The celebration continued until early in the morning, but it was calm after that. However, time still continued to flow during the calm.

"Are you feeling better?"

Cale just waved his hand at Chief Harol's question. "So-so."

Cale was always at the best condition possible thanks to the Vitality of the Heart. "Isn't it all of you who need to worry about your health?"

Harol and the rest of the Chiefs looked tired. Billos was the same way.

"I am not weak!" Toonka, who was drunk in the corner, was the same as well.

'If you can't hold your alcohol, don't drink. What a bunch of kids.' Cale ignored Toonka and continued to speak to Harol. "Things progressed faster than expected."

"...There was no point to draw it out."

Just one day was all it took to make the deal for the Magic Tower. Although it could have taken a long time, trades always progress faster when one side is in a state of urgency.

"Makes sense since you are all in a rush, right?"

No matter what they did, the non-mage faction, which was a collection of the poor, was always going to be lacking money.

The royal family would have given all of their money to the mage faction, and there was nothing inside the Magic Tower that was worth anything.

But it wasn't like they could sell the magic devices in the kingdom, since that would only bring down their reputation.

And most importantly, Harol probably wanted to get rid of Cale as fast as possible. "Did you get a chance to read through the contract, young master-nim?"

"I read it as soon as I got it." The total amount was slightly more than ten billion gallons because it included some of the nearby land. "Don't worry. I will destroy it within a year."

The contract stated that, although Cale purchased the Magic Tower, he will also destroy it within a year.

He would also not move the Magic Tower building to another location. He would also not gather any mages under the Cale Henituse name.

"...I really can't understand you." Toonka glared at Cale like he was someone who came to show off his wealth.

"I just wanted to show off my wealth and own the highest view after the Empire's Bell Tower." Cale shrugged his shoulders and used the excuse he told Alberu.

Toonka looked toward him with disbelief, but just pushed the contract to Cale as if he did not want to think about any more complicated things. "Just sign it. I promised to spar with your subordinate Hilsman today. Muhahaha!"

Cale's expression turned stiff as soon as Vice Captain's name was brought up. 'I guess I'll reevaluate him a little.'

This Vice Captain was very good at socializing. He had started to talk to the citizens about cooperation. Choi Han had reported how surprising all of it was to witness.

"You just have to stamp here." Harol handed an ink pad to Cale.

At that moment, Cale and Harol made eye contact. Harol gazed into Cale's eyes like he was trying to read Cale's intentions, but Cale just smiled back.

Harol probably did not want to sell the Magic Tower because he was suspicious. However, he had no choice since they had a lot more to gain from selling it. It was difficult to ignore such gains.

"Here, I stamped it so you do it too!" Toonka refreshingly, and, if we want to be mean, stupidly, stamped his thumb on the contract without any hesitation.

Cale also stamped his thumb on two copies of the contract. He then put his copy inside of his pocket.

It was now Billos's turn.

"I, Billos Flynn, as a member of the Flynn Merchant Guild, will serve as a witness and the intermediary for the transfer of funds."

Toonka nodded his head and reached his hand out and Cale responded to shake his hand.

"Let me know if you need my help to destroy the Magic Tower. I can always help destroy that dirty building."

"Sure."

"You can feel proud that you made a deal with us, who will go on to do great things."

Cale made eye contact with Toonka, who put some more strength into their handshake.

"We will leave a mark in the history of this continent! You can go around saying you know of me! Hahaha!"

History my ass. Well, being defeated does go down in history as well. The contents of volume 5 will soon end. Cale wasn't sure if his knowledge was good enough.

"I look forward to it." Cale just responded respectfully to Toonka's words.

The contract was finished.

Cale left the chiefs' tent and headed back to his own. Billos naturally followed behind him. As soon as Cale entered the tent, he knew why Billos had such a perverted smile on his face.

Cale took the golden plaque out of his pocket and slightly turned it around. With a click, the top of the golden plaque opened like a lid.

"Oh~!" Billos couldn't help but admire it as a stamp of the royal crest appeared.

"What are you looking at so amazed?" Cale laughed at Billos before using the stamp on a note.

