《Catastrophe Card King》 Chapter 320 - 1311 am the World (3 Chapter 513: Chapter 179: The Relic Level Clown Mask_ Huh? Only when Leonard Churchill looked over did he notice that the mirage-like illusion in front of the stele was gone. Moreover, those words had completely disappeared from the stele. It was like there was nothing fancy about the inscriptionless stele now. Seeing this change, Leonard Churchill immediately wondered: Could it be because I absorbed the statues divine power? This coffin, statue, and stele were a whole. The coffins contained the Angels Remains as the statues suppression. Could the statue be charging the stele? Although Leonard Churchill didnt understand it, that was the feeling he got at the first glance. S And when he looked again, the Cloak of the Thirteen Knights was gone. Elder Clinton was sitting on the ground, bored, and digging his ears. Leonard Churchill was puzzled as he watched: Has his other identity runtime come to an end? The high-quality temperament when they first entered the Underground Palace is gone, and his familiar and vulgar expression has returned. Next to Elder Clinton, Catherine Carter and Colin stood still as if they were in a state of epiphany. Seeing this, Leonard Churchill walked over. Upon seeing him approach, Elder Clinton took the initiative to greet him Eh are you done, lad? Hoping, Leonard Churchill asked, Elder, have your memories returned? Elder Clinton retorted, What memory return? Hearing his tone, Leonard Churchill suddenly had a bad premonition and hinted That is... Before... Elder Clinton responded with a bewildered expression: Huh? Leonard Churchill realised he had asked in vain. The old man had forgotten again. He had been hoping that if the old man remembered his other identity, he could help him unravel the mystery. Now, it seems like that expectation is gone. Without asking further, Leonard Churchill reluctantly looked at the stele that had completely lost its traces, and sighed again. Seeing the snakes actions, Leonard Churchill frowned as well. The snakes movements were very strange, like it was smoking. It greedily absorbed something from the statue. Before he could understand what was going on, Elder Clinton saw through it: The Spirit Snake Paying Homage to the Moon? Its trying to steal the divine power... So its following the Miracle Sequence C Spade 10 C God Stealer no wonder. Someone from the White Family? Leonard Churchills eye twitched. Although he didnt know that the snake Elder Clinton casually mentioned was a card master, if Clinton said it, it probably was. And seeing this weird method, he immediately thought of that Elder Miss from the White Family who almost killed him before. If Elder Clinton hadnt found it, this transparent snake might have been ignored. The snake clearly did not realize that it had been discovered. Once Leonard Churchill thought of this, he immediately thought of rooting out the threat. But at that moment, the little snake seemed to have discovered something, and it even spoke in human language with surprise and doubt, How is this possible! Why is there only this bit of divine power left?! Then the snake swiftly turned its head towards Leonard Churchill and the other three. As Leonard heard the snake speak, he felt a chill down his spine. An ambush was no longer possible. But a weirder scene unfolded next. Leonard watched as the snake suddenly rushed towards them. As it slithered, a human arm stretched out of its mouth. A glance later revealed a woman covered in slime before his eyes. If not Vivian White, then who? He had seen this womans parasitic means before. Now seeing this entrance, he didnt find it strange anymore. But after confirming the enemys identity, a loud pop sounded in the Underground Palace and he vanished from the spot. If its an enemy then strike first! Leonard Churchill rushed forward with aerial steps, and as he ran, his body was already transforming back into his werewolf form. He didnt kill her last time because he had taken advantage of a surprise attack. Chapter 1 - 1: The Naked Corpse chapter 1: chapter 1: the naked corpse when leonard churchill woke up, he found himself in a completely unfamiliar room. two thoughts instantly sprang into his mind. the first one; kidney theft. the second; honey trap scam. it was an enclosed room, with walls all the color of cement. apart from a bed and what looked like a toilet compartment, there were no furnishings. no windows, no furniture, it looked like a prison cell, an escape room, or some kind of themed pleasure room. definitely, not a regular room. leonard churchill was lying on the bed, naked, and not in a good mental state. next to him, a woman, also naked. after a few quick glances, yep, absolutely nothing concealed. it was a stunningly beautiful body, with enchanting, delicate skin, full breasts, and a strangely beautiful face. "what... what is going on?" the unexpected sexual encounter didn''t arouse leonard, but rather instinctively made him alert. he struggled to recall if he had blacked out from drinking, or perhaps been hit on the head. but his memory was clear- last night he had gone to sleep as usual, and woke up in this strange room. ... not a dream. leonard quickly confirmed this. although he could barely straighten his sore waist, there were no wounds, so the kidneys were still there. there also wasn''t a group of bulky tattooed men rushing in demanding money. so, it probably wasn''t a honey trap scam or a kidney theft plot. looking again at the unresponsive pretty woman beside him, leonard reached out to touch her, hoping to wake her up and find out what was going on. but that touch immediately caused him to furrow his brow. the sensation was unusual. "something''s wrong!" leonard''s expression turned serious in an instant. he carefully reached out and touched her skin again, which was full, delicate, and elastic. but strangely enough, it was very cold. this was not the body temperature of a living person. dead? a hint of surprise flashed in leonard''s eyes. after a moment''s contemplation, he reached out to check the woman''s neck pulse. as though he had discovered something unusual, his expression grew heavier. indeed, he couldn''t find a pulse. at this moment, he confirmed that this was a corpse. "this is strange..." as leonard looked at the corpse in front of him, the heaviness in his eyes gradually turned into doubt. leonard could hardly believe his eyes as he looked at the sentence that appeared. after blinking, it was still clearly visible. he then looked back at the corpse on the bed, this time he saw another line of text. "fallen witch sect" description: first tier b-level catastrophe; a mental contaminant, a distortion of desire that controls witches, it is adept at spirit attacks, and survives by absorbing the spirit and soul of human beings; if you can''t kill it, it''s not a bad choice to indulge it at the end of your life; ... shit! it really wasn''t a person! on seeing this, leonard slightly narrowed his eyes. although he didn''t quite grasp the details of this "enlightenment", he felt like he understood. since he couldn''t interpret his current situation with ordinary reasoning, he decided to take another approach. the numerous anomalies combined seemed to indicate an alternative explanation. in that moment, he had a strange thought: "what if... i have traveled through time?" the signs all indicated that this was probably not the world he used to know. a momentary shock from this thought quickly fled from his face, replaced by a contemplative look in his eyes as he mulled over whether this time travel hypothesis held water. obviously. with the hypothesis of time travel, all previous puzzlements suddenly made sense. only this could perfectly explain why he was here, and why the corpse on the bed was so odd. oh, right. it''s not a corpse! what did "b-level", "catastrophe" and "mental contaminant" mean? could they be monsters? or alien life forms from another world? leonard started scrutinizing everything around him with a new perspective in mind. he didn''t know what these text enlightenments were that the mysterious power had provoked, but things were clearly developing in an ever-increasingly bizarre direction. seeing that the description mentioned a creature that could absorb human spirits, he knew that staying with it wasn''t a good choice. better to leave and then think later. he glanced around, noticing his scattered clothing under the bed. leonard stood up intending to put on his clothes, open the door and look around, perhaps he might find some other clues. however, as soon as he stood up, a wave of weakness washed over him. his legs suddenly gave way and he fell hard onto the corpse next to him. "smack!" heavily undulating, he felt something full and soft as his hands landed. leonard made an effort to brace himself in that delicate touch, the corner of his eyes twitched, and he realized something. looking at his ribs protruding from his body, he finally understood why he had arrived here. and at this glance, he even saw his own body data. Chapter 2 - 2: Abnormal Creature Shelter 407 chapter 2: chapter 2: abnormal creature shelter 407 a string of numbers appeared before his eyes. "leonard churchill" strength: 0.71 physique: 0.58 agility: 0.62 mental power: 4.73 description: weak; "data panel, huh... well, this is really straightforward." since leonard could accept the fact that he had transmigrated, he didn''t find the panel particularly strange. on the contrary, upon seeing these data, he immediately analyzed his physical condition. the abnormally high "4.73" for his mental power was likely related to his transmigration, or perhaps an inherent attribute. but the other values were desperately low. he estimated that the values for a healthy body should be around 1, but his were merely half or slightly above, he was enfeeble as if he were a patient. what was more horrifying was that as he observed, the numbers were continually declining?! "you''ve come into contact with curse pollution, physique -0.002" "you''ve come into contact with curse pollution, physique -0.001" "mental erosion exemption" "..." "so, being in proximity causes continuous pollution? no wonder i''m so weak..." leonard grumbled in his mind, instantly realizing that mental pollution was like nuclear radiation, continuously causing damage upon contact. certainly, he had to keep some distance from the thing on the bed. after checking, he found that although the clothes weren''t his, the body was really familiar. he had transmigrated, taking over the body of the original owner, with no memory of it. he took another look at the woman under him; a monster was a monster, but he couldn''t deny, she was pretty attractive. "haha..." leonard mocked himself, carefully avoiding the naked corpse on the bed, afraid of accidentally waking her up. being naked was not a good choice, so he picked up the scattered clothes underneath the bed and put them on one by one. a dirty tactical suit, hard steel boots, anti-stab tactical vest, and a rudimentary gas mask, it looked like some sort of field gear. what surprised him was that on the belt covered by the clothes, there were two large-caliber revolvers and some ammunition. he figured, in a world with monsters, it wasn''t strange to carry guns. leonard gripped the gun, his finger slightly moved on the trigger, he checked the bullets and thought, "the firearms technology in this world isn''t too shabby." the revolver was clearly handmade; there were signs of manual polishing on the parts. but in terms of its structure or the steel used, this revolver could be considered quite decent. with such a large caliber, one bullet could probably blow a person''s head into a pulp. the bullet''s head also had a unique silver pattern, which was very likely not merely a decoration, but served some special purpose. clearly, this gun was not only meant for humans but also likely for killing monsters. was this some sort of special game-like space, or a duplication of a game? however, he didn''t know enough about this world to fully comprehend what "alternate dimension" meant. but this almost 70% mortality rate... is quite alarming. the danger in this bunker is probably not just limited to the body lying in the room behind him, there could be others. perhaps he is not the only human here. there could be more people. before he could even step out of the door, leonard churchill''s hand was already resting on the revolver strapped to his waist. he cautiously observed every direction. this sealed corridor had no windows, seemingly an underground construction. aside from his own room, every dozen meters or so there was an equally sized iron door, he estimated at least twenty or thirty rooms existed within his line of sight. "could each of these rooms be holding a beast?" just as the thought crossed his mind, leonard churchill suddenly heard a "creak" as the door to the room next door was pushed open from the inside. something was coming out! leonard churchill instantly went into high alert, swiftly reaching for his revolver, pointing it at the figure emerging from the door. however, it would seem the individual in the next room was equally aware of his presence in the hallway. and their reaction was even quicker! in the instant the two met, both had their weapons aimed at the other. after recognizing that the other was a human, leonard churchill, who was clearly a second slower in drawing his weapon, did not pull the trigger. because the other party hadn''t made a move either. more importantly, leonard churchill looked up to find the barrel of a cannon aimed at him from the other party''s right arm, he raised his eyebrows slightly behind his goggles. what the hell is this thing? a mechanical arm? or should it be called... an individual steam-powered high-pressure jet cannon? leonard churchill was unsure how to accurately describe the other party''s equipment. it was a steam punk styled mechanical equipment, a metal barrel about 30mm in diameter was attached to the arm with finely made brass valves and a pressure gauge device as well as a metal-arm guard . three high-pressure gas pipes were connected to a small steam boiler on the wearer''s back. there were also complex mechanical structures on the chest and knee joints, somewhat resembling a complete single-soldier mechanical exoskeleton. the boiler was sputtering with white smoke, obviously a weapon powered by steam. yet, high-tech mechanical equipment aside. what caught leonard churchill''s attention was a faint shield light barrier shimmering around the figure? the mash-up of vintage steam punk technology and a magical light shield was an eerie cognitive assault. "magic punk?" leonard churchill thought that with a gun, he''d have a fifty-fifty chance even if a fight broke out. but this guy in front of him knows magic! seeing the magical light shield, he immediately realized that this world''s technology tree and power system were not quite the norm. oh, it hadn''t been normal since he saw the naked body. he was ridiculously under-equipped. starting a fight obviously wasn''t a wise choice. leonard churchill felt that his circumstances might be a little grim. Chapter 3 - 3: Steam and Magic chapter 3: chapter 3: steam and magic the neighbor appeared to be a human. she wore a gas mask adorned with a brass skull ornament and a tattered hemp cloak that hid most of her body, her face indistinct. when she first rushed out, her eyes were as cold as knives. however, the moment she caught sight of the open door behind leonard churchill from the corner of her eye, the murderous intent in her eyes instantly faded, and she blurted out in surprise, "you haven''t died yet?" ... her voice was deliberately kept low, but it was clear that she was young. she probably recognized him, which was why she didn''t attack. "???" listening to her, leonard churchill muttered silently in his mind. he had indeed died once already. but, this woman seemed to know him? just having crossed from another world, leonard was at a loss for what to say. his instincts told him it was better to stay silent for now. in the blink of an eye during this confrontation, the mechanical arm girl seemed to think of something. she took the initiative to lower her steam cannon barrel, making a friendly gesture. seeing the empty pockets of churchill''s clothes, she seemed to have guessed something. even more puzzled, she muttered again, "you spent a night with the ''fallen witch'' and you''re still alive?" "..." churchill remained silent, also lowering his gun. she had mentioned the ''fallen witch'' in the room. it was clear that she had a lot of information. the enigmatic woman, seeing leonard churchill remaining silent, hesitated for a moment. as though having come to some decision, she decided to get straight to the point, "are you a solo hunter or do you have a team? in other words, are you interested in teaming up?" she was straight to the point. speaking, she was afraid the man in front of her might not have understood his current situation. so, to clarify, she added, "otherwise, given your condition, when the fallen witch comes knocking tonight, you probably won''t live to see tomorrow." "what...?" listening, leonard churchill quickly analyzed the information in her words. the woman''s words seemed distant, probably having just met but certainly not knowing leonard''s previous self. this saved him a lot of trouble. but what did she mean by not living until tomorrow? where did that come from? she obviously had a lot of information that he urgently needed. hiding his emotions, leonard tentatively wondered aloud, "team up?" "hmm." he pondered for a moment, then asked the question that he was most curious about, "could we kill it now? i mean..." he was going to suggest that the monster seemed harmless while it is dormant, so it should be easy to kill. but his words were abruptly dismissed. the woman with a mechanical arm looked at him with eyes that clearly said, "this guy knows nothing," and vetoed him, "if category b catastrophe could be handled this easily, not so many people would have died in this alternate dimension. even if you can destroy its body, no matter how you try to kill it, it would still revive completely unscathed by nightfall. many have tried this before. moreover... anyone who gets close to its body will be left with a ''mark of hatred''. once the night falls, those marked would surely die." oh. this plan wouldn''t work after all. he was just asking anyway. leonard quirked a questioning eyebrow. "are you sure it''s certain death?" "yes!" the girl with the mechanical arm was firm in her tone, "as far as i know, there are no exceptions." "if you don''t believe it, you can try shooting at it a couple times. you''re already marked, anyway." then she took another look at leonard, evidently bewildered as to why he was still alive, and asked another question, "i''m very curious, how did you survive last night?" "..." leonard didn''t plan on explaining that he had already died, nor could he even begin to explain why he was still alive. but given their current situation, he really had no choice. though he didn''t completely trust what she said, he did confirm a few things. firstly, the monster inside was indeed very tricky, at least he can''t handle it alone. secondly, she was heavily armed, if she wanted to kill him, she wouldn''t need to talk so much. could she just tie him up as bait as well? or, did she need his cooperation to use him as bait? regardless, at least until they took down the fallen witch sect, he still had value. as long as he''s valuable, there won''t be a danger for now .... leonard had no knowledge of this world, and he needed a source of information. he didn''t hesitate and bluntly said, "i agree to cooperate." speaking of which, he added: "but before that, can we share some information? i mean, about this space. " "sure!" the girl with the mechanical arm seemed relieved when she heard this. she was worried that she would have to deal with a fool who didn''t understand the situation. with bait, it would be much easier for her to hunt down the catastrophe. then she pointed to room 2013 that she had just come out of, and said, "but there are still twelve hours until it gets dark, and i have some preparations to make. you can stay inside the room if you want to survive until evening. or if you''re not afraid of encountering monsters, you can come with me. but i can''t guarantee your safety..." leonard decisively said, "i''ll go with you." obviously, going with her would be safer. Chapter 4 - 4: Steam Jet chapter 4: chapter 4: steam jet "you really didn''t buy any intel from the information merchant and just came straight here?" "yeah." "well, that explains why you dared to stay in room 2012." "..." "this ''abnormal creature shelter 407'' currently has four known floors, with a hundred rooms on each floor. some rooms contain monsters, some are vacant. the twelve hours when the iron doors are closed represent night; monsters will go berserk and wander the bunker corridors. anyone who leaves their room would get killed. monsters occasionally burst into rooms to kill as well. the twelve hours when the iron doors are open is considered day. the monsters will be stuck in their rooms. this is the best time to explore this alternate dimension. however, it is not entirely safe. if you want to kill monsters for material, you need to explore the rooms. and to open a room, you will encounter unknown creatures... this is why the death rate is so high." "how dangerous is a b-tier catastrophe likely to be?" "currently, we know that there is a b-tier mutation monster in rooms 1099, 2012, 3045, 4011. except for the corrupted giant in 1099, which was killed. the other three b-tier catastrophes haven''t been killed yet, instead, they have killed at least hundreds of people. after all, this space limits the tier of the entrants, and it''s tough to kill a b-tier catastrophe without a large team." "yet you still...?" "the fallen witch sect is unique and spiritual. she has her weaknesses. i have some special methods to restrain her, which will reduce the difficulty significantly. i will explain some details later." "..." this mechanical arm girl, although unphased and wary of strangers, doesn''t mince her words. her direct and no-nonsense character. leonard churchill found it to be quite to his liking. he tried to disguise his ignorance by asking some ambiguous questions and gradually learned some useful information. through their conversation, he began to unravel the mysterious fantasy world. it apparently is a world where both humans and monsters possess extraordinary power, atypical items like steam machinery and magic-powered cards. ... open the door, be cautious, and search. the mechanical arm girl could handle it all alone. leonard churchill didn''t have to do anything, just follow her and play the supportive role. there were vacant rooms for over a dozen miles. leonard churchill walked leisurely. he did not feel any danger despite the 70% fatality rate. however, as they were walking, he seemed to notice something unusual, his expression turned serious, silently pondering,"the distance between each room is twenty steps...is there something wrong with the layout of room 2012?" he didn''t know the significance of his small discovery, so he kept quiet and continued onward. the gas lamps in the corridor were not stable, their dim yellow light casting elongated shadows. as they were talking, they arrived at the door of room 2049. as before, the mechanical arm girl intended to go inside for a look. just as she pushed the iron door open, however, a sudden change occurred. "a talent in mental power enhancement, huh..." she muttered to herself, saying no more, and walked into the room. ... out of the hundred rooms on the second floor, they had investigated over forty, but only one room, 2049, contained a monster. the rooms that were not opened were marked as "unknown risk rooms" by the information merchant. the girl with the mechanical arm had a very clear target, the fallen witch sect, and therefore had no interest in the monsters in other rooms. she also had no intention of taking the elevator to other floors. but what surprised leonard churchill was that besides them, there were no other people on the second floor. however, they did come across more than a dozen dead human bodies. wanting to gather more information, he asked, "are there no other people on this floor?" the girl with the mechanical arm''s tone was noticeably better, as leonard churchill had not given her any trouble along the way. she explained, "the mutation monsters on the second floor are mostly of the spirit type. these monsters usually have some weird attack methods and are tricky to handle. the easy-to-kill monsters were mostly wiped out yesterday. the rest are troublesome monsters that need some tactics to be dealt with. so the average hunters prefer to go to the third floor with higher fatality rates, rather than picking a fight on the second floor. this is a hundred-member team space, so there should still be dozens of living people upstairs and downstairs. but it is best not to encounter them if you can." speaking of which, she added, "don''t touch those unopened doors, nobody knows what''s inside. if you encounter a catastrophe of class c or higher, you could potentially be wiped out." "ok." leonard churchill didn''t say much. this is the advantage of buying information. you won''t stumble upon monsters you can''t handle. the girl with the mechanical arm said, "let''s go, we''re going to the next room." ... while leonard churchill and the girl were searching the vacant rooms on the second floor, twenty or so well-equipped individuals were clearing up the body of a class b catastrophe, a corrupted giant, outside room 1099 on the first floor. this crew were not ordinary treasure hunters, they were the elite vanguard of the blackwater mercenary corps. only an elite team like theirs, with effective teamwork, could hunt a class b disaster as non-professional players. even so, the casualties were not small. but looking at their gains, the mercenaries broke into smiles. "hahaha... we actually got a shining silver finished contract card, and it''s the rare sequence of the four of clubs-mystery. we''re going to make a fortune this time!" "yeah. this stuff is hot at the auction house. we''ll definitely get a nice bonus this time." "hey, have you noticed? even though we got a shiny silver card, the ''boss'' doesn''t seem interested at all. what on earth is he looking for?" "what do you know? didn''t you hear the captain say that our ''boss'' is a real big shot from the upper city. the silver talent card, which we think is very rare, may not be a big deal to those big shots. he obviously wants more rare materials. and this alternate dimension is less than 50% developed, so there are still many hidden plots. maybe we could even get the legendary gold cards..." "well, that makes sense." "so what if it does? killing this corrupted giant, our mercenary corps''s two elite teams suffered heavy losses. who can kill the class b catastrophes on the second, third, and fourth floors?" "yeah. this space limits the tier of entry, and the monster strength is ridiculously high. i''ve explored dozens of alternate dimensions, but i''ve never encountered anything so bizarre..." "who cares. the boss has personally gone to the fourth floor, we just need to wait here and do our job for the pay." "..." Chapter 5 - 5: The Witch chapter 5: chapter 5: the witch after a stroll over the second floor, leonard churchill and the girl with the mechanical arm returned to room 2013. this was the place where they planned to ambush the fallen witch sect. if his teammate had no intention of adventuring to other storeys, leonard naturally wouldn''t either. both of them planned to hold out here after killing the monsters. this alternate dimension was a "survival mode", all they needed to do was survive for three days and they could leave. they just had to survive this night for now. ... "finally, everything''s set up." the girl with the mechanical arm placed the last card down in the room and murmured to herself, "if it weren''t for the numerous restrictions in this space, we wouldn''t need to set up such an intricate barrier." the most important thing was to find an appropriate bait, the catastrophe would then surely come to this room. leonard watched silently as she arranged the cards following a specific pattern in the room and chose not to ask. including room 2013, rooms 2022, 2034, 2045, 2066... nine rooms had been set up with a total of 108 cards. there were also several rooms which were clearly set up as decoys, likely to keep people from seeing her complete setup. leonard noticed this but chose not to say anything. what he was more interested in were the cards themselves. the cards with mysterious rune patterns were the sources of the "magic" that he had seen before. these magnificent magic cards. more than once, leonard heard the term "curse card master" from the girl and surmised that the power hierarchy of this world seemed to be related to cards. moreover, the physical capabilities of the humans of this world seemed to also be incredibly unusual. earlier, leonard had quietly observed the girl''s actions. she could easily push and pull a heavy iron door that would take him all his strength to budge, her neural reaction speed was unnaturally fast, and her physical strength was abnormal... leonard estimated that just from her strength alone, she was at least "5.0", multiple times his own "0.71". action sports athletes from his old world couldn''t reach this standard. and from what the girl said, all of this was not divine strength, but something regular people in this world could achieve. extraordinary power, magic cards, catastrophic monsters, steam equipment... these pieces of the puzzle painted an increasingly strange picture. it was then that leonard started to realize just how unique of a world he had entered. .... the girl finished everything then sat down on the floor. the cloak she wore shrouded her entire figure, adding to her mysterious aura. there was nothing left to explore on the second floor, all that was left to do was wait for nightfall, wait for the witch to come to them. at this time, she glanced at leonard sitting on the bed, took out a red liquid tube and said, "this is an energy potion produced by the hydrei alchemical potion factory. if you drink it, you''ll feel better. of course, it costs 8500., if we manage to get out, the money will be deducted from your spoils of war." "sure." after all, the death rate in the alternate dimension was close to 70%. leonard churchill tactfully refrained from asking more, and the two of them sat quietly in the room. before long, he noticed that across from him, the girl sat cross-legged, and an invisible energy field began to wrap around her body gradually. it seemed to be some kind of breathing method or a meditation-like secret skill for cultivation? leonard churchill watched in secret amazement. the two of them silently spent several hours together, tacitly not speaking. the "energy potion" helped greatly. after several hours of recovery, leonard churchill''s physical data recovered about 20%. although the "weak" tag on the attribute panel was still there, it was much better than before. at least his hands didn''t shake when holding that big revolver. finally, night fell. ... inside room 2013. unbeknownst to them, the familiar "click" "click" of metal sounded. the iron doors of the entire second floor were being locked. night had come. this was when monsters went on a rampage. they would roam in the corridors, killing any humans who didn''t hide in the rooms. the girl with the mechanical arm also looked at the pocket watch on her mechanical arm, then she turned to leonard churchill, who was leisurely lying on the bed. her tone was slightly surprised: "you seem more composed than i anticipated." a class-b catastrophe was imminent, and she didn''t know why the man before her was so calm. leonard churchill also sat up and casually replied, "panic is an excessive negative emotion for humans. it only disrupts hormone secretion in the body, leading to some misjudgments. it''s of no help in solving problems." "..." the girl with the mechanical arm did not agree or disagree. she knew this guy''s calm wasn''t for show. during the several hours they had been waiting, she had noticed his observing gaze. and she had been observing him too. in the alternate dimension with a high death rate of up to 70%, an ordinary person would hardly be able to maintain composure, especially when facing an imminent class-b catastrophe. she just couldn''t understand why such a seemingly rational guy would come in so recklessly? as though she thought of something, the girl added: "when the monster comes, if you''re still conscious, try to maintain this composure as much as possible. monsters don''t like food with a weird smell." "hmm." leonard churchill chuckled. was she afraid he would wet his pants in fear? but just as he was about to continue the conversation, the girl suddenly seemed to sense something. her expression turned serious instantly: "get ready, the witch is here!" leonard churchill sensed it as well. becasue he saw a familiar enlightenment: ''mental erosion exemption'' since the distance was too far, the mental contamination didn''t cause any substantial damage. but obviously, the monster was right outside the door. and getting closer and closer. ps. the new book has been launched, seeking all kinds of support, brothers help me~ votes, please! Chapter 6 - 6: Hidden Mainline Trigger chapter 6: chapter 6: hidden mainline trigger the bunker had entered the night, all surviving adventurers hid within their rooms. as long as they made it through tonight, they''ll be able to leave this alternate dimension tomorrow. however, what no one knew was that once the door locks had been closed, within room 4001 on the fourth floor D a floor with a death rate exceeding ninety percent D a team was secretly planning something. in the room was a young man with a cold look and white complexion, accompanied by an old man in tailcoat. the room was also filled with well-equipped blackwater mercenaries. the young man had been quietly waiting for a while in the secret room, anticipation occasionally flashing in his eyes. others only knew that this abnormal creature shelter 407 was a treasure trove alternate dimension that produced rare materials and demon mark cards. but he knew more. in their miller family heritage, there was a mention in a top-secret dossier from a thousand years ago that the old continent once had a mysterious "research facility 407" that concealed a shocking secret. and he indeed found it. the wilderness of the sinless city was the legendary old continent, and those hunters had found this alternate dimension in the demon cross, bearing the same name as the one in the ancient dossier! if the records were true, one of the "fifty-two demonic origin cards'''' might be stored here. that is a top-tier demon mark spoken of in the epics. one that no one has ever seen before. if he truly found it... this could cause his rise to fame, lead to a change in his miller family, or even a shift in the structure of the entire continent. the young man couldn''t conceal the anticipation in his heart. at this moment, after the old man had set up a hexagram array, he turned around and respectfully said to the young man, "young master, everything''s ready." for extra precaution, the young man confirmed himself, "has the condition to activate the ''t-level disaster source'' been met?" the elderly man responded, "yes, completely met. after spreading the news earlier, more than five hundred people have died in this alternate dimension. that''s more than enough for the soul sacrifice." hearing this, a confident smile appeared at the corner of the young man''s mouth, "then, let''s begin." ... previously, the witch was in a dormant state, and the spiritual pollution was not too strong. but now that the monster had awakened and was standing at the door, leonard churchill could clearly feel an increasingly intense spiritual temptation. looking once more, it seemed as though the thick iron door was twisted out of shape, and a transparent phantom slowly materialized. its skin was fairer than snow, standing proudly, with a sultry figure fully showcased. just moments ago, it was merely a corpse. and now it had indeed come back to life. witnessing this bizarre and unimaginable scene, leonard churchill was curious about its wall-passing method, thinking: "particle state wall passing? or thought wall passing?" seeing the monster appear out of thin air and pass through the wall, he was certain the temporary teammate hiding in the barrier at the corner of the wall wasn''t lying to him. the creature really was coming for him. her chest and abdomen metamorphosed into a gaping maw, revealing hundreds of hellish sharp teeth. deep within the pink undulating flesh, there was also a hair-raising, abominable, infantile face. this was the true form of the witch! "you have been exposed to curse pollution, physique -0.005" "you have been exposed to curse pollution, physique -0.008" "..." properties fell rapidly. leonard clearly felt his physical functions being drawn out by a mysterious force. he could even see his vitality and blood being extracted beneath his skin, coalescing into blood beads, and being swallowed by the monster''s gaping mouth. the body, which he had barely managed to revitalize with potions, weakened again. it seemed that the monster found the tasting appetizing. at this moment, an even more terrifying scene unveiled. a sharp proboscis gradually tip-toed out and stabbed towards leonard churchill''s lower abdomen. now! instantly, the girl with a mechanical arm hiding in the corner of the barrier, stirred. she took a deep breath, raised her left arm, and lightning-quick, made a warlock sign. all of a sudden, a mysterious power surged out from her fingertips. in no time, the barrier beneath her feet emitted dazzling blue light, and an array of profound runes froze the surrounding air. in the blink of an eye, she conjured an origin card with a chain pattern between her fingers, she whispered, "earth''s hundred chains barrier?seal! barely had her words echoed, when every corner of the spacious room was filled with sparkling rune lights. rune lock chains gushed out from all directions, binding the "fallen witch" on the spot. everything fell into place. smoothly. the girl was visibly happy. "it worked!" leonard also heaved a sigh of relief in his heart. the situation was going as smoothly as they had planned. now, as long as they stick to the plan, they will most likely be able to kill this monster. ... but to no one''s expectation, just as the two of them were about to kill the witch according to the plan, an unexpected twist transpired. without any warning, the entire alternate dimension shuddered slightly. it seemed as though some mysterious force had awakened, and enlightenment appeared once again. this was a reminder seen by all in the bunker. "explorers have triggered the hidden main line, the alternate dimension''s disaster level has risen: unknown" "current exploration rate: 29.7%" "a mysterious power has permeated the entire bunker, the catastrophes have mutated violently, the cabin doors have opened, they will actively hunt down all humans within the bunker. ''survival mode'' has shifted to ''escape and kill mode'', if you want to survive, you need to find the correct exit of the bunker" seeing this, leonard churchill was confused: "???" this is not what they planned for. Chapter 7 - 7: A Strong Teammate chapter 7: chapter 7: a strong teammate what''s going on? why is the hidden main storyline being triggered? also, what is this "escape and kill mode"? the sudden change of events made leonard churchill immediately suspect that he was being kept in the dark about something. but upon a quick sidelong glance at his temporary teammate, he immediately dismissed this suspicion. even if she was wearing a gas mask, the tremor of the mechanical arm girl''s body in that brief moment clearly indicated her extreme shock at this sudden change. it turns out leonard wasn''t the only one who was surprised, his teammates are as well. .... this mysterious invasion is essentially just giving the monster some kind of rage buff. the most obvious sign is the notice above the witch''s head changing from a b-grade catastrophe to an "a-rank". the strength of its spiritual domain seems to ripple like a stone being dropped on a calm surface, causing waves of unseen ripples to spread across the room. visibly, its strength has greatly increased! this has multiplied the difficulty of hunting the creature, which until moments ago seemed like smooth sailing for both of them. while leonard was able to maintain his composure just a moment ago, now, facing this evolved catastrophe, his mind feels like it''s been clobbered by a blunt weapon. various danger warnings keep flashing. the data on the attribute panel is dropping rapidly. death is closer than at any other moment. leonard doesn''t understand what this change in disaster level means. but his teammate obviously does. the girl with the mechanical arm became acutely aware of the creature''s power and cursed under her breath, "damn it, how did it turn into an a-rank mutant?" almost at the same moment her mutant power surged, invisible waves of energy from the calamity witch broke the spell chain which had been tightly bound. the barrier couldn''t hold the monster back! however, the bad news doesn''t stop there. the cards in the mechanical arm girl''s hand disintegrated as the barrier collapsed. while recovering from the backlash, a red whip shot towards her. "smack!" she couldn''t dodge it, and the whip struck her. alarmed by the whip, her cloak disintegrated instantly and the whip affected her chest as well. the strength of this whip was colossal, it directly hit and deformed the metallic mechanical exoskeleton on her chest, leaving a bloody wound. a mouthful of blood gushed out, and the girl was flung away. with a "thud", she heavily hit the wall. looking again, the red whip was actually a centipede-like tail protruding from the monster''s body. at this moment, the fallen witch sect member had completely transformed into an unexpected monster form. not only did it have a giant bloody mouth, it had also grown a centipede-like tail and four spider-like elongated legs. ... as she spat out a mouthful of blood, the lenses of the mechanical arm girl''s gas mask turned red, obstructing her vision. she quickly pulled off the mask, gasping for air. but as leonard had guessed, she was young. although a blood-soaked scarf obscured her mouth and nose, making it difficult to see her face, the tight skin around her eyes and her finely arched brows, coupled with a pair of profound black pupils, imparted a sharp and spirited look. now that the fallen witch sect member had completely transformed into a monster, her combat power increased significantly. it recognized the human behind it posed a considerable threat, and its hatred was instantly redirected. after flinging the mechanical arm girl with its tail, the monster no longer disregarded leonard as its "prey". it moved swiftly on its four spider legs. despite its heavy body, its speed was extremely fast, and the razor-like spider spear was thrust forward in the blink of an eye. the girl with the mechanical arm glared coldly, her hand pulling the trigger of the steam pressure cannon on her right arm. a muffled "bang" rang out, and white steam immediately filled the entire room. in the foggy silhouette, the giant body of the monster was sent flying by the high-pressure airflow. however, the sight of the monster being blown into bloody pulp by the previous blast was nowhere to be seen. the girl''s pupils constricted tightly as she keenly caught on to this detail. reacting quickly, she took advantage of the recoil to take a big leap back, drawing several cards mid-air. the whip moved so fast it left a fanned shadow, but the blood-stained girl showed no panic and no intention of evading. she raised her hand casually, and the centipede-like whip stopped a foot away from her palm. as if an invisible force field swirled around her palm, she gripped down harshly, and the tail was like a snake caught by the neck, struggling fiercely but unable to escape. looking again, the mechanical arm girl''s momentum suddenly changed. the silver hair on her head swept back naturally, a chilly aura surrounding her body as if a frosty field, blocking the corrosive acid liquid sprayed by the monster. a transparent peculiar phantom flickered behind her. at that moment, she seemed like a demon god descending. leonard just glanced out of the corner of his eye, but it was enough to feel as if observed by a demon god, his scalp tingling as he recognized her strength. he wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but he felt that his teammate, at this moment, exuded an energy that was more demonic than the witch. ... the aura of his temporary teammate changed abruptly, suddenly becoming unfathomable. leonard wasn''t surprised at all. he contemplated, "the materials required by the witch must include some spiritual-type ability. but what is it, telekinesis? even the ice power is no ordinary chill..." he had always been curious. despite his high mental strength, he was still being affected by the monster, but his teammate seemed to be just fine. if it was not the effect of the resistance brought by the equipment, it must be very high mental strength that was immunizing her from the spiritual contamination that the witch was constantly spreading. now it became clear that she had tremendous mental strength. regardless of the mechanical equipment, cards, melee skills she had shown before, they were all just a disguise. her real cards were her superior mental strength and ice abilities being seen now. "no wonder she''s been so mysterious, this ability is pretty recognizable." although leonard didn''t know much about this world, from her manifestation it was obvious that such an identifiable ability couldn''t be common. however, she chose to keep it hidden, indicating her identity might have something to hide. however, now wasn''t the time to contemplate over this. the mechanical arm girl, her momentum suddenly changing, no longer evading the monster''s whip. instead, she punched forward with her concentrated cold air, launching a frenzy of attacks on the monster. "thud!" "thud!" "thud!" "..." the room resonated with the sound akin to a bell ringing. the girl, undaunted by the spiritual contamination, her fists wrapped in frost flames, slammed into various parts of the monster''s body. with each punch, a large area of the monster''s armor was frozen, forcing the monster to retreat step by step. however, being a top-tier disaster, under such restriction, there was no chance of winning anytime soon. watching the battle from the corner, leonard mused to himself, "it seems like something''s still missing." he had thought that his meager combat strength would not be needed, but looking at the current situation, he needed to do something. ... the concept of "disaster" in this world roughly equates to a boss level. considering the silver-haired girl was going head-to-head with an a-rank disaster, it was clear she stood out amongst her similar ranks. however, it was clear it was not enough. the fallen witch was a spiritual monster, its melee abilities weren''t strong. but its shell was very hard, which made it difficult to kill. even though the girl was having the upper hand, it would still take some time to determine the outcome. none of these were key issues. the problem was the battle between them was causing a great deal of disturbance. and there was not just one monster in this alternate dimension. sounds of gunfire came from outside the door. somebody must have encountered other monsters. this can''t go on any longer. with that thought, leonard decisively made a decision. he reached out his hand and gestured like he was holding an imaginary gun. obviously, his teammate noticed it. ... but in the bottom of the mechanical arm girl''s eyes flashed a trace of disbelief: could this guy be of any help? Chapter 8 - 8 Cards and Materials chapter 8: chapter 8 cards and materials "is this guy trying to... help me?" the girl with the mechanical arm naturally noticed leonard churchill''s actions, and instinctively she thought: what could he possibly help with? but this is an a-rank catastrophe we''re dealing with here! is this something you, with your combat power, could intervene in? wouldn''t it be better for you to obediently play the part of the bait and stay alive? after spending a day together, the girl knew that leonard wasn''t just weak from the witch sucking him dry, he was fundamentally weak to begin with, so weak that she couldn''t even sense any curse power fluctuation from him. but at the same time, seeing his actions, she realised something else: this guy hasn''t been affected by the mental pollution? normally, those who aren''t professionals would have fallen under mind control if inside the same room as a member of the fallen witch sect. especially if it is an a-rank catastrophe caused by a secondary mutation. yet, not only had this guy not been controlled, he was even calmly hinting at helping out. if it''s not because his mind is confused, then he must have some other methods at his disposal. "could it be that he''s awakened his psychic direction for the demon mark?" at this moment, the girl somewhat understood. why he could spend the whole night with the witch last night and still survive. but strong mental power can''t hide the fact that he is weak in combat. ... "maybe...i should let him try?" the silver-haired girl found herself in a whirlwind of conflict. although she doesn''t have high hopes for this temporary teammate''s ability to assist, currently she has no other options. with the monster having undergone secondary mutation, she still held the winning odds, but it wasn''t something she can kill in a short amount of time. right now, all monsters inside the alternate dimension were going berserk, how can she not hear the gunshots coming from outside the door? if she had to drag this on, with the entrance''s monsters pouring in, the risks would exponentially increase. the girl watched the cloud of blood that exploded right in front of her in amazement, her brain gradually daring to believe what her eyes were seeing: "a one-shot hit?!" she knew that since he dared to offer help, his shooting skills must not be bad. but what''s difficult is not just the shooting skills, but to hit the target under the interference of mental pollution. it''s very challenging for an average person to remain calm under the fear of death and mental confusion, how did he manage it? it seemed like he didn''t have even the slightest bit of tension and fear affecting his shooting. after a moment''s consideration, the girl with the mechanical arm already understood. that guy had guessed her intention and also predicted the monster''s response, only then was he able to hit with one shot. this kind of composed response, even if it had been her, she might not have been able to do it better. "not bad at all..." the girl with the mechanical arm murmurs. initially, she thought that she would have to create several opportunities to succeed, she didn''t think it would be resolved in one shot. but now is not the time to be surprised, the monster has already been seriously wounded from the bullet to its oral appendage, the whole space was echoing with its piercing screams. she has to kill the monster first! the girl''s gaze grew sharp, the secret skill already forming. the aura of the illusion behind her surged, the invisible telekinetic field around her body instantly boiling over. it was as if two forces were colliding, there was a stalemate for two breaths, the strange face inside the torn mouth of the fallen witch several meters away suddenly exploded, showering the ground with chunks of bloody flesh. ... leonard churchill watched the monster suddenly explode, he didn''t know what his teammate did but it doesn''t stop him from understanding that it''s a powerful move. "a telekinetic attack, huh...". leonard churchill put down his gun and leaned against the wall. his body was not that of an extraordinary man. being affected by the battle just now, he felt as if he had been hit by a truck, with a stabbing pain in his inner organs. the monster was dead, the girl with the mechanical arm finally let out a sigh of relief. she glanced at the monster''s corpse on the ground, then at leonard churchill in the corner of the room, her gaze became complex, as if she was wrestling with a decision. but an instant later, everything settled down. leonard churchill sensed the inner conflict in her fleeting gaze, raising an eyebrow. he already guessed what she might be thinking. with the prey dead, the value of the bait was effectively gone. with the treasures appearing and his own secrets exposed, a ruthlessly practical person would eliminate any loose ends right now. Chapter 9 - 8 Cards and Materials_2 chapter 9: chapter 8 cards and materials_2 the gap in strength was so vast that leonard churchill had no chance of resisting. but in fact, there was no need for her to take action personally. if she really wanted to kill a person to keep them silent, she could have used the monster to kill himself during their previous battle. but she did not do that. she would rather go through the trouble herself, refraining from the act of betraying after gaining benefit, she tried her best to avoid involving him in the battle. she completely adhered to their previous agreement. of course, if he wasn''t sure about this point before collaborating, it wasn''t just the fallen witch that leonard churchill would have targeted with that shot. even at the risk of getting killed by the monster, he would have shot this teammate first. .... "this is a healing potion." the girl no longer seemed troubled. she threw a red potion towards leonard churchill instead, and said, "i obtained a very rare material. if you can make it out alive, i will settle your share." she didn''t mention about paying him this time but about repaying the money. leonard churchill caught the potion and laughed as he downed it in one gulp. the fact that he wasn''t betrayed was in itself a good fortune, there was no need to ask for a settlement. he naturally noticed the silver glow on the corpses and found it fascinating. they really "dropped the loot?" the girl drew a dagger tied to her thigh in silence, and fiddled with the monster''s corpse a bit, taking out a semi-transparent object like amber. she thought leonard churchill wanted to see the material, so she indicated, "this." fallen witch''s secondary mutated pituitary gland quality: excellent shining silver description: an extremely rare mental-type material, containing concentrated disaster power; leonard churchill looked over, the amber was wrapped in a mental power field similar to the previous monster, but more terrifying. looking carefully, it seemed as if the sensory world was distorted. enlightenment appeared again: ''affected by psychic contamination, confusion+3'' leonard churchill twitched at the corner of his eyes, this thing was a radiation source. the girl with the mechanical arm didn''t look at it for long, she took out a blank card and said in a low voice, "contain!" the hexagram array on the back of the card lit up, the pituitary gland disappeared on the spot, and then the image that exactly replicated the material just now appeared on the front of the originally blank card. the psychic contamination was also gone in an instant. leonard churchill watched in awe: spatial storage card? yet another card with magical effects. the problem was the current unusual changes in the alternate dimension! ... they had managed to kill the fallen witch efficiently thanks to their decisive battle and somewhat harmonious cooperation, without wasting a lot of time. but not long after they killed the monster, the outside noise of concentrated firepower suddenly fell silent. she didn''t know whether the others outside had died or retreated back to the first floor, but either way, the situation wasn''t looking good. the mechanical arm girl, ever cautious, dashed towards the iron gate and stuck two cards onto it: "barrier, activate!" the door lock was already opened and now, they needed to prohibit the monsters from barging in. the barrier card could temporarily seal their aura, but it couldn''t last for long. as the mechanical arm girl felt the situation outside, her expression became more and more serious. they needed to make a decision quickly. ... the mechanical arm girl also suffered seemingly serious injuries during the previous battle. after taking some potions, she put her gas mask back on and replaced her damaged outfit with a spare mechanical exoskeleton. leonard quietly watched from the side. probably sensing his gaze, the mechanical arm girl spoke without turning around, her voice cold: "this barrier won''t last long. in ''escape and kill mode'', hiding in the room is useless, as monsters will actively hunt humans. outside, i can sense the energy fluctuations of at least ten strong monsters. they will surely come soon..." under normal circumstances, everyone hides in the room at night and the monsters are triggered passively. aside from something like a fallen witch that could pass through walls, only a few unlucky people will be randomly taken away by occasional wandering monsters. so, there''s little danger. after three days, you could leave. but now, without finding the exit, nobody could live to leave. with her words, she implied that she wanted to make a heroic escape sooner rather than later, perhaps there was a fighting chance. you were on your own. "..." leonard listened to her words, but wore an unconcerned expression. she had already done enough by not betraying him before. he didn''t expect her to lend a hand at this critical juncture. at a life-and-death moment, no one would want to carry a burden. yet, at this moment, his expression subtly changed. not only is her combat power strong, she has a keen perception, and crucially doesn''t hoard equipment... isn''t she an ideal teammate? leonard processed all the available information carefully in his head. he felt that he has grasped some of the key aspects of this space. the mechanical arm girl, having adjusted her breathing, looked as if she was ready to charge out of the cracked door on her own. but at that moment, leonard abruptly spoke up: "are you... interested in continuing our cooperation?" Chapter 10 - 9: Hidden Dimension chapter 10: chapter 9: hidden dimension continue our cooperation? upon hearing this, the girl''s expression instantly turned sour. this guy still hasn''t realized the situation, and he wants me to lead him out? at this point, even she is unsure if she can save her own life, let alone carry a burden. but she patiently explained anyway: "considering the current condition, the known two b-rank catastrophes on the third and fourth floors may have mutated into a-rank. other monsters probably also mutated. i''m not sure i can get out alive..." leonard churchill knew the other party misunderstood him, so he explained: "no. what i meant was... have you ever thought about changing our strategy to clear the stage?" ... "???" upon hearing this, the mechanical arm girl looked puzzled. her initial reaction was this guy must be trying to grasp at straws. but looking at him and his ever calm gaze, she felt conflicting emotions. although they haven''t been together for long, they had learned quite a bit about one another. she knew very well including herself that her temporary teammate was weak, but he wasn''t dumb. like the first time they met, when she said "cooperation," what she really meant was "i need a decoy". it was an unspoken agreement. and now, what she inferred from his words was: i have a way out, but i need a teammate. even though she finds it unbelievable, the mechanical arm girl still asked after a moment of silence, "what do you mean...?" leonard churchill didn''t answer directly but asked rhetorically: "assuming the exit is somewhere on the fourth floor ... how confident are you that you can make it there alive?" not understanding why he would ask this, the mechanical girl answered truthfully, "i have no confidence." leonard churchill questioned again: "well, do you think anyone else could potentially do it?" upon hearing this, the mechanical arm girl hesitated and responded: "it''s almost impossible." she knew very well that she was at the peak of the card master apprentice, holding secrecy as her most powerful weapon, making her one of the few at the zenith of non-professionals'' combat power pyramid. this statement was already quite conservative. truthfully, if she couldn''t make it out alive, then no one else stood a chance. a mysterious smile spread across leonard churchill''s face: "so, there lies the problem." although he suspected that this teammate was very strong, hearing her confirm it herself further consolidates his speculation: this copy is "much harder than it should be"! ... though leonard churchill hasn''t fully grasped what kind of existence this "alternate dimension" in this world truly is... but given the information he currently has and just witnessing a monster die and drop equipment and materials, he was confident in his speculation. this was the commitment he was waiting for. their previous collaboration led leonard churchill to believe that this temporary teammate was to his liking. coincidentally, as his physical strength was almost depleted, he needed a reliable partner with strong combat power. a teammate who keeps promises and has strong abilities couldn''t be more suitable. after a pause, the girl asked, "so, what do we do now?" ... not bothering to beat around the bush any longer, leonard churchill stood up and pointed to the wall next to him, saying, "break through this wall." "impossible!" upon hearing this, the girl with the mechanical arm suddenly felt somewhat disappointed. if it was this easy to break through, someone would have tried it by now. she looked at leonard churchill and earnestly explained, "this wall is part of the space rule, and cannot be breached by physical force!" "..." leonard churchill gave a mysterious smile, how could he have overlooked that the wall couldn''t be broken? all the walls of this room remained undamaged despite the intense battle before, meaning they indeed couldn''t be broken by physical force. he didn''t elaborate further, but outlined a space the size of a door frame, 1.5*2.2m, next to him and said, "not elsewhere, but right here." "???" hearing this, the girl with the mechanical arm looked at him skeptically. it''s all the same wall, what''s the difference? leonard churchill knew he needed to come up with a credible explanation and directly explained his discovery, "each of my steps measures 75 centimeters, previously we went through all the rooms on the second floor, and i distinctly counted, it was 20 steps between each room door. so the distance between them is a standard 15 meters. but between rooms 2012 and 2013, i took an extra small step..." "this...?" hearing this, the girl with the mechanical arm, who was full of doubt just now, suddenly seemed thoughtful. she immediately understood the implications: there is a hidden space between the rooms! at the same time, she was amazed, how did this guy manage to do this? depending on stride measurement... he was following her during the day, and she thought he was just a burden, but he managed to count the distance between the doors and even discovered such minute discrepancies?! eagerly waiting but inevitably fearing disappointment. using stride length to measure distance, this method sounded suspect. did he miscalculate? a series of questions popped up in her mind. leonard churchill didn''t let her thoughts wander, and continued, "there''s another issue with the distance in the room. although it seems the same, the wall at the entrance is almost a meter short relative to the wall close to the bed. so, the shape of the room is not the rectangle we see, but a trapezoid." after a pause, he concluded confidently, "which means... behind this wall, there''s a hidden space." hearing this, the expression on the girl with the mechanical arm instantly changed. once reminded, she immediately saw the problem! ps. after signing the contract, you can vote now, asking for all kinds of support. data is extremely important for a new book, it''s a matter of life and death, thanks everyone. Chapter 11 - 10: T-Level Disaster Source chapter 11: chapter 10: t-level disaster source "trapezoid...!!!" the adolescent girl was no fool. hearing this explanation and taking another look at the room layout, she suddenly understood. her vision has been deceived! the room was a single shade of concrete, and in this color scheme, long and short lines were most likely to be misjudged by the naked eye. and the most crucial point was, this was room 2013! under normal circumstances, room 2012 next door, where the member of the fallen witch sect resided, was surrounded by rooms that were subjected to mental contamination. no one would wander around this area. even if someone passed by, their mental power would be disrupted, thereby ignoring such intricate details. visual deception plus mental disruption, this also leads to the subtle differences in the distance from the iron door being overlooked. difference in door gap...this was entirely new information that even the most detailed intelligence from the information merchant had never recorded. what a clever design! the girl with the mechanical arm thought everything over and turned her gaze to the man who seemed so weak that she could kill him with a casual swat, her face filled with disbelief. despite such interference, he actually sensed the anomaly? this was already beyond what meticulousness could explain. "..." after leonard churchill finished speaking, his expression remained unchanged, not feeling that there was anything noteworthy about it. in fact, he had discovered this issue long ago, but didn''t want to make a fuss. moreover, he didn''t trust this temporary teammate enough at the time and wanted to survive until the third day, so he didn''t say much. but now it''s different. ... in fact, apart from what was said, there were many details that leonard didn''t explain. the construction of this bunker is simple, a "ten" shaped building, each floor with hundred rooms, and there is only one corroded elevator between the upper and lower floors. this design is inherently problematic. first of all, the purpose of this bunker is in its name. the abnormal creature shelter 407 is obviously some sort of research bunker. but does a lab only have places to confine monsters? a normal research institute structure would probably be easily analysed by anyone to figure out the positions of other rooms, so that''s why they made this misleading parallel structure. if you think along these lines and check the room structure one by one, you can also find problems. of course, the prerequisite is not to be interfered by the abnormal psychic domain on the second floor. leonard himself has an unusually sharp observational ability when it comes to the environment, so he quickly spotted the problem. he then reversed the reasoning to figure out the spatial design issues. since he is certain that this is a "clearance, reward" type of duplication, then the most interesting part for leonard is not the decoding. but rather... deducing the motives of the designer for designing this level. ... the girl with the mechanical arm had completely let go of her contempt for her temporary teammate. time waits for no one, she directly walked over to the wall that leonard had marked. a detailed "?" sign had been marked on the door frame. the girl didn''t hesitate, raised her fully charged mechanical arm and took aim at the mark. she didn''t forget to remind, "you step back." leonard naturally hid behind her. then with a "bang", the shockwave almost overturned them. the two of them also heard the sound of bricks shattering inside the wall. "it really broke open!" the girl with the mechanical arm looked at the big hole in front of her, her eyes filled with disbelief. even though she had just been informed of the reasoning process, actually discovering a new direction to clear the stage still made her feel as if she were dreaming. she was not in a hurry to find an exit anymore. the lab was silent, the only sound being the "clicking" noise of the lock mechanism as it turned. suddenly, a crisp metallic sound echoed as the lock gave way. leonard smiled and quietly announced, "it''s open." that quickly? the mechanical arm girl was slightly surprised. looking at his professional safe-cracking techniques and remembering how he had previously diagnosed the issue with the wall, she couldn''t help asking, "what is your profession exactly?" "profession?" after pausing for a moment, leonard replied, "i''m an actor." the mechanical arm girl interjected, "i meant your professional sequence. are you a god thief?" she had originally thought he was a psychic-type extraordinary, but that seemed not to be the case. "..." leonard couldn''t answer. before finding himself here, he was an actor. an orphan adopted by a circus, he grew up to be a clown performer. his unusual mental abilities were somehow related to his profession. playing the clown, he has worn many different masks. until one day, he realized he no longer knew which was the real him. or perhaps, each one was a part of the real him. leonard distinctly felt as if there were many versions of him in his mind, each playing a different role. although he seemed always cool and collected, it wasn''t because he was without fear. instead, his fear was suppressed by other roles such as "rationality", "curiosity", "excitement", "knowledge seeking", "perverted madness", and so on. this overload of mental activity made him a quick learner and gave him a careful but active mind. it also enabled him to master almost all the challenging circus stunts. such as tightrope walking, knife throwing, underwater escape, gunplay, card throwing... "lock picking" was a necessary skill for underwater escape. however, that mental strength also tormented him. he couldn''t experience the emotional ups and downs of normal people, such as happiness. this led him to engage in increasingly risky and exciting pursuits just before he found himself here. he sought sensory stimulation as a way to express his mental frustrations. ... his train of thought returning to the present, leonard opened the safe and pulled out a stack of documents. they were messy, as though they had been rummaged through and some parts were missing. the mechanical arm girl also leaned in to see, and both of their attention was drawn in. enlightenment produced a translation of what seemed like cuneiform and other unknown alphabets into a readable format. ''empire calendar, may 3, 1141: unsealing ''s-rank disaster source'', research beginning.'' ''experiment cabin 1001: test subject #1144 has undergone new changes in their extraordinary abilities after being awakened. expression of extremely high tolerance to the dark element...injected with ten times the normal amount of heim vii ash reagent, physical tolerance continued to increase, mutation in an unknown direction occurred five days later... conclusion: the origin card of this subject has an s+ level growth affinity for the dark element.'' ''experiment cabin 1099: test subject #815 attempted implantation of contaminated limb huge power devil muscle. potion triggered a rapid increase in power; miraculously, even without job change, physical attributes exceeded the limit, but the subject lost rationality... uncontrollable mutation on day 14, died the same day. conclusion: the disaster source has an exceptionally high potential for strength growth...'' ''experiment cabin 2012: test subject #549 attempted fusion, leading to mental deformation, suggesting continued observation... seven days later, the deformed body evolved into b-rank catastrophe, fallen witch sect, possessing extremely enticing abilities... conclusion: this catastrophe source has strong psychic growth, continue this research direction... experiment body mutation tendency stabilized, successfully inducing secondary mutation on the sixteenth injection of t3 reagent, thereby evolving the subject into a-rank catastrophe fallen witch. conclusion: the catastrophe source has growth potential...'' ''experiment cabin 3045...experiment subject secondary mutation into a-rank mysterious type catastrophe sorcery gambler, instant death curses...'' ''experiment cabin 4011...experiment subject secondary mutation into a-rank assassin type catastrophe shadow thornr, hidden in the shadows...'' ''1145.8.16, summary report: after the fusion of disaster samples, each test subject awakens different talents. so far, the experiment has confirmed 31 different unique talent growth directions...the disaster source has been confirmed to be an unprecedented epic source card. preliminary conclusion: fusion of this card requires an extremely high mental base, dark affinity, urgent telekinesis...and other as-yet-unknown conditions.'' ''research institute suggestion: current fusion mutation probability in experiment subjects is 100%, with a risk of contaminated overflow diffusion. recommended categorization upgrade from ''s-rank'' to ''t-rank'', permanent containment.'' ''...'' this was exactly what leonard was searching for, key evidence! Chapter 12 - 11 Spell Gambler chapter 12: chapter 11 spell gambler neither of them spoke, and the only sound in the room was the rustle of files being flipped through. the safe was filled with experimental reports, enormous in volume, but leonard churchill skimmed them quickly. the mechanical arm girl seemed to understand the implication of the file classifications far better than leonard; spotting a critical point, she muttered incredulously to herself, "abnormal creature shelter 407 was studying an ''t-level disaster source''!" while listening to her nearly imperceptible whisper, leonard was rapidly reading the reports line-by-line. this was what he was looking for. critical clues needed to solve the mystery. amidst the files, he not only found the "fallen witch sect" of room 2012, the "corrupted giant" of room 1099, and the "cursed gamblers" of room 3045, but also a few others. all of the most problematic anomalies discovered so far were documented. however, clearly, leonard had also made a wrong guess before. the bunker wasn''t studying the imprisoned monsters. the monsters were merely a by-product of their research. the real subject of the research was the so-called "disaster source". although leonard did not understand what exactly this ''disaster source'' was. but judging by the description, it seemed to be a hazardous object with an extremely potent contaminative effect. keeping a watchful eye on the mechanical arm girl, leonard discerned from her reaction that this must be something extraordinary. ... without exchanging a word, leonard quickly sifted through the files. then, he opened another file and found an accident report. just as they had inexplicably found these crucial files, she was confused as to why leonard was so certain that monsters would appear imminently. leonard gazed at the empty lab but didn''t elaborate further, instead hinting mysteriously, "we will find out soon." in this alternate dimension, he had detected something unusual. which perfectly supported his assumptions. ... yet before any monsters appeared, they were disturbed by outsiders. as they were still flipping through the files in the archive, charged gunshots rang out. it seemed like someone on the first floor had rushed up and was trying to forcefully reach the third floor. the gunfire was aggressive, but the monsters were evidently more formidable. the gunfire was consistently concentrated around the elevator on the second floor. "damn it! the monsters on this floor can inflict mental contamination, it''s going to be tough advancing to the third floor. captain, should we retreat?" "retreating will just lead us to a dead end, find an exit quickly!" "hey... there''s a hole in the wall of room 2013!" "get in and hide quickly!" "..." whether by coincidence or systematic searching, the intruders outside stumbled into room 2013, then discovered the pit. the sounds suggested there were quite a few of them. soon, they entered the laboratory. looking through the glass, leonard saw an elite squad of fully armed invaders rushing in, about a dozen or so. the mechanical arm girl recognized the emblem on their uniforms and warned, "be careful, they''re mercenaries from the ''black water group''. they''re ruthless." with that succinct piece of information, leonard immediately understood that this lot wasn''t destined for an easy fate. Chapter 13 - 11 Spell Gambler_2 chapter 13: chapter 11 spell gambler_2 his pupils shifted, and he asked a question: "can you beat them?" "..." the mech-girl didn''t speak, just glanced once. that look was very clear: i can take care of myself; the critical problem is you, the dead weight. leonard churchill immediately understood and laughed it off. compared to the coming challenge, he didn''t think these mercenaries were much of a threat. on the contrary, more people signaled more chances for trial and error. ... being professional mercenaries, the men in arms easily detected the tracks of the two from the traces on the ground. "captain, there are people here!" once leonard and his companion were discovered, both parties acted cautiously. fighting was not an option. the other party was a dozen strong, and the chance of accidentally injuring some weakling was very high. leonard signaled his partner not to act rashly, held up his hands, and took the initiative to say, "everyone, we mean you no harm." seeing him step out of the room with his hands up, the bald hulk leading the other party inspected him briefly, lowered his guard somewhat, and asked, "did you kill the monster outside?" anyone in this situation knew that the biggest threat was the monster; rash confrontation was not a rational choice. "yes." "we were lucky," leonard responded. "in the battle with the monster, we shattered a wall and discovered this place." from the mercenaries'' responses, he guessed that they hadn''t recognized the carnage outside for what it was. not everyone knew of the a-rank catastrophe, fallen witch sect. at least within this duplication, all who had seen it in its monster form were dead. otherwise, if they recognized it, these mercenaries'' attitudes would definitely have been more respectful. while speaking, leonard didn''t forget to gather information. "what exactly happened? why did this space suddenly increase in difficulty?" the bald hulk seemed to know something, but he did not answer. he scrutinized the two of them, then asked again. "have you discovered anything?" possibly because leonard and the mech-girl seemed like disorganized practitioners, this man''s demeanor reflected the arrogance and domination of their numerical superiority. with several guns pointed at his head, leonard wore a pragmatic expression and replied, "oh. we just discovered a vault, but we couldn''t open it." being a professional actor, he flawlessly embodied the lucky adventurer who had managed to survive this far by sheer dumb luck. "a vault?" although skeptical, the bald hulk found no flaws to note. it was as if cold water had splashed into a hot pan. the entire lab went into an uproar all at once. "da-da-da-da..." "dong-dong-dong-dong..." various artillery fire rained down like a storm, the deafening noise as if one was in the midst of rampant drumming. the flashing gun muzzles looked like radiant elves in the dark, flickering and bouncing, illuminating the tense and fearful faces. it had to be said, the combat power of these blackwater mercenaries was reflected in their equipment. all sorts of heavy weaponry and steam black technology demonstrated immense destructive power. steam warhammer, high-pressure spray gun, mechanical harpoon... the individual boilers attached to these burly men were even larger and more formidable. the team of around a dozen moved harmoniously, their alternating firepower covering each other, leaving no opportunity for the monsters. the moment these human-shaped spiders showed themselves, they were riddled with bullet holes. compared to the monster, leonard churchill was more intrigued by the magic cards. he witnessed a new kind of magic card in battle. he watched as the bald captain flung out several red cards. near the monsters, they suddenly exploded like hand grenades. he could fling multiple cards at once, and as long as the flinging skills were good, they could even precisely detonate. these were far more useful than hand grenades. however, in the blink of an eye, the monster at the end of his sight had been shot and reduced to bloody pulp on the ground. but the crisis was far from over. the girl with a mechanical arm sensed something and her expression grew increasingly solemn. leonard churchill also felt that the level of these monsters was still far from his expectation. sure enough! they had just wiped out a wave of minor monsters and hadn''t even had a chance to catch a breath. another monster, more than two meters tall, slowly emerged from another tunnel. it was a monstrous creature with a human head and dog body, grotesque in appearance, missing a hand. leonard churchill looked over, narrowing his eyes slightly. with such high identification, it was evidently the b-rank catastrophe from the third floor, room 3045. but it was no longer the b-rank catastrophe mentioned in the information. sorcery gambler details: first-tier a-rank catastrophe; it was once a gambler who was punished by having a hand chopped off. even after it mutated into a monster, it retained its gambler characteristics; a mysterious contaminant, skilled in spell casting; it would gamble with you for lives, loser dies; it was a talented gambler, don''t hope that it won''t cheat, and don''t hope to escape. if you don''t gamble, you will die. this was a boss associated with curse-type magic! upon seeing this, everyone, including the girl with the mechanical arm, turned white. because in the hunter''s words, this monster''s nickname was: touch and die. p.s asking for monthly votes, recommendation votes, anything, please! thank you, everyone! Chapter 14 - 12 I Also Want to Take a Gamble chapter 14: chapter 12 i also want to take a gamble "damn it... it''s that ''gambling dog'' from the third floor! how did it become an a-rank catastrophe!" "this creature can''t be killed, we have to run!" "..." just like in the intelligence report, the bullets striking the creature seemed to disappear into asphalt, creating ripples before the surface returned to its original state. it had absolutely no lethal effect. shudders of terror spread across the faces of the more than a dozen mercenaries. they had all heard about the terror of this catastrophe. every single one found by it had met their end, without exception! seeing it, even the girl with the mechanical arm whitened, warning leonard churchill, "this creature is of a curse variety. whoever it targets is doomed! i can''t resist its curse either." with that, she cursed under her breath, "damn it, why is this catastrophe here?" against other creatures, she had the confidence to hold her ground. but a curse variety creature, is not something that can be dealt with using conventional means. it''s wicked, nothing but pure wickedness! avoidance is the best option. upon hearing this, leonard churchill stayed calm. for him, this wasn''t about having bad luck. on the contrary, he thought that facing this creature would instill the normal level of intensity. no sooner had he said this than the dozen or so mercenaries showed the correct posture to adopt in facing this creature. the bald captain screamed, "run!" without a moment''s hesitation, the mercenaries chose to make a run for it, leaving the intention of a stand-off far behind them. the bad news is, whoever this creature targets, dies. the good news is, it only targets one person at a time. right now, everyone was gambling on their luck. betting that they wouldn''t be the creature''s next target. ... however, since the catastrophe had manifested, death was inevitable. not long after the group of mercenaries had fled, a dark figure darted in front of their eyes and in the blink of an eye, the gambling dog, which was hundreds of meters away, had mysteriously appeared in their midst. leonard churchill''s gaze narrowed slightly, "teleportation?" hearing about something was one thing, witnessing it firsthand was a separate matter. and the mercenary targeted by the sorcery gambler had seemingly been selected without his realizing it, causing his face to instantly grow pale. the bald captain and the other mercenaries watched, unable to bear the sight but relieved all the same. as long as it''s not them. the bald captain looked around uneasily, "let''s go, don''t mind him!" everybody knew if one was targeted by the creature, there was no chance of survival. staying behind is pointless. at least, the moment the bald captain turned his head, leonard had already predicted his intention. leonard gently removed his tactical vest while keeping an eye on the ongoing gamble. he wanted to try and understand the situation better. the monster once again held two cards towards "old six", asking the same question: "place a bet. which one is the spade a?" old six, drenched in a terrified cold sweat, seemed to have a plan. his sneaky eyes darted around before he pointed at one of the cards, "i guess this one..." mid-sentence, he suddenly grabbed the card and declared, "i guess this one isn''t it." if the monster was rigging the game, then in old six''s mind, the card in his hand had already been swapped out. he was trying to outsmart the system by choosing the card first and making the claim afterward. however, old six was dead the very next instant. his guess was incorrect once again. the card in the hand of the corpse was still blank. the cheating skills of this monster were far superior to old six''s judgment. .... "it''s a guaranteed death." after two deaths, leonard came to understand. while it may appear that there''s a 50% chance of survival, it was clear that the dog-headed monster was cheating. thus, under normal circumstances, no matter which card is chosen, the result will be a loss. the monster could teleport, so no matter how fast they tried to run, it wouldn''t make much of a difference. on the contrary, running blindly in this unpredictable lab carried even greater risks. once this thought crossed his mind, leonard slowed down after turning a corner. he said to the mechanical-arm girl: "if we get chosen, don''t mind me and just run ahead. i''ll try to stall for time. with your speed, you should be able to get much further than those mercenaries. of course, if i survive, come back to get me." the mechanical-arm girl was taken aback upon hearing this. at first, she thought she misheard, "???" she initially planned to say: if we get chosen by the monster, as much as i hope to save you, i''m powerless to do so. but... what does he mean? from the way he talks, it sounds like he believes he has a chance at surviving this encounter with [sorcery gambler]? where did he get such confidence? before she could further questioning, leonard explained his motivation behind his words: "if those mercenaries can''t kill the [sorcery gambler], then sooner or later we will have to face this monster, or perhaps other monsters. the risks of exploring unknown territories are not necessarily lower than facing this monster. it''s not a bad idea to let those guys take the lead and trigger any traps. also..." "????" the mechanical-arm girl looked at leonard who had stopped mid-way sympathetically, assuming that her temporary team-mate had said something nonsensical out of sheer terror. but while listening to his even-tempered voice, something felt a bit off. but on second thought, what he said was true. since the [gambler] from the third floor could come and hunt them down, what about the more terrifying, unknown catastrophe from the fourth floor? or even other unknown dangers? the exploration degree of this alternate dimension is currently just over 30%. the hidden dangers are far more threatening than this [gambler]. during a massive escape mode, it''s impossible to dodge all monsters just by sheer luck. looking at the situation now, if not running, then what to do? the girl was torn and confused about what to do next. leonard paused slightly and his eyes flashed with an imperceptible hint of crazed amusement before finally declaring, "after all, i feel like gambling as well." Chapter 15 - 13: Gambling with Life chapter 15: chapter 13: gambling with life the girl asked in confusion, "a bet?" "hmm." leonard churchill nodded, his eyes shining like torches. his tone was firm and calm, "bet on whether my deduction is correct." "..." upon hearing this, the girl could not understand what her teammate was thinking. his calm tone revealed no fear or anxiety. on the contrary, it seemed like he was eager to gamble with his life...? he willingly wants to compete with a monster? is this guy not afraid of death?! at this moment, only one word came into her mind: insane. ... maybe it was because of the glowing powder, or leonard''s bad luck. they had just stopped for a little while when suddenly a repugnant smell hit them. instantly, a dog-headed monster appeared in front of their eyes. facing the a-rank catastrophe brought a palpable and horrifying oppression, making one''s scalp numb. moreover, a monster from the curse series gave people a feeling of terror similar to facing an abyss, full of infinite mystery. however, the monster did not choose leonard, but stood in front of the girl with the mechanical arm. the girl''s expression changed abruptly. she muttered bitterly, "such bad luck." with so many people turning to her, all she could do was sigh at her bad fortune. however, even at this time, she wasn''t yet at a dead end. the mercenaries couldn''t deal with this catastrophe, but that didn''t mean she couldn''t either. the girl possessed an ancient artifact that could forcibly teleport her out of the duplication. once used, she would exit immediately. the only drawback was that after using that artifact, she wouldn''t be able to take anything she obtained in the duplication outside. that included the pituitary gland of the witch she had obtained, which was a rare find. if she missed it this time, it was uncertain whether she could find such suitable occupational materials again. unless absolutely necessary, she didn''t want to give up. but looking at the gruesome face of the dog-headed monster, she was at a dead end. she had no other choice. the girl with the mechanical arm felt a gloomy disappointment in her heart. what a pity. at the same time, she also felt regret. if she left, her teammates would undoubtedly die, even though she had promised to protect them to the best of her ability. but this was also a situation she had no power to change. sigh... with a light sigh. however, before she had time to consider whether to use the special artifact to forcibly exit the duplication, something unexpected happened. much to her surprise, an aggressively challenging voice suddenly came to her ears, "do you dare to gamble with me?" the girl widened her eyes, looking incredulously at leonard who was speaking beside her. her thoughts seemed to freeze for a moment. after a short pause, she realized what leonard had done. this guy... he''s challenging the monster? he''s challenging the monster!!! true enough, could the monster have tolerated this face-riding mockery? for a gambler, there is no such thing as not daring to gamble. it immediately gave up its current target and turned to look at leonard. a mocking smile appeared on the dog''s head, "in which card is the spade a?" ... the girl with the mechanical arm was completely dumbfounded by this unbelievable scene. the look in her eyes was full of confusion. this guy actually saved her? but why did he do that? even if there is a cooperative relationship, he didn''t have to do that... at this moment, the girl finally understood what he meant when he said "us". he had said it before, "if we get picked," let her run first. in other words, no matter who the monster targeted, he had already prepared to face the monster? but... leonard''s eyes narrowed slightly, and he grinned at the hound-headed monster, "looks like i''m in luck, guessed it correctly." the monster had no time to say anything, the life in its eyes fading rapidly. this gamble was for life. the monster had lost the bet; backlash from the curse, it instantly dropped dead. looking at the catastrophe corpse that had collapsed in front of him, leonard exhaled in relief. at this moment, the perverse pleasure induced by this thrill seemed to make him feel as though his soul had been elevated. ... although leonard was good at poker, he wasn''t conceited enough to gamble against an a-rank catastrophe. just like the monsters could cheat, he also used a somewhat underhanded method. the hand he kept tucked in his pocket held the witch''s gaze skill card that he had obtained earlier from killing the fallen witch sect. once fired, it could cause mental hypnosis to all targets within range. the sorcery gambler on the third floor was much more threatening than the fallen witch sect on the second. but in terms of mental power, the latter was likely stronger. if it didn''t resist this spell, it would cause at least 1 second of compulsory hypnosis. when he was drawing cards just now, leonard used this hypnosis spell, not giving the hound-headed monster a chance to cheat, and directly opened the card. his luck was good, and he chose the right card directly. even if it hadn''t been selected, there was enough time for him to flip open another. as expected, he won. this also confirmed his suspicions. ... as the catastrophe monster died, a green light slowly began to gather over its dead body. leonard looked at the card floating in the light, reinforcing his guess, and muttered to himself: "just as i thought..." gambler''s broken hand quality: silver explanation: a single-use mysterious system spell skill card; after casting can cause curse spell on a target not exceeding 100% of own''s mental power of second tier or below, resulting in a 50% chance to cause instant death; failing to curse causes backlash, and the user takes equivalent damage; another skill card had dropped from the monster, bearing the strange curse of gambling for life. compulsory 50% death rate, it''s powerful! and undefeatable! leonard churchill carefully read the effect of the card, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes. at this moment, he finally confirmed something. this was indeed a gamble. but what was at stake was not a choice, or cheating skills, but the understanding of the rules of space. if the boss could not be killed by brute force, then it must be killed by the rules. this was what leonard wanted to verify. in a deeper sense, he saw through the designer''s thinking of this alternate dimension. ... with the death of the a-rank catastrophe "gambling hound", the curse power inside the monster lost control. standing next to the corpse, leonard experienced another round of enlightenment. ''curse power out of control, subjected to pollution erosion, physique -0.02'' there was still glowing matter in the corpse''s chest, probably more extraordinary materials. but leonard didn''t have that magical containment card. even if he cut out these materials, they would still be a hot potato. just then, around the corner of the corridor not far away, a figure slowly walked out. it was his teammate, looking completely stunned. the monster could teleport and find people, so running away wasn''t very meaningful. the mechanical arm girl had been hiding nearby in a ventilation duct, which was the limit of her sensing distance. she had originally planned to await the disappearance of her temporary teammate''s breath before fleeing. but she didn''t expect that before her teammate died, the catastrophe''s breath would suddenly disappear?! although she couldn''t believe it, the reality was right in front of her. leonard saw her return and smiled faintly, acknowledging their bond as teammates. the mechanical arm girl looked at him, then at the corpse on the ground, her expression shifting several times. could this man, who was dozens of times weaker than her, really have killed that a-rank curse class catastrophe by himself? it felt like a dream. ps. asking for votes, begging in every way possible~ Chapter 16 - 14 [Heart of the Sorcery Gambler’s Bi-mutation] chapter 16: chapter 14 [heart of the sorcery gambler''s bi-mutation] the girl with the mechanical arm knew that leonard churchill held the witch''s gaze, and she had a faint idea of how the monster was killed. what if it was ineffective against the monster? are you willing to risk your life on such uncertainty? churchill understood his teammate''s perplexity, but still pointed to the monster''s corpse, reminding her, "i think this monster has produced some materials." the real challenge of this level is not figuring out the solution, but daring to actually attempt it. as she looked at him and his cavalier attitude, as if he had just made a life-or-death gamble, her brows furrowed in apparent confusion. still, she drew out a dagger and impressively cut open the monster''s chest, taking out a heart covered green crystals. [heart of the sorcery gambler''s bi-mutation] quality: excellent shining silver description: a rare material from the mysterious type, containing deep contamination of immense cursing power, it carries the explosive power and speed of the ultimate flesh form; holding the heart, the girl could clearly feel the overwhelming power surging inside. it was unbelievable. she had never seen such a strong substance at the first tier. this was in no way inferior to the pituitary gland of the witch she had procured earlier. "this is a top-notch material for all flesh-type profession cards. if you plan to advance in close combat professional sequence, i haven''t seen better material of the same tier." while saying this, she glanced at leonard, continuing, "let me seal it for you." containing such high-level materials required highly-quality containment cards, clearly, her teammate wouldn''t be able to afford one even if he sold every piece of equipment he had. "thank you." churchill was not shy about accepting. he knew this material was valuable without even examining it. whether or not it would be of use, it would still make a difference financially since he was new to this world. moreover, his teammate had shown herself to be considerate. although she didn''t help him slay the monster, she didn''t mention wanting to have a share of the spoils of war. ... her doubts had only grown. after storing the heart, the girl handed the card to churchill, unable to hold back her question, "how did you determine that witch''s gaze could kill this monster?" although her tone was indifferent, her desire for knowledge was bursting out. a mere ordinary fellow had actually killed an a-rank catastrophe, it was simply miraculous. at this moment, she completely understood what churchill meant, earlier, by "taking a gamble". from the result, her teammate''s confidence was certainly not just relying on luck. hearing her question, since she was a teammate in the same predicament, churchill didn''t conceal his thoughts, "change your perspective." he said directly: "think from the perspective of an adventurer, and you will only think about how to crack this level. but if you stand in the shoes of the level designer, then you will think about how to design the level. it has to be subtle and challenging, but also not make it impossible for the player. this is the only way i can think of to kill the monster." "you can understand it as: the witch is the guardian of the second floor, guarding the relevant clues. in order not to make these clues useless, her existence must be crucial to later decryption. that skill card is the key to link to the subsequent level." "..." on hearing this, the girl with the mechanical arm frowned in contemplation. her teammate''s calm demeanor revealed an ultimate cool-headedness, wisdom, and meticulous logical thinking ability. and, madness! churchill continued: "from the moment i found a problem with the wall, i guessed this alternate dimension has a very clever and logically tight level design. the entire fort has four floors, each floor has a b-rank catastrophe that is obviously stronger than the rest of the monsters. with such difficulty, the setting of the boss should not be irrelevant..." the girl was also very smart and seemed to immediately guess what he was going to say, but she interrupted and asked, "what if... i mean, what if they are irrelevant?" ... the two of them kept moving through the hallway of the lab, randomly checking around from time to time. while they were looking for clues, they could also scavenge the spoils from the corpses of the mercenaries on the road. the pair walked and looked around for small things. it seemed that the "escape and kill mode" had turned into an "exploration mode". the girl with the mechanical arm found it strange too. she didn''t know when, but the feeling of being constantly shrouded by a cloud of death had started to fade. after some thought, it seemed that after killing the sorcery gambler, this feeling had emerged. it was as if calmness was infectious, this guy beside her never seemed panicked. every time they encountered a crisis, he was able to turn the tide, that feeling... while her thoughts were drifting, suddenly she heard hurried footsteps and urgent curses in the distance. "captain, alden''s leg has been cut off..." "damn it, do you see where the monster is? kill it for me!" "no, we didn''t see the monster. it must have been that unknown catastrophe on the fourth floor!" "save me, captain, don''t leave me!!!" "..." the lab was a closed corridor and the sound could travel a long way. they haven''t even seen the people yet, but the groans and cries could be heard already. listening to those familiar voices, leonard churchill was thinking, if these were not the mercenaries from earlier, then who were they? the girl with the mechanical arm seemed to have noticed something too, she said seriously: "there is a very powerful aura of catastrophe around here... even stronger than the sorcery gambler!" leonard churchill naturally did not dare to take it lightly. but as there were people to clear the mines, they would have less trouble. he seemed to think of something, suddenly drew out his pistol, and fired at the gas lamp above their heads. with a "bang," the light went out. the corner of the corridor plunged into darkness. leonard looked at his companion who had entered combat mode, shook his head to signal her, pulled her into the darkness, and said, "let''s see what happens next." the girl with the mechanical arm looked at him with a question in her eyes, aren''t we running? in her view, with others attracting the monsters'' hatred, wasn''t this the perfect time to run? leonard churchill didn''t explain. the girl hesitated for a moment and chose to trust him, so she didn''t ask any more questions. the two of them quietly retreated into the darkness. .... a few moments later, the voices were getting closer. the two saw a bald muscular man and four mercenaries as if being chased by some monstrous beast, running back haphazardly. there were more than dozen people before, but only four remained now. just as they were running, a bizarre scene occured. without warning, the head of the last running mercenary suddenly flew up. blood spurted like a fountain, and the man''s body fell with a thud. the neck was cleanly severed, clearly a blade cut. leonard watched attentively, his eyes narrowed. Chapter 17 - 15: Why does this guy constantly risk his life? chapter 17: chapter 15: why does this guy constantly risk his life? leonard churchill carefully observed the shadows of the panic-stricken mercenaries. he had clearly seen that before the man was beheaded, a cut appeared in his shadow on the ground, then his neck was severed. that is to say, some sort of mysterious force had killed his shadow. afterwards, the person died. "yet another incomprehensible method," leonard murmured under his breath. it appeared as arcane as the death spell he encountered earlier. this surely must be the legendary catastrophe of the fourth floor of the bunker, the one no one had ever seen before. the intel said that anyone venturing to the fourth floor would mysteriously die. the wounds appeared to be caused by a sharp blade, but no one had ever seen what the monster looked like. the girl with the mechanical arm, standing nearby, felt a chill down her neck after witnessing this scene. this mode of attack was too unpredictable, even for her. she glanced at her companion. even though the darkness prevented her from seeing him clearly, his steady heartbeat revealed that he wasn''t the least bit alarmed. she knew he was as composed as ever, unfazed by the situation. the girl with the mechanical arm didn''t understand why they were hiding here, seemingly unspotted by the creature. but after seeing her teammate smash the gas lamp, she began to wonder: perhaps the monsters are unable to detect them in the dark? how did this guy figure it out? the girl with the mechanical arm felt she had grasped key points. however, before she could ponder further, her companion drew his gun once again. the sound of gunfire rang through the air, bursting the eardrums. the girl twitched involuntarily, her face underwent a surprising transformation and she turned to look at him, disbelief etched on her face. ... while the catastrophe was chasing the mercenaries, the two could have avoided it absolutely by quietly hiding. but what was utterly unexpected was the sound of gunfire! the sight of leonard churchill shooting out five nearby gas lamps left the girl with the mechanical arm absolutely stunned. has this guy gone insane? wouldn''t opening fire now attract the monster over? before she could make sense of it, she heard his swift and clear plan of action: "the catastrophe is hiding within human shadows. once it makes a move against me, if you sense it, notify me immediately. if i make a mistake, you have to kill it." "..." the girl with the mechanical arm was suddenly hit with a realization: was he attracting the monster on purpose? but how do you know that the monster "will definitely" come after you? and how does he know that the monster was hiding in the shadow when even she couldn''t clearly sense its presence? wait... shadows! if the monster is hiding in the shadows, then wouldn''t there be no place for it to hide if there were no shadows? when are there no shadows? in the absence of light! it suddenly became clear to her, she now understood why he had shattered the lamps and retreated to the darkness. leonard knew that his actions were bound to confuse his teammate, who was dependent on his combat power, so he had to explain, "light enables one to see, but it may sometimes obscure the brilliant stars concealed in the darkness." while the monster had yet to arrive, he added another line, "once we lose sight of it, it will be much more troublesome to wait until it finds us again." the girl with the mechanical arm looked enlightened. indeed, once the shadow catastrophe has killed the mercenaries, it will certainly search for the remaining live beings in the laboratorythem! when they were attacked passively at a later time, this creature, which moves silently, dramatically amplifies the risk. his shadow, meanwhile, writhed and contorted, dropping to the ground. upon a closer look, it was a goblin-like creature as dark as ink - the a-rank catastrophe known as the shadow monster. seeing the monster killed, the girl with the mechanical arm appeared at leonard churchill''s side in an instant. staring in disbelief at the body on the ground, her eyes seemed to question: another a-rank catastrophe had been killed? just like that? this simplicity gave her an unreal sense. what happened with the "gambler dog" was one thing, now it was the shadow monster. each killed on first encounter. if she hadn''t been seriously injured herself after hunting down the slightly weaker "fallen witch sect", of equivalent challenge rating, she might suspect that the difficulty rating of this alternate dimension has decreased. ... leonard churchill had previously explained, and the girl with the mechanical arm knew the so-called secret to clearing the level. she also was aware that the curse card in leonard churchill''s hand was the "key" to clearing the level. but...even with the card, there was only a 50% chance! fifty percent chance of killing the monster, a fifty percent chance of being blown to bits oneself. how could he be so bold? nobody had ever seen the phantom beast on the fourth floor. even the information she had bought from the information merchant was limited to fragments of information. how did he know that the beast was hiding in the shadows? for a moment, she wondered if her temporary teammate was actually a humanoid catastrophe himself. how else would he know so much about this alternate dimension? how had he survived a night with the witch? as this thought bubbled up inside her, she asked in a strange tone: "how did you know the beast was hiding in the shadows?" reading the girls'' strange tone, leonard churchill guessed that she had misunderstood. he replied amusingly: "it was recorded in those case files i''ve read before. elsewhat important clues do you think are recorded in those files?" speaking, he also recalled the contents of the files: ''experimental cell 4011... the subject has mutated for the second time into an a-rank assassin type catastrophe such as the shadow thorn, hiding in the shadows...'' "???" hearing this, the girl finally realized she had been overthinking. but her surprise was immense. now that he had mentioned it, it did seem like some research on the monster had been recorded in the files. but, she hadn''t finished reading that thick stack of files over the course of several days. how was it that he had completely memorized them after only skimming over them once? the documents were still in her storage space. she asked, confused, "you... you read through all those thick files?" previously, they had been under constant threat from the monsters. when would they have had the time to read carefully? leonard churchill casually replied, "not all. i picked some key points to read. as i was reading, the monster''s description matched the information you gave, so i paid more attention." his thought process was extremely active, and he was able to skim-read at a glance. the speed with which he read was equivalent to several people reading at the same time. perhaps this was one of the very few advantages of his pathological mental state. however, there was no need to explain it all. listening to him, the girl with the mechanical arm seemed to have understood something. this guy, had he perhaps awakened a mysterious ability in the field of wisdom? that would explain why, despite his frail physique, he had remained calm from start to finish. remembering was one thing, taking action was another. the girl asked again, frowning, "but... there is only a 50% success rate with the card. weren''t you afraid of losing the bet?" "obviously, i won the bet," leonard churchill nonchalantly shrugged. but of course, it wasn''t just that. seeing the implacable questioning gaze of the girl beside him, he could only explain, "if we don''t take other factors into consideration, this level is indeed a life gamble. but now we can confirm that there are other forces at play in this space." "???" the girl with the mechanical arm still didn''t understand. this was not something that could be explained in a few words, and leonard churchill didn''t intend to explain further. he said, "you''ll know in a moment. we''ve passed the challenge of this alternate dimension and now we should be nearing the final round." previously, encounters with the gambler dog indeed involved gambling, but this was not the case now. when he saw "gambler''s dog''s broken hand", he was certain that he could kill the shadow monster. ps. please vote, follow the story, the new book period is very important, thank you all ~ Chapter 18 - 16: Camilla chapter 18: chapter 16: camilla the loot from an a-rank catastrophe naturally won''t disappoint. however, this time the monster didn''t explode into any materials. instead, all of its energy condensed into a single card. not a one-time-use skill card, but a cultivation card. the front of the card displayed a silhouetted image of a monster, while the back depicted a silver five-pointed star. [skill: shadow stealth] details: silver skill cultivation card, requires a dark affinity level of 15. once merged, it grants the ability shadow submarine (lv0), which enables you to blend in with the darkness. the girl with the mechanical arm eyed the card and gave a soft sigh. "huh... it''s a cultivation card." leonard churchill was startled once again. although he could read and understand the words, he didn''t comprehend the true value of the card. the girl with the mechanical arm apparently had gotten used to his sporadic lapses of ignorance. this guy was evidently quite smart, but seemed to lack a lot of common knowledge. ah! novice hunters ordinarily don''t encounter cultivation cards like this one, so his confusion was understandable. she explained, "the legend says that this card bears the divine imprint of an ancient curse card master. as rare as they come, even rarer than a piece of gleaming silver. it''s more effective than any martial skill secret manual, and no matter who the user is, as long as they meet the requirements and merge it, they will immediately acquire this skill. it is one of the most sought-after items in the upper echelons of society and is very valuable. plus, this [shadow stealth] seems to be a type of lost assassin type secret skill. at least i''ve never seen one, so it''s probably best not sold lightly." "..." it''s only then that leonard churchill understood. it was the elusive ghost-like technique of the previously slain monster that could hide its true body within shadows. once acquired by a trained assassin, its effects would indeed be extraordinary, whether for self-preservation or assassination. leonard found this fascinating too, for being able to master a skill without rigorous cultivation, directly imprinting it on one''s soul. for the wealthy, this indeed held a compelling allure. finished with her explanation, the girl handed the card to him without hesitation. "i''m not on the assassin type career path," she said, "so this card isn''t really useful for me." "well, then i won''t be polite." leonard glanced at her and without a second thought, accepted the card. he had already encountered her habit of not taking advantage of others. since she stated that the card was valuable, it must have had considerable worth. looking at himself, his dark affinity level was only 1. it would still be a long way to actually merging with this card. aside from this cultivation card, there was another commonplace black card on the monster''s body. the card held no practical function and carried only two lines of text: "when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." "before dawn arrives, someone has to light up the darkness." even though his new ally was rather cold, she was a good companion nevertheless. the two of them continued their journey deeper into the laboratory. ... eventually, they arrived at a rusted, aging elevator not long into their journey, for even a laboratory must have an end. "someone has used this elevator before." "yes, it was probably those mercenaries from before." after checking the corridors and finding no dangers, they decided to take the elevator. it seemed, no matter how one looked at it, this was the way to the exit. this elevator appeared to have been abandoned for decades, maybe it was once a mine''s lift. with rust spots all over, its screeching noise during ascent was nerve-wracking, as if it might suddenly plummet down any moment. fortunately, nothing unexpected happened, and they arrived at the top of the elevator after ascending more than twenty floors. after traversing a narrow passageway, they arrived in a strange mirror world. the floor was white, while the ceiling and walls were completely covered in myriad mirrors of all sizes. without sensing the presence of any creatures, they stepped into it. at first, it was just a few mirrors, but as they progressed, the number of mirrors grew. they saw countless versions of themselves, peculiar reflections of themselves, and countless pairs of eyes that stared back at them... all kinds of strange and chaotic images swirled in the mirrors, making them feel as if they were seeing every facet of their own hearts reflected back at them. there were some distorted reflections as well, warped images of desire. "interesting..." leonard churchill remarked, striding forward. while others may feel uncomfortable in the face of so many mirrors, such a situation was his daily existence. the countless images and arguments in his mind at every moment were just like this. now, facing these mirrors, leonard churchill didn''t feel uneasy in the slightest. but camilla, next to him, seemed somewhat disturbed by what she saw in the mirrors. her breath became noticeably irregular. fortunately, leonard churchill noticed her discomfort and patted her shoulder. "let''s go." only then did camilla come back from her nightmare-like state. this "mirror house" didn''t seem to present any particular challenge, and it was unclear what it was designed to test. the two of them made their way through. suddenly, they found themselves at a dead end. camilla cried out incredulously, "a dead-end? a maze?" as she racked her brain trying to figure out where they had gone wrong, leonard churchill said, his eyes narrowed, "no. we''ve arrived." as soon as the words left his mouth, the crystalline reflections surrounding them receded like a receding tide. upon looking around, they found themselves within a sealed iron cage. enlightenment appeared: ''entered unknown space, discovered hidden mainline, exploratory degree +5%''. Chapter 19 - 17 Mechanical Clown chapter 19: chapter 17 mechanical clown leonard churchill quickly surveyed his surroundings. it was a mechanical-style secret room. besides their own cage, there were two other iron cages. each cage held two people. in one cage were familiar faces - the bald captain of the black water mercenaries and one of his men who had escaped earlier. the other cage held an old man and a young man, both strangers wearing black suits. they weren''t even wearing gas masks, their faces fully exposed, the young man''s arrogance and the old man''s humbleness clearly visible. camilla recognized the two and whispered, "fourth master of the miller family, the governor of sinless city." "oh?" leonard raised an eyebrow, murmuring to himself, "looks like the ones who triggered the hidden plotline in the alternate dimension were these two." compared with the clear confusion of the two mercenaries, this master and servant pair seemed prepared, their expressions calm as if they were expecting something. they had not been seen at all during the journey, indicating they had arrived via some special route. thus, it was not hard to infer that these two were the culprits responsible for the sudden increase in the difficulty of the space challenges. seeing leonard and his companion reappear, the two mercenaries were dumbstruck: these two were still alive? seeing leonard and his companion, the fourth master of the miller family was also somewhat surprised. for two individuals to survive such difficult challenges was already astonishing, and now there were four. but a single glance was all he gave them, for their attention was not on the people, but something else. ... it seemed like they were about to play some kind of game. once everyone was present, the game began. the clown plainly revealed what the disaster source truly was. leonard was unsurprised by the final challenge, but the clown seemed to be an intelligent npc? so, this seemed to be the final boss that they didn''t need to kill. but his instincts told him that this challenge would be even harder. as it spoke, the clown''s twisted, playful smile was clear on its face, "however, only those who remain alive will have the privilege to know the truth~" upon hearing this, the fourth master of the miller family seemed entertained, apparently waiting for this result. leonard had no idea what an "epic source card" was. the two mercenaries seemed to have never heard of it either, their faces filled with confusion. but camilla, standing nearby, clearly knew. she murmured in surprise, "so it really exists..." ... as he didn''t know what a source card was, leonard was temporarily uninterested in it. he began to pay close attention to the layout before him. the three iron cages were arranged in the shape of the chinese character for "product." glancing upwards, when the clown appeared, rows of iron spikes also revealed their sharp tips. the iron cages were completely sealed, there was no chance of escaping forcefully. which meant that if the iron spikes fell, everyone in the cages would die. the final challenge wasn''t going to be so easy, huh. as soon as the mechanical clown finished speaking, platforms began to rise slowly in the three cages. on top of each platform lay a colored revolver that looked like a toy gun. the clown''s terrifying voice rang out again. "the game of the final challenge is called... russian roulette." "please listen carefully to the rules." "1, the revolver before you contains a single bullet. it is the only path to leaving this space. you must fire to be able to leave; 2, each time you can only fire once at your opposition, then the turn swaps. keep going until someone dies, and the surviving people can leave; 3, the metal saws above you will drop by one meter every fifteen seconds. if you have not decided life and death after a minute, you''ll be turned into sieves." Chapter 20 - 17 Mechanical Clown_2 chapter 20: chapter 17 mechanical clown_2 "follow the rules of the game, or you will all die." "alright, the game starts now!" ... to survive, do i have to kill my teammates? as expected, the final level is the hardest. leonard churchill pored over the few game rules, a bewildered look in his eyes. this level tests: humanity. the moment the mechanical clown finished speaking, the bald mercenary in the cage swiftly seized the revolver. instinct told him that, regardless of the situation, it was best to seize the initiative. neither leonard nor camilla in the other cages made a move. neither the fourth master of the miller family nor the old man made any moves. obviously, they all found the level to be more complicated than it appeared. they were all waiting. waiting for another way to break the game. moreover, they were all waiting for the bald man and his companion to test the game rules first. shortly after the clown announcement, however, a grating "clang" resonated, the spiked bars above rapidly descended, urging them to make a decision, or they''d all die. with death looming overhead, the bald mercenary''s forehead was beaded with cold sweat. he raised the revolver in his hand and, unable to overcome his fear of death, yelled, "brother, i''m sorry!" then decisively pulled the trigger. "click." the hammer struck with a clear sound, causing the mercenary opposite him to tremble violently. but, no bullet was fired. the gun was empty! at this point, it didn''t end there. after the bald man''s first shot was blank, a cruel look flashed in his eyes, and he decisively pulled the trigger again to fire a second time. leonard, not far off, watched this fratricidal scene with great interest. he had already witnessed the bald mercenary''s brutality and cunning before. would his teammate, who he viewed as a brother-in-arms, kill him? however, what''s strange was that no matter how hard the bald man tried, the trigger wouldn''t budge. at that moment, the colorful revolver disappeared from his hand and reappeared on the table. the mercenary on the other side quickly seized it with a ruthless and determined look in his eyes. since you fired the first shot, don''t blame me! he pointed the revolver at the bald man and pulled the trigger without hesitation. "click." like the clown, fate loved to toy with people. another blank! it was the bald man''s turn again. the master and butler didn''t move. everyone guessed that there must be another choice in this level. after a few moments, fourth master of miller family finally picked up the revolver for close examination. there seemed to be nothing wrong with the gun, but he felt that something was off. the old man on the opposite didn''t seem to want to snatch it at all, he just stood there quietly. but the miller didn''t shoot either, he carefully observed something, looked at the mechanical clown not far away, and seemed thoughtful. a few moments later, the iron spikes above their heads dropped significantly again. the old man finally couldn''t help but urge, "young master, you better shoot quickly, we don''t have much time. if it doesn''t work this time, we can still try another time." the creaking of the iron spikes above seemed like a countdown to death, urging the four to make a decision quickly. as a servant of the miller family, he was ready to die. is that the only choice they had... fourth miller, although sensing something wasn''t quite right about this method, didn''t feel they were left with any other option. as the old servant said, they could indeed come in again if it didn''t work this time. anyway, they had already figured out quite a bit about this alternate dimension, there would be ample time to ponder once they were outside. as this thought crossed fourth miller''s mind, he made his decision, resolutely lifted the gun, and pulled the trigger. "click!" the gun was empty. the rule of the game is that they could only shoot once at each other. now it was the old man''s turn to take the revolver. leonard and camila looked on, wondering if they would witness a servant killing his master. however, to both of their surprise, the old man took the revolver and without any hesitation, he aimed it at his own head and pulled the trigger. "click". it was another empty strike. the old man put the gun on the table in front of him and urged, "young master, you need to shoot quickly." committing suicide? seeing this scene, both leonard and camilla fell solemn. regardless of blind loyalty or anything else, loyalty was always respectable. since the old man made such a choice, that meant the young master would definitely survive. he was also following the game rules, after all. the young master of the miller family showed no emotion, picked up the revolver after his old servant had chosen to sacrifice himself, and pulled the trigger again. "bang!" the bullet shot out from the muzzle. a bullet hole appeared on the old man''s forehead and he fell down dead. the twisted light gate appeared right above his dead body. looking at the body on the ground, the young master of the miller family didn''t show much emotion. he didn''t bother looking more at it, neither did he choose to leave, instead, he turned his face towards leonard and camilla who were in the cage. now, it''s your turn. ps. please vote~ Chapter 21 - 18 He Fired 6 Shots chapter 21: chapter 18 he fired 6 shots less than twenty seconds left. the conundrum now rests upon the last two, leonard churchill, within the iron cage. upon seeing this, leonard wore a hint of playful mischief. he may have thought of something. on the other hand, camilla wasn''t as casual about it. her eyes were shaking, revealing intense inner turmoil. the harsh reality was laid bare before them - to kill their companions, to survive and escape. hesitant, a hand had reached out for the revolver. camilla, unsurprised, watched but didn''t attempt to stop it. a heavy weight seemed to lift from her. she thought, "so, a choice has been made..." .... if camilla had wanted to seize the revolver, even if leonard had acted first, she would definitely have been able to snatch it. but she didn''t. since he had made up his mind, there was no need for her to struggle with what to do anymore. regardless of whether the first bullet has been loaded or not, she decided to use the special object to exit the alternate dimension the moment he pulled the trigger. even though she might miss the chance to acquire the fallen witch''s pituitary gland forever. but she never thought about killing an innocent person for her own benefit. as for the epic source card. although it was fatally tempting to others, it wasn''t attractive to her. moreover, that guy across from her had saved her before. when she encountered the sorcery gambler, the monster was initially targeting her, yet he bravely stepped in. although she had the means to escape, she still owed him a favor. now, since he chose to grab the gun first, he must have been thinking about killing her. it is as if they are square now. indeed, when faced with a life-and-death decision, even the most rational person would choose to save themselves. having understood this, camilla no longer felt conflicted. she thought back on their journey and could only sigh: what a pity. .... no one knew that in just these few seconds, camilla''s heart has undergone a long and complex psychological journey. however, this unpredictable alternate dimension once again presented an unexpected situation. the guy named leonard who got the gun, rather than anxiously firing, even had the audacity to tease: "you hesitated." "..." camilla didn''t respond. at this moment, she looked at leonard like a stranger who had done everything he could. but as she looked, something felt off again. his composed expression as always, left her with an inexplicable uneasy feeling. there was no urgency or impatience of impending death, just the same equanimity that endured from the start. has this guy gone mad again? 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5... three seconds left! however, at this moment, leonard churchill suddenly made a move. unknown to others, even in such a dangerous situation, leonard was clearly counting down the time in his mind. after seeing the troublesome third party leave, he finally dropped his amused expression, immediately raising his gun. unexpectedly, he did not point it at the girl in front of him but towards his own chin. this scene left camilla dumbstruck! she had assumed he couldn''t resist opening fire and was about to leave immediately, but who would''ve thought he would aim the gun at his own chin? before she could piece things together, she heard the sound of "tick", "tick", "tick", "tick", "tick", five clicking noises in succession. leonard had fired five rounds! five rounds without bullets! "how is this possible!" camilla''s first reaction was that he was incredibly lucky - all five shots were blanks. but then she thought - wait a minute! isn''t it against the rules for one person to fire more than once? how had he fired five times? the rapid changes had come so abruptly that she felt her thoughts were in complete disarray. before she had a chance to think it through, the guy across had pulled the trigger for the sixth time! once again, the gun was aimed at himself! he must be crazy! was he trying to commit suicide? no wonder he was so calm before; if you want to shoot yourself six times, it indeed wouldn''t take long! but why? camilla wore a shocked expression that she had never shown before throughout their journey. it felt as if a hammer had struck her brain; her thoughts were completely muddled. she stared rigidly at the scene in front of her. "bang!" a familiar explosion echoed for the second time. flames burst out from the barrel of the gun. the only bullet came out! at that moment, it seemed as though time had slowed to one hundredths of its speed. in camilla''s eyes, a myriad of bright colors exploded. instead of a brain scattering scene, the final bullet exploded into a cloud of color powder across leonard''s face, painting him with a clown-like, ludicrous expression. in that instant, the player, who had been mocking the rules of the game, was grinning from ear to ear, seemingly deriving some form of sublime pleasure. gambled right again. camilla was stunned for a moment before realization dawned upon her, "paintball?" soon after, she understood that this guy had figured out the rules of the game which she had failed to comprehend. they had cleared the stage! Chapter 22 - 19 [trump card-GreyJoker] chapter 22: chapter 19 [trump card-greyjoker] translator: 549690339 a few moments after the gunshot, camilla was snapped back from her shock, akin to falling from the clouds. she had never had such a thrilling experience. right now, it seemed like she was seeing a clown walking a tightrope before her eyes, he not only wasnt afraid, instead, he gave a smirk to the god of death in the abyss, full of mockery. this guy just toyed with death! he must be out of his mind. despite camillas usual calm demeanor, she couldnt contain her excitement and curiosity at this point and asked hurriedly, did... did... did you know there was something wrong with this gun earlier? she had seen two men die under this weapon, yet only the one in their cage was malfunctioning? leonard churchill shook his head with a smile, refuting the statement, no. theres nothing wrong with the gun. camilla also figured it wouldnt be the gun, then why... why could you fire six shots? the game rules only say that you can only fire one shot at others, not that you can only fire one shot at yourself. leonard churchills mouth edged upward, as if he was still immersed in a buzz from the thrill of the russian roulette game. also, as i said before, the factors of the left and right levels are not just about the rules of space itself. saying that, he glanced significantly at the iron spikes overhead. time had passed, but the spikes did not fall. that meant they had cleared the stage. they both cleared the stage while staying alive. he also managed to pass in a way that the contestants in the other two cages hadnt chosen. he glanced at camillas two increasingly curious eyes, turned his face toward the mechanically stiff clown and asked significantly, isnt that right mister clown? but the clown didnt answer, he only quietly watched, yet his smiling face seemed to take on an eerie curve. at this moment, camilla had endless questions, desperately wanting to know what had happened. leonard churchill, impressed with her, was naturally willing to explain further. now that he had passed the level, he had fully understood everything. witne$$ th birth of thi?s? c0ntent, he began to elaborate: if it were just a simple russian roulette killing game, how boring would that be... it would make the designer seem unskilled. such a well-designed arrangement, how could it possibly have such a typical ending? camilla agreed with his words. this alternate dimension was the most exquisitely designed one she had ever personally experienced. if the final level required nothing more than a murder to escape, it somehow... lowered the standard, and did not match the previous ingenious design. this was something the man across from her had said before. but how did he know what was wrong with the gun? leonard churchill grinned mysteriously and slowly revealed the truth: do you remember that saying, if you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you? this is actually a very strong clue, when you stare at the evil of human nature, the evil will turn around and look into your heart, revealing the true you. camilla suddenly realized: youre talking about... that card? it finally dawned on her, earlier when they killed the [shadow demon], a card was dropped. they all guessed that it was a clue to the final level. its been utilized now! camilla originally wanted to say: isnt it because you said it to me? but she quickly understood the implication of his question and asked, why? leonard churchill smiled slightly, because, that being has been spying in the shadows. felt a slight shock in her heart, camilla looked around, but...if you say it out loud, wont it...? leonard shook his head, its intended to hear this. unraveling a perfect mystery is a pleasing experience. as a level designer, if someone appreciates their level and understands their designs intricacy, it brings even more satisfaction than killing or messing around with players who cant understand the thrill of the game. camilla was sweating bullets, feeling like the clueless player he was referring to was her. there was a pause. leonard churchill turned to the mechanical clown again, asking for the second time, isnt that right, mr. clown? this time, the clown answered back, yes, adventurer. its already exaggerated smile stretched wider, splitting its face, and it added: congratulations, you have completed the test. churchill, having met an opponent worthy of his abilities, responded, thank you. it was a pleasant experience. the iron cage slowly opened. the clown smiled slightly. whilst laughing, its smile gradually froze. its already vibrant color quickly faded, as if someone on their deathbed losing their life, suddenly dull and colorless. this was the end of the mechanical clowns mission. at last, it said the second line from the card: before dawn, someone always has to light up the darkness. it seemed like a whisper from ancient times. leonard churchill listened quietly and thought carefully. staring at the dead mechanical clown, he didnt take his eyes off for a long time. enlightenment came upon him once again. you have heard the description of darkness from the whispers of the abyss, and you have touched the miracle. with this in mind, leonard churchill looked at the black card in his hand that he thought until now was unremarkable. now, it had transformed. it turns out that the catastrophe recorded in the file had been in his hands all this time. it was a grey poker card. [trump card-greyjoker] quality: epic category: demon mark extraordinary traits: 1. trickster: enlightenment +10, photographic memory, cognition cannot be altered or erased by any external force lower than the rules of the card, can probabilistically interpret the whispers of the demons;2. unlucky gambler: the life of the joker seems cursed by fate, full of bad luck. it grows in adversity and pain, like a knife-edge dancer, finds the meaning of existence in the thrill, the more desperate the situation, the better the luck.3. universal card: the body can hold an unlimited amount, full elemental resistance can grow, the fusionist is not subject to the sequence restrictions, can use any profession card to upgrade;4. demons feast: you can extract extraordinary traits from corpses; review: the joker is also the most special card in poker. its the trump card and also the joker. the clown mocks the hypocrisy of the gods, ridicules the incompetence of the death, and also satirizes human greed and cowardice...it walks alone in the shadows, spying on the whole world. this is a historically significant but hidden card; its one of the fifty-four demonic origin cards, pointing to an indescribable high level demon. fusion compatibility 97%, fusion of this demon mark has a deformation probability of less than 5%; the bottom of the card is handwritten with a line of inscription. even though leonard churchill didnt recognize the language, he understood it: is this the enslavement contract of the demon? no, on the contrary, this is the mark of the curse card masters control over the power of the demon C signature m ps: the quality of the demon mark is divided into: white, black iron, white silver, gold, legend, epic. vote for this, guys! please follow for updates! Chapter 23 - 20: Demon’s Feast chapter 23: chapter 20: demons feast translator: 549690339 is this that t-level disaster source? leonard churchill stared at the card in his hand. what was two lines of text before had now transformed into a comical joker wearing a tricorn hat. even though it was a 2d image, the joker on the card seemed like a 3d creature that had been lowered in dimension, incredibly realistic. its gaze was full of mockery towards the world and satire towards death. it had a big, snide laugh with a demon-possessed look in the comer of its mouth. the laugh was highly provoked, giving off a horrifying vibe. simply by looking at it, a strong sense of mystery and evil overwhelmed him, causing a vague feeling of palpitation. however, leonard churchill felt nothing uncomfortable. he felt... as if he was looking in the mirror. he saw his reflection on the card, familiar with a sense of deep connection. the clown gradually started to resemble him. as soon as the image of the joker appeared on the black card, it seemed to activate some sort of ritual. the card seemed to melt away, turning into specks of black light that spun around leonard churchills body before gradually merging into it. this wasnt a card everyone could see the true image of. at least, camilla standing nearby didnt see the joker image on the card. however, after just a glance, she didnt look any further. she didnt see which origin card it was, nor did she try to look closely. leonard churchill did not know the value of this card, but camilla knew it all too well. black iron quality demonic mark found at the underground city black market, was already considered a rare card that ordinary people could get their hands on. silver was an extremely rare luxury that was hard to come by. gold cards were strategic resources almost monopolized by the elites. as for legendary cards, they only existed in legends for ordinary people, and may not even come across one in their lifetime. theyre supreme treasures. of course, above legendary, there was a type of card that only a precious few had ever really seen. those are the 52 epic origin cards recorded in history. the 52 epic origin cards corresponded to fifty-two powerful demon gods in legends. they grant the card master the purest demons power. these are ancient relics before the great catastrophe, each card rumored to be the creation of an ancient god. if any one of them appears, it inevitably sparks conflicts. however, camilla had no intention of taking it for herself. she knew very well that treasures choose their own masters. only those with a high degree of compatibility can fully see the demons power on these fifty-two demonic origin cards and also merge with them. otherwise, the probability of deformation is very high. just like in this alternate dimension, abnormal creature shelter 407, archives showed that this was once a secret bunker where research on this origin card was conducted. but without exception, all experimental subjects mutated, but still, the exact nature of the card remained a mystery. this card has been preserved here for thousands of years. this was the out-of-control curse power and extraordinary traits. originally invisible to the naked eye, the mysterious substance had now materialized before leonard churchills eyes, it was a fascinating experience. he tried using the feast, a grey mist rose from his body and then made contact with the blue smoke. acquiring the sea of extraordinary traits just like a huge whale swallowing a big mouthful of seawater. you used a feast devour, physique+0.001 you used a feast devour, strength+0.001 you used a feast devour, tenacity+0.0007 you used a feast devour, fire elemental affinity+0.04 the corpse had just died, the overflow of extraordinary traits was thick, even after a massive devour, more still continuously came out. his attributes had increased! they kept increasing! not only were his attributes increasing, but he could also devour elemental affinity. leonard churchill looked at the constantly changing figures on his attribute panel with a glowing expression, directly absorbing and increasing my own attributes? although they were small, they were indeed increasing. the feast turned the extraordinary traits on the corpse into his own. the door to the new world had opened! although the absorption is a bit slow, this feast is simply a divine trick in the later stages... as leonard churchill watched his continuously changing base attributes, he couldnt help but comment. the later stages, the stronger. he was not sure how long it would take to fully absorb the extraordinary traits from the two corpses, but estimated that it would take at least six hours to increase the strength by 0.1? this was obviously related to his lack of familiarity with using the skill. after the improvement of lvo, there should be a large room for improvement in the absorption efficiency. however, now was not a good time for absorption. although the alternate dimension was cleared, other potential crises were not minor. having won the final prize of this alternate dimension, not everyone could remain as indifferent as his teammates. at the very least, the previous fourth master of the miller family would definitely not agree. additionally, he still didnt know what the outside world was like now. given the circumstances before, where dozens of people could die just by looking at an alternate dimension, this world was likely to be brutal. however, leonard churchill felt that he was growing to like this place more and more. without delay, he walked to the twisted light gate, ready to leave. at that moment, enlightenment appeared, he was slightly surprised: there are even rewards for settlement... not only were there rewards, they were also quite impressive.. Chapter 24 - 21 [Relic ■ Clown’s Mask of All Things] chapter 24: chapter 21 [relic clowns mask of all things] translator: 549690339 congratulations on clearing abnormal creature shelter 407䡮 labyrinth exploration degree 87%, received a-rank reward, fixed rewards 100% superior strategy: random card draw reward +30% monster slayer: additional card draw reward +20% strength in weakness: additional card draw reward +25% lightly injured: fixed reward +2% boss slayer: a-rank reward for fallen witch sect +5%; a-rank reward for sorcery gambler +7%; a-rank reward for shadow demon +7%... completed hidden plot exploration*?, hidden reward +15% overall evaluation s, received clear chest reward*!, special settlement chest*! (note: chest probability draw items, the higher the settlement award evaluation, the greater the chance of getting high-quality items) looking at the series of settlement evaluations, leonard churchill was a little confused. but considering that he had killed several major bosses, the rewards should be good. he looked at the two chests floating in mid-air, lightly touched them, and the plot chest opened with five hexagram cards. below was the enlightenment: 30% chance of drawing a white card, 57% chance of black iron card, 10% chance of silver, special 3% the second special chest contained only one card. draw a card? leonard looked at it and laughed, it was another gamblers game. choose one out of five. he casually clicked on one. without a silver glow, two cards suddenly appeared before him. opened clearance chest, received skill- advanced firearms mastery*! opened special settlement chest, received relic- clowns mask of all things*! leonard looked at the two cards in his hand and their attributes, his eyes lighting up. the plot chest didnt draw a 10% silver card, but its not a black iron either. the rewards seemed better than expected. he looked at the card: did i draw the special 3%? skill- advanced firearms mastery detailed explanation: black iron skill cultivation card, requires intermediate firearms mastery, after use it grants advanced firearms mastery, possessing unimaginable shooting skills. his shooting skills that hes been practicing for years were only at an intermediate level. but this card is advanced. another skill cultivation card... leonard looked at the card with the firearms pattern and silently muttered to himself. he remembered that camilla had said that skill cultivation cards were extremely rare, and were considered the most valuable of the same quality cards. he didnt expect to get two in this alternate dimension. so that means his card drawing luck was actually not bad? it seemed that the high evaluation of the settlement led to a high chance of drawing this card? leonard estimated the usage time of this equipment in his mind, thinking, the equipment continuously consumes mental power. this means i can only use it for about ten minutes now? normally, it should last for about twenty minutes, but he didnt think running out of mental power was a good idea. the properties of this mask are some words that he cant fully comprehend, so leonard doesnt know if its strong or not. but suddenly, after he put on the mask, he saw a very intuitive numerical change in the series of status buffs on his attribute panel: dark affinity 25. his original dark affinity was only 5, and the mask temporarily added 20. huh... now that my dark affinity has reached 25, can i now learn that skill shadow submarine? leonard took out the skill cultivation card that he had in his pocket from the shadow devil, and tried. the enlightenment display really worked! compared to the mask, he felt that this skill shadow submarine was the life-saving trick at the moment. without much thought, leonard directly used the cultivation card. as the card disintegrated into powder in his hand, the dreamlike inspiration swept through instantly, and skill shadow submarine lvo appeared again on the skill panel. he really learned it! compared to firearms proficiency, a skill he had mastered in his previous life, this skill C shadow submarine was truly an extraordinary ability. leonard felt very strange. when he tried to use the skill, a magical scene unfolded before his eyes. before his eyes, his body actually gradually melted into the darkness, disappearing without a trace. how to describe that state... like diving underwater, the dark elements instantly concealed and enveloped his body, and he felt his whole body sinking into the dark elements. what previously felt like nothingness, the dark element, now felt like water. he could clearly touch it. but a few seconds later, a staggering figure emerged from the darkness. seeing himself reappearing from the darkness, experiencing extraordinary abilities for the first time, leonard was still immersed in that magical experience. just like a fish in water. but suddenly, he was dropped onto land again. he immediately understood something: he was out of mana. the attribute panel showed: curse power 1/13 this bit of curse power was the bit of extraordinary traits left behind after devouring two corpses. leonard thought to himself, curse power is the mana to use as a curse card master... this world must have some sort of breathing method or cultivation secret skill. he had seen camilla meditating before. that rhythmic inhalation and exhalation might be the secret skill to cultivate curse power. it looks like he needs to pay attention to this kind of thing after he leaves. was what leonard thought. a few seconds of experience opened up many thought paths for him. if he could stay submerged in the darkness for longer periods of time, this ability would be a must-have at home. the clown mask drastically drains mental power. leonard took it off, and his dark affinity also changed from 25 to 5. then he found that the skill shadow submarine had greyed out. without such high dark affinity, he couldnt sense the dark elements anymore. the skill was indeed imprinted in his mind, but his body couldnt perform it. before, it was like swimming in water. now, it was like being in the air. the movements were the same, but he couldnt swim. as expected. leonard didnt think much of it, proceeding towards the twisted light gate that would leave the alternate dimension. he was ready to explore this new world.. Chapter 25 - 22: Changes in the Camp after chapter 25: chapter 22: changes in the camp after clearing s-level translator: 549690339 the scenery around leonard churchill shifted, and he realized that he had escaped from the eerie secret room he was in moments ago. it was a miraculous experience, quite like time travel. stepping through the twisted light gate felt like entering a totally different world. he wanted to observe his surroundings, but heavy fog enveloped the area, reducing visibility to almost nothing. the air was thick with the smell of sulfur. just as leonard was trying to figure out where he was, he heard a familiar and urgent voice say, come with me, quick!1 the person who spoke was camilla, who had exited the alternate dimension before him. what leonard did not know was that as he was receiving an s-rank evaluation on his result page, a drastic change was happening outside the alternate dimension. for treasure hunters, each alternate dimension was a treasure trove. the shelter 407 discovered in the demon cross ruins was particularly famous for its generous rewards. it was only natural that it attracted explorers. not far from the space, there was a temporary camp, with a blazing bonfire. the camp was occupied by dozens from the blackwater mercenary group, along with about two hundred treasure hunters who were preparing to enter the space next. in a corner of the camp, the commander of the blackwater mercenary group was respectfully standing guard beside a young man in a suit. the bald captain, who had managed to survive, was currently reporting something to saul miller, the fourth master of the miller family. ever since he had exited the alternate dimension, saul millers brows were tightly furrowed and showed no signs of relaxing. his latest ranking was only a b-rank, which was far from his expectations. his mind was occupied with the final interaction with the jester in the space, wondering how he could have made different choices to gain better results. even though he had lost a loyal servant, it wasnt completely valueless. he had obtained vital information from this. he was now certain that the t-rank disaster object was inside the space and he was determined to obtain it at all costs! the bald captain continued to narrate his experience of leading the two mercenary teams from the first floor of the bunker till the end, young master, those monsters were incredibly dangerous. if it hadnt been for our powerful weaponry... he had no idea of how leonard and company managed to survive. it seemed they were lucky. each time the monsters attacked, it was the blackwater mercenary group who were at the forefront of the battle, leaving the other two safe from danger. from his perspective, without them drawing the monsters attention, there was no way the pair could have survived till the end. of course, even if he had some vague guesses, he couldnt voice them out now. he exaggerated only about the blackwater mercenaries bravery and the various terrifying disasters they encountered. he attrributed their survival solely to his strategic command and the courage of his teammates. in the end, the bald captain also added, ah, such a pity for our brothers. upon hearing the bald captains account, saul millers doubts didnt lessen but rather deepened. he was the one who had triggered the hidden storyline of the space, how was it possible for him not to know about the dangers? logically, except for the group which followed him, the rest shouldnt have been able to survive. but to his surprise, there were a few who managed to survive against such lethal odds. the details offered by the bald captain, such as facing an a-rank sorcery gambler, encountering the mysterious a-rank disaster on the fourth floor and the number of casualties involved, were all within sauls expectations. he was about to beg for mercy, but before he could utter a single word, a line of blood appeared on his neck. his head fell to the ground in an instant, blood spurting out around three feet. the fog of blood erupted, and only then did a transparent human figure appear in the air, flickering once before disappearing. that was a stealth guard from the governors mansion. the captain of the blackwater mercenary group gulped, cold sweat soaking his back as he watched the bloody sight in front of him. at this moment, he didnt dare defend his subordinate. he only hoped he hadnt heard any damaging secrets. although the blackwater mercenary group had nearly a thousand men, a significant force in sinless city, that meant nothing in front of saul miller. if saul wished to, he could wipe them out with a single command. saul miller ordered the execution of the bald captain without so much as looking at him. he murmured to himself, strange, where did our plan go wrong? killing the bald captain, the only survivor of the space besides himself, was necessary. the secret of the epic source card must remain concealed. with the information saul got from the bald captain, he developed a comprehensive understanding of the layout of the alternate dimension. he speculated that perhaps he made a misstep or missed some critical clues in attempting a shortcut, leading to an impasse. he thought about sending someone to break through the wall from room 2013 upon the next entry, hoping to find some vital clues. he had already deployed additional mercenaries and a few card master captains to guard the vicinity of the space 407 exit. since they hadnt seen anyone emerging from there for so long, he was confident that the two men had died inside the space. saul miller couldnt think of any other possibilities. what if... there was no what if. no matter what, they were simply two card master apprentices. having come to that conclusion, he decided to wait in the camp. he would wait a few more hours, when the alternate dimension would restart, and the teleportation gate would form again. but what he didnt anticipate was that one of the loose practitioners inside the dimension was not an ordinary person. because of this oversight, a major incident occurred! as time passed, the fog outside the demon cross camp became denser, reducing visibility to only a few meters within the campfires light radius. although this ruin was shrouded by fog all year round, it seemed even denser today. this made saul miller feel somewhat irritated. he couldnt tell whether it was the damp air or the smell of volcanic ash that was annoying him, or if it was something else. if it werent for that t-rank disaster object, he wouldnt have chosen to come to this hellish place that only the poor of lower city would visit. just then, someone in the distance yelled out. oh...captain, somethings wrong! the teleportation gate of space 407 has disappeared! how could that be possible! how did it disappear? instantly, the entire camp was in an uproar. upon hearing the news, the fourth master of miller family, smacked his chair and stood up, his face instantly turning ashen. though he couldnt believe it, he realised something: the two men from earlier must have completed the alternate dimension! he bellowed, find that man! Chapter 26 - 23: Demon Cross Ruins chapter 26: chapter 23: demon cross ruins translator: 549690339 leonard churchill was originally curious about the outside world, but as soon as he stepped out, he heard camillas voice. the urgency in her tone immediately indicated something. without any hesitation, he followed her and dived into the fog. surrounded by thick fog, he didnt know where he was, and it seemed to be night, devoid of any light. fortunately, having fused with thefjoker card], his night vision had greatly improved, making it roughly unhindered to see around. the ground was a concrete floor, and the dark figures on all sides seemed like tall buildings. leonard guessed that he should be in a cluster of buildings. weeds, cracks, shadows of unknown creatures...traces of decay left by the passing years were everywhere, making it look like some ancient city ruins. camilla didnt speak but led the way, moving at a brisk pace. it wasnt until they arrived at a platform that they finally stopped. upon examination, leonard found that it looked like the roof of a building. the fog above had even taller buildings, with some lower ones underneath. before he had the chance to figure out where he was, camilla suddenly took out a bottle of potion and sprinkled it all over leonard like a disinfectant. leonard, not quite understanding what was happening, heard his teammate say, this is the[deodorizing potion]. camilla, knowing his intellect, understood that he would definitely comprehend the reason behind it, so she didnt bother to explain further. as leonard heard, he immediately understood the intention. just from the name, he knew it was a measure to prevent tracking. witne$$ th birth of thi?s? c0ntent, his teammate was, as always, cautious. and it also confirmed his previous speculation. he had broken out of the alternate dimension and hence, was in trouble. although there was a small probability that camilla was after something he possessed, he absolutely preferred his teammate, who had suffered alongside him, over the young master of the miller family. hold on tight! after using the potion, camilla suddenly snapped. with time being pressing, she had no intention of explaining. she grabbed leonards tactical vest at once. then, she took a leap and jumped down the cliff, shrouded in thick fog and of unknown depth. she had already seen that leonard was intelligent, but still had to admit that his physical condition was really bad. if she let him jump on his own, he would likely fall to his death on the spot. leonard guessed that they were escaping, but her abrupt jump off the cliff made his heart pound. before he could react, his body was rapidly falling, led by camilla? yes! it was free fall, just like bungee jumping. his soul was still on the platform, and his body had already fallen into the abyss. his soul desperately chased after him. camilla launched the steel cable from her mechanical arm in mid-air, and there was a hiss as it extended. then, it seemed to hook onto some iron frame with a clang. leonard immediately felt a decelerating force acting on his body, and his soul finally caught up with it. a cold, damp wind flushed his face. a layer of mist formed on his anti-gas mask. he watched as the girl, who seemed to be half a head shorter than him, casually swung him around like a swing in the foggy buildings. although this way of moving was a bit scary, the displacement speed was very fast. after launching the steel cable seven or eight times, they had already managed to get far away from the previous building. clang. leonards feet landed on the ground. upon a closer look, the two were standing on a huge metal pipe. the fog was dense, and he still couldnt see the bottom of the pipe. but he could hear the sound of trickling water, implying that the height was at least twenty to thirty meters. without looking back, camilla continued to lead the way. as she walked, she cautioned, be careful. there are some mutation monsters in the gutter below. it will be troublesome if you fall. making noise will also draw attention. mm. surrounded by thick fog, the pipe was wet due to the moisture in the air. leonard had to tread cautiously to avoid slipping off. but he was completely clueless about this world, what demon cross camp, sinless city, he had no idea. he had hoped to hear more from camilla, but she unexpectedly stopped talking. leonard churchill had guessed her thoughts, but evidently obtaining information was more important, so he asked directly: so, what do you think is the safest way for me to return to the sinless city now? although camilla found this question strange as it seemed strange for him to ask such a question, she responded, in half an hour, the cargo train of the hunters association is leaving the demon cross. now that the news hasnt gotten out, it should be your best chance to leave. leonard silently noted this. so there are trains. if one is to leave, the sooner the better. the elder master of miller family values the epic source card so much, even if he knows it was taken by others, he wouldnt announce it broadly. taking advantage of the fact that the news hadnt spread, leaving this relic was the best choice. of course, the precondition was that he could successfully leave. the two walked down the pipe for more than ten minutes, which looked like an enormous steel mill, filled with all kinds of big and small pipes. the architectural style of the surrounding buildings was distinctive, tall and slender, like tall towers. each building also had various pipes and corridors, with a heavy magical punk style. if leonard remembered correctly, camilla had mentioned the name more than once, seemingly called the demon cross ruins. as they continued, the two had reached a platform, which was quite high within the ruins, offering a broad view. the mist stacked like a sea of clouds below the waist of the buildings. they were right at the waist, surrounded by towering buildings. it was broken, ancient, vicissitudinous... traces of time were everywhere, and the entire city was permeated with a mysterious and ancient charm. what surprised leonard more was that this was an underground city? he looked up at the sky and saw no stars, just a pitch-black sky. the light source of the entire city seemed to come from some cave plants and buildings materials that emitted a faint glow. then, of course, the volcano off in the distance. a huge active volcano at the end of his vision? yes, an underground volcano! leonard realized why he had been smelling sulfur in the air. the red lava flowing from the summit of the volcano was particularly noticeable in this dim underground world. looking carefully, the arrangement of buildings in the entire relic formed a gigantic cross. observing from a high altitude, it seemed like a mysterious symbol with some sort of magical effect. no wonder this relic was named demon cross. leonard was amazed, what a magnificent underground city, what in the actual world is going on... from the sound of it, such a magnificent city was simply an ancient relic. the human habitation, sinless city, was located elsewhere. not far from their vision, a cluster of buildings were ablaze with lights, bustling with noises, probably the hunters campsite. camilla stopped here, seemingly about to say goodbye: the camp is just up ahead, there arent many mutation monsters around here, so this is where we part. alright. leonard churchill nodded. her escorting thus far was more than enough. he could walk the rest of the distance himself. he had originally thought that camilla wanted something in return for her help, but it seemed he was just overthinking it. this partner simply did not want to owe any favor. as they were parting, camilla added one last thing: one more thing. no matter who asks, youd better not mention that youve seen me; otherwise, it would only cause you endless trouble. also, youd better not tell anyone about your gains in this alternate dimension; otherwise, it would be very troublesome. leonard churchill knew of course, take care. camilla didnt say a word, and with a leap, she was gone. as leonard watched her agile figure disappearing into the thick mist, the surroundings seemed more dangerous now that she was gone. he didnt waste any more time and proceeded toward the camp. ps.. please vote- Chapter 27 - 24: Campsite chapter 27: chapter 24: campsite translator: 549690339 after his teammates left, leonard churchill cautiously walked toward the direction of the firelight. he descended the rusted staircase, and from halfway down, he had a birds-eye view of the lively camp. the firelight dispersed the fog, and the camp was crowded with people. it was a machinery town. treasure hunters had constructed a towering steel wall from scavenged iron plates and enormous rivets, as if patching it together. lights shone brightly within the town, the hum of human activity was deafening, and at a rough estimate, there were tens of thousands of people. nearly every building had smoke puffing out of chimneys. leonard had previously thought this worlds technological development leaned more towards steam power, and this sight confirmed his suspicions. he immediately noticed the steam train in the town, long and winding like a steel serpent, as large mechanized cranes lifted various goods. even manual laborers wore mechanical exoskeletons of odd shapes and sizes, allowing them to easily carry several tons of goods. he had been worried that his clothes would attract attention and bring trouble, but after observing the hunters attire in the camp, leonard immediately felt he had been overthinking it. tactical vests and boots, standard equipment in this land. among ten hunters in the camp, seven or eight were dressed this way, even their gas masks were similar in design. leonard, now relieved, climbed down the stairs and landed on the ground. he went forward. the camp gate was wide open. several hunters on the watchtower were indifferently scanning the surroundings. as long as there was no monster attack, no one cared who entered the camp. there were many people coming and going, discussing exciting stories from the ruins with each other. leonard blended into the crowd and entered the camp without any difficulty. this camp was built for the exploration of the ruins, and all the facilities inside were designed to serve the hunters. a card shop, firearm emporium, machinery modification shop, potion shop, materials store... all kinds of supply stores were present. as leonard passed by these shops, he looked longingly at the numerous firearms and single soldier mechanical equipment. he had thought his revolver was decent, but compared to this, it was just basic. even the bullets came in dozens of types, such as demon-breaking bullets, armor-piercing bullets, demon driving bullets, incendiary bullets... he glanced at the prices posted at the door of the shop: [armor-piercing bullets]: $3 [high-explosive grenades]: $300 [m127 revolver]: $1300 [double-barreled demon hunting gun]: $2550 [single soldier mechanical power skeleton (800kg)]: $32500 prices were clearly shown. the same big-caliber revolver at his waist was valued at only 1300, while more exquisite equipment cost tens of thousands. there were also daggers, leather armor, tactical boots, flying ropes... in short, with money, one could buy a better set of adventure equipment. equipment was essential for survival, and hunters, naturally, wouldnt skimp on money. these shops were crowded with all sorts of hunters. higher tier potions equated to one word: expensive! leonard only had a modest sum culled from the corpses of mercenaries, nowhere near enough to purchase a higher tier potion. unaware of the level of commodity prices in this world and purchasing power, he found a reference soon enough. there was a humble tavern in the camp, filled with hunters eating, drinking, and chatting. as leonard walked down the street, he caught sight of the prices; black bread, 15 per loaf, drinking water, 3 per litre. not exactly expensive. after walking for awhile, his stomach began to grumble. he purchased an arm-long piece of black bread, the size of a baseball bat and just as hard. but to his surprise, if he ignored the chance of it breaking his teeth, the bread tasted rather pleasant. once chewed, the carbohydrates broke down under his saliva, and a sweet taste engulfed his taste buds. it reminded him of compressed biscuits from his past life. they didnt prioritize taste, but supplying energy demands instead. after a few bites, leonard already felt re-energized. everything in the demon cross camp was new to leonard. if possible, he planned to explore or perhaps, sit in the tavern, listen to peoples stories and understand this world. but now was not the time. having purchased a few provisions, leonard hurried towards the railway station at the camps far end. all the while, his peripheral view was attentive to his surroundings. the camp, equivalent to the size of a small town, didnt take long to traverse, and he soon arrived at the train station. it was a rudimentary platform, appearing like an ancient ruin, with marks of time visible at every corner. the station was crowded and busy. workers were bustling about loading the various materials found in the ruins onto the train while the treasure hunters, their harvest plentiful, cheerfully boarded in groups. a treasure hunts conclusion meant that everyone who survived gained something. the hunters would take this train back to sinless city, then start a lengthy period of indulgence. leonard, being an astute observer, identified an anomaly almost immediately upon arrival. blackwater mercenary group, he muttered. within the busy and noisy crowd, leonard discerned several individuals behaving strangely. while other hunters were eager to board the train, these men scanned the crowd with sidelong glances, as if they were searching for something. leonard wasnt sure if those men were looking for him. however, even if they were, their information was likely limited. perhaps they only knew that the targets were a man and a woman? the fourth master of the miller family hadnt seen leonards face in the alternate dimension, because of the gas mask, and thus, little detail was exposed. as long as he didnt give himself away, the chances of them recognizing him were slim. however, this was a world of extraordinary powers. leonard didnt let his guard down. he skillfully blended into the crowd, mimicking the jubilant poise of passersby. there was no ducking or diving, he simply walked towards the train with unfaltering confidence..witne$$ th birth of thi?s? c0ntent, Chapter 28 - 25 Tracking Squad chapter 28: chapter 25 tracking squad translator: 549690339 leonard churchills acting skills easily deceived the searching gazes. but he didnt rush to get on the car, instead he purposely walked around the train carriages. he wanted to observe the train. just in case something unusual happened, how he would escape after boarding the train. but after circling around, leonard realized that this train was quite unique. it was a sixteen-carriage steam train, with carriages much wider than the trains in his previous life, like a chubby iron beetle. more exaggeratedly, the front of the train had a demon head-shaped metal bumper, and each carriage was covered with heavy steel armor plates bolted on by large rivets. even windows were absent, only some air vents covered in iron sheet were visible. the defense was probably even more exaggerated than the tanks from his former world. obviously, this was set up to protect from monsters. after all, there were claw marks and dried, darkened bloodstains left by unknown creatures on the carriage armor. safety was, undoubtedly, prioritized, but it was not ideal for leonard. once on the train, it would be like entering an iron bucket, as if there was nowhere to run. for a moment, leonard hesitated, wondering if the risk of leaving by train now would be too great. as luck would have it, while leonard was observing the train, he overheard two men arguing about something. one seemed like the station manager, and the other, a fellow wearing a trench coat and a hat, was desperately persuading him. delay the trains departure? for what reason? an order from upper city? oh, seems like we have a big shot coming to demon cross camp. haha, you guys from blackwater mercenary group might want to brown-nose the nobles in upper city, but we at the hunters association have no interest. speak up if theres anything, dont just beat around the bush. and dont use that big shot crap here! unless monsters attack the camp, no one can halt the train! though leonard only heard snippets, he understood. the man wearing the hat wanted to delay the train but was mocked by the train officer. upon hearing this, leonard wondered, isnt the miller family in charge of sinless city? so they dont even have the power to delay a train? this was what he had been most worried about before. he feared that elder master of the miller family would abuse his power to blockade the entire camp; then if a one-by-one search was carried out, leonard would be like a sitting duck. but it seemed... the governors influence wasnt that big? the hunters in sinless city were quite something. no wonder camilla had previously suggested that he take the train. she must have known that the miller family didnt have the power to delay the train. hoo...hoo...hoo... just then, the train whistle sounded. hurry up and get the train, its about to leave. the group looked at each other in dismay. but that was all the information given by the team leader. i have some clues. there was a message from the group saying that the alternate dimension of 407 disappeared. what space? 