign swam calmly, his eyes scanning their new surroundings.

"The labyrinth... it’s closed," the Lieutenant said grimly, his voice carrying across the water.

The Ensign narrowed his eyes. "She slipped away... again."

The Lieutenant nodded. "Tell the Federation to raise the bounty on Isadora Nightkiss."

On other place,

Burgess’s massive form slowly shrunk back to normal as he, too, surveyed the scene. His eyes darted around, searching for Isadora, but there was no sign of her.

"She’s gone..." he muttered, his fists clenching in frustration.

Meanwhile, one of the White Crown Army Soldier who is in daze led Isadora Nightkiss in a boat. He ignored every survivor. Isadora used her charm again.

"All this trouble for you," she whispered, a mischievous grin forming on her lips. "I hope you’re worth it."

With one final glance at the fading figures in the distance, Isadora Nightkiss left the old Rosefall Kingdom.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉ ┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Here’s a proofread version of your side story with some added details to enhance the narrative:

---

**Chapter 2: White Crown City**

Mana, Tyler’s Ghost Spirit, had escaped before the Labyrinth enveloped the island. Hovering above, she gazed down at the colossal walls that now encased both the island and the surrounding sea. The Labyrinth was vast, its intricate design forming an impenetrable barrier that stretched endlessly in all directions.

Determined to find a way in, Mana ascended, soaring to the highest point. But even the top was sealed—no one could enter or leave.

Mana sighed softly. "Be safe..." she whispered, her voice barely audible in the empty sky. With a final glance at the labyrinth, she flew toward the port city.

The White Crown Galleria, a grand structure Tyler once frequented, stood abandoned, its usual hustle and bustle replaced by an eerie stillness. Mana, now responsible for the Galleria, had assumed the role of head. As Tyler’s assistant, she had learned the intricacies of management and commerce, and she was more than capable of handling the responsibilities he left behind. Silvia, still young but eager, joined Mana to help.

They waited for Tyler. One year passed. Then two.

Twelve-year-old Silvia often stood before the labyrinth, her face a mask of worry. The people of the city had begun to treat the Labyrinth as a grave, leaving flowers at its entrance to honor those lost inside. Yet Silvia and Mana never wavered in their belief that Tyler and the others would return.

"They’ll come back," Silvia whispered to herself, the determination in her voice defying her youth. "I know they will."

Silvia had also started her journey as an Immortal Practitioner. She had chosen the Mage Path, dedicating herself to mastering the arcane arts, her determination fueled by the hope that one day, she would aid in Tyler’s return.

During this time, the Rosefall Kingdom underwent significant political changes. With the Royal Family, along with the capital, buried within the Labyrinth, a power vacuum was created. Amidst the chaos, the White Crown Galleria rose to prominence, taking control of the port city. Though young, Silvia was named the White Crown Princess, a title that held weight and responsibility. Behind the scenes, it was Mana who orchestrated much of this, ensuring that the Galleria remained a powerful force despite the kingdom’s instability.

Mana, ever resourceful, recruited and trained an army in preparation for the day the Labyrinth would open again. She formed alliances, strengthened the city’s defenses, and carefully managed the Galleria’s vast resources. Every decision was made with one goal in mind: to be ready when the time came.

Despite the growing number of people who treated the Labyrinth as a tomb, Mana and Silvia remained steadfast, waiting for the moment when everything would change.

Five years after the Labyrinth’s emergence, a rumble shook the island.

As the labyrinth continued to shake, the city below stirred to life. People rushed to the edge of the port, their eyes wide with disbelief and hope. For the first time in years, there was movement from within the labyrinth.

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