Dorothy’s Forbidden Grimoire Novel - Chapter 448

Chapter 448**: The Bone Sand Society**
Seated by the window in the hotel suite, Dorothy paused over her breakfast, considering Beverly’s reply. ‘The Bone Sand Society? So an organization exists solely to plunder the Star Chronology Scribe Society’s ruins? Remarkable. Are those ruins truly so accessible?’ She swallowed a bite of bread, then picked up her pen and wrote within the **Navigation Records of the Sea of Texts<e/m>**:

“Are the Star Chronology Scribe Society ruins really that easy to find? There’s actually a guild dedicated to raiding them?” Dorothy inscribed her question. Moments later, Beverly’s response emerged.

“Of course not. Though the **Star Chronology Scribe Society** is long gone, its powerful anti-divination defenses remain partially active. Locations tied to it are completely immune to scrying. Among ancient secret society or civilization ruins, theirs are some of the hardest to discover deliberately. Intentional searches rarely succeed; finds are almost always accidental.

“Because these ruins are a major source of **’Enlightenment’** reserves on the market, countless treasure-raiding groups covet them. Yet, few locate them through planned effort. The **Bone Sand Society**, however, is different. They seem to possess a reliable method for finding **Star Chronology Scribe Society** sites.”

Dorothy sipped her milk, her expression registering mild astonishment as she read the crisp text forming on the page. Setting her glass down, she wrote again:

“A reliable method? But the Scribe Society has anti-divination protection. How could they achieve consistent discovery? What *is* this method?”

“The exact technique the **Bone Sand Society** uses remains hotly debated within the treasure-raiding underworld… But all theories converge on one person: **Azam**, the founder of the **Bone Sand Society**.”

Beverly’s words continued to appear. Dorothy watched with focused interest.

“**Azam** established the **Bone Sand Society**. In his early years, he was a famous independent tomb raider. Stories claim he accidentally discovered a **Star Chronology Scribe Society** ruin and then underwent… an experience. From that moment, he appeared to gain the ability to locate such ruins, uncovering a new site to loot approximately every three years, reaping enormous quantities of valuable **’Enlightenment’** reserves.

“By exploiting these ruins, **Azam** founded his own raiding guild. He swiftly expanded by recruiting other **Non-ordinary** tomb raiders with lavish payments. In barely over a decade, the **Bone Sand Society** grew into a major organization, rivaling groups with centuries of heritage.”

Reading the text, Dorothy’s confusion intensified. She dipped her pen:

“Finding ruins every three years… that’s incredibly precise. What enabled **Azam** to do this?”

Dorothy posed the query. Shortly after, Beverly addressed it.

“Regarding how **Azam** located the ruins, many ideas circulated initially. However, mounting evidence later strongly indicated **Azam** must have found something within that first ruin he stumbled upon – an object possessing divination abilities. Using this artifact, **Azam** seemed able to partially bypass the Scribe Society’s anti-divination wards to glean information about it. This item was how **Azam** pinpointed the ruin locations.

“Using this artifact, however, evidently requires an interval of about three years. Hence, **Azam**’s raids followed this three-year cycle.”

‘An extraordinary item that bypasses the Scribe Society’s defenses, usable only once every three years? Damn. How incredibly fortunate was **Azam** to unearth such a thing?'<e/m>

Dorothy’s thoughts turned greedily towards the unknown artifact as she read Beverly’s message. She felt intensely curious about what using it once might achieve, perhaps instantly locating the Scarlet rank advancement method.

“So… are you suggesting that if I want more details about the **Star Chronology Scribe Society**, I should locate this **Bone Sand Society** and find **Azam**?”

Dorothy continued writing. Beverly’s next reply, however, surprised her.

“No. I wasn’t suggesting you seek **Azam** within the **Bone Sand Society**. Because **Azam** is dead. He was killed last year during an internal coup within the **Bone Sand Society**. The current **Bone Sand Society** is extremely perilous. Therefore, I advise against engaging with them.”

“**Azam** was killed… by a rebellion among his followers? The society’s *founder* couldn’t control his own people?”

Dorothy wrote, genuinely shocked. Internal revolts within a society were new to her.

“The **Bone Sand Society** was assembled hastily by **Azam** in just over ten years, built on abundant **Non-ordinary** resources and extravagant payments used to recruit members globally. Its foundations were inherently unstable. While it grew large, its organizational strength and unity couldn’t compare to older, established societies.

