Chapter 170: 170. The Cursed Tree
There were occasions when two magi families exchanged goods based on their interests with each other so if the Valen family had come up with a deal, the Darkwood family wouldn\'t have ignored them.
If they could really do the whole thing the proper way, then why did they take the worst-case scenario?
"Prince, I think I know about a place in Roele that could attract some unwanted attention here."
At that moment, the general said something that caught Orion\'s interest.
"What is it?" he asked.
"There is a tree on this planet called the Cursed Tree," the general said. "Nobody knows how long this tree has been here but one thing everyone knows about this tree is that it\'s cursed."
"Why?" Orion asked with interest. "Why does everyone think it\'s a cursed tree? Is there any specific reason behind this?"
The general thought for a moment before he said, "The area where the tree is located is completely barren. No trees, grasses, animals, or even monsters could be seen there. Only the yellow and brown stretches of land could be seen, as far as the eyes could see. However, this tree is the only thing that grows there—the only living thing that exists in that area.
Because of it, the people on the planet Roele called the tree—The Cursed Tree, saying it drained every bit of life around it and became the only overlord in the area."
Orion found this tree really fascinating and terrible. To be able to grow in an area where not a single living thing existed was an achievement worth the title it had—The Cursed Tree.
Though he also wondered if what the people said was true—that the tree absorbed all the life forces around itself to sustain itself—and that was the reason why the area around the tree was completely barren.
Looking at the general, Orion asked, "I get what you said, but what does this have to do with the attack of the Valen Family and their stealing of the mana essence pool?"
The general took a deep breath, hearing Orion as if he were about to reveal something big.
"There is a rumour around The Cursed Tree that it bears a fruit that, when eaten by someone, could get rid of their curses permanently."
Orion took a deep breath as he heard him. To be able to get rid of the curse permanently was a god-level thing. Since ancient times, no human has ever been able to get rid of their curses. It was a part of their talent, their soul, and their life—it was born with them. So, the concept of removing the curse from one\'s body was unthinkable—nonexistent.
Turning to the general, Orion asked, "Do you think the Valen Family is after this?"
The general nodded to him, saying, "There isn\'t any other reason I could think of that could attract the Valen family here."
"Prince, should we check that place?" He further asked.
Orion nodded to him and said, "We should. If they are really there in that place, then everything could be explained."
The general was about to say something when he felt a badge in his space ring vibrate, and not only that, but Orion also felt the same.
Looking at each other, they both took out their badges and from the general\'s badge, the voice of Orion\'s father sounded, "Khan, are you there? Khan?"
"Mater, I am here." Khan, being the general, immediately responded.
"Are Orion and his team with you?"
"Father, I am here, and so is my team." Orin responded to the voice.
"It\'s good that you are there. Listen carefully to what I am about to say—the cursed tree—I don\'t know if you have probably heard of this tree or not but the news of it bearing the fruits that could get rid of curses permanently has been spread to the entire Magus Kingdom."
Orion and his team, along with General Khan, were all shocked. This wasn\'t a good thing for them. Knowing there existed such miraculous fruits, people from all over the world would flock themselves here on this tiny little 3-star planet.
"Therefore, be ready, as people from all over the world will knock on our door on the Roele planet. Also, Orion, I am changing your mission. I want you to go and see if the fruits, as in legend, truly existed or not and if they do, make sure to bring some along."
Orion frowned, thinking the difficulty of the mission had suddenly increased by many levels. There would be hundreds of people, if not thousands, gathering for the fruits and considering his poor luck, obtaining those fruits would be very hard from the flock of thousands of people.
As if understanding the difficulty Orion might face, his father said something that took away all of Orion\'s worries.
"Don\'t worry, the emperor himself ordered that not a single individual above the gold rank should go there unless they are rebelling or going against him, that is."
"Why are the royal family interfering?" Orion asked.
"Good question. Think about it: if all the strongest people in the world were to fight for some fruits, which might not actually be as miraculous as the legend says, then what would the world turn into? A war would be the least of the emperor\'s problems if that were to happen.
Therefore, only one platinum-rank individual would be there and that too would be from the royal family for maintaining peace and integrity."
Orion understood how serious the situation would be if that were to truly happen.
At the very least, the peace of the Magus Kingdom would be over, and the royal family definitely wouldn\'t want that, especially considering that only five years remained before the demon race, if not all three enemy races, attacked the human race together.
They were already in a bind because of these threats, and if an internal war were to break out, the fall of the human race, at least in the Magus Kingdom, would be inevitable.
"Father, one last question: how did the rumours about the world tree spread so fast?" Orion asked. He had previously thought that since the Valen family had their eyes on the fruits, they would be very quiet about it. However, the reality was exactly the opposite of what he had expected. This made him wonder if the rumours were spread intentionally by them or if there were other forces at work.
"We don\'t know the exact source but what I can tell you is that only a Magi family could spread such rumours to the entire world in such a short amount of time."
"A magi family, huh?" Orion felt that his assumption about the Valen family spreading the rumours might actually be true.
"Alright, this is all I wanted to say. Though remember this, although the mission I gave you is important, it isn\'t more than your life. So remember, safety always comes first."
With those words, the badge General Khan had been holding stopped vibrating and became silent.
Knowing the seriousness of the situation, Orion didn\'t waste any time and tuned in to General Khan.
"Take your strongest men and meet me outside, fast." He ordered him.
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