Chapter 5 The Mayor's Conspiracy

The moonlight cast a serene glow over the town's streets, making Eldria seem unusually peaceful. However, this tranquility couldn't conceal the underlying crisis. Alex, Isabella, and Lucas returned to the town from the ancient castle, the night was deep, but the three of them knew that the real battle had just begun.

"What do we do next?" Alex asked in a low voice, his eyes scanning the town's buildings, trying to find any trace of Victor.

Isabella was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "Victor's office is the center of his power and where he plots his conspiracy. We need to go there and find evidence of his plans."

Lucas nodded, "I agree. Victor has been manipulating everything in the town from behind the scenes, and his office must hold the key to unlocking his conspiracy."

Alex felt a sense of tension, but he knew they had no other choice. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Okay, let's go to the mayor's office."

The mayor's office was an ancient building located next to the town's central square. In the night, the office windows emitted a faint light, as if hinting at some unknown secret. The three of them approached the office cautiously, trying not to make any noise.

"We need to be careful," Lucas warned in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings, seemingly alert to any potential danger.

Alex nodded and then gently pushed open the door. The door creaked slightly, but fortunately, it didn't alarm anyone. They slipped into the office, finding that Victor was not inside. Alex let out a sigh of relief, but Isabella's eyebrows were tightly furrowed.

"He might have sensed something," Isabella said in a low voice, her eyes scanning the office, trying to find any suspicious clues.

The office was filled with files and books, and a large oak desk had a lamp on it, casting a warm yellow light on one corner of the room. Alex walked towards the desk and began flipping through the files on it. His eyes fell on a report that recorded the town's mineral exploration situation.

"What's this?" Alex asked in a low voice, his tone filled with a hint of doubt.

Isabella walked over, took a look at the report, and said in a low voice, "This is a fake mineral exploration file fabricated by Victor. He has been trying to convince investors to develop the town's mineral resources, but in reality, there are no valuable minerals here."

"Why would he do that?" Alex felt a bit puzzled.

Lucas was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "He needs funds. Breaking the curse requires powerful magic and ancient artifacts, and these things cost money."

Alex nodded, and a surge of anger rose in his heart. He realized that Victor's plan was far more complex than they had imagined. He continued to flip through the files, trying to find more clues about Victor's plan.

At this moment, Isabella let out a low cry. She was standing in front of a large bookshelf, holding an ancient diary. Alex and Lucas walked over, and they saw that the diary's cover had the emblem of the De Morton family.

"This is the family diary," Isabella said in a low voice, her tone filled with excitement, "It might hold the key to unlocking Victor's conspiracy."

Alex took the diary and opened it, finding that it recorded the family's history and secrets. His eyes fell on a passage that read, "When the wolf's shadow falls again, darkness and light will intertwine. Only the true guardian can unlock the fate's shackles."

"What does it mean?" Alex looked up and asked.

Isabella was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "It's the family's prophecy. It hints that breaking the curse is closely related to the guardian's fate. And Victor, he might be the key to everything."

Lucas nodded, "We must find Victor and stop his plan. Otherwise, the town will fall into greater danger."

The three of them left the mayor's office and walked along the town's streets. In the night, the town seemed unusually quiet, as if everyone was asleep. However, Alex knew that this tranquility was just a facade. Victor's conspiracy was like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.

"Where do we find him?" Alex asked in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to find any trace of Victor.

Isabella looked up, her eyes falling on a distant abandoned mine, "That's the core of Victor's plan. He has been conducting secret research and experiments there."

Lucas nodded, "We must go there and stop his plan."

The abandoned mine was located on the outskirts of the town, an ancient building surrounded by weeds and thorns. In the night, the mine seemed ominous, as if it hid endless dangers. The three of them approached the mine cautiously, trying not to make any noise.

"We need to be careful," Lucas warned in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings, seemingly alert to any potential danger.

Alex nodded and then gently pushed open the door. The door creaked slightly, but fortunately, it didn't alarm anyone. They slipped into the mine, finding that it was filled with strange equipment and instruments. Alex felt a sense of unease, unsure of what Victor had done there.

"What is this place?" Alex asked in a low voice, his tone filled with a hint of doubt.

Isabella walked over, took a look at the equipment, and said in a low voice, "This is Victor's laboratory. He has been trying to unlock the power of the curse, using it to fulfill his ambition."

Lucas nodded, "We must find him and stop his plan. Otherwise, the town will fall into greater danger."

At this moment, a low, heavy footsteps came from the depths of the mine. The three of them immediately stopped, watching their surroundings cautiously. Alex felt a sense of tension, knowing that Victor might be nearby.

"Who's there?" a low, majestic voice came, filled with a hint of anger.

The three of them exchanged a glance and then slowly walked towards the source of the voice. Alex felt a sense of unease, but he knew they had no choice.

"Victor," Isabella said in a low voice, her tone filled with determination.

Victor emerged from the shadows of the mine, his face filled with anger and surprise, "How did you find this place?"

Lucas stepped forward, speaking in a low voice, "We know your plan, Victor. You're trying to unlock the power of the curse, using it to control the town. But we won't let you succeed."

Victor sneered, "You think you're someone? The power of the curse is not something you can control. It belongs to me, belongs to this town."

Isabella shook her head, "You're wrong, Victor. The power of the curse belongs to the light, belongs to the guardian. And you, you're just an ordinary person trying to use it to fulfill your ambition."

Victor's face turned gloomy, his eyes scanning the three of them, seemingly searching for their weaknesses. Alex felt a sense of tension, but he knew they had to persist.

"You think you can stop me?" Victor's voice was filled with a hint of threat, "The power of the curse is already in my hands, and you're just insignificant."

Isabella was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "We won't let you succeed, Victor. For the town, for the light."

As Isabella spoke, the confrontation between the three of them and Victor reached its peak. Alex felt a sense of unease, but he knew they had already stepped onto a path from which they couldn't turn back. Victor's conspiracy was not only the final step