Chapter 741 - "Magic Sword" (1/2)

The ‘Blue Beetles’ were here due to an important matter regarding their resources.

Recently, Blue Beetle and Viper both targeted the same spot, which was a base belonging to another desert robber group. An obscure underground spring flowed there and while there was nothing on the surface, they received information that there was an underground chamber secretly built by a slave master there.

Many slave masters loved building underground chambers because there were limited places to build structures on the surface. After this slave master built his underground structure, he realised the place started to leak– and found an underground spring!

The underground spring was not large but already a precious resource in this place that severely lacked water. Not every underground chamber had such luck.

This was no doubt great news but the slave master kept it a secret, killing all the slaves that found this spring so he was the only one who knew. He even sealed the underground chamber to keep it for himself. Later, due to the desert wars, he brought his slaves into the underground chamber planning for it to be his temporary base to regroup. Unfortunately, his slaves rebelled. One of them broke free of the bonds and could no longer be controlled.

The slave master was killed and the underground chamber was taken over by this slave. After recruiting more escaped slaves, it developed into a desert robber stronghold— Heavenly Waters.

‘Heavenly Waters’ was another name for rain in the desert so many did not think much of this name. People of the desert yearned for rain more than anything else so when it became the name of a robber group, it did not attract suspicion.

However, most did not know that they wanted to call it Earthly Spring’ because the underground spring was their source of life. Unfortunately, that was too straightforward, anyone would know what they were hiding. They were not dumb enough to do this, so in the end, the character ‘Heavenly’ was chosen as it was opposite to ‘Earthly’.

‘Heavenly Waters’ developed very quickly but their secret could not be kept for long. Their recruits were not united enough. Even if it was initially a secret among the leaders, there was a leak and everyone knew. Gradually, even other organisations knew of the spring after using various methods.

‘Blue Beetle’ and ‘Viper’ were not the only ones who had their eyes on the spring. Black Sand had contacted Yiken recently to negotiate working together to take over the Heavenly Waters underground chamber. Working alone would not be sustainable as they would not be able to hold the fortress for long. Battles between desert groups were filled with casualties so it would not be worth it. Other people would just take advantage of them.

After some thought, Yiken decided to try their luck. Their previous living quarters were no longer suitable because their spring was shrinking and might disappear soon. Since Blue Beetle was currently growing strong, as the leader, Yiken must think of the future. He had many ambitions.

Yiken brought people over to negotiate with Black Sand this time. Trust was not common in this place so teamwork also meant early discussions on profit distribution. If those negotiations did not go well, then they would not even work together.

Both leaders walked into a sandstone house located in the city centre, also the most ‘luxurious’ house in this tiny city. Most houses were built with sand and mud because sandstone was not very common. However, this house was mainly built with sandstone and looked sturdier and taller than other buildings. Only the leader of the group, Black Sand, was fit to live here.

Although this was far cry from a slave master’s quarters, Black Sand was satisfied to have a ‘mansion’ to himself. He also believed that he would one day have a more luxurious palace like the slave masters used to.

Black Sand led Yiken into the house. This was a discussion between them, no one else was allowed inside as it involved secrets they did not want getting out. ‘Heavenly Waters’ was a good example that even people of the same group could not be trusted entirely. Therefore, Black Sand suggested for both of them to speak alone while the rest waited outside.

Yiken did not object.

However, to his surprise, Black Sand did not immediately talk about the partnership when they entered the room.

“A few days ago, someone new joined us Vipers,” said Black Sand.

Yiken looked at him, waiting for Black Sand to elaborate. Recruitment was a common thing but he must have his reasons for bringing this up.

“He’s from that side.” Black Sand pointed in a direction, Yiken understood. From the ocean.