Chapter 75: Setting Out Again

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Setting Out Again

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[Repaired Treasure Chest (White): A repaired Treasure Chest that can be dragged. Of its original Treasure Chest Monster functions, only the expanded internal space and the ability to identify its opener remain functional.]

Gu Su reached out, lifted the Treasure Chest’s lid, and leaned over to look inside. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.

The seemingly unremarkable metal chest had an interior far more spacious than its outward appearance suggested.

Although it looked like an ordinary, small rectangular box that could be easily dragged around with a hemp rope, its interior genuinely contained at least three cubic meters of storage space.

What was more, even if it were loaded with items weighing around a ton, its mobility wouldn’t be affected. It wouldn’t become too heavy to drag.

At the bottom of the Treasure Chest lay a scattering of gleaming Gold Coins, alongside several rust-covered weapons that were clearly beyond repair.

It seemed these were all items the Treasure Chest Monster had stored inside itself before its defeat. Gu Su bent down and took everything out of the Treasure Chest one by one, placing the items on the empty ground in front of him to take inventory. The Gold Coins alone amounted to a full thirty-seven.

Looking at the Gold Coins in his hand, the corners of Gu Su’s mouth curled into a faint smile.

Leaving everything else aside for the moment, these thirty-seven Gold Coins were enough to cover the cost of repairing the Treasure Chest. This transaction was no loss.

As for the corroded weapons, they were rusted beyond recognition. Their Metal components crumbled to dust at the slightest touch. Even the Skeletons, accustomed to using crude weaponry, would likely refuse them.

Gu Su gave them a glance, then casually stuck them into the ground beneath the nearby Deceitful Tree. He figured they could serve as decorations, which was at least some way to put them to use.

After taking stock of the Treasure Chest’s original contents, Gu Su bent down, grabbed the hemp rope at its back, and personally dragged it a few steps to test the difficulty of pulling it.

To his surprise, the Treasure Chest was much easier to move than he’d expected. Dragging it was effortless, with no noticeable snagging as he walked.

He mused that since it could theoretically carry a ton without affecting its movement, he could store any heavy materials he found in the future right in the Treasure Chest. He wouldn’t have to bother arranging for a large number of Skeletons to transport things in batches anymore.

Whether he was out scavenging for supplies or on a solo expedition later on, this Treasure Chest would be an extremely useful tool. It would save him a lot of trouble.

At this thought, Gu Su waved to the Skeletons lined up at attention nearby, beckoning one of them to step forward.

Once the Skeleton was before him, he pointed to the Treasure Chest on the ground and commanded, "You are now responsible for dragging this Treasure Chest. Follow behind me, and don’t wander off."

The Skeleton respectfully bowed its skull, shuffled forward, and grabbed the rope at the back of the Treasure Chest. It stood quietly behind Gu Su, holding the chest steady and awaiting orders.

To Gu Su, this repaired Treasure Chest was like a unique, small-scale spatial storage item. While not as convenient as genuine spatial equipment, it was more than sufficient for his current needs.

Having assigned a Skeleton to drag the Treasure Chest, Gu Su led it on a slow circuit inside the Graveyard Demon.

He did this partly to test the Treasure Chest’s stability while moving and partly to check on the Graveyard Demon’s status, ensuring everything was progressing smoothly. After a full lap, the chest dragged along without a problem, and all was in order within the Graveyard Demon. Only then did Gu Su turn and head toward where Tooth Bone was busy working.

Tooth Bone was currently squatting on the ground, intently focused on the object in his hands. Tiny parts were scattered around him, and a faint, rotten smell hung in the air.

Gu Su walked over to him and stopped. "Tooth Bone," he asked, "how are you coming along with that music box?"

Hearing the question, Tooth Bone immediately paused his work. He slowly raised his head, gave Gu Su a slight bow, and replied respectfully, "My lord, I’m giving it my full attention. Please, take a look."

With that, he shifted aside to make room, gesturing for Gu Su to look at the items before him.

Gu Su looked where he indicated. The confiscated music box had been completely disassembled by Tooth Bone, and all its tiny components were soaking carefully in a wooden basin.

The wooden basin contained a dark red, viscous fluid that gave off a faint, rotten stench.

Gu Su recognized at a glance that the dark red fluid was created from specially processed, dissolved flesh and blood. The music box’s components were being slowly corroded by this solution, their surfaces gradually taking on a faint, grayish-black sheen.

Looking at the scene before him, Gu Su raised an eyebrow slightly and asked again, "Are you confident you can fix it?"

He knew Tooth Bone was skilled at repairs, but the music box was badly damaged, and its parts were intricate. He himself wasn’t entirely confident it could be fixed.

"Rest assured, my lord," Tooth Bone said, nodding slowly. His voice held a note of confidence.

"I’m eighty percent confident I can repair it. However, I’m not sure what its final effects will be, or how many of its functions will be restored."

"As long as it can be fixed, that’s good enough," Gu Su said, waving his hand dismissively. He didn’t press the matter, his tone nonchalant.

"Whatever its final function turns out to be, having one more usable item is one more advantage. It’s better than letting it go to waste as a broken wreck."

After saying his piece, Gu Su walked over to the Treasure Chest. He took some common tools from the Graveyard Demon’s storage pile, packed them into the chest, and began preparing to head out.

After all, he couldn’t just wait inside the Graveyard Demon for the Kobold corpses to be delivered and the music box to be repaired. He needed to get out there and see if there were any other resources to gather nearby.

This time, Gu Su decided to head in the same direction as before: toward the Vine Mansion.

Although he and the Suburban Wolf Squad had already taken plenty of good things from the Vine Mansion on their last trip, leaving no particularly valuable items behind, he still felt a nagging sense of unease.

The last time, the Suburban Wolf Squad had been in a rush, only hastily searching the few key rooms he had pointed out. A large number of rooms in the Vine Mansion had yet to be thoroughly searched, and there might still be useful, overlooked supplies hidden within.

Moreover, now that he had this Treasure Chest with its considerable storage space, he could easily pack away any scattered supplies he might find.

He could then haul everything he found back to the Graveyard Demon, unlike the last trip where he had to abandon items because they were too difficult to carry.

With these calculations in mind, Gu Su led the chest-dragging Skeleton and all the Ordinary Skeletons out of the Graveyard Demon, slowly making his way toward the Vine Mansion.

But the moment they reached the entrance of the Vine Mansion and Gu Su looked up, he froze completely. His eyes filled with utter disbelief and shock.

The scene before him was nothing like it had been when he last left. The building, once draped in Fluorescent Vines, was now so completely transformed that he could barely recognize it.