407. impossible! was that dimension conquered by someone? i heard from our group that a few b-level catastrophes are hard enough for us to deal with, let alone for card master apprentices who have limited entry tiers. its impossible to break! the news has not spread. but it is indeed the case. ah, wasnt that alternate dimension under the control of our group? seems like the team leader has been blind-sided, it wasnt our people who broke it? upon hearing this, the four all roughly understood who they were looking for. that abnormal creature shelter 407 was first discovered by their blackwater mercenary group, almost like private property. in their view, outsiders who took away the treasure that should have belonged to their group naturally cant be let go. the team leader issued a dire order to find those two people at all costs. i suspect that something very important was lost. that alternate dimension has produced a lot of rare materials and even silver cards. if it was truly conquered, who knows, maybe a gold quality demon mark would appear. we indeed cant let the people go. yeah. our stuff was stolen by someone. the team leader must be fuming, no wonder the mission is so urgent. i was just at the ruins hunting mutation monsters and was called back urgently. the situation might be worse than we thought. the team leader means that its a matter of life or death for our blackwater group! ah? life and death? is it really that serious? the group immediately realized the severity of the matter and vaguely guessed what was going on. but as urgent as the issue might be, finding a man and a woman among thousands on the train seemed like a tall tale. what the hell are we supposed to do with so little information to find people? old dog, stop complaining. moreover, were not completely clueless. first, those who just came out of the alternate dimension half an hour ago might have a distinctive smell, and their boarding time must be within the last half-hour. pay more attention to those standing without seats; second, card master apprentice; third, body height; fourth, they may be traveling alone or in pairs. if were vigilant, this information is enough to find them. boss, you are asking too much of me. with all the smells in the compartment, i can hardly bear it, let alone finding people. weve received a dire order from the higher-ups. use that mystery card. really use it? if i use it, i wouldnt be able to use my nose for months. and that card was not easy to get... use it! upon hearing the team leaders order, wine nose reluctantly took out a card with a hunting dog pattern on it. he pulled a face, and lightly uttered: unlock! looking again, the hexagram array on the back of the card emitted a blue light. the extraordinary power contained in it seeped into his body, and wine noses body went through immediate changes. a series of cracking sounds signifying bone growth were heard. wine nose grew about a foot taller on the spot. even weirder, his face slowly protruded, turning into a dogs face with a long snout? at a second glance, wine nose had transformed into a lean hunting dog standing on its hind legs. old dog grudgingly put on his hood to hide his face and complained: boss, im going to take a walk in the compartment. meanwhile, leonard churchill was playing poker with the hunters in the compartment.. Chapter 29 - 26 Exposure chapter 29: chapter 26 exposure translator: 549690339 clatter, clatter, clatter... the train started moving. the ventilation holes finally brought in fresh air, making the smell much more pleasant. the train cabin was heavily armored, making its speed not particularly fast, leonard churchill estimated it was only about fifty to sixty kilometers per hour. if he jumped off the train, it probably wouldnt kill him. at this moment, it was chaos in the 15th cabin. for the treasure hunters who risked their lives to earn money, there was no better entertainment than gambling and women. come on, one more flower card and ill hit twenty! bankrupt the dealer! bankrupt the dealer! bankrupt the dealer! a table had been cleared for a high-spirited poker game with dozens of hunters gathered around it. they were playing a card game, something similar to the blackjack from his previous life. among the gamblers, leonard churchill, wearing a half-face gas mask, was placing his bets. he was cursing when he lost money, and his face turned red with excitement when he won. no matter whether they knew each other or not, as long as it involved money, the gamblers quickly became familiar with each other. he had originally had no interest in this kind of petty gambling. the reason he participated so enthusiastically was not only that he wanted to blend with the crowd but most importantly to disguise that he didnt have a seat or companions, to avoid attracting attention. as leonard churchill gambled, he observed his surroundings and set up some preventive measures in the meantime. the cabin was very noisy. the hunters conversations were filled not only with lewd jokes but also valuable bits of information. and leonard churchill was listening with interest. hey, old christ, i heard you got into a jackpot in an abandoned warehouse in the demons crossing eastern suburbs a few days ago. the more sensitive his sense of smell was, the more he suffered on this tram. after merely searching through eight carriages, he felt as though he was being suffocated by the stench. ordinary people could only smell the stink, but after his transformation, he could discern hundreds of different kinds of foul odors. from the smell of decaying food stuck between teeth to days-old body odor, to the smell of shit on peoples shoes, to the stench of viral infections... but the smell was only part of the problem. there were other issues that were even more frustrating! who in sinless city didnt have some kind of secret? there were a lot of heavy hitters. even if the blackwater mercenary group carried some weight, if they ticked off those guys, theyd still get beaten up. the only slightly reliable piece of intel, however, was that their target was a card master apprentice. that did manage to narrow down the suspects significantly. old dog felt that he was going to be suffocated. hed spent two hours going through just eight cabins, and although he found many suspicious people, none of them were the ones he was looking for. there were still eight carriages left! but his other teammates had also been through the carriages multiple times with no success, and the group leader was becoming more and more anxious. after muttering a curse, he didnt dare to complain and continued searching forward. finally, he arrived at the fifteenth carriage. meanwhile, leonard churchill was still bustling about in the crowd, gambling enthusiastically. he had, of course, noticed several groups of people passing by over the past few hours, all of whom seemed to be covertly searching for someone. but all of them without exception ignored leonard churchill, submerged in the crowd of gamblers. there were probably around four to five thousand people on the train, including quite a few solitary travelers; how easy could it be to find him whod already blended in with the gamblers? if he hadnt been found by now, it meant that the information the other side had wasnt much. it seemed that this train ride would last another ten hours, and he would be much safer once he got off the train in a few more hours. leonard churchill heaved a sigh of relief in his mind. the reason he had chosen the fifteenth carriage was that it was near the tail end of the train. hed already checked it out; if he could get the key to the sixteenth cabin from the train administrator, he could open the rear door of that cabin and have the possibility of jumping off the train.. Chapter 30 - 26 Exposure ! chapter 30: chapter 26 exposure ! translator: 549690339 the armor of the steam train was thick, but its locks were less complex than the doors in the alternate dimension 4.07. leonard churchill didnt steal a key. he only glanced at them a few times and, thanks to the eidetic memory ability from the trickster, easily memorized the exact structure of the keys. during a break from gambling to use the toilet, he was able to duplicate a temporary key. now well-prepared, he could handle any discoveries. leonard remained vigilant, continuing to observe his surroundings. the carriage was still rowdy, but amidst the noise, he suddenly overheard a story that sparked his interest. hey, have you heard? there was an incident at the camp in the altar of the silver moon in the past alternate dimension a couple of days ago. how could we not? they say the old smoker group found an altar and some ancient artifacts there. someone wanted to pocket them, and ended up murdering the over thirty people in the camp... the hunters association even offered a bounty of 100,000 for any clue to the murderer. ive heard a different version. apparently, the killer touched the ancient artifact, lost control, and transformed into a monster, which led to the massacre. they say the dozens of bodies in the camp were mangled. if it werent for the transformation, why would anyone kill and then mutilate the bodies... so, there really is an ancient artifact in the silver moon altar? seems so. jeez, even a random class i artifact would be worth hundreds of thousands. if its a high-level one, wed be set for life. why arent we ever that lucky... during the hours on the train, leonard had heard quite a few similar tales of adventuring companions stealing equipment in the wilds, or of murderers looting their victims. stories like these play out every day, and hunters dont regard murder and lootings as anything extraordinary. survival of the fittest is a core principle in sinless city. compared to how many people died, theyre more curious about how much the artifact is worth. only then did leonard gradually realize why even the powerful miller family of the governors mansion cant stop a train. law and order is undermined to such an extent. its not power that has a problem in this world, its the people of sinless city. others hearing that story might ponder about the artifact. but leonard suddenly caught a keyword in his mind: loss of control? all signs indicated that this guy had a strong awareness against reconnaissance. also, there was the story he just overheard. even though there were thousands of passengers on the train, only this guy had an overflow of curse power. leonard suddenly connected the dots: could this guy be the murderer and looter? upon reflection, it seemed highly likely. escaping from the demon cross camp would involve taking the train, which only ran every two days, so a coincidental meeting wouldnt be surprising. simultaneously, it would not be unusual for two fleeing individuals to encounter each other at the rear of the carriages. as leonard thought this through, his mind instinctively began to consider other possibilities. but before he could dwell on these, an unexpected event occurred. suddenly, he noticed a tall, skinny figure wearing a hoodie covering his face. this figure moved slowly, the hood trembling slightly as if facial muscles were moving rhythmically. upon seeing this figure, leonard instantly became alert. smelling scent? extraordinary man with heightened senses? however, he didnt exhibit any signs of unease and continued gambling in the crowd. even if the figure was here to find someone, he might not be able to find leonard. the guy wearing the hood didnt seem to notice anything unusual and walked straight past. not long after, in the 13th carriage, the four-man scouting team of the blackwater mercenary group showed up, all of them wearing distressed expressions. they had been searching for several hours. they found a few suspects, but upon checking, none of them were the person they were after. boss, could it be that the person isnt on the train? whether hes on the train or not, we need to search.. the chief just issued an urgent order, if we dont find him this time, were in big trouble! Chapter 31 - 26 Exposure s chapter 31: chapter 26 exposure s translator: 549690339 how much? take a look for yourself. sheesh...whats going on exactly? now i see clearly, it looks like its not the captain being anxious, but someone else. oh? who do you think is paying our black water wages now? you mean...the miller family from the upper city? ii ii the more they talked, the more they felt things were not looking good. at that moment, wine nose returned abruptly. the burly man immediately asked, how did it go, old dog? any discoveries? old dog removed his hat, revealing a face that was gradually taking on a dog-like appearance, and reported, boss, ive made a discovery! in car number 15! hearing this, the three men turned their eyes towards it. old dog: yes. upon agreement, they immediately sprang into action. on the other hand, leonard churchill, noting that the man in the cloak had made a round trip and left, initially didnt think much of it. he figured that it was likely similar to the previous instances, where they didnt notice anything unusual and thus left. however, not long after, leonard suddenly spotted a skinny man wearing a half-face gas mask approaching. although this man appeared to merely be passing by, didnt linger in car 15, and went straight to car 16, leonard immediately sensed that something was amiss. he now possessed a photographic memory, and although the man had disguised himself, just by looking at the black sheath at his waist, leonard recognized him instantly: this guy had been here once before! previously, this guy had been wandering around, obviously searching for someone- probably from the blackwater mercenary group. now hes back, disguised, and walking so purposefully, he definitely has an agenda. have i been discovered after all... a gaze full of determination flashed through leonards eyes and he immediately made a judgement. he harbored no luck of chance. the worst-case scenario had indeed happened.. Chapter 32 - 27 Misfits chapter 32: chapter 27 misfits translator: 549690339 strange, where exactly did it go wrong... could it indeed involve the extraordinary man with the enhanced sense of smell? leonard churchill eliminated all possible explanations, finally concluding that most likely, the flaw lay in the scent. he was taking no chances. at such a critical juncture, any negligence on his part would prove fatal. for a moment, thoughts surged in his mind, rapidly analyzing the situation. the footsteps of that fellow just then were very light, he was probably an assassin type professional. this person went straight to car number 16. his purpose was clear: to intercept, to prevent anyone from jumping from the train. in leonards view, this wasnt unexpected. if his pursuers had not reached this standard, they wouldnt have been able to find him in the first place. but it also proved one thing: the enemy was not sure who the target was, they had only narrowed down the general area to the train cars. obviously, the enemys intelligence would include the confirmed information that their target was a card master apprentice. hence, sending a regular curse card master might be sufficient to handle the situation. if they knew for sure that he was the one they were looking for, they would have attacked him at the first encounter. not doing so, suggests their uncertainty about the identity of the person they are seeking. this also gave leonard time to react. however, to leave the poker game now would instantly lead to his discovery. if someone was blocking the passage to car number 16, then it was safe to assume someone would be blocking car number 14 as well. the situation immediately turned dire. yet, even knowing he had been found out, leonard didnt show any form of panic. he kept betting in the poker game, maintaining a calm demeanor. because, he had been doing more than just playing cards in the previous hours. while he was playing cards, he had quietly rigged the shock bomb beneath the table to the gas lines with a piece of wire. this small contraption wouldnt harm anyone, but it would create a substantial commotion. should any turmoil arise, this would buy him some time. he had also been keeping an eye on car number 14. now, almost anyone who entered car number 15 could potentially be an enemy. he hadnt spotted the hooded figure from earlier, which meant that the enemy exercised an ample amount of caution. soon, leonard identified a woman in leather clothes. it seldom happened that people wandered to the rear part of the train, and even if they did, they were always familiar faces from the neighboring cars. leonard had spent the past few hours memorizing the face of each person in every seat. therefore, the moment this woman appeared, he realized instantly that she wasnt from any of the nearby cars! leonard didnt know what capabilities this woman possessed, but the moment she entered, her gaze instinctively swept over the crowd of people playing cards. this further confirmed for leonard that he was exposed. he didnt give the woman any chance to attack close up. now that he was sure of being discovered, there was no point in keeping up his pretense, sooner or later, he would be found. i have no choice but to jump from the train... leonard immediately stood up and pushed his way through the crowd of gamblers, mentally rehearsing the plan hed gone over numerous times in his head. just as he expected, the moment he left, his movement attracted the brown-haired womans attention. she stopped glancing at the group of gamblers and directly signaled her accomplice in car number 16. leonard pressed ahead, acting as if he was in a hurry to go to the toilet. leonard churchill caught their momentary hesitation. right after the knock, he swiftly drew his revolver. he didnt aim at anyone, but instead shot at a gas pipe he had noted earlier. advanced firearms proficiency allowed him to hit the target precisely. the illumination in the carriage was by gas lamps, and this shot hit the critical point machine. a flash of fire sparked and instantly plunged cars 15 and 16 into darkness. whats going on? who the fuck fired the gun! no violence was allowed on the train, a rule set by the hunters association. sinless city had no laws, and the hunters association was one of the most authoritative organizations. anyone who broke this rule and caused adverse consequences and was caught could be sent to the guillotine. this was the main reason why the men of the blackwater mercenary group had hesitated before taking action. but leonard churchill didnt know, or rather, he didnt plan to abide by it! upon hearing the gunshot, the oblivious hunters started making a commotion. however, during this commotion, a few gamblers rose, and bang bang, two consecutive explosions triggered the shock bombs they had installed earlier. the enclosed carriage was like an iron can, and the two blasts of shockwave made everyone in the last few cars feel like they had been hit hard on the head, drawing a wave of curses. shock bombs wouldnt be lethal even to ordinary people, let alone these extraordinary hunters. but they strongly interfered with sensory organs and the nervous system. now, it was even more impossible to lock onto any sense of direction. and the chain reaction caused by the gunshot was not over yet! the several men from the blackwater mercenary group sensed something was wrong and immediately pounced toward leonard churchills position. how could they not realize that their target was trying to escape under the cover of chaos? darkness might obscure the visual senses of ordinary people. but not necessarily for official card masters! especially for professional assassins like ghosts, seeing in the dark was one of their mandatory special skills! he wants to escape? hmph, naive! the assassin known as little five sneered as he watched leonard churchill blow up the gas pipe. even the shock bomb didnt cause much interference to his target locking. as soon as he could, he bolted forward, determined to capture his target. yet, a bizarre scene unfolded. little five missed! the figure he had locked onto in his sights had vanished without a trace! the carriage was shrouded in complete darkness. where was the man? little fives face turned ghastly pale, finally realizing that he had underestimated the card master apprentice. however, before he could figure out what was going on, a gigantic hand from car #11 swiftly seized his arm. the crushing force felt like his bones were being squeezed to pieces. pain overcame him, and little fives face twisted in agony. whats going on! no, he really did have other accomplices! ps.. i need votes, i need everything, the new book period is crucial- Chapter 33 - 28 [Spades 4 - Beast Walker] chapter 33: chapter 28 [spades 4 C beast walker] translator: 549690339 with leonard churchill making such a big commotion, theres no way the man m seat 11 at the rear of the car could continue to feign sleep. especially after the gunshot, several curse card masters rushed towards him. any one would naturally believe that these guys were coming for him. the gunshot just now was clearly a signal from the enemy to initiate attack! strike first to gain the advantage! the middle-aged man was also very decisive, seeing the enemy attack, he suddenly burst out, lightning-fast grabbed the first approaching assassin. in that instant, his once-dried up arm suddenly bulged powerfully, his muscles bursting his clothes, and with a terrifying power, he smashed the assassins bones into pieces. ah! the cracking sound of breaking bones rang out, the assassin, little five let out a miserable scream, his forehead instantly covered in cold sweat. he couldnt understand why the attackers speed and strength were so terrifying? rose, who arrived a bit late for backup, watched as her teammate was badly injured in the first encounter, her face turned drastically and surprise filled her heart: does this guy have such a strong accomplice? she didnt bother about the gunman who had lost her target, saving people mattered more! since there is an accomplice, the thing their group was looking for must be with this stronger person. she pulled out a card and aimed it at the middle-aged man who had suddenly risen violently, and softly shouted in her heart: dream interpreter! the white six-pointed star behind the card lit up, and the card disintegrated into specks of white light, a mental shockwave covered over the middle-aged man. this dream interpreter card is a common strategy used by mental curse card masters, an area attack that can make the target drowsy. even if it cant control the enemy, it can slow their thinking. there was nowhere to escape in the carriage, this strike precisely hit the middle-aged man! however, before rose could make another move, she was surprised and horrified. the fragments of the corpse were flung around, splattering blood all over the carriage. if it were a normal person, this spiritual technique would have severely injured them, if not killed them. but this was already a runaway mutated monster! the attack did not kill the black ape, at this moment, there was only terrifying brutality like prickling in its eyes! boom, boom, boom... the black ape violently pounded its arms, the surrounding tables and chairs shattered into countless sawdust spraying out, like a rainstorm pattering all over the carriage. mental occupation practitioners tend to have weaker bodies, rose wanted to escape but it was already too late. she was on the brink of dying on the spot! however, at this point, sudden thump, thump, thump... a series of footsteps thudding on the floor rang out, a tall figure clad in snake scale heavy armor violently rushed into the battlefield. he was holding a sword in both hands and slashed it at the chimpanzee. the power of this sword was so great that it crossed the air, visually forming ripples around the blade. but the effect was not as expected. with a sharp sound, as if hacking on hard granite, cutting a shallow wound on the apes waist. the heavy armor warrior was also taken aback. he had no time to think about why the target was so strong, the black apes heavy fist attacked, he could only hurriedly parry the sword. with a thud, he was sent flying backward like a cannonball. the strength of the black ape was astonishing to those around. the heavy armor warrior slammed against the wall, without time to catch his breath, charged again.. Chapter 34 - 28 [Spades 4 - Beast Walker]_2 chapter 34: chapter 28 [spades 4 C beast walker]_2 translator: 549690339 both the man and the ape possessed tremendous strength, the metal frames of the chairs inside the carriage shattering at the slightest touch, as if made of paper. one after another, the blackwater mercenaries charged in. in the blink of an eye, the fighting between these members of the blackwater mercenary group and the black ape escalated, becoming more and more intense. the battle in the last carriage erupted like a flaming barrel, escalating to full throttle within moments. the sudden shock left the hunters momentarily stunned. ??vl?1n. however, since the trouble didnt involve them, they quickly recovered their composure and sat back to observe from a safe distance. spade a-black knight, and the iron scale snake armor. so its the blackwater mercenary groups squad leader, iron fist rocky. who would be so brazen to start a fight on a train? so its those blackwater fellows. those mercenaries seem to think becoming the cronies of some upper-class nobles, they can do whatever they please in sinless city. no kidding. i overheard the blackwater folks earlier wanting to put a halt to the trains operation, claiming they had orders from some big shot. damn it! to hell with the big shot! the hunters had no sympathy for the money-hungry mercenaries, especially since they had recently been seen in the company of the upper-class nobles, causing the hunters to look down on them even more. as the few mercenaries were being beaten up, not only did the hunters not intend to lend a hand, they even took the opportunity to gossip about the spectacle. in an inconspicuous corner of the crowd, leonard churchill, who had blended in among the spectators, put away the artifact card clown mask, and also watched the pandemonium with interest. it seemed that his plan of diverting trouble had succeeded. when the carriage plunged into darkness earlier, he used the shadow submarine skill to disappear into the shadow, evading all sense of being tracked. initially, he planned to take advantage of the chaos to jump off the train, but it seemed unnecessary considering the current situation. this probing confirmed that the guy was indeed the wanted criminal from the cross camp. and his combat power exceeded all expectations. watching this fierce battle, they started discussing about it. whats the story behind this transformed black ape, isnt he from the sequence of spades 4 C beast walker? although he is clearly a first-tier card master, how can his combat power be so terrifying that even iron fist rocky cant put up a fight? a physical anomaly caused by losing control of ones body can naturally shatter human limits, it makes sense that hes a bit stronger. isnt this more than just a bit stronger? if my guess is correct, this is the lone wolf baron, who was wanted for murder and looting by the camp. i didnt believe before that a first-tier card master could single handedly wipe out a small camp. now that i see it, shush...its indeed brutal. considering this curse power out of control, it could be no one else. but why is he so abnormally strong, could it be due to that ancient artifact? oh~ so, the blackwater mercenary group is also interested in that ancient artifact? guess theyre biting off more than they can chew now, hahaha... the topic of conversation shifted between the crowd. in hunters view, the blackwater mercenary group probably started the conflict because of that artifact. since mercenaries already had a bad reputation, and now they had broken the rules by starting a fight on the train for personal gain, no one wanted to help. even the expert hunters who hurried over from the hunters association didnt get involved. it was clear that they were waiting for a winner before stepping in to take control. starting a fight on the train, regardless of reasons, was a violation of the rules, and the consequences could be severe. they deserved whatever happened to them! the commotion in the carriage was only contained due to the thick armor around it, preventing the whole train from collapsing. the black ape was indeed brutal, each punch killing a regular mercenary. the battle quickly reached its end. for fear the battle would spread to other carriages, the train attendant set up an armor panel at carriage 14. leonard did not see the later part of the fight. after listening to a loud noise within the carriage, the commotion died down.. Chapter 35 - 28 [Spades 4 - Beast Walker] _3 chapter 35: chapter 28 [spades 4 C beast walker] _3 translator: 549690339 but the end was visible now. the armored screen was removed and the train attendants started to clean up. soon, a barely breathing iron fist rocky was stretchered out to the medical room, probably kept alive to explain the incident. carriages 15 and 16 were a mess with corpses scattered all over. with no help, the blackwater mercenary group, comprising just over a dozen people, had been hammered by the black ape, leaving only one survivor. leonard churchill squeezed through the crowd and carefully examined the bodies on the ground. the assassin was torn in half, the brain of the brown-haired mentalist woman was crushed by the black ape, and the guy who possibly had an olfactory gift had his chest caved in by the black ape... all the trackers he had seen before. leonard breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this. from the current situation, almost all the people from the blackwater mercenary group on the train were dead. even if iron fist rocky is alive, his influence wont be significant. the few perceptual trackers that leonard was worried about were all dead, and the crisis was immediately averted. with this, he finally felt reassured and started enjoying the spectacle. the original position of the iron gate at the rear of the carriage had turned into a large torn hole, the black ape was nowhere to be seen. you used feast devour, tenacity +0.0009 you used feast devour, water elemental affinity +0.04 even though the corpses of these card masters were processed, the residual curse power was much less than when they had just died. but in comparison, it was still much stronger than the card master apprentices in the alternate dimension he experienced before. there were still several hours remaining of the train journey, leonard casually sat next to the box, quietly absorbing the power. just as leonard was devouring the residual extraordinary traits from the bodies, in the first carriage of the train, the traveling priests from the hunters association gathered, discussing the recent incident. theres a clear lingering touch of disaster in carriage 16. it seems that lone wolf baron did bring out the relic found at the silver moon altar. without containment, the disaster level of that ancient relic could be very high. unfortunately, the alertness of the king kong demon ape after transforming is too strong, he jumped off as soon as we got close. unexpectedly, the blackwater mercenary group discovered baron first. strange. were they also after that relic? could be not a blackwater groups idea. you mean...the miller family? yes. the blackwater people came to me before, wanting to delay the departure without giving any reason. i didnt understand why. just now, the camp sent a message that an s grade clearance was accomplished in the 407 alternate dimension. it might be related. 407? i heard that space produced many rare materials and cards, but its extremely difficult. someone actually cleared it? yes. the specifics arent known yet. the demon cross hasnt sent any more detailed information. but the blackwater people are indeed searching for something in the camp. looking at it now, it should have something to do with baron and the situation in the 407 dimension. regardless of who it is, using force on the train breaks the rules. notify the association. Chapter 36 - 29 Abyssal Rift and Inverted Rain chapter 36: chapter 29 abyssal rift and inverted rain translator: 549690339 | whoo, whoo, whoo... the train gradually comes to a halt following a long whistle. finally, they have arrived at sinless city. the latter part of the train journey was uneventful, which leonard churchill took as a given. the aftermath of the brutal fight probably led everyone to believe that he was in cahoots with the wanted man, lone wolf baron. now that the leader has fled, theres no point chasing his henchman. moreover, he cant be found. after the brawl, the air in the carriage was saturated with different scents making it impossible for the scent-based curse card master to pinpoint his location. most importantly, the train has arrived at its destination. once they disembark, there will be boundless open space to lose oneself in. people in the carriage are already collecting their belongings, their faces eager to get off. old lake, where are we going to after getting off? of course, the moonlight tavern to relax for a few weeks! hahaha, thats exactly what i was thinking. i heard the silver district tavern has some fresh faces, supposed to be really good. rumor has it they are nobles exiled from kings city... bah, those damn pimps at that whorehouse always spout bullshit! come on, lets go there and see for ourselves. upon arrival at the sinless city, the favorite pastime among hunters is indulging in various red-light entertainment spots. risking their lives for an adventure, there is nothing better than a little carnal pleasure to relieve the pressure. during these ten hours, leonard churchill came across names of dozens of different taverns and entertainment spots. he got the impression that the entertainment industry must be thriving in sinless city. it was when everyone began to disembark that he leisurely moved away from the iron box that stored the dead body. leonard churchill had only a tactical backpack and didnt appear jubilant as if he had struck it rich, so no thief bothered him. everyone was moving in one direction, so he followed suit. the buildings near the station were similar to those seen at the demon cross camp. tall chimneys belching white smoke were visible everywhere. the surroundings were still lit by gas lamps. looking up, leonard churchill could vaguely discern signs of rocks and wondered, are we still underground? he could understand why the ruins were underground, but he was puzzled as to how they were still underground even after the train had been running for ten hours. embracing his doubts, he followed the crowd. before long, the view suddenly opened up in front of him. at that moment, leonard churchill was awestruck by the sight before him. only then did he realize that this place really was a dock. and the real sinless city was located on the opposite cliff! what... what is this place? leonard churchill was at a loss for words at the sight of the massive cliff edge that resembled the edge of the world. he even felt that finding out about his transmigration wasnt as surprising as this. in this deep underground space, there was a massive rift resembling a bottomless pit so deep you could not see the bottom and so high you could not see the top. only then did leonard churchill realize what the hunters meant by abyssal rift. he had assumed it to be a rift on the surface of the earth, not something this dramatic. it felt as if he had reached the end of the world with an endless abyss at the end of the path. moreover! this world did not have a sky? looking up, leonard churchill saw an endless mist and darkness above the abyss. no wonder the hunters he met rarely mentioned the sun, moon or stars. to facilitate pedestrian traffic, dozens of colossal steam boilers on the gold-digging dock chugged smoke. huge cable cars powered by steam moved slowly between the rifts, dragging carriages along with them.. Chapter 37 - 29 Abyssal Rift and Inverted Rain_2 chapter 37: chapter 29 abyssal rift and inverted rain_2 translator: 549690339 however, even a steam boiler over a hundred meters tall, in front of this abyssal rift, is like a grain of millet dropped into the mud. leonard churchill is deeply astonished from the bottom of his heart. in front of this enormous abyssal rift, humans are like hardly noticeable specks of dust. and whats even more amazing is the rain that falls within the abyss. in the view, the droplets of rain fall thick and fast, like a curtain. but the raindroplets fall not downwards, but towards the sky. this is the inverted rain. upon further observation, those enormous cable cars also suddenly overturn by one hundred and eighty degrees as they enter the cliff, and then continue driving forward. leonard churchill truly did not understand: is the gravity inside the rift opposite? does this underground world actually have two directions of gravity? the impression it gives is like the world is a mirror, and then it falls and creates a crack, which divides the entire world. below the cliff lies the bottomless black hole, into which one feels like they will be banished into endless vacuum if they fall. gathering his thoughts, leonard churchill also lined up to buy a ticket and embarked on the cable car. the cable car reached the edge of the cliff and suddenly turned over. the hunters had long been used to it, and they stood on the roof of the cable car as if they had just changed directions on a normal mode of transport, and then quickly darted into the sea of clouds. leonard churchill also experienced the sudden inversion of gravity, and he admired it in awe. as the cable car continues to move forward, the surrounding mist becomes denser and denser, but the road ahead is still not visible. he looked out of the window, with nothingness above his head, and the bottomless abyss at his feet, as if he could see some huge shadows of unknown creatures shuttling through the mist. staring into the abyss, the abyss seems like the eye of the world, gazing at the comings and goings of passengers. the cable car seems like a small boat wandering in the endless void, surrounded by dense clouds, so vast it almost feels unreal. leonard churchill was deeply attracted by this suffocating sense of mystery. this rift seems to be a gateway to another world, a new and unknown world beckoning to him. after about half an hour of travel, a faint light finally appeared at the end of his field of vision. only then did leonard churchill recover from the shock of facing this vast entity, and he looked afar. he roughly estimated the distance, this abyssal rift was a whopping dozen kilometers wide. for a professional hunter, they tend to spend more time in taverns than at home. just as he entered, leonard saw the walls covered with various job advertisements. a group of people were pointing and discussing the notices. battle flag hunter group recruiting pioneer hunters, 1000/day, daily pay-out! major discoveries can net a bonus of up to a million! the lion mercenary group is hiring professional mercenaries, veterans prioritized, card master apprentice i3000/month, official interview for curse card masters, preferential treatment! the hunters association is recruiting contract hunters, responsible for pioneering and exploring... leonard glanced over and saw the general wages for hunters were quite good, with the highest being the daily wage for frontier hunters. another look at the different job section revealed that ordinary peoples wages were much lower. municipality recruiting sewerage workers, 1800/month hansen pharmaceutical company recruiting alchemy apprentices, 4500/month, basic alchemy knowledge required green machinery factory apprentice, 2800/month, including board and lodging gold-digging dock is hiring boiler workers, 3000+/month, more work equals more pay after a glance, leonard roughly understood the cost of living and salary level in sinless city. the risk of a profession is evidently proportional to its reward. he even suspected the previous owner of his identity was the so-called frontier hunter. simplistically speaking, someone who gambles with their life, a cannon fodder. poor, shoddily equipped, without any real strength. its like that alternate dimension 407, where each opening of an unknown door entails facing unknown risks. thats when the cannon fodder becomes handy. sacrificing a cannon fodder to discover some unknown information is a worthwhile expense for a large mercenary corps. leonard didnt pay further attention, and headed into the tavern. he wanted to have a drink, get to know more about this world, and gather some information. for instance, what he previously heard on the train about the thirteen ways to divinity and fifty-two extraordinary professional sequences. there were also those mysterious cards, the inverted rain in the abyssal rift, the miraculous steam black technology... the secrets of this world were countless. mystery was within reach, touchable with an outstretched hand. hed dance with the wind when it blows, wander under a lone lamp at night, even if he fell into the abyss, hed still be able to smile brightly. leonard liked this new world.. Chapter 38 - 30 Corpse Collector chapter 38: chapter 30 corpse collector translator: 549690339 old gun tavern was a hunters tavern. the packed three-story building was filled with treasure-seeking hunters seeking merriment. heavy metal music sounded like an artillery barrage, piercing the ears. scantily-clad girls danced provocatively on stage, a thick current of hormones filling the air. excited men and women were everywhere, the dim light acting as a catalyst for debauchery, revealing faces naked with desire. leonard churchill pushed his way through the crowd and walked over to the bar. he took a look at the price list and shouted at the bartender: a pint of beer. one pint of beer, eighty. the minimum charge on the menu. he took a seat on a tall stool, took a sip of the foamy beer. it tasted slightly bitter, but at least it had a strong alcohol flavor. while drinking his beer, leonard watched everything about the bar. ecking out the noisy music, he captured the conversations among the customers at each table. he divided them into intel and idle chat. the hunters now talked about more than just spelunking adventures. there were more women and bawdy jokes. and then some other things. leonard was particularly interested in the new information about sinless city. his ears were filled with that kind of information. a lot of new faces in sinless city recently... cant help it. the federal parliament has issued a development order. every day, thousands of people come down from various big cities. the elevators are almost smoking... ah, no wonder its become so vibrant in just a month. but everything changed a few years ago. an adventurer accidentally discovered a steel cable in the wall of the cravice. it was the same spell chain currently suspending the gold-digging dock. they realized that the abyssal rift wasnt the end of the world. they followed the steel cable and ventured to the other side of the world. they discovered another continent. only later did they come to realize that it was the old continent from ancient legends, before the great catastrophe! a section of history, sealed away for thousands of years, was thus unveiled. the old continent was shrouded in dark mist, teeming with monsters and fraught with danger at every turn. but at the same time, it had countless ancient cities, treasures, and mineral deposits! demon cross was just one of the relics. with this earth-shattering discovery, sinless city began to grow explosively, going out of control. eventually, many treasures were excavated, and the nobles were green with envy. one day, word got around. in an instant, sinless city, once forgotten by the world, became a red-hot treasure hunting spot. half a year ago, the federal parliament issued a development command. they established the governors mansion in sinless city, wishing to claim this treasure-filled location for the federation. sinless city saw a massive influx of outsiders. thousands of criminals and refugees were exiled here for cultivation. additionally, there were nobles, official military units, smugglers, opportunistic merchants, and a flood of treasure hunters. new faces appeared virtually every day. so thats how it is. having filled in the gaps of sinless citys history in his mind, leonard understood why the governors mansion, the miller family, was not well-liked. the miller family indeed held significant power, being a part of the federal parliament.. Chapter 39 - 30 Corpse Collector_2 chapter 39: chapter 30 corpse collector_2 translator: 549690339 as it is now, dropping into sinless city without any connections, the governor had command of no one except his own guards and a handful of mercenary groups that could be bought with money. sinless city, being largely composed of exiled criminals who harbor an intense hatred for the federation, no one pays any heed to his supposed pioneer order. for so many years, sinless city has been lawless and governed by its own set of rules. at least, hunters are not required to pay taxes on treasures they have risked their lives for. the gentry now have their eye on the rich pickings of the old continent and want sinless city to become part of the kingdoms land to continue their exploitation. naturally, this will not work out. the conflict between the two sides is escalating. as leonard churchill listens, he unconsciously finishes more than half of his drink. the tavern is filling up and the atmosphere reaches a climax. the booming music thumps against his eardrums and the hallucinogenic scent of the mist fills the air, stimulating the release of hormones in everyone present. sitting alone at the bar, leonard churchill has already drawn attention. suddenly, a delicate body collided with his. turning his head to look, he found a seductive bunny girl, both her looks and her figure were alluring. she quipped, oh, sorry. handsome, are you alone? leonard churchill arches an eyebrow in response but does not voice a reply. unfazed by his silence, the girl pressed her body against his arm and asked coquettishly, im sally, may i join you for a drink? leonard churchill knew this was not a stroke of luck. it was a paid service. or perhaps, someone had noticed his solitary drinking. observing his silence, the girl seemed to have guessed his motives and ordered straight from the bartender, one matador, please. leonard churchill said nothing. he didnt intend to stand out. he had checked the price list earlier, and that matador drink was priced at 399, which was not too expensive. most importantly, the urgency to get a new breathing method was at the forefront. a slight curse power loss of control negative state had already appeared on the attribute panel. it felt like having a hiccup, the curse power was running amok in his body. he had heard other hunters in the carriage say that this was a precursor to uncontrollable mutation. leonard churchill understood the cause very well. the little curse power he had was sucked from corpses, he had no idea how to control it. he also remembered the hunters frequently saying: the breathing method is the most effective way to prevent mutation. after being asked so many questions, the girl finally realized that the man in front of her was purely here for information. was he lecherous but not lustful? or simply uninterested in her allure? but she had a professional ethic. as long as the guests paid, she had to provide matching services. sally thought that since he was a hunter, he must know about the breathing method. assuming leonard churchill was looking to enhance his breathing method, she opined, oh~ the common breathing methods available in the market can only train the curse power to level nine at most, and they are also inefficient, its indeed time to upgrade it. while saying this, she continued, but, its not easy to find a black iron quality breathing method. occasionally, you could find some in the trade association auction house. as she spoke, she scrutinized his expression, adding, then there are the large hunter groups and mercenaries. like battle axe, hydra, golden harp, and storm... if youre willing to join a standard group, upon entering the elite squad, you would have a chance to be assigned a black iron breathing method. ii ii throughout the conversation, leonard churchill remained indifferent and silent. in his heart, he had noted all the information she gave. he had heard from other hunters that to join a hunter group or mercenary group, one had to sign contracts and engage in group missions. in essence, they had to sell themselves. while they might get resources, they also had the obligation to complete the tasks assigned by the group management. leonard churchill had no intention of joining any hunter group for the time being, so he immediately ruled out that approach.. Chapter 40 - 30 Corpse Collector_3 chapter 40: chapter 30 corpse collector_3 translator: 549690339 | this lady was adept at observing and interpreting behavior as part of her occupation. looking at leonard churchills indifferent demeanour, she took the initiative and presumed that he didnt think highly of black iron and needed something of higher quality. her clear eyes shifted as she continued, its rather rare to find breathing methods of silver quality. the hunters association has a few, and so do some major factions, but... she didnt continue, seemingly expecting that her guest would know of what she was not saying. after all, these pathways were not something just anyone would dare covet. leonard listened silently. so, there are various quality levels of breathing methods? seeing that he didnt respond, the lady continued, moreover, theres the law enforcement officer training camp of the governors mansion. they publicly advertise that they provide breathing methods free of charge, along with a complete [heart 6 C law enforcement officer] professional sequence and subsequent promotion pathways. after all, the miller family are high-ranking nobles, they are not in short supply of breathing methods or profession cards. however, she advised, however, handsome, you must already know that sinless city isnt exactly friendly to law enforcement officers. even with such favorable conditions, there arent many who end up there. you... leonard interjected appropriately, im not particularly interested in becoming a law enforcement officer. by now, how could he not understand the conflict between the upper-class nobles and the lower-class hunters? if he were to express a desire to become a law enforcement officer in the lower city of sinless city, his corpse might be dumped in an unknown gutter by morning. after racking her brain, the lady continued, the medical association does recruit medical apprentices, but their breathing methods tend to be healing-oriented, so very few hunters choose to go there... the last option would be the black market, but i am guessing youve been there, and without sufficient knowledge of the inner workings, it could easily result in losses, its all luck. there are also casino fights, sometimes they offer profession cards and breathing methods as prizes... but i would suggest that if you have time, you can go to the hunters guild market on grove street in south city first, there are often unexpected surprises... leonard wasnt looking to change his breathing method, but rather to start learning one. hence, his requirements werent high. given the present circumstances, he thought it would be alright to just find a random breathing method to cope for now. after listening to the lady, leonard had some ideas and decided to start by checking out the hunters guild market. the lady was talking up to this point, seeing that her customer didnt show much reaction, she thought she had been speaking too much so she put on a tipsy expression and exclaimed, oh- im sorry, handsome. it looks like ive had quite a bit to drink and ended up rambling... leonard chuckled, no, that was good. to others, perhaps this was commonplace information. but for leonard, it was quite useful. at the very least, the information was worth the price of the drinks. seeing the lady finish her drink, she prepared to order another one. seeing this, leonard quickly rose to his feet. he didnt plan to spend all his money here. the mechanics apprentice in the city factory only earns less than 3000 a month, and he had already spent several days wages just drinking in this place. it wasnt cheap. besides, gathering information from a single place could easily expose his intentions. as leonard stood, he casually draped an arm around the ladys slender waist and said, thank you, miss sally. im a bit tired tonight and ill stop drinking here. in an instant, the guns in the hands of the green-haired lads group went off, spitting fire. the burly men, caught by surprise, quickly sought cover and then drew their own guns, returning fire. both sides engaged in a gunfight on the street. for a time, the sound of concentrated gunfire, much like that of firecrackers, rang out in the street. however, the gunfire didnt last long before a third group joined the fray. several steam motorcycles hurried in, and a group of people, clearly gang members, dismounted, drew out various weapons, and sprayed bullets towards the green-haired lad. the whole gunfight ended in less than two minutes. the green-haired lads group of amateur assassins were wiped out entirely, with several casualties on the other side as well. the bike gang that arrived later quickly checked the bodies, confiscating equipment and previously claimed items. leaving behind a pile of corpses. having unexpectedly encountered a gunfight that ended as swiftly as it began, leonard churchill was left shocked and incredulous. is it just me or are the manners here in sinless city somewhat... rustic? hed expected fighting and killing in the ruins, but he didnt think it would happen right in the city. what was most absurd was that the pedestrians on the street seemed unaffected by the incident, other than being startled by the sudden noise. as if all theyd witnessed was some impromptu entertainment, no one seemed to care. life continued as normal in the various pubs as crowds flooded back. the bodies were still lying in pools of blood. leonard churchill fell into deep thought. he wanted to see what would happen next, so he lingered at the scene. it wasnt long before a shiny black steam truck arrived. four men in black uniforms and gas masks emerged from the truck, body bags in hand. leonard watched as they fiddled with the bodies, then expertly bagged and loaded them into the truck. the black truck drove off. leonards attention, however, was diverted elsewhere. he saw the ad on the side of the truck: golden oak security company now hiring corpse collectors, $3,500 per week, address: no. 117 east city street... the pay for corpse collectors is so high? leonard was surprised at first glance. the salary was even higher than most hunters who ventured outside. however, what interested him was actually something else... corpses? the demon feast required corpses with extraordinary traits, and hed been fretting about where to find so many to feed on. at just the first glance of the ad, leonard churchill already knew what hed be doing for quite some time in the future.. Chapter 41 - 31: The Great Dark Breathing Method chapter 41: chapter 31: the great dark breathing method translator: 549690339 leonard churchill had started his job. everything went smoothly. he had become a corpse collector in sinless city. with a job, it seemed as though he had instantly become a part of this city of sin. three days quickly passed. the golden oak security company branch was located at no. 117 east city street. there stood a lonely red-brick house with glass windows. a tall stone tower, with billowing black smoke, stood behind the house filled with dark glass windows. it was the chimney of the cremation furnace. this was both the workplace and residence of the corpse collectors. three floors underground. this was the morgue. bodies collected from all over eastern district 5 of sinless city had to be kept in the morgue for a few days until their curse power completely dissipated before they could be incinerated. nobody would come to this ominous place on normal days apart from those transporting bodies. the entire floor was devoid of any living person, only occupied by dozens of clients. they quietly fit into the cold compartments that were like drawers. an icy mist condensed on the ground, making the place seem eerily silent and cold. right at this moment, in the morgue, leonard churchill opened his eyes from meditation. he exhaled slowly, a bit disappointed: eh... the efficiency of this great dark breathing method isnt very high. his expression was extremely calm. the surrounding metal boxes of corpses did not instill him with any fear. on the contrary, the quiet, private, and undisturbed environment here suited him perfectly. leonard churchill could freely utilize demons feast to devour the residual extraordinary traits within the corpses. the only downside was that these bodies had mostly been treated with alchemy potions by corpse collectors, causing the loss of most of their extraordinary traits. but even so, it was currently enough for his devouring needs. this was his third day on the job as a corpse collector, and his bodys attributes had already undergone significant changes. f leonard churchill j strength: 1.13 physique: 1.09 agility: 0.84 spirit: 4.85 curse power: 65/65 aura: luck gambler elemental affinity: dark 12/light 3/earth 4/wind 2/water/fire 3/thunder l/wood 3 skills: [demons feast lvo(36/5oo)], [shadow stealth lvo(i2/ioo)], [advanced firearms specialization(i566/3000)], [great dark breathing method lvi(2/3oo)] having the convenience of being a corpse collector, leonard churchills attributes had gone from 0.7 when he first came to this world to feeling even stronger than he was before crossing over. and all types of affinity, curse power were all steadily increasing. and this was only the effect of three days. leonard churchill could already imagine if he actually stayed for several months or even half a year, what his attributes would become by then? the future looked promising. he stood up and put away the small book in front of him that had the route of vital energy circulation. this was the great dark breathing method he bought from the black market in sinless city three days ago. while the name sounds intimidating, it was merely the most common dark-type breathing method available on the market, costing nearly fifty thousand dollars. it practically depleted all of his current cash. its not just because the nature of the work was distasteful that corpse collectors earn a high salary, the most important reason was a short lifespan! out of control extraordinary traits would continuously pollute those who were close to them; corpse collectors had effective treatments, but with long-term contact with bodies and high contact frequency, the probability of being contaminated and mutated was also high. it was said that no corpse collector at the golden oak security company had been in the position for more than a year. after putting the bodies into the box, gibb said with a slight apologetic look, brother, im sorry, but youll have to burn the clients who have reached their due date. i feel really uncomfortable staying here. there were dozens of bodies in the morgue, which leaked various types of pollution and gibbs physical strength could not bear it. leonard churchill did not mind, alright. just leave them here. gibb still felt a bit guilty and said, ill treat you to a drink on downing street when we get our salaries. leonard laughed, okay. at that time, gibb looked at his arm, which was dark green as if it were covered in corpse spots, and sighed, ah, its a pity im not capable of anything, or else i would have gone to become a treasure hunter. hunters may be dangerous, but theres a chance to make a fortune. being a corpse collector... leonard churchill didnt say anything. if he could, he planned to work as a corpse collector for a few more months. gibb added, by the way, are you going to attend the free class for card disciples at the hunters association tomorrow? leonard churchill: yes. there arent any extraordinary schools in the sinless city. he was worried about where to get systematic extraordinary knowledge. naturally, he could not miss a class at the hunters association that would provide basic knowledge on cards. gibb was also looking forward to it. its always good to learn more knowledge, should we go together? okay. leonard churchill nodded. just as gibb was about to leave, there was a voice in the bronze pipe on the wall, there are dead bodies found in a cellar at no. 17 tailor street. eastern district 9, send a few people from team five to handle it. remember to bring more alchemy potions. this was the ancient communication tool of the security company. the specially made bronze pipes could deliver commands from the office to various parts of the building. gibb shrugged, looking distressed, we have to go on another mission. leonard also nodded. the work of a corpse collector is quite ideal for now, but the frequency of the missions is a bit too high. they even went out day and night. with the simple and honest customs in sinless city, it was not normal for their small team in charge of the eastern city district to not receive several sudden death bodies in a day. they had been on more than a dozen missions in the past three days. the two did not delay and hurried upstairs, picked up the toolbox, and jumped onto a steam truck parked on the side of the road. a steam truck with an oak logo printed on the black paint rushed down the street. there were five people sitting in the truck. apart from leonard and gibb, there was the team leader, dexter, who had a centipede scar on his face, and two other older staff members, bald cliff and bucktooth. the names of the people in this world are strange. many people in sinless city dont like to expose their real names, but some people only have a nickname. leonard has become accustomed to it. the five people wore white gloves and dreary black clothing. this was the uniform of a corpse collector. leonard and gibb were organizing the alchemy potions in the toolbox. dexter and the other two old staff didnt seem to have any intention of helping, they just chatted aimlessly while they were bored. the company was saying that dozens of bodies were found in a cellar on tailor street. well be busy today. judging by the boss tone, these clients seemed to be quite troublesome... tailor street? isnt that in the commoners quarter? how can so many people die there? who knows. i hope we dont encounter any troublesome clients today. yesterday, an unfortunate fellow from team seven in district four encountered a curse power loss of control when handling a client in the sewer of weasel street. the body mutated and grew a serrated tentacle, directly biting off that guys... hahaha, that is indeed very unlucky. 11?? 11 the conversation in the truck was just idle chatter, but there was a lot of information. in the past three days, leonard has learned a lot of useful intelligence from their conversation. but he was also very puzzled at the moment. he had been out on missions these past few days and had clearly remembered the names of most of the streets in the eastern district five, which was under their jurisdiction. he clearly remembered that tailor street was a living area for ordinary people and hardly any violent incidents occurred there.m. now not only were there deaths, but there were more than a dozen deaths at one time? either way, for him, the more bodies and the stronger the pollution, the better.. Chapter 42 - 32: Miracle of the Past chapter 42: chapter 32: miracle of the past translator: 549690339 soon, with a creak of brakes, they arrived at their destination. the steam car stopped by the side of a cobblestone-paved road. compared to the bustling downing street, tailor street, where ordinary people lived, better reflected the actual living standards of the residents of sinless city. the streets were very narrow, sewage flowed across the stone-paved roads, and you could see heaps of garbage everywhere in the alleyways. the air was often filled with the stench of faeces and urine. this was one of the most densely populated and poorest districts in sinless city. leonard churchill and his team of five carried their boxes through an alleyway before they finally found the inconspicuous 17 tailor street. by the time they arrived, there were already two stern-looking men waiting at the door to handle the situation. high-end suits, shiny leather shoes, and top-notch equipment... these were field agents of the golden oak security company. they were responsible for managing sudden incidents such as supernatural accidents, catastrophe containment, etc., in the city. corpse collectors were only temporary workers of the company. there was no security office in sinless city, law and order were maintained mainly by the violent means of several major gangs, and the rest were outsourced to the golden oak security company. leonard had only been on the job for three days and had not yet figured out the complicated power structure of the city. however, it was rumored that the owner of golden oak security company was very influential in sinless city, not only did the major gangs give him face, various commerce guilds also paid him protection money, and he even had certain connections with the governors mansion. dexter seemed to know the two men in suits. as soon as he arrived, the man with a beard and mustache motioned towards the house and said, dexter, the corpse inside is for you guys to handle. dont miss any. there are two upstairs and sixteen in the basement. be thorough. dexter responded with a cheerful smile, alright. without any further ado, he called to the four behind him to get to work. leonard and the others also put on their gas masks and gloves and rushed into the room. what leonard and the others didnt know was that after they stepped into the house, the two field agents of the company at the door started chatting. the man with a beard and mustache said, given those evil symbols... the basement probably houses a secret altar of the silver moon sect. only those remnants of the old days who cant bear the light would do such disgusting things. yeah. the other fair-faced man also showed disgust, those corpses are just so disgusting, so polluted. let the corpse collectors from our company handle it. and as usual, erase their memories when its over. the man with a beard and mustache didnt say anything into it, and said again, the dark power from the corpses is spreading quickly, there are clear signs of gnawing, the one who got rid of them is probably the lone wolf baron. i didnt expect him to lose control and defect, he used to be part of group eight... but speaking of which, the disaster object he brought back from the demon cross is quite tricky, and it merged with that weird profession card, several of our field agents died trying to arrest him, the companys higher-ups must be having a headache. the fair-faced man shrugged, who cares, its not our job to arrest him, we just need to send in the report. the man with a beard and mustache raised an eyebrow, true. as soon as leonard and the others entered the room, even through their gas masks, they could smell a faint stench of blood. there were two corpses in the room, one of them appeared to have its entire left shoulder gnawed off by a beast, while the other had a huge hole punched through its chest. it was quite a grisly murder scene. but looking at the corpses, leonard felt a strange sense of familiarity. in the past few days, the regular containment of the corpses was nothing more than gunshot wounds, sword wounds, and magic injuries, seldom were there any that were beaten to death. especially ones that had their chest cavity obliterated by a punch. under normal circumstances, anyone would imagine that the perpetrator was an incredibly strong individual. by a strange coincidence, leonard had seen one before. previously on the train returning to sinless city, there was a fugitive who had lost control of his curse power. without having to think much, team leader dexter directed, you... and you. you two go handle the bodies in the basement. the ones singled out were naturally the two newcomers, leonard and gibb, the young fatty. the more carefully he looked, the more worried leonard churchill became: mysterious symbols, rituals, sacrifices... and it all happened in the unimpressive commoners quarter at tailor street. he immediately realized that this mission was not simple. this was some high-end event that ordinary people could not access. these bodies are not only bloody, but more importantly, they are overflowing with dense curse pollution that resembles black flames. however, considering that solving such a case is not something a low-level corpse collector like him should worry about, he quickly brushed off the thought. while leonard churchill was observing, gibb from his side, had already opened his toolbox, revealing various vials of test potions, he sighed and said, lets get to work. ah, there are so many victims, i dont know how long this will take... disgusting as it may be, they both still had to handle it. the blue granules are [rock salt crystal], the green potion is [corrosive royal water], the brown one is [exotic lizard acid], the red powder is called [blood bone powder]... these are alchemy potions, each designed to handle a different type of body. the uses of these potions are listed in the corpse collector training manual provided by golden oak security company and its not difficult to understand. on his first day on the job, leonard churchill skimmed the manual and quickly mastered the professional skills of a corpse collector. gibb had already opened the box and taken out a suspension reagent. he started by using tweezers to take a small tissue sample from the corpse and put it in the test tube. once the flesh-blood came in contact with the reagent, it let out small bubbles, and then quickly turned dark red in color. observing the color of the reagent, gibb figured it out and muttered, the residue left in the body is fire-attribute curse power. seeing this, he took out a can of water-attribute [rock salt crystal], and sprinkled it on the body. the sea salt in contact with the body made a sizzling noise. this is a necessary pre-process before collecting bodies. after death, the energy within the body of an extraordinary man loses conscious control. it needs to be neutralized and guided by the alchemy potion to dissipate the residual curse power from the body, otherwise, the out-of-control curse power will be the primary cause of mutations. if not handled and directly cremated, it would be like burning plague-ridden clothes. those mutated substances would permeate into the air and potentially harm everyone in the city. this is the reason why the post of corpse collectors exists in the sinless city. leonard churchill, observing the serious gibb, said, you start with the two bodies at the entrance, while i will handle the ones on the other side. hmm. gibb buried his head in his work, his dizziness caused by the mental pollution when entering the cellar made it impossible for him to talk much. without saying much, leonard churchill also went in. the pollution deeper in the cellar was indeed more severe. he started to take down the bodies hanging and then put them in the corpse-wrapping cloth. the corpse-wrapping bags are made of special materials that can to some extent isolate the pollution and ultimately, they would be placed in the lead iron box in the morgue. but he didnt handle it too carefully, as for leonard churchill, these bodies with high concentration of out-of-control extraordinary traits are rare customers. after going back, clearing the alchemy potion on the bodies will make them usable again. the [demons feast] absorbed the out-of-control energy around it, and he remained unscathed. there were obvious signs of disturbance in the cellar, presumably, the field agents had inspected it once before. anything worth taking has been taken away. there was nothing worth observing further. everything should proceed according to the standard corpse collecting procedures. leonard originally thought that everything would be over once he collected these sixteen bodies, but unexpectedly, when he was about to collect the third body and was just walking deeper into the cellar, he suddenly received an enlightenment. you have heard the demonic whispers from the abyss, you are immune to mental chaos, and you have touched an old days relic.. Chapter 43 - 33: Secret Cause Spirit Medium Chapter 43: Chapter 33: Secret Cause Spirit Medium Translator: 549690339 Old Days Relic... What is that? Leonard Churchill was immediately on guard. Clearly, there were mysterious entities hidden within this cellar beneath the surface appearances! He constantly monitored his Attribute Panel, ready to retreat at the slightest anomaly. However, after a careful observation, it seemed that there was no immediate danger. One attribute in the Trickster Entry under the Joker, was that he had a probability of understanding Demonic Whispers. Perhaps because he had spent a long time in the cellar, hearing more and more of the eerie Demonic Whispers, had gained him some enlightenment. He was able to comprehend some meanings: Sacrifice, Pleasure, Faith, Ancient Gods... Not mere vocabulary, but an indescribable understanding seemingly far beyond human comprehension. Relics? Leonard Churchill speculated. He didnt understand what that was indescribable, but the effects were clear: Spiritual Pollution. No wonder his head had been humming all this while. Leonard Churchill hit upon an idea, he reached out and touched the card of the Clowns Mask of All Things tucked away in the pocket of his trousers and muttered, Release! The mask was resistant to various mystical powers. As this was a case of spiritual pollution, the mask would be useful. The moment he put on this ancient relic, he immediately felt a sense of clarity in his senses. And he made a new discovery right away. There really was something hidden... The cellar began to look different, with the indescribable external interference gone from his sight. As if a blurring filter had been removed from his vision, within his eyes the dark energy from the bodies seemed to be drawn by a mysterious force, converging onto an unremarkable brick in the wall. Leonard walked over to examine the brick that he had previously overlooked. Due to the newfound understanding, it had unveiled itself. This glance was enlightening. Secret Cause Spirit Medium Detailed Explanation: A powerfully concentrated entity of Dark Extraordinary Traits, spiritual medium for contacting the Old Days Relic; tainted flesh-based evil materials, with a very slight hint of divinity; Is this also an extraordinary material? Leonard might not know what the amber-like object in front of him was, yet he could see its terrifying Extraordinary Traits. If the uncontrollable stray Extraordinary Traits energy emanating from these bodies were ranked as 1, akin to stars, then Leonard felt that this dark lump of amber material was at least 100, bright as the moon! What startled him even more was, could the Extraordinary Traits this object possessed be directly devoured? Leonard considered if the Feast could be applied, as he looked at the overflow of Extraordinary Traits. He carefully reached out and lightly touched it. His expression changed suddenly, it was as if he had discovered a new world. The surging Extraordinary Traits flowed into his body. You used Feast Devour, Physique +0.021 You used Feast Devour, Strength +0.018 You used Feast Devour, Tenacity +0.009 You used Feast Devour, Dark Affinity +0.04 It actually worked! Leonard watched as his attributes rapidly increased, his eyes lit up instantly. What a fantastic surprise! The increased rate was far steeper than any body he had previously devoured, it was at least a dozen times more. The Extraordinary Traits were purer and richer than any Leonard had ever seen! After observing the changes after devouring, he roughly calculated that if he were to devour the entire object, attributes such as Strength, Agility, Physique, etc would have a high probability of exceeding 3. The flash lit up the room with a dazzling light and a puff of smoke, causing momentary blindness. Even more bizarre was the sensation that filled the room the moment the flash went off, as though some mysterious force had swept through it. Their spirits felt as if they were floating. In the middle of this strange state, a low, serene inquiry from the man in the suit reached Leonards ear: Did you notice anything unusual while collecting the bodies? Dexter, his team, and Gibb all shook their heads in unison, responding as though they had been hypnotized. No, they said. At the edge of the group, Leonards expression perfectly mimicked that of the others as he muttered his response. However, in his mind, he grimly thought, They really did come after all... On his way downstairs, in order to conceal the Secret Cause Spirit Medium hed secreted away, he had anticipated that he might encounter some form of interrogationhypnotic or otherwise. Thats why hed put on the Clowns Mask of All Things. He hadnt really expected that he would actually encounter such a situation. Yet the Enlightenment had already revealed to him what had just happened: You have exempted yourself from one memory tampering. The mask, in addition to the Trickster Entry from Joker, could exempt him from any cognitive tampering that didnt exceed the regulation of his engraved marks. The preparation had paid off. Hearing their responses, the man in the suit didnt seem to notice anything amiss. He casually took out a card that looked like a photograph from his camera and flicked it around. It was as if some of the Corpse Collectors memories had been sucked right into the photograph. After all, they had already searched everything thoroughly and hadnt overlooked anything. The questioning was merely part of the standard procedures. Very familiar with the process, the man in the suit then uttered a sentence with a strong psychological suggestion, You only dealt with some ordinary corpses. Forget about the details in the basement. Theres nothing worth remembering. As if some magic had been cast, the expressions of the Corpse Collectors visibly stiffened. They nodded in agreement, seeming to be in a trance. As the smoke from the flash slowly dispersed, a sense of focus gradually returned to their eyes. Leonards professional acting skills didnt give away anything. Erasing memory? It appeared to be one of the essential confidentiality procedures employed by these field agents. Leonard could understand their reasoning after giving it a moments thought. Corpse Collectors, due to the nature of their work, often came in contact with corpses and crime scenes. Some of these cases were quite sensitive. But if even temporary workers at the bottom of the hierarchy like them knew about top-secret incidents, then the whole city would potentially know. It was normal to have confidentiality measures. He just hadnt imagined that there would be such a magical method as camera memory tampering in this world. After taking the photograph, the man with a goatee seemed to quickly lose interest in staying in this broken-down house. He waved his hand and said, Alright, you guys can take the bodies away now. Team leader Dexter, who seemed to have completely forgotten what had happened after the photograph was taken, smiled and said, Well, Captain Lu, well be leaving then. Field agents were officially employed by the company, a position far superior to that of the temporary Corpse Collectors. But Dexter had already submitted his application to join the field agents. In the future, they might become colleagues, so he had to become familiar with them. Leonard played his role as a subordinate perfectly, helping to load all eighteen bodies onto the truck. Once they were on the truck, it seemed that Dexter and the others finally started recovering from their strange mental state. Dexter, the most powerful Corpse Collector with Curse Power at level seven, seemed to feel that something was amiss, and murmured to himself, This is strange, it feels like Ive forgotten something. Did we leave something behind... It was as if he had done something but then completely forgotten it in the blink of an eye. The others had completely forgotten everything. No one took notice. The steam car carrying the corpses sped off down the streets. Inside the carriage, Leonard sat quietly. Only after this incident did he come to realize that the waters of Sinless City were far deeper than what meets the eye. Also, the job of a Corpse Collector was far from ordinary. He had previously wondered why, after dealing with so many corpses and crime scenes every day, he had never heard any of the old employees, like Dexter, mention anything about strange missions. Looking at it now, it wasnt that there werent any. They had handled such unusual incidents; they just didnt remember them. With this realization, an odd look crossed Leonards face. Suddenly, he found this job becoming more and more interesting. PS.. Please vote- Chapter 44 - 34: Attributes Soaring Chapter 44: Chapter 34: Attributes Soaring Translator: 549690339 Soon, the truck stopped at the Corpse Collector Building at No. 117 East City Road. The team leader, Dexter, and the other two older team members went straight to bed, leaving the task of moving the corpses to the morgue to Leonard Churchill and Gibb, the two newcomers. They were already accustomed to this. The two of them brought a cart, piled eight corpse-wrapping bags on it, and then took the elevator down to the third basement level. Normally, apart from transporting bodies, no one would come to this ominous place. After the bodies were placed in the lead-iron boxes, Gibb left. Leonard Churchill stayed behind, using an excuse. After listening to the old elevator creak up, he glanced at the empty corridor, and then pulled out one of the iron boxes. Opening the corpse-wrapping bag, Leonard Churchill emotionlessly located the Secret Cause Spirit Medium from the abdomen of the corpse. Knowing that delay would bring changes, he didnt waste time and began to absorb it using the Feast Secret Skill, sitting directly on the ground. He had only tasted it lightly in the cellar of Tailor Street before, but now, like a whale swallowing, Leonard Churchill devoured the dark extraordinary traits embedded in the material without any hesitation. This was his first time absorbing such a pure extraordinary trait. As soon as he began, his whole body C flesh, bones, and internal organs C seemed to emit a trace of heat. Leonard Churchill was familiar with this sensation. It was a sign of his body growing! But currently, this sensation was incredibly intense than before. When he used to absorb extraordinary traits from corpses, it was like squeezing droplets of water from wet sand at the riverbank, with each little drop requiring effort; but now it was like drinking directly from the river, gulping down large mouthfuls. His body gradually shifted from being warm to intensely hot, causing unbearable pain. But now was not the time to rest. Leonard Churchill was always attentive to the data on the panel. As long as it wasnt fatal, he didnt stop, continuing to devour large mouthfuls. He was well aware that this thing could not be kept. The longer the night, the more dreams there would be. Now, he must rush to digest it. As time passed, the volume of the amber spirit medium was getting smaller and smaller. He didnt know whether it was due to luck, but after returning from Tailor Street, his team had been consistently free from missions. This gave Leonard Churchill enough time to devour the Secret Cause Spirit Medium. From the afternoon to the next days early morning, he had spent more than ten hours in the morgue. The long night seemed to pass in a flash, and the meditative Leonard Churchill slowly opened his eyes. He looked at his pocket watch. It was a quarter past seven in the morning. Looking at the completely dissipated spirit medium in his hand, Leonard Churchill breathed a long sigh of relief, Finally, it is completely absorbed. With the physical evidence completely eliminated, the biggest hidden danger was gone too. This chapter is updated by And his own attributes had undergone a significant change. Leonard Churchill Strength: 3.15 Physique: 3.55 Agility: 2.78 Tenacity: 2.56 Spirit: 5-97 Curse Power: 114 /115 As Leonard Churchill predicted, after devouring the spirit medium, his physical attributes mostly broke through to 3. He looked at his forearm, clenched a fist, and saw his muscles bulge solidly underneath the skin. This feeling of being full of strength in every vein of his limbs was amazing! So strong. Because it was an underground city, there was no sun. The difference between day and night was that during the day, there were many lights on the city blocks and towers, and there were more pedestrians. Sinless City was very large, the city area was at least hundreds of square kilometers. Thankfully, there were complex railways and inter-city steam trains. Leonard took the train across half of the city, from East City to Grove Street in the South City District. On this block was a very prominent yellow-painted building, it was the tallest building nearby, the towering spire disappeared into the darkness, it was solemn and magnificent. There was a giant axe and bow emblem hung on the wall, this was the Hunters Association headquarters building at N0.1 Grove Street. The Hunters Association was a hub where hunters posted recruitment, obtained missions, traded information, and made transactions. So it was always crowded with people. Walking on the street, most of the people were hunters carrying firearms, knives, and steampunk mechanical equipment. Leonard walked towards the main building, he had taken just a few steps from the tram station and was on a covered bridge. Looking down, he saw a misty view beneath, and there were dozens of meters of height. This was the architectural feature of Sinless City. The entire city was built up in the mountain, complex and three-dimensional. Now it was just off the street on the first floor, but when you cross the covered bridge, youll find yourself more than twenty floors up. The misty images were like a dreamy illusion. The city was bustling under the lights, and the darkness contained countless secrets that could not be exposed. On both sides of the street were various stalls, which made up the Hunters Market. Like the antique markets of his former world, there were various strange objects displayed on the stalls. Come and see, freshly produced Elemental Series Demon Mark from the Watchtower Fortress, just 250,000. Deformed materials from the Demon Cross Ruins, we have universal materials for both Assassin Type and Healer Type, volume discounts available... Hidden Soul Wood from the West Plague Forest, premium undead material, come and take a look... Rare Mithril Ore from the Eagles Nest Mine, premium material for forging alloy machinery. Also selling ready-made Halo K-3 Mechanical Arms, standard equipment in Upper Citys military... The majority of items on the stalls were the various types of cards and extraordinary materials obtained from dungeon explorations by hunters. There were also stone carvings with ancient inscriptions, broken books, scrolls, etc. The dazzling array of items frequently caught Leonards eye. These were all treasures from various ruins. Most hunters would set up stalls here when they had spare time after coming back from dungeon explorations, as this would yield a much higher price than selling directly to the greedy middlemen. In addition to the street stalls, there were also physical stores lining the streets. Leonard had been here once before and bought the book Great Dark Breathing Method. It was almost nine oclock, so he didnt linger in the market but went straight to the Hunters Association hall. As soon as he entered, he saw that the hall, covering thousands of square meters, was packed with people. In the most conspicuous place of the hall, were a few huge Magic Light Screens. The screens displayed a large amount of recruitment information. Grand Cemetery Labyrinth recruitment teammates, exploring C-level difficulty, gathering undead materials. Dark Priest, puzzle solvers preferred... Twin Towers Fortress development, recruiting a godly archer, a heavily armored Black Knight... Plague Mine farming Mysterious Type materials. Departing in three days, led by the veteran gunner, looking for several Healing professions... Hunters would post mission rewards at the association, at the same time, large and small hunter teams could put up recruitment notices to find suitable teams to set off together. It was Leonards first time inside; he felt a sense of wonder. It turns out that in addition to the Abnormal Creature Shelter 407 that he had encountered before, there were many other various kinds of Alternate Dimensions in this world. After a few glances, he decided not to look further, he walked towards the elevator on the side. The elevator descended to the third floor, which was a large stepped conference room. The free course explaining card knowledge was very popular. When Leonard arrived, there were already a few hundred people present. However, because it was a beginners card knowledge course, those attending were mostly young hunters and half-grown children, creating a lively atmosphere. After surveying the surroundings, Leonard took a seat in a quiet corner.. Chapter 45 - 35:13 Ways to Divine Chapter 45: Chapter 35:13 Ways to Divine Translator: 549690339 Not long after, it was nine oclock sharp. Updated from A middle-aged man in a white robe of the Hunters Association brought in a burly man in a hunters outfit. The two walked into the meeting room. The man in the white robe introduced the burly man beside him, The lecturer for today is an esteemed official of the Association, the Vice-Captain of the Storm Hunter Squad, Second Tier Curse Card Master, Great Sword Mr. Bernie. Please welcome him! Thereon, boisterous applause resounded in the sprawling conference hall. The burly man didnt beat around the bush and began lecturing straightforwardly. Some of you might have heard before, while some do not know or are not very clear about it. Hence, I will explain it carefully today. Curse Card Masters have thirteen paths to divine, they are: [A-Courage], [2-Fallen], [3-Healing], [4-Mystery], [5-Wisdom], [6-Order], [7-Art], [8-Element], [9-Destruction], [10-Miracle], [J-War], [Q-Love], and [K-Kingship]. Each path leads to the world rules on which divine patterns can be condensed! Among the thirteen divine paths, each path has four Professional Sequences to choose from. This is what we often call the fifty-two Professional Sequences. For example, the A card corresponds to the four Professional Advancement directions of [Spade A-Black Knight], [Heart A-Light Warrior], [Club A-Fighter], and [Diamond A-Warrior]. Also, the Sequence 2 corresponds to [Spade 2-God Thief], [Heart 2-Ranger], [Club 2-Assassin], and [Diamond 2-Deceiver]... Although the four Professional Sequences of the Ace of Swords are all the path of Courage, the specialized directions chosen by different professions are different, the demon they point to are not the same, and the fighting styles are different too. The Black Knight takes the path of Dark Heavy Armor protection, the Light Warrior leans towards flesh growth, the Fighter is a natural Air Skill Master and a skill master, and the Warrior is a Weapon Expert... Those who came to listen to this free lecture were generally from the bottom layer of Sinless City, this was realistic. Leonard Churchill was also carefully pondering while listening, about which career path he should choose in the future. Looking at it now, having the skill of [Demon Feast], his physical attributes would be very high in the future. That is to say, walking the way of the four warrior professions in A-Courage seemed to be coherent. Joker has a passive talent that he is not restricted by sequence in changing his job. In other words, it would be okay if he wanted to switch to be an assassin, healer, or even other professions in the future. Just as he was thinking about this, Great Sword Bernie had also mentioned the Demon Mark, and continued, But before the selection of Professional Sequence, the most important point is to merge with the Demon Mark. Only after merging with the Mark and gaining the recognition of the Demon God, could we be regarded as Extraordinary. He looked at the crowd and said, Among you, there are some apprentice hunters who have merged with the Demon Mark; I guess you have already experienced the boost of the Mark to physical growth. The fifty-two Demon Marks point to fifty-two powerful Demon Gods. Each Demon God has its own unique ability, finding a fitting Mark and gaining the recognition of the Demon God will be the greatest help in your life... At his words, The expressions of the youngsters who had fused with the Mark were arrogant, their pride barely concealed. Extraordinary beings and ordinary people were basically different. Looking at his own average physical data exceeding 3, Leonard Churchill now had a deep feeling. Those who have not fused, on the other hand, were extremely envious. Bernie continued, Generally speaking, the Professional Sequence that corresponds to the Mark has the highest match with the Card Master. For example, the[Mark ? Ace of Spades]points to the great Demon God Eliog. His Demonic Law will give you an extremely strong physique and resistance to attacks. When fused with this Mark, the compatibility with the[Black Knight] Professional Sequence will be very high... Of course, the original fifty-two Professional Sequences were created to match the power of fifty-two Demon Gods. After countless predecessors modifications, the current system of Curse Card Masters came to be... At these words, someone immediately asked, Mr.. Bernie, do you mean that after a Curse Card Master chooses a Professional Sequence, can it not be changed? For example, if our first tier is[Black Knight], should the second tier also merge with the subsequent advancement cards of[Black Knight]? Chapter 46 - 35,13th way to divine 2 Chapter 46: Chapter 35,13th way to divine 2 Translator: 549690339???? No, of course not. Bernie shook his head with a smile and explained, Some sequences can interact with each other after reaching a high tier. For example, the [Spade A-Black Knight] and [Spades 4-Beast Walker] who also has a dark growth attribute can interact with each other. But this is advanced knowledge. Its difficult for people who are not card masters to understand, so we wont discuss it today. Leonard Churchill silently listened to the conversation, which solved many of his doubts. Fifty-two demon gods, corresponding to fifty-two professional sequences. Each professional sequence has a First Tier, Second Tier, Third Tier... and so on specific advancement cards. Although it appears that there are only fifty-two professions, in reality, there are countless. Just like [Spade A-Black Knight], his growth direction is a dark heavy armor warrior, which is a fixed formula. But because the quality of the career conversion card material found by each person is different, it may become: Ghost Knight, Plague Knight, Hellfire Knight... all are dark-type growth directions. Theoretically, every card master is unique. Even if they are all First Tier Black Knights, there are no two card masters in the world with exactly the same abilities. In addition, certain professional sequences can be converted interchangeably, forming countless job combinations. Mr. Bernie, are the sequences at the end more powerful? Like Queen Card Q and King Card K? No! This is a misconception by many people. There is no strongest sequence, only the strongest card master. The legendary powerhouses recorded in history have emerged from almost every sequence. For example, the legendary powerhouse of the federation twenty years ago, Camer Silver-Eyed Lion, was a top powerhouse in [Club A-Fighter] sequence; The current legendary thief king, Night Shadow1 Kuntu, initially advanced from the [Spades 2-God Thief] sequence... They are not so-called high sequences. But if you have the conditions, you should try to choose a higher quality demon mark to awaken transcendence. For example, the attributes of an ordinary quality [Mark Ace of Spades] are usually physique, tenacity, strength, and growth in dark affinity... But the same points to the powerful demon god Aeliog, the overall growth attributes of the black iron quality mark will be more than 10% higher. Silver is even stronger. This gap will get bigger and bigger in the later stage. So if you can find a high-quality demon mark, try to merge a higher quality one. The two legendary powerhouses I just mentioned, one of them merged a gold-quality mark and the other a rare legendary mark... Wow...! This is why many people feel exploited and cant accept it. But from a certain perspective, the elite teams can pass the alternate dimensions that individuals cannot, and their gains are actually more. Also, the sharing of resources and intelligence within the team can save ordinary hunters a lot of detours. As for the choice, it depends on personal needs. Bernie on the stage continued to talk about the Breathing Method. And besides the demon mark, the most important thing for card master apprentices is the breathing method. A good breathing method can double the efficiency of curse power cultivation. We can compare curse power to water. The breathing method not only replenishes water to the body, but also shapes a container for holding water. The better the quality of the breathing method, the larger and firmer the water tank, the more water it can hold, the faster it can hold... Of course, for ordinary hunters, high-quality breathing methods can almost only be accessed by large hunter squads. If you want to buy one, a black iron quality breathing method may require working in a factory for several years without eating or drinking... And some rare breathing methods are even rarer. For example, our Storm Hunter Squads [Storm Breathing Method], is a silver quality wind system breathing method, worth at least a million. And it cannot be bought on the market. We definitely wont sell either. But if you join our Storm Hunter Squad, a basic breathing method that fits will be given immediately. If you make enough contribution later, you can completely get the silver breathing method for free... Once again, while teaching knowledge, he advertised for the Storm Squad. With these words, the entire conference room became lively. With so many benefits of joining a hunter squad, young hunters cant wait to join. Leonard Churchill remained unmoved. But hearing these words, he finally understood how the quality of breathing methods is divided. After listening to the class, he was more eager to change the breathing method. The later he practices, the more he loses. What silver breathing method can practice in ten days, ordinary breathing methods might take a month. This is the quality gap of the breathing method. Leonard Churchill plans to go to the market for a walk after this class is over, to broaden his horizons while maybe finding something suitable for him. By the way, ask if there is the kind of breathing method he imagines that can absorb several elements.. Chapter 47 - 36: Hunter’s Market Chapter 47: Chapter 36: Hunters Market Translator: 549690339 The lecture lasted for over two hours. However, it felt like time passed very quickly and the session was over before they knew it. The young hunters were very interested in joining the Storm Squad, one by one they gathered around the podium to register as prospective members. Leonard Churchill had no immediate plans to join a team, so he left the Hunters Association building. Even though the class was all about the basics of being a Curse Card Master, he found it extremely rewarding. Without realizing, he once again found himself in the Reward Hall of the Association. Leonard paused to take a look. As he had expected, a few days had passed and there was still no trace of an arrest warrant or a bounty for him in Sinless City. The Fourth Master of the Miller Family, likely fearing a leak of information, could only secretly search for him. This made Leonard feel like the threat had greatly reduced. Along his journey, he spotted a few suspicious characters out of the corner of his eye. They might have been after him, or maybe not. But in Sinless City, he was not the only one with secrets. Leonard didnt pay it much mind. After all, they couldnt catch him on the train earlier, it would be even less likely for them to find him now. Without giving it much thought, Leonard left the building and continued to stroll around the market outside the Hunters Association. Having rare day off, he was quite intrigued by the strange and interesting items displayed on the stalls, and so, he casually strolled around. The passersby, having already grown numb to such sights, were indifferent. Most people in Sinless City were bloodthirsty wolves, and nobody would feel pity for the weak. Something crossed Leonards mind. He picked up a few things and walked over. He squatted down in front of the siblings, smiled, and asked: Little girl, whats your name? As he spoke, he took off his gas mask, and like a magic trick, his face turned into a clowns face with a funny red nose. The bright smile on his face seemed to bring laughter and joy just by looking at it. The girls eyes were still cold due to her hunger, but the boy curiously reached out as if trying to touch the clown mask. Leonard didnt mind. He grinned: Ill show you a magic trick. As he said that, the siblings gazes became a little more curious. He stretched out his hand, twirled it around as if was empty. Now watch. At that moment, the smile on his clown face was brighter than ever. He laid his left hand horizontally as if hiding something, then used his right hand to make a grabbing motion, pulling something from the space between his left hands thumb and forefinger... Just then, the boys clear eyes suddenly lit up because he saw a dark object being pulled out! There was even a hint of the fragrance of freshly baked bread. The boy gasped, his eyes filled with awe at the most miraculous sight hed ever seen in his life. He couldnt help but swallow, then cried out: Sis, its bread! Bread! Yes, look how long it is- Immersed in his performance, the clown wasnt done yet. He just kept pulling and pulling, and a loaf of bread as thick as his arm was pulled out, longer and longer. It was like magic, he managed to pull out a loaf of dark bread that was even longer than his forearm. Watching this miraculous scene, the boy jumped and danced with excitement, tugging at his sisters sleeve, exclaiming: Sis, sis, look! This gentleman really made a loaf of bread appear! It was just a simple magic trick known to many a magician. But at that moment, at seeing the two innocent childish faces, it felt as if the world was illuminated, casting light into their gloom-ridden hearts. It was as though they were instantly warmed. Seeing this, the comically exaggerated red smile on the clowns face stretched all the way to his eyes. He handed over the bread, without the pity of alms to the weak, only kindness and equality: Here, eat it. Its a gift for you two.. Chapter 48 - 36 Hunter’s Market—2 Chapter 48: Chapter 36 Hunters Market2 Translator: 549690339 | With the bread, the siblings wouldnt starve for the next couple of days. He didnt give them money because he knew they couldnt hold onto it. The siblings, clutching at their bread, were visibly moved, the gloomy expressions on their pale faces brightening a bit. The clown, seeing this, couldnt help but smile in satisfaction. He stood up and put his gas mask back on, his gaze once more returning to its usual cold, detached state. Leonard Churchill turned around and left. just a few steps later, he heard the sisters hurried voice from behind, Thank you, sir. My name is... Winter. Upon hearing this, Leonard, still beneath his gas mask, gave a small smile. He did not look back but continued walking away. Despite his own struggles for survival, even he could not bear to see other peoples hardship. That is what a clown does, after all. Life pelts him with its pain, and he responds with laughter. A clowns ridiculous performance brings joy to others. As Leonard thought about this, the idea emerged. Had it not been for the kind-hearted Big Beard in the traveling circus who took him in, perhaps hed have frozen to death that winter, lying next to the railway in a cold tunnel. This was just a small scene he had stumbled upon in his life, not significant enough to cause a change. A simple act of kindness. Updated from Or perhaps an occupational hazard after playing the role of a clown for so many years? Perhaps. Leonard didnt dwell on it too much. He walked on and soon arrived at a shop with a sign stating, Old Bensons Antique Bookstore. At the entrance, inscribed on a wooden board was, Buying and selling all kinds The shop owner said nothing. There were many people coming in and out of the shop. Leonard only glanced at them occasionally, not paying much attention. Unbeknownst to him, a new customer entered the store; her loud voice arriving before she did, Old man, do you have any new arrivals? Leonard did not pay attention at first. He turned to look at the source of the voice, following his instincts. Yet, upon hearing the inquiry, the shop owner got to his feet abruptly. His tone seemed ingratiating, as if a distinguished guest had arrived. Ah, yes! Yes! Yes! As he spoke, from his Storage Ring, he pulled out a stack of black and white photos and enthusiastically explained, These are recently discovered ancient documents by the hunters. If you want the original copies, I can grab them from the warehouse. The newcomer responded, No need for now, let me take a look first. Upon hearing it, Leonard was puzzled: ??? The owner usually didnt care much for customer service, but he was being so warm to this particular customer? Hes even using a respectful tone. Who exactly is this person? From the comer of his eye, he managed to take a quick look at the newcomer, a woman clad in a black leather biker suit. She had a perfect figure accentuated by the tight-fitting leather. However, her face was obscured by a half gas mask, and while her face wasnt visible, her gaze was sharp. Leonard didnt care much about physical appearance, but he immediately noticed her Mechanical equipment. Its majority was hidden under her clothing, but Leonard managed to catch a glimpse of the detal and knew at once what it was. It was undoubtedly the most sophisticated Mechanical equipment he had ever seen. ATR-33 Military Individual Exoskeleton? Someone has access to this? He hadnt seen one before, but hed heard about it. As he understood it, it was one of the most advanced pieces of individual equipment currently utilized by the Federal Military. Anywhere outside the military, this was considered contraband! She must hold a powerful position. As Leonard guessed about the woman in the leather jackets identity, he glanced at the stack of photos that the shop owner had handed over.. Chapter 49 - 36: Hunter’s Market_3 Chapter 49: Chapter 36: Hunters Market_3 Translator: 549690339 The photos were full of ancient books, scrolls, and stone carvings, all with words on them. There were also some drawings involved. Leonard took one glance and could see that these were ancient documents relating to machinery. The steam machinery in this world was not a product of modern scientific research, but an archaeological product. Just like the architectural level of the Demon Cross ruins, which had remained intact for thousands of years and even now were hard to replicate. The woman in leather seemed very interested in the content of the photos, looking at them intensely, but she was also frowning, evidently not understanding: Old Man, have you found anyone who can translate these mechanical drawings? The shop owner replied: No. The few scholar-level curse card masters I know only understand some rudiments of the Taren language. They cant translate a lot of the professional jargon on the mechanical drawings either. If you want a scholar who is proficient in ancient Taren, you could probably only find one in Dragon City. II II The woman in leather seemed a bit helpless as she listened; simply having the drawings wasnt enough. Only then did Leonard give the photo a second look. It was full of strange symbols, which were in ancient Taren. The language of a legendary civilization lost for thousands of years. The girl in the leather jacket continued to look at the photos, occasionally picking some up and asking the shop owner to prepare the originals for her to take. Leonard didnt have such VIP treatment. He had quickly looked over everything he was allowed to see. He didnt plan to spend much time in this shop. There were many other shops he wanted to visit. Finally, as an afterthought, he casually asked, Shopkeeper, do you have any Breathing Methods that can absorb multiple Elements at the same time? Faced with a different person, the shopkeeper returned to his indifferent demeanor, coldly replying, No. After a pause, he added with a sneer, You sure are peculiar. Curse power is meant to be as pure as possible, only then can you cast card spells in a safer and more efficient manner, and the chances of losing control during advancement will be smaller. Yet, you want more types? Leonard wasnt surprised by this response. He had already looked over them all carefully, all Breathing Methods were for some single element. He was just asking on the off-chance. He thought it was probably just like the shopkeeper said; absorbing curse power condensed from single elements was the right way? Or was it that the shop only catered to ordinary people and did not involve those rare Breathing Methods? But thinking about it in any case, if he couldnt find a suitable Breathing Method, his talent of complete elemental tolerance would be wasted. What a pity. Not getting the result he wanted, Leonard turned to leave the store. Unexpectedly, the woman in the leather jacket suddenly spoke up, her voice indifferent: You need a multi-elemental Breathing Method? Chapter 50 - 37: The Mysterious Shop in the Black Market Chapter 50: Chapter 37: The Mysterious Shop in the Black Market Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill was startled for a moment, was she asking him? It seemed so. He was very doubtful and wary in his heart, but he responded, Hmm. Just asking casually. Leonard Churchill confirmed that the two had no connection. In Sinless City, one must always be cautious about any advances from strangers. The woman had sharp instincts and seemed to see through his thoughts, but she didnt care at all. In Sinless City, if you didnt even have this level of caution, you would have been dead long ago. With a casual tone, she directly said, If you really need it, you can go to the Silver Star Mysteries Shop in the black market of Dark Rain Street. Just tell them Seven Brown recommended you. Ah, she really knows? Leonard Churchill didnt know why this stranger would be so kind as to give him a recommendation. Did she have an ulterior motive? It didnt seem so. Was she a person of the Fourth Master of the Miller family? No, she wasnt. If she were, she would have directly struck, there was no need for roundabout tricks or traps. Leonard Churchill didnt understand and didnt see much point in asking further. Thank you. He responded politely and directly exited the shop. The woman in the leather jacket didnt care at all, her gaze was still on the ancient books and photos, she didnt even bother to look up. It was as if she just handed a piece of bread to someone in need. There was no special intention behind it. As he walked along, he suddenly heard the sound of a train horn. It seemed as though a city-train had passed between the buildings, and a thick fog rose from the ground. But he didnt see the shadow of the train. Leonard Churchill walked through the fog, the train was twenty meters below, and he realized he was still on the overpass. A shopping district appeared in front of him. A few steel-framed buildings housed several small shops. There were far fewer pedestrians here than at the Hunters Market on Grove Street, but it didnt feel deserted at all, rather, it was full of mystery. Leonard Churchill listened closely and heard a rushing water sound. Upon closer look, a turbulent underground river seemed to be hidden in the foggy depths beside the market. There is a black market. Leonard Churchill looked at those shops, although the signs were inconspicuous, like small workshops, just the atmosphere gave people a feeling that there were good things here. He observed the surroundings for a moment and then walked over. All kinds of card shops, machinery shops, material shops, firearms shops... this place felt like a huge market of contraband goods. Upon careful inspection, the items on sale were much wilder! Leonard Churchill just glanced casually, and the sample items hanging outside those machinery shops were all kinds of military surplus equipment that hunters had said were hard to come by. The firearms on display in the windows of those firearm emporiums were all kinds of heavy weapons with exaggerated shapes! There were things like Plague Bombs, Mutation Bombs, Annihilation Bullets... these were not only dangerous for enemies, but also for themselves and the environment. Highly polluting banned bullets. These were contraband goods that other shops would not sell, but here in these shops, they were being sold openly. There were also the potion shops, with all kinds of highly lethal frenzy potions, hallucinogenic potions and alchemical poisons... Leonard Churchill was truly enlightened. How to describe this feeling, the products sold in ordinary shops outside were like hand grenades, while here, they were selling missiles! Turns out the rules in Sinless City were the same, they were not for everyone, but for ordinary people who didnt have any particular privileges. He was suddenly looking forward to it. It seemed that good things could really be found here. Good place... Leonard Churchills eyes were hot, he wanted to get his hands on anything he found here.. Chapter 51 - 37 Mysterious Shop in the Black Market! Chapter 51: Chapter 37 Mysterious Shop in the Black Market! Translator: 549690339 But a look at the price instantly doused his excitement. As expected, good things always come at a price that makes your heart skip a beat. Leonard Churchill walked around, observing his surroundings. Not only the shops here are special, the customers coming and going are also very mysterious. Most of them were hidden behind hats, windbreak coats, or wearing cloaks. In short, few people showed their true faces. Leonard also blended into the crowd, wearing a gas mask and walking casually down the street. Soon, he stopped walking. Turning his head to look, he saw a small shop with Silver Star Mysterious Material Shop hand-written on a wooden board with charcoal at the entrance. If he hadnt paid attention, he would have almost missed it. This is it? It doesnt look high-end at all. Leonard eyed the shop once, with a skeptical attitude, and walked in. The shop was very small, around ten square meters or so. In this small shop, several rows of cabinets occupied more than half of the room, and there were even unknown creature bones hanging on the ceiling. But what was strange was that the shop seemed to be full, but there were hardly any goods displayed. It looked more like a storeroom of miscellaneous goods. Behind the counter, a thin middle-aged person wearing glasses was engrossed in grinding some black powder, completely ignoring the customer that had just entered. Leonard began, Hello boss, do you have... But before he could finish, the middle-aged man interrupted him with a dismissive tone: No. Huh... thats not a good start. Is he refusing business? But Leonard did not know that the Black Market had its own rules. The Great Sword Bernie told me this morning firmly that the Storm Breathing Method is the secret of their Storm Hunter Group. And here, you can sell it casually? Could it be a duplicate name? Leonard thought about it and felt that it wasnt. There were not many known Silver Breathing Methods in the market, it should not be duplicate. It turns out that it was not that I couldnt buy it, but I hadnt found the right path. And listening to the shopkeepers half-sentence, it seems other Breathing Methods can be preordered? His tone seemed to suggest that he has means to get whatever the customer wants. And the way he gets it, doesnt sound like anything legal. Holy crap, is this how wild it gets here? Whats the background of this shop? Sometimes, when cognitions are suddenly being updated, people will always feel a sense of unreality. Various thoughts flashed in Leonards mind in an instant. He took another look at this unassuming shop from the corner of his eye, and an instinctive thought rose in his heart: Is this some scammer who draws a big cake? Looking at the street outside, this is the black market. A scam shop? Leonard didnt show any emotion, thought about it, and felt like he didnt have anything worth scamming. An idea emerged in his mind: Why not, first verify the goods, to see the capability of this guy? Seeing his demeanor, the shop owner took the initiative to ask again: Nothing to your liking? He jumped to the conclusion that the one who was introduced was naturally not for any common merchandise and continued, If its a rarer Breathing Method, it might be a bit troublesome. Rarer? The legendary Gold Breathing Method? And its just... a bit troublesome. So its not impossible to get! Upon hearing this, Leonard once again refreshed his impression of the shop owner in front of him. He didnt show any emotion, and directly stated his needs: Well... I need a Breathing Method that can absorb multiple elements at the same time. If its still a single-element Breathing Method, he would find it somewhat tasteless even if it were a Silver Secret Skill, not to mention whether he could afford it or not.. Chapter 52 - 37 Mysterious Shop in the Black Market_3 Chapter 52: Chapter 37 Mysterious Shop in the Black Market_3 Translator: 549690339 If the shopkeeper really was all talk, Leonard Churchill wanted to see for himself what kind of tricks he could pull out of his hat. ??? Upon hearing Leonard Churchills request, the shopkeeper changed his previously dismissive attitude. So, they werent your average client after all... Anyone who needed such mysterious techniques must be of a special profession. The shopkeeper didnt intend to invade his customers privacya cardinal sin in the Black Market. After a moment of contemplation, he said, I might just have the breathing method youre looking for... Leonard Churchill was taken aback. It actually existed? The shopkeeper continued, I happen to have a fragment of a breathing technique. I dont know its name, but it allows you to absorb at least seven different elements. The price, however, is a bit steep. He held up three fingers. Leonard Churchill ventured a guess, Three million? Considering the shopkeeper had described it as a bit steep, it wasnt going to be thirty thousand or three hundred thousand. Upon hearing the price, it seemed to him like a trick. The Silver Breathing Method was only a hundred thousand, why was this unknown method three times the cost? The more mystical they made it sound, the less credible it seemed. The shopkeeper didnt respond. His eyes had a cunning look, and he said, According to an appraiser, it might be a golden-quality breathing technique, possibly once used by ancient demons. Despite being only a fragment, it could theoretically boost curse power levels to that of a regular persons ninth level when one reaches the sixth level. Given the circumstances, I dont think the price is high. I am only mentioning this because of who referred you to me, or else I wouldnt even bring it up. II II Updated from Leonard Churchills expression didnt change, even though he was suspicious as he was penniless and not prepared to believe so easily. Before he could even conclude that the shopkeeper was a deceiver, the shopkeeper suddenly presented a small booklet. Furthermore, he added, This secret knowledge comes from a sensitive source. You should know who its from. So, even if someone has learned this, its best not to let outsiders know. Leonard Churchill didnt have a clue! Otherwise, the consequences would be severe. After flipping through a couple more pages, Leonard Churchill closed the book. Although he had a photographic memory and could have secretly read the book if the shopkeeper didnt mind, it was not his intention to take advantage of others this way. When people treat you with sincerity, its only right to return the favor. Leonard Churchill was able to see this secret knowledge because of Seven Browns good graces. If he went ahead and took advantage, that would just be low. But he truly was broke. After this moment, he did not question the three million price tag anymore. Instead, he felt that it was lower than the market price! The shopkeeper had only asked for one and a half million for the Storm Breathing Method, and even though that was the market price, theoretically it should be more expensive as it is hard to find. In this light, the golden fragment seemed like a good deal. Moreover, for those who have compatible constitutions, this breathing method would be priceless. Leonard Churchill could already envision a future where his breathing method would increase his efficiency by n-fold... But he really didnt have the money. The only valuable thing he had was the Blackwater Mercenary Group card, but even that was only worth a couple hundred thousand at most. The Gambler Dogs Secondary Mutated Heart was a valuable item indeed, but pulling something like that out would reveal his identity! At this moment, Leonard Churchill was in a bit of a dilemma. The shopkeeper could not get a read on what his guest was thinking. Just as Leonard Churchill was contemplating ways to raise money or whether to risk selling some of his belongings, his face suddenly changed. Enlightenment Display: Exemption from Mysterious Type Techniques. He immediately realized, someone just used a mysterious technique similar to divination. He was being watched! Please vote; I need all the support I can get. New books are super important, thank you.. Chapter 53 - 38 Annihilation Bomb Chapter 53: Chapter 38 Annihilation Bomb Translator: 549690339 Just as Leonard Churchill entered the Black Market of Dark Rain Street, a squad of people had been staking out the area here for several days. This was an elite squad from the Blackwater Mercenary Group specialized in hunting down targets. They received death orders to find the two Curse Card apprentices who had previously cleared Space 407. There were many such hunting squads in Sinless City, and wherever there was a large population, there were men arranged by the Governors Mansion and the Miller Family. But this was already the fourth day. The scent was already indistinguishable, and the portraits only showed them wearing gas masks. The only reliable physical traits left were their heights, but even that could vary greatly with different pairs of shoes. With such scant clues, finding two such individuals in the vast sea of people in Sinless City was nearly impossible. In a shop in the Dark Rain Street Black Market, covered by a black curtain and carrying the sign Harley Motorcycle Customization Shop, five people were in the midst of a meeting. A strong man from the Courage Sequence Heart A C Light Knight, a woman with red hair from the Element Sequence Diamond 8-Element Manipulator, a man with glasses from the Light Sequence Heart 3 C Physician, and a man with a hood from the Fallen Sequence Heart 2-Ranger, who specializes in machinery and trace tracking. A fighter, a mage, a doctor, and a ranger, this was the standard configuration of an elite squad from a Mercenary Group. Additionally, there was an elderly woman in a black robe, flipping through a deck of cards on her own. They had been staking out the Black Market for several days. Thinking that the targets may have obtained some rare treasures from Space 407 and might appear in the Black Market to sell them off, they were assigned to stake out here. Having not caught the targets was not really their fault; they could only blame poor luck. However, this time the Miller Family issued a death order. If they do not catch the targets, many people will die. This mission is impossible. They didnt clarify who exactly we need to find, nor did they specify what we need to find... Exactly. Cant they give us a clear order?! Just telling us to look for two people, how the hell are we supposed to do that? Stop complaining. Just pray we can find them. Otherwise...you know the punishment. Its been days since we heard from the vice-commander of our group. After the Fourth master of Miller family returned from the Demon Cross, his temper has been really bad. I heard that he executed several of his personal maids in these past days. The more they staked out, the more frustrated they felt, but they could do nothing about it. Captain, do you really think its a good idea for our Black Water Group to join the external system of the Governors Mansion? Although we were mercenaries for hire, at least we had a choice in the tasks we accepted and lived freely. But now? Ha, were simply dogs to the Miller family. We are offered a piece of meat when we are useful, but when we are useless, our death would mean nothing. Stop complaining. Since we made this choice in the past, there is no turning back. Thats right. The captains decision wasnt wrong. With the Old Continent being discovered, even the nobles of the Federation are coveting the treasures found in the ruins. The major family factions will gradually extend their reach, and with their methods and strength which you are well aware of, Sinless City will inevitably fall under the Federations control... The captain just hopes that we can have a legitimate status in the future... Ah... With this, silence filled the room. At this moment, the team leader turned towards the old woman who was currently divining with tarot cards. He asked her, Miss White, how is the divination going? She was their only hope in the mission. Physical tracking could no longer contribute to the investigation, it could only rely on the mysterious and extraordinary now. Hearing this, the old woman showed a helpless expression and shook her head. Those were a pair of clear and lustrous eyes, but starkly contrasted against her aged face. She was a rare card master sequence, the Wisdom Sequence Heart 5 C Prophet. Her Demon Mark pointed to the great Demon God Ramo, which gave her the ability to predict the future. And perhaps, they had already located his position through certain means! The shopkeeper also sharply caught on to the sudden frosty countenance of the customer before his eyes, squinting slightly, unsure what had happened. To him, there shouldnt be anyone stupid enough to rob in the black market. Leonards first reaction could be that he had fallen into a trap set up by someone, starting from the encounter with that woman... until here. But immediately after, he dismissed that guess. Leonard was certain that the mysterious technique just now had nothing to do with the current shopkeeper. Catching a glimpse of the dim street outside the door from the corner of his eye, he thought of something. Instead of rushing to escape, he asked, Boss, do you have Annihilation Demon-breaking Bullets here? This is a type of high-grade curse bullet that hunters have mentioned, extremely complicated to manufacture, with a very strong demon-breaking effect, capable of causing fatal damage to a formal card master. With a price of more than ten thousand for one. But normal shops cant buy it at all. At least Leonard hadnt seen it in any firearm emporiums he visited before. This black market shop, however, might have it. On hearing this, the shopkeeper looked Leonard up and down for the third time. He wasnt just any black market boss, he was the steward of the biggest gang in Sinless City, the Flood Gang. Over the years he had seen countless kinds of people, was there anyone he hadnt met? But, just then, he sensed that the customer before his eyes seemed to transform into another person, becoming suddenly imposing. The person Miss White had introduced was interesting. The shopkeeper murmured in his heart and looked at Leonard, Yes. He didnt know what Leonard wanted to do with the bullets, but that killing intent inadvertently revealed just now had explained something. That killing intent wasnt directed at himself, but outside in the street. Interested, he asked, How many do you need? Leonard replied, I need... six. The shopkeeper didnt make any small talk. At a wave of his hand, six unique bullets, black as ink, were displayed on the table. He didnt even mention the price. Leonard looked over. The bullets had mysterious and complex curse inscriptions engraved all over them, giving a feeling resembling the teeth of six venomous snakes, cold and lethal. He directly loaded the bullets into the revolver, distributing the Annihilation bullets into every other slot in one gun, and placing three consecutive bullets in the other after skipping two slots. The shopkeeper looked on with interest, thinking, With such a method of loading, someones in for a rough time. He didnt say anything, not the least bit worried that Leonard would run away with the things. Six Annihilation Bullets totaled to one hundred and twenty thousand, and Leonard didnt have any cash on him. Obviously, he could see that the shopkeeper before him was not ordinary, and said, I dont have cash on me, can I use these things as a mortgage first? Saying that, he took out a stack of cards brought out from Space 407 earlier. The shopkeeper didnt even glance at those cards, and readily agreed, Of course. In fact, just based on the name you mentioned earlier is enough. Thank you. Leonard didnt delay, he turned around and left the shop. Now that he was exposed, he no longer cared about cards or anything else. Watching the figure leaving the shop, the middle-aged man had a thoughtful expression. Sometimes when observing someone, you look not only at their current strength, but the details inadvertently revealed when they react in the face of danger, which are more accurate. His intuition told him, that young man just now, was very different.. Chapter 54 - 54= 39= Siege Chapter 54= Chapter 39= Siege Translator: 549690339 | The black market was bustling with people. Leonard Churchill exited the shop and walked onto the street, his steps lacking any trace of panic. He was well aware that the other side did not know his appearance, even if they used mysterious techniques to divine his location, they may not be able to immediately identify him from the crowd! His gaze swept around and quickly noticed some men in suits who were hurrying around with searching glances throughout the crowd on the street. They were at the beginning and end of each street. They appeared to be part of a perfectly-prepared ambush. Theyve probably stationed people in the most crowded parts of the city, he surmised. Leonard realized that the fact his presence was discovered was only part of the plan; the enemies likely had a wide-reaching net cast. It wasnt surprising that the Miller Family had this capability. At the same time, he made an immediate judgment: So, the mysterious technique used earlier has a limited range... He came to the Dark Rain Street black market today on a whim and hadnt been there long. But since these individuals already formed a trap in such a short time, they must have been waiting here long before. That is to say, he was a rabbit who had accidentally run into a tree stump. And the fact that he had not been caught elsewhere likely meant that the mysterious technique had a casters range. So if he could get off Dark Rain Street, he could potentially evade pursuit. However, an escape now seems difficult. Leonard had a flurry of thoughts in his mind. Instead of heading towards the main road that led out of the street, he headed towards the dark alleys. As he expected, the men in suits did not know who their target was, they were still searching for suspicious figures in the crowd. Leonards calm and composed walk did not draw any attention. Originally, just by straying into the darkness and using Shadow Submarine he likely could have safely escaped. This technique was to capture, not kill. This was a massive benefit! Unable to push off the ground, he risked getting trapped any second. However, he was prepared. He raised his hand and activated the mechanical sleeve arrow hidden in his arm, aimed towards a second floor iron railing not far away. With a whoosh, a very thin steel wire rapidly shot out and hooked onto the railing. Another pull of the trigger, and the device in his sleeve retracted the wire at high speed. A strong pulling force yanked Leonard away from the ground that had turned into quicksand. Ever since Camilla had used a similar mechanism to escape, Leonard had tailored one for himself as well. If properly used, this contraption was definitely a lifesaving tool. While in mid-air, Leonard wasnt idle, he turned around and fired a shot. Bang! A bullet burst from the muzzle of the gun. In that instant, it seemed as though time had slowed down by tenfold. The bullet ripped through the air, leaving behind a stream of air waves as it aimed for the red-haired womans head. How fast was a bullet? If there wasnt any premonition, it certainly isnt something a physically frail Magic Curse Card user could evade. But the red-haired woman seemed to have no intention of evading, her eyes cold, because a bullet was limited in its threat to an official card master. She let her magic power surge, and watched the bullet stop in the air an inch away from her face. Upon closer inspection, what stopped the bullet was a faint yellow magic shield. Nevertheless, the red-haired womans eyes suddenly changed as she noticed a second bullet in her line of sight, from the coldness in her heart she realized, Annihilation Demon-breaking Bullet! She realized that the man didnt only fire one shot, but two! Only a sharpshooter with an extremely high proficiency in firearms could take the recoil from a bullets discharge and use it to aid in a second shot, firing two bullets in quick succession. Moreover, because the continuous firing was so fast, it sounded like only one gunshot. This was Advanced Firearms Proficiency! The speed of a bullet was quicker than the senses, both bullets hit the magic shield at the same point.. Chapter 55 - 39 Siege_2 Chapter 55: Chapter 39 Siege_2 Translator: 549690339 The curse on the black bullet instantly eroded the shield, pfff, and it made its way inside. While a Curse Power Shield is strong, just like the breath of a human it isnt always on its highest protection. A Curse Card Master needs to actively concentrate the Curse Power, focused in a specific direction, to achieve maximum defensive effect. After a hit, the vibrational shockwave from the impact greatly reduces the shields stability. Beyond that, the actively cast Curse Power Shield is directly tied to the subjective consciousness of people, and the subjective force of touching cotton and holding a lump of iron are completely different. The two shots were quite deceptive. The first one is the smoke screen, and the second is the real killer! As expected, the Annihilation Bullet easily broke through the shield, ping, and hit the redhead womans forehead. Blood profusely flows. But, it didnt penetrate. The brunette woman turned pale: Shes injured? By an apprentice? The shield in her hand shattered. Just with one face-to-face encounter, people from the Blackwater Mercenary Group immediately realized how troublesome their target was. As expected, not so easy to kill... Leonard Churchill watched the redhead woman who stood her ground, though her forehead was bloody, she was not dead. Internally, he felt a sense of regret. Truth to be told, Magic Type Curse Card Masters are definitely the hardest to deal with. He thought he could try to catch the enemy off guard, as they didnt know his level of firearms skills. However, actual fact proves that in the face of absolute power, the gap compensated by skills and equipment is not much. But, it wasnt entirely useless. At least it stopped this woman from continuing to draw cards for a fight. Thats enough. The action of shooting is instantaneous, but the enemy is indeed very experienced old mercenaries. This was the first occurrence in all these years. And the only occurrence. However, what surprised the group was still to come! As soon as Leonard Churchill landed, he did not hesitate at all before leaping towards the cliff behind him. He jumped off the cliff! The buildings in Sinless City were very tall, and the city was built on a hill, so there were high cliffs everywhere within the city. The Black Market was located in Dark Rain Street, not only because of its remote location. It was because of its unique and extremely complex terrain that made it almost impossible for merchants and guests inside the Black Market to be surrounded, should anything happen. One side of Dark Rain Street was a building cliff with a drop of dozens of meters. Leonard Churchills earlier breakthrough from that direction was exactly what he intended. He was very clear that there were several official curse card masters among the enemies, and they had a well-planned stratagem. It would not be possible, not even theoretically, to win or escape normally. So he leapt decisively off the cliff. Upon seeing this, the four members of the Blackwater Group were momentarily stunned. This guy jumped off the cliff without any hesitation? Normally, when facing a cliff, the human instinct would be to pause and observe, confirming how to apply force and where to land. But this guy did not even take a glance and jumped right away? Was he panicking and running blindly? But they did not know that Leonard Churchill had already carefully observed the nearby terrain before entering Dark Rain Street. He had even planned several escape routes. At this moment, he had a complete 3D plan of the complex streets in his mind. Even without looking, he knew exactly where he would land when he jumped. This jump was not blind, but a well-prepared action. Seeing this, the warrior captain urgently yelled, Hey Third, stick to that guy, dont let him escape! The target they had been waiting for was finally within sight, how could they let him escape? Chapter 56 - 39 Siege_3 Chapter 56: Chapter 39 Siege_3 Translator: 549690339 The rangers shot missed, but his reaction was extremely quick. Without any hesitation, his years of teamwork allowed him to instinctively know what to do. He forcefully stepped on the ground, moving as fast as a ghost, and like the apprentice, he also jumped off the cliff. If a Card Master Apprentice dared to jump, how could he not? His profession as a ranger was known for its expertise in tracking! There was no way the enemy could escape after jumping off a cliff! However, as soon as he had jumped off the cliff, he saw the figure plunging rapidly, quickly turning around to aim his gun at him. The dark muzzle was trained right on him. Almost instantly as he exposed himself, flames erupted from the gun. Bang! Bang! Two more shots. So decisive! The ranger, still surging forward due to inertia, had no way to defend himself in mid-air. He was essentially a sitting duck. Damn it, how can a Card Master Apprentice have such proficient gun skills! The ranger cursed under his breath. The first two shots could be attributed to luck, but these two were a test of real skill. No prior aiming, just open firing. This meant that he had anticipated the rangers exact location when hed jumped off. The ranger himself was a gunner nearing Advanced Specialty, so he was familiar with predictions basis. The shortest distance between two points was a straight line. His position from where hed needed to catch up and jump off the cliff was closest to this point. Anticipating this point wasnt difficult, but what was difficult was that this guy didnt show any signs of panic under such circumstances. Hed anticipated and fired at the perfect time? Such quick thinking was almost on par with a great gun master! Hed thought hed underestimated him before, but it seemed he had underestimated him again. But he was a professional ranger, a full-fledged card master. A thought flashed through his mind, and his spirit surged, stepping hard on the air in mid-air and narrowly avoiding these two bullets. He flipped in mid-air, his eyes fixed on the target about to land, chilling him to the bone. Such high agility attributes... Looking at his two missed shots, Leonard Churchills expression didnt change at all. He hadnt been able to kill that Magic Curse Card Master before, so he certainly didnt expect his gunfire to kill this agile Assassin Type Curse Card Master. A visible sound barrier explosion occurred between the two. Despite being clad in a bulletproof plate, Churchills chest still shook like a train had slammed into it. His vitality and blood churned, and he momentarily fainted. But the blast force propelled his body to hurtle down into darkness like cannonball mid-fall. Seeing the forthcoming explosion, the ranger instinctively assumed a defensive posture, but was still sent flying by the shock bomb. Watching the gap widen, the being launched back helplessly. All he could do was pull the trigger of his launcher, puff, and a metal net shot out towards the figure in the midst of explosion. The sound of splashing water came followed. The target had plunged into the underground Dark River, disappearing from sight. All of a sudden, everyone realized that the cliff Jump was not in panic, but intentional- aiming to jump into the pitch-black Dark River. This was the only plan a Card Master Apprentice could come up with to escape the tight encirclement. The squad leader stared at the mist shrouded underground river with sunken eyes. He had thought that a Card Master Apprentice wouldnt stand a chance of escaping as long as he dared to show up on Dark Rain Street. But there it was. Not only did he escape. He also had the audacity to slap them so viciously. On reflection, the mercenaries realized. From the beginning, he had demonstrated an unhuman-like composure and precise judgment. During that intense chase, each gunshot he fired was accurate, buying him precious time to escape. Each step he took felt meticulously calculated, and landed right on the possibly only step with hope for escape. Only when they saw him pull the ripcord of the shock bomb attuned to his body at point-blank range did the Blackwater Group realize that not only is this a sly guy, but is also insanely daring. Even though the shock bomb probably wouldnt kill him, there was an eighty percent chance he would pass out. Now, strapped in the net and falling into the water, can he still survive? Betting on the possibility of water reviving him. Seeking a slim chance of survival in the face of death, was this guy not afraid at all? If there had been the slightest hesitation or slip up during his escape, he would have been captured! But he didnt! Not even once! Gunning, cliff-jumping, shock bomb, and precise landing into the water. Every move was flawless and executed without an ounce of hesitation! The fog had sunk down to the surface of the river, lessening visibility to less than two meters. Even with a flare, all they could see was merely a sheet of dense fog over the river. The grim-Iooking squad leader roared, Dive in! We must capture him at all costs! With these words, he removed his mechanical equipment and jumped into the river first. If they let this target escape, they could already imagine what their fate would be.. Chapter 57 - 40 He Actually Came Back Chapter 57: Chapter 40 He Actually Came Back Translator: 549690339 Gurgle- Gurgle- Cold river water choked Leonard Churchill, jolting him awake from unconsciousness. In the pitch-black icy river, he opened his eyes, his gaze glowed with intense excitement and chilliness. Although he had roughly estimated that the shock bombs power wouldnt kill him, the close-range explosions power did knock him unconscious as expected. If it wasnt for the massive boost in attributes he had received from swallowing the [Secret Cause Spirit Medium], this could have cost him half his life. But there are no ifs. Leonard Churchill never based his actions on luck. He dared to do it because he had deduced the plan before doing it. His physical strength was strong enough, and at the same time, he injected himself with an [Excitement Potion], ensuring that he would wake up the moment he entered the water. Although it still had risks, once he was in the water, it meant that he had escaped. This was far better than being caught. A Curse Card Master was potent on land, but much less so in the water, where both perception and movements are greatly limited. Especially for those muscular close-combat Curse Card Masters who are not necessarily more agile than Leonard Churchill in the water. Heh... Lucky, huh? In the pitch-black river, Leonard Churchill couldnt resist coughing up blood. However, the darkness could not hide the fear-inducing grin on his face. His eyes resembled a beast lurking in the night, resolute and insane. As his body was swiftly sinking with the turbulent flow, he suppressed his churning vitality and blood and started to untie the steel net on his body. The steel wire was very sturdy, but the lock was mechanical. Underwater escape was a skill that Leonard Churchill was very familiar with in his previous life; this mechanical lock was nothing to him. Submerged in the icy river, his mind seemed to flash with insight. He felt that it wasnt merely about luck anymore. As if there was a destiny at work. With the Demon Mark granting him the extraordinary, he naturally had to bear the attention of the misfortune gambler. There were enemies plunging into the water, but they had obviously lost their target. Leonard Churchill unlocked the lock and suddenly laughed, Tsk tsk... In his eyes, this is far from over! If escaping was his only plan, it would not live up to his true intentions. With a thought in mind, he swam into the inky river like a fish. On the other hand, the sudden incidents had left the merchants in Dark Rain Streets Black Market bewildered. The sound of gunshots startled all the merchants and customers on the whole block. Although Sinless City is a lawless city and a den of iniquity, there are some unwritten rules in some places. Like Dark Rain Street, here is a market for the major forces in the city concentrate to trade materials, and many transactions that cant be made openly are finalized here. Therefore, almost everyone here agrees not to resort to brute force. It is not explicitly prohibited, but if anyone fails to abide by the rules, he may no longer be welcomed at the Black Market. When he jumped from the cliff before, he saw an old woman with white hair among the enemies. It was she who identified him first. His intuition told him that she was the spellcaster. So from the very beginning he was discovered, Leonard Churchill had one thought: given the opportunity, he must kill that diviner. Eliminate his lingering worries! Despite the fact that the warrior-type curse card masters could jump from a cliff, he didnt think the old woman could follow suit. Although each of the fifty-two professional sequences had their strengths, the professions were relatively balanced. The Wisdom Sequence granted the old woman extraordinary divination abilities, but it also came with a weaker physical constitution than that of an average person. As expected. Upon returning to Dark Rain Street, Leonard Churchill saw the lone old woman on the street. Almost all the mercenaries had gone down to the Dark River to search for him. No one would have expected that the murderer had the audacity to come back and kill again! Leonard Churchill had been wearing a clown mask since he came out of the water, making him immune to most of the mysterious techniques. Like a ghost lurking in the dark, he emerged from the alley when he was less than ten meters from the old woman. This distance was almost a guaranteed hit. In the last moment of her life, the old woman seemed to have a premonition and turned to look at the dark alley. Seeing the shadowy figure with a gun, her eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then gave a wry smile of resignation. She had already faintly sensed her imminent death. She thought she would die from the backlash of a relic. She didnt expect to have guessed wrong. She died at the barrel of a gun. But it didnt matter. She was nearing the end of her life anyway. Was it not a kind of release? The old woman in front of him seemed much older and more decrepit than before, as frail as a candle in the wind. Leonard Churchill felt no pity as he pulled the trigger. The gun roared, and an Annihilation Bomb pierced through her forehead. As everyone was still puzzled by the sudden gunshot in the street, Leonard Churchill quickly rushed over. He grabbed the storage ring from the corpses hand, then quickly darted into the alley, disappearing once again into the darkness. A few minutes later, a customer arrived at the Silver Star Mysterious Material Shop. Leonard Churchill, now in a new outfit, walked into the shop. The middle-aged shopkeeper recognized him at once, even though he was now wearing a gas mask, as the same customer from before. The shopkeepers gaze was complicated. Leonard Churchill dumped a pile of items from his storage ring, and asked, Boss, can I use these items in exchange for that breathing method? He was broke just a while ago, but now he had money. The spoils of war from killing the old woman could be used to exchange for some items. He was exposed anyway. Underneath the goggles of the gas mask, a pair of eyes glowed with madness and brilliance. The self-assured arc of his smile seemed to carry a chilling killing intent that could freeze the air itself. The bustling outside continued. Probably no one would have thought that the maniac who had committed murder twice in public would return so calmly to shop. Was he confident that he wouldnt be troubled by the shopkeeper? The shopkeeper watched him. His thoughts racing, and then gave a resigned smile, Of course. It had been a long time since he had met such a bold and daring young man.. Chapter 58 - 41 Rich Spoils of War Chapter 58: Chapter 41 Rich Spoils of War Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill chose to return to the Silver Star Mysterious Material Shop and exchange the golden breathing method book he had. Even though it was a last- minute decision, it was still the best choice carefully made after thorough consideration. After he had killed the diviner and obtained some spoils, he suddenly had in his possession the breathing method book he previously couldnt afford. Besides, there would never be a better opportunity than now. With all the commotion, his identity had already been exposed. It would not be long before the whole black market in Dark Rain Street knew he was the person associated with the disappearance of Abnormal Creature Shelter 407. Anyone would understand what it meant when a high-yield alternate dimension disappeared. If he were to come back to buy that incomplete golden breathing method book again, the shopkeeper would surely figure out it was him. Holding such a treasure, even if Saul Miller didnt actually say what it was, it would inevitably give people ideas. While his alias Seven Brown still held some sway, Leonard planned to solve the problem once and for all. As he had anticipated, the shopkeeper had exceptional courage. And mostly because the shopkeeper probably suspected that he had some sort of relationship with Seven Brown, the trade to exchange the spoils for the breathing method went smoothly without any roundabout dealings. As for any unforeseen circumstances? Leonard had thought about them, too. However, he tended to trust his instincts and judgment more. This kind of fiery, intense self-confidence was above all subjective consciousness. It made him fearless! Not daring to linger, Leonard swiftly disappeared into the dark with the breathing method. The current Dark Rain Street was in chaos. The Blackwater Mercenary Group had heard that the target they had been searching for had appeared in the black market, and people from several nearby neighborhoods had quickly reinforced their forces. Not only mercenaries, but various secretly-placed people under the control of the Governors Miller Family in the Lower City had also grown active. Such significant movement naturally couldnt be concealed from the well-informed information merchants. Various powers in the city dispatched people to investigate since they didnt understand why there was large-scale movement in the Black Market. In a short while, undercurrents surged in Sinless City; groups of armed personnel began to gather in the alleyways as motor vehicles roared in the street. The various forces, seeing the situation, believed that some significant upheaval was about to occur. More and more forces began to gather. Almost no one fully understood what was going on, but they all began to gather. Because everyone was gathering their forces. But when the old woman was shot dead in the street, everyone reacted. The card master apprentice was not only not caught, but he had actually become more reckless and returned to kill any potential whistleblowers! The Blackwater Mercenary Group and the undercover agents of the Miller Family started to search frantically everywhere. By now, everyone realized that the situation was only getting worse, not better. But the identity of the Governor from the Miller Family didnt have much deterrent effect in the Lower City. Their large movements not only didnt bring any help but faced obstruction everywhere. Most people still didnt understand what was going on, but everyone in Sinless City uniformly rejected outsiders: anything the Governor wanted to do, they wanted to prevent. The more urgent he appeared, the more they wanted to obstruct him. For a moment, the whole of Sinless City was astir. Although Leonard is not very familiar with this world, he knows all too well that the Curse Card Masters proficient in divination are extremely rare. And the cost of using divination is enormous. Just like the old woman Leonard had seen before, her old appearance was unusual. Leonard did not think that the Governor, the Miller family, had many such talents. Killing one means one less. Thats the primary reason why he wanted to silence her, even if it meant taking a risk. Besides, finding relics that have divination properties may not be easy in the future. Leonard discovered a treasure among the spoils of war. Relic-Golden Divination Poker Detailed Explanation: Level II Mysterious Type relic that consumes life span to perform divination for a range of targets. Users need to master prophecy-related skills. The more vague the clue is, the greater the backlash. Seeing the poker cards that sparkled like gold, Leonard immediately realized that this was the treasure that the old woman used to divine his position. Its called ancient relics because such things can hardly be replicated in modern times. Everything known as relics comes from ancient ruins and the Alternate Dimension. Level II relics of the Mysterious Type are extremely rare. They were sought-after treasures. Even the Miller family being as large and well-off as they are, not many exist. These are hard to come by treasures that money cant buy in the market. And of course, the next big surprise is the glossy black ring in Leonards hand at this moment. It was the legendary Space Storage Ring. Unlike the Containment Card, the storage ring is like a pocket of sub-space and can hold all kinds of bits and pieces. The Containment Card is a spatial ability thats like dimension reduction, which is not well-understood at present and is highly limited. Leonard had heard the hunters brag about this magical space ring that can hold items. The Storage Ring is a standard item for nobles and Card Masters. A ring with only the size of a fist can sell for over a hundred thousand. The one he had at this moment was certainly more valuable. As soon as he concentrated his consciousness, it was like reaching into a hidden pocket, occupying about 1/3 of a cubic meter. Holding this ring, he could now carry all kinds of equipment more covertly and conveniently. Apart from the previous recovery potions and the golden card relic, the ring also contained stacks of green banknotes worth tens of thousands, some gold and silver coins, scrolls, first-aid potions, etc. But most of them were exchanged for that book on the Breathing Method. Leonard didnt bother to calculate if it was worth three million, he didnt feel at a loss. Those things were like hot potatoes; its better to sell them sooner rather than later. All in all, the trip to the black market yielded immense gains. Not only did he find a suitable breathing method, resolve a significant hidden danger, but he also struck gold. In no time, the whoop whoop whoop steam engine rolled into the platform. Leonard gathered his thoughts, and squeezed himself onto the train with the crowd. Over an hour later, Leonard returned with a strong smell of alcohol to No. 117 East City Street, the Corpse Collectors dormitory. Today was their day off in Team Five and Dexter, along with the other two senior team members, had gone to Downing Street and not returned yet. Not only did Corpse Collectors get a high salary, living conditions were pretty decent as well. Since there were only a few of them and the building was large, each person had their single dormitory room. But Leonard noticed something unusual as soon as he didnt go upstairs. A stranger had come to the dormitory.. Chapter 59 - 42: The Offbeat Golden Breathing Method Chapter 59: Chapter 42: The Offbeat Golden Breathing Method Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill had a photographic memory, suspecting that someone might come looking for him, he had been observing his dormitory surroundings closely and meticulously. Normally, only a few Corpse Collectors from Team Five would use these stairs, and he remembered almost every detail about them. But now, there was a set of unfamiliar footprints in the layer of dust on the ground. No. He had noticed them in the yard already. The tread pattern suggested some sort of anti-slip shoes, made by the Mole Leather Factory in Eastern District 5, possibly Mengke Shoes. They seemed to be a style appreciated by middle-aged men around 40 and not something affordable for common folks, so the owner of this footprint likely had a decent job. However, these expensive shoes werent what Corpse Collectors wore to work; no one in the entire branch office did. Size 42; the left heel was worn down; average stride; according to the formula: Normal Height=6.876x(Shoe Size + 10) / 2, the owners height should be between 173-178 cm. His left foot slightly outward when walking; Judging from the depth of the shoe prints in the yards muddy ground, the owners weight was roughly 60-65 kg. Not a very sturdy figure overall. This person was unlikely to be a close combat Curse Card Master. Arnold strength and weight are proportional. A close combat Curse Card Master of this height would have exceeded 80 kg. The Magic Type or Mysterious Type? So, it probably wasnt killers from the Miller Family who had come knocking. The first thing Leonard thought of: something had happened in the Tailor Streets cellar. That would make sense. Here to look for something, not to kill. A Mysterious Type Curse Card Master with special abilities would be a better fit than some brute who only knows how to fight and kill. Reaching his dormitory, Leonard was even more certain C someone had been in his room. Hmm... Perhaps, even now, they were in there. Waiting for him, Leonard, to return. And the logic for a Corpse Collector to get extremely drunk on his day off wasnt strange. The cloaked person frowned at the drunk Corpse Collector before him. Thinking he had succeeded in his hypnosis, he asked directly. Did you collect the corpses in the cellar at Tailor street No.17 yesterday? Yes. Did you find anything special? Collected... a lot of corpses... And? Seems... I cant quite remember, I only recall a lot of corpses... When they heard this vague response, the intruder didnt press on. Instead, it confirmed their suspicions and they murmured to themselves, The memory was wiped as expected... This was also why Leonard dared to confront danger head-on. Normally, if something was stolen, the first people that the puppeteer behind would look for should be the two Field Agents from the Golden Oak Security Company. But now that theyve turned up here, it meant that they had already checked those two Field Agents. In other words, the puppeteer must have known about Golden Oak Security Companys Memory Wipe procedure. They came here just to ascertain that. Killing is pointless, Killing mere Corpse Collectors is even more meaningless. They were here to find something. The cloaked person wasnt interested in wasting time here and left the dormitory shortly after a few questions. Once the stranger left, Leonards dim eyes started to regain their sharpness. At the same time, he let go of the pull ring hidden in his sleeves. It wasnt until this hurdle was overcome that the danger concerning the Tailor Street cellar was completely eliminated. Leonard shut the door, feeling hardly any ripples in his heart. As for moving to a new place because someone had come looking C Chapter 60 - 42: The Off-Chart Gold Breathing Method_2 Chapter 60: Chapter 42: The Off-Chart Gold Breathing Method_2 Translator: 549690339 Theres no need. After all for him, nowhere in the city is necessarily safe now. On the contrary, because someone has been to the dormitory, he feels more at ease. Now that the fourth master of the Miller family is likely searching for him all over the city, the secluded dormitory building of the Corpse Collector is even safer. Thinking of this, Leonard Churchill took out the Unnamed Golden Breathing Method from his Storage Ring and began to study it carefully. What he needs to do now is to enhance his power as soon as possible so that he wont have to live in constant fear once he becomes powerful. With the Demons Feast, becoming stronger is just a matter of time. Now he has a breathing method that suits him. All set. Leonard Churchill felt as if the path of the brute was beckoning him. Just like the time he met that King Kong Demon Monkey on the train, if anyone dares to hypnotize him again, he would punch them one by one! The thin booklet seemed to have infinite magic power. Leonard Churchill was quickly immersed as he flipped through it. His extraordinarily high enlightenment allowed him to gradually comprehend the descriptions about the mysteries of breathing. The more carefully he contemplated, the more shocking it felt. The gap is too wide. The gap between the Great Dark Breathing Method and this fragment of the breathing method is so big? No wonder the shopkeeper said it is related to the remnants of the ancient Demon Gods breathing method...1 The more Leonard read, the more incredible it seemed. He had attended classes before and knew some common knowledge. The breathing method mainly serves two purposes. The first one is to condense the free elements in the void into ones own Curse Power through breathing. The second is to create a water tank in the body to store the Curse Power. Generally speaking, the better the quality of the breathing method, the higher the condensation efficiency, and the larger the water tank that can be cast. The grades of each Card Master Apprentice and their Curse Power Value are not the same. According to the level description of ordinary breathing techniques like the Great Dark Breathing Method, a Card Master Apprentices Curse Power ranges from level 1-9, with approximate values of too, 150, 230, 360, 54.0, 810,1200, 1800, 2700, 4000 (max). Each level is about 1.5 times higher than the previous one. The difference becomes even larger in the later stages. Black Iron Breathing Method and Silver Breathing Method usually provide a 20 C 70% increase in value. Moreover, the Demon Mark, Professional Sequence, environment, drugs and other factors also influence it. So even for the same breathing method, the value varies from person to person. But according to the description in this booklet, the incomplete Golden Breathing Method, Once cultivated to the sixth stage, it will already exceed a Curse Power Value of 4000! If this is cultivated to the ninth stage, wouldnt it be many times that of a regular Card Master Apprentice? It could even be comparable to a full-fledged Curse Card Master. However, this is still if an average person learn it. Leonards situation is different from that of ordinary people learning this breathing method! His demon contract fusion is the very special Joker. He sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state. According to the mantra in the booklet, he began to try to absorb the various elemental particles in the air. The moment he closed his eyes, nearly an hour passed. Suddenly, the sensation of perfect circulation made Leonard withdraw from the fully focused elemental breathing state. He opened his eyes. An hour for a single cycle of Curse Power, which was twice as slow as the Great Dark Breathing Method. However, Leonards eyes shimmered brightly. Because, The increased Curse Power Value was more than ten times! Leonard knew that before meditation, his Curse Power Value was 115. But now it was 119. Thats an increase of a full 4 points. What does this signify? If it were the previous breathing method, it would increase by at most 0.3! Furthermore, according to the previous Dark Breathing Method, his value of too was already at the First Level Curse Power. Once he reached this value, he would feel a saturation in his breathing, the efficiency of absorbing elements with this mantra would greatly decrease, and he might even stagnate. This would necessitate the second set of breathing mantras to increase the walls of the water tank, to increase capacity before practicing. However. This incomplete Golden Breathing Method was different. Just the first set increased his water tanks bottom in an exaggerated manner, despite being at the first stage, the Curse Power capacity was ten times greater than before! Only after Leonard put it into actual practice did he realize that this Breathing Method was far stronger than expected. The reason for this remarkable efficiency was due to the abundance of elements breathed in. Before, he could only absorb the dark element. But now, all types of elements could be breathed in and converted into Curse Power. The previous Great Dark Breathing Method was like spinning silk, extracting one black thread to absorb from a spectrum of colors. Now, with the incomplete Golden Secret Skill, it was like a whale swallowing, consuming all the free elemental particles around. Feeling the changes brought about by the new Breathing Method, Leonard felt that the adventure on Dark Rain Street was completely worth it. It could save him more than ten times the meditation time. Hiss... This Breathing Method is amazing, Leonard, having experienced the benefits, was shocked for a moment, then closed his eyes again and started meditating. As long as he had enough time, the path of a Curse Card Master would be smooth sailing. The slight accident he encountered on Dark Rain Street was instantly felt valuable! Chapter 61 - 43 Grand Cemetery Labyrinth Chapter 61: Chapter 43 Grand Cemetery Labyrinth Translator: 549690339 Time flew by. Leonard Churchill spent two peaceful days. In these two days, aside from going to the streets of Eastern District 5 for corpse collection duties, he spent most of his remaining time in the morgue practicing the breathing method from the Golden Fragment. Practicing the breathing method could be incredibly monotonous, especially for beginners. The breathing method involves mobilizing the Curse Power by inhaling various elemental particles floating in the air and circulating them throughout the body using the secrets of the incantation. The entire process requires intense concentration; any tiny error could disrupt the cycle. It was akin to counting silently from 1 to 10,000 in ones mind without any interruption or falling asleep. The effects of the Golden Fragment outperformed expectations. However, correspondingly, the difficulty of its practice was several times higher than the Great Dark Breathing Method. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Each cycle was as demanding as counting from 1 to 100,000 silently. No wonder the bookstore owner found the idea of learning a breathing method that absorbed multiple elements peculiar. After all, it wasnt digestible difficulty for ordinary people. Maintaining a delicate balance of various elemental Curse Powers within ones body while controlling multiple elemental breaths simultaneously wasnt a level of difficulty the average person could comprehend. Merely the initiation was tough. Even Leonard himself wouldnt have been confident about mastering the breathing method in a short period of time without the premise of the tricksters +10 Enlightenment. Fortunately, his Enlightenment was sufficient. Moreover, he could endure loneliness. As long as he wasnt on a mission, he could sit still for most of the day. His high Enlightenment enabled him to quickly comprehend some tricks of the breathing method. After familiarization, it became as natural as breathing, like an instinct. The unrest even increased the operation intensity of all the local Corpse Collector branches cremation furnaces. Leonard was quite fond of the commotion. The busier the Miller Family was, the less they had to deal with him. Other individuals might think that the treasure had already fallen into the Miller Familys hands. Moreover, the quality of the corpses he obtained on his missions had improved significantly. Although Corpse Collector was considered the lowest profession, they could participate in many aftermath events of high-profile incidents. Looking at the current situation, Leonard felt that he might come across another big opportunity like that in the Tailor Street Basement. With the Misfortune Gamblers Aura, it wasnt a small possibility. Although the risk was coexistent. Leonard was looking forward to it. The unexpected part was about his professions occupational disease. His initial intention to work as a Corpse Collector was for the absorption of Extraordinary Traits. However, he overlooked the occupational disease of Corpse Collectors. Ordinary Corpse Collectors grow increasingly weak due to their consistent exposure to pollution over the years. However, because of the Feast, Leonards physique was becoming stronger day by day. His physique was now around 3.6, more than triple than before. The attribute growth was reflected in his body type as well; his muscles increased significantly. Though beefy bodies were common on the streets of Sinless City, Corpse Collectors werent supposed to be like that. This forced Leonard to wear loose clothing and stoop to feign weakness. Occasionally, to combat his vitalitys vibrancy, he applied minimal makeup to disguise himself as contaminated. Thanks to his solid acting skills from his previous life, he hadnt yet given himself away.. Chapter 62 - 43 Grand Cemetery Labyrinth 2 Chapter 62: Chapter 43 Grand Cemetery Labyrinth 2 Translator: 549690339???????? 17? But as time passed, he would grow increasingly stronger, and, this would pose a significant problem. Leonard Churchill pondered how he would resolve this imminent risk in the future. After having lunch, Leonard Churchill headed toward Team Fives office. It was payday. Being a Corpse Collector comes with high risks; pay is distributed weekly. After knocking, Leonard found that Captain Dexter and two others were all present. They had no relations beyond work, Leonard walked in and stated, Captain, Im here to receive my pay. Dexter glanced as he arrived and casually took out a thin stack of banknotes from a drawer and stated, This is yours. Leonard took the money. Without counting it, he already knew the amount was off. The advertised salary for a Corpse Collector is 3,500 per week, and he had just over a thousand in his hands. He went straight to the point, I remember the job listing stated... Before he even finished, Bald Cliff, an old member by Dexters side, seemed to know what he was going to ask and cynically replied, Do you think the captain doesnt have people to grease above and below? Without the captain... Leonard was entirely disinterested in this mans discourse. Before he finished speaking, he reaffirmed, So, this is all I can get? What they didnt understand was that the three of them had long treated this position as a gold mine. They didnt do much work, but received a lot of money, mainly by exploiting newcomers together. Upon hearing this, Dexter squinted at Leonard and retorted, What else do you expect? Sometimes, you could tell some people were simply wicked just by looking at them. Before being exiled, Dexter was a plundering murderer, and the two others were a rapist and a human trafficker, none of them were good apples. Leonard listened with an impassive expression and casually stated, Oh. Theres no reasoning in Sinless City. The law of the jungle was the fundamental rule. Saying this, he turned and unceremoniously left the room. This attitude left Dexter and the others dumbfounded. Leonard didnt care too much for the amount of money. A couple of thousand dollars wouldnt be enough to buy a single page of the Breathing Method technique. There was no use harboring resentment either. These characters were simply too petty to bother with. But Leonard was firm about one principle; what was his, should be his. For now, he still needed this job. As for the remaining salary, it might as well be temporarily kept by those guys. After receiving his pay, Leonard had originally planned to head to the morgue to handle corpses and absorb more of their Extraordinary Traits. There were only four people left in Team Fives truck. Gibb, the plump boy, hasnt been seen since he asked for leave to go home; no one knows if something happened to him. Now, only Leonard Churchill does the work. Dexter and the other two were a small group, and they never chatted with newcomers. Leonard Churchill didnt want to either. Sitting quietly in a corner alone, he looked out of the window. Apart from its spectacular architectural ruins, the Underground City has hardly any scenery to speak of. Leaving the outer city wall and the city area behind, there was no source of light in sight, only the dead quiet of pitch-black darkness. A chain of truck lights pierced into the endless dark, like a spear of light. Occasionally, under the dim light, shadows could be seen near the railroad, which were the ghouls and mutated monsters roaming the wilderness. Grand Cemetery is a place just off the railway track in the eastern suburbs of Sinless City. It was said to be an ancient burial mound, frequented by a vast number of skeleton monsters. There also exists a well-known Alternate Dimension, known to the city folk of Sinless City as the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth. On the truck, with nothing to do, Dexter and the two senior team members chatted about the labyrinth. The Grand Cemetery Labyrinth covers a large area, and its entry trigger is erratic. Everyone should be clever; dont meddle with things you dont understand. It would be troublesome if you touched a Disaster Object and got rolled into the Alternate Dimension. Its exploration percentage remains at about 40% C no one knows the mazes complete layout, and making it out purely depends on luck. Yes. But Captain, why does a basic dimension like the labyrinth only have an exploration rate of 4.0%? Because its a puzzle-type Alternate Dimension. Reportedly, the maze is incredibly vast, and the structure is overly complex. Going in once accidentally would waste several days. If you take a wrong turn, itll waste even more time and you might even die in there. Moreover, this Alternate Dimension only generates low-tier skeleton materials, not interesting to big teams or high-tier hunters. Only puzzle enthusiasts and cardmaster apprentices who need low-tier undead materials go here for materials, no one else wants to come to this hellhole... Oh. Dexter, the team leader, was after all an old convict who was exiled here years ago, he knows more than the average person. Leonard Churchill, sitting quietly in the corner of the carriage, listened carefully to their conversation. He also got a general impression of this maze: low yield and somewhat risky. Nothing worth fussing over. Not only in the Old Continent, but also in Sinless City, there are many quirky strange Alternate Dimensions. Leonard Churchill has a strong interest in these magical duplicates. He still doesnt understand what Alternate Dimensions really are C fragments of a low-dimensional world? Or a gods game? Or the projection of a high-dimensional world? None of these seem to be correct. Just like Enlightenment, Alternate Dimensions also have an inexplicable sense of mystery. While lost in thought, a burst of light appeared ahead, unbeknownst to him. The destination was in sight.. Chapter 63 - 44 Assassination of the Governor Chapter 63: Chapter 44 Assassination of the Governor Translator: 549690339 I Were here! Someone exclaimed lightly, and Leonard Churchill looked out the window. Surrounding them, an eerie and pitch-black wilderness spread out. The headlights illuminated some low mounds that looked like graves. On these mounds were some desolate trees, their branches covered with mysterious birds that could be crows. A faint mist permeated the air. Nothing special, this was the eerie solitude one could expect in a deserted wilderness. Leonards gaze turned to where the lights converged. An explosion had occurred in front of the railway track, and a steam train with over ten cars was flipped over haphazardly on the ground. It looked like someone had blown up the railway in front, causing the tram to derail and overturn. Robbing supply trains was not an unusual occurrence in the Sinless City. Especially when plundering the goods of the upper-class nobles. Although the risks were high, the profits were substantial. The citys gangs all enjoyed committing such acts. Similar incidents had happened before. For corpse collectors, they were considered beneficial. But this time, as soon as they arrived at the scene, everyone sensed that something was off. After getting off the vehicle, Leonard scanned the scene only once, and immediately spotted an anomaly. The battle was already over. Over fifty bodies were scattered on the ground, but the traces of battle did not look intense. Logically speaking, since the looters had blown up the railway, they should have been prepared for robbery, so why did so many people die? Moreover, although the goods from the train were scattered near the tracks, they had not been robbed. It was called a robbery, but it looked more like a one-sided slaughter. Were the so-called looters a bunch of chickens who overestimated their abilities? Obviously not. Leonard looked at several bodies in front of him, the fatal wounds were smooth cuts across the chest, even cutting through the mechanical exoskeletons. This was the wound caused by a widespread wind type card. He immediately came to a conclusion in his mind: At least a second-tier Wind Curse Card Master was responsible. Looking at the traces of battle in the distance, there were obviously traces of fire and thunder elemental cards exploding. Clearly, there wasnt just one expert. It seemed that the unlucky looters didnt know that there were high-level curse card masters on the train. They blew up the railway and wanted to rob it, but they were counter-killed. Leonard immediately thought of the key point. Why would there be multiple high-level card masters on a cargo tram? Could it be that this train was special? Before he had time to think more, the roaring sound of steam boilers suddenly came from afar. Looking closely, another convoy appeared on the north side of the railway tracks. The convoy was fast, and in a blink of an eye, it was clear that it was an elite legion. The Long Spear and Double Headed Falcon Clan Emblem of the Miller Family was on the side of their vehicles. As soon as Leonard saw this, his pupils contracted, it was likely that this was not an ordinary robbery case. Updated from Seeing this convoy, team leader Dexter muttered to himself, Strange, why did the Frost Knight Legion come from the governors mansion? Because they, as corpse collectors, received timely information and drove desperately quickly, they were essentially the first to arrive at the scene. They even arrived before the elite legion from the governors mansion. The Corpse Collectors watched the armored military convoy consisting of more than a dozen vehicles armed to the teeth racing towards them with expressions of puzzlement. Before the armored vehicles drew near to the derailment site and even before they stopped, a group of majestic heavily armored soldiers emerged from the vehicles. If his father were to die now... Tsk, tsk, Sinless City is going to be quite lively. Thinking of this, Leonard Churchill didnt rush forward to recover the bodies near the train like the other corpse collectors, but instead quietly backed up a distance. His intuition told him that something was about to happen. Indeed. At the moment the governor appeared, there was a shout from the distance. Everyone, beware! The alternate dimension is coming! This was the Eastern Outskirts wilderness, only a small corner in the darkness was lit up by the lamps. Before the voice had finished, everyone saw that the diffusing dark fog outside the lights was flood-like, rushing over. The speed was so fast that there was no chance to drive away. Before everyone could think, the fog had already swallowed all the lights. The surroundings suddenly became pitch black. The fog came quickly and disappered instantly. With such a large area covered, there was simply no way to avoid it. But when their sight cleared, Leonard Churchill looked around at the changing environment, tilted his head: Really got sucked in, huh? Just now, it was the crime scene of a railway cemetery, now they were in the middle of a giant underground labyrinth. This was the Alternate Dimension-The Grand Cemetery Labyrinth that Dexter and his team had mentioned before. Without a light source, the visibility was very low, barely able to see some vague outlines. The surrounding area was covered by rock walls that were at least a hundred meters high and black, and could not be seen from the top. The passages in the labyrinth were all more than 30 meters wide, which showed how large the labyrinth was. Leonard Churchills brows were furrowed in thought. Obviously. They, the corpse collectors, were caught up in an attack targeting the governor. Unexpected? Probably. But certainly not entirely. The path of Joker was chosen by Leonard himself. It seemed that only during these times, could he feel that his soul was no longer silent like the ashes. -You have entered the Grand Cemetery Maze'' The maze death rate: 29.4% Disaster Level evaluated: D Space exploration progress: 47-i/㡱 Keyword: Puzzle-solving Mission: You need to find the correct exit in the maze filled with skeleton creatures Clue: Three thousand years ago, three hundred thousand laborers were killed and their resentment formed an inescapable maze... Seeing the enlightenment appear, Leonards expression showed some contemplation. After all, this is a primary space, and the known information is other than being trapped, the difficulty of this maze is not high. Although Leonard did not have the maze strategy information from the Hunters Association, he was not worried at all. D level difficulty, if others can get out, there is no reason why he couldnt. Instead, he was wondering: Do they plan to trap Governor Miller in the maze and then kill him? The maze is full of low-tier skeleton monsters, theoretically, they could not pose a threat to the frost knight legion. Leonard quickly calculated in his heart, inferred the man behind the scenes idea, but also exclaimed: Thats wrong...The assassination of the governor is such a grand scheme, there should be some gimmicks. Besides, waiting for the frost knight legion to come before making a move, seems like they want to eliminate all at once. Just the maze is not enough. In Sinless City, no matter who you assassinate, it probably cannot cause a bigger disturbance than assassinating the governor. And a grand show usually opens with a stunningly gorgeous beginning. The current start of the game was far from matching such a big play. Whether it was his own bad luck or the mastermind behind the scenes didnt disappoint, enlightenment appeared for the second time. Hidden plot triggered: The intruders have triggered the dormant mechanism of the maze, the stone door is closed, and the exit of the maze is locked. The Eternal Keepers of Secrets have awakened. They will wander in the maze and kill all living humans. The disaster level has become Unknown once again. As expected. Seeing this, Leonards eyes slightly narrowed. This is how he felt the proper way to embark on this great assassination.. Chapter 64 - 45: Disaster Object of Unknown Level Chapter 64: Chapter 45: Disaster Object of Unknown Level Translator: 549690339 Hidden plots are quite common in the Alternate Dimension. Perhaps its like the difficulty level of duplications in past life games. