The Girlboss Begs for Remarriage

While Sylvie and Frank continued their conversation, a rustling sound could be heard from a sarcophagus.

Instead of getting spooked, Sylvie exclaimed excitedly, "Could it be a zombie? I've never seen one in my years of tomb exploration-I'd die happy if I actually see one!"

Frank smiled in wry amusement-was this what a professional archaeologist should be saying?

Still, it was understandable since tomb exploration movies were the trend, and being in the business meant Sylvie might be hoping to get in on the action too.

Frank then strode up, ready to open the sarcophagus, when he remembered something.

Turning to Sylvie, he asked, "Should I open it?"

Archaeology was not tomb raiding—one did not simply pry into any oddities, and restoration was priority. They must not destroy anything if possible, which was why Frank would like Sylvie's opinion.

"Just open it." Sylvie shrugged. "Oddities have to be investigated, or they would terrorize the next guy."

Frank chuckled and gently opened the sarcophagus with one hand, gently putting the lid down.

Inside lay a rotting corpse-unlike the others Syvlie had seen, this one was well- preserved as if the person had only died decades ago.

Its blood-red clothes were also bright as new!

However, Sylvie was left puzzled because the clothes and the corpse's coronet did not match.

She had a keen eye thanks to her experience with relics and did not need thorough examinations to date any objects.noveldrama

While that coronet was clearly from olden times, the clothes were recent fashion...

It was as if someone had changed the corpse's clothes!

Syvlie sighed. "I guess the tomb raiders had been here. But why didn't they take these?"

Anything post-Elizabethan was actually tradeable, but these were untouched.

Frank might have been on to something-the tomb raiders were not here to get rich, but for something else.

"Hey, check that out," Frank chuckled cheekily as she pointed at the corpse's

nose.

Sylvie turned to look, not sure what he was scheming, and was confused to see nothing.

Suddenly, a centipede crawled out and sprang toward Sylvie, as if it could leap like a frog!

Fortunately, Sylvie had nerves of steel and sidestepped it.

Frank then caught it and held it in front of Sylvie.

She flashed a weary smile. "Count your blessing that you're with me. Ms. Ingram or anyone else would've screamed."

Frank chuckled. "Have you considered why this centipede can jump?"

Sylvie realized with a start-not only was the centipede huge, but she had definitely never seen any that could jump!

"Why?" she asked.

"I've sensed something strange ever since we got in here." Frank

shrugged. "The zombie yel.ne

thinking about might really show up.

"So... you're saying there's a power at work here? One that resembles your ring?"

"Most likely."

In fact, it was possibly the similarity in energy signature that told Frank about the oddness of this place. It could likely nourish living creatures, even mutate them, like the tige he had encountered under Pax Jaric's

home. aric's

As Frank flung the centipede on ground and crushed it under his foot, he and Sylvie heard a strange, repetitive crack.

Then, as Sylvie gaped, the corpse suddenly stood up.

Its flesh was peeling off a sight that was more disgusting than frightening.

Sylvie was used to seeing corpses, but this was still a first.

In fact, she would have turned and vomited if she was not a professional.

That was when Frank put his hand gently on the corpse's brow. "Be good now. Stay dead."

"Amazing... And they say a pretty face ain't worth jack! See? Your charisma works on dead bodies too!"

While Syvlie tried to calm her churning insides with a joke, Frank smiled but said nothing.