This stamp with the royal crest would disappear after he used it twice.

Cale passed a magic bag over to Billos, who was looking toward the golden plaque with greed.

"Isn't this the bag I gave-?"

"Open it."

Billos opened the magic bag that he had sold to Cale. "...Wow."

He could see many magic devices that have been shrunk inside of the bag. All of them were magic devices for the nobles and royals.

Billos then heard Cale's voice once again. "You will receive at least a few more of those bags in the future. Slowly start to sell them after about a month."

Billos clenched onto the bag and cautiously asked. "How much do I get?"

"30%."

"That much?" Billos could not hide his shock.

It wasn't that 30 percent was large but the Cale that he knew was pretty thorough when it came to things like this. That was why he thought, at max, he would get 20 percent. Especially since these magic devices were no longer available for sale.

"Leader of the merchant guild." Cale's voice accurately landed in Billos's ear. "The position that you wanted. You need to quickly take that position. The north and the sea routes will soon be flipped over."

"...Another war."

"Don't tell anyone else."

"Why would I share such precious information?" Billos carefully put the magic bag into his pocket. "Please feel free to ask me whatever you want in the future."

"Sure. If possible, stay in contact with your uncle as well."

His uncle, Odeus Flynn. The man who was in control of the Roan Kingdom's Northwestern underworld.

"Why my uncle?"

It would not be long for his child, Raon, to get his revenge. "There's a reason. No need for you to be curious. I won't harm you."

"I understand." Billos did not ask anything else, instead, he handed Cale a magic video communication device.

It was a precious item that Billos had worked hard to acquire, but Cale just took it and lightly tossed it onto the bed.

Seeing Cale acting like his normal self, Billos started to exit the tent.

"Next time, I will contact you via video, young master-nim."

"Sure."

Cale ordered On and Hong as soon as Billos left. "Bring the other children here."

Meeeow.

A few moments later, Cale looked toward the Wolf children that On and Hong had brought before he started to speak.

"The duration is..." He stopped mid-sentence and let out a sigh. He was frowning as much as possible. "Hilsman."

"Yes sir!" The Vice Captain looked like a mess and smelled like alcohol after enjoying the celebration until the wee hours of the morning. However, his condition seemed to be fine.

According to Beacrox's report, Hilsman was arm in arm with the citizens and enjoying himself as he got back to his tent. "Did you enjoy the celebration?"

"O-Of course! I have made a lot of friends!" Hilsman was a little nervous, he thought he might offended his young master unknowingly again.

Maybe it was because Hilsman was the jealous type, but he was really a social butterfly. 'Will It be okay to send such a guy with Lock?'

Cale had some concerns, but there was nothing else he could do at this point. He looked toward Lock, the Wolf children, and Hilsman as he returned to what he was saying. "The duration is three weeks."

Cale was planning on starting his deal with Lock now. He opened up a map on top of the table and pointed to a mountain at the southern end of the Whipper Kingdom.

"Mount Yellia. You just need to go find the item I tell you to find there." The ancient power this time was one that was embedded in an item.

"...Umm young master-nim?"

"What is it, Hilsman?"

"I heard about that mountain before. It has a very high summit, and the peak is said to be covered in snow all year long. I also heard that it is one of the top three most dangerous mountains on the continent."

"And?" Cale looked toward Lock instead of Hilsman, who could not answer. "Can you do it? Yes or no?"

"I can do it." Lock answered without any hesitation. He was still timid and naive, but he was much different compared to when he had first met Cale.

"Maes."

"Yes sir."

"All of you do not need to go up to the peak. Just support Lock from around the base."

Maes and the children exchanged glances before responding vigorously. "Yes sir! We will definitely show you a successful completion of the mission!"

"Uhh, no need to be so passionate about it. Be careful not to get hurt." Cale waved at them before speaking to Hilsman. "You are the guide. Guide the children well, feed them well, and make sure they get their rest."

"...So, I don't have to climb the mountain?" Hilsman scratched his head as he started to mumble. "I am a bit afraid of heights."

