Chapter 59 Orichalcum

59 Orichalcum T/his chapter is updated by nov(ê(l)biin.co/m

"Orichalcum? but that's a mythical metal only mentioned by Plato, it was supposedly similar to copper and it was present in..."

"Atlantis, we know because that's where we found the first piece." Nika cut him short.

"But that means..."

"That Atlantis was found, I thought you knew about the Mapple project." Nika interrupted him again but Uriel wasn't even mad. Instead, he was speechless and his mind struggled to keep up with the speed of his thoughts.

If Atlantis had been found already but its discovery wasn't made public, it could only mean that either it wasn't profitable to do so or they screwed up. He had heard Nika mention before that they attempted to break into an underground structure before by nuking it and he remembered her say it was classified information.

"Then it means, the one behind the 'the arrival' of cryptids must be the Mapple corp." Uriel covered his mouth after he finished speaking. It didn't take much time for Uriel to finally connect the dots, it wasn't like they simply didn't mention the existence of Atlantis, it was only obvious they also covered it up 'silencing' people who found out about it.

"Well... yes, but also not." Nika replied.

"What do you even mean by that? It can't be both."

"Alright everyone! We need to head back to the settlement, if I miss my lunch because of your lazyness I'll do some ass kicking!"

"What are you waiting for, you already heard the boss, pack it all up and bring it to camp!" Flanagan commanded, but before they could even lift a finger they were stopped by Nika.

"As per contract, my client is allowed to take first pick on any item he desires, we'll go back as soon as he inspects the treasure. Mister Sage, feel free to claim any artifact you desire."

Uriel became ecstatic and really excited about the treasure thinking that maybe he would be able to store some artifact inside his trait, only to be left disappointed after testing each one. He was also grateful towards Nika who reminded everyone about the clause that allowed him to claim any artifact and then have its price deducted from his payment and he thought that maybe, just maybe, she really had his interests on top of the Mapple corp.

Every time Uriel hovered his hand over the jeweled bracelet Flanagan seemed to get anxious and started sweating cold, showing that he feared the young student might choose the most expensive artifact for himself. But that wasn't the case, instead of the flashy jeweled bracelet he chose to keep the dagger.

"All the incredible treasures in front of you and you pick a knife! and a small one at that!" Nika facepalmed, more than stunned by his poor choice. "You could have picked the bracelet, or at least the big vase. Anything made of orichalcum is bound to be incredibly expensive!"

"Artifacts aren't valuable for the material they're made of, but for their cultural value. This is a sacrificial dagger, its name has been lost to time, and although the Aztecs named them Tecpatl I'd love to be the first one to find out its true Mayan name." As Uriel picked the dagger up, he noticed it was hot to the touch and it gave off a strange feeling. It was nothing like the sensation he had whenever he picked an item he could store in his museum, it was a nostalgic feeling that gripped his heart and clenched his throat for a glimpse of a second.

As soon as the Mapple corp. employees finished packing up the treasure, they left the place with the satisfying sensation of a job well done. Even though they weren't able to enter the underground structure as Nika expected, at least they found what seemed to be the entrance, and that alone was a huge breakthrough, nothing short of the discovery of the decade. Now they only needed to figure out what steps did they need to follow in order for the entrance to be revealed.

All in all, they were in a cheerful mood and took their time enjoying the walk back to camp across the Amazon rainforest.