Cursed Immortality

Golden Swords Freedom Lord's words rang like morning bells in everyone's ears.

They all knew that most of those standing behind the Golden Swords Freedom Lord were misfits, fugitives, and deserted members of four powers who didn't want to be controlled and like independence.

Some of them were here to have a chance at living because they offended someone who wanted to leave the dark woodlands.

But when these fugitives found the true horror of dark woodlands, they would either be forced to go back or join another fugitive crew to survive.

These crews then plundered the four powers bases in dark woodland to make a living, and they were not easy to get rid of either. They all knew how to handle themselves in this place crawling with dark beings because without it. They won't be able to survive.

Most of them were doing it because they were angry that they were caged in this place like wild animals, and the four powers won't let them return to freedom plains either, not as a free native, at least.

But this came as a shock to everyone that these famous misfit crew leaders had come here with Golden Swords Freedom Lord, and from his words, they were going to join them!

No one knows how Golden Swords Freedom Lord did it, or he even found their secret hideouts.

But no one knows that these crew leaders all once fell into Dark Ruins, and they were all saved by Golden Swords Freedom Lord and sent back from the only passage out, which was guarded by the Golden Swords Freedom Lord himself.

They were all in his debt, and Golden Swords Freedom Lord also knew what they were doing here, but he didn't stop them and even let them prosper.

Because Golden Swords Freedom Lord wanted them to grow into this environment, and when the Grace Treaty ends, they will be excellent generals and trump cards to play against Dark Beings when they officially fought against them for Dark Ruins.

However, Jacob threw Golden Swords Freedom Lord's plans into disarray 100 years prior, and now everything was a mess.

Golden Swords Freedom Lord secretly hated whoever broke the first shackle, not because he had done it early but because the benefits would now be given to that person even if Dark Beings broke the rest of them.

Although it won't be anywhere near as lavish as the winner's rewards, it would still be something that even a Freedom Lord like Golden Swords envied Jacob.

Now that person was still hidden or had already been captured by the dark being while they were left to clean up this mess.

Lastly, if the Grace Treaty had ended without any accident, both sides could only send 10,000 troops every five years to fight over Dark Ruins, and Lich King or Free Lords couldn't participate before a side broke the first shackle.

Both sides could've easily made strongholds if everything had played according to the treaty.

But now, the Lich King took full advantage of this situation and led 50,000 ready troops into the Dark Ruins before the Freedom Plains could even assemble their forces.

That's why everyone hated whoever cleared the first shackle since now they would suffer tremendous casualties just to develop a stronghold, and according to Golden Swords Freedom Lord, the Dark Beings were very close to breaking a shackle themselves.

So, the pressure was tremendous.

Golden Swords Freedom Lord continued, "These veterans behind me will lead an army unit, and they will be no longer fugitives but Level-2 Citizens and Army Captains. If someone has a problem, they could speak now before we discuss our strategy."

Although everyone's expression turned nasty, they knew who was in front of them, so they kept their mouth shut.

"I would like to ask something!" At this moment, a cold voice sounded, drawing everyone's attention.

When they saw a group of masked people, their expressions turned ugly.

Golden Swords Freedom Lord looked at them and nodded, "Please speak freely, Skull of Skull Kingdom."

If it were in the past, the Killer Skull Society wouldn't even dare to appear anywhere near this base, much less dare to raise their opinion on the matter of freedom plains.

But now they were equally qualified as the other four powers.

The masked skull didn't mind being called a 'skull' since he already was. He was the leader representing the Skull Kingdom's force, Skull No. A-501!

Skull No. A-501 said, "My question is not about the people standing behind you, but about the Dark Ruins. Sir. Freedom Lord, is it true that Dark Beings already knew the position of a shackle?"

Golden Swords Freedom Lord coolly replied, "Yes."

"I would like to suggest infiltrating that place with our best stealth experts and snatching that shackle from Dark Beings!" Skull No. A-501 boldly declared.

"Heh, everyone, there is a god among us who know to clear the shackle, which even the dark beings hadn't been able to do for hundreds of years!" A troll sneered disdainfully.

Everyone sneered coldly because they had the same thoughts.

Golden Swords Freedom Lord's eyes also flashed with a hint of derision as he asked, "It seemed Fifth Freedom Lord had another scheme."

Skull No. A-501 remained completely calm despite those disdainful eyes and nodded. He revealed, "As long as we managed to enter the shackle's exact location, we have a way to make it completely unassessable for any dark being for ten years!"

Now Golden Swords Freedom Lord's eyes winded as he thought of something and looked at Skull No. A-501, "Don't tell me you guys have…."

Skull No. A-501 nodded, and his tone was filled with mockery, "2nd Freedom Lord is indeed knowledgeable. But we want the rewards if we manage to win. Except for protective barriers, we won't give away anything; this is a fair exchange. Or pretend as if I said nothing, and we can always try finding the other shackles."

Everyone in the room was looking at Skull No. A-501 with slack jaws because by Golden Swords Freedom Lord's words, they could tell the Killer Skull Society had, indeed, something else up in their sleeves.

First, the mysterious potion, and now this mysterious thing that can stop the dark begins from entering the shackle's area.

Golden Swords Freedom Lord's deeply looked at Skull No. A-501 before he said, "I'll have to discuss it with other Lords, and I'll contact the Fifth Lord with my answer. Now we'll discuss the strategy if you guys have no more things to add."

"Please!"

Skull No. A-501 didn't speak anymore since he knew the message was delivered, and now they just had to wait for the fish to take the bait!

---

Inside the secret headquarters of the Killer Skull Society in Rare Plains,

Important Grace34 was standing in front of a blurry, dark hologram at this moment.

A melodious voice rang, "I have never thought you'll earn such a place for us in Rare Plains, No. A-0. But it still won't make up for your blunder with our cannibal data."

Important Grace34 or Skull No. A-0 respectfully spoke, "I know it is not enough to redeem myself, but I'm doing everything I can to recover the lost data. But that hateful rat is just too hard to track down."

"Hmph! Since he can enter the Type-1 Plain's life plain without getting blocked by the barrier, then, this means he's a native of Rare Plains and under the strength restriction level of Type-1 Plain.

"Don't forget this is not Type-0 Plain where strength restriction is almost null for Type-1 Plain Natives. So, stop making excuses like some hidden force behind him." The woman sounded completely displeased.

Skull No. A-0 eyes were filled with helplessness, "I know that's why I didn't stop looking for him. But he had almost vanished after pulling a fast one on the legion."

"Keep searching. Now that you have the official share of the Life Plain, no one will restrict our movement. As for Dark Ruins, the package will be delivered in 2 years." The woman coldly stated.

Skull No. A-0 respectfully nodded, "I understand. Those fool lords will definitely fall for this and help us lead to the shackle guarded by the Lich King. Once we clear the trial, there will be no hegemonies or dark cities in the rare plains!"

"Heh, those high and mighty idiots won't care about Type-1 Plain." The woman sneered coldly.

"Yes, my lady, once I get rid of all obstacles, we no longer need the data. I can always grab those humans…."

Before Skull No. A-0 could finish his words, but the woman cut him short.

"The Humans vanished from the Common Plain a month ago!"

Skull No. A-0's eyes widened as he blurted, "How is that possible?!"

The woman gravely divulged, "We also wanted to know the exact thing. But we are still out of luck since the Forest Elves who were sheltering them have been gone with them, and their empty territory is currently being fought over!"