“Where’s the treasure map?” Dustin demanded.
“It’s in Reagan’s underground secret chamber. I can take you there,” Cinna replied.
“Underground secret chamber?”
Austin narrowed his eyes and warned in a low tone, “Cinna, I warn you not to play any tricks. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to get tough on you.”
Secret chambers were usually equipped with potential traps and hidden weapons. He was concerned that Cinna might have some malicious intentions.
“Now that I’m backed into a corner, I won’t even think about deceiving you,” Cinna said, his expression filled with discomfort.
“Lead the way.” Dustin nodded, signaling his guards to escort Cinna.
Cinna suddenly said, “Wait, I need one of Reagan’s hands to open the secret chamber’s vault.”
“No problem!” Austin unsheathed his knife, swiftly severing Reagan’s right hand and handing it to Cinna.
“There you go, a gift for you.”
Cinna winced but stayed silent as he led the way.
Dustin and his companions trailed behind Cinna as they entered the base. When they reached the command room entrance, Cinna opened the door and casually strolled to a hanging painting.
He took it down, revealing a hidden compartment that blended seamlessly with the wall. Then, he pressed it lightly, and the entire wall split open, exposing an elevator.
Then, he led the group inside, pressed a button, and the doors closed smoothly as the elevator descended.
After about half a minute, the elevator abruptly stopped with a thud. The doors opened, revealing a spacious and luxurious underground chamber.
Despite being labeled a secret chamber, it resembled more of a luxurious mansion. It was decked out with various amenities and had enough supplies, including food and water, to last for decades.
“Is this some kind of fallout shelter?” Austin marveled at the luxury.
“Turning a shelter into a luxurious haven-Reagan spared no expense.”
“Why bother spending so much for this? I mean, he’s already dead,” Julius casually remarked.
“Uncle Julius, let’s not badmouth the departed. Weren’t you just about walking the same path as Reagan?” Austin quipped with a sly grin.
“This…” Julius hesitated momentarily, finding it awkward when his involvement in the elaborate scheme was brought up.
Despite putting his life on the line to penetrate Reagan’s inner circle, he bore the brunt of the responsibility for the greater good.
“Austin, show some respect,” Dustin said half-heartedly, trying to sound serious.
He added, “Uncle Julius went through so much, risking his life, facing hardships, and taking all the blame to cleanse the castle of treachery. It’s a noble deed, and we should appreciate what he did.”
Julius was rendered speechless, and his lips twitched. He couldn’t help but sense that the compliment sounded more like an insult to him.