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) The first time you enter, its at a standard difficulty, and then it moves up to elite, nightmare, hell, and so on. Constant exploration and unlocking of high difficulty scenarios. Usually, this is good news for treasure hunters. Because triggering hidden plots often means better rewards at settlement, and it may also discover hidden treasures. Leonard Churchill had previously experienced this in Space 407. But this time, its clearly different. Based on the information from other hunters, this was just a low-level alternate dimension where skeletons are eliminated. But now it seems that monsters are not just skeletons. Secret-keepers, immortal? Leonard Churchill caught the keywords and pondered for a moment. If the person who set up this scenario thinks that increasing the level of difficulty in the dimension can threaten the life of Governor Miller then it naturally isnt simple. Choosing a maze from which you cant escape, and then killing people with monsters, this is indeed a permanent solution. Leonard quickly figured it out. He looked at the walls of the maze again without delay, and walked towards the depths of the maze. No matter what the reasons and consequences, what he needs to do now is stay away from the Governor. If it were outside, Leonard Churchill, as a Card Master Apprentice, felt that the chance of being implicated and killed was highly probable. But this is in the Alternate Dimension. The will of the space does not change with the individual. Even the person who set the scenario had just used the space rules to create a layout. Indeed, this assassination is going to be extremely dangerous. But its not aimed at him. As long as one stays away from the Governor, the danger could be reduced by ninety-nine percent. Leonard clearly saw the current situation and decisively chose to flee. He had not taken a few steps, when the sound of fighting echoed throughout the maze. Boom, boom, boom... Then, she didnt forget to banter lightly, By that logic, everyone is fated to die. Might as well just die early. Come on, since your ability is so powerful, lets see what my love life has in store. I cant do divination. Predictions are the same thing. Come on, predict for me, will I meet a world-class hero... hmm, also has to be handsome... Seriously? Hmm. You might be disappointed. I think... youre likely to end up alone. Blech! Youre really asking for a beating. Cant you say something better? What a broken ability, its useless. The two chatted off-topic for a while. The cloaked man just casually laughed, not retorting, and got back to the topic, At least from the current information we have, anyone who has gotten a hold of that Disaster Object will suffer misfortune. The first ones to find it were the Thunder Hammer Mercenary Corps, 90% of them died upon leaving the ruins. And those who made it back alive have already been completely silenced by Stan Miller. Later, six people came into contact with it one after another, but all of them died for various reasons. Now, even Governor Miller is no exception. Its like theres a bizarre fate tied to it. Whats even stranger is that nobody knows what it is. After that, he jeered, Having heard all this, do you still want to hold it in your hands? Despite her outward disbelief, the cloaked woman still had a high regard for her companions ability. She raised an eyebrow, So strange? If he said theres a problem, then there definitely was a problem. What else could it be? The cloaked man laughed ambiguously. He didnt say much on this topic, but turned to another one, In contrast, what Im more interested in is this labyrinth. When I went to visit it earlier, I realized that this Grand Cemetery Labyrinth is the Grudge Labyrinth created by the Mad King Augustus of Taren Dynasty to trap tomb architects three thousand years ago. Thats the last recorded ancient dynasty before the Great Catastrophe. History before the Catastrophe was disconnected at this point. Dont you think that is more valuable than any treasure? The cloaked woman completely dismissed him with just a glance. They both fell silent for a moment. She had no interest in discussing this topic and switched directly, The Miller Family actually wants to monopolize Sinless City and the Old Continent, and even managed to clean up the Frost Knight Legion. The Miller Familys plan for Sinless City is thoroughly ruined. Hey, who do you think offered the bounty for our mission this time? The cloaked man casually answered, Does it matter who it is? Do you think, among the others in the Parliament, besides the Miller Family, who doesnt have such a thought? If the Miller Family continues its dominance, Im afraid the few seats in the Parliament wont satisfy them. He paused for a moment, lazier than ever, but his eyes were full of sharpness, The main cities have been staying on the Rich Ore Layer for too long, whereas the old band in the Federal Parliament wallow in their debauchery and luxury, and has lost their adventurous spirit. Theyve forgotten their ancestors teachings and no longer explore the depths of the caves. But we are treasure hunters. As the Old Continent has been discovered, lets also get those obese old men to move. Upon hearing this, the cloaked woman teased,Politics is really boring. She wasnt interested in this and asked, Stan Miller is definitely dead, then what will happen to Sinless City? The gangs in the Lower City are always fighting amongst themselves, but now theyre united against the enemy. Even if the governor isnt from the Miller Family, replacing him with anyone else wont help. Do we have to rely on the Parliament to send troops? The cloaked man chuckled, Can you exterminate all the rats in the sewer? Besides, Sinless City isnt as simple as it seems. Whoever tries to force their way in will definitely trip up. The cloaked woman, confused, Then what should we do? We cant let these gangs control the gold-digging dock to the Old Continent, right? The cloaked man spoke meaningfully, Be strong, and you often start to split from within. Hearing his cryptic words, the cloaked woman rolled her eyes, no longer in the mood to continue the conversation, Forget it. Youre better suited for this kind of scheming. She asked again, There seemed to be some peculiar guys among those predators before? The cloaked man, Just remnants of the Old Era. They have some connection with that side. They set a trap, and it was just an excuse to kill a few more people. The two chatted lightly. Meanwhile, in the labyrinth, it was a gruesome scene.. Chapter 65 - 46 San Value Chapter 65: Chapter 46 San Value Translator: 549690339 The light in the labyrinth was dim. The dominant hue of dark cyan was quite oppressive, air filled with a suffocating aura of terror. The passage was peaceful, occasionally wind would blow through, bringing with it a series of wails like the whispers of tortured souls, their cries lingering in the ears for a long while. It was as if the dark, pitch-black ending of the corridor was a path leading to Hell itself, leaving anyone feeling terrified with each step they took. Decayed swords and axes, broken clay pots, scattered bones... every detail hinted towards the presence of horrible creatures in this place. Leonard Churchill inspected his surroundings and confirmed this atmosphere was deliberately created. This was a clever psychological trick, invisibly influencing the attitudes of intruders. But he still didnt know the motive behind this setup. As an avid enthusiast of solving puzzles, Leonard knew that it was crucial to discern the intent of the schemes designer and dismiss any distractions. Just like the background music in a horror movie, when turned off, the scary atmosphere immediately drops by ninety percent. The more the environment suggests you should be scared, the more you should remain calm. Well... Originally, It wasnt so easy for him to be scared. Having realized this, Leonard Churchill was more collected, walking through the labyrinth slowly but with a steady pace. As he moved along, he left some marks on the walls. The underground labyrinth was completely sealed off; without knowing the correct way to navigate, one could only rely on traditional marking methods to explore. But Leonard knew if he continued to probe like this, he would eventually bump into a monster, so he didnt dare to walk too fast. While making his way forward, he kept contemplating where the breaking point of this labyrinth was. Three hundred thousand laborers killed and turned into monsters; the chances of encountering one were very high. Perhaps the fierce battles in other areas attracted the attention of the majority of the monsters; he had walked through several passages without encountering any danger. However, he frequently saw piles of bones in the corners. The trio, who had been running frantically, had their hands already reaching for their concealed blades with unjust intentions. While Leonard was contemplating the awakening of the skeletons, out of the corner of his eye, he caught their movements and muttered, Isnt it good to be alive... He was well aware of why these men were behaving this way. They werent stupid. Currently, they were surrounded by skeleton monsters, and being stuck with them was almost a certainty of death. Evidently, they thought having a piece of bait that could attract the monsters hatred would ensure their survival. Ideally, a bloody one. This method of luring monsters was not uncommon amongst hunters in the wild. Bucktooth confidently drew his knife, probably believing that his strength as a Card Disciple Level 2 could easily sever the leg of the man in front of him? However, at that moment, an unexpected scene occurred. Leonards seemingly unfocused eyes suddenly turned cold as ice. He quickly drew his gun. Almost simultaneously as the cold flash of Bucktooths knife was revealed, the barrel of the bleak black gun was placed against his head with lightning speed. With the gun pointed at his head, Bucktooths expression abruptly changed from disdain to absolute horror. His pupils dilated with shock filled his countenance. But this was the last scene he would ever see in his life. A muffled bang resounded. Without any hesitation, Leonard fired the gun as soon as he pulled it out. He didnt spare a second glance at the man whose head was blown off by his shot. He quickly redirected his focus and the guns aim towards Dexter, the team leader a few meters in front of him, and decisively pulled the trigger again. He didnt intend to kill, but when he did, he made sure he was ruthless. These three were a team. Since he had resorted to violence, he had to kill quickly. Bang! Bang! Two shots in quick succession. In an instance, the bullets created two trails in the air.. Chapter 66 - 46 San Value d Chapter 66: Chapter 46 San Value d Translator: 549690339 1 Dexter had been begrudgingly glancing over, and when he saw Bucktooths brain get blown apart by a bullet, he was taken aback at first. As he saw the muzzle of the gun pointed at him, he instinctively halted and moved away, his footwork allowing him to dodge out of the way at the last second. He was an apprentice card master with curse power level six, following the fighter path, and his nerve response time and burst muscle power were many times more potent than an ordinary man. His ultimate dodge led the bullets, initially aimed at his chest, to miss; one shot whiffed entirely and the other hit his shoulder. Visit for the best novel reading experience The bullet passed through his shoulder. Also, as an Extraordinary Man, his tenacity was far superior to that of ordinary men, thus the gunshot wound wasnt very damaging. You...! Dexter, looking at Leonard Churchill coldly targeting him with the gun, appeared utterly shocked. Was the person before him really the newbie from their team, too timid to utter a word even when his salary was cut? There wasnt time to think any more. Dexter gritted his teeth through the intense pain in his shoulder and threw himself at Leonard. His powerful thighs burst, causing sparks to fly off his shoes against the ground, and he charged at Leonard as fast as a cheetah. His speed was incredibly fast! So what about the gun? At close range, firearms werent necessarily faster than fighting techniques. Leonard, looking at the two failed shots that didnt manage to kill Dexter, remained expressionless throughout the procedure. He had to admit; Dexter was quite powerful. Dexter bought a lot of potions with the money gained by exploiting the newbies, his physical capabilities and fighting techniques surpassed the average person significantly. Leonard even admitted to himself that he would not have been able to dodge those two shots. Just having power doesnt mean you know how to use it. This was the difference in their fighting techniques. The corpse laid in a pool of blood. After Leonard executed two men, he didnt even spare another glance at the bodies on the floor. He once again aimed his gun at the last living person in front. Bald Cliff was completely shocked, his eyes filled with nothing but fear and disbelief: Was their Team Leader Dexter really dead? He had never imagined that this submissive newbie would be so ruthless. Killing two men without trembling at all? Bald Cliff, seeing the gun aimed at him, started trembling: Brother...no, my lord...please dont kill me! Leonard cocked his head to look at him but didnt pull the trigger; he just silently stared at him. Pulling the trigger would only waste a bullet, but he chose not to. Leaving one survivor, helps confirm the judgment he had made earlier. The killing took only a moment, and by then, the skeleton monsters in the maze gradually closed in. These skeleton monsters werent very fast and werent very potent either; it would take three to five smaller skeletons attacking together to pose a fatal threat to an ordinary person. But where they lacked in power, they made up for in overwhelming numbers. In a flash, hundreds of cackling skeletons rushed into the passageway where they were. More were still coming from the back. Moreover, some of these monsters were carrying old axes, swords, and shields in their hands. Although these weapons were in bad shape, they were still deadly. Seeing more and more bone-chilling skeleton monsters coming, Bald Cliff was petrified. He wanted to run. But with the pitch-black gun muzzle pointed at him, he was afraid to escape. Bald Cliff was confused as to why the newbie holding the gun at him wasnt running either. Didnt you just want to use me as bait? Why arent you running away? Leonard didnt say anything. Holding the gun, he quietly retreated to the side of another fork in the passageway. Back when he was in Lab 407 Abnormal Organisms Research Institute, he had learned a lot from his experiences and it had broadened her horizons.. Chapter 67 - 46 San Value_3 Chapter 67: Chapter 46 San Value_3 Translator: 549690339 | By now he knew, adhering to the rules of space was the only reasonable way to pass. Though the information he received from Enlightenment was limited, it was already evident. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) The keyword was: puzzle-solving. The labyrinth had claimed 300,000 laborers- suggesting there were 300,000 skeleton monsters. For a Curse Card Master, these low-order skeleton monsters are indeed easy to defeat, one by one. But in this Grand Cemetery Labyrinth, there are 300,000 skeleton monsters, could you land 300,000 punches? Besides, theres the mysterious Secret Keeper who can supposedly kill a frost knight in one hit. Leonard Churchill didnt believe that killing monsters was the correct way to proceed. So, right now he needed to figure some things out. Like the monsters aggression mechanisms. Leonards gaze remained observantly focused on the various body details of the skeleton monsters. Standing at a crossroads allowed retreat if his judgment was wrong. Being equipped and ready to go forward or back. Leonard naturally didnt have anything to panic about. However, Bald Cliff, who was being held at gunpoint, was already terrified, fear turning his face as pale as paper. He could not understand, the monster is already here, why isnt that guy running? In just a moment, the skeleton monster had already rushed within ten meters, the scraping sound of bones causing ones hairs to stand up. Bald Cliff finally could not withstand the fear of death creeping in. This directly proved that flesh and blood, smell, temperature were not the factors attracting the skeletons aggression. The scope was thus narrowed. And the reason Leonard left a living mouth earlier was to exclude the final few possibilities. At the very beginning when the three intruders broke in, Leonard had carefully observed the reactions of the skeleton monsters and found anomalies. The instant the skeleton monsters appeared from the corner of the corridor, almost all the skeletons heads detected the targets, the skulls making a twist to look at them. This does not mean that their hollow eye sockets really saw something, it is most likely the instinct leftover from their past lives. But from this, the targets of the monsters aggression can be determined. Clearly, their attention was on Dexters group, totally neglecting Leonard. Only a few taller, elite skeletons noticed, looking in his direction. But as soon as he put on the clown mask and suppressed his emotional fluctuation, the monsters instantly lost their target. Leonard thus could exclude two of the skeletons sensory pathways: the soul and breathing. Not many factors were left. Being two living humans, the greatest difference lay in that one was full of fear, while Leonard controlled his fear. The facts were before them, the skeletons were all chasing the terrified Bald Cliff. Therefore, the final conclusion was drawn: fear leads to a drop in San value, which is the most important thing attracting skeleton monsters! Reflecting on his initial lone journey in the corridor, the dried bones had not awoken, back then Leonard didnt understand why. Alas, since entering the labyrinth, his San value fluctuation was very small, it just hadnt reached the threshold to trigger the monsters aggression. The environment of the labyrinth was constantly full of dark implications, ostensibly to affect the San value of those who intrude. But this had little effect on Leonard, who had already noticed the anomalies. Once this was understood. The danger in the labyrinth was reduced by more than half. This was the true difficulty of the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth, rated as a D-level space. Leonard saw hope of breaking this game. Of course, this didnt include that unseen Secret Keeper.. Chapter 68 - 68: 47 Adventurer’s Diary Chapter 68: 47 Adventurers Diary Translator: 549690339 After the skeleton horde left, Leonard Churchill collected the cash scavenged from the two bodies on the ground, totaling over two thousand. That was almost equivalent to the salary he had deducted before. Now they were even. Updated from Worried that the gunfire might attract trouble, he didnt dare to stick around. He followed the trail left by the skeletons. He walked through several corridors, saw hundreds of skeleton monsters piled up in the passage, and a corpse lying on the ground butchered beyond recognition. It was indeed Bald Cliff. With the body found and all witnesses dead, he had no more concerns for the time being. By that time, the sounds of combat in the tunnel had become very intense. Listening to them, Leonard furrowed his brows. Identifying the sounds of battle were coming from the nine oclock direction, he decisively chose a tunnel in the three oclock direction and plunged in, heading deeper into the labyrinth. Initially, Leonard had been worried about fast travel that could lead him into monsters. But without the threat of skeleton monsters, the way ahead suddenly opened up. Unlike before, there was no fear, and he could even jog along the way. Moreover, he intentionally chose corridors where large numbers of skeletons were. Skeleton monsters that werent triggered by humans to hate were mostly just piles of broken bones on the ground. Only a small number of complete bodies would roam in the labyrinth. Leonard totally suppressed his fear fluctuations, calmly stepping on those skeleton bones without any incident. Occasionally, the Skeleton Leader and Elite Skeleton would notice something unusual, and turn their heads to look. Activating the clown mask, the Skeleton Leader would immediately lose its target and stand blankly on the spot. If it was just skeletons and the labyrinth, Leonard felt that this alternate dimension was much easier than 407. Moreover, the people from the Governors Mansion had attracted most of the dangers in the labyrinth. Even for the mysterious Secret Keeper, Leonard gradually had some ideas. In the end, losing all soldiers. Moreover, Leonard suspected that arousing the hatred of the skeleton is not just about lowering the San Value. Even severe emotional fluctuations like bravery and excitement could trigger hatred. Just like hunters who farm monsters in the labyrinth must inevitably trigger the monsters, its the same principle. Such rational fluctuations were inevitable once fighting broke out. Therefore. Regardless of the situation, the people from the Governors Mansion were doomed. But that was only hypothetical. The life and death of the people from the Governors Mansion had nothing to do with him. In the end, to survive, Leonard had to get out of the labyrinth. Moving along, he carefully looked for clues. Thats how it was, Leonard leisurely strolled in the labyrinth. Solving the labyrinth puzzle was one of his favorite pastimes in his previous life, so he didnt feel any panic at being trapped. With no sense of crisis, there were fewer rational fluctuations, so he wouldnt trigger the skeletons hatred. A positive cycle. He explored along the heavily skeleton-populated corridors, and occasionally found some glowing bones in the piles of skeletons. Grinded into powder, these bones were called Bone Dust, an extraordinary material. Many Undead Type and Dark Type cards needed it for their creation, so the demand was huge. These were also the most produced materials in the labyrinth. But the space in Leonards storage ring was limited, and even if it was full, it wouldnt worth much money. So he picked up some and left the rest. As for killing monsters, he didnt consider it at all. Even when he saw some elite skeletons that might explode with good materials or cards, he didnt think about it. The best option right now was to do nothing. Wait for the people from the Governors Mansion to die off first. Like this, he kept walking for over half an hour.. Chapter 69 - 47 Adventurer’s Diary_2 Chapter 69: Chapter 47 Adventurers Diary_2 Translator: 549690339 He wasnt sure if he had guessed correctly, or if he was lucky, but by choosing the path with more skeletons, he had not encountered any The Guardians of Secrets. Leonard Churchill had an eidetic memory, and as he walked through the labyrinth, a two-dimensional model of the labyrinth was gradually forming in his mind. Even so, he would occasionally pull out his notebook and jot down drawings and notes. He was unsure whether this labyrinth existed on the physical plane, or spiritually, like a ghost hitting a wall. He feared that some mysterious factors might interfere with his perception. Thus, he walked, marking his path along the way. Physical notes provided a bit of an error tolerance. Gradually, he also realized that this labyrinth was indeed ludicrously large. He just walked along this way, picking up materials as he moved. He wandered around the gloomy labyrinth for a long time without finding any sign of an exit. But, this labyrinth often takes around three to five days to get out of. He wasnt in a hurry. Visit for the best novel reading experience Aside from skeletons, he occasionally came across some rather special things. But as he walked, Leonard suddenly paused; he spotted a skeleton with an adventurers backpack in the corner. Another one... Seeing this creature, Leonard lightly frowned. This unusual skeleton was a Treasure Hunter, someone who had been trapped and died in the labyrinth. Although the Alternate Dimension resets every time someone enters, if the hunter who died in the labyrinth had any valuable things left on them, there was a chance they would be left in the labyrinth. They were like Easter Eggs. The path that Leonard chose was rarely trodden, and thus, he found more loot. Previously, he had come across two sets of bones and found some valuable Undead Material. Now, he had come across the third one. Leonard walked over and stretched out his hand to grab the backpack. Suddenly, the skeletons Bone Claw sprung up and clutched his arm tightly. This was also a small trap set by grabbing the Easter Egg. Usually this would frighten one, causing fluctuations in their San Value and drawing in monsters from the surroundings. The first time around, Leonard was somewhat startled, but by the third time, he was completely unfazed. Watching the skeleton wake up without sparing it a second glance, he stabbed a dagger into the skull. The skeleton instantly went silent. The act of attack made several wandering skeletons nearby turn their heads as if they sensed something, glancing over with their dark eye sockets, but their hostility vanished in an instant. Leonard was getting very proficient at handling such situations. So, the ultimate solution to the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth must be something special, or something unexpected in its design. Now, from the notes, that seemed to be the case. Of course. Even without these notes, Leonard is confident that given some time, he would definitely find the correct path. For him, the most important clue in this notebook is the content recording Yuris cause of death. As he kept reading, his expression gradually became more serious. April 2nd: I didnt choose to return because I knew I couldnt get a perfect pass. But Im almost there. I found another hidden passage in the maze. I avoided the monsters and came across a stone gate with the crescent symbol C. I guessed that beyond this door lies the final hidden plot within the maze. But the Tarens Classics engraved on it are too profound, with hidden encrypted information, I tried everything but couldnt open it. There are too many wandering Skeleton Elites and leaders around here. Even though I tried my best to suppress fear, they still found me... Damn it, those Secret Keepers are too terrifying, they are immortal and never tire. The monsters can sense from a wide range, and they are in large numbers. If youre not careful, you will run into them. The only weakness of the monsters is probably their slender-like dynamic vision, which is slow to perceive non-moving objects, but this is not enough for me to survive... April 5th: My injuries are getting more and more serious, and the supplies are exhausted. It seems I have no chance to get out. Its a pity, Im just one step away... Ive been to this world, my name is Yuri, adventurer Yuri! The note abruptly ended. Leonard finished reading the entire notebook and finally found the most important intelligence. That is the key description regarding the Secret Keeper: Dynamic Vision! This is the right way to approach a puzzle-style alternate dimension. Necessary clues are given in the dead ends. The Secret Keeper really cant be killed? Leonard mulled over the contents of the note. Previously, when he saw the enlightening part, he thought the monsters prefix might be an exaggeration, but it turned out to be a factual term. It should belong to the space rules. Like the walls here, no matter what tier of catastrophe the Secret Keeper was, it wouldnt die. That eliminates the possibility of high-tier hunters slaying monsters and pushing ahead. So, this is a genuine puzzle mode. Leonard suddenly realized: No wonder the layout creator planned for something here... Who would have thought that an initial alternate dimension could hide dangers that could annihilate the elite legions of the Governors Mansion? This indeed is the perfect murder place. There wasnt even a need for a killer, the monsters in the maze could clean up all the people who fell into it. Moreover, theres a C mark? Seeing the symbol in the notes, Leonard instantly remembered that he saw the same symbol before, on the wall of the cellar on Tailor Street. Perhaps there was a connection? But the most useful piece of intelligence was the desciption of dynamic vision. Knowing this, at least if Leonard encounters the Secret Keeper, he has some coping strategies at hand.. Chapter 70 - 48: The Secret Keeper Chapter 70: Chapter 48: The Secret Keeper Translator: 549690339 Originally, the difficulty of this Great Graveyard maze wasnt so outrageous. The normal puzzle-solving procedure was for the Hunters to first deal with the Skeleton Monster in the maze, either by pushing them horizontally or using the San Value or other methods, until they found clues like an adventurers notes in the monster pile. Then they would trigger the hidden plot. This is a long and meticulous exploration process. With the clues, even if they encountered the Keeper of Secrets, they wouldnt necessarily die. But now, someone directly triggered the hidden plot, leading everyone to face a deadly situation as soon as they entered. Fortunately, Leonard Churchill found a bit of a clue as soon as he entered due to his San Value, which was rather lucky. But the threat of death was still there. The magical thing about the maze was, it was a maze. If you havent been through it, you wouldnt know where the paths lead. Even if you intentionally avoid it and wander around in circles, you might find yourself back where you started. Also, some paths that seem to lead in completely different directions could still converge in the end even if you deliberately avoid one of them. Leonard Churchill carefully avoided the direction where he heard the sounds of combat. However, while walking, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. He had drawn a map of the maze in his mind, similar to a QR code. Although it only covered a corner of the maze, it wouldnt make him take the same path twice. However, some of the paths in his mind started to deviate and gradually converged in one direction. He himself tried his best to avoid it, but couldnt stop others from rushing around the maze recklessly. After passing a few crossroads, even though he had already moved quite far away, Leonard Churchill suddenly heard the sounds of combat coming from the tunnel again. Bang, Bang, Bang... Those thunder-like sounds of combat came from all directions. The only ones who could make such a noise were the main forces of the Governors Mansion. Leonard Churchill had a bad feeling about this and wanted to avoid it. But no matter whether he went back or chose another path, the noise kept getting closer. Leonard Churchill frowned, and thought to himself: It seems I cant avoid it... He discerned the direction of the noise, and only then realized that the nearby paths seemed to be interconnected corridors. That is to say, no matter which side he took, it could potentially lead in the direction from where the combat was coming. Those guys were moving quickly, the sound of the battle was getting louder, and in the blink of an eye, it seemed to be in the next corridor. Leonard Churchill calculated the routes in his mind, realized that no matter how he chose, he might collide with them, so he decided to do nothing. Thinking about the description of the Keeper of Secrets in the notebook, he decided not to avoid them. Instead, he decisively made a decision, lay down in a dead end corner, and chose a spot where he was less likely to be stepped on. Then, he played dead. This was the only method he could think of to avoid danger. It was precisely because he didnt run around rashly that Leonard Churchill narrowly avoided a deadly crisis. A moment after he lay down and put on the clown mask, there was a sudden boom at the end of the tunnel as it burst into flame. Countless skeleton frames exploded into pieces, splashing around like rain. A few bones crackled and hit Leonard Churchill on the ground, like fragments of a shell, which made him gasp in pain. Luckily, he had chosen to crawl in a dead corner, so the impact was relatively light. If he had been on the main road, the mere shockwave from the battle could probably have taken half his life. After the explosion, Leonard Churchill watched as three blue cards carrying a vortex flew out from around the corner. The vortex grew larger as it flew, turning into a wheel-sized, serrated Wind Blade. The three Wind Blade vortexes covered the same cross section, and the skeletons they passed were instantly cut in half. Just three high-tier Wind Blade Cards were enough to clear an entire tens of meters of the maze tunnel. His soul felt ensnared by a nightmare, a more horrifying contamination passing over him. A series of negative statuses promptly displayed on his status panel. Visual contamination? Leonard was taken aback, swiftly closing his eyes. The moment his vision was cut off, the contamination stopped. If not for the Clown mask, that one glance could have caused significant problems. Fortunately, he had the group from the Governors Mansion drawing the fighting power. In pursuit and in evasion, their speeds were equally rapid, the two groups flitted by like gusts of wind. Just after the feeling of terror overwhelmed him, the bone-chilling cold that felt like an ice blade scraping against his bones completely subsided. The Keeper of Secrets seemed not to have noticed the corpse in the corner, and continued chasing the Governor and his team. It was as though the scythe of the Grim Reaper had grazed past his scalp. Leonard felt the sensation of a poisonous snake crawling up his spine and then slithering away. He flet a tingling sensation on his scalp. But he hadnt died, and this experience alone felt thrilling. Leonard finally stood up when the foreboding sense of death fully subsided. He squinted at the mess in the corridor and muttered, This creature is truly terrifying... Seeing the prompt was one thing. Experiencing the terrifying contamination first-hand was another. Remembering that moment, he still felt somewhat terrified. But he was also grateful that he took that glimpse. If he hadnt looked while a group of experts was drawing the hostility away, the next time he saw this Catastrophe, he might have seen the countdown to his own death. Leonards eyes trembled slightly. But it wasnt all bad news. Leonards thoughts raced at this moment, and he analyzed internally, The adventurers note indicating that monsters have slow responses to non-moving objects was indeed correct. Not only non-moving objects, but part of the contamination spread through vision, closing the eyes can also reduce the hostility value... Just now, he had played dead and escaped the monsters attention. And he had also confirmed some new information about the [Keeper of Secrets] and its method of contamination. This was also critically important. Although the Keepers of Secrets are less sensitive to static objects, they are not blind. Besides, next time I encounter them, I cant just stand still and pretend to be dead, can I? Without anyone attracting firepower, it will eventually be discovered... Leonard pondered over this and felt a headache coming on. This monster seemed like a glitch, a bug in a game. Therefore, the only way out right now was stilldecoding the secrets. Now, having experienced all the means of the individuals arranging this spectacle, he was even more convinced that the group from the Governors Mansion was doomed. Well... so was he, most likely. Leornard snarkily commented out loud, without dwelling on the predicament that he couldnt change. What he had to do now was to get away. Looking at the bright side, at least they were not coming after him. The situation wasnt utterly terrible. The advantage of having this group around was that they would draw all the firepower while running amok in the maze. Then, Leonard again listened to the direction where the sound of battles was coming from within the corridor. This time, instead of choosing the opposite direction, he chose to head back through the passage the group from the Governors Mansion had gone through earlier. Normally speaking, those guys would definitely not retract their steps if they wanted to exit the maze. As long as he avoided them, he would be able to avoid the greatest danger. And... there was another reason. Since all passages were dangerous, Going back might surprise him with something unexpected.. Chapter 71 - 49: The Frost Knight’s Spoils of War Chapter 71: Chapter 49: The Frost Knights Spoils of War Are Really Valuable Translator: 549690339 I Leonard Churchill had heard the hunters say that the nobles in Upper City were rich beyond imagination. The monthly salary of a single guard is in tens of thousands. And there were hundreds, even thousands of such elite guards in the Governors Mansion. One only could imagine how wealthy the Miller Family acting as the governor must be. Therefore, the corpse should be worth a lot... right? As Leonard walked along the way, skeletons piled like mountains in the corridor, bone dust littered the ground. A skeleton monster was a unique type of undead creature; as long as its head was not completely shattered, it could still live even if it was cut in half at the waist. At the moment, many severed hands and feet were still moving around in the bone heap in the corridor. Leonard didnt feel the slightest bit creeped out, he stepped on the bones and walked past. As he walked, his gaze kept searching for something in the pile of bones. After walking through several corridors, suddenly, Leonard stopped. Because his gaze caught a gleam of metallic white in a pile of bones. It was a suit of Frost Knight Armor! Im rich... Leonards eyes lit up right away. As he expected, the group from the Governors Mansion was too busy fleeing for their lives to clean up the corpses of their fallen comrades. Leonard walked over, turned over the pile of skeletons, and saw a dried-up corpse. The corpse was in a very peculiar state. Obviously, it hadnt been long since its death, but its body was as dried up as a mummy, as if all its flesh and blood had been drained by some power. Not even a hint of its extraordinary traits remained. If it wasnt known that the frost knight had just entered today, one might think that the body had been dead for many years. Leonard examined the traces of combat around him and frowned, No external injuries, so the Secret Keepers method of attack was to directly devour the spirit and flesh, ignoring physical and magical defenses? Hiss... it seems like nothing can defend against this. He gasped in awe. The Soldiers of frost knight, well-known for their full-body armor, had extremely high physical and magical resistance. Bullets were virtually harmless against them. Ordinary small workshops couldnt produce such exquisite armor. Even if it was the soldiers basic model, the bounty price on the black market exceeded a million. But now, the armor on the desiccated corpse was well preserved, but the body inside had already been drained. That proved that Secret Keepers method of attack wasnt a conventional physical or magical attack but an enigmatic method currently beyond understanding. After Leonard confirmed the cause of death of the corpse, he didnt look at it further. After all, he didnt plan to confront such an invincible monster head-on. Whatever means the monster used to kill was not important. After all, they would be dead once encountered. Rather than worrying about unchangeable predicaments, its better to think about happy things. Optimistically, Leonard took the storage ring from the corpses hand and muttered expectantly, Let me see if the guards of the Governors Mansion are as rich as rumored... Looking at it, it had a full half cubic meter of space. Just the space ring alone was quite valuable. When he saw the items inside the ring, a small surprise emerged on Leonards face. The Frost Knights are close-combat professionals of the orderly route [Spade 6-Punishment Iron Guard], Basically, there are no messy things in the storage ring, just various supply potions. Neat rows of Advanced Hemostatic Potion, Advanced Healing Potion, Advanced But fate often plays tricks on people like a jester, giving them surprises or shocks. He hadnt found the second corpse yet, when he heard the sounds of fighting again at the end of the passageway. Thud, thud, thud... Again? Leonard couldnt help but say to himself. But then he thought, this path was the one that the people from the Governors Mansion had run through before, so theoretically, it shouldnt be the same group of people who had returned. Moreover, the sound of the battle didnt seem as exaggerated as before. It should be some other people who were lucky enough to have survived. There was no better hiding place for quite a long distance in the corridor behind him, so Leonard did not wander around. He found a fork in the road and again chose to lie down and play dead. Not long after, he heard a sound like running water, a clicking sound that echoed through the passage, getting closer and closer. The sound of boots stepping on the ground in the passage was easily distinguishable from the sound of the skeleton monsters. There werent many people, it seemed like there were only two? The two people being chased by the monsters were also very smart. They likely had the same thought as Leonard, running along the path where the people from the Governors Mansion had run through before, they would encounter fewer monsters. Leonard then breathed a sigh of relief. If there were only two of them, they shouldnt have provoked the Secret Keepers. Otherwise, they would probably be dead by now. He turned his gaze to them. The two people who rushed in were both dressed in hunters attire, their faces hidden by gas masks, and they were also wearing brown linen cloaks. But the two of them were running in front, and more and more skeletons were chasing after them. Moreover, judging by their appearance, one of them seemed to be seriously injured. While they were running, they were also leaving a trail of blood behind them. Leonard saw this and had absolutely no intention of getting involved. Out of the corner of his eye, he checked the crowd of skeletons and saw no sign of the Secret Keepers. He calmly played dead. At this point, the two people had just run to a T-junction, and the noise had attracted monsters from another passage. Like the confluence of rivers, the skeleton monsters quickly formed a siege, just as it seemed they were about to be completely swallowed up by the approaching tide of skeletons, one of the raiders launched several cards. Those cards exploded in mid-air, unbelievably summoning a few zombies with terrifying faces. Iron Zombies, Toxic Zombies, Fire-blasting Zombies... The appearance of the zombies immediately led to a burst of attacks against the skeletons. They could be meat shields, they could spew fire, they could vomit Corrosive Acid Liquid... they looked quite mighty. But then, nothing happened. The skeleton monsters had an absolute numerical advantage, and although the few small zombies were powerful in single combat, they were instantly overwhelmed by the boundless sea of skeletons. Watching this, Leonard wondered: Mysterious Series Diamonds 4-Necromancer? This was the first time he had seen a Curse Card Master of this series. Necromancer was also a very popular profession among Curse Card Masters. As long as one can find the corresponding demon contract and professional card, many hunters would choose to go along this path. Because this profession is indeed suitable for wilderness hunts. This is a summoner profession. Not only can they summon zombies, they can also summon various mutation monsters, demon beasts, evil spirits, and even catastrophes. As long as they can be contained and a spirit communication contract is signed, theoretically all monsters can become combat partners. Having spirits to explore dangerous areas reduces the risk to oneself. But the drawback... is that they are physically weak. Necromancers do not possess the robust Curse Power Protective Barrier like a pure Magic Curse Card Master, nor the physical strength of close-combat professionals. But if the Spirit Object is powerful enough, the combat power is also not bad. They rely on numbers for victory. The sky is the limit. Leonard had considered this profession line before. He himself was unscathed, and having a few summoned creatures would be quite nice. He didnt expect to encounter one now, so he took a few more glances. These two are not weak, and they seem to be official Curse Card Masters. At present, they wont die immediately, but they may not be so lucky later. Not to mention if they keep running like this, the number of skeletons will continue to increase. Just the energy consumption alone could exhaust them to death. And if they keep running like this, and if they encounter a Secret Keeper, they will probably die on the spot. Strange, they are neither field agents from the Golden Oak nor people from the Governors Mansion. Could they be the raiders from before? Leonard was curious about their identities after observing their attire. However, the next moment, the cloak of the person running in front was lifted by the strong wind, revealing a bit of flowing silver hair. Leonards sharp gaze captured this, and his expression immediately became subtle. He hadnt seen silver hair on anyone else yet. If he felt vaguely familiar before, he was now sure that he knew the person. Camilla? How did she end up in this labyrinth? wondered Leonard.. Chapter 72 - 50: Human Radar Chapter 72: Chapter 50: Human Radar Translator: 549690339 Could it be that Camilla was the one who bombed the railway before? Why is she injured? Updated from This wound clearly wasnt caused by the Secret Keepers. Leonard had seen her in her white-haired state. As a Card Master Apprentice, she was capable of withstanding a first-tier A-rank mysterious Fallen Witch Sect member with her own power. With the right materials, without any mishap, she should have changed her profession to a formal Curse Card Master by now, boosting her combat power at least tenfold. Who injured her then? Leonard had previously speculated that the plunderer was setting up a trap to kill the Governor, but now that he saw Camilla here, he immediately felt that something was off. The monsters in the maze are against everyone, theres no need for the murderer to come in themselves to assassinate the Governor. Therefore, he felt that his old friend was also accidentally involved. Moreover, the wound is on her back, was she betrayed by a trusted acquaintance? This plot is rather complex. The moment Leonard saw this old acquaintance, he got a whole lot of information. However, hes no longer oblivious about this world. Once he saw her release the Demon Apparition in Space 407, he knew that the backstory of this old friend wasnt simple. The more special ones identity, the lower the chance of coincidence. But Leonard was not interested in prying into others affairs. The most important thing is that seeing this old friend sparked an idea in his mind. Leonard suddenly saw a solid way to break the current deadlock. Because he lacked some key clues before, he wasnt sure by himself and had to rely on some luck. But now its different! Thinking of this, Leonard immediately stood up and shouted at the two running people: Miss Camilla! Did someone call? The commotion caused the two cloaked figures who were escaping to pause. The silver-haired one turned her head and glanced back, her eyes full of disbelief behind her goggles: how could he be here? Obviously, she recognized Leonard instantly. Besides the somewhat familiar voice, the strikingly familiar feeling immediately coursed through her. Back in Space 407, there was a guy who, against all reason, would always face seemingly certain death with an unfathomable calmness. Isnt this the case now? Can you believe it, that guy is now waving at them amidst a pile of skeletons? This bizarre scene, while Camilla could barely accept because she recognized it was Leonard, her companion would definitely find it unbelievable. Their wide eyes seemed to be asking: is this a living person? But... why arent the skeleton monsters attacking him? Only Camilla could understand his non-human calmness. Let alone these skeletons, back in Space 407, his expression didnt change even when facing several terrifying A-rank oddities. How can this be a big deal? He simply cannot be regarded as an ordinary person. Just because the skeletons arent attacking Leonard, doesnt mean they wont attack these two. Once Leonard confirmed it was Camilla, he hurriedly followed the crowd of skeletons over to meet the two. Soon, the three were running together. Although Camilla was not in a good mood, she asked in surprise, How come you are here? Well talk about it later. This old friend of his was delightfully decisive besides being a little too kind-hearted. This saved a lot of talk. It was clear that aimless runabouts in the face of such crisis would only increase the danger. Camilla understood Leonards intention thoroughly. By blocking her sight and hearing, she could naturally control her emotional fluctuations. She spoke swiftly yet clearly, I can block my senses, but it will significantly limit my movements... Before she could finish, Leonard, without any hesitation, suddenly squatted in front of her. With one move, he hoisted both Camilla and the unconscious Tracy Garcia on his shoulders, saying, Ill carry you. ??? Camilla looked stunned. She had anticipated Leonards move and even guessed his intentions, yet she still found it unbelievable. In her moment of hesitation, she realized that she had already been scooped up around the waist. Without any further explanations, Leonard, carrying the two of them, sprinted forward. Camilla looked puzzled. She remembered how she had almost fallen while jumping a few meters off a pipe when they first emerged from the space... Was his body now that strong? Oh, it must be due to the Epic Source Card he had acquired in Space 407. Realizing this, Camilla seemed to understand. Without any further protestation, she closed her eyes and shut off her hearing and other unnecessary perceptions. Without the sight of the creatures and oppressive environment or the sound of the clicking movement of the creature horde, her mind gradually calmed. Seeing the tide of skeleton monsters behind him gradually losing their target, Leonard knew that his old companion had entered into the required state. Tch, a master is indeed a master. He carried both of them and ran through the labyrinth. Before long, the sound of the moving skeleton monsters was no longer heard. The nearby skeleton monsters, too, had entirely lost their hatred target and aimlessly wandered through the corridor. But although Camilla had shut off her senses, she was not entirely unaware. Suddenly, she spoke up: Take a left. Theres a strong monster fluctuation at two oclock position on the right. Upon hearing this, the corner of Leonards mouth slightly lifted upward: Just as expected. The ability he needed to save them was Camillas C the human radar! And his clever teammate had tacitly understood her role at this moment. When he was in Space 407 before, Leonard noticed that Camilla had an extraordinary ability, granted by the Demon Mark, to sense the presence of monsters from quite a distance, stronger than most high-tier curse card masters. And in this labyrinth, this ability became even more crucial. If Leonard was venturing alone, he would have been somewhat confident about breaking through the labyrinth. But due to someone triggering the hidden storyline prematurely, disrupting the sequence of solving the mystery, they were currently lacking some key clues. Finding clues in the maze without running into the Enigmatic Pursuers would require a bit of luck. But now, with Camillas presence, the situation had changed drastically. The ability to sense the presence of monsters from a great distance allowed them to avoid many unnecessary dangers. Even if Camillas sensing range was smaller than the Enigmatic Pursuers, she could still detect danger well in advance. It would give them the chance to escape. From what Leonard had observed, the chasing speed of the Enigmatic Pursuers was not particularly outrageous. As long as they could spot them early and make a prepared full-speed escape, the chances of evasion were quite significant. Furthermore, with Leonards photographic memory, it was highly unlikely that he would make the low-level mistake of running into a dead end. In this way, as long as they did not encounter the Enigmatic Pursuers, the original odds-of-survival situation in the labyrinth, which was like to lose nine times out of ten, was instantly reduced to around twenty percent. With the remaining time, they could now focus on solving the maze.. Chapter 73 - 51 Learn Taren’s Classics Now Chapter 73: Chapter 51 Learn Tarens Classics Now Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill carried both of them for a while before he found a corner in the passage that was almost devoid of monsters, and stopped there. After setting them down, he patted his old friend. Camilla opened her eyes, looked around at her surroundings, and when she saw that there were no skeleton monsters, she took a breath of relief: they were safe now. Indeed, this guy always had a way out. Looking at the black blood soaked on his clothes, Leonard casually reminded, Your injuries are pretty severe. It wasnt his blood, but from carrying his old friend. Upon hearing this, Camilla didnt want to discuss the cause of the injuries, she just said lightly, Hm. She hadnt had time to treat her wounds while they were escaping. Now, with a little respite, she turned to look at her back and pulled out a potion, tipping it over the wound and causing a sizzling sound with corrosive fumes. It seemed to hurt a lot, causing her movements to stiffen for a moment. Leonard observed her somber mood. He guessed that whoever hurt her back must have been someone she trusted deeply. Her silver hair showed the suppressed injury was indeed serious. However, Churchill had no interest in prying into peoples secrets. If people chose to talk, he would listen. If they didnt, then it was over. The two had a basic understanding, and there was no need for further discussion. At that moment, the Spirit Communicator named Tracy Garcia woke up. She stirred as if coming out of a nightmare. As soon as she opened her eyes, she jumped up immediately and vigilantly scanned her surroundings. Seeing that Camilla was unharmed, Tracy finally relaxed, lowering the cards in her hand. But before she could finish speaking, the pain from the wound in her body surged again, and her expression changed instantly. Although she wanted to endure it, the pungent taste rushed up her throat suddenly, and she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood with a puke. The severity of her wounds, after fighting hard for a long time, was already severe. Camilla quickly tried to suppress it with her Curse Power. Witnessing all of this, Tracy panicked, and quickly stepped up to help treat the injury. With the threat of the monster waves gone, the sense of crisis had temporarily dissipated. It seemed as if Tracys brain had just processed the information moments ago, and while preparing medical tools, she gratefully told Leonard, Thank you, sir, for saving Camilla and me. You can call me Tracy. Now that she had thought it over, if the man in front of her had harbored any ill intentions earlier, they all would have been at risk without him doing anything. He clearly wasnt an enemy. As she spoke, she also apologized, Im sorry for... earlier... I... She wanted to say something, but it seemed that she felt betrayed by her companion. She was at a loss for words, unable to reveal the familys disgrace. She stammered for a moment. Churchill didnt take it to heart, smiled politely, and introduced himself, Leonard. After the exchange, the three fell into a brief silence. Tracy didnt have time to say more. She was completely engrossed in treating Camillas wound. She cut open the back of Camillas clothes with scissors, revealing a terrifying, burnt wound the size of a fist. Only then did Leonard realize that his old friends injuries were even more serious than he thought. Tracys wound treatment skills were evidently more professional. She didnt pour the potion onto the wound abruptly. Instead, she took out surgical tools to clean the wound. First, she carefully cut away the pieces of rotting flesh emitting thick black smoke from the wound site. Once the cutting was done, she delicately washed the wound with a potion. Then she took out a green card, and after activating it, the green six-pointed star on the card lit up with the green light of life, swirling around the wound. Only then did she carefully begin to stitch the wound shut. The entire process of healing, from cutting to stitching, looked painful.. Chapter 74 - 51 Learn Taren’s Classics_2 Chapter 74: Chapter 51 Learn Tarens Classics_2 Translator: 549690339 | But Camilla remained silent, her eyes dull and without light. Updated from Leonard Churchill was observing the whole treatment process. Camillas injuries were not just physical, but there was also a dark energy of fire element erosion. It was very troublesome to handle, and just relying on potions was entirely inadequate. The flesh and blood that was cut off, without the suppressive effect of the chilling curse power, was instantly burnt into charcoal, and the mysterious dark fire energy even corroded the surgical knife to pitch black. This made Tracy Garcia have to switch out several surgical knives midway through. Even for Leonard Churchill who was watching, it was frightening. This kind of strange injury would have killed an average person on the spot. It was evident that the person who attacked Camilla was aware of her ice curse power and had used a restraining method. Familiar with her abilities and able to ambush... the attacker must be a trusted companion. Leonard Churchill thought of something. But he didnt rush to speak. He closed his eyes and meditated, waiting for them to finish treating the wound. Before long, Tracy Garcia had stitched up the wound. Only then did that chilling demons power gradually fade away from Camillas body. The three of them did not interact much. Leonard Churchill and Camilla were accustomed to staying in each others presence quietly for long periods without speaking. But Tracy Garcia felt the atmosphere was too cold, and out of curiosity, she couldnt help but ask, Mr. Leonard Churchill, how did you stop those skeletons from chasing us just now? Leonard Churchill didnt intend to explain much, but thinking there might be more trouble later, he said, The triggering mechanism for the Skeleton Monsters hatred is fluctuations in rationality. Dont be afraid, dont get excited, just try to suppress fluctuations. Ah? Is that all? If others couldnt keep up with that kind of thought process, it was normal. Just having witnessed Tracy Garcias doctor side-job, she was more than just deadweight. Leonard Churchill elaborated, Wait for all the members of the Miller Family to die before we take action. Otherwise, their frantic running around in the maze will bring a lot of unexpected risks. Upon hearing this, Tracy Garcia finally understood, and was heard muttering to herself, So thats how it is. The three fell into brief silence again. At this moment, Leonard Churchill, having thought of something, asked, Right, Ms. Tracy Garcia, why were you guys in the maze? Did you guys explode the train outside? He didnt know if this question had anything to do with this ambush, but if he didnt ask, he would always feel like something was missing. Leonard Churchill knew if he asked Camilla this question, she would answer. But it might touch on topics she didnt want to mention, like who betrayed her. Asking this of her companion would clearly yield more information. Leonard Churchill was very curious as to why they got involved in the assassination plot against the Miller Family. On hearing the inquiry, Tracy Garcia glanced at Camilla, who remained silent, which could be taken as an affirmation to divulge. She directly responded, No. The ones who exploded the train were another group of looters. We just heard that there was a batch of medical supplies on this train. By coincidence, we needed those things, so we came to check it out. We didnt expect to get caught up in this. Oh. Only then did Leonard Churchill understand. Turns out they represented a fourth faction outside the Golden Oak, Governors Mansion, and the looters... Needing large quantities of medical supplies also means they have a big power backing them. But coincidentally, as soon as they became involved, Camilla was betrayed by a companion? This made Leonard Churchill suspect that the person who wanted to kill Camilla was from their own power, and was directly related to the mastermin behind the plot to assassinate Governor Miller. Even being trapped in the maze, they still sent someone to kill her. Leonard Churchill thought to himself, That being the case, Camillas identity is becoming more and more special... His thoughts flew in his mind, and the outline of the entire conspiracy was gradually becoming clear. Now thinking about it. Previous rumors in the city, such as the Miller Family having a supreme treasure, assassination rewards... and other news, seem to have been intentionally spread by someone. All to force Governor Stan Miller to feel that his life was in danger in the Sinless City. And then he would need to implement the plan to flee the city quietly using a modified freight train.. Chapter 75 - 51 Learn Taren’s Classics? Chapter 75: Chapter 51 Learn Tarens Classics? Translator: 549690339 By coincidence, the plunderers had received news of supplies on the train and blew up the railway line. Coincidentally, Camilla and her group, the fourth party, also knew about the medical supplies on the train. They came to check and deal with the situation. Killing many birds with one stone. Playing the game of borrowing a knife to kill someone to the extreme. The mastermind behind all this didnt even have to show up, let alone send any troops. Just a few pieces of misinformation were enough to get all these factions involved. It was a brilliantly devised strategy. Leonard Churchill also found this situation interesting. The aftermath alone would inevitably cause many deaths in the Sinless City. Moreover, he had a feeling that the assassination of Governor Stan Miller was just the beginning of this storm. However, this had nothing to do with Leonard Churchill. He enjoyed a good show. But he preferred to stay in the shadows, watching the chaos unfold. Having a skilled individual like Camilla, its apparent that this fourth party must have a significant background. Leonard Churchill wasnt intending to pry into the identities of Camilla and her companion. It would be disrespectful and unnecessary. As long as they werent enemies, their identities didnt matter. At this time, Camilla, worried that her stupidly cute companion might have said something wrong, took the initiative to ask, Mr. Leonard Churchill, you said earlier that you encountered the Secret Keeper? Leonard Churchill nodded, Yes. At this remark, both Camilla and Tracy Garcia looked at him curiously, What level of catastrophe is it? Can it be solved? Speaking of the beast, Leonard Churchill remembered the brief glimpse he had of it earlier, the sensation that made his spirit tremble was still vivid. Its very tricky. His brow furrowed as he added, Its an S-rank catastrophe. Undying, and there are a lot of them. Dont consider confronting it unless necessary. Hearing his words, Camillas expression immediately became serious. She understood the weight of the term very tricky. Previously in Space 407, the terrifying A-rank catastrophes didnt bring the word tricky to Leonard Churchills lips. But now, he was saying it. In other words, this catastrophe could not be combated directly. Camilla glanced back at him, So? Leonard Churchill understood her question, he responded, Crack the puzzle. Mmm. Camillas bright eyes shifted, understanding what he had said. Their conversation ended in just a few words. Tracy Garcia, who had been eavesdropping to their conversation, was left dumbfounded: Thats... thats it? Apparently, she did not process information as quickly as Camilla and didnt share their level of understanding. She thought she had grasped the key point when she heard the phrase Secret Keeper. Yes! Upon saying that, she immediately brought out a stack of documents. Without any qualms, Leonard took the documents, turned on the lamp, sat down and began flipping through them. Taking advantage of the current lull, he wanted to see if he could translate some of it. Considering the information obtained from the adventurers diary previously, it seemed that to leave the labyrinth, one must decipher a chamber containing Tarens Classics. Becoming familiar with it sooner had its advantages. Seeing him browse through the ancient texts, Camilla didnt ask him what he was planning to do. In their previous collaboration in Space 407, Leonard had done many seemingly incomprehensible preparations. But in the end, each of them turned out to be a key to breakthrough. However, although she didnt ask, she was indeed curious about what these documents could be used for. And moreover, this was Tarens Classics. Even among the scholars of Dragon City, few could comprehend it. Could he understand it? Tracy Garcia, being straightforward, didnt consider these factors. She glanced at the dense ancient writings on the documents and asked directly: Mr. Leonard Churchill, are you a card disciple of Wisdom Sequence? No. Without raising his head, Leonard casually responded. He continued to flip through the documents, trying his best to recall the content hed translated with the help of Enlightenment in Space 407. Upon hearing this, Tracy Garcia said with surprise: Ah... then can you understand these ancient texts? Leonard decisively shook his head: I cant. ??? Hearing this, Tracy Garcia was clearly stumped for a few seconds. Even Camilla gave him a very surprised look. While she had no doubt about Leonards decryption abilities, this ... reading a document he completely didnt understand, what did that mean? Unable to curb her curiosity, Tracy Garcia asked again directly: Then what are you doing? Leonard didnt hide anything and said frankly: Im learning now. Tracy Garcia: Camilla: Upon hearing this, both women inexplicably twitched at the corners of their eyes. They had initially thought he understood Tarens Classics. At least to some extent. But to learn it on the fly seemed absolutely unreliable, didnt it? Camilla was slightly shocked for a moment before she understood something. Was he trying to recall the contents of the Enlightenment tips and combine them to translate the ancient text? This... seemed downright impossible, didnt it? But Camilla had an inexplicable feeling that while it might be impossible for others, this guy might be able to do it. She swept away her scattered thoughts. Since she had no insights regarding how to break through this, she decided to let those who were capable handle it. Camilla closed her eyes and meditated. Meanwhile, Miss Spirit Communicator looked sceptical. But Leonard paid no heed to her thoughts and continued to study the documents. With his eidetic memory, he quickly immersed himself in the documents. Both women did not disturb him again. Just like this, the three spent three full days in the labyrinth.. Chapter 76 - 52 Rubik’s Cube Chapter 76: Chapter 52 Rubiks Cube Translator: 549690339 1 Three days later. In the gloomy underground palace, a blue lamp illuminates a corner. Leonard Churchill is still engrossed in the documents in his hands, muttering something from time to time, In Tarens Classics, the symbol < represents space, t represents a mechanism, represents a secret passage, y represents a cursed seal, and Q signifies a hallway or a confusing passage... This C seems to point to something of great importance and supremacy? Not only was he studying the materials, but he was also taking detailed notes. Within these two days, he had memorized the roughly hundred thousand characters in these documents. But in reality, excluding the recurring ones, there were less than a thousand characters, with only a few hundred commonly used. Whether its pictographs or alphabetic writing, a single symbol represents a certain idea. Any symbol that appears multiple times can gradually be deciphered in its context, revealing its general meaning. The higher the frequency of occurrence, the greater the chance of deciphering This applies to any text system. The content Leonard Churchill previously remembered from Space 407 provided him the most direct help. Upon asking Camilla, she also recalled some things. The two complemented each other, and many sentences could be directly translated. For three full days, Leonard Churchill spent all his time translating the Taren Classics on the documents, except for when he took a break to meditate. Theres no denying that a high level of grasp, coupled with the ability to remember everything he reads, is an excellent combination for learning languages. His focused demeanor helped him to work at a translation speed a hundred times faster than any normal person. Although he had deciphered only a few and wasnt entirely accurate, he had already grasped the general meanings of hundreds of texts from Tarens Classics. Even if there were still symbols that he didnt recognize, as long as there were connections with the characters before and after, he could roughly guess some meanings. Leonard Churchill thought it was enough. Three days had passed, and no fighting sounds could be heard from the labyrinth. It seemed there was nothing alive left in the labyrinth. The creatures and other things should have been pretty much cleared out by Governor Millers men. With Camillas strong senses, the risk had been minimized. The three of them still chose the passageway with signs of battle. As they walked along, Leonard Churchills eyes were carefully searching for something among the piles of skeletons. As expected, not long after, they came across the body of the second Frost Knight. Seeing human corpses killed by the secret keepers for the first time, the two women wore serious expressions. Looking at its shriveled state, Camilla murmured, A curse method? Tracy Garcia also said seriously, It seems like it. The flesh and soul have been drained. Leonard Churchill had already studied corpses and wasnt interested in looking more. He swiftly collected the Storage Ring and equipment from the corpse. There was no room for politeness. The three of them continued to follow the path littered with skeletons towards the unknown depths of the labyrinth. As they went along, Tracy Garcia left marks behind. This saved some effort for Leonard Churchill. The three of them continued further into the labyrinth. Leonard Churchill found three more Frost Knight corpses one after another. Including the previous ones, that made a total of five. Five excellent armors, five ice swords, and five storage rings along with numerous potions, supplies, iron armor, leather armor...there were plenty of good things. These spoils of war could be considered a fortune overnight for an Apprentice Card Master like him. Regrettably, they didnt find the main army of the Frost Knight Legion. But they didnt have much hope for it anymore anyway. That Governor Miller must have definitely died last, the place of his death would definitely have the most guards but would also definitely be filled with secret keepers. Along the way, Just as Leonard Churchill had expected, with Camilla being the Human Radar, the dangers of the Underground Palace were reduced to the minimum.. Chapter 77 - 52 Rubik’s Cube 2 Chapter 77: Chapter 52 Rubiks Cube 2 Translator: 549690339 1 The three of them walked through the corridor, and she could always sense the presence of powerful monsters in time, enabling them to avoid danger ahead of time. Although the reach of the Secret Guards grudge was farther than her sensing range, as soon as they sensed a monster, the three of them would start running. Taking advantage of prepared obstacles, they managed to evade danger every time successfully.????????????????????? y Employing this method, they encountered the Secret Guards several times in the labyrinth, but never ran into them head-on. With the biggest deadly threat gone, all that was left was to solve the labyrinth itself. Tracy Garcia, having been to the labyrinth before to grind for skeleton materials, was aware of the route through the maze known to the Hunters Association. But now, the seal stone had already fallen, blocking the original exit. They had to find another way around. Although Leonard Churchill had found an adventurers diary, it did not contain the correct path. They roamed the labyrinth for three days. The labyrinth was far too large. Having to avoid some of the monsters and take many detours wasted a great deal of time. On top of that, the complexity of the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth, which is notoriously challenging in the Hunters Association, had only achieved about 40% exploration till now. The remaining 60% may have been traversed by people, but they died within. All labynnth-like alternate dimensions share a deadly threat-food and water shortages. Despite their storage rings, the supplies that the three of them brought along could last for about half a month at most. Even though scavenging corpses provided them with more supplies, The problem still persisted. If they couldnt find the exit, they would ultimately die here. In the gloomy passage, they walked at a moderate pace. Leonard Churchill wore a usual indifferent expression, observing as he walked along. Camilla remained silent, merely following and concentrating on sensing her surroundings. The Spirit Communicator girl, however, was growing slightly anxious. Because it had already exceeded the two-dimensional plane. His photographic memory allowed a QR code of the labyrinth map to form in his mind. But now, a lot of bugs appeared on this QR code map. The more times they went through it, the more bugs there were. They had indeed been to this corridor three times. And Leonard Churchill remembered very clearly. This was their fixed path each time. The strange thing was, even if they walked this path every time theoretically if it were a loop, the path should have been entirely the same and the markings should have been the same.????????????????????????? & However, bizarrely, while most corridors were the same, the markings on some were different. Moreover, they discovered after walking it a few more times, the corridors with mismatched marks were not entirely the same as the previous time. This was the key point he had latched onto. His intuition told Leonard Churchill that as long as they figured out why those ew corridors were different, they would completely unravel the mystery of this labyrinth. So they had to keep going. Observe what was different. However, going through so many times was not entirely fruitless. Their sensitivity was not misguided, and their memory was not tampered with. He almost confirmed that the maze aspect of the labyrinth was a physical obstacle rather than a mystical one. But these findings were speculations for now. He didnt want to explain. Listening to the words I dont know, Tracy Garcias face turned rather ugly. Were they going to be stuck here until they died? She glanced at Camilla and asked, Sister Camilla? Camilla spoke in a very casual manner, I trust Mr. Leonard Churchills judgment. Her forever calm countenance was indeed a compelling reason to trust.. Chapter 78 - 52 Rubik’s Cube_3 Chapter 78: Chapter 52 Rubiks Cube_3 Translator: 549690339 I Furthermore, she had observed for herself and realized how complex this labyrinth really was. Given the current situation, if it were up to them, they wouldnt have any idea of how to proceed either. Tracy Garcia, clearly anxious, cried out, But... After being together for three days, they had come to understand each other somewhat. Leonard Churchill knew that this spirit communicator was not hostile, though the aimless running around, like a headless fly, increasingly frustrated her. After all, any ordinary person exhaustively wandering around the labyrinth for three days without finding anything wouldve given in to despair by now. She had been doing quite well, given the circumstances. Upon thinking about it, Leonard Churchill gave a small update, The puzzle is almost solved. If everything goes as planned, we should be able to solve the labyrinth in a few more rounds. Camilla nodded and replied, Hmm. II II Tracy Garcia, although skeptical, had nothing to say about this claim. The three of them continued to traverse the labyrinth. Time flew, and before they knew it, half the day had passed. After two more rounds through a dimly lit corridor, they found themselves back at the crossroads. Even though Tracy Garcia was doubtful, she wasnt completely clueless. It was only after making the same route twice that she realised the purpose behind Leonard Churchills repetitive movement. She also noticed the slight changes in the tunnel markings each time. However, even after figuring this out, she couldnt comprehend why this was the case. But this time was different. Midway, Leonard Churchill abruptly stopped and fell into deep thought. Camilla turned her head slightly and caught the intense look in his eyes beneath his gas mask. Sensing something was amiss, she asked, Whats wrong? Curious, Tracy Garcia also looked at him. After a moment, Leonard Churchills eyes brightened suddenly and he announced, Ive found the correct way through the labyrinth. Tracy Garcias face brightened upon understanding. She asked, So thats why we need to run! Well minimize the time difference created by the labyrinths movements by running, eventually finding the exit before it completes its rotation? Hmm. Leonard Churchill responded with a nod and a smile, adding, But we also need to run along the correct path. The instant he explicated his labyrinth-solving approach, everything abruptly made sense. When Tracy Garcia looked at Leonard Churchill again, the previous skepticism she harbored had vanished completely. Instead, she found herself filled with budding admiration. She finally understood what Camilla meant when she often referred to Mr. Leonard Churchill as a puzzle-solving expert. Only after witnessing it firsthand did she realize how extraordinary he really was! The solution to the labyrinth was easy enough to articulate but was undoubtedly difficult to figure out. It was indeed a challenge to stay trapped in the labyrinth for days, shield oneself from external disturbances and analyze the labyrinths structure with utmost patience and calmness. Consider herself, for instance. Having been unable to find the exit these past few days and struggling with increasing restlessness caused by the environment and limited supplies. Moreover, a typical problem-solver would never think to walk back and forth within a self-acknowledged looping tunnel for a day or two, would they? Such seemingly obsessive behavior on Leonard Churchills part was previously dismissed by Tracy Garcia as foolishness. But now, she understood that it stemmed from his extraordinary puzzle-solving ability which gave him pinpoint accuracy and supreme confidence! And his ingenious connection to a Rubiks cube... how did he come up with that? Tracy Garcia realized her past misunderstanding. Given her straightforward personality, she honestly admitted, Mr. Leonard Churchill, I apologize for my behavior earlier. With a smile, he replied, seemingly unconcerned by her apology. After three days of acquaintance, he had formed a good impression of this spirit communicating young lady. He then added, However, just finding the correct path doesnt ensure our safety. Entering that space might expose us to numerous monsters. Im not sure what well encounter exactly, but the danger is indeed very real. We need to prepare in advance. Hmm. Camilla and Tracy Garcia nodded in acknowledgment. Finding the breakthrough was, without doubt, the best news they had received yet. Otherwise, they would truly have been trapped to death in this labyrinth.. Chapter 79 - 53: The Mysterious Box Chapter 79: Chapter 53: The Mysterious Box Translator: 549690339 As he spoke, Leonard Churchill pulled out a piece of paper. On it, he drew a two-dimensional layout of a maze, then added a route. During their three days in the maze, besides noting the path, he also marked all the activity areas of thefSecret Keepers]they encountered. While drawing, Leonard explained, There is a confirmed[Secret Keeperion this route As soon as we walk by, it will undeniably become hostile and chase us. So, we must sprint through the tunnel with utmost determination, without any delays or looking back... This was the most dangerous aspect of the plan he proposed. Camilla, already accustomed to Leonards meticulous mind, nodded in agreement without hesitation.1 Uh-huh. On the other hand, Tracy Garcia was absolutely stunned by what she heard. If she was astonished to hear about the Rubiks cube, she was utterly amazed now. She watched as Leonard casually drew on the paper, creating an accurate route of the maze. It was a skill beyond the reach of ordinary people. She had previously wondered why he had not made any markings, but he had actually memorized everything? Along with the planning, Tracy held her attention with wide eyes; this guy had thought of everything when he finally spoke. By the way she looked at Leonard, she clearly admired him. He seemed as if he hadnt done anything for three days, but in fact, he had meticulously thought out everything. Once he finished speaking, Tracy couldnt help exclaiming, Mr. Leonard Churchill, you... youve memorized the entire maze? Leonard glanced at her and humbly replied, More or less. Something occurred to Tracy, and she continued, But...what if, I mean, just in case you remembered it wrong, wont there be... Listening to her prolonged implication, Leonard chuckled. Made a mistake? Of course not. Mere puzzle-solving wasnt particularly challenging for him. Even without a photographic memory, remembering the route is a common skill in these types of puzzle games. When Camilla heard Tracys incredulous tone, she felt a familiar sensation as if she was seeing her past self. Because once upon a time in room 407, she had asked many similar questions. But each ending proved that she had overthought. That guy had already considered everything from the very beginning. Knowing already what Leonard would say, she responded directly, There are no ifs. We only have one shot. Leonard smiled and nodded, acknowledging, Exactly. Indeed, there was no room for if s. If they didnt dare to take this risk, they would never leave the maze. Hearing this, Tracy did not say much more. Finally, Leonard warned, If we get separated due to some unforeseen reasons, just follow this route, we should meet again. If a Secret Keeper confronts you, stick to the plan. Above all, dont look at the creature, or else youll get polluted... Camilla and Tracy nodded slightly in acknowledgment, Okay. After a brief discussion among the three, their eyes turned to the passage ahead. Leonard took a deep breath to regulate his breath and shouted, Run! As soon as he finished, three figures instantly vanished from the scene. Leonards physical fitness was far superior, his sprint speed was even faster than the sprinters of his former life. Camilla was even more formidable. She sprinted at full speed while carrying the physically weaker Tracy with one hand, without falling behind. As Leonard had anticipated, once they reached a junction, an overwhelming pressure emerged from around a corner like a tidal wave. Camilla sensed it and shouted, Its coming! Leonard had already experienced thejSecret Keeper], this sensation of being stripped of ones soul was all too familiar. It was indeed that creature. Anyone else would instinctively glance back upon sensing the anomaly. Tracy also had an urge to look back, but remembering Leonards warning, she turtled her neck and sprinted even faster. The trio had no time to care about anything else as they dashed recklessly through the tunnels. The monstrous tide raced after them. The trotting sounds of the spectral warhorse like a ticking time bomb, its pace increasingly urgent. Sinless City didnt have any historical records, and Leonard didnt know much about the history of this world. But he couldnt find any clue after watching for a long time. Camilla and Tracy Garcia, who were by his side, watched him focus intently on the murals and didnt disturb him. The three of them walked and observed in this way. Suddenly, a strange noise came from the corridor. The expressions of the three changed instantaneously. The sound of battle? There are other survivors! Leonards eyes moved swiftly. The sound seemed far away, but judging by the level of echoing, it would not take long for them to catch up. Leonard shouted urgently, Run! The three of them immediately sprinted ahead. Before long, Camilla sensed something and shouted in panic, Its the [Secret Keepers]! As they ran, Leonard asked, How many? Camillas voice trembled slightly, Three. But just as she finished speaking, she took a few more steps, suddenly her face turned pale, Not good, there are some ahead too! They were blocked by monsters in front and chased by monsters from behind, collision seemed inevitable. The situation immediately became dire. Leonard also found it strange, since there were [Secret Keepers], on the sixth day already, how could someone still survive under their hands? But the current situation was clear, if they kept running, they will certainly get in trouble. Leonard made a resolute choice and shouted, Execute the original plan! Camilla didnt hesitate at all, the moment she heard these words, she stabbed with her mental power, and Tracy Garcia fainted once again. She herself also immediately closed her eyes, blocked her hearing, and finally said, Ill leave it to you. They had discussed the contingency plan in case they encounter [Secret Keepers]. Only by blocking their own perception could they minimize the attraction of hostility and curse pollution. Leonard didnt dare to delay, he hoisted the two of them around the waist and fell into a dark corner of the corridor. He put on the clown mask instantly, and started playing dead. But this time, it wasnt just one person, but three. Because of their decisive actions, in just a few seconds, the sound of battle appeared behind them. The clanging sound of weapons clashing echoed through the corridor. Listening to the noise, Leonard thought to himself, Are there really survivors? Although it seemed like there was only one, it was still incredible. How did this guy survive? Without needing to guess, in an instant, he saw the person. It was a frost knight fully clad in frost armor. He probably activated some secret skill as he was very fast. His body was cloaked in a foot-high flame of white and eerie curse power, resisting the tide-like black smoke erosion coming from behind him. Behind him, three [Secret Keepers] riding skeleton warhorses were in relentless pursuit. But from the knights actions, it was obvious he was running on fumes, utterly exhausted, and heavily wounded. But what startled Leonard wasnt anything else, but... This guy was actually engaging the three Catastrophes chasing him head-on? Whats going on? He clearly remembered that the attack method of the [Secret Keepers] was a mysterious type of curse, the people being attacked would have their spirit and flesh sucked dry. But right now, this frost knight was actually in close combat? How did this guy resist such terrifying curse pollution? Shortness of breath, in the darkness, Leonards eyes are filled with intense curiosity, and he had a hunch that the knight had found the way to restrain the monsters. He didnt dare to look at the Secret Keepers, his eyes swept up and down over the frost knight, immediately he noticed something unusual. This knight was holding a great sword in his left hand, and surprisingly holding a black briefcase in his right. Even at such a critical moment, this guy did not abandon the briefcase. Whats in the box? Why not put it in the storage ring but hold it in hand? A series of questions emerged in Leonards mind.. However, he understood one thing, whatever was in that box could restrain the monsters curse! Chapter 80 - 54: Captain of the Frost Knights Chapter 80: Chapter 54: Captain of the Frost Knights Translator: 549690339???????? 0 Just as Leonard and his companions were playing dead in the corner, the frost knight quickly noticed something was amiss. He was a third-tier curse card master. Even though he was extremely weak now, he could not possibly overlook the sudden appearance of three people in the corner. Three feigning-to-be-dead living humans! Originally, he was a small team leader in the Miller Familys Frost Knights Guard Legion. Six days ago, he had received an urgent summons to carry out a mission at the suburban Grand Cemetery, which turned out to be the rescue of the governor. However, what he didnt expect was that they were plunged into a trap and ambush as soon as they arrived. The entire Frost Knight Legion and the governor were swept into the Alternate Dimension known as the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth. What followed were days of nightmare. No one could have imagined that there would be such terrifying monsters as the Skeleton Monsters in this low-tier space, with horrifying curse attack methods, and they were invincible... Even the Frost Knight Legion could do nothing about them. All they could do was flee and fight monsters in the labyrinth. They didnt know how long they had been killing, nor how many skeleton monsters they had destroyed. The number of comrades by their side was getting fewer and fewer. Like a never-ending nightmare, they were in constant flight and battle, with no respite. They had to protect the governor, which meant they had to face the monsters head-on. The armor was getting heavier and heavier, but the number of monsters chasing them was increasing... Then, three days ago, due to a major blunder, they were surrounded by dozens of Skeleton Monsters in a dead-end passage. Everyone was killed in the battle. And he was the only one who survived to the end. Initially, he didnt understand why. But later, he realized that it was the mysterious box that the leader had him carry that exempted him from the terrifying and irresistible curse pollution by the monsters.??????????????????????????????????? However, that was just the beginning of despair. He was overjoyed to realize: these three individuals must have just entered! Seeing them, he felt as though he had just seen the hope of survival. He was not foolish; since these three individuals were able to come to the depths of this labyrinth, they must have mastered the key to solving the puzzle. In the blink of an eye, he saw the hope of survival! Watching the three individuals in the corner remaining motionless, with the Skeleton Monsters completely ignoring them, a light bulb turned on in the frost knights head. Thinking back to their previous encounters with the Skeleton Monsters, they had always been fighting and running... Suddenly, all became clear. Why were the three individuals playing dead? Could it be that the Skeleton Monsters couldnt see non-moving objects? Yes, how could I have overlooked such a vital point! Finally, he felt as if he had grasped the key to survival. He was already extremely exhausted, knowing that he was doomed if he continued to flee. Without any hesitation, the frost knight made a decision. Leonard and the frost knight exchanged glances, naturally seeing each others wisdom-filled eyes. He immediately understood what the other party was intending to do complaining inwardly, Please, if youre going to play dead, move a little farther away... But the more he held this thought, the more the situation developed in the direction he didnt want to see. Leonard watched as the frost knight followed a brief period of mental activity and then, not far away, threw himself fiercely in the corner, fell rigidly against the wall, and stopped moving. Seeing this, Leonards eyes twitched slightly: he really did learn quickly. Although the frost knights body remained motionless, his eyes were darting around nervously under the cover of his helmet, indicating his internal anxiety. But the effect was immediate. As he lay in the corner playing dead, the three Skeleton Monsters chasing him suddenly lost their moving targets. They truthfully couldnt see him! But they didnt leave, instead, they wandered near the tunnel. The frost knight, seeing this, felt relieved that he had made the right choice and let out a big sigh. He thought as long as the monsters left, he would be safe. However, wishes are always nice. Looking at the frost knight who had put him in a dire crisis, Leonard couldnt help but complain, The Skeleton Monsters only have a delayed perception of non-moving entities; they arent really blind.. Chapter 81 - 54: Captain of the Frost Knights_2 Chapter 81: Chapter 54: Captain of the Frost Knights_2 Translator: 549690339 Just as he stopped, the monster did too, a terrifying aura engulfing the entire corridor. Enlightenment messages flashed continuously. Youve been infected by a mysterious curse, Clown Mask reduces 70%, fear pollution +1 But Leonard Churchill didnt have any box to block the monsters curse. Any slight movement would undoubtedly lead to death. Even if the pollution was making his scalp tingle, he couldnt make any movement. Fortunately, even with two target locations, there was a difference. The frost knights San Value fluctuates a hundred times more than the three of Leonard. In the darkness, it was still easy to distinguish between a single match and a torch. The Secret Keepers only paused for a few moments before they simultaneously turned and targeted the frost knight. With a kick from the skeleton warhorse, it suddenly started to charge. The frost knight, who had been watching out of the corner of his eye, blanched when he noticed its movement. He realized the monster had spotted him. But he was puzzled. What went wrong? Why did the monster not attack those three and attacked him instead? Perplexed as he was, he didnt wait, pushed hard on the ground and bolted like a cannonball. But for the Secret Keepers, it was also just a charging distance. The frost knight hadnt run far, flashes of the skeleton warhorse flitted by and the monster had collided with the Frost Armor. A cannon-like dull sound echoed as a bloody figure was thrown back. With his old wounds yet to heal, this new injury nearly crushed him on the spot. Fortuitously, seeing a glimmer of hope for survival, determination pushed him to his feet again. The frost knight quickly got up and readied his sword to parry. A fierce battle erupted in the corridor once more between him and the three monsters. Although he knew that the three people in the corner were alive, he also knew that if the fight continued nearby, they might get involved. With a determined gaze, he chose to engage the monsters while retreating. Soon, the corridor returned to tranquility. Watching the frost knight drawing the monsters away, Leonard knew that this guy was no philanthropist. If they were killed now, it would serve no purpose. Instead, Follow current novels at novelhall.com) Moreover, her Demon Mark has allowed her to master some high-level Ice Rule. This is a natural counter to the Frost Knight, thereby greatly reducing the threat. We can give it a try? Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill looked somewhat surprised, and asked another question, How sure are you about this? Camilla replied, 60 percent.1 Actually a 60 percent chance? Leonard Churchill was indeed surprised to hear this. He knew his old friend was very powerful, but he didnt expect her to be this remarkable. First Tier vs Third Tier, this is something ordinary people dare not even think about, yet she still has a 60 percent chance? While speaking, Camilla added, explaining, Just now I sensed that his Curse Power is nearly exhausted, and he is seriously injured, with various chaotic energies within his body. Most importantly, his mental state is extremely poor. I happen to have a few telekinetic techniques that could seriously wound him. Seizing the right opportunity, there might be a chance to kill him. But... the Frost Helmet has Divine Immunity Curse Inscription, this could be a bit troublesome... She had revealed her cards in front of Leonard Churchill back in Room 407, so there was no point in hiding anything now. Upon hearing all this, Leonard Churchill fell into deep thought again. He originally thought that if the Frost Knight came after them, they wouldnt possibly have any chance to resist. Their only choice would be to take chances and find some other kind of help in this maze. But he didnt expect his teammate to be so formidable. Yet, a 60 percent probability... that is to say, they still have a 40 percent chance of failing collectively. Or both sides might be injured in the process. Its still not enough. Leonard Churchill thought of something else and asked cautiously, What if we made him take off his helmet and then launched a surprise attack? Hearing his words, Camilla showed a slight change in her expression, but she answered, 90 percent. Leonard Churchill knew why she hesitated a moment. Having just been betrayed by someone familiar, the words surprise attack were quite mordant. Moreover, getting the Frost Knight to remove his armor was certainly not going to be easy. But 90 percent, that was more than enough! Now was not the time to be hung up on this point. Confident about this, Leonard Churchill said gravely, Alright, Ill try my best to create an opportunity for you. They had to think of a way to deal with this man if they wanted to get out. The people from the Governors Mansion, whether towards him or Camilla, were absolutely not friends. Without saying much more, it seemed like Tracy Garcia had also awakened by this time, she said faintly from behind, Um... Mr. Leonard Churchill, you can put me down. I can run by myself. Only then did Leonard Churchill realize he was still carrying someone on his shoulder, so he put her down as well. Together, the three of them ran deeper into the underground palace.. Chapter 82 - 55: The Absurd Combat Power of Chapter 82: Chapter 55: The Absurd Combat Power of Level 9 Translator: 549690339 I After not running for very long, Leonard Churchill realized that the structure of this Underground Palace seemed to resemble a round character. It was quite expansive. Visit for the best novel reading experience But also limited. The threesome of Leonard Churchill did not attempt to traverse the entirety of the palace. Without having to explore every nook and cranny, they could guess that some Secret Keepers were still wandering around certain corners of the palace. Following the traces of battle on the ground and walking through a corridor, they came to a chamber filled with scattered bones. From a spatial perspective, this was the very center of the palace. Looking at the various patterns and mysterious symbols engraved on the walls, Leonard Churchill immediately realized that this was the final exit recorded in the adventurers notebook. Looking at the fragments of bones scattered across the floor, Leonard Churchill muttered: The Skeleton Monsters have been wiped out, this saves us some trouble... According to the adventurers diary, there should be a lot of elite Skeleton Monsters around this secret chamber. For low-tier Curse Card Masters, it would be quite tricky. But now, all that remained were fragments of bones. The Disaster Level of the Alternate Dimension of Grand Cemetery Labyrinth itself was not high, the most powerful Skeleton Monster was at most Second Tier Catastrophe. An Elite Frost Knight of the Third Tier would naturally kill them with ease. The guy just now had been here for two or three days, not knowing how to suppress his San Value, and once the monsters hatred was triggered, it had to be completely eliminated. This made things easier for Leonard Churchill and his crew. The only pity was that high-tier Curse Card Masters, when brushing through low-tier duplications, would almost never produce materials or cards. Even if they really did, the result and evaluation would be extremely low. What a pity for the Silver Skull Leaders scattered all over the floor. As if... they were gazing upon an indescriptible deity. He had felt the same way in the basement of Tailor Street. In order to avoid being polluted by some mysterious power, Leonard Churchill immediately put on the Clown Mask. But after all, this was only an alternate dimension, and some things were not as vivid as they were in reality. After a brief observation, he didnt find any more hints of Old Day Miracles. Another look showed that the distribution of the four stone pillars around the chamber was very subtle, as if hinting at some kind of array. The carvings depicted figures in robes who appeared to be priests, conducting some mysterious ceremony. Though the priests were facing different directions, they were all oriented towards the moon symbol on the ceiling in the center. Looking at the images of hanging, sacrificial bodies, Leonard Churchill recognized them at once, Isnt this the skinning sacrifice ceremony from the Tailor Street basement? Upon seeing these stone carvings, he had a faint inkling. However, what was the purpose of this sacrificial ritual? Was it to communicate with an ancient deity of old? Or praying for strength? He didnt find the precise answer in the carvings. Moreover, although card masters used the power of demons, they verily had no faith in deities. So in Leonard Churchills memory, things like ancient deitys acolytes and Old Days Sect, in the eyes of hunters, they were as crazy and extreme as sewer rats. Leonard didnt pay much attention to these sacrificial rituals. His priority was to find a way to escape. But there was so much content carved into the chamber that he couldnt read it all at once. Before he could finish, the sound of clanging armor echoed through the hollow passage. Camilla, who was in meditation, suddenly opened her eyes and exclaimed softly, Hes here. Leonard Churchill was not surprised. The frost knight had arrived. Despite her weakness and injuries, the oppressive sensation of a Third Tier Curse Card Master was still palpable.. Chapter 83 - 55: The Absurd Combat Power of Chapter 83: Chapter 55: The Absurd Combat Power of Camilla C Part 2 Translator: 549690339 The three of them watched as the Frost Knight clad in white armor stepped into the secret chamber, step by step, the iron armor clinking with each movement. His overwhelming aura pressed down on them, like an avalanche. Leonard Churchill felt as if his breath had halted, but a cold gleam hid in the depths of his eyes. Obviously, this visitor meant no good. Like a weakened tiger eyeing three rabbits, the hostile gaze from the T-shaped slit in his iron helmet remained sharp, revealing his contempt without any effort to conceal it. The concept of social class in this world was firm, nobles and commoners were just like people from two different worlds, let alone the exiled criminals of Sinless City. In the eyes of the Frost Knight, people from the Lower City resembled beasts from the sewers, their very presence seemingly fouling the air. This was a contempt born from a sense of superiority in power and status. And it was the arrogance that had been engraved into the bones of the Noble Class for thousands of years. After sizing them up, a commoner dressed like a Corpse Collector and two card masters garbed in typical adventurer gear, he deemed them unworthy of his notice. The Frost Knight had no intention of wasting words. He spoke with a condescending tone: How did you get here? He didnt even care who these three were. The underlying threat in his tone contained an unmasked killing intent. Naturally, Leonard Churchill understood this threat. Pretending to be scared, he stuttered, We... we found an adventurers diary. We happen to have some skills in solving puzzles... and thats how we found this place. Upon hearing this, the Frost Knight instantly sensed that the diary could be the key to leaving this place! Without wasting a second, he ordered in a commanding tone, Give me the diary! Leonard Churchill obediently passed him the diary from his bag. The Frost Knight received the diary. His heavy iron armor gloves could grip a sword, but they were incapable of turning thin paper pages. His instincts told him to look at those symbols on the ceiling that had previously seemed so cryptic. But although the T-shaped design of the helmet provided exceptional protection, it severely hindered his vision. It was tremendously difficult to look up and see the carvings above his head. His instinctual response was to remove his helmet to gain a better line of sight. But the moment his hand touched his helmet, he hesitated. It had to be said that the intuition of a Third Tier Curse Card Master was extremely sharp. As if sensing something, his eyes narrowed and he harshly warned, Kid, you better not try any tricks. Leonard Churchills expression was filled with fear as he listened, his acting flawless. He cleverly positioned himself to obstruct the Knights line of sight towards Camilla and Tracy Garcia. After all, he was a professional actor, but the two of them were not. Although the Frost Knight displayed immense arrogance, in reality, he was also extremely cautious. His exhibited pressure from before was simply a probe for the trios strength. Even upon realizing their insignificance, he never let his guard down, maintaining a safe distance throughout. Although the Frost Knight had an inkling that something was amiss, his urgent need to escape the maze suppressed all else at that moment. He still moved to activate the mechanism within his armor. With a click, the helmet opened, revealing a pale, tired face marked by a vicious expression. In his eyes, these three could easily be killed with a backhand. He would never have imagined that a First Tier Card Disciple would be foolish enough to try attacking him. Without the constraints of a helmet, the Frost Knight lifted his head to look at the mysterious symbols he had previously been unable to decipher. Little did he know that Leonard Churchill had purposely guided him to do just that! Almost the exact second the Frost Knight removed his helmet and looked up, Leonard Churchill suddenly retreated with great speed. Similarly, Camilla sprung into action! But how astute was the battle instinct of a Third Tier Curse Card Master? The Frost Knight instantly detected the little Card Disciples intent to retreat and laughed coldly to himself: Overestimating your abilities! Chapter 84 - 55: The Ridiculous Combat Power of Chapter 84: Chapter 55: The Ridiculous Combat Power of Freshman 93 Translator: 549690339 Thinking that this guy was key to escaping, Leonard Churchill didnt hold back. He raised his hand to grab him, planning to capture him and teach him a lesson by breaking a leg... However, just as he was about to make his move, he mysteriously noticed a momentary sluggishness in his body. He immediately became alert, Huh... a telekinetic attack? That telekinetic power wasnt enough to stop him, but it did restrict him for a moment. Was this something a First Tier card master could do? Feeling that something was wrong, the frost knight quickly turned his head. He paid no more attention to Leonard Churchill, who was escaping, and focused instead on Camilla who was already attacking him. For some reason, looking at this First Tier Curse Card Master, the frost knights previous disdain vanished and was replaced with an instinctual skin-crawling feeling. His combat instincts, however, allowed him to react immediately. Both his big hands leaned out, and the faint blue icy Curse Power erupted spontaneously from his body, making him instantly intimidatingly cold. Even if his curse power was nearly exhausted from continuous fighting, killing a First Tier card master was still more than possible. The frost knight had originally thought that he would subdue this overconfident guy in an instant, but his expression abruptly changed the next moment! Camilla had been preparing in secret for a long time combined with a surprise attack, how could she possibly miss? The frost knight advanced through the orderly path of Spade 6 C Punishment Iron Guard, primarily focusing on control and counter attack. Coupled with the Miller Familys secret icy Silver Quality Breathing Method, Frosty Air Vigor, he could both control and attack. This was the best combination polished and accumulated by countless frost knight predecessors for thousands of years. Normally when fighting, the enemy would be stuck by the frost curse power, unable to escape. To control a wide range in the legion, it was the enemys nightmare. However, what he never expected was that his high tier ice curse power failed to stick to a First Tier card master? Before he could figure out why. Almost at the moment of outbreak, he watched the mysterious young girl in the hemp cloak drastically change. Her hair instantly turned silver. The hand blade enveloped in an invisible force field had already appeared in front of his face, and the silver light-emitting card launched into the air, also concurrently blooming with a dazzling light. In the frost knights widened eyes, a hint of shock finally revealed itself. He had a tier advantage, theoretically, any curse card master below the Third Tier would be greatly restricted. But her cold power was a law-level suppression? He immediately realized that there was something off about this young girl before him! By the time he saw the pattern on that card was a distorted human face, he was even more shocked: Second Tier Mysterious Type Card, Arcane-Will Collapse! This type of Second Tier Arcane Card, even a Second Tier Mysterious type curse card master might not be able to use freely. She, a First Tier curse card master, activated it in an instant? Camillas outrageous combat power was directly related to the Demon Gods Phantom behind her. Previously, in room 407, Leonard Churchill didnt know what the illusion behind the silver-haired Camilla represented. Now, he had a vague guess. Although he didnt know which of the fifty-two demon gods the Demon Mark that fused with Camilla pointed to, its quality must be extremely high. At minimum, it was of Legendary Quality, or perhaps an Epic Source Card like Joker. Leonard Churchill tended to believe the latter. After all, the only time one wouldnt covet something is if they either didnt need it, or they already possessed something of equal value. His old friends true identity was quite impressive. Because she took the lead by launching a surprise attack, Camilla severely injured the Frost Knight with her first strike. Although the battle was fierce, the Frost Knight had lost his senses, his counterattacks were more instinctive than calculated. Underestimating the enemy and had cost him dearly. Physical, demonic and mental power strikes hit him continuously, forcing him to continually retreat. The battle appeared intense, but the outcome was already decided. Observing a battle of this intensity could be a matter of life and death. The terrifying frost curse was of no use against Camilla, but it posed a deadly threat to Leonard Churchill and Tracy Garcia. The moment the two began to fight, the large secret room instantly turned into an ice cave. The cold was bone-chilling. Fortunately, the walls in the underground palace were a stable factor. Leonard Churchill and Tracy Garcia hid behind the wall with the zombies blocking them, so they werent significantly affected. At last. With a dull thud, the tall Frost Knight slumped to the ground, dead. Seeing the battle end, Tracy Garcia quickly ran over to help Camilla, who was spitting blood. Leonard Churchill also asked with concern: How are you? Camilla calmly replied: Im okay. Leonard didnt say much. With Tracy Garcia aiding Camilla, he couldnt do much to help. Thinking, he walked over to the body. Seeing the abundant Extraordinary Traits emanating from it, he couldnt help but feel excited: this was, after all, the body of a third tier card master... Without further inspection, Leonards gaze was drawn towards the briefcase that the frost knight had held onto until his death. This case contained something that made one immune to the curse attack of the Keeper of Secrets. With this in their possession, breaking the labyrinth would be a matter of time. Leonard was quite curious as to what was inside it.. Chapter 85 - 56 [X-711-Curse Pot] Chapter 85: Chapter 56 [X-711-Curse Pot] Translator: 549690339 Seeing no sign of danger near the box, Leonard Churchill remained cautious. He turned his head towards Camilla and asked, Can this box be opened? The contents of the box surpassed his current understanding and he thought it better to ask someone more experienced. Camilla glanced at it and answered, Hmm, this is just an ordinary box. The Disaster Object within it is not that easily destroyed. It should be safe to open. Comforted by her words, Leonard felt at ease. Since the box was a spoil of war, it had to be taken. However, it was impossible to leave with the box as is. If someone else were to see it, disaster would be imminent. Besides, all three of them were curious about what lay inside. The box had a simple lock, Leonard took out his Universal Key and soon there was a click sound. At this sound, even the eyes of Camilla and Tracy trembled for a moment. The suspense over the boxs contents had the trio intensely curious. Visit for the best novel reading experience Leonard gathered his thoughts and carefully checked for traps before finally opening it. He had initially thought there would be something special inside. But what he found was just a clay pot, only slightly larger than a fist. It appeared to be an ordinary grey pot on first look. But on closer examination, one could see tiny glyphs densely covering the pot. The intricate glyphs resembled chain-like seals around the pot. At first glance, it seemed commonplace, but the more one looked, the more an aura of mysterious antiquity emerged. It subtly displayed an Enlightenment message. X-711 Mysterious Clay Pot Detail: This Disaster Object, X-711, can individually exempt all curses not exceeding the rule level of the fixture itself. Leonard had already learned that the content of the Enlightenment Display was related to his own personal understanding. This pot had the power to exempt curses, this was the effect which he had witnessed. But this did not mean it only had this single function. The higher level the item, the more hidden and unexaminable information it possesses. Camilla had previously speculated that since this item had not been put in the Storage Ring, it was probably a special item that could not be stored. This type of ancient relic which cannot be stored has a specific term C Disaster Object. Typically, these objects exhibit some kind of magical property. Looking at the pot in curiosity, Leonard asked, Is this a Disaster Object? But what does this number mean? This was a high-level topic that those at the bottom of society could hardly reach. Camilla seemed to understand these secrets and explained, X stands for the X Bureau, a mysterious department of the Federation, officially known as the Federation Disaster Response and Extraordinary Phenomena Containment Bureau. The number 711 is the temporary number assigned to this Disaster Object. Disaster Objects could be anything C physical objects, energy, rules, monsters, viruses, divine entities... or other various oddities. Once discovered, it usually takes a while to understand their specific functions. The Federation usually assigns these numbers at first for easier identification. Hearing this, Leonard began thinking about his Joker Card. Back at the 407 Institute, was it not also a Disaster Source? After a pause, Camilla continued, But what can be confirmed is that Disaster Objects that cannot be contained are divine artifacts. Each of them incorporates top-tier laws and pertains to the ultimate mystery of the universe that humans cannot control. Leonard listened, impressed, but not quite understanding her. He didnt even need to consider the ultimate mystery; merely the full name of this X Bureau seemed high-level enough. Leonard didnt ask Camilla how she knew all this; instead, he curiously inquired, Does the Federation contain over seven hundred such Disaster Objects? Shaking her head, Camilla answered, The precise number is unknown, as this numbering system has been in use for many years. Some Disaster Objects associated with these numbers have been lost, sealed, or no longer exist for various reasons. Some were never recorded. But theres certainly a significant number accumulated over many centuries. I see. Leonard suddenly realized something. He thought that perhaps this represented the rumored Disaster Object that the Miller family of the Governors Mansion recently acquired, causing quite a commotion around Sinless City. But his thoughts drifted off, and soon came back. The current puzzle is the most pressing matter. Tracy Garcia felt that her head was not enough, she was clear about the reality, and probably there was no hope for her to get out by herself. She could only look at Leonard Churchill and asked: Mr. Leonard Churchill, have you discovered anything? Leonard Churchill also shook his head and said: So far, the clue of the maze always points to the three hundred thousand laborers. I can only think that the exit of the maze and the laborers definitely have some connection, but I havent found what direction this connection should point to. Whether it is from the perspective of spatial layout, or monster distribution, it is now almost certain that this secret room is the exit. But he still had no idea how to break the game. Talking about his thoughts, the three of them might as well discuss it. Camilla also put forward her own thoughts: Laborers? These carvings were carved by laborers. Could the solution to the puzzle be hidden in the symbols? Or the murals outside? Hmm. Its almost certainly this train of thought. But so far, no accurate clues have been seen. It might take me some time to slowly read all this content. Leonard Churchills tone was very calm, and there was no sense of anxiety. The most taboo thing in puzzle solving is to set unnecessary distractions for oneself. The more panicked you are, the more it will affect your judgment. Hmm. Camilla also nodded. Without saying much more, she looked up and pondered the densely carved brick wall. The three began to study the carvings in the secret room. Leonard Churchill held the lamp and looked at each inch of the brick wall carefully, not even missing any corner detail. Time flew quickly without notice. After about half a day, he had memorized all the symbols he saw in his mind. But still, no clues on how to solve the game were found. Yuri, the great adventurer then, was trapped in this step. Leonard Churchill felt that he seemed to have fallen into the same predicament. That kind of feeling was not good at all. It was like being in a secret room, having everything under control, but missing a key. But strangely enough, he just couldnt find it. He thought that if he couldnt find a clue, he might have to risk going outside to the take a look at the Return passageway. But his instinct told him that the most important clue must be in this secret room. Not outside. Leonard Churchill himself had no clue with his current enlightenment and problem-solving experience, it was even harder for others to find the clue. Camilla on the side also fell into contemplation, her tightly locked eyebrows remained that way. And more obviously, this sort of complex mental activity was not suitable for a certain Miss Spirit Communicator with a round head. It had been half a day already, and Tracy Garcia was feeling a bit groggy. But she still tried her best to help and didnt stop at all. Tracy Garcia mumbled while looking, Ah...these symbols are so complicated, they look like a maze after a while, making my head dizzy... Although she muttered quietly, it was clearly audible in the secret room. Camilla had long been used to it. Listening to this made Leonard Churchill helpless. This Miss Spirit Communicator had been muttering for half a day... He didnt intend to pay attention to it at first. But suddenly, this sentence was like a flash of lightning in his mind. Maze, symbol? Like waking up from a dream, he exclaimed: I found the key! Chapter 86 - 57: The Ultimate Solution to the Maze Chapter 86: Chapter 57: The Ultimate Solution to the Maze Translator: 549690339 This is one of the pleasures of decoding. Often, an unexpected spark of inspiration is the key to break a deadlock. And then everything becomes clear. Hearing Leonard Churchills words, Camilla and Tracy Garcia were simultaneously stunned. Immediately their faces revealed surprised delight and intense anticipation. Tracy Garcia asked, perplexed, A key? Leonards eyes gradually deepened, nodding, Yes! More accurately, it is the key to decryption. He looked at the Spirit Communicator, adding, Your previous words inspired me! Tracy Garcia was completely baffled, pointing at herself, Uh...I...what did I just say? She was so confused by Leonards reaction that she started to doubt herself. It sounded as though she had found a critical clue? Camilla listened and tried to remember what Tracy had said, but she clearly couldnt figure it out. Leonard found the solution. His eyes bright, he explained directly, The labyrinth and this secret room are one entity! We cannot limit our puzzle-solving thought process to the murals in this secret room. The labyrinth we walked through before is the actual solution to these puzzles. After a pause, he continued: In simpler terms. The path we took before serves as the key, and the text in this room is the cipher. The previous labyrinth is a Rubiks cube, this secret room, is also a Rubiks cube! Solving the route of the labyrinth, in fact, we have already held the method to break the stalemate in our hands. This is the simplest way to hide information in cryptography. The difficulty lies here. If you cant think in that direction, no matter how hard you wrack your brains, you still wont figure it out. With this explanation, Camilla seemed to understand something, looking at the symbols on the bricks: You mean, we need to scramble these symbols, and then reassemble them using a specific thought process? Yes! New novel chapters are published on This tapping action seemed to trigger the judgment mechanism of the Alternate Dimension. As soon as he tapped on the last character, the Enlightenment displayed, You have found a secret passage out of the labyrinth. Congratulations on solving the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth. I found it! A slight movement flickered between Leonards brows and a faint smile appeared on his lips. This proved that his previous reasoning was entirely correct. The puzzle was now solved, and his thoughts became clear in an instant. Three thousand years ago, the Craftsmen built this tomb, and the king chose to keep the secret and silence everyone. One of the Craftsmen was prepared in advance, so he had covertly added an escape route in the design of the maze. He had also hidden information about the secret passage in these carvings in a brilliant way. Not only Leonard saw the Enlightenment, but Camilla and Tracy Garcia also did. Tracy Garcias crystal eyes widened in disbelief: Had they found the exit so quickly? They had just watched Leonard put a bunch of theories into practice, and before their minds could catch up with their thoughts, they saw him lightly tapping on several bricks. And then, the Enlightenment appeared. There was an air of unrealness, as if in a dream. Tracy Garcia couldnt help exclaiming with excitement, Sister Camilla, we can get out now! Camilla was also surprised. But her joy only stayed on her face for a moment. Immediately after, she seemed to think of something, her expression turned complex, and she muttered to herself: did we... did we survive... Leonard also let out a long sigh of relief. The joy of solving the labyrinth put him in a very peculiar state. Truly understanding the ingenious design of the labyrinth, the moment its solved, would provide a sense of spiritual satisfaction transcending fleshly desires. Looking at the carvings scattered throughout the secret room, he murmured to himself, feeling emotional, The encryption techniques of that craftsman back then were truly spectacular. Hiding clues amidst such complex carvings while ensuring the original content makes sense requires computational power that cannot be achieved by ordinary human thought.. Chapter 87 Chapter 57 The Final Solution to the Maze_2 87 Chapter 57 The Final Solution to the Maze_2 Leonard Churchill could solve it. But for him to design such a labyrinth on his own, the difficulty would be at least a hundred times greater. Is this the extraordinary ability granted by the 5-Wisdom sequence? Indeed, the world seen through the eyes of a sage is entirely different from that seen by ordinary people. Leonard Churchill suddenly felt that the extraordinary world was becoming more and more interesting. It allows ordinary people to see the truth through extraordinary eyes! .... Sometimes, a surprise comes so suddenly, it feels surreal. Tracy Garcia was right now staring at the twisted black hole that appeared before her eyes, her face written with the words ''I''m not dreaming''. The Elite Legion of the Governor''s Mansion all perished in this labyrinth, and the three of them actually survived? This kind of euphoria from surviving a disaster is something people who haven''t experienced it absolutely cannot understand. Although she had heard so much, until now the Spirit Communicator lady hadn''t fully understood what Leonard Churchill was talking about with the Rubik''s cube principle. Not worrying too much about her own insufficient grasp, she excitedly asked, "Mr. Leonard Churchill, how did you do it?" But just as she spoke, the excitement on her face froze in place. Because she too noticed that the atmosphere in the secret room was somewhat off. No joy, only silence. Turning to look, Camilla looked melancholy. Leonard Churchill also stopped talking. He seemed to have guessed something, his brow furrowed, his eyes looking profound. Tracy Garcia was filled with confusion, asking, "Sister Camilla...?" They were able to go out alive, why weren''t they happy about it? These two guys seemed to be stuck in that subtle understanding that only they understood, and she was the only one who didn''t. Camilla heard her. Towards her closest ally, she responded with a slight smile. She walked over, put her hand on Tracy Garcia''s shoulder, her eyes shining with elite expectations, "Little Garcia, take care of yourself in the future." Tracy Garcia thought these words were inexplicable, but also heard it sounded like a farewell, "You...?" Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly felt her brain go blank, and she passed out. Leonard Churchill, standing to one side, watched in silence. He wasn''t surprised. ... Camilla laid the unconscious Tracy Garcia on the ground, stood up, and said to Leonard Churchill in a tone of sincere entrustment, "Mr. Leonard Churchill, please take care of Little Garcia for me." Leonard Churchill listened, silent for a moment. His eyes held a bit of complexity, but in the end, he replied, "Mm." In fact, he had thought of it before. His old friend had a treasure that could leave the Alternate Dimension, she was never truly trapped in this labyrinth. But that also meant, whoever wanted to kill her probably knew this intelligence. However, to trigger this hidden subplot, one needs to decipher what exactly is written in the chamber. The "rubik''s cube" in Leonard Churchill''s mind connected several characters to form a sentence. The translated content was roughly: "The queen used her enchanting singing to open the secret passage of the tomb, leading to the resting place of the king..." It seemed that a hidden passage could be opened with a certain method. Trigger the ultimate easter egg? Leonard Churchill had some ideas to decipher it. However, after thinking it over, he chose not to pursue this side subplot. The exit was already revealed; there was no need to.push further. Because he estimated that by clearing this stage, he would most likely earn an A or B rank evaluation. If he were to trigger the hidden subplot and obtain an "S Perfect Evaluation" or perhaps because certain easter eggs were solved, the whole space could disappear. If it were elsewhere, Leonard wouldn''t give up this additional gain. But he dared not do so now. Without a doubt, Governor Stan Miller has been trapped in the labyrinth for six days. The outside world must be teeming with people waiting for his exit. Not all of them are from the Governor''s mansion. However, everyone is curious about what happened in the labyrinth. And then the mysterious[Curse Pot]. Since it couldn''t be stored in the Storage Ring, he wrapped it in a piece of cloth and hung it around his waist. 11:15 If the alternate dimension were to disappear, Leonard could envision the scene of guns pointed at his head the moment he steps out. More importantly, this is a D-level alternate dimension. The main reason it led to the death of Governor Stan Miller and his crew wasn''t really because of its high difficulty. Rather, it was due to the labyrinth space''s trapping characteristic and the disrupted sequence of the codes. Furthermore, this space is named "Grand Cemetery Labyrinth," not "XX King''s Tomb." So Leonard guessed that even if he triggered the hidden subplot, the reward wouldn''t be too extravagant. Now, Leonard had the spoils of war from eight frost knights in his possession, including a third tier one and that mysterious[Curse Pot]. This loot was already more than what several high-level alternate dimensions could produce. There was no need to be greedy for the small profits from the side subplot. .... With that in mind, Leonard Churchill stopped considering the labyrinth''s side subplot. He walked over to the dead body. Camilla had left without taking anything. Naturally, Leonard took everything without reservation. He collected the frost knight''s armor, great sword, and storage ring. This was high-graded equipment with the "Excellent" prefix, more valuable than the previous sets of exquisite armor. And then the mysterious[Curse Pot]. Since it couldn''t be stored in the Storage Ring, he wrapped it in a piece of cloth and hung it around his waist. After packing the spoils of war, Leonard sat next to the body to meditate, continuing to ingest the Extraordinary Traits from the corpse using [Feast]. Tracy had yet to wake up, and Camilla leaving might stir up some trouble. He needed to wait a bit longer before leaving. With a blink of an eye, eight hours had passed. Only then did Tracy wake up. Chapter 88 Chapter 58: Settlement in the Labyrinth 88 Chapter 58: Settlement in the Labyrinth Tracy Garcia woke up abruptly. She looked around, recalling the last sight before she fell unconscious, and asked anxiously, "Mr. Leonard Churchill, where is Sister Camilla?" Upon hearing this, Leonard glanced at his pocket watch and said casually, "She departed eight hours ago." Eight hours? Hearing this, Garcia''s heart pounded with worry and her eyes flickered unsteadily, "But..." Though her reaction was a bit slow, she soon realized why Camilla had decided to leave alone. She was worried about getting Garcia involved. Leonard had no intention of dwelling on the Matter. He''d already said what he needed to say. He stood up and said, "Now that you''re awake, we should prepare to leave as well." Since Camilla had already left, the people outside targeting her should be gone. The danger was relatively decreased. As for whether his old friend could survive, Leonard had no idea. What he needed to think about now was what to do after he left. They had already been in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth for almost seven days. Things must be chaotic outside by now. With that thought in mind, Leonard added, "The situation outside is complicated, be careful once we get out." He himself had the "Shadow Submarine". In the wilderness of the Grand Cemetery, as long as there were dark corners, he was confident of his chances of escaping. But that necessarily wasn''t the case for Garcia. Despite being a formal curse card master, a spirit communicator is not particularly proficient at stealth and escape. It appeared Garcia was still preoccupied with Camilla''s situation. Her mood was down, and after a moment, she replied, "Oh." Leonard glanced at the plunderer''s outfit Garcia was wearing, thought for a moment, and then took out a black suit from his storage ring. He suggested, "Change your clothes. Yours can be troublesome. Also change your anti-poison mask for a hat that can also cover your hair." This was the uniform of a corpse collector. Garcia''s outfit might look like a hunter''s gear, but the punk leather under her linen cloak made her more like a plunderer. Now that the people from the Governor''s Mansion had perished in the labyrinth, anyone who left would be suspicious. But the Corpse Collectors from the Golden Oak Security Company, being a neutral entity, normally wouldn''t be bothered by anyone. If they were discovered upon exiting, they might have some reaction time. After some thought, Garcia understood Leonard''s intention. She took the clothes and said, "Thank you." The corpse collector''s uniform looked like a one-piece biochemical suit. You just had to remove your coat to put it on. Garcia put on the clothes, and without any hesitation, she took off her anti-poison mask in front of Leonard. With her face revealed, she looked fairly attractive. Leonard took a glance and saw a cute girl with a bun, fair skin, and shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth, just as he had expected. She once again put on a full-face anti-poison mask, making it difficult to discern her gender. Nevertheless, Leonard was left with a question. He asked, "Miss Garcia, do you know... who exactly wants to kill Camilla?" Garcia was unsure whether she should say it or not, her eyes flickering nervously. But looking into Leonard''s eyes, she finally said, "Probably... her own family." "..." Upon hearing this, Leonard did not try to probe further. He had actually suspected this from before. Only someone as close as a relative could make Camilla feel so devastated. But the reason for wanting to kill her was very puzzling. Leonard did not ponder over it too much. He then put on an excellent leather armor he had found inside the frost knight''s storage ring and said, "Let''s go. It''s time to leave now." They arrived in front of the Twisted Light Gate, and the Enlightenment appeared. "Congratulations on clearing the ''Grand Cemetery Labyrinth'' " "Labyrinth exploration degree 57%, receiving A-level reviews, fixed reward 100%" "Puzzle Master: Random card reward +50% " "BOSS Kill: +0%" "Complete core hidden plot exploration *1, chest draw rarity probability +35%" "Comprehensive evaluation A-, receive clearance chest *2" The surroundings shifted and Leonard Churchill found themselves on a small mound cloaked in fog. There''s dim lighting and dense fog everywhere. 11:16 The Grand Cemetery Labyrinth refers to a large chaotic burial mound, spanning over ten kilometers. The entry and exit of this alternate dimension drift randomly on fog clusters above the cemetery. There''s no way the Governor''s Mansion had enough people to surround the area, Leonard Churchill thought. Most importantly, this was the land of the underworld, without sun or moon. There''s no way lighting equipment from the steam technology era could cover such a vast area. They were more fortunate than expected, having not confronted anyone pointing a gun to their heads right after exiting. Both Leonard Churchill and Tracy Garcia heaved a sigh of relief. But there were lights swaying everywhere on the barren slopes, indicating quite a number of people. Just as Leonard Churchill and Tracy Garcia exited, a voice shouted: "Look! The entrance to the ''Grand Cemetery Labyrinth'' has reappeared!" This outburst was like a spark in a powder keg. Lights lit up all around. "Hahaha, it''s time to get rich..." "People from the Governor''s Mansion are here too, let''s give them hell!" "Get the people ready, anyone from the bear hunter group, follow me!!!" "Damn it, hurry up, the space gate is closing." "..." These were hunters, not men from the Governor''s Mansion. Upon hearing these raucous shouts, Leonard Churchill immediately understood what was going on. Almost seven days had passed, and the news of Governor Stan Miller being ambushed probably had already spread throughout the Sinless City. For the hunters, they didn''t care about any conspiracies. Everyone knew that Governor Stan Miller, along with an entire elite guard regiment of frost knights, were trapped in the labyrinth. If it was an ambush, those responsible must have been rather confident. And the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth is a timeless alternate dimension. To reopen, everyone inside either has to clear the entrance or everyone inside has to die. And now, none of those from the Governor''s Mansion have come out. The likelihood was that they were all dead. And not impoverished hunters from the lower city, but a well-equipped noble army! For this kind of situation, hunters have plenty of experience. This meant that the quality equipment from the frost knights'' corpses might have been left in the labyrinth. Just finding a single piece of noble equipment meant instant wealth. This was an opportunity even more outrageous than clearing some high-difficulty alternate space! ... Even Leonard Churchill couldn''t help but be tempted. But he just let the thought pass. His gains from this expedition were sufficient, and the jar was an incredibly sensitive item. In addition, the mysterious and unpredictable extraordinary methods were at play. Therefore, fleeing promptly was the right course. Not only the hunters wanted to go in, but people from the Governor''s Mansion must also be trying to find Stan Miller or clues about the ambush. So, both parties were bound to clash. The chaotic burial mound suddenly came alive. As soon as someone discovered the re-appearing labyrinth entrance, gunfire instantly erupted. People might not dare to offend the Governor''s Mansion elsewhere. But this was the Sinless City. The exiled criminals showed no hesitation, regardless of whether you were a noble or not. In this dim suburban area, killing monsters to collect loot, and killing people for their equipment, it was all the same. The fighting intensified, gunfire echoing everywhere. This chaos was advantageous for Leonard Churchill and Tracy Garcia. Taking advantage of the darkness and chaos, the two of them quietly slipped away. Chapter 89 - 59: Great Ivan’s Treasure Shop Chapter 89: Chapter 59: Great Ivans Treasure Shop Translator: 549690339 The suburban Grand Cemetery had now become a temporary Hunters Campsite, accommodating tens of thousands of people. Various modified locomotives and heavily armed trucks were parked all along the railway and supply shops of all kinds had sprouted up there too. Bright bonfires were blazing all over the Campsite, making it a lively scene. Amidst the professional hunters, there were also information merchants and members of various gangs from the city, all mixed together in the crowd. Compared to them, there were far fewer people from the Governors Mansion. On a distant high ground, some lights hinting at military formations could be seen. One side was disorderly, the other was meticulous, with a clear demarcation between the two factions. At first, when the results were not out yet, both sides still exercised restraint. But now, with the reappearance of the labyrinths exit and no sign of the governors men, everyone understood that the Governor and his team were annihilated. The entire campsite instantly erupted into chaos. The hunters rushed towards the labyrinth. The situation was better than expected; they didnt need to use the corpse recovery service. Leonard Churchill and Tracy Garcia changed into adventure outfits pretending to be new hunters, and inquired a bit from the information merchants at the camp. Indeed, someone had exited the space about eight hours ago. But he didnt cause any commotion and disappeared from sight. Upon hearing this news, Leonard Churchill and Tracy Garcia breathed a sigh of relief. Although they didnt know where Camilla went after exiting, he most likely wasnt killed on the spot, which was the best scenario so far. In this wilderness, as long as he wasnt trapped, he would be mostly safe. Leonard Churchill didnt plan to stay long at the Grand Cemetery Campsite, paid some money and got on a shuttle back to Sinless City. Tracy Garcia didnt return to the city with him and she disappeared into the darkness after bidding farewell. Leonard Churchill knew she was worried about Camilla, so he didnt try to dissuade her. After all, this young spirit communicator is a first-tier curse card master, who although often a bit absent-minded, has quite robust combat power. Itd be more appropriate to worry about himself than about her. However... How could they be like the more than a dozen new shops in front, plastered with bright neon signs? Things like Bermuda Chamber of Commerce Branch, Martin Military Machinery Shop, Red Witch Potion Shop, Lorson Luxury Card House... Such names, they didnt sound like small workshops. They gave people the impression of large chain supermarkets. Seeing the bustling crowd on the street, Leonard Churchills eye twitched. Was this still the Black Market? If it werent for the run-down and familiar shops from before, Leonard Churchill might have thought that the Black Market had moved somewhere else. Even though he came here to buy things, no matter what shape the Black Market took, as long as the shops were still open, it made no difference to Leonard Churchill. Did Dark Rain Streets Black Market start this market day concept? With such a question in mind, he entered the crowd. As he walked around and listened to the conversations of the passersby, he finally understood. Coincidentally, it was directly related to the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth he just came out from. Previously, the Miller Family obtained the governorship of Sinless City, hence according to Federal law, feudal lords own all political and operational rights of Sinless City. Thats why the commerce guilds and financial groups that came to Sinless City were all in good terms with the Miller Family. To ensure monopolisation of benefits, not only was there a small number of commerce guilds, but also due to the Miller Familys eagerness to control the Gold-digging Dock that leads to the Old Continent, it resulted in a stalemate with the various black gangs of Lower City. And this consequently led to collective xenophobia amongst Lower Citys black gangs. Almost any foreign commerce guild attempting to set up shop here wound up either having their transport vehicles looted, their warehouses burgled or their store fronts vandalised. In short, no foreign commerce guild could operate here successfully. This also led to the Black Market of Sinless City maintaining its initial chaotic atmosphere of kill or be killed and dark for dark transactions. However, just seven days ago, the situation changed suddenly. The news of Governor Stan Millers assassination spread all over Sinless City with the speed of wings, and also reached the other lords of the Rich Ore Layer.. Chapter 90 - 59: Great Ivan’s Treasure Shop_2 Chapter 90: Chapter 59: Great Ivans Treasure Shop_2 Translator: 549690339 | The Miller family initially obtained the rights to develop Sinless City through political means, but the criticism from other federation members began when they failed to gain control of Gold-digging Dock even after such a long period of time. Now, nobody believes that Stan Miller, who couldnt even protect his own life, would be capable of taking control of Sinless City. After the re-vote took place in the congress, the main Miller family from Dragon City couldnt stand the pressure and gave up their exclusive business rights to Sinless City. However, after a lively debate, no one was able to claim those rights. So, they simply opened it to all interested parties. The moment this decree was issued, the big financial groups from the rich ore layer, smelling profit like bloodhounds, all swarmed to Sinless City. Now, Sinless City seems like a no-mans land, and everyone wants a piece of the pie. After all, the city links to the Old Continent which is hailed as a land strewn with gold. And when these big commerce guilds enter a new market, what they love to do the most, of course, is discount sales! I heard the market at the Hunters Association on Grove Street is even busier, with hundreds of newly-opened large shops. Not even the black market on Dark Rain Street was left behind, as several powerful financial groups have come to try their luck there. The black market is a risky place, filled with large waves, but thats alright. The larger the waves, the more expensive the fish. Did you hear that Great Ivans Treasure Shop, which just opened two days ago, is offering a 20% discount store-wide! Plus, if you spend over 100,000, you get a free raffle entry, where every prize is worth at least 10,000.1 heard one lucky guy even won a million-dollar Silver Breathing Method. These new stores are amazing; not only do they sell a wide variety of goods but the prices are also quite cheap. And its not only the cheap selling prices, they also pay well when they buy from you. They have professional appraisers to do the fair valuation so you wont get ripped off. But these shops are all opened by the big financial magnates of the rich ore layer, wont there be some conspiracy...? But it seems like it didnt make any difference in the end. The person who planned and executed the ambush on Stan Miller has never emerged from the shadows. If its not the work of the gangs, then its fine too. This is getting more and more interesting... Leonard thought to himself. He didnt care who the lord was. As long as its lively. He then followed the flow of the crowd, intending to check out the newly opened shops. He had earned his money through blood, sweat, and tears, so the cheaper he could buy things the better. He was delighted about the sales promotion for the opening of new shops. Sure enough, he arrived at the front of a newly opened shop in no time. There were already hundreds of people gathered around. If this was in the past, there probably wouldnt be this many customers even if you counted the whole streets worth. Leonard, standing in the crowd, surveyed the surroundings and found nothing unusual. He then looked at the good items displayed on the shop window. But the onlookers who came for the opening surely knew more. Sss...Whats the background of this Great Ivans Treasure Shop? They are even selling the latest military mechanical equipment from the federation, and the price is 20% cheaper than the market price. Just how much money are they losing in a day? Losing money? Not necessarily. Didnt they put all their antique treasures up for sale? They are willing to trade everything wanting nothing left unsold. Many people with unregistered goods have come to sell. Theyve actually gathered many good items today. I heard that this is a branch of the Black Gold Trade Union. The boss is really powerful. It is said that they have shipped many treasures for the opening from the Commerce Guild Headquarters including treasures such as Black Iron and Silver Breathing Method. There are many nobles corps secret skills and even the skill cultivation cards, which are occasionally seen in auctions, plus various treasures of gold quality... Leonard listened to the people chatting about the newly opened shop and smiled silently to himself. Of course, there are people placed here helping to attract a crowd, but the information is real. He had also heard of the Black Gold Trade Union. Centuries ago, it made its fortune through the coal mining industry. Now, their business empire spans across various industries and they are one of the top financial magnates in the federation. The people in this world are not yet familiar with commercial tactics.. Chapter 91 - 59: Great Ivan’s Treasure Shop_3 Chapter 91: Chapter 59: Great Ivans Treasure Shop_3 Translator: 549690339 | Leonard Churchill was not surprised at all by hearing this. In his previous life, these wealthy tycoons with vast amounts of capital would enter the new market, throw around billions of dollars, and take over the market, eliminating all competitors. Updated from Then they would monopolize the industry. The tycoons are all well-versed in this strategy. Observing this move, Leonard knew that a massive restructuring was coming for these small businesses in the Sinless City. Can a small shop compete with a large supermarket? Where there is demand, they supply. Where others have, they excel. Where others excel, they provide at a lower cost. The biggest difference between the Black Market and the conventional market was that the bosses of the Black Market dared to buy and sell things that others driven by fear would not. After all, it built trust. For some aggressive bandits and looters who kill for a living, the Black Market is their stable channel of goods sales. The reason for Leonards visit this time was to see if he could sell off some of the hot possessions he brought along. This kind of business, which shuns the light, is destined to remain small and unofficial. However, This shop named Great Ivans Treasure Shop breaks that assumption. Because it placed an ancient artifact at its front door. It was a mechanical Wealth-attracting Golden Cat, seemingly made of brass. Upon seeing it, Leonard realized it was actually an ancient artifact. [Wealth-attracting Golden Cat] Specification: Level II ancient artifact; provide reference samples and it can appraise the value of items. The more reference samples provided, the more accurate the appraisal. Feeding it precious metals is required for its operation. The safest channel for selling his goods that he could think of before was the Silver Star Mysteries Shop, introduced by Seven Brown. But even after having done trading there once, the risk was still quite high. After all, anyone who takes out so many spoils of the frost knights at this moment, even a fool could guess they must be from the Great Graveyard. Space 407 had already brought enough trouble, dragging the murder case of the grand governor of the Great Graveyard into it, Leonard reckoned he would be the number one person of interest in Sinless City. A total black-box trade carries less risk than finding any person. Besides, this Great Ivans Treasure Shop had just arrived recently and just opened up the business in the Black Market, and definitely wouldnt risk their reputation for anything dubious. Seeing this, Leonard followed the crowd and went there. He wanted to go inside the shop and see exactly what was being sold. People kept coming to sell their things to the mechanical cat. Leonard didnt give it much thought and went into the shop. As soon as he stepped in, the goods displayed in the storage cabinet opened his eyes to another level. [T3 Type Heavy Siege Mechanical Cannon]Price: $6.88 million [Roaring Thunder Breathing Method Silver]Price: $1.55 million [Excellent EquipmentLothars Thunderstorm GreatswordJPrice: $180 million [Skill Wave Punch]Price: $20 million [...] Leonard looked over, the display window showed a variety of sample goods, including machinery, cards, equipment, potions... basically, anything that hunters would need. This Mechanical Equipment were all from the industrial factories known to the Federation, not just some small workshops. The cards, potions, and so on, all had the authenticity seals of major factories attached. Every item was considered top of the line. And the prices were also quite appealing. There wasnt a single item in the display window that was priced less than a million. Usually for any small shop, an item worth a million would already be considered as the shops proud treasure. How about this piece of Excellent Equipment worth 180 million? Having been in Sinless City since his arrival to this world, Leonard had never seen such a luxurious scene before. Are the wealthy tycoons in the Upper City of this world so powerful? Moreover, seeing that [Skill Wave Punch] card, he was also quite surprised: And also, does this shop even sell Technique cultivable cards? Chapter 92 - 60 Elementary Fighting and Hard Air Chapter 92: Chapter 60 Elementary Fighting and Hard Air Skill Translator: 549690339 The items displayed in the cabinet are all samples. Its like setting a price benchmark, letting people know the level of this shop at a glance. Theyre only meant to grab attention, not really expected to be sold out. Like that double-handed great sword flashing with lightning, priced over a billion. Although its attributes are indeed exaggerated, its usage restrictions are also considerable. A third tier Frost Knights great sword only weighs a little over a hundred kilograms. This thing weighs over 800 kilograms and requires a high affinity for lightning. Its hard to imagine what kind physical attributes are needed to swing this freely. But even as a gimmick, Leonard Churchill couldnt help but admire the wealth of Great Ivans Treasure Shop. Previously, he thought he had made a small fortune with the spoils from several Frost Knights. But when he entered the shop and witnessed the wealth of a true top-tier Commerce Guild like this, he realized how little he knew about the world. He felt like a mouse who had just entered a granary, incapable of describing his awe at the treasures before him. He ignored those unrealistic items and focused on a Skill Card. Leonard had obtained two Skill Cards in room 407, one with [Skill Advanced Firearms Mastery] and one [Skill- Shadow Submarine]. This was the third one he had seen. He knew these Skill Cards were expensive, but he hadnt expected them to be this expensive. This [Skill- Wave Punch] costs 20 million? Upon hearing the price, Leonards expression was slightly peculiar. This sample card displayed in the cabinet provided a rare long-distance attack skill for close-combat professionals. But it was just a black iron skill card. Compared to [Shadow Submarine], a silver quality card, how much would that be worth? No wonder Camilla said not to sell these Skill Cards as they were valuable. Inwardly, Leonard couldnt help but exclaim: The people of the Upper City are richer than I imagined... He had visited various markets in Sinless City before and never saw a physical Skill Card for sale. As soon as they were found in the Alternate Dimension, hunters would have them bought up at a high price by the Commerce Guild. Cards that allowed people to directly master extraordinary skills were few and far between. The goods that ordinary people could access were actually just the leftovers from the wealthier class. He thought that they were not available to buy. It appears now that it was just a matter of lacking financial status and connections. Since he is in Sinless City, it can be said that this is the lowest strata of this world. He hadnt even seen the extravagance of the nobles. Looking at it now, the real treasures are in the hands of these top-tier financial powerhouse firms. Before he could look any further, a blonde woman dressed in professional attire approached with a bright smile and asked, Dear guest, what kind of merchandise are you looking for? Our shop has a stock of more than a hundred thousand goods. As long as there is something you require, we can provide it- Leonard tentatively replied: I need some Skill Cards. Knowing that Skill Cards often cost millions, upon hearing this, the blonde woman knew a high-paying customer had arrived. And this way of bartering was also very clever. Hunters producing an item worth two million wouldnt be common, but generally they were rare treasures. Moreover, this is Sinless City, and there are many good things from the Old Continent. This kind of transaction, which can attract popularity, might not necessarily mean a loss for the shop. But if he could really buy it, that was good news for Leonard Churchill. He also had spoils of war to sell, so bartering doesnt really matter to him. The girl saw him behave calmly throughout the process, which made her new customer even more remarkable. She didnt say much else, and leaned her large soft body against Leonards leg effortlessly, introducing warmly, Please continue to look around, there may be other things that catch your eye. Skill cards are only available for sale during our opening event. If you want to buy them later on, youll need to have membership rights at our shop. You can earn points with every purchase, which can accumulate for membership rights. The higher the level, the more benefits you can enjoy, and you can order some top-level goods and services. Our top-tier memberships are jointly recognized by the Black Gold Trade Union, even legend-grade goods are available... Listening to this, Leonard felt a strange sensation in his heart. They even have a VIP points system? Such a commercial genius! He continued to look through the catalogue. The catalogue listed dozens of skills, like Skill: Primary Flash Lightning, Skill: Primary Rock Power Armor, Skill: Primary Curse Power Shield... All were primary skills, involving numerous Card Master professions. The starting price for each was a million. By comparison, Leonard realized that his own Skills: Advanced Firearms Mastery and Shadow Submarine cards were indeed rare and valuable. But there are reasons for their high prices. Although Breathing Method is also valuable, it can be resold multiple times. However, the three consumables of the extraordinary era; Demon Mark, Profession Card, and Skill Cultivation Card C all enhance the ability of a Curse Card Master are in high demand. It is not to say that you can buy them. So far, hes only seen them for sale in Great Ivans Treasure Shop. He hasnt seen them anywhere else. This is the wealthiest treasure shop Leonard has ever seen in the city. However, after scanning through the catalogue, he realized that there were no intermediate or advanced skill cards. Considering the girls hint earlier, these should be privileges reserved for VIPs, and tourists can only buy these primary cards. The Skill: Wave Punch, which requires advanced combat expertise for learning, is not in the catalogue. But for Leonard, a card disciple, it was more than enough. Soon enough, He found his second preferred card. Skill: Primary Air Skill Expertise Description: White quality card for Air Skill Master Practice. After integration, you will master the primary body protection Hard Air Skill (Lvo). The stronger your curse power, the higher the tenacity bonus; Fixed Price: 2.7 million. (PS. Tenacity = Magic Resistance, Control Reduction, Muscle and Bone Strength and so on. General meaning is: Resilient) The higher the curse power value, the higher the tenacity boost? The moment he read the introduction of this skill card, Leonard immediately felt that it was a perfect fit for him. The Golden Fragment Breathing Method gives him a curse power value many times that of others. Isnt this air skill perfect? A skill that perfectly suits his current survival needs! Upon seeing this, Leonard Churchill didnt hesitate, and immediately said, I need these two. The blonde girl looked at him, her eyes sparkling, Alright, sir. Ive already asked someone to fetch your cards. How would you like to pay? Leonard didnt waste any time. He brought out a cloth bag and put several containment cards into it, Evaluate how much these items are worth. Inside were nothing but a few Frost Knight Armor cards and greatswords. Having one set on hand was sufficient, having more was a waste. According to market prices, it should be worth several million. The girl responded with a slight smile, Sir, please wait a moment- With that, she took the items and went downstairs. The partition on the second floor was cleverly designed, offering a perfect view of the mechanical lucky cat at the door. The girl placed the items on the tray. After being swallowed by the machine, it quickly displayed the digits: 6.4 million. Not only is it enough, but theres an extra 1.9 million.. Chapter 93 - 61 Sunny Chapter 93: Chapter 61 Sunny Translator: 549690339 Before long, Leonard Churchill had two skill cards, a pile of cash, and an anonymous scorecard in hand. He also won a prize worth over a hundred thousand. He didnt dare linger in Great Ivans Treasure Shop. After all, the things being sold were too sensitive, and he couldnt guarantee that he hadnt exposed any weaknesses. The shop was very thoughtful. Big customers had their secret passageways. After the transaction was completed, he didnt walk out the front door, but immediately left the store through the secret passage. There was a slight worry that something fishy might ensue, but nothing bad happened until he fully left Dark Rain Street. The entire process ensuring the customers privacy. No need to worry about murder for goods, no need to worry about backstabbing... The shopping experience from start to finish was excellent. It was Leonards first encounter with a boss of this magnitude in Sinless City. He had a feeling that this Great Ivans Treasure Shop will definitely become very influential in the future. Leonard left Dark Rain Street and took an inter-city train to wander around a large circuit m the nearby Muddy Slum and Copper Tower Street, erasing his scent and some necessary traces. Then he changed his clothes, holding a huge sum of one or two million, and returned to the black market. He had only bought two cards earlier, and the items on the list hadnt been fully prepared. Looking at the increasingly busy black market street, Leonard couldnt help but sigh, I really came at the right time. With this trip, there are two more skills on his skill panel: Elementary Air Skill Specialization and Elementary Fighting Specialization. Though they are just two elementary skills. Catching, grabbing, throwing, striking... all kinds of fighting techniques, as well as air skill body protection, allowing him to attack and resist. He estimated his current state, with the same attributes, he could fight at least five of his former selves. The next thing to do is to practice more, turn the skills into muscle memory, improve proficiency, and increase combat power. Although it cost more than four million, the money was undoubtedly well-spent. If he were to go to a fighting gym to learn these things, he estimated that to master these elementary fighting techniques and air skills would take at least a year and a half of grueling practice. Now, it cost him just a little money. The cost-effectiveness is very high. Money spent can be earned again. But combat ability can save lives. Great Ivans Treasure Shop limits each person to buying two skill cards, he wasnt sure whether he could go back and try after changing his outfit. But Leonard didnt plan to go back. Being able to open a store in the black market, regardless of background or strength, is definitely not as simple as it seems on the surface. There must be experts in the store. If he really wanted to take advantage of them, the chances of getting into trouble were high. Its not worth the risk. He planned to come browse again when he had the chance. Leonard started browsing other stores. He thought that the few hundred thousands worth of black goods he had were already a big deal among hunters. But as he walked, there was another commotion from the crowd at Great Ivans door. It turned out that a mysterious person threw an item into the lucky cat, and the assessment came out with a high price of over ten million. Sinless City was a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, indeed. She remembered something and half-jokingly said, But the people behind these shops are all hard to deal with. Arent you afraid that after they close down, someone will come after you? Of course, Im afraid! Lew Williams had a gloomy expression. He did not hide his fear of death. Grumbling, But the cruelty of business competition is no less fierce than a battlefield, where can you find a place that doesnt shed blood. Besides, if I do not achieve any results in the next couple of years, I will be in big trouble. So, Brother Seven, the safety of me and our shop all depends on your protection. Seven Brown chuckled, Rest assured. Your father and my old antique are acquainted, they wont let you die in Sinless City. She also got interested: But what I dont understand is, you, the legitimate young master of the Black Gold Trade Union who has everything, money, power, fine clothes and enough food, wouldnt it be nice to enjoy your blessings at the Rich Ore Layer? Why did you come to suffer in this ghostly place of Sinless City? At the sound of this, Lew Williams showed a bitter face, Ah- Brother Seven, Im already miserable enough being exiled here, dont add insult to the injury I might be a legitimate young master, but in the Song Family, there might be not a hundred of us, but definitely eighty... He didnt attempt to hide his familys conditions, didnt miss a beat in criticizing them: My old man is critically ill, and for that little property, the uncles in my family are making a ruckus. And my elder brothers and their maternal family members are no angels either. If I dont renounce my right to inheritance and leave Dragon City, I might fall off the Machinery City someday and not know how it happened. You also know that the larger the family, the more dirty tricks there are. For that little benefit, family members can be much crueler than outsiders when they start fighting. It was not easy to find a bit of opportunity here in Sinless City to avoid problems. Listening with great interest, Seven Brown said: But Sinless City hasnt been safe recently. We just got accurate news from the Large Cemetery, Stan Miller is dead. The city might descend into chaos for a while. Lew Williams was expressionless, It doesnt matter if its chaotic. I am mainly engaged in selling weapons right now. The more chaotic, the more money I earn. Besides, regardless of the current situation in the city, the exploration of the Old Continent will definitely be on the agenda in the future. The first to arrive will lay the foundation, later on, I will make big money. If I wait until everything has settled down to come, I wont even get a sip of hot soup... II II Seven Brown didnt seem interested in this business planning, pursing her lips. She then asked: By the way, lad, can you reproduce what I gave you? Lew Williams patted his chest, Rest assured. If nothing else, I have a good relationship with all the major military factories and laboratories. I will definitely get you some good goods when the time comes. Upon hearing his assurances, Seven Browns brows slightly lifted, Thatll be good. At this time, Lew Williams said: Hmm... theres something else. Brother Seven, you guys at Flood Gang have a lot of ears and eyes, can you help me keep an eye out for someone? Seven Brown raised her eyes inquiringly, asked, Who? Lew Williams replied, An old friend my great-grandmothers looking for. Seven Brown asked casually, Whats the name or any distinguishing features? Amongst everything else, there isnt anything more suitable than them to find someone in Sinless City. Lew Williams answered, My great-grandmother didnt say much, just asked me to inquire around first. The name is Sunny and should be about our age. Upon hearing this, Seven Browns brows slightly furrowed, she counter asked, One your great-grandmother is looking for? And about our age? Lew Williams spread his hands, aware of her doubt, indicating his helplessness: I find it strange too. But, from what my old man said, my great-grandmother has been looking for this old friend for many years. Its not necessarily in Sinless City, places hers have looked everywhere, Im just trying my luck. Seven Brown agreed simply, OK. With all four corpse collection teams in Eastern District 5 wiped out, Leonard Churchill seemed not to have any place to go in Sinless City again. He left Dark Ram Street and, unconsciously, came to the bustling and prosperous Downing Street again. Without the restrictions of the Miller family, too many outsiders have arrived in Sinless City these days. Downing Street was even busier than before with all kinds of places of pleasure full of people. Although Sinless City cannot match Upper City in all walks of life, it doesnt necessarily lack in the entertainment industry, attracting a large number of rich customers to come and explore. Leonard Churchill thought to wander around a bit, to see what changes had taken place in the city these days. But before he went far, he suddenly heard the sound of gunfire from an alley. In Sinless City, where the folk customs are simple, gunfire cases are more than normal. Moreover, there had been too many fat sheep flocking in these days, causing the frequency of murders and robberies to rise significantly. Not long afterward, a black truck with a Golden Oak Corporation logo drove by the street. Several people in black clothes and gas masks got out of the truck, put the corpse into the Corpse-Wrapping Bags, loaded them into the truck, and drove away quickly. Watching this, for some reason, Leonard Churchill felt a sense of familiarity. Their skills were very rusty, they were clearly newly recruited corpse collectors. On the vehicle, there was a familiar recruitment ad, the address was exactly at the Golden Oak branch office in Eastern District 5. Huh... they formed a new corpse collecting team so quickly? Leonard Churchill suddenly realized where he should go. Having struck it rich recently, he thought it was best to lay low. The busier the place, the more dangerous it is. What could be more comfortable than returning to his old profession? Chapter 94 - 62: The Rapid Increase of Data from Gou Chapter 94: Chapter 62: The Rapid Increase of Data from Gou Translator: 549690339 Before long, Leonard Churchill had arrived at No. 117 East City Street, Eastern District 5. Everything here was familiar to him. The black glass building was brightly lit, and the cremation furnace was belching black smoke. In the past few days, the number of corpses in Sinless City had multiplied many times over. The Corpse Collectors were stretched thin, let alone in a newly established branch. Leonard paid a visit to the recruitment office. The minister in charge of recruitment was also a stranger. The previous field operatives of the branch had been wiped out, and no one knew him. Leonard said he wanted to join there was no obstacle, and the procedures were completed on the spot. He received a copy of the Corpse Collectors Handbook, a set of work clothes, a dormitory key, and was officially employed. He was assigned to Team Five again. This team was in charge of a large area around Downing Street. The workload was heavy, and they were always short-staffed. The minister had just informed the team about the new arrival. Normally, new hires were expected to familiarize themselves with the Corpse Collectors Handbook before gradually taking over the work the next day. But as soon as Leonard walked out, the new leader of Team Five stopped him. Hey, newcomer, Leonard... Leonard Three, right? Help me move the corpses from the car to the morgue, he ordered. New novel chapters are published on II II Leonard raised his eyebrows slightly, a strange expression hidden behind his mask. It seemed exploiting newcomers was a Corpse Collector tradition. This new leader of Team Five knew the routine well. However, the last person who did this had already met his end. Imagining the scene brought a smirk to Leonards eyes. Without a word, he pushed the cart along with another newcomer to load the bodies onto it. They took the old elevator to the morgue on the third basement level. However, last night, it was a whooping five times more? Could it be... Leonards eyes flickered as he stumbled upon a realisation. When he was meditating in the labyrinth before, he had discovered that his Breathing Method was substantially more effective. He had initially thought it was due to the chamber he was in, or perhaps because of the third tier corpse he had consumed. He hadnt had the time to think about it more deeply. Now, without any environmental influence, the efficiency of his Breathing Method had actually improved even more! The Breathing Method was still at Lvi, and there was no way it could have such a dramatic increase. Leonard eliminated all other possibilities and gazed at the cloth bag hanging at his waist, murmuring to himself, Could it really be due to this jar? With the exclusion of environmental and personal factors, this was the only possibility left. This... Leonard was at a loss. This X-711-Curse Jar could not be stored, but neither did it have any negative effects. Therefore, ever since he had emerged from the labyrinth, he had been carrying it at his waist. He thought it might offer him protection against Mysterious Type curses in case of trouble, performing the function of a passive charm. It now seemed that this jar offered not only single-use curse immunity but also condensed elemental particles from the void, accelerating his curse power cultivation? Upon realizing this, Leonard immediately perked up from his fuzzy-headedness, I stumbled upon a treasure! Professional skills could be learned with money and training cards, but curse power could only be accumulated slowly through personal, painstaking meditation. There were no exceptions. He had heard that rich people used secret potions to assist in the practice of their Breathing Methods, achieving a cultivation efficiency several times that of others. But such money-draining cultivation methods were only sustainable for the very rich, and the potions, with their confidential recipes, were not available for the lower classes. All the envy in the world would not help. So Leonard had estimated before that, despite having the Fragmented Breathing Method with its higher than average curse power growth, it would still take him one to two years to reach the standard of a professional Curse Card Master. Yet, who would have thought that he would find a jar in the labyrinth that happened to be a treasure capable of increasing his cultivation efficiency by five times? And maybe even more! Chapter 95 - 62: The Rapid Increase of Data from Gou_2 Chapter 95: Chapter 62: The Rapid Increase of Data from Gou_2 Translator: 549690339 The curse jar model number was X-711. According to Camilla, this was a brand-new number. In other words, it was a new disaster object that the Miller family had just discovered in the Old Continent. Even they probably havent figured out exactly what its used for yet. This chapter is updated by The only confirmed abilities now are individual curse immunity and assisting in the training of Breathing Method. Just these two effects alone are enough to make it an invaluable treasure. Leonard Churchill thought about a lot for a moment, his eyes glowing with anticipation. Although there was augmentation in the labyrinth before, it wasnt as exaggerated as last night. Could it be because he wasnt carrying the jar with him? Or are there other environmental factors that may impact its amplifying ability? But he wasnt in a hurry to figure it all out. No one knew he had this thing now, and he had plenty of time in the future to slowly test the effects of this jar. The dining hall had started serving food, so Leonard didnt continue to stay in the morgue and