King
Chapter 812 - 812 63 Curse

812: Chapter 63, Curse 812: Chapter 63, Curse “Humans are not saints; how can one be free of fault?”

The Blood Moon County City was built over a hundred years ago.

The illegal mining of the Magic Crystal Mine must have started long ago; you can’t bear all the blame for it.

That no word of it has leaked for so many years proves you’ve been very discreet, not exploiting the mine on a large scale.

Viscount O’Toole, don’t say we’re not giving you a chance.

If you come clean now, and we handle this internally within the province, there’s still room for negotiation.

At this point, you can’t expect to keep it hidden.

The anomaly that just erupted is visible for tens of miles around; I estimate the news has already spread.

Once the Capital sends people to intervene, not only are you doomed, but your entire family will follow suit.

In view of the camaraderie we share, just come clean and we will all brainstorm a solution for you!”

Clearly, Earl Hudson’s speech was not only for Viscount O’Toole, but also for the nobles present.

Whether there’s a charge to answer for is a minor issue, the key is how to deal with the interests of the Magic Crystal Mine.

Keeping it a secret is impossible.

Anomalies have occurred for miles around, seen by tens of thousands.

Even if everyone imposes a gag order now, it can only delay the leakage of the news.

Even if commoners are ignorant, it’s impossible for the Southeastern Province’s numerous nobles not to have the King’s informants among them.

In front of everyone, no one dares to spread the message yet, but we can’t stay together indefinitely.

As soon as the group disperses, the news will surely reach the Capital.

The current exposure is of Viscount O’Toole’s private mining of the Magic Crystal Mine, but that doesn’t mean he’s the only participant.

At the very least, in the King’s eyes, it’s unbelievable that such a major operation is the work of a single intermediate aristocracy.

If a thorough investigation is initiated, one’s innocence or guilt cannot be clearly established.

Especially for the Viscount O’Toole’s neighbors, it’s unlikely that anyone will believe they were unaware of what was happening.

The Koslow family, as emerging nobility, might be fine, but the Dalton family will definitely not be able to explain themselves away; the Capital will undoubtedly suspect their involvement.

No other reason is needed; the O’Toole family, having mined the Magic Crystal Mine in secret for so many years, should have risen to prominence long ago thanks to the immense wealth, yet they are still mingling amongst the intermediate aristocracy.

Instead of rising in the past hundred years or more, they have actually declined based on the power they displayed on the surface.

Apart from installing a few more Magic Crystal Cannons in the Blood Moon County City, Hudson has not noticed any difference between them and the average intermediate noble family.

“Earl Hudson, thank you for your understanding!

This matter has a long history, but I will keep it short.

The issue of the Magic Crystal Mine dates back three hundred years.

In a battle against the Blood Moon Sect, our ancestor discovered this mine and managed to establish a foothold here.

We initially thought it was just a small vein that would yield a quick profit.

We never expected that the more we mined, the more productive the vein became and the higher the quality of the Magic Crystals produced.

Realizing the situation was dire, we had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue.

After generations of our ancestors’ efforts, we finally found a solution: we built a city atop the vein to conceal the existence of the Magic Crystal Mine.

At first, it was fine; the family’s strength grew rapidly thanks to the wealth from the mine.

However, just three years after the completion of the city, our fortunes plummeted drastically.

It was as if we’d been cursed; our older clan members started having accidents.

Particularly in the last eighty years, none of our family has lived past sixty, and very few have even reached fifty.

Even those who attained the rank of Earth Knight or Sorcerer couldn’t make it past the age of sixty.

They either met accidents abroad or died suddenly, leaving no trace.

Not only was our lifespan reduced, but even the younger generation suffered early deaths.

Including the collateral branches, our clan members declined sharply from over 800 at our peak to just over a hundred now.

We have a pile of wealth but are hampered by limited lifespans.

The drastic decline in people has hindered our development, and our family’s strength has fallen over the years.

In our quest for a solution, we sought help from many, but sadly, no one could identify the problem.

Even family members born in foreign lands who never returned to our territory couldn’t escape the curse of a shortened lifespan.

After years of investigation, we suspected the Magic Crystal Mine.

To secure our family’s future, we’ve ceased mining for the past decade or so.

Anyway, now that the news has leaked, if everyone wants this Magic Crystal Mine, we’re willing to give up the vein for nothing!” Viscount O’Toole said with all sincerity.

The expression on his face was as if the Magic Crystal Mine was a scourge he couldn’t wait to rid himself of.

Whether it’s true or false is yet to be determined, but it does explain why the O’Toole family, which gained vast wealth, did not grow stronger but instead declined.

In the Extraordinary World, antiques represent heritage.

A Strongman who could once live for a century or two now can’t even survive past sixty.

The hope of birthing a Strongman is almost shattered, and to make matters worse, the clan’s population is also sharply declining.

When these two unfavorable factors combine, it’s no wonder the family can’t prosper.

With this twist, the anger in everyone’s eyes vanished, replaced by hesitation.

If the Magic Crystal Mine really is cursed, then it’s a hot potato no one wants to handle.

Although wealth is precious, life is even more so.

“Hmph!”

“Viscount O’Toole, I hope what you’ve said is all true.

We’ll need to investigate further, and if you’ve deceived us, you might as well slit your own throat!”