124 The Reward
"So, where is the treasure you guys are seeking?" Vincent asked. "It's under the town hall. But since this building is under new management, I believe that you already found it?" Rourke answered.
Vincent shook his head. "I think during the reconstruction of the town hall, we haven't uncovered anything like what you're describing. But now that you mention it, I'm intrigued. What exactly are we talking about?"
Rourke hesitated for a moment, weighing his words carefully. He knew that revealing too much could backfire, but at this point, they had little to lose. "It's not just any treasure. It's a cache of rare artifacts, things that date back to the early days of this region—ancient weapons, gold, and other valuables that were hidden away by the original settlers before they fled from the Flame Dragon."
Vincent's eyes narrowed slightly, a spark of interest flickering in his gaze. "And how do you know this? Was this part of your mission?"
Rourke nodded. "It was. The Iron Claw had intel on this cache for years, but we never had the opportunity to retrieve it. We want that treasure but we won't take lives for it."
"This is why we decided to take it when the Flame Dragon caused the city to be abandoned," Rourke finished.
Vincent leaned forward, his interest clearly piqued. "And you're telling me this treasure is hidden underground, beneath the town hall? How deep?"
Rourke glanced at Sykes before replying, "It's buried about twenty feet down, in a chamber that was sealed off by the original settlers. They wanted to ensure that only those who knew about it could ever access it. The entrance is hidden, but we have the details on how to find it."
Vincent's expression hardened with skepticism. "And you expect me to believe that no one has stumbled upon this treasure during the reconstruction? That this chamber has remained undisturbed all this time?"
Rourke held his gaze, unwavering. "The entrance is well-hidden, Vincent. It was designed to look like part of the natural foundation. Unless you knew exactly where to dig and what to look for, you'd miss it entirely."
"Okay...let's find it now," Vincent decided.
"Wait now?" Rourke exclaimed. "It's not a simple task. The mechanism to reveal the entrance is delicate, and if you're not careful, you could destroy it. We need to proceed cautiously."
With the help of Vincent's men, Sykes began to carefully pry up the stone slabs, revealing a narrow crevice beneath. The soldiers worked slowly, guided by Sykes until the mechanism was exposed—a rusty lever hidden deep within the crevice.
"This is it," Sykes said. "We pull this lever, and the entrance should open."
Vincent watched closely, his gaze flicking between Sykes and the mechanism.
"Do it," he ordered.
Sykes took a deep breath, reaching down to grasp the lever. With a slow, deliberate motion, he pulled it. For a moment, nothing happened, and then the ground beneath them began to tremble slightly. The sound of grinding stone filled the room as a section of the floor began to shift, sliding open to reveal a dark, narrow staircase leading down into the depths below.
"There," Sykes said, standing back up and wiping the sweat from his brow. "That's the entrance."
Vincent peered into the darkness, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. "Well done," he said, his tone betraying a hint of approval. "Let's see what's down there."
He turned to his men. "Prepare to descend. I want this place secured, and I want to know exactly what we're dealing with."
Rourke and Sykes watched as Vincent's men began their descent into the hidden chamber.
Vincent looked back at Rourke and Sykes, his expression unreadable. "You two go down with them. I want you there when we uncover whatever is hidden in that chamber."
With no other choice, Rourke and Sykes followed Vincent's men down the narrow staircase, the cold, musty air growing thicker as they descended deeper into the earth. The sound of their footsteps echoed off the stone walls, the anticipation building with each step they took.
Finally, they reached the bottom, stepping into a vast underground chamber. The air was damp and heavy, the walls lined with ancient carvings that seemed to tell a story long forgotten. In the center of the chamber sat a massive stone sarcophagus, surrounded by piles of ancient artifacts, weapons, and chests filled with gold and jewels, all covered in a thick layer of dust.
"This...this is it," Rourke whispered.