บท 153: A Letter to Anai
"What do you intend to do with this?"
Guan Ling inquired, unable to discern whether I had retrieved the item from the space card of the Book of Demons. She had not realized that I had discovered it above the cave.
"I'm not sure, but we shall soon find out." I carefully unwrapped the black bundle, revealing exactly what I had anticipated: not much, just a crimson card and a silver ring adorned with a pale blue gemstone.
There was also an ancient letter written in Chinese.
"Dear Unknown Visitor,
Greetings! I am an adventurer from a distant, ancient realm, sent on a quest in this world. Perhaps it is the botanist in me that has led to an unexpected discovery: on this desolate island, there exists a neglected secret. Beneath the Rainbow Altar lies a hidden chamber, constructed in an era long past by an unknown figure. This chamber seals the very lifeblood of the island; whoever unlocks its mysteries can claim dominion over this land.
After much contemplation, I ultimately chose to forgo the temptation of owning a private island, merely borrowing a Winged Demon Ape to guard it. Should you be the destined one, wishing to gain stewardship over this island, please use the crimson card to unravel the contract binding the Winged Demon Ape. You have already laid eyes upon this artifact, and I trust you have also taken the wish fruit I left behind. I have a humble request: I possess a daughter in the human realm, and I hope you can use one of the fruits to fulfill her birthday wish.
Yours sincerely, the dear forerunner.
Below is an address, accompanied by a photograph of the girl. I could not discern the imaging technique used in that era, but it was evident that the child appeared to be around seven or eight years old, her hair adorned with a simple bow, though her face remained obscured.
Beneath the photograph was a scrawled message, written in a hasty hand yet brimming with affection.
"Dear Anai, my beloved daughter, your father loves you! I have landed in grave trouble, and I fear I will be unable to see you for a long time. I long to kiss your sweet face and hold your soft body, to hear you call me 'Daddy'... But all of this can only happen once I resolve these troubles. This big brother is the one I entrusted to bring you gifts; you can trust him completely.
During my absence, dear Anai, take good care of yourself and help look after your mother. You are a remarkable girl, strong and brave; I entrust everything at home to you. I will return as soon as possible to be with you and your mother. If any ill-intentioned individuals appear, do not hesitate to ask this big brother for assistance; he is no stranger.
Using the Colorful Phoenix fruit to grant my daughter a birthday wish is indeed extravagant, but you are a good father. If I have the opportunity to find your daughter, I will certainly fulfill her birthday wish, as long as it is within my power. However, I do not know this forerunner; how does he trust me so readily? Does he even know my age?"
I quietly stored the old letter within the space card and examined the crimson card.
The Eternal Contract Card, a level seven servant card, allows the bearer to establish a master-servant bond with any creature below the level of a Demon Lord. Seven holders can unilaterally dissolve the contract, while the bound creature can never escape the control of its current master. The Winged Demon Ape is the second contracted entity, with no third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh entities. The value of this Eternal Contract Card rivals that of a Rainbow-level wish fruit, and acquiring it filled me with immense joy while simultaneously igniting my curiosity about the adventurer.
What sort of individual could single-handedly cause chaos for the Rock Group, driving them to the brink of annihilation? Perhaps other forces, such as the Demon Hunter Mercenary Corps, were involved, but he must be an exceptionally formidable figure.
What trouble could be so dire that it prevents him from seeing his daughter?
The notion of liberating the Winged Demon Ape did not cross my mind; I tucked away the contract card and the silver ring set with the pale blue gemstone. Following the instructions in the letter, I approached the Rainbow Altar, which emitted a grinding sound as it shifted, revealing a gap one meter wide.
"You truly are remarkable! How did you know there was a secret beneath this stone platform?"
Guan Ling's praise elevated my already elated spirits, and I responded with a broad smile, "I had some small items from before that I never examined closely. I only just discovered that there was a hidden chamber beneath the Rainbow Altar."
The last time we visited this nameless island, the Winged Demon Ape must have encountered foes, drawing the battlefield elsewhere. Thankfully, this meant that Guan Ling and I did not have to face that fearsome creature. Had our party encountered the Winged Demon Ape then, it would have been fortunate if only one or two of us survived. Unless we had Snoke, who possessed the complete undead form, along with the Wolf King, imbued with the essence of golden flames, Jack with the heart of a druid warrior, and myself, bearing the hearts of the fallen warrior and the alchemist, we would have stood little chance against that beast.
Having obtained the mysterious adventurer's final legacy, the Winged Demon Ape no longer posed a threat to me. My interest in becoming the steward of this island deepened. I already held the title of steward over another drifting island, but the monsters on Paradise Island were far too formidable, making the prospect of ruling feel daunting. A mere valley of flying cats could incite fierce battles among six or seven factions of Demon Island; this nameless island was significantly larger.
Even those super-rich individuals who possess private islands would find it impossible to own such a vast expanse. Upon entering the hidden chamber, I beheld six immense stone pillars, each adorned with carvings of the Winged Demon Ape, the white-haired giant ape, the golden berserker, a wise-looking monkey seated in meditation, a valiant monkey king clad in bronze armor poised to pounce, and a peculiar monkey with a face contorted into four different expressions.
At the center of the pillars lay a round table intricately engraved with countless ancient scripts, which happened to be a language I recognized.
The common tongue of the Eastern Demon Clan!
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