went up. He had to start carrying out corpse collection missions today. In a blink of an eye, half a month passed. Leonard, in his new identity, continued to be an unnoticeable Corpse Collector at the Golden Oak branch office in Eastern District 5. His daily life was a cycle of going on missions, gathering bodies, cremating bodies, and practicing. It was regular, ordinary, and unnoticeable. During this time, the attempted assassination of Governor Stan Miller began to escalate continuously. Like the tsunami after an earthquake, massive shock waves hit Sinless City one wave after another. Battles were happening in the city every day. Apart from the gangs, many people with unclear influences also got involved. Without the common enemy of the Miller familys Governors Mansion, the inter-gang turf wars in Sinless City became more frequent. It seemed that many other powers were fanning the flames behind the scenes. All the Corpse Collectors in the major districts were working at full capacity, and the crematories were running non-stop. Not only were there more bodies, but their quality was also getting higher and higher. The bodies they used to collect were mostly Card Master Apprentices. But gradually, bodies of First Tier card masters, and even Second Tier card masters, lay in the streets... The contamination of the bodies became stronger and mutation incidents occurred more frequently. A few local Corpse Collector squads had encountered body mutation incidents while out in the field, bodies reanimating on the scene, in the vehicle, and crawling out in the morgue... there was a surge in such bizarre incidents. The occupational hazard level skyrocketed. Even when Golden Oak Corporation raised their salary, they were still short of staff at any given time. But for Leonard, this was a piece of good news. Tenacity: 4.02 Spirit: 6.11 Curse Power: 1554 Aura: Luck Gambler Elemental Affinity: Dark 33/Light 9/Earth 11/Wind 8/Water 16/Fire 11/Spell 3/Wood 4 Skills: [Demons Feast Lvl(101/2000)],[Shadow Stealth Lvi(i3/500)],[Advanced Firearms Proficiency (1566/3000)] [Golden Breathing Method Fragment Lvi(233/8oo)],[Intermediate Air Skills Mastery Lv2 (99/300)],[Beginners Combat Proficiency Lv2 (57/300)] Before entering the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth, all of Leonard Churchills attribute indexes were around 3. He was equivalent to a mid-level melee card disciple. Now, all the data was approaching 5, a level some high-stage card disciples might have. This exaggerated increase was credited to his consumption of the third-tier frost knight captain in the labyrinth and his collection of high-quality clientele during his recent stint at the morgue. Not only that, his bodys indexes had undergone changes! With the help of the [Curse Pot], and through his daily deep meditation, his Curse Power had reached an amazing 1554. This was equivalent to the level 6 or 7 of a card disciple who practices the common breathing method. However, according to the Golden Fragment, he was still a card disciple of stage two. After all, his recitation had only reached the second stage. If his ridiculously high index and rapid progress were known to others, no one would dare to believe it. Included were all kinds of skills; his proficiency in breathing techniques, hand-to-hand combat, and air skills were all steadily increasing. His fighting power was visibly growing. With ease, he could leap tall walls, crush red bricks with his bare hands, his Hard Air Skill could even protect against common slashings... These abilities, which would be considered superhuman in his previous life, were now easily available to him. Leonard Churchill felt his condition was excellent. He even felt that if his physical attributes continued to grow like this, the identity Leonard the Third wouldnt last for long. He would need to disappear and then come back with a new identity. He had only just started, and his breathing technique was only at the second stage, there was still a long way to go to reach the upper limit for Card Master Apprentices. There was still a lot of room for future improvement. No matter how chaotic it is currently in Sinless City, he had no interest in getting involved. He wanted to stay in the morgue until he couldnt improve anymore. Without becoming an official Curse Card Master, you could only be a scapegoat in the current Sinless City. After doing a set of bench presses and resting for a while, Leonard Churchill prepared to do another set with his other hand. But at that moment, a voice suddenly came from the communication pipe on the wall, Team Five, deploy for the mission! To Leonard Churchill, that announcement was all too familiar. The frequency of tasks in recent days had been very high, often interrupting his training. He quickly removed the extra weights from his body and stashed it in his Storage Ring. He indeed wanted to carry the weights with him, but sitting on the Corpse Collectors ancient steam truck with hundreds of kilos would easily make people notice something was off. After wiping off his sweat and putting on his clothes, Leonard Churchill, carrying his toolkit, swiftly went upstairs, jumped onto the already running truck on the street, and raced away.. Chapter 96 - 63: The Mysterious Moon! Chapter 96: Chapter 63: The Mysterious Moon! Translator: 549690339 On the truck, Leonard Churchill sat quietly in the corner. Having established his loner persona, his colleagues took no notice of him and carried on with their conversations. Boss, wheres this mission taking us? There was a violent worker dispute at the Gunpowder Factory. Over a dozen individuals died. I heard the explosion was massive; its going to be a tough job... Man, I dont know what got into the union recently, causing a ruckus and organizing protests. People are dying every day, and I cant see what they hope to achieve. So, I heard a business conglomerate from the Upper City has opened a factory offering a monthly wage of nearly 4,000. Its much higher than most places. The gang initially believed this was a scam so barely anyone was interested. But soon, those who took the risk received their pay, and people from other factories started making a fuss. The Union is under immense pressure from the gang now... Yeah, my buddy is a wall painter. The gang recently assigned him a mission, ending up assassinating several leading instigators... Factory workers earning 4,000? Dang... If so, our salaries as Corpse Collectors should get a hike too. Leonard Churchill found none of these discussions surprising anymore. The workers were one of the largest sources of unrest in Sinless City recently. After the assassination of Stan Miller, the Federation Council members realized that using brute force alone would not allow them to control the troublesome Sinless City. Meanwhile, the tycoon businessmen had a more future-focused vision, and much more sophisticated strategies. They were aware that once the Old Continent was developed on a large scale, Sinless City would become a pivotal city. Hence, they began seizing various resources in the city right from the start. With their enormous wealth, they bought shares in, invested in, and built numerous factories. The tycoons, with their deep pockets, to monopolize the resources and squeeze out smaller workshops in a short period of time, offered salaries that were two to three times higher than market rates to lure workers. The sudden influx of money caused conflicts among Sinless Citys lower classes to shift from a united front against external forces to internal struggles. Take, for example, the Gold-digging Dock. Although the only passage to the Old Continent, the Gold-digging Dock, was controlled by gangs, the actual work was carried out by common workers. Originally, because the work was risk-free, the pay was low. Porters only received 3,000 a month. This chapter is updated by But when somebody starts offering 6,000, who are you going to work for? Its more unusual for there not to be trouble. Leonard and his party got off the truck and began their usual routine of gathering the corpses. Initially, this was a typical Field Mission, collecting limbs, sprinkling potions, bagging the bodies, and loading them onto the truck. But no one expected a strange event to occur. While they were collecting the remains, suddenly, the surrounding light brightened. It wasnt the faint glow of gas lamps. It was a brilliant, silvery white glow. Suddenly, someone shouted, Quick, look! Whats that in the sky! Leonard was drawn to the light as well. He looked up and was taken aback. It was an unusual celestial occurrence. Was that... The moon? Leonard squinted his eyes. Unknown to anyone, a moon had appeared in the sky! How could there be a moon in the Underground City? He rubbed his eyes thinking he might have seen it wrong. But on closer inspection, the bright sphere in the sky was indeed a sliver of a moon! Leonard looks at it, shrinking his eyes, a big question in his mind: Whats going on here... Although the space in the Underground City was vast, it was still not large enough to accommodate such a huge celestial body. What the eye perceives may not always be real, most likely it was some form of optical projection. How did they do that? Leonard observed for a while but couldnt determine the source of the projection. To the naked eye, the moon appeared real, suspended in an endless dark space. Furthermore, there was something magical about watching the moon that gave a sense of pleasure to ones spirit. Leonard felt this sensation was strangely familiar.. Chapter 97 - 97: 63: The Mysterious Moonl_2 Chapter 97 - 97: 63: The Mysterious Moonl_2 Translator: 549690339 1 Whats that? -Dont know. Could it be a new lighting device from the Upper City laboratory? -Hey, no kidding, its actually quite beautiful. The people of the underground city have never seen the moon; no one knows what this implies. Each one points to the glowing object in the sky. Leonard Churchill always felt that something was off, with a vague sense that a major event was about to occur. However, just while pondering about it for a moment, a flash of illumination crossed his mind and he exclaimed inwardly: Thats the feeling! He finally realized what that familiar feeling he had just experienced was. He had previously seen the symbol C engraved on the ceiling of a secret room in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth. That was exactly how it felt! Exactly the same! Suddenly, Leonard Churchill instantly understood and there was a clear direction in his heart: The moon in the sky... its the work of those Ancient God Devotees behind the cellar of Tailor Street! Just as he spent a moment more on observation, a chilling enlightenment surfaced: You have been exempted from minor belief pollution. This... belief pollutio Thinking about something, even todays Leonard Churchill was astonished at this method, What a large scale operation... He squinted at the moon in the sky, his eyes gradually became sharp, murmuring to himself, These guys from the Old Days Sect are playing big this time... They usually just hide in the dark, but now on their appearance; they directly initiate a moon belief pollution. Are they trying to contaminate the whole Sinless City? These guys are playing so blatantly, are they planning something big? It appears its not just the financial conglomerates who are excited, even the Ancient God Devotees are stirring up excitement behind the scenes. The enlightenment tip was already very clear. This moon is not just for show. It is a source of pollution. The source of belief pollution disaster! If it were not for the exemption of the belief alteration term by Joker the Trickster, perhaps Leonard Churchill himself would have been affected, yet would have had no awareness of it. At this moment, he finally understood the significance of this term. What the hell is pollution, can it be more threatening than believing pollution? Its like enslaving peoples spiritual branding; those affected by this will experience cognitive bias. The more he thought about it, the more hair-raising he felt. in that instant, Leonard Churchill felt as though he saw a giant hand from the distant past quietly emerge from the grave, obstructing the human view of the heights. An Old Days God, long buried in historical dust, wished to awaken the instinctive horror hidden in human blood through millions of years and regain control over the dominance of the inferior creatures. Leonard Churchill felt a chill and murmured, Belief pollution, its going to get lively now... Following this line of thought, a lightbulb suddenly went off in Leonard Churchills head. Ah...energy? Could it be generated by the sacrificial ceremony? Leonard Churchill instantly thought of the bloody sacrificial ceremony in the cellar of Tailor Street. Could it be that the Secret Cause Spirit Medium is actually energy? Not only that, but he also instantly thought of the layout within the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth. There were four stone pillars in the secret chamber, on which were carved the ceremony of human sacrifice, followed by the symbol of the moon on the ceiling to which the priest pointed. Begging for the response of the gods with sacrifices... The more he thought, the clearer the idea became. Leonard Churchills brain began to operate rapidly at this moment. Bits of fragmented information about the Old Days Sect began to collide endlessly in his mind. The secret chamber in the Grand Cemetery, the Four-pillar Moon Arch, the sacrifice on Tailor Street... Like pieces of a puzzle, an image began to quickly form. Although the full picture was not yet clear. But this small piece was already enough for Leonard Churchill to speculate a possibility that was very close to the truth. He was almost certain that the appearance of the moon followed the sacrificial ceremony. Leonard Churchills eyes flickered, and a bolder guess sprang to mind! If the position of the moon is determined, could the positions of the four pillars also be fixed? Although he didnt understand why the stone pillars in the secret chamber were designed the way they were. But intuition told him that these four stone pillars must represent some array and could not be easily altered! Now that the position of the moon is determined- its in the center. So, wouldnt the positions of the four pillars be determined by confirming one more point? The cellar on Tailor Street! Leonard Churchills eyes flickered, he had grasped the key point. If his guess was correct, the cellar on Tailor Street was once one of the locations of the four pillars. Does that mean there are three other locations with similar sacrificial ceremony sites? Leonard Churchill didnt care much about the Old Days Sect. In this world, curse card masters have coexisted with gods and demons for many years. The power struggle at that level was far beyond what he could currently handle. With the many hidden talents in the Sinless City, he didnt believe he was the only one who noticed something strange about that moon. Despite this, Leonard Churchill suddenly had a bold idea: In case I can find another sacrificial site, could I also find the Secret Cause Spirit Medium?! His thoughts suddenly became clear. Leonard Churchills eyes sparkled. He felt that it was about time to give those Old Days believers a big surprise! Chapter 98 - 98: 64 The Funeral Forensic Doctor Chapter 98 - 98: 64 The Funeral Forensic Doctor Translator: 549690339 The moon had disappeared. The body had been dealt with as well. The Captain gave a shout, Lets go, get in the car and head back. Leonard Churchill and his fellow Corpse Collector colleagues closed the car doors and drove away from the Gunpowder Factory. The sudden appearance and disappearance of the moon in the sky probably only served as a conversation starter for common folk after a meal. Such phenomena that are beyond comprehension, if you cannot see the essence behind the occurrence, then its merely a source of ordinary illumination. Just like Enlightenment, if you are unable to understand something, it might not even exist in your realm of awareness. As Leonard guessed, an emergent moon in the skysuch phenomenon could not possibly be overlooked. Ordinary people might have not heard what the moon is, but certain high-tier Curse Card Masters did. It was a symbol etched in certain mythological tales. At No. 117, Candy Street, West City District, stood a heavily guarded building. It was the headquarters of the Golden Oak Security Company. At the topmost of the structure, several men clad in suits and robed in black stood before a sizeable glass window, their faces gloomy as they gazed at the silver moon in the sky. Those lunatics from the Silver Moon Sect are becoming increasingly audacious, daring to overtly contaminate the faith of the entire city... Theyre courting death! These guys still lurk in the shadows, they are hard to locate... Indeed. That ancient relic that Lone Wolf Baron brought back from the Demon Cross of the Silver Moon Altar has given them too much assistance. If they manage to resurrect the being the Silver Moon directs to, big trouble will befall us... Did we figure out what happened on Tailor Street last time? We have not located them yet, but there are some leads to that guys tactics. Judging from his method of skinning others, it should be the upgraded occupation of Diamonds 3-Plague Doctor, the Funeral Doctor. We have people investigating... Be extra careful recently. I received news that people from Dragon City have been dispatched to investigate. They must have sensed something. Hmm... Under the moonlight, a strange dark fog started to rise from their bodies. Before long, the Corpse Collector squad returned to No. 117 East City Street. After stuffing the new clients into the metal cabinet, the vast morgue was left with only Leonard himself. The first thing he did was to take out a map of Sinless City that he had bought earlier in the market and laid it out on the ground. Next, he took out a thin sheet of white paper and began to draw intently. Leonard recalled the layout of the secret room in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth. While solving the labyrinth before, he had carefully observed the position of almost every brick in there; he clearly remembers the exact locations of the four sacrificial stone pillars. They formed somewhat an irregular rhombus. The distance between the upper and lower pillars is 18.5 meters, the left and right pillars are 13.2 meters apart, and the lengths of the four sides are... Leonard recalled while drawing the rhombus proportionally smaller. Then, using a ruler, he drew the rhombus on the paper. Recalling the position of the moon symbol on the ceiling, he marked a dot in the center of the rhombus. Because his memory was impeccable, the scale was highly accurate. As Leonard thought about the moon he saw previously, he mused, The spot directly below the moon that appeared earlier should be near King Street in Midtown. Merely relying on visual estimation, the exact location of the moon could not be pinpointed accurately. The normalcy of the Commoners Quarters was a form of environmental camouflage, concealing a demon lurking in the shadows. But it was challenging to find. Most of the structures in Sinless City were ancient ruins. Their structures were complicated and in disrepair, with numerous slums built on top. There was no knowing how many people lived in them. Leonard wasnt even sure what he was looking for. A cellar? No way. He couldnt possibly investigate the residences of tens of thousands of people by himself. Leonard tried his luck, looking for potential cluesany suspicious devotees, secret gathering places, mysterious symbols, or unique religious behaviors. He reasoned that the Ancient God Sect was an organization. If there really was a hideout nearby, there had to be some giveaways. But as he walked by, all the residents seemed perfectly normal. He did note a few potentially suspicious places along the way. But upon closer inspection, they turned out to be merely gang run alchemic workshops manufacturing hallucinogenic drugs, a brothel that only did business with regulars, or a family-run firearms workshop. He also came across dilapidated buildings with suspicious-looking sentries. Likely hiding places for bandits or assassins. Leonard didnt meddle and continued his search for clues. He changed his attire and face and wandered around for nearly another hour. Because the estimated location was merely a general one, any of the neighboring blocks could potentially be within the margin of error. Therefore, he was still left empty-handed. Just when Leonard was beginning to question if he guessed incorrectly or if the sect had moved, things took a turn. It happened very fortuitously. No matter the world, the profession of a doctor is essential within human civilization. The Redwood District had several clinics too. Leonard was walking down the street when he suddenly saw a whitewashed building with the sign Border Clinic. He was just passing by ordinarily when he glanced over. But the moment Leonard recognized the doctor inside, he couldnt help but exclaim inwardly, Its this guy! The clinician was a man in his forties, somewhat thin. Dressed in a white lab coat, he looked like an ordinary community doctor. But it was this doctor who made Leonard realize he was in the right place. After the incident on Tailor Street, a mysterious figure in a cloak had visited the Corpse Collectors hostel in Eastern District 5. The figure had been wearing a cloak then, and Leonard couldnt see his face. Despite this, he recognized him right away. Approximately forty years old, around 1.75 meters tall, sporting a pair of Mengke Shoes from the Mole Leather Factory, rather thin... and holding a respectable job. The figures features matched Leonards past assumptions perfectly! Another thing was when Leonard saw the bodies in the cellar, he noticed that the man who skinned them was highly skillful. This person must have been well-versed in anatomy. At that time, he speculated that the Ancient God disciple might have a profession like a forensic doctor, butcher, or leather craftsman. Therefore, he paid special attention to such places as he moved along. He was relieved that his luck held up.. Chapter 99 - 65 The 2nd Secret Cause Spirit Medium Chapter 99: Chapter 65 The 2nd Secret Cause Spirit Medium Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill hadnt expected such luck, coming to search for clues and running into the actual mystery man who had previously approached for an investigation. It seemed that the other party was simply unlucky. Data suggests that since this Old Days Believer disguised himself as a doctor for cover, it wouldnt be in some hidden or surreptitious place. This guy probably hadnt expected that he would visit the Corpse Collectors dormitory previously, where he had not shown his face and even used Mental Hypnosis, yet still be recognized by someone. The doctor was highly vigilant, and seemed to notice immediately when someone passed by. Leonard Churchill simply caught a glimpse passing by, and saw the mans gaze had already met his own. Seeing he was dressed as a machinery worker, the doctor didnt pay him much attention. What strong intuition... Although Leonard Churchill was astonished inwardly, his expression didnt reveal anything. He thanked his lucky stars inside that if he hadnt been prepared in advance, he might have been exposed by that small glance just now. He walked directly past, without any surplus movement. As he went, he smiled slightly, thinking: With this, the plan can move ahead. Before, almost all the clues had been speculation, and Leonard Churchill didnt expect to suddenly find the right place. He had already planned to spend several days in the vicinity of the Redwood District. But he hadnt expected to run into it on the first day. After seeing this doctor, he had almost confirmed that this was one of the accurate locations of the Four Pillars. Even if he didnt know where the specific location of the sacrifice ceremony was, Leonard Churchill doesnt need to consider it anymore. He still knew his own limitations. This level of struggle was not for a minor card player like him to meddle in just yet. Now that the person and place had been confirmed accurate, then... The next step would be to do everything according to the plan. This doctor was a Mysterious Type warlock, likely Second Tier, and Leonard Churchill didnt believe he could beat him. Furthermore, this guy certainly had accomplices. After getting acquainted with Team 18s working environment for a day, Leonard Churchill began writing the report that same night. The gist of the report was, that an enthusiastic citizen discovered a secret cult lair at the Border Clinic, No. 354, on Redwood Street. The doctor at the clinic was an Old Days Believer. The lair was also directly related to the glowing sphere that appeared in the sky. He penned it quite straightforwardly. As to how he knew it was, he would leave it for the people at Golden Oak to guess. Anyhow, the characters and places were real, and if they sent someone, they could verify them immediately. In case the person who received the letter didnt take it seriously, Leonard Churchill added one more point: he saw a suspected fugitive, Lone Wolf- Baron, appear in the clinic. Currently, he was a wanted man by the Hunters Association, and the bounty amount hanging in every major and minor pub had already exceeded a million. And Leonard Churchill wasnt making it up. After all, the last time he was in Tailor Streets basement, he suspected the mangled corpses were Barons work. This fugitive should have something to do with the Lunars Old Day Sect. One more report was better to be prepared. After finishing the report, Leonard Churchill checked the wording to make sure it wouldnt reveal any unnecessary information. But he always felt he was missing something. So after thinking about it, he purposely left a name on the letter- Sunny Citizens. Leaving a name was not for the fun of it. Leonard Churchill had a deeper purpose. Leonard Churchill had previously been foiled by a diviner on Dark Rain Street. Later, he specifically researched information on divination-related supernatural knowledge. He also discovered that although divination and prophecy abilities could be somewhat regarded as cheats, their costs were also extremely high. Nearly all diviners used their own life span, fortunes and other elements as stakes for any high-difficulty divinations.. Chapter 100 - 65 The 2nd Secret Cause Spirit Medium_2 Chapter 100: Chapter 65 The 2nd Secret Cause Spirit Medium_2 Translator: 549690339 The directionality and distance of the clues, as well as the tier of the target... all of these could affect the cost of divination. Leonard Churchill had guessed that if his plan succeeded, someone might track him down using this anonymous tip. On a logical level, there would be no flaws in this anonymous letter, Churchill was confident of it. Therefore, they could only trace it through mystical means. Since Im going to be divined anyway, might as well make it a bit difficult for them, he thought. If one does not leave their name, the pursuer would have to divine the origin of the entire letter. But if one were to leave their name, that would be a directional clue. Sunny Commoner instantly strikes one as the name of a place, and most likely the diviner would first try to divine in this direction. After all, with directional clues, the cost of divination is much smaller. And the principle of divination largely hinges on secret logical dimensions, such as fate or universal laws. If its an entirely fictitious place name, it would yield no results and there wouldnt be much cost. But Sunny is not made up. This was a place name with a complete logical-direction. Churchill had no idea whether an alien spacetime place name would cause backlashes that could kill the diviner on the spot. But he didnt consider this as tricking someone. Im reporting an evil organization out of goodwill, and you come looking for the whistleblower. Furthermore, youre so keen on finding out who they are, you must be an enemy. Then sorry. Only large forces have the communicator. For the common people in Sinless City, the primary method of communication was still legwork. In the city, there were special postmen and newsboys. A few coppers could have these youngsters running all over the city to deliver a letter. To avoid matters dragging on, The truck stopped by the roadside. As soon as he got out of the truck, Churchill saw a raging fire burning on the ruins of a building not far away. It was just as expected, the fight wasnt that intense. The followers of the Old Days Sect were just a rat pack hiding in the sewers, they certainly didnt have the strength to face off with the Golden Oak Corporation. He approached to find four well-built men in black suits standing outside the Border Clinic. These were the corporations field agents. There were two agents last time, and this time there were four. Moons matter had probably made them a lot more cautious than last time. When he and the rest of the Corpse Collectors arrived, those suit-clad agents glanced at them with scrutiny. But they didnt make any fuss. The Corpse Collectors entered the scene directly. The site of this times sacrificial ritual was in a basement not far from the clinic. It was a similar condition as last time, a few corpses had been silenced above, and the rest were in the dark and stinky basement. Churchill paid a little extra attention to the fact that the corpses above didnt have their chests shattered. The wounds were very small, all located in vital areas such as the chest and throat. Churchill had a vague guess in his heart: Were these wounds caused by a surgical knife? It must be the doctors handiwork. The old team members hung back and slacked off, allowing Churchill, just as he wanted, to be one of the first assigned to the basement. He and the two other rookies held their lamps and descended, then saw in the dark, the skinned corpses hanging from the ceiling, slightly swinging. The walls were still filled with those mysterious sacrificial symbols. There were even more bloody corpses than on Tailor Street, he estimated there to be more than thirty. The skinning skill was as impeccable as ever, making the corpses look like works of art. The corpses seemed to emanate a mental stench, making one feel faintly nauseous even with a gas mask on. Having seen it once before, Churchill was not surprised at all. The Clown Mask shielded him from the spiritual pollution of the sacrificial ritual.. Chapter 101 - 65 - The Second Secret Cause Spirit Medium _3 Chapter 101: Chapter 65 C The Second Secret Cause Spirit Medium _3 Translator: 549690339 Feeling unwell due to the extreme transcendent contamination in the area, the other two Corpse Collectors had no choice but to continue their work of collecting the bodies. Initially, Leonard Churchill showed no abnormalities and carefully observed the situation in the basement. After his experience in the maze, the sacrificial symbols no longer seemed foreign to him. The mysterious symbols on the four pillars in the maze were even more elaborate and complete than what he saw here. It wasnt until he had collected several bodies that he quietly moved deeper into the ritual area and spotted the C symbol. The expected enlightenment display then appeared. You listened to the Demonic Whispers from the abyss. Spirit chaos exempted. You have touched the Old Days Relic.'' Upon touching the relic, he saw the dark energy from the bodies converging like thin lines on an inconspicuous brick in his field of view. New novel chapters are published on It was a sight he had seen before. Seeing this, Leonard was relieved, Its still here, as expected! All their efforts were for this Secret Cause Spirit Medium. Moreover, the quality of this spirit medium was visibly superior to the one from Tailor Street. Noting the dense outflow of dark energy strands, Leonards eyes sparkled with caution, This spirit medium contains at least fifty percent more extraordinary traits... Maybe it was because the maze had one less pillar, or they had more time, which allowed the Outer God Followers to create this upgraded spirit medium? For Leonard, this was great news. If he could absorb it, his attributes would certainly skyrocket again. Consuming this precious spirit medium required time, and each moment brought potential risks. The Old Days Believers were certainly no fools. After being robbed once, they would definitely take precautions. If they realized the second spirit medium was missing, they would notice something amiss. Since only the Field Agents and Corpse Collectors had visited the scene, an investigation was inevitable. This potential second visit would likely not be as straightforward as the first one. Therefore, Leonard had to buy himself some additional time. The other two anonymous letters simply pointed to a general location, but that was more than enough. The Golden Oak Security Company had some experts who would naturally conduct an investigation. Even if they stirred up the snake in the grass, the goal would still be achieved. If the other two locations were discovered, the Outer God Followers would be too preoccupied to bother with Leonard. This would considerably relieve the pressure on him. He even thought the Golden Oak Security Company might dig deeper following the three leads, which could potentially eradicate the moon cult in one fell swoop. That would eliminate any future trouble. Of course, even if they did not find the spirit medium at Redwood Street, it was merely due to bad luck. After all, he had reported it and had acted as a responsible citizen contributing to the city. Now that the object was in his possession, all Leonard had to do was consume it as quickly as possible. Even with all these precautions, he had a feeling that things might not go so smoothly. Votes are much appreciated at the beginning of the month.. Chapter 102 - 66 Special Field Operations of Bureau Chapter 102: Chapter 66 Special Field Operations of Bureau X Translator: 549690339 After the Corpse Collector had cleaned up the bodies, the four field agents from the Golden Oak didnt stay for long and quickly left the scene. At this moment, no one was aware that on a distant ruined bell tower, three mysterious figures had been observing the wreckage of the Border Clinic for a while with a telescope. The leader was a bearded middle-aged man in a brown leather jacket, emanating the smell of alcohol. He looked an average hunter, the type you could find a dozen of in any pub on Downing Street. Accompanying him were a young man and a woman. The woman was dressed in a black bodysuit with short, neat hair, and a high-end firearm strapped to her waist. She also had sophisticated mechanical equipment on her arms and legs. On the other hand, the man was a short geek with a mushroom haircut, carrying a deer leather backpack and wearing round glasses. He looked like an inexperienced student from a noble academy. They had been observing the site for quite a while. From the beginning of the clinics battle, they had been present, attentively observing the entire operation. After waiting for a while, Mushroomhead finally gave in, pushing up his glasses, looking puzzled, he asked, Captain, the guys from Golden Oak are gone, what are we still waiting for? The middle-aged man in the leather jacket nonchalantly smiled, To see if we can find any other clues. At this moment, the woman in the bodysuit asked, Captain, why dont we just access Golden Oaks archives instead of conducting our own investigation? The man was Reuel Bible, a private detective. However, their hidden identities were the special field agents of the Federations X Bureau. The two young people were his assistants. Reuel Bible, not stingy with his words, explained further, Ada, Sinless City is not as simple as it appears on the surface. Before the Great Catastrophe, the Old Continent was the infamous battleground of many gods. This city is a crucial connecting point for the Old Continent. The Ancient God Sect in the city isnt limited to just the Silver Moon Sect... Ah... I know this. Listening to this, Mushroomhead, like a diligent student called upon by his teacher to answer a question, immediately responded. He recited as if from a book, My ancient history teacher at the academy mentioned that many followers of the Old Days were exiled to Sinless City. There were several records of Old God Demons from the Upper Era who left their religious ancestries, such as the Master of Dreams and Pleasure Arachne, the Source of Plague and Decay Seth, the Lord of the Undead and Darkness... New novel chapters are published on Hehe. Reuel Bible interrupted Mushroomheads recitation with a laugh and said, Dont just casually mention those names, kid. Although the Old God Demons are a thing of the past, as long as their beliefs persist, they could potentially resurrect from ancient times. In other places, this doesnt matter. But here, carelessly mentioning those taboo names might draw the attention of some special existences... Be careful what you say. Only then did Mushroomhead realize, Uh... oh. The woman named Ada contemplated for a moment, as if guessing something, then said, Captain, are you suggesting... that there are problems within Golden Oak? Reuel Bible did not respond directly, but said, Pollution of faith is harder to handle than any kind of physical pollution... otherwise, the bureaus secret agent, Captain Baron, would not have defected... The three of them continued chatting for almost another hour. As the fire on the ruins died down, the light near the Border Clinic also dimmed. Suddenly, through the night vision of the telescope, they spotted a sneaky figure near the clinic. Mushroomhead was the first to notice, exclaiming excitedly, Captain, someone went in! Reuel Bible naturally saw it too, his alcohol-glazed eyes gleaming like he had confirmed something, Just as I thought. Ada hurriedly asked, Captain, should we go and capture him? Reuel Bible, without any hurry, shook his head, No rush. Lets see what hes looking out for. Mushroomhead, curious, said, Captain, how did you know someone would come back? Besides, all the evidence at that base was taken by Golden Oak, why would anyone come back? Reuel Bible said meaningfully, If nobody came, that would mean theres nothing. But now that someone has come, it means theres something in that base that Golden Oaks agents didnt find. And its likely something very important to the Silver Moon believers, or they wouldnt risk coming back. After a pause, as if he had come to some kind of conclusion, he added, Interesting... Seems like theres a mysterious third party who took that thing. Uh... What third party? Mushroomhead was confused, clearly not understanding. At this moment, they saw the sneaky figure appear from the ruins again. No matter what means the Outer God Followers had to sense the spirit medium, once he had finished feasting, everything would settle down. However, this time, the enemy arrived earlier than he had anticipated. While Leonard was feasting on the spirit medium in the morgue drawers. A dark figure quietly arrived at Team 18s corpse collector dormitory. The Plague Doctor, Hensen, had just gone to look for the field agents of the Golden Oak Security Company, but found no sign of the lost spirit medium at the stronghold. Determined not to lose, he had no choice but to try his luck at the corpse collectors branch. After all, these two groups were the only ones who had entered the altar of the stronghold. The spirit medium was gone, someone had to have taken it. But he didnt hold out much hope. After all, it was the same procedure as last time on Tailor Street. Normally, these low-level corpse collectors wouldnt be able to notice the divine signs within the ritual. Not to mention, the thing would be useless to an ordinary person. However, this time was different! As soon as Hensen arrived at the corpse collectors dormitory, he detected a trace of the spirit mediums scent. Normally the bodies used for sacrifice would carry a residual smell of the spirit medium... But what surprised him was that this time there were two scents of the spirit medium. One went to the underground morgue, and the other went upstairs? The corpse collectors wouldnt possibly move the bodies upstairs. This meant that the spirit medium was the source of the scent! Hensen cursed angrily: Damn it, its here of all places! He didnt know why the spirit medium would appear in a small corpse collector headquarters. But the fact was right before his eyes. It was exactly because he had held no hope at all, that he was so shocked at this moment. He couldnt believe that the simple corpse collectors could actually find the spirit medium and even take it away? Unable to comprehend, he didnt dwell on it. All three strongholds of their Silver Moon Sect had been discovered now, and throughout Sinless City, the Silver Moon Believers, like them, were being eradicated. Hensen had to recover the spirit medium as soon as possible, it was the most important artifact to connect with their great god. The cloaked man didnt hesitate much longer, subtly scanning the surroundings and then headed up the stairs. The scent was intermittent, as if someone had deliberately used a deodorizing potion to treat it. Humph! If it wasnt for him being one of the four pillars of the sect, able to sense the hint of divinity resonating within the scent of the spirit medium, anyone else would have been fooled. Just with this alone made him more certain, it was indeed the spirit medium! Upon arriving at the door, Hensen stared at the tightly closed door of room 504, at this moment he was sure that the thing was inside the room. He observed the surroundings once more, sensing something was afoot. But he must retrieve the precious object, he had no room to back off. The cloaked man pulled out a card, and in a blink of an eye, he had a sharp scalpel in his hand. He gently slid the scalpel over the door lock, and with a crisp sound, the iron lock broke apart just like it were slicing through air. Before he could push open the door, there was a faint sound of a pin being pulled from a grenade. The cloaked mans face changed slightly: Bomb? Chapter 103 - 103: 67: Explosion Chapter 103 - 103: 67: Explosion Translator: 549690339 Bang! A violent explosion rocked the entire Corpse Collectors dormitory. The peculiar green flame of the Demon-Breaking Mechanical Bomb transformed into a fiery tornado, spewing out from room 504. The terrifying annihilation energy instantly turned the nearby rooms and the corridor railings into ashes. The commotion was so intense that even Leonard Churchill, who was in the underground morgue, abruptly opened his eyes, Someones here! About a third of the Spirit Medium was left in his hand. In the darkness, he muttered to himself, What a pity, if they had just come a little later, it would have been fully absorbed... But pondering about this now was meaningless. Upon hearing the explosion, Leonard didnt panic, nor did he choose to evacuate immediately. The situation outside was uncertain, and there were too many unknown variables should he rashly venture out. Moreover, this morgue was an excellent place he had previously observed for emergency escape routes. Leonard showed no signs of nervousness. With the explosion echoing in his ears, he quietly hooked a ring linked to the Mysterious Thunder onto the iron cabinet. Then he gulped down a bottle of the Night Vision Potion and a bottle of the Enhanced Hearing Potion in succession. Both potions were expensive, but thankfully they were spoils of war, so using them didnt exactly hurt.Follow current novels at novelhall.com) He injected himself with a dose of Awakening Potion in his thigh to prevent himself from being knocked out by the explosion. Then he took out a card bearing a white armor pattern and activated it with his ice curse power: Unseal! In the next moment, he was completely shrouded in a set of Frost Knight Armor that provided excellent protection. Such is the magic of the Equipment Card. The armor was sealed into the card using a type of dimensional reduction. Yet, it was not two-dimensional. As long as one is familiar with the structure of the Equipment Card, activation is like performing a magic trick-almost instantaneous equipment transformation. This armor was too heavy. With Leonards current capabilities, he couldnt fight wearing it, but it was perfect for protecting his life at the moment. After doing all this, he calmly waited inside the morgue locker. Ordinarily, The explosion upstairs was so loud that anyone who arrived would guess that the person who got the Spirit Medium was startled and had fled. He laughed and lamented, A real pro... managed to slip under the radar. Mushroomhead, staring at the flames, identified the signal of the bomb and muttered, Judging by the power and color of the flames, this should be a TK2 Type Military Mechanical Demolition Bomb produced by Hagis Armament Factory. Not many Commerce Guilds have access to this stuff. If we want to investigate, we could check out the Black Market in Sinless City. Assistant Ada also didnt understand, Captain, are you saying that theres a master hand in this corpse collection team? Yes. Reuel Bible nodded, This is the third party I was talking about in this case. The thing that the Silver Moon Disciple was looking for was taken by one of the Corpse Collectors here. And that fellow guessed that someone would come to him, so he set up this touch trap. As a result, as soon as that Old Day Remnant went there, it exploded... Mushroomhead and Ada, the two assistants, were also puzzled. How could there be such skilled people among the corpse collectors? Reuel Bible explained, It now seems likely that being a Corpse Collector was just a disguise. His aim was for the thing in the Silver Moon Sects base. After all, only the Corpse Collectors and the Field Agents of Golden Oak could access the scene. By pretending to be a Corpse Collector, he could stealthily get that thing. My my... its been a long time since Ive encountered such an interesting case. Mushroomhead clearly didnt understand, and he looked curious, Uh... but Captain, if there really is such a corpse collector, how did he know that the secret base of the Silver Moon Sect was in Redwood Street, and just so happened to become a corpse collector in this team? We didnt know about it beforehand, could it be that Golden Oak also has an informant? No, no, no. Reuel Bible did not hide his admiration, His information didnt come from Golden Oak. Weve already concluded that if you go back, youll find that the exposure of the three secret bases of the Silver Moon Sect was all directed by this guy. The two assistants heard this and they couldnt believe it: Ah? Reuel Bible explained, We didnt get any news from our informants, but Golden Oak suddenly launched a roundup. That is to say, its also highly possible that the higher-ups of the security company got the clue temporarily. Upon hearing this, Ada also understood and said, Captain, are you saying that someone provided accurate clues, waiting for Golden Oak to wipe out the base, and then he planned to find that item? Yes. Only this possibility could explain everything. Reuel Bible nodded, adding, And I just got the latest news that two Silver Moon bases were also discovered in West City and South City. The timing of discovering these two bases is very precise, a little later than the Redwood District in the North City. Looking at the explosion now, that must be the method used by the Corpse Collector to buy time and relieve pressure. Man, how clever... With at best second-tier strength, he dared to mess with the Silver Moon Sect. How conceited is this man. Im getting more and more curious about that guy inside. Mushroomhead tilted his head as if he had noticed something, Captain, how do you know he cant be more than second-tier? Reuel Bible replied, Since he had to use so many tricks to achieve his goal, it naturally shows that his own strength is not strong, and he can only be crafty. And he needed to make use of the strength of the Golden Oak Security Company, so it probably doesnt have a special background. Mushroomhead listened and seemed to understand. Adas eyes flickered and she said, But now that its triggered the explosion, the person must have escaped. Reuel Bibles eyes darted to the side and he shook his head, Not necessarily. Ordinary people would indeed escape in this kind of situation. But the way that man does things... I dont think he would necessarily run. Mushroomhead also analyzed, Not running? If its just this kind of bomb, it might be able to kill a first-tier Curse Card Master. But that Silver Moon Disciple is a second-tier Mysterious Type Funeral Doctor and is proficient in the Demon-Gods Forbidden Techniques, he definitely cant die. Ada also agreed with that analysis, Right, what can he do if he doesnt run? I dont really get it either. Reuel Bibles eyes narrowed slightly. He shrugged, speaking in a joking tone, Maybe he wants to take out whoever chases him? Who knows... He then said, Although I dont know why he took that thing, when you are able to peek at his entire plan, youll discover, this man has an almost pathological conceit. He gambles with his own life, believing with certainty that he will not make a mistake. Throughout the whole operation, he gambled with the smallest stake for the greatest gain, purely gambling. Any single mistake in any part of his plan would cause him to fail and even lose his life. Of course, looking at the outcome, his plan is worthy of this conceit. So since the man could guess that someone was coming, naturally, he was confident that he could get away unscathed... Well know when we go on. Just as his words fell, The second explosion rang out. This time, it was underground! Like an earthquake, the entire block slightly trembled. Looking at the second explosion coming from the mortuary, Reuel Bibles eye corner twitched, his tone strange, Hey, it couldnt really be how I thought it would be, could it... Im not very satisfied with the plot later on, Ive deleted all drafts and am rewriting it, the progression of the story today isnt much, Ill adjust the details, sorry everyone.. Chapter 104 - 104: 68: Relic-Plague Doctor’s Scalpel Chapter 104 - 104: 68: Relic-Plague Doctors Scalpel Translator: 549690339 The underground explosion was naturally the work of Leonard Churchill. Since he suspected that someone was coming, he didnt just plant bombs upstairs to add an extra layer of insurance, but also in the mortuary. The structure of the mortuary was enclosed like a can. It was completely different from the open space upstairs. There was nowhere to hide even if one were to throw a hand grenade in here. Bullets inflicted limited damage on a Curse Card Master, but a Demon-breaking Bomb, with its thousandfold destructive power, was another matter. Just a moment ago, when Leonard Churchill noticed that someone was entering the basement from within the corpse storage box, he immediately chose to detonate the prearranged Demon-breaking Mechanical Bomb. There was only one bomb upstairs before, but here, there were three. Without giving the intruder a chance to react, a green flash of fire flooded the entire mortuary. The horrifying energy seemed to intend to shatter everything in the mortuary, reducing everything in its path to dust in the eerie green fire. Even the corpse storage cabinet where Leonard Churchill was hiding was almost reduced to ashes in an instant, despite being lined with anti-explosion armor. Luckily, he was wearing a full set of heavy armor. The Excellent Shining Silver Quality armor was previously worn by the Third Tier Frost Knight Captain in the labyrinth. The armor was engraved with various curses for shock absorption, magic resistance, physical resistance, hardness enhancement, etc. Its defensive power was extremely powerful. Moreover, at the same moment of the explosion, Leonard Churchill had also detonated a directional bomb set up at the bottom of the corpse storage cabinet, blowing a hole through the floor. With the pressure from the mortuary explosion having an outlet, like a cannonball in a barrel, Leonard Churchill was shot into the pitch-black darkness below at high speed. Then there were two thuds. He crashed through two more floors and landed in ruins. This was the reason why Leonard Churchill didnt rush to escape. He had already found an escape route in advance. Seeing his skin color, Leonard Churchill roughly confirmed the mans professional sequence, which stirred him up even more. Hes not an agility-type Curse Card Master, thus theres a chance! The Charm Energy Overflow, not Body Protection Curse Seal, suggests hes a Second-Tier Curse Card Master. If he were the Third Tier, Leonard would turn and run. But if hes only Second Tier, Leonard began to have other ideas as well. A few bombs have already cost hundreds of thousands, it feels wrong not to recoup something. In addition, although he wasnt killed by the explosion, the man seemed to be quite injured. In the darkness, Leonard Churchill tilted his head to look, a gleam flashed in his eyes. For some reason, when he saw this man, he thought of those finely skinned bodies in the basement. As if peering into the demon hidden deep within the mans heart, it was like a twisted soul seeking artistic fulfillment for spiritual satisfaction. This doctor, sir, is not as simple as he seems to be. An enemy with whom one can have a trace of resonance, always sparks a desire to try. A scheming smile appeared at the corner of Leonard Churchills mouth. Well then, lets give it a try. The plan formed instantly in his mind, and he quietly laid a few Jump Mines under his feet. He paid a lot of money for so many high-grade munitions just to be able to take down enemies he himself couldnt handle, right? By now, Leonard Churchills Shadow Submarine ability was very proficient. In this kind of dark environment, as long as he didnt want to reveal himself, it would be very difficult for others to discover him. But for that guy to find the Spirit Medium, he would have to follow the smell. The initiative was his. In the darkness, there were far too many hidden killing intents. Upon descending, the Plague Doctor Hensen examined the surrounding environment. His eyes glowed green, but he saw no silhouettes. But he did smell the scent of the spirit medium. Ah, and also the delightful scent of a ludicrous plot. However, a dismissive smirk appeared on his face shortly after.. Chapter 105 - 68: Relic-Plague Doctor’s Scalpel_2 Chapter 105: Chapter 68: Relic-Plague Doctors Scalpel_2 Translator: 549690339 The person does seem tasty, once skinned, should also be a good offering for the gods... But the more flashy the tactics, the more it proves that the opponents strength is not strong. But it doesnt matter anymore. In his eyes, anyone below the Third Tier, can be killed! Such is the confidence given by strength. However, finding the person will be a hassle... The Doctor tilts his head and looks, the sharp light in his eyes flickers. Without any hesitation, he pushes off the ground and rushes toward a direction in the darkness! In the darkness, even Leonard Churchill did not expect this guy to charge headlong, he was surprised: This brave? Wouldnt he at least probe first? Before he could think too much, where that figure ran past, a consecutive series of clink clink clink sounds of the safety catches flying up echoed in the darkness. One by one, the Jump Mines were launched into mid-air. Bang! Bang! Bang! The figure was extremely fast, almost instantly triggering a series of explosions. The blast wave from the explosions instantly swept through the entire open underground street, illuminating the surroundings with firelight. Obviously, the other party is not a fool. Such recklessness must have a purpose. Leonard Churchills eyes shifted, quickly concluding: Is he trying to draw me out? He seemed to see some of the picture, but not all of it. The other party must also know that if he really wanted to ditch the spirit medium and run away, it would be difficult to chase him in such an environment. So is he using himself as bait? But regardless of what the Doctor thinks, risk is inherent when you want to kill someone. It goes both ways! Leonard Churchill did not choose to run at the first opportunity because he wanted to see if there was a chance. And now, theres no better opportunity than this! Opportunities are fleeting. He chose to make his move. Leonard Churchill immediately realized something: the flying knife changed direction? In that instant, he understood what that guys real trump card was. It wasnt the Mental Secret Skill, nor any poison, but a flying knife that could be controlled and redirected by the users will! [Relic-Plague Doctors Scalpel] Explanation: Level I Mysterious Type ancient relic; Sharpness +9, Demonic Break +35%; Scalpel forged from Rheas sensitive alloy, capable of absorbing spiritual energy to brand the scalpel. The Brander can use telekinesis to control the trajectory of the flying knife. In an instant, Leonard Churchill saw the information of the flying knife, and he understood. It wasnt that he couldnt dodge in time, but that this flying knife could change direction! At the same time, a jet of blood was gushing from his thigh wound. This wound wasnt troublesome. However, the troubling thing was that the instant his thigh was pierced, Leonard Churchill felt as if his entire right leg had turned to stone. A strong sense of paralysis was rapidly spreading throughout his body. The Paralysis Poisoning negative status had already appeared on his Attribute Panel. Leonard Churchills eyes flashed as he swiftly drew a potion from his Storage Ring and jabbed it into his thigh. The sensation of paralysis retreated like a tide almost instantly. The Frost Knight Legion was the Governors Mansions guard, Special Antidote, an emergency potion, was naturally a necessary item. Then he quickly retreated, putting distance between them. After getting hit once, Leonard Churchill had understood the intention behind that guys series of actions, and suddenly realized, He intentionally used the explosion to shorten the attack distance? The doctor couldnt locate Leonard Churchill hiding in the dark, so he could only deliberately trigger the bomb and expose a flaw. Because he knew very well how lethal this flaw was. Any opponent who wanted to kill him would inevitably seize this opportunity. In that instant just now, not only did Leonard Churchill see the twisted soul of the doctor, but the doctor saw him as well! The doctor was also sure that he would take action. The moment he fired the gun, his position was locked. Although that guy seemed to be blasted off by the shock wave, he had already anticipated the direction of the explosion and prepared in advance, making sure that the direction he was blasted to was precisely in line with the direction of the gunfire. When the distance was reduced, it was well within the attack range of the [Plague Ray]. Mind Control on one hand, and a flying knife on the other. Normally this would be enough to kill even opponents of the same tier. Leonard Churchill had predicted that the flying knife shot at his leg was an attempt to take him alive, but there was still one thing that he couldnt figure out. This was a demon-breaking bomb that posed a lethal threat to even second-tier Curse Card Masters. How could a plague doctor, whose physical strength wasnt particularly strong, dare to gamble on such an eye for an eye tactic? To put it bluntly, Leonard Churchill took a hit, even if it hit the vital spot, he wouldnt die, because he was well prepared. But a normal second-tier Curse Card Master hit by this blast would have an over eighty percent chance of dying on the spot. What made the doctor so sure that he wouldnt be killed by the blast? Leonard Churchill already knew, there was something strange about this guys body! Chapter 106 - 69 Relic- Cursed Spear Chapter 106: Chapter 69 Relic- Cursed Spear Translator: 549690339 1 Having been through a tug-of-war between life and death, Leonard Churchill inwardly remarked: This guy really is a handful... However, a moment later, he wasnt surprised at all. Theres no such thing as killing without risk. If you want to kill someone, you must be prepared for the possibility of being killed yourself. If he lacked even this elementary scheme, he would not have survived the previous siege on the Golden Oak, let alone come to trouble himself. He took no chances to tarry, promptly activating Shadow Submarine and dissolving into the darkness. Watching Leonards figure disappear into the darkness, not far from him, a burnt doctor also stood up. It was apparent that he was surprised as well. He managed to escape? With his leg bone severed by that attack and the strong paralysis poison at play, how could an average person escape? Did he have a Special Antidote... Hensen thought of something and was surprised that his opponent would have such a top-tier antidote. However, soon after, he sneered. On that flying knife, it was not just the paralysis poison but also a special strain of bacteria that even an antidote cant handle. Although this special strain of bacteria would go undetected by others, he could clearly sense it. Even now, without a medium, that guys location couldnt be concealed anymore. With this in mind, he pursued steadily without showing signs of urgency. Leonard Churchill leaped from a broken floorboard, swung a mechanical hook on his arm for leverage, and elegantly emerged into the darkness of the next floor. This chapter is updated by just as he had barely landed, the bomb he left behind on his route was detonated. Leonard was not surprised that the enemy pursued him. What he didnt understand was how ineffective the bomb was against this guy. Hearing the explosion sound from above, Leonard Churchill doubted for a moment whether he had bought a fake. But the explosive power was very real, undoubtedly authentic. Yet, it didnt kill him? Moreover, from the direction of the explosion, Leonard could discern that his adversary was following the same route that he had just taken. In other words, he was being tracked. The spirit medium had been cast off already. So, theres only one possibility. A thought flashed through Leonards mind rapidly. Looking at his own wound, he made a judgement, Did he leave tracking bacteria in my wound... The Plague Doctor is not just proficient in using poisons, but also well-versed in researching different plagues. To the vast majority of people in this world, plague is akin to divination, an inexplicably mysterious technique. However, for Leonard Churchill, a crosser, the so-called plague is nothing more than viruses and bacteria invisible to the naked eye. The Special Antidote is a high-class nobility exclusive potion that cant be bought even in the black market. It acts as an indiscriminate high-efficiency detoxifier, capable of purging nearly all conventional toxins from ones body. If its not taking effect now, it means that the bacteria pose no substantial harm to the body. With this inference, Leonard Churchill, who had a cleaning potion in his storage ring, no longer felt anxious about its use. After all, his enemy no longer stood a chance. Right from the start, when that guy didnt shoot his leg bone with a scalpel, he forfeited his only chance to take me down. After absorbing more than half of the extraordinary traits of the second spirit medium, Leonard Churchills physical attributes werent merely strong in a single aspect. He was robust in every dimension! It was not just strength at 7.1 and constitution at 6.9, but now his agility had reached a staggering 7-2. He felt his body as light as a swallow now. His farthest leap could cover twenty or thirty meters. Plus, with such complex terrain, unless he encountered a 2n Fallen agility type assassin on his way, other card master occupations even at the Third Tier might not be able to catch up with him. Let alone a lone Second Tier Plague Doctor? Moreover, although he had been slashed, it wasnt all bad news. At the very least, Leonard had confirmed that the attack distance of the enemys flying knife should be within a hundred meters. As long as he maintained this safe distance, the danger would be minimal. He was now deliberately feigning injury and limping, deciding to give it another shot. Not only because he was reluctant to give up that one-third of the spirit medium, but he also wanted to attempt whether he had a chance to kill this guy- Furthermore, a question kept surfacing in his heart: How could that guy, who had been bombed to a crisp, still seem so spry and energetic? Not long after Leonard jumped down. However, that guy was like a nimble monkey, always giving him the slip. Hensen realized Leonards intention. Maintaining a secret skill consumes a lot of curse power and lifeforce, if you cant take down the enemy in a short time, the situation will become increasingly passive. After another chase, still, he could not catch up. It was at this point, Hensen was completely discouraged, he cursed under his breath, Damn, how can there be such a deep dungeon here... The moment he decided to stop, he had the intention to retreat. Youre not going to chase any longer? What a shame... Seeing the green figure hundreds of meters away stop, Leonard looked rather helpless. The tier difference was too vast, he didnt have an effective means to take down his opponent. This was just an attempt. Unexpectedly, after trying, it really didnt work. Such a pity to waste my million munitions. Alas... Leonard was initially planning to wear his opponent down using the terrain and had set up several Mysterious Thunder traps he considered perfect, but the effect was not ideal. If this was a normal second-tier, it might have actually worked. But this guys weird self-healing ability was just too outrageous, even when blown up to the point where his bones were visible, he still wouldnt die. He spent half a day exhausting his ammunition and depleted quite a bit, but his enemy was still full of vitality. From his demeanor, it seemed like he wanted to turn back. If this guy wanted to return, Leonard didnt dare to follow. If he went back the same way, he would most likely be taught a lesson by the poison traps left behind by the other party. Theres a saying among card masters: dont close in on card masters who use poison, and dont play into the wind. Any air that such a card master has breathed might be poisonous. So Leonard had always been very careful, always running in front, not giving the one behind him any opportunities. But as it turned out, although he couldnt die himself. He couldnt kill the other person either. just when Leonard thought it would end in a stalemate, and his ammunition was wasted for nothing. Suddenly, a miraculous reversal occurred. A spear fell from the heavens! Without warning, in the darkness, a spear emitting white light like thunder shot out. The timing was extremely well-calculated. The moment the Doctor turned around to go back, the spear impaled his chest like lightning. The force was so great, he was thrown back several meters by the spear, and with a clang he crashed against a stone pillar. Leonards pupils also constricted sharply: There are others! He too was startled by this sudden change of situation. It turned out that while they were chasing each other all this way, a third party had been following behind? However, his gaze was attracted by the spear. Relic- Cursed Spear Explanation: Level III Ancient Relic; Sharpness +3, Hardness 9, Sacred 2, Armor Piercing 35%i An imitation of the dragon-slaying artifact, possesses the magical effect of preventing a dragons wound from healing; Causes the target to suffer 90% of the banned therapy heavy injury effect upon hit. Banned Therapy? Seeing the effect of the relic, Leonard vaguely guessed that these people seemed to be here specifically for this old disciple. The moment the spear pierced the Doctors chest, a bright light lit up. The light seemed to have a strong aggressive quality, suppressing the healing green light in an instant. With this one spear, the guys previously capable self-healing abilitV could regenerate flesh from bone was now ineffective. The wounds didn t heal, instead, the blood burst forth. Seeing this, Leonard knew it was an opportunity. No matter who the newcomer was, kill off one enemy first. His expression hardened and he raised his hand to fire two shots. The guy was nailed to the wall and was unable to struggle free, his body protection curse power also shattered by a large amount, the two shots accurately hit his eyes. This time, blood splattered everywhere. The Doctor died on the spot. No matter how strong the newcomer was. If he couldnt fight back, he wouldnt be scared either. After firing, Leonard didnt bother to look at the corpse, and instead looked at the three mysterious people who suddenly appeared on the upper floor.. Chapter 107 - 107: Seems like it’s about to be listed Chapter 107: Seems like its about to be listed Translator: 549690339 New novel chapters are published on Ive got something to tell you all. It seems like the book is going live tomorrow at noon. Embarrassingly, Ive been having some issues with the plot recently, so I deleted all the saved drafts... Before I started writing this book, I had written nearly a hundred thousand words of disjointed outlines and settings. This is the book I spent the most time preparing for. But the writing process has still been bumpy. I write novels because I have a desire to express myself, wanting to share the stories in my heart with you all. But it seems the more thought I put into it, the harder it gets to write. For readers like you too, I know you want to read a well-rounded and exciting story. Well...Ill take my time writing then. But with each book, I have grown, and the stories have gradually improved. I will try to write the best possible story within my abilities. To make it at least 80 points. Please support me by subscribing on Webnovel. I want this story to go further. Thank you in advance. Ill update at my own pace (dont read too much into this). In the last story, the pace got messed up after leaving the tower. Actually, it was just because I, the author, had little experience at the time, and due to some readers eager to see the outside story, I just went straight to it, skipping some originally connected plot, which caused a huge gap and an abrupt break in the story. Also, I focused too much on updating frequently, without carefully polishing the plot. Having reflected on this, I want to do better with this book. So, the update speed this time wont be too fast, maintaining around 6000-8000 words, and Ill try to update more frequently if possible. Ive rambled on quite a bit. Thats it. By the way, Im asking for your support.. Chapter 108 - 70 Doctor’s Spoils of War Chapter 108: Chapter 70 Doctors Spoils of War Translator: 549690339 | When the doctor died, the spear was pulled back by an invisible force, retracing the trajectory it had just flown. Leonard Churchill had quietly retreated to the edge of the floor, thinking to himself, Was I outsmarted...? Seeing that the three men did not intend to jump down and attack, he held back from leaping into the abyss immediately. These three mysterious individuals werent attracted by the explosion, but were originally following the doctor. Moreover, with a single move they seriously injured the Old Days Believer and even brought a third tier relic. Their strength was a bit unfathomable. This was not good news for Leonard Churchill. Before he could speculate further, the burly figure wielding the spear, whose features were indiscernible, seemed afraid that Leonard would escape. He made no hostile moves and took the initiative to speak up: Friend, dont misunderstand. We bear you no ill will. New novel chapters are published on With that, he identified himself: We are investigators from the Federation X Bureau, tracking this guy from the Silver Moon Sect. X Bureau? Leonard Churchill had heard about it from Camilla. But to him, whether this identity was real or fake was not important. He didnt avoid leaping into the abyss out of curiosity about these three mens identity. instead, he wanted to see whether there was still a chance to get the spoils of war. The man seemed very sharp and glanced at the body, then faintly spoke: Originally, we wanted to capture him alive, but since you killed him, let it be. Old Days Believers bore the mark of divinity and thus didnt possess much value for interrogation. His statement was simply to control the narrative. Leonard Churchill remained silent, thinking: His spear attack didnt seem like he wanted to keep the believer alive, did it? Yet he hadnt acted, and Leonard was a little unclear about his intentions. The man didnt waste words and got straight to the point: Id like to ask if the clue to the Redwood District was provided by you? Since he didnt have the upper hand, Leonard Churchill stopped beating around the bush and said directly: I discovered the ritual of the four pillars used by Ancient God Sect in some ruins. The moon had just appeared and I knew there was a ritual site at No. 17 Tailor Street, so I deduced there were other similar bases... There was nothing to hide about this. After all, he had already written most of it in his report. Leonard just elaborated on the four-pillar ritual. But he didnt know as much as the three men had expected. When he finished, the man was clearly taken aback and asked in surprise, Is that all? Leonard Churchill: Thats all. He only had that much information. For example, he had only just learned the term Silver Moon Sect. Leonard had guessed the three men assumed he had provided the clues, and thus, must know a lot of detailed inside information. Obviously, his answer disappointed them. He thought the man would back down. Unexpectedly, the man then burst into hearty laughter: Ha ha ha ha... It seemed like self-deprecating laughter for miscalculating, but there was no hint of intent to backtrack. Leonard watched him, taking in every detail of his body out of the corner of his eye and keeping an eye on his surroundings. Now that he had said everything, if he had other intentions, there was no need to hide them. But to his surprise, the man kept his promise, declaring firmly: Alright! The corpse is yours. Having said that, he turned around as if he intended to leave, and added: If you have any more information about the Old Days Sect in the future, try to bypass the Golden Oak Security Company. You can go to the Train Tavern and find the bartender, say that Old Bible sent you. Ill pay for information. Just like this time. Upon hearing this, Leonard replied: Alright! As soon as his words fell, the three shadows actually turned around and vanished. Leonard watched them, slightly taken aback. Although the three men casually brought out a third tier relics and were clearly very rich, they seemed to come from the Rich Ore Layer. But did they really just take a look and leave? The three of them left on their way back. As they walked, Reuel Bible couldnt help but express his admiration: Heh heh, I initially thought he was at least a first tier Card Master, but it turns out hes just an apprentice. Its really impressive. A Card Master Apprentice actually forced the Plague Doctor Hensen to such a state. If it had not been for almost running out of means, he could actually kill a second tier.. Chapter 109 - 70 Doctor’s Spoils of War_2 Chapter 109: Chapter 70 Doctors Spoils of War_2 Translator: 549690339 Hearing this, Ada the assistant couldnt help but ask, Captain, are we just going to leave like this? Reuel Bible nonchalantly responded with a question, What else? Ada furrowed her brow, What I mean is, that guy also seems suspicious... New novel chapters are published on Reuel Bible cut her off, chortling, In Sinless City, you can find at least a thousand, if not ten thousand people who are suspicious. Do you expect us to arrest them all and interrogate them? Ada argued, But, he knows the secret base of the Silver Moon Sect. He may also know other things. Reuel Bible merely laughed, Didnt he already tell us what he knows? Ada still wanted to argue, But... Reuel Bible interrupted her with a series of questions. Is he our enemy? No. Then, is he an Old Days Believer? It seems... he is not. So, on what grounds should we arrest him? We are the most authoritative law enforcement agency in the Federation, not some gang or those rotten guys corrupted by power in the system. If we cant even uphold impartial law enforcement, where do you think the laws significance lies? How do you think the Federations order is maintained? Its indeed reasonable. But hearing their captain speaking with an aura of righteousness, the assistants found it hard to believe. Mushroomheads eyes widened, blinking repeatedly. As incredulous as he was, he couldnt help but pull the rug from under his captain, Captain, isnt your Professional Sequence the Diamond-6-Outlaw? You dont usually stick to the rules... It seemed like they heard some very important experience, leaving both assistants impressed but confused. Boss, the Judging Office has been urging us to submit the investigation report on the Stan Miller attack as soon as possible. However, the clues we have now are not sufficient to arrive at an accurate conclusion... Just jot down a few sentences. Ah... just jot down anything? Otherwise? Do you think those old, cunning guys in the parliament genuinely want us to investigate the truth? Heh... They just need a report to show to outsiders. Besides, someone skilled had masterminded this, it would be strange if you could find them. Oh. However, speaking of it, its really not clear who is behind the attack in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth. But the style seems like the work of those Thirteen Masked Knights, the group who thrives in chaos. The trio chatted and left the cave. Leonard Churchill watched as the three of them disappeared. He didnt rush to make his move. He stood in place for a while, quietly observing. It was only after he was sure the trio really had left that he cautiously made his way over. The corpse was growing meaty lumps. This was a sign of early mutation. The Corpse Collector was very familiar with this. If this were to progress, the excess of unchecked Extraordinary Traits would likely turn it into a monster. But to Leonard, this was good news. The mutation in the corpse would cause the Extraordinary Traits to expand uncontrolled for a while, overall they should grow stronger than when it was alive. He was not afraid of the contagion, making his way to it. Once Feast started devouring it, his traits surged. There were toxins all over the Plague Doctors body, he didnt dare to get involuntarily involved.. Chapter 110 - 70: Doctor’s Spoils of War 3 Chapter 110: Chapter 70: Doctors Spoils of War 3 Translator: 549690339?????? While devouring, he used his mechanical arm to clean up the spoils of war. The clothes had all almost burned up, making it easy to count the items. Besides two storage rings, a card slot, there was also a piece of amber the size of half a brick. It was that small spirit medium. Leonard Churchill picked up the spirit medium and absorbed it right there on the spot. Only after completely digesting it, would trouble be fully eliminated. Besides the three guys who left earlier, others probably still dont understand why the Corpse Collector squad exploded. Even if they saw the big hole in the morgue, no one would care to venture down in the short term. However, after thinking about it, Leonard decided to move to a different location. He used his mechanical arm to lift the corpse and went to an unassuming place deep within the catacombs. There wasnt much law enforcement in Sinless City; as long as no major incident occurred, nobody would meddle in others affairs. In the blink of an eye, several hours had passed. This time there were no accidents, digestion was successfully completed. Seven oclock in the morning. On the streets, one could see workers changing shifts, and Sinless City was bustling with activity. On the rooftop of an abandoned building. A figure lightly jumped across a gap of more than ten meters between the buildings ledges. After Leonard Churchill confirmed that no one was following him, he found a secluded place to rest. He sat on a rusted iron tower, looking down at the city shrouded in darkness and smoke from above. At the same time, he took a moment to count his spoils of war. Leonard took a deep breath. His current condition was exceptionally good. This chapter is updated by Before he got the second Secret Cause Spirit Medium, his power rating was 4.9, but now, in just one night, it had jumped to 8.44. Plus, the attack range was only a few meters. Controlling the flying knife with telekinesis would be impossible in a short time. Firstly because of proficiency, and secondly because of spiritual power. Moreover, the scalpel caused small wounds and was not likely to be fatal unless hitting a vital point. It couldnt be used as a conventional weapon, only for assassinations. But Leonard was already quite satisfied. Now he had a piece of equipment that posed a lethal threat to Curse Card Masters. Combined with Shadow Submarine and his ultra-high agility, he felt that he was almost a formidable assassin. The doctors tactical card slot contained several one-use skill cards, such as Plague Poison Cloud, Acid Splash, Highly Toxic Tentacles, among other magic cards. These were all second-tier cards. But at the moment, Leonard didnt dare to use them recklessly. Although skill cards can be used once activated. However, without an understanding of the related spell and a certain level of proficiency, the higher level the card, the more dangerous it is. For example, how much curse power you need to activate a card, and when to release it after pouring in energy to achieve the expected explosion timing precision. If not practiced, the result could be an explosion in your hand or failing to activate once thrown out. Leonard had previously attended some card lectures at the Hunters Association. He learned why the magic in this world was sealed in cards. The fundamental reason was that card masters didnt have any religious beliefs. All extraordinary powers controlled by ancient humans came from the gods. The ancient divine believers who chanted magic would recite the names of certain deities. In return, the gods would help their believers control and understand some rules of the elements beyond their abilities, they would also impart extraordinary knowledge. This is known as Divine Bestowal. Later, a great god created a card system, used demons power as a medium, which allowed humans to awaken extraordinary powers without the need to believe in any particular god. The magic could be cast using the cards as a medium. That was the basic story.. Chapter 111 - 70 Doctor’s Spoils of War z Chapter 111: Chapter 70 Doctors Spoils of War z Translator: 549690339 1????????????? But as for myths and tales, Leonard Churchill only listens for fun. From a scientific perspective, the advantages of cards are clear: instant activation, powerful, and they can be grouped into decks! Card masters must master the spell to create skill cards. But they rarely cast spells directly, primarily because the power would be quite weak and it requires time to manifest the magic. Sealing the technique into a card in advance, though it consumes significant material costs, allows card masters to instantly cast various magic. And its even more powerful. Its as comparable to packing gunpowder into bullets, which produces magnificent results when detonated. Another point is the combination of cards. For example, the combination of the [Fireball Skill] and [Oil Spray Skill] C two first-tier cards can form compound magic, igniting a broad area. With conventional casting, it would be impossible for one person to simultaneously cast two spells. But with cards, it can be easily achieved. Even triple cards, quadruple cards... compound techniques. With a high proficiency in card manipulation, as long as the curse power consumption isnt too excessive, Curse Card Masters can cast compound techniques of a much higher power than their own tier. Other advantages include easy portability, long casting distance, stealthiness, and so on. There are many benefits. Thats why the world is highly resentful of Old Days Believers. If extraordinary power can be controlled by oneself, why would one need to pray to a God? Why kneel when you can stand? Both of the doctors storage rings are crammed with things. Various bottles and jars, some labeled, others not. Churchill doesnt randomly open them. Besides being interested in that scalpel, hes also very curious about something After reading the notes, he already knew that the symbols on the copper piece were the legendary ancient demons language. The doctor had only comprehended part of it through divine intervention. Its Enlightenment Display was also quite simple. [Mysterious Copper Piece] Explanation: A fragment of some ancient demonic forbidden technique; Looking at the copper piece again, besides getting a headache, Churchill couldnt remember a bit of the text on the piece. He didnt dwell on it any longer. Anyway, with the item in his hand, there would be opportunities to study it in the future. He turned his attention to the doctors notes. After roughly reading through them, he summarized some content: To learn this secret skill, you need to have a medical knowledge level of Lv5, Wood Element Affinity at 45; after practicing, you can obtain the passive skill Robust Growth, possessing super cell activity and physical tissue regeneration ability; active casting requires the consumption of a large amount of curse power and life essence, it can heal flesh wounds caused and the recipient is immune to some negative energy corrosion... This turned out to be the secret skill that had made that fellow almost immortal. But the learning threshold wasnt low. Having Wood Element Affinity wasnt a big problem, he was at 21 now, absorbing more bodies would gradually increase it. However, a Medical Knowledge of Lv5 was a bit challenging. For a layman who didnt have any medical knowledge, it would take many years of study. But Leonard was optimistic. It made sense for high-end secret skills to have a higher learning threshold. Moreover, he originally wanted to learn medical knowledge, such as surgical emergency treatment and so on. He cant always rely on recklessly gulping down potions every time he gets injured. With his extremely high comprehension and photographic memory, he learned quickly. He believed it wouldnt take long to meet the threshold requirement as long as the conditions allowed. The notes described [Cellular Activity Boiling] as a forbidden technique that uses curse power to activate the bodys potential. It was called a forbidden technique because it consumed life essence. In simple terms, it consumed lifespan. However, this skill was originally meant to save lives in emergencies. The choice between losing lifespan and losing life wasnt very difficult.. Chapter 112 - 71: It’s the rhythm to be the sixth boss. Chapter 112: Chapter 71: Its the rhythm to be the sixth boss. Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill rummaged through the Storage Ring again and found some learning materials related to card craft. 108 Kinds of Healing Spells Details, Crafting Skills for Skill Cards, Plague Doctor Profession Card Template... Books are extremely rare in the Sinless City. Leonard had been wanting to buy some, but hed never managed to get hold of any. Upon further inquiry, he found out that the nobility has intentionally blocked the spread of knowledge to consolidate their rule. Finding these books was quite a rare feat in Sinless City. He sifted through his spoils again, categorizing them for easy access. He had obtained the two important items he was looking for. Leonard was already extremely satisfied. As for the remaining items, they just felt like a bonus to him. However. At that moment. He stumbled upon a peculiar item. When Leonards fingers brushed against an antique silver mirror, he thought he could hear some faint whispers. Huh... His curiosity was piqued. Upon inspecting it, there were no irregularities shown by Enlightenment. When he touched it again, that phantom whisper returned. This time, Leonard was sure that it wasnt him, but the mirror that had an issue. Demonic Whispers? Leonard was not unfamiliar with this sensation. In the cellars of Tailor Street and Redwood Street, he had also experienced the same demonic whispers due to environmental factors. You have listened to the Demonic Whispers from the abyss. Youre exempted from belief contamination, and you deciphered a part of the secret message. It worked! When Leonard saw the Enlightenments message, he immediately knew that his intuition was right. He didnt fully understand these Demonic Whispers, however, he managed to pick out three keywords: Tomorrow Night, Nine oclock, Rose Tavern. This was clearly a communication message. An idea popped into his head, and he figured it out: This is Silver Moon Sects internal communication device! This mirror was an ancient artifact that functioned both as a walkie-talkie and a voice recorder. Now, when he looked at the mirror, it began to display some information. Relic: Silver Moon Mirror Description: Level I Ancient Artifact; You can use this mirror to communicate with other holders. The content would be encrypted in the form of Demons language. This object bears a strong belief contamination towards an unknown Demon God. Perhaps you and the other users must share the same faith to decipher the encrypted message. Well, this mirror actually harbors belief contamination. Once Leonard grasped the implications, he contemplated, No wonder the Silver Moon Sect kept it so secretively. Anyone exposed to it would be contaminated. They dont have to worry about information leaks. The encryption of the Demonic Whispers itself was already a layer of security that ensured the impossibility of information leaks. To prevent the artifact from falling into the wrong hands, they built in a second layer of security: Belief Contamination. If Leonard hadnt been exempted from belief contamination, he would have undoubtedly been victimized by it during his previous wild attempts. Therefore, they were not afraid of the mirror getting lost or information being exposed. But the current situation was, they met someone like him, who couldnt be manipulated through modifying his beliefs. That was an interesting predicament. Looking at the information about the meeting, Leonard felt a moment of crisis. Suddenly, another idea popped up in his mind. The rest of the Silver Moon Sect surely had no idea that there was someone who was not their ally but was able to view these messages. So...should he play the role of a passive spectator? A small sense of amusement seemed to appear in Leonards mind. But the Rose Tavern...Isnt that the popular Moonlight Tavern on Downing Street? Those guys from the Silver Moon Sect are being so brazen.. They just had their base destroyed last night, and now they dare to have a meeting there? Chapter 113 - 71: Heading Towards Being the Sixth 0ne_2 Chapter 113: Chapter 71: Heading Towards Being the Sixth 0ne_2 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchills eyes darted around, and suddenly a great many thoughts came to his mind. Ive already infiltrated the enemy HQ, shouldnt I stir things up a bit? It would seem like a waste of this opportunity if I didnt. When he thought of the Silver Moon Sect, it wasnt anything else that came to his mind first. Rather, would these guys still have more spirit mediums on their hands? He was extremely interested in this. Feeling slightly excited, Leonard Churchill thought of another issue: But having said that, if this thing can transmit messages, could it also have a location tracking function? The encryption method was already perfect, therefore he felt the likelihood was slim. But he still didnt dare to take the risk. Leonard thought about it and decided to leave the Silver Moon Mirror where it was, then he set up a few traps. After everything was finished, he once again carefully inspected everything in the doctors storage ring. Once he no longer found anything strange, he didnt dare to stay any longer and left the abandoned building. He would observe for a few days, and if no one came to look for him, then it would truly be safe. Not long after, Leonard arrived at the Black Market on Dark Rain Street. After his long fight with the doctor, he had consumed a lot of ammunition. Thankfully, in the end, he had collected the spoils of war from the corpse, otherwise, he would have suffered a real loss. He needed to replenish his supplies. And at the same time, he needed to get rid of some of the spoils of war that he didnt need. He hadnt been here for several days, and the Dark Rain Street Black Market had become busier. In the quiet corners of the original streets, there were a few more shops, obviously set up by large businesses. A few old shops had gone out of business. I. Cloaked Woman, female, approximately 1.66 meters tall, skilled in mental secret skills, suspected senior leader of Silver Moon Sect, other details unknown, reward of 1 million for providing valid information;I Cloaked Man, male, 160 centimeters tall, hunchbacked, one of the senior deacons of the sect, skilled in commanding undead creatures, second tier curse card master, unknown professional sequence; reward of 3 million, reward of 300,000 for providing valid information; I Lone Wolf Baron, Hearts-4-Beast Walker, first tier curse card master, can transform into Vajra Black Ape in battle, cruel and bloodthirsty; reward of 2 million for his capture;V. Black Ghost Old Ford, sect official, reward... Unlike the onlookers watching the excitement, he couldnt help but comment: Whats going on with Golden Oak... Theyve been on a raid, and yet so many important figures managed to escape? This made his mood as the instigator a little...unattractive. In fact, a significant reason why Leonard dared to report earlier was that he had judged that the overall strength of the Silver Moon Sect was not strong. Divine believers were originally like rats in the sewers in Sinless City, hiding their heads and revealing their tails, so there wouldnt be any too high-tier existence. Looking at the arrest warrant, Leonard was sure of his judgment. The doctor Hensen from last night was already a senior deacon and only second tier. The leader and others should be just about this level, at most third tier. But such a small organization, had actually managed to let so many escape under the siege of one of the strongest forces in Sinless City, the Golden Oak Security Company? He had placed great hopes on the guys from Golden Oak for nothing, they had even let so many slip away in a surprise siege. And those who escaped were all tricky ones. As Leonard commented, he quickly understood: It seems that there are indeed insiders of the Silver Moon Sect within Golden Oak... Without insiders, it wouldnt be possible for so many to escape. He looked at the arrest warrant again and felt a headache coming on just from looking at it. These believers of the Ancient God werent of a high tier, but their methods were nasty. He had witnessed one just last night and found it hard to kill. Looking at the second person on the wanted list, Leonard thought: This hunchbacked man who is good at commanding undead creatures, wouldnt it be that Old Cook grave digger mentioned in Hensens notes? Undead creatures? Leonard was always an optimist, and since they had already escaped, he thought positively. The bad news is, he now had so many potential enemies. The good news is, if they werent dead, there seemed to be more spirit mediums. And Barons bounty is almost the same as Hensens, who is a second tier? Looking further down, Leonard was greatly surprised. He had run into Baron on the train last time and had witnessed him single-handedly annihilating an elite squad of Blackwater mercenaries.. Chapter 114 - 71: Heading Towards Becoming Chapter 114: Chapter 71: Heading Towards Becoming Number 6 3 Translator: 549690339 But he didnt expect the bounty to rise from several hundred thousand to two million in such a short time. The bounty is obviously matched to the guys strength. The bounty of a first and second tier are about the same, so this means that in the eyes of the bounty assessors, Baron is that powerful. Leonard Churchill was very curious in his mind: Strange, what quality profession card did that guy use for his transformation, his combat power is so strong? He came to the Black Market this time not only to restock ammunition but also to take a look at the profession cards in advance. Of course, he was curious about this kind of incredibly strong card. Leonard Churchill paused in front of the bounty column, he wasnt just standing there, he was also listening. The onlookers in the Black Market seemed to know some gossip. Did you hear? The thing that lit up in the sky every midnight a few days ago, is the legendary Moon. Its said to be something that pollutes faith. The Old Days Believer is really looking for death, thinking of polluting the faith of the entire Sinless City... Yeah. Luckily the people of Golden Oak discovered it in time, otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable. Lone wolf Barons bounty has actually increased to two million, tsk tsk, a first-tier Curse Card Master with such a high bounty, this is the first time Ive seen this. Whoever takes him down would make a fortune. Take him down? Youre thinking too much. You didnt see the battle last night, the experts from the Golden Oak Security Company besieged the base in North City, the battle was intense. That guy transformed into a Vajra Black Ape and suddenly went berserk, several second-tier guys couldnt stop him, instead, he severely injured some field agents... Ah, is he that powerful? Isnt he? Thats not all. I heard that the leader of the Silver Moon Sect has a strange method, after the siege last night, the spell didnt dissipate for a while, everyone on the whole street had wet dreams all night... After listening for a while, Leonard Churchill lost interest. Gossip is often a game of telephone, the more you listen, the more mysterious it becomes. Leonard Churchill didnt waste too much time. He took another walk around the Black Market to see if there was anything interesting. And he actually found something. In the display windows of several shops, he actually saw the armor and greatsword of a frost knight! In other places, nobody dared to casually sell and wear the equipment of the noble private soldiers. But in Sinless City, no one cares about nobles or non-nobles. This kind of expertly forged armor is a hot item in Sinless City, if a melee Curse Card Master gets a set of these, exploration and monster killing safety will greatly increase. It seems that someone found the relics of the frost knight in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth... Seeing this, Leonard Churchill also thought it was pretty good. This way, he can boldly sell the sensitive spoils of war he has on hand. From the original one or two hundred frost knights, he only got a few of their spoils of war, and there are naturally many left. After a walk around, Leonard Churchill still went to the Great Ivans Treasure Shop. Yet most of the Extraordinary related books were primitively handwritten or gold-engraved editions. In this world, Extraordinary Books were a luxury; the cost of the parchment alone for each book was up to the tune of several thousand. The set of twelve volumes of the Encyclopedia for Card Master Beginners that Leonard Churchill bought was filled with exquisitely handwritten text. As per the salesperson, this appeared to be the textbook for primary students studying at the noble academies in Upper City? Being beginners knowledge for card masters, Leonard Churchill was very satisfied with it nevertheless. At least he had not come across any such book in all the shops he had visited in Sinless City before. In the eyes of others, advanced cards or equipment may hold more value. Yet in his eyes, knowledge was an invisible power. Poor cognition would cause one to make some erroneous judgments. Even foundational knowledge was like a seed in Leonard Churchills eyes. It would sprout in his mind, gradually growing into a logically profound tree of knowledge. Due to the blindness caused by scarcity of cognition, when encountering tough enemies, one might face big trouble. Additionally, he also purchased some items to counter undead creatures C Holy Water, Exorcism Amulet, Wizard Spell Crossbow Arrows, and some reference books regarding undead creatures. Leonard Churchill always felt a premonition that as long as he yearned for the spirit medium, there was a high chance of encountering conflict with the Silver Moon Sect. It was better to be prepared for anything he could buy. Now that he had money, Leonard Churchill went for another stroll around the marketplace. He bought some insignificant things, like pictures and rubbings with Tarens Classics on them. They werent very expensive, there were quite a few of such antiquities in Sinless City. After making a round of the various shops in the city, Leonard Churchill returned to that same abandoned building. He took a look at some of the arrangements he had left behind, no one had been there. It seemed that the Silver Moon Domain did not have a tracking feature. However, he did not let his guard down. He left the mirror in place, and he went to another broken building from where he could observe the mirror. After all the chaos last night, he couldnt return to the Corpse Collector Company for the time being. So, Leonard Churchill stayed in the broken building digesting all the things he had bought today. Loading ammunition, preparing Mysterious Thunderbolt, followed by his daily indispensable physical training and meditation. The spiked property that came after the second spirit medium was absorbed needed getting used to. He also had to spend time reading the books he had bought. Leonard Churchill felt that his time was hardly enough. Time flew by and a day had passed before he knew it. The next day, Leonard Churchill left in the evening. Because he had decrypted a secret message from the mirror: Tomorrow at nine in the evening, Rose Tavern. He was curious to know if the people from the Silver Moon Sect would truly go there.. Chapter 115 - 72: Cursed Spades 4 Chapter 115: Chapter 72: Cursed Spades 4 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill came to bustling Downing Street dressed in a hunters attire. It was still early, so he didnt rush to the Rose Tavern. Like a typical hunter visiting this street for fun and enjoyment, he found something to eat by the roadside. He also strolled around, looking out for the prettiest maiden. Just past seven, Leonard seemed nonchalant as he plunged into the Rose Tavern. The best way to gather information isnt by sitting across the street in a coffee shop with a newspaper, observing secretly, but by blending in. In this Extraordinary World, even if you look at someone else twice, it will be noticed. Leonard doesnt think the Silver Moon Sect would be so audacious as to cause trouble in a place like Downing Street. Choosing to gather here is probably due to the complex mix of patrons in the pub, likely to mask some of the sensitive identities of some attendees. Leonard donned a clown mask, not showing his own face. Neither too early nor too late, there were already many guests in the pub. Scantily clad maidens were dancing sensual warm-up dances on stage; the air was thick with the intoxicating scent that excited ones vitality and blood. The Rose Tavern was utterly a pleasure house. Various scantily-clad maidens were threading their way through the pub. They were not reluctant to show off their delicate figures. They didnt mind the patrons taking advantage of them and would even respond with suggestive smiles. As soon as Leonard entered, many gazes swept over him. He appeared to be a regular patron of the tavern and naturally made his way in. His gaze seemed casual, but he had already meticulously scanned every corner of the tavern. Anyone here could potentially be a Silver Moon Believer, so its better to remember them now and not be caught off guard in the future. Leonard found a spot with a good view, not particularly conspicuous, and took a seat. Reclining on the couch, ordering drinks; he was not a lavish guest, yet he wasnt thrifty either. The maidens service was quite good, she could converse about various topics. As soon as Leonard went in, he noticed that there were bunches of photos at the most prominent place at the bar. They were the arrest warrants for the Silver Moon Sect. After a few drinks, hunters enjoyed boasting to the maidens the most. Leonard also casually mentioned a few things, like the other hunters in the tavern. As they chatted, he shifted the topic to the arrest warrants, feigning ignorance, and asked, Whats up with those arrest warrants? The maiden laughed dismissively, Oh- the Golden Oak conducted a raid on the Old Days Sect the night before last, and those on the photos are the Silver Moon Believers who escaped. Leonard also showed interest, Do those fugitives have anything special about them? Why is the bounty so high? As he spoke, he also observed the maidens expression. The maiden showed no abnormality, apparently, shes not a Silver Moon Believer. She replied, I heard the Golden Oak suffered heavy losses during the raid, several streets were blown up, so thats why the bounty is so high. Hmm...hmm...I heard...hmm, also heard that... II II Leonard tested her with some questions. But he found that the maiden didnt have any valuable information. Most of it was rumors heard on the streets. He continued asking along that line, Ive also heard of Lone Wolf Baron, wasnt his bounty just a hundred thousand at Demon Cross, why did it suddenly rise so much? Im not quite sure about this. The maiden responded cleverly, Would you like me to ask for you? Leonard looked interested, nodding, Hmm. He knew, hed entered the paid phase again. In Sinless City, information needed to be paid for, and the more accurate the information, the more so.. Chapter 116 - 72: Cursed Spades 4 2 Chapter 116: Chapter 72: Cursed Spades 4 2 Translator: 549690339 At the womans signal, a woman with lingering charm in a black skirt uniform set approached from not far away. Leonard Churchill did not reveal any surprise. After the previous conversation about the arrest warrant, this woman had been watching them for a while, and he had guessed that she was a professional information merchant. Leonard was also interested in hearing how the intelligence of these professional merchants differed from that of others. The woman in the black skirt sat down on the sofa with a beaming smile. Leonard was courteous, he raised his hand to order a drink, and got straight to the point, How much for the information about those people on the wanted list? The woman in the black skirt didnt beat around the bush, she smiled and asked, Which one are you interested in? If you want all of them, it might take some time. She raised a finger as she spoke. Leonard raised his eyebrows at her but did not say anything. Thinking he hesitated because he considered the price too high, the woman in the black skirt laughed and explained, You should trust Sister Bonny of Downing Street. I assure my information is worth the price. That also meant the money had to be paid first. It wasnt that Leonard thought it was expensive. He was wondering if she was an Old Days Believer. She didnt seem to be. He had indeed heard of the name Sister Bonny of Downing Street. These professional information merchants would not ruin their own reputation. Instead, he felt the more expensive it was, the more valuable it was. New novel chapters are published on He was also curious about what kind of information was worth ten thousand. There must be something special about him. Hearing the question, Sister Bonny smiled, This is additional information- Leonard immediately understood, this was going to cost extra. He had no objections. After receiving the money, Sister Bonny continued, Many people are not clear about why Baron is so strong, but coincidentally, I am one of the very few people in the Sinless City who really know whats going on. The moment she opened her mouth, she aroused great curiosity. Leonard looked at her with an expression of interest, Oh? She continued, Because the profession card that Baron merged with when he took his second-tier profession, was the Cursed Spades 4 that appeared in Sinless City thirty years ago. Leonard raised his eyebrows. It seemed to involve some old history of Sinless City. Sister Bonny did not beat around the bush anymore, she went straight to the point, Thirty years ago, there was a card making grandmaster in Sinless City who seemed to draw inspiration from the ancient demon secret skill, wishing to gain stronger combat power by letting Beast Walkers revert to their ancestry through transformation. Thats when the Cursed Spades 4 card was born. After taking a breath, she continued, Almost no one knows the exact principle behind this card. But the result is, its the only Silver Profession Card on the market that is called gold which isnt gold. Its said that the conditions to merge with it are very harsh. But once successful, the merging curse card masters flesh and blood would grow to a limit and his transformed strength would be more than five times that of a normal Beast Walker. The better the main material, the higher the reversion, and the amplification of this effect can be significantly higher. At least five times the limit? By the time Leonard got here, he was already amazed. What does this mean? A Beast Walkers strength after transformation is already 2-3 times the original. If they have a slightly better main material, like Barons King Kong Magic Monkey, the attribute after transformation is already at the pinnacle of the same tier. On top of this, it could increase more than five times... It was probably at the level of a regular second tier warrior profession.. Chapter 117 - 117: 72: Cursed Spades 43 Chapter 117 - 117: 72: Cursed Spades 43 Translator: 549690339 This is just the minimum! No wonder Baron could butcher his peers in the same profession like chopping up vegetables. It turns out he simply has an overwhelming attribute advantage. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchills mind started to buzz. For his current situation, isnt this the ideal profession card? However, Sister Bonny apparently guessed that anyone listening to this story would be deeply interested in this card, and she added: Of course, the reason it is called a cursed card is because anyone who attempts to fuse with it ends up losing control, without exception. Experts have analyzed that the terrifying power surge that the card brings is not something a first-tier Curse Card Master can handle, making anomalies inevitable. Leonard Churchill isnt surprised upon hearing this. With such an outrageous card, there must be some significant disadvantages if no one else attempted fusion with it. But 100% anomaly... Upon hearing it, Leonard Churchills eyes flickered with curiosity about why. Probably only by viewing the profession card personally he could resolve his doubts. Leonard Churchill fell into deep thought, and then asked, May I ask, who is that card master, and does he still reside in Sinless City? If he could find the card maker, hed naturally know why. What made him curious was, does Sinless City harbor such a high-level card making master? You must know, the current fifty-two professional sequences are the crystallization of the wisdom of countless Curse Card Masters over the years. Even the lowest first-tier professional card template is almost perfect. Now that their base was crushed, its difficult to catch the Silver Moon Sect members if they continue hiding. But if they set up an auction, and the Silver Moon believers really cared about those items, then theyd inevitably aim for these goods. Perhaps they could catch them all at once at that time. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill suddenly understood why the Silver Moon Sect would be surrounded only yesterday but grandly convene a meeting here today. He reached a conclusion: They are going to make a huge fuss... So, even the gang at Golden Oak Security Company had achieved some successful results. Although many people had run away, they had seized a lot of good stuff. They even got hold of the holy item moon? Thinking about this, Leonard Churchill suddenly thought of something else, Among the auction items, will there be spirits? Because the Redwood Street incident happened suddenly, Leonard Churchill was on the scene the first time with the Corpse Collector and took the items away. The source materials could still be on the altars of the later two sites as he doesnt get involved in searching for source materials there. Given the magnitude of the uproar, its not impossible for the people of Golden Oak to have found them while searching meticulously. Whether or not there are, he planned to go to the auction to have a look. With such a grand event, he must check it out. Leonard Churchill originally wanted to inquire about more information, but at this moment, he suddenly heard the sound of gunfire outside the door. The flying fragments directly hit the pubs chandelier, shattering it onto the ground. The pub-goers seemed to be accustomed to this, while looking for cover, they were also gleefully shouting, Oh boy, the Flood Gang and the Brotherhood are clashing outside! Chapter 118 - 118: 73 A Strange Letter Chapter 118 - 118: 73 A Strange Letter Translator: 549690339 What Leonard Churchill didnt know was that a negotiation was taking place in the tavern across the street from Rose Tavern, where he was drinking. Hey, Abel, Ive already given your Brotherhood a lot of face to sit here and negotiate. What do you mean by that? Seven Brown, your people have crossed the line. I wont say much, but those shops of yours should close. Stick to the rules we agreed on before and stop messing around. Abel, you need to understand that its not us, Flood Gang, wanting to steal your business, its customers who want to come. The times have changed. Goods that were once smuggled can now be delivered in a lawful manner. No one wants your substandard goods, not even if you throw them down the sewer. Are you still hoping to sell them at a high price? People spend money because they want good products. Its not like in the past where you could make money just by pointing a gun at someones head. Now, making money depends on ones own abilities. Besides, we are not affecting your sales, are we? Your few shops go about putting on opening ceremonies, having promotions, luring my customers to you! And you say it doesnt affect me? Im losing my own money, whats it got to do with you? Im not even selling on your turf. If you think its not working for you, you can also offer a discount. Then theres no point in talking anymore! At this point, suddenly a table was flipped over. Downing Street is the most notorious block in Sinless City for shootouts. The sound of gunfire is as constant as the music of a nightclub. A night without the sound of a few shots would seem strange. As soon as the fight started, the security guards of the tavern very skillfully produced a pile of mechanical shields and built a shield wall at the entrance. Instead of being scared, the bar guests enjoyed watching the fight next to the shield wall. Leonard initially thought it was just an ordinary gunfight, but then he heard that it was between the Flood Gang and the Brotherhood, the two largest gangs in Sinless City. Suddenly, he was interested. He was seated near the door, and he had a good view of the situation outside. The pedestrians in the street had already fled far away, and the two gangs were confronting each other on the street. One group was mostly shirtless, with intimidating tattoos on their omni-exposed muscles; Looking at the vacuum layer on Abels body, Leonards eyes slightly lifted: Is this, by any chance, Gang Air? He himself knew a secret skill called the Hard Air Skill, so he was not unfamiliar with Air Skill Masters. The clustering of overflowing charm energy into Gang Air is a high-level secret skill in air control. This layer of Gang Air alone can easily block a Demon-breaking Bullet. This is a real expert! But which Leonard cared about was not this. The only way to practice this Gang Air skill is to have a high proficiency level and a very high amount of charm energy which can allow a practitioner to form the vacuum layer. Theoretically, it is impossible to practice this skill as a Third Tier Air Skill Master or lower. But Abel is just Second Tier. And charm energy of different elements generally have distinct colors. For example, the charm energy of fire elements is red, and that of water elements is blue... But the black one either represents the charm energy of darkness, or it is like Leonards charm energy, a mixture of various elements. Based on these two points alone, Leonard was certain that the guy was practicing the same Breathing Method as him, the incomplete Golden Breath Method! At this, Leonard suddenly realized something: Wait a second, hes already a Second Tier card master, he should have more than just the six verses. Judging by his current practice speed, it would probably take only a few months to reach the six-level charm energy stage. He had originally been worried about the missing parts of this exercise method, but now it seemed there might indeed be more to it? However, this Abel did not look like an easy character to get along with at all. If he went to ask for the secret technique, hed probably get his brains bashed out on the spot. It seems that it wont be easy to get hold of the rest of this exercise method.. Chapter 119 - 73 A Strange Letter_2 Chapter 119: Chapter 73 A Strange Letter_2 Translator: 549690339 | The standoff in the street, as Sister Bonny said, caused quite a bit of commotion, but there was no fight. However, the commotion attracted more and more onlookers. Leonard Churchill sat in the Rose Tavern, watching the show, but his gaze occasionally wandered through the crowd. The Silver Moon Sects meeting was supposed to start at nine, it was already half-past nine unknowingly. He had been observing the first floor all along, but he didnt notice anything unusual. There were some private entertainment rooms on the second floor of the Rose Tavern. Being enclosed, there hadnt been many people before. But now, due to the noise in the street, the people in the rooms upstairs also came out to watch the excitement. A glance from the comer of Leonards eyes sharply caught something. He saw a guest coming out of a room on the second floor. This was not surprising, but Leonard saw what looked like uncontrollably flaring Curse Power on that guys body, much like an octopuss tentacles! Beyond the corpses, Leonard had never seen this kind of irregular charm energy overflow on any living person. He instantly thought of something: Baron Lone Wolf? But he had seen Baron on the train before, and he didnt look like this... Not everyone had a clown mask to change faces. Suddenly he thought of something and had an epiphany: Skin change! Leonard finally knew where the skin that the doctor had peeled off had gone. He also knew why the people of the Silver Moon Sect hid so well. They changed their skin directly! The physical change of appearance would be unnoticed by people. This craft is really extraordinary... Looking at the skin that was no different from ordinary people, Leonard sighed. But the fact now was that the doctor has been killed, he didnt know if they could change again. Seeing the apparition of Baron, he was now sure that the Silver Moon Mirror was their sects internal communication device. He had originally planned to write another compliant letter. But he dismissed the idea. It wouldnt necessarily harm others, and it wouldnt even slightly disadvantage himself. Now, apart from a suspect who might be Baron, he was not sure if any of the other people in the pub were members of the Silver Moon Sect. There was a mole in the Golden Oak Security Company, a complain letter might not work. If he were to alert them, he might expose the fact that the mirror leaked information. Learning a language requires innate enlightenment. Simply giving someone a dictionary isnt enough for them to learn a language. Let alone Tarens Classics, a simplified version of the demons language. Leonard read this text and shook his head with a smile. He didnt take it to heart. This was, after all, an old piece of parchment. He figured it was probably a letter that the original owner of the book had inadvertently left inside when selling the used books. Since Leonard was missing a bookmark, he decided to keep this beautifully crafted letter. He continued to read on. But for some reason. His reading efficiency decreased. He had previously been able to immerse himself completely, but now his thoughts were constantly interrupted. Upon reflection, the symbols on the note seemed to have a certain magical power that resonated in his mind from time to time. He knew them, but he hadnt answered them. It felt.Jike something needing to be done hadnt been, and something seemed off. With that thought. From out of nowhere, Leonard took out a pen. He wrote a rough translation of a few ancient Taren characters under the piece of paper: gift, garden, tree house, seal... He looked at what hed written and smiled. Strangely enough, after writing these few words, as if completing some cosmic agreement, he immediately felt invigorated and clear-headed. Any anxious and restless thoughts in his brain immediately vanished. Leonard didnt give it much thought, and sank back into meditation. Three days passed in a flash. The day of the auction had finally arrived. Leonard was puzzled that there had been no movement from Rose Tavern since that day. But early in the morning, a new secret message appeared in the Silver Moon Mirror: Proceed as planned. After deciphering the message, Leonard knew that those guys from the Silver Moon Sect were definitely planning to bid on those items at the auction. And they were taking action today! But how could they dare with only a few people? I was revising the draft and organizing the outline when this was published, so not much progress has been made in these few chapters. I originally planned to take a break and organize, but as I just published, I didnt think it was appropriate. Luckily, Ive almost finished organizing. I apologize for any inconvenience.. Chapter 120 - 74: Zombie Giant, Bone Dragon Chapter 120: Chapter 74: Zombie Giant, Bone Dragon Translator: 549690339 | At Grove Street in the South City District. Perched on a tower hundreds of meters away, Leonard Churchill gazed at the towering Hunters Association building in the distance, a permanent look of perplexity in his eyes. The auction was scheduled to start at seven in the evening. However, having deciphered the secret message stick to the plan in the silver mirror early that morning, hed come here early to survey the area. It was now only five in the afternoon. It was evident that plenty of people in Sinless City had their eyes on the auction. With just a cursory glance, Leonard spotted many others holding binoculars in the surrounding buildings, indicating he wasnt the only one observing. He had no intention of going to the auction in person. If anything went wrong, it wouldnt be a good place to be in. The Silver Moon Sect guys surely want the goods auctioned, but how are they planning to act... Leonard simply couldnt figure it out. Ever since he saw the moon on the product list, he was certain those people would show up. But there seemed to be just a handful of influential people in the Silver Moon Sect. Although they might have some unusual tactics, revealing themselves at an auction heavily laden with traps would lead to their downfall in minutes. This is what Leonard pondered. There were typically two choices for theft. Either go for brute strength or cunning strategy. resort to a violent attack? When it comes to possibilities that nobody would expect... Only such barbaric acts come to mind. But this is Sinless City. How could those small fries from the Silver Moon Sect dare to launch such a violent attack? On the other hand, inside a residential house... Reuel Bible and his two assistants too were peering at the distant auction area through a telescope. Their work as field agents for X Bureau consisted of containing high pollution uncontrolled relics and disaster objects, as well as dealing with the Old Days Sect that polluted human faith. Coming to Sinless City, their primary target was the Silver Moon Sect. His two young assistants had been observing from the window for quite some time. Like Leonard, they couldnt come up with a viable strategic approach. Instead, while the two assistants had worried expressions, Reuel, the backbone of the team, was leisurely lying down and sipping a drink. Ada asked again, still puzzled: Captain, weve found not a single abnormality. Will those guys from the Silver Moon Sect really show up? Mushroomhead earnestly reported: Ive spotted twenty-one covert sentries in the neighborhood, but judging from their actions, they dont seem to be Silver Moon Sect members. He turned to their seemingly sleeping team captain on the bed and added: Captain, the auction is about to start soon. If the Old Days followers are going to appear, they will be entering the venue soon. Shouldnt we get inside to have a look? But Reuel, with a merrily slacking-off expression, lazily retorted: Why would we go inside? What if something really happens and we somehow end up in the middle of it all, taking blows from all directions? Mushroomhead:... Ada:... Upon hearing this, both assistants rolled their eyes in unison. The bureaus ace agent, all he ever talks about is slacking off... his work attitude is not proactive at all. As if Reuel didnt notice the resentful glances of his assistants, he explained: Its not us who should be worried right now. We can just sit back and enjoy the show. Ada said: But... if we dont make some preparations and something unexpected happens... Reuel chucked and retorted: So, what preparations have you made? Upon hearing this, both assistants fell instantly silent. Even after contemplating for three days, they still couldnt figure out a feasible plan for the Silver Moon Sect.. Chapter 121 - 74: Zombie Giant, Bone Dragon_2 Chapter 121: Chapter 74: Zombie Giant, Bone Dragon_2 Translator: 549690339 Looking at Reuel Bibles calm demeanor, Mushroomhead blinked and asked, Captain, have you already figured out the Silver Moon Disciples plan? Reuel Bible decisively replied, No. Updated from head:... Ada:... Both of his assistants couldnt help but twitch as they watched. When dealing with difficult cases, sometimes you need to think as an outsider. Otherwise, your thinking becomes trapped in logical dead-ends. For example, youve suggested so many plans, but none of you have ever considered that the Silver Moon Sect might resort to open robbery, Reuel Bible continued. Ada had a shocked, implausible look on her face, Ah... Captain. As long as the members of the Silver Moon Sect are sane, they wouldnt possibly take such a blatant approach, right? Reuel Bible replied, In a sense, Old Days Disciples are a bunch of irrational fellows. Pausing, Reuel Bible continued, Theyre bound to come. I have looked at the Holy Item Moon; it is indeed an external sacred object with the power of faith. If they dont come this time, theyll never have another chance. No matter whats the situation with the Golden Oak, we have to take it. If left outside, it will be a disaster. By the way, Noah Wright, assign a code to Moon as [X-712-Moon]. Also, create a report and send it back first. So far, it seems to have a significant range of faith contamination, mark it as A-rank danger. Also file a report to request some relics from the headquarters to suppress the faith contamination... Mushroomhead: Oh. Reuel Bible didnt say much more but turned and said: Also, Ada, what message did that kid leave at the Train Tavern? Ada replied, He said that if we see fireworks we should rush over immediately. Upon hearing this, Reuel Bible laughed, enlightened: Heh, how interesting, we are being used as their muscle. Leonard Churchill watched the auction house with a telescope. It was already seven oclock; most of the people were here, and the auction was about to start. There was security on-site, nobody from the wanted-list was there. Though he already knew this would be the case. But Leonard Churchill wanted to see if there were any faces he had seen before at the Rose Tavern. According to the information, this guy was just a normal first tier card master. The main reason for his bounty was likely because he was the source of human sacrifices for the ritual. Given his current power, he didnt need to worry about any sect leaders. He couldnt chew on tough bones, but he could try his luck with softer ones. Therefore, when he heard about Old Ford, his intuition told him that this could be a breakthrough point. But how are these guys going to take action? Leonard Churchill was still puzzled. Just as he was pondering this, suddenly, an anomaly occurred! An intense purple light suddenly burst into life over the auction house in the distance. Like a candle ignited in the dark night, the eerie purple glow instantly illuminated the vicinity of several miles. Even the block where Leonard Churchill was located was covered by the purple light. The purple light formed a glass dome, which instantly enveloped the auction house and several blocks around it. It seemed as if some mysterious power had drained the Elements from within this glass dome; Leonard Churchill was surprised to find that he could not perceive the free Elements in the surroundings at all. Enlightenment stirred. Forbidden Magic Domain! Leonard Churchills pupils narrowed as he realized the consequences of the Silver Moon Sects use of Forbidden Magic. He exclaimed in astonishment, Are these people really preparing for a blatant robbery? Forbidden Magic Domain was not good news for Magic Type card masters. Just like a flame would be throttled in a low oxygen environment, cards would have lesser potency when ignited in an environment void of Elements. The combat power of a Magic Type card master would be greatly reduced. However, Leonard Churchill guessed that the effect of this Forbidden Magic was undiscriminating, clearly not intended to restrict humans. It was intended to restrict the Prohibition Array that had been previously set up around the auction house.. Chapter 122 - 74 Zombie Giant, Bone Dragon_3 Chapter 122: Chapter 74 Zombie Giant, Bone Dragon_3 Translator: 549690339 It was as if the power was cut, no matter how many bulbs were hung up, they wouldnt light up without electricity. Is this really an attempt at a forceful robbery? How bold? Leonard Churchill started to become interested in this wild plan. He truly didnt expect that the Old Days Disciples would really use the most unexpected methods. With that said, these Old Days Sect people do have a lot of good stuff in their hands... Leonard Churchill wondered. To create a protection barrier of this magnitude, at least a Level IV ancient relic is needed. The wealth of this degree, even the affluent households, might not possess. New novel chapters are published on This little sect actually took it out? However, the next second, an even more unexpected scene unfolded. The sudden appearance of the purple light shield also caused chaos in the auction venue. Since it was an ambush, the higher-ups of the Golden Oak Security Company and Hunters Association had already arranged a comprehensive security plan near the auction venue. Normally, no matter who comes to Sinless City, its impossible to take things away. But the arrival of the Forbidden Magic Domain has surpassed everyones expectations. They had prepared various contingency plans to handle possible situations, such as theft, replacement, impersonating a buyer, creating chaos...etc. However, nobody ever thought that these guys from the Silver Moon Sect would actually rob in broad daylight! The Forbidden Magic Domain was just the beginning. Just before the purple circle lit up, a guest at the auction suddenly took out a pitch-black demonic book. He began to recite the ancient and profound sacrificial language. Pointing towards an incredible existence: Rejoice in anguish and suffering, revel in the shedding of blood Dont know whether its lack of energy, after the two colossal beings emerged, nothing else grand appeared from the black hole, only small creatures like skeletons and zombies. Like a tidal wave, monsters poured out. In a blink, the spacious auction venue was already a sea of undead. This... From a distance, atop a tower, Leonard Churchill, looking at the extraordinarily appearing black hole in the auction venue, was also stunned. When he saw the giant zombie and bone dragon appear, he understood where these guys from the Silver Moon Sect got their confidence for a daylight robbery. Bone Dragon? Such an existence really exists? Leonard Churchill was surprised. These past few days, he happened to read a lot about the undead. Although that Bone Dragons skeleton was somewhat badly damaged, it was genuinely a myth-level undead creature. The dragons, the giants, these were all mythical creatures. The legend into reality, how could this not shock people? This is going be big trouble now... Even though he was muttering to himself, there wasnt a trace of worry on Leonard Churchills face, entirely in the mood of enjoying the spectacle. He initially chose this tower a few blocks away, fearing being affected by it. Now, the scene over there was lively, but it didnt affect him. The sea of undead monsters overwhelmed the venue, and the various high-tier curse card masters hiding in the dark also showed their faces. The fight erupted the moment the monsters appeared, instantly turning intense. Seeing this, Leonard Churchill felt even stronger that he was right to send the anonymous letter earlier. If those few strongholds were not destroyed, who knows what a huge spectacle these guys from the Silver Moon Sect could cause. On the other side, the three men from the Federation X Bureau also saw this astonishing scene from the window. At this moment, the two young assistants beside their captain were full of admiration. The captain was right. Those guys from the Silver Moon Sect really chose the most unlikely plan C daylight robbery.. Chapter 123 - 74 Zombie Giant, Bone Dragon_4 Chapter 123: Chapter 74 Zombie Giant, Bone Dragon_4 Translator: 549690339 They had almost gone to the meeting place just now, and for all they knew, they could be getting beaten up at this very moment. Bone Dragon, Zombie Giant... Even they had never seen such creatures before. Looking at these mythical creatures summoned through Spirit Communication, the two of them realized how serious the situation was. Ada warned, Captain. Hmm. I see it. Reuel Bible nodded. The drowsiness that always lingered in his eyes had completely vanished. Now his gaze was intense, and he muttered to himself, These fellows from the Silver Moon Sect have big plans... If those secret altars hadnt been destroyed, and if they had been given a bit more time, I fear things would have really spun out of control. The battle was growing more intense. The three of them watched for a while longer. Unable to hold it in anymore, Ada asked, Captain, should we join the fray now? Reuel Bible shook his head, deep in thought, Lets wait and see. Its not a bad thing for the Silver Moon Sect to stir up chaos. I want to see how many big fish lurk within the darkness of the Sinless City. Just as Leonard Churchill had predicted, the battle was fierce, but it was quickly put on hold. Without any warning, the purple light curtain of the Forbidden Magic Domain, as if its energy had been exhausted, suddenly disappeared. The necromantic channel above was still present, but with the disappearance of the Forbidden Magic Domains restriction, various Prohibition Enchantments within the auction house began to light up. In an instant, various large-scale arrays unleashed terrifying attacks, annihilating the undead creatures in groups. The high-tier Curse Card Masters were now able to fight as they wished, with hundreds of cards flying around in the air, forcing the monsters to retreat. Just as victory seemed within reach, shouts came from a distance down the street. The bastards from the Silver Moon Sect have stolen the Moonlight and are making a run for it! Chase them! II II From his vantage point, Leonard Churchill watched as one group chased after another, running towards the West City. They moved extremely fast. As they ran, they used various guns and cards to clear their path. In the dim Underground City, their movement was like a fiery serpent slithering wildly down the street. PS: The spell in the text is adapted from the original Cthulhu Mythos text [The Terror of Red Hook].. Chapter 124 - 75: Killing People and Stealing Their Chapter 124: Chapter 75: Killing People and Stealing Their Goods Translator: 549690339 | The people of the Silver Moon Sect reclaimed that vital moon. Leonard Churchill wasnt too surprised. That previous use of forbidden magic combined with spirit communication truly was a stroke of genius. It would be really strange if all that commotion resulted in them not being able to reclaim anything. Is it really over? Leonard Churchills frowned brows did not relax, and he felt as if something was missing. It seemed that the auction had come to an end. The Old Days Believers left, and the massive bone dragon and the zombie giant dissipated into a black mist, disappearing into the air. Regardless of whether the fleeing Silver Moon Disciples would be caught, once the people retreated, the robbery had officially concluded. Leonard Churchill watched the gradually quieting auction hall from afar, feeling a small amount of disappointment with nowhere to go. What a pity. He had thought he might be able to gain some advantage. Because he did not participate, he also had no sense of involvement. Leonard Churchill pouted. Right now, he felt like the excitement was over. But suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. Wait... Thats not right! Leonard Churchill remembered the secret message he had cracked from the Silver Moon Mirror earlier. Wasnt there supposed to be an escape plan? With such a situation, who exactly could that dark ghost Old Ford help escape? Whoever steals the moon must be a top-level expert of the Silver Moon Sect, and those in pursuit are also experts. Can these people be aided by a lowly first tier Old Ford? New novel chapters are published on Thinking logically along these lines, Leonard Churchill quickly figured out a lot. And when he thought of this plan B, he strangely felt a sense of familiarity. Wasnt this his previous operation? To sneak those things out of the heavily guarded auction house along with the inside man, he had to have an unsuspected identity. The identity he had previously utilized as a Corpse Collector, along with hiding objects in bodies, allowed him to stealthily obtain two spirit mediums. Now it seems like the people of the Silver Moon Sect want to use the same method. But the bodies would only be cleared after a thorough examination of the battlefield, thus the Corpse Collectors would only enter then... Surely, this identity wouldnt work. So, the identity the escapee used is one that could arrive at the scene immediately and not be suspected. Right at this moment, Leonard Churchill saw the firetrucks and rescue vehicles zooming by on the street and he had a hunch about their plan. He thought to himself: Hospital Ambulance! Only a hospital ambulance can remove the wounded from the scene at the earliest possible time. There was still one problem. The previous spirit mediums were hidden, but now these auction items are public. If they wanted to take them away, the sooner, the less risky. It was best to get them away while everyone was still unresponsive. Now is the best time! Staring intently at the chaotic auction venue in the distance, Leonard Churchill had a moment of enlightenment. With the experts of both the Golden Oak and the Hunters Association in pursuit, now is the best time for the inside man to slip away! I can do it! Thinking up to here, Leonard Churchills blood boiled. The top-level experts of the Silver Moon Sect had gone to fight, drawing attention away, and those behind the escape were mere subordinates. The less conspicuous they are, the less likely they are to be noticed. Moreover, he guessed that the inside man might even be badly injured. First, an injured person can leave in an ambulance, and second, only one who hid the items in their body can deceive people! Only when these two conditions are met at the same time can the risk of being discovered be minimized. The moment the thought crossed his mind, Leonard Churchill didnt hesitate and leaped from the loft. Utilizing a mechanical hook, he moved like a pendulum between the houses and quickly arrived at a crossroad. The nearby hospitals are located at... 17 Birch Street, 116 Bennett Street, 74 Steam Street... Leonard Churchills mind was clear as a map of Sinless City that he had bought earlier was etched into his memory. After all, he had come here in the afternoon and already observed every intersection. This place is a must-pass for all ambulances.. Chapter 125 - 75 Killed People and Passed Goods_2 Chapter 125: Chapter 75 Killed People and Passed Goods_2 Translator: 549690339 His gaze meticulously scanned every ambulance heading towards the auction house ruins. It didnt take long for him to spot a steam-engulfed ambulance with the wounded loaded up, leaving the auction site. The vehicle was marked with the words First Hospital of Bennett Street Mechanical Factory. Yet as this ambulance passed, Leonard Churchill keenly noted that its route was not towards Bennett Street. This is the one! Leonard Churchill observed his surroundings and without hesitation, he gave chase. He darted through the alleyways, refraining from taking action immediately. The more off-course the ambulances route got, the more certain he became that their target was on it. The culprits wanted to escape further away, but Leonard Churchill also wanted to draw the battle to a deserted area. The vehicle was moving fast, passing several blocks in the blink of an eye. But due to Leonard Churchills shortcut, he relentlessly pursued it. Seeing that the surroundings were now in the dimly lit deserted district, he suddenly emerged from the alleyway and caught up with the speeding ambulance. The driver spotted the figure appearing by the side of the road almost instantly. It was during this glimpse. Leonard Churchill noticed the intrigue in the drivers eyes was not surprise, but unease of an exposed identity. He affirmed once again that its these guys in the car! A grin spread across Leonard Churchills lips, bizarrely reminiscent of a jester. He pulled out an anti-armor bomb and tossed it under the car, another stuck to the compartment. The driver witnessed the throwing of the bomb, but before his terrified expression could fully emerge, a thunderous noise and a burst of flames upturned the vehicle. Minutes before. Three severely wounded people were hoisted onto this ambulance. One of them was donning a Golden Oak Field Agents suit. However soon after leaving the auction site, the other two injured were silently killed by the doctor in the car. As soon as the explosion rocked, he stared at the molten metal shell of the truck, his pupils suddenly shrinking. A figure burst out from the flames. Injured from the explosion, the individual, like a startled bird, rushed straight into the dark alleyway. It seemed as though they were trying to escape by using the complex surroundings of discarded buildings. Leonard Churchill merely caught a glimpse of the agile figure and almost immediately threw out his hand, sending a silver light racing towards the figure. Spades 2-God Thief, it must be that Dark Ghost, Old Ford! Although this guy looked nothing like he did on the arrest warrant, Leonard Churchill knew hed changed his skin and, having intercepted secret information just a while ago, he recognized him at first glance. This guy was smart; the moment he leaped out from the flames, his posture adopted the assassin type, hiding his weak points in less noticeable positions. Leonard Churchill wasnt sure if he could kill him, so he went for the thighs. This seemed familiar. The previous wielder of the scalpel, Hensen, had done the same. The best way to deal with an enemy that cant be chased down is to shatter their leg bones first. Leonard Churchill, who had practised throwing knives for more than a decade in the circus in his previous life, had this deadly skill ingrained in his soul. A subtle whoosh of the air being cut. The surgical knife precisely punctured the guys thigh. One must understand that First Tier curse card masters already have Curse Power protective barriers. Those specialized in close combat could even resist bullets with their bare bodies. As long as they werent hit in their vital spots, they hardly had any chance of dying. But this Plague Doctors Scalpel was a relic-level treasure. Its not just incredibly sharp; it also has a demonic breaking ability! One of the reasons Leonard Churchill dared to scavenge was this scalpel. It ensures a surprise attack and impeccably forces down an enemy. Everything played out just as he had predicted! Old Ford probably never dreamed that he would be hit by a flying knife that would penetrate his leg bone! He took a glimpse backward, and his eyes, filled with unprecedented horror and shock, seemed to say: why is this surgical knife here? Chapter 126 - 75: Killing People and Stealing Their Goods_3 Chapter 126: Chapter 75: Killing People and Stealing Their Goods_3 Translator: 549690339 An almost identical scenario. Leonard Churchill had the same look of uncertainty when he got stabbed last time. The sharpness of the scalpel was far beyond common understanding. The ambulance was already engulfed by raging flames. There didnt seem to be any more experts involved. Leonard didnt give the guy another chance. He saw the parcel he was clutching and charged at him. Regarding agility attribute, a God Thief Sequence Curse Card Master would score above 10; hence, under normal circumstances, Leonard wouldnt be able to catch him. Originally, Leonard had thought about setting off the firecrackers to attract reinforcement. Now it seemed unnecessary. The reckless bloke was grievously injured by the explosion, and his leg bone had been pierced. It wasnt easy for him to escape. The two of them were engaged in a desperate chase that led them into a dilapidated building. The reckless guy was aiming to lose Leonard by using the terrain. But how could Leonard let him achieve his wish? God Thieves were indeed skilled at vanishing, but ironically, thats exactly what Leonard had been studying recently. After gulping down a Night Vision Potion and an Excitement Potion, he felt invigorated, and his speed increased significantly. He had spent hundreds of thousands on bombs already, so these potions were trivial. Fueled by his considerable wealth, Leonard wouldnt let go. But while they were running, the reckless guy suddenly disappeared. Heh... Invisible now? New novel chapters are published on Leonard sneered internally, unsurprised. Invisibility was an essential skill of the God Thief Sequence, enabling one to almost disappear in the dark. This somewhat resembled a simplified version of the Shadow Submarine. But Invisibility had a significant drawback. It used a tiny bit of the dark element to cloak ones body, mostly causing a physical disappearance. Therefore, one couldnt move, or move too quickly after using it. Otherwise, they could easily expose themselves. In Leonards eyes, the enemy not running away served his purpose. Old Ford, known as The Ghost, was no fool. Realizing that escape was impossible, he stopped fleeing. In the darkness, the green and blue flame from the Demon-breaking Bullet burst forth. A large cloud of blood erupted from Old Fords neck. Not necessarily fatal, a headshot rarely kills, but the carotid artery is amongst the weakest areas of the body and can easily inflict severe injuries. Not to mention the close-range gunshot. With one shot, Leonard gravely wounded Old Ford, then withdrew hastily, narrowly avoiding his retaliatory stab. He had no intentions of engaging in close combat with a God Thief. Having successfully ambushed, he immediately maintained a safe distance. Now that the enemy couldnt escape, killing him was just a matter of time. Leonard wasnt in a hurry at all. Old Ford clearly discerned Leonards intention. Covering his profusely bleeding neck and eyeing the widening gap, he felt despair. He knew he had no chance of killing. However, the stubborn fool still didnt give up. He turned and leaped downstairs. Leonard chased after relentlessly. If he had been shot somewhere else, he would have been alright for a while. But once the carotid artery broke, he would bleed to death if not treated immediately. Moreover, due to such intense activity, the internal pressure in the blood vessels was exceedingly high. At this point, the blood spurting from his neck couldnt be staunched, oozing out between his fingers. Leonard didnt give him time to catch his breath. He kept the pressure up while chasing and firing his gun. After running only a short distance, Old Ford finally felt dizzy and collapsed. He struggled to get up and run, but Leonard didnt give him the chance. Two more shots hit vital parts, ending his life. The corpse on the ground was still twitching. Without hesitation, Leonard took the parcel and Storage Ring off the corpse. He glanced through it, and also stripped off the inner armor. After gathering all the Spoils of War, he did some clean-up work on the injuries caused by the flying knife on the corpse and then set it on fire. Leonard didnt plan to stay here long. The explosion had caught much attention, and the longer he stayed, the riskier it got. He quickly returned to the previous street corner, found the flying knife embedded in the cement wall, and breathed a sigh of relief. Not having time to ponder, he could already hear the sound of people approaching at the end of the block. Leonard quickly checked the body in the truck, found another Storage Ring, and disappeared swiftly into the dark, dilapidated building.. Chapter 127 - 76: The Holy Nail and The Mask Chapter 127: Chapter 76: The Holy Nail and The Mask Translator: 549690339 The battle between the Golden Oak and the Silver Moon Disciples in the city hadnt ended yet, with intense explosions still audible from time to time. Leonard Churchill, however, after successfully looting a convoy, had quietly made his way to an abandoned building. He was discovered by some unknown stalkers when he left, resulting in a frantic chase. It was a struggle to shake them off. Only after surveying his surroundings did Leonard put away the scalpel he held. He muttered to himself, If I knew how to use poison, it wouldnt have been this messy earlier. If he could replicate the paralysis he experienced when he was stabbed, then killing that Black Ghost Old Ford would not have taken so much time. Only after genuine combat did he realize how useful the (Plague Doctors Scalpel] actually was. A first-tier Curse Card Master could easily make wounds with it. With paralysis poison, it would be an extremely deadly tool. Yet, Weapon Poisoning was also a professional skill. It required a certain degree of proficiency and understanding of poison for safe mastery. Leonard was not proficient in poisoning yet, hence he had not dared to apply anything on the scalpel indiscriminately. He had tried it before and almost got paralyzed just by the gases evaporating from the paralysis toxin. Not to mention applying it to the scalpel for immediate usage; it was more likely that he would hurt himself before harming the enemy. There were many areas that he needed improvement in. However, Leonard did not dwell on these thoughts. Gathering his thoughts, he found a safe place and began inspecting his recent spoils. He first looked at two storage rings, confirming that there were no tracking devices inside. The lightweight set of leather assassin armor was pretty decent; it was the major reason Old Ford did not die from the explosion earlier. But compared to the Frost Knights inner armor, there was still a big difference. It was also just a money-making item. Only then did Leonard unwrap the cloth parcel to look at the two most troublesome pieces of loot. The amber brick, he recognized, was of course the familiar [Secret Cause Spirit Medium]. Looking at this item, Leonard couldnt help but sigh, Ah, this is probably the last piece... New novel chapters are published on He didnt know how many pieces of such things the Silver Moon Sect actually had.??? y But, considering that there was only one piece per outpost. For example, why couldnt this holy nail be collected? Relics should be collectable, otherwise, they would be considered disaster objects. But this holy nail couldnt be collected. Observing it, Leonard soon found the problem. The lacquer color at the tip of the holy nail was irregular, and on a closer look, a metallic sheen could be faintly seen. The enlightenment showed nothing, which meant it had exceeded his understanding. This dark-gold...is it some kind of blood? It reminded Leonard of something. The Spirit Medium couldnt be collected, and he guessed it might be due to a trace of divinity. Now this relic also couldnt be collected, most likely for the same reason. However, the bizarre scene unfolded then. Leonard had just held it in his hands and played with it, when suddenly, the enlightenment appeared. You have come into contact with a robust, unknown divinity. He was taken aback. The Spirit Medium only showed a trace of divinity, but the blood on this nail was robust? Could this be the blood of a Demon God? Leonard was also a bit surprised. Why would such a substance be on this nail? However, before he had time to think more about it, he saw the dark-gold blood on the nail transform into a strand of fine energy particles similar to golden sand, surging towards his face. It seemed like an illusion and then it disappeared. iQn In the blink of an eye, Leonard looked at the dark gold blood on the nail which had completely disappeared. He understood then: The clown mask had absorbed the divinity. Before the operation, he drank the [High-Efficiency Mental Power Recovery Potion] the effect of which would last for three hours. In order to prevent the tracking of the Mysterious Techniques, he had been wearing the clown mask all this time. Further, this mask was the exclusive relic of [Joker]. One of the terms was: It can absorb the attributes of spiritual objects to enhance the quality of this relic.. Chapter 128 - 76: Holy Nail and Mask_2 Chapter 128: Chapter 76: Holy Nail and Mask_2 Translator: 549690339 | Previously, Leonard Churchill had no idea what the mask was supposed to absorb, but now he knew. It was the divinity that was being absorbed. He removed the mask and put it in his card, and saw that its color had changed from flesh-toned to white, as if a layer of foundation had been applied. When Leonard saw the masks attributes, his eyes lit up: The artifact has been upgraded? Not only had the effects of all mysterious immunity increased by about 20%, but two new operators had also been added. 1,?? Mental Power Absorption +15/o 2,?? Cognition +2 Hiss.... Leonard breathed in sharply. This clown mask was an artifact that was already incredibly effective; thanks to this mask, he had escaped several near-death experiences before. Now, its attributes have significantly improved. Updated from This means that any mysterious second-tier Curse Card Master threats will be extremely limited in the future. Looking at the two newly appeared operators, Leonard found himself deep in thought. The first operator allowed him to absorb external mental power to a certain extent and recover his own, which was easy to understand. But what about the enhanced cognition? Leonard wore the mask and immediately understood what was happening. The mask temporarily increased his cognitive limit. Looking again at the nail in front of him, the enlightenment from it was different. [Light and Dark Holy Nail] Detailed Explanation: in Ancient artifact; Holy 9, Curse 9; Pierced into the target, it can seal the energy vibrations of undead creatures that arent higher than the artifacts own law level. This is a tool used to execute an indescribable existence in ancient times. It possesses both the power to slay gods and holy power, making it one of the rare artifacts in the world with both righteousness and evil. It also has a strong Light and Dark contamination characteristic. Originally, the enlightenment was almost only an attribute introduction, but now, he could see some of the cause-and-effect backgrounds of the artifact. Looking at the enlightenment before him, Leonard suddenly realized: Was that dark golden blood the blood of that indescribable existence? With the increase in cognition, the world he saw was different. Agility: 10.11 Tenacity: 10.04 Spirit: 6.37 Curse Power: 3321 Aura: Curse Gambler Elemental Affinity: Dark 41 / Light 19 / Land 18 / Wind 15 / Water 16 / Fire 11 / Thunder 8 / Wood 21 / Metal 9 All attributes were essentially above 10. Seeing this, even Leonard himself felt like he was dreaming. Normally, absorbing the Spirit Medium last night should have increased his attributes by around 4 points. But in reality, it only increased by 2 points. Not because there was a problem with the Spirit Medium, but because he had already reached the limit for a Card Master Apprentice. By midnight yesterday, when his attributes reached 10, Leonard noticed that the increase had significantly slowed down. It was like in his previous life, when an athletes 100-meter sprint entered the 10-second mark, it was exceedingly difficult to improve by 0.01 seconds. Since he couldnt keep the Spirit Medium, and he could still endure it, Leonard continued to consume it. Until he cleanly consumed all of the Spirit Medium. The feeling was like eating too much, with the food stuck in his throat. His body felt terrible. But the good news was, his attributes had been forcibly increased to almost 11. Dont underestimate this small gap. The higher the base, the bigger the gap will become after transferring like a snowball effect. Leonard jumped up, his body filled with a surge of power, making him feel fantastic in a way hed never experienced before. After throwing out a few punches, just relying on his strength, he could already create ripples in the air, and he could faintly hear the sound of air being compressed and popping. Looking at the lights on the distant tower, Leonard was a bit excited, but also had a happy problem: I have to consider the transfer card soon... Three days ago when he went to the Black Market, he was just browsing. He thought he would face this question in a few months at least. But to his surprise, because of an unforeseen gain of a Spirit Medium, his body attributes were directly pulled up to the peak of a Card Disciple. If he doesnt transfer, it will be very difficult to continue improving. He had digested the Spirit Medium and contained the Holy Nail. He had nothing that others would covet.. Chapter 129 - 76: Holy Nail and Mask 3 Chapter 129: Chapter 76: Holy Nail and Mask 3 Translator: 549690339?????????? Leonard Churchill planned to visit the Black Market to look at Profession Cards and gather information about last nights events. Before long, he arrived at the Black Market on Dark Rain Street. The Bounty Board, previously crammed with Bounty Orders, was now left with only a few. Visit for the best novel reading experience At the top of the list was still the mysterious leader of the Silver Moon Sect. The second on the list was that hunchback who controlled the undead. And the missing Plague Doctor named Hensen. Key figures had disappeared. Although the item Moon was stolen in last nights battle at the auction house, the Old Days Believers suffered heavy losses. What differed was that their rewards had significantly increased. They offered information about the aforementioned people, with rewards easily reaching millions. While Leonard agreed that the extermination of Old Days Believers was a good thing, he still felt as though the empty bounty board lacked something. After thinking for a while, he finally realized, Huh... Barons bounty is gone? There was only one possibility: he was dead. However, considering Barons power should be within the normal standards at his tier, it was not unusual. He couldnt resist a second tier and was barely qualified for the third tier. In chaotic battles like last night, he could easily be the target and getting killed was not unusual. Leonard Churchills expression subtly changed as he recalled Barons fusion of the Cursed Spades 4. After suffering heavy losses, the Silver Moon Sect will not be able to make any significant moves for a while. However, intuition told Leonard that he, the informant, should also leave the city to lay low for a while. Leonard walked around the Black Market and found several old shops had closed, replaced by new ones. The small shops in Sinless City were gradually closing down, which was an inevitable trend. When he reached the entrance of Great Ivans Treasure Shop, it was still bustling with activity. Moreover, both Profession Card templates and Breathing Method could be reused, thus were relatively cheap. Leonards original aim today was not to buy a finished Profession Card. He just wanted to enquire whether there was a suitable card template available. However, unexpectedly, among the auction items, he saw the Cursed Spades 4. This was not a finished card or a template but a Bloody Fragment. Normally, when a Curse Card Master integrates a gold quality Profession Card or above, and if the Extraordinary Traits hadnt completely integrated, it is possible to extract Template Fragments from it. Well... its like undigested food in a dead persons stomach. Even though this thought might be discomforting. This would be one of the ways a large portion of top-tier cards were passed on in the market. For example, some Legendary Cards and Epic Cards. Cards of this level consisted of physical manifestations of the high-level laws, which were stable and not easy to destroy. Even if the Extraordinary Traits were completely absorbed, the template would still remain. Just by integrating some corresponding Extraordinary Materials, it could again become a complete card. Gold Cards might only have a probability of less than 10% to be analysed, but the chance for Legendary Cards exceed 50%, and Epic Cards almost always have 100% chance of being analysed! Since these cards were obtained from corpses, they were also known as Bloody Fragments. Once they appear, they usually imply a valuable item. The same could be said for Demon Mark. Leonard also understood that this was why the Fourth Master of the Miller Family was desperate to hunt him down and played the kill for a card game. However, Bloody Fragments usually only appeared when a third tier or higher Curse Card Master died. Becaue typically, a first or second tier Curse Card Master could only integrate a silver quality Profession Card at most. Leonard hadnt considered this angle before. But now that Baron, a first tier, was dead, the Profession Card he integrated had been successfully analysed. The only explanation was that the Cursed Spades 4 was unique. Leonard immediately became interested. The conditions to participate in this auction were that one must be a second tier VIP. He had used his anonymous VIP card twice, which exactly made him a second tier VIP. The auction would take place tonight. It would certainly be interesting to take a look. Even if he couldnt buy it, he wanted to see what was special about this Profession Card.. Chapter 130 - 77: Original Template Chapter 130: Chapter 77: Original Template Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill strolled around the market, bought some materials about Tarens Classics that he had never seen before, and some other books. Then he went to Downing Street to find the information merchant to learn about the latest news and details of some upcoming conflicts. It was almost as he had expected. At around eight in the evening, he again visited the Black Market on Dark Rain Street. A flamboyant array of red and green lights greeted him at the entrance of Great Ivans Treasure Shop. A group of sexy women with thigh-high slitted skirts greeted guests at the entrance. There was no vulgarity, just pure titillation. This place looked much more high-end than the pleasure houses on Downing Street. Just this single feature set the shop apart from the hundred other stores on the street. Every time a guest arrived, there was a burst of pleasing chatter ushering them in. Dear guest, please come in. After showing his VIP card, Leonard was also led to the auction site. Great Ivans Treasure Shop had renovated its formerly abandoned basements into something resembling an aristocratic theater. The setting exudes an elegant extravagance, with just the right touch of worldly sophistication perfect for business entertainment. The private rooms overlooked the auction podium but also guaranteed privacy each one was like a private little room unseen by other guests. Add to that the one-on-one sexy hostesses, well... lets just say the experience was superb. The auction would begin in half an hour. Leonard took his seat and started perusing the auction catalogue. The snacks and fruits on the table were all high-end goods scarcely seen throughout Sinless City. Just these snacks alone would probably worth thousands. Out of caution, Leonard did not take a bite. But in Sinless City, a haven for desperadoes, thwarting someones source of income was equated with forming a vendetta. At this point, the familiar voice of a woman rose sharply, scolding, Abel, by making a scene here, are you trying to disregard the unspoken rules of the industry? Leonard couldnt see the woman, but her voice was familiar. That was Seven Brown, was it not? The one he had met twice before. The other person must be the ringmaster Boxing King Abel, whom he had seen three days ago. Abel responded sarcastically, Are you throwing guests out, Flood Gang? I paid good money for this second-level VIP card. Is this the way you do business? Knowing that Abel was intentionally stirring up trouble, Seven Brown didnt bother arguing with him over this matter. She responded directly, Abel, the business of the ring must be dealt with by the unspoken rules of the industry. By disrupting these rules, you are making others look down on your gang. Abel seemingly ignored the damage to his reputation, and feigned ignorance. Seven Brown, Im just here to buy things. Why are you dragging these industry rules into this? Caught off-guard by Abels stubborn retort, Seven Brown was momentarily speechless. Shaking his head, Leonard watched the proceedings. He had just praised the surroundings and was finding himself feeling considerably less excited about the event. This felt like everyone gathered around a feast, someone deliberately emitted a bad smell, immediately killing off much of the enthusiasm. If this were to continue, not to mention how the auction would proceed, Great Ivans hard-earned reputation would suffer a considerable blow. Which high-profile customers would dare frequent a shop that couldnt manage a single gang? A confrontation seemed inevitable. From an unknown room, a deep voice suddenly rang out, Abel, solve your personal matters in private. Dont waste our time. At those words, the arguing sides immediately quietened down. Leonard had thought a fight would break out, but it ended abruptly. Both Seven Brown and Abel were giving face. It seemed there were many big fishes present. Despite the slight disruption, the benefit was that there was no unnecessary introductory speech. They moved directly into the auction. The fat man on the stage was still smiling brightly, seemingly unaffected by the drama. Such composure was not easily matched by the average person. The auctioneer also took the stage and began his work.. Chapter 131 - 77 Original Template ! Chapter 131: Chapter 77 Original Template ! Translator: 549690339 The first auction item, a piece of Gold Material, Fallen Foul Gold, an excellent material for forging Gold Cards. The starting bid is 5 million... 80 million, sold! The second auction item is a brand-new P2 Type Explosive Bear Mechanical City Boiler1 produced by Hagis Armament Factory. It can be used for mining, as an energy core for small towns and military camps. It is a must-have quality product for pioneers. The starting bid is 30 million... Bidding from box no. 17 is 430 million, sold! The third gold-level thunder secret skill, Thunderstorm Code... Bidding millions and billions casually, Leonard Churchill simply couldnt compete. No wonder there was a VIP2 threshold. Looking at the auction items, he treated it as a learning experience. He also realized a large part of the auctions goods were related to pioneering equipment and mechanical devices that were generally used by large power entities. Seeing this situation, it seemed like some people from the Federations upper echelons also intended to encourage inhabitants of the Sinless City to go and pioneer the Old Continent, hence they auctioned some of these great items. One by one, the goods were sold. Many were rare items not produced in the Sinless City. Those attending the auction, all hidden big shots, were fiercely competing over these items, raising prices at each turn. Leonard Churchill also saw many items that struck his interest. But there was absolutely no chance for him to participate in the bidding. Although he was considered wealthy among ordinary people, if not counting relics and disaster objects, his wealth absolutely paled in comparison to the hidden tycoons of Sinless City. Finally, the item Leonard Churchill was waiting for arrived. The auctioneer on stage introduced, This item is called a Cursed Spade 4. I believe everyone has heard of this non-gold gold profession card. This is the only card below gold that can condense bloody fragments... Lets not say more, the starting bid is 5 million. A cracked card was then showcased by a card-holding girl. Leonard Churchill looked over. Cursed Spade 4 (damaged) Quality: Shining Silver Description: Semi-finished Profession Card; After integrating materials with not less than Silver in quality, a finished Beast Walker- Spade 4 Profession Card can be obtained; The integration requires the Card Disciple to have Strength and Physique attributes no less than 9, Curse Power Value greater than 4000, and Dark Affinity no less than 40; The higher the quality of material, the stricter the requirements for successful integration; Known mutation probability is 100%. The fusion requirements for Card Disciples are indeed strict. A single attribute reaching 9 is already considered top-tier among Card Disciples. But this card requires both Strength and Physique to be over 9, along with thresholds for Curse Power and Dark Affinity, which would exclude 99.9% of the population. The Enlightenment Display only reveals information within the scope of human cognition. With the cognitive support from the Clown mask, he can now fully understand the nature of Barons uncontrollable mutations. In essence, its the bodys Demon Mark awakening and turn for extraordinary tolerance, which is insufficient to support that ferocious property growth. Barons fusion marks tier may not be too high, silver or gold? Even if its gold, Leonard Churchill predicted it wouldnt support the ferocious attributes of the original template profession card. But that doesnt apply to others. Its different for Leonard Churchill himself! The Mark-JOKER is an Epic Source Card, possessing the ability for his body to accommodate indefinitely, with a full elemental resistance that can grow. This is a very strong physical adaptability. Theoretically, he should be able to handle such ferocious gains. Just like when he uses Feast to devour spirit mediums, even though his properties explode many times over, there are no signs of mutation. Upon seeing this, he decided to bid first. After all, he might not come across this card again after this instance. The starting price is 5 million... Leonard Churchill looked distressed. After restocking on ammunition before, he really didnt have much cash on hand. If he wanted to buy it, he would have to sell some of his potions or something. Hoping secretly that no one would compete. Fortunately, everyone seemed to be uninspired by this card. As it stands, only one person bid. Just when it seemed like they were about to walk away with it, Leonard Churchill decided to have a go and bid, 6 million! The auction went more smoothly than expected. After he raised the price, the initial bidder didnt say anything. Leonard Churchill could finally breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed like everyone at the auction knew the situation with this Cursed Spade 4. The seller had it out for sale as a way to set the stage for the upcoming legendary materials shop, as they were all spoils from last nights battle. Even if this card is powerful, the fact has been proven that it has a 100% mutation rate, and no one would dare to fuse after buying it. Spending millions to buy a decoration might be a common practice among the noble class. But in the resource-scarce Sinless City, such people do not exist. Leonard Churchill managed to get the card as he wished.. Chapter 132 - 78: Greedy Mine Cave Chapter 132: Chapter 78: Greedy Mine Cave Translator: 549690339 The auction for legendary materials was finally happening. Next up is a [Giant Dragon Wing Bone]. As per the assessment of our appraiser, the formidable aura of the bone dragon remains intact, with extraordinary traits in high concentration. The quality of the material is classified as legendary. The starting bid starts at one hundred million, with increments of not less than fifty million... Two hundred million! Three hundred million! A murmur barely settled, the grand auction house immediately stirred into excitement. Leonard Churchill had no need for such a material, nor did he have the qualifications to compete for it. A dragon bone, a fabled material, was a priceless treasure for those in need. The rarity and demand could make the bidding price astronomical. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Leonard had already been satisfied to obtain a Spade 4 at the bargain price of six million. If anyone had known that the card was a Primordial Template, a price ten times higher wouldnt have guaranteed its acquisition. Now, he was just here for the spectacle. He was curious about the staggering price that a legendary material would fetch. Six hundred million, seven hundred million, eight hundred million... The bidding kept escalating. However, when everyone thought that the bidding would continue to soar, an unexpected twist happened. Just as everyone was engrossed in the fierce bidding, a woman rushed over to the owner named Lew Williams, bearing a black VIP card and hurriedly whispered something into his ear. Lews face changed, seemingly unable to process what he just heard. After verifying the card for a moment, he momentarily hesitated, then walked on to the stage to halt the auction. Everyone was puzzled. Lews forehead was covered with cold sweat, visibly distressed. He took a deep breath and said, I apologize, everyone. Due to some unusual circumstances, this item will be withdrawn from the auction. To express my apologies, I will provide a compensation of one million credits to everyone present... Upon hearing his words, the entire venue fell silent. No one had expected the organizer to make such an announcement. Not for sale? Even though he didnt know who it was, he had to abide by the family rules after seeing the card. However, these were trade secrets which he couldnt disclose. Honoured guests, please hear me out... Lew Williams tried to salvage the situation, but the uproar was just escalating and could no longer be suppressed. However, during this moment of agitation, an aged voice suddenly spoke up: Dont trouble the young one from the Song family. This material is for me. The voice was soft, but it seemed to be laced with magic. The moment the voice was heard, the entire venue was mute. Then, an old man emerged and took off his cloak. Leonard watched with great curiosity as a white-bearded old man emerged. Even though he seemed quite old, his spirit was vibrant. He seemed like he had just arrived at the auction venue. As soon as this old man appeared. The whole place was quiet. But suddenly, someone recognized him. The man looked horrified and was trembling as he spoke. He quickly emerged from his private booth and bowed deeply in respect, Junior member of the Hunters Association, Gambi, pays respects to Master Merlin. Everyone was flabbergasted by the sight. Leonard was also surprised. Could this be Gambi, the deputy chairman of the Hunters Association? He was quite an influential figure in Sinless City. He actually used junior as a self-reference? And he was so moved? By the way, whos this Master Merlin he is talking about? Not only him, some of the older faces in the audience also recognized the man, and the huge auction hall fell silent. The old man seemed to recall something, and casually asked, Is Red Beard Gambi related to you? Gambi replied respectfully and somewhat proudly, He is indeed my father. I was present when you visited our association twenty years ago.. Chapter 133 - 78 Greedy Mine Cave 2 Chapter 133: Chapter 78 Greedy Mine Cave 2 Translator: 549690339 The old man conveyed a look as if he had remembered something, and his interest seemed to fade as he simply said, Oh. How could Gambi pass up the chance to get to know a grandmaster better and hastily added, I was the one who bid for the Dragon Bone earlier, I didnt know that you were interested. Please accept my apologies. As a sign of my remorse, I will purchase the Dragon Bone for you, Master Merlin... The old man, curiously temperamental, gave no face and curtly stated, No need. Ive not stooped so low as to have youngsters buying for me. I only arrived late and was uncertain about the situation... He explained a little impatiently before saying, Never mind, I want the material anyway. You name the price, Ill buy it at the highest rate. Absolutely not. Gambi was so embarrassed, he wanted to bury his face in the ground. He didnt dare to argue. Because he knew very well that this grandmaster was notoriously temperamental, thats why he was banished to Sinless City. Even while his father was alive, he would also need to follow orders like an obedient student. The old man seemed to be in a hurry to leave and wasnt interested in reminiscing or chit-chatting. