Now, even her grandpa is no longer around? The kind-hearted Vivian could feel her heart aching for
the young lady in front of her who was crying miserably.
"I'm so sorry, Lucy.I didn't know your grandpa had passed away.If I had known that, I would definitely
have returned to look for you."
Kurt could not help but take a few additional glances at Lucy.
This time, there was some warmth in his gaze.
Lucy wiped her tears while saying, "I'm fine.My uncle treats me well.Even though he objected strongly
to my mom's decision to marry my dad last time, he brought me here to take care of me immediately
after knowing that I was all alone."
A smile appeared on the young lady's face once again as she briefly narrated her family circumstances
to Vivian and Kurt.
So that's how she's related to this tribe.
Vivian, who had a trusting nature, did not doubt Lucy's words.
Meanwhile, Kurt simply stood beside the girls in silence.
"By the way, I heard you guys asking my uncle about that route just now.Do you intend on going that
way? Where are you heading to? There's nothing there except the River of Styx."
Lucy suddenly brought up the earlier conversation, startling Vivian slightly.
"Vivi's daddy has not been feeling well ever since he regained consciousness.River of Styx is one of
the few remaining rivers with a high salt concentration containing the extremely rare pentlandite
rocks.According to her mommy, some elements contained in the rocks can help with her daddy's
recovery"
Kurt explained placidly.
Vivian was utterly dumbfounded by the young man's ability to make up another perfect story in just a
few minutes.
He's really something! How did he even manage to think of that? Vivian was certain that she would
have been deceived by the man as well if she was not aware of her parents’ real situation.
Indeed, comprehension seemed to dawn on Lucy after she heard that.
"I see.Let me take you guys there then since my uncle is not around now.We should hurry"
Lucy urged the other two to get down the mountain and take the other path.
Vivian and Kurt froze for a few seconds at the young lady's suggestion.
As they were unable to sense anything amiss from observing Lucy's expression, Kurt decided to follow
her suggestion.
A while later, when the three of them arrived at the entrance from before, Lucy looked around
cautiously before taking out a badge from her pocket.
"Vivian, you guys should take this.I'll keep a lookout at the entrance.If someone gives you trouble
inside, just show them this badge and say my name.It's all right" Lucy advised.
It seemed like she was going all out for her two friends, and Vivian was not willing to let her take the
risk.
"How can we do that? We don't want to get you into trouble"Vivian said anxiously.
"It's fine.My uncle is the chief here and is in charge of this area.He won't be too harsh on me.Hurry up
and head inside before he finishes his lunch and returns" Lucy urged.
While Vivian was still hesitating, Kurt grabbed her hand decisively and quickly led her inside.
"Thanks."
He thanked Lucy before leaving.
Thanks? Lucy could hardly believe that the man was finally thanking her.
The young lady who had a silver ring around her neck stared at Kurt's disappearing figure in a daze
with a bittersweet feeling in her heart.
Half an hour later, Kurt and Vivian finally emerged from that path, holding hands.
Immediately, they heard loud roaring sounds and saw that right in front of them was a river that was
almost a hundred feet wide.
It was entirely black in color, and the sight of it was majestic! Even though the sun was still shining
brightly in the sky, when the two of them looked up, the reflection of the river seemed to have cast a
layer of haze in the sky.
It was as if they had been transported to a different world, a world that was dark, gloomy, and cold.
In fact, it seemed like they were in hell.
One glance at the river was enough to send shivers down their spines.
How is it possible that such a terrifying river exists? Is this even real? Recoiling in fear, Vivian
instinctively took a few steps back.
"What's wrong? Are you scared?"
Sensing the girl's fear, Kurt immediately reached out and held her ice-cold hands, warming them with
his.
Vivian felt a lot calmer after that.
"Yup.This river sure is...really black! Why does it look like that? I've never seen a river like this."
"Because it's a subterranean river that flows through Elysium's Black Marsh that has existed for a few
thousand years.The Black Marsh is boundless and gives one the feeling of an endless hell.Every clear
stream that passes through it turns black"
The damp, rotting smell from the river filled the atmosphere.
As Kurt gazed toward the river, a sorrowful glint appeared in his cold eyes.
It was as if what he was looking at was not the river but graves and corpses instead.
"Prince Kurt, you guys are finally here! I thought you weren't able to find your way here, and I was
about to go get you."
While Kurt and Vivian were talking by the river, suddenly, they heard the familiar voice of a woman.
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