405 Darlene's Thoughts

Chief Valencia began to think.

If she wanted to understand the Great Ironhawk Tribe's motives for sending their people to her tribe, she needed to find someone who can remove these runes from the mind. Only then can she begin interrogating them.

The other method is not really a solution. It is to continue monitoring the spies' movements and come up with an educated guess based on their area of operation.

Chief Valencia immediately summoned a scout before asking the scout, "What is the situation on the spies? Where are they right now?"

"Some time ago, a few of them tried to assassinate Young Master Leonhardt before fleeing. However, they failed due to the young master's quick reflex, fortunately. As for the other spies, they are mostly concentrated in the tribe's central region."

Chief Valencia's eye glinted with a fierce look and asked, "They tried to assassinate Leonhardt? They didn't try to capture him at all?"

"No, chief."

The scout answered and appeared to be hesitating about something. He was unsure whether he should say it or not as it was only a guess, and he did not want to mislead the chief because of it.

"What is it? Say it." Demanded Chief Valencia after noticing the scout's hesitant look.

"Y-Yes, chief! I feel that the spies going after something from our mines. I don't believe our tribe has anything else of interest apart from the things in our underground mines that would make them come all this way. Not unless they were fooled by some false information by their rivaling tribes that led them here."

After explaining, the scout added, "However, this is just a guess of mine. Chief Valencia does not need to take it seriously."

"No, what you just said; you have a good point. These spies may very well be after something from our underground mines." Chief Valencia took the scout's opinion seriously.

The underground mines only have three main points of interest; the Dark Crystals, the water vein where they collect their water, and the catacombs where the slumbering ancestors dwelled.

Of these three points of interest, the water vein was the least likely to be the Great Ironhawk Tribe's objective. 

The water vein could be found anywhere in the Infertile Plains as long as they dig deep enough into the underground world. Even lost treasures and ruins can be located amidst other things and entities that dwell below the earth.

The water only needed to be filtered before they become drinkable. With the widespread method for filtering water, there was not a single tribe on the plain that did not have access to drinkable water. 

The next unlikely point of interest was the catacombs. Unless the spies were seeking death, no one would enter the catacombs and wake up the slumbering Battle Kings. 

Although the highest quality of Soul Weapons, Enchant Equipment, and Accessories are all found there, it was impossible to steal these treasures from the Battle Kings that guard them.

There are mechanisms set in place to arouse the sleeping giants once someone steps foot inside and intrudes the area.

After the catacombs were the Dark Crystals. This seems to be the most likely point of interest for the Great Ironhawk to target. However, they would not be going after this unless…

When Chief Valencia arrived at this point, she suddenly burst into ridiculing laughter.

"Don't tell me that the Great Ironhawk Tribe have exhausted their Dark Crystal deposits? They are many other tribes on the Infertile Plains, but they decided to come here and eye our tribe's Dark Crystal deposit. Do they think our Darkmoon Tribe is easy to bully?" Chief Valencia sneered.

The closer one was to the southern Land of Darkness, the richer the underground Dark Crystal deposits were. As such, the underground Dark Crystal deposits in Infertile Plain's central region cannot be compared to the southern region.

"Send down my order; kill all these rats from Great Ironhawk Tribe. There is no longer any purpose in keeping them alive." Chief Valencia ordered.

However, she suddenly frowned slightly and corrected her order, "Just in case, capture a few of them and kill the rest."

"Yes, chief! I hear and obey!"

The scout patted his chest excitedly and left to carry out the chief's order. His eyes glimmered with a bloodthirsty sheen.

…

Barrenrock Courtyard.

Some time has passed since Leon left and burrowed himself underground to cultivate in peace. At that moment, Darlene woke up and stretched her limbs comfortably before observing her surroundings. 

She was slightly surprised when she discovered she was in a new room. A warm feeling sprouted in her heart after she quickly understood the reason behind it.

Shortly after, her eyes glanced down upon a leather pouch lying on the bed next to her. Her heart immediately skipped a beat. 

'Is this an Interspatial Pouch? These things are very costly… why is this here?' Darlene thought with puzzlement.

She glanced around the empty room.

Seeing no one, she became a bit suspicious and doubtful of the leather pouch's presence. Should she look or should she not look inside?

'Is this a test?'

She thought with discouragement. 

Although a strong sense of curiosity urged her to open the Interspatial Pouch and take a glimpse inside, she fought back the urge and refused to touch it. 

If Leon knew Darlene's choice, he would not know whether to laugh or cry.

After Darlene finally managed to push her thoughts about the leather pouch to the back of her mind, she began thinking about her spatial ability. 

A rare trace of excitement was shown on her face as there was no one around to see it. Her heart began beating quicker, and she took short breaths. 

She raised her hand and began to play around with her spatial ability by distorting and bending the space in front. However, after a moment, her hands drooped down, and pensive sadness overwhelmed her.

She was good at concealing her true emotions. This was something she picked up from a young age after being abandoned by her family and being told that she was useless.

But at this moment, she no longer bothered to hold back her emotions and let them flow naturally. Bitter tears silently dripped down her cheeks slowly as all the grievance she felt over the years were poured out from her heart.

Darlene wept for some time before her emotions slowly calmed down. Her heart felt lighter and more peaceful… like something heavy pressing her down all this while has been taken off her shoulders.

A serene expression was seen on her face. But after a moment, it was replaced by determination as she slowly clenches her small fists.

'I will practice this spatial ability diligently and become someone strong one day. Then I will tell all those who have wronged me in the past that they were wrong about me! I am not useless! I can also cultivate! And make sure they regret abandoning me!'

Darlene silently swore an oath for herself.

However, her determined look crumpled with awkwardness after a moment of realization. She immediately burrowed her face into the fur pillow, stuffed with dead grass. 

She did not even know how to cultivate yet! 

It is so embarrassing that she was already thinking of proving her worth when she had yet to learn how to cultivate!

Her face was flushed slightly.

Nevertheless, she believes that her hubby will teach her how to improve her spatial ability eventually.

What she could do now was to try and understand her spatial ability. She should explore ways in which she can use this ability effectively.

Her hubby never mentioned it, but she did not plan to reveal her ability to anyone without his explicit approval. Even if it was the chief of the tribe.

For some reason, Darlene's eyes were subtly drawn back to the leather pouch on the bed again before she quickly averted her eyes. Her curiosity was killing her, but she should not peek at things that were not hers.

'Hold on. What am I supposed to do without any clothes? My previous clothes were all torn to pieces by hubby again… and I won't be able to go out like this...'

Darlene suddenly thought. 

Maybe she had misunderstood her hubby's intention? Perhaps he had gone out to buy some clothes for her instead? And it might be in the Interspatial Pouch?

'This might really be the case.'

Darlene became convinced of her conclusion, the more she thought about it. She was definitely not being influenced by the urge to peek inside the leather pouch…

"Just a peek won't hurt… It's not like I'm taking anything…" She muttered softly, giving herself justifications.

After Darlene took a glimpse inside the Interspatial Pouch, her heart fluttered with joy. 

Women's clothes were seen inside! Really lovely garments for women! And it seems to be a perfect fit for her! Her hubby would not wear something like this, so it had to be bought for her!

Suddenly, Darlene felt like she was really blessed. Perhaps, all the hardship she had experienced until now was so she could meet her hubby. 

A heartfelt expression was seen on Darlene's face as she smiled brilliantly and beautifully like the blooming of flowers.

'I wonder where he is right now…' 

Darlene wondered with joy in her heart. She has this urge to find him and throw herself into his arms.