"How the hell did you become a Vice Captain, Hilsman?" Cale suddenly had a lot of questions about the Henituse family Knights Brigade. "Ugh, do what you want."

"Yes sir! I'm sorry, young master, but I will be a great guide and guard for the children! Oh, young master-nim, where should we return to?"

Cale pointed to a location at Hilsman's question.

"...Over there?"

"Yes."

"Umm, are you sure you did not point to a wrong spot?" Hilsman's eyes could not move away from where Cale was pointing.

It was one of the Western Continent's 5 Forbidden Regions. The Path of No Return.

It was located in Oorim, a rainforest that rained throughout the year. This path in that forest was one where many travelers went in and never came back. Nobody knew what happened to the people who entered.

It was located at the border between the Whipper Kingdom and the Western Continent.

Cale was pointing to that rainforest. "Vice Captain, you're asking so many questions. Can't you be quiet like Lock and the children?"

Cale explained anyway. "There is a small village called Hoik Village by the Path of No Return. It is a small village, as well as the only entrance into the Path of No Return."

It was a very small village located at the most southern part of the Whipper Kingdom. That village rested at the entrance of this rainforest with no exit.

"Come over there."

The Path of No Return.

In about 20 days from now, the Queen of the Jungle will be running amok inside of Oorim with her subordinates. Cale was planning on being her guide before that time.

Choi Han, who had been standing to the side, approached him and asked. "Then is Hoik Village our next destination?"

"Yes." Cale was thinking about how he would help the Queen of the jungle and used that favor to get the Magic Stones hidden inside the Jungle later and started to smile.

Once he took care of this business with the Queen of the Jungle, he would return to the Roan Kingdom to take care of Raon's revenge and some trivial things before going to get that Ancient Power inside the Forest of Darkness.

"We can head there right away once things here are done." Cale was meticulously preparing for the future beyond volume 5 that would soon arrive.

***********************************

Two weeks later, Cale arrived at Hoik Village. It was sprinkling.

"...Why are there so many gravestones here?"

Cale looked toward the gravestones that started from the entrance of the village before responding to Rosalyn's question.

"Hoik Village is a village that was created by the families of the travelers who went in and never came back."

Their desperate pleas for their loved ones to return as well as the hope that they would someday return had led to them remaining here and building this village.

Those people who entered the Path of No Return had entered for many different reasons. However, with them never coming back, their family ended up moving as close to them as possible.

"However, people will eventually give up. Once those hopes turned into despair, well, those gravestones are the results of that."

The gravestones were placed for their loved ones who they decided would never come back. Hoik Village was more of a village of sorrow rather than a village of hope.

Cale looked toward the large forest beyond the village.

"What a sad place. What are we doing here?"

Cale casually responded to Choi Han's question. "Hope."

"Excuse me?"

"We will be the hope of the Jungle."

"The jungle?" Choi Han was confused at the unexpected response, but Cale just smiled mysteriously. He walked forward and cut through Hoik Village.

Other than the gravestones all around Hoik Village, there was not much of anything else. It was a very quiet village.

"Young master-nim, your umbrella."

Hoik Village, the village that was next to Oorim, the forest where it rained more often than not, also rained quite frequently.

"Thanks, Hans." Cale used the umbrella given to him by Hans and headed toward the end of the village. Hans and a couple others followed behind him.

'It's here.' The Path of No Return. The only entrance into the path appeared in front of Cale's eyes.

Maybe it was because of the sprinkling and the cloudy sky, but the path into the forest looked dark and creepy.

[The Path of No Return]

There was a large slab with those words on it at the entrance.

"Mm." Choi Han let out a moan.

Cale was observing the scenery in front of the slab. Even on this rainy day, there were people waiting at the entrance of the Path of No Return while wearing raincoats or just letting the rain hit their skin. These were the people who still had hope for the return of their loved ones.

Cale made eye contact with one of the old men standing there. The old man's eyes suddenly opened wide.

"...Do not go." The old man said that to Cale before stopping to lean on the slab and looking toward the forest.

Cale just quietly watched the old man.

"Young master Cale." Rosalyn approached and called his name. She looked at the old man, as well as the rest of the people who were waiting at the entrance, with a sad gaze.