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) He turned his face towards Lew Williams, who was on the stage, and said, The lad from the Song Family, its my fault the issue occurred. You handle it, I will find you once Im free, and let me know what you need beforehand. Hearing these words, all those present who knew him or had heard of him couldnt help but look envious. Even big shots struggled to maintain their composure. Its been many years since this legendary grandmaster made a public appearance... They didnt expect him to still be alive. They would probably not have seen him if it wasnt for the Dragon Bone. Lew Williams didnt recognize people initially, but when he heard the name Master Merlin, he figured out who it was. He had a look of pleasant surprise and hurriedly responded, Yes. Saying that, he seemed to remember something and added, Grandfather Merlin, my great-grandmother sends her regards to you. Calling him Grandfather was a master stroke. This surprised everyone present. Over the past few decades, only three card masters in the Federation have been regarded as Legendary. And this Master Merlin was one of them. Even though he was exiled, his skills were still legendary! The auction was nearing its end, but now the Dragon Bone and Giant materials were taken by the old man. Either everyone wanted to chase after Master Merlin to seize the opportunity or they lost interest in the remaining items, causing a flurry of departures. The room became nearly empty in a blink, there was no sense in continuing. Lew Williams, the boss of Great Ivans also announced an early conclusion to the internal auction. As promised earlier, he gave everyone an apology gift of one million. While the initial handling of the situation seemed inappropriate, the context had changed now. Master Merlin had stepped forward to handle everything, so no one would insist on compensation. But Lew Williams still kept his promise. The guests saw the composure of the plump boss and began to show goodwill. Ultimately, it was a satisfactory conclusion. Leonard Churchill initially wanted to see what the last auctioned disaster object was, but he no longer had the chance. But obtaining a free one million was a bit of a windfall. And he got to see the legendary card master. The visit was already quite beneficial. But Leonard didnt have any thoughts of trying his luck. He was very self-aware, he was not qualified to interact with someone from such a higher class. At least he knew there was such a master in Sinless City. And he knew that the boss of Great Ivans shop could make contact with the master. That was enough. The next morning. Leonard Churchill arrived at the Hunters Association at No. 1 Grove Street in South City District early in the day.. Chapter 134 - 78 Greedy Mine Cave_3 Chapter 134: Chapter 78 Greedy Mine Cave_3 Translator: 549690339 | He got the [Cursed Spade 41, but in order to refine it into a complete card, he still needed some materials. However, after looking around different commerce guilds, he couldnt find any suitable materials. Hence, he decided to try his luck at the Hunters Association. To see if he could find some ruins or an alternate dimension where he could personally go and acquire the required materials. After all, he played a direct role in the recent downfall of the Silver Moon Assembly. As a whistleblower, now that a few crucial figures have escaped, leaving Sinless City would help dodge the heat for a bit. After Stan Miller was killed not long ago, many foreigners flooded into Sinless City. Not just opportunistic merchants, but also treasure-seeking hunters and many mercenaries. When Leonard arrived at the Task Hall early in the morning, the place was already densely packed with thousands of people. On several large magic light screens, recruitment information kept updating non-stop, making people dizzy from the overflow of information. The opening of the Old Continent had been put on the schedule, more and more ruins and alternate dimensions were being discovered, leading to a surge in various types of recruitment information. Leonard Churchill had no intention of wasting time either. Visit for the best novel reading experience He found an information merchant who specialized in information dealing. After spending a bit of money, he got a task related to the materials of the [Beast Walker]. Recruiting teammates for the Winter Frost Forest mission, bear, lightning tiger king, and double-headed giant troll materials available. Doctors and Black Knights needed... Challenging the B-level difficulty of Shadow Moon Eagles Nest1, providing Demon Eagle Flesh silver material. Recruitment for long-distance curse card masters, card disciples of six or more segments... Ghostly Castle1 farming for mysterious type materials, hellhound, Cerberus, The original template determines the lower limit of the profession card, but the main material determines the upper limit of the profession card. The hidden term of the [Spade 4] that Leonard possesses is: The higher the bloodline hierarchy of the main material, the stronger the return of ancestral empowerment. Based on the current recruitment information of the Hunters Association, nothing is older than the werewolf, this kind of creature that existed in the legendary tales. Moreover, this [Greedy Mine Cave] also produces skill cards, which made Leonard quite tempted. Having glanced over the detailed information, he decided to go have a look. In a short while, Mr. Leonard Churchill, holding a recruitment notice, arrived at the Windmill Tavern in South City. The recruitment information stated to gather here first, then go to the Old Continent in the morning along with the people from the Black Wolf Hunting Team, and then to the location where the [Greedy Mine Cave] is located. Such long-established large-scale hunting teams usually have good reputations, hence there should be no fear of getting on the wrong ship. Leonard Churchill walked to the front desk of the inn, the manager was a middle-aged woman who seemed somewhat ill-tempered. There were still three people checking in. He briefly glanced at their outfit; all wore gas masks, one was a Black Knight, then should be a ranger walking the machinery route, and the last one should be a magic type hunter. Leonard Churchill didnt care and placed the recruitment notice on the counter, asking, Boss, is this the gathering point for the Black Wolf Hunting Team s recruitment? The manager replied, Yes. Check-in costs a hundred, we leave at six in the morning. Relative to the inns conditions, this price was not cheap, but it must be a monopolized business. Leonard Churchill didnt bother negotiating, taking out a banknote, Okay, one room. But just as he was handing over the money, someone suddenly greeted him uncertainly, saying, Is that...Mr. Leonard Churchill? Leonard Churchill was slightly taken aback, could someone actually recognize him? Not many people knew his real name. Hearing the voice, Leonard Churchill immediately knew who it was. No wonder she looked a bit familiar despite the hunting costume that couldnt hide her proud stature. Wasnt this the Spirit Communicator lady, who was a teammate of Camillas in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth? He glanced at the person who greeted him from not far away, responding, Tracy Garcia? Chapter 135 - 79= Reminiscing with Miss Bun Hair Chapter 135: Chapter 79= Reminiscing with Miss Bun Hair Translator: 549690339 Sinless City is big, and Leonard Churchill did not expect such a coincidence of running into someone so familiar at Windmill Inn. Once greeted, he could not pretend not to recognize her, and said, Miss Tracy Garcia? Tracy Garcia, seeing that she had recognized the right person was elated, replied, Ah... it really is Mr. Leonard Churchill. I was unsure just now. Nothing is more memorable than having gone through a life-and-death situation together. The Spirit Communicator remembered her savior profoundly. Visit for the best novel reading experience Curious, Leonard Churchill asked, Miss Garcia, why are you here? With a glance at her two companions, he saw that his old acquaintance Camilla was not there. Although he guessed that the three of them had come to Windmill Inn probably to go to the Alternate Dimension, the Greedy Mining Well, he was somewhat curious about why they wanted to go there. Without hesitation, Tracy Garcia responded, Ah, we saw the recruitment notice at the Hunters Association and plan to go... However, before she could finish, the Black Knight man accompanying her sharply interrupted, Little Garcia! This was obviously a reminder. He probably meant to tell her not to say too much to strangers. Leonard Churchill caught the caution in that speech, raising an eyebrow. He knew Tracy Garcia and they had a basis of trust. But her two companions were on high alert. Leonard Churchill didnt mind. He knew that both Camilla and Tracy Garcia came from a sensitive background. So these two companions of hers were probably from the same place. The female ranger cleverly turned the questioning into a probe, asking, Little Garcia, who is this? Excited, Tracy Garcia tried to introduce him, Alison, this is Mr. Leonard Churchill, he is... Both of them looked back with solemn eyes. Alison asked cautiously, Little Garcia, what is the background of that man? Given their sensitive identities, they needed to be cautious at all times. Um? Tracy Garcia went blank after being asked. I... he... However, after pondering for a while, she realized that she didnt even know what Leonard Churchill did. Also, she couldnt mention how they met. She could not answer these two questions at all. Tracy Garcia dodged their gazes, and laughed awkwardly, Ah... err... Mr. Leonard Churchill, hes an independent hunter. Some peoples lies are easy to tell. Especially for Tracy Garcia, who had grown up with her companions from a young age. Their answer made her companions feel uneasy. Liams face darkened a bit, Little Garcia, you should be more wary of the people in Sinless City. Alison also advised, Yes, you shouldnt trust a stranger so easily, in case they have ulterior motives. Realizing her companions strange looks, Tracy Garcia understood where the misunderstanding was. She couldnt explain, and could only change the subject, Hey, you guys stop asking. Anyway, Mr. Leonard Churchill is really a good person. He saved my life. The matter involving Camilla was truly sensitive. For now, she didnt know how to explain it. So she went for the crux of the matter, And he is very powerful. This time, he is probably going to the Greedy Mining Well too. With him there, even if were challenged with higher difficulty, we will have a higher possibility of completing it. Hearing that he had saved her life, the expressions of Alison and Liam softened a bit, appearing thoughtful. They werent completely ignorant about the situation with Camilla and had vaguely guessed something. But its a topic that should not be spoken of, so they stopped asking more questions. After hearing from Tracy Garcia that this person was very powerful, Alison asked, Is he a card master? What is his Professional Sequence? If he was a strong player, he could indeed be somewhat helpful in the Alternate Dimension, the Greedy Mining Well.. Chapter 136 - 79: Reminiscing with Miss Bun Chapter 136: Chapter 79: Reminiscing with Miss Bun Hair_2 Translator: 549690339 Tracy Garcia pondered for a moment, then said, No. It seems like... he is a Card Master Apprentice. The two comrades were rendered speechless. Since when are Card Master Apprentices considered impressive? Alison too didnt seem happy, asking again, Whats his professional sequence? Garcia felt embarrassed being questioned, I... I dont know. She just realized that aside from knowing that he is excellent at solving puzzles, she really had no clue about his professional sequence. It seemed like she had never seen him fight at all. Listening, Alison shook her head and said, Forget it. We should get some rest early too. We have to get up early tomorrow. The three of them said nothing and headed upstairs with their tactical backpacks. Listening to the footsteps, Leonard Churchill knew that Garcia and the two others were in the rooms next to his. He didnt care, sitting cross-legged on the bed practicing the Breathing Method while simultaneously reading various card master scriptures. He knew nothing of the conversation taking place downstairs, and he didnt want to know either. Right now, Leonard felt there wasnt enough time, too many things to learn. He was hoping that the Greedy Mining Pit would yield some skill cards, this would save a lot of time to practice martial skills. Time flew and a few hours passed in a flash. Leonard was completely immersed in his training and learning. At some point, a knocking sound was heard. A soft voice came from outside the door, Mr. Leonard Churchill, have you gone to bed? Yes. Without anyone else present, Tracy responded immediately. She seriously explained, We are looking for a potion formula to cure a special plague. We saw it in an ancient book, but it has been lost since. So we have been looking for clues in the Hunters Association to see if theres output from some ancient remnants. Recently, we heard that some ancient witch potion formulas have appeared in the alternate dimension of the Greedy Mining Well, so we wanted to give it a try. Oh. So, they were heading there for the potion formula. Listening to her, Leonard didnt ask any further questions. It seemed like the organization she was with contracted some sort of plague. Given her serious expression, Leonard deduced that the plague must be severe. Despite being an extraordinary world, diseases and plagues remained deadly threats that could not be completely eliminated. Tracy then asked, What about you, Mr. Leonard Churchill? Leonard casually stated, Im searching for some materials, I heard that space also yields Skill Cards, so I thought Id try my luck. Wow... What a coincidence! Tracy also found it coincidental. Sinless City was so large, with so many missions from the Hunters Association, yet they had run into each other in this small inn. After she finished pouring the tea, she handed it over, Please, have some tea, Mr. Leonard Churchill. Leonard took the tea cup, not accustomed to this formality, You can just call me by my name. You dont have to be so polite. Tracy Garcia nodded and blinked, Then, you can call me by my name too, or Little Garcia. Thats what everyone calls me. Leonard nodded: Okay. He found that little bunhead Miss was quite reserved to strangers at first, but once she trusts them, her nature revealed a cheerful side. The two of them were not complete strangers, but also not particularly familiar. After a few words, it seemed like they were out of topics and the rooms atmosphere became slightly awkward. At this point, Tracy noticed the opened book on the bed and expressed surprise, Mr. Leonard Churchill, youre still reading, even at this late hour? Everyone knew that in Sinless City, very few hunters choose to waste their time reading books. Hunters risk their lives exploring, each survival feels like a gift from fate. During their spare time, indulging themselves at the Moonlight Tavern was just about enough, who would have time to read? Chapter 137 - 79: Reminiscing with Miss Bun Chapter 137: Chapter 79: Reminiscing with Miss Bun Hair_3 Translator: 549690339 Having said that, she seemed to recall something and smacked her forehead, Oh, I almost forgot. You do understand the Tarang language. Such a wide range of knowledge must require a lot of reading. Leonard chuckled without explaining. Tracy Garcia was musing as if she wanted to ask something. She pivoted and asked, Mr. Leonard Churchill, what is your professional sequence? Sensing her abrupt question, she quickly added, What I mean is... we are all going to the Greedy Mining Well. It would be helpful if we knew more about each other. My companions are a First Tier Black Knight and a ranger who is a nine-segment Card Disciple. They are not as formidable as Sister Camilla, but they are quite good. She did not want to admit that she had felt awkward when this question was previously posed and her companions had given her strange looks. Claiming to know someone as a friend yet not knowing their profession was indeed odd. Leonard, amused by her disconcerted demeanor, responded, I suppose I am a close combatant. Hmm...Currently, Im a gunman? As you know, Im capable of solving puzzles. Tracy Garcia: Oh. Being a gunman is not a professional sequence. Many people use guns. Hearing his response, she realized she had been insensitive in prying into his personal matters and tactfully refrained from asking further questions. Leonard, understanding how his statement could be misconstrued, did not offer any additional explanation. It wasnt that he intended to obscure the truth; he simply didnt know how to elaborate. Each person has their own tactics, and teaming up presents its own advantages. Since they were heading to the same Alternate Dimension, Leonard thought it would be great to have Tracy Garcia, a Spirit Communicator and Doctor, as a teammate. Their abilities complemented each other. Especially when facing high-level difficulties. Leonard proactively said, If we explore the Alternate Dimension together, mutual assistance will indeed make the venture easier. When the time comes, I may have to rely somewhat on Miss Tracy Garcia. Right! Having heard Leonards invitation to team up, the slight gloom previously cast on her cute face disappeared. She then asked, Mr. Leonard Churchill, what level of difficulty do you plan to test? She didnt hide her intentions and said openly, Actually...even though we dont know if the witch potion in that space is what were looking for, the formula to treat that plague certainly cant be low-grade. We probably need to challenge a difficulty level of B or above for it to appear. But as far as I know, the death rate exceeds 50% for those who attempt level B difficulty at the Greedy Mining Well... Given this mortality rate, many hunters pursuing wealth wouldnt even consider such a challenge unless they wished to strike it rich. Entering at levels C and D, which pose simpler challenges and making repeated attempts, would yield significant gains. He needed extensive medical knowledge to learn the Cellular Activity Boiling spell. Although he had found some in the Plague Doctor Hensens Storage Ring, most of them were related to poisons, with some Second Tier medical books that were hard to understand. Now that he had bumped into Miss Tracy Garcia, who was a competent Doctor and Spirit Communicator, he thought to ask. Hearing this, Tracy was noticeably surprised, but also willing: Uh...yes. Without asking why, she directly took several books out of her Storage Ring. However, she wondered out loud, Mr. Leonard Churchill, are you planning to tread the path of healing? Leonard Churchill didnt give a definite answer, he just smiled, Ive been studying some spells recently that require medical knowledge. Gazing at the thick books, he asked, Could I borrow these to read? Ill return them to you in a few days. Tracy cheerfully replied, Of course. Feeling as if she could make herself useful, she brightened and added, These are just the books I carry with me. I have many more at home. If you need them, I can bring them next time. Since she had been taken care of during her time at the Grand Cemetery, she felt more at ease being able to offer some assistance. Leonard said, Thank you. Lets talk about it after I finish reading these. Regardless of whether he understood the books or not, he wanted to use his photographic memory to memorize them first, which might be useful for later digestion. However, upon reflection, he found Tracys words strange. She had many more at home? What did this Spirit Communicators family do for a living? Very few families in Sinless City collected many medical books. Moreover, these hardcover handprinted volumes appeared to be antique, possibly hundreds of years old. They were even older than the set of Card Master Encyclopedia he had purchased. Having this realization, Leonard chuckled. This Miss Tracy, she was quite a naive little miss, revealing so much information even though it was just a few books. Tracy Garcia didnt understand why he laughed, but she knew it was getting late and it would be rude to stay longer. She packed up the teapot and said, Well, Mr. Leonard Churchill, Ill go back and rest. See you tomorrow. Leonard Churchill nodded, Okay. As soon as the door closed, his thoughts were already on the books. He returned to his routine of cultivation and studying for the day.. Chapter 138 - 80: Entering the Alternate Dimension Chapter 138: Chapter 80: Entering the Alternate Dimension Translator: 549690339 Time flew by unnoticed, and a night passed. Although meditation can be boring, once youre adept at it, it can replace a significant portion of sleep. Even if you sit all night, it rejuvenates you as if you had a full nights sleep. Suddenly, Leonard Churchill heard some movement outside his door and slowly opened his eyes. He checked the time on his pocket watch. It was 5:50. He got out of bed, went to the bathroom, freshened up, ate some dry food, and it was exactly six oclock. He put on his gas mask, picked up his hunters backpack, and opened the door. As soon as he stepped out, he saw Tracy Garcia and her two partners in the corridor. Upon seeing Leonard Churchill, Tracy Garcia took the initiative to greet him: Good morning, Mr. Churchill. Leonard Churchill was stunned for a moment, and responded: Mm, good morning. As a corpse collector, he was always surrounded by bodies and seldom conversed. Now, being greeted so suddenly, he was still getting used to it. They all descended down the stairs. Although it was supposed to be a six oclock departure, a group of leisure hunters didnt assemble until 6:15. Then they set off. A group of people took an armored vehicle to the Gold-digging Dock. Leonard Churchill was riding the steam cable car that traverses through the Abyssal Rift for the second time. Looking at the Inverted Rain and the World Rift, he was still in awe. Afterwards, a group of more than fifty people and a pile of supplies boarded a steam train packed with hunters and mercenaries. This time, they werent going to the Demon Cross in the west, but a new ruin called Thunderbolt Fortress in the north. During the long train ride, Leonard Churchill wasnt idle; he had been reading the medical books he borrowed from Tracy Garcia last night. Since he borrowed them, he figured he should finish reading them and return them soon. In this way, another five hours passed. Leonard Churchill checked the surroundings and immediately spotted the cave at the base of a not too distant mountain. A twisted light vortex was at the entrance of the cave, this was naturally the entrance to the [Greedy Mine Cave]. These were the most commonly seen entrance to the Alternate Dimension. This was the advantage of exploration, as long as an Alternate Dimension was discovered, it became private property. Of course, the prerequisite was that you have the strength to guard this space. This was also one of the most significant advantages of large hunting teams and mercenary groups. In a way, the Alternate Dimension was like a mine. As long as it was properly exploited, it could constantly yield profits. Not long after Leonard Churchill and his team got off the truck, a table was set up in front of a nearby tent. A Black Wolf Group squad leader straightforwardly greeted everyone: Alright, our new friends, its two thousand per person. Pay first, then enter. As soon as the words fell, fifty people consciously walked over. Leonard Churchill also lined up behind Tracy Garcia and her two companions, ready to pay. Yes. This was a duplicating mission that required a ticket! In the process of exploring some large alternate dimensions, this approach was very common. Deep alternate dimensions with a difficulty rating above B-grade were generally not cleared in one attempt. It might even be impossible to achieve an S-ranking, they could only be cleared by grinding. Exploration meant casualties. Even top hunting teams could not afford such losses. Besides, triggering hidden plots did not only rely on strength, but also on chance and luck. Therefore, they needed some external help. Exploratory hunting teams that encountered spaces they couldnt resolve would post recruitment notices for joint exploration at the Hunters Association. The hiring of independent hunters and small teams would increase the space exploration, reduce their own losses. Although part of the space output would be lost, the ticket income was also a steady cash flow for the hunting teams, and their own casualties would be minimized. It was a win-win situation.. Chapter 139 - 80 Entering the Alternate Chapter 139: Chapter 80 Entering the Alternate Dimension 2 Translator: 549690339 Otherwise, not keeping the spoils all to myself could avoid unnecessary trouble. Many hunters came here for this space, the entrance fee of twenty thousand, although substantial for ordinary people, Was still a small investment that could yield large returns. The output from the Greedy Mining Well was considerable. Skill Cards, rare ores, werewolf materials, ancient potion formulas... If they could get a Skill Card, twenty thousand could turn into a million. Or they could win rare materials, special items, etc. from the lottery. The higher the disaster level of the space, the better the rewards at the end would be. There was no lack of such luck, where people got rare things through the lottery, even though their completion evaluation was low. They became rich overnight. Thinking about those lucky ones, Leonard Churchill glanced at the girl with the bun hairstyle standing in front of him with a slightly strange expression. Tracy Garcia seemed to notice and turned her head back, blinking: Whats up? Leonard Churchill shook his head and smiled: Nothing. As they collected money, someone at the table was explaining precautions for entering the space. Ladies and gentlemen, let me make it clear, the D-level difficulty of the Greedy Mme Cave is locked. We are now entering at the C-level, which currently has a mortality rate of about 20%. Take that into consideration before entering. Dont blame us, the Black Wolf Group, for being unfair if there are any problems. Leonard Churchill listened without showing any unusual expressions. Whether it was C-level or D-level, both were just moderate difficulties for him. Actually, he was thinking about something else when he heard about the mortality rate. You could repeatedly enter the Alternate Dimension as long as you didnt get an S rating. But you couldnt do it infinitely. It seemed that the space itself had a hidden judging mechanism. This effectively deterred those who only wanted to take advantage of the situation without risking anything. As for reporting any special storylines encountered and offering to buy new information, clearly, this was the Black Wolf Groups small scheme. They encouraged hunters to explore high-risk areas to increase the exploration rate, and at the same time, they also increased their information bank. In the end, the person added: If anyone needs information, you can buy it from me. How to trigger side stories, which tasks can get what materials, we have all the detailed information here. There are three tiers of information priced at thirty thousand, sixty thousand, and a hundred thousand. The content greatly varied. Though each time you entered would randomly trigger some episodes, the main storyline was more or less the same. Information meant survival rate and return rate. The mortality rate for the first-tier Curse Card Master is not low in this Greedy Mine Cave, nobody dared to be careless. So, aside from the entrance ticket, everyone would also spend a good amount on information. Leonards goal was to acquire silver material, which could easily cost up to a million on the market, and the cost of this information was a necessary expenditure. Not to mention, Camilla had shown him the difference between having information and not having it during their adventure in Space 407. Tracy Garcia and the other two also had the same idea. So the four of them bought a hundred thousand worth of information. Leonard did not take advantage of anyone or try to show off his wealth, and shared a quarter of the cost of the information. Not just them, but almost everyone, even if they formed smaller groups, would buy the most detailed information. The Black Wolf Group made another million in an instant from selling information. After everyone rushed to buy the information, Leonard suddenly felt that since everyone had the same information now, it didnt seem worth that much money anymore. Soon after they quickly skimmed through the information, the group arrived at a cave next to the camp.. Chapter 140 - 80 Entering the Alternate Chapter 140: Chapter 80 Entering the Alternate Dimension_3 Translator: 549690339 Guided by the members of the Black Wolf Group, everyone entered one by one. The surroundings changed abruptly, and Leonard Churchill found himself standing outside the wall of a dimly lit town. You have entered the Greedy Mining Well.1 Current Disaster Level: C, Mortality rate: 20.4% Space exploration progress: 61.1% Special rule: The use of technology weapons beyond the technology level of the space is prohibited. Keywords: Plot exploration Clue: Burial Mountain Pit has been producing high-quality iron ore for centuries, and occasionally some precious mithril ore. But a few months ago, a terrifying group of werewolves appeared near the town. They hunted miners and slaughtered the residents of the town. The knights were unable to wipe out these monsters and had to use rewards to ask the demon hunters who came from afar to clean up the monsters in the mine... Mission: You and your teammates are playing demon hunters from afar. Your mission is to hunt the werewolves, investigate the truth of the mine mutation, at least need to hunt a werewolf in three days to leave the space. As soon as they entered the space, the hunters couldnt wait to swarm into the town. This chapter is updated by They want to reap those easiest gains from the intelligence at the first moment. Theyre afraid to go late and their things will be taken by others. However, Leonard Churchill didnt rush into action. Leonard Churchill walked over, but he easily kicked over the dirt wall with one foot. Looking at this situation, he muttered to himself, Is this the limit of space rules... The grenade can explode normally, but it cant damage anything in the Alternate Dimension. What a pity... it seems that these grenades can only blow up my comrades. Leonard Churchill felt a bit of a pity. He always kept many high explosive bombs in his Storage Ring. If he could use them, he could explosive a First Tier monsters, and even had a certain probability to kill the Second Tier monsters. But it was not in vain to try just now. At least, a piece of shrapnel scratched a mark on him, which was quite painful. That is to say, this grenade could be used against hunters who enter space. Black Wolf Hunting Team has a good reputation? Leonard Churchill didnt really believe it. In Sinless City, you can find all sorts of people, but good people are rare. Far away, Tracy Garcia, who hadnt gone far, and her two partners also happened to see Leonard Churchills test with the grenade. Liam Martinez sneered at this behavior. Alison also commented, I guess he thought this was a space where monsters could be killed by firearms. Its too rash to come in without reading the recruitment restrictions clearly. Tracy Garcia didnt say anything when she heard this. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, but it was unclear what she was thinking.. Chapter 141 - 81: Conspiracy Chapter 141: Chapter 81: Conspiracy Translator: 549690339 | Townsend Town is a mining town. Most of the townsfolk rely on Burial Mountain Iron Mine for their livelihood, with a circle of walls more than ten meters high surrounding the township. The houses are all made of stacked stones, with rooftops of reddish brown tiles. After testing his hand grenade and confirming the spatial rules, Leonard Churchill didnt linger outside the town, but walked straight towards the gate. An old man with a white beard and a few militiamen at the gate were welcoming the bounty demon hunters who had travelled from afar. According to the information provided by the Black Wolf Hunting Team, this old man was Mayor Barn. Upon entering the town, hunters were to sign their names on the employment contract. Then, an Accept Employment mission prompt would appear from Enlightenment. This was essentially the same as signing an employment certificate. After hunting the werewolves, they could claim some extra rewards like gold and silver coins, or ores, from the old man. There was a table set up at the town gate. The hunters rushed to sign their names and hurried into the town. By the time Leonard arrived, most people had already rushed into town in their eagerness to find opportunities. But as he looked at the dense names on the parchment, a thought suddenly occurred to him. What would happen if he didnt sign? Theoretically, abstaining from signing would lead to loss of the mayors reward, possibly missing out on a prize worth several tens of thousands. But Leonard was not here to make money. He didnt expect much valuable loot from a C-level disaster space. Just as he thought, Enlightenment didnt mention that I wouldnt be able to leave if I didnt sign the contract, did it? He checked the Enlightenment display again. Visit for the best novel reading experience The only requirement for leaving was to: hunt down one werewolf. There were no other additional conditions. He strolled along the streets paved with crushed ore, watching the towns inhabitants pass to and fro, deep in thought. There were fruit and vegetable vendors on the streets... Leonard walked over and tentatively asked a few questions. Like: How much per pound for the apples? Whats the Kings name? Are there any magicians or witches in the town? Whats the problem with the mine... The answers he got were: Five bronze coins, King Owen, a minstrel mentioned something about it, you could ask Mayor Barn about that issue. The answers had a complete logical follow-through. Mimicking a complete world. This was what Leonard found most astonishing. Curse card masters seemed to have gotten used to it. But for Leonard, a space-time traveller, this was even more astonishing than the alternate dimension itself. It was like he had time-travelled again, arriving in a European medieval fantasy town, with magic, werewolves, and witches. These NPCs were nearly identical to living people, with flesh and bones, temperature, and emotional intelligence. It seemed like a corner of a complete world. But if there werent hunters coming in each time, the plot of Townsend Town would be played out the same way. Leonard would absolutely believe it to be a real world. Different people coming in each time, doing different things, would lead to variations in the plot of the space. This is also why, while the main storyline remains the same, many variations turn out completely different. Different dimensions? Or parallel spaces? Or a mirror world created by some higher-latitudinal creatures? Leonard didnt know how to interpret what he was seeing at all. The mystery that goes beyond known knowledge further deepened his awe of the secrets of the cosmos. This alternate dimension that transcends time and space was incomprehensible but immensely awe-inspiring at the same time. After walking on the streets for a while, the astonishment in Leonards heart gradually dissipated. He did not waste any more time. At this point, he had already reached the center of Townsend Town. There was a clock tower more than thirty meters high, appearing to be the tallest building in the town.. Chapter 142 - 81: Conspiracy ! Chapter 142: Chapter 81: Conspiracy ! Translator: 549690339 | Seeing that no one was around, Leonard Churchill leaped into the air. His high agility and strength allowed him to use the rocks outside the bell tower to propel himself upwards, and he quickly reached the top. His field of view expanded immediately. Looking down at the entire town, Churchill memorized the basic layout of the buildings. Observing his surroundings was a habit he had developed whenever he arrived in a new place. His eyes scanned the street, and quickly discovered some of his fellow hunters. The hunters outfits had been modified by the rules of the Alternate Dimension, thus Non-Player Characters could not notice anything unusual. However, Churchill, himself a hunter, could identify them at a glance. The hunters who had entered earlier were now scouring the town for wealth. According to the information he had, most of the items inside the town houses were Plot Items and couldnt be taken out. However, some rare items could indeed be taken out of the Alternate Dimension. The hunters were frenziedly gathering these items. Calling them demon hunters, they seemed more like a group of bandits who had barged in. Anyway, the hunters were treating this place like a looting party and were set to stay for three days. Much of the towns population was made up of ordinary people, incapable of resisting. Not only were they plundering for wealth, but also taking advantage of women. The hunters from Sinless City were a group of individuals unrestrained by laws or morals, and in the Alternate Dimension, they were even more unchecked. All forms of action used to vent their desires were being played out. Attractive women could be found everywhere, and Townsend Town was no exception. From the bell tower, Churchill watched as many of the hunters took advantage of the female house owners while robbing them. One would expect some deceit and potential scamming in such an uninhabited wilderness. But the dimension limited a visitors tier, so even the strongest among these managers had only reached the First Tier. Churchill believed the risk was within a controllable range. What he needed to do now was to gather information as quickly as possible, to ensure that he was prepared before these guys could stir things up. Just as Churchill had predicted: The five Black Wolf Group managers entered the tavern and without hesitation, made their way to the second floor. After closing the door, there were already two members dressed as hunters waiting for them. These were the two strangers whose attire Churchill had noted earlier. The leader said, The team leader advised letting the others clear out the werewolves on the first and second floors first. Tonight, well use the Wolfsbane to lure out that Catastrophe-level Werewolf in the third layer of the mine. Let the Loose Practitioners deal with it. Once theyre engaged, well go and check out the fourth floor situation... But Captain, do we really need to be in such a hurry? Shouldnt we go ourselves? one asked. Not to rush, but we need to. The team leader predicted that due to the frequent low-difficulty entries, the dimension is likely about to collapse. If we dont attempt the high-difficulty challenges soon, we may never find such high-quality Werewolf Materials again. We must take this risk, he responded. You dont know how strong the effects of the two Silver Werewolf Materials that were refined into the [Spade 4-Werewolf] were. Hao, the acting leader of our fourth group, fused with that Silver Profession Card. As soon as he fused, his combat power after Transformation approached that of the longstanding First Tier Curse Card Master in our group. Also, Werewolf Materials are generally much higher than typical Demon Beasts. Overall, the Werewolf cards increase and other Beast Walkers cards of the same quality have a combat power gap of at least 50%... That... That powerful? Its a pity that silver material is hard to come by. Dont worry too much about it. This time we are just exploring the plot, not hunting demons. Besides, the team leader borrowed an artifact exclusive to Assassin from Thunder Tiger Group. When we go to the fourth layer our safety is guaranteed. If we are careful, there shouldnt be a big problem. I estimate that once we get down to the fourth layer, our clearance evaluation will be very high, and the probability of silver material appearing is also very high. But if the Catastrophe-level werewolf on the third layer of the mine is lured out, Im afraid not many of us will survive this time. If news gets out, it might harm our groups reputation. Survive? The team leaders intention is for none of them, except us, to remain. Otherwise, do you think those previous two batches just had an accident and triggered the Catastrophe-level difficulty, and suffered such heavy casualties? Haha, as long as everyone is dead, no one can leak the news from here. Besides, the higher the death rate, the higher our clearance rating will be.. Chapter 143 - 81: Conspiracy_3 Chapter 143: Chapter 81: Conspiracy_3 Translator: 549690339 | Hmm. However, speaking of which, last time when Team Nine came in to hunt down the B-rank werewolf on the third level, they suffered heavy casualties. The team didnt dare to organize another B-rank challenge. What happened during the time the A-level plot was triggered? No one knows. Three of our elite squads entered. Everyone died, and no information was leaked out. Only an outsider made it alive. He didnt see what happened. He only knew that an A-rank catastrophe-level werewolf appeared in Townsend Town. Then it hunted down and killed all the hunters following their scent. Only after our group leader interrogated the survivor did we find out that the lucky fellow rushed into the town without signing in, narrowly escaped death. Otherwise, we wouldnt have known this way of surviving and getting out of the space... The werewolves are truly terrifying. Among the demon beasts Ive seen, they are amongst the top three for combat power at the same tier. A B-rank catastrophe can already match the combat power of a Second Tier Curse Card Master. If its A-rank, you cant kill it in a space with tier restrictions. The only chance is through the plot... Inside Townsend Town. While the other hunters are busy treasure hunting all over the town, Leonard Churchill is on a street, enticing children with candies. Little one, want some candy? Yes. Where is your mother? My mother is dead. How did your mother die? She died from the plague. Do you still want candy? Yes...but Grandfather Mayor says not to talk to outsiders. Ah...thats enough, cant put any more in. Ill tell you a secret, you can ask the town drunk, Jack. Hes the most knowledgeable. You can find him at the big windmill in town. The NPCs in the Alternate Dimension are intelligent. Other than certain information that exceeds their worlds cognition which they cant see or hear, their thinking process is no different from that of normal humans. In Leonards eyes, this is the biggest breakthrough. The townspeople are fearful and circumspect around outsiders, explicitly evasive when certain topics are brought up. But children arent. After asking a few more children, Leonard found out that, apparently, a plague broke out in Townsend Town a year ago, killing many people. This piece of information wasnt in the intelligence reports. The Black Wolf Group had been here many times and surely knew. But they didnt include this vital information in the reports they sold. But he thought of another method. If the NPC were intelligent, they would also have human greed. He used his lock picking skills to visit a few residences and got a large bag of coins. These gold coins that couldnt be taken out of the space might be useless to the other hunters, but they were excellent tools in Leonards hands. He found Drunkard Jack. With this substantial amount of money, he got another crucial clue: For information about the mine, you can seek Uncle Sam at the blacksmith shop. Not only can he silver-plate your weapons, but hes also the only one who s been to the depths of the mine and lived to tell the tale. Oh, and dont you dare mention my name. After all, this topic is taboo in Townsend Town. Also, Leonard found out another interesting piece of information. Although Drunkard Jack knew he was an adventurer from elsewhere, He didnt regard him as a demon hunter ! Leonard guessed it might be related to the contract he signed at the city gate. Having signed the contract, the space granted him the identity of a demon hunter. Following the stream through Townsend Town, Leonard saw a blacksmith workshop puffing out fumes from its chimney. The intelligence report mentioned that hunters using firearms could come here and get the workshop master to silver-plate their bullets. Silver-plated bullets cause burn damage to werewolves. Leonard hadnt been in a hurry to come here because he didnt think it was necessary. The process of silver-plating is not complicated; he could do it himself. Just as he arrived, he ran into two fellow professionals. The two were cursing as they walked out of the blacksmiths shop. Damn! Wasted half the day for nothing. Thought wed find out something. That damned information merchant, Ill settle scores with him when I get back to Sinless City! So much for selling top-secret information, saying that the old boss of this blacksmith shop had been to the fourth level of the mine. But we didnt get any information. I told you, if we thought of coming here for clues, those that came before us wouldve thought of it too. You just didnt believe... Well, now you know. We didnt go to rob anyone, but weve lost tens of thousands. In the next few days, if we want to break even, well have to take risks and go into the mine to hunt werewolves. Listening to the conversation of the two men getting farther and farther away, Leonards expression subtly changed. He wasnt surprised that people knew the blacksmith shop might hold clues, considering so many runs had been made. But how did the information merchant in Sinless City have such extensive resources? He even knew this kind of information? No wonder, after exploring the duplication many times, secrets were fewer and fewer. But since the information merchant said so, Leonard was even more certain that this blacksmith was crucial. If nothing was asked, the probability was that the mode of dialogue was not correct.. Chapter 144 - 82: Mysterious Blacksmith Chapter 144: Chapter 82: Mysterious Blacksmith Translator: 549690339 | Leonard Churchill walked in, his gaze quickly sweeping the surroundings. This was a traditional blacksmith shop. The shop owner was a middle-aged burly man with a beard, who was rhythmically hammering a red-hot iron block clamped with iron tongs on the anvil in front of a blazing forge. The owner didnt pay much attention to the new customer, stating directly, Silver-plating work costs three silver coins, materials not included. Alright. Please silver-plate these arrows for me. Leonard originally planned to engage in some small talk and subtly inquire about the situation in the Burial Mountain Mine. However, the moment he saw the blacksmith, he noticed a faint dark light pulsating from him. He thought he might be seeing things, so he continued probing, Mr. George, Im an adventurer from Owen City. Do you know what has happened in the Burial Mountain Mine? Why are there werewolves there? The name of the city was something he had gleaned from the locals, and he had changed into a local linen outfit. He wanted to see if he could glean a different kind of information under the guise of being not a demon hunter but adventurer. However, he didnt get the information he expected, instead he again saw an uncontrollable surge of dark power radiating from the blacksmith. Magic power out of control! In that instance, Leonard confirmed it wasnt an illusion, a wave of surprise washing over him. He was not unfamiliar with such a situation. It was just like when he had encountered the Lone Wolf Baron, the man standing in front of him was suffering from uncontrolled energy within his body! What was happening? Most of these hunters were now feasting and drinking in the tavern. They filled their belly and quenched their thirst, waiting for later when they could head together to the mine and collectively hunt the werewolves. Leonard thought for a moment and then entered the tavern. Having toured most of the town, he was keen to hear if these hunter guys had found any clues. Scarface, heard you guys found a Black Iron Knight Breathing Technique Secret Manual? Tsk, thats tens of thousands in hand... Old Cliff, you managed to grab a Demon Beast Crystal Core from the jewelry store? What damn luck that is... Hey, did you guys investigate any clues? What exactly is the situation with that Burial Mountain Mine... Investigate my foot, those residents dont have a clue. You guys dont know, the women in this town are so damn juicy, like that milk sellers wife, shes just like a dairy cow. I tried my utmost questioning, guess what? Still didnt get any information... Hahaha. Upon entering the tavern, various conversations filled his ears. Some were discussing serious matters, others were sharing raunchy stories. Leonard glanced around. Five administrators from the Black Wolf Group were there, but the two suspicious individuals were not to be seen. Hunters were seated in groups of three to five, chatting and boasting about their findings. There were very few lone hunters in this space, most formed small groups like these. However, most of them were here for the werewolf hunting rewards, very few were really interested in unearthing clues and solving the plot. Leonard walked to a corner and sat down, calling upon the tavern owner to bring him a mug of beer. He listened quietly for a while, but didnt discover any valuable information. As he was halfway through his drink, the creaking noise of the butterfly door announced the entry of three people into the tavern. Leonard cast a glance. Even though they had changed their clothes and covered their faces, he recognized them as Tracy Garcia and her group. The hunters inside the tavern sized up the three newcomers, their glances were less than friendly. Female hunters were few in number, and having two in a group of three was bound to draw attention. However, Liam Martinez was a bona fide Black Knight, his aura was extraordinary, the hunters didnt dare to start any conflict. As soon as Tracy entered, her gaze swept over the tavern and quickly landed on Leonard who was sitting alone at a table. Her face lit up.. Chapter 145 - 82 Mysterious Blacksmith_2 Chapter 145: Chapter 82 Mysterious Blacksmith_2 Translator: 549690339 | As soon as her two friends took seats, the young Spirit Communicator found an excuse to discreetly sidle over. Leonard Churchill looked at the young lady with round buns across from him, beckoning the bartender, ordering another drink for her. Tracy Garcia curiously looked at Leonard Churchill in his local attire and asked, Mr. Leonard Churchill, why did you change into this outfit? However, as soon as the words left her mouth, she had an epiphany and slapped her forehead: Oh, why didnt I think of this? This would certainly help us collect more information. Leonard Churchill just smiled without saying much, raising his glass for a toast. Tracy Garcia also took off her face veil, took the cup, and drank a big gulp as if she was very thirsty. You dont know, I just chatted with the old lady at the herbal shop for a long time. Im parched. Of course, Leonard Churchill knew. Earlier, when he was wandering around the town, he wanted to visit the Potion Shop, but when he saw Tracy Garcia and the others lingering at the herbal shop, he didnt go. The three were there to find the Potion Formula, so going to the herbal shop was the right thinking. If someone else asked, he could save some time. Leonard Churchill casually asked, How did it go? Did you get any leads? Tracy Garcia responded, A little. We got several herbal formulas, but not what we wanted. We were chatting very well, but then the old ladys son came back and said they were not welcome to us demon hunters and threw us out. Speaking of this, she glanced at the rough hunters at the neighboring table and couldnt help but criticize: These guys have done bad things in town, and now everyone in the town is very hostile to us. Its challenging to find clues. Leonard Churchill chuckled and thought of something, then asked, Did you hear anything about an epidemic that happened in the town about half a year ago while at the herbal shop? Huh... no. Tracy Garcia didnt understand why he asked this, and replied, We specifically asked for the epidemic formula. But the old lady said theres none. Leonard Churchill frowned upon hearing this and asked again, Was there none, or was she avoiding it and not saying anything? Visit for the best novel reading experience Tracy Garcia didnt understand why his tone became serious and said, It should be none. The old lady was very amicable. Oh, right, she also gave me Leonard Churchill initially thought that it was just the mine with problems. Now it seems that the origin of the problem still lies in Townsend Town. Leonard Churchills mind sank into rapid reasoning, and he stopped talking for a while. Tracy Garcia on the other side didnt know what he was thinking, and after a glance at him, she looked somewhat uncomfortable and said, Oh right, Mr. Leonard Churchill. Later we will hunt werewolves in the Burial Mountain Mine and I want to invite you to join us. Our team just happens to miss a puzzle-solving expert. Um... Both my partners and I think so. This miss with round buns seemed a bit confused, getting her words jumbled up. Monster-slaying plot needs a puzzle-solving expert? Leonard Churchill couldnt help but grin at Tracy Garcias excuse. This girl must have felt that she didnt agree to team up earlier due to pride? But after thinking about it, he agreed directly: Sure. If nothing unexpected happens, its just a C-level difficulty which will help him get familiar with the plot. If an unexpected event did occur, he couldnt say for sure. Leonard Churchill felt that the latter possibility was much greater. He didnt think much of it when he discovered that the Black Wolf Group made some minor moves earlier. But when he thought about it afterwards, he found a serious issue. The hunters in this entry are almost all from Sinless City. What about the previous several batches? Could they all have perished? But strangely, Leonard Churchill observed earlier that there were none in the camp. This was quite odd. Leonard Churchill always assumes the worst possibility. If it assumed correctly, then the Black Wolf Group must have played a significant role. Killing hunters is pointless, as most hunters are not wealthy. But if it was done to figure out higher difficulty plots, then it made sense.. Chapter 146 - 82: Mysterious Blacksmith_3 Chapter 146: Chapter 82: Mysterious Blacksmith_3 Translator. 549690339 A narrative difficulty of at least Level B could wipe out a small team of dozens of people. Leonard Churchill didnt mind. Seemed his style somehow. Treacherous, cunning, greedy... now thats Sinless City. According to the current intel, it might be a bit of a stretch for him alone. But with Tracy Garcia and the other two, handling a Level B difficulty narrative issue shouldnt be too much of a problem. Those guys from the Black Wolf Group clearly had some information that others didnt know about. Just as Tracy Garcia took the initiative to form a team with Leonard Churchill. Liam Martinez and Alison who were a few tables away, knew what she was doing, and looked helpless. Ah, Little Garcia is really... I dont know why shes trusting a stranger so much. She even voluntarily made it easy for him. Let it be, consider it as leading a newbie. Once we go out, we have to check thoroughly to see if shes under any mental spell or something. Little Garcia herself has high mental power, theres no way she could be easily affected by any mental spells? Probably... well, lets talk more when we get back. Shes been with us since we were kids, hasnt had much exposure to strangers, pure-hearted and easily deceived by sweet talk... The two chatted and sighed at the same time. This carpool of hunters had agreed when they arrived that they would collectively go to the Burial Mountain Mine on the first day. This way, everyone would easily complete the two mandatory missions of hunting a werewolf and 17 Quality Iron Ore . With their bellies full of food and drinks, a team of over forty left Townsend Town. This was also an underground world, it was completely dark outside the town. The group carried torches and various lighting tools, heading towards the forest to the west. Leonard Churchill carefully observed his surroundings. The mine was larger than he had imagined, with most mine paths being seven or eight meters high. The irregular marks dug out were all around. The light from the lamps reflected a metallic gloss on the rock walls, these were all iron ore. The path of the mine went underground, after not too long, they saw a very large karst space. Looking down, Leonard Churchill could see a layer of green fog but couldnt see the bottom. But according to intel, this pit was two to three hundred meters deep. This was the first level of the mine. The rock walls around the deep pit were all large pieces of wood and wooden planks forming walkways. This mine was several hundred years old; some wooden planks had rotted. It felt like stepping on air and youd fall into the pit with no visible bottom. But the hunters were all Extraordinary Men, such an environment couldnt hinder their steps in the slightest. After entering, there were forks in the path and the hunters began splitting up. They were hunting monsters and seeking treasure; being in large group wasnt ideal. Leonard Churchill and the three others also found a path, along the railway track, continuing further into the mine. The wooden planks beneath their feet looked black and rotted, but were quite firm. They could at least bear a few tons of ore without collapsing. But after walking for a while, signs of battle could be found. In some places, the wooden planks had broken and needed to be jumped over. Liam Martinez, who was leading the way, took out his card and had already changed into the Black Knights Heavy Armor, holding a single-handed sword and a small Round Shield. Alison, the ranger, also got her crossbow out, looking like shes in full combat mode. Tracy Garcia was a Spirit Communicator. There was no need to summon a spirit monster if there was no fight, but she was a little nervous in this environment, fully focused on her surroundings. Only Leonard Churchill in the back, resting his hands on his revolver at his waist, seemed relaxed. Her two companions seemed to have stopped talking and mocking ever since he had joined the team, not sure what Tracy Garcia had said to them. But they didnt seem like they had the intention to interact. Like a stranger in the team.. Chapter 147 - 82 Mysterious Blacksmith_4 Chapter 147: Chapter 82 Mysterious Blacksmith_4 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill didnt mind being the weak link in the team. It was less stress for him. Not long after their journey started, the sounds of battle echoed through the mine. Sudden screams of people falling from a height could be heard too. People were dying the moment they entered. This environment was a perfect hunting ground for the werewolves. They hid in the shadows and could pop up from anywhere. The werewolves on the first level of the mine were not much of a problem. According to the intel, most of the werewolves were transformed from ordinary miners, their power levels were just about that of an advanced card apprentice. However, the bloodline of werewolves made their combat power much higher. Search ( newn0el. ) on google The real trouble was the Catastrophe Level werewolves, the powerful knights who had been transformed due to pollution. But, not many were on the first level. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Most of the Catastrophe Level werewolves were below the second level of the mine. Leonard didnt let his guard down, his hand resting on the gunstock, his eyes observing their surroundings carefully. But he also noticed something and murmured to himself, The dark elements inside this mine is much denser than the outside... The deeper they went, the more intense the dark elements became. The intel stated that the mine had three levels. He was very curious about what could possibly be at the bottom of this mine. But the third level was extremely dangerous and would trigger a Level B plot. Their goal this time was of Level C difficulty, and they didnt plan to go to the third level. They hadnt walked for long before the sounds of gunfire and battle echoed all around them. The werewolves hiding in the dark on the first level seemed to be attracted by the scent of humans. Suddenly, a whooshing sound broke the silence. Leonards sharp gaze was on Alison who was the target of a leaping shadow from the cliff. The attack was very sudden. Liam Martinez, the leader of the group, also noticed it and yelled, Watch out! Alison looked like a delicate huntress, but as a ranger, she was one of the agile extraordinary men, and her response was very quick! As the murderous intent came from above, she wasted no time and leaped towards the cliff. She fired crossbow arrows with one hand while her other hand shot out a steel cable which wrapped around a wooden stake. After all, they were a team, and their cooperation was seamless. Liam also raised his shield in time, charging at the figure that suddenly appeared behind him. There was a muffled thud sound. The giant werewolf was pushed against the cliff An arrow stuck in its eye. A brightly lit longsword stuck in its jaw, piercing through its throat. Blood gushed out in an instance. A werewolf, which usually required four or five card master apprentices to kill, was dispatched with one strike by the knight in heavy armor. At this point, Alison has also retracted the steel cable, lightly landed back on the wooden plank. The two of them worked together to resolve the werewolf attack within a second. The fight was quickly initiated and ended swiftly. Watching the werewolf pinned against the wall, with blood spurting from its mouth, Leonard was intrigued. It was also very pricey. The hunters needed to find an iron ore with a purity level above 17 for their mission, but if they could also find a piece of high-purity Mithril ore, they would make a fortune. Leonard Churchill casually picked up a piece, which the Enlightenment Display showed to be waste iron ore with a purity of 3. To find high-purity ones, they need to go deeper. Leonard Churchill didnt pay much attention to the ores. Instead, he was increasingly puzzled by the ever-intensifying dark element around. Why would there be such a strong Dark Power here? It seemed that the reason werewolves preferred to pile up in this mine was due to this dense dark element. The four continued their descent. Werewolves were intelligent creatures. Probably seeing that the four of them were not to be trifled with, no werewolf attacked them afterwards. Leonard Churchill occasionally spotted glowing red eyes glaring fiercely at them from a distance, but they didnt dare come closer. And so, they continued their descent. There were many werewolves in the second level of the mine because this was where most of the miners used to work. The frequency of battle sounds increased, and hunters were injured or killed one after another. But this was within the normal casualty rate. This didnt deter the hunters from continuing their exploration. Various treasures were discovered along the way, making everyone excited about their exploration. Even Leonard Churchill and his team, trailing behind, found some weapons, gold and silver coins, etc. These could be worth tens of thousands. The entry fee was worth it. Under normal circumstances, a few hours in here would be enough for them to find treasures that covered their entry fee, and complete the tasks of collecting ores and hunting werewolves. Then they could return to the city. The subsequent two days would be for individual actions. Thats pretty much what a C-level difficulty was like. However, like werewolves, the unexpected came without warning. When the group of hunters reached the depths of the second level of the mine, Enlightenment happened suddenly. Hidden plot triggered, exploration rate +15%; Wolfsbane blooming, dormant werewolves will actively hunt for food; current Disaster Level B. Seeing the sudden alert, Tracy Garcia and the other two were taken aback. The difficulty suddenly increased to B-level, which meant a death rate of 50% was waving at them. Apparently, it wasnt just them. All the hunters saw it. The mine echoed with curses instantly. Damn it, who went to the third level?! Who the hell is trying to get us killed?! Run, the B-level catastrophe from the third level is out! Leonard Churchills expression didnt change upon hearing this. Instead, he seemed to have understood something and thought, So that was the Black Wolf Groups plan all along. They were using the other hunters to trigger a higher-level plot. As Leonard Churchill had speculated. However, he also felt the C-level difficulty was rather meaningless, Now, with the B-level difficulty, it felt just right.. Chapter 148 - 83: Gunplay Chapter 148: Chapter 83: Gunplay Translator: 549690339 The Enlightenment Tip then suddenly raised the plot difficulty to Level B. The wide second layer of the Burial Mountain Mine was filled with ghostly wails and howls of wolves. It was not just the cries of the hunters, but also the continuous ooh ooh ooh howls of the wolves. As soon as one wolf started to howl, it was like a chain reaction. The entire mine was filled with faltering wails that made peoples hair stand on end. The blooming of wolfsbane made the werewolves enter a frenzied state. Previously, they only attacked when someone entered their territory of hatred, but now they have started hunting actively. Leonard Churchill glanced around. The walls of the mine were glowing with pairs of red wolf eyes everywhere. Tracy Garcia and her two teammates were clueless, thinking that some reckless hunter had triggered a Level B plot. Search ( newn0el. ) on google The sheer number of monsters, along with the darkness of the mine, made the fight less favorable. Without any more thought, the decisive Black Knight Liam Martinez roared, Move! We need to exit the mine first! The four of them, who were not in a hurry to find treasure, walked in the back. This position made it easier for them to run. Churchill was at the end of the team. Without any hesitation, he turned around and ran. The vanguard became the rearguard, and the rearguard became the vanguard. Now, monsters were everywhere. The first and last persons in the team were most likely to be attacked by the werewolves and were also in the most dangerous situation. Just as he turned to run a few steps, Liam Martinez, who was last in the team, had already used his shield to push a werewolf into the minepit shouting, Watch out! Little Garcia, Alison, you both should take care of the front. Alison nodded. They all knew that the weak link was at the front now. The one who ran slowly could slow down the entire team. Tracy Garcia kept looking at Leonard Churchill, who was leading in front. She had initially intended to run to the front to replace him. After all, she was a first-tier curse card master. However, as she kept running, she realized that she could not catch up to Churchill. Their fur and muscles have strong tenacity. When bullets hit, the bullet head would be embedded in the outer muscle layer, barely hurting them. To inflict deadly damage to werewolves with firearms, the eyes are one of the few weak spots. But werewolves are very cunning and hide their weaknesses well. Aiming and hitting such a target while both you and it are moving at high speed is not something an ordinary person can do. Not only do you need exceptional gun skills, but you also need to have an absolutely calm judgment aiming. Having this level of skill is enough to be called a master gunman. Although the monster did not die, the crisis was resolved cleverly. All it took was pulling the trigger twice. It was even easier than the previous team effort of Martinez and Alison to kill a werewolf. Great shooting! Both Martinez and Alison inwardly exclaimed. At this moment, it seems they understood why Garcia said, Mr. Leonard Churchill is very powerful. They had to admit, they seemed to have misjudged him before. If they were outside where special bullets could be used, this superb shooting skill could pose a lethal threat to the curse card master. Simply based on shooting skills, calling him a master wouldnt be too far off. Both of them, looking at the retreating figure, cast a side glance at Tracy Garcia, who was running in the second position, feeling somewhat apologetic. Their previous dismissive attitude was indeed a bit premature. However, what they didnt know was that the Spirit Communicator would be just as flabbergasted if she knew what her teammates were thinking because she didnt have any idea herself. The initial two shots could have been credited to luck. However, Churchills follow-up responses left the other three speechless. With Churchill running at the front and the ever-increasing number of werewolves, the pressure was immense. Even Martinez, an experienced front-line knight constantly facing danger, felt significant pressure. The two of them, one in the front and one in the back, bore nearly 70% of the teams pressure. Under such high pressure, errors in judgement and response were inevitable.. Chapter 149 - 83 Gun Technique 2 Chapter 149: Chapter 83 Gun Technique 2 Translator: 549690339 | The Black Knight was no problem for him. Even if he made a mistake occasionally, he had his armor to rely on. The claws of ordinary werewolves could only scrape metal gullies on this set of black warrior battle armor, but they couldnt hurt him at all. It had a high error tolerance. But in this situation, a cloth-armored profession like a gunman would have a hard time. In other words, a mistake was the equivalent of losing a life. The werewolves claws could easily tear through ordinary steel. When scratching an apprentice without a Curse Power Protective Barrier, it could tear off a large chunk of flesh with a single swipe. The three people behind him were frightened every step of the way. They were afraid that if Leonards bullet missed the monster, hed be swatted to death by a paw. After all, in their eyes, Leonard the gunman was the weakest link in their team. Among the four of them, two were Card Masters, and although Alison was also a Card Disciple, her Demon Mark and equipment far surpassed ordinary people. She was a ranger specializing in agility and skill, and her ability to survive was incredibly high. Tracy Garcia wanted to catch up, but she found herself always lagging behind. She could only be ready to provide emergency aid at any time. However, under such uneasy worries, unexpectedly, their team was able to rush up all the way without any accidents. The accidents they were worried about didnt occur at all. In contrast, the three of them were in total chaos. They then understood that the strength of Leonard in front of them was even more formidable than they had thought. It was not just about his excellent marksmanship. This guys mindset was shockingly calm. Facing so many monsters, wasnt he nervous at all? The truth proved that he was not. There wasnt even a single mistake. Every time a monster sprang out from the dark, he would draw his gun swiftly. He hit his mark with every shot. If he couldnt aim at the eyes, he would aim for the throat. Werewolves usually breathe with their mouths slightly open when they run, hitting the gap between their fangs could also result in significant damage; If he couldnt even hit the throat, he would aim for the testicles. Even though the werewolves were good at hiding, there were always vulnerabilities between their legs when running. A shot at a testicle might not necessarily shatter it. But with the howling and the twisted gait of the werewolf, it must hurt immensely. If the anus wasnt out of reach, he probably could hit all four fatal weaknesses of a werewolf. The fact that he was able to escape the siege using only two revolvers left Tracy and the other two speechless. But it might be for Leonard Churchill! However, as sudden as the unexpected attack was, the turn of events was even more so.) But Tracy Garcias rescue attempt... was unnecessary. Because... Because she watched as Leonard Churchill suddenly braked, and with the momentum of the rush, landed a solid counter roundhouse kick on the bared teeth and open mouth of the werewolfs head. There was a muffled thud. As if he had kicked a sandbag. It was solid. Originally, the werewolf was going to bite off Leonard Churchills neck, but that clever kick made it miss! And at just the right angle, Leonard Churchill shoved the muzzle into the werewolfs mouth and fired two quick shots. As if he had carefully calculated it all along. This Class D Catastrophe was sent reeling, its mouth full of bloody foam and yowling, it had to retreat and jump back onto the rock wall. A definite killing blow was diffused just like that. All using only simple kicks and gunplay. This was a Class D Catastrophe after all! In this moment, time seemed to slow down a hundredfold, and the thoughts of the three spectators seemed to freeze. Especially Liam Martinez, who couldnt help but be startled: This... Only he, as a fellow close-range Curse Card Master, could understand just how outrageous that kick was. Keep in mind, this Class D werewolfs strength was on par with a beginner close-range Curse Card Master. And it got kicked aside? Isnt this guy a sharpshooter? Whats the deal with this outrageous strength? And that perfect angle, kicking the werewolfs head right onto the gun muzzle? This wasnt just a coincidence. Recognizing this exceptional adaptability, Liam Martinez had to admit: Impressive! Ah, I see now. This fellow must be following the strength-oriented profession line of Fighter or Black Knight while also training in gunplay. In that case, calling him a master isnt an exaggeration at all. However. He did not anticipate that this was only the beginning. What would follow would take this outrageous turn of events even further.. Chapter 150 - 84, Are you saying, kill all the monsters? Chapter 150: Chapter 84, Are you saying, kill all the monsters? Translator: 549690339 I With a spin kick from Leonard Churchill, and a swift two blasts from the gun jammed on the werewolfs throat, he didnt forget to lift his other gun to aim a shot towards the lady Spirit Communicator, who was preparing to dispatch her own card. He had seen that Tracy Garcia was in danger trying to save him. Bang! The gunshot echoed. A silhouette fell in response. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Tracy glanced at the werewolf that fell next to her, momentarily stunned. Their eyes met, and she saw a hint of humor in those indifferent eyes, as if she heard a reminder in her ear, dont lose focus. Finally, the bob-haired lady snapped out of her surprise. More and more werewolves gathered, making firearms more and more strenuous. The cunning monsters discovered that the weapons spewing fire posed a deadly threat to them, triggering an instinctual defense. Despite Leonard Churchills persistent effort to pinpoint their weakness, his hit rate was declining. If it continued like this, escaping would prove to be difficult. The D-class werewolf Catastrophe from earlier was only injured, not killed. At the moment, it hid in the dark, eyeing its prey menacingly, its deadly intent shadowing them. The pressure kept mounting. Leonard Churchill clearly felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, a looming sense of death. If he didnt prepare now, the next moment could plunge him into danger. Moreover, he had taken some time to observe earlier. While Tracy Garcia, Liam Martinez, and Alison were competent in combat, their combined strength was less than that of Camilla. With just the four of them, having to face a B-level Catastrophe monster led by a werewolf was enormously risky. Looks like were getting serious. Leonard Churchill made a decision in his heart. Hed intended to avoid revealing his true strength in front of others unless absolutely necessary. But the present situation clearly wouldnt allow for that. Having made up his mind, he put it into action. Leonard Churchills strength attribute, nearing 11 now, had reached the standard of a Peak Card Disciple. Seeing this, It was then that Tracy Garcia and the others came to understand what the discarded gear was. Their eyes twitched. What...was going on? Was this guy wearing this the whole way? Tracy Garcias eyes sparkled as she recalled when she had attempted to help Leonard Churchill earlier, and he said, I can manage in combat. So he wasnt bluffing, but actually incredibly strong. Alison was at a loss for words to express her feelings. The extreme disparity contrasted her judgment, and she admired in her heart Little Garcias friend is... really strong. Hes at least a lot stronger than she, a Ninth-Stage card-user ranger. Liam Martinez was also taken aback. Weight-bearing is a mandatory training for Black Knights, he had an inkling what it was when he first saw Leonard throwing things. This guy was even stronger than he thought. Liam Martinez ridiculed himself, and then let out a light laugh. He wasnt exactly narrow-minded, his previous concern was his comrade being deceived, it wasnt really anything personal. Realizing now, that this Leonard Churchill was genuinely skilled as Tracy Garcia mentioned. He was comfortable admitting that he was wrong. And now with the B-level difficulty. Its always good to have stronger teammates. Liam Martinez waved his longsword, inflicting severe wounds on a werewolf and pressed on. Once Leonard Churchill shed the weight, he suddenly felt as light as a swallow. Indeed, the werewolves strength and agility matched that of high-ranking card master apprentices, probably around 7-10 points. But Leonard Churchills attributes were a solid near-u in all aspects! With such an attribute advantage, even if he deliberately disguises as a Black Kmght Sequence, without displaying too exaggerated agility, it was enough to crush most ordinary werewolves.. Chapter 151 - 84, Are you saying, kill all the monsters? 2 Chapter 151: Chapter 84, Are you saying, kill all the monsters? 2 Translator: 549690339 | Dual guns blazing, a fist or a kick was enough to send the werewolves flying. With him clearing the path, the four of them managed to smoothly reach the first level of the mine pit. Given their momentum, they would likely have been the first to escape from the mine shaft. However, As expected, Leonard Churchill encountered unexpected trouble, right on schedule. Since the Black Wolf Group wanted to use the hunters to trigger the high-difficulty plot, of course they didnt want anyone to escape the mine easily. This chapter is updated by While Leonard was running, he suddenly felt uneasy. He abruptly noticed the strange feel underneath his feet. It was like stepping into soft mud, instantly disturbing his balance. At a glance, there was a loud crack as the timber shattered. The solid mine road that could normally hold a minecart had suddenly collapsed. Leonards eyes flickered. He had specifically chosen the path they had taken before, theoretically, this accident was impossible to occur. His intuition immediately told him what was happening: someone had tampered with the wooden support frame after they had gone in. But there was no time to think more. His step set off a domino effect, causing the wooden structure along the mine road for hundreds of meters to collapse. Not only him, but the person closest behind him, Tracy Garcia, was also affected. She lost her balance and screamed as she plummeted toward the bottom of the mine pit. Alison was also within the reach of the collapse, but she was able to leap onto the broken bridge using her Agility, narrowly avoiding the danger. Just as she steadied herself and was about to jump down to save Tracy, Leonards reaction was faster. When the mine road collapsed, he was only taken aback for a moment before kicking again the fallen wooden framework, using the force to leap upward lightly. Having just removed the heavy load, his high agility attribute was fully displayed at this moment. He stepped on a protruded rock from the rock wall and easily stabilized his falling body. However, in his peripheral vision, he saw Tracy falling behind him. Just after he had steadied himself on the rock, he jumped over and grabbed Tracy by the waist. After carrying hundreds of kilos, rescuing one person was of course a piece of cake. Before Tracy had a chance to react, he had shot a steel cable with a flying claw into the fissure of the rock wall. The cross-shaped arrowhead expanded and anchored firmly into the crevice. Using the force, Leonard swung the two of them dozens of meters along the rock wall. If they forced themselves up, the risk would be extremely high. We dont necessarily have to climb the wall. Leonard Churchill thought of something and came up with a different plan: The number of werewolves in the mine is limited. By choosing an appropriate terrain, the risk of killing them might be smaller. Kill all the werewolves? Upon hearing this, Tracy Garcia and the others looked as if they had heard wrong. They were still thinking about how to escape the mine. This guy was actually thinking about killing all the monsters? Not to mention whether it could be done, wasnt the normal mindset to escape first when encountering such a predicament? All three of them turned their gaze towards Leonard Churchill. If he hadnt shown his extraordinary prowess before, Liam Martinez and the others wouldnt choose to believe him. But the facts proved that he indeed was an expert hand. Moreover, Tracy Garcia had said that he was a puzzle-solving expert. Clearly, there was a deep meaning behind his plan. Killing all the monsters in the mine pit by themselves sounded like a tall tale. But Churchill proposed this monster-killing idea not only because he had an ace card up his sleeve. He also guessed that Liam Martinez and the others had aces of their own. Before, he observed their battle tactics, and even when accidentally triggering the B-rank plot, they remained calm. Their composure during such a situation wasnt just a matter of mentality. It was drawn from strength. Which means, Liam Martinez and the others had some hidden techniques. After all, Tracy Garcia had said before they arrived that their target would be of B-rank difficulty. This was Leonard Churchills confidence in suggesting the kill all plan. When it came to life and death, no one could take it lightly. Alison asked directly: Do you think we should kill those werewolves in the mine right now? Churchill nodded: Yes. After all, apart from Tracy Garcia, he and Liam Martinez had no foundation for collaboration. If they were to cooperate in monster hunting next, he felt obligated to explain further, People from the Black Wolf Group have chosen to trigger a hidden plot. I speculate that they found out the Alternate Dimension was collapsing because the low-difficulty levels have been swept too many times, so they made a desperate move and explored a difficult plot. Triggering the B-rank difficulty in the third level of the mine wants to bring out that B-rank Catastrophe and let all of us hold it back. But this is not their ultimate goal. If Im not wrong, the Black Wolf Group should already be exploring hidden plots in the third level of the mine... Alison: This... Liam Martinez came to a realization: Right! At this point, Churchill added, And I suspect... the third level of the mine might just be the beginning. They are very likely to go to the fourth level. In that case, the probability of triggering an A-level plot will be very high.... Chapter 152 - 85: A-Level Plot Difficulty Chapter 152: Chapter 85: A-Level Plot Difficulty Translator: 549690339 An A-rank Catastrophe Difficulty? The moment these words were spoken, a grave look instantly appeared on the faces of Liam Martinez and Alison. They might have some chances against a B-rank difficulty. But A-rank is almost impossible. But they couldnt figure out why Leonard Churchill would say such a thing. Alison wanted to understand, so she asked directly: Why do you think the Black Wolf Group will trigger an A-Level Plot? The werewolves were surrounding them, Leonard Churchill didnt waste time standing around. He took the lead: Follow me for now. I know a place thats good for fighting. Tracy Garcia didnt think twice and followed right behind. However, Alison and Liam Martinez looked at each other, clearly hesitating. Is he making decisions alone? Didnt he even discuss it with us? This guy... hes really arrogant, isnt he? But for some reason, their instincts told them that he was right. Without further hesitation, they followed him. If Leonard Churchill made a judgment, he would definitely follow through with it. Seeking the opinions of others at this moment would be nothing but a waste of time, completely meaningless. He was also confident that if Liam Martinez and Alison thought slightly about it, they would definitely follow. As they walked, Leonard Churchill explained: The Black Wolf Group had successfully passed the B-level difficulty before and obtained silver materials. Although they suffered heavy casualties, they proved that they had killed the B-level Catastrophe. More than once. Tracy Garcia and the two others didnt know why he was saying this. But thinking back to the recruitment information, the Black Wolf Group really did mention that they had silver materials, it was the most important point enticing demon hunters to join. Before they had thought more about it, Leonard Churchill continued: In other words, they should roughly know the secrets of the third floor of the mine. So theres enough reason to suspect that those guys have entered this time not to explore the third floor, but to uncover deeper hidden plots. He paused for a bit before adding: From the information we know so far, the biggest secret of the Alternate Dimension is hidden deep in the mine. Theoretically, the probability of triggering an A-rank difficulty is not small. Therefore, getting rid of these werewolves as early as possible will give us more options to deal with unexpected situations in the future... Yes! The eyes of Liam Martinez and Alison were shimmering. If the Black Wolf Group has already challenged the B-level difficulty and set up such a scheme, isnt it for the A-level difficulty? This chapter is updated by It was like they had been given the answer. By retracing the steps, everything became clear. But the sudden catastrophe earlier left them with no time to think about anything else, they only focused on escaping. They only thought about escaping first and then considering the rest. But they had never thought that someone had already thought of everything in the face of such a crisis. Without having cooperated before, Liam Martinez and Alison kept their due caution. After all, they had just been schemed by the Black Wolf Group. They couldnt simply trust a risky plan based on a hypothesis and entrust their lives to it. Wipe them out? The Black Wolf Groups elite had come in and they still wouldnt dare to have such a crazy plan. Even though they were confident to deal with the B-level Catastrophe. They have never thought of killing in a monsters lair. What the hell was this guy thinking? Alisons eyes flickered as she asked the biggest question in her heart: But you said there will be an A-rank difficulty triggered, shouldnt we return to the town? Upon hearing these words, Leonard Churchill pondered for a moment before saying meaningfully: Even if we can make it out, going back to town now is not necessarily a good choice. They had originally planned to ambush at the entrance, but now that the mine tunnel was broken, they could also do it here. ??? The moment these words were spoken, Tracy Garcia and the two others were immediately puzzled. They did not understand, Hearing that, even Leonard couldnt help looking at Tracy, quite amused. He could guarantee that this young lady hadnt entirely understood his conjectures just now. It was pure trust that made her come to a decision. Not any reasoned judgment on her part. But now was clearly not the time for chit-chat. While Liam and the others were mulling things over, Leonard who had thought of something else, said, Theres another thing you must be extremely wary of. I suspect the Demon Hunter Employment Contract we signed when entering the town may be related to the A-rank plot. It could potentially lead you into a death trap. Upon hearing this, Tracy and her team who hadnt yet fully grasped the previous issue, immediately grew solemn again. A death trap? Just by hearing his grave tone, they knew it was a serious matter. But they were baffled. What does this have to do with the contract? Without dragging things on, Leonard continued, Because the Black Wolf Group has triggered an A-rank difficulty... Considering the current information, the Black Wolf Group has indeed triggered an A-rank difficulty. Although they didnt mention the mortality rate. It definitely was high. Plus, they surely didnt complete it with a normal clear. Leonard became quite curious then, how on Earth did the scarce survivors in the A-rank difficulty survive? The 407 event was relatively unusual, but the monster strength alone could be a good gauge. The combat power of an A-rank Catastrophe in an Alternate Dimension was absolutely beyond what a second-rate hunting team like the Black Wolf Group could kill. Although the method of clearing the Story Mode didnt necessarily involve monster slaying. But considering their behavior in the B-rank difficulty, where they relied on others to draw the monsters off, The plot clues they held were just barely enough for them to scrape their way through a B-rank difficulty. It was highly unlikely that they could clear an A-rank level. Leonard was almost certain that the time they cleared the A-rank difficulty was purely down to luck, with some managing to survive the three days. Thats why he was so curious. How did the survivors make it out? This method must be of relatively easy access, accidental, and unexpected. With these conditions in mind, what Leonard could currently think of was the employment contract they signed when entering the town. He had a reason to suspect that the hidden Boss would use that list of demon hunters to carry out the hunt. Although he wasnt sure whether it would be through magic or some other means. Having listened to Leonards explanation, Liam Martinez and Alison have no words left to say, only deep shock remaining in their hearts. The two of them completely approved of Tracys evaluation of Leonard as a puzzle solving master. If one can draw conclusions from knowing some clues that others dont, that doesnt count as a master. What theyre witnessing now does! The fact that the Black Wolf Group had cleared an A-rank difficulty and also a B-rank... This was information that everyone had known long ago. But they would have never thought that someone could find a thread from such information right under their noses, and then infer so many useful clues. Yeah, once you trace it back, isnt it just like that? At this moment, even without Tracy saying anything, theyve already chosen to believe Leonard, this outsider. Liam and Alison exchanged glances, and turned to Leonard to say solemnly: Fine! As youve suggested, we will stay in the mine. Leonardo just nodded with a smile. Only with a certain foundation of trust did he truly have the confidence to clear the stage. Otherwise, he would have to consider using some tricky tactics.. Chapter 153 - 86: Clearing Out Chapter 153: Chapter 86: Clearing Out Translator: 549690339 The plot of Greedy Mining Well was not really complex to begin with. Its just that some information was hidden and misleading by Non-Player Characters, causing a bit of confusion. At this moment, Leonard Churchills train of thought was clear. The clues he had so far were: A year ago, something happened in the depths of Burial Mountain Mine. The blacksmith, George, was the only survivor, but for some reason he became a werewolf. A lot of people died in Townsend Town around half a year ago, supposedly due to an epidemic. There was once a team from the Lord that came to investigate. They had a witch and a knight skilled at curing epidemics, but they all disappeared. The actual epidemic never occurred. Conclusion: There was never an epidemic. The many deaths in Townsend Town were caused by werewolves from start to finish. But not by the werewolf currently in the mine. Instead, it was Blacksmith George and Mayor Barn, and potentially others. They couldnt hide the decrease in population, so they lied that it was an epidemic. The Lord sent people to investigate. They killed the investigation team from the Lord and infected them, creating even more werewolves. Everything was to hide the secret deep in the mine. Blacksmith George had injuries and his magical power was out of control, it could have been caused during the fight with the investigation team. Follow current novels at novelhall.com) As for why they recruited demon hunters, it could be to cover a lie with another lie. Or for other reasons. Like... food. He said, retracting his one-handed sword, then took a card with a red longsword pattern from the card slot and shouted, Release! The next moment, a two-handed sword shining with a red glow appeared in his hand. As this sword was drawn, the entire mine was illuminated in red by firelight, and the temperature suddenly surged several degrees higher. With the fiery sword in hand, Liam Martinezs aura sharply rose, with a snort. It wasnt without saying that, this snort, showed all the pretentious qualities of a youth. And it also revealed a little hint of a mans competitive nature. Just when a new recruit stole the spotlight in front of his two comrades, he, as a Black Knight, had to make a comeback. Liam Martinez slashed his sword horizontally, cutting the werewolf, whose muscles were as hard as iron, clean in half under this fiery sword. The wound was charred and the air was filled with the smell of scorched meat. Liam Martinez stood in place, the aura of a Black Knight able to take on a thousand men instantly enveloped the whole scene. Tracy Garcia and Alison, who were already his comrades, had seen this countless times and werent surprised. Instead, they rolled their eyes at his showing off. Liam Martinez wasnt showing off for them, but glanced at the only outsider in the team from under his helmet. He initially thought he would see a shocked expression on Leonard Churchills face, like his own before. However, to his surprise, those eyes visible from the half face mask were completely unfazed. Although Leonard Churchill had no visible reaction, he did acknowledge the impressive nature and the spectacle of the sword. But because he had anticipated that this guy had a trump card, it was not so surprising. Compared to this, Leonard Churchill was more curious about the red sword. Relic-Fire Salamander Sword Explanation: A level I ancient relic; A two-handed sword of the ancient fire demon swordsman, containing rich fire-related principles; Fire damage +155%, Sharpness +5. Infused with curse power, slash attacks inflict burns and holy damage, dealing an extra 30% holy damage to dark creatures. Indeed a relic-level greatsword... Leonard Churchill looked at the fire sword and sighed inwardly. This was the most impressive two-handed sword he had ever seen, much better than those of frost knights.. Chapter 154 - 86: Clean Sweep 2 Chapter 154: Chapter 86: Clean Sweep 2 Translator: 549690339 I * Such relics, even the upper-class nobles barely possess as weapons. Without some foundation, it wouldnt be possible to get it. Meanwhile, Alison took out something like a drum-style crossbow quiver and installed it on her hand crossbow. This chapter is updated by The crossbow is a mechanical compound crossbow. Aside from being more precise, there is nothing special. But the arrows are quite noteworthy. [Holy Light Demon Slayer Arrow] Details: Penetration +2; blessed with Holy Light Spell, it enhances Holy Damage by 50% on dark type creatures. These are all good stuff... Leonard Churchill looked up, the pair finally flaunting their absolute power. Exclusively suppressing dark creatures, the preparations they made are well worth the effort. A black knight, a ranger, a spirit communicator who is also a doctor. Shield, healer, damage dealer. This combination is perfect. Their strength is the reason why the three of them dare to challenge a B-rank difficulty. Moreover, it can be seen that many things on them are quite ancient. It wasnt hard for Leonard Churchill to guess that a group with a long history and a strong foundation was backing Tracy Garcia and her crew. Leonard Churchill liked this development too. If his teammates are strong, his risk would be significantly lessened. The intelligence of werewolves isnt low, nor is their sense of crisis. When Liam Martinez drew out his relic-level greatsword, its aura shook the area, and the werewolves on the rock walls no longer dared to come forward alone. There was finally a moment of peace. Leonard Churchill didnt feel embarrassed at all and directly hid in a cave. He, along with Alison, being fragile damage dealers, should stay behind the black knight. Liam Martinez stood at the entrance, while Alison was arranging her equipment. You used Feast Devour, physique+0.0002 You used Feast Devour, strength+0.00013 You used Feast Devour, Dark Affinity +0.05 It really can be devoured... This was Leonard Churchills first attempt at using the Feast to devour non-human corpses. He squinted at the Enlightenment Tip. The absorption efficiency was extremely low, but it was not due to the corpse itself. It was because his attributes had reached the upper limit of the current tier. What he wanted to test was whether the corpses of monsters in the Alternate Dimension could be devoured just like human corpses. Now its confirmed. They can. Leonard Churchill was a little worried before, as the work of a Corpse Collector couldnt satisfy his attributes demand for corpses anymore. After all, most of the corpses he collected were of low tier. It was fine during the cardholder stage. But after advancing to the next level, his characters attribute growth requirements would become larger, and this devouring efficiency isnt ideal. He had a hunch before that since they were all corpses, could he absorb the extraordinary traits of monster corpses? But he hadnt left Sinless City before and had never met a monster. And the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth was filled with a group of Skeleton Monsters, so he didnt get a chance to try. This attempt exceeded his expectations. Moreover, there are more monsters than humans! If the corpses of monsters can be absorbed, wont it be stronger to go into more Alternate Dimensions where he can kill monsters? Isnt it stronger than being a Corpse Collector? For a moment, Leonard Churchill already saw the source of attribute growth for his next upgrade. He seemed to see another path to success beckoning him.. Chapter 155 - 86: Clearing Out_3 Chapter 155: Chapter 86: Clearing Out_3 Translator: 549690339 | Having refrained from running wildly around the mine and attracting attention, the number of monsters Leonard and his team attracted lessened. But the surviving hunters started rushing up from the second layer of the mine after a while. Leonards group had cleared some obstacles along the way, making it easier for these hunters. But upon reaching the first layer of the mine and seeing the collapsed aerial mine passage, the hunters faces could only display despair and curses. Damn it, the Black Wolf Group must have eroded the mine passages too. Scarface, what do we do now? What else can we do, start climbing the wall! Whoever can get out, get out. That B-class catastrophe is catching up. If we dont hurry, were all going to die... Hell, once Im out, I will definitely expose the Black Wolf Groups lowly behavior! Naturally, everyones first choice was to climb the wall and get out of the mine. The hunters were no exception. Of the nearly fifty people who came in, seven or eight were First Tier. Those who were still alive were mostly skilled masters. These people gathered together, and their collective combat power was quite strong. When they arrived, the majority of werewolves on Leonards side were attracted over to them. Using various tools, the hunters tried to climb up the mine wall, but predictably, they were having a hard time escaping from the werewolves on the mine road, let alone climbing the rock wall. Screams and the sounds of falling echoed constantly in Lewiss ears. They watched the battle from afar, looking at the light sources on the rock wall occasionally falling down, which was entirely within their expectations. Even if they managed to climb out of the mine, the chances of them surviving and escaping back to Townsend Town were low. The running speed of a werewolf is faster than a same tier Assassin Type Curse Card Master, and they have supernatural smell. Theres nowhere to hide. Having the advantage of terrain in the chase fight suited werewolves, but in terms of stand-alone output, there was no better profession than the black knight. Though the werewolfs combat power was not negligible, Liam was a First Tier Curse Card Master himself, and his physical quality was comparable to a C-class catastrophe. Adding heavy armor and the relic, he was quite ferocious. With the swing of the large fire sword, a few werewolves were taken down. The werewolves who pounced on him and bit him wanted to drown him by wolf warfare, restricting his actions. The crossbow arrows from Alison in the mine and Leonards bullets often delivered fatal blows to these monsters. Tracy Garcias spirit object also came in handy at this moment. Although those iron zombies had similar combat power to werewolves, they were much more durable. Zombies, unlike fragile humans, arent scared of pain, fear, or negative states like blood loss. And theres Corpse Poison! The bite of werewolves is astonishing, but the taste of decayed zombies with corpse poison is not good. After biting, the werewolves were vomiting foul-smelling saliva, unwilling to bite again. Without being torn by bites, zombies can last a long time. The glowing Mud Monsters performance was even more impressive. It was blocking there, completely immune to physical attacks, and werewolves fur sizzles upon touching it. Not to mention killing werewolves, but monsters cant kill it either. Having several meat shields at the front, this also relieved a lot of pressure from Liams main tank. But werewolves are inherently bloodthirsty, the more they kill, the redder their eyes get. And their numbers began to grow. For a time, the large mine was caught in a fierce battle. Fortunately, they had chosen the terrain advantage in advance. Leonards team, although they appeared to be facing a monster several times their size, was calm and composed. Using their power and equipment, they harvested the werewolves in an orderly manner. Even if a few monsters occasionally rushed into the mine, it didnt have much of an impact. Leonards three associates were cloth armor professions, but their base combat powers were not weak, so there was always a close call. While reaping, Tracy Garcia also controlled the skeleton to drag the corpses into the mine. Leonard sat in a pile of bodies, devouring the overflowing supernatural attributes while shooting.. Chapter 156 - 86: Clean Up_4 Chapter 156: Chapter 86: Clean Up_4 Translator: 549690339 The sight of battle seemed ferocious, but for him, it was merely a matter of pulling the trigger. He was marshalling his forces. Because the real battle was yet to come. He knew very well that the B-tier Catastrophe would definitely come to them, whether the other hunters were killed or they ran away. As Leonard Churchill anticipated, the number of werewolves was indeed limited. He had previously inquired in the town and the regular workforce in the mine was around three hundred. Along with the previously disappeared Knight Group, a few passing merchant guards... the total number absolutely didnt exceed five hundred. Not every single person bitten would be contaminated into a werewolf, some were outright consumed. So, he estimates that there are at most two to three hundred werewolves in the whole mine. The four of them brought down anywhere from three to eight werewolves in each wave, their efficiency in clearing the monsters wasnt low. After withstanding the most intense early waves of attack, the threat of their numbers would diminish. Even D-tier and C-tier Catastrophes, Liam Martinez, Alison, and Tracy Garcia could kill them all. The three worked seamlessly together, their harmony directly augmented their combat power. Mutual trust, familiarity with abilities, and excellent equipment, their 1+1+1 combat power was equivalent to at least 5. This was their confidence in challenging B-level difficulty scenarios. The three of them alone withstood more than 90% of the werewolves. Defending and counterattacking was the most basic training for a Black Knight. The edge of the sword sliced through the air, harboring hidden killing intent. Unexpectedly, the werewolf commander cleverly twisted his body backward, skillfully evading the range of the sword attack. That swing went utterly devoid, and Liam Martinez was visibly surprised. If it were an ordinary werewolf, it would have been cleaved into two by now. However, Leonard Churchill seemed to have noticed something. He watched the string of vanishing illusions that had just happened and murmured in surprise, The sprint... was that a martial skill? Able to knock a heavy armored Black Knight flying while leaving afterimages, this was definitely not a simple brutish charge. It was a charging skill. As the Enlightenment Display suggested, this werewolf retained the martial skills it possessed as a Knight Captain. Now, watching how nimbly the werewolf commander had avoided the slash, Leonard Churchill exclaimed inwardly, What superb battle instinct! This monster was indeed a severe headache. Having seen it with his own eyes, he could ascertain that a B-tier catastrophe of this level was surely not something ordinary hunting groups could kill through sheer numbers. Without top-tier equipment and formidable strength, a typical Black Knight would have been in significant trouble when hit by that ramming attack. Without the front rank successfully holding aggro, the card masters in the rear were as fragile as paper under those werewolf fangs. No wonder the blokes from the Black Wolf Group didnt bother farming such excellent silver material themselves and collected tolls instead. Just this werewolf, which could use martial skills, would require several Elite Squads from the Black Wolf Group for a Strong Kill. And the outcome would inevitably be heavy casualties. No wonder the higher-ups of the Black Wolf Group were fixated on some crooked schemes while occupying the Alternate Dimension Greedy Mining Well, which possessed abundant production output yet couldnt be monopolized effectively..This chapter is updated by Chapter 157 - 87: Witch Yuna’s Secret Letter Chapter 157: Chapter 87: Witch Yunas Secret Letter Translator: 549690339 Having witnessed the power of this Class-B Catastrophe, Leonard Churchill and his group became extremely cautious. Thankfully, they chose the Beheaded Mine Cave, so they didnt have to worry about werewolves attacking from behind. Otherwise, none of the three at the back, including Leonard, could withstand the charge from the Werewolf Commander they had just experienced. The Werewolf Commander, failing to land a hit, disappeared once again into the darkness. At the command of a howl, the other werewolves began to charge frantically. But Liam Martinezs strength was not to be underestimated. Having been charged once, he had an accurate concept of the monsters strength. Suddenly, the shadow sprang out once again. To readers! our content is stolen.Please copy and se@rch this link " /39hpcn6j " to support us Liam detected it in advance, and with a cold laugh in his heart, he struck with his sword: Mystery- Sword Power Slash! The werewolf slowed down under the pressure of the sword but still managed to dodge the swing with its high agility. However, this time, the killing intent was not only hidden in the blade. Looking closely, the Relic-Fire Salamander Sword gave off a crescent-shaped flame sword aura. The sword aura reached several meters and hit the shadow directly. The tall werewolf was instantly exposed, a horrific gash diagonally across its chest. Follow current novels at novelhall.com) This Fire Salamander Sword also came with additional damage to dark creatures, breaking through its defense in one hit. The wound sizzled and smoked with the burning effect. Releasing sword aura at the First Tier, Leonard couldnt help but praise Liams prowess silently. However, just as they thought they had hit the Werewolf Commander, they saw the wounds visibly healing on its body. Although it wasnt as extreme as the Bone Regeneration, the bleeding had stopped instantly, and it didnt look too badly wounded. The ferocious light in its red wolf eyes intensified, seemingly enraged by these humans. Seeing this, Leonards pupils contracted slightly. Liam at the entrance gave a stern shout: Little Garcia, Alison, prepare for a long battle! After one round of engagement, the situation was more or less clear. Since the kill could not be quick, Now that he knew that the Werewolf Commander had strong self-healing abilities, slowly draining its health would be unlikely to work. If he wanted to kill it, he could only aim for a vital spot and deliver a fatal blow! Even for a Class-B Catastrophe, Leonard was confident of a quick kill. Because... The Plague Doctors Scalpel has a Sharpness of 9 and a Demonic Break Attribute. The flesh and blood of creatures below the Third Tier were equal in the face of it! But the agility attribute of this Werewolf Spirit was too high; the chances of a flying knife attack being dodged were extremely high. So, he had to fight close-quarters. But getting close to that werewolf posed a massive risk. However, after calculating the various data of the werewolf in his mind, Leonard quickly concluded: he wouldnt die. The data he had observed so far was enough for him to make a judgment. But his current physical attributes were not ordinarily strong. As long as he wasnt hit in a vital spot, even taking a couple of blows wouldnt kill him. His Storage Ring contained a pile of potions, and there was a competent doctor here. His chances of dying were even lower. It can be done! After making his decision, Leonard took out a potion and dropped it on the ground. It was the [Odor Interference Potion]. Its effect was to disrupt the sense of smell and cause the smells in the surrounding area to become chaotic. As the sound of broken glass echoed, he quietly retreated into the darkness of the mine. Garcia and Alison didnt understand what Leonard had done but refrained from asking more questions. From the beginning of the battle till now, they knew he was definitely not a reckless person. If he dared to do this, it meant he was confident. But they were still curious, what could a Card Disciple do against a monster of this level? The battle continued. Liam and the Werewolf Commander at the entrance were fighting to a standstill. After several rounds of hard clashes, Liam, relying on his heavy armor and Relic Greatsword, was able to gain the upper hand. After all, the werewolf only dealt physical damagethe claws and fangs couldnt penetrate the Black Knights Heavy Armor, hence, couldnt inflict any substantial damage on him.. Chapter 158 - 87: Witch Yuna’s Secret Message ! Chapter 158: Chapter 87: Witch Yunas Secret Message ! Translator: 549690339 But the werewolves had a strong recovery power. Apart from slashing a few non-fatal wounds, Liam Martinez did not gain much advantage. Both sides seemed to have reached a stalemate. That Werewolf Commander Quisen was clearly wiser than the other werewolves. After biting the armor a few times and almost shattering its teeth, it realized it couldnt defeat this human in a short time. The tactics suddenly changed. Suddenly, it howled aloud. A group of werewolves, as if invigorated, threw themselves at the mine without regard for life. A dozen or so werewolves attacked at once. Despite Liam Martinez fighting back hard, he inevitably left gaps in his defense. To readers! our content is stolen.Please copy and se@rch this link " /39hpcn6j " to support us A shadow whooshed by, and the werewolf Quisen clung to the top of the rock wall, taking the opportunity to sneak into the mine. Be careful! Liam Martinez shouted when he noticed, not daring to turn back. If he did not stop the others outside, it would be even more dangerous inside. Visit for the best novel reading experience Curse Power surged in him as he furiously slashed at the werewolves that collided with his sword. But in the darkness, Leonard Churchill was secretly saying, The opportunity has come! While the Werewolf Commander is wise, it had never encountered the Sticky Monster. As soon as it came in, it only saw Tracy Garcia and her team, and with a cruel wave of its claws, it charged at them. But its pounce was as if it had landed in glue, sticky fluid adhering to its needle-like fur, sinking deeper into it. It didnt hurt anyone, but instead, its claws were stuck on it. Alisons crossbow arrow seized the opportunity, shot through the gap of the barrier, and relentlessly attacked the ferocious werewolfs face. The werewolf Quisen winced in pain and attempted to withdraw. But just then, it sniffed its nose, and the red light in its eyes shrank abruptly. It realized that a human had quietly appeared behind it! The Odor Interference Potion really works! Even with its brain penetrated, it still did not die. But its tall body, like a drunk, had lost its previous agility, and wobbled from side to side. Its still not enough! Seeing this, Leonard Churchill suppressed the tossing of his vitality and blood, leaped, and surged ten meters forward. Then he slapped the side of the wolfs ear, sending the last bit of the scalpel handle stabbing into the wolfs head. Awoo~ This cry was filled with sadness. At its last breath, the werewolf swung back like crazy, and Leonard Churchill was still in mid-air when he was slapped and sent flying. With a thump, he was thrown heavily onto the rock wall again. But just as this last stab, the life of the werewolf commander quickly faded away. Like a thunder strike, the large rigid body slowly lost its balance. With a loud thud, it fell straight to the ground. Dying on the spot! The moment the B-grade Catastrophe, the Werewolf Commander, died, the other werewolves outside the cave entrance scattered instantly. Liam Martinez, the Black Knight holding the cave entrance, was still swinging his sword with all his might, but in the blink of an eye, he realized the wolves had turned and rushed into the darkness... Theyre fleeing? As he turned around, he saw the tall werewolf commander already fallen on the ground. He cast a glance at Tracy Garcia and Alison inside the barrier and then at Leonard Churchill, who was coughing blood at the corner of the wall. He had no idea what happened. However, Tracy Garcia and Alison saw the whole process and were in disbelief: This... From the moment Leonard Churchill suddenly attacked to the moment the wolf fell, the entire process took only a few seconds. At first, they were shocked, wanting to help, but in the end, they found that they hadnt even moved when the monster already collapsed instantly! Is it dead? This was a B-grade Catastrophe. The killing process was so easy that it felt like an illusion. It was killed just like that? When they saw the relic-level scalpel in the wolfs ear, they finally understood what had happened. Tracy Garcia didnt look at the body but immediately cancelled the barrier, ran over to Leonard Churchill, unmasking her concern: Mr.. Leonard Churchill, are you okay? Chapter 159 - 87: Witch Yuna’s Secret Message_3 Chapter 159: Chapter 87: Witch Yunas Secret Message_3 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill smirked, blood still smeared over his lips, Minor issue. He wasnt bluffing. Though he looked quite miserable, his injuries were still within a tolerable range. Tracy Garcia didnt listen to him and immediately started checking him over. As a doctor, she preferred to rely on her judgement. Blood covered Leonards chest, and his tactical vest was torn open by five claw marks. Upon further examination, the inner armor underneath was also shredded, revealing bloody chunks of flesh. Leonard tried to sit up. Tracy prevented him sternly, taking out a potion and pouring it over the wound to clean it. Dont move. I need to check your bones... Leonard raised an eyebrow but didnt comment. He looked down at his soft armor, a relieved chuckle flashing in his eyes. Luckily, hed managed to protect his neck from the claws, or he would have been as good as dead. Even so, the werewolfs claws had torn through his inner armor. If he wasnt wearing the elite inner armor of the frost knight and had worn standard armor instead, he would have lost most of his life even if the claws didnt strike his neck. Luckily, he had slain the beast in a narrow escape. At that moment, Liam Martinez and Alison, who were standing at the cave entrance ensuring no other werewolves were approaching, also entered the cave. Their eyes shifted from the giant werewolf corpse on the ground to Leonard, their expressions teeming with complexity. Had an apprentice slain a B-tier Catastrophe? If they hadnt seen it with their own eyes, they wouldnt have believed it. Moreover, the duo was confused C wasnt this guy a Card Master Apprentice in the Black Knight series? Moreover, now that the B-tier Catastrophe had been eliminated, their dire situation seemed to be resolved instantly. Only now did Liam and Alison realize that when Leonard had previously talked about his plan to kill them all, he was not relying on their combat power. It was his own strength, capable of slaying a B-tier Catastrophe singlehandedly. He was truly powerful. Apart from Camilla, they had never encountered such a formidable Card Master Apprentice. Tracy, however, didnt think too much and naively praised, Mr. Leonard Churchill, youre so powerful... No wonder Sister Camilla always said you were very formidable. Hearing these words, Liam and Alison exchanged surprised glances: He knew Camilla too? Leonard just chuckled, not offering any further explanation. Now that the B-tier Catastrophe had been slain, it seemed the crisis was over. Leonard walked up to the werewolf spirits corpse and retrieved his scalpel. None of Tracys party seemed interested in extracting any materials, they were just tending to their injuries and collecting material from the other corpses. Without standing on ceremony, Leonard looked at the thickest gathering of Extraordinary Traits on the werewolfs back, made a few quick slices with his scalpel, and peeled off a strip of muscle shrouded with dark energy. [Werewolfs Robust Demon Flesh] Quality: Silver Description: The essence of the spinal muscles of an Abyssal Undying werewolf, a rare flesh-type material containing the profound power of Dark contamination. It encompasses a series of flesh traits such as immense strength, speedy reflexes, robustness, and self-healing; Silver grade material is produced! This was a precious item. Leonard looked at the material, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. He came to this Alternate Dimension for this very material. Having obtained the silver-grade werewolf material, he felt his goal was largely accomplished. Leonard took out a Containment Card and stored the material inside. This was part of the teams Spoils of War. Although it seemed like Tracy and her companions werent going to ask for it, Leonard had no intention of hogging it all. He decided to discuss how to split the loot once they got out. However, before he could say a word, Enlightenment appeared again. Witch Yunas Secret Letter has been discovered, triggering the hidden plot The Truth Behind the Annihilation of the Burial Mountain Mine Barons Investigation Team, raising the Disaster Level to A; To prevent the secrets of the mine from leaking, the werewolf infection patient of the first generation has been deployed. He will kill all the demon hunters in Townsend Town, and the mail holder will be hunted down. All werewolves in Burial Mountain Mine have entered a frenzied bloodthirsty state... The four of them looked at each other, frowning in unison.. Chapter 160 - 88 Little Garcia, You Serve as the Bait Chapter 160: Chapter 88 Little Garcia, You Serve as the Bait Translator: 549690339 Enlightenment suddenly occurred. This made Leonard Churchill and his team, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, instantly become serious again. But perhaps it was because Leonard had anticipated triggering the A-Level Plot beforehand. Now that it had actually happened, aside from realizing the severe situation, they werent that surprised. In addition, the content of Enlightenment directly confirmed Leonards conjectures as correct. This somehow sparked in Tracy Garcia and the others an inexplicable confidence from somewhere. The fact proved, some peoples conjectures were truly impressive. They might not have understood the clue from Enlightenment that would kill all demon hunters, before. But now Tracy and the others understood. Most likely, it was because of the contract they signed when they entered the town. Only in this way, the Werewolf could identify the demon hunters among the vast Townsend Town. In other words, if the three of them wanted to complete the game, they must survive three days under the hidden Werewolfs hunt. Updated from A deathly shadow suddenly enveloped the three. They could have had confidence in overcoming a B-rank difficulty. But an A-rank difficulty was beyond the capability of their team. The eyes of the three naturally fell on Leonard Churchill. The plot was going as he predicted, which made them realize his true precognition. Meanwhile, they also understood the brilliance of Leonards Annihilation Plan. It was fortunate that they had already killed most of the werewolves in the mine, otherwise the clue of all werewolves entering a frenzy and bloodthirsty state would indeed be enough for them to choke on. Without wasting time, Leonard directly explained, In such circumstances, if you want to pass through the monsters quietly and reach the fourth layer of the mine cave, that person from the Black Wolf Group must have some kind of Stealth-type Treasure. It might be a Stealth type of artifact. There should not be many people, more than likely only one. Moreover, it should be a skillful assassin. Of course, if Im not guessing wrong, it should be the guy called Alex who is the captain of the 13th team of the Black Wolf Group. After a pause, he stated the reason why he needed a decoy, If thats the case, if we want to handle him, it must be a surprise attack. If not, an assassin lurking in the dark will pose a fatal threat to any of us. Upon hearing his analysis, the three were enlightened. But how did you know his name without even having met him? Leonard did not bother to explain that he had paid attention to everyone who came in previously. With a little more thought, the three also understood why he said he needed a decoy. A lurking assassin is unknown and unpredictable, without a decoy it would be hard to expose him. And an assassin hidden in the dark is the nightmare of any card master of the same tier. Just like Leonard had killed that B-ranked Catastrophe before, a skilled assassin can pose a fatal threat to a card master of a higher tier with an ambush. Among the three, even Liam, a black knight, did not think he could certainly survive the ambush of an assassin. Moreover, assassins have an agility that far exceeds card masters of the same tier, making it difficult for them to be caught even if they are exposed. Furthermore, theres still the Stealth-type Treasure. To handle this hidden danger first, the idea of using a decoy is indeed the best choice. Take the initiative to draw the assassin out, then kill him with one strike! When not being a decoy has certain risks. Liam didnt think much, offering to take the risk instead, Ill be the decoy. Hes the strongest in the team, and its unreasonable to hide behind his teammates if in danger. Hearing this, Leonard simply refused, You cant. Liam also knew why he said that. Unless that assassin was an idiot, he probably wouldnt choose to kill a heavily armored black knight as his first target. In fact, even if he took off his armor to lure the enemy, it not only wouldnt work but could cause the assassin to be alert.. Chapter 161 - 88 Little Garcia, You be the Bait_2 Chapter 161: Chapter 88 Little Garcia, You be the Bait_2 Translator: 549690339 Alison didnt want to be outdone: Let me do it. She looked at Leonard Churchill and said, Im a ranger, I have a high chance of discovering the assassins tracks. If I were to play the bait, he would definitely try to kill me. Rangers and assassins are both card masters on the same 2nd Fallen path, and some of their vocational skills even overlap. The assassin, in order to kill, would indeed potentially prioritize her. But Leonard Churchill still shook his head: You might be able to do it. But there is uncertainty. The guy might not attempt to assassinate you first. Moreover, he could miss his shot, but we only have one chance. We must eliminate all uncertainty and give the assassin a must-choose option. Hearing this, the expressions of Liam Martinez and the others were stunned, wondering among themselves: what was this must-choose option for the assassin? Leonard Churchill continued, Also, regardless whether its you or me, as card disciples, almost certainly we wouldnt survive an assassination attempt by a First Tier Assassin. Therefore, the most suitable bait can only be Miss Tracy Garcia. She is a doctor, and also a formal Curse Card Master, if the assassin knows, he would definitely choose to kill her first. Which role is the most important in a team? The Black Knight? The Ranger? Or the weak Gunman? No! When fighting in the wilderness, it has to be the Healer. Even if shes not the weakest one, the assassin would surely take out the healer first. Its only this way a team would lose its ability to sustain combat. An injury would mean a reduction in number, a serious injury would mean death. Hearing this, Tracy Garcia understood immediately and resolutely responded, Okay! But as she spoke, she glanced at Leonard Churchill through the corner of her eye. Although it makes sense, something seems a bit weird. Youre suggesting that I act as bait, couldnt you be more tactful about it? Ordinarily under this kind of situation, gentlemen should at least step forward to try, right? It was a kind of hysterical arrogance. Rational, arrogant, fanatic, and unique. He was truly special. The initial Werewolf Infector hiding in Townsend Town had already moved, so now it was safer out here than inside the mine. Also, because most of the werewolves inside the mine were exterminated earlier, they didnt have to worry about attacks from all directions all the time anymore. The occasional one or two who managed to escape were easily dealt with. The four of them continued their journey. They quickly reached the second level of the mine shaft. Leonard Churchill was not certain when the assassin would strike. So he and the bait entered their roles ahead of time. Liam Martinez and Alison were still the front line, clearing the path. Miss Tracy, the doctor, was supporting a man who was pretending to be seriously wounded. Leonard Churchill was unceremonious, wrapping his arm around Tracys neck, with almost half his body leaning on her. It wasnt that he was taking advantage of the lady with a bun. But rather, it was to reduce the exposure of a potential fatal spot on her. Assassins typically use two methods for assassination, Backstab and Throat-slit, targeting the heart and the throat, deadly and swift. Now, with Tracys neck blocked by Leonard Churchills arm, the assassin could only backstab. But Tracy had put on an extra layer of inner armor and concealed a Heart-guarding Mirror under the back of her clothes. This way she could ensure that, even if she was ambushed, it wouldnt be fatal. Occasionally, she would pour a Willpower Potion on Leonard Churchills wound, intermittently revealing that she was a doctor. Leonard Churchill was an experienced actor and wouldnt show any flaws. Tracy Garcia was on the other hand naive by nature, and wouldnt normally be good at acting. But at this moment, she didnt seem to be pretending, she was genuinely caring and conscientious in treating Leonard Churchills wounds. As they were moving, Leonard Churchill seemed to remember something, he took out an Equipment Card sealed with Frost Knight Armor from the card slot and handed it to Tracy who was supporting him, saying, Keep this card. If the monster becomes too strong, consider putting it on according to the situation. This was the Armor of the Frost Knight. Leonard Churchill had sold almost all the previous Spoils of War, he only kept two sets of armor. One set for himself. And the other set was intended as spare parts in case his got damaged.. Chapter 162 - 88 Little Garcia, You Be the Bait_3 Chapter 162: Chapter 88 Little Garcia, You Be the Bait_3 Translator: 549690339 The exceptionally well-forged heavy armor boasted excellent defense against physical and magical attacks. Leonard Churchill believed that even an A-rank Catastrophe would struggle to inflict a fatal blow in a short amount of time. The weak point of Tracy Garcia, the Spirit Communicator, was her physical form. Leonard wasnt entirely clear about the conditions of this A-Level Plot, but he anticipated that the difficulty posed by an A-rank Catastrophe would be multiple times that of a B-rank. Providing her with this armor was purely for survival. Other than Liam Martinez, who wore heavy armor, no one could withstand a direct blow. If they couldnt slay the A-rank Catastrophe in a short amount of time, the protective barrier of the Sticky Monster from before wouldnt last much longer either. Although wearing such heavy armor meant a Spirit Communicator like her would be condemned to stay in one place and await death. Leonard believed that it was still better than being instantly killed. Tracy looked at the card Leonard handed to her in mild surprise, blinked her big eyes, and asked, ...for me? Leonard simply nodded, Yes. You are the doctor. If you survive, others in the team have the best chance to make it out alive. Even though he had a hunch about the plot, the threat of the A-rank Catastrophe was undeniably lethal. Before the key to the solution was found, he wasnt confident that he would survive. Oh. Hearing his words, Tracy didnt comment much nor fully understand, only instinctively accepting the card and placing it in her own card slot. The scattered werewolves didnt pose much of a threat to them. Soon, Leonard and the others arrived safely at the third level of the mine. The surroundings remained dimly lit. The dark elements were even denser. The quality of the ores here was evidently superior, and Mithril ores were more common. In the overturned mine carts scattered around, valuable ores worth thousands could be found without difficulty. Amongst the equipment strewn on the ground, Black Iron Quality equipment would occasionally appear. This place was a treasure trove for hunters. Follow current novels at novelhall.com) Yet, understandably, it carried significant risks as well. Originally, a B-rank Catastrophe and some Elite Werewolves resided on this level, a force hard to take down even for a large team. But now that Leonards team had slain them, the place seemed a bit empty. Since there was no description of the third level of the mine in the Black Wolf Groups information, it was fortunate there was a mining path guide. With Liam leading the way, the team of four continued their exploration deeper into the mine. Soon, they arrived at the bottom of the third level and saw a cave that was clearly not the result of human excavation. Shattered rocks littered the area, as if a collapse had occurred there. The strong presence of dark elements rolled out from this cave. All four understood that this was undoubtedly the path leading to the fourth level of the mine. Without much delay, they cautiously proceeded into the cave. However, it didnt take long for the natural mine to transition into an underground tunnel with signs of human carving. But his dagger was a Black Iron Dagger with Armor Piercing behavioral attribute, capable of slicing through iron like mud! Numerous have lost their souls under this blade. However, as Alex forcefully plunged in again, his expression froze instantly: Whats going on? The tip of the knife was blocked by something. Plate armor? Ive checked before, no, its a Heart-guarding Mirror! In an instant, the assassin, Alex, realized he might have fallen into a trap set by them. As he suspected. Leonard suddenly sprung into action! Stealth assassinations required all aura to be suppressed. Even the Body Protection Curse Power must not be lightly deployed. Everything was for a deadly strike. The moment of exposure was also the most dangerous phase. Seeing the Injured suddenly spring into action, the assassin, Alex, confirmed that hed walked into a trap these guys had prepared, cursing in his mind: Damn it, how did they find out? How did they detect his presence here? How did they predict who he would kill? How did they guess the timing of the attack? So many questions. He could never guess that the many options he thought he had were actually the only choices Leonard intentionally left for him! Leonard had anticipated that the guy would make his move round about this time. Although he hadnt really spotted the assassin until the dagger pierced into Tracys heart. But those advanced 0.01 seconds of prediction was enough for him to make up the agility gap between him and a first-tier veteran assassin. Leonards right hand was just on Tracys neck, slashing back from that position in response. The moment he turned his head, he saw a translucent figure in the air. The assassin also reacted very quickly, seeing his exposure, he leaned back to the limit of his body, already out of the range of Leonards counterattack. However, things didnt go as Alex expected. Leonard never expected to kill him with a single blow, neither did he expect his swipe to hit a fatal spot. Therefore! When he stabbed back with the small knife, he suddenly changed his aim from the head down to the thigh of the translucent figure. Regardless of how agile his upper body movements were, his lower body would certainly lag! Leonards premeditated strike accurately hit his thigh bone. The sharp scalpel cut through the leg bone without obstruction, severing a muscle in front of the femur. To deal with an assassin, if you cant catch them, take out their legs first! Seeing himself wounded, the assassin, Alex, was frightened out of his wits. Without caring about anything else, he turned and vanished into the darkness, like a fish diving into the water, disappearing instantly. Leonard watched the blood spurt out, wanting to strike again, but when he turned his head, he found that the man had already disappeared from his vision. This is not an ordinary stealth ability. Leonard wasnt surprised at all, just sneered in his heart: So, it is a relic-level equipment. Tsk, tsk, the Black Wolf Group really went all out. He had thought of it before, without this kind of stealth ability, the assassin couldnt have quietly made it to the fourth floor.. Chapter 163 - 89 [RelicHider] Chapter 163: Chapter 89 [RelicHider] Translator: 549690339 I The attack came very fast and left just as quickly. Tracy Garcia, the would-be victim, turned around only to find the assailant had disappeared. Liam Martinez and Alison, who had heard the commotion, quickly ran back from around the corner of the tunnel. Seeing no one, their faces turned extremely solemn: Escaped? An ambush only has one chance to work. If an assassin were able to escape under such circumstances, it wouldnt bode well for them. Leonard Churchills eyes were cold and misty, he quietly said, Hes injured He wont get far. Upon hearing this, the three noticed the bloodstains on the ground, their eyes suddenly filled with hope. This chapter is updated by Leonard caught a glimpse of a mark on the powdered soil on the ground, he shouted sharply, Follow me! An assassin might be hard to track down, but he isnt a bird, he still needs to walk! The powdered minerals scattered on the ground had been prepared for such a time! Upon hearing this, Liam and his group didnt ask any questions, they just followed Leonard quickly towards the third level of the Mineshaft. They were unsure how he had determined the enemys location, but they guessed that he had a plan up his sleeve. They had just started moving when Leonard suddenly shouted, The guy has broken a leg and cant get far. Catch up quickly! His voice echoed through the tunnel. Liam and his group were taken aback by Leonards shout. Shouldnt they be quiet when they are chasing? With that loud voice, werent you afraid that the enemy would know we are coming? However, Leonard indeed wanted the enemy to know that they were being chased down! Without being chased, how would the prey panic and fall into a trap? Having just been wounded, the assassin was fearful as a frightened bird. The tunnel was blocked, he could only run back to the third level, or else he would be cornered and find himself in a more dangerous situation. But an experienced and cunning assassin would definitely think that there might be traps along the way. So he absolutely should not be given too much time to think! Additionally, it increases the stealth skill of the visual system by 50%. This would be beneficial to his own Shadow Submarine, wouldnt it? Once he puts it on, who could discover him? For sure, if used well, this could be a lifesaver! Liam seemed to know his place, as he swiftly removed the assassins Cloak. Then he took the Containment Card from the assassins Card slot and stored the relic in it. He handed it directly to Leonard Churchill behind him and mutually said, This relic is best suited for you in our group. You must know, while equipment hold a price, the practical value of a relic is incalculable. Like this Cloak, it would be a boon to any Assassin Type card masters. Leonard could also see that Liam simply took advantage of the circumstances, he had no intentions of hoarding the equipment. He didnt decline, indeed only he could use it, Alright! This act further improved the impression they had of each other. Now that the assassin was killed, Tracy Garcia, the slowest spirit communicator, finally caught up. Seeing the assassins corpse on the ground, she was startled and surprised at the same time, she asked her biggest question, Mr. Leonard Churchill, is it a bomb you used just now? Doesnt this Alternate Dimension prohibits the use of bombs? At this question, Liam and Alison also looked over. Leonard Churchill explained with a light laugh, Its not that they cant be used. Its that they cant cause damage to the people and things inside the space. I tried it before, it works just as fine on the hunters from outside. Tracy Garcia suddenly realized, Ah... so thats how it is. Listening to this explanation, Liams expression turned slightly strange. He finally understood why Leonard Churchill had tried a grenade when they first entered the Alternate Dimension? He had even mocked him for it... Thinking back on it now, it turned out that what he had in mind was not as simple as he had assumed. Liam laughed at himself. He and Alison looked at each other and saw a wry smile in each others eyes. You have to admire this chain of thought... The spatial rules explicitly restricted the use of bombs, and any regular hunter with this information wouldnt even bother carrying such a useless item that would only increase the weight load.. Chapter 164 - 164; Chapter 89 Relic-Hider—2 Chapter 164; Chapter 89 RelicCHider2 Translator: 549690339 This guy actually thought of using a bomb to injure people? Without this Mysterious Thunder, they might not have been able to track down this completely Stealth assassin so smoothly. The pupils of Tracy Garcia and the other two trembled, clearly having experienced a complex psychological process. But Leonard Churchill, the person involved, didnt think anything of it. At this point, he looked at Tracy Garcia, frowning, and reminded: Youre bleeding. Ah? Only then did Tracy Garcia come back to her senses. She was too tense during the whole process and hadnt noticed it. Now that Leonard had reminded her, she realized there was a warm flow on her back. She glanced at her back and saw a wound. Although the dagger hadnt pierced through the heart-guarding mirror, the assassin still managed to cut a wound on her back when withdrawing the blade, with blood pouring out. Updated from It wasnt fatal, but it didnt seem easy either. Alison inspected the wound, poured a Potion, and said, Its not a big problem, and youre not poisoned. But the wound is quite long, and it seems the bleeding cant be stopped. Having heard the description, Tracy Garcia roughly understood her situation. She said, Open wounds like this need to be stitched. Otherwise, it would be troublesome due to potential infection and bleeding. She looked distressed and muttered, But I cant stitch it myself because its on my back... This was why Doctors needed to be killed first. If there wasnt a professional Doctor in the team, they could only stop the bleeding forcibly with bandages and gauze. That would be troublesome. Hearing this, Alison also felt helpless, I dont know how to do it either... Everyone is an expert in their own field. Leonard Churchill didnt hesitate and pulled out his newly-purchased surgical instruments. He had read many surgical books in the past few days, so he had accumulated quite a bit of theoretical knowledge. He initially planned to practice on corpses. He didnt expect that now, he had to apply his skills on a live wounded person. Then I will trouble Mr. Leonard Churchill. Tracy Garcia was a Doctor herself, so she was very clear about the process of treating such a wound. She didnt hesitate, turned around, and directly took off her tactical vest. Because the wound was on her shoulder blade, she had to take off both her coat and inner armor. With that, her entire beautiful back was exposed. After taking off her clothes, Tracy Garcia used them to cover her chest. Feeling a slight chill on her back, and realizing the two of them were the only ones there in the dark, she felt a bit exposed. Although it was for treating her wound, she couldnt help but blush. She turned around to hide her face in the darkness. Leonard Churchill, with no distractions, picked up the needle and thread and disinfected them following the procedures hed read about. After cleaning her wound, he began to suture it. As Leonard Churchill has said, his hands were very steady. Although it was his first time suturing a wound, he remembered every detail from the textbook vividly. So the position of every stitch was almost identical to that in the textbook. He continued to pierce, pull, and tie... and repeat. Soon, the wound was stitched up. It wasnt hard at all. Tracy Garcia seemed to sense his focus too. She initially thought she would need to remind him about the treatment details. But after sensing the accuracy of each stitch, she was no longer worried. Seeing the wound almost sewn up, she reminded him, Um... Mr. Leonard Churchill, remember to apply some of this Muscle Coagulating Powder. Otherwise, it would leave a scar when it heals. A girl in the end, she loved being pretty. Okay. Leonard Churchill nodded, took the bottle of powder from her, and sprinkled it little by little on the wound. While he was fully focused on recalling the contents of the textbooks, his nerves had been taut. Now that the wound was sewn up, he relaxed. It was then that he noticed the beautiful skin of Tracy Garcia. It was so delicate and white that it seemed to glow.. Chapter 165 - 89 Relic-Hider_3 Chapter 165: Chapter 89 Relic-Hider_3 Translator: 549690339 It was a visual feast. Baring her back with her upper clothing completely taken off, her slightly voluptuous figure was taken in at a glance. The lady with the bun held her chest with one hand. But one hand simply wasnt enough. Half-hidden, half-exposed. From the slight side angle, one could clearly see the mischievous pride squeezed out from her arm. Its curve was proud. Its line soft and beautiful. It was a lovely sight. Leonard Churchill had noticed Tracy Garcias impressive figure when they were in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth. Now, he saw it up close. But after a quick glance, he retracted his appreciative gaze. The moon was brilliant, and itd seem hypocritical and ill-mannered to not look at it. But too much would be crass and disrespectful. Leonard Churchill finished applying the ointment, There, done. Tracy Garcia softly replied: Oh. She turned to look at Leonard Churchill who was tidying up the medical tools, speaking like a soft mosquito buzzing, Thank you. Sorry for causing you trouble. Leonard Churchill smiled and shook his head, Theres no need for such formalities. Without the need to worry about her wound anymore, Tracy Garcia quickly got dressed. They cleaned the blood stains, then the two set off towards the stairs. By then, Liam Martinez and Alison had also joined them. The four of them didnt chat much, they then headed into the fourth level tunnel of the mine they had visited before. But even without the threat of any assassins, the four didnt dare to let their guard down. They were now facing an A-level plot. The four cautiously ventured forward. The letter didnt mention what lay behind the barrier. But Leonard Churchill noticed a very important point: The blacksmith is the first generation of werewolf host, and thus, obtained the near-unlimited recovery ability of the Abyssal Immortal Clan; but he was severely wounded by my sorcery and has remnants of my magic weapon in his body. If he approaches the Underground Palace, he will suffer from the Blood Poison Curse I left behind. His undying feature will be restricted, and his wounds will be difficult to heal... When Leonard Churchill read this, he had an epiphany: So thats how it is. This blood barrier was not just blocking the entrance, but it was also restricting Werewolf George. This was assistance provided by the plot. Theoretically, if they bring this sealed letter back to Townsend Town and hand it to a secret agent, they would be able to complete the mission. But thats theoretical. The problem was that the mission was nearly impossible to complete. Whoever held the letter would be pursued to death by the A-rank catastrophe. Without the help of a high-ranking individual like Camilla, they would never be able to complete the mission through this method. So, in the end, they still had to kill the monster. But the good news was that the special recovery effect of the A-rank catastrophe would be restricted within this Underground Palace. Leonard Churchill then shared the contents of the sealed letter with Tracy Garcia and the others. They listened with grave expressions. Everyone understood. The A-rank plot difficulty had been activated, and no matter where they hid, they would eventually need to fight the A-rank catastrophe. Seeing this, Leonard Churchill was even more convinced that the Black Wolf Group had no chance of completing the A-rank difficulty. That outlier who survived must have done so without signing an employment contract. After reading the sealed letter, Leonard Churchill didnt continue to speak. Instead, he fell into deep thought. Tracy Garcia and the others remained silent as they understood as well. The real danger lied with them. If Leonard Churchill didnt touch this sealed letter and found somewhere to hide, in theory, he could survive the remaining three days and then leave. But if he didnt participate in the battle, the odds, which were already small for Tracy Garcia and the others, would further diminish. To kill the A-rank catastrophe, they would need several more teams similar to their Elite Squad. They were severely short of hands. No one spoke in the tunnel for a while, creating an eerie silence.. Chapter 166 - 89 Relic-Hider_4 Chapter 166: Chapter 89 Relic-Hider_4 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill didnt speak because he was contemplating. Nor did Tracy Garcia and her two companions. It was because, no matter what decision Leonard made at this time, they felt they could understand it, and they would respect his choice. The team was temporarily assembled, there was no need to lose their own lives for outsiders. Even Tracy thought so. If death was inevitable. She would rather her friends survived. The atmosphere in the team of four was unusually heavy for the first time. However, what Liam Martinez and the others didnt foresee was that Leonard hadnt considered this at all. He quite enjoyed the feeling of being desperate. And killing wasnt necessarily impossible. Leonard suddenly understood something and opened his mouth: Prepare for a frontal fight. Lets set up some traps in this corridor in advance, this will increase our chances of winning. Hearing this, Liam and his two companions gave him a surprised and doubtful glance: You... Tracy thought that he stayed for the sake of his friend and spoke directly: Actually, Mr. Leonard Churchill, you do not need to stick with us. Leonard just smiled and didnt dwell on it. He laid out his plan: I will fight as I did before, focusing on surprise attacks. But before that, you guys have to create opportunities for me, this process will be very dangerous. II I! 20% chance of winning? For him, 20% was enough. And how could he possibly die in this environment! Tracy and her companions really didnt understand why Leonard chose to stay. But before they could figure it out, they saw Leonard heading towards the Bloody Barrier. Tracy quickly called out in alarm, Be careful, that barrier has a very strong curse! Leonard naturally knew and replied casually, Okay. He walked over, getting within three meters of the bloody gate. Enlightenment appeared: You are exempted from a curse attack. He hadnt figured out how to crack this Bloody Barrier yet, thinking that there should be some hidden plot in this Alternate Dimension to find a way. But exploration time was not enough, he didnt find it. Now there was no need. He had a shortcut, and that was the X-711 C Curse Pot he was carrying. One of the important functions of this cursed object was to be immune to all curses. As for the Bloody Barrier, of course, there was no problem. Although this kind of cunning method might lower the plot clearance evaluation. But by comparison, he was more curious about what was sealed in this relic. In the stunned eyes of Liam and his companions, he walked straight into the Bloody Barrier. Tracy, who knew about the existence of the pot, seemed startled for a moment, then instantly enlightened.. Chapter 167 - 90: The First Generation Werewolf Infected (Please Subscribe) Chapter 167: Chapter 90: The First Generation Werewolf Infected (Please Subscribe) Translator: 549690339 | Leonard Churchill walked into the bloody gate and the reminder of the curse exemption kept appearing. It seemed like he had walked through a stinking water curtain. Before he knew it, he was in a square secret room. The presence of the dark element in the room was as thick as mist now, with the ground felt gritty like gravel under his feet. However, looking down, Leonard found that these were not ordinary grains but element crystallization. [Shadow of the Lamp] Description: Black iron; a crystallized entity that carries heavy dark elements. Hmm... quite convenient. Leonard scooped up a handful and checked them out, and these black gravel seemed to be materials that could be removed from the Alternate Dimension. Now that he had obtained the silver quality werewolf main material, he still needed a large amount of elemental material to craft Profession Cards. He had been thinking about purchasing some from Sinless City after his return, so it was a nice surprise to find them here. And there seems to be plenty of them. Leonard was in no hurry to collect them, instead, he headed for the glowing object in the center of the room. After a few steps, a clear view of the object in the center of the room emerged. Visit for the best novel reading experience It was a sealing array, with a silver wolf-headed pillar in the center, surrounded by complicated silver hexagram magic spells. Looking at the mithril flowing on the ground like the galaxy, the realization hit Leonard: Is the mithril in the Burial Mountain Mine all come from this Array. Like volatility in metals, there were even irregular silver substances that looked like moss crystals on the rock walls around him, which sank into the rock layers. It was obvious that the array had lost its function due to its age. Clearly visible were some messy footprints on the Hexagram Array. They were likely left behind by the miners who first discovered this underground site. Leonard examined it for a while. He didnt find anything problematic. Leonard was exceedingly cautious. However, upon closer inspection, he found that the pottery vessel held in the wolfs mouth appeared to be quite ordinary. While others might not understand what this mysterious object was. But to Leonard, it was all too familiar! Wasnt it a [Curse Pottery Vase]? He was currently carrying one of this on his waist! Whats going on? Theres another one? Leonard was slightly baffled. Not to mention that they were completely identical, but he was certain that they were 99% similar. Were there two identical Disaster Objects? Whats more, it wasnt just the pottery that surprised Leonard. It was simply difficult for him to comprehend seeing such an object in the Alternate Dimension. His intuition told him, these Disaster Objects absolutely should not have appeared in this Alternate Dimension world. The feeling was like someone hid a water cup in one of the countless books on a bookshelf, within the lines of a story in that book. This method of hiding objects on a lower dimension level, was quite impressive. It must be the so-called God without a doubt. It also gives a glimpse of the intention of the person who hid the object. Hiding things in such an incredible way, clearly, they did not want anyone to find it. What terrible thing is sealed inside the jar that made the person who hid it want to conceal it so deep? While it might not be something extraordinarily terrifying, it must be something incomprehensible to humans at their current level. But Leonard was only surprised for a moment. The thought in his head soon became: how to get this jar out? So far, this jar has two properties, Single Body Curse Exemption and Five Times Curse Power increase for practice . He wasnt sure if the effect could be doubled with two jars. He would never complain about having too many treasures. What about danger? So far, there didnt seem to be any adverse effects.. Chapter 168 - 90: The First Generation Werewolf Chapter 168: Chapter 90: The First Generation Werewolf Infectee (Seeking Subscription)_2 Translator: 549690339 Or maybe there is. Like some higher-dimensional stuff affecting his own destiny, fate, cause and effect... and so on. But he was less worried about this. These factors are beyond his cognition, worrying about whether it is dangerous is purely self-torment. Its like worrying about the day the sun stops rotating and mankind will go extinct... Youre not at that level yet. Leonard Churchill was in a pretty good mood though. He wore the clown mask and carefully looked around. He didnt dare touch the wolf head totem pillar, instead, he took out his mechanical arm and carefully lifted the pottery jar. Nothing unexpected happened. Leonard examined the pottery jar, thinking to himself: I hope this thing doesnt turn out to be one of many, like some kinds of starry glass orbs. Having found a second one, a third and fourth wouldnt be surprising anymore. Logically speaking, the possibility was quite high. The jar seals some things that even gods find troublesome. So much so, it has to be sealed separately, Hidden in different corners of the world. But this isnt something Leonard should worry about right now. Without thinking too much, Leonard took out a sturdy beast skin bag, put the jar in it, and hung it around his waist. The most important thing in this secret room was the pottery jar. Now that he had collected it, Leonard turned to look at the other items. He began to collect the remaining items in the Alternate Dimension that hinted at anything, while avoiding damaging the totem pole and array. The Shadow of the Lamp on the ground, the Mithril Crystal on the wall... He pulls out the tools and dumps them into the Storage Ring. If the monster could escape, it would definitely be because they had the upper hand. So, the exit must be blocked. If they cant let the monster escape, then they are most likely to be wiped out. Whether this exit is blocked or not doesnt really matter. Psychologically, only by leaving no way out for oneself, can one dispel the innate fear and hesitation in the depths of ones soul, and turn death into life! Now that they knew that Leonard could enter the barrier safely, he was somewhat safe to some extent. This made Tracy Garcias trio feel a lot better for their debts. The three of them had been friends since they were little, dying together wouldnt feel like much. Dragging outsiders into this wasnt right. Alisons trap layouts were very comprehensive, and Leonard had nothing to say. After they finished talking, Leonard added, I have a plan. Even if its a sneak attack, we can only bleed an A-rank Catastrophe to death. So, my plan is, I will sneak in the corridor, and I need someone to help me lure the werewolf to a specific location, so I can seize the opportunity to cut its leg muscles... He had assassinated the Werewolf Commander, Quisen before, and clearly experienced the strength of a B-rank Catastrophe. But it was very risky then. He was almost walking on the line of life and death. He was certain that according to the original tactics, he could not sneak up to the A-rank Catastrophe without being noticed, let alone kill it, he would certainly die. So, the thinking needed to change. The story mode provided assistance by limiting the werewolves healing ability. It actually pointed out that the blood-draining tactic was the correct approach. But werewolves, like assassins, have a very prominent agility attribute. One can expect that an A-rank Catastrophe must run very fast. If this wasnt limited, the four of them would have no chance at all. Upon hearing Leonards plan, Liam Martinez and the three of them all nodded. Werewolves are very vigilant, the death rate of this mission is very high. Alison was the first to stand up and say, Ill do it. Ill do my best to create opportunities for you. Shes a ranger, and the fastest and most agile of the three.. Chapter 169 - 90: The First Generation Werewolf Chapter 169: Chapter 90: The First Generation Werewolf Infected (Please Subscribe) 3 Translator: 549690339 Follow current novels at novelhall.com) Although they knew that using themselves as bait was a gamble they were likely to lose, they didnt hesitate. Liam and Little Garcia listened with serious and anxious expressions, but they couldnt offer any better ideas. Leonard nodded, Okay. Once the plan was laid out, the four of them didnt waste any more time on idle chatter. The threat of death hung over them all. The atmosphere was incredibly heavy. At this point, Tracy seemed to think of something and said directly, Mr. Leonard, if at that time the monster truly is unstoppable, you must not worry about us. Okay. Leonard wasnt one for theatrics and agreed to this straightforwardly. Most of the demon hunters who had entered were already dead inside the mine. There werent many who managed to escape. However, the Werewolf possessed incredible senses and those demon hunters under a contract of employment, had no place to hide. They thought that it wouldnt be long before the A-rank Catastrophe killed everyone. As predicted, they didnt have to wait too long before they heard a long howl echo from the outside of the mine. The sound sent a chill down their spines, as though their souls had been struck a heavy blow. It reminded them of the terror felt in childhood when hearing ghost stories late at night. Its here! The four of them, Leonard included, recognized the abnormality in the howl and immediately braced for combat. The Werewolf seemed particularly cautious and lingered around the Underground Palace entrance. Perhaps it had smelled the trap or was wary of the Blood Curse barrier. However, the previous werewolves in the mine had been almost completely wiped out. The few low-ranking ones who had come to scout had been easily dealt with by Leonards party. After half an hour, the Werewolf still hadnt entered. Leonards group didnt display any signs of impatience. They werent worried that the Werewolf wouldnt come in. After all, if they held out for three days, they could leave. It was even better if the Werewolf decided not to show up. However, it was evident that it was here! Silently, a three-metre tall standing Werewolf entered the tunnel. Leonard was close to the tunnel, and he was in possession of the Relic-Hider, so the Werewolf didnt detect his presence immediately. Although, upon seeing the monster, Leonard had an ominous feeling. [First-Generation Werewolf Infectee Werewolf King George] Description: The first-generation infectee of the blood of the ancestral Werewolf, Muto; the former master of combat, George, has become a servant of darkness, a bloodthirsty monster proficient in various combat techniques; So the blacksmith George was a hidden master?!1 Then the sound of various cards exploding echoed. Tracy Garcia and the others had all kinds of high-quality Curse Cards in their hands. When they exploded, all kinds of elements surged in the vast mine. Even if the ground turned into swamp quicksand, it couldnt limit the werewolfs running. It could run easily in the overhead and side passages. Just like walking on a flat surface. So, the strategy of breaking its leg was absolutely right! The werewolf had only just run past. In the chaos, a shadow quickly rushed out. There was a small mirror on the corner of the wall. Leonard Churchill looked at the reflection and saw that it was Alison! Behind her, the huge wolf that had been shot with dozens of crossbow arrows was relentlessly pursuing her. The crossbow arrows didnt penetrate deeply, obviously not causing a fatal wound. Even the paralysis poison seemed to have no effect at all. The only effect of the crossbow arrows was probably to let the monster bleed continuously. But that was far from enough. The werewolf was extremely fast, it was about to catch up with Alison in the blink of an eye. At this critical moment, countless fine wires suddenly appeared in the passage. Alisons mechanical gloves closed, and the werewolf crashed headlong into the wire net. But it only stopped the werewolf for a moment. Then a series of snap sounds indicated the wires shattering. This tough alloy steel wire couldnt even withstand a single hit from the A-rank Catastrophes claws and steel teeth. It was as if it was covered in cobwebs, it couldnt stop the werewolf at all. Alison could almost feel the icy chill of the knife-like gust blowing on her neck. Just at that time! Just at the corner! She pulled the wirse and stopped, gracefully rounding the corner while almost sticking to the wall. And naturally, the relentless werewolf gave chase while running alongside the wall. However, at the moment of rounding the corner, no one noticed a sharp surgical knife quietly extending into the air. The height was just right, at the werewolfs thigh. As the shadowy figure and the monster moved past each other in a flash. Leonard Churchill, gripping the surgical knife, and didnt even have to exert force, the sharp blade easily cut through the werewolfs rushing thigh muscles. The muscle structure of the werewolf was almost the same as a human. This cut of his adroitly severed the tendon at the base of the femur and some bone. Success! Seeing his cut achieved the desired result, Leonard Churchill was delighted. He didnt dare to be careless, quietly retracted the scalpel, and his entire body disappeared into the air.. Chapter 170 - 91: Settlement (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 170: Chapter 91: Settlement (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) Translator: 549690339 | The surgical knife was too sharp, he barely felt the pain. The werewolfwho was running at full speed-stumbled several meters forward before realizing that his left leg had gone numb. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) It immediately recognized what had happened. As expected of a werewolf transformed from a fighter Even on one leg, it abruptly pushed off with force and struck Alison, who was close in its reach. A spray of blood shot out. Alison was thrown dozens of meters away, her frail body heavily crashing into a corner of the tunnel, losing consciousness on the spot. The ferocity of the A-rank catastrophe was clear C just one swipe was enough to speak volumes. At this moment, Liam Martinez, clad in heavy armor, arrived. The werewolfs mobility was limited due to its broken leg, presenting him with an opportunity to charge at the creature with his shield immediately. Tracy Garcia quickly appeared beside the unconscious Alison. With a card in play, several spirit objects formed a protective shield around them, formed by the Sticky Monsters. Tracy took out a first aid potion and quickly injected it into Alison. However, the crisis was more intense than anticipated. Even with a crippled leg, this werewolfs combat power remained incredibly formidable. As things turned out, the cunning werewolf had no intention of tangling with a heavily-armored human, it was headed straight for Tracy and Alison. Seeing that he was unable to hold back the enemy, Liam abandoned his heavy shield and replaced it with the Relic Greatsword, shouting, Mystery. Sword Power Slash! A crescent-shaped flame blade cut through the air, but the Werewolf King didnt attempt to evade. The distance was too great, causing the sword air to only leave a shallow wound on its fur. Ignoring such trifling injury, the werewolf swatted away several Iron Zombies in its way and landed another strike on the sticky barrier. The werewolfs claws got entrapped in the Sticky Monsters tar-like secretion... At this point, Leonard Churchill, who had been stealthily lurking, quietly appeared! It was a perfect re-enactment of the scene when he killed the B-rank catastrophe. If he hadnt retreated in time, he would have lost his life to that strike. He shouted harshly, Tracy, put on the armor! They absolutely couldnt let all the baits die. If they all died, they would truly lose any chance of surviving! The werewolf had been attacked twice and had already become wary. If they acted recklessly now, it would mean nothing but certain death. They could only wait for the right moment! As Leonard spoke, he once again used the cloak and Shadow Submarine, disappearing into the darkness. The four of them never imagined this A-rank catastrophe would be so challenging. After a few encounters, two of the four were already severely injured. While Liam engaged the werewolf in combat, Tracy quickly put on the Frost Knights Armor which Leonard had provided. She was well aware that once she put on the armor, the severely injured Alison would undoubtedly die if she was hit again. But if she didnt do so, she, Liam, and Leonard would die. She was a doctor; she absolutely couldnt die before her comrades! The heavy Frost Knights Armor was unbearable for a Spirit Communicator. Once Tracy put it on, she felt like she was hiding in an iron box, unable to move. Meanwhile, in the dark, Leonard quickly tended to his own injuries, his gaze fully fixed on the fierce battle not far away. Large chunks of muscle were severed from its left leg and the muscles of the spine. Hence, the movement of its left limb and the right half of the upper body was significantly restricted. This was his meticulously chosen cut. The werewolf, having lost its agility attribute and one arm being restrained, had lost ninety percent of its combat power! Thinking of this, Leonard murmured to himself, There should be a chance to kill it now.... Chapter 171 - 91: Settlement (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) ! Chapter 171: Chapter 91: Settlement (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) ! Translator: 549690339 However, things didnt go as planned. Under normal circumstances, even if Liam Martinez couldnt kill the Catastrophe, he could still rely on his armor to drag the fight out for a long period against the monster. He could also stagger the beast by inflicting wounds with the Relic Greatsword. This corridor has a blood curse barrier that prevents the werewolfs wounds from healing. So long as they persisted, the huge loss of blood from the monsters multiple injuries would ultimately be enough to drain its life. However, they still underestimated the power of this A-rank Catastrophe. This Werewolf George was a fighting master before. The bastard knew Martial Skills! This werewolf, heavily damaged by these few weaker humans, bleeding profusely, also realized it was in deep trouble. Seeing the relentlessness of the heavily armored knight, the werewolfs freely swinging left arm suddenly stiffened, and visible Gang Air gathered on its wolf claws. Leonard Churchill, watching from a distance, suddenly narrowed his eyes: An Air Skill Masters Gang Air? This First Tier Catastrophe can do this? Storage of power? It was clearly a concentrated Martial Skill. Upon noticing this, he had a bad feeling. But it was too late. Liam Martinez, holding his flaming longsword, was still hacking wildly. The werewolf slapped him with a single palm. With a thud, Liam Martinez fell to the ground. Earlier, the werewolfs claws couldnt penetrate the armor, and this scratch did not damage the defense either. But this one scratch made him unable to stand up? Leonard Churchill, watching the blood spraying from the helmets gaps, understood: Striking a cow from across the mountain? He didnt understand the mystery behind the werewolfs previous palm strike. However, seeing Liam Martinezs pallid complexion as he fainted from bleeding, he realized this one strike had transferred power through the armor, critically injuring Liam! Damn! It even has that trick! Seeing this, Leonard Churchill felt a chill running down his spine and felt the odds were slipping away. He always thought that using armor could counter this kind of physical attack from the monster. Just one chance, and Ill risk my life to help you guys! The desperate call from his heart seemed to have received a response. All of a sudden! Liam Martinez, who was severely injured and passed out earlier, suddenly spit out a mouthful of blood, and regained consciousness! No one understands their situation better than him right now. The desire to survive was like injecting himself with an Excitement Potion. He forgot the intense pain throughout his body and immediately lunged to grab the werewolfs healthy leg. Liam knew, If he wanted to survive now, The only hope lies on the person who may or may not have escaped! The chance is here! Hahahaha.... Hahaha... Here it comes! Here it comes! Im on! Im on! Im on! Upon seeing this, countless voices in Leonard Churchills heart burst out with laughter. Like a beast escaping a cage, his usually suppressed emotions were released due to rationality. They surged out like a torrent! He no longer cared about hiding his traces, his thoughts were in a boiling state of excitement, and he rushed towards the front at full speed. The werewolf now had one leg severed, and it was unable to exert force, while the other leg was being held by Liam Martinez; even if it wanted to kick him away, it couldnt. If it wanted to move, it would have to kill Liam Martinez first with its claws! A claw strike came down like lightning. A dull sound resonated from the black armor. Liam Martinez was critically hit by the claw strike. He spat out a mouthful of blood again. But he didnt let go, because he heard that mad laughter! That guy is coming! He hasnt left! At the brink of life and death, Liam Martinezs strength surged into his arms, as he continued to tightly hold onto the werewolfs leg.. Chapter 172 - 91: Settlement (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets)_3 Chapter 172: Chapter 91: Settlement (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets)_3 Translator: 549690339 After its first strike, the Werewolf King had insufficient time to swipe a second claw. Because it already sensed that death was imminently approaching at the extreme! However, as it was raising itself from its stooped position, it suddenly felt a lack of strength at its waist, and its body jolted. Upon reflection, it awakened to the realization that its lower back had been cut. Certain death! Certain death! Certain death! At this moment, Leonard Churchills brain had completely sunk into a state of frenzied exhilaration. He seemed to have foreseen this scene. With no strength left in its lower back, its body was inevitably left undefended. The moment this werewolf chose to kill Liam Martinez, it was doomed! Flying knife! This chapter is updated by Flying knife! Flying knife! An immobile werewolf is the best target. Leonard Churchill vehemently charged forward, meeting the gaze of the wolf, and upon seeing its head try to dodge, the blade of the Plague Doctors Scalpel in his hand trembling, he lunged it towards the werewolf. Even in such a dire situation, there was hardly any panic reflected in the werewolfs eyes. Flying knife? It had already predicted the trajectory, sufficient to avoid it. With a slight tilt of its head, as long as it didnt pierce its eye socket, it wouldnt be fatal. However, the sight of the knife veering off course was apparent. A strange thing happened! The flying knife seemed to be manipulated by an invisible force, at the last moment when it was close at hand, the sharp edge suddenly changed direction, piercing accurately into the right eye of the werewolf. The werewolf was struck by the knife, its expression instantly changed as if saying: How is this possible! But before it had a chance to ponder more, the flying knife seemed to be propelled by a residual force, drilling viciously into its brain core. With a fleeting glance, it made out a pair of eyes, filled with frenzied excitement to the extreme. A rush of red tinted its vision. At this moment, Leonard Churchills mind had already lost grasp of his actions. In that fervently excited mental state, his intent seemed to have formed a large hand, seizing the hilt of the thrown knife, and then he thrusted with all his might! Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two mummies covered in bandages lying not far away. It appears that Liam Martinez and Alison didnt die either. Leonard Churchill lay down again with peace of mind. Two days later. This is the third day since entering the Greedy Mining Well. Four people emerged from the Burial Mountain Mine. Were truly grateful to Mr. Leonard Churchill, otherwise we would have died here. Yeah. Looking back now, it was the last flying knife that was truly amazing. Hey, I thought you were gone. I didnt expect you to still be there. Ah... its a shame I couldnt be of any help, I was knocked unconscious with one slap. I also missed the exciting battle afterward. Alison, you did great as the bait. If you hadnt taken that hit, we wouldnt have had any chance of winning. But Mr. Leonard Churchill, are you sure your mental state is really okay? I feel like you were on the verge of having a mental deformation... No one died, this is the greatest fortune. The four chatted while walking along, their spirits greatly lifted. Having survived catastrophe, looking back, this experience has become a heroic mark imprinted on their souls. The battle was one to reminisce over for a lifetime. Having been through a life and death adventure together, Liam Martinez and Alison were now very enthusiastic towards Leonard Churchill. Listening to the three of them heap praises, Leonard Churchill just chuckled and shook his head. No matter how he explained, Tracy Garcia and the others wouldnt stop singing his praises. Although this space expedition was fraught with life and death situations. Surviving yielded a great reward. The last A-rank catastrophe corpse also brought Leonard Churchill a surprise. Another Material Card appeared in his card slot. First Generation Werewolf Infected Mutated Muscle Quality: Glittering Silver Description: High purity Abyssal Immortal Werewolf flesh tissue, a very rare flesh-based Extraordinary Material, emanates a super-concentrated dark contamination power; possesses strong power, nerve response, toughness, self-healing, and a series of flesh attributes; The quality of the material greatly exceeded expectations. Shortly after, the four circumvented the city gate and climbed over the wall into Townsend Town.. Chapter 173 - 91: Settlement (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets)_4 Chapter 173: Chapter 91: Settlement (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets)_4 Translator: 549690339 | The A-rank Catastrophe has already been killed, and it appears the werewolves in the city have disappeared as well. But even if they had not, they would not present a significant threat. As for the few surviving members of the Black Wolf Group, they didnt feel the need to pay them any mind. After all, they were destined to partake in a vile battle once they ventured out. They found the Secret Agent and handed him the witchs secret letter, which in turn revealed the exit of the space. The Alternate Dimension was cleared ahead of schedule. The clearance notifications appeared in front of each of the four. Congratulations on clearing the Greedy Mining Well'' 9io/ space exploration achieved, A-rank rewards earned, fixed rewards iooV Wit Supremacy: +7% probability of drawing high-level cards Life Risk Taker: +5% probability of drawing high-level cards Werewolf Slayer: +10% extra probability of drawing rare cards Rare Survivor: +5/ extra card reward BOSS Slayer: +7% special reward for A-rank [First-gen Werewolf Infected- George]; +5% special reward for B-rank [Werewolf Commander- Kuisen]; +2% special reward for C-rank [Elite Werewolf]*2... Completed core hidden storyline exploration*!, +25% rare probability for chest draw Overall rating A, awarded with 3 clearance chests Below were options for Enlightenment. 