Chapter 71: The Source of the Glimmer

After listening to Red's explanation, Alia gave a faint smile, a trace of sentiment rising in her heart.

"No matter whether Elias belongs to the Marcellus family or not, his leadership is truly admirable. Perhaps he was born to be a leader," she said, her gaze complex yet quickly masking her inner emotions. Her tone became calm again as she continued,

"Indeed, he's my friend."

Red nodded, his eyes showing a touch of curiosity as he looked at her. Alia seized the opportunity to add,

"And I do have a new task for you all."

Red straightened up immediately, excitement flashing across his face.

"Join the city expansion construction team and dig at the locations I've marked."

Red frowned, clearly puzzled by the task. Scratching his head, he asked,

"The expansion team has high entry standards, doesn't it? How could street folks like us possibly join, let alone dig wherever we want once we're in?"

Alia was prepared. She pulled out a letter from her coat and handed it to Red. The fine paper bore an exquisite texture, embossed with Adrian's personal seal, an item of evident value.

"I got this from a person in charge of the expansion project," Alia said calmly. "I told him I knew some reliable people who could help with the construction plan. He generously gave me this letter of recommendation. With it, you'll have no trouble getting in."

Red accepted the letter with reverence in his eyes. "You're incredible as always."

Alia smiled slightly and went on to explain,

"Don't worry. The construction method involves allocating a large area, allowing each team to choose their digging spots. Currently, it's still in the foundation-laying stage. The locations I marked are on the outskirts, remote and desolate, so no one will pay attention."

She smirked inwardly, fully aware of the real purpose behind this expansion plan. Marcellus and Edgar didn't care about how the city was built; they cared about using this opportunity to search for treasures buried underground. Their target was undoubtedly something as precious as a "Holy Grail." This expansion project was merely a smokescreen. They wouldn't mind if every crew dug through the earth just to find the treasure.

Red still looked a little confused, though his excitement outweighed his doubts. Scratching his head again, he asked,

"So, what exactly are we looking for?"

Alia's gaze sharpened, her tone turning deadly serious.

"If you find anything emitting a faint glow, cover it with soil immediately and notify Elias. He'll contact me. Under no circumstances should anyone else see it, nor should you attempt to touch it yourself."

Taking a step closer, her voice carried a warning edge.

"Trust me, it's not something you can handle. It could cost you your life."

Red, stunned by her solemn demeanor, nodded earnestly and said,

"Got it. I've seen what Elias can do. I'd like to keep living a while longer, so I won't mess around."

Alia nodded in satisfaction, letting out a small sigh of relief. In her past life, she had crossed paths with Red and knew that, despite his rough exterior, he was wise and prudent. He wouldn't jeopardize everyone's lives out of greed.

"Good, it's settled then."

She watched Red carefully tuck the letter away, a mix of emotions stirring in her heart. Each step she took seemed to bring her closer to the truth, but with it came an invisible pressure.

No matter what, her game had begun, and every piece was now in place. From this point on, every move had to be perfect.

Two days passed without any word from Red. Although he was a cautious person, the silence unsettled Alia, and she had a growing feeling that the treasure was about to reveal itself. Thus, she disguised herself once more and quietly made her way to the site Adrian had marked.

The sky was still dim as early morning light crept in. The construction crew was hard at work, their torchlight reflecting off faces smeared with dirt. Hiding behind an ancient tree, Alia observed Red and his companions. They dug earnestly, their movements ordinary yet imbued with a focus and caution she had never seen before.

"Not bad for a bunch of street rogues," she thought to herself, slightly impressed but remaining vigilant.

Just as her thoughts began to wander, a faint glimmer flashed, fleeting like a shooting star in the night sky.

Alia's eyes narrowed instantly, locking onto the source of the light. The glow seemed to be buried within the soil, and for some inexplicable reason, it felt as though it was calling to her.

Red and his companions seemed to notice something too, pausing briefly in their movements.

"Did they see it?" Alia held her breath, anxiously waiting for their next move. But to her disappointment, Red simply glanced around, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said something to his team before resuming his digging. The others followed suit, as if nothing had happened.

A flicker of doubt crossed Alia's mind. "Am I the only one who can see it?"

She didn't act hastily but instead decided to wait patiently.

Time passed slowly until night fell, and the construction crew packed up for the day. Red and his companions laughed loudly as they left the site, their figures gradually swallowed by the darkness. The surroundings grew silent, leaving behind the freshly dug earth.

Ensuring no one was watching, Alia descended silently from her hiding spot in the tree and crept toward the excavation site. The moonlight was faint, so she switched on her flashlight, its warm beam illuminating the overturned soil.

Crouching down, she carefully sifted through the dirt, searching for the source of the glimmer she had seen earlier.

With every handful of soil she moved, the strange sense of being summoned grew stronger, as though something buried deep within the earth had been waiting just for her.

Finally, her fingers brushed against something cold and unyielding.