Chapter 53: Strange Events in the Cave

Originally, we planned to hang out in Majestic City for a few more days, but Anthony's situation was urgent, so Alicia booked us a flight to Everglade City for the next day. We got to the airport and crashed there for the night. The next morning, we hopped on the plane, and once we landed, we rented a car. By 7 PM, we rolled into Galaxy District.

Netherworld Mountain sat southwest of Ravenwood Town in Galaxy District, so that's where we were headed the next day.

After checking into a hotel and ditching our gear, we hit the streets to grab a bite.

The weather in Everglade City was pretty humid, especially on summer nights. After just a bit outside, my skin was already feeling sticky.

Lorenzo quickly found a small restaurant, ordered a few dishes, and leaned back in his chair to chill.

He was still a bit weak, and the two days of travel had worn him out.

"This is my first time in Everglade City," Lorenzo said, looking out the window. "There are heaps of mountains here, and getting around is a hassle. Even in wartime, folks wouldn't bother with this place."

He turned to Anthony and inquired, "So, Anthony, do you reside on that Netherworld Mountain? Just you and the healer?"

"No," Anthony shook his head. "There are about seven or eight people, including elders and kids, living in a cave."

"In such a developed and civilized society, there are still people like that?" Alicia said, sounding shocked.

Anthony thought for a moment and said, "Well, when I first asked around, I was told that a master lived there who could help people solve problems and ward off disasters. But reaching him was a hassle; I had to go through an intermediary, and he'd only assist if he felt like it. I was lucky to find him on a good day. He came to Ravenwood Town, took one look at me, and brought me back to Netherworld Mountain."

The food arrived, and Anthony, already starving, started shoveling it into his mouth as he continued, "So, when I got there, turns out the master lived in a cave with seven or eight others. The setup was like our place here, with a living area, kitchen, dining spot, and bedrooms. But no fancy stuff, just the bare essentials."

Alicia asked, "Sounds like a bunch of wild folks?"

Anthony shook his head, "No, their clothing is modern, and two of them even have cell phones. But those seven or eight people rarely interact with the master. They live in another cave nearby, and the old man didn't let me wander around. So even though I lived there for twelve years, I only knew a few people besides the master."

I couldn't believe it. "Anthony, so you're saying you pretty much holed up in a cave for twelve years, hardly stepping out or chatting with anyone?"

"Yeah," Anthony sighed. "Pretty much. I had a cell phone, but once the credit ran out, I could only use it to check the time. I had to leave it at the cave entrance to charge, and someone would help me out by charging it and bringing it back."

Alicia, munching on her food, asked, "Why do those people live there?"

Anthony shrugged, "I have no idea. For those twelve years, my routine was simple: sleep, wake up, eat the food they delivered, get medicine from the master every ten days, and work out in the cave when I had spare time. I hardly crossed paths with the others, and when I did, they kept mum"

Lorenzo, who had been quietly listening, smacked his lips and said, "Anthony, have you ever heard of a profession that seems like exploring but is actually about targeting ancient royal and noble tombs? They're basically grave robbers!"

"Yeah, people in your circle are into that."

"There are many factions among these people," Lorenzo nodded. "One group is called the Cloaked Relic Hunters. They spend a lot of time and resources finding large tombs and then settle nearby to secretly loot them. I remember about a hundred years ago, a group found an ancient city and spent three generations digging for decades."

"Are you saying the people in the cave are Cloaked Relic Hunters?" Anthony was shocked.

"Maybe," Lorenzo said, wiping his mouth. "It's just a guess. I don't know these people, but it sounds like it."

"By the way," Lorenzo changed the subject, "was there anything unusual when the master died?"

Anthony thought for a moment, "Not really. When I first met him, he was already in his eighties. By the time he passed, he must have hit a century, just from old age. They gave him a water burial after he died. I tidied up his spot, but they weren't bothered."

We all found it pretty mysterious. What was the deal with these people, and why did they live there?

We finished our meal quickly while chatting. I got up to pay the bill and glanced at the small street outside. I saw two people, who looked like kids, standing outside a clinic, talking to someone inside.