At that moment, Cale started to move. "Old man, it is raining. Don't catch a cold."

Cale put his umbrella next to the old man who was just standing in the rain and motioned to Hans.

"Young master-nim?"

"Umbrella."

"What about me?"

"Share with Beacrox."

Beacrox and Hans made eye contact and Beacrox started to frown. Hans kept his mouth shut and handed his umbrella over to Cale.

However, Cale did not have a reason to take that umbrella from him.

"We can share mine." Rosalyn's umbrella started to cover Cale as well.

"Thank you very much. Let's go." Cale just briefly thanked Rosalyn before turning away from the entrance to the Path of No Return.

The rest of Cale's group followed him while the villagers at the entrance observed Cale's group for a bit before looking back toward the forest.

"Hans."

"Yes, young master-nim."

"Go find an inn. Although there are a lot of inns, I'm sure there aren't any really good ones, so just find a decent one."

Hoik Village had a lot of inns compared to its size. However, all of these inns were very shabby since the people coming here to look for their loved ones didn't have much money.

"Just why is it that everybody enters that Oorim?"

Cale sat down in the first floor restaurant of the inn they picked before he answered Choi Han's question. "For hope."

"Hope?"

"There is a legend about the Path of No Return."

Even though it was infamous for no one ever coming back, people still went into it every so often. It didn't matter if the old man tried to stop them like he did with Cale's group earlier.

"Supposedly, a Dragon lives in the Path of No Return."

– What the hell are you talking about, Human? There is no Dragon here. The only Dragon around you is me!

"Raon, language." Cale frowned a little.

– I'm sorry, Human.

Cale knew that there were no Dragons here. He was someone who had read the novel. He sighed and continued the story anyway.

"That Dragon will grant the wish of the human who find his lair. Whether that wish is to become rich, cure an incurable illness, or even make someone have a happy life. It will grant any wish."

– A Dragon cannot do that. Dragons are great and mighty, but we are not gods! What nonsense!

Raon's complaints were the truth. However, such legends had a tendency to shake the minds of the desperate.

"That legend is what draws people in."

Cale could see a rare frown on Choi Han's face. Choi Han probably did not like it. With his personality, seeing the atmosphere of this village, as well as people like the old man from earlier, it probably made him sad.

"Then wouldn't it be fine if we just destroyed this forest?" That was why Choi Han had no issues saying such a vicious thing without giving it any thought.

Cale just pretended to not hear him.

Of course, a fire would start in this forest. That was why, by the end of volume 4, the 5 Forbidden Regions of the Western Continent ended up becoming the 4 Forbidden Regions.

"Wouldn't it be fine to just light it on fire and burn it down?"

As Choi Han's suggestions became even more dangerous, he could hear Cale's voice.

"We just need to show everyone that the legend is a lie. Then there will be no reason for them to go into the forest."

At that moment, Beacrox let out a sigh as he entered the inn. Many people were behind Beacrox.

"Young master, I am back."

"Young master-nim! I, Hilsman, am back!"

"Young master-nim, we're here!"

The Wolf children and Hilsman all looked shabby as they entered the inn. Beacrox took out a pair of white gloves after looking at this dirty group.

"Young master-nim." Lock was the last to enter the inn. He approached Cale and handed him a magic bag.

However, Cale blocked Lock from giving it to him, before turning to speak to all of them. "You all worked hard. Go get some rest."

The group all started to smile. After saying that, Cale reached his hand out to Lock.

Lock cautiously handed the magic bag to Cale once again and Cale started to speak. "As part of our deal, the item inside is mine."

"Yes sir." There was not an ounce of hesitation in Lock's voice. Even though Lock probably knew that it was an ancient artifact, he did not show any greed for it.

"Thanks for your hard work, Lock." Cale tiptoed to reach and patted the tall young man on the head.

This caused the wolf children to look a bit envy at their Lock Hyung.

Cale then opened the magic bag to look at the contents before speaking to the group. "I will be entering that forest."

– What?

Meeow?

"Huh?"

"What!"