Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong Chapter 2572: 1418: The Old Wandering Poet’s Memories

“Initially, the situation was exactly as I described.”

Old Nick’s eyes grew hazy with distance, the flickering light playing across his features as if he had been pulled back into that humid, shadowed Magic Beast Cave.

“Back then, we followed the lead of two elite mercenaries. While the mutated Black Steel Spiders lunging from the darkness and the pervasive, cloying webs were troublesome, they didn't pose a lethal threat.”

“By the time we hacked through the obstructions and reached the heart of the nest, our only casualty was a clumsy archer who tripped over some webbing and bruised himself.”

“The battle itself wasn't particularly legendary; we dispatched the Black Steel Spider leader with relative ease and razed the entire hive.”

“We were in the middle of burying the remains of some local villagers who had been partially consumed, preparing to sweep the area for any survivors the Magic Beasts might have stashed away, when the unexpected occurred.”

Everyone leaned in, their focus sharpening on Old Nick’s narrative, sensing that the true catalyst of the tale was about to be revealed.

“Inside the Black Steel Spider’s larder, a low-ranking member of our group stumbled upon a weathered Teleportation Gate.”

A flicker of profound regret crossed Old Nick’s aged eyes as he elaborated.

“The Teleportation Gate had clearly been there for ages. Time had stripped away its power, yet the silhouette of the magic array carved into the stone remained sharp and visible.”

“At first, neither the other mercenaries nor I understood the purpose of those markings. It wasn't until I tentatively channeled a thread of mana into the dormant array that the Teleportation Gate flickered to life, much like blowing on a dying ember until it ignites.”

Old Nick’s face twisted with sorrow, and he let out a heavy sigh: “If I had only ignored my companions' urges to activate it, or if we had never found that array at all, none of this tragedy would have unfolded.”

Leo Ray observed Old Nick’s remorse. Knowing he couldn't truly feel the weight of the old man's past, he didn't offer empty platitudes. Instead, he reached out to steady Nick’s frail shoulder and gestured for Xiaoyue to serve a fresh cup of hot tea.

“I am deeply moved by Your Majesty’s kindness in granting me this tea!”

The warmth of the cup seemed to steady Old Nick’s nerves. He took a breath and continued.

“The memory remains vivid: in that suffocatingly dark cave, a deep gray light suddenly radiated from the ancient Teleportation Gate. We were stunned for a heartbeat before erupting into cheers.”

“In every legend and hero’s ballad, a hidden Teleportation Gate is the threshold to boundless treasure, forgotten Divine Weapons, or legendary Skill Scrolls—the kind of fortune that common mercenaries like us could never hope to see in a dozen lifetimes.”

“Driven by greed and excitement, we didn't hesitate. We chose to step through, and that was the moment our nightmare truly began.”

Old Nick paused, casting a shameful, apologetic look toward the Grey Elder: “Forgive me, Master President. I know the mercenary code dictates that any discovery of unknown Teleportation Gates or Ancient Relics must be reported to the guild so a high-level team can be dispatched. We knew Ancient Relics were fraught with peril, yet we…”

“Old Nick, the code also states that mercenaries have a duty to neutralize unknown threats to protect local civilians in urgent situations. I suspect that was also on your mind.”

The Grey Elder gave a slight, understanding nod. “Continue your story.”

With a grateful nod to the Grey Elder, Old Nick resumed his tale.

“With hearts pounding, I followed the team through the gate. I barely had a moment to register the weightless sensation of the transition before I found myself standing within a bizarre, subterranean Ancient Relic.”

“The scale of the place was staggering. Even with the Magic sphere I specialize in, I could only pierce a small fraction of the gloom. The rest of the chamber was swallowed by darkness, stretching far beyond our sight.”

“The ceiling of this Underground Space was impossibly high. Even a signal flare spell couldn't reach the top; it must have been at least four or five hundred meters above us.”

The Grey Elder stroked his chin, listening intently. “Such a high ceiling? If it’s reached via a Teleportation Gate, I’d wager the relic is buried incredibly deep in the crust, wouldn't you say?”

“You are correct, Master President. Though my power is modest, my sensitivity to mana rivals that of a Tier 3 Mage. I could feel the Earth Attribute energy particles thick in the air, suggesting the presence of a nearby Earth Attribute Magical Ley Line.”

Old Nick nodded solemnly. “But back then, we didn't care about ley lines. We were too busy forming an exploratory line and marching toward the center of the Ancient Relic.”