Chapter 2110: Chapter 2110

Below the wardrobe was the eastern chamber of the basement wine cellar. There, the two of them encountered a skeleton holding a wine cup, incessantly pouring wine into its mouth. It sat cross-legged atop an oak barrel, the lid of which was a wooden grate. As a result, any wine poured into its skull would trickle down its bones and flow right back into the barrel, only to be scooped up again by the skeleton with its eerie, bone-white cup.

Aside from the splashing of wine, it formed an almost perpetual cycle. It was not a particularly terrifying sight; in fact, there was something almost comical about it.

The skeleton noticed the two of them drop down from the hole, but it merely turned its head for a glance before resuming its "drinking." Jenkins's map did indeed mark this entity. It was one of the castle's more amicable denizens. Although it was an interactive target, it would not bother anyone who passed by as long as they left it alone.

Miss Silf, however, offered some additional information. Although she had never passed through this area during her past adventures, she knew that the more neutral monsters in the castle often held information about it. Furthermore, if one was willing to pay a price, they could trade for items from these creatures. Such items belonged to the monsters themselves, not the castle, and could therefore be taken out of the Mysterious Realm. Follow current novels on NovєlFіre.net

"This is just what my old companions told me, but I've never verified it myself," the elf maiden added, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Jenkins thought for a moment, then decided against moving on. He paused and approached the skeleton.

"Do you have any wine?" the skeleton suddenly asked, turning its head and addressing them in ancient Elvish. Miss Silf hesitated and shook her head, but Jenkins replied.

"I have no wine, but I have a cup."

With that, he retrieved the B-03-1-8383 Cup of Hidden Fear from his bag. It was a Series B Extraordinary item that Jenkins had obtained long ago from the "Spirit Incident Support Group." The cup not only emanated an aura of fear but, more importantly, could brew the emotion of fear into a wine filled with spirit.

Any item that could increase a user's spirit was exceedingly precious, but this was the final hour. Jenkins understood what he could afford to part with and what he truly needed.

"A fine cup," the skeleton remarked, its voice utterly monotonous as it stopped scooping wine from the barrel below.

"I'd like to trade this cup for something of yours, if I may."

"You may," the skeleton nodded, its finger bones pointing to the barrel beneath it.

"Your cup is excellent. I can trade my cup for it, and I will permit each of you to drink a cup of my wine. My wine is quite good. It will allow you..."

It pointed at the elf, who shifted uneasily behind Jenkins.

"It will allow you to immediately enter the next stage. And it will allow you..."

It paused for a moment.

"To quench your thirst."

"No, we don't need your cup, and we don't need your wine. I want to trade for some information."

The spiritual flames in the skeleton's eye sockets flickered a few times. "You may ask, but I may not answer. When I believe I have answered enough, you must give me the cup."

"What do you think?" Jenkins asked his companion.

Miss Silf considered it. "Perhaps we could try. But your cup... are you sure you want to part with it in a place ? I have some valuable things on me as well..."

"That won't be necessary," Jenkins declined politely, not having the heart to tell her that the items she carried were not particularly valuable.

"Alright then. First question: who is the lord of this place?" This was his greatest concern. The old steward outside the castle had constantly hinted at this figure, and Jenkins feared that the returning lord might be a power even more terrible than a Beast of Calamity.

"That is something you need not know. The lord will not appear. This is a partitioned area, and the lord has no time to look upon this corner."

His words put Jenkins's mind at ease.

"Do you have anything you want to ask?" he inquired of Miss Silf.

She thought for a moment. "Do you know about the steward outside the gate?"

"I do. A fellow with impure intentions. He was supposed to manage the castle's affairs, but instead, he has brought it to its current state for his own selfish reasons. Before this place returns to the lord's world, if he fails to find a way into your world, then he is doomed."

As the skeleton spoke these words, its tone was, for the first time, no longer devoid of emotion.

"Then it's my turn again. We want to leave this place. Can you tell us where the exit is?"

"Of course not. Although I do know, we must all follow the rules."

Jenkins was not disappointed, having anticipated this answer. He gestured for the elf to ask her question. Miss Silf furrowed her pretty brows and asked, "Then, what do you know about the painting in the hidden room on the second floor?"

Obtaining that painting was a required objective after acquiring the map. Miss Silf could still offer some advice on the four monsters that needed to be defeated, but these additional tasks were entirely different from what she had experienced.

"I have never been there. I do not know."

"What about the crimson gem in the castle's right tower?" the elf asked again.

"That, I know. The gem at the very top of the right tower is tied to blood, reproduction, and curses. You'd best not touch it, or you'll surely become a madwoman crazed with lust. He, on the other hand, would be fine, but he shouldn't hold it for too long... You have only one question left. Whether I can answer it or not, you must give me the cup. It has been a long time since I last tasted fear."

The information about the gem alone was worth the cup. Jenkins nodded and held it out directly. "Forget the last question. This is yours."

The skeleton did not hesitate, snatching the cup from Jenkins's hand as if robbing him. It held the cup to its face, caressing it for a long while.

"I know what you're doing, but since I've taken your possession, I won't take advantage. The castle has been invaded by something that smells of engine oil. That damned old steward made a deal with it, even brought in a moon to illuminate the noble shadows. The steward will certainly not let you leave easily. The only weapon in this castle that can harm him within the rules is on the highest floor. Not the towers, but the highest floor of the central keep."