“**Azam** used the vast **Non-ordinary** resources looted from **Star Chronology Scribe Society** ruins to attract followers. The entire **Bone Sand Society** effectively depended on **Azam**’s **Scarlet rank** power to maintain order. **Azam**’s long-term strategy involved using significant time to solidify his diverse recruits. It was during this consolidation that things unraveled.

“Two years ago, while raiding tombs in **North Ufia**, **Azam** made a critical error. He encountered a potent **Dead King**. Though he escaped initially, he was afflicted with a curse. For almost a year afterward, **Azam** endured relentless torment from this curse, his strength steadily declining.”

‘A **Dead King** from ancient **Ufia**? Could it be **Maja-Sand, Hafdar**, the entity that cursed **Neve**’s entire family? That being’s curse power is top-tier, plaguing **Neve**’s family for years.<e/m>

‘If it truly was **Hafdar**, that creature must be monstrously strong. **Azam** was **Scarlet rank** and still couldn’t evade the curse. Is that thing **Golden rank**?'<e/m>

Dorothy pondered gravely, reading Beverly’s message. Thinking of **Neve** being hunted by a **Golden rank** undead stirred concern within her.

Finishing her thoughts, Dorothy refocused on the **Navigation Records of the Sea of Texts<e/m>**. Beverly’s text continued.

“As mentioned, **Azam**’s faction was built on payments and resources, so loyalty was perpetually fragile. When his strength visibly waned due to the curse, the followers he’d attracted for profit became increasingly unmanageable. Recognizing this, **Azam** opted for temporary seclusion; partly to hide his weakened state, partly to actively pursue a cure.

“Contrary to his plan, however, news of his true condition leaked *before* the curse could be broken. Upon learning this, the **Bone Sand Society** erupted in rebellion soon after. **Galeph**, the society’s second-in-command, rallied forces, stormed **Azam**’s hidden refuge, fought him fiercely, and slew the weakened **Azam**, seizing control of the **Bone Sand Society** for himself…”

‘Rebellion… Unlike massive societies like the **Eight Spikes Nest**, the **Wolf-Blooded**, or the **Abyssians** – with their clandestine god worship, divine revelations, established hierarchies, and deep histories – treasure-raiding groups are largely alliances of profit-seekers. Betrayal for gain is rampant… **Azam** was barely diminished before being stabbed in the back. The state of treasure-raiding societies seems even more chaotic than I thought…'<e/m>

Dorothy recalled **Nevis** discussing her grandfather **Davis Boyle**’s notes on tomb raiders; he clearly understood their nature.

“**Azam** is dead. So, that means the extraordinary artifact capable of divining **Star Chronology Scribe Society** locations fell to this **Galeph**, right? Are you implying I should approach *him*?”

Dorothy continued writing in the **Navigation Records of the Sea of Texts<e/m>**. Once again, Beverly’s answer defied her expectations.

“No. That artifact did *not* end up with **Galeph**. After murdering **Azam**, **Galeph** ransacked his residence but failed to find the item. Securing that artifact was his primary motive for killing **Azam**, yet he ultimately found nothing.”

“It wasn’t found? Then where did it go?”

Dorothy frowned as she penned her question. Beverly’s explanation appeared promptly.

“Over a month before his death, **Azam** sensed trouble. He realized he was likely under surveillance. Consequently, he attempted countermeasures against **Galeph** to save himself. Though **Galeph** ultimately blocked his efforts and prevented his escape, **Azam** *did* successfully spirit away the critical artifact.”

“Spirited away… But you said **Azam** was watched during his final month? How could he possibly have smuggled it out?” Dorothy pressed, her bewilderment growing. Beverly’s response continued.

“Through a method **Galeph** wouldn’t suspect. You might not know, but **Azam** had a habit: he regularly donated ordinary, **Non-ordinary**-free antiquities to famous major museums. Consequently, he held honorary patronships with numerous institutions.

“Just as **Azam** first detected the surveillance, he was preparing one of his routine donation shipments. **Azam** hid the artifact among those items bound for donation, planning to retrieve it once he cleared his name and escaped danger. **Galeph**’s men, unaware their surveillance was compromised, never expected **Azam** would part with such a vital object so decisively and so early. Consequently, they didn’t scrutinize those donations carefully.”

‘Donated it? Damn… Is donating to museums standard practice for successful tomb raiders? I remember **Neve**’s grandfather also left many artifacts. Still, relying on that established habit probably lulled their suspicions while he smuggled it out.'<e/m>

Dorothy mused as the story unfolded on the page. She quickly wrote her next line.

