<h4>Chapter 136 Map </h4>


    The road to ssford was filled with carriages. Magi from all over the Southern Federation were traveling to this city for the opening of the Soaring River Secret ne.


    A month had passed since the students of the Clover Academy had departed from Moon City. By sunset today, they will have reached the city that houses the portal to the secret ne.


    Inside a ck carriage drawn by blue, fish-scaled horses, Adam, Edward, and Lisa were traveling together. Currently, the three of them were attentively going over a particr map.


    Adam thoroughly memorized the details on the parchment paper and muttered in amazement, "How fascinating! The area inside the secret ne is actually so big?"


    Much to his surprise, he learned that the secret ne was more than 80 square miles!


    "This map looks pretty old, fatty. It''s been in your family for a while, huh?" Adam nced at Edward and asked curiously.


    Edward rolled the map and kept it away. He crossed his arms and replied smugly. "Heh, of course! For generations, my family has been updating this map every time the secret ne opened."


    Adam silently nodded. He guessed that the current prosperity of the Turner Family, or any major Magus Family in the Southern Federation for that matter, could be directly rted to the secret ne.


    Only now was he beginning to realize just how much of a vital role the secret ne yed in the history and the progress of the Southern Federation.


    "I must say, this map is even more detailed than the one in my family." Lisa praised the detailed work as she rolled the parchment paper and put it inside her space-type storage ring.


    "So the main objective for us will be to advance toward the center of the secret ne, huh?" Adam asked as he stroked his chin.


    "That is correct." Edward nodded. "Based on the past experiences of my family elders, although one would find treasures and precious herbs and items in the periphery of the secret ne, none of them canpare to the ones found at the center."


    "Hmm…" Adam nodded absentmindedly as he stared at the center of the map. There, he saw something marked that he would have never imagined even in his wildest dreams.


    The fact that such a structure could even exist spoke volumes about the Magus who created the secret ne. He had learned that the Magus who owned this secret ne was someone who majored in the School of Summoning.


    He couldn''t help but wonder if the spells from this school were actually so powerful!


    Adam''s lips involuntarily curled up into a smile and he excitedly muttered, "How interesting! I can''t wait to go to that ce."


    "Oh, and one more thing!" Edward suddenly recalled something. His face turned solemn and he added, "We''ll be separated once we enter the secret ne. Moreover, no form of magicmunication devices will work inside."


    "So how do we meet?" Adam asked.


    This time it was Lisa who replied, "It''s fine if we meet each other by coincidence, if not, we should aim to regroup at the center."


    "The center of the secret ne will also be the ce with the most intense fighting." Edward nodded. "So it''ll be better for us to group up."


    Adam rolled his eyes, but he didn''t refute Edward''s words. He knew that there was strength in numbers after all. "If that''s the case, then let''s include the twins."


    "Oh, that''s right!" Edward''s eyes lit up. "Where are they? I don''t think I''ve seen them in the city ever since they came to Mystic Lane."


    Adam nodded. "They went with Lord Elrod to visit the other ces in the Southern Federation. They should have already reached ssford by now though."


    "What about their entry?" Lisa asked with slight concern. "I heard that it was quite difficult to secure entry spots."


    "Ah, don''t worry about it." Adam waved his hand nonchntly. "The old man was able to secure two spots for them."


    "That''s good then." Lisa nodded. She looked out of the carriage window and saw the silhouette of the City of ssford in the distance.


    The city had tall walls surrounding it, and past them, one could see the outlines of tall medieval-styled buildings. Toward the north of the city,y a lush forest, and beyond the foresty the Murky Mountains!


    ssford was situated on the borders of the Murky Mountains, however, this area couldn''t be considered that dangerouspared to the rest of the areas that bordered this ominous mountain range.


    Rows of carriages traveled on the dirt road leading to the city. From the coat of arms painted on these carriages, Lisa could tell that many organizations from all over the Southern Federation were arriving here. That was a given, after all.


    Suddenly, she started to feel butterflies in her stomach and her hands involuntarily clenched. She had never been to a secret ne before. She nervously hoped that she would find good treasures inside that would help her as a Magus.


    Seeing this, Edward gently patted her shoulder. "Don''t worry, everything will be fine."


    Lisa turned to look at Edward and met his eyes. She didn''t know when, but after a certain point in time, Edward started to seem very reliable to her. She felt she could depend on him and not worry about other things in hispany.


    Realizing, that she was gazing into his eyes for longer than necessary, she immediately looked away. Her face reddened slightly and she softly replied, "T-Thanks, I know."


    Edward also started to blush, noticing what had just happened. He turned the other way and looked outside the window. "Y-


    Yeah, no problem."


    Adam, who was sitting across from them with a wine gourd in hand, looked stupidly at the duo acting so weirdly. He couldn''t help but ask, "Why are you guys acting so strange?"


    "Shut up!" Edward and Lisa screamed together, hoping their loud voices would drown out their embarrassment.


    "Kekeke." Adam decided this was the perfect time to tease them. "You guys look so cute—"


    However, before he could even finish what he was about to say, Lisa and Edward''s feet erged in his vision.


    "kk!! You bastards! Ganging up on poor ol'' me—Ughh! Stop it! Fine, ya bastards, have it your way. Val, I choose you!"


    Gray light shed inside the carriage.


    "Rawr~"