“So now, that divining artifact is sitting in some ordinary, secular museum?”

“Exactly. Unable to find the artifact, **Galeph** deduced the donation connection. He tracked the dispersal of that specific shipment and found it had been sent to *seven* museums in various cities across different nations.”

“Seven… That many. Finding it would take forever, wouldn’t it?”

“No lengthy search is needed. Others have already done the legwork. **Galeph**, now leading the **Bone Sand Society**, sent agents to *six* of those seven museums. All came back empty-handed. Only one remains unchecked – and the artifact *must* be there.

“This final museum is in **Adria, Ivig** – the **’Net Flow Cathedral Museum’**, a church-affiliated institution housed within a repurposed chapel. This is precisely *why* **Galeph** has held back from searching it.”

Beverly’s words appeared before Dorothy, prompting a nod of comprehension.

‘Hah… He actually sent it straight into Church territory. That *is* the nuclear option. A secular museum is one thing, but provoking the Church’s domain? Naturally, that’s avoided at all costs.'<e/m>

Dorothy’s internal compass fixed; **Adria, Ivig**, was undeniably her next destination.

‘Though **Ivig** *was* my original target, right? The **White Pearl**’s destination… before the **Abyssian Sect** threw us off course and tangled everything… Finally back on track…'<e/m>

Having pieced together Beverly’s intelligence, a final question lingered for Dorothy.

“I appreciate the information. It’s extremely valuable. However, another point arises: how exactly does your organization know the **Bone Sand Society**’s internal affairs so intimately? Providing such deep, sensitive intelligence about them to me – doesn’t that breach your famed neutrality?”

Dorothy questioned, as this intelligence clearly harmed the **Bone Sand Society**, clashing with the **Guild**’s stated neutrality.

“Neutrality… neutrality is founded first on mutual respect. The current **Galeph**-led **Bone Sand Society** has gravely insulted us. We are therefore under *no* obligation to protect their secrets any longer.”

“**Galeph** insulted your **Guild**?” Dorothy queried, eyebrows lifting slightly at Beverly’s reply. An explanation followed swiftly.

“Indeed. You might be unaware, but under **Azam**’s leadership, we maintained an exceptionally close relationship with the **Bone Sand Society**. For over a decade, the **Bone Sand Society** was one of our most significant clients in deep commerce.

“The enormous quantities of **’Enlightenment’** reserves and various other treasures **Azam** unearthed were consistently offered to *us* first. We provided the **Bone Sand Society** with the most favorable purchasing channel. They secured us a stable supply of **’Enlightenment’**. To cement this commercial relationship, **Azam** even signed a long-term cooperation agreement with us. We pledge allegiance to no faction, but purely mercantile contracts? We have many indeed.

“During the period **Azam** suffered under the curse and covert surveillance, he exhausted all options seeking external help. He even contacted the **White Stonemason Guild**, imploring us – citing our long-standing business ties – to intervene. It was through *him* we first learned of the festering instability within the **Bone Sand Society**.”

As Beverly wrote, Dorothy could anticipate the outcome.

“**Azam** sought your help… but you chose not to intervene?”

“Naturally. Commerce is commerce. Intervention means meddling in another faction’s internal conflict. Though **Azam** pleaded earnestly and explicitly, despairingly sincere and offering immense payment, we did *not* intervene. For us, the principle of non-interference in internal societal matters is paramount. **Galeph**’s subsequent assurance that the agreement **Azam** made with us would be upheld was another key factor. *Who* led the **Bone Sand Society** mattered little to us, so long as our contract terms were respected.

“However, it turned out differently. **Galeph**, upon seizing power, swiftly reneged. He tore up our agreement, canceling a major shipment already promised to us… selling it instead to the **Gloom Gold Society**. Later inquiries revealed **Galeph** had struck a secret deal with the **Gloom Gold Society** long before. His ability to muster sufficient force to overthrow **Azam** was due to substantial **Gloom Gold Society** support.

“The **Gloom Gold Society** had watched our lucrative, stable **’Enlightenment’** trade with the **Bone Sand Society** enviously for years. They coveted taking over its preferential trade rights from us. Failing through legitimate means, they naturally turned to underhanded tactics. Seeking tools amenable to subtle schemes, they chose to back the **Bone Sand Society**’s collapse, installing their preferred puppet.”