40% chance to draw a white card, 50% a black iron card, 8% silver, and 2% special Wow, we got an A rating for clearance. Not bad... Skill- Two-pole collapse Explanation: Silver Quality Skill Cultivation Card requires Advanced Combat Expertise to master two-phase punch power which can harm the target through objects; Effect of the skill is influenced by Curse Power and strength values. Skill- Barbaric Charge Explanation: Black Iron Quality Skill Cultivation Card requires at least 10 strength. After use, the Charge Skill is mastered, achieving a straight-line 200%- 500% limit speed dash, causing collision damage and possibly dizziness to the target. A skill that can strike a person across the mountain? This is indeed a Silver Skill Card. Seeing the skill descriptions, Leonard Churchill was excited. He had personally witnessed a scene before where a werewolf had punched through heavy armor, seriously injuring the Black Knight, Liam Martinez. Before, Leonard Churchill had thought whether it was his scalpel or fist, it was just like scraping a Heavy Armor Profession. No! Almost any Profession inherently has a disadvantage against Heavy Armor Profession. But this Two-pole collapse immediately solved this problem! Whether it was strength or Curse Power, Leonard Churchill was top of the class. Fatal blow through armor, if he truly masters this skill, wouldnt it kill a same-tier Black Knight in one punch? Moreover, the Black Iron Quality Skill- Barbaric Charge was a rare Black Iron Skill, a warriors charging class skill he had seen before. The violent charge causes striking damage, especially suitable for robust card masters. He was suitable as well. Even the final Black Iron quality Werewolf Claws was excellent material to create claw weapons. In summary, Leonard Churchill was already very satisfied. A 2% treasure chance for a Silver rated skill. This time, he truly hit the jackpot. Rewards and risks in an Alternate Dimension always directly proportional. Seeing the rewards from the clearance, Leonard Churchill felt convinced, this adventure was worth it. Upon inquiry, Tracy Garcia and the others also had excellent gains! Chapter 174 - 92: Racing Girl Chapter 174: Chapter 92: Racing Girl Translator: 549690339 | Haha... Im astonished to have received an A- in such a high-difficulty alternate dimension. -I got a B. Oh... I pulled a special card, Witchs Silver Potion Formula. Ah... I only got a B-. But the card I drew wasnt bad. I got ranger-exclusive materials. II II The evaluations of Tracy and the others for clearing the game were also quite good. Liam Martinez got A-, Tracy got B, and Alison got B-. And since they were teammates who fought together with Leonard Churchill, they all had the evaluations of Werewolf Slayer and Rare Survivor. With the additional hidden plot, they had a high probability of pulling high-quality cards. In the end, the rewards they all received were pretty good. Through their conversation, Leonard finally realized that he doesnt seem to be extremely lucky. Instead, it appears that the higher the completion rating, the higher the probability of getting profession-specific rewards in the alternate dimension. Besides the various hidden chances added by the descriptive words, he was able to pull two skill cards. Is this... better than the basic guarantee? The actual extremely lucky one is the lady with the pigtails. She drew another hidden card! Updated from Overall, it appears that everyone had a fruitful harvest, and their faces were filled with joy. At that moment, while holding a skill card, Liam Martinez pouted and grumbled, Ah... I only drew a Skill- Intermediate Fighting Specialization. Too bad my own fighting techniques have already reached an advanced specialty... Normally, drawing a skill card would be considered a great fortune. But if its not suited to the person, then its quite a frustrating situation. While talking, he turned his head to look at Leonard and asked, Leonard, do you need this card? If you do, its yours. Leonard was a bit surprised to hear this. The sudden act of kindness caught him off guard. Indeed, this card is very much needed by him, so he replied straightforwardly: From the moment they decided to carry out the insane plan of exterminating all the werewolves in the mine, every single step afterwards Leonard led the battle strategy. Every time, they found afterward that his decisions were the correct ones. They were the only and the most rational choices. Especially when they killed the A-rank catastrophe. If it werent for Leonard risking his life at the end, the three of them would have certainly died in the alternate dimension. They wouldnt have even been able to discuss any kind of rewards. So in reality, no matter what spoils of war Leonard took, they wouldnt object. The three of them firmly believed That all of this was what he deserved. Liam even felt that the card he offered was nowhere near enough to express his feelings of gratitude. He had saved their lives, especially those of his two teammates. Such a favor was simply priceless. Recognizing their sincerity, Leonard didnt refuse any more. He accepted the card and directly used it. The peculiar sensation surged into his brain, and the fighting specialization status on his panel changed to Intermediate. The exit of the space had already appeared. This was one or two hours earlier than the normal three-day limit. Its not wise to stay in the space for a long time. Leonard thought for a moment, then said, After we get out, everyone should be careful. Its very likely that this alternate dimension will collapse. Tracy was surprised and asked, Collapse? Yes. Leonard nodded. Alternate dimensions dont only disappear if they get an S-rank evaluation. If it gets used too often, or certain key treasures are taken, they can also vanish. The Greedy Mining Well, somehow managed to tick both of these boxes, so Leonard guessed that there was a high probability of it collapsing. But this might be better, as the exit location would then be random. Leonard didnt elaborate further. Liam and the others didnt ask any more questions either. In any case, they werent going to return to this place. If it collapses, so be it. Moreover, If they really manage to escape alive, the members of the Black Wolf Group will definitely not let them leave alive and ruin their reputation. They will certainly look to silence them. There might even be a fierce battle waiting for them. If the space really collapses, it might actually be more convenient. Leonard added, Just in case were still in the camp at that time. You guys stay quiet for now. Wait for my signal to take action.. Chapter 175 - 92: The Racing Girl_2 Chapter 175: Chapter 92: The Racing Girl_2 Translator: 549690339 I Tracy Garcia and the others nodded, Yup! At this point, they had no doubts about Leonard Churchills scheme. Updated from Once finished speaking, Leonard donned the Relic Hider, and the four of them stepped into the Twisted Light Gate together. While Leonard and the others were delivering the secret message, all the inhabitants of the Alternate Dimension also saw the mission completion notification. In a cellar of a civilian house in Townsend Town, a few surviving hunters from the Black Wolf Group had been hiding for three days now. Gazing at the suddenly appearing settlement completion notification, they were absolutely baffled. Whats going on...why are we getting a completion notification before the times up? Could it be that Captain Alex found the key clue? Hmm, thats the only possibility I can think of. But... this is an A-Rank Plot. Captain Alex has that stealth relic. Its very likely he helped complete the stage. Hehe, our groups going to make a fortune this time! Wouldnt Captain Alex get a few silver cards from the completion? The Black Wolf Group hunters were brimming with excitement. In their view, the group of civilian hunters who entered this time had no chance of completing the A-Rank Plot. It could only be Captain Alex, who stealthily entered the fourth level of the mine and triggered the plot. After triggering the A-Rank plot, they had been hiding in the cellar, undiscovered by the werewolves, surviving till now. Unexpectedly, they were now winning by staying out of the fight. However, due to their almost non-existent participation in the Plot, their evaluation was very low, and they hadnt received any good rewards. But this did not dampen their good mood. The men stepped out of the Alternate Dimension. The surrounding scenery changed, and they had already appeared near their camp. However, they were in the middle of nowhere and hidden danger was everywhere. Leonard and his team were not entirely healed and they had no intention of having a direct confrontation with the Black Wolf Group. When the four of them reached a small valley, Leonard was initially concerned about the several hours of journey to the Thunderbolt Fortress on foot, which was quite risky. But surprisingly, Liam Martinez took out a cool, modified steam motorcycle from his Storage Ring. A motorcycle? Leonards eyes twitched in surprise. This thing can fit into a Storage Ring? Liam got onto the motorcycle with a natural look; Alison sitting behind him. Before Leonard could understand what was happening, he saw Tracy take out a modified motorcycle from her Storage Ring as well! It was only then that Leonard realized these guys Storage Rings must have incredibly large space capacities. Its said that these kinds of Storage Rings with enormous space are ancient relics, most of which are now in the hands of the top aristocrats. Some are still being passed down in some ancient families. Leonard chuckled lightly, thinking he really had learned something new. At this moment, Tracy started her motorcycles steam boiler, tilted her head quizzically and invited, Mr. Leonard Churchill, would you like to ride with me? Im quite skilled at driving! This bob-haired young lady was a quite cheerful person. She had been a bit shy when they first met at the large tomb. But this was their second encounter, this time surviving life-and-death situations together; there was no awkwardness. The noise of the steam boiler was quite loud, and it seemed like some people in the Black Wolf camp had noticed; some shadows started moving in their direction. Without hesitation, Leonard replied, Sure! He thought no more of it and got on Tracys motorcycle. But whether in his past life or now, this was the first time Leonard sat at the back of a girls motorcycle, and he found the experience somewhat strange. This was also Tracys first time giving a ride to a man; she was initially a bit embarrassed. However, seeing Leonard sitting politely and somewhat distant at the back made her relax, and she confidently said, Mr. Leonard Churchill, you can hold my waist while Im driving, I dont mind! If not, I might drive too fast and you could fall off. The perception of gender in this world is quite open, especially in place like Sinless City. Tracy could be considered a fairly modest girl. Seeing her casualness, Leonard didnt act pretentious and moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist, his hands very gentlemanly placed on her Tactical Vest.. Chapter 176 - 92: Racing Girl 3 Chapter 176: Chapter 92: Racing Girl 3 Translator: 549690339 Underneath the gas mask, Tracy Garcia seemed to sense something and broke into a faint smile. Boom- Boom- Boom- The restless rumbling filled the air as the boiler of the steam motorcycles flared up, with the two bikes racing through the pitch-black wilderness. It was quite a scene. The sentries of the Black Wolf Group stationed at the arrow tower spotted them immediately. The guys are up ahead! With a furious shout, countless motorcycles and armored transport vehicles revved up and relentlessly gave chase. However, the motorcycles ridden by Liam Martinez and his partner were significantly superior in terms of suspension, boiler power, and the quality of mechanical parts compared to the Black Wolf Groups. Moreover, these off-road bikes were far more suited for the wilderness. The large transport vehicles simply couldnt keep up. The chase grew more intense, and the distance between the two groups grew wider. The Black Wolf Group members behind tried to halt them with various firearms and shells, but both Leonard Churchill and Alison, who were sitting on the backseats of the motorcycles, were excellent sharpshooters. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) One with a gun, the other with a crossbow. Their precise shots almost always hit their mark. Any members of the Black Wolf Group who caught up were promptly sent tumbling off their bikes. Occasionally, they dropped some bombs, causing sporadic bursts of flames in the darkness. Their pursuers were just ragtag troops. After a few of them were killed, the rest grew afraid. Soon, those guys had been left far behind, and their presence vanished from sight. Hahaha... A belly laugh echoed from the motorcycle, carrying far across the black wilderness. Theyd just navigated through a nerve-wracking A-rank difficulty space and now had escaped their pursuers, so the moods of the trio were pretty good. Being at the prime of their youth, they reveled in the exhilarating sensation of wind in their hair. From his position at the backseat, Leonardo Churchill could sense the trios happiness. Only then did he realize that Tracy Garcia, who gave off an elegant impression, had some seriously impressive motorcycle-riding skills. With no real roads in the suburbs and all kinds of potholes and uneven terrain C even rugged mountain roads C she seemed to navigate effortlessly. She must have done a lot of biking in her day. As she claimed when they first hopped on, if he didnt hold on, he might be thrown off. Leonard was curious, he thought that this skill set did not seem to match Tracys character, so he ventured to ask, Miss Garcia, do you ride motorcycles often? Ah...what? The wind was loud, so Tracy leaned back a bit, trying to hear better. Leonard leaned in and repeated his question. Yeah, she replied. Tracy knew it might seem a bit of a disconnect between her two different styles, so she explained, Because its a long way from home to Sinless City, I often have to ride a bike... Just like high-tiered transcendental knowledge, mental secret skills were monopolized by the great nobility. After years of confiscation and destruction, practically no complete visualization secret skills remained among the ordinary people. Even in Sinless City, they were carefully hidden. Such treasured items were almost as valuable as exclusive secret manuals. Having them made one more capable than others. So they were most often passed down through families and master-disciple relationships, almost never being sold to others. Looking at the small iron piece, Leonard Churchill did not refuse but stored it away. Thank you. A slight smile appeared on Tracy Garcias face at his words. No need to be polite. But Leonard Churchill didnt like owing favors. In the team for Greed Cavern this time, the three of them, including Tracy Garcia, had actually made too many concessions. He thought of something and also took out a notebook, saying, I also have something for you. Huh? Tracy Garcia was slightly surprised and playfully asked back, A gift for me? Leonard Churchill said, This is a secret skill book, which should be very compatible with your profession. What he took out was the incomplete Cellular Activity Boiling, a Demon God secret skill from Plague Doctor Hensen. Its not like the secret skill would be gone once gifted. Since he had already memorized it, it also made for a good favor. Moreover, besides this secret skill, Leonard Churchill didnt think he had anything of equal value to offer in return. The secret skill would also suit Tracy Garcia quite well. If she learned it, it would be as if she possessed an undying body. It was ideal for a medical profession. He had some reservations before. After all, the source of the secret skills was very sensitive. But now, he didnt need to worry. Tracy Garcia and the other two had already seen his relic-level scalpel. Anyone who had seen the arrest warrant issued by the Silver Moon Sect could easily guess what was going on. Having several secret skills was no big deal. But the methods used by the Old Days Believers were very deceptive, and these people were better left alone if possible. Leonard Churchill, being a loner, didnt care about this. But Tracy Garcia had a group of people behind her. Not many could withstand faith pollution. He reminded her again, There is another thing. The scalpel I have and this secret skill have a very sensitive source. You must not mention them to others. Otherwise, it will cause you a lot of trouble. Tracy Garcia seemed to have known for a long time and agreed, Okay! As the steam engine traveled, they encountered disturbances from small groups of wild monsters on the road, but the four of them were able to handle it without much danger. Several hours later, they had arrived at Thunderbolt Fortress.. Chapter 177 - 93: Top-End First Tier Chapter 177: Chapter 93: Top-End First Tier Translator: 549690339 , The hunters campsite at Thunderbolt Fortress is much smaller than that of the Demon Cross. But its still bustling. As he strolled around, Leonard learned that several new Alternate Dimensions have been discovered around the fortress recently, attracting a growing number of treasure seeking hunters. Leonard and his team returned at the perfect time and caught the steam train heading back to Sinless City. Tracy and her team left on the train first. Leonard decided to stay at the campsite by himself. Almost as soon as Tracy and her team were gone, hundreds of members from the Black Wolf Group returned to the campsite in full force. These guys had the audacity to accuse others first. They directly registered a bounty at the hunters guild in the campsite. They claimed that a group of unknown forces breached the rules by triggering the high-level side quest of the Greedy Mining Well. As a result, all the participating hunters were killed, including some of their own. Most importantly, these rule-breakers took the treasures, causing the Alternate Dimension, known for its rich resources, to disappear! This reason seemed plausible. If the Black Wolf Group could have resolved the problems of the Greedy Mining Well, they would have done it already. The claim of an outsiders plunder also sounded reasonable. Similar incidents had happened before as well. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) In this way, the reputation of the Black Wolf Group remained unscathed. The Hunters Association, naturally, was more inclined to believe this reputable old team, and thus published the bounty. As for Leonard, one of the initiators, he found the bounty on the campsites bulletin board and was utterly unconcerned. Even though they had no interest in exposing the Black Wolf Groups transgressions, watching these guys biting back so shamelessly was amusing. Flesh. The Rare Silver Light Skeleton Bone (Silver) he obtained from the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth can substitute for the Consciousness element. The Spell Gamblers Secondary Mutated Heart (Excellent Shining Silver) he initially obtained from Space 407 is a virtually universal Mystery element for close-combat Profession Card. Moreover, the Shadow of the Lamp acts as the Element, providing the necessary dark element in sufficient quantities for the Profession Card. These four materials, when it comes to the Profession Card, can definitely be considered top-tier. Leonard had previously asked about related materials at Great Ivans shop. The salesperson had made it clear that one might purchase silver-grade materials with some luck. But even better ones, like shining silver materials, were nearly impossible to get- Even though the Sinless City is by the Old Continent, which keeps producing treasures even now, The truly top-tier treasures never appear on the market. No sooner are they discovered in an obelisk than theyre snatched up by large merchant groups. How could these low-level people in Sinless City afford the prices that those in the rich ore layer could? Extras like the gamblers heart, an Excellent prefix shining silver material, which only high-difficulty Alternate Dimensions could produce, are extremely rare. Its unlikely to be found anywhere in Sinless City, even the Black Gold Trade Unions headquarters dont have it. Material like this, the moment it appears, would immediately be bought by Federal top nobility. There is absolutely no chance that these items would find their way to the market. After taking out the materials, Leonard thought back to the technique of refining Profession Cards. He then picked up the Cursed Spades 4, funneled his curse power into it, and the card lit up with a blood-red four-pointed star array. Leonard placed the necessary materials in the four corners of the star. Just like a Containment Card, the materials were instantly absorbed into the card in a process akin to dimensional reduction. The extraordinary traits in the materials were guided out, initiating a series of magical reactions. The four materials released four different levels of black light, like streams of elemental gravel, entwining, interweaving, and merging into one. Seeing this, Leonard let out a sigh of relief, thinking, This should work... With the Bloody Fragment, its almost like foolproof operation.. Chapter 178 - 93: Top-End First Tier_2 Chapter 178: Chapter 93: Top-End First Tier_2 Translator: 549690339 But after investing so many top-notch materials, he was also somewhat worried about his own craftsmanship. If an issue were to arise, he wouldnt be able to find such good items again. So far, it looked quite promising. The next step was to simply wait. In a blink of an eye, five hours had passed. Leonard Churchill paid undivided attention to the crafting process of the Profession Card throughout. Fortunately, the hunters in the camp were all rather busy, no one would think that a usurious solitary hunter in his tent was crafting such an extremely rare Profession Card. Finally, the gloss on the card completely retreated inward. The Werewolf Pattern on the card had become entirely distinct. Sharp fangs, steel-like muscles, icy-cold claws...as if a terrifying werewolf from the abyss was alive and sealed within it. In the corner, there was a 4 number. This tiny card seemed to contain endless magical power, a mysterious aura pouring out of it. Looking at the shining silver card, Leonards eyes lit up: Its complete! Spade 4-Wolf Walker Quality: Radiant Silver Details: Profession Card crafted from Primordial Template, harboring ferocious Extraordinary Traits; Fusion requires a Card Disciples strength, physique, agility attribute no less than 10, Curse Power Value more than 4500, Dark Affinity no less than 40; upon fusion, 35% enhancement in full attributes, acquisition of Dark Affinity, Flesh-growth talent; after successful fusion, receives the occupation ability Werewolf Transformation; Curse Card Master will trigger Beast Transformation during transformation, self-bloodline will be remodeled by Profession Card, gains Savage Growth, growth limitation affected by ones own Extraordinary Traits and Elemental Tolerance... Wearing the Clown Mask, Leonard observed the detailed attributes of the card. Much information was densely packed into it. The card in his hand had a 35% growth. That is to say, if the strength is 10, after advancement, others at best would reach 13, while he could reach 13-5- Although the initial difference in growth doesnt seem big, with the potential for growth, this gap would become larger and larger. As for the subsequent introductions, like Bloodline Reversion and Savage Growth, he would only know the effect after fusion. Whether it would be defective or not, nobody knew. Ill take this card! Looking at the extraordinary attributes of this Profession Card, Leonard was immediately determined to use it. Ive met the other requirements, but Im still a bit short on Curse Power... Leonard looked at his Curse Power Value of 3885. It was still a long way from 4500. Normally, a Curse Card Master would choose to advance only at the ninth stage of Curse Power. Because the more abundant the Curse Power, the better they can digest the Extraordinary Traits in the Profession Card, and the lesser the probability of defects. But that is for the regular hunters. A normal Breathing Method Card Disciple at the ninth stage would have a Curse Power Value of 3,000-4,000. Leonards current Curse Power Value is close to 4,000, and thats just the fourth verse of the Golden Fragment that hes studying! The few hundred points difference that remains may require months of rigorous practice for common people who practice other Breathing Methods. But it wasnt a big issue for Leonard. Moreover. He wanted to test whether the cultivation effect would increase if the two Curse Cans were used together. Thinking of this, Leonard put away the Profession Card. He took out his book and then resumed his routine of reading and practicing the Breathing Method. He also carefully recorded the changes in his Curse Power Value. Time flew unnoticed in this mundane cycle. Even though at the later stage of a Cardholder, the Curse Power Value increases at a slower rate. But now, with Leonards high Enlightenment added, and with his Breathing Method already at Lv3, the efficiency was still extremely high.. Chapter 179 - 93: Top-End First Tier 3 Chapter 179: Chapter 93: Top-End First Tier 3 Translator: 549690339 Seven days later. Looking at his own Curse Power Value of 5322, Leonard Churchill sighed, Almost at the limit... In order to integrate the Profession Card without deformation, he dared not be careless. So, he decided to elevate his Curse Power Value to the peak within his ability range. Right now, hed only just touched the Sixth Layer of Incantation, and the incantation still had room for further enhancement. But his body was already pushed to its limits. Without job advancement, the Breathing Method was also already having difficulty in increasing his Curse Power. Updated from ore, through seven days of testing, Leonard came to a conclusion: the two ceramic pots indeed had an accumulative effect on the concentration of elements. A single ceramic pot could increase the efficiency of the Breathing Methods practice by about five times. However, two combined would only increase it by six times. Leonard originally thought that the effect was due to the overlapping of the pots effectiveness. Only later did he speculate that it might not be as simple as that. The free elements within a unit space are finite. This represented the limit of the environment, rather than the pots limit. The water pipe only has so much output. Even if two taps are opened, the amount of water will not double. The increased efficiency from cultivating with two ceramic pots allowed Leonard to drain all the free elements in a large area of the Void. But this was already ideal. The ability to stack cultivation efficiency made the second ceramic pot another huge surprise. Leonard took a long, deep breath, pulled out his Spade Four card, and looked forward to the anticipation within his heart, So...its time to advance. The gap between a Card Master Apprentice and a formal Curse Card Master was enormous. After advancing, his power would see a fundamental leap. Now that the conditions were met and his physical attributes were uplifted to their upper limit, he was eager to experience the significant changes brought about by the fusion. Without giving it much thought, he activated the Spade 4 C Wolf Walker. The Hexagram Array on the card lit up, and each profound curse started swirling. The Profession Card in his hand had also disappeared. He glanced at the time. Six hours had passed. Looking at his attribute panel again, sure enough, it had dramatically increased. Leonard Churchill Strength: 14.61 Physique: 14.79 Agility: 13.64 Tenacity: 13.51 Spirit: 6.88 Curse Power: 5322 Aura: Bad Luck Gambler Elemental Affinity: Dark 41 / Light 19 / Land 19 / Wind 16 / Water 17 / Fire 13 / Thunder 8 / Wood 22 / Metal 10 Profession Exclusive Traits: [Flesh and blood Growth],[Strong Body],[Dark Beast], [Ancestral Werewolf], [Savage Growth] So powerful! Leonard looked at the data panel after his transition and clearly felt the powerful upgrade brought about by the job change. From now on, he had become a formal Curse Card Master! Not only did his physical attributes rise significantly, the previous sense of oppression from the Card Disciples limit was also completely gone. I got an extra Savage Growth compared to the usual Profession Traits of Spade 4 C Beast Walker... Looking at the content displayed by the Enlightenment Display, Leonard Churchills eyes were shining. Not only was there an extra trait. The enhancement of each trait had almost reached the upper limit described in the encyclopedia for this professional sequence. He also secretly remarked on the wisdom of his choice to choose a werewolf as the main material. The Abyssal Immortal Clan may not rank top in every individual growth trait but the overall metrics were extremely balanced, making them absolutely Tier The increase in Strength, Agility, Physique, and Tenacity were all top-grade! He also gained a new [Beast Transformation] skill. Once transformed into a Werewolf, he would have Supernatural Agility, Supernatural Strength, Supernatural Self-healing, Supernatural Tenacity, Supernatural Perception...a series of Beast Transformation exclusive abilities. His combat power would also temporarily surge. With just a thought, Leonard already couldnt wait to try out his transformation ability. As Curse Power poured into his limbs, he watched as his muscles visibly bulged, his hair grew rapidly, and there was a crack, crack sound of bones expanding.... In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a standing werewolf that looked as if it was made of steel! Chapter 180 - 93 First Tier Top Configuration_4 Chapter 180: Chapter 93 First Tier Top Configuration_4 Translator: 549690339 The werewolf he saw now was entirely different from those he had previously encountered in the Alternate Dimension. Even the A-rank Catastrophe did not possess a threatening aura as he now did. At this moment, Leonard Churchill looked in the mirror at himself, his hair like steel needles, muscles as tough as iron, dark elements overflowing on his body like a flame. His fangs sharp, his claws steel-like...He looked like a monstrous devil coming out of a legendary abyss, radiating visible brutality and terror! Looking at his ferocious reflection in the mirror, Churchill was pleasantly surprised, incredibly satisfied, So this is what an Ancestral Werewolf is? Once again, he inspected his data, his attributes had already increased from 14 to nearly 30. This was already the standard of a Second Tier Close Combat Card Master! The data doubled, and the increase in combat power was more than double. Normally, the Beast Walker should be able to increase his combat power by 2 to 5 times after the Beast Transformation. But Leonard Churchill felt that his current Ancestral Werewolf form could easily beat 10 of his untransformed selves! And this was just after the promotion! The transformation ability and Bloodline Reversion would continue to enhance properties, and the future combat power after transformation would erupt dramatically. How strong! Only when Churchill saw himself in this state did he understand why the Lone Wolf Barons combat power was so exaggerated. Under this data pressure, peers of the same tier simply had no power for a comeback! If it were any other newly promoted curse card master, Churchill would dare to wreak havoc now! The werewolf transformation required curse power, which was another great advantage for him. His robust curse power would allow Leonard Churchill to transform for a longer time than other peers of the same profession. Just after his promotion, his combat power still couldnt reach Barons level of steamrolling over First Tier Curse Card Masters, but it wouldnt be too long before he does. The materials set the growth ceiling of the profession card. He is bound to become stronger in the future! It is indeed a Primordial Template... The camp certainly wasnt a suitable place to test his enhanced combat power after the promotion, whereas the Alternate_dimension would be. Now that he has advanced, he could continue to absorb attributes from the bodies to strengthen himself. Moreover, he needs to learn that Skill-Two-pole collapse which requires Advanced Combat Expertise. Buying such cards was out of the question. Now either he enhances his fighting techniques through actual combat, or he tries his luck in the Alternate Dimension. When he was looking for hired work at the Hunters Association, he had heard that there were dozens of Alternate Dimensions near the Thunderbolt Fortress. Furthermore, this is a newly developed relic with new Alternate Dimensions being discovered almost every day. There may be opportunities waiting for him. Deciding to go, Churchill packed his belongings in the tent into his campaign backpack. He had practically stayed inside the tent for over a week. When he finally came out in the public activity area and saw the bustling camp, he was taken aback. So many people? Churchill looked at the lively scene in the camp filled with people and was quite surprised. Before, to avoid interference during his promotion, he had used Soundproofing Prohibition in the tent. He hadnt expected that upon stepping out, the Thunderbolt Fortress Camp would have become as bustling as the Demon Cross. The number of people had increased several-fold. Not just the number of people, there were also multiple types of heavy machinery in the camp. There were numerous large, well-equipped hunter groups and mercenary corps. Plus... Private hunter teams of nobles from the rich ore layers had likewise arrived? Churchill barely remembered all the large and medium-sized hunter groups in Sinless City. But just within a short stroll around the camp, he saw several unfamiliar group sigils. These werent any ragtag assembly, their charm and demeanor were a far cry from those free-roaming hunter groups in Sinless City. The equipment worn by these groups was mostly standard army gear. Official hunter groups? Upon seeing these elite hunters in the camp, Churchill immediately realized that a large treasure-like Alternate Dimension may have been found near the Thunderbolt Fortress. This wasnt unusual on the Old Continent.. Chapter 181 - 94 War Mode Chapter 181: Chapter 94 War Mode Translator: 549690339 Heh, I didnt expect a War Mode alternate dimension to appear on the side of Thunderbolt Fortress. Tsk tsk, if you can really survive and come out, thats just a quick road to wealth. Several large business houses over there are offering high rewards for special cards appearing from the alternate dimension. For something like a Space Transfer Card, the reward amount has already exceeded two billion! Not to mention the Life Elixir, which is priceless... Updated from Who cares about money. As far as I know, the Lionheart Family has set a price on it too. Apart from the bounty, theyre also offering the appointment letters for lordship of some small towns. If you can obtain a special card, youll be taken care of for several generations. The current death rate in that dimension is over 90%. Id like to go, but I dare not. II II The hunters in the camp were discussing the topic everywhere. But the information they received was fragmented. The camp was not too large and it didnt take long for Leonard Churchill to arrive at the local branch of the Hunters Association in the camp. With just one glance, he figured out what was going on. FRecruiting pioneer hunters for the Third Holy Grail War The Outpost Battle, Minimum requirement: Late Cardholder Stage. Recruitment gold awarded depending on tier ranges from 5~30k...J Leonard Churchill stood in front of the handwritten recruitment notice, and immediately noticed the pinned recruitment information at the top. Realization washed over him: So its a War Mode alternate dimension, no wonder... When he had previously checked out recruitment offerings for professional materials at the Hunters Association in Sinless City, he had seen a notice for scouting Pioneer Hunters for an unknown space in the northeastern part of Thunderbolt Fortress. It was said that many had tried, but no one had survived, and the recruitment price was absurdly high. He hadnt expected that after an investigation, it turned out to be the rarely seen War Mode. This immediately explained the outrageous death rate the hunters were discussing. War Mode refers to those massive alternate dimensions, usually large-scale wars between factions with the key theme being a bloodbath. The number of entrants is in the hundreds or thousands. From the known alternate dimensions in War Mode, the average death rate exceeds 70%. Having a death rate that exceeds 90% before the dimension is explored is quite normal. Especially those large-scale decisive battles involving tens of thousands of troops, its completely a slaughterhouse. In this kind of tier-restricted space, if he cant survive, others likely cant either. Shall I give it a try? After standing in front of the recruitment notice for a while, Leonard Churchill suddenly mused to himself, its unclear who he was asking. But as soon as this thought comes up, he has a response in his head: Try! He originally wanted to find a space to test his current strength, and in passing, the Feast also needed some corpses to devour. He thought it was better to come across a challenging space. Leonard Churchill didnt listen to the scattered news from the hunters, but spent a sum of money to buy information from an information merchant. But there wasnt much. Approximately, It was after more than a dozen waves of pioneer hunters had gone in before someone managed to come out alive with the news that it was War Mode. Three days ago, another group went in. Of the large group of five hundred people, less than twenty came out alive. The plot difficulty is extremely high. Yet, it was these surviving twenty or so people who obtained a relic level armor suit, five skill cards, and related secret manuals, six pieces of silver-grade materials, as well as a number of pieces of black iron equipment materials... They had merely cleared a C-level difficulty. Once news of these outputs exploded, it caused an uproar among the circles of hunters. In the past few days, many onlookers have flooded into Sinless City. Even though the death rate is high, there is no shortage of people willing to sign up in hopes of striking it rich. The monsters are hellish creatures, their numbers are virtually endless. The terrain is extremely complicated, with mountains, caves and jungles, which also happens to be suitable for werewolves... After reading the information he bought, Leonard Churchill also finds it ideal. Like the previous Greedy Mining Well, there were only a few hundred werewolf monsters. For him now, this kind of space is insufficient.. Chapter 182 - 94 War Mode_2 Chapter 182: Chapter 94 War Mode_2 Translator: 549690339 | The one thing War Mode is never short of, is all kinds of monsters. There might be five hundred people entering, but there are tens of thousands of monsters. According to the intelligence we have, the most powerful monster known in the space is a second-tier D-level catastrophe... Leonard figured that in his current situation, even excluding a high completion evaluation, at least his odds of survival are extremely high. He didnt sign up immediately, instead intending to look around the camp some more and inquire about other news. As he was walking, he found himself in the Hunter s Market. There were dozens of stalls here, bustling with people. The good items hunters brought back from the ruins were almost all taken away at a high price by the people from various commerce guilds as soon as they arrived. It was also difficult to find real gems in the market. Leonard wanted to find some ancient documents and ancient text rubbings if possible. He managed to buy some at the stalls. As he was walking, he found a piece of black iron quality half body chest armor at another stall. [Heavy Dragon Pattern Chest Armor] Quality: Black Iron Details: An ancient armor-a hefty chest plate weighing three hundred kilograms, blessed by a priest. Defense+8, Luck+1. When attacked, theres a very low chance of receiving protection from fate, blocking some fatal damage. Leonard was mildly Interested. He walked up to the stall and asked about the price. How much is this armor? One hundred thousand. Would you sell it for three thousand? He looked like a poor melee card master. This was also the common outfit of most low-level solo hunters in Sinless City. There were several times more people at Thunderbolt Fortress than before, and the Hunters Tavern was also bustling. There wasnt much to stroll around in the camp, so Leonard went directly to the tavern. No matter when, always in the tavern could you hear of surprising news. As soon as he stepped in, he saw the bounty orders hung by the Black Wolf Group at the taverns bar. They were still looking for the four people who stole their teams treasure. Leonard didnt care in the slightest. He went in, found an empty spot, and began to drink. Even during the day, the tavern was full of people, with hunters chatting in groups of three or five. They were also discussing some recent happenings in the Fortress. The sharp increase in perception after advancing, combined with the savage growth that came from the werewolf bloodline reversion, even if he hadn t transformed, Leonard found his hearing much sharper. He chose to listen to things he was interested in. Whats the deal with that bounty? I heard the Black Wolf Group got tricked... The Black Wolf Group are the ones that latched onto the powerful... Its not that much actually. The leader of the Black Wolf Group was originally a captain of the Lionheart Familys guard. He was banished for some mistake he made. Now he has just gone back to his old post. Tsk tsk, I really envy him. Even the dogs of noble families eat better than us. Those people in the Black Wolf Group have transformed overnight and become the private soldiers of nobility... Leonard listened with interest. So, the Black Wolf Group had this kind of background. But he didnt pay much attention to that. Hey, whats with that heavily guarded house in the camp? Did some big shot come to the camp? You dont recognize the Sun Lion Shield Emblem? I dont. Did they come from Dragon City? Yes... This is the famous Anka Clans family emblem! You must have heard of the Federation Legend Silver-Eyed Lion Camer, who became famous twenty years ago, right? Hes now the old clan head of the Anka family. Rumor has it that the person who came this time is a young master of the Anka family. Damn... Legends family? No wonder the guards are intimidating. Well, each of those large families has hundreds if not thousands of descendants, no need to make a fuss about a young master... No! This time is different. I heard its the Ninth Young Master from the Anka family that came, a bona fide heir of the Lionheart bloodline. Why would such an important person come to this godforsaken place? Ah, Ive never seen a noble of that level before. I heard that those aristocratic young masters have top-notch Demon Marks, martial skills, and profession cards, all kinds of profession cards are force-fed to them from a young age... theyre absurdly strong.. Chapter 183 - 94 War Mode_3 Chapter 183: Chapter 94 War Mode_3 Translator: 549690339 Dont know how strong he is, but I can tell you hes no good. He just arrived at the fortress yesterday, took a liking to Old Christs daughter from the Stag Squad, tossed out some money, and kidnapped her on the street. Old Christ went to find him, and now six members of his small squad have disappeared. Ha, any idea where they could have gone? These damn nobles. Doesnt anyone in the camp have control? Updated from Havent you noticed that the Hunters Association hasnt been able to make a peep? Now the Lionheart Family has absorbed several large hunter groups and mercenary groups. No one else in the camp dares to get involved in this mess. It seems Sinless City has gone awry... Only after hearing this conversation did Leonard Churchill understand the heavily guarded mansion hed passed earlier. Turns out a distinguished nobleman has arrived. Silver-eyed Lion Camer, a legendary card master of the Federation. He remembers the first time he heard this name was in a free course at the Hunters Association. He never thought hed run into an heir of a legendary family this soon. Se??ch ?ew?o?e? / o?g o? ?oo?l? However, based on what he heard, this Ninth Young Master, Kane, doesnt seem like a kind-hearted person. Hearing hunters grit their teeth about the disgraceful deeds of the nobleman, he didnt feel any disturbance in his own heart. Human nature is mean, regardless of whether they are commoners or rich people. What piqued Leonard Churchills interest was something else. Why would an heir of a major noble family come here? Kane grew impatient as he listened. But when he heard about succession, he held back. He switched the topic, And I have to go to the Alternate Dimension? The steward nodded and added, Your father said that if you dont complete the trial, you might not be able to return to Dragon City for a while. This trial plan was personally established by your mother. Moreover, theres no place more suitable for trials than this space. The large-scale war mode allows legions to enter. This time, I have arranged for a group from the Fierce Beast Legion to accompany you. Young master, rest assured, everything has been arranged and your safety is guaranteed. Once recruitment is complete... Stop, stop, stop! Just handle the trial as you see fit. Kane had no interest in the alternate dimension. He interrupted the stewards following words. The Lionheart Family was not just any noble family. They were a military family possessing a legendary card master! Over the centuries, the family has produced numerous top-level powerhouses. Various uncles and elders hold significant power among the militarys higher-ups. Their influence is intricate and complex. Even when the Old Empire fell, the Anka Clan remained steadfast, demonstrating their profound strength. The wealth of the family provided Kane with everything he needed since childhood. Professional sequence, relics, Demon Marks... These things that the lower class would kill for were piled high in the Anka Clans treasury. He could have any of them as long as he wanted, no matter how rare. As for adventure? Kane had even less interest in that. He had everything he wanted, what was there to seek in adventure? He dismissively waved, You may leave now, I want to rest. Make sure to get me some fresh and quality goods for tonight.. Chapter 184 - 94 War Mode_4 Chapter 184: Chapter 94 War Mode_4 Translator: 549690339 Yes. The butler nodded, didnt say another word, and left the room. Leonard Churchill stayed in the tavern for several hours and got pretty much all the information he needed. The more he heard, the more he couldnt suppress the growing agitation within him. Without any hesitation, he signed up for the task of pioneering the Alternate Dimension for the Third Holy Grail War. The dimensions access was limited to five hundred people per instance, but only two hundred were recruited. Leonard guessed that there might be a major team entering as well. He was also well aware of the reason behind these guys releasing two hundred spots. Experienced hunters had deciphered certain space rules, they knew that the mortality rate in alternate dimensions had a bottom line. This chapter is updated by Se??ch ?ew?o?e? / o?g o? ?oo?l? None of them could guarantee their survival upon entering. However, if they added some low tier hunters to their team with low-quality gear and low combat power, their death probability would be greater. If they filled up the guaranteed death rate. Theoretically, the casualty rate among elites would be smaller. This was the significance of many high-difficulty space recruiting groups looking for people willing to pay. Hunters daring to sign up mostly knew about it. But still, people wanted to give it a go. They were all gambling. Gambling that the one to die wouldnt be them. Gambling that they would strike it rich overnight. Two days later. Leonard arrived at the Hunters Association at the camp. After gathering, the two hundred pioneering hunters marched mightily toward a hollow several kilometers northeast of the ruins. There, they saw the three hundred elites who had been waiting for a long time to spring into action. Heavy Armor, Doctors, Assassins, Crossbowmen... The surrounding scene changed, Leonard found himself inside a fortress. Enlightenment also appeared simultaneously. You have entered the Third Holy Grail War- The Outpost Battle'' Current Disaster Level: Second Tier D level, death rate: 93.4% Space exploration progress: 7.3% Special rules: Use of technology weapons beyond the epoch level of the space is prohibited Keyword: War Mode Clue: The war between the Human Kingdom and the Lord of Hell is imminent, the War Fortress at the edge of the kingdom has already discovered the trace of the Demon Vanguard; theyre about to invade human territory in large numbers. Mission: You and your teammates are kingdom soldiers supporting the fortress, you need to kill demons to gain 100 contribution points to leave the battlefield. Demons are everywhere, this is a very dangerous mission, you will face more than ten times the number of Demon Warriors... Hint: Wars Mode Contribution Points can be exchanged for extra rewards; The Settlement Special Pool added Space Teleportation Card, Life Elixir, Substitute Strawman... and other special items. So this is War Mode? Wow, theres lots of good stuff... Leonard looked at the list of special item names, greatly widening his horizons. These were all Supreme Treasures that the Hunters Association had been offering year-round, everyone had heard about them but had never seen them. The Space Transfer Card could interrupt the exploration mission in the alternate dimension, and forcibly transport you out. It could save your life at crucial times, it wont be odd no matter how much it is sold for. He suspected that Camilla had one of these cards. As for the Life Elixir mentioned later, as long as it is taken before the final breath, it can pull people back from the brink of death. Even if its drunk when healthy, it can increase their lifespan a bit, making cells younger. This was also a top-tier potion longed for by noble ladies. And much more. Only risk-prone modes like the War Mode could yield such rare items. Leonard didnt look much at the special pool, after all, it was something to consider after successfully clearing the mission. He carefully read the task and clue provided by Enlightenment. The War Mode plot was pretty straightforward. It was a war between two factions, with killing as the main thread. Humans and Demons. Leonard examined the surrounding environment, and in front of him was a fortress built of stone and wood, styled in ancient magical fantasy. Before he could think any further, an army officer in armored clothes not far away shouted loudly, Everyone, come and take the military merit mission! Chapter 185 - 185: 95: Dog King Chapter 185 - 185: 95: Dog King Translator: 549690339 Five hundred people, now in the alternate dimension, assembled in the fortresss open ground, listening to the tactical deployment from the fortress commander. Everyone, recently there have been sightings of demon clans in the Dark Sawtooth Forest outside the fortress. You are required to investigate their origins... There are sixteen beacon towers scattered around the forest that you need to light up... At the same time, the kingdom will reward your bravery, and your contribution points achieved will be recorded on the military medals, which can be exchanged for necessary supplies from the military supplies office... When he finished speaking, the enlightenment appeared simultaneously: Triggering a D-level legion mission, with frequent demonic activities outside the fortress, as an elite scouting team dispatched by the kingdom, you need to investigate the truth behind the recent abnormal activities of the demons. You and your teammates will head to the beacon towers in the Dark Sawtooth Forest, and you will earn 1000 contribution points for each tower lit. This is the basic mission of this Third Holy Grail War-The Outpost Battle. Leonard Churchill reviewed the content on the enlightenment and roughly figured out what the upcoming mission would involve. He thought to himself, It only takes too contribution points to leave the space, and lighting a beacon tower earns 1000 points. The reward is quite generous. Going into the forest to light the beacon towers seemed like an easy task. But the current death rate of more than ninety percent was not just simply numbers. It also indicated that this mission was extremely risky. In contrast to the unavoidable risks, Leonard Churchill was more curious about something else: Conversely, its said that contribution points can be exchanged for a lot of good stuff in this alternate dimension... I wonder what they are...Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only All two hundred hunters had seen the enlightenment note and were obviously curious about the same thing. At this moment, a magic light screen appeared next to the fortress commander standing on the platform, densely packed with items available for exchange using contribution points. Leonard Churchill looked over and was immediately drawn to the gold written in the front row. The display content was as follows: Shield of Order (Gold): 100,000 contribution points, 18 Demons Horns, 1 Superior Demon Horn Summon High-Level Undead (Gold): 98,000 contribution points, 15 Demons Horns, 1 Superior Demon Horn Earthquake Skill (Silver): 9,500 contribution points, 5 Demons Horns Swift Step (Silver): 9,400 contribution points, 4 Demons Horns Sword Storm (Black Iron Quality): 2,000 contribution points, 1 Demons Horn It was almost inconceivable to gather a hundred thousand contribution points through normal means. And that was not even the hardest part. Leonard Churchill glanced at the demon horns listed behind and his eyelids subtly twitched. Catastrophe-level demons would produce demon horns, which explicitly stated the difficulty of obtaining them. The gold items in this military supply catalog were probably like carrots dangling in front of a mule, within sight, but out of reach. Leonard Churchill took a closer look at those silver items and couldnt help but sigh, There are so many great things. There are so many skill books that are hard to find outside, and some lost rare skills... Along with these were some relic-level equipment and rare materials... Leonard Churchill scanned the reward catalog quickly and made a note of the exchange catalog. He would see if there was anything suitable for him. While scanning the catalog, he indeed found something! He saw something in the materials column that caught his eye, Rheas sensitive alloy? They have this material here? This was the main material of his Plague Doctors Scalpel! Leonard Churchill didnt expect to see the divine agility alloy here, which none of the major commercial firms in Sinless City had ever heard of. Before, he had a thought. Having only one flying knife came with its inconveniences, for example, he couldnt retrieve it immediately after throwing it out. If he could get a few more for backup, that would be perfect. But let alone that the forging technique of the relic couldnt be reproduced. The most important issue was that there was nowhere he could find this material. It was a material more scarce than the gold tier skills.. Chapter 186 - 186: 95 Dog King 2 Chapter 186 - 186: 95 Dog King 2 Translator: 549690339 I He hadnt expected to see it in the war merit exchange catalog. Leonard Churchill could be indifferent to other things. But this Divine Agility Alloy, he really couldnt ignore it. Hundreds of thousands of contribution points... Leonard Churchill shook his head, calming the restless emotions within him. war Mode, very bluntly, encourages participants to crazily slaughter monsters. After roughly going through it, Leonard Churchill also found that the military supplies catalog was somewhat different from what the information merchant had said before. Thinking about it, it all made sense. The will of the Alternate Dimension seems to be based on the needs of each batch of hunters, ensuring that the items to be exchanged will definitely include specialised items that the hunters themselves need. To ensure that everyone has a strong desire to kill enemies and earn contribution points. The large cake was almost ready. The fortress commander raised his hand once more, and a map was laid out before everyone: Alright, gentlemen, this is the map of Dark Sawtooth Forest You wdl all split into small teams and draw lots to determine which beacon tower you will be heading for... While the other hunters eyes were still lingering on the war merit exchange catalog, Leonard Churchill had already focused his gaze, closely examining every detail on the map on the high platform. This was a military map, drawn very professionally and in great detail. At a glance, Leonard Churchill knew that this must be another hidden clue given by the will of the Alternate Dimension. Although the map only marked the local terrain of the Demon Mountain Range, the general outline presented an 8 figure. In addition to the terrain, there were also some small annotations.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Enlightenment automatically translated these ancient texts into readable words. Leonard Churchill not only remembered the contents, but also took note of the ancient texts. The Thunderbolt Fortress they were currently in was located at the very bottom of the 8 figure, where the outline was formed by the mountain range and the fortress was to the south of the 8 figures outline. To the north was indicated: Far North Demon Domain. Looking at the scale, every several hundred kilometers along this mountain range, there was a fortress, and there were three fortresses in total on the map. The other two were: Meteor Eagle Fortress and Echo Wind Fortress. With a death rate like this, having a doctor made little difference. As for him being a lousy Black Knight, it wasnt hard to form a team. After all, there had to be someone in the team who could resist damage. The two hundred hunters quickly split into teams. Leonard Churchill briefly glanced at his teammates, and with the elderly, the young, the sick, and the disabled, his team was complete. Considering that they would receive a safe home fee just for participating, many had come hoping to take part in some lucky looting, and didnt expect much from their teams strength. However, to Leonard Churchills slight surprise, He actually saw a familiar face in his team. An informant from the Lionheart Family planted in the team... Theyre really careful. The one Leonard Churchill saw was none other than the Black Wolf Groups team leader he had met at the Greedy Mine Cave camp on the outskirts earlier. He had heard two days ago that the Black Wolf Group had attached themselves to the young master of the Lionheart Family. Now, he could guess the intention. With such a strong lineup entering and even arranging an informant in place they were clearly willing to do anything to ensure the safety of the young master. 5 Tsk tsk... Leonard Churchills eyes narrowed. For some reason, seeing that well-equipped Fierce Beast Legion, he felt an inexplicable urge stirring within him. Thunderbolt Fortress was built on a narrow passage in the Demon Mountain Range. There were cliffs and precipitous walls all around the fortress. To get to the North Territory below, one needed to ride a huge basket lifted by a wooden winding mechanism. The basket could fit a hundred people at a time, and there were two in total. The hunters, being cannon fodder, went down first. The moment he got into the basket, Enlightenment prompted: You have left the settlement range. Looking at the prompt, Leonard Churchill thought, So, even if I obtained enough contribution points in the wild, I still have to return to the fortress to be settled and leave? The more prompts there were, the more hidden information there would be.. Chapter 187 - 95 Dog King_3 Chapter 187: Chapter 95 Dog King_3 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill had a faint feeling that the setup seemed to hide some plotline. Normally, it would be unnecessary to make such a fuss. Wasnt it the same no matter where they went to earn enough contribution points? Unless... there was a hidden plot that required players to return to the fortress? Leonard Churchill glanced at the steep cliffs surrounding them, his thoughts were racing, considering the various scenarios this setup could possibly lead to. The winch slowly descended through the air, revealing the chilling, endless darkness below. The unknown darkness seemed like an abyssal creature, ready to swallow life. The hunters were gradually leaping into the mouth of that creature. The accompanying hunters, each holding their weapons tightly, looking anxiously at the cliff whose top was unknown. Looking up, the light from the fortress gradually disappeared. The wind howled. Fear spread between the two gondolas. Even Leonard Churchill was worried about the possibility of encountering monsters during this process. But surprisingly, it went smoothly. About two or three hundred meters down, the gondola suddenly stopped, and someone shouted, Were here! Leonard Churchill narrowed his eyes, observing the surroundings. Having merged with Spade 4 C Wolf Walker, his night vision kept improving. People jumped out of the gondola, cautiously observing the area where the light was dispersed. No trace of monsters, relieving their pent-up breath. Not long after, the gondola descended carrying the Fierce Beast Legion of the Lionheart Family. One hundred people arrived first, pushing the hunters away from the gondola, to the edge of the forest. The remaining two hundred people came down later. Ninth Young Master Kane reluctantly stepped out of the gondola under heavy guard. Seeing that there was no danger, all of the hunters had relaxed and let go of their previous tension. They chatted and joked all the way. Hey, it doesnt seem that dangerous. Just killed three little demons, and got three contribution points on my military medal! Haha, does that mean, if I kill a hundred, I dont even have to light the Beacon Tower, I can just leave? Leonard Churchill silently listened. If it wasnt for the conspicuous death rate in the Enlightenment, he might have thought he had entered a low difficulty Alternate Dimension. But the calmer the road ahead. It meant. The more intense the danger when it arrived. No matter how relaxed they were, the hunters didnt dare to joke around with their lives. The team walked very carefully in the dense forest, not travelling at a brisk speed. After about five or six hours, they had only walked a few dozen kilometers. They were still quite far from the Beacon Tower. They decided to take a break first. They found a location with a wide field of vision and sat down. The group sat in a circle, chatting and making jokes while eating some dry food to replenish their energy. Leonard Churchill, however, chose to lean against a large tree some distance away, setting his shield by his side. Even during the rest, he maintained sufficient caution. Some hunters knew each other and started chatting. Uncle East, didnt you make a fortune last year and retire? Why did you come out again? Why are you here to earn this blood money? I had no choice. My kid got hit in the waist during a gang conflict, barely hanging on with potions. My wife worked for too long in the Alchemy Factory and got lung disease, her monthly wage isnt enough to buy medicine. The little savings we had set aside for retirement have been used up a long time ago. Now, I have to take a chance. Even if I die, the family settlement fees can be left as emergency funds. Me? I gambled and owed a lot of high-interest debt, in the end, I even gambled away my life. So those guys at the casino made me come here, to write off my debt... I actually came willingly. There are so many people getting ridiculously rich on the Old Continent. Why cant I be one of them? As Leonard Churchill gnawed on the dry food, he also observed his teammates. He didnt quite understand why people joined these high fatality rate Alternate Dimensions but after listening to these peoples conversations, he started to understand.. Chapter 188 - 95 Dog King_4 Chapter 188: Chapter 95 Dog King_4 Translator: 549690339 Oftentimes, Its not that the lower class people arent afraid of death. Its just that they have no choice. At this moment, a guy suddenly spoke up, asking the oldest one in the team, Elder... why do you look like the legendary Dog King? Leonard Churchill also looked over in curiosity. The reason this team seemed to be made up of the old and infirm was this toothless old man, who represented the old part. He looked to be in his sixties or seventies, with dark skin, missing a front tooth. When he laughed, the wind would rush through the gap where his tooth should be, which was particularly sleazy. His look was quite distinctive. The old man didnt seem to mind being called Dog King. On the contrary, he was quite pleased to be recognized and laughed heartily, Its just a false reputation, not worth mentioning. Upon hearing this, the man exclaimed, Is it really you, the old man? Didnt you say you went to the Alternate Dimensions Slaughter Mode last time, and you havent died yet? The old man patted his chest, looking modest but with a bragging tone, Its all due to luck. Just luck. With that, many people recognized this legendary character. Even Leonard Churchill looked somewhat odd. Because he had also heard of it. Many interesting stories are circulating in the hunter circles. But because the death rate of hunters is very high, many stories only circulate for a while. Yet, within Sinless Citys hunter circles, a legendary tale has persisted for many years. There was an old hunter missing a tooth, whose surname was Xu. This guy, with various incredible survival skills, could always survive till the end in various alternate dimensions. His usual method was to avoid all dangerous missions, let his teammates clear the level, and then he would collect a minimum reward and exit. these survival tips seemed plausible. Everyone laughed heartily. Leonard Churchill was also amused. But he glanced an extra time at the young man next to the old man. This young man represented the young element in the group. He looked like the old mans grandchild. He was very young, about fourteen or fifteen. Although he was wearing a gas mask, his sharp eyebrows and eagle eyes indicated a vigor completely different from the old mans half-body-in-the-coffin vibe. He never said a word. Hunters this young were rare. Leonard Churchill did not understand why this old man would bring such a young boy in? But before Leonard Churchill even finished the piece of black bread in his hand, he suddenly froze: Its too quiet... After advancing, his crisis perception ability had strengthened significantly. He scanned the surrounding woods and finally noticed the anomaly. When they passed by just now, they at least saw some small creatures like red-eyed bats. Now, it was eerily quiet! After observing for a while, he still couldnt discern the source of danger. Leonard hadnt forgotten that this was the highly deadly War Mode, so he tried to keep himself even better hidden. Just as he was having this thought. There was a faint sound of something rushing through the air. Without any warning, an arrow with black glow shot through the air. Before anyone could react, the arrow pierced through the head of the guy who was laughing loudly just a moment ago. An arrow through the head! Chapter 189 - 96: The First Demon’s Horn Chapter 189: Chapter 96: The First Demons Horn Translator: 549690339 Theres a casualty! The hunters took a moment to process the sight of their fallen comrade, his head pierced clean through, before it clicked. Were under attack! Quick! Watch out for the archer! Scrambling, they grabbed their equipment and scoured the area for cover, afraid the next arrow might find its way onto them. Leonard Churchill glanced in the direction the arrow had come from, only to be met with darkness. He murmured in awe, what a brilliant stealth technique...is it a catastrophe-level demon shooter? However, cold arrows were just one part of the danger. Just after that single arrow was fired, there came the sound of a flurry of footsteps from the dense forest around them. Leonards ears twitched, and he estimated the number of attackers, a crease forming in his brow. At least several hundred. At first, it sounded like a swarm of ants crawling, but soon, it was as tumultuous as rushing water. They all looked up to see small demons, large demons wielding clubs, hellhounds, lava slimes... all closing in on their squad from every direction. It wasnt a small group of enemies they faced; it was a monstrous legion! Theyd faced the small demons before, they were roughly as powerful as a card disciple. This chapter is updated by But those over two-meter-tall large demons could resist bullets, clearly possessing the combat power of a full-fledged card master. In the midst of the monstrous crowd, there was even a five-meter-tall, grotesque, grey-skinned giant. Truly a sight to behold! Giant Demon Description: A first-tier D-class catastrophe with a giant bloodline, it has immense power and thick skin. Upon seeing this, the hunters cursed in unison, Damn it! What are the odds that wed run into a monster legion the moment we arrive! Leonard quickly scanned the oncoming horde of monsters. His expression remained mostly unchanged. Encountering monsters didnt surprise him in the least. What was surprising was the fact that they hadnt encountered any until now. Why here of all places? Is this a demon ambush? Upon realizing something, Leonard let out a cold chuckle, Huh, Young Master Leonard wasnt spared either. Dozens of agile little demons, wielding sharp stone daggers, charged at him. Leonards chest plate was simple, but it was enough to deflect most attacks. Under his current power, he could take down one of these monsters with a single axe swing. He swung his long-handle axe recklessly and bashed with his shield. At each strike, a little demon would drop dead instantly. As he killed the demons, his enlightenment points accumulated rapidly. Killed Little demon, awarding +1 contribution points. Killed Hellhound, awarding +1 contribution points. In an instant, he had amassed dozens of contribution points. Since there were so many monsters, all they could do was fend for themselves. Leonard could see the rest of the team using every method at their disposal in combat out of the corner of his eye. Elder Clinton was nowhere to be seen. However, the young man by his side was proving to be quite brave. The youth wielded a slim fishbone sword and with each stroke, he precisely struck a demons brow. A pile of bodies soon accumulated by his side. The spy from the Black Wolf Group had transformed into his werewolf form and was also quite formidable, taking down a little demon with each swipe. Although Leonards axe-shield technique wasnt polished, he managed to suppress most demons with his brute force alone. Because he caught the giants attention while busy fighting off the others, the D-class catastrophe, the Giant Demon came directly at him. Leonard showed not the slightest intention of retreating. He wanted to test the limits of his current power. Thud, Thud, Thud... The ground shook as the monstrous enemy charged towards him. No sooner had it charged, the Giant Demon swung its massive stone wolf tooth club down towards Leonard. A gust of wind accompanied the attack. Despite its clumsiness, the demons club moved at an alarming speed. The air around the club distorted visibly, emphasizing the terrifying force behind the attack. A direct hit from it would likely send even a Black Knight flying, armor and all.. Chapter 190 - 96: The First Demon’s Horn_2 Chapter 190: Chapter 96: The First Demons Horn_2 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill didnt dare to just counter with brute force. He nimbly dodged with light footwork, narrowly avoiding the attack. Updated from Whoosh! The sound of wind sliced past along his scalp. As he dodged, the Sawtooth Tree beside him, large enough to be embraced by two people, was abruptly shattered, sending wood chips scattering in all directions. The Giant Demon was indeed incredibly powerful. But on closer examination. Its attack was clumsy when it swung its club backhand. Leonard immediately seized this weakness, showing no mercy. As he dodged, he swung his giant axe towards the Giant Demons knee. Puff! It was like chopping into thick rhino skin. Protected by a magical shield, the sharp edge of the axe sank a few centimeters into its skin. But it was only the horn-like layer, no blood was visible. Such a thick defense! Through this exchange, Leonard had a precise understanding of the monsters power and defense. He pulled out his axe, and with a backhand swing, he chopped the few Little Demons encroached behind him into two sections. Only then did the Giant Demon retract its club, let out howl, and swung a ferocious blow that seemed to create illusions from its speed. Listened to the wind whistling above his head, Leonard took a quick glance and deftly avoided it again. He then backhand swung his axe and hacked it back at the injured spot on the monsters knee. Next, he swung his giant axe again, creating a mist of blood on those sneaky Little Demons attempting to ambush him. Thus, it was like turn-based combat between the monster and Leonard. The monster attacked once, Leonard evaded and countered with his axe. This move went on back and forth consistently. But enough. With a swish, it went in like a knife into rotting wood. The penetrative nature of the thin sword allowed it to easily enter the Giant Demons head, which was as big as a bulls. The beast tried to resist, but with a surge of the boys magical power and a puff, it was like a bullet piercing through. An exit wound was created at the back of the monsters head from which red and white brain matter flowed out. Observing this sword skill, Leonard couldnt help but praise, Impressive strength. In the world of hunters, it was rare to see such promising talent so young. Meanwhile, the Enlightenment Tip notified, Killed Level D Catastrophe Giant Demon, Contribution points +70 Probably because the Space determined a team effort to kill, the boy also shared some contribution points. However, it didnt matter. Tens of contribution points could be easily obtained by grinding. His contribution points had already reached 231, far exceeding the minimum requirement for leaving. The boys sword indeed saved Leonard a lot of trouble. The boys judgment was accurate. After killing the Giant Demon, the remaining hundreds of leaderless monsters retreated like a tidal wave. Leaving behind a stretch of corpses. And three survivors. Leonard, the boy, and the panting, heavily injured werewolf. Oh. Incorrect. There were four. Hearing the loud retreat of the monsters, Elder Clinton crawled out of a tree hole, grubby and dirty. He took a sneaky glance around, waited until he was sure the danger had passed before daringly crawling out. This fellow reeked foully, probably from some dung he had smeared himself with, the sour smell was nauseating even from a distance. Without any signs of embarrassment, he muttered, Oh my, why suddenly so many monsters... The boy also went over, helped his grandfather dust off some dung. The werewolf shot them a look of disdain. Yet watching, Leonard squinted slightly.. Chapter 191 - 96 The First Demon’s Horn_3 Chapter 191: Chapter 96 The First Demons Horn_3 Translator: 549690339 He was not underestimating them at all. To have survived, that was the true skill. They were initially lucky to be alive, and it was a good thing. But suddenly, the atmosphere became subtle. Magic was gathering on the Giant Demon, and the small horn on its head suddenly lit up in red. This was the Demons Horn that only Catastrophe Level demons could produce. It was the key object to increase the hidden reward of clearing the stage and was essential for exchanging high-end military rewards with contribution points. The four of them had their attention drawn to it at the same time. Leonard Churchill wasnt polite and directly cut off the horn with a knife. But this very act gave the captain of the Black Wolf Group team in the distance a different idea. He shouted strictly, Hey. Leonard Churchill looked up at the guy. The man said, Give the horn to me. I will give you a million once we get out. Leonard Churchill didnt want to pay him any mind initially. He intended to deal with the guy after cleaning up everything. But after glimpsing the dense forest, he suddenly thought of something else and changed his mind: But I want to keep it for myself. With that, he pretended not to know the mans identity, and didnt notice the ruthless look in his eyes. He said mockingly, After all, in case I draw a special card, I will be set for life. The man listened, and his expression instantly went cold. Before entering, Young Master Kane had offered a reward of five million for every Demons Horn. And, you could get credited for it in the guard team. Whoever got it could turn their fate around instantly. However, before the axe fell and just as he started leaning back, the killing intent had quietly arrived. Suddenly, the sound of something cutting through the air attacked him. A glowing runic arrow, with swirling black spiral-force, accurately pierced the wolf head. The arrow was so fast that people only saw the flash of the arrow before blood spurts out. The expression on the man from the Black Wolf Group went stiff instantly. Even in death, he didnt understand where the arrow came from. Leonard Churchill didnt even glance at the corpse, but quickly glanced in the direction the arrow came from, So you didnt leave after all. Hed talked so much earlier just to test if the archer could resist attacking an enemy exposing such a huge weakness with this bait. Unexpectedly, it really worked. A long-distance shot from four hundred meters, impressive. This arrow also has its quirks... Leonard Churchill saw even more information this time. Looking at this Black Iron Quality Demon-breaking Spiral Arrow again, he figured something out: a tier one, C-level Catastrophe and has a silver-quality bow. This was moving contribution points. Leonard Churchill had the urge to kill and quickly packed up the Demons Horn on the monsters corpse. The corpse of the Giant Demon also produced a piece of Black Iron material, the Giants eyeball. Catastrophe corpses were very rare, and he didnt want to waste it. He took out a Containment Card and stored the entire corpse inside. Leonard Churchill, with his heavy armor, was not afraid of the archers ambush. He stood up and glanced at the other two survivors in the field. The old man with missing front teeth shrank back instantly under his gaze and quickly pulled the young man beside him to hide behind the tree trunk. Leonard Churchill didnt waste time and said, Killing this D-level Catastrophe was partly your credit, but Im keeping the Demons Horn. In exchange, you dont need to go to the Beacon Tower, I will light it. After its lit, the teammates who are still alive can also get contribution points. Hearing this, Elder Clinton was shocked and quickly said, No, no, no, youre joking, sir. Take the horn, we have no objections. Without this brat getting in the way, you could have easily killed the monster. Leonard Churchill glanced at the two of them. He didnt know if the old man was flattering or had really noticed something.. Chapter 192 - 96: The First Demon’s Horn_4 Chapter 192: Chapter 96: The First Demons Horn_4 Translator: 549690339 But those who survive must have some real skills. The kid wasnt weak either. The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbjn((.))com But if they had to do it again, neither of them might survive. Without revealing much of his abilities, Leonard Churchill didnt bother explaining. The average hunters didnt have much of value on them. Leaving some behind counted as sharing spoils from the final blow on the Catastrophe. After quickly gathering the spoils of war, he turned and entered the forest alone. As Leonard walked away, Elder Clinton heaved a long sigh of relief, Ah, that guy finally left. With his murderous intent, if Id dared to refuse him, Im afraid we would have been in trouble. The kid looked at Elder Clinton, not at all scared, and smoothed his lips, Grandpa ~ He was powerful, but not that intimidating, right? Looking back, he stated what hed observed, His combat technique is still raw, and merely of Intermediate Combat level. Any guard from the Lionheart Family is more powerful. Hes just slightly more agile than the average Black Knight. Hearing this, Elder Clinton chuckled, That werewolf dared to insist on buying because he thought the same. Look at what happened to him now? But it wasnt him who... Compared to the bodies, the boy seemed more interested in something else: Ah... Is he chasing the archer? The elder was nonchalant, What else? Would he go to the trouble of luring it out to shoot an arrow if it wasnt to chase the archer? Only then did the boy fully understand and he exclaimed in surprise, Can he catch up? I mean...he might be a mixed-blood Dark Elf, a born hunter. Its almost impossible for anyone to catch him in this kind of environment. Even agility series card masters cant. The elder shook his head, Thats why I said you are still far behind him. Just because you cant do it, doesnt mean others cant. Grandpa, how do you know? Did you find out he has some tricks up his sleeve? Just because I didnt figure it out, thats why he left so quickly. Otherwise, if we saw some secrets, we might have been silenced. I feel he would never do that. What do you know, kid. II II I guess hes probably after that young master of the Lionheart Family... Anyway, it doesnt matter why he came to this alternate dimension, it has nothing to do with us. I used a secret skill to question the demons corpse earlier, but I didnt find what I was looking for. Lets go, theres no point in staying in this space. Ah...But I still want to see what War Mode looks like. See it my ass! Isnt it good to be alive? You, next time dont attract attention like that. Ive told you many times, keeping a low profile is how you live longer... II II The grandfather and grandson cleaned up the bodies, bantering all the way, and casually returning to the fortress.. Chapter 193 - 97: The Surge of Contribution Points Chapter 193: Chapter 97: The Surge of Contribution Points Translator: 549690339 In the pitch-black Sawtooth Forest. A demon archer, wearing a beast-skin cloak, darted quickly through the dense forest. She was like an elf in the night, even without intentional concealment, the rich dark elements surrounded her, enabling her to blend into the darkness. Updated from This was a natural ability of dark elves. The moment she fired that arrow, she killed a powerful human, but her intuition whispered of a deadly threat. So, she did not dare to linger, she retreated rapidly. She darted about in the Forest for several kilometers, now she was far enough from the battlefield. Only then did she stop under a large tree. After observing her surroundings and seeing no humans pursuing her, she breathed a sigh of relief. The battle had depleted too much of her magical power, she needed to recover. Dark Elves are naturally stealthy and possess a keen sense of danger. However, she had only been leaning on the tree to rest for a short time when her eyes flashed. Before she could identify the source of the danger. Suddenly, without any warning, a sharp scalpel appeared on her neck. This dark elfs response was very quick, the moment the blade grazed her skin, her entire body transformed into dark elements and dissipated on the spot. Huh...? A soft query sounded from the void. Only then did an translucent figure appear in the air. It was Leonard Churchill who had been stealthily traversing in the dark by wearing the [Relic-Hider]. He did not expect that his confident sneak attack would end up in vain. The knife had clearly made a cut on her neck, yet she managed to instantaneously teleport away. At this time, Leonard Churchill finally saw things clearly and exclaimed in his heart, Could it be a descendant of the dark elves from the myths... A few tens of meters away was a demon archer with dark blue skin and sharp ears. If the demon archer was like a night elf, then Leonard Churchill was like a bloodthirsty hunter in the dark, persistently chasing her. Feels so good... Leonard Churchill as a werewolf had never experienced a full-speed chase like this before. Werewolves possessed extremely powerful explosive strength, and their streamlined bodies minimized wind resistance. It felt as if their internal energy had found an outlet for release. The more he chased, The better he felt, The lighter his body became. His ears were filled with the winds howling. At this moment, Leonard Churchill felt like he wasnt running, but flying close to the ground, leaping dozens of meters easily. The Dark Elf in front thought she had escaped. However, she didnt expect that after not long, a giant werewolf was closing in on her at a terrifying speed. Glancing back, the distance between them had drastically reduced. The dark elf was terrified. Seeing that the distance between them was getting smaller, she quickly took an arrow from her quiver and shot it towards the black shadow behind her. However, her archery technique is indeed superb. But Leonard Churchills agility was even greater! Looking at her pulling the bow, he only sneered in his glowing blue eyes. The preparatory action of drawing the bow was too obvious. And the trajectory of a regular arrow was mostly a straight line or a parabolic line within a plane. A bow and arrow which had lost its concealment was even easier to predict than a firearm. Leonard Churchill was an excellent archer himself. As soon as he saw the elfs fingers pulling the bowstring start to relax, he swiftly moved out of the way. The black feather arrow barely missed his scalp as it passed by. The arrow was as fast as lightning. Indeed it was very deadly. That one arrow was enough to kill most first-tier Curse Card Masters! Chapter 194 - 97: The Soaring Contribution Chapter 194: Chapter 97: The Soaring Contribution Points_2 Translator: 549690339 But when the demon bowman killed the black wolf troop leader earlier, Leonard Churchill had a clear grasp of parameters like shooting speed. Although it seemed thrilling, he easily dodged the arrow. The arrow skimmed past his scalp, he merely didnt want to waste more energy making a larger evasive movement. The dark elfs speed dropped significantly as she was distracted shooting while moving. Leonard didnt give her the chance to shoot a second arrow. He was not far away, and at the right moment, he pumped the accumulated curse power into his legs. The muscles in his legs swelled and exerted force, and his feet catapulted him off the ground. His speed suddenly increased several times, and his wolf figure turned into a series of afterimages charging forward. Barbaric Charge! This chapter is updated by The Dark Elf was about to shoot the second arrow when Leonard hit her head-on. With a thud, he could faintly hear the sound of bones breaking. The were-wolfs momentum did not decrease, he slammed the Dark Elf into a big tree. The hard tree trunk caved in with a crack. The Dark Elf, an archer, was not good at close combat. She was even more dazed by these strikes, and blood spurted out of her mouth. The Dark Elf took out a dagger and tried to fight to the death with two swift strikes. However, Leonard, transformed into a werewolf, agilely avoided it, and then slapped her onto the ground. Although his fighting skills were far inferior to the Dark Elfs, his so overpowering physical abilities left the opponent immobile. The enormous werewolf paw struck, directly clawing at her neck and creating five bloody scratches. The cervical vertebrae broke, and blood gushed out. He struck a few more times. The Dark Elf was killed on the spot. Leonard stopped after seeing the archers body and all her magical power gathered in her horn. Kill the C-level catastrophe Mixed-blood Dark Elf Archer, +300 Contribution points. Looking at the body, Leonards beast transformation features slowly faded, turning him back into a human. Leonard looked at the bow and the arrow and muttered a sentence. This was far better than any special bullet for firearms. Its a pity he cant shoot arrows. The Enlightenment Display showed that this equipment could be brought out of the Alternate Dimension. Even though it was not suitable for him, it could still fetch a good price at the auction. The return from the War Mode was indeed well deserved. A Silver Equipment was obtained right off the bat. Blood was still flowing from the corpse on the ground. Leonard processed the stripped body and then put it into his containment card. He did not stay at the scene, put on the Relic Cloak, and proceeded in the direction of the Beacon Tower. Unbound from his squad, Leonard was able to move through the Sawtooth Forest several times faster on his own. With the unique light-absorbing stealth characteristic of the Hider Cloak, even without using the Shadow Stealth ability, he was like a flowing blob of air, hard for monsters to detect. The forest was vast, Leonard did encounter some solitary small demons along the way. The density of monsters per unit area was very low. Despite this, he was left wondering: Strange, how did the demons know exactly where the human scouting squads were? The previous ambush by thousands of demons and two catastrophes clearly wasnt a coincidence. The Demon Corps seemed to be clear about the action plans of these human scouts, then ambushed them along the way. Could it be those little bats? Leonard guessed that the Demon Corps might have some special detection means. All the way he had seen some bats hanging upside down from the treetops. With their hard-to-notice red eyes, they looked like cameras. Once noticed, they were found everywhere. But there must be more to it. Leonard thought for a moment, then changed direction.. Chapter 195 - 97: The Soaring Contribution Chapter 195: Chapter 97: The Soaring Contribution Points 3 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill didnt follow the straight path from Thunderbolt Fortress to Beacon Tower number sixteen, he instead circled around it. He quickly noticed that the number of Red-eyed Bats had noticeably decreased. That is to say, on certain routes, there were more bats. Leonard immediately arrived at a plausible conclusion: Is someone inside the Thunderbolt Fortress leaking information to the Demons? An inside job plotline? Leonard was not at all surprised. Real wars are not simply about soldiers from two armies clashing, it also involves covert operations, spying, and internal conflicts. He guessed that if he continued digging along this line, he might trigger a more difficult hidden plotline. But for a moment, he couldnt think of where to start. Unwilling to think too much about it, he chose to head to the beacon tower. About two hours later, Leonard successfully arrived at the previously marked Beacon Tower number sixteen on the map. In the dense forest, Leonard looked at the stone building in the distance filled with magic runes. Previously, when he was looking at the layout of the beacon towers on the map, he noticed that these sixteen towers seemed to be the cornerstones of a massive magic array. It was said that once lit, it could dispel the Dark Power in Sawtooth Forest, preventing Demons from approaching the Fortress. Clearly, the Demons also understood the importance of these beacon towers. A small troop from the Demon Corps was stationed here. But they seemed too afraid to get close to that pyramid-like rune covered beacon tower. They lay outside, huddled up lazily in threes and fives, chattering away. A large iron pot was on the fire, making bubbling sounds with unknown human or demon beast meat stew. Leonard observed from the shadows for a moment, then counted: One D-class Giant Demon, and less than a hundred other Demons. Theyre killable! The Demon Corps are more like a rabble than the hunters, with absolutely no military discipline to speak of. Even the Giant Demon leader at this moment threw his club to the side and was fast asleep. In Leonards eyes, these Demons were all contribution points. The beacon tower wasnt going anywhere, so he didnt plan to light the fire first. As soon as Shadow Stealth was activated, he blended into the darkness. Leonard didnt bother with the smaller Demons. He went straight up to the snoring Giant Demon. The Giant Demon was in excruciating pain, swinging its stone club around wildly. However, Leonard Churchill had been able to dodge the wolf tooth club even in his human form before, now in his werewolf form, it was even easier. Not only did this monster not injure Leonard Churchill with its wild swings, it even killed quite a few of its own minions. Leonard Churchill was also astonished to discover that there were some Contribution Points for these indirectly killed monsters. Suddenly, it seemed like the scalpel had stabbed deep into the brain core. The Giant Demon was standing still as if struck by lightning, clearly having lost all signs of life. With a thud, the body raised dust from the ground when it fell. Killed the D-class Catastrophe, the Giant Demon, Contribution points +100. Seeing their leader die, the minions scattered and disappeared into the forest. Leonard Churchill didnt bother about the minion monsters. He took his scalpel out of the monsters head, then adeptly cut off the third Demons Horn. He collected the items and the corpse. Only then did Leonard Churchill walk towards the Beacon Tower. Stepping up the stairs engraved with countless runes, Leonard Churchill lit the oil basin at the top of the pyramid. In an instant, the runes on the entire Beacon Tower lit up, and a blue magical glow diffused rapidly, vastly differing from the dark power surrounding it. It was as if a lighthouse had lit up in the darkness, and a large portion of the nearby forest was illuminated by the blue light. The monsters hidden in the forest appeared like mice seeing the light, scared and running away in all directions. Blue light enveloped Leonard Churchill, and a halo state appeared on his panel: War Field, Magic recovery +10%, physical strength recovery +5%, morale +5%, Dark Resistance +5%. At this time, Enlightenment also appeared: You have completed the D-class mission, lit the Beacon Tower, Contribution points +800. Two hundred less because two people were still alive in his team before. But it was not bad, it doubled all at once. Looking at his Contribution Points soaring to 1533, Leonard Churchill suddenly felt that the rewards exchanged for hundreds of thousands of Contribution Points were not that unreachable. Lighting a Beacon Tower received a thousand points. Wouldnt sixteen of them amount to sixteen thousand? Leonard Churchill seemed to see the high-grade materials listed in the Military Supplies Catalog waving at him. Considering his strength now, apart from the team of the Lionheart Family, other teams were hardly likely to be able to light the Beacon Tower. Clearly, he could light up a few more. Having had this thought, Leonard Churchill instantly made up his mind: The Beacon Towers are only tens of kilometers apart... I can totally do it! Thinking of that, he no longer cared about fighting the demons. He wanted to accumulate Contribution Points by lighting the Beacon Towers. And if the Beacon Towers were guarded by a monster corps, it would be possible to take the opportunity to harvest additional Contribution Points and Demons Horns. Now its the D-level difficulty, there shouldnt appear any particularly difficult Catastrophe theoretically. He quickly recalled the nearest Beacon Tower. Leonard Churchill figured out the direction, put on his cloak, and disappeared into the darkness again.. Chapter 196 - 98: Elite Five-Man Team Chapter 196: Chapter 98: Elite Five-Man Team Translator: 549690339 , The Demon Corps probably never expected a human would be bold enough to light a beacon tower and then rush towards the next one. Leonard Churchill stealthily moved at full speed and encountered no obstacles along the way. The second beacon tower was lit with no problems. Third, fourth, fifth... The events unfolded exactly as he had predicted. Leonard not only gained 4000 contribution points for lighting the beacon towers but also collected an additional four Demon Horns and some equipment. After clearing up a few places, he figured out the arrangements of the Demon Corps. Each beacon tower was guarded by about 2-3 catastrophe-level demons. A group of them always guarded the tower. The rest were sent to block the path of humans. Thanks to his decisive actions, Leonard smoothly lit five Beacon Towers. However, his plan to light over a dozen towers was off the table. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) By the sixth tower, the Demon Corps had latched on to his strategy. Leonard encountered a heavily guarded beacon tower. There were more than just one C-level catastrophes like the Dark Elf Shooter. So, he couldnt afford to let his guard down. Though he could disperse and kill small groups to seize control of the sixth Beacon Tower. He chose not to do that. He didnt dare to. Leonard came up with another plan. He estimated the time. And set up a trap near the sixth Beacon Tower, then he went into hiding. This time, There shouldnt be any problem with their tactic for five men. But they had no idea that a pair of eyes had been waiting for them in the darkness. The stealthy assassin quietly approached. He took a look at his special compass and quickly confirmed that the target was on the tree trunk. This experienced assassin even climbed the tree without making a sound. Stepping on the branch, he looked at the well-camouflaged human in front of him, then quietly drew out his dagger. However, he didnt notice that when he stepped on the tree trunk, he left a faint footprint on the thin layer of developing powder spread on it. In the void above his head, a sharp surgical knife also revealed a cold gleam. Whoosh! The sound of the dagger cutting through the air was heard. It plunged into the human hidden in the tree trunk. However, almost at the same time, the dangling scalpel in the void stabbed into the assassins back, and quickly pulled downwards. The leather armour did nothing to stop it, the sharp edge of the knife cut through in an instant. Cutting through bones and muscles, it left a twenty-centimetre-long wound. Leonard suddenly appeared, severely wounding the approaching assassin with a single stroke of his knife. in that instant, he confirmed his suspicions: the Demon Horns do reveal your position! When Leonard couldnt put the Demon Horns into his storage ring, he guessed theres something about these things. They were valuable but could be a potential risk. This was a spatial rule, not a limitation of the item itself. It clearly encouraged participants to rob each other. Previously, as he was moving constantly, Leonard wasnt afraid of being tracked. But now, hiding in the forest, with these items on him, he risked revealing his position. It was as expected, upon seeing the assassin. The assassin finding his exact location confirmed that the Fierce Beast Legion had a way to locate the Demon Horns! Leonard didnt think that if he were captured by the Lionheart Legion, there would be room for negotiation. If there was a fight, He must ensure the enemy was weakened as quickly as possible. Thats when Leonard came up with the plan to use the Demon Horn as bait.. Chapter 197 - 98: Elite Five-Man Team_2 Chapter 197: Chapter 98: Elite Five-Man Team_2 Updated from Translator: 549690339 Everything went as smoothly as expected. Leonard Churchill severely wounded the approaching assassin with a single strike. However, before he was able to finish the job. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Three cards were swiftly shot towards his position. They arrived just in time. The cards were silent and small, but as they passed through, managed to effortlessly embed themselves into the tough trunk of a tree, creating a hole all the way through. Note that even an Annihilation Bullet couldnt penetrate a tree trunk of one to two meters in diameter. Impressive cards! Perfect teamwork! These three cards successfully created a safe distance between him and the wounded assassin. The severely injured assassin, realizing he had been tricked, tried to roll over and escape, dragging his injured body. Forced out of his stealth by the cards, Leonard Churchill instantly transformed into a werewolf But, he was not about to let that assassin escape. After a timely dodge, he used the tree trunk to propel himself towards the airborne assassin. The explosive speed of his werewolf form far exceeded the expectations of the five-man Elite Squad. After he had slit the assassins throat in mid-air, several cards belatedly arrived on the scene. With a thump, the corpse hit the ground. Not daring to linger after landing, Leonard Churchill, in his werewolf form, sprung back into the air. The very instant his feet left the ground, he narrowly avoided a huge hand formed from a Land Elemental that had sprung up quickly from the ground. Upon a sideways glance, Leonard Churchill squinted and exclaimed: This is the power of the elite... From their coordinated actions alone, he knew this was most definitely the strongest five-man team he had ever encountered. The cards thrown initially were six Sneaky Wind Blades and one Hand of Elements. A costly move that instantly consumed tens of thousands. Such a tactic would be unthinkable for the average hunter to consider. Seeing he didnt fall for their trap, the four revealed their battle forms. By their outfits, one was a Spade A-Black Knight, one a Heart 3-Combat Doctor, a Diamond 8-Elemental Controller, and a Beast Walker that had transformed into a bear. As Leonard Churchill scanned them, he acknowledged their strength but he didnt feel threatened. This was because none of them could catch up to him. The only one to attract more than a passing glance was the bear, with its intense aura. The Terran Raging Bear that could manipulate the Power of Elements and had incredible defense. The Black Knight was also not easy to kill. The two sides faced off against each other. While Leonard Churchill was confident that he could kill any individual among these four, he wasnt sure if he could gain an upper hand when they all four fought together. There he stood, applying his cold gaze onto them, still unruffled. Neither side spoke a word. After a few seconds of standoff. Suddenly, Leonard Churchill revealed a wicked grin. He lifted his gun and shot a flare into the forest. In an instant, the area was brilliantly illuminated. Leonard Churchill always enjoyed a cruel joke from his past life that if you encounter a tiger in the wilderness, you dont need to run faster than the tiger, you only need to run faster than your companions. He was on his own, free to move as he pleased. As for his opponents, not a single one among the Black Knight or the bear could run. The beacon tower was not far from here. Since a direct confrontation was out of the question, he had to create an opportunity. As soon as the flare was released, the expressions of the four changed considerably. They quickly guessed the intentions of Leonard Churchill. The leading Black Knight decisively ordered: Fall back! However, it was already too late. Rustling sounds filled the forest, indicating that the Demon Corps had surrounded them. Now that they were revealed, how could Leonard Churchill give them the opportunity to retreat smoothly? He directly fired another flare. With this, the demons were able to confirm their target immediately.. Chapter 198 - 98: Elite Five-Man Team 3 Chapter 198: Chapter 98: Elite Five-Man Team 3 Translator: 549690339 I??????? It wasnt just the Flare, there was also the Dirty Bomb Card. Leonard Churchill himself had experienced its downsides a few times, so he was now carrying quite a few of them. He launched a few cards with a swishing sound. These werent damaging cards, they just contaminated a large area when they exploded. The four men were inevitably smeared with some of the contamination. Moreover, once they started running fast, the stealth battle suits were of no use. Leonard Churchill saw the Element Manipulator draw a few cards and swiftly cleanse the four of them, raising his eyebrows in curiosity, Wow... A deep-cleaning Purification Card. Thats a well-prepared loadout. The contamination was easy to spread, but difficult to clean up. This card, which almost cost ten thousand per piece, was unaffordable for ordinary hunters. But Leonard Churchill had quite a few Dirty Bomb Cards slotted. You purify, Ill bombard. He wondered to himself, how many Purification Cards could they have? Leonard Churchill didnt chase after the four men directly; instead, he casually trailed them from the side. With his guidance, the group of demons quickly located the humans. Leonard Churchill could outrun the monsters, making the Demons prioritize the chasing after the four men from the Fierce Beast Legion. It must be said, these four men possessed a formidable combat power. Despite having to face a full-blown chase from hundreds of demons, they didnt lose an inch. However, from the moment they were exposed and decided to escape, their fate was sealed. Even with their full gear, the four people couldnt run faster than the Little Demons and soon were completely surrounded. Both sides then began fierce close combat. The man and monster quickly became entwined in each others attacks. It seemed it would take some time for a clear victor to emerge. The only wildcard amongst the four was the Element Manipulator. He currently had a Rock Shield in one hand, protecting both him and the Doctor inside it, whilst manipulating various cards with the other hand. He used the Rock Shield Card for defense, Fire Snake Card, Lightning Flash Card, Ice Crack Card for offense, and the Earth Crack Card for delaying the enemys chase... Using only these cards burnt through tens of thousands in an instant. However, the effect was remarkable. The surrounding demons were falling rapidly. In terms of crowd control, no other Curse Card Master could surpass this professional sequence. If this continued, once the Element Manipulator got the chance to concentrate his efforts after wiping out the minor monsters, he might be able to turn the tables. However, the Dark Elf Hunter was still hiding in the dark. At the height of the battle, a sound of wind cutting through the air was heard, announcing the arrival of another arrow. A pitch-black arrow seemed to have shot out from the void. It only became visible a few meters away from the four men. The Element Manipulator reacted extremely quickly, raising his hand to block A Curse Power Shield appeared behind the Rock Shield. However, the wisdom of the Dark Elf was not to be looked down upon. Unlike other demons who only knew how to charge blindly, the Elfs target wasnt him, it was the Doctor! The arrow, which was surrounded by a whirling airflow, penetrated the gap in the barrier accurately, cleaved through the shield skillfully, and hit the battlefield doctor who was throwing bottles of potions all around. A muffled sound of piercing flesh was heard. The arrow penetrated the small abdomen of the Doctor from a very tricky angle. Blood gushed out in an instant. The Doctor immediately administered emergency treatment to himself. However, the second arrow was already on its way. The battle was fierce. Leonard Churchill also took the opportunity to observe the four mens combat styles in detail.. Chapter 199 - 98 Elite Five-person Team_4 Chapter 199: Chapter 98 Elite Five-person Team_4 Translator: 549690339 Luckily, the Demon Corps helped him probe. Otherwise, if he had to physically combat the enemies, he might suffer substantial losses. In face of such a powerful monster, the team of four fought back and forth. If it wasnt for the Dark Elf who shot from behind, they might have been able to turn the tide. The fight between life and death left no room for deception, every trick in the book was laid bare. From this, Leonard Churchill could glimpse the single combat power of the Fierce Beast Legion. He had a clear understanding of the strength of the three hundred troops guarding Young Master Kane. Watching the scene unfold, Leonard Churchill was slowly gaining some insights. The two sides engaged in a fierce battle that lasted for a quarter of an hour. Just as Plan B had anticipated, Both sides ended up injured. The Black Knight held back the Flame Great Demon, while the Element Manipulator took the opportunity to stick ice spears all over the monsters body. However, the Giant Demon was also covered in wounds. Updated from Especially his knees. Leonard Churchill had thought of this, and so had the Beast Walker, who rained down a hail of heavy blows on the demons knees. Both sides needed to be evenly matched for them to both suffer losses. At present, the Demon Corps had an obvious advantage. Leonard Churchill needed to nullify that advantage first. Having been observing for so long, he had already located the position of the Dark Elf. He moved stealthily towards it. As expected, Not far away, on a large tree, a Dark Elf holding a longbow was concentrating on the battlefield hundreds of meters away. Suddenly, like seizing an opportunity, the bow in her hand was drawn to its full extent. When the chance came, Leonard Churchill, in his werewolf form, leaped and climbed dozens of meters up the tree trunk in an instant. The Dark Elf sensed the danger but it was too late, her strength was already on the bow. As she turned her head, a tall figure had already pinned her to the tree trunk. Having had experience in killing a Dark Elf hunter, Leonard didnt give her a chance to disintegrate into elements and teleport away. He grabbed and snapped her neck at once. You have killed a C-level Catastrophe Mixed-blood Dark Elf Archer, contribution points +300 Before the demons could react, Leonard quickly retracted the body and disappeared into the dense forest again. On the other side, without the archers sneak attacks, the battle between the two sides suddenly became evenly matched again. Leonard continued to watch. He would appear when one side was wiped out, which would be just right.. Chapter 200 - 99: Making a Big Move Chapter 200: Chapter 99: Making a Big Move Translator: 549690339 | Without the Dark Elf shooters sneak attack, the strength of the two sides in the battle suddenly became balanced again. However, the four in the Fierce Beast Legion had somewhat more balanced individual strengths, and collectively, they were stronger. All four were more or less injured, but none had died yet. An endless stream of cards and equipment became their greatest reliance for survival. War was not going too well for the Demon Corps, however. The henchmen were barely armed, with only crude daggers and primitive leather armor and were practically fighting bare-chested. From once being thousands in number, their vast army had reduced significantly in no time. On the battlefield, apart from the Class C Flame Great Demon and the Class D Giant Demon, all the others have been killed. Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Furthermore, most of the demons had perished in the hands of that Element Manipulator, who had taken an arrow to the thigh. With someone in their team capable of reducing the damage caused by the two Catastrophe-class monsters and with no ambushes threatening them anymore, the environment had become relatively safe, thus enabling this buffoon to use his cards to conduct a massacre. Watching the dazzling explosions of the cards, Leonard Churchill, remarked, This guy really is strong. This was his first time witnessing a pure Mage Card Masters techniques. Such an extravagant magic type usually could only be cultivated by aristocratic Corps, as it could rarely be seen among hunters. Just like a Sharpshooter who was fed with a large amount of ammunition. This guy might look like he was mowing the grass as he used several cards to reap a crowd of henchmen, but from the time he was a Card Master Apprentice to now, the cards consumed for training must have been innumerable. The scales of victory in the battle were already tipping towards the four people of the Fierce Beast Squad. But as Leonard Churchill watched the four of them not dying, a premonition grew stronger within him. He said in a half-joking, half-serious manner, Why do I feel like these guys are hiding something to ambush me... No matter what, it was time to act now. If this continued, the four would wipe out the entire Demon Corps. Leonard Churchill got a glance of the black light and understood immediately. It wasnt too surprising. The four of them knew very well that even if they killed the monsters, they probably wouldnt leave alive. Only by killing the hidden enemy would they be truly safe. If it were Leonard Churchill, he would do the same. The final trick was definitely reserved for the enemy. Not for killing the monster, and after suffering mutual losses, giving advantage to the opponent. He just didnt expect the card up their sleeve was so precious. This kind of Arcane-level card was also referred to as a one-time relic . Although powerful, the cost of such a card was extremely high. This one card was probably worth more than all the cards he had consumed before combined. So, was the Beast Walker purposely revealing his weakness to act as bait... Leonard Churchill sighed internally. These four truly were an elite group with tight coordination. Using a teammates life as bait, they aimed to kill in one strike. A good plan of attack. Moreover, the psychic attack combined with the instantaneous blast of the Arcane Annihilation Light, could have killed any first tier Curse Card Master in an instant. Unfortunately, Leonard Churchills Clown mask was immune to most mysterious type abilities of the same tier. Not to mention his Ancestral Werewolf body was far more robust than a humans. Even if he took a direct hit that didnt hit a vital point, he likely wouldnt die. Looking at the wound on his arm, Leonard Churchill didnt show any concern. Instead, a flash of light crossed his eyes. He even felt a sense of satisfaction. After all, where was the thrill in killing henchmen compared to killing such skilled opponents? The enemy risked their life as bait. Without taking risks himself, he would never have uncovered this tactic. After transforming, his supernatural healing had already stopped the bleeding, it was not a big issue. But, for those three guys who couldnt finish him off with their last resort, their problem was about to get big.. Chapter 201 - 99: Make a Big Wave 2 Chapter 201: Chapter 99: Make a Big Wave 2 Translator: 549690339 Damn it! How did he dodge that?! The Element Manipulator looked at his trump card, empty in hand. Following the shock, his face turned ashen. Looking again at the teammate lying on the ground, blood spurting from his neck, he was filled with guilt. The five of them had been teammates for many years, their coordination was incomparable. Just now, a few exchanged glances were enough for them to understand the next tactical move. The Beast Walker risked his life to reveal the enemys weakness, luring the man to reveal his hand. Although the risk was substantial, this was the only method they could think of to draw out the hidden enemy. However... Who could have guessed that their seemingly foolproof strategy would fail? How could that guy be completely unaffected by the psychic shock? And how much stronger was the werewolfs Beast Transformation state than they had anticipated? The Element Manipulator didnt have time to mourn, nor ponder over the questions in his mind. Without his frost control, the Black Knight was steadily losing ground to the Flame Great Demon. He hastily took action, once again launching the few remaining Ice Spear cards to stabilize the situation. However, at that moment, he caught sight of the lurking adversary emerging once again. He didnt give the three survivors any chance to catch their breath! Underneath his gas mask, Leonard Churchills face wore a broad smile, a grotesque blend of mockery and glee befitting a clown. Now that these guys had played their best cards, he didnt think the remaining three could stop him! Leonard Churchill made no attempt to hide, his werewolf form charging forth with reckless abandon. Whoosh- The sound of parting air thundered. Cold light flashed by, a thin line of blood appeared on the doctors neck, and immediately, a human fountain played out. Life swiftly drained away. Only after Leonard Churchill had killed the man, did the sound of glass bottles shattering and a variety of potions sizzling and melting into white smoke on the ground ring out behind him. He stood in front of the corpses, tilting his head to look at the two bodies, a smile finally spreading across his face. This left only the Black Knight from the team of five. No threat remained. But the Flame Great Demon was keeping him busy, leaving the man only able to watch helplessly as his teammates were killed, without being able to do a thing. Three encounters, three men slain by Leonard Churchill. At this moment, there was not even the slightest hint of gravity on his face. Neither the Black Knight nor the Flame Great Demon posed any threat to him now. It was like after the climax, suddenly finding oneself uninterested. The thrill lasted only a few seconds. Leonard Churchills face went back to its previous expressionless state, muttering, This is so boring... The rest was foreseeable: the demon would kill the Black Knight, and he would kill the demon. No more twists and turns. His spirit seemed to return to that empty feeling once more. Leonard Churchill ignored the still-dueling man and demon, and nonchalantly began to tidy up the battlefield. He picked up the spoils of war from the three corpses, then the Demon Horn and materials from the Giant Demon. Three Storage Rings, one set of armor, two sets of inner armor, numerous cards... The bounty was similar to what he obtained from the Frost Knight in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth C the individual equipment of these aristocratic soldiers was very valuable. Especially that magic type, just the remaining combat cards alone were worth a pretty penny. Moreover, the Fierce Beast Legion came with the young master trial, and their Storage Rings carried many special items. Items like the advanced tech Invisibility Clothing.. Chapter 202 - 99: Making a Big Move_3 Chapter 202: Chapter 99: Making a Big Move_3 Translator: 549690339 Also... Relic-Demon Pointer Details: An ancient II class relic, an old goblin technology, which reacts violently to the intensity of the demons air. So its an auxiliary type of relic... Seeing the compass-like device, Leonard Churchills facial expression showed interest. He finally understood how he had been discovered earlier. This was an ancient black tech product similar to a heat-sensitive device, which responded sharply to specific energy fluctuations. He tried out this item. The pointer oscillated a bit, pointing towards the Demons Horn he had just collected around his waist. It then turned directly towards the Flame Great Demon in the midst of a fierce battle. A magic device that looked like an ECG was also on it, displaying different energy fluctuations. The aristocrats really do have a lot of good stuff in their possession... Leonard chuckled softly. Having figured out its functions, he had then grown attached to the object. The grade of a relic is judged by its function and rarity. AII class relic, thats quite rare. Moreover, it is very practical. In this Alternate Dimension, the greatest threat is demons. With this Demon Pointer, wherever there was a fluctuation in the demonic air, it would be impossible to hide. Thus, the majority of the dangers could be avoided. It seemed like many things had become much simpler. While Leonard was leisurely collecting his spoils of war, the Black Knight was reaching his limit on the other side. With Ice Elements suppression gone, the Black Knight lacked the ability to kill the Flame Great Demon. Updated from Dressed in heavy armor, he could not run away. Upon getting close, he made a horizontal cut across the monsters lower abdomen with the scalpel in his hand. Then with a rip, large amounts of lava started flowing from the wound on the monsters abdomen. Leonard took a few hits, but there was no problem with the armour to protect him. However, his scalpel was creating more and more wounds on the demon. Finally, with a puk, he stabbed into the head of the Great Demon. He had dealt with the most formidable beast he had encountered so far. Killed C-grade Catastrophe Flame Great Demon, contribution points+400 As the Enlightenment appeared, Leonard, who felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted, deactivated the armor. Only a charred demon body remained on the ground. Looking at it, he felt somewhat moved. If it werent for that four-man team clearing out the demon henchmen, he wouldnt have been able to take down the bothersome C-grade catastrophe so easily. With the death of the beast. The surrounding forest fell silent. Apart from a few burning trees crackling with fire, there was no movement. On the devastated battlefield, Leonard adeptly used a small knife to deal with the demons remains, obtaining a top-tier item, the Lava Heart, and a Demon Horn. After dealing with the demons remains, he began to search for spoils of war from the Black Knight. Not only could the Demons Horn be seized, but Contribution points also could be.. Leonard received merit badges from the five-person team, instantly increasing his contribution points by more than two thousand. Nearly all the demons around this sixth Beacon Tower should have been killed. There was no further danger. After cleaning up the battlefield, Leonard went straight to the Beacon Tower and lit the sixth Beacon Tower. Looking at his 8848 contribution points and the few Demons Horns, items at the silver level in the Military Supplies Office were beckoning him once again. Previously, in order to gain more contribution points, he lit five Beacon Towers in succession without rest, causing great drain on both his physical and curse power. He wouldnt be hoping to reach the seventh for the time being. Fortunately, the area around the Beacon Tower was covered with a War Aura, which could speed up recovery.. Chapter 203 - 99 Making a Big Move_4 Chapter 203: Chapter 99 Making a Big Move_4 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill decided to stay at the Beacon Tower. As he recuperated, he began to count the items within the Storage Ring of the five-man team he had just defeated. Seeing the variety of potions and supplies, Leonard thought of something, However, these spoils of war from the Fierce Beast Legion are indeed worth far more than any silver material... A C-rank Catastrophe would only yield one or two pieces of equipment. But a single noble guard could yield a whole backpack of goods. Interesting... An idea dawned on Leonard, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. Not long after he decided to stay at the Beacon Tower, he suddenly saw a blue light shining in the distance above the forest. He looked up and muttered to himself, Finally, they lit it. He very clearly remembered the direction of the lightit was from the beacon tower where the Lionheart Family had gone to. Although the Lionheart Familys people had deliberately divided the cannon-fodder hunters into more than ten teams to attract the attention of a large part of the demons in Sawtooth Forest, the large scale of the Fierce Beast Legion still attracted the most demons. To ensure the safety of Young Master Kane, they must have proceeded at a slow pace. In addition, their goal was not to earn contribution points for lighting the Beacon Tower. Thats why they were in no hurry. Considering the time it took, it wasnt surprising. Nearly at the same moment the blue light illuminated, Enlightenment showed up again. Triggered C-rank plot Investigate the Demon Secret Passage in the Wailing Abyss. The number of demons in Sawtooth Forest has far exceeded expectations. The commander speculates that the demons have found a way through the Wailing Abyss. You are an elite soldier from the kingdom, tasked to find accurate clues on the frontline to alert the kingdoms higher-ups. Until then, no one will be able to return to Thunderbolt Fortress. So the C-rank plot is this... it really leaves no escape for others, Leonard watched as Enlightenment appeared and sneered. For the several beacon towers he had previously ignited, he had already received the full bonus of 1,000 contribution points eachindicating that none of the teams had survived. So, I need to think about how to trigger a higher-difficulty plot... Leonard instantly figured it out, his eyes glinting with increasing intensity. Although the three-hundred man Fierce Beast Legion seemed powerful enough to push through everything. But this was the War Mode with seventy percent casualty rate! If the Alternate Dimension allowed so many people to come in, it must also have an equivalent level of risk in the plot. As a lone man, Leonard certainly couldnt take on the entire Elite Legion head-on. Therefore, the only solution was to use the plot to kill them. If C-rank wasnt enough, then hed go for B-rank! If B-rank wasnt enough, then hed go for A-rank! Although increasing the difficulty of the plot would place him in equivalent danger, why would Leonard care about that? The desire in his heart to stir up a big wave had already suppressed any feelings of fear or worry. Where should I start... Leonards eyes flickered as his mind worked around this thought. The people from the Lionheart Family had information about the C-rank mission, so theoretically, they could leave at any time. Even if they triggered some unexpected plot, the three hundred Fierce Beast Legion would easily bulldoze through a C-rank difficulty. Therefore, if he wanted to do something, it had to be done as soon as possible. Leonard thought thus. In normal order, hunters would go into the space, gradually completing tasks according to the task prompt. Then new war plots would be triggered. Leonard guessed that once this triggered C-rank legion task was completed, they might get some directive clues. If they dug deeper, they could trigger higher-difficulty B-rank plots. But the people of the Fierce Beast Legion didnt come to complete the plots in the Alternate Dimension, they came to kill one second-tier demon and then leave. Leonard did not want them to leave so easily. He murmured thoughtfully, So to disrupt the normal order, I need to break the game.... Chapter 204 - 99: Stir Up a Big One_5 Chapter 204: Chapter 99: Stir Up a Big One_5 Translator: 549690339 Just like in the previous Grand Cemetery Labyrinth, someone had disrupted the normal sequence of clearing the levels, making the difficulty suddenly skyrocket! The intelligence for C-rank missions were all held by the Fierce Beast Legion. If Leonard Churchill just followed passively behind those people, accepting missions passively, then he would never seize the initiative. Besides, the 300-strong Fierce Beast Squad was very capable; they had plenty of people to test and make errors. This cautious method of breaking the situation was not what Leonard wished to see. The different difficulty plots in the Alternate Dimension were like minefields; you could either detonate them methodically, or skip some to detonate! So, should I directly trigger the A-rank plot? A wild idea suddenly popped up in Leonards mind. But it was currently only C-level difficulty; there was no sign of the B-rank plot yet. Trigger A-rank? To others, it seemed almost impossible. However, Leonard had some fragmented ideas in his mind. There were already plenty of clues gathered from the hints he was currently given. The name of this Alternate Dimension was Third Holy Grail War- The Outpost Battle. Updated from Ordinary hunters might just think its a name. The clues were pointing to a higher difficulty plot which should be triggered somewhere. Thunderbolt Fortress was at the very south. Echo Wind Fortress was in the middle. Meteor Eagle Fortress was at the very north of the Demon Mountain Range. If you go further north, it was the Far North Demon Domain. There must be a major plot at the border between the humans and the Devil Territory. Head straight to Meteor Eagle Fortress! Countless thoughts converged on one point on the map, Leonard immediately made up his mind. at the same time, a plan that would surely seem absurd to others if he voiced it emerged in his mind. He wanted to cross the large unexplored area and go straight to the northernmost point of the map! It was like playing a game where you were supposed to explore little by little. However, he ignored the large black map in the middle and thought about taking a shortcut to the edge of the map where the final plot seemed destined to be triggered. And this shortcut was through the Demon Mountain Range! For others, even if they could think of this plan, they wouldnt be able to execute it. But the body of the werewolf could move freely on steep mountain ranges, with the treasures of the Hider and the Demon Compass, he could be invisible and evade monsters. The probability of this plans success is very high! When Leonard thought about this, he immediately discarded the idea of slowly groping his way from the Sawtooth Forest. He settled on a direction and headed straight for that towering mountain range! Chapter 205 - 100: Meteor Eagle Fortress Chapter 205: Chapter 100: Meteor Eagle Fortress Translator: 549690339 The cliff walls of the Demon Mountain Range were tremendously steep. They didnt resemble anything naturally formed. Instead, they seemed more like they were split by some kind of supernatural power, creating this almost ninety-degree vertical cliff-side. Even mountain goats could not find a foothold on most parts of the cliff face, let alone any vegetation or places to hide. Leonard Churchill had morphed into the Werewolf form, draped in a cloak. His sharp claws dug into the cliff, as he scaled up heading North. Earlier, he had looked at the map. The distance between the Thunderbolt Fortress and Echo Wind Fortress was just over a hundred kilometers. Whilst the Werewolf form drained good amounts of Curse Power during the journey, even so, Leonard kept taking breaks intermittently to replenish his physical strength and Curse Power. Luckily, after finishing off the five members of the Fierce Beast Legion, he obtained numerous Recovery Potions. Using them for his journey wasnt a big issue. Furthermore, the Demon Compass turned out to be of great help. It helped Leonard avoid countless dangers. Some places on the cliffs that seemed perfectly normal to the naked eye had terrifying fluctuations of demonic aura. Leonard didnt quite know if it was the Will of the Alternate Dimension preventing shortcuts, or if the Demon Corps had hidden sentries. Although he had slain several groups of Demon Lackeys along the way, the compass had helped Leonardo avoid high-risk areas, making his journey thrilling yet uneventful. After a few long hours, he finally saw a War Fortress standing on a cliff. Constructed of white stone, it was magnificent and spectacular. This was the Meteor Eagle Fortress. This fortress was at the very northern end of the Demon Mountain Range. Further north laid the Wailing Abyss- a line marked in black on the map. As Leonard peered at the massive chasm below, nearly a kilometer wide and stretching into the unknown, he thought to himself, So even in the Alternate Dimension there are such cracks... Although it wasnt as outrageous as the infinite world crevice near the Sinless City. But the Wailing Abyss before his eyes was just as unfathomably deep and awe-inspiring as any end-of-the-world rift. Leonard watched as his compass pointed at a certain individual in the patrol troop, displaying a value of 10, similar to the great demon in terms of demonic aura. As they were quite close, the needle kept pointing at that person. Could it be...? Upon seeing this, Leonard no longer suspected the compass was malfunctioning. He arrived at a startling conclusion- this soldier was actually a demon in disguise! And the reason for the constant spinning of the compass needle... It was because the camp was swarming with demons! Once Leonard thought of this, he couldnt help but tense up. Apparently, It wasnt any lack of abnormality. But something had not been discovered yet. The demons, through some kind of method, had already infiltrated the fortress. He had unknowingly jumped straight into a pile of monsters. The situation is worse than I thought... After observing for a while, Leonard confirmed his thoughts. But instead of feeling threatened, he sighed out in relief. If there werent any demons, he wouldnt know how to trigger the high-difficulty scenario. Now that the demons had proved to have infiltrated the fortress, yet not completely conquered it. This was clearly an excellent time for an adventurer to join in, set by the Alternate Dimension. Leonard was certain that there must be a key to digging out the high-difficulty scenario inside this fortress! With this in mind, he continued to prowl around the fortress. As he observed around the fortress, he discovered that there were fluctuations of demonic aura on soldiers taking up key positions. Such as the operator of the basket elevator and the tower sentry.. Chapter 206 - too Meteor Eagle Fortress 2 Chapter 206: Chapter too Meteor Eagle Fortress 2 Translator: 549690339 ???? Approximately one in five soldiers had been invaded by demons, by Leonard Churchills rough estimation. Skin replacement, or some mysterious controlling method? Leonard Churchill pondered as he walked, the situation was dire, and he had already put the clown mask on his face. As he walked, he suddenly arrived at the Military Supplies Office. He saw that he had accumulated nearly ten thousand contribution points on his merit badge. He initially planned to save them up and exchange them for better stuff when he left the Alternate Dimension. However, looking at the current circumstance, where the War Fortress had turned into a Demon Headquarters, exchanging his points to improve his combat power was the most pressing matter at hand. Leonard Churchill thought for a moment, he took off his cloak and went straight in. Perhaps they thought there was no need to infiltrate the logistics department, so all the soldiers here were normal humans. This place also had a merit exchange screen. Leonard Churchill took out his merit badge and four Demons Horns and said Major, I am a reconnaissance scout sent by the Kingdom. I have completed some reconnaissance missions and would like to exchange my contribution points. Of course, what can be exchanged for contribution points was definitely not what hunters see. However, this was part of the patch implemented by the Alternate Dimensions will. It encouraged Adventurers to kill monsters and exchange prizes of their own preference. Leonard Churchill was not afraid of revealing anything. The logistics officer checked the merit badge, admired the amount of Leonards contribution points, and didnt ask too much: What would you like to exchange for? 9000 contribution points + four Demons Horns = Kagura flow ancient martial arts fighting skills (silver) To improve his combat power as quickly as possible, there was nothing more suitable than a Skill Card. Leonard Churchill had already decided earlier, he pointed to the name of Martial Skills in the directory, said: Please help me to exchange for this fighting secret book. The logistics officer: Okay! But now he had a method. This punch really hits the bulls eye as it could let the force penetrate the skin, directly damage the organs, and cause true damage. Although the skill proficiency wasnt high enough to kill a D-class Catastrophe with one punch. But hitting a few more punches should do the job. His extremely high agility and physical attributes coupled with this skill, were like a sharp sword that allowed his attributes to be fully unleashed. Now, for enemies like the Black Knight who were Heavy Armor card masters, he finally had a lethal weapon. As for the Advanced Fighting Expertise in his mind which seemed jumbled and unrefined, Leonard Churchill didnt mind much. Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced Expertise, he had upgraded three times using three different techniques of skill cards. He felt like he knew a little about every fighting technique, which was kind of muddled and not focused. But it was useful for now. He had high enlightenment and his understanding of skills also had an exaggerated increase. Once he practiced a bit more, these techniques would gradually meld into muscle memory and slowly become his own thing. Indeed, real power brought confidence. Leonard Churchill had exhausted all his contribution points and quickly assimilated two fighting skill cards, significantly improving his close combat skills. Walking in the fortress, his heart was not as guarded as before. The Alternate Dimension was a unique world that was almost identical to the real world. Anything here had a complete causality logic line. Looking carefully, traces could always be found. Since he had guessed that a plot could be triggered around this fortress, Leonard Churchill roamed around. Not long after. Leonard Churchill heard some news from a group of chatting soldiers. I dont know whats gotten into the commander recently. He used to be the first to come out for early morning exercises every day. Now he not only sleeps till noon, but also doesnt care about everyones exercises.. Chapter 207 - 100 Meteor Eagle Fortress_3 Chapter 207: Chapter 100 Meteor Eagle Fortress_3 Translator: 549690339 Hey, doesnt this make us more relaxed? Theres nothing weird about it. Plus, I heard that the commander went on patrol near the Wailing Abyss and had a fierce battle with a demon. Its only normal for him to be injured and need recovery... Ah, its bizarre that Deputy commander, Mage Rolan, violated some military discipline and was thrown into the dungeon by the commander. He seemed like a decent person... Upon hearing these murmurs, Leonard Churchill immediately realized that this might be a crucial point in the plot. The Demon Compass has a usage radius. Only at a close distance of two to three hundred meters can it precisely point towards the direction of a demon. He didnt dare to approach the obviously high-tiered commanders office earlier for fear of being exposed. But now it looks like there will be major problems. Leonard carefully tried to approach the commanders camp tent. As expected, the Demon Compass spun chaotically. Looking at the showing exaggerated value of the demons power fluctuation on the pointer, he was shocked for a moment, A second-tier Catastrophe-level demon? Or even a very strong one among the second tiers? This is the strongest one he had seen. Its more than ten times stronger than the first-tier C-level Catastrophe he encountered before. Interesting. The commander of the fortress is a demon; this Meteor Eagle Fortress has actually fallen... Having thought thus far, another idea suddenly occurred to Leonard. Since this commander is a demon, then from another perspective, the deputy commander, Mage Rolan, who was thrown into the dungeon, might be a human, right? Leonard immediately realized this was the key provided by the horoscope for the adventurers to solve the problem. A second-tier demon is not something he could handle right now. Without delay, Leonard directly found his way to the dungeon. The fortresss dungeon usually detains some soldiers who violated military discipline, similar to a confinement room. Just going down a hundred meters through a rocky crevice, there were a few damp cells. Although dark elves are favored by the darkness, they are not good at perception. The enemy evidently had not realized that they had been detected. Leonard guessed that there must be traps on the stone steps, so he didnt plan to go down the normal way. He suddenly leapt. The muscles in his legs inflated, and as a werewolf, he jumped onto the rock wall, his claws making it easy for him to climb. Within a few moments, he had advanced a hundred meters. As a shadow flashed across the rock wall, the demon hiding in the dark suddenly noticed the anomaly. But it was too late. By the time she realized, the shadow had already appeared before her eyes. She reacted and tried to flee, her figure suddenly scattered. Teleportation again... Leonard had seen it once before and was not surprised. The smell had clearly exposed the dark elfs position. With a strong push off the rock wall, he quickly changed direction. Like a hungry wolf pouncing on a scared, fleeing rabbit, he pinned the dark elf to the rock wall. He didnt give the demon time to react, and with a swipe, his claws severed her neck. Killed a C-level Catastrophe mixed-race dark elf hunter, contribution points +300 His fighting techniques having become an advanced specialty, killing these frail Catastrophe was much easier than before. Even though the instantaneous killing was silent. But he couldnt guarantee that the lurking demons in the fortress above were startled or not. Having killed the dark elf, Leonard swiftly cleaned up the body. And the magician strictly tied in the cell had a clear view of the whole scene.. Chapter 208 - 101: A-Level Plot, Total Assault on the Fortress Chapter 208: Chapter 101: A-Level Plot, Total Assault on the Fortress Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill knew that this was a human, so he was not worried. He walked straight over, introducing himself, Mage Rolan, I am a member of the Investigations Corps sent by the Kingdom to investigate the demon secret passage... He briefly explained his situation. Before he had finished speaking, Mage Rolan interjected, Dont touch the anti-demon chain on my body. Otherwise, the demons will spot us. II II Leonard hadnt planned on touching it anyway. He had already noticed the rune lock chain tethering the man was not an ordinary rope but a magic inhibiting device. But hearing the old mages warning, he refrained anyway. He wanted to garner more information, so playing dumb, he queried, Demons? Right. Mage Rolan said no more, but instead asked, Do you have anything else that proves your identity? Leonard thought for a moment, then produced his Merit Badge and a few demon horns. Looking at the demon horns, Mage Rolan seemed convinced, No wonder you managed to get here. Your strength is undoubtedly impressive. No wonder this NPC was locked in a dungeon instead of being killed outright. Mage Rolan didnt dawdle, seeing a soldier from the kingdom after a while, he gave him a task straightaway: If possible, I want you to communicate the situation at Meteor Eagle Fortress back to Thunderbolt Fortress. The demon vanguards have come, the Kingdoms higher-ups havent paid it any heed, Im afraid we might suffer huge losses... Listening to him, Leonard realized that coming to the dungeon would definitely trigger this plot. Mage Rolan continued, Ill give you the fortresss magic key. Go to my residence, behind the seventh book on the bookshelf theres a hidden compartment. There, youll find my Rune Token. It can vouch for your identity. But be careful, the Rune Token controls the fortresss barrier and is vital. The demons are also after it... As soon as Leonard heard this, enlightenment appeared: B-rank legion plot Mage Rolan Masters Verbal Message triggered. Until the mission is accomplished, everyone must protect the token holder to safely return to Thunderbolt Fortress, otherwise leaving the space would be impossible. The mission rewards 30,000 contribution points; Just as he expected. Coming to Meteor Eagle Fortress had indeed triggered a high-difficulty plot. Just...a B-rank? Seeing the mission content, a different thought ran through Leonards mind. While Leonard was at Meteor Eagle Fortress, the 300 elite fighters of Fierce Beast Legion had also reached the middle of Sawtooth Forest. They had already learned from the information they received that a second-tier D-rank catastrophe was hidden in the caves here. This was their target for this mission. Members of the Lionheart Family were required to pass through a high-difficulty alternate dimension and personally kill a catastrophe that wasnt lower than second-tier as a trial. This one here was just right for that. Although they had lost some manpower due to prolonged battles against the Demon Corps on their way here, The combat power of the Fierce Beast Legion hadnt diminished much.. Chapter 209 - 101: A-Level Plot, Total Assault on the Fortress_2 Chapter 209: Chapter 101: A-Level Plot, Total Assault on the Fortress_2 Translator: 549690339 Killing a Second Tier Catastrophe with ease. At this moment, Cain, the Ninth Young Master of the Lionheart Family, was leisurely sitting in the marching tent, drinking coffee, eating desserts, and enjoying the gentle care of two well-behaved army maids. For someone of his status, a top-tier noble young master, the death rate in the Alternate Dimension has never been of their concern. That was something their subordinates needed to consider. The Legion Commander came to the tent, never daring to look directly at the enchanting scene of the two women serving, and bowed his head to ask, Young Master, the vanguard scouts have confirmed that the Second Tier, D-rank Catastrophe is in the cave ahead. What are your orders? As Cain casually played with the beautiful body of a maiden, he lazily said, Proceed as planned. Yes. The commander saluted and continued, The Fierce Beast Legion will first lure the demon out and cripple it, then you, young master, will hunt and extract the Demons Horn. But before that, you might want to prepare your battle armor in advance. The chronicler will capture some magical images of your battle... With an impatient look on his face, Cain finally stood up from between the two tender-bodied girls: I understand. The Legion Commander dared not say another word and left the tent. Once that Catastrophe is killed, the mission will be considered a great success. But as he left the tent, the once subtle palpitations of the commanders heart intensified. Suddenly, he underwent a Beast Transformation, revealing a pair of fox ears. Like most of the warriors in the Fierce Beast Legion, he, too, chose the Spade Four C Beast Walker professional sequence. But the main material of his profession card wasnt from a fierce beast. It was fused with the very rare demon beast, the Gleaming Fox. This endowed him with extraordinary crisis perception skills. The Commander didnt know where his sense of impending danger came from. He looked up at several lit beacon towers in the distance. Instead of feeling relieved, his expression became heavy. He loudly asked: Whats happening at those beacon towers? Any news? Despite having sent people over earlier, the sixth beacon tower was still lit up. That means the Elite Squad they sent may have run into some problems. But right now, they were not clear whether they were intercepted by monsters or it was for some other reason. Now, before this B-rank mission is completed, no one can leave. Meaning, they cant get out either! This was War Mode. Even for their elites, the strategists estimated the death rate of the B-rank difficulty plot to exceed 40%. However, they didnt expect that the accident was not just that. Before long, the Enlightenment appeared again. In the dungeon of Meteor Eagle Fortress. Looking at the B-rank messenger mission in his Enlightenment, Leonard Churchills mind was turning rapidly, contemplating the various scenarios that will unfold once the mission is accepted. Even without having the so-called Magic Token. He could guess that in all probabilities, it was similar to the Demons Horn, a special item that cannot be stored in space. And it would leak his location for some reason, attracting demons. On his journey to deliver the message back to Thunderbolt Fortress, he would undoubtedly be pursued by the Demon Corps. Oh, And also pursued by the Fierce Beast Legion! Leonard doesnt think obtaining that thing would be a good choice at the moment. And most importantly, He felt that the difficulty isnt high enough. Given the current plot difficulty, the B-rank difficulty might at most induce a few ordinary Second Tier demons... Leonard estimated the difficulty of the B-rank plot based on the previous D-rank difficulty. He quickly concluded, This could cause some loss to the Fierce Beast Legion, But they were unlikely to be wiped out. A snake will bite if not killed. Trouble will come from what is left over. Just triggering the B-rank plot. So far, this clearly doesnt meet the expectation..The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbjn((.))com Chapter 210 - 101 - A-Level Plot, Total Assault on the Fortress_3 Chapter 210: Chapter 101 C A-Level Plot, Total Assault on the Fortress_3 Translator: 549690339 The only real good news was that until the mission was completed, those members of the Fierce Beast Legion wouldnt be able to leave either. Creating a commotion is one thing. Clearing the game is also a part of the fun. Leonard Churchill also thought that completing this letter-delivery mission wasnt the correct approach to clearing the game. It was only a step in the process. All the clues at present were pointing towards the final intel being The Demon Clans Secret Passage. He had thought of other things. Upon seeing this mission, a bolder plan appeared in Leonard Churchills mind. The Fierce Beast Legion posed the greatest threat to him at the moment. However, from another perspective, it could also be a boon. The beasts were recruiting two hundred hunters with the aim to use them as bait. So, in Leonards eyes, there was no better bait than the Fierce Beast Legion itself! The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbjn((.))com To protect that young master, they had to concentrate their forces. Just like during the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth incident, a target this big would surely attract the majority of the demons attacks from within the Sawtooth Forest. This was still the Outpost Battle. This means there wouldnt be too many of the Demon Corps on this side of the Sawtooth Forest yet. According to the current information, they were lurking in the forest and also slowly infiltrating the Three Great Fortresses. The reason they havent attacked yet is simply because they believed their invasion plans hadnt been exposed and fortress infiltration had not met expectations. But... what if these plans were exposed prematurely? Leonard was certain that if the Demon Corps knew their plans had been exposed, they would have no choice but to attack the Three Great Fortresses prematurely, regardless of the consequences. Otherwise, all their plans would have been in vain. The moment the demons find out their plan has been exposed, they would certainly choose to attack prematurely. The Alternate Dimension follows a random plot mode, so they can dig deeper into the mission they have been given! With this in mind, Leonard looked at the elderly mage before him and said suddenly, Mage Rolan, to be honest, our situation is probably more critical than you imagine. The Demon Legion is already spread throughout Sawtooth Forest. Based on my investigation, Im sure Thunderbolt Fortress has already been infiltrated by the demons... We simply do not have enough troops to defend the Northern Fortress. After pausing for a bit, he continued, Even if I were to deliver the message now, disregarding whether it would be delivered successfully or not, the time taken for this process will allow the demons in other fortresses to prepare. And if I were to be exposed, we would lose the only upper hand we currently have... Mage Rolan seemed to understand the implication of his words. After mulling it over for a moment, a relieved smile surfaced on his face, Young man, youre even bolder than I thought. Upon hearing this, Leonard didnt say anything more. It was enough that the old man understood. Regardless of whether this Alternate Dimension was a parallel world or something else. The role of this old mage was destined to be a tragic one. And it made sense to make a choice from a rational standpoint now. The longer they dragged it out, the worse the situation for the human camp in this third Holy Grail War would become. Leonards hint was also very clear: once the old mage died, the message could be passed on the quickest. Even if the old man didnt agree, Leonard was going to help him anyway. But, it was evident that this Mage Rolan was broad-minded. That pair of kind eyes looked at Leonard, evidently prepared to make a sacrifice. But he suddenly asked a question not related to the mission, If you were in the same situation, would you make the same choice as me? Leonard, under the old mans wise gaze, didnt think of the old mage as just an NPC. This question seemed to be a collision between the wisdom and moralities of people from two different times and spaces. He thought for a moment, answering leisurely, If I were you, I would. But I am me. I will deal with any problem I encounter in my own way. My conviction does not change depending on the situation. Hearing his words, Mage Rolan smiled.. Chapter 211 - 101 A-Level Plot, Total Attack on the Chapter 211: Chapter 101 A-Level Plot, Total Attack on the Fortress_4 Translator: 549690339 You are one of the most promising young people I have seen in recent years. He seemed to approve of this answer very much and nodded, Hidden on my bookshelf is a Magic Secret Book which records my research on the Demon Clan over the years. Im giving it to you. War is far from over. I hope you can stand firm in your beliefs as you said, and keep moving forward. II II Updated from Leonard Churchill was unsure whether this was a hidden plot triggered in the Alternate Dimension or if the Old Man truly wished to offer him a parting gift in his dying moments. For a moment, he felt that such a person should not die. Even if its just a character from Alternate Dimension. Leonard started to think of something else. Ideas unrelated to the Alternate Dimension. Who could guarantee that they werent merely characters in a plot viewed by beings from higher dimensions? But there was no time to hesitate anymore. With a swift thought, Leonard broke the Magic-sealing Chains with his blade. The chain had been destroyed, and the demons outside would notice immediately. Leonard dared not linger, Farewell! As soon as he finished, he dashed towards the dungeons exit. Just as Leonard reached the exit, he suddenly felt a violent surge of magical power from behind. Even Young Master Kane frowned looking at the A-rank plot on the Enlightenment. However, more than that, he was filled with a cold angry expression, Tsk, tsk...someone dares to step on my toes... The demons too, were equally flabbergasted. They never imagined that the Human Legion reinforcements were still on the south side of the forest. Why was the Beacon Tower of the Meteor Eagle Fortress lit? But the fact remained that the Beacon Tower of the Meteor Eagle Fortress was lit. Their invasion plan had been exposed. As soon as the Beacon Tower was lit, the army of the Human Kingdom was bound to reinforce it. Despite preparations not living up to expectations, they couldnt wait any longer. They had to act now! As soon as the Beacon Tower lit up, all the demons lurking near the mountain range received orders to attack beforehand. Countless bat-like creatures converged in the dense forest forming a towering figure, this was an A-rank Second Tier Catastrophe, Thunderbat Commander Mitt; A Flame Serpent also crawled out from the Red Ridge Cave, another A-rank Second Tier Catastrophe, Bone Serpent Commander-Tattler; Then theres the A-rank Second Tier Catastrophe, Mind-capturing Leader C Buck, hiding in Thunderbolt Fortress; The B-rank Second Tier Catastrophe, Toad Commander-Hunke hiding in the venomous swamp of Sawtooth Forest also slowly crawled out of the mud; Corpsebone Mountain... The Ancient Cemetery... In the vast Sawtooth Forest, eight hidden Demon Commanders appeared. They each led tens of thousands of Demon Legions, launching fierce attacks on the Three Great Fortresses! At the same time, they targeted the Human Legion in the forest.. Chapter 212 - 102: The Old Man Has Some Skills Chapter 212: Chapter 102: The Old Man Has Some Skills Translator: 549690339 The battle in the dungeon was becoming more and more fierce. The beacon tower had been lit; the fortress war had begun. The soldiers didnt yet understand what was happening, but the ethereal magic light from the beacon tower had already shone on everyone. Those demons who had been disguised as humans tore through their human-skin coverings under the light, revealing their grotesque demon forms. The soldiers finally reacted, picking up their weapons and engaging in a fierce battle with the demons. In the blink of an eye, the vast fortress was filled with intense combat. Not just within the fortress, demons appeared in abundance on the lifts, in the baskets and atop the arrow towers. Because they were well-prepared, these demons wasted no time in destroying various heavy defensive weapons. This not only caused casualties amongst the human soldiers, but also facilitated the siege for the demons at the base of the fortress. Demon hordes poured in from god knows where. They climbed walls, rode in baskets, flew with wings... Using every means available they launched a total assault on Meteor Eagle Fortress. The great battle instantly turned extremely fierce. Leonard Churchill ignored the battle within the fortress. He stealthily navigated his way, arriving at the deputy commanders quarters in no time. The defensive barriers here had already been activated, but thanks to the magic key Mage Rolan had given him beforehand, he gained access effortlessly. A quick look at the compass indicated the house was devoid of any monsters. The demons were busy storming the fortress; no one was paying any attention to the quarters Leonard walked straight up to the second floor. Both the commander and deputy-commander had their separate quarters. There was a room on the second floor with a window. The view here was excellent, offering a clear sight of the Wailing Abyss. There was a row of bookshelves in the room. On the shelves, dozens of books lined up. Enlightenment didnt translate these irrelevant ancient civilization scriptures that didnt connect with the plot. Monsters hadnt taken it because it was not suited for demons. Ha, something I can sell... Leonard looked at its attributes and was instantly disappointed. After witnessing so many treasures, his expectations had risen. Primarily, there were no special entries. The reason it was of Silver-Glow quality was solely because the Star Iron it was made from was a rare metal. Moreover, it was heavy and useless to him. Spending a valuable Silver-Glow Containment Card, Leonard stored the axe. He thought he could fetch a good price for this axe. Leonard roamed around the commanders quarters but couldnt find anything else of value. Originally, he wanted to visit the military supplies office to see if he could pilfer anything undetected. But suddenly, the magic vibration in the dungeon quieted down. From the looks of it, Mage Rolan had been killed. Not daring to wait for the second-tier catastrophe to find him, Leonard climbed along the cliff, leaving the fortress. After a while, he was on a steep cliff. All eight Demon Commanders should be at least second-tier B-level or higher catastrophe...at least three or four commanders are likely to be tied up at three fortresses, given the combat power of the Fierce Beast Legion, they must be fighting head-on with quite a few Demon Corps... Leonard found a place to settle down, watching the battle at the Meteor Eagle Fortress from afar, contemplating the situation. Eventually, he relaxed and started enjoying the spectacle. The battle was just beginning. Wailing Abyss was more than a hundred kilometers of mountainous terrain away from the Thunderbolt Fortress in the south, and the Demon Legion might have just ventured out from their lair, not yet having covered much ground. Leonard was in no hurry to find any demon channel. He simply stayed on the cliff edge, took out the booklet he had previously got titled Mage Rolans Demonic Manuscript, and started flipping through it carefully. This was a plot item recognized by the space. It was certainly related to passing the level. Leonard opened the manuscript, revealing tightly packed, untranslatable ancient texts.. Chapter 213 - 102: The Old Man Has Some Skills_2 Chapter 213: Chapter 102: The Old Man Has Some Skills_2 Translator: 549690339 | This is the text of the Delaney Kingdom. Leonard Churchill quickly scanned the contents of the notes. Not only did he read the translated content from the Enlightenment Display, but he also noted down the original text. The content of the manuscript was all about Mage Rolans research on demons and it could be roughly divided into several parts: Complete Collection of Known Demons, Research on the Low-Level Demon Language, Demon Totems... Due to his years spent on the frontier, the mage had conducted in-depth studies on the culture and habits of demons. The content was far more detailed than what the Enlightenment Display had shown. It was practically a demon encyclopedia. Due to time constraints, Leonard skimmed quickly through the notes. He specifically selected some of the major points to read. Mainly focusing on monsters, items like Potions to Prevent Spider Web Stickiness, Treatment for Burns Caused by Demonic Flames, Methods to Neutralize Common Demon Toxins... The latter parts included battles with demons, so the more practical skills he understood, the better he could defend himself. Hours later. Leonard closed the manuscript, exhaled a long breath, and couldnt help but exclaim: This manuscript is truly helpful. From his previous ignorance about demons, he now had a clear understanding of the habits and weaknesses of dozens of demons. Leonard felt that this information was even more useful than any equipment. Who would have thought that the previously thought invincible Giant Demon has a segment of its tailbone that is weaker than its eyeballs? Dark Elves have the ability to disperse into elements and teleport, but if you place a needle in their collarbone, they become unable to disperse... The claws of spider demons are deadlier weak points than any other parts... And many more. Humanity consists of a single race, but demons are diverse and peculiar. If Leonard had not gone through this manuscript, he wouldve had to risk his life to probe the various kinds of demons he might meet. A moments inattention might lead to a major disadvantage against those peculiar abilities. There were no demonic fluctuations either. Only then did he climb up from the cliff onto the ground. He looked ahead to see a group of stone towers not far away. This was once a burial ground for deceased soldiers. The stone towers were their tombstones. The old mage did not specify the exact coordinates of the entrance to the demons lair, but Leonard figured that since it was a secret passage, it would not be easy to find. However, to accommodate the large numbers of demons coming from the north side of the rift, the place must be quite large. He did not see any bridges or other structures in the abyss, possibly because of teleportation circles or other magical passages. Therefore, he could only try his luck in the surrounding area. He draped the Relic Cloak over himself, and like a ghost, cautiously entered the White Tower Forest to patiently search the area. Before long, as he watched the Red-eyed Bats hanging on the key crossroads in the White Tower Forest. He was certain that the passage must be somewhere nearby. The bats couldnt detect him. Leonard continued to navigate through the White Tower Forest. Suddenly, an invisible white cloth drifted through the air. According to the Enlightenment Display, it was anjGhost contaminated by demonic air]? A ghost? This was Leonards first encounter with a spirit-type monster. It didnt seem threatening. Could it potentially be dispelled with a single Daylight Bomb? But upon seeing the prefix of the ghost, Leonard immediately realized that this must be a scout for the demons. Superior Demons are not inferior to humans in intelligence, and they must have realized that some stealth techniques can elude the surveillance of Red-eyed Bats. Ghost-type monsters perceive things not through their eyes but at a spiritual level. This complements the shortcomings in the surveillance methods of the bat scouts.. Chapter 214 - 102: The Old Man Has Some Skills 3 Chapter 214: Chapter 102: The Old Man Has Some Skills 3 Translator: 549690339 The ghosts perceptual range was shorter than its vision, so it hadnt noticed Leonard Churchill for the time being. However, like a hound catching a scent, it began to waft slowly in his direction. And it seemed there were far from few ghosts in this forest. If he continued walking, there was a high chance hed be discovered. Phantom Outpost... they really dont miss a thing, do they? Leonard looked on with a slightly furrowed brow. Just seeing the ghosts appear, he was already certain that the Demon Secret Passage was nearby. But now he found himself in between a rock and a hard place. It was impossible to avoid detection completely, and he couldnt get rid of them either. If his location was exposed, the sneaking plan would be ruined. He alone did not have the ability to break into the Demons Lair forcibly. But how to dodge the ghosts? Leonard rummaged through everything he knew about ghosts. There are plenty of ways to kill monsters, but avoiding them is more challenging... Ghosts perceive on a spiritual level, and everyone has a spirit, so avoiding them isnt an option. Suddenly! A light bulb brightened up in his head. Leonard recalled an image of a shady old man with missing teeth and his unique resonating voice suggesting hiding his head in his crotch to avoid most ghosts. This was a tactic Elder Clinton, often called Dog King, in his party once mentioned. His theory was that ghosts could perceive the shape of a humans spirit flame. But if one hides their head beneath their crotch, the shape of the spirit flame becomes odd, leading the ghost to perceive them as similar entities and hence ignoring them. Unclear whether bragging or not, Elder Clinton claimed to have survived numerous Vengeful Spirit Spaces with a high mortality rate using this method. Had taken it for a joke earlier, he didnt expect it to be applicable so promptly now. Shall I give it a try? Superior Demon, Little Demons, Flame Demon, Dark Elf, Giant Demon, Charming Demon, Hell Spider, Flesh Wall, Treasure Chest Monster... All sorts of demons he had seen or those mentioned in the Mage Rolans manuscript weirdly appeared before him. Hed actually infiltrated the Demon Headquarters? Upon seeing this, a tingling sensation of excitement washed over Leonard, the adrenaline surge rushing into his brain. Based on the densely crowded footprints on the ground, a large demon army must have left the headquarters not long ago. So it was an illusion barrier that concealed the entrance... Observing his surroundings, Leonard finally understood. He hid behind a rock and assessed the situation. Very few Catastrophe Level monsters were seen in this war base, mostly minions doing menial work. They carried engineering equipment, crude swords, and human corpses brought back from the front line. This was the demons logistical team. Just as Leonard had expected, the elite forces had all moved to attack the Fortress. The demons nest seemed to be most undefended right now! If he remained undiscovered, he might as well look for an opportunity to strike. The reflection of the monster base in Leonards eyes sparked excitement in his heart. The ground base was just a small part of the Demon Headquarters, a short distance away there was a cave entrance emanating red light, leading to the underground. The entrance was like the mouth of a bare-toothed demon. No need to guess, inside were bound to be ample perils. Well well... Leonard looked on with a slightly raised eyebrow, not the least bit intending to retreat. Since hed come this far, he was certainly going to take a look inside. Changing his train of thought, he bravely followed behind a couple of Little Demons carrying corpses, heading straight into the cave. The deeper into the mountain cave, the wider the passage. Torches illuminated the cave walls, demons bustling in and out. Every now and then, you could see Totem poles etched with demon scripts. Those scripts were Low-Level Demon languages, similar to human ancient scripts, both were simplified versions evolved from the High-Level Demon Language..Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Chapter 215 - 102: The Old Man Has Some Skills_4 Chapter 215: Chapter 102: The Old Man Has Some Skills_4 Translator: 549690339 I Leonard Churchill had previously seen in Mage Rolans manuscript that the content on the totem poles probably recorded descriptions related to Space. After walking for a bit, he was almost certain that the so-called Demon Secret Passage was indeed a spatial teleportation array. The totem poles scattered throughout the cave were all elements of the teleportation array. Leonard was stealthily creeping along, extremely cautious as he followed the Little Demons inside. He kept an eye on the Demon Pointer, deliberately avoiding areas with significant value fluctuations. So far, the journey had been smooth. However, as he moved forward, Leonards gaze suddenly hardened. For he saw several living humans emerging from the cave! Are there actually humans in the Demons Lair? Before Leonard even had time to be surprised, Updated from he heard those humans muttering a few sentences in Demons language. Then, he finally understood that these were not humans. They were Demons disguised as humans! In Mage Rolans manuscript, it mentioned a cunning type of Demon called Pishtako, which could use human skins to disguise themselves as a living human. Avoid? Nope. Not necessary. If he couldnt avoid them anyway, he might as well make a bigger move! With this thought in mind, Leonard quickly removed his cloak and all his equipment. Like the Demons that had just changed their skins, he walked into the cave with his upper body uncovered. In the guise of a human, he brazenly walked in! Little Demons, Big Demons, and the like were of low intelligence. Seeing an additional person all of a sudden, their first reaction would be that it was a skin-changed Pishtako, and they would not care at all. Even if some higher intelligence Demons sensed something was off, seeing such an ordinary human, they would never guess that a human would dare to stride into the forbidden area so boldly. Relying on this seemingly crazy method, Leonard surprisingly managed to get inside successfully! He had been very careful just moments ago, but there was no need for that now. After going deeper into the cave, he indeed encountered several Wailing Banshees squatting at some crossroads singing. If he had truly entered stealthily, he would have been discovered immediately. It was as if he had passed numerous layers of security checks, without the Demons sensing anything wrong. So Leonard went deeper and deeper. Soon, he entered a cave heavily filled with the smell of blood.. Chapter 216 - 103 Power Gem Golden Sphere Chapter 216: Chapter 103 Power Gem Golden Sphere Translator: 549690339 I The cave in front of their eyes was the final destination of these little demons moving the bodies. Upon seeing this, Leonard Churchill noted several monsters with sickle-like hands skillfully skinning humans, then soaking the skins in blood brimming with magical power. Several skinless Pishtakos were gathering around the blood pool, occasionally pulling out a human skin to try on themselves. If it doesnt fit, they just switch to another one. Its as if they are trying on their own clothing. Even for someone with Leonards mindset, the sight of this bloody spectacle was enough to make him draw a sharp breath. There were many humans here. No one cared about one more. Leonard didnt bother hanging around in this bloody, stinking cave. The skinned human bodies were suspended and transported into the depths of the cave by a rudimentary pulley system. He followed in that direction. They were already in very deep underground. Leonard also knew that he was getting closer and closer to the crux of this alternate dimensions core plot. The path had been unimpeded so far, but there were guards along this corridor. Spotting several large demons as guards, Leonard went straight up to them without showing any sign of fear. The big demon squad leader wearing leather armor saw a human approaching and thinking it was one of their own kind, did not raise the alarm. Instead, he spoke: x&% #@... That was the demons language. Leonard couldnt understand a word of it! But he could guess, it was probably something like keep out of restricted areas or who are you. This chapter is updated by Leonard didnt understand, nor had he any intention of answering. His eyes flashed fiercely, and he slapped the big demon leader across the face. With a slap, the big demon captain was left stunned. Now looking at this flesh and blood altar in front of him, it couldnt be any more familiar to Leonard. So, these demons also worship the same Silver Moon Deity? Gazing upon an altar hundreds of times larger than the one he had seen in Sinless City, Leonard suddenly realized something. The history of the old gods is far older than human knowledge could fathom. He had previously thought that the Silver Moon Sect was an external religious belief passed down from the Taren Dynasty. But now it seemed, the origin was even older. The same Silver Moon Deity sacrifice ceremony, appearing in this alternate dimension. As if the illusion and reality were connected. Seeing this, Leonard had a vague hunch: this alternate dimension is not a fabricated fiction. Instead, the will of the space had cut out a real historical segment from the river of time, tweaked it a little, and formed these alternate dimensions. This Delaney Kingdom Civilization seen now, was a civilization much older than the Taren Dynasty which had perished three thousand years ago. It was an ancient civilization that had disappeared in the river of time. Leonard had read sporadic mentions in some texts that there were several Dark Ages before the Taren Dynasty, when humans and gods and demons coexisted. How truly fascinating... A thought flashed through Leonards mind, as if he had taken a momentary journey through the vastness of the historical river. Each ancient civilization, like dust in the river of history, was countless. Through the medium of the alternate dimension, he, with a hyper-dimensional perspective, saw an ancient civilization that had disappeared. This made him have more reverence for the mysteries of this world. And more curious. He had thought this world was a young girl veiled in one layer of mystery, but it turned out to be layered upon layers. Before Leonard had time to ponder, the familiar Enlightenment emerged again: You have listened to the Demonic Whispers from the abyss, exemption from mental chaos, you have touched the Old Days Relic''. As soon as the content of the Enlightenment appeared, he saw strands of black thread in his vision converging on each other. Then they solidified in a corner of the altar. Seeing this, Leonard couldnt be more familiar with it. He muttered in his heart, I thought after the Silver Moon Sect was wiped out, there would be no more chances to interact with the Secret Cause Spirit Medium.... Chapter 217 - 103 Power Gem Golden Sphere_2 Chapter 217: Chapter 103 Power Gem Golden Sphere_2 Translator: 549690339 | Unexpectedly, he saw it again in the alternate dimension. Moreover, this altar far surpasses those mediocre ones from the Silver Moon Sect, and certainly better medium quality too. A valuable find... Leonard Churchill gazed at the place where the thread converged, letting out a deep breath, his eyes bursting with anticipation. But he didnt rush to grab it. The moment he grabbed it, it would definitely expose him. He thought of something else. Seeing this altar, even without further investigation, Leonard realized instantly the construct of the Demon headquarters. The Four-pillar Moon Arch layout... Leonard thought about the secret room in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth. Previously, he had used his half-knowledge of this layout to directly destroy the base of the Silver Moon Sect in Sinless City. Now, it seems the show is about to be replayed. With the position of one among the four pillars confirmed, there was no need for further reconnaissance. There were probably three of this kind of altars in the rest of this lair. The important thing was the position of the Moon! Seems like I have come near the most crucial place... Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Leonard pondered. He felt that if his guess was right, that should be the exact location of the Demon Secret Passage. His gaze flickered, and without lingering at the spot, he headed deeper into the cave. There was no need to ascertain the direction deliberately; the trench had already indicated the direction. Before long, Leonard arrived at a massive underground space! This place was as big as four to five football fields. As soon as he entered, a hundreds-meter-tall statue of a human-headed spider brutally hit his vision. The moment the teleportation was activated, he clearly saw the metal ball emitting a strong black light. The Demon Corps was teleported over, and it seemed to have exhausted its energy now, turning into a grey orb that looked more like a stone. Power Gem Golden Sphere. Explanation: A rule gem forged by the ancient dwarves, containing the power of the upper-level power rule; but after being broken, it has lost most of its divine power. Its this! Seeing this, a hint of mockery appeared at the corners of Leonards mouth. Such rule-level objects are on the same level as Disaster Objects. Theoretically, his current cognition would not allow him to see through its effects. But he saw it now. It was a hint given by the spatial will: he could take this thing out! There were many things inside the teleportation array, but other things like Energy Stones didnt seem particularly important. This kind of unique item immediately caught Leonards eye. Moreover, it was in such a conspicuous place, Leonard was confident that he could easily get it. Because there was no need for any other mechanical defenses. A glance at it could result in faith pollution, this statue itself is a huge trap. Ordinary non-Ancient God devotees could not get close. But Leonard completely ignored the pollution! The thirteen ways to divine pointed to fifty-two professional sequences, each of which had its own special abilities. But Joker was very special. The integrated talent abilities gave Leonard a feeling like hiding in the shadow of the world, like a shadow. By now, Leonard could somewhat understand the intention of the god who created the card. As written in the card: The clown mocks the hypocrisy of the gods, ridicules the impotence of the death god, and also satirizes human greed and cowardice... He moves silently in the shadows, observing the entire world. This ability was purely created to cause trouble under the eyelids of gods! Thinking of this, Leonard suddenly gave a grin. In that moment, it seemed as if a blurry illusion of a clown appeared behind him, and it too grinned at the statue in front of them.. Chapter 218 - 103 Power Gem Golden Sphere_3 Chapter 218: Chapter 103 Power Gem Golden Sphere_3 Translator: 549690339 | That uplifted corner of his mouth, in the face of the old god, showed no fear, only a thick sense of provocation. Leonard Churchill was hiding in a corner, watching as one thousand demons gradually left through the spatial teleportation array. Originally, he planned to wait until most of the demons had left before he would seize the opportunity to act. But abruptly, he felt a momentary oblivion in his spirit. The Enlightenment Display showed what had happened: You have been attacked by Dreamweaver Spider, you have been exempted from mental hypnosis once Having read that Mage Manuscript, he also gained a better understanding of demons. The Enlightenment showed the source of the attack. Seeing this, Leonard whispered to himself: So I was discovered... He had never naively believed that he would definitely not be discovered. The most important reasons he was able to sneak in here were his own boldness and attention to detail, and the fact that all the high-tier demons in the Demons Lair had flocked out to attack the fortress. But places like spatial teleportation passages, must always be guarded by a final boss. Now. The crisis came. Because after recognizing what type of monster it was, the fear of the unknown subsided. Leonard did not move, just like a human who had been hypnotized. You have been exempted from mental hypnosis You have been exempted from mental hypnosis You have fallen into a mild spiritual illusion... The Enlightenment Display continued to appear. The creature was getting closer and closer, and the exemption effect of the clown mask began to fade. Squeak... squeak... But Leonard didnt stand still, he leapt down as he whirled his blade. In the moment of free fall, Leonards mind went completely blank. But his body rapidly plummeted, and then with a thud, he struck the ground more than ten meters below, quickly snapping back to reality. Leonard rolled up on his feet, the Cloak of Hiding draped over him. At the same time, he used the Shadow Submarine skill and disappeared into the darkness. This sudden turn of events caused the hundreds of demons in the cave to turn their attention. One by one, their vile faces filled with confusion. Just now... It seemed like they saw a human falling down? But why would there be a human here? Before they could think, the screech of the injured second-tier demon let all the demons know what had happened. It turned out there really was a human who had infiltrated! Although some demons could see through stealth, not every demon could! The hundreds of demons, like headless flies, began searching everywhere. But just then, an even stranger scene occurred. While the demons were guarding all the exits expecting that human to escape, a sudden change occurred. They saw a semi-transparent figure suddenly appear on the statue of their most revered Demon God. That guy had actually grabbed the Demon Clans Holy Item, the Power Gem Golden Sphere! Then, he ran! The Secret Passage of the Demons has been destroyed, you have completed the special plot mission, earned iooooo contribution points, and received a special completion reward. The mission wasnt triggered, but Leonard completed it, and still received a hefty contribution points reward. Immediately after, the second Enlightenment message appeared: Special A-Level Plot Holy Item Contest triggered: The Secret Passage can no longer transmit the Demon Legion, the Eight Great Leaders already know that the holy item has been stolen, all the demons in the Sawtooth Forest will hunt down every human in the forest to reclaim the Holy Item; the Three Great Fortresses have fallen, the reinforcements from the Human Kingdom have set off, before then, no one in the space can leave the space... Another A-Level Plot has been triggered.. Chapter 219 - 103 Power Gem Golden Sphere_4 Chapter 219: Chapter 103 Power Gem Golden Sphere_4 Translator: 549690339 | But there was no time to look closely. Leonard Churchill transformed into his werewolf form. He didnt care about the demons and rushed out like a madman. The demons certainly expected that the intruder would try to escape. Just as Leonard Churchill passed by, dozens of spiders on the ceiling shot out torrents of webs, clogging all the exits tight. The sticking power of such silk could trap a fully grown wild bull with ease! His way out was completely blocked. Seeing this, Leonards speed didnt decrease a bit. He pulled out several potions and tossed them towards the exits, which exploded rapidly. Mage Rowlands manuscript had a detailed description of these types of demons, including one section about spider silk: Demon spider silk typically secretes strong acidic fibres, so strong alkaline potions can neutralize them and greatly decrease their stickiness. Updated from Leonard Churchill had thought about the escape plan before he got in. There were only a few kinds of demons who could slow him down. Would he not be prepared? He always carried various potions in his dozens of storage rings. As the potion came in contact with the spider silk, it sizzled and emitted corrosive white smoke. Leonard Churchill didnt concern himself with the strong acids or alkalis, he charged straight in. It felt like stepping in sticky snot. Fortunately, the stickiness wasnt severe. In a matter of moments, he disappeared into the tunnel! Immediately after, the demon corps behind him let out deafening roars. Leonard Churchill ran wildly down the same path he had come from. It hurt so much that he sucked in a sharp breath. The hellhound behind him not only had high attack power but also a fast speed. Leonard Churchill realized that his only advantages were his equipment and potions! Seeing that they were about to catch up, Leonard Churchill glanced at the tunnel, which the hell spiders had already covered with a web. He didnt care about anything and dove into it. While running, he used an old trick and tossed out several more potions. The potions were accurately shattered in mid-air by bullets, producing a corrosive hole with a bit over one meter in diameter in the web. It was just enough for a werewolfs body to pass through. Leonard Churchill covered himself with a layer of strong alkalis powder, rushed through like a gust of wind. The pressure of death neared. He was highly focused at this moment, swung the surgical knife swiftly, and killed the first-tier Catastrophe level hell spider that tried to block him. The hellhounds behind him werent as lucky, with low intelligence, they buried their heads and chased fiercely. Dozens of them rushed forward and were immediately trapped by the spiderwebs. Even the leading second-tier Cerberus, due to its large size, got its claws stuck in the webs and had to slow down. Leonard Churchill seized this opportunity, made a turn, and in a matter of moments, he arrived at the entrance of the cave. The demon lackeys at the entrance couldnt stop him, and he ran into the forest. Behind him, the Cerberus led the chase, followed by hundreds of fast demons. The intent to kill stung like a needle, making peoples hair stand on end. But there was no fear in Leonard Churchills eyes, but blazing brilliance. Since he had escaped from the cave, they couldnt stop him! Without any hesitation, he sprinted towards the Wailing Abyss. From the Demon Headquarters to the Wailing Abyss was only a couple of kilometers. With the werewolfs speed, he arrived in a blink of an eye. Looking back at the relentless monsters, Leonard grinned, then leapt down the cliff without any hesitation. On the other hand, the Fierce Beast Legion and their companions who were fighting fiercely with the Demon Legion witnessed the unfolding new plot and were once again dumbstruck. What was going on? A struggle for the Holy Item? This is again an A-level plot mission? Chapter 220 - 104: Deflecting Trouble Eastward Chapter 220: Chapter 104: Deflecting Trouble Eastward Translator: 549690339 Mist surrounded him. Leonard Churchill jumped into the bottomless Wailing Abyss. The relentless pursuing demons behind him could not stop their momentum in time and like a cascade, rushed and fell into the surprisingly deep gorge. As Churchill fell in mid-air, he glanced at the Cerberus that unfortunately did not fall down, and took a silent pity. He dove down quickly, suddenly raising one hand, causing the steel cable on his mechanical armguard to shoot out sharply. The steel spike was embedded into the rock wall. Just like swinging on a swing, he gracefully swung back to the rock wall. Churchill ignored the demons falling like rain from above. With the emergence of his wolf claws, he once again began to sprint along the vertical cliff. As he ran, he occasionally left small pieces of his scented clothing wrapped around a small piece of the Secret Cause Spirit Medium on the sheer cliffside. He knew quite well that the Hellhounds above had remarkably sensitive noses and a little misdirection could relieve some pressure. Even as Churchill ran on the rock wall, he heard the group of demons following him from above. Thankfully, Hellhounds were not good at rock climbing and could not follow him downwards. The Spider Demons that could move freely on the rock wall were not as fast as him. However, if this continued, Churchill knew that he would have difficulty getting away. The Wailing Abyss seemed endless. Originally, he planned to continue descending and he might have had a chance to escape. But this is an Alternate Dimension, and he had to return to the Thunderbolt Fortress to get out. Besides, the endless abyss always gave people the feeling that there were great horrors deep beyond reach. Churchill didnt want to try. Most importantly, previously, most of the demon forces were attacking the fortress, but now that they discovered the teleportation channel was destroyed, their first target was sure to be to reclaim the Holy Item, the Power Gem Golden Sphere. When hundreds of thousands of monsters accumulate on the crevice, who knows what climbing creatures will descend, and Churchills escape route would be completely blocked. So, the abyss could only temporarily save his life. The only ones who could keep up now were the Second-Tier Cerberus and a few First Tier Two-headed Hounds. As soon as Churchill came up, he sprinted along the cliff-edge again. Realizing that the Hellhounds behind him were getting closer and closer, and that the Hellfire was already hot on his back. While running, Churchill suddenly took out a white armor card, injecting it with Curse Power. The frost flashed, and Frost Knight Heavy Armor draped over Churchill. Choosing to put on armor meant having no intention to escape. The few Hellhounds saw him stop and pounced on him. However, Churchill noticed from the corner of his eye that the Cerberus stopped very cautiously. It only watched and hovered on the side without rushing up. It seemed to have smelled the threat of a scheme. Wont be fooled, huh... Churchill grumbled inwardly. The possibility of killing this Second Tier Catastrophe was not high, and time did not permit. He initially planned to rely on his heavy armor and fight in close quarters. If he could manage to break the Hellhounds leg bones in the process, then it would be a job well done. But the Cerberus didnt fall for it. It seemed to know that if it kept this human pinned here, the army in the back would naturally take care of him. Even among demons, Hellhounds are known for chasing prey. But they do not necessarily kill the prey. As Churchill saw the monster not advancing as expected, he made the decision in that moment to go with the backup plan. He suddenly took out a gray sphere from his hand, then tossed it towards the cliff not far from him. No dog could resist this kind of throwing motion. Not to mention what was thrown was the Holy Item of the Demon Clan, the Power Gem Golden Sphere! The eyes of the Cerberus were instantly attracted, as if thinking that if the sphere fell into the abyss, it would be lost forever.. Chapter 221 - 104 Misfortune Diverted Eastwards Chapter 221: Chapter 104 Misfortune Diverted Eastwards Translator: 549690339 I Almost instinctively, it leaped fiercely. The massive figure burst out from the cliff, chasing the falling sphere. Upon seeing this, Leonard Churchill swiftly decapitated several Hellhounds that were gnashing his armor, then leaped off the cliff following them. Although Hellhounds are not good at climbing, they would not fall to their death from such a minor trick. Leonard Churchill deliberately didnt throw the golden sphere far, but let it slide down the rock wall. The reason for doing so was to lure the beast down. Unable to defeat it head-on, he could only resort to the terrain. Until this problem is completely resolved, Leonard Churchill knew he couldnt escape! In mid-air, Leonard Churchill instantly retracted his armor. The wolf claws embedded firmly in the cliff wall and charged down into the abyss. The Cerberus, Dangal, almost had the stone ball in its mouth when Leonard Churchill was already chasing after its rear. Sensing a deadly threat, one of Dangals three heads spewed a mouthful of Hellfire back. Had this been on flat ground, Leonard Churchill would have been helpless. But on the rock wall, the Cerberuss claws did not provide firm footing like the Werewolfs, and its center of gravity was inevitably unstable. Just upon this burst of fire, the massive figure swayed and almost fell into the Bottomless Abyss. Leonard Churchill easily evaded the flames, and in an instant, he was already charging closely towards the monster s rear. The Cerberus also noticed. But at this moment, with the golden sphere in its mouth, nothing else mattered. It was wrapped in blazing black flames, guarding its body. Noticing that his attack had landed successfully, Leonard Churchill scoffed. His throwing skills had become far more proficient now. The flash of cold light passed, precisely severing the tendon of the Cerberuss right hind leg. The Cerberus lost its balance, its other three paws desperately clinging to the rock wall in an attempt to steady itself. However, with Leonard Churchills swift attack and yet another cut, the original wound was enlarged by half, nearly severing the paw altogether. After these two cuts, the beast was completely unable to exert strength on its hind leg. The Cerberus roared in pain and turned its head back while its two heads menacingly spewed Hellfire. Despite Leonard Churchills several leaps, he could not evade it completely and felt a burning sensation on his back. The fire pressed down on his Body Protection Curse Power, burning the real skin layer beneath. The air instantly filled with a smell of burning. Thankfully, as a werewolf, Leonard Churchill possessed extraordinary resilience. Even as he was injured, he was also healing. Otherwise, a few blasts of Hellfire could have killed him on the spot. He quickly swallowed a potent potion and poured another one onto his wound in a hurry, which momentarily soothed the burning sensation of his body. The Cerberuss excellent jumping ability relied heavily on its developed hind limbs. With one of its hind legs broken, it was even more inconvenient to move around on the rock wall. After swallowing the potion, Leonard moved like the wind, once again chasing after it, not giving it the chance to escape to the ground. Although Hellfire was deadly, the Cerberuss threat had greatly decreased now that it lost its agility. Seeing the human chasing behind it, the second-tier Catastrophe, the Cerberus, was forced to make a defensive posture against its will, not daring to move on the rock wall. Upon seeing this, Leonard Churchill charged towards it again. This time, he didnt intend to tackle the second-tier Hellhound head-on. He lunged, aiming a brutal strike at the protruding rock where the Cerberus was standing. Clang, rubble fell down. The power of a Werewolfs body could easily crush stones. After his hit, several large cracks appeared on the protruding rock. After one hit, Leonard Churchill escaped a blast of Hellfire. After a detour, he moved in a different direction again and struck the rock wall. After repeating this four times, the protruding rock finally couldnt hold and broke off, cascading down.. Chapter 222 - 104 Leading Trouble Away_3 Chapter 222: Chapter 104 Leading Trouble Away_3 Translator: 549690339 The Cerberus finally panicked, its three legs trying to push off the falling rock, and attempting to grab onto the cliff. But Leonard Churchill didnt give it a second chance to regain its footing. He violently pushed off the cliff with his legs and rapidly lunged forward. At this moment, several first-tier Hellhounds were trembling as they tried to climb down the cliff. If Leonard delayed any longer, the Demon Legion would catch up. Even if he risked being burned by Hellfire, he knew this was the best opportunity! Leonard charged forward like a cannonball. The accuracy of the Hellfire spewed from the two dog heads was significantly lessened due to the lack of gravity. The flames barely grazed his head as he swooped in to land on the Cerberuss back. He had already observed carefully that the back was the dog heads blind spot for breathing fire! Leonard plunged a knife into its spine, bracing himself against the burn to steady his stance. The scalpel was too short and even if it were fully inserted, it would inflict very limited damage on this kind of monster. He didnt expect this blow to be fatal, instead he aimed the Two-Pole Collapse punch that he had been charging in his other hand, directly at the middle dog head. Thump. The punch hit the dog heads neck. The head went blank, and the metal ball that it had been holding in its mouth was spit out. Seeing this, Leonard forcefully pushed himself off the Cerberuss back, causing it to plummet faster. He then grabbed the round ball. Having gotten the ball, he used the force from descending to shoot towards the cliff above. Without any hesitation, he rushed towards the cliff. He didnt concern himself with what happened to the Cerberus. Having lost one leg, it would not be able to chase him anyway. The pursuing first-tier Hellhounds posed no threat since they werent able to catch up. Shortly, Leonard seized the opportunity to leap onto the ground and quickly darted into the dense forest. Through a forest, he saw the Fierce Beast Legion fiercely fighting the Demon Legion under a metallic mountain cave that had been hardened from a rock wall. The Black Knights holding heavy shields were defending the front, while card masters in the back constantly threw out various cards, causing death among the demons in droves. Dont underestimate these first-tier cards. Clustered together, they could create a powerful explosion. Hundreds of Wind Blade Cards flying out formed a tornado of blades. After passing, all within hundreds of meters had turned into mashed flesh and blood. The Fierce Beast Legion only had two or three hundred people, but this steel defense formation could withstand demons a hundred times their number. While Leonard only observed for a moment, another wave of a thousand demons was mowed down in the forest by the Wind Blade, which left the trees three meters deep into the ground. A kilometer away, he could even see a dinosaur-sized green toad and a nearly hundred-meter flame serpent leading the demons. Second Tier A-rank Catastrophe, Bone Snake Captain-Tatter. Second Tier B-rank, Toad Commander-Hunke. Leonard looked at the two gigantic demons and acknowledged that they were much stronger than the Cerberus he had faced earlier. Yet even so, under the Fierce Beast Legions overpowering firepower, the two commanders didnt dare to expose themselves casually. Seeing this, Leonards mouth curled into a smile: The stronger the better... He took the opportunity of a pause in the attack from both sides to run along the cliff wall. As he ran, he shed his werewolf body and quickly donned the uniform of the Beast Squad, which he had obtained from ambushing the five-person team earlier. Once the gas mask was on and the Invisibility Clothing was draped, he looked every bit a Beast Squad assassin. On his way, he encountered scouts from the Beast Squad hidden in the shadows. Seeing his uniform, they didnt stop him. Leonard, looking like an injured soldier returning to camp, stumbled into the cave. His convincing performance allowed him to effortlessly fall near the first line of defense. Soon, someone came to his rescue and moved him inside. As he removed his gas mask, he revealed a strange face. The clown mask now resembled the face of the assassin he had killed earlier..The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbjn((.))com Chapter 223 - 105 Revealed Chapter 223: Chapter 105 Revealed Translator: 549690339 Its Reg Smith from Team Nine! Doctor! Quick, we need a doctor, theres a severely injured man here! The minute Leonards identity was confirmed, he was immediately carried into the cave. Medics from the Fierce Beast Squad had set up a makeshift battlefield hospital here. There were already twenty or thirty wounded men lying here. Theyd been in a deadly battle with the Demon Corps for seven or eight hours. The injured would come in from time to time, and no one seemed to pay any mind to one more. Questioning me? Sorry, I cant, let me pass out for a bit. Leonards current condition was indeed quite severe. Being burned by a Hellhound, coupled with all the running, he was on the brink of collapse. He intentionally didnt treat his injuries. This was to augment his cover as an injured man and aid his disguise. The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbjn((.))com He lay at ease among the injured, enjoying the professional medical services only afforded to the Noble Knights. The medic from the Fierce Beast Squad professionally treated his injuries. Wound cleaning, removal of fire toxins, and bandaging. After the treatment, Leonard started to feel the intense burn slowly fading away. Although he was unconscious, his slightly closed eyes were quietly observing the environment inside the cave. Well, not bad. The defence lines were all set up facing outwards. Breaking in from outside wasnt easy, but escaping shouldnt be too difficult. There might be people who recognize Reg Smith, but no one could afford to delve any deeper at this critical juncture. He was initially worried that these two hundred men wouldnt be able to withstand the attack of the Demon Corps, and was prepared to flee at any moment. But the following scene was truly eye-opening. Tens of thousands of demons surged forth, only to be overwhelmed by radiant spells. Curse Cards, Ancient Relics, and Mystery Cards were used one after another. Ninety percent of the resources of the society were in the control of the nobles. Those rare cards and top-tier equipment, which were seldom seen in the hands of the hunters were being unveiled one by one in this battle. They were spending without any restraint. When Leonard ambushed the five-man team before, he had seen the scene where an Element Manipulator single-handedly killed several hundred demons. What he was witnessing now was even more shocking. What was it like when a hundred Mage Card Masters dealing their cards all at once? The scene was reminiscent of hell. As soon as the Magic Type cards were played, a sea of blood and corpses ensued. Black Knights with heavy armor formed a steel wall at the front, which provided a safe environment for the Magic Type to operate. The release of spells by the Curse Card Master didnt require a chant or energy storage. The second a card was thrown, a spell could be cast immediately. Just like firing a gun, it doesnt consume much energy. The members of the Fierce Beast Squad who entered the Alternate Dimension with Young Master Kane were elites of the First Tier. They were skilled in various card spells. Earth, wind, water, fire... Various elemental spells catered to different tactics. A hundred cards are not enough? Use a thousand! The advancing speed of the Demon Corps could not surpass the speed at which Card Masters drew their cards. To ensure the safety of Young Master Kane, the Fierce Beast Squad brought a large quantity of cards this time. One could say that in a safe environment and with sufficient card reserves, even with countless low-tier Demons, it would be a massacre. There was also an execution team specifically aiming for the Catastrophe-level monsters, posing a lethal threat to even the second-tier Catastrophe. Even if there were demons who managed to sneak into the cave, the warning mechanism would detect them instantly, and the assassin team would take them down on the spot. Thats how it went. Leonard watched as both sides clashed fiercely for half an hour.. Chapter 224 - 105 Exposed_2 Chapter 224: Chapter 105 Exposed_2 Translator: 549690339 The Fierce Beast Squad held their position with a money-burning strategy. One of the two Demon Commanders had died while the other was severly injured, leaving tens of thousands of low-tier Demons corpses outside the cavern. While the battle raged outside, Leonard Churchill, as a casualty, had nothing to do but lay low. Nowhere in the vast Sawtooth Forest was safer than here. While laying down, he quietly moved closer to his tactical backpack, and Enlightenment kept giving him prompts. Youve used Feast Devour, physique +0.03 Youve used Feast Devour, strength +0.02 Just now, Leonard Churchill had stashed away the Spirit Medium in his backpack. Plus the golden sphere, the clay jar, a dozen storage rings... He had stuffed away all these items that couldnt be stored away. Anyone who would open it would be taken aback. But Leonard Churchill was betting on audacity. The rescue doctors were too busy to be interested in going through someones backpack. No one else would bother to search an injured mans backpack. Once the doctors finished treating his wounds, no one paid any more attention to Leonard Churchill. So he simply lay there, slowly absorbing the extraordinary traits in the Spirit Medium. Once he finished digesting this stuff, he could reduce more risk factors. As a casualty, he lay there looking as though he was on his last breath, so no one was urging him to go back to fighting. Leonard Churchill simply lay there, absorbing like mad. It wasnt long before the second wave of the battle began. Now, almost every Demon in the vast Sawtooth Forest was converging on this position. Most Demons werent very intelligent and didnt have an accurate understanding of human combat power. Knowing that what they were seeking was in the hands of humans in the cave, how could they just stand outside and watch? Giving it a rough estimation, it would be in the thirties after transformation. Even if he came across the Cerberus from before, he reckoned he could keep up in terms of speed. Thinking of this, Leonard Churchills mood improved greatly. As long as he had the upper hand in speed, many problems wouldnt pose an issue. Leonard Churchill planned to just lay low. He thought that he would stay down as long as he could. After all, he has the Fierce Beast Legion to fight for him. He would wait until both sides were nearly spent, and then he would take whatever action seemed best. After seeing the combat power of the legion-level last night, Leonard Churchill determined more than ever that letting the Demon Corps consume themselves was the right choice. Otherwise, he wouldnt be able to handle them. Although the Fierce Beast Legion only had three hundred members, with the advantage of their weapons and firepower, they could completely exhaust two or three hundred thousand Demons. Especially those troublesome second-tier commanders, even if they couldnt be killed, it would still be good to heavily wound them. Considering the intense charges from last night, only creatures of Catastrophe Level would even get to the cave entrance. In this way, both sides would exhaust each other. The Fierce Beast Legion would use up all their ammunition, and most of the difficult demons would be cleared away. Now that the golden power sphere was in Leonard Churchills hands, the number of demons in the Sawtooth Forest would only decrease, not increase. The difficulty of the plot in the Alternate Dimension would keep reducing. The chances of surviving and clearing the scenario would be greatly increased. This was the intensity of the A-rank War Mode plot. The casualty rate was high, but it was definitely not a certain death situation. And things were going better than expected. Both sides went through over ten rounds of fierce fighting last night and suffered heavy losses. On the side of the Demon Corps, three of the seven Demon Commanders that came here were killed last night. As for the first tier Catastrophe, Low Tier Demons, and others, the casualties were numerous. On the other side, the Fierce Beast Legion also suffered significant losses. There were ranged professions like Dark Elf Archers among the Demons, and their arrows shot all around, causing severe casualties among the magic-type characters with weak defenses. There were also attacks like those from Toad CommanderHunke, who could spit out a highly poisonous sputum that could corrode and rot even rocks, causing group poison damage; and Mind-capturing Leader C Buck, who could control a large group psychologically... Out of the three hundred, less than half of them were alive, and most of them were injured. Leonard Churchills bedside had seen dozens of new arrivals overnight. Most importantly, after a nights battle, the fighters were not just exhausted, but their supply of cards was also depleted.. Chapter 225 - 105 Exposed_3 Chapter 225: Chapter 105 Exposed_3 Translator: 549690339 | Updated from At present, the Legions combat power is probably less than 20% at its peak. Without fire suppression, the Fierce Beast Legions response to the Demons swarm charge is becoming increasingly strained, and the death rate is getting higher. However, just when Leonard Churchill thought he could wait for one side to be annihilated... Suddenly, there was a change of circumstances. The observers outside suddenly reported, Commander, the Demons Corps outside have split up! Thunderbat Commander-Mitt and at least 20,000 Demons have retreated, and their objective is unknown! Withdraw? Upon hearing this, the commander, who could transform into a golden fox, looked puzzled. His eyes darted around. Withdraw? Others may not know what this means, but as soon as Leonard Churchill heard this, his eyes twitched slightly after a moments thought. Demons with faith in God definitely would not shrink back because of casualties. Moreover, he knew better than anyone why these Demons came! Why would they withdraw before they had recovered that golden power sphere? The timing of their withdrawal was very delicate, it coincided with the moment he finished absorbing the spirit medium. The more the fox commander thought about it, the worse it felt. He connected all the clues in his head. It was as if something flashed through his mind. Intuition told him that he had made a wrong assumption somewhere. He didnt know about the Secret Cause Spirit Medium, so no matter how hard he thought, he couldnt figure it out. But the fox commanders intuition was sharp. He couldnt confirm what the situation was with the Demon Corps outside, but he could eliminate factors from his own side. The commanders eyes flickered, and he loudly ordered, All team leaders, count your men. Bring me the list of names of anyone who entered the position after the A-rank plot was triggered yesterday... But before he could open his mouth, Leonard Churchill had already quietly reached the exit. This order just blurted out. Leonard Churchill suddenly transformed into a beast and rushed out. He didnt dare to stay, as he would be exposed if they took attendance. Why is this guy running? The Fierce Beast Legion was stunned for a moment. The fox commanders eyes paused for a moment, then he understood. A stranger had infiltrated their legion! His face changed immediately, and he shouted, Catch that guy! Chapter 226 - 106 The Role of the Golden Sphere Chapter 226: Chapter 106 The Role of the Golden Sphere Translator: 549690339 Once the outcome is decided, it was much simpler to trace back the reason. Seeing Leonard Churchill who had dashed out, the fox commander immediately understood everything. No wonder the monsters had started to attack fiercely since last night. This wasnt the overlapped difficulty of two A-level missions as he had thought. Someone was using their Fierce Beast Legion as a shield instead. Moreover, the Holy Item mentioned in the plot was probably on him! But... how did he pull that off all by himself? Even triggering the A-Level Plot in War Mode had an insanely high difficulty. It was hard to imagine a First Tier card master managing to trigger such a plot without any intel backup, all alone. Was he seeking revenge at the cost of his life? His young master had quite a bad reputation, so it wouldnt be surprising if he had enemies, but it was hard to confirm who exactly they were fighting against at the moment. But that wasnt for him to consider. If that person didnt die, he had a feeling that he would definitely cause more problems. Unfortunately, even though he wanted to chase after him, he couldnt catch up. Leonard Churchill just rushed out of the cave, and crossbow arrows and cards shot towards him from behind. As he was quite resolute and quick, by the time the crossbow arrows arrived, he had already climbed up the cliff and disappeared into the darkness. Now his physical attributes had surged, climbing rocks felt effortless. Leonard Churchill quickly ran more than ten kilometers and stopped at a cliff. What relieved him was that not only were there no pursuers, there werent any demons either. This confirmed his earlier guess, the demons didnt inherently possess the ability to locate the golden power sphere. Thats a relief... After observing for a while without noticing any monsters, Leonard Churchill decided not to waste any more energy running. Only now did he have the chance to carefully examine his Golden Sphere of Power Gem, which he had obtained a while back. When he received this golden sphere, Enlightenment had rewarded him with a hundred thousand contribution points. Then he rummaged in the few meters down the dirt for a while. Eventually, he dug out the golden sphere. By pouring Curse Power into this sphere, it makes it heavier? Looking at the sphere in hand, Leonard Churchill had a complex look, Not correct. It wasnt a free fall just now, it felt more like it changed the gravity around my body... He suddenly understood some of the functions of this sphere. After pouring in Curse power, he felt as if the golden sphere instantly became hundreds, thousands of times heavier. This was why he was pulled by that mysterious changing power and fell from the cliff. And its not just about the change in weight, it seemed to be at the level of rules, for now, something he couldnt understand yet. Leonard Churchill at this point was full of enthusiasm. He once again picked up that sphere to experiment. This time he only poured in a little curse power. That strange power field suddenly attacked again. As he was prepared this time his muscles swelled up instantly, he firmly held the sphere covered with black rule lines. With more curse power poured in, the strange power increased by several hundred pounds. He had no choice but to use both hands to hold it. But as soon as he stopped pouring in the curse power, the strange force field suddenly disappeared. Everything was back to normal. Its really like this! Leonard Churchill, as if discovering a new continent, his eyes flickered with excitement. Even though he had no idea what the rule of power of the sphere was pointing to, but according to the ability he tested out, it was extremely practical! With this gem, why would he need any weighted equipment? Carrying it all the time and pouring in some curse power, wouldnt that achieve the effect of weight training? Furthermore, he could control the intensity of this weird power field to increase or decrease as he wanted. A useful item indeed! Can I inlay it on an armor next time? Or inlay it on a weapon to overpower the enemy with its force? Leonard Churchill had many ideas in his mind. He looked around, fearing that the fluctuations might have attracted monsters nearby, he didnt dare to stay in the same place. Quickly he disappeared into the darkness.. Chapter 227 - 106 The Role of the Golden Ball_2 Chapter 227: Chapter 106 The Role of the Golden Ball_2 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill had suspected that the Fierce Beast Legion might send someone to hunt him down. He was rather interested in testing his skills against the nobles of the Elite Squad. But not at the moment. The Demon Corps were now scouring the forest in search of the stolen Holy Item; revealing himself now would not be a wise choice. Leonard Churchill felt that he needed to wait a while longer. Wait for both sides to wear each other down further. Although he held the golden power sphere, the Devil Camp did not know it. Therefore, they were bound to continue their heavy assault on that camp. The group defense tactic of the Fierce Beast Legion was not a problem before. But that might not be the case after. Now, over half of their 300 guards had been depleted, and their card supply was drastically reduced. If they continued to resist, there was no guarantee they could hold out. Like a dam, once a crack appears, when it collapses, it might collapse utterly. Hence, Leonard Churchill felt that given the current strength, they could hold out for at most another day at which point the Fierce Beast Legion would inevitably opt to split up and engage in guerrilla warfare. The elite squad would hide with Young Master Kane in the forest while other squads would separate the monsters and lead them away. The main force of the Demon Corps had been reduced by more than half, and the Sawtooth Forest was so vast; they might be able to hide until reinforcements from the kingdom arrived. But once the Fierce Beast Legion split their forces, it would provide the opportunity that Leonard Churchill had been waiting for! At that time, the forest would be filled with humans, and once the Demon Corps scattered, he would be safer. He would have fewer worries when fighting. Since they have been condemned to death already, they had to try. Leonard Churchill wouldnt let the guys from the Fierce Beast Legion get away easily. And theres more to it. He always had a feeling that the difficulty of this Alternate Dimension was not just as it appeared. This was a War Mode. + rank opportunity plot triggered: The teleportation channel has been destroyed. The Demon Lord has sent his 97th son, Red Baron Dodon, to reinforce the battlefield and he will stop at nothing to retrieve the Holy Item; The highest Magic Tower of the Human Kingdom has also discovered that the pure demonic aura has crossed the border, and the Holy Knight has also set off from the nearest city and the reinforcement army will arrive at the Thunderbolt Fortress in three days; Exploration degree +20% There was no resistance in Leonard Churchills eyes, instead, there was strong anticipation. An opportunity plot, that had the word opportunity tagged in it. How could he possibly miss it? Worse comes to worst, the rating of the clearance would be improved, and the probability of drawing prizes would increase. Moreover, it was not him, Leonard Churchill, who should panic. The Fierce Beast Legion has a large number of people, if pressure were to be given, it would be given to those guys first. Still the same words, no matter how the spatial will makes the difficulty, it will definitely give the participants a chance to survive. It depends on whether they can seize it. He did not know what the situation of the Red Baron was, and whether he could be killed or not. But Leonard Churchill already had a relatively safe way to clear the level, which was to survive three days and wait for the support of the Holy Knights of the Human Kingdom to arrive. The forest was so large that he felt that if he couldnt hold on, others would fail even more. Leonard Churchill did not worry about the problem of increased difficulty. The fleeting thoughts in his head complaining about it, what he thought of was how to deal with it. Was the difficulty increased because the Fierce Beast Legion used overpowering equipment and cards to crush the Demon Corps? Or was it because of the power sphere? Leonard Churchill analyzed these two most important factors that triggered this opportunity plot. One of the factors was on himself. At this thought, he furrowed his brows. Previously, he felt that there was no problem with leaving the golden power sphere by his side. But now that the difficulty had increased, he did not think so. Theres no guarantee that the Red Baron didnt have some special ability to sense the golden power sphere. Keeping it with him would definitely be a ticking time bomb. But such a good thing, he could not possibly discard it. However, while he was still thinking about it, he suddenly saw that the battle on the side of the Fierce Beast Legion had suddenly intensified. The brilliant Elements exploded in the forest, flames reaching for the sky.. Chapter 228 - 106 The Role of the Golden Ball 3 Chapter 228: Chapter 106 The Role of the Golden Ball 3 Translator: 549690339 | Like fireworks, the forest was exploding in various places. In ten-plus locations. Oh... it looks like theyve dispersed their troops, Leonard Churchill gazed and chuckled lightly. It was much earlier than expected. The commander of the Fierce Beast Legion is also a master. He definitely wouldnt have overlooked the same consideration. The sudden enlightenment made those brutes realize that traditional warfare was no longer viable. Even someone without a brain would know that the Red Baron was definitely not as strong as those A-rank Second-Tier Catastrophes they had faced before. If they continued such warfare now, this monster would undoubtedly target them first. This is why they decisively dispersed their troops. Leonard Churchill had no intention of worrying about the others at the moment. He glanced at the golden power sphere in his hand. Then he glanced at the blue light pillar mode on the Demon Mountain Range tens of kilometers away. He made up his mind, he ran off at top speed. The golden sphere could not be stashed away carelessly and carrying it with him was also unsafe. The only place he considered relatively safe is the magic chest in Mage Rolans residence at Meteor Eagle Fortress. Since it could hide the Rune Token under the eyes of a Second-Tier Demon, it showed that those Magic Prohibitions could also have some isolating effect. In a short time, Leonard reached the Meteor Eagle Fortress. Infiltrating the fortress went smoother than expected. This fortress primarily served as an observation post of the Wailing Abyss. The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbjn((.))com It didnt exist to block the Demon Mountain Range like Thunderbolt Fortress. Nor did it have any defensive value. Therefore, even if the fortress was captured by the demons, not many demons remained here. Leonard snuck in and, with the aid of a compass, carefully probed his surroundings. He did not detect the Second-Tier demon previously in the fortress. He thought the creature had probably been called into the forest to hunt for the Holy Item. Leonard successfully infiltrated Mage Rolans residence and stashed the golden sphere into the magic chest without any hitches. Ignoring the demon lackeys inside the fortress, he silently retreated. Climbing down the rock wall. After flipping a few corpse bodies that were not to its liking, it stepped on something. Before it could comprehend what happened, a large hand reached out from the pile of corpses, grabbed the creature, and with a snap, broke its neck. Leonard sat up from the pile of corpses, let out a long sigh, and murmured to himself, I cant devour anymore. Looking at the mountain of corpses around him, he inwardly lamented. Not because he was full, but because there was a lot of waste. Typically, by the second day, more than 90% of the extraordinary traits inside a corpse would have dissipated. On top of that, most of the bodies here were mutilated, meaning they dissipated even faster. Even when one encapsulated hundreds of bodies at once inside the body pile, the incremental growth from Feast Devour was tiny. After beefing up, his demand for the quality of extraordinary traits increased. The thinner the extraordinary traits, the harder it was to absorb. But the result was ultimately satisfying. Leonard glanced at his data panel. His strength increased from the previous 18.5 to 23.8. Agility, Tenacity, Traits, etc also surpassed 23. An average increase of 5 points. This was more significant than the increase brought by the Supreme Spirit Medium! This time I wont be chased by the Cerberus anymore... Leonard flexed his fists and felt exhilarated from the overflowing strength. It was fortunate to have such a war mode in the Alternate Dimension, otherwise where could he have found tens of thousands of corpses at once? There might even be a few low-level materials that could be dismantled from these corpse piles. But Leonard did not spare another glance. Because that would consume too much time. He was not greedy for the last remaining extraordinary traits inside the corpse pile. Instead, he focused his attention on the sporadic fighting sounds coming from the forest. The individual equipment of the Fierce Beast Legion might be equivalent to tens of thousands of demon materials. If he had hidden for another two days, he would most likely have survived and left the space. But Leonard harbored no such thoughts. With his strength skyrocketing, he didnt perceive clearing the space as a challenge. An idea struck him, and he abruptly transformed into his werewolf form and dashed into the Sawtooth Forest.. Chapter 229 - 107 Red Baron Chapter 229: Chapter 107 Red Baron Translator: 549690339 1 The werewolfs supernatural perception allowed Leonard Churchill to clearly sense the scents and movements within the forest. There were remnants of battles left in every direction. The Fierce Beast Legion were not here for any reward for clearing the stage, so even if they triggered a chance event, they would definitely not take the initiative to break the situation. Their current tactic must be to hide and seek in the forest. They were betting that they could avoid the Red Baron until the reinforcement from the Human Legion arrived on the third day, and then leave the space. However, the number of demons is still far greater than that of humans. Once dispersed, it was like casting a wide fishing net, hard not to encounter. Even if the low-tier demons couldnt defeat the elites of the Fierce Beast Legion, a breakout of a battle would reveal their position. The high-tier demons would then instantly identify the location and reinforce. Because of this, Throughout the day and night of hiding, the already few surviving members of the Fierce Beast Legion suffered significant casualties once more. The hiding clues of the Fierce Beast Legion seemed impossible to trace. The Demon Corps were merely searching in the forest as if trying their luck, whoever they bumped into, they would swarm and kill. But Leonard knew better. Even if those guys were dispersed, their goal must have been to protect Young Master Kane. They would leave tracks behind. The Sawtooth Forest was vast. As long as the team coordinated well and someone was willing to sacrifice and draw the monsters away, the chances of Young Master Kane surviving until the third day were quite high. Therefore, Leonards current thought was to put some pressure on Young Master. Since the space threw a chance event in his face. He also wanted to use these members of the Fierce Beast Legion to test how strong the Red Baron really was. Leonard stealthily moved on. He encountered several patrols of little demons in the forest along the way. And those omnipresent red-eyed bats. But as he was alone and a small target, he managed to pass by smoothly with his Relic Cloak and the Shadow Submarine. Following the bloody scent, he continued his search. With good luck, He might actually find Young Master in this vast forest. Thinking about this, Leonard felt a surge of excitement. He spent another half an hour in the forest. Soon, he found the second battle scene. However, this battlefield seemed a bit unusual. Following the traces, From a far distance, he could see burnt marks on the Sawtooth Tree trunks and the ground all along the way. Hellfire? Having been burned by the Cerberus before, Leonard immediately thought of something when he saw these scorched traces. It wasnt hard to guess that one of the parties in the battle was a powerful demon proficient in using Hellfire. However, when he saw the bodies, Leonards expression instantly became grave. Again, it was a five-man elite squad. But the traces of the fight were far less intense than before. A head was crushed, a chest was punched through, one was hit with a knee-like fighting technique breaking a tree along with him, and another was pierced in the abdomen... All the wounds showed signs of being burnt. All were killed with one hit. The most exaggerated was that Black Knight. Leonard walked over and looked at the Black Knight lying in a crater, his eyes flickering sharply. The armor of the Black Knight was shattered? A twitch went through Leonards eyes. It was hard to imagine what kind of ferocious attack could achieve this effect. His thoughts started to race. A picture came to his mind: a tall fiery monster instantly killing four people, then pinning the Black Knight under him, pounding him with his heavy fists. The ground collapsed under the fury, the Black Knight held out a few punches relying on his armor, but had no chance to retaliate. Until his armor was hammered apart, he was killed instantly. Its absurdly strong.... Chapter 230 - 107 Red Baron_2 Chapter 230: Chapter 107 Red Baron_2 Translator: 549690339 As Leonard Churchill pondered this, he quietly murmured to himself. He had personally witnessed the combat power of the Fierce Beast Squads five-member elite team. The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbjn((.))com Even when faced with a second-tier Catastrophe, such a team could put up a fight. He didnt expect them to be killed so easily. Over five meters tall, extremely fast short-distance dash, commanding Hellfire with rule suppression, exceptional strength, remarkable defense ... no weaknesses. After examining the surrounding battle traces, Leonard gathered many useful clues. Based on these abilities, none of the second-tier A-rank Demon Commanders who showed up had these skills. So it could only be the Red Baron. Quite tricky... Having reached this conclusion, Leonard realized he could not combat this monster. Despite this conclusion, the corner of his mouth curled up and he thought: But Young Master Kane probably has many life-saving tricks up his sleeve, I wonder if I can take him down... The previous second-tier Demon Commanders could not do anything to Young Master Kane. The current enemy, though, seemed to be a match. The demons individual combat power is unarguable; it is the supreme existence in the Alternate Dimension. Leonard estimated this to be a second-tier S, or perhaps a third-tier Catastrophe. But the Fierce Beast Legion surely had many life-saving cards and ancient relics in their possession. A loss was not inevitable. If these two didnt clash, Leonard would find it too boring. Thinking of this, he tidied up the battlefield and continued searching through the forest. He believed he needed to help the Demon Corps locate this group. The smell of a corpse could travel dozens of kilometers in the forest, especially the smell of human corpses. Leonard relied on his werewolfs superior sense of smell, tracking the scent trail. He also prepared to take a chance. What if he were to really encounter them? Leonard is not sure his judgement is entirely correct. But at least he now had a direction. He started to search based on the direction he speculated. To his surprise. As he was heading north, he heard sounds of battle coming from the south, near the forest of Thunderbolt Fortress. The commotion was immense. Even from a great distance, Leonard could see the raging fire. If it had been before, Leonard would have been interested in investigating. But now that he has determined his path, he is even more certain about his judgment. This diverting plan is a sacrifice to protect the king, so someone has to be decoyed to attract the monsters firepower, tearing the siege circle, and confusing the enemy. The ones who would now expose themselves would not be Young Master Kane and his party. It must be the bait. Leonard did not need to make detours while being alone, so he moved quickly. Was it because his luck was too good, or was Young Master Kane just unlucky? Two hours into his journey through the dense forest, Leonard spotted something unusual in the woods. This woodland area on the map is marked as the Whirlwind Sandstone Forest. Due to constant gusty winds, a large surrounding area was sandy and would leave obvious traces when stepped on. But this area is also a necessary route to the north. Leonard believed that those guys wouldnt make such a rookie mistake, so they would definitely bypass the sandy area. Thats the route Leonard chose too. As he continued, he accidentally stumbled upon a faint human footprint. There was some sand drifting around the area. With a large group of people present, its unavoidable to leave some traces.. Chapter 231 - 107 Red Baron 3 Chapter 231: Chapter 107 Red Baron 3 Translator: 549690339 This small mistake was not a big issue. After all, demons pay no attention to such light footprints, and most of them had been attracted to another direction. The forest was so vast that it was not easy to be found. But the one who found it was Leonard Churchill. When he saw the footprints, he was already a hundred percent certain of his judgment. It seems that young Master Kane is not far away... Leonard Churchill muttered to himself. After observing the direction of the footprints, he did not delay and continued to pursue them. He was not worried about traps or anything of the sort. Setting up traps on the road would risk getting triggered by the demons, thus revealing their position. It would be a loss. In no time, Leonard Churchill suddenly stopped running. His wolf eyes filled with vibrant blue light stared at the pitch-black dense forest ahead, revealing a sense of seriousness. The Wolfmans heightened sense of danger made him aware that the crisis was closing in. Been discovered? Leonard Churchill felt that he had hidden himself very well, but he was not surprised to be discovered. He had seen the tactics of the Fierce Beast Legion before, and it would be strange if he remained undetected after getting so close. Must be a stealth assassin... Leonard Churchills eyebrows raised slightly. Such proficiency in hiding could only belong to a skilled assassin. But if the opponent did not initiate the attack, he would find it hard to discover them. Leonard Churchill could not afford to let his guard down. Those who stayed beside Young Master Kane would be the elite of the elites; the moment he exposed himself, he might be taken out by an inexplicable technique. But right now, the one sneaking around was not Leonard himself. Since he suspected that he had encountered someone, he was already sure that the people of the Fierce Beast Legion were nearby. Therefore... Before Leonard Churchill could even put down the flare gun in his hand, the assassins poisoned daggers were already at his neck and heart. It was considered top-tier existence in the first-tier card masters, whether in terms of cooperation or strength. However, facing the two incoming opponents, Leonard Churchill was not anxious at all, his eyes reflecting a flicker of light. The blade was about to pierce the skin. With a swish, Leonard Churchills figure disappeared on the spot. On a second look, the tall body of the werewolf had incredibly appeared behind the assassin, and then the wolf claws fiercely struck down. In that instant, it felt as though time had slowed down a hundred-fold. With an impassive face, Leonard Churchill slammed the assassin into the ground, sending pebbles flying. With his hand in action, the sharp wolf claws emitted a chilling glint as they plunged into the uncovered neck of the assassin. Blood beaded and sprayed out in an instant, floating slowly in the air. A faint crunch of bone breaking was heard. On the other side, The assassin, who failed to hit with a single blow, was mid-air and his eyes widened: so fast! Leonard Churchill lifted his head, giving him a cold glance. While he severely hit the assassin beneath him, his hand was already free. Clearly, the actions of the two assassins seemed to be slowed down, but the blade in Leonard Churchills hand seemed unaffected and remained fast. With a backhand, he stabbed the prepared assassin in front of him in the neck. At this moment, it was as if time had just returned to normal. With a thud, the muffled sound of the assassin being crushed to the ground was finally emitted from the ground. With a spray, blood splattered wildly. Almost at the same instant, it happened. One assassin lay lifeless on the ground, and the others neck was spewing blood. Leonard Churchill stood calmly at the scene, holding a bloody surgical knife in his hand. Leonard Churchill instantly killed the two, glanced at the bodies and showed little emotion. Such elite assassins may have been a huge threat when he first entered the space. He would feel a chill on his skin when facing them. But now, he did not have such feelings. Even if these two assassins had already reached the peak of the first tier, their agility attribute was probably only around thirty points. Leonard Churchill, after his beastly transformation, had over forty points in agility attribute, surpassing the average second-tier Curse Card Master! Chapter 232 - 107 Red Baron_4 Chapter 232: Chapter 107 Red Baron_4 Translator: 549690339 All attributes at over forty! How could a First Tier Curse Card Master possibly engage in close combat with that? There might be a chance with an ambush. But engaging in close quarters combat is absolutely impossible. Agility is not just about how fast you move, but also your reflex speed. Whoever strikes first doesnt necessarily get the upper hand. Given Leonard Churchills current reflex speed, even if his opponents dagger is at his throat, he could still dodge it. He killed the two in an instant, purely overpowering them with his attributes. Updated from Not bad. Leonard Churchill tested his dramatically increased strength, exhaling slightly. The noise in the surrounding forest was getting louder. Not daring to delay, he collected his spoils from the corpses and quickly disappeared into the darkness. Leonard Churchills two flares had attracted the nearby demons. Although he was still uncertain about where Young Master Kane and his people were. He didnt need to interfere anymore. The large number of demons could help him figure it out. Now that they have been exposed, the Fierce Beast Legion couldnt continue to conceal their movements and progress slowly. They have too many people, they cant run fast. Suddenly, the sound of a battle came from the front of the forest, Some demons were attracted to that place. Have they split their forces again... Leonard Churchill watched and sneered. None of them were able to stop them. But after all, a team cant run fast together. And the Demon Corps doggedly pursued them. The chase was wearing them out. As they were being pursued, the situation took a turn. At first, Young Master Kane could still keep up, showcasing various advanced body techniques, and he looked like a master. However, he didnt run for long before he suddenly slowed down. Leonard Churchill watched and sniggered. It was clear that the young master was out of mana. And even a potent potion couldnt remedy this. Among the remaining dozen or so people in the team, all were First Tier, all were the elites among the elites, they all practiced Advanced Breathing Technique, and their Curse Power Value was top-notch among their peers. However, the young master was the weak link in the team, quite the shortfall. Once he cant run, the others cant run either. Their speed was compromised, and they had to force their way through by killing. What was worse, probably because many high-tier Catastrophes had been killed, the news had reached the higher-ups of the Demon Corps. Not long after the Lionheart Family were being chased around the forest, a red-skinned demon whose whole body was engulfed in flames appeared within their line of sight. Even Leonard Churchills pupils constricted with surprise, Red Baron? He thought it was a Third Tier, but then relaxed slightly when he saw that it was a Second Tier. [Red Baron-Dodon] Brief: Second Tier A-rank Catastrophe, son of the demon lord, a pureblood superior demon, the vanguard general. Its bloodline grants it tremendous power and the ability to control Hellfire, and it has a Tyrant Body far superior to other demons of the same tier. But whats with this Tyrant Body... With the clown masks cognitive aid, Leonard Churchill was able to see more information. There was nothing unusual about the rest, but when he looked at the description of Tyrant Body, he didnt quite understand. He didnt get it. But that didnt stop him from knowing that this ability must be very formidable.. Chapter 233 - 108 Four Ancient Relics Chapter 233: Chapter 108 Four Ancient Relics Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill hid in the distance, watching the Red Skin Demon, standing five meters tall, wreathed in black flame, its head crowned with exaggerated Demon Horns like those of an antelope, his expression inexplicably grave. Even the Second Tier A-rank Catastrophes he had seen before never gave him this feeling of unease, this slight palpitation, just at a glance. That kind of domineering pressure, it wasnt merely the gap in tier, more importantly, it was a gap in the level of life itself. Thinking about it, its got to be the description Pureblood Demon. He had previously seen some descriptions of High-level Beings and Lower-level Beings in ancient books. Beings like gods, dragons, demon gods, and elves from myth and legend, all are high-level beings, innately possessing transcendence, its the power granted by their high-level bloodline. And humans belong to one of the intellectual races among lower-level beings. Hiss... this has become interesting. So, the legends are true. This pureblood demons life level is actually much higher than humans... Seeing this, Leonard suddenly understood something. Why is it that even though they are all Second Tier Catastrophes, this Red Baron is so strong. On the other hand, The Fierce Beast Legion people had a more acute feeling of it. Facing the pressure of this high-ranking demon, they couldnt help but gasp. The Red Baron ran towards them, his body ablaze with black Hellfire that distorted the air, as menacing as it could get. He didnt appear fast, but in reality, he was faster than most demons! He was about to catch up. Faced with this kind of monster that looks invincible at first sight, the best choice is to separate and run, not to confront it head-on. But they need to protect Young Master Kane, they cant escape, they have to fight. Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only As fifteen people covered Young Master Kanes escape, an Element Manipulator woman in a Spell-robed dress took out a card, and after infusing her curse power into it, it started flashing with lightning. Leonard keenly noticed her action, and thought to himself: There are so many good things. She just threw in an Arcane Card. He had been observing the people of the Fierce Beast Legion when he was pretending to be injured in the cave. The people there now, they were all personal guards of Young Master Kane. Even when the battle was most intense, they hardly ever made a move. When they looked again, the assassin was also shocked. He had just braved the burn of Hellfire to sneak attack, but little did he expect, his double blades didnt even penetrate the Red Demons skin? Completely uninjured yet again! What... Leonard also frowned as he watched. Even if it isnt at the Relic Level, those double blades are rare silver weapons with an Armor Piercing attribute. Naturally, the assassin is one of the Curse Card Masters with the strongest burst of power. Even against Second Tier opponents, if a surprise attack is successful, the odds of a grave injury are great. Is there any attack that cant penetrate the defense at all? Quite obviously, Its not the shortcoming of the two Curse Card Masters. Its just that the Red Baron is too strong. So strong its almost absurd. Not only can he resist Arcane Thunder, his physical defense is also so strong? If it were the Black Knight in Heavy Armor, it would still be acceptable, but this Red Baron is shirtless. This was purely physical strength. After transitioning from Card Disciple to official Curse Card Master, everyone will get a Curse Power Protective Barrier as a professional attribute, which will greatly enhance their physical defense. If you say that the body of a Card Disciple is weak like water, then an official Card Master is like muddy water mixed with soil, greatly increasing the defense. Even for Second Tier card masters, who havent yet formed their Body Protection Curse Seal, the mud is just drier and firmer mud. But it cant turn into steel right? This Red Baron, hes like steel. Leonard watched this outrageous scene and thought to himself: Is this the so-called Tyrant Body? However, an even more shocking scene followed. After the assassin made his sneak attack, he didnt get a chance to be stunned, the burning Hellfire had already set his clothes aflame.. Chapter 234 - 108 Four Ancient Relics_2 Chapter 234: Chapter 108 Four Ancient Relics_2 Translator: 549690339 He was just about to leap away. But out of nowhere, he heard the whistling sound of the wind, and the red giant delivered a backhand elbow strike. The speed was so fast that a series of illusory images appeared in his field of vision. The assassin didnt have time to evade and was hit in the stomach while he was mid-air. Before the terrifying power could fully transform into push force and fling him away, it suddenly exploded within him. With a bang-, it was as if a bomb had gone off inside him, causing the assassins abdomen to burst open. He died on the spot. The scene was extremely brutal! The defense against both physical and magical attacks is invincible, and the attack power is so exaggerated... its outrageous. Leonard Churchill winced at the sight. Although he had speculated before, witnessing this human explosion firsthand was a totally different experience. It was then that he truly grasped the magnitude of this opportunity scenario. Damn... this is really exaggerated. Could this power possibly reach eighty, or even a hundred? I dont think that attainable for a Third Tier human card master... Leonard Churchill took in a cold breath. Seeing this Red Baron, he suddenly had a self-deprecating feeling like he was viewing the sky from the bottom of a well. Indeed, his attributes seem exceptional amongst humans of the same tier. But compared to Superior Demons, the gap is huge. This is an Extraordinary World, and humans are merely one of the many intelligent races that have mastered Extraordinary Power. Its not just a comparison with humans, but also with other races of Extraordinary Beings. He predicted that in the future, he might encounter more and more high-ranking races, like the legendary Great Dragons, Elves, Angels, and even Gods... Leonard Churchill was not the only one taken aback. People from the Fierce Beast Legion were under even more pressure! Watching as his fellow assassin was violently blown apart into a mist of blood, their astonishment reflected in the eyes of the dozen or so people. Luckily, at this moment, the death of the assassin had bought them some time to consolidate their Spells. Seeing the Red Baron about to give chase after the kill, another Element Manipulator who had prepared for some time held out a brown card filled with a massive amount of Curse Power and, with urgency, slapped it on the ground: Arcane-Quicksand Waterfall! Not having time to evade, the guard controlling the quicksand became a blur before the Red Baron, who had turned into a red streak, appeared in front of him. With an arrogant and cold look, he gave the guard one look before sending out a punch. Thump! The fiery fist struck the guard right in the head, causing it to explode in a shower of red and white on the spot. He was killed in a split second. Watching all this, Leonard Churchill couldnt help but feel a twinge in his head. He realized that if he was hit by that punch, the result would be the same. That terrifying power was lethal to whoever it touched. But at the same time, he also saw some limitations and muttered, That demons air stepping can only be used for short distances, and it seems to only move in a straight line... Leonard Churchill watched with a serious expression. So far, he saw no possibility of killing this hexagonal demon. Two people had already been killed in the first face-to-face. He glanced at the more than ten remaining guards of the Fierce Beast Legion and muttered, Its time to use relics and fight for their lives. If they dont fight for their lives now, they really wont stand a chance. At this moment, Leonard Churchill also understood clearly C with the Red Barons strength, he wasnt something a First Tier Curse Card Master could kill on his own. That invincible defense against both physical and magical attacks wasnt truly invincible. It was just that the methods of a First Tier Card Master were ineffective against it. This was a kind of law-level suppression. So, the only hope of victory could come from those external items with combat power beyond the tier level. Arcane Cards would be useless. So, relics were the only option. Apparently, the people of the Fierce Beast Legion thought the same. They understood it clearer than Leonard Churchill, the spectator. The Fox Commander was also analyzing the Red Barons combat power throughout, trying to find a weak spot. They knew very well that retreating now was pointless. Since their whereabouts had already been exposed, and escape was impossible. In addition, the Red Baron was so incredibly powerful that even if they split their forces, it would only delay their inevitable death.. Chapter 235 - 108 Four Ancient Relics 3 Chapter 235: Chapter 108 Four Ancient Relics 3 Translator: 549690339?????? They had to let go and give it their all. Only by killing this demon would they stand a chance of survival. Seeing the second elite guard killed, the fox commander felt deep sorrow, but wasnt this a part of the bait strategy too? The sacrifice of the bait created another opportunity. From the beginning, the fox commander knew that he couldnt move while casting the wide-range Quicksand Skill. If the demon wasnt trapped, his teammate was destined to be the first to be killed. But the monster would appear in a predetermined location! And just as he had deduced, it happened. With decisive action, the fox commander activated the backup plan and let out a roar: Strong Kill! As soon as these words fell, the curse card masters standing at the four directions started to pour curse power into the land. The Minister of Land Elements, who had just been killed, had gathered the lands elemental curse power not only for the Quicksand Skill. At this moment, all four people used the rolling land elemental power that had not yet dissipated and shouted in unison: Prohibit! Almost at the same time that the Red Baron killed the element manipulator, several yellow curse chains appeared instantly beneath its feet. Like vines they quickly climbed up, wrapping around the demons lower limbs in an instant. With another tug, each person pulled out a yellow chain from the ground. With a burst of strength, the red demon was thrown to the ground. From a distance, Leonard Churchill watched as the Red Baron suffered a setback for the first time and brightened up: Oh, this relic is interesting. Relic-Earthbound Chains Context: Level I Ancient Relic; Toughness8; Use earth-based curse power to orm elemental chains and bind a single target within an 80*80 range- The binding strength is affected by the users curse power and strength. The elemental chains, capable of alternating between the physical and ethereal, are secretive and swift. Indeed, its hard to guard against. The Lionheart Family has been a long-established aristocrat for hundreds of years after all. It is not surprising to have some strange and peculiar relics stored in the familys warehouse. What astonished Leonard Churchill more was another thing. He saw the groups series of plans and exclaimed: Such excellent coordination! Otherwise, if he had been the one to experience it, he didnt know for how many rounds he would have been obliterated. Just as this thought crossed Leonards mind, the dazzling and heavy guillotine blade thundered down. It was not a noise like the swift separation of a body from its head. Instead, it was as if it had struck a bronze statue, a resonant sound of metal meeting metal. A thump. The sound made everyone shudder. About a dozen guards from the Fierce Beast Legion watched with tense expressions as the guillotine fell. The combination of the two relics was arguably their strongest killing method. Under everyones watchful eyes, faint golden blood slowly flowed out from the guillotines platform. Did... did they kill it? Leonard didnt think so, instead, his expression hardened. His werewolf form sniffed and distinctly sensed a terrifying demon aura growing stronger. The fox commander also noticed this and his face dramatically changed as he shouted: Be careful! Quickly restrain it! But it was already too late. On the guillotines platform, not only did the hellfire around the Flame Demon not extinguish, it suddenly blazed even more fiercely. At the same time, a wave of invisible and domineering force swept across the field instantaneously. Like the arrival of an ancient Demon God, an oppressive aura several times more terrifying than before hammered into the spirits of several nearby Fierce Beast Squads like a heavy hammer. The complexions of the four sturdy guards pulling the Earthbound Chains turned deathly pale, their grips loosening. Aoool! The Red Baron roared and sent a sudden surge of strength into the large hand stuck to his neck, forcefully lifting up the sharp guillotine blade. It was as if two sets of mysterious forces were competing. As the blade rose bit by bit, the demon aura radiating from it grew stronger. The Fierce Beast Legion guards at four far-off locations were scared witless and they hurriedly pulled their chains, trying to restrain it in place.. Chapter 236 - 108 Four Ancient Relics_4 Chapter 236: Chapter 108 Four Ancient Relics_4 Translator: 549690339 A look of disdain appeared on the Red Barons face, a visible mix of anger and tyranny: lowly being, you dont have the right to judge a superior demon! The demon sneered, raising the guillotine blade with one hand, about to slowly stand up. Just like tug of war, it managed to gain the upper hand through sheer strength alone! Even with the boost from the relics, the combined strength of all four could not surpass Red Baron. Relics were just gear and not omnipotent. Its like if youre handed a knife, but the enemy can catch the blade barehanded. They are simply not on the same plane of existence! No! There were five people! In the distance, the Executioner whos guarding Young Master Kane, controlling the guillotine, was also engaged in a mysterious struggle. The moment the Red Baron stood up, he finally couldnt bear it and threw up a mouthful of muddy blood. The clash of mysterious types of skill, if it doesnt kill the enemy, the law will backlash onto oneself. Unable to hold on for two breaths, his eyes rolled back, and he died on the spot. With the Curse Card Master dead, the distant guillotine seemed to suddenly lose the suppression of order laws. The Red Baron instantly felt an ease of pressure, he laughed crazily and shouted, then punched out. With a thump, he actually sent the guillotine flying with one punch. The fox commander, with a changed color in his face, was wielding a Fishbone Slim Sword and disregarding everything else, charged up: Attack! They knew very well that this was their last chance. Once they allow the demon to break free, they will no longer have any chance to lock it again. There are indeed many good things in the hands of nobles. But he also frowned. Even with that relic sword, along with a secret sword technique, they could only cause minor superficial injuries. His scalpel would likely only scratch the surface too. The 35% Demonic Break ability of the scalpel was good, but it also depends on the base defense of the opponent. The base defense of the Red Barons Tyrant Body was too high. Even if you reduce most of it, it is still very high. It would be challenging to cause fatal injury. Just like the Relic level slim sword in the foxs hand, it managed to break the defense. But on the skin of the red demon, there were merely mosquito bite-like red dots. At this level, even if you stab it ten thousand times, you may not be able to kill this Catastrophe. Seeing this, Leonard Churchill initially thought that the people of the Fierce Beast Legion were going to be annihilated. However, he still underestimated the depth of the Lionheart Family. He watched as the fox commander made a dazzling flurry of stabs. But when the Red demon swung his fists, the cunning fox activated the silver ring on his hand. Leonard wasnt sure if the demon could see it. But he could see it very clearly. The ring turned into a small bug-like metal leech, it actually ignored the Hellfire on the Red Barons body, attached to its back, then hid within the black flames. Huh... a Level III relic? Leonard blinked as he observed. Such a level of relic is already very rare. Even the top nobles warehouses might not contain a few of them. Relic-Demon Leech Ring Explanation: Level III ancient relic; a poisonous ring forged by Dwarf Artisans from the carcass of an Abyssal King Leech and Demonic Absorption Green Copper; when imbued with curse power, it can temporarily revert to its living state, attach to a target, silently drain the targets energy and blood; persistent reduction of physical and magical resistance of the target, reduced tenacity; Chapter 237 - 109 Space Teleportation Card Chapter 237: Chapter 109 Space Teleportation Card Translator: 549690339 Well, who wouldve thought he would bring such a relic? The moment Leonard Churchill saw the properties of the Relic Ring, he understood the intent of the fox, as well as sighed in admiration. If you couldnt swiftly kill, then you just needed to deplete HP. This Relic Ring had the ability to continuously decrease dual defense, which clearly pointed to an intention of fighting a drawn-out battle. Leonard had never thought that the guys from the Fierce Beast Legion could be so cautious, bringing equipment to deal with all sorts of situations. The bigger the body, the larger the blind spot. This Red Baron, over five meters tall and muscularly robust, draws its terrifying power from its muscles. But its back, specifically near its shoulder blades, is a blind spot that it cant touch. The Metal Leech was attached there. The Red Baron had not noticed one bit. The battlefields have been abruptly altered multiple times. Seeing this, Only then did Leonard truly believe that these people from the Fierce Beast Legion had the hope of killing this Red Baron. Indeed, certain aspects of this world were still quite balanced. Human physique couldnt compare to demons. But in terms of equipment, it was obviously superior. Theoretically speaking, the longer they persist, the more that leech would reduce dual defenses. The indestructible Tyrant Body of the red demon could be broken afterwards. The flashiness of the fox commanders instantaneous sword technique didnt really come from the belief that he could kill the Red Baron, but to serve the hidden intention of detoxification. Now it has, he suddenly withdrew in rapid retreat. At the same time, the other members of the Fierce Beast Squad quietly cooperated and took up the battle rhythm. They didnt give the Red Baron even a moment to breathe. However, for Leonard Churchill, this news was complete goodness. This situation of stalemate was much ideal compared to the situation where one side had the upper hand. As time went on, Leonard had thoroughly observed the capabilities of the people from the Fierce Beast Squad. He was greatly enlightened by the different spell techniques. The two sides had been fighting for nearly half an hour. Only eight people from the Fierce Beast Legion remained alive. Among them, three or four were seriously injured. Because of the interference of the Metal Leech, the Red Barons Tyrant Body gradually began to fail, and more and more wounds appeared on its body. On the tall body, there were several burnt spears and short swords inserted. Upon seeing this, Leonard knew the battle was nearing its end. It could end at any moment. He was also pondering in his mind what he could do after the battle was over. He took a quick glance and saw many demons had piled up around the forest. Most likely they were under the pressure of the Superior Demon and did not dare to step forward. Under this situation, even if the people from the Fierce Beast Legion won, it would be hard for them to leave alive. Now they were still holding on, merely for the sake of Young Master Kane. Thinking of this, Leonard turned his gaze towards that young master who still had a guard protecting him till now. This was the most important person. There was nothing worth watching about the battle over there anymore, so Leonard devoted more of his attention to Young Master Kane. But as he watched, Leonard suddenly felt something was wrong. After observing for a while, he immediately confirmed this was not an illusion: Somethings wrong! Those two have run away! No wonder something felt off. Leonards ability to remember everything he saw came into play when he felt a sense of familiarity from the second nose-touching gesture the young master made. Once he thought about it, he discovered that the details of the two actions were actually identical! Chapter 238 - 109 Space Teleportation Card_2 Chapter 238: Chapter 109 Space Teleportation Card_2 Translator: 549690339 | Even if the people of this world discovered it, they might find it hard to comprehend such a phenomenon right away. Two living beings right in front of their eyes, they cant see any differences. But not Leonard Churchill. In his previous life, there were all sorts of hologram images that could be so realistic they were almost indistinguishable from the real thing. As soon as he noticed something was off, he knew what the other party was up to: You have recorded a thirty-second clone image? Hahaha, how many life-saving devices has young master brought with him in here... After observing, he was already sure how those two fellows had fled. A hologram was left in place, and no demon in the surrounding area noticed. Its probably some ancient artifact again. The battle and everything was but a decoy from start to end. The real aim was to mask Young Master Kanes escape! Updated from Leonard smirked to himself, even he had been fooled. However, this was the final decoy. The best personal guard was sacrificed for the final desperate escape. We cant let the young master getaway that easily... Thinking about this, Leonard chuckled coldly. After identifying a direction, he decisively stopped paying attention to the battlefield. He vanished quietly among the tree branches. Although he didnt know when Young Master Kane had run away. But the entire fight didnt last half an hour. Those two would have to move slowly to avoid the demons. And Young Master Kane was not quick to begin with. Leonard pursued them through the forest, quickly leaving behind the circle of monsters. He didnt sniff any human scent. There were only two of them now, hiding their tracks was much easier than marching with an entire army. Plus there was the presence of a professional guard. For example, the young master of a high-ranking nobility family. Leonard understood human nature well. After observing for a night in the cave the day before, and the stories he had heard from bar patrons and information merchants, he knew quite a bit about Young Master Kane. He was certain that young master was not one who could bear humiliation and heavy burden calmly. So, Leonard decided to switch his approach. Force them to reveal themselves. Thinking of this, Leonard began to yell at the top of his lungs in all directions in the forest. Young Master Kane, isnt the offspring of your Lionheart Family said to have the courage of a lion? Why are you hiding like a coward now? Is this the kind of weaklings the Lionheart Family breeds? Oh, the Lionheart Family, disappointing indeed... Dont you want to know who wants to kill you? Step forth, I promise on a mans honor, I will let you die knowing your killer. Indeed. This approach is just a smack talk! Through understanding, Leonard already knew that the honor of the nobles in this world was above all else. Those old-school nobles had an almost pathological sense of honor. His words directly insulted the family honor that Young Master Kane prided himself on, and the superior noble lineage. If Kane was about to die, he might bear with it. However, if death was not imminent. With the overly hot temper of the pampered young master, he would certainly be unable to bear it. Leonard was sure. If the young master heard it, he would come out. Because he had been observing all along, and he was sure that the young master had an extremely rare Space Teleportation Card! The young Master wasnt a composed tough character; he had not pissed himself after several near-death experiences, being so nonchalant could only be due to having a backup plan to get out. He just didnt want to use it easily. Leonards guess was spot on. In Kanes hands was indeed a Space Teleportation Card. This was something his father had gotten from a powerful group in Dragon City at a great cost borrowed as a last resort. Yes, the card being precious was one reason.. Chapter 239 - 109: Space Teleportation Card_3 Chapter 239: Chapter 109: Space Teleportation Card_3 Translator: 549690339 What was even more important was that the Lionheart Familys ancestral teachings did not permit carrying such object into the trial. This card was originally designed for top-tier Alternate Dimension explorations, meant for the use by the true powerhouses.. It was not meant to be wasted on a trivial coming-of-age trial. If the family elders found out that Young Master Kane used this card to escape, they would be furious. Even if he managed to escape alive, it was likely he would lose his right to inheritance, and might never have the chance to return to Dragon City. However, his parents still couldnt bear to see their dear son risk his life, so they let him carry it for emergencies. They thought the card wouldnt be necessary with the protection of the elite Fierce Beast Legion. By the time he returned it nobody would ever have to know. They didnt expect to encounter Leonard Churchill. Thats how Leonard started to shout while moving through the forest. His voice echoed through miles. He wasnt concerned about revealing himself. Much of the forests demons had been drawn away to the battlefield. Even if he got noticed, he could easily escape with his current speed. Having confirmed that even the opportunist plot Red Baron had been seriously injured, most deadly threats had been eliminated. He could go anywhere he liked now. Leonards taunting was also extremely successful. His words seemed to have a magical power that could penetrate into the ears of two individuals who were resting under a Stealth Cloak a mile away. It was no other than Young Master Kane and his bodyguard. Kane was initially shocked. Did he catch up to them again? Overhearing his taunts, Kane immediately lost his temper. Leonard shouted a few times, but he didnt see anyone. He thought he had estimated his position wrong. Or maybe he was unlucky, and missed. But to his surprise, a young blond man wearing fancy armor came out of the forest. Yo... When Leonard saw Young Master Kane, he couldnt help laughing. His luck came too suddenly. Kane, filled with rage, yelled: I am out! Despicable assassin, you can tell me now, who sent you? Of course. Seeing that the young master couldnt help but come out, Leonard gave a chuckle. He wasnt planning on denying it and said: No one sent me. I just... wanted to kill you. Just that. He had no intention to argue with the young master or talk about chivalry. Just as his words came out, a Flash bomb instantly exploded. At the same time, his legs swelled up and he pushed sharply off the ground, darting out like a bullet. He knew the Spatial Card could teleport him away. He also suspected that the guy must have a life-saving treasure on him. But what if... the ambush succeeded? It was worth a try despite the risk. Just in case it worked, he would profit greatly without spending a dime. Puff- The Flash bomb burst into a dazzling light in the forest. The blinding white light would cause temporary blindness, and even dizziness to humans who are accustomed to the dark cave environments. Young Master Kane, the weakling, would be even more affected. In this brief moment, it was enough for a werewolf to get close and land a hit! Leonard sped towards him, transformed into a gust of wind. Even before the light from the Flash bomb had faded, he had already appeared in front of Young Master Kane, swiping his fierce and tricky claws over.. Chapter 240 - 109 Space Teleportation Card_4 Chapter 240: Chapter 109 Space Teleportation Card_4 Translator: 549690339 I As expected, a stealthy assassin appeared beside him, thrusting a pitch-black dagger towards his lower back. If anyone wanted to kill this Young Master Kane, they had only this one chance. Leonard Churchill did not hesitate, he released the scalpel in his hand aiming it towards Kanes neck. Though Kane appeared to be shielded by a layer of golden light, Leonards face turned grim, he mentally directed the scalpel to stab down mercilessly. At the same time, he skillfully evaded the attack from the assassin beside him. But just as the scalpel was about to pierce Kanes neck, there was a clang sound, like the shattering of an eggshell, and the scalpel was flung away. Theres another layer? This chapter is updated by When Leonard saw this, there was a feeling of regret in his heart. He also realized that there would be no second chance to strike. Using the inertia, he rushed past Young Master Kane, catching the scalpel and adding some distance between them. The assassin did not pursue him, but instead stayed by Kanes side, protecting him. Kane had never experienced a real battle from childhood to adulthood, how could he have anticipated being ambushed with a flash bomb? As he recovered from the dizziness, his back was already drenched in cold sweat. He clearly understood that he had just had a brush with death. In a panic, he grabbed the spatial card, but felt his dignity was trampled on once again. After battling fiercely for dozens of rounds, Leonard managed to kill him with a flying knife. Leonard started collecting the spoils of war from the assassin, nothing particularly special. A decent poison dagger, a piece of inner armor, there were also a few advanced potions in the storage ring. Overall, they were of high grade. But there wasnt anything particularly notable. The good items for saving ones life were all taken away by Young Master Kane. Leonard didnt dwell on it too much. After several attempts, he still couldnt kill him. So, perhaps it wasnt this guys time to die just yet. Besides, having a few spoils of war was good enough. After cleaning up the assassins spoils, he headed back on the route they came. By now, the outcome of the battlefield in that direction should have been decided. He did not forget, there at least four relics in the hands of that group of people. Now that Young Master Kane has escaped the space, Leonard could peacefully inspect the bodies and equipment of those Fierce Beast soldiers. There was also the matter of the Red Baron. He didnt know how things stood there. Maybe there was still a chance to try.. Chapter 242 - 110: 52 Demon God Secret Skills (Seeking subscriptions, seeking monthly passes)_2 Chapter 242: Chapter 110: 52 Demon God Secret Skills (Seeking subscriptions, seeking monthly passes)_2 Translator: 549690339 Suddenly, a sharp scalpel quietly emerges, stabbing fiercely into the side of the Red Barons backbone. Then it swiftly slit downwards, forming an external wound nearly twenty centimeters long. The golden blood also spilled from the cut wound. It can be killed! Watching the scalpel penetrate the defenses, Leonard Churchills eyes glittered. In a split second, his mind had already pictured the scene of thousands of knives shortly after. The spirit near the spine is abundant, cutting some muscle fibers can also limit a lot of strength in movements. This kind of wound, which is about five to six centimeters deep, would be fatal to humans. However, for the Red Baron, it was just a minor scratch, with not much blood spilled. But since one knife was able to penetrate the defenses. Then cutting dozens more, theres still a chance of killing him. Reacting to the stabbing pain in the back, the Red Baron responded. Its eyes coldened, and with a reflex-like speed, it fiercely pushed against the ground, charging straight towards his rear. Leonard had just made his move and hadnt had time to pull out the knife when he suddenly felt a strange pressure building up around him as if the air had been trapped, rendering him unable to move. Immediately, the towering red figure overflowed with black flames, and came charging at an extremely fast speed, leaving a series of afterimages in its wake. The overwhelming force squeezed the air, forming layers of transparent ripples on its entire back. Such a dramatic battle instinct! Leonard was sure that the Demon had not discovered him beforehand. But the moment his hand moved, it had initiated a charge. That was purely battle instinct. Leonard distinctly felt the deathly pressure rushing towards him, like being pricked by a needle. But it was too late to avoid it. His eyes saw it clearly, but his body just couldnt react in time. Like fireworks on a summer night, brilliantly blooming. Thoughts flashed in his mind, leaving no time for extras. A hundred meters away, that towering flame giant was already rushing in. As Leonard watched, he forcefully suppressed the surging vitality and blood in his chest, pushed against the ground, and evaded by turning his body. Almost as soon as it appeared in his field of vision, the giant tree that Leonard had just shattered Bang burst open. At the moment of passing by, a sharp knife once again appeared on the Red Barons body. The blade quietly cut a long wound on its lower ribs. Whether it was charging or punching, there was always a brief moment of rigidity after exerting force. Leonard seized this momentary pause, and while pulling out his knife, he had already rapidly retreated a hundred meters. He had observed carefully earlier. The linear charge was the advantage of the Red Barons air-stepping technique. However, just like a cannon that couldnt change its direction, it also allowed its trajectory to be predicted. And with Leonards agility score of over forty, he couldnt escape in a straight line, but as long as he kept a distance of more than thirty meters, he could predict and evade. The people from the Fierce Beast Legion chose to use ancient relic chains to restrict the Red Barons movement. However, Leonard used his agility to cleverly dodge the overwhelming force. Just like in a bullfight. As long as he didnt get hit. The moment of evasion was also the chance to attack. The methods might be different, but the conditions were the same. The Red Baron could endure countless attacks and not die. But he couldnt make a single mistake. One mistake would mean instant death. It was a test of who could last until the end. Whats different is.... Chapter 243 - 110: 52 Demon God Secret Skills (Seeking subscriptions, seeking monthly passes) _3 Chapter 243: Chapter 110: 52 Demon God Secret Skills (Seeking subscriptions, seeking monthly passes) _3 Translator: 549690339 The Red Baron had expended a great deal of its energy after a fierce battle. Its speed was merely seventy or eighty percent of what it was at its peak. The threat it posed was significantly reduced. Most importantly, the Fierce Beast Legion had been biding their time waiting for the Tyrant Body to be depleted to a point where fatal injuries could be inflicted. But they failed to hold out to the end. Now, Leonard Churchill stepped in when the timing was just right. The intelligence of a Superior Demon far surpasses that of an average human. Clearly, the Red Baron saw through the humans intentions. Watching its punch fall empty and a new wound appearing on its body, its eyes chilled. Without pause, it turned around swiftly and pursued Leonard Churchill, who was trying to escape in multiple directions. To deal with an opponent skilled at evasion like an agility class, it needed to attack with high frequency to force the opponent into erring. Just one direct hit was enough! In the blink of an eye, the Flame Demon and the Werewolf clashed again. A loud thud resounded as a massive tree was pierced by a blast of fire. The Hell Rush Fist, capable of causing a shock wave of about ten meters, is one of the few long-range attacks the Red Baron has at its disposal. The fists-induced shock wave was as swift and lethal as a bullet. One would surely die instantly if it hit unexpectedly. Some from the Fierce Beast Squad had given their lives to suss out this deadly trick from the demon. But unfortunately for the demon, Leonard had observed this in advance. The fist-load before the Rush Fist was obvious, although the demon had compensated for this defect with the speed of its punches. Yet once it was deliberately noted, its threat reduced substantially. Moreover, this move required considerable energy. After each use, the Red Baron always exhibited a noticeable slowing down in action for a few moments. Leonard was purposefully leading the Red Baron to the Fierce Beast Squad previously because he had planned for this moment. Intel is always a critical element in battles. He knew the enemy like the back of his hand. But the enemy knew nothing about him. This information disparity was enough to compensate for the large gap in strength. The werewolf body of Leonard was madly rushing in the forest, pursued relentlessly by the Flame Giant. The Red Baron was launching attacks relentlessly, not giving Leonard a moment to breathe. Thud, thud, thud... explosions echoed nonstop throughout the forest. The two figures fought their way across the forest, heading towards the Wailing Abyss in the north. Apart from taking a hit from the initial collision, Leonard hasnt given the Red Baron any chances since. On the contrary, each close-range encounter allowed him to inflict a new wound on the towering demon with his scalpel. He was in no rush, for this fight was destined to be a battle of attrition from the start. He had enough curse power and potions to keep him going. The proud Red Baron would not engage in any tricks or plots. Most importantly, Churchill knew how tricky those few cuts he made earlier had been. He was certain that the Red Barons calf tendons had snapped! Seeing this, Churchill acted quickly, launching his first active attack. The Red Baron was still staggering and trying to stand up. Seeing a human rushing at it, it threw a punch. But despite the upper body muscles contributing to the strength of the fist, to throw a heavy punch, the body needs a counterforce to push the fist out. And this reverse pushing power, comes from the lower limb! Without the force of one leg, the speed of these punches clearly slowed down too much. Churchill cleverly retreated from the fist and, circling behind, plunged his knife deeply into the back of the Red Baron, full of wounds. In pain, the Red Baron swung its fists wildly back and forth, but, finally, it was restricted in movement and couldnt touch the extremely agile werewolf. Leonard Churchill also showed no mercy, wielding his scalpel and furiously stabbing. Although the Red Baron was full of life, and still roaring despite having a broken leg, it was still fighting back fiercely. Wanting to kill this seemingly weak human. But from the moment it fell, its death was destined. There were no breathtaking big moves to bombard each other, no sophisticated martial skills. This battle, from beginning to end, was purely a blood-draining tactic. Its about who lasts until the end, and who makes the first mistake. In the end, Leonard Churchill made no mistake and killed this hidden BOSS already low on blood. Before long. Shush! Leonard Churchills knife penetrated the brain of the Red Baron. It was then that this high-tier demons whole bodys hellfire extinguished, its fists, which were struggling with the last bit of strength, also dropped powerlessly. An Enlightenment immediately appeared: Kill Red Baron, Contribution Point +20000; Complete Opportunistic Plot, Plot Exploration Degree +20%, Opportunistic Loot Chest +1. Looking at the Enlightenment, and with a sigh of relief, Leonard Churchills expression showed tranquility after the climax, and he muttered: Killed it huh... Then, doing nothing, he sat down on the corpse. After killing the enemy, his tense nerves relaxed, and a wave of weakness violently hit him. After a good while, only then did he look at the corpse in front of him, revealing a slight smile. Leonard Churchill drank a potion for himself, then poured a few potions onto his burning wounds. While drinking the potion and looking at the Opportunistic Loot Box that appeared on the corpse, he was slightly surprised. This was the first time he saw a box appear not at the settlement, but on the corpse of the monster he killed. This is the reward for an opportunistic plot? Leonard Churchill was also curious about what was inside. His finger touched the shiny loot box, accompanied by a ceremonious unlocking sound ka-cha. The box opened, revealing its true contents. However, Leonard Churchill looked at it, and his expression revealed a touch of surprise: Huh? This thing again... In the box was not the expected materials or some kind of rare cards. It was an irregular broken Mysterious Copper Piece. [Mysterious Copper Piece] Explanation: A fragment that records the Supreme Tyrant Body which ranks seventh among the Fifty-two Demonic God Forbidden Techniques; Chapter 247 - ill: Settlement of a Great Harvest (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) _4 Chapter 247: Chapter ill: Settlement of a Great Harvest (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) _4 Thi/s chapter is updated by Translator: 549690339 From the low-tier to the high-tier Alternate Dimension, like a pyramid, meticulously filtered layer by layer. Those who could survive, were inevitably the strong ones. However... Leonard Churchill also liked this mode. Without giving it too much thought, he turned his attention to the war merit exchange catalog that had appeared at his side. If the Twisted Light Gate could appear in the forest, then the appearance of this exchange catalog wasnt strange at all. Leonard had over three hundred thousand contribution points, which could still be exchanged for a lot of good things. The catalog was exactly the same as he had seen before. NOW with abundant wealth and plenty of contribution points, he dared to consider the gold products at the beginning of the catalog. With a glance, he quickly decided on two items. Spend 150,000 contribution points, 20 Demon Horns, 1 Superior Demon Horn, receive 1 Divine Agility Alloy1. Spend 100,000 contribution points, 16 Demon Horns, 1 Superior Demon Horn, receive Wolf Fang Wind Fist Ancient Secret Technique (Gold). These were the two treasures Leonard had set his sights on before. When he first entered, they seemed like unreachable exhibits in a showcase. Holding them in his hands now, he couldnt help but be a bit sentimental. With the alloy in hand, he had a thought, and the metal block also started to tremble. The Divine Agility Alloy was the most important material for making psychic flying knives. Outside, he had never even heard of it, so now that it was available for exchange, he had to get it. The piece of metal he exchanged for, he estimated could forge several flying knives. Fittingly, to learn his Skill- Air-skimming Combo Kick, required advanced body technique specialization. So Leonard directly exchanged for three mysterious books, then downgraded them into primary, intermediate-level, and advanced body technique specialization. Now with body-movement support, his very high agility attribute could truly explode with great effect. The silver secret techniques in the war merit exchange catalog were around iw contribution points and could be downgraded to a black iron skill card. The remaining hundred thousand or so was enough to exchange for quite a few. Conveniently, Leonard directly exchanged for all of them, and raised his Air Skill to Advanced Air Skill Specialty. The remaining surplus was used to upgrade one Intermediate Weapon Specialty. Following one operation, contribution points were completely exchanged. Leonard looked at his renewed skill panel, It felt as though he had been passed down with a whole set of martial skills through head covering method by a martial arts master. Although those flashy Advanced Specialties may only be introductory to high-tier Curse Card Masters, He also felt as if he was floating on air. But for a first-tier Curse Card Master, this is definitely top-notch. Talking about combat power... it has surged many, many times! Its still all about War Mode... Leonard sighed with emotion, his eyes sparkling. After all, the War Mode dimension was a chance encounter not to be sought. Once encountered, no one could definitely say they would survive till the end. Surviving till the end, its also impossible to have three hundred elites working for him again. All sorts of opportunities, This visit really made him rich overnight. After Leonard had finished exchanging, space would no longer allow him to stay. He stepped into the Twisted Light Gate and left the space. Seeking monthly tickets- Seeking subscribers- Thank you everyone. The Wolf Fang Wind Fist is a tribute to Dragon Ball.. Chapter 248 - 112: Turmoil in the Camp Chapter 248: Chapter 112: Turmoil in the Camp Translator: 549690339 | Leonard Churchill has been in the Alternate Dimension for over ten days, having no idea that the outside world at the Ruins Campsite has already turned upside down. The tavern in the Ruins Campsite is teeming with hunters today. Newly arrived hunters dont know what happened, inquiring about the news in the tavern. And the hunters who had been there for several days were furious, recounting the atrocities of Young Master Kane. Well... the Lionheart Familys guards have gone mad these couple of days. See those bodies hanging on the opposite building? They are all suspects. Reportedly, all hunters and information merchants who had contact with that space earlier were arrested and tortured terribly, none of them survived. So many suspects? Suspects? Haha... take those nobles crap with a grain of salt. See those dozen dead bodies over there? Those are members of Gunfire Squad, including Old Smith. Labelled as suspects and got hanged after being killed. Ah? I know the Gunfire Squad; their head, Old Smith, is a decent bloke. How did they get involved in the assassination? It has nothing to do with the assassination. Last night, a female medic from Old Smiths team went missing from the campsite. Someone saw her being kidnapped by Young Master Kanes men. And then this happened. Why, do you ask? Since the arrival of Young Master at the campsite, things like this have happened just too often. Doesnt the Hunters Association intervene? Intervene? Now that the Golden Knights from the Fierce Beast Legion have arrived, whoever dares to stand up will be labelled as a suspect and will get condemned to death if caught. Moreover, it is rumored that the Sinless City is going to issue an amnesty soon, those higher-ups in the Hunters Association are busy securing official positions for themselves, how could they run afoul of such noble families? Last night, Old Smith went to the Hunters Association first... New novel chapters are published at novelhall.com Hanging so many bodies, they are declaring that the noble lords possess the power to determine the life and death over us hunters... Words like nobles dogs and accomplices made the two young assistants faces turn from green to black. Mushroomhead Noah Wright paused for a bit, then finally said with some indignation, Although Sinless City is mostly made up of exiles, they have already been punished when sentenced to exile. Now Kane is torturing and killing suspects without trial, this is already illegal. Also, those girls... if its true, even as a direct descendant in the Lionheart Family, he can be sentenced to the gallows for this crime. Reuel Bible listened with a glint in his eyes, as if he thought of something, and shook his head with a smile. He took another sip of his drink, remaining silent. Ada, who was beside him, voiced her thoughts saying, According to Federation law, the nobilitys private soldiers indeed have law enforcement power. Since the people of the Lionheart Family claim to seek the conspirators who are planning to attack the nobility, as long as they insist that those people are suspects, even the highest federal court cannot do anything about it. Mushroomhead argued, But... the fact is, he really killed people! If nobles stand above the law like this, how is the Federal New Law different from the oppressive old times? If the law cannot represent absolute justice, then whats its significance? II II Ada found herself at a loss for words. The bodies outside were too glaring, anyone who saw them could judge right from wrong. Moreover, they had already heard about Young Master Kanes reputation back in Dragon City. After listening to his two assistants debate, Reuel Bible pondered a bit, shrugged, and smiled, So, what do you think we should do? Mushroomhead said earnestly, I think we should find out the truth. If things are really like that, we should make an arrest according to the law. Otherwise, more innocent people will suffer. Ada shook her head at his words, the slight exasperation in her tone suggesting her teammates naivety, Arrest a direct descendant of the Lionheart Family? Not to mention whether they would pay us any heed. I can assure you, even if we really send him to the Law Court, he would get bailed out in no time. The Federation law is biased towards the nobility. If we really step in, not only will we get nowhere, but well also bring a lot of trouble to the Bureau. Mushroomhead argued, We are the most authoritative law enforcers in the Federation, we should uphold justice and righteousness. Just because hes a noble, we cant choose to ignore whats happening. The Federal New Law clearly stipulates that nobles and commoners are equal before the law. Once he violates the law, it is a violation! You this.... Chapter 249 - 112 Unrest in the Camp_2 Chapter 249: Chapter 112 Unrest in the Camp_2 Translator: 549690339 | Ada wanted to say something else, but her expression turned difficult, so she stayed silent. She thought to herself, my partner really is a bookworm straight out of academy. The two didnt come to a conclusion, but unexpectedly Reuel Bible laughed and agreed saying: Noah, youre right. Mushroomhead was surprised but encouraged, Captain... Ada also looked over with curiosity. Reuel Bible said, When I was young, I thought like you... and did the same. As he spoke, his expression became strange, as if he was both smiling and not. Mushroomhead hurried to ask, And then? The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbj)n((.))co/m They thought they would hear an interesting story, but surprisingly, Reuel Bible raised an eyebrow as if telling a bad joke, And then... now. You should know Director Cliff from the Eighth Division Bureau, right? And the Deputy Judge, Jean, from the Federation court? Back then, they were my assistants just like you. Now one is a director, the other a judge. And me? Im still just a team captain. His tone was nonchalant, not showing the slightest hint of regret. Mushroomhead: Ada: This was an outlaw behavior, killing high-ranking nobility right here. How could he even suggest that? Reuel Bible didnt continue the conversation. Instead, he said, Our task this time is to track down those guys from the Silver Moon Sect. Judging by the current situation, the dangers hidden in the Great Catastrophes unknown history far exceed the federations estimations. Right now relics from the Old Days are being discovered all over the Old Continent. The threat of religious contamination could be much worse than we imagined. If those Old Days believers awaken the will of God, we might face a civilization-ending catastrophe. With the pressing conversation, the three stopped discussing Young Master Kane. The bigger threat lay with the Old Days Sect. They talked about a few other things. Suddenly, Mushroomhead said, However, the suspect the Lionheart Family is after, isnt he the one weve met before? That heirloom scalpel isnt Plague Doctor Hensens weapon? It was the one that you, captain, lost in a bet... Ada: Didnt he give that to someone else? That guys just a Card Master Apprentice. Even if he advances, would he really pose a threat to Young Master Kane? Reuel Bible: Not necessarily a different person. There arent many sources for high-quality Werewolf Material. The Black Wolf Mercenary Group has a few warrants out. The times and locations match up... As the hunters in the camp were creating a ruckus over the Lionheart Familys actions... Inside the heavily guarded small tower... In the luxurious room, Young Master Kane looked at the lifeless naked young girl beneath him, a wicked fire still in his eyes: Servants, hang these two corpses outside! The butler in the black swallow-tailed coat walked into the room. He didnt look at the bodies, but simply gestured, and the servants immediately brought out corpse bags to clean up. After the servants left, the butler began to speak, Young Master, the person in charge at the Hunters Association came by earlier. They mentioned that the hunters in the camp are causing quite the commotion and asked if we could perhaps remove the corpses hanging outside, lest unnecessary troubles arise. Take down the corpses? Ha... I want those plotting against me to see, I mean what I say! The Lionheart Family always repays a grudge! Young Master Kane scoffed, unimpressed.. Chapter 250 - 112: Turmoil in the Camp_3 Chapter 250: Chapter 112: Turmoil in the Camp_3 Translator: 549690339 Seeing as the old butler had a clear understanding of his young masters temperament, he dared not anger him. Instead, he said: The madam heard of the situation here and has sent urgent news asking you to return to Sinless City as soon as possible. The madam asks you not to worry about anything else, everything has been arranged at home. Go back? Kane glared at the old butler, unable to contain his rage: I wont be able to shed this anger unless that bastard is captured, skinned, and his family and friends are wiped out! Then, he asked coldly: Have you looked into the background of that bastard? Not... not yet. The old butler, fully aware that this would anger his young master, quickly added: However, the family army and the mercenaries have already blocked the space exit. As long as that person tries to escape alive, he cant get away. As expected, Kane got angry upon hearing this: A bunch of trash! Didnt you say the trial was foolproof? Then explain to me whats up with the assassin? If it wasnt for the teleportation card my mother gave me, I would have been long dead in that space! Its been so long, and you have the audacity to tell me that you havent found anything? Old butler: This servant has failed you. As luck would have it, just then, a servant ran in hastily: Young master, weve received news from the ruins, the man has appeared! The moment Kane heard this, he instantly rejuvenated: Move! All the guards in the ruins were low-ranked before, resulting in him almost losing his life. But now, outside, all the golden knights of the Fierce Beast Legion were waiting. He would like to see what that mans real deal is! In a mountain hollow ten kilometers northeast of the camp. At the entrance of the twisted light gate to the space of Third Holy Grail War- The Outpost Battle, a large number of elites from the Fierce Beast Legion had gathered. An array of prohibition enchantments had been arranged for a kilometer around the exit. Lets not mention that the assassin is a First Tier Curse Card Master. With this setup, even a top tier card master would have a hard time escaping if they came. Not only was the exit heavily guarded, even several kilometers on the periphery, a large number of mercenaries were stationed. This place was under a tight three-layer enclosure. Nine oclock? Isnt that our side? The mercenaries turned pale when they heard this. The Second Tier captain also snapped out of it and yelled: Developing powder! Even if the assassin didnt show up, if they let the assassin slip through their defensive area, no one could bear that dreadful outcome. Almost instantly, hundreds of mercenaries on the hillside activated their cards. Boom Boom Boom they exploded. The sky was full of white powder. Developing powder is the most direct measure against an invisible target. This silver-like minute granules stick to virtually any material, leaving the stealth target with nowhere to hide. Almost the instant the developing powder exploded, they saw an invisible figure appear. A mercenary yelled: There! But before the mercenaries could react, the figure darted towards the periphery at a rapid speed. Leonard Churchill felt his luck was good. When he came out, he was quite far from the collapsed twisted light gate. He glanced at the brightly lit encirclement and sneered. The situation was roughly as expected. Because the time of his return wasnt certain, he caught these guys off guard. The most important thing was that the space had collapsed, and the landing location was random, which was also beyond those peoples expectations. Even the development powder was within expectation. The Lionheart familys direct armament was indeed a great threat, but this was the Old Continent.. Chapter 251 - 112: Turmoil in the Camp z Chapter 251: Chapter 112: Turmoil in the Camp z Translator: 549690339?????? r Previously, three hundred had died in the Alternate Dimension, outside; no more than a few hundred remained. Some had to be diverted to protect Young Master Kane. With the remaining people, there really wasnt much territory they could surround in this wilderness. Leonard Churchill speculated that a large number of mercenaries might join the defense. Upon seeing, it was indeed so. However, dont be deceived by the large number of mercenaries. In Leonard Churchills eyes, a few hundred mercenaries were less threatening than a Fierce Beast Squad of five in the Alternate Dimension. These mercenaries, whether its their Demon Marks, methods, or equipment, couldnt compare with a nobles private soldiers. Even if the brawny troop leader with the One-eyed Bear Emblem on his chest was a Second Order Card Master, Leonard Churchill didnt pay him much mind. Leonard Churchill didnt give these guys any time to react. As soon as his feet touched the ground, his leg muscles contracted and a slight explosion sounded. He instantly catapulted towards the darkness outside the encirclement. The speed of his Werewolf body was so fast that he had dashed a hundred meters just as the mercenaries started getting their words out. Now, with the Advanced Body Technique Specialization plus his super high agility, he moved like the wind. Thi/s chapter is updated by The mercenaries who were about to pursue him stood agape as they saw his unprecedented speed. They realized they couldnt catch up. Instantly, the sounds of gunfire filled the hillside. While running, Leonard glanced back from the corner of his eyes. He didnt care about the barrage of bullets. His current Werewolf body was not threatened by ordinary bullets. Even if special Demon-breaking bullets were shot at him, they would only cause minor flesh wounds if they got embedded in his muscles. However, in large quantities, they might pose a deadly threat. But being hired help, he didnt believe that the mercenaries would carelessly shoot special bullets that were worth thousands each. Furthermore, his movement was so fast that only a top-tier Gunnman could possibly hit him. Leonard Churchill sprinted across the land. Only a third-tier Assassin Card Master could securely catch up with him. Leonard Churchill had no doubt. Such experts must certainly be around Young Master Kane. So, he sprinted all the way. After escaping from the zone covered by the Developing Powder, he quickly changed some of his gear while laying down some traps and adopting anti-tracking measures. Explosions sounded from not too far behind him at intervals. He knew that the experts had begun their pursuit. Meanwhile, upon hearing that the assassins had appeared, Young Master Kane excitedly left the camp with a large number of guards to check on things. Seeing the Lionheart Legion making such a big commotion, many curious onlookers in the camp also followed along. They were also very curious as to who the assassins were, who dare to target the legitimate young master of the Lionheart Family. Not long after they left the camp, news of the disappearance of the Holy Grail War Alternate Dimension arrived. The explosive news caused the entire camp to be in an uproar. They had initially thought it was only an attempted assassination, but didnt expect the assassin to practically clear the deadly war mode! Everyone knew that now it was going to get interesting. Now, almost everyone from the camp followed. Curiosity was one thing. What if... a rat died in a hole? Everyone knew what the disappearance of the Alternate Dimension meant. Plus, looking at the preparation, the assassin side seemed well prepared. If a fight really broke out, they might even find huge opportunities. However, nobody expected. Among the onlookers, there was a young man with his eyes covered with a black cloth. Seeing Young Master Kane finally leaving the highly fortified building and departing the camp. The real assassin, who had been waiting for days, showed a smile on his face.. Chapter 252 - 113 ’The Lantern Bearer’ Vince Lane Chapter 252: Chapter 113 The Lantern Bearer Vince Lane Translator: 549690339 I Young Master Kane was escorted by a group of Fierce Beast Legion guards, boarding a troop carrier and quickly heading for the hollow in the northeast of the camp. Originally, he wanted to capture someone alive for a good interrogation. However, just as he stepped out the door, he heard that his troops had not been able to capture their target. The space in the hollow had even collapsed and disappeared? Aboard the fast-moving steam troop carrier, Young Master Kane flew into a rage, Damn it, what the hell are those useless creatures doing! The old housekeeper also had a cold sweat at this moment, he never expected that such an accident would happen: Young Master, the Golden Knights have already locked onto that persons location, they wont let him escape. Now, Kane was not interested in talking more nonsense with the old housekeeper. He turned his head and said to several guards who were running alongside the troop carrier, You guys go too! The attire of these guards was different from that of the standard Fierce Beast Legion troops. The armor and equipment they wore were mostly glowing with golden light. These were the Golden Knights of the Fierce Beast Legion. Every one of them was a Second Tier Card Master or above. Even while the troop carrier was advancing at full speed, these guards could run alongside at an even pace, exhaling evenly. Yes! Before the words fell, two assassin-type Golden Knights who were adept at tracking already left the convoy, disappearing into the darkness. The distance from the camp to the hollow in the Alternate Dimension was just over ten kilometers, not far away. Not long after the convoy set off, they could already see the explosion and flames coming from that direction. However, at this moment, no one expected something unexpected to happen! A sudden screech. Foll0w current novE?ls on nov/3lb((in).(co/m) The troop carrier made a sudden brake stop. It came to a standstill. Young Master Kane on the carriage almost lost his balance and nearly hit his nose on the seat in front. Young Master Kane was a little scared upon hearing this. Although he didnt know about the Masked Organization, But he felt very clearly that the mysterious man locked his aura unto him. The feeling of being stared at by an ancient Demon God made him shiver uncontrollably. A few days ago, when he was glanced at by those murderous eyes in the space, Kane was left lingering fears. Now, the person in front of his eyes gave him the same feeling. He felt that this guy... really want to kill him! The Lionheart Familys convoy suddenly came to a stop. The onlookers behind were curious as to what exactly was going on. They looked up and saw the strange man with a blindfold standing in front of the convoy. Reuel Bible and his two comrades initially just wanted to come out and see what was happening. But when they saw the Demon Gods Phantom behind the mysterious man, the three of them changed their expressions. Low-level hunters dont get to know much about high-end secrets, so they wouldnt know what the Demon Gods Phantom signifies. But as agents of the Federation X Bureau, They couldnt be more aware! Ada recognized the mans attire at a glance and exclaimed in a low voice, Its an assassin of the Thirteen Masked Knights! But then, she turned her gaze, and said puzzled, Strange... Ive never seen that Demon Gods Phantom in the files before. Could he be a new member of that organization? Mushroomhead couldnt believe it, Chief, that... couldnt possibly be the legendary Epic Source Card, could it? Although the Demon Gods Phantom was somewhat vague, it wasnt hard to make out that the demon had three heads and six arms. Three heads were respectively an ugly demon, a holy angel, and a blindfolded human face in the middle, with a huge snake tail behind him. The demon was holding a big sword in its hand, the angel had a pair of scales, and the human face was holding a lantern. An odd image. Reuel Bible looked serious as if he had remembered something. He nodded and said, The scales represent fair judgment, the big sword represents punishment, and the blindfolded lantern... stands for absolute justice. This is Bekas, the Demon God, who represents Justice, Law, and Punishment.. If Im not wrong, he must have integrated one of the 52 Epic Origin Cards, the Mark ? Six of Hearts ? Lamplighter! Chapter 253 - 113 ’Lantern Carrier’ Vince Lane_2 Chapter 253: Chapter 113 Lantern Carrier Vince Lane_2 Translator: 549690339 I He looked at the blindfolded young man that appeared in front of him, his expression complicated as if he was staring at an unimaginable sight, murmuring, How is it possible? The assassin organization could have someone able to fuse with this card? Demon God Bekas? Hearing this, Ada was shocked and also puzzled, as if she had never heard about it before. Mushroomhead, however, seemed to have heard about it. Oh... captain, Ive seen records in the case file. It seems the origin card was once contained by the Bureau. Shouldnt it be sealed in the warehouse? Correct. Reuel Bibles eyes were misty. He paused for a moment before saying complexly, That Epic Source Card was personally contained by my team! His two assistants were stunned, Ah? No wonder they recognized it at a glance C it was personally contained by the captain. After contemplating for a moment, Reuel Bible said, Three years ago, the Federal Law Courts headquarters warehouse was robbed, and a lot of important items were stolen, including the Heart 6 Source Card of the Order Law. I never thought it would be stolen by the Masked Organization... VIsit for the best novel reading experience Hearing this, Ada was surprised, Ah... the theft of the origin card, such a serious incident, how come Ive never heard of it? Reuel Bible didnt explain much, he simply said, The theft was wrapped up in a scandal involving the high-ranking officials, so it was kept from the public. Otherwise, the items sealed in the headquarters warehouse wouldnt be in the federations law court. Feeling curious, Ada asked, But why did no one fuse with the Epic Source Card, Captain? Why did a thief take it away? Mushroomhead seemed to know something. At this moment, Mushroomhead asked again, But Captain, it seems that guy is here to assassinate Young Master Kane, should we stop him? After all, hes high-ranking nobility. Reuel Bible shook his head, his gaze deep and somewhat bitter, with a sigh, He now symbolizes justice... what would be the point of our intervention? Mushroomheads eyes lit up in excitement, Oh, that guy is now done for! Ada frowned, But if the higher-ups know that we were here and did not stop it, wouldnt it be trouble? The people from the Lionheart Family are known to be very protective. Reuel Bible tilted his head, naturally pulling out a gas mask to put on his face, glancing at her, If we dont show our faces, who can prove that we were here? His two assistants twitched when they heard this. The old fox of the Bureau was teaching some rather underhanded tricks again. While Reuel Bible and his team were discussing the Demon Gods Phantom... The confrontation ahead was still ongoing. The old butler by Young Master Kanes side stared at the approaching figure and did not dare to act rashly. Instead, he took the initiative to speak, And who might you be, sir, and why are you blocking our young masters way? He was very polite. At this moment, Young Master Kane wasnt as cocky as usual. He was swallowing hard, obediently sitting in the car. For some reason, the several powerful golden knights didnt reassure him at all. Upon hearing the query, the mysterious man finally spoke, sounding quite at ease, Ah... sorry, forgot to introduce myself. No one in the Lionheart family party was laughing at this. But the uninformed onlookers burst into laughter. Before he spoke, he had the cold and mysterious aura of a master. Once he spoke, that aura disappeared immediately. Instead, he now seemed like an impulsive youngster.. Chapter 254 - 113 "The Lantern Bearer" Vince Chapter 254: Chapter 113 The Lantern Bearer Vince Lane 3 Translator: 549690339 | The blindfolded man continued his self-introduction: Im Vince Lane, the Lantern Bearer. Nice meeting you all. In this kind of way. He added, Oh! Im also an apprentice Thirteen Masked Knight. Hmm... Probably this way, youll have a more accurate understanding of me. Hearing the confirmation, the old butlers eyes twitched. Once it was confirmed that an assassin sent by the Thirteen Masked Knights had come, the pressure escalated a hundredfold instantly. He cautiously asked, Whats the purpose of your visit? I mean... if its convenient, Id like to negotiate. Our young master is the legitimate heir of the Lionheart Family, theres always a room for negotiation. The words of the old butler were quite delicate. Being an assassin, he knew that the man might be a mercenary. Leaving everything else aside, the Lionheart Family did have plenty of money. Considering the man didnt attack right away, it seemed there could be a negotiation. If offering more money could solve the problem, that would be the best. However, unexpectedly, Vince Lane seemed like he didnt understand it and replied, Ah, I know, the Ninth Young Master, Kane. I have investigated thoroughly beforehand. Speaking, he said, Oh, as you can see, Im blind. When you guys didnt speak earlier, I thought I had found the wrong person. Since the old man has confirmed that I didnt, I feel relieved. The old butlers eyelids twitched as he listened. This clearly indicated a rejection of the negotiation proposal. TO the side, Young Master Kane had not figured out the implication of the conversation between the two. No matter how hard they tried, they couldnt overcome it. It seemed like a prison. A prison of rules. Word and law follow? seeing this scene, Reuel Bible changed his face again at a distance, saying aloud, The Word Spirit Spell of the Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skill! I didn t expect someone had mastered it... I cant believe the devil has made it too. Mushroomhead asked curiously, Chief, is this one of the bunch misplaced by the Federation Court? Reuel Bible nodded, Hmm! Hearing this, Mushroomhead and Ada, the two assistants, had black lines on their foreheads. It seemed that the old guys at the Federation Court didnt get things done particularly well, aiding the enemy seemed to be one of their good moves. They had actually lost something so important. Now, they were being used for assassination by an infamous group of assassins. Reuel Bible shook his head slightly, sighing long, Alas... He seemed to have accepted the reality, saying with relief, This person was approved by the Demon God, meaning...he truly represents absolute justice and righteousness. Only then could he use the Order Rule of imprisonment... Speaking, he smiled bitterly, Its ridiculous... ridiculous. What the big judges of the Federation Court couldnt do, an assassin has done. Seeing the mysterious intruder controlling the Golden Knight with a single spell, Young Master Kane was completely stunned on the car seat. He came to kill me! He felt immense regret in his heart. Damn it, if only I had obeyed and left this damned place! However, it was too late to regret. The old butler changed his countenance again, in the midst of his struggle he directly said, Can you stop? No matter where you received your mission, we can negotiate on all conditions you offer! The price my master and mistress offer will definitely satisfy you and your organization! Chapter 255 - 113 "The Lantern Bearer" Vince Chapter 255: Chapter 113 The Lantern Bearer Vince Lane_4 Translator: 549690339 The three-headed Demon Gods Phantom behind the blindfolded Vince Lane became clearer and clearer. He ignored the old butlers words, instead saying, Young Master Kane, I apologize for meeting you in this manner. I have investigated your deeds... your death is insignificant. However, before that, you have the right to receive a fair trial. Then, as though in the midst of a mysterious judgment ritual, he once again pulled out a card, chanting, My word is justice... Spell-Judgment Day! As soon as the words left his mouth, the angelic face of one of the demon gods behind Vince turned to look at him. It looked at Kane, who was already scared enough to wet himself, and extended an illusory hand. The old butler wanted to stop it, but found that under the oppressive power of the demon gods phantom, his spirit was shocked, rendering him unable to move, let alone do anything else. Everyone watched helplessly as the hand reached into Young Master Kanes chest, seemed to pluck something out, and placed it back onto a scale. Looking closely, what had been torn out was actually a soul! One side of the scale carried a feather, and the other bore Kanes soul. The moment the soul was placed on it, the scale immediately tilted to Kanes side. Seeing this, Vince Lanes laid-back demeanor disappeared. He suddenly became expressionless, acting like a fair and impartial judge, and sternly shouted, As you can see, you, are deserving of death! At his words, the three demon faces behind him suddenly turned into that of a demon, and swung the longsword in its hand, severing something unknowable. Young Master Kane in the distance kicked out his legs and drew his last breath. This scene left the onlookers speechless. But even so. If the Fierce Beast Legions experts relentlessly chased after him, they might still catch up. During this chase, Leonard Churchill never hoped that he would definitely escape. However, he never expected that in the middle of the pursuit, the pursuers behind him would pull out! Whats happening? Leonard Churchill found it hard to believe. At first, he thought it was a diversion tactic by the enemy. But after running a bit further, he realized there were actually no pursuers left. Churchill stopped. Looking at the gathering fireworks in the distance, he suddenly realized that something major might have happened. The ones chasing me have abandoned the chase to provide reinforcement instead... Could it be that someone is trying to assassinate Young Master Kane? A thought struck Leonard Churchill, and the corner of his eye twitched. His killing of Kane was spontaneous. With the current situation, it seemed as if there was another party deliberately waiting to kill him. Furthermore, the location of the fireworks seemed to be outside the camp. In other words... did someone intentionally wait for Kane to leave the camp before they acted? Looking at it this way, it seems my trouble isnt that big anymore... A series of thoughts ran through Leonard Churchills mind and he found himself smirking.. Chapter 256 - 114 Second Mysterious Letter Chapter 256: Chapter 114 Second Mysterious Letter Translator: 549690339 Seeing that no one was pursuing him anymore, Leonard Churchill didnt run to a safer place to hide and stay out of sight. Instead, he curiously headed towards the direction of the gathering fire. He also wanted to see what exactly had happened. Unfortunately, by the time Leonard arrived, the fight had already ended. Members of the Lionheart Family had all gone deep into the ruins in pursuit of the assassin. All that were left behind were the shocked onlookers. My god, that blindfolded mans power is too terrifying. He said a few curse chants and directly killed Young Master Kane, who was being protected by a golden knight... Heh, he deserved to die! Ive long been disgusted with that noble bastard! The murder was satisfying indeed, but now it has caused a big mess. The heir of the Lionheart Family has been killed; the Federal Military will probably get involved directly. Lets go now; if were late, we may not be able to leave. It seems like it had been premeditated. The original plan was to ambush and kill him in the Alternate Dimension, who would have thought Young Master Kane had a space teleportation card to escape. The organization then assigned someone outside for a secondary assassination. I figured, who could break the war modes alternate dimension in one go? They must have strong means for it to make sense... The crowd slowly dissipated and headed back into the camp. Having listened for a while, Leonard understood what had happened. As he had surmised, someone had indeed seized the opportunity to assassinate Young Master Kane. Moreover, they had succeeded. The Thirteen Masked Knight Organization? It was Leonards first time hearing the name of this mysterious organization. Through the excited descriptions of the hunters, Leonard gradually pieced together the events. A cloak-wearing, blindfolded mysterious man had intercepted the Lionheart Family convoy on the road. Even Leonard felt that if he werent himself, listening to the cause and effect of the event, he would not believe they werent in collusion. Thinking of this, Leonard laughed. This was good news for him. He had originally prepared for big trouble following his return, but now, this Thirteen Masked Knight Organization had attracted all the attention, his pressure dropped by about ninety percent. Even if he, a first-tier shrimp was really wanted, he would be the least significant target. This was a great advantage. The Lionheart Family members were now searching the endless wilderness around the camp for the killer. Leonard Churchill returned to the camp with the rest of the hunters. He wasnt afraid of being discovered. Young Master Kane had never gotten a good look at him from the beginning, the only useful clues he had were a werewolf transformation and a scalpel. As long as he didnt expose these two features, he should still be safe. Entering the camp, Leonard indeed saw his wanted posters all over the place. It looked like they had been up for many days. The posters only listed two clues pointing to him: a werewolf and a scalpel. Leonard didnt feel any threat and continued walking into the camp. More than ten days had passed since his last visit and the number of hunters in the camp had multiplied. Taverns, merchants, and equipment supply shops had all opened in large numbers. Leonard had initially intended to visit the Hunters Tavern to sit and carefully inquire about what happened before. But as he approached the tavern, he saw the small building with dozens of corpses hanging from it. He stopped. That was Young Master Kanes residence in the camp. Leonard stood still, observing the corpses for a long time. The bodies swaying in the wind were like flags, declaring the supreme power of life and death held by the nobles.. Chapter 257 - 114: The Second Mysterious Letter ! Chapter 257: Chapter 114: The Second Mysterious Letter ! Translator: 549690339 Just a glance was enough for him to hear, as if echoing in his ears, the previous arrogant threat from Kane echoing, On the honor of the Lionheart Family, I swear... you, your family, your friends, your woman, all must die... The sinister side of human nature was laid bare before his eyes. The corpses seemed to mock his powerlessness. See, the Young Master had committed another atrocity because he hadnt been killed. Leonard Churchill tilted his head to observe the suspended bodies, falling silent for a moment. It seemed as though something had crossed his mind, and suddenly, he broke out into a grin. Leaving the brightly lit building before him, he turned and stepped into the dark tavern. Having spent some time in the tavern, Leonard had roughly figured out what had happened recently. And what those hanging corpses outside were all about. It was more or less as he had suspected. As for the Thirteen Masked Knights organization, the information merchant didnt have much intelligence about them. Only that its an ancient and mysterious assassin organization. The only valuable information was a rumor that the assassination of the coordinator of Grand Cemetery Labyrinth, Stan Miller, was likely related to this organization. Not long after Leonard entered the tavern, representatives of the Lionheart Family arrived. As they conducted a search, wanted posters for the blindfolded, cloaked man were hung everywhere. Obviously, the assassin had not been caught. The reward of a hundred million, quickly became the next hot topic in the tavern. With a figure like that drawing attention, No one cared about some lowly, first-tier assassin from the Alternate Dimension. Not long after the wanted posters were distributed, the Hunters Association announced that the train back to Sinless City was temporarily out of service due to malfunctions. The Thunderbolt Fortress camp was now shut. The collection of texts that he had yet had time to carefully read, brought out from the Outpost Battle, belonged to Mage Rolan. Now that he had some downtime, he could catch up on his extracurricular reading. He was also curious to find out just what kind of ancient civilization the Delaney Kingdom, now vanished from history, had been. What connections, if any, did these civilizations have with the present? Without the boost of Space Enlightenment, Mage Rolans manuscripts and magic texts offered no translations, only a worm-like ancient script. Leonard read cautiously, comparing his notes from before, translating as he went along. This ancient script seemed even older than Tarens Classics, and more closely aligned with High-level Demon Language. Especially in the magic books, some clearly depicted runes and mystical symbols with a profound legislative meaning. The content was deep and esoteric, appearing incredibly dry. However, Leonard relished the feeling of immersing himself in the sea of knowledge. His extraordinarily high enlightenment and eidetic memory allowed him to digest this profound knowledge more quickly. Each time he understood a part, he felt a sense of achievement and satisfaction, like he had reeled in a fish from the sea of knowledge. An intuition told him that this insight would be incredibly helpful in his future transcendent journey. The more he understood, the greater the doors to the mystic world opened for him. Time flew by unnoticed. Leonards brain functioned like a high-speed processor, constantly processing the information flowing into his mind through his eyes. However, the good times didnt last long. During this high-speed operation of the brain, Leonard suddenly froze. His head felt empty, as if he were fainting, and his thoughts began to lag. It took a while before he came back to himself. Yet Leonard didnt seem too surprised. He glanced at his pocket watch and mumbled, Two minutes... Longer than the last time, huh... This wasnt his first encounter with such a situation. Ever since he obtained his eidetic memory ability, he had been absorbing all kinds of knowledge from this world like a whale gulping in water. However, from a certain day onwards, he noticed that when he immersed himself in this state of learning, his brain would occasionally crash.. Chapter 258 - 114= The Second Mysterious Letter_3 Chapter 258: Chapter 114= The Second Mysterious Letter_3 Translator: 549690339 At first, it was just a moment, then a few seconds, and then more than ten seconds... The time kept getting longer. Leonard Churchill knew why. His focus and high enlightenment allowed him to study knowledge more effectively. But sometimes, this was also a drawback. Just like a computer that processes too much information in a short time, it is prone to lag and delay. The ability to remember everything also occupied too much brain memory. Leonard checked the classics and knew that the root cause of this problem lies in the Mental Power. Before he crossed over, his Mental Power far exceeded ordinary people, but it was pathological and often uncontrollable. To card masters, this was a symptom of mild Mental Deformation. Especially after mastering the skill of controlling flying knives with Mental Power, this out of control state became more severe. Previously, Tracy Garcia had given him a Mental Secret Skill she had cultivated. Leonard has been practicing recently. The Mental Power value on the panel has also improved. However, the problem is that the Secret Skill is not compatible enough. The essence of Mental Secret Skill is to build up the scattered Mental Power according to a specific matrix, so that it can grow continuously and stably. just like building a skyscraper after having a design, it ensures it wont collapse. This is also the principle of controlling Mental Deformation. However, the Secret Skill from Tracy Garcia can only restrain one Mental Power. And Leonard has many in his knowledge sea. So, this problem has not been solved. And... She even replied! Or could it be... a ghost? Whats going on... Leonard was also confused by this sudden change. But he felt that even if it was a ghost, there must be a reason. He looked at the note over and over again, confirming it was the same note from before. No display on Enlightenment. Obviously. This was some kind of Extraordinary Power beyond cognition. And the paper was just a carrier, the source of this power is not on the note. Leonard didnt understand how this across-the-air dialogue came about. Thinking that it was some kind of Extraordinary Power artifact, or a Disaster Object? Magical postage stamp? Leonard thought of something. Below, gradually another paragraph of content emerged: But Ive met another problem recently. After the coming of age ceremony, according to the family rules, peers in the family will have a business competition. Whoever wins in the business can get lots of rewards, and future family resources will be inclined. I have my own little shop. But, I dont understand how to operate it. After taking over, its been running as it was, with no difference from before. But I want to win the reward. Its really troublesome, so Im asking for your help. As the graceful script gradually appeared on the new autograph, Leonard looked serious and curious. It felt like a chat window suddenly popped up on the internet in his previous life. Was he talking to someone in the distance through some mysterious power? Leonard didnt expect that there was such a communication method in this Extraordinary World. Looking at the words, it was as if he saw a young girl holding a pen, leaning on the table, and writing down these help-seeking messages. After reading the content, Leonard was suddenly a bit amused. How does it feel like a girl got an Aladdin magic lamp and used it to make a wish? Now he had some idea of the function of this note. It must not be random. It felt like a directional drift bottle that was thrown to someone who can solve the related problem with some mysterious power? Chapter 259 - 114 The Second Mysterious Letter_4 Chapter 259: Chapter 114 The Second Mysterious Letter_4 Translator: 549690339 After all, Leonard Churchill managed to answer the queries on both occasions. The appearance of this note before his eyes must have somehow been linked by cause and effect. But the queries werent the main issue. Leonard thought of something else. What kind of family would use such a powerful artifact to ask such trivial questions? Huh! As he complained, a sudden insight came to him. Leonard thought of something. The common folk wouldnt have access to Mental Secret Skills, but the aristocracy certainly would! For a child from an ordinary family, knowing how to read would be an achievement in itself. But to use Tarens Classics for a guessing game evidently indicated a lady of a prestigious family with abundant resources. No matter where the note came from, if she could ask me questions, could I ask her some as well? When this idea popped into his head, his mind came alive. He figured there was no harm in giving it a shot. So, he began to write. He wrote only some of the strategies in detail and only gave a brief overview of the others. Then, he wrote about his actual concern, Sorry, I also have a dilemma. My mental power seems to be distorting, my mind... Could you please give me some advice on what should I do? Leonard looked at the content of his reply on the new note and exhaled a sigh of relief. He had replied, but he did not know if the other party would see it. Moreover, this method of communication seemed to be one-way. So, he could only reply when the other party initiated the contact. He roughly estimated the time of the previous reply. It appeared to have been quite a while. But Leonard was not in a hurry. Instead, he felt that this form of cryptic communication was adding a fresh layer of intrigue to his life. If he did receive a reply... For Leonard Churchill, wouldnt it be akin to possessing Aladdins magic lamp? After finishing his response, Leonard didnt think too much about it. He continued to use the note as a bookmark and placed it back in the book. Considering he didnt know what triggered the communication, it would be better to keep everything the same. After taking a short break and feeling fully recovered from the previous mental exhaustion, he returned to his meditation and reading.. Chapter 260 - 115 Crying Angel Chapter 260: Chapter 115 Crying Angel Translator: 549690339 Two days had passed in a blink. The attempted assassination of Young Master Kane escalated, with the hunters at the Thunderbolt Fortress growing increasingly dissatisfied. The hunters could not go back now, and those who had returned from the ruins were all accumulating in the camp, the number of people was increasing. Not only the hunters were trapped, but also some special individuals. Inside a small building owned by the Commerce Guild in the camp. A mysterious woman, her face veiled in black, stood by the window, gazing at the busy camp below. Her eyes, as silver as the moon, were shining brightly. And behind her stood an old man enveloped in Death Air, his back was hunched. Watching the Lionheart Familys people who were still scouring in the distance, the silver-eyed woman mumbled to herself, Its a pity, its rare for a high-ranking nobility to come from the Sinless City. We originally planned to use Young Master Kane to get close to the higher-ups of the Lionheart family, but I didnt expect that just after completing the disguise, he was killed... Hearing this, the hunchbacked old man responded in a hoarse voice: The nobles coming down from Sinless City are increasing. In the future, there may not be a lack of opportunity. After a pause, he continued: On the other hand, those guys from the X Bureau are relentless. Theyve already started investigating the Commerce Guild yesterday and might have found some issues. If we dont get rid of them, they will keep causing us trouble. Silver-eyed woman: Then lets kill all of them. The last piece of the sealed artifact has been found, and the prohibitions on the Four Pillar Seals have basically been lifted. It doesnt matter if we are exposed now. The Crying Angels still need some nourishment of souls, lets sacrifice all those people in the camp. Making a move now will attract the attention of the Federations higher-ups, which is exactly what the Thirteen Masked Riders can do. The hunchbacked old man: Mmm. Walking leisurely on the camps streets was Leonard Churchill. Other than training and learning in his tent every day, he would also go for a walk when the tavern was busiest in the evening to catch up on the news. The tavern was still the most crowded and lively place in the camp. Leonard crowded into the Hunters Tavern, just like the previous two days. Then sat down in a corner at the bar and ordered a beer. Without any new supplies these past two days, the price of beer had almost gone up tenfold. Leonard found these three curiously familiar. Although dressed as hunters, they didnt seem to be low-level hunters. The three headed for the bar. The man in the jacket waved at the bartender and said, Three beers. As soon as he spoke, Leonard recognized the rough voice and was surprised, The three from the X Bureau? At that moment, he finally knew where that familiar feeling came from. Werent these the same three who pursued the Plague Doctor, Hensen, during the raid on the Silver Moon Sects base in the Sinless City? He remembered the man in the jacket was called Reuel Bible, wasnt he? His memory was pretty good. After all, he got the scalpel smoothly thanks to this mans promise. But why were they here at the Thunderbolt Fortress ruins? These official investigators, who belonged to a structured system, didnt need to risk hunting in the ruins to make a living. In an instant, Leonard thought of something else, They couldnt be here chasing the Silver Moon Sect, could they? His thoughts shifted and it seemed quite possible. Last time, it was. This time, it would likely be the same. Furthermore, Leonard suspected that the Silver Moon Sect might really come to these ruins. The God worshipped by the Devil Camp in the previous Outpost Battle alternate dimension was Arachne, the Lord of Dreams and Pleasure. This was the same Ancient God worshipped by the Silver Moon Sect! Leonard himself had seen the altar and the statues. The remnants in that space were far more complete than the half-baked Silver Moon Sect here.. Chapter 261 - 115 Crying Angel 2 Chapter 261: Chapter 115 Crying Angel 2 Translator: 549690339 If the Silver Moon Sect knew about this situation, they might indeed come in search of the ancient legacies. And there might be more than just one space containing them. Leonard Churchill thought about this, his expression slightly odd: Hissing.. It cant be that the Silver Moon Sect really came looking for the legacy of the Ancient God, and then those three from the X Bureau followed them, right? It seemed he had an unfortunate connection with this Old Days Sect. He ran into them everywhere. But before he had time to think more about it, As soon as Reuel Bible sat down, the patron in the seat next to him tried to sneak away. Mushroomhead and the short-haired woman standing behind him cleverly stopped him. Reuel Bible chuckled and said casually, Elder Clinton, long time no see. The man who had been sneaking around shook his head repeatedly, still trying to escape, No, no. You have the wrong person. Hearing this, Reuel Bible muttered to himself, Youve forgotten me again... Then smiled and said, Dont worry. We are not from the Lionheart Family. We are from the X Bureau; we just want to ask you a few questions. At this moment, the man finally dared to look up at the three of them: Hm? Although the voices of the conversation were not loud, Leonard Churchill still heard them clearly. What a coincidence... The man Leonard stopped turned out to be an old acquaintance. It was Elder Clinton, the Dog King who had been on the same team with him in the Alternate Dimension. What a small world. No, actually, The camp was tiny. There were only two taverns and this guy was a notorious drunkard, so the likelihood of running into him was rather high. Get your favorite novels at novelhall.com Leonard had noticed this guy earlier. He would shrink and crawl while drinking, constantly complaining that the wine was too expensive. Each sip he took, he seemed to cringe as if in pain; it was rather comical. But considering there were many eccentric people among the hunters, Leonard didnt pay much attention to him. But that was not his main concern at the moment. When he keyed in on this intelligence, his sense of foreboding grew stronger and stronger. The fact that the X Bureau had sent people here indicated that they had something substantial to rely on. At this moment, could there really be Silver Moon Disciples inside the camp? Truth be told, even knowing that the Lionheart Family members were coming, Leonard didnt feel much of a crisis. After all, there was plenty of intelligence, and many things could be anticipated. But the Old Days Believers were a different story. Those people gave him just two vibes C creepy and sinister! Originally, Leonard intended to spy a little more to hear what they were talking about. & But unexpectedly, Reuel Bible seemed to have noticed something, the corner of his eyes twitching, as if he was about to look up. Seeing these details, Leonard quickly looked away, thinking to himself, Such powerful perception. Reuel Bible and the others didnt seem interested in paying attention to anyone else. They continued their questioning, their expressions growing more serious. Continuing to watch would only attract their attention. As such, Leonard didnt plan to stay in the tavern any longer. After encountering these folks, Leonard suddenly sensed a whiff of impending danger. He wanted to leave as soon as possible. At least, he wanted to stay away from Reuel Bible and his party. But the twist came out of nowhere. Just as Leonard was about to get up and leave, The unexpected happened. The butterfly door was pushed open and a hunchbacked old man, carrying a black cross as tall as an adult, slowly walked into the tavern. The man seemed to have crawled out of a grave, exuding a strong aura of death. The cross dragged on the wooden floor, making an occasional creepy frictional noise. It was this hair-raising noise that seemed to mute the entire tavern. The bustling tavern suddenly became eerily silent. Because, As soon as the hunchbacked old man entered, Everyone felt as if they were being watched by the grim reaper, their hearts sinking into a frigid abyss. Furthermore, they could distinctly hear the ancient, profound incantation being chanted by the hunchbacked weirdo. Rejoice in the wailing of pain, exult in the spilling of blood, Wandering amongst the shadows of the graves, Thirsting for blood, instilling fear in mortals, Joy, dreams, the Thousand Faces of the Moon, Merrily gaze upon your devotees sacrifices.. Chapter 262 - 115 Crying Angel_3 Chapter 262: Chapter 115 Crying Angel_3 Translator: 549690339 ...J The person had just walked into the bar while the incantation was coming to an end. It was as if some magic ritual had just begun. Leonard Churchill became alarmed upon hearing the incantation that sounded like a Demonic Whisper. He instantly put on the clown mask. He got a shock when he saw the cross soaked with dark golden blood, and cried out, This is bad! [Relic-Light and Dark Cross] Description: Level III ancient Relic; Holy +9, Curse +9; It binds the target and seals any soul fluctuation below the same rule plane as the relic itself; This was an ancient implement used to incarcerate the divine soul of a transmundane existence and one of the few devices in the world that can seal both righteousness and evil. It has been soaked with divine blood, carrying an intense characteristic of light and dark pollution. This cross shared the same source with the [Light and Dark Holy Nail] in his hand and the enlightened contents were almost identical. With a single glance, Leonard Churchill determined that the strange man carrying the cross was a follower of the Silver Moon Sect! He thought that the figure was the signature hunchback C wasnt this Old Cook, the high-ranking deacon of the Silver Moon Sect who was wanted everywhere? It was clear that he was there with malicious intentions. And his animosity was not directed towards him, but towards Reuel Bible and his fellows! Daring to carry the cross flamboyantly in public, this guy clearly had a murderous intention. Moreover, he was confident he could execute it! Involvement in such an intense battle was not a good idea. Leonard Churchill was not going to foolishly wait for the opponent to strike first. Almost the instant he put on the mask, disregarding the reactions of those around him, he stomped on a chair and forcefully bolted towards the back door. When he started to flee, after a brief moment of shock, the others in the bar also understood and scrambled out of the bar. Discover new chapters at novelhall.com In the blink of an eye, the bar that was once bustling with people was almost empty. However, some people didnt understand the situation and were far away, watching the excitement unfold. Of course, Reuel Bible and his companions have noticed it too. But they didnt show any fear, and sat steadily in their seats. Before Leonard Churchill could figure out what was happening, another abnormal phenomenon occurred! He looked up and saw a terrifying spiral black hole suddenly appearing in the sky over the camp. Isnt it going to summon a Bone Dragon again? Leonards Churchills heart jumped at the sight. He had seen this Spirit Summoning Skill before. When the Silver Moon Sect attacked the auction house in Sinless City for the moon, the same technique had been used. But that was in Sinless City which was packed with high-level Beings. The people from the Silver Moon Sect were scurrying around like rats being hunted down. But right now, this was an outdoor camp in the Old Continent! Except for the three enigmatic individuals of Reuel Bible, he didnt believe that anyone else had the ability to resolve this predicament. However, Leonard Churchill had still underestimated the situation. These guys were not going to summon just a Bone Dragon, but something much more terrifying. In the moment when that black hole emerged in the sky, an indescribable aura suddenly arrived, suppressing the entire camp. Leonard Churchill was familiar with this feeling, thinking to himself, High-level Being? He had experienced the same pressure when he met the Red Baron in the spatial void. However, the pressure this time was even more intense! As he looked again, a shadow of a man that was reeking of Death Air slowly appeared from the black hole. But when Leonard Churchill clearly saw the huge pair of wings spread out behind the shadow, his pupils couldnt stop shaking, and he murmured, Cant be... What was summoned this time was not a Bone Dragon. But something much more dreadful. In that black hole, there gradually emerged... an angel! An angel with a bandaged face, gray wings, reeking of Death Air yet radiating a holy light! Seeing this, Leonard Churchills heart pounded. Can such an existence also be spirit summoned? Those guys from the Silver Moon Sect were always messing with some underworld matter. But did they really need to summon an existence out of myths? Chapter 263 - 116 Heavenly Kings Curse Body Chapter 263 - 116 Heavenly King''s Curse Body Suddenly, a phenomenon of spirit communication appeared in the sky. Before the hunters could react in any way, they found the entire camp was already covered by a massive undead barrier. Beyond the camp, a thick black aura had covered the surrounding wilderness. "What is that?" "It has wings...looks like angels from the myths and legends?" "..." Check for new stories on (.)c0m The hunters didn''t know what was happening. But looking up at the sky, as they watched the masked angel slowly descending from the black vortex, their eyes were filled with fear. The pressure from these high-level beings stemmed from a deep-seated instinctual fear in living creatures, leaving all humans struggling to breathe. But not all high-level beings are the same. Mythical creatures like great dragons, although also high-level beings, are not entirely invincible according to some recorded stories in the literature that depict strong warriors amongst humans successfully slaying such creatures. But angels are different. Their stature equates to that of real gods! So Leonard Churchill couldn''t believe what he was seeing. A god has descended? Summoned by mere mortals? This seemed impossible no matter how he looked at it. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that this angel only had a soul but no physical body. And on its chest and palms, there were blackened, bloody holes. The entire soul formed a cross shape, seeming like it was being punished. The bizarre mix of death and holy light, the clash between holiness and evil, gave a very odd feeling. "So that''s why that hunchbacked old man brought a cross into the tavern earlier?" Leonard felt he almost glimpsed a crucial clue. The Clown mask is not yet powerful enough; it could potentially block a Second Tier Mysterious Technique, but surely not this soul-siphoning technique of the angel. The curse jar may protect against curses, but it''s uncertain whether this attack is a curse. Right. There''s also the RelicLight and Dark Holy Nail! This thing looked like it belonged to the same category as the cross carried by the hunchbacked old man. Leonard didn''t know if it would work, but he took out the containment card anyway, activated it, and held the nail in his hand. Having one more safeguard increased his chance of survival. ... But in the following moments, the camp played host to a scene of sheer horror. Wherever the angel drifted, due to fear and soul extraction, large swathes of hunters fell on the streets. Some of the hunters tried to attack this unknown angel with traditional methods of combating evil spirits using various techniques like Purple Light Bullet, Holy Water, etc. But these attempts not only caused no harm; they actually attracted the angel to drift toward those who had attacked, enabling it to harvest more souls. Even the high rank golden knights of Second and Third Tier from the Lionheart Family suffered the same fate. In the face of this face-masked angel of very high rank, high-tier card masters could struggle a bit more by various means but could not ultimately escape death. No method had any effect on it. The camp was densely populated, and within a short period, the spirits of tens of thousands of humans were extracted. The face-masked angel''s soul visibly became ten percent more solid. An even more bizarre scene was simultaneously unfolding. The human corpses, which had their souls extracted and died, were infused with omnipresent undead air, and they came back to life. Not by mutation, but by turning into undead zombies. The face-masked angel didn''t seem to have any awareness yet and just aimlessly drifted on the streets of the camp. But the undead creatures had an active killing instinct. They roamed in groups in the camp, madly slaughtering the hunters everywhere. In an instant, the vast camp was filled with wails and howls, resembling a scene from hell. The followers of the Silver Moon Sect didn''t even have to lift a finger; a single technique had pushed everyone into a desperate situation. Chapter 264 - 116 Heavenly King’s Curse Body_2 Chapter 264: Chapter 116 Heavenly Kings Curse Body_2 Translator: 549690339 I The Old Days Sect really wants to sacrifice everyone... Leonard Churchill couldnt help but gasp as he watched this scene unfold. Now he finally understood why the Old Days Believers were despised by all the card masters. This recurring and dehumanizing sacrifice, its pure heresy! After observing for a moment, he noticed that the masked angel whom the Silver Moon Sect summoned was not a real god. It rather appeared to be a flawed spirit. Clearly, this was another sacrificial ceremony. They were using the souls of tens of thousands of people in the camp to restore some original capabilities that the god should possess. And it seems that human bodies were going to be part of that Undead Barrier. Find new stories at novelhall.com Its killing two birds with one stone. This doesnt look good... As Leonard looked at the Lionheart Family, who had no room to resist from his position on the camp wall, he wondered what he should do now. He glanced towards the Hunters Tavern for a moment. The greatest hope right now lies with the three people from the X Bureau. If they could kill Old Cook, they might be able to solve the current crisis. However... Just at the moment this thought flashed through his mind, the windows of the tavern suddenly exploded. Crash! From his vantage point, Leonard saw Reuel Bible, with his exaggerated muscles and evil ghost tattoos, throw out a young man with a mushroom head as if he were throwing a sandbag. Then another window was smashed open by a figure; a woman in a tight suit with short hair, also rushed out with a serious look on her face. Meantime, Reuel Bible didnt forget to roar: Ill hold this guy off, you two go ahead! Upon seeing this, Leonard jerked at the corner of his eyes. From this point of view, it seemed that the three guys of X Bureau wouldnt win either. The situation instantly became worse. The camp was now filled with undead creatures. Staying here was definitely impossible now. But there was nowhere to go outside of the camp either. Outside was a thick darkness, full of unknown creatures, so much so that you couldnt see your hand in front of your face. At this moment, he could hear the screams and cries from the hunters who rushed in first. No matter which way he looked, the situation seemed dire. They couldnt beat them, and there was nowhere to run. Witnessing this, Leonard was at a loss for what to do. With that, he thought of something and quickly added, Boy, remember not to look back when the time comes. Once the crying angel opens her eyes, whoever looks at her dies. If you do end up looking, stare at her and dont blink. Otherwise, you will undoubtedly die! Oh. The young man seemed to have no doubt about it, but he also said, Then Grandpa, what should we do now? Elder Clinton: What else can we do? Find a way to escape. The Undead Catastrophe hasnt reached its peak yet, so we may still have a chance to escape. Hurry up, or it will be too late to escape later. Thump, Thump, Thump... The noise of the battle in the camp is getting louder and louder. As expected. As Elder Clinton predicted, once Reuel Bible launched his major attack, the battle situation instantly became one-sided. Under that overwhelming force, the old man carrying the cross was blown away time and time again, smashing through a building every now and then. Although it was strange that the hunchbacked man didnt die. But to anyone looking at it, the outcome seemed to be already decided. The hunchback was being beaten throughout, with no room to fight back. Even Leonard Churchill made such a judgment. However, when everyone else thought the victory or defeat of this battle was already set, Reuel Bible, who was overwhelmingly winning the battle, felt increasingly uneasy. The man in front of him was not strong, but how could he not be killed? Even after several deadly attacks, he was still hanging on to his life. Reuel Bible guessed that this might be the Undying Secret Skill bestowed by the Ancient God. Intuition told him that if the battle didnt end soon, the risk would become greater and greater. At this moment, Reuel Bible, surrounded by evil spirits, slammed another punch. The hunchbacked old mans chest plate was sunken, and then the whole person was thrown into the wall. This punch, mixed with chaotic Order Laws, was enough to kill any Third Tier card master. Yet, it still couldnt kill this seemingly Second Tier hunchbacked old man. And this time, after the hunchbacked old man was brutally hit, he didnt choose to fight back anymore. As if the time was ripe. Instead, he stood in place with a strange smile, Kukuku... The Heavenly Kings Curse Body really lives up to its reputation. You, who have practiced this Demon God Secret Skill, are no ordinary man. Its a pity to die. Ill give you a chance to survive now, as long as you are willing to believe in the great Silver Moon Holy Master, you can spare your life... Upon hearing this surrender speech, Reuel Bibles gaze turned cold. He didnt waste any words at all. With a foot on the ground, his figure disappeared with a whoosh sound. Thump! A sound of blood and flesh splattering resounded. Another look. Tens of meters away, the hunchbacked old mans abdomen was already pierced by Reuel Bibles punch, with blood and internal organs all over the ground. However, even with such a deadly injury, there wasnt any despair on the old mans face. Instead, the smile on his face was extraordinarily grim, Since you do not appreciate kindness, then go to hell. As soon as the words fell, a mysterious force was added, and the blood under his feet eerily crystallized into a Nine-pointed Star Magic Array. The hunchbacked old man looked up at the crying angel drifting aimlessly in the sky above the camp and shouted, Please, the angel opens her eyes! As soon as these words came out, Reuel Bible sensed something for the first time, and his face changed dramatically.. Chapter 265 - 117 Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Chapter 265: Chapter 117 Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Subscriptions, Seeking Monthly Tickets) Translator: 549690339 The battle rhythm of the two in the camp was very fast. In the blink of an eye, as Leonard Churchill took an extra glance, the outcome was already decided. The hunchbacked old mans abdomen was pierced by a punch. With that kind of injury, it seemed impossible for him to survive. However, just as Leonard Churchill thought it was over, an unexpected turn of events occurred... The hunched old mans corpse suddenly glowed with a magical sheen and a burst of black and white light suddenly erupted from the cross beside him. Next, the sleepwalking-like masked angel in the sky seemed to be stimulated by something and started to howl in pain, clutching its head. There was no sound. But everyone in the camp clearly heard that hysterical howl. The angel seemed to be in unbearable pain, its hands turning claw-like as it began to tear off the bandages from its face. Whats happening now? Leonard Churchill had a feeling that something major was about to happen, but he didnt know what it was. Just in case, he even transformed into his werewolf form. However, even after transforming, the sense of crisis that made his hair stand on end only intensified. In the distance, the angel in mid-air ripped off the bandages covering its face. In an instant, everyone saw a pair of red pupils dripping with golden blood. At just that moment when we saw it, the trembling of the angels entire body like a cicadas chirring started, bizarre and soul-chilling. The real harvest of death began at this moment. What happened! Leonard Churchill didnt understand. All he saw was that the people who were still alive around the camp began to fall in swathes as if they were being mowed down. The white smoke-like souls all left their bodies, turning into countless threads, gathering on the illusion of the angel. How did these people die? Leonard Churchill couldnt understand. If it werent for the Curse Jar exempting curses, he wouldve died many times over earlier. But he didnt die, and Leonard Churchill was excited. If it were somewhere else, he would genuinely be interested in carefully studying the killing rules of this weeping angel. But he couldnt do it now. This was within the Silver Moon Sects Undead Barrier. The moment the angel opened its eyes, tens of thousands of people in the camp were killed instantly. If he waited a moment longer, theres no telling what else could happen. Leonard Churchill didnt dare bet on whether the jar would work every time, and he didnt know if the Silver Moon Sect had other tricks. He needed to think of a way to leave this place first. With that thought, without any hesitation, Leonard Churchill shot out of the camp. Even when running, he kept his gaze fixed on the angel, daring not to blink. Soon, he smelled a familiar scent. Just before the angel opened its eyes, Elder Clinton and his grandson quietly left the camp and walked into the thick black fog outside. But because both of their tiers were very low, and there were Undead Creatures all over the Undead Barrier, they didnt dare to move too quickly. Suddenly hearing footsteps from behind, they were startled and thought that some creature was chasing after them. The young man instantly drew the thin sword at his waist. At that moment, they saw a werewolf walking past them in the black fog from below their crouches. Not a creature, they both breathed a sigh of relief. Grandpa, isnt that the one from before...? Shhh... Leonard Churchill caught up to Elder Clinton and looked strangely at the two of them, who hadnt died yet. Leonard Churchill backed up to them, seeing the grandfather and grandson walking with their butts pouted and heads in their trouser crotches, and didnt find it ridiculous at all. Rather, he seemed to think of something. These two were walking like this to avoid some of the Vengeful Spirit-type creatures. Without any hesitation, Leonard Churchill suddenly turned around and buried his head in his trouser crotch, mimicking their action.. Chapter 266 - 117: Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Chapter 266: Chapter 117: Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Ticket) _2 Translator: 549690339 The moment he turned his head, Enlightenment prompted again, You have exempted from the Souls Curse once. Leonard Churchill was starting to feel more and more puzzled. His surroundings were already shrouded in black mist, and logically, he should no longer be able to see the angel. Yet the angel always lingered in front of him like a lasting image on his retinas, unfading, continuously there. Three people, each bending over, exchanged glances with each other, creating an indescribable awkward atmosphere. Seeing the werewolf, the grandfather and grandson also guessed who the newcomer was. The camp had been covered with arrest warrants recently, so it could only be that person. Elder Clinton recognized him, pretended not to, and secretly ridiculed him. When Kane was assassinated, all those who had had contact with the Alternate Dimension were affected. The grandfather and grandson, besides the two involved, were the only two who survived. Naturally, they were also wanted. They had managed to hide until now, only to encounter this kind of situation again. According to Elder Clintons years of survival experience, staying away from this sort of source of trouble was the best way to stay safe. However, due to his lack of strength, he dared not speak out, revealing only a resentful and cunning look in his eyes. After all, they had met once in the Alternate Dimension. There was even some fondness due to the gift of equipment. The teenager, thus, did not feel much estrangement. But seeing that Leonard Churchills gaze had not shifted, he asked, Why are you staring over there all the time? Seeing the mysterious runes drawn in blood on their faces, Leonard Churchill also suspected that he might be on the right track. These two probably knew how to get out. Before he could finish his sentence, he swallowed the last half of it. What he originally wanted to say was that the object that could exempt from such curses was not a common relic. But thinking that prying into someone elses secrets might bring trouble, he quickly held his tongue. After accepting the money, Elder Clinton didnt hold back and said, I read from an ancient book, in such a situation, unless you are so strong that you can resist the contamination, you are almost certain to die. He paused, his eyes looking at Leonard Churchill strangely, and then said, Since you are not dead, as long as you run far enough, you should be able to survive. Before that, you have to keep staring at it, dont blink, dont turn corners, dont let anything obstruct your line of sight... Dont let it disappear from your field of vision. Otherwise, it will follow you. II II Upon hearing this, Churchill let out a sigh of relief. He hadnt held much hope before. After all, nobody had ever seen an angel, let alone know how to deal with one. Unexpectedly, an old hunter in the Hunters Campsite actually knew how. No matter if it was useful or not, at least he had a direction to follow. After saying that, Elder Clinton seemed to be struggling to express Lets part ways here. Churchill pretended not to understand and still wanted to ask something else. Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came again behind him. The color drained from the faces of Churchill and the grandfather and grandson. The three of them were on high alert. At this point, those who were still alive were most likely monsters or enemies. Oddly enough, before the footsteps in the dark mist got any closer, Reuel Bibles rough voice echoed, Elder Clinton, its us. A prudent look flashed across Churchills face upon hearing this. He immediately morphed back into human form from the werewolf state. Although he did not know how these three could still be alive, they were, after all, from the official organization. It was better to keep his assassinator suspect identity concealed from them. In the blink of an eye, Reuel Bible and his crew had arrived. Seeing the three people bent over and walking in front of them, the newcomers were momentarily frozen, their expressions awkward. However, Reuel Bible, also seemingly aware of this method, didnt let his reputation as a master stand in the way. He ducked his head down to his waistline and said with emotion, Oh, I knew youd have a way, Elder Clinton.. Chapter 267 - 117: Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Ticket) _3 Chapter 267: Chapter 117: Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Ticket) _3 Translator: 549690339 As he said this, he didnt forget to prompt the two assistants: You two should learn too. This is a secret skill thats really useful for avoiding evil spirits and undead type creatures. Mushroomhead looked on with curiosity and started learning as well. However, Adas face turned odd as she watched the five men in front of her, all sticking their bottoms out. Even though she could face death without a frown. But to perform this action, she couldnt help feeling somewhat embarrassed! Feeling the collective gaze of the five men, Ada felt even more uncomfortable and begrudgingly joined the bottom-sticking group. So there they were, six people sticking their bottoms out, walking in an odd posture with a quirky atmosphere in the black fog. But the effect was clear, the monster sounds that were formerly heard in the black fog were gone. After the six people used this secret skill, it seemed like they were overlooked. Meeting these three from the X Bureau, Leonard Churchill was somewhat helpless. VIssiT for the best novel reading experience Having experienced Reuel Bibles combat power just a moment ago, he knew that it would be useless whether he transformed into a werewolf or not if he had to fight. instead, he was more interested in the blackbox that the three men were carrying. He guessed that it could be some kind of Disaster Object. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for them to get here. He originally wanted to pretend he didnt know them. But after all, he was the only one among the six people walking in the correct direction; this scene was definitely noticeable. It seems like he had truly forgotten. Seeing this, Reuel Bible sighed, and then asked: Did you find what you were looking for? Upon hearing this question, the murkiness in Elder Clintons eyes seemed to stir a little; he shook his head: No. However, now was not the time for leisure chat or helping with his memory. Reuel Bible, with a wrinkled forehead, asked again: Setting that aside, how do we get out now? Elder Clinton fired back a question: Can you kill the Spellcaster? Reuel Bible looked helpless as he replied: No, I cant. I have tried just now. Those Old Days Believers must have awakened some part of the Ancient Gods will; now they have divine protection, making them hard to kill. More importantly, that Angel, even the Disaster Object I brought cant withstand that curse, I could only choose to escape first. *sigh*... The trouble behind us is growing. Indeed, the trouble is big. Elder Clinton also scrunched up his old face as he heard this. Seemingly because Reuel Bible was an acquaintance, he didnt disguise himself but continued speaking: I cant remember clearly. But this should be the undead type forbidden curse magic Undead Catastrophe. But the Spellcasters tier isnt high enough, so its only a half-finished product now. Otherwise, we should be dead the moment the magic barrier covered us... I remember it seems like we can get out by walking this way. But I am not completely sure, we can only take it step by step.. Listening to their conversation, Leonard Churchill tried to analyze their relationship in his mind. Reuel Bible and Elder Clinton knew each other twenty years ago? But why was it forgotten? This Elder Clintons origin is mysterious. No wonder he could survive in so many Alternate Dimensions, having abilities and methods beyond comprehension isnt surprising then. However, he didnt know as they didnt say. But, he was more concerned with something else. initially, he didnt think it was a big deal to keep looking in one direction. But as they walked, Leonard Churchill suddenly realized that the Weeping Angel which was slowly getting smaller in his sight, was now getting bigger. Reuel Bible and the others were not looking back, they were unaware of what happened.. Chapter 268 - 117: Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Ticket) _ 4 Chapter 268: Chapter 117: Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Ticket) _ 4 Translator: 549690339 But their keen perception allowed them to discover something. It seemed as if something was silently pursuing them. Having sensed something, the five didnt dare to look back, but cast their shared gaze towards the only one who was looking behind, Leonard Churchill: Whats wrong? However, Leonards eyelid twitched, he didnt hide anything and said, Senior Clinton, Id like to ask you why the angel suddenly got closer? Elder Clinton was taken aback, What? At Leonards words, the color drained from the faces of the others. Leonard had voiced their worst fear. Elder Clinton then asked: Did you blink? Leonard confirmed: No. He was certain that he did not lose sight of that angel. Yet, It still came. Listening to this, Elder Clinton also became doubtful, asking again: How close? A second ago, the distance was about three hundred meters, now... As Leonard spoke, he couldnt help the corner of his eye twitching, Its... right behind you. At this moment, the weeping angel was floating just a few meters away. He could clearly see the faint light emanating from its exquisitely beautiful face. But the strange thing was, no one was dead. Elder Clinton felt his eyelid twitching. Even Reuel Bible and the others felt the hair on the back of their necks stand up. Theyd all seen the weeping angel just now. If it was right behind them now, even if it didnt kill anyone, sheer terror would accomplish that for it. But since it had followed. Why had it not attacked? Reuel Bible and Mushroomhead were not surprised at all, they recognized at a glance that this was the item from the auction robbery. Even though they didnt know how it ended up in his hands, they thought of how this Card Master Apprentice had dared to kill Hensen, the Second Tier Plague Doctor, concluding that there was one thing for certain C he was definitely not a Silver Moon Believer. Ada was a bit slower to react. She thought that Reuel Bible hadnt figured it out and hurriedly warned him: Captain... Reuel didnt respond. With everyones gaze upon him, Leonard felt uneasy and added: I got it by killing a few believers during the auction house robbery. Raising his eyebrows, Reuel didnt doubt his words. It was obviously another matter that concerned him more. He finally got to ask a question that had not been asked before, Are you part of the Thirteen Masked Knight Organization? Leonard said: No. Reuel raised his eyebrow: Oh. Hearing this, the defensive light in his eyes immediately disappeared. Leonard found it refreshing to communicate with the straightforward Reuel. He believed him as soon as he spoke. There was no need to over explain. But now is not the time to elaborate on why the nail is in Leonards possession. With the angel looming behind them, in the next instant, they might all drop dead on the spot. Elder Clinton looks at Reuel and others and figured out a few things. As long as its not the Old Days Believer, its fine. He didnt care where the nail came from, but having this thing stirred something in his memory as if it had been triggered by something He suddenly exclaimed, Oh... I thought of a way! This might entirely solve the Angel problem! At his words, everyone, including Leonard, turned to look at him. Elder Clinton said: That angel is not quite under the control of necromancy, its more like its been restrained. Not to mention that the spiritualists tier is too low to exert any control.. The main reason the Angel could manifest this way is because they have the crucifix, the Soul Carrier! Chapter 269 - 117: Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Chapter 269: Chapter 117: Kidnapped an Angel (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Ticket) _5 Translator: 549690339 I Leonard Churchill and the others kept their expressions unchanged; they had already anticipated this. Elder Clinton continued, However, an angel is a high-ranking creature that would never willingly submit to being manipulated by humans. Even if its just a residual soul, its instincts would want to escape from such magical servitude. Previously, it was likely guided by the presence of the Holy Nail, and hence followed you around. The five nodded in agreement at this explanation; their logic seemed sound. So, whats the solution? Elder Clinton was straightforward, I have an idea... if you use this nail as a host for his soul, you might be able to contain him and free him from the spellcasters control. The Weeping Angel seemed like a source of corruption. The ability to kill people and extract souls was passively released. It had no subjective consciousness at this point. Once contained, the threat would be eliminated. Or at least significantly reduced. Upon hearing this plan, the group also felt that it was feasible. Reuel Bible squinted slightly and said, If we can solve the angel problem, perhaps I can return and wipe out those Old Days Believers. With the matter of direct relevance to him, Leonard asked, So, what should we do now? Elder Clinton did not hesitate, I need to borrow some of your blood. Leonard cautiously asked, Can it be any other blood? He clearly forgot about something. Still, immediately after he finished speaking, he shrugged and decided, Never mind, it should be enough like this. When the final stroke of the rune was implemented, the Light and Dark Holy Nail began shining intensely with sacred light. Elder Clinton stared at the glowing nail as if he was holding a hot potato and quickly passed it to Leonard, Ask him to test it. See if hes willing to go with you. Leonard received the Holy Nail and the Enlightenment Display showed a temporary glyph effect called Soul Calming Spells. He raised it and inquired the Weeping Angel, who had been observing him, Are you... would you like to come with me? The towering angel showed no comprehension in its vacant eyes, as if it did not understand. However, the nail no longer exerted the uncomfortable constraint force on it. The residual instinct unconsciously let it float towards Leonard. At this point, the blood runes on the Light and Dark Holy Nail brightened, and the Holy Light and Extraordinary Traits of darkness started to surge. As though reacting to something, the already semi-transparent Illusion of the angel darted into the Holy Nail. The blood runes dimmed instantly. The Holy Nail returned to its normal state. Leaving the six of them looking at each other in bewilderment. Leonard was under the mindset of giving it a try and hadnt expected it to... actually work? The Holy Nail had managed to contain the angel? The reality left them with a sense of surrealism. But in an instant, all six felt the tangible weight lift from their shoulders. The most significant threat was gone.. Chapter 270 - 118: Dice Chapter 270: Chapter 118: Dice Translator: 549690339 Elder Clinton, with symbols painted in fresh blood on his hand, managed to trap the Weeping Angel inside the Light and Dark Holy Nail. At the same time. The hunchbacked old man at the camp suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression dramatically changing, How is it possible?! He quickly chanted a spell, but after several attempts, he realized that the crucifixes around him remained still, and he could no longer sense the presence of the angel. Even if he didnt know what had happened, he knew it certainly wasnt good news. Acquiring the divine soul of the Weeping Angel by breaking its ancient seal wasnt an easy task. With enough sacrifices, even if only a wisp of the soul remained, they wouldnt have to hide as they do now. He had initially thought that the angel would greatly aid the revival of his sect, but after only two uses, it had gone out of control and disappeared? The hunchbacked old man would never have dreamed that the previously stolen Light and Dark Holy Nail would be hiding in the camp. Even more coincidentally, Elder Clinton who is capable of summoning the spirits of angels were present. At that moment, a veiled woman quietly arrived at the camp, currently filled with wandering zombies. The hunchbacked old man said urgently, Leader, the Angel has gone out of control. You should get going... He knew very well that without the Weeping Angel that the Undead Catastrophe, which had not yet matured, could not withstand the X Bureaus power. Upon hearing this, the woman, whose eyes sparkled like Silver Moons, showed a hint of gravity and shook her head, Theres no time left. Just then, the two watched as a muscular brute covered in dark ghosts, radiating an overwhelming killing intent, rushed towards them. The man was none other than Reuel Bible of the X Bureau. Reuel Bibles mission was actually to manage the Faith Contamination incident in Sinless City. At first, they had assumed it was just a minor issue with relics from the ancient times causing Faith Contamination, something they had dealt with countless times. They held this belief at least until they arrived at Sinless City. Given the state of the surroundings, one could easily guess the outcome. Since the Old Days Believers had retreated, there was no need to hide. Leonard Churchill and the others returned to the devastated camp. Just as they entered, they saw Reuel Bible, donned in a trench coat, seated on a metal box amidst the ruins, smoking a cigarette, appearing deep in thought. His assistant Ada walked over to him, surveyed the surroundings, and asked, Captain? Where are the Old Days Believers? Reuel Bible casually replied, They got away. Saying this, he exhaled a puff of smoke and continued, The Old Days Believers of the Silver Moon Sect are becoming a significant threat. The Faith Contamination situation is worse than we had anticipated. After getting back to the bureau, make sure to document this thoroughly in the report. Hopefully, it will draw the higher-ups attention. Yes, Captain. Upon hearing this, Mushroomhead, who was standing nearby also began to document these notes in his notebook. After speaking, Reuel Bible remained silent for a long while. Leonard Churchill surveyed the camp and was puzzled by the absence of bodies. Like a receding tide taking with it fishes, the black tide of the undead also appeared to have taken all the corpses with it. The massive camp that was now empty gave off an eerie vibe. If it were not for witnessing what had happened, anyone would find it hard to believe that there had been a bustling town filled with thousands of people, not too long ago. The crisis had passed and not far off, Elder Clinton, missing a few teeth, did not appear panicked as he had been while escaping. Completely unashamed, he quietly began treading through the ruins, and whenever he found something, he would mutter to himself, Oh, Im rich, Im rich! His greedy and vulgar demeanor showed no signs of the mysterious expert that he was before. But the more Leonard Churchill saw of his behaviour, the more mysterious he found Elder Clinton. It gave him the same sense of mystery as encountering an unexplained fallout material. Before he could think any further, he suddenly heard Reuel Bible shouting from a distance, Elder Clinton, fancy joining me for a drink? Leonard Churchill looked over to find Reuel Bible beckoning with a couple of intact barrels of beer he had found somewhere, grinning broadly.. Chapter 271 - 118: Dice_2 Chapter 271: Chapter 118: Dice_2 Translator: 549690339 He seemed to be in high spirits, with none of the moroseness he had shown earlier visible on his face. All that was left was a hearty and buoyant smile. Upon hearing about the prospect of drinking, Elder Clinton enthusiastically ran over, saying, Alright. While speaking, Reuel Bible invited Leonard Churchill, Brother here, would you like to join us for a drink? Sure. Hearing the invitation, Leonard Churchill contemplated it for a moment, then walked over. Together with the two assistants, the group of six who had earlier escaped the chaos sat around a makeshift table made from rotten wooden planks, drinking together. Leonard Churchill initially didnt want to associate with official figures, considering his identity as an assassin . However, the situation now was slightly tricky because he had an[Angel]in his possession. If the other party had malicious intentions, he wasnt sure he could escape. But evidently, there were none. Besides, Reuel Bible left a good impression on him. Unreserved, bold, and upright. He took interest in the current situation and decided to engage in it. Another thing, Leonard Churchill was interested in the Evil Ghost Secret Skill and coveted the cross left in the camp. The Light and Dark Cross stained with the sacred blood of an angel couldnt be stored in storage space. Now that the angel was gone, this cross was not particularly useful to the Silver Moon Believers. Probably because it was too heavy, they left it behind when they fled. But after all, it was the spoils of war of Reuel Bible, who seemed to want to take it away as evidence. Leonard Churchill figured that since he was invited for a drink, it should be possible to discuss things. Once the six people sat down and poured the alcohol, they grabbed some jerky and other food, and casually chatted in the ruins. Having shared in adversity, they were no longer strangers. Elder Clinton, where have you been all these years? While listening to Elder Clintons story, Leonard Churchill was both amazed and felt a pang of melancholy. The majority of the conversation was between Reuel Bible and Elder Clinton, with the others hardly saying a word. Leonard Churchill also sat in a corner. At this moment, Reuel Bible raised his glass towards Leonard Churchill. He didnt give off any oppressive aura that a master would, but smiled affably, May I know your name, brother? Leonard Churchill. Leonard Churchill didnt attempt to hide his identity. Hearing that, Reuel Bible broke out into a hearty laugh, Brother Leonard Churchill, you are really formidable. I knew you were no ordinary man when I met you in Sinless City last time. Indeed, my judgment was right.... Although he didnt explicitly mention the assassination, it was implied. After all, surviving the War Mode that had wiped out three hundred members of the Fierce Beast Legion must have been a difficult storyline. However, he survived, and that was true strength. Leonard Churchill was surprised at this officials lack of interest in the details of the assassination, but instead focused on this matter. But he shook his head at these words, saying, You think too highly of me. This was not a mere modest statement. Before others, he felt his words held no fault. But at this table, he dared not boast. Not to mention Reuel Bible and the mysterious Elder Clinton, even the two young assistants didnt seem simple to him. The only one he thought he had a read on, was probably the boy named Colin. Even when probing, Reuel Bible was frank and straightforward. This time, he asked, I am just very curious; if you arent part of the Thirteen Masked Knights, who do you really work for? As an official, many things still needed to be investigated. Leonard Churchill replied, I dont work for anyone. Im a lone hunter. A lone hunter? Hearing these words, Reuel Bible gave him a long look, revealing a trace of surprise in his eyes. One should know that a Curse Card Masters power is accumulated from resources, including the Demon Mark, Breathing Method, martial skills, equipment, and so forth. For a lone traveler without a faction, no matter how talented they may be, it would be difficult for them to go far.. Chapter 272 - 118 Dice_3 Chapter 272: Chapter 118 Dice_3 Translator: 549690339 Upon hearing that, Reuel Bibles interest was piqued. He asked, Brother Leonard Churchill, would you be interested in joining our Federation X Bureau? I see great potential in you. If you are indeed interested, I can serve as your sponsor. All the induction procedures will be simplified... This... Leonard Churchill, hearing these words, was likewise surprised. Did Bible give no concern to his murder of a high-ranking noble? To join the X Bureau felt akin to landing a promising public service job in his previous life. For ordinary people, it was like manna from heaven. But Leonard Churchill took no interest. He enjoyed this world solely for its mystery, danger, and thrill...things that reminded him he was still alive. He wasnt seeking a stable job. Did Bible invite him because of that angel? The two assistants nearby couldnt hide their astonishment, puzzled as to why their captain would invite a stranger. Getting into the X Bureau was not an easy feat. It was typically the best graduates of the Federation University who qualified as interns. Just like them. The first criteria were to ensure the origin and identity of the personnel. The second was strength. The Federation University in Dragon City was the holy land for curse card masters. One could say that while not every university graduate would become a high-tier curse card master, over eighty percent of existing high-tier curse card masters had studied at the Federation University. The two assistants were in disbelief. Would their captain really engage fervently with a solo hunter they met in a place like Sinless City? This... I might need to consider. Leonard Churchill did not reject outright. With another talent in the Bureau-and an angel to boot-it would be killing two birds with one stone. Reuel Bible said, This matter involves too many complicating factors, I cant make a decision. Seeing Bible furrow his brows, Leonard Churchill knew this matter was tricky. Not in terms of dealing with the relic cross. But in figuring out how to take the angel along. The creature had taken tens of thousands of lives before being controlled. If it were to lose control in a big city, the consequences would be catastrophic. Taking it into containment and sealing it in the headquarters warehouse would be the most rational choice. That Bible was in a dilemma affirmed that he had no intentions of using force. With his strength, he could easily do so. Leonard Churchill was well aware of his limitations-he did not believe that he had the ability to control such a dangerous existence. Everyone assumed he would refuse and consider a trade instead. But unexpectedly, Bible changed his tone seemingly having found a good solution, How about this? We make a bet. Well roll the dice to see who gets a higher number. If you win, the cross is yours. If I win, I take it. Also, Id like to invite you to visit the bureau. After touring the place, you can then consider whether or not to join us. Astonished at the sudden proposition, Leonard Churchill immediately agreed, Sure! He generally took no interest in bets. But this one that seemed to hold the fate of his future had him interested. Reuel Bible laughed heartily upon hearing his response, Great! Not only did Leonard Churchill leave a good impression on him, but he was also impressed by the young man before him. But as soon as those words left his mouth, the assisting Adas expression changed. She urgently reminded him, Captain! She knew that the bureaus regulations werent binding for their captain. But that was for other occasions. Last time, he handed over the body of the Plague Doctor Hensen to Leonard Churchill due to a passing comment. But how could they let someone of uncertain origin take away an entity as significant as an angel? Reuel Bible waved his hand, signaling Ada not to speak.. Chapter 273 - 118 Dice_4 Chapter 273: Chapter 118 Dice_4 Translator: 549690339 He mysteriously produced three dice, gently tapping them on the table. It seemed like a subtle pre-roll move, which no one at the table seemed to notice any irregularity. However, Elder Clinton, who was sitting aside, seemed to discern something and glanced at him curiously. He noticed the flow of Order Law on the dice. But he did not speak up. Leonard Churchill didnt perceive anything profound, but he felt a vague sensation, as if the very rhythm of destiny was pulsating. Reuel Bible tossed the dice, which clattered and tumbled on the table. Their gazes were glued to the dice as they came to a halt. They landed on 3, 4, 5. Neither a small nor a large number. Looking at his roll, Reuel Bible raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself, Not a bad roll. Then, he looked at Leonard Churchill, saying, Your turn. Without much thought, Leonard Churchill picked up the three dice. The moment he was about to toss them, he experienced a sudden throbbing in his heart, as if he had seized control of the destiny. It was a sensation far stronger than what he had felt when he was betting his life against the Gambling Hound in room 407. This feeling of holding destiny in his hands always gave him an inexplicable confidence and excitement. He suddenly grinned. Upon seeing this, Reuel Bible had a sense of foreboding and his pupils instinctively contracted. Leonard Churchill threw the dice. As the dice rolled around on the table, they finally revealed 666. All the people at the table were dumbfounded. This was none other than the youngest four-star general of the Federation, the power figure of the Lionheart Family, the Golden Lion, Carlo! He had another status, the uncle of Young Master Kane, who had just been assassinated. Seated across from him was a woman in a glamorous red court dress. About the same age as Carlo, her face bore no signs of aging. Instead, she exuded an air of aristocracy and carried an indomitable spirit that suggested her long-standing high position. The five council families of the Federation are still discussing how to split up the cake that is the Old Continent. The conservatives even suggest complete destruction of Sinless City, severing the link to the Old Continent...heh, those fat pig politicians are truly daydreaming... The impact of the Old Continent is too great. No one dares to guarantee what theyll find on this land of miracles. Its normal for those high-ranking members of the parliament, who have been enjoying privileges for too long and fear that someone might shake the power in their hands, to not want to change the status quo... By the time those greedy politicians finish their discussions, we will have already stationed ourselves firmly on the Old Continent. General Carlo. Dont forget what you promised me when the time comes. Of course, Madam. You possess the most complete information about the Old Continent, and our Lionheart Family holds the strongest military force in the Federation, our cooperation will undoubtedly be very pleasant. II II They chatted and laughed, both obtaining the results they desired. At last, the lady in red rose, her smile accentuated by a nod, Then, heres to a successful partnership. Even though Carlo was one of the highest military authorities in the Federation, he didnt dare underestimate the woman before him. He rose to his feet, offering a gentlemanly hand. The lady in red smiled seductively, Well, I wont disturb the Generals rest any further. We should be reaching Thunderbolt Fortress soon, I will go change my clothes. Carlo nodded, signaling, Someone, escort the lady out. The carriage door opened, and a maid came in to respectfully see the beautiful lady out. When the coast was clear, an old man dressed in a black tailcoat strolled in with a telegram in hand, General, weve just received this telegram. The Seventeenth Legion of the Fierce Beast Corps has set off. Theyre heading to Sinless City as we speak. They should arrive in five days. Upon hearing this, Carlo chuckled coldly, Heh, that good-for-nothing nephew of mine did do the family a great favor. As Carlos most trusted strategist, this matter was planned by him from the very beginning, Indeed. If it hadnt been for the assassination, the Fierce Beast Legion would have faced opposition from the parliament if they wanted to station themselves in Sinless City. On top of that, the Miller Family, who are still technically in charge of Sinless City, would undoubtedly be the first to object. Carlo asked, All is taken care of? The old man replied, Yes, General. Even if somebody manages to investigate, it was General Rex of the Iron Hand Legion who had placed the bounty on the black market. After all, Young Master Kane had just killed his only daughter. Theres no way it could be linked back to us... And your journey had been arranged for months in advance, no one would ever question your motives. Carlo mused for a while, making sure no loose ends were left, before saying, Hmm. After the Legion settles in, get rid of the major gangs in Sinless City as soon as possible. Take control of the Gold-digging Dock earlier, so we can recruit some hunters and start large scale developments on the Old Continent. Yes. The old man nodded, then hinted at the outside of the carriage, And... The lady? Hearing this, Carlos eyes glinted sharply. He shook his head and said, Those remnants of the old era are too naive. Todays Dragon City is no longer the Supreme Royal Court, and the major families of the Federation are far more powerful than they were during the Orlan Dynasty. How could they possibly restore their regime? However, they do have their uses for now, so well cooperate with them as per the terms. The infiltration by our spy division must also be intensified.... Chapter 274 - 119: Death Combat, Destiny Coin, Gluttony Secret Skill Chapter 274: Chapter 119: Death Combat, Destiny Coin, Gluttony Secret Skill Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill never thought he could win the relic, the cross, through a dice throw which seemed utterly unreliable. Even the Weeping Angel, Reuel Bible, had no intention of taking it away. This made Leonard feel somewhat strange. This dangerous existence, even he felt like carrying an undetonated nuclear bomb with him. Although he didnt feel uneasy about it. He didnt feel any fear either. On the contrary, this uncertainty gave him a unique sensory stimulation. But he was still afraid that the Angel might suddenly show up one day, causing harm to innocent people unintentionally. Fortunately, when he asked Elder Clinton, the old man said that there wouldnt be any problem unless he deliberately provoked the Angel. Leonard then felt relieved. VIssiT for the best novel reading experience Those six sat in the ruins of the campsite, eating and drinking, and discussing some nonsensitive topics. From his conversation with Reuel Bible, Leonard learned about the Heavenly King s Curse Body, one of the fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skills. Reuel Bible was candid, and when he came across friends he liked, he didnt shy away from discussing his Secret Skill. He even thought Leonard would be suitable for the Professional Sequence of [Diamond 6 C Outlaw Madman], and invited him to join multiple times. He also mentioned that the X Bureau had several of the fifty-two secret laws, various fragments, and various relics and disaster objects, as well as some classified files that recorded many secrets that ordinary people could not access in their lifetime. Leonard was very interested in hearing this. Although he also knew they often tried to probe his background. But he had nothing to hide, and nothing to be ashamed of. The most sensitive issues were his grudge with the Silver Moon Sect, and the assassination carried out on a whim. To others, this might seem like a big problem, but to them, it didnt matter at all. Even they felt that young Master Kane deserved to die. Leonard also felt helpless. After a few more days, the train sent many more hunters from Sinless City. The campsite was gradually returning to its former liveliness. The Angel incident was top-secret, ordinary people had no idea what had happened. Plus, in the wilderness, it wasnt unprecedented for a campsite to be wiped out by monsters. As hunters who risked their lives for adventure, they didnt take it too seriously, and continued to explore the ruins and excavate various Alternate Dimensions. Leonard didnt plan to stay in the campsite for much longer. He had too many spoils of war that needed to be dealt with and needed to buy some supplies that suited him. Most importantly, the mysterious Breathing Method he practiced only had six parts of the mantra. He is now practicing the six parts, and his Curse Power Value was hard to increase. He wanted to return to Sinless City and find the rest of the mantra. As for Elder Clinton and his grandson, they continued to stay on the Old Continent, searching for something unknown. When they said farewell, Leonard gave the [Relic- Flashing Heart-piercing Sword] he had confiscated from the Space to Colin. The relic was precious, but it couldnt compare to a life-saving favor. Without Elder Clinton, he was unsure if he could have survived when the Angel appeared. Leonard knew to repay kindness with kindness. One day. Clank Clank Clank... A steam train returning from Thunderbolt Fortress to Sinless City slowly pulled into the station. Disguised among the crowd returning to the Fortress, Leonard got off the train. Considering that he was still a suspect, he was always cautious and kept observing his surroundings. As soon as he got off the train, he saw that the bulletin board at the station was full of warrants. The assassin had revealed his identity before blowing himself up and killing Kane. His information was very detailed in the report. The picture was of a cloaked man with a blindfold, The Lantern Bearer Vince Lane. The eye catching bounty amount tagged with 100000000 had every passing hunter marveling.. Chapter 275 - 119: Death Fighting, Destiny Coin, Chapter 275: Chapter 119: Death Fighting, Destiny Coin, Gluttony Secret Skill _2 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill also saw his own arrest warrant on the corner of the notice board. People didnt know his real face, so they simply used a hand-drawn depiction of a werewolf and marked a bounty of 500W. Leonard chuckled to himself. If they truly wanted to capture someone based on this image, none of the card masters who were using werewolves as their primary material for their Spades 4 C Beast Walker could escape. But the issue was, this depiction varied greatly from him, the real person. He used the Primordial Template for his career. With the Ancestral Reversion Entry, his werewolf form changed every day. The transformed image and the one on the arrest warrant were vastly different. If one were to really compare his werewolf form with someone else, it would be like comparing a tiger to a cat. Leonard did not pay much attention to the arrest warrant. He walked out of the station. But as soon as he arrived at Gold-digging Dock, he became cautious immediately. Because Leonard realized, the number of security personnel here was more than ten times as many as before. In the past, only a few squads from the Sinless City gang patrolled the dock. Nobody would cause trouble. Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com After all, the gang had absolute say in Sinless City. But when he returned today, not only have the gang members multiplied several times, he saw employees dressed in suits from the Golden Oak Security Company, the professional soldiers from the Fierce Beast Legion dressed in military uniform, and various plainclothes security officers from unknown organizations... Huh... Isnt it strange that the military has stationed their people here? After the original balance is broken, the ownership of the dock becomes very important. In the past, when the dock was quiet and stable, it was fine. But now conflicts are intensifying, and once the floodgate is opened, it cant be stopped. That is what gangs do. As fierce as they are, the core issue is still about benefits. If the money is good enough, they could turn against someone in a minute. However, it was surprising that the Lionheart Family had seized certain rights to station troops at the dock so quickly. Leonard faintly smelled the scent of political conspiracy. Just when Kane died over there, they moved in immediately. Although everything looks... reasonable and rational. But something feels off. He didnt think much about it. This conspiracy had nothing to do with him and there was no interest. After getting off the cable car and walking a few steps, he arrived on the bustling Downing Street again. Although Sinless City has been turbulent recently, its more prosperous and lively than it was a month ago. The influx of all kinds of outsiders also makes this entertainment street a real gold-digging place. The various Moonlight Taverns and gambling dens are packed with people. A number of old taverns on the street have been renovated and there are a lot more dazzling places that obviously have been funded by the wealthy. Leonard found a tavern and sat down. He paid to get news about the recent situation of Sinless City from an information merchant. It was almost as he expected. Currently, Sinless City is full of all kinds of people and various forces are struggling in the dark. The noble class wants to extend their reach to the Old Continent and will certainly stir up chaos in Sinless City first. Only by disrupting the original order can outsiders have a chance.. Chapter 276 - 119: Death Duel, Destiny Coin Gluttony Secret Skill 3 Chapter 276: Chapter 119: Death Duel, Destiny Coin Gluttony Secret Skill 3 Translator: 549690339 The chaos hasnt completely erupted yet, mainly because the nobles in the Federal Parliament are still at odds over the division of interests in the Old Continent. Those who have arrived are just some businessmen, hunters, and mercenaries. The real aristocratic legions are not allowed to enter Sinless City. The Lionheart Familys army being able to stay is purely an accident. Also, the two biggest gangs in Sinless City, the Flood Gang and the Brotherhood, have operated for decades with deep roots and have not shown any signs of surrendering yet. However, the situation of the two major gangs has not been good recently, and they are quite busy fighting each other. Leonard Churchill just listened to these pieces of information. What he was more curious about was Abel, the Fist King, the seventh hall master of the Brotherhood. After all, the Breathing Method was first propagated by him. He asked the information merchant, but nobody knew what the secret method was all about. Some said it was obtained from ancient ruins, some said it was passed on as a heritage in their family or taught by their teacher... various versions... Leonard Churchill did not get the result he wanted. Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com But it was also strange. You have to know that any Breathing Method will definitely have some heritage lineage, especially high-quality ones like Golden, Legend, they give people the feeling as if they were the secret techniques of a martial arts school. Even if no one has practiced it, outsiders must have heard of it. But this incomplete method of respiration seemed to have emerged out of thin air. Mysterious and unique in the city, its origin could only be traced back to Abel. This was what Leonard Churchill found to be amazing. He increasingly felt that this Breathing Method could have a big background. After all, he had really practiced it, and deeply understood the formidable essence of this secret method. With just six verses, he acquired a Curse Power Value far exceeding other card masters of the Same Tier. On the other hand, others understanding of this secret method was very shallow, simply thinking it was a breathing method that could expel and absorb a variety of elements. They thought that Abels degree of mastery was already the limit. But Churchill knew deep in his heart that it absolutely was not! Hey, I also lost twenty thousand. Hahaha, this new guy is not bad. I told you guys early on, hes a War Slave banished from Upper Town, but you didnt believe me. Those who won laughed heartily, while those who lost cursed their luck. The gamblers really enjoyed these boxing matches. Because they were battles to the death. This was the Extraordinary World, where all other gambling games bred endless tricks and frauds. But Death Fistfight had little trickery. Because the losing party would invariably be killed by the opponent, no one dared to fake a fight. Bloody, stimulating, and real. Thus, not only hunters wishing to strike it rich overnight were present in the casino, even many wealthy businessmen and distinguished guests were there. Leonard Churchill was not in a hurry to watch the match, but strolled around and observed the entire casino situation under the pretext of selecting a viewing position. He eventually chose a corner in the sixth floor with a good view. He bought a beer and began to watch. After the janitor cleaned up the blood in the fighting cage, the sexy card-holding girl once again raised the scoreboard. Two bare-chested contestants entered the field. The customers filled every floor, holding their tickets in hand and starting to yell and shout. The bell rang, and another death match began. This match was a high-profile fight involving two professional card masters. One was a Spades 4 C Beast Walker who could transform into a black bear, who was fighting a Spade 8 C Demon Warrior who had the power of elements. Demon Warrior was a rare professional sequence in the society of lower class capable of withstanding damage and outputting attack power, a dual practitioner of physical skills and magic arts. But getting the professional sequence materials and imprints was not easy. Clearly, this gladiator was not from Sinless City. This kind of Death Fistfight was not only the revelry of individual customers but also a gambling duel among various prominent outsiders.. Chapter 277 - 119: Death Duel, Destiny Coin, Chapter 277: Chapter 119: Death Duel, Destiny Coin, Gluttony Secret Skill_4 Translator: 549690339 The gladiators in their hands, are quite a lot of real champions. One has to say, without the equipment in the boxing match, the beast walkers who can transform have great advantages. In the beginning, that huge bear hammered the demon hand warrior nonstop. The giant bear moves clumsily, but the arenas restriction gives him dominate the situation. Wild bear, kill that guy! Oh damn, the guy on the other side can use magic spells, too cunning... The gamblers were excited. Leonard Churchill also watched very attentively. As an expert in advanced combat, he could understand the cleverness of these fighting techniques. Both players moves do not involve fancy martial skills. They are all tricky, with intentions to be deadly. These practical combat techniques are very useful for Leonard Churchill, who is filled with skills cards inserted into his mind. Two figures quickly clashing are reflected in Leonard Churchills eyes, as if he himself was on the stage. The fight in the boxing gym was fierce, and gamblers were pouring in like a tide. At this time, a disguised person with a small moustache and wearing a brown duckbill cap also entered the casino. Many foreigners have recently entered Sinless City, and this outfit is like a speculator, and it is not surprising at all. As she walked, she muttered to the air, Hey hey hey... stay away from me. Do you really think there are no masters in Sinless City? If you get found out, even an idiot can guess that my identity is wrong. After walking around, this person also found a vacant spot on the railing on the sixth floor. Here the view of the stage is a bit poor, but the overall view is very good. The small moustache also ordered a glass of wine with impeccable masculine voice, and also started to pay attention to the boxing match. Leonard Churchill also noticed the small moustache out of the corner of his eye, but didnt pay much attention. The small moustache is like the other gamblers. And just like himself. Theres no difference. Soon, the appetizer in front ended. In the end, the result of the game was upset again. The rookie Demon Soldier managed to drag the Beast Walker after its transformation ended, and then brutally hammered his head, spraying blood all over the stage. However, he did not know that the man with the small beard not far from him was murmuring to himself as he watched the black Curse Power, So it is indeed the Gluttony Secret Skill, one of the Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skills. The Breathing Method of the number one martial arts genius who suddenly disappeared from the Federation eighty years ago... has now appeared in Sinless City... With that thought, the corner of his mouth curled up slightly. However, while toying with a gold coin in her hand, she seemed to discover something unusual and was surprised, Eh? ...the Fate Com is reacting? She glimpsed at several dozen gamblers watching the battle around her, and her expression became even more strange as if she had thought of something. The duel on the stage has begun fiercely. Two profession branches of the same A Courage approach C the Light Warrior focused on durability, while the Fighter had skillful tactics. Even though the difference in appearance was great. It was clear that Rex Smith had the upper hand over Hogan in terms of skills and tactics. Rex Smith could land ten punches for every two or three hits he took. But facing an opponent with such a gap in physical condition, Rex Smiths ten punches seemed to be weak. Ha ha ha ... Rex Smith doesnt seem to be doing very well. After jumping around for so long, Hogan hasnt even panted. Once his Curse Power and physical strength are almost exhausted, he should be finished. Yeah. The fact that Hogan can win seventeen consecutive matches proves that his physical defense is invincible. Just standing there, even a second-tier would have a hard time killing him. I told you. The difference in body size is too great, theres simply no chance. /The gamblers watched Rex Smiths tussle and werent optimistic about his chances. However, Leonard Churchill was amazed looking at Rex Smiths Curse Power, which overflowed and faintly formed a black tiger. He bought detailed information from the Information Merchant; this was Abels famous silver martial art C Curse Power Tiger Transformation. Seeing it now, it indeed was powerful. The punch strength is like a needle, penetrating muscles and bones. This air skill branch does have some tricks. Leonard found it more and more exciting the more he watched. Rex Smiths Curse Power transformed into a black tiger pattern around his body, and each time he landed a punch, the black Curse Power seems to ignite the opponents skin for a moment before it disappeared. Those punches are not as easy as they look. Leonard Churchill knows the Two-pole collapse, so he could tell at a glance that the power had penetrated the surface muscles and pierced the opponents meridians like a needle. This is an advanced technique of the Air Skill Master. This kind of bare-knuckled fight without armor, these punches wouldnt be pleasant. While they might not be fatal in the short term, any serious injuries would accumulate over time. Its hard to say who will win or lose. The Meat Mountain Hogan is very tough, and this gladiatorial match is fierce. Leonard is engrossed in the sight. His enlightenment is extremely high, even just watching the match, his fighting experience is rapidly increasing. +0.7 Fight Experience +0.3 Fight Experience +1 Fight Experience As more Enlightenment messages pop up, Leonard immerses himself in observing the duel between the fighting masters. However, at this moment, an untimely Enlightenment appears: You have exempted a mental hypnosis. Leonard1 eyes suddenly narrow upon seeing this. Because he was exempted, he was clearly aware of that moment of trance in his mind. He had previously thought about coming to this Brotherhood stronghold, fearing being secretly calculated by some Mysterious Techniques, so he had always worn a clown mask. He didnt expect it to really happen.. Chapter 278 - 120: Follow-up Sixfold Secret Skill Chapter 278: Chapter 120: Follow-up Sixfold Secret Skill Translator: 549690339 | Area-wide Mental Hypnosis? Leonard Churchill saw Enlightenment, with no hint of surprise on his face. Because he wasnt sure if this spell was targeting him. He continued to cheer as he had been, but internally he was thinking fast. VIssiT for the best novel reading experience Reminiscing about his careful movements since he arrived, he should not have given anything away. He glanced around stealthily but didnt see anyone paying attention to him. It was very likely he hadnt been exposed. Whats the deal? Who has nothing better to do than cast area-wide mental hypnosis at a bunch of gamblers? Leonard Churchill was puzzled, but not panicking. The Clown mask had absorbed some divine blood from the Light and Dark Cross, boosting its immunity to various mysterious system spells. Typical mysterious techniques would now struggle to affect him. On the contrary, he wanted to figure out the source of this spell. Mental Hypnosis is usually achieved by influencing the targets perception. The most common routes are through sight and hearing. Leonard Churchill glanced around the room, but didnt see anything like a pocket watch, a glowing pendant, or other visual hypnosis mediums. Could it be sound? Leonard Churchill carefully analyzed the sounds he was hearing but didnt notice anything unusual. That meant either the spellcaster was highly skilled, or they had used some special means. The exemption prompt from the Mental Hypnosis was still appearing. This indicated that the spellcaster was nearby. After observing for a while, Leonard Churchill finally identified something unusual. A little man wearing a duckbill cap had changed his position several times. Churchill didnt reveal anything unusual and thought to himself: Is he looking for someone? Or something... The outer clothes seem normal, but the inner lining was a bit too high-end, wasnt it? He initially wanted to feel around the guy to see if there was anything special about him to confirm his background. But something didnt seem quite right. Seeing this overly familiar guy with his arm around his shoulder, the little mustached man hadnt discovered the ulterior motive in that skillful maneuver, but disdain flashed in his eyes. No one had ever dared to offend her like this before! Hearing the answer that she didnt want to hear, she spat out coldly, Let go! You exempted a mental spell Command Compliance. Leonard Churchill inwardly smirked. Oh, cant stand it, can you? Churchill immediately judged that this was a woman disguised as a man. Not a professional secret agent, but a good actor without any real-life experience in the lower levels of society, arrogant enough to think shes very smart... Could it be a lady from a noble family out incognito? Her disguise wasnt perfect, but she had this bizarre spell that hypnotized people just by talking, which made it hard to catch her out. Churchill didnt understand her intentions. But he knew what this Directive Skill meant and pretended to be oblivious, releasing his arm. The little mustached woman who seemed uninterested just left without another word. Churchill didnt know what she was looking for, and he didnt dare to follow her. If she was a noble lady in disguise, most likely she had bodyguards watching her from the shadows. As long as she didnt come for him, Churchill didnt worry too much. It seemed unlikely to encounter Boxing King Abel in the Gladiator Arena tonight. But seeing one of his disciples in action was also rewarding. So Churchill just continued to watch the match. The fight on the stage was nearing its climax. However, at this moment, a group of people who were obviously gang members surged into the betting stands from various directions. Their expressions were panicked, and it was clear that a major incident had occurred.. Chapter 279 - 120: Follow-up to the 6th Secret Chapter 279: Chapter 120: Follow-up to the 6th Secret Skill_2 Translator: 549690339 Damn it! Boss Christ got assassinated, and the culprit is Freddie Ghost Mask, the Captain from the Flood Gang. Hes been caught, and his legs were broken... They really dared to lay their hands here on our turf? Gather the brothers; lets march and crush the hell out of the Flood Gang! II II Leonard Churchill watched their mouths from afar, figuring out what had just happened. The so-called Boss Christ they were referring to seemed to be a primary financier of this gambling den, and one of the senior members of their gang. He wasnt particularly competent, but he held a high position. Now he was assassinated. No surprise, as incidents like this have become common lately. The Flood Gang and their own gang had been repeatedly attacking each other, resulting in numerous casualties. It just so happens that the first significant person to die was one of the elder-level figures. But on second thought... The Flood Gang sending assassins, couldnt they hire an outsider who wasnt so recognizable instead of their own minor Captain? Leonard Churchill pondered, raising an eyebrow. An assassination was supposed to be carried out discreetly. Whats more, the killer was caught in the act. Isnt this clearly an act of provocation? Leonard Churchill did not believe that these two major gangs who achieved such scale could all just be brainless brawlers. Yet the assassin was caught in the act? Both person and property were captured; its inexcusable even if they wanted to. When Leonard Churchill reached this point in his thoughts, an idea suddenly popped into his head: what if Freddie had not wanted to commit the murder but was forced to? Likely due to threats to his family. Or perhaps...Mental Hypnosis? Upon this realization, Leonard Churchills eyelids twitched slightly. At any rate, he was dead. Abel looked at the loyal subordinates in front of him, his anger made his eyelids twitch violently. But looking at the corpse, he suddenly recalled the secret plan against Flood Gang discussed earlier by the gangs executive, a fierce light flashed in his eyes, and he thought to himself: Good for no reason, this issue is already so big, dont blame our Brotherhood for breaking the rules! Abel no longer brooded over the assassination: Leave this matter to our high-level negotiation. All you need to know is everyone gather here tomorrow night at seven. We are going to hit a big score. The crowd responded in unison: Yes. Rex Smith Tiger, dragging his exhausted body, walked out of the room. He had won a fight to the death and was feeling pretty good, until the assassination ruined the mood. He too was a Captain, tough and loyal. In the Brotherhood, he already had a standing. He led a group of little brothers and controlled several streets. As he walked to the door, several trusted aides greeted him. Captain, oh yo, that fight just now was fantastic. That Hogan Mountain of Flesh with seventeen consecutive victories is a gladiator trained specifically by the slave traders of the Upper City... You really hammered him to death... Yeah, the Captain is valiant! After a heap of praises, Rex Smith also felt gratified. Moreover, for each death duel, all his savings were at stake, and he had won a considerable sum of money. The group went outside and got in a car, leaving Downing Street. The streets Rex Smith covered were five or six blocks in Sewage Street, east of Downing Street. This was a commoners quarter. The sewage system was always blocked, and there were sewage overflows, hence the name. Seemingly after no time at all, the steam car stopped in front of a shabby building at No. 5, Sewage Street. Rex Smith, with a group of little brothers, walked into the building. There were few pedestrians in Sewage Street, so many operations of the Brotherhood that couldnt see the light of day were based here. As soon as he walked through the door, one of the young brothers greeted him and reported. Captain, we got a message from the middleman. The Iron Cross Society has sent someone to pay the ransom. They want to redeem the steward we kidnapped earlier... Oh, this money is so easy to get? Then ask them for another two million, then let the guy go.. Chapter 280 - 120 Further Six Secret Skills_3 Chapter 280: Chapter 120 Further Six Secret Skills_3 Translator: 549690339 Yes. But boss, theres another issue. Its just...its just that the female steward was kind of tempting, and a few of the brothers who were supposed to be guarding her couldnt help themselves... so her mental state has become a bit problematic. It might not be very easy to hand her over now. Then take the money and dump the body on the Flood Gangs turf. Sure... Rex Smith didnt care at all. Kidnapping and killing the hostages, this is so commonplace in gangs. Lately, gang activities have been affected a lot, and the commerce guilds visiting from the Upper City have become easy targets for gang members seeking a hefty ransom. Recently, many have been captured, and a lot of the meat tickets are right here. Rex Smith headed towards the basement. There are several rooms here, filled with frail children around four to five years old. Rex Smith frowned at the sight: Didnt all the goods get dispatched yesterday? Why are there still some left? Illegal human trafficking has also recently become a popular business in the black market. In the past, when the resources in Sinless City were scarce, orphans were abandoned on the streets with nobody wanting them. But recently, the slave merchants from the upper tiers have come down, trading a gold coin for a single child. For Rex Smith, this is simply like picking up money. This has earned them quite a sum. One of the underlings replied, The doctor who was buying the goods said these few were sick, and returned them. Returned them for us to feed them for free? On hearing this, Reg Smith coldly commanded: Dig out their eyes and give them to Old Yellow, the beggar head at the station. There is a plethora of overly sympathetic folks visiting from the Upper City. They should still be able to earn some money. Underling: Sure. In the dimly lit street, a figure quietly arrived. Leonard Churchill had been following Rex Smiths convoy all the way here. After observing the surroundings, he pulled on his cloak and vanished into the darkness. There are gang members with tattooed punks in leather jackets sitting around in the corners of all the streets playing cards. For Leonard, these watchmen were as good as non-existent. He jumped onto the wall. He bypassed the main entrance and climbed down from the rooftop. He quickly followed the scent and found a room. Leonard pushed the room door wide open. Rex Smith was meditating, recovering his curse power after the duel. Hearing the door unlock, he thought it was one of his underlings and furrowed his brows. Just as he was about to get angry, he caught sight of something startling and sensed something was wrong. Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com As a fighter, his reaction was swift. He flipped out of the bed and immediately assumed a fighting stance. Once the brotherhood had finished their robbery the next day, she could spend some effort on him. At another location, Leonard Churchill had brought an unconscious Rex Smith into an abandoned basement. After securing him, Leonard Churchill injected him with a potion. Rex Smith woke from his daze, took a clear look at his surroundings and the person in front of him, and began to struggle madly. Seeing him awake, Leonard Churchill didnt waste words and took out several military grade Interrogation Potions. This was a good stuff he had previously plundered from the Fierce Beast Legion, originally used to deal with strong-willed POW spies. There was a lower-grade version of it in the black market, called the Obedient Water. Now it would be more than appropriate to use it to extract the follow-up verses of the Breathing Method. Gang members usually have a fierce temperament. Especially the ones who dare to step onto the arena of life and death. Rex Smith thought he was captured by an opposing gang, so he didnt hold out any hope of returning alive. Those outside the law would eventually face such a day. But thinking about how he was ambushed in his weak condition, he wasnt willing to submit and shouted, Untie me, you coward! Dare you face me head on! Normally, no sane person would agree to such a request. But to his surprise, the man who was preparing the injection seemed extremely amused by his provocation. Leonard Churchill looked up and cracked a smile, Sure! Once I get the information I want, I will definitely fulfill your wish. Before Rex Smith could say anything more, the potion was injected into his arm, and his consciousness began to disintegrate. An hour later. Leonard Churchill looked at Rex Smith, who was foaming at the mouth and had fainted, and clicked his tongue. The Interrogation Potion was indeed useful. He got what he wanted. Only the subsequent six verses... Leonard squinted at the verses of the Breathing Method he had transcribed from the interrogation. As expected, this guy had practiced up to the twelve verses, which already made him a top-tier Air Skill Master in Sinless City. According to his statement, as expected, only Tiger knew the incomplete Breathing Method. This Breathing Method doctrine had a sequel, but not much left. It seemed that Tiger had only obtained a fragment. Leonard Churchill couldnt help but wonder, Where did Tiger get the fragment from? Obviously, this question could only be answered by Tiger himself. According to Rex Smiths disciple, not even Tigers lover, his family, or anyone else knew the origins of that secret skill. Moreover, during the interrogation process, he had come across another interesting piece of information. Tomorrow night at seven, did Abels group have a big action planned? Sorry, the last two chapters were a bit lacking. Even after taking a day off, I didnt know how to smoothly transition past this part of the plot... Its probably because Im not a good enough writer, please go easy on me.. Chapter 282 - 121: Seeing Dong Qi again as a Meat Ticket (Seeking Subscriptions, Seeking Monthly Chapter 282: Chapter 121: Seeing Dong Qi again as a Meat Ticket (Seeking Subscriptions, Seeking Monthly Tickets )_2 Translator: 549690339 The two sides immediately engaged in a fierce battle. However, the Brotherhood had the advantage in numbers, and their firepower was evidently more aggressive. Then there was Abel, a Second Order Card Master, his body emanating a flaming black Curse Power Gang Air, charging headfirst into the hail of bullets and gunfires, swiftly killing the Second Order security leader from the Commerce Guild on the spot. The fight ended quickly. No survivors were kept and it didnt seem like they were interested in any ransoms either. The robbery went very smoothly. Leonard Churchill was observing from a distance in the dark this whole time. Having seen all this, he suddenly understood, Aha, they must have detailed intelligence before they came... Clearly, the members of the Brotherhood knew about the circumstances of Great Ivans convoy like the back of their hand. The timing, the route, and even the security personnel configuration were all clear to them. Relatively speaking, obtaining such information is much more difficult than intercepting the goods. Information of this level seems to have leaked from within. Having seen this, Leonard was sure that this wasnt the end of it. These individuals were likely not only after the goods. While everyone from the escort side was eliminated, the Brotherhood also lost a few henchmen. The gang members pried open the tightly sealed carriage and were immediately excited. Wow, P2 Type Explosive Bear Mechanical City Boilers, and theyre brand new! This thing is worth tens of millions... Hahaha, all this military-grade ammunition. This one carriage alone must be worth over a hundred million. Guys, check this out, theres a whole carriage of Mechanical Exoskeletons! And they all come equipped with the seventh generation T-VI Storm Individual Steam Boilers! My God, these are the real Mechanical Equipment. Each set must sell for two to three million...Weve hit the jackpot! Leonard had nothing better to do so he thought about it some more. However, his chief concern was Abel. He was still hoping to obtain the subsequent Breathing Method from him. After observing Abels combat power, Leonard was not confident that he could take him down quickly. Sinless City was not like the Old Continent. If the fight dragged on, attracting the attention of a master, it would be troublesome. And if Flood Gang people came, the two parties fought and ended up both losing, then he could perhaps swoop in and get an advantage. Hmm, not bad. Having thought of this, Leonard continued to watch with patience. Twenty minutes later, the roar of motorcycles suddenly exploded in the distance. In Leonards line of sight, he spotted about a dozen people riding motorcycles, speeding towards them for reinforcements. As soon as the two parties met, they didnt hold back and immediately unleashed their full firepower. All sorts of colourful bullets and explosives illuminated the night. Flood Gangs people seemed in a hurry to get here. They were outnumbered but their firepower was exceptionally ferocious! Their motorcycles were also heavily modified with various military-grade heavy firepower. As soon as the dozen or so motorcycles stopped, they transformed like Transformers, with mechanical arms popping out and several Gatling guns firing blue flames. As soon as they opened fire, their firepower immediately suppressed the Brotherhood. Among their bullets were many special ammunition, which when they hit the metal, left a hole each time. The members of the Brotherhood hiding behind their armoured vehicle were being hit hard, howling in pain, the hits resulting in broken arms or legs. Under this technological suppression, Flood Gang clearly had the upper hand by relying solely on firearms. Looking at the bloody scene covered in gunfire, Leonard lifted an eyebrow: No wonder they dared to come with so few people. With this firepower, even a First Tier Card Master would be shot down... Great Ivans shop was protected by Flood Gang. Given their wealth, it was not surprising for Leonard to think that Flood Gang had top-tier mechanical equipment and firearms in Sinless City. With such a sizeable force, even if ten times the Brotherhood members came, they would still be forced to kneel.. Chapter 285: 122 Curse Witch (Seeking Chapter 285: 122 Curse Witch (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) Translator: 549690339 Upon witnessing the scene, Leonard Churchill broke into a cold smile and said, So someone really did make a move in secret... He didnt think what happened to Seven Brown was an accident. It was the third party behind the scenes that was showing their hands. If thats the case... With the battle over, Leonard no longer had a reason to hide. He strolled out of the shadows, his appearance and clothes transformed to mimic one of the unfortunate souls he dispatched quietly earlier. The battlefield was in disarray. The Brotherhood won, but it was a costly victory. As they looked at the bodies strewn across the ground and the critically injured wailing in pools of blood, the gang members cursed profusely. Damn it, that Flood Gang took out over thirty of our brothers! Where the hell did the Flood Gang get so many heavy weapons? II II Abel also wore a grim expression on his face. The loss due to underestimating the enemy was huge. But it wasnt the time to discuss this now. He called out to his subordinates, Clean up the battlefield, we need to leave here first. The war had lasted longer than they expected, and any delay could lead to further complications. At this point, several armored vehicles had come over. Mixing in with the crowd, Leonard watched as a struggling Seven Brown was placed in the middle of one of the vehicles. As the door was about to close, he slipped inside. The door was slammed shut. The heavily modified armored vehicle rapidly sped away. At that time, someone noticed Leonard who had taken the wrong vehicle and asked, Pheasant, why did you get on our vehicle? Looking again at Seven Brown, motionless, Leonards eyes deepened. He looked at the road ahead. He did not immediately make a move, wanting to get further away. Thinking that the third party might leave after confirming that the Brotherhood managed to take away Seven Brown, then there would be a real chance for a rescue. The armored vehicle sped toward the outskirts of the city. In no time, they had traveled several kilometers. Leonard recognized this area, the ruined bridge in Eastern District 4. He had been there when he was a Corpse Collector. Only a few vagrants lived there, but there were numerous ruined buildings and the terrain was very complicated. They were getting close to the city limits. This should be about right. Just as Leonard made up his mind... Suddenly! He sprung into action! Before the men in the vehicle had time to react, Leonards weapon flashed coldly in his hand. He struck swiftly and without hesitation, plunging his blade into the eye of one of the First Tier Squad Captains, blood spurting out immediately. At the same time, he spun around and delivered a heavy kick to the throat of the other Captain, causing a sharp cracking sound. As it was a sneak attack, the huge force of the blows left both men with no chance to react and they died on the spot. The remaining four men were in complete shock. They hadnt registered that an enemy had infiltrated their ranks and they shouted, Pheasant, what the hell are you doing? Leonard wasted no time in giving them an opportunity to stop him. He was prepared to use the deadly Wolf Fang Wind Fist, his fists moving like a gust of wind. The gang members individual combat power was far behind that of the Fierce Beast Legion. Other than some simple equipment, they had no protection. After taking out the two First Tier Squad Captains, the remaining men barely had time to draw their guns before they were also killed. From the time that Leonard sprang into action to the time it ended, it all happened within the span of two to three seconds. At this point, Abel who was in the front, sensed the sudden surge of murderous intent and turned back just in time to see Pheasant kill the last two henchmen. His expression changed drastically as he realized an enemy had infiltrated the vehicle.. He cursed, Damn it! Chapter 286: 122 Curse Witch (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) _2 Chapter 286: 122 Curse Witch (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) _2 Translator: 549690339 But by the time he looked back from the front of the car, Leonard Churchill had already jumped off the carriage, carrying the bound Seven Brown on his shoulder. Churchill didnt plan to reveal his identity by transforming, and as luck would have it, he jumped off the car right above a carefully selected overpass. Carrying a person, he jumped off without hesitation! Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Abel, radiating a terrifying curse power, also leaping off. Churchill scoffed. He raised his arm and the steel cable instantly shot out from the mechanical arm, already altering its direction mid-air. Abel truly had remarkable strength. Seeing he couldnt catch up, he fiercely accelerated towards the ground, then ran after him at a sprint, once his feet touched the floor. Jumping bridges, smashing walls, his speed didnt decrease a bit. But Churchill didnt exhibit any signs of surprise or panic. His lack of hesitation was merely due to a concern about this third-party, not Abel. If he truly committed to running, even with carrying Seven Brown, he was confident that his current agility would allow him to shake off Abel. Especially in such a complicated terrain. As expected. After a few leaps using the steel cable, Leonard suddenly darted into an underground culvert at a corner. Abel, who wasnt skilled at tracking, was like a headless fly without a target, darting haphazardly around as soon as he lost sight of his quarry. Listening to the mad howls from outside, Churchills gaze turned cold. Noticing that this culvert seemed very deep and had air circulation going further inside, he surmised it must have complex internal structures. Without any delays, he ran like mad, carrying Seven Brown through this sprawling underground pipe network. As he ran, he also took out two Deodorization Potions and poured them over himself and Seven Brown on his shoulder. And he carefully left no trace behind. Shaking off Abel was easy. But for the others, it wasnt so straightforward. Having witnessed the previous incident with Seven Brown, Leonard had suspected that the third-party was a mysterious type Curse Card Master. Such card masters often have tracking methods that are difficult to defend against. At that time, the Guild steward said she had introduced a very powerful young man, which surprised Seven Brown herself. It turned out that she had mentioned it casually when she noticed that man providing bread to a beggar. She hadnt imagined it would cause such a disturbance. Later, she had also checked, and it seemed that man had something to do with Governor Miller and was a wanted criminal. But there wasnt any news on him after that. Seven Brown didnt worry about it anymore. She didnt expect to encounter him again. Moreover, it was under such circumstances, when he had saved her? Except for the bookstore owner, no one else was present during that encounter at Old Bensons shop. It didnt seem he was lying. But... wasnt that guy a Card Master Apprentice? With the skills that he just showcased, enough to escape from Abel, this was not something a regular person could do. Seven Brown asked directly: How did you end up... on the Brotherhoods van? Churchill replied, I wanted to know the follow-up to that breathing method. As Abel was the only one who knows about it, I just followed him. He didnt try to cover it up. After all, he had heard about this breathing method from Seven Browns mouth. Most importantly, Churchill was not sure if he could get all the information from Abel. People with that level of skills wouldnt leave survivors easily. This Seven Brown was from an old black syndicate, maybe she knew the origin of Abels breathing method. Upon hearing this, Seven Brown found herself believing most of it. The logic seemed to be sound. But, she still couldnt understand, why it was such a coincidence. Also, even if this identity is genuine, could his motive for saving her be something else? Such a skilled person couldnt possibly be nurtured by the Sinless City, he seemed more like a subordinate of some noble families. She hadnt forgotten that she had been set up not long before.. Chapter 287: 122 Curse Witch (Asking for Subscription, Asking for Monthly Tickets)_3 Chapter 287: 122 Curse Witch (Asking for Subscription, Asking for Monthly Tickets)_3 Translator: 549690339 | Seven Browns thoughts were in a whirl right now; she couldnt make sense of things, and she remained silent. Leonard Churchill didnt expect her to believe him right away. Observing his surroundings, he voiced the question that Seven Brown was harboring, saying, The third party who conspired against you from behind the scenes is very powerful. I cant guarantee that if someone comes pursing, I can take you away. Suppose I cant stand against them... Before he could finish his sentence, Seven Brown interrupted him, saying, In case you cant stand against them, dont bother about me. Then, sincerely, she added, Anyway, thank you for saving me. Maintaining caution was instinctual. Otherwise, she wouldnt have survived for so long in the gangs of Sinless City. But intuition told Seven Brown that this man held no ill intentions towards her. Leonard Churchill didnt say much in response. He also discerned exceptional courage from Seven Browns tone. He saved her, fulfilling an obligation. But whether she could survive was a different story. Leonard Churchill asked again: Can you walk now? In response, Seven Brown truthfully said: No. My leg is broken. I cant stand. She was acutely aware of her condition. If she didnt tend to her injury, she couldnt walk at all. But if she took off her battle armor, she wouldnt have any security left. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchills eyebrows furrowed. He didnt ask any inappropriate questions but inquired, Did your bone break due to external forces, or was it due to a mysterious system spell? Listening to the question, Seven Brown was recalling. After pausing for a moment, she said, It should be a mysterious system spell. My broken bone location was tightly protected by my battle armor, an external force couldnt possibly reach it. Hearing this, Leonard Churchill fell into deep thought. Mysterious Type card masters can be strong or weak; now that the revealed means were too few, he wasnt sure about the opponents situation. However, before he could ask more, an unexpected enlightenment appeared: You have exempted from a weeping ghost curse attack once. They really came after us! Leonard Churchills pupils shrank abruptly. He rapidly analyzed in his minds, Using curses and also manipulating ghosts... When Seven Brown was tricked, it must have been a curse. Leonard Churchill made a guess as various clues in his mind connected. He believes its likely to be just one person. After all, to deal with Seven Brown, a specialist in Mechanics type, a curse is an excellent counter to all kinds of mechanical battle armors. Moreover, Abel from the Brotherhood was initially leading the attack; there was no need for many people to come. With no change in his expression, Leonard Churchill estimated the time and fell into a timely faint. That[Weeping Ghost]came after Leonard just Churchill. Seven Brown who was leaning against the wall was still conscious. Seeing Leonard suddenly faint, her expression changed, and she exclaimed anxiously, What happened to you? No matter how she yelled, Leonard gave no response. Seven Brown also knew the situation wasnt good. At this time, an explosion from the warning bomb came from the distant passage. The noise wasnt loud; however, in these open spaces underground, it was especially clear. Given this situation, it was obvious someone was coming. Seven Browns morale hit rock bottom. She struggled to raise her hand, wanting to fire a few missiles as a last counterattack. But suddenly, that familiar feeling returned! Just hearing a crack sound, Seven Brown realized that her arm bone was also broken. At this sight, she confirmed that someone had cast a directional curse on her But it was too late. At this moment, a person in a cloak walked in from the passage they came through earlier, I didnt expect that the Flood Gang even had such deep undercover operatives in the Brotherhood... The voice sounded like a typical malicious old woman. The old woman glanced at Leonard who was lying on the ground, and said, If this old lady hadnt followed you for a bit longer, you really would have been saved and escaped. Seeing this, Seven Brown finally confirmed that the person who saved her just now was not working with the enemy. Although she couldnt move, she didnt show much panic. As a gang member she viewed life and death trivially, Who are you? Hehe, you definitely are not from the Brotherhood. Let me guess..., the Miller Family of the Governors Mansion? The Lionheart Family? Or some other noble? Chapter 288: 122 Curse Witch (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets)_4 Chapter 288: 122 Curse Witch (Seeking Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets)_4 Translator: 549690339 Seven Brown isnt foolish, she sees the third party has appeared. She already knows that her Flood Gang and Brotherhood have both been manipulated. They have fallen into the schemes of others, designed to instigate a conflict and cause mutual consumption. No matter which of these two major gangs is eliminated, the other will definitely be severely damaged. The structure of Sinless City will immediately change. The control of Gold-digging Dock will completely shift hands. As for who will seize control, it can only be the Noble Class that profits the most from this changed situation. The old woman, not interested in revealing any more, sneered, Who I am doesnt matter. What matters is you. Now that I have shown myself, I definitely cannot let you, a little girl, live and return. Seven Brown is well aware of this. She knows her death is inevitable. Looking at the deformed puppet in the old womans hand, she guesses something, Have you bribed someone close to me? Yes. The old woman didnt feel the need to hide anything as the curse spell had already been revealed, there was no point in hiding anymore, Ah, this place isnt bad, peaceful... She was not prepared to kill yet. The old woman initially wanted to play the game of cat and mouse, intending to engage with her prey for a little while longer. However, an unexpected event occurred. Without warning, an evil ghost next to her, as if it had noticed something, suddenly went into a defensive alert mode. The old womans face suddenly changed: Not good! Before she could react, the fellow who was still unconscious nearby suddenly sprang up! The person charged over, and in mid-air, transformed into a terrifying werewolf. This kind of distance, for a Mysterious Type card master with low defense, is undoubtedly fatal! Before the old woman had time to react, the werewolf had already pounced on her face. Simultaneously, a sharp surgical knife pierced through her Curse Power Shield, stabbing her right on the forehead. It seemed like she was about to drop dead right there and then. Seven Brown, who was lying on the side, was astounded by this sudden development. She had already given up hope, not expecting that the man was actually pretending to be unconscious! She felt a mix of expectation and concern in her heart: the enemy is a Second Order Card Master after all! At this moment, a sudden change occurred. The surgical knife plunged into the old womans forehead. The moment it touched her skin, the texture turned from flesh and blood to rigid wood. Leonard Churchill stabbed in with his knife, clank sounded. A life-size wooden puppet fell from the cloak. She had clearly used a kind of escape secret skill called Puppet Doppelganger. However, the werewolf behind her showed no signs of retreating from the onslaught of evil ghosts. He kept stabbing her with his knife. The old woman was terrified beyond belief. She had never imagined that the situation, which was under her control, could suddenly turn against her. Could a First Tier card master really drive her to a dead end? Why are my spells utterly useless? Why are the evil spirits that Ive nurtured for decades useless too? The old woman began to question herself. She would never assume in her wildest dreams that Leonard had many supreme treasures that specifically dealt with Mysterious Type card masters. And yet, another stab went straight into the old womans heart. The old woman was entirely desperate now. Knowing she was bound to die, she thought of her mission, hardened her face, and her eyes were resolute. She bit her tongue and spat a mouthful of black blood on the puppet she was holding. Leonard Churchill also noticed the old womans actions. But while spitting blood, she lost her last chance of escape. With a look of indifference, Leonard Churchill slit her throat with his knife. Seeing the curse power starting to disperse from the corpse. He knew he had finally killed her. She sure had a lot of survival tricks... As Leonard Churchill looked down at the body on the ground, he couldnt help but comment. After being stabbed dozens of times, any normal Second Tier close combatant would have been dead already. And yet, this old woman managed to hold on till now. But looking at the blood-stained puppet, Leonard Churchill sensed something strange. He didnt linger. Holding onto the hair of the corpse, he dragged it and walked back. At the same time. Seven Brown was still baffled about what had just happened. But in the blink of an eye, a scene that she would never forget unfolded before her eyes. A gigantic werewolf was dragging a corpse back, like the dog-headed god of death in myths who was dragging a soul to hell. The person dragging the corpse was walking towards her. This image was overwhelmingly oppressive. This terrifying and brutal scene tore through some of her understandings. Please help with the ticket quota for the beginning of August, thank you everyone.. Chapter 289 - 123 Good Body Shape Chapter 289: Chapter 123 Good Body Shape Translator: 549690339 Seven Brown watched as the towering werewolf dragged the body towards him, unsure how to describe his complex feelings at this moment. He had already prepared for the worst. But... it seems he was saved again? It took Seven Brown a couple of seconds to believe what he saw. The wolf was really killed. If he wasnt mistaken, that was a genuine second tier curse witch. The thought of her bizarre curse power still sent chills up his spine. And she was killed so quickly? Seven Brown looked at Leonard Churchill again, as if some of his beliefs had been tom apart. In the blink of an eye, the man was walking and transforming back into a human form. Leonard Churchill dropped the witchs corpse on the ground and said, It should be safe now. He wasnt sure earlier if the third party would come after them. Now they came and have been killed. There is nothing to worry about anymore. Looking at the scene before him, Seven Brown finally exhaled and said, Thank you. As he said this, with a click, the intricately constructed mechanical helmet opened to reveal a punk makeup face. He had saved him twice without revealing his face, which was very impolite. Even though this act may put her in danger, Seven Brown didnt care. He trusts his intuition more. Leonard Churchill glanced at him. He had seen half of his face at Bensons Antique Bookstore last time and remembered that he looked good. But there was no time to think about those useless things at this moment. Leonard Churchill was not good at Ghost Daoist Secret Techniques, but looking at the situation, it was impossible to take Seven Brown to the hospital alive. He remembered some descriptions and solutions of the Ghost Daoist Secret Techniques, and hurriedly took off the clay pot tied around his waist and placed it on Seven Browns body. As soon as he did so, some curse powers dispersed instantly, and much of the black aura on her face faded away. At the same time, Leonard Churchill took out several vials of holy water and poured them into Seven Browns mouth. However, the situation did not improve much. The clay pot just exempted the curse and could not resist the evil ghost. The quality of the holy water was too low to solve the problem! Because, not only were there mysterious techniques, there seemed to be some living creature inside Seven Brown. Leonard Churchills actions seemed to have angered the creature inside her. Just as this was happening, a terrifying ghost face suddenly appeared on Seven Browns flat and smooth belly. There was something moving under her skin, distorting her stomach, as if it was about to break out of her body. When the ghost face monster struggled, Seven Brown spat out another mouthful of black blood, becoming even more weakened. Seeing the ghost face, Leonard Churchill recognized what it was: Hellish Gu bug, Human-faced Ghost Scorpion! No wonder it can perform directional spells... The benefits of knowledge were shown at this moment. Previously, in the alternate dimension in Outpost Battle, he read Mage Rolans manuscript, which recorded various Hellish Creatures. It just so happened to record this vicious Gu bug. This is a kind of evil parasite that lurks inside living beings. Once awakened, it will devour the hosts internal organs and then break out of the body. It is often used by evil magicians to perform curse spells. The ghost face just now was a sign of the bugs awakening. Once the poisonous bug wakes up, the host will die instantly! This is really troublesome.... Chapter 290 - 123 Nice Figure 2 Chapter 290: Chapter 123 Nice Figure 2 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill too was racking his brain. Although he recognized this Hellish Poison Bug, he had no idea how to deal with it. Any further delay, and Seven Brown would undoubtedly die. The more desperate the situation, the clearer Leonards mind became. He remained calm, searching his brain for any useful information. Thats right, all Hellish Breed creatures can be restrained by something with a holy aura! Suddenly, an idea crossed Leonards mind. The Holy Water he bought previously from the Black Market had proven to be useless. Now he remembered that he had an ancient artifact with a holy aura on him. He immediately took out a card and infused it with Curse Power: Unlock! Upon looking again, a tall wooden cross, entwined with black and white luster, appeared before him. This was the Light and Dark Cross that was used to seal the angel before. This was a seal artifact that possessed both holy and cursed attributes. Its function was to seal both holy and evil creatures. Uncertain if it would work, Leonard took the cross and bound a pale-faced Seven Brown directly onto it. As soon as she was bound to the cross, something miraculous occurred! When her skin came into contact with the cross, the mysterious curse on it gradually lit up. Upon looking at Seven Browns face again, the ghost-like aura that surrounded her seemed to be instantly repressed. And the bug in her abdomen, which was bulging as if it was about to break out, seemed to quiet down instantly. Did it suppress it? Looking on, Leonard couldnt help sighing in relief. It felt as if a tug-of-war competition with the Grim Reaper had been paused, finally granting him a moment to breathe. If it werent for his varied collection of treasures, Seven Brown might have really just died in front of him. At this time, without the erosion of the Evil Ghost, pale-faced Seven Brown recovered her sense. At least, the Human-faced Ghost Scorpion was still in her belly. Who knew when it might wake up and claim Seven Browns life. For a while, no one spoke. At this moment, Seven Brown suddenly asked, Ah right, whats...your name? Leonard looked at her, Leonard Churchill. Seven Brown also formally introduced herself: Im Seven Brown. With this introduction, the two had officially met. However, suddenly, as if speaking had stirred up the Gu bug, Seven Browns forehead was instantly covered with cold sweat. Leonard was still contemplating a solution, seeing this, his pupils constricted slightly: Whats wrong? Seven Brown held back her severe pain, unable to speak, and after closing her eyes to rest for a moment, she finally said: I have severe abdominal pain. Seeing her uncontrollable cold sweat, Leonard knew the situation was critical. Without any hesitation, he extended his hand and directly touched Seven Browns abdomen. He could clearly feel the slight tremble. It felt like something was drilling under her skin. Leonard said in a serious tone, The Human-faced Ghost Scorpion was only suppressed by the artifact just now, its not dead. It needs energy to wake up, and its instinctively gnawing at your organs. Even if Leonard hadnt said it, Seven Brown knew her condition was terrible, her face had lost its color, but her expression remained calm. If her death was inevitable, there was nothing to fear. She didnt think about whether she could survive, her thoughts were still clear, she endured the severe pain in her abdomen and said: If I die, please help me deliver a message, let the Flood Gang know about what happened here. Theres a red box in my Storage Ring. You take it and find my father, he will believe what you say. Hmm. Hearing her last words, Leonard nodded in agreement. However, he felt somewhat reluctant to let someone he had just saved die like this. Thinking about it, he asked with a frown, I can try to perform a surgery to remove the bug from you. But I cant guarantee success.. Chapter 291 - 123 Decent Figure_3 Chapter 291: Chapter 123 Decent Figure_3 Translator: 549690339 Seven Brown, hearing this, was stunned for a moment, and exclaimed, Youre a doctor? His recent brutal werewolf form, didnt seem remotely doctor-like. Leonard Churchill didnt explain much: Im kind of like a medical intern. The extreme pain in his abdomen had already made Seven Brown unable to speak. He clenched his teeth and managed to utter one word: Okay. If not tried, death was certain. If attempted, there might still be a shred of hope. Given the green light, Leonard Churchill took out his surgical tools. After disinfecting the skin, he once again touched Seven Browns abdomen, determining its position, and said, The bug has crawled under your right ribs. I need to cut open your clothes. Seven Brown calmly responded: Go ahead. Without any hesitation, Leonard cut open Seven Browns close-fitting undershirt. With one cut, her chest was fully exposed. In the sight was a swath of fair and delicate skin. Rounded and firm, just full enough to fill a grasp, as flawless as a piece of finely carved jade. This gangs elder miss had such a superlative figure that it was ridiculously good-looking. Realizing the chill against her chest, Seven Browns expression was as calm as always. The corner of her eyes darted at Leonard Churchill. All she noticed were his focused eyes. Leonard Churchill didnt speak. All he thought about were the various human anatomical diagrams from medical books. He disinfected his hands. Not a single tremble was in sight. He chose a location and with his scalpel, he made an incision on her smooth skin. Since his incision was precise, right after opening it, he saw a ghostly white scorpion. When the poisonous bug was exposed to the air, it brandished its pincers in all directions. These hellish poison bugs have a thick shell, making them hard to kill. Forceful removal could harm the host. Originally, it would be very difficult even for a professional doctor to handle the situation. But fortunately, there was the Plague Doctors Scalpel. Not wasting any time, Leonards relic level scalpel easily stabbed through the creepy scorpion with a human face on its back. He then picked it out, discarding the bugs carcass in a glass dish beside him. Although he removed the bug, it felt as if Seven Browns strength had been half-siphoned out of her. She violently coughed up a mouthful of blood. Leonard Churchill was unsure if this method was correct. She didnt care, and after a self-check, she said: Pretty good. Seven Brown also felt relieved. When she saw the bug being picked out, she felt an immediate relief from her rapidly draining life force. As soon as the special effect potions were used, her weakness gradually diminished. She also felt the relief of a narrow escape from danger. The two didnt say anything. She was still vulnerably tied to the cross, bare-chested. Although this gang elder miss didnt fuss about these trifles, She still felt the atmosphere to be a bit odd. Leonard Churchill was evidently aware of the slightly awkward atmosphere. Having seen it all, he didnt pretend to be a gentleman. Rather than avoiding her gaze, he openly looked at her again and casually praised: Nice figure. Seven Brown heard this and her eyes momentarily lost their sparkle. The tone wasnt teasing, it was like casually saying, The weather is nice today. Since he didnt have any other ulterior motives, she graciously replied: Thank you. Although she didnt really like others praising her figure. After all, in the gang, such compliments were usually directed at the women who made their living by lying down. She was not one of them. Without saying much, Leonard Churchill looked away and said, I cant guarantee that I solved all of that old womans spell. So, its better if you stabilize your condition first, and then Ill let you down. Seven Brown understood the meaning of his words and nodded, Um. Although they both didnt mind, Leonard Churchill felt that this way of communicating, where one look upward would reveal a glorious sight, was quite impolite. Have any clothes? Ill cover you first. Seven Brown felt a bit uncomfortable just now. With this mention, any remaining discomfort disappeared. She said, Therere some in my storage ring. Its in my mechanical arm. She was tied to the cross and could only ask for help in retrieving it. Um... Leonard Churchill looked at her complicated mechanical arm, felt it was a hassle, and directly took out one of his own back-up shirts, Never mind, make do with mine. Its new. He took out a shirt, draped it on Seven Brown, and covered her exposed attractive body. Seven Brown raised her eyebrows a bit but didnt say anything. When Leonard Churchill touched her, he obviously found that both her hand and leg bones were fractured. He checked again, The bones in your right hand and left leg are fractured... Shall I help you treat them on the way? Seven Brown nodded, her tone sincere: It would be a great favor. Treating fractures was much easier. Resetting, fixing, and applying medication.. Chapter 292 - 124: The Important Sword Must Be Arranged (Seeking Monthly Ticket) Chapter 292: Chapter 124: The Important Sword Must Be Arranged (Seeking Monthly Ticket) Translator: 549690339 The vast underground passage was quiet. Only the faint sounds of flowing water and wind could be heard. Seven Brown watched the man who was bandaging her wounds with trembling eyes. They had only met twice before. But he had saved her life three times now. They werent exactly familiar with each other but they couldnt be considered strangers either. And yet, there was little conversation between them. Suddenly, she spoke, Abel claims his Breathing Method is some form of golden breathing. But according to the old men in the gang, it originates from a high-quality fragment of a centuries-old secret skill. I am not an Air Skill Master, so I didnt pay much heed to it. Ill ask around when we get back, Im positive I can get more information for you. Hearing this, Leonard Churchill, who was currently bandaging, laughed, Great. He then added, But, we might need to move first. Though they had killed the pursuer, they werent sure if their previous actions had alerted someone else. Given the current situation, the appearance of anyone would pose a great risk. Seven Browns expression changed slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she said, I think I might be able to walk now. Leonard Churchill looked at her and knew she must be pushing herself. But without further ado, he helped her down from the cross. No adverse reaction. It seemed the problem was completely related to the scorpion. Both of them sighed in relief. Seven Brown had a splint around her leg, standing up was quite a struggle. Churchill guessed her intention to return on foot, Do you want to go back? Yes. They had inspected the scene and recreated the battle events. -Damn it! It was a trap set by the Brotherhood. They robbed the Commercial Fleet to capture Elder Miss! This mark is from Abels Tiger Cannon Fist. Brothers, sound the horn. Were snuffing the Brotherhood tonight! Damn them! Search everyone. The enemy may not be far away. Leonard Churchill and Zoe Brown watched from a distance, confirming these were members of Flood Gang. Among them were several Second Tier figures, displaying strong auras. Given the circumstances, if she had appeared any later, the city might have been at war. Time was of the essence, Seven Brown was ready to step forward. Knowing that Leonard Churchill was a fugitive and didnt want to reveal himself, she told him, Wait for me here. I just need to explain a few things. Leonard Churchill had originally planned not to get involved since he believed that the gangsters in Sinless City wouldnt remain calm after the days events. Since he had brought her all the way here, he decided to involve himself, You deal with the situation first. Ill come find you in a day or two. The information about the Breathing Method could wait for a day. Upon hearing this, Seven Brown wasnt pleased and said seriously, I, Seven Brown, always repay kindness and revenge on my enemies! You saved me, I have to repay this favor. Wait for me. As she spoke, she radiated a strong gangster vibe. Churchill found this amusing. Seven Browns character contrasted greatly between situations. Although she seemed like a regular girl moments ago, now she appeared to be regaining her intimidating gangster princess demeanor. He didnt have a specific destination anyway, so waiting was fine with him. Thus, he carried Seven Brown to the main road. And with that, the gang leaders daughter limped her way toward the crowd. Leonard Churchill, on the other hand, hid himself in the dark. He watched with interest the members of the Flood Gang. If he had guessed correctly, the Flood Gang wouldnt be calm either. As Seven Brown came out, the crowd of Flood Gang members widened their eyes in disbelief. After confirming it was her, the crowd immediately became noisy. Elder Miss is there! Brother Seven, are you hurt? Damn it, did the Brotherhood do this to you, well take revenge for you! Chapter 293 - 124: The Important Sword Must Be Arranged (Seeking Monthly Ticket)—2 Chapter 293: Chapter 124: The Important Sword Must Be Arranged (Seeking Monthly Ticket)2 Translator: 549690339 -Elder Miss, arent you going home now? Nine Master is really worried about you. I have something else to do. You guys go back. Shouldnt we leave some guy? C Do I need your protection? By the time you arrive, there wouldnt even be a body left to find. Tell the Old Man about the situation, and stop the fighting for now. I have something else to handle tonight, you guys go back first. Seven Brown gave a few orders. Only then did the members of the Flood Gang leam what occurred, breathing a sigh of relief simultaneously. If a fight really broke out, Sinless City would be thrown into chaos tonight. Its a good thing that the matter was revealed early. The members also knew the seriousness of the situation and must return to the city to deal with the conflict that had already ignited. They also knew the temperament of the Elder Miss, and no one dared to speak more once she made a decision. The roar of the motorcycles echoed, and these thousands of people disappeared in the blink of an eye. Only a jeep was left at the scene. As soon as the people left, the surroundings quieted down. Seeing Seven Brown, who was limping, trying to hail him, Leonard Churchill took the initiative to go out. Glancing peripherally, there seemed to be someone in the dark. At this moment, Seven Brown had already worn a mechanical exoskeleton, so there was no big problem with walking. She opened the car door, generously inviting, Lets go. Get in the car. Ill treat you to some food. Leonard Churchill also walked over, put on his gas mask, but his gaze was always on the window. Catching this point, Seven Brown said with a little surprise, You found Uncle Smith? Dont worry, he is my fathers confidant and is here to protect me. Hearing this, Leonard Churchill didnt say more. On the contrary, he felt that this feeling was much better. He also didnt like the pretence of courtesy and hospitality. The shop window was filled with the enticing aroma of cooked meat. The shop owner was a small old man with white hair, a scar on his face, faded tattoo under his collar, but the once sharp gaze had been smoothed by time. Elder Miss. Youve come? The usual roast beef? Yes, Uncle Bear. My friend would also like a serving, a large portion please. Your friend is quite a handsome young man. He laughed. Listening to the tone of their conversation, an unusual look crossed Leonard Churchills face. Ever since he came into this world, it has been all about fights and killings. This was the first time he felt such an ordinary care. It felt like the concern and greetings an uncle would have for his nephews and nieces at home. From their conversation, it was evident that Seven Brown and the man called Uncle Bear were quite close. Upon hearing the greeting, Leonard Churchill vaguely guessed why Seven Brown had come here. Soon, two plates of fragrant beef were served. As Uncle Bear got closer, he noticed the blood stains on Seven Browns clothes and expressed his concern, Elder Miss, are you injured? Seven Brown, who seemed to have not heard him, kept eating heartily but asked an unrelated question, Uncle Bear, how many years have you been in the gang? Upon hearing this, Uncle Bear looked puzzled, but he replied anyway, Almost thirty years. Seven Brown continued eating her meal seriously, Indeed, its been a very long time. I grew up eating your food. No matter how good the food is elsewhere, I never thought it tasted better than the food you cooked. Seeing her unusual mood, Uncle Bear guessed something had happened and asked, Elder Miss, I heard from the gang that there was a disturbance. What happened? Without pausing, Seven Brown replied nonchalantly while eating, I was set up. They used a Gu bug. I almost died. Her tone was so indifferent, as if she was talking about someone elses business. Upon hearing this, Uncle Bear froze, realising the seriousness of the matter. Seven Browns tone remained calm, and continued, Uncle Bear, I know it wasnt you. Your wife and her godson, Xiaoliu, recently lost several million at the Brother Associations gambling stand and were pressed to pay their debts. I helped them a few times, but they didnt stop playing and piled up bad debt... Ive thought of all the possibilities in the past few days. Theyre the only ones who couldve planted the Gu bug on me... Upon hearing this, Uncle Bears face instantly turned pale. He himself was a member of the Flood Gang, tired of the violence, he used the money he had hard-earned to open this shop.. Chapter 294 - 124: The Important Sword Must Be Arranged (Seeking Monthly Ticket) 3 Chapter 294: Chapter 124: The Important Sword Must Be Arranged (Seeking Monthly Ticket) 3 Translator: 549690339 But he always knows the rules. This is something that his own wife and children did he cant excuse them. He never tried to evade it. Seven Brown continued to eat earnestly as though she was truly starved. Suddenly, she spoke again. Her tone betrayed no emotion, Soon someone will come in to execute the family rules. Just to give you a heads up. No one had been sent directly, serving as Uncle Bears opportunity to choose. If he stayed, he would undoubtedly die. If he decided to run, all ties of gratitude would be severed. Upon hearing this, Uncle Bears face turned as pale as death. Looking at the young lady in front of him, his mind went back to more than a decade ago when the pigtailed little girl first stepped foot in his shop, pointing at the goose in the window and loudly proclaiming, Uncle Bear, I want to eat roast goose. Unconsciously, nearly twenty years had passed in an instant. He had grown old, and the little girl had blossomed into a lovely young lady. She is like his own niece. Tears welled up in Uncle Bears yellowish eyes, yet he smiled contentedly. Recalling something, he suppressed the sourness in his throat and asked her, Elder Miss, do you want to take a roast goose home after eating? He knew that this was the last time he would be cooking for this young lady. Seven Brown listened, but her eyes were fixed on the plate in front of her, revealing no emotion. Uncle Bear stood helplessly on the side, as if afraid of disappointing his own daughter. Human nature is complex and colorful it isnt just black and white, it involves red, yellow, green ... a multitude of vibrant colors. Thats the fascinating world. Both of them were engrossed in their meals. After a while, the packaged roast goose was placed on the table. Uncle Bear didnt say another word. He placed the roast goose on the table and quietly retired to the farthest corner of the restaurant. From afar, he watched the girl he saw growing up voraciously finish the last meal he cooked for her, with tears in his eyes. Uncle Bear, were leaving! Alright. Elder Miss, please take care. Next time... He wanted to say, See you next time, but the words choked up in his throat. Seven Brown didnt turn back to look at Nines Roasted Beef one last time. When she looked up again. Her face no longer showed any sentiment of grief and returned to the hearty and cold-temperamented persona of a gang leader. With the roast goose in one hand, the other draped on Leonard Churchills shoulder, she wore a matey expression, Lets go! Tonight I need to arrange something for you! She had once saved his life. They shared secrets that they couldnt share with anyone else. They seemed to be more familiar with one another all of a sudden. Leonard Churchill couldnt help but laugh,??? Seven Brown cast a deep look at him, as if shes worried that he might refuse. She explained, The Old Man hangs out at the Flood Gang most of the time. No one knows more about the secrets of Sinless City than he does. He certainly knows about the Breathing Method. Ill ask him for you. She is sincere both about the arrangement and the Breathing Method. The gangs return favor might seem plain, but it is always genuine, even before mentioning learning the Breathing Method; a royal treat is a must. Seven Brown, the leading lady of the Flood Gang, openly took her savior directly towards the most extravagant locale of Sinless City Flood Gang! Leonard Churchill was also interested to see for himself what caliber the legendary master of Sinless City, Lord Nine Brown, really was.. Chapter 295 - 125 Mechanic Chapter 295: Chapter 125 Mechanic Translator: 549690339 Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only Leonard Churchill had heard about the Flood Gang before. This name referred not only to the citys largest gang in Sinless City, but also to the most high-end entertainment complex in the city. Number 1 Downing Street was not located on Downing Street, but in a block two streets over. This area was filled with a golden and splendid array of buildings. The structure was a Chinese steampunk-style building. The vermillion walls, green copper tiles, intricate carvings, corners jutting outwards, and two massive stone lions, taller than a person, at the entrance, along with a few flourishing Prosperity Green Pines. Behind the building, there were several tall chimneys puffing out white smoke, with various pipes hidden in the darkness of the walls. This place housed the best and most beautiful women workers in Sinless City, albeit at correspondingly higher prices. Usually, only wealthy high-tier hunters and merchants were fond of frequenting this place. Leonard Churchill hadnt been here before, as this was the headquarters of the Flood Gang, and he did not want to invite trouble. Seven Brown parked her car beside the street. Immediately, seven or eight gang members, clad in black suits and shiny leather shoes, approached, opened the door, and respectfully greeted, Elder Miss! Their voices resonated with confidence, and they seemed rather strong. The gang members here looked more like the field agents of the Golden Oak Corporation than thugs. Their attire felt high-end at a single glance. Seven Brown nodded, wrapped her arm around Leonard Churchills shoulder, and said with a look of my territory, my rules: Lets go in first. Leonard Churchill raised an eyebrow. Walking across the bridge, he saw two lines of beautiful women standing at the entrance, curvaceous and attractive. Seeing Seven Brown, they greeted cheerfully, Elder Miss. A man with a beard shaped like the number eight, who appeared to be the butler, led the way. Elder Miss, youre back. Seven Brown asked, Is the Old Man in? The bearded man responded, The chairman left twenty minutes ago for negotiations with the Brotherhood. Oh. Unlike other Vulgar Shops, the girls here lacked the common aura of such workers; instead, this place felt more like a general office building with various role-playing staff members. This place felt notably high-end. As Seven Brown walked, she explained, You can try any of them that you like. From the moment we enter, any woman wearing a worker badge in the Flood Gang, no matter who they are, can be chosen if you wish. Speaking, she looked at Leonard Churchill beside her and raised her eyebrows, So, any interest in any of them? Leonard Churchill glanced once. Indeed, they were pretty good. However, he didnt consider wasting his time and opportunity on physical pleasures at the Moonlight Tavern to be a good choice. A problem that can be solved with money shouldnt waste goodwill. Even if he didnt encounter Lord Nine Ban, he could try something else. He thought for a moment and said, I remember Miss Seven Brown likes to collect all kinds of ancient books, and I also happen to study them. If possible, I would like to take a look. Seven Brown intended to repay Leonard Churchills favor, and he felt that clearing the debt was better. That would bring maximum profit. Sinless City was the only city connected to the Old Continent. As the largest gang, the Flood Gang surely had some rare collections, techniques, Secret Skills, etc. These things were far more valuable than any women. Moreover, he had heard some tales of the Flood Gang from the Information Merchant, for instance, Lord Nine Brown, as the best fighter of the Flood Gang, practiced an invulnerable Horizontal Training Secret Skill, which was said to be very high-tier. Seven Brown was slightly taken aback by his unromantic words, but she didnt avoid the topic and asked, Not interested in women? Leonard Churchill smiled and asked back, What do you think? Seven Brown rolled her eyes at him and speculated, I think youre pretty normal. Leonard Churchill laughed, Of course. Its not that he wasnt interested in women; he could just completely control basic desires. If he couldnt even control this, then he wouldnt be able to suppress his other sides either and would have gone crazy a long time ago. Seven Brown also seemed indifferent. As she thought of something, she became excited and said, Alright! Lets go. Ill show you my Machinery Studio.. Chapter 296 - 125 Mechanic_2 Chapter 296: Chapter 125 Mechanic_2 Translator: 549690339 | With that, they stepped onto the elevator. The elevator started moving. Originally, they planned to go to the eleventh floor, but when they reached the tenth, the elevator suddenly came to a halt. As soon as the door opened, a fat man in a white suit came rushing in with a desperate expression: Oh, Brother Seven, its so good to see that youre just fine! I heard you were in trouble. It really worried me... His expression was a bit exaggerated, but it seems genuine. Leonard Churchill recognized him. This was the owner of the Great Ivans store, probably named Lew Williams. The fat man was crying and sniveling, looking like he was about to climb into the elevator to continue talking. But Seven Brown stopped him and kept pressing the close door button: Fatty, just wait here. I have a friend with me. Oh. Lew Williams, hearing there was someone else, took a look at Leonard Churchill beside her, his eyes revealing a hint of silent scrutiny. Only when the elevator doors closed did he seem to realize something. Brother Seven was heading to the eleventh floor with a strange man? In the elevator. Seven Brown shrugged and added, That fat guy is the owner of the Great Ivans. His father was a friend of my fathers. Hes a decent person, a bit scared of death though. Hes particularly skilled in business. If you ever need any extraordinary materials or anything, you can go straight to him. Leonard Churchill raised an eyebrow as he listened. Seven Brown, who seemed very proud of her creation, nodded, Yes. The design and most of the mechanical parts were made by me. Although some high precision parts required factory equipment, I hadnt been able to produce them. Thankfully, Lew Williams helped a lot. It took shape recently. Hearing her words, Leonard Churchills look immediately changed. Previously, he had assumed Seven Brown was just a hobbyist who knew how to use mechanical equipment. After all, a gang gave the impression of people who knew only about fighting and killing, not about research. But this girl turned out to be a researcher? He definitely misjudged her. A gang leaders daughter turns out to be an amazing mechanic? Leonard Churchill looked at the finely detailed hand-drawn blueprints, then thought about the capabilities of her battle armor, he couldnt help but admire: Miss Seven, youre truly amazing. As a transmigrator, he knew science and technology had limitless possibilities. Looking at these blueprints, he got a sense of a prodigious young mechanic girl, spending countless days and nights sketching and creating, and finally crafting that armor. For someone Seven Browns age, her accomplishment is exceptional. It wouldnt be exaggerating to call her a genius. Seven Brown also noticed the difference in Leonard Churchills praise. Unlike many traditional Curse Card Masters, who always regard machinery as low-end, not worthy of attention. This guy genuinely admired it. However, pleased as she was that someone understood her design, Seven Brown pursed her lips and said, One more thing. Dont call me Miss Seven. It sounds weird. Leonard Churchill: Then what should I call you? Seven Brown thought about it but didnt come up with anything better: Forget it, whatever you want. Leonard Churchill didnt care about these nitty-gritty details. He pointed to a state-of-the-art heavy mech armor in the room and asked, Whats that? If he guessed correctly about its functionalities, none of the available mech armors in the market were as good as this one. Talking about her creation, Seven Browns eyes sparkled, she seemed rather proud- That is the heavy mech armor Thor Generation Im designing. Its a concept model based on my ideas. If fully realized, it could even pose a lethal threat to high tier card masters. She paused, then added regretfully: The design inspiration and many technical resources came from ancient mechanical scriptures. However, due to the break in civilization, many scriptures and blueprints could not be translated. For example, slight inaccuracies in translating the power boiler capacity, armor strength, weapon system, et cetera, can result in a big difference in the final product. Therefore, this heavy mech armor has many defects and cannot yet be used in battle.... Chapter 297 - 125 Mechanic_3 Chapter 297: Chapter 125 Mechanic_3 Translator: 549690339 1 I see... Leonard Churchill looked at the mech, his eyes slightly narrowed. The steam black technology of this world was not designed from scratch but was quite advanced in ancient times. It is said that the technology of the goblins during the mythical era possessed combat power that could compete with the Great Dragon. Even the mechanical technology of the Taren Dynasty, which had a gap of three thousand years, was much better than todays. However, Leonard still thought that Seven Brown was very impressive. This reminded him of their first encounter at Bensons Antique Bookstore when Seven Brown had come to look for ancient books. He thought she was a collector, but it turned out that she wanted the books for her own learning. Seven Brown didnt say much, seeming to think that he understands. She casually asked, Are you also interested in machinery? Without waiting for his response, she pointed to a study filled with various blueprints and ancient books, saying: These are the various ancient books Ive collected. Feel free to look at what you want, theres no need to be polite. If you need anything, just let me know. Although she didnt think Leonard could understand them. Finding someone to share her collection with was rare enough. Leonard didnt beat around the bush and walked over. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com As soon as he flicked on the light, he was astonished by the array of ancient documents and rubbings densely piled all over the place. The shelves were filled with thick books related to machinery. So many... Leonard was slightly taken aback by the sight. An entire room full of ancient documents, many of which were genuine antiques and rare copies. Even top aristocrats may not have these in their collections. They were all treasures. Leonard initially intended to examine Seven Browns collection, assuming there wouldnt be much. But with the current situation, this Leonard is not looking at the blueprints, but he is really interested in those ancient books. This confused Seven Brown. So while tinkering with the mech, she will occasionally glance into the archive room. Seeing Leonards focused look didnt seem to be pretending, which made Seven Brown even more puzzled. She took a glance at the cover, what he was holding was actually a fragment of a mechanical classics from the Taren era. She couldnt understand it herself; could he? However, what surprised Seven Brown even more came later. As she watched, she actually saw Leonard modifying her notes? Seven Brown could no longer suppress her doubts, leaning out from the side of the glass and asked, Can you understand these ancient Taren books? Leonard looked at her and didnt answer fully, Well. I can understand them barely. Seven Brown didnt believe it, and asked in surprise, Are you from the Scholars professional sequence? You must know that the Taren Dynasty was a civilization that was destroyed three thousand years ago, and its written inheritance had long been lost. Before, she searched the entire Sinless City and couldnt find anyone proficient in the Taren ancient language. Now, this man of about the same age as her claimed to understand? Arent you a werewolf? And also a doctor. How did you become a scholar now? No. Leonard knew what she was doubting and laughed, saying, I just like to study ancient books in my spare time, so I understand some ancient texts. Hearing these words. Seven Browns eyes suddenly lit up. Are you joking? She hurriedly walked in and looked at the notes she had modified, asking, Did you really understand? Leonard didnt elaborate, he just pointed out casually, The translation of this sentence isnt forge shaping, it should be extraction of the characteristics of extraordinary materials after heat treatment. If Im not mistaken, the blueprints show this extraction process... And this sentence in the gunpowder formula cant be directly translated as fire dragon burns the castle and emits white smoke, its a kind of encrypted metaphor, it should refer to the process of material heat volatilization reaction, the volatile elements need to be extracted.... Chapter 298 - 125 Mechanic_4 Chapter 298: Chapter 125 Mechanic_4 Translator: 549690339 And the term marked with a question mark on your drawing is likely Correcting Bending... Hmm... This is not a mechanical drawing, but an interpretative illustration of a magic matrix. Leonard Churchill explained several errors he had identified in a row. The light in Seven Browns black eyes was getting brighter and brighter! All these drawings were painstakingly decoded from her guesses and deductions. Now, upon hearing this, she realized that someone could actually translate them precisely? After all, these ancient drawings were compiled by herself, so she was able to confirm whether his explanations were correct. Looking at Leonard Churchill again, her eyes changed: this man truly understands the ancient language of Taron! And it is not just a basic understanding, but a mastery! Seven Brown had originally brought Leonard to her Machinery Workshop, a place no outsider has ever visited, simply as a way of repaying a debt of gratitude. But at this moment, her thoughts changed. Seeing him as a priceless treasure, Seven Brown got excited. If she could understand the ancient language of Taron, the data and drawings in her possession would no longer remain undecipherable secrets. The problems with her mech could likely be resolved; the impossible high-precision ancient machinery could be built... Seven Brown is not a reserved girl, she blurted out, You... can you teach me? She made no attempt to hide her fervor for mechanical knowledge, stating bluntly, I wont ask for free. Just ask me to decipher these drawings. As long as I can fulfill the conditions, Ill agree to it! Leonard didnt refuse. He chuckled, I dont consider myself a master. I just know a little. He initially didnt want to talk any more than necessary. However, when he saw that Seven Brown was a mechanic who could design her own mech, he had some other ideas. The mechanical talents of this gangsters elder daughter were quite evident. The hunters always mention her stunning beauty. But very few people had actually seen her true face. Leonard was also curious. But his curiosity was elsewhere. There were many beautiful women in Sinless City and achieving the position of vice-president of the top gang wasnt something a mere figurehead could do. Her strength must be extraordinary. But the information merchant had no records of this Sophia Jones engaging in any combat. Leonard thought of something and quietly put on the clown mask. As soon as his voice fell, footsteps sounded from outside the door. Upon turning to look, a stunning woman dressed in a black cheongsam, her hair wound high, entered. Her figure was curvaceous, plump, and just right. The slit of her cheongsam was high, almost up to her thighs, revealing glimpses of her long, fair, and beautiful legs as she walked in. Without looking at her face, one would find her figure to be top-notch. Her face was also impeccable, charming with a mature glamour. Peoples eyes seemed to sink into her as they watched. Even Leonard couldnt help but marvel. Truly worthy of the title of the number one beauty in Sinless City. But after just one look, he collected his gaze. As Sophia Jones walked in, the gleam in her eyes faded. Seeing the bloodstain on Zoe Brown, her eyebrows knit in worry and she asked with concern, Rita, I heard you were injured. Do you want to see a doctor? Seven Brown said, Its not a big problem anymore. Speaking, she also introduced directly: Aunt Jones, this is Leonard Churchill. Hes the one who saved my life before. Sophia Jones took a glance, smiled warmly, and spoke earnestly, Your friend has troubled you. To her words, Leonard rose gentlemanly, neither humble nor arrogant, President Jones is way too polite. It was just a duty of courtesy.. Chapter 299 - 125 Mechanic_5 Chapter 299: Chapter 125 Mechanic_5 Translator: 549690339 Sophia Jones glanced at the two chairs pressed together, a touch of surprise crossed her face, but she also gave a slight smile, If you dont mind, you can call me Aunt Jones just like Rita. Leonard Churchill nodded in courtesy and didnt say much. Sophia Jones asked again, I heard some news shared by people in the guild. What exactly happened? It was when I received news that Great Ivans goods were looted, so I went for reinforcements... Seven Brown narrated the details of what had happened. When the point of being tied up in the car came, he glanced at Leonard Churchill. Seeing that he didnt mind, he continued, Then, Mr. Leonard Churchill stepped in and saved me... It was only then that we became aware of the existence of a third party. Fortunately, Mr. Leonard Churchill managed to kill the Curse Witch... Sophia Jones listened carefully, her expression unchanged throughout, a testament to her calm beyond ordinary people. She didnt press further into any details that Zoe Brown had intentionally avoided. For example, how the murder was carried out, what methods were used, or any question that could expose identities. After listening, she only pondered for a moment and said solemnly, This matter is of great importance, I need to handle it right now. Sophia Jones didnt plan to stay long. Looking at Leonard Churchill, she gave a gentle smile, You saved our Rita, so I no longer regard you as an outsider. Once Im finished with my work, I will properly thank you. Then, she turned to Zoe Brown, Rita, please take good care of Leonard. I will have a doctor come to check on you later. Seven Brown nodded. I will head down first. With a subtle smile, Sophia Jones turned elegantly and left the workshop. Watching her graceful departure, Leonard Churchill relaxed the caution in his eyes. He was very clear that Sophia Jones had come up not just to ask about the situation, but also to observe him, the outsider. She is really strong... It seems you know everything. Should you stay here tonight? Ah, youre really good, youre familiar with the discontinuous texts used in the Taren Dynasty. How did you learn those? Time flew by quickly. Leonard spent the entire night in the workshop with Seven Brown. What may have been dry knowledge to others was incredibly intriguing to them. Leonard Churchill meditated while flipping through the ancient documents, which was not much different from his usual routine. He didnt focus much on the mechanical knowledge, but concentrated more on the ancient curse card masters texts. While Seven Brown, not familiar with the Tarens classics, immersed herself in the various mysteries of machinery after successful translation. The two of them coexisted harmoniously in the archives, immersed in the ocean of knowledge. Exchanging a handful of words occasionally. Though they didnt talk much, the two gradually became familiar with each other. Whether peoples temperaments are compatible can often be determined once you get familiar with them. They both had good impressions of each other. Leonard Churchills original plan was to have a general look through the books here, and Nine Brown is supposed to be back the next day. By then, he can ask about the Breathing Method. He thinks there might also be some rewarding surprises along the way. However, before Nine Brown returned, an unexpected guest appeared in the Flood Gang. At noon the next day, someones voice rang from of the communication- related brass pipeline, Brother Seven, theres a troublesome gambler at the casino on the eighth floor, do you want to come down and have a look? Chapter 300 - 126: Betting Sophia Jones’ Clothes Chapter 300: Chapter 126: Betting Sophia Jones Clothes Translator: 549690339 I srnico At this very moment. The gambling den on the eighth floor of the Flood Gangs headquarters. A group of gamblers were huddled around a gambling table, shouting excitedly. Banker! Banker! Banker! Hahaha, won again! Thats outrageous, that gentleman must have won at least a billion by now right? Hehe, Ive won nearly a million by following his lead. Thanks to that gentlemans good luck. Oh my god, that gentleman just bet all his billion chips! At this moment, almost all the eyes in the gambling den were attracted by this extravagant bet. The croupier, looking at the pile of glittering chips placed on Banker, was already sweating profusely. Even though the Flood Gang was wealthy, they didnt necessarily have a lot of ready cash. If they kept losing, the cash in their gambling den would be drained empty. More importantly, they couldnt guarantee whether others would stop betting after winning this round. But compared to this situation, the good C looking young man in a white suit sitting opposite the croupier, looked quite indifferent. To him, the astronomical amount of chips seemed entirely insignificant. He even urged nonchalantly, Whats going on, deal the cards? Cant the Flood Gang afford to lose? The gamblers sitting by the side also chimed in, Yeah, just deal the cards! On the other hand, at the staircase to the eighth floor of the gambling den. Small incidents would occasionally happen in the gambling den, and Seven Brown and other leaders would often have to deal with them. As Leonard Churchill and Seven Brown had spent the night at the factory yesterday, they also happened to come to get some fresh air today. As soon as they came down, they saw Sophia Jones discussing something with a few administrators of the casino. After giving them a brief greeting. All their eyes turned to the bustling gambling table downstairs. Did you notice anything unusual? Does this noble lady like to engage in role-playing games? Obviously not. Shes here to stir up trouble. Tsk, tsk, this is getting interesting... Leonard narrowed his eyes. When she appeared in the Old Ship Gambling Den last time, Boss Christ got killed. At that time, Leonard suspected her involvement, but the assassin had no evidence, and no one was certain if a third party caused the trouble. And now it was clear! Seeing her causing trouble in the Flood Gangs territory, he could start to deduce her motives. Did she come to confront them directly? An idea immediately hit Leonard. fording to the third partys plan, Seven Brown should have been caught last But because he interfered, she got saved. That disrupted the third partys plan. Seeing that the Flood Gang and the Brotherhood now knew the truth, and they didnt start a fight, they might not fight for a long time in the future. Its meaningless to continue hiding. So, shes here to stir up trouble? Leonard also found this intriguing, thinking to himself, Since she dares to blatantly cause trouble in the Flood Gangs stronghold, she must be confident. Tsk, tsk... is she planning to go hard? If she wants to clash openly with the Flood Gang in Sinless City, its not going to be a small matter. Given the current situation, its most likely either the Governors Miller Family or the Lionheart Family. Leonard glanced at the gamblers in the den, curious to see what kind of experts had showed up. Seven Brown was also frowning. The Flood Gang has been having a run of bad luck lately, and thought thered be some peace after a truce. But now someone else has come to stir up trouble. Maybe it was because Leonard kept staring at her, but Sophia Jones seemed to sense something. She turned her head to look at Leonard and Seven Brown and said, Rita, you guys come along as well. Chapter 301 - 126: Betting Sophia Jones’ Clothes_2 Chapter 301: Chapter 126: Betting Sophia Jones Clothes_2 Translator: 549690339 The phrase was you guys. Seven Brown glanced at Leonard Churchill and asked, Shall we go see? Leonard Churchill didnt mind at all. He also wanted to see how these high-end players compete against each other. The three of them came to VIP Room 3 first. After a short while, the young man in the white suit just now came in, surrounded by a group of people. A pile of chips worth over twenty billion was also placed on the gambling table. Although he was alone, the young man showed no fear in his expression. He sneered, Oh, are you wanting a private gamble? Thats good. Lets see if your Flood Gang can handle my bet. She sat down boldly on the chair. Apparently, she was familiar with Sophia Jones and looked at the various casino attendants whose expressions were grim around her, saying, President Jones, you have so many people here, what kind of play do you want to perform? Sophia Jones also knew this person was about to reveal her cards. She waved her hand, You guys leave first. Yes, President. The casino attendants nodded in response, turned around and left, and then closed the door. In the vast VIP room, only four people were left. The young man in the white suit glanced at the people behind Sophia Jones. He recognized Seven Brown, but another one... Since the other party didnt clear him out, she didnt ask more, she would just consider him to be a higher-up of the Flood Gang. Sophia Jones smiled slightly: Whats your name? Just a nobody, it doesnt matter who I am. The young man in the white suit scoffed: President Jones, did you bring me to this VIP room just to ask questions? I want to gamble. Im not interested in chatting about irrelevant things. There was no change in Sophia Joness face, she countered: Then lets talk with cards? Hearing this, the young man raised his eyebrows, finally showing a bit of interest: Good! But I think its no fun to gamble for money. Lets gamble for something else. Oh, bad luck. The young man in the suit seemed to be completely unaffected by the fact that he just lost a bet of twenty billion in chips, he smacked his lips and continued to provoke: It seems that it wont be easy to see President Jones stripping. Watching this unremarkable gamble, Leonard Churchill was also surprised: Its not about skills... its completely gambling on luck? He didn t see any problem. The cards were dealt by Seven Brown, and the two card holders flipped the cards at random, without any skill. She won back the twenty billion bet in one go. It seemed that this farce should end. However, at this time, the young man in the suit had no intention of leaving the table, he squinted at Sophia Jones: How about another round? If I win, I still want to see you strip. If you win, Ill answer one of your questions. Sophia Jones already knew the other party wouldnt easily give up until their goal was achieved, so she had to respond: Sure! Seven Brown dealt the cards to both sides again. Both sides didnt waste any time and flipped them over again. Sophia Jones: Heart A, King of Diamonds, 14 points. The young man in the suit: Heart 10, Diamond 5,13 points. Although she narrowly won. Sophia Jones had won again. The young man in the suit slightly raised his eyebrows, without showing any sign of loss, he continued to flaunt verbally: Oh my- It seems I have bad luck. He continued, Tell me, President Jones, what do you want to ask me? Sophia Joness gaze slightly narrowed, after a moment of consideration, she directly asked: Is the recent conflict between our Flood Gang and the Brotherhood because of your instigation behind the scenes? As soon as this word came out, it was like unveiling a bayonet, immediately cooling the atmosphere in the room. Leonard Churchill and Seven Brown both looked over. However, unexpectedly, the young man in the suit seemed to be anticipating it and admitted openly: Yes. On hearing this, Seven Brown looked surprised. Chapter 302 - 126 Betting on Sophia Jones’ Clothes 3 Chapter 302: Chapter 126 Betting on Sophia Jones Clothes 3 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill, though he had an inkling, was quite taken aback to see the man confessing so openly. Sophia Jones1 eyes slightly narrowed as she heard this. Her gorgeous face still wore a warm smile as she said, By saying this, are you not afraid that you wont be able to leave the Flood Gangs headquarters today? The young man in the suit didnt mind at all, and also responded with a smile, If you take action, I indeed wont make it out alive. But if you dare to do so, I can guarantee that not a single soul in the Flood Gangs headquarters will be left alive either. Do you believe me? The two of them were conducting a veiled standoff in the most nonchalant manner. And with that, the room fell silent. Findd new stories at novelhall.com The air seemed to have solidified. The breathing became heavy. It seemed that at Sophias slight beckon, her men could rush in and chop the pretty boy to pieces. Leonard was quite looking forward to a fight, but he felt that both parties hadnt laid down all their cards yet, thus the chances of a fight breaking out were slim. And sure enough. All of a sudden, the young man in the suit broke the silence, How about another round? If I win, you still strip. If I lose, the matter ends here today, and Ill also answer one of your questions. At his words, Sophias eyelids fluttered. She already had a hunch that something was not right, but she had no choice but to agree, Alright! She felt the pulse of destiny. If you feel unlucky, youd use a piece of substandard equipment to junk pad. If the equipment breaks in the process of strengthening it, then so be it. Only after youve broken a few pieces of junk equipment would you then upgrade the main equipment. This was said to provide a boost to your luck. The odds of winning tend to increase with more losses. This was also a common gamblers mentality. Leonard, who carefully observed this, noted that his opponent had lost two rounds in a row. Despite this, the ladys momentum seemed to be mounting. This could only be explained by edging up luck, couldnt it? Leonard did not know how she managed to do it. But he guessed that some mysterious force must have increased her luck, like artifacts, spells, or something of the sort. It looked like a card game, But in reality, the two at the table were battling on a metaphysical level. Leonard, deep in thought, had a premonition, If it really is as I guessed, President Jones is likely to lose the next round... And clearly, the opponent was not interested in watching her strip, but was aiming for something bigger. Seven Brown laid out the cards for both parties once again. Both sides proceeded to reveal their cards. Sophia Jones: Diamond 9, Heart 10,19 points The man in the suit: Spades 10, Diamond 10,20 points. Just one point ahead. This time, Sophia Jones, truly lost! Chapter 303 - 127: President Jones is Calm and Unhurried Chapter 303: Chapter 127: President Jones is Calm and Unhurried Translator: 549690339 A high-stakes gamble is currently taking place in the eighth-floor private room, a gamble that could determine the fate of the Flood Gang. Meanwhile, among the high-spirited gamblers on the seventh floor, some special guests have infiltrated the crowd. At the roulette table, a silver-haired youth is passionately placing his bets. A seemingly servile old man stands behind him. Your Highness, there are many skilled players from the Flood Gang. If that young lady from the Lionheart Family were to go upstairs alone...Should I go and check? If anything happened to her in Sinless City, it would be tricky to explain to the Lionheart Family. No need. The people of the Flood Gang wouldnt dare harm her. Besides, they want her to marry into the family to become the queen. Mere ambition isnt enough. I too, am curious about how much of these rumors about the Silver Mist Rose are true. If she is merely beautiful, such a woman holds no value to me. Yes, Your Highness. Hmph... those people have completely bypassed us and come to Sinless City to initiate these petty actions. It seems those guys dont really take us Old Era Remnants seriously. The Anka Clan, who used to cower under my imperial throne, now dares to level itself with our royal family. They have to put in more effort. I would find it rather interesting if the Federation general Golden Lion Carlos most cherished daughter were to die in the Sinless City... Lets see if she can get the key from the Flood Gang. Understood, Your Highness. By the way, has Camilla been found yet? Not yet, Your Highness. The Thirteen Masquerade Knights assassinated Stan Miller last time but strangely let the young lady go. We dont really know what they were thinking. They did not complete their task, nor did they collect the bounty, and we havent been able to contact them since. The master and servant were conversing intermittently as they mingled among the gamblers. But strangely, no one else seemed to be aware of their conversation. In the third VIP room. The four individuals displayed various expressions as they looked at the points on their cards. The youth in the white suit, bearing a wicked smile, brilliantly portrayed the despicable character. Oh- President Jones, it seems Ive won. His gaze fell directly on Sophia Jones stunning face, then trailed down to her voluptuous chest. Seeing Sophia Jones truly about to strip, Leonard Churchill timely excused himself: I shall step out for a moment. Though he was interested in admiring the renowned beauty of Sinless City, staying wasnt the best choice right now. If he stayed and watched, he would completely offend the higher-ups of the Flood Gang. The loss would surely outweigh the gain. Unexpectedly, upon hearing his words, Sophia Jones smiled subtly and retorted: No need. Youre not an outsider. You should stay here. She had already deciphered her opponents tactics. Now, all four present were part of the game, contributing to the dynamic of luck. If she showed weakness, her fortunes had already decreased significantly. More importantly, she had a different plan in mind- Sophia Jones, with a slow, drawling voice began, Given our distinguished guests keen interest. Acting coy would only make us from the Flood Gang seem petty. After hearing Sophia Jones words, Leonard Churchill decided to stay on the spot. But his mind was racing with sudden realisations. He did not think of this as some unexpected sensual delight. In a high-stakes game, every move is significant. He deduced that Sophia Jones might have seen through the opponents disguise as a woman. Moreover, letting him stay must have some significance. The significance wasnt hard to guess. Sophia Jones was already preparing the chips for the next gamble! As this thought crossed Leonard Churchills mind, he couldnt help but admire her, Impressive... Sophia Jones did not hesitate further. Chapter 304 - 127: President Jones is Calm and Unhurried_2 Chapter 304: Chapter 127: President Jones is Calm and Unhurried_2 Translator: 549690339 Indeed, as she said, willing to gamble comes with willingness to accept loss. She reached out to unbutton the first clasp on the cheongsam on her left shoulder, the beautiful smile hanging delicately on her exquisite face. The lights seemed to focus on her as Sophia Jones elegantly unfastened one, two, three... all the buttons of her cheongsam. The black and gold cheongsam was tight, contouring her exquisite figure, while also somewhat restrictive. With the button unfastened, the restrictions were gone, revealing the mountains of snow on her chest from her tight bodice. On Sophia Jones beautiful face was no trace of youthful shyness, only mature charm. The upward arc of her red lips inadvertently revealed a hint of seductiveness. Even when being forced to strip, she showed no stage fright. She looked at the young man in white across from her and lifted her cheongsam without hesitation. The smooth fabric couldnt stay on her porcelain-like delicate skin, gliding down to her waist and stopping at her buttocks. Sophia Jones didnt stop there. With a pull, the cheongsam had fallen completely to her feet. Instantly, her exquisite figure was exposed to the air. Round and perky, voluptuously just right. Although she was still wearing the lacy undergarments. But it was all in full view. Having done this, with the tip of her finger lightly touching a strand of hair by her temples, Sophia Jones takes the initiative to ask, Do you want me to continue stripping? She seemed at ease, the smile in the young man in whites eyes receding further. Leonard Churchill and Seven Brown also noticed this exchange. Sophia Jones was not the one at a disadvantage after all. The young man in whites performance was still impeccable, greed apparent in his eyes he applauded, The number one beauty in Sinless City truly lives up to her name... Its my pleasure to witness, of course I want to see you thoroughly. But its far from over! The young man in white sensed something was off, but his goal hadnt been achieved, so she wouldnt leave. Her eyebrows raised, her previous smile was instantly replaced by a serious expression, Of course. With that said, it appeared an agreement had been reached. The spell had begun. She thought to herself, being able to break the ice to this degree is impressive. But she hadnt lost. At most it was a draw. She was still having better luck, there was no reason not to keep gambling. Sophia Jones narrowed her eyes and asked, Youve seen whatyou wanted to see. Next, what do you want to gamble on? With that said, everyone knew the prelude was over. Time for the main event. The young man in white didnt bother hiding anymore, I heard that the Flood Gang has a Kings Key, lets gamble on that for the next round. Upon hearing this, Sophia Jones pupils constricted slightly, this was a major matter indeed, her relaxed tone instantly changed, she asked back, Where did you hear this news from? She realized in her heart: So this was the reason for coming here, such big ambitions! The young man in white was pleased with Sophia Jones astonished response, if she did become frightened, her luck would decline once again. Looking languid she laughed, Where I heard it from isnt important. The key is, do you dare to bet? Sophia Jones eyes subtly changed again, knowing that she had to agree today, If our Flood Gang is doing business, we naturally want the customers to enjoy themselves. Since the guest wants to gamble big, what if you lose? The young man in white made an uncaring face, Whatever you see fit. With a flicker in her eyes, Sophia Jones, as if waiting for this particular line, said, How about this then... if you lose, like me, strip naked? Hows that sound? You...! As soon as he heard this, the smile on the face of the young man in white immediately receded. From the start of the gamble until now, she expressed a more complex expression than ever before. Because as soon as she heard this, she instantly realized that her pretense had long been seen through! Chapter 305 - 127: President Jones is Calm and Unhurried 3 Chapter 305: Chapter 127: President Jones is Calm and Unhurried 3 Translator: 549690339 No wonder this woman had no qualms about undressing! However, before she had time to think further, Sophia Jones stunning profile already broke into a smile, her voice cutting through the air, After all... I also want to see if the renowned beauty and smartest lady in Silvermist City, Miss Catherine Carter from the Lionheart Family, known as the Silver Mist Rose, is really as beautiful as they say. These words directly revealed her true identity, and the enthusiasm of the man in white had already faded. Sophia Jones used the same bet to throw the problem back. Catherine Carters face changed slightly. As a noble lady, her purity and reputation are many times more important than her life. But the bet had already been agreed upon. At this moment, it dawned on Catherine Carter. She initially thought she had the upper hand, but the other woman had manipulated her into walking right into her trap. Hearing Sophia Jones reveal the identity of Miss Carter from the Lionheart family... Seven Browns expression instantly became excited. Although he didnt speak, his surprised eyes couldnt hide his thoughts: So this guy is a woman? Upon hearing that the noble lady was part of the Lionheart family, Leonard Churchill wasnt too surprised himself. Just now, Miss Catherine Carter had stated that if she died, the Flood Gang would be annihilated instantly. Given the present situation in Sinless City, the only noble families capable of this are the Miller Family and the Lionheart Family, which has stationed 50,000 soldiers of the Fierce Beast Legion in Upper City. Ah, a young, clever and cunning noble lady who had the guts to come here alone C the selection is pretty slim now. Leonard Churchill isnt too familiar with the complex family trees of nobility. But Sophia Jones, being the vice president of the largest gang in Sinless City, definitely has no lack of intelligence resources. Upon seeing this move, Leonard Churchill muttered to himself, So, the reason why she kept me around was to pull this off. He sighed. Earlier he had had a hunch. If there is only women in the room, revealing Miss Catherine Carters identity wouldnt be of much use and the bet of undressing wouldnt hold any value either. But the underlying atmosphere set by her opponent had been broken, Resulting in a seven-point loss instead. Looking at the smiling face of the woman sitting bare in front of her, Catherine Carter felt the taste of defeat for the first time. She had been so confident initially, but she hadnt expected... A nobles life couldnt be compared to that of a commoner. Similarly, the integrity of a noble lady was not the same as that of a shameless woman! Despicable woman! Although Catherine knew that emotional fluctuations would interfere with destiny, she couldnt help but curse in her heart. Should she back down? No! Impossible! Her inner, pride and unwillingness immediately fought back. Ive never lost since I was a little girl! For her, who had grown up with the reputation of being an extraordinarily talented and beautiful girl, she had never tasted defeat. Catherine Carter thought about this and touched the Fate Coin in her pocket again. Luck was unpredictable now. Unlike before, where she was certain of her victory, But even so, the chances were still fifty-fifty. Furthermore, she still had an ace up her sleeve, a secret skill. She couldnt lose! Catherine Carter was unwilling to back down in disgrace. She knew that there were other forces outside waiting to see the result. If she admits defeat, the dignity of the Lionheart Family will be lost. And the dignity of the Silver Mist Rose, Catherine Carter, will also be lost! With that thought, she quickly agreed: Deal! Chapter 306 - 128: The Same Bet Returned Chapter 306: Chapter 128: The Same Bet Returned Translator: 549690339 Being restless is a big no-no in gambling. Sophia Jones observed this, her expression unchanged. Although she didnt want to offend a noble lady, it seemed that the latter wouldnt quit until the result was decided. Without any further words, she signaled, Rita, deal the cards. The atmosphere of the gambling game was noticeably different this time. Miss Catherine Carter, although still arrogant, the air of assured victory had disappeared from her face. It seemed like luck was evenly split between both sides. Seven Brown dealt the cards again for both parties. Sophia Jones did not take the seat, even standing naked, she remained elegant. She turned over her cards: Heart J, Jack of Diamonds, 22 points. Catherine Carter: Spades 10, Spade Q, also 22 points. Same scores. Sophia Jones looked at it without any surprise. A tie was, in fact, somewhat of an upward trend for her luck. Not having won, Catherine Carters expression was a bit complicated. According to her plan, she shouldve won this fourth round! Seeing the result, Sophia Joness lips slightly curved upward, offering a way out, Its a draw... Miss Catherine Carter, how about we call it quits? Catherine Carter coldly responded, No! Continue! She needed a clear result. Oh... Sophia Jones knew she wouldnt back down. She was just provoking her a little. Seven Brown continued dealing the cards. The fifth round. Sophia Jones: Spade 2, Diamond 2,4 points. Catherine Carter: Spade A, Heart 3, 4 points. It was a tie again. Despite Sophia Jones low score, the fact that the opponent couldnt win indicated something. Just like what her opponent had done before, Sophia Jones took the initiative, pretending to muse: A draw again... Although she didnt say anything, those cold eyes seemed to say: If you dare to look, Ill kill you! However, she mistakenly assumed. If it were any other man, they might have reconsidered because of the threatening Lionheart family. But it just had to be Leonard Churchill. He understood her menacing gaze but completely ignored it. He didnt look at Sophia Jones out of respect. As for Catherine Carter, he didnt care at all. Ive even dared to kill Young Master Kane, your cousin, or nephew. Dont I dare to look at you? Being threatened, he sneered inwardly. When overwhelmed by debt, why bother to save face? If I dont look, would the Lionheart family stop hunting me? Leonard Churchill not only didnt constrain himself, instead, he evaluated and examined her carefully with great interest. While he didnt know what the stake, the Kings Key, was, he knew he couldnt let the enemy get what she desired. His train of thought was crystal clear. At this moment, Leonard Churchill had already understood the tactics employed by both parties. The less patient this noble lady became, the more her luck diminished. She definitely couldnt be allowed to have her way. Highly skilled players, particularly Mysterious Type card masters, can often sense the movements of others gazes. Catherine Carter felt three gazes landing on her. For a moment, she even desired to back down. However, remembering the humiliation from the failure, she hardened her face and ripped off the bandages in one pull. With this strong pull, she set off waves of laughter. Her entire upper body was completely exposed. Not too exaggerated curves. But given her young age, she naturally radiated youthful plumpness. If Sophia Jones had only stripped her jacket before, she could stop there, but unfortunately, she had her stripped off everything earlier. Now, she had to do the same. Catherine Carters pretty face hardened again as she bent down to remove her trousers. In an instant, the noble lady stood stark naked under the lights. Its hard to deny that the skin of a noble lady, rumored to soak in milk baths all year round, is impressively smooth and tender. Chapter 307 - 128 Returning the Same Bet 2 Chapter 307: Chapter 128 Returning the Same Bet 2 Translator: 549690339 (????? The skin shimmered under the light, with a faint pinkish glow. A head of golden hair, and a pretty face. It was originally an intriguingly enchanting body. However, perhaps in comparison, it was not so stunning anymore. Leonard Churchill glanced a few times, without any ripple of emotions. When the clothes were stripped off, the expression of Miss Catherine Carter recovered to indifference in an instant. No sense of shame, only cold indifference and a boiling murderous intent. As you wish! I have taken off my clothes! Catherine Carter spoke coldly and brought up her own stake, One more round If I win, Ill take the key immediately! If I lose, I wont interfere with any of your Flood Gang business! Sophia Jones agreed willingly, Alright! Todays matter must certainly have a conclusion. Theres no point in saying anything else. Two naked women began a new round of gambling. For a moment, the VIP room blossomed with the aura of spring. This is the last round. But it is also the most crucial round. Invisible Mysterious Techniques are also at play. But just as Seven Brown was shuffling the cards... A small episode broke the mysterious ambience in the room. Sophia seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly cast a glance at Leonard Churchill. With a casual smile, she asked, Sir, which of us, Miss Catherine Carter and I, do you think has a better figure? Churchill knew she was deliberately provoking the other party. He was happy about it too. Originally he was just a spectator, without any involvement. But when asked, he was given permission, and naturally, he didnt need to restrain his gaze. Only then did Leonard Churchill look more closely. Under the scrutiny of his gaze, Sophias beautiful face didnt reveal any difference. She smiled softly and generously showed off her mature and proud figure. A full display from top to bottom. Churchill took a look at her. He turned his face and compared with the opposite side. As Catherine Carter was examined by that annoying gaze, her suppressed anger flared up again. But those eyes were just like knives, sliding across her skin, without any restraint. She turned her clear eyes, but doesnt understand. Leonard, who observed from the side, didnt understand either. But while looking at that JOKER, he felt something was weird. He thought Sophia would certainly reveal a K, but the result was this? But a victory is still a victory. The final round was over. The farce had also come to an end. Looking at the noblewoman on the other side, Sophia spoke calmly, Miss Catherine Carter, the Flood Gang has no intention to be hostile to you, but we are not afraid of anyone. Ill tell you something. I dont know where you heard about the Kings Key, but it doesnt matter. That key concerns the entire Old Continent, its not something that the Lionheart Family can handle alone. Besides, Sinless City...is not as simple as you think. Catherine Carter didnt respond to those words. She thought to herself, Grandmother was right... There are many monsters hidden in Sinless City... She knew she had lost and stood up. At this moment, she fully understood that with that terrifying strength, the other side could kill her if they wanted to. They were just considering the Flood Gang and didnt act. She does indeed have the power to destroy the Flood Gang. But to destroy the Flood Gang would be like breaking the chain that binds the monsters. The monsters hidden in Sinless City would eat people. The noblewoman tasted the bitterness of defeat for the first time. She originally wanted to take down the two gangs, to prove in front of the elders in her family that the Lionheart Will of the Anka clan can be inherited not only by men but also by women! She didnt expect to lose so thoroughly. But suddenly. That sense of defeat, makes her, feel like some kind of realization has broken through! The cloud of failure instantly cleared away. So this was grandmothers intention! She didnt want me to win, but to know the taste of defeat. Chapter 308 - 128: Returning the Same Bet 3 Chapter 308: Chapter 128: Returning the Same Bet 3 Translator: 549690339??????? Catherine Carter stood up, seemingly having realized something. Her confidence was suddenly restored. Losing is losing. Thanks for the lesson, President Jones. As if all her mind knots were untied; she let out a relieved smile and added, I will keep my promise and not target your Flood Gang anymore. However, I will send someone over with a gift. My Lionheart Family is interested in collaborating with the Flood Gang. I hope you can consider it when the time comes, President Jones. Sophia Jones smiled and nodded: When Nine Master returns, I will inform him. Catherine didnt say much more; she took a set of clothes from the Storage Ring and calmly covered her enchanting figure. Before leaving, it seemed she thought of something. She glanced at Sophias graceful figure and candidly admitted, Indeed, I cant keep up with this. Sophia Jones smiled charmingly without responding. Leonard Churchill also noticed the changes in the noble young lady and marvelled at it in his heart. The murderous intent vanished, showing not ordinary state of mind. The three watched as Catherine Carter dressed and directly left the private room. As Sophia Jones watched her leave, her crystal eyes were misty, and her red lips slightly opened, murmuring, The Lionheart Family indeed spawns talents. If Miss Catherine Carter can take control, the future Federation politics could be much more exciting. That said, she also started to get dressed. Leonard Churchill gentlemanly turned his gaze away. He didnt understand the strategy of the final round. But he understood what was said. It was not just the cards that made the young miss of the powerful Lionheart family admit defeat. It must be strength. This President Jones... deeply unfathomable indeed. Seven Brown hurried over to help, buttoning up her clothes, while saying, Wow...Aunt Jones, your figure is absolutely perfect. If I were a man, I wouldnt be able to leave the house every day. Sophia Jones scolded in a playful tone: Behave yourself! The age difference between the two was not large; the title Aunt related more to the old mans position. No outsiders were here, neither the cold and ruthless vice president nor the gang bosss daughter. So, it must have been Leonard. Could it be that her judgment on their figures in the final round affected Miss Carters fate and increased her own? Sophia thought a lot. The initial reason she took Seven and Leonard with her was not just for Seven to learn how to handle unexpected events. It was also because her demons power sensed something unusual. There was something special about Leonard. The tenth floor of Flood building housed a VIP restaurant. This was the fanciest restaurant Leonard had seen since coming to this world, and the dishes were excellent. However, his desire for food was minimal. He felt everything tasted okay. The three chatted casually as they ate. Sophias emotional intelligence was high, her words careful and considered. Even if she did not take the initiative to ask. Through details in the conversation, she was able to quickly figure out some of Leonards situation. Of course, Leonard had no intentions to deliberately hide anything. After the events at the casino, he felt it didnt matter if his fugitive identity was exposed. Seven Brown didnt have such deep considerations. Being curious, she asked whatever came to her mind. After getting to know Leonard, if she had any issues, she asked them directly. As the three chatted, the topic veered towards the arrest warrant. At this time, Seven Brown curiously asked: Leonard, do you really not know the lantern bearer, Vince Lane, the 13th Masked Knight? I heard hes very powerful. He killed Kane in front of the Golden Guard from the Fierce Beast Legion. Oh, come to think of it, that guy is the cousin of the noble miss we just met, right? Leonard shookhis head: I dont know him. Seven Brown had always been in the city and didnt pay much attention to various information: Ah...if you dont know the assassin, then why does the Lionheart family want to hunt you down? Leonard stuck a piece of meat in his mouth and replied calmly, Because I tried to assassinate him once. But I didnt succeed. Hearing these words, Seven Brown turned to look at him in surprise: You...really tried? Chapter 309 - 128 - The Same Bet Was Returned_4 Chapter 309: Chapter 128 C The Same Bet Was Returned_4 Translator: 549690339 | Even though she was a gangster, she knew how exaggerated this difficulty and idea were. Leonard Churchill nodded: Mhm. But he didnt say much. Upon hearing this, Sophia Jones gave him a glance. As if thinking of something, she laughed: No wonder you were unphased when facing the Elder Miss of the Lionheart Family. So thats why. Killing a legitimate heir of a family, even a simple glance would be out of the question. Speaking of which, Sophia Jones added: We from the Flood Gang will properly handle the trouble from before. It wont inconvenience you further. Leonard Churchill nodded. It didnt matter whether it was handled or not. He was probably safe within the Flood Gang, and once he left, nobody knew him, so it wouldnt matter. Sophia Jones continued: Do you want help with the Bounty Orders? Leonard Churchill dismissed it: No need. Thank you. Sophia Jones just smiled slightly. At this point, Seven Brown chimed in: Oh, right Aunt Jones, do you know if that Breathing Method of Abels could become a reality? Upon hearing this, Sophia Jones guessed that she was asking on behalf of Leonard Churchill: Regarding Abels Breathing Method, I do know a bit. It is rumored to be a fragment of an ancient Demon Gods secret skill. But I havent been in Sinless City for very long. After Lord Nine Brown returns, you could ask him. Leonard Churchill nodded. By coincidence, while the three were discussing the Breathing Method, Sophia Jones sensed something and laughed: Lord Nine Brown has returned. Seven Brown also heard familiar footsteps, Ah... the old man is finally back. Leonard Churchill also curiously looked up. In Leonardos impression, the leader of a gang was usually someone with a large gold chain around their neck, a mountain of flesh, a cigar in their mouth, and a fiercely sharp gaze. But Lord Nine Browns position in Sinless City was earned through strength. Legend has it that he was already a top expert in Sinless City in his younger years, cruel and vicious, with countless lives in his hands. Leonard found it to be expected; to become the boss of the number one gang in Sinless City, whether it be strength or action, it had to be on the highest level. Even if a tyrannical figure like a kings dragon entered, he wouldnt find it surprising. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com However, because of this expectation. Sophia Jones on the side smiled without speaking, seeming to find this unsurprising. Lord Nine Brown also made a bitter face: Rita, stop shaking, I feel like my old bones are about to fall apart. Seven Brown continued gloomily: Old man, just say it or not! Lord Nine Brown without another way out, changed the subject: The day before yesterday, one of Abels subordinates, a team captain called Tiger Rex Smith, and his base were slaughtered, I think it was likely your doing, right? He got his answer from Leonard Churchills expression, and laughed: Then the later verses should be in your hand by now, so theres no hurry about the Breathing Method. After all, it involves an old predecessor. I shouldnt make decisions without asking first. But since I, Curtis Brown, have spoken, whether it can be done or not, I will definitely give you a response. Leonard Churchill was truly surprised upon hearing these words. He hadnt expected that a Breathing Method would involve so much. Not only did it come from the Fifty-two Demonic God Forbidden Techniques, but also, according to Lord Nine Brown, an old predecessor? From the sounds of it, that predecessor is still alive? Is there an entity in Sinless City that has such high seniority that even Lord Nine Brown, the President of the Flood Gang, has to be so cautious when mentioning? Sheesh... Leonard Churchill finally understood why he was hesitant. Perhaps it touched upon some high-level secrets? He concurred: Thankyou then, Lord Nine Brown. Lord Nine Brown laughed as well. Conversations with smart people didnt require much talking, but he did feel somewhat guilty for not giving anything in return. He spoke again: I see that our friend Leonard Churchill has extraordinary strength and should be preparing to progress to Second Tier, right? Theres no hurry about the Breathing Method. I think you can consider other things, such as a Profession Card or cultivating a Secret Skill. At the very least, if you can voice out your needs, the Flood Gang will absolutely pull out the best stuff in Sinless City. Leonard Churchill had just recently advanced to the First Tier. But he could indeed start preparing the Profession Card for the Second Tier. He experienced the exaggerated augmentation of the original template when advancing to First Tier. Leonards demand for the quality of the Second Tier Profession Card also increased. This was something almost impossible to buy on the market. Just as well, here was a person who had great influence in Sinless City. He thought this person should be able to help him. Leonard knew the other party wanted to return a favor. He also thought this transparent trade was more appropriate and didnt beat around the bush. He directly said: I need a Second Tier Air Skill Master Profession Card template. Preferably an Original Template. Original Template? Upon hearing this, Lord Nine Browns eyelid twitched again. Even Sophia Jones, who had remained silent throughout, cast a surprised look. Chapter 310 - 129: Assassination Chapter 310: Chapter 129: Assassination Translator: 549690339 | The [Air Skill Master] is a secondary profession for the [Club A-Fighter], Moreover, for the majority of close-combat careers, Air Skill Master is a highly desirable cross-series career choice. After all, this series greatly enhances technique, curse power capacity, and comprehension of air, as well as providing a balanced growth in strength, agility, and physique. This fits Leonard Churchill perfectly. This kind of cross-career choice is not too outrageous, and he is not afraid of exposing his JOKERS general career term. The most important thing is, the two men in front of him have a broader perspective and see more than he has hidden. Findd new stories at novelhall.com Theres little point in hiding. Additionally, as Lord Nine Brown said, Flood Gang can offer the best things in Sinless City. Since the other party has spoken, Leonard felt that it would be a real pity not to ask. The original template... of the [Air Skill Master] Profession Card? Lord Nine Brown glanced at Leonard. Sophia Jones also looked interested. Both are worldly individuals who theoretically wouldnt be surprised, no matter what demand Leonard put forward. But on this occasion. Ordinary people have no idea what original template means. But people at their level understand very clearly. For a card master, the original template is theoretically the strongest profession card template in the same order. The extraordinary improvements this kind of card can bring to a card master are unimaginable. But as good as it is, it depends on whether the person can afford it. Leonard heard this, was not falsely modest, and replied directly, Thank you, Lord Nine. he wasnt planning to stay any longer at the Flood Gang. He also didnt like socialising with many people. To exchange the favour for useful items would be the best. Yes. Lord Nine Brown heard this and his small eyes showed a kind smile. Whether or not their skill is strong, doesnt matter to him. A young man who is neither arrogant nor humble, who knows when to advance and retreat, is rare in his eyes, and is precious. Being the leader of the Flood Gang for many years, he has seen too many types of people. He has encountered many who take advantage of a little favour and cant wait to cinch this relation in place, and climb up the ladder. On the contrary, this clear way of dealing with the matter was more pleasing to him. Sophia Jones smiled silently on the side. At this time, Lord Nine Brown said with a smile, But thats not urgent. Its not that you can see Master Merlin just because you want to... As he said this, he turned to Seven Brown and said, Rita, dont run around these days. Show Leonard around the Flood Gang. Young people should have the vitality of youth. You should enjoy your time properly... Leonard chuckled at the simple mobster hospitality, saying Thankyou. Seven Brown agreed immediately: Okay. After the main business had been discussed, they talked for a while. The conversation mostly revolved around Leonard saving Seven Brown and solving a big problem for the Flood Gang and the Brotherhood Gang. For now, the two gangs have stopped fighting and Sinless City has temporarily calmed down. It seems that peace will last for a period of time. But in the midst of the conversation, a waiter carrying dishes came in. Sophia Jones seemed to be the first to notice something, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. But she didnt show any strange behaviour, she just continued to eat. Chapter 311: 129 Assassination_2 Chapter 311: 129 Assassination_2 Translator: 549690339 | The server was beside Lord Nine Brown, placing the tray on the table, and lifting the lid. Suddenly, without warning, something unexpected happened! The servers body was covered with dark curse seals, and with a flash, a black dagger magically appeared in his hand out of nowhere. He took advantage of the moment when the view was blocked by the act of removing the tray lid, and lightning-fast, he stabbed towards Lord Nine Brown who was close at hand! Upon sensing the sudden surge of murderous intent, Leonard Churchills pupils constricted sharply, and he gasped in his mind, A formidable assassin! But by the time he noticed, the assassins knife was already aimed at Lord Nine Browns throat. The attack came so quickly that before the image in his eyes could fully transmit into a signal in his brain, the pitch-black tip of the knife had already pierced the skin. The throat is one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body, with many unprotected blood vessels and nerves. Even if the blow couldnt kill instantly, the black aura swirling around the dagger suggested a potent poison. The timing the assassin chose to strike was incredibly clever, catching one off-guard. Lord Nine Brown was using his fork to put a piece of meat in his mouth, his view obscured. There was no time left to dodge at this distance. It seemed like a bloody scene was imminent. However, a bizarre scene unfolded. The sharp blade of the dagger went for the fatal spot just below Lord Nine Browns forehead. But there was no sound of flesh and blood giving way. Instead, there was a clang sound! It was like a sharp object had struck a copper bell. Upon a closer look, Lord Nine Browns neck skin was startlingly bestowed with a metal luster, like a part of his flesh had transformed into metal. Leonard only then came to his senses, but was greatly taken aback. The dagger in the assassins hand contained a Demonslaying Keyword, but it couldnt break through the defense? While it was within Leonards expectation that Lord Nine Brown was formidable, upon seeing his skin shimmering and the metallic lusters fading, Leonard thought of something else: This defensive technique...feels a bit like the Supreme Tyrant Body. He knew about this when he inquired about Lord Nine Brown from the Information merchant previously. But witnessing it himself was a different matter. They were both about having invincible flesh. But there was a slight difference. The Red Baron that Leonard had seen in the Alternate Dimension had high dual defense of the physical body and magic, signifying strength from within to outside. However, the skin of Lord Nine Brown turned metallic, from outside to within. While the two took different pathways, their effects felt eerily similar, as though they shared the same origin. Leonards realm was too low to fully discern it. But the quality of such a skill was definitely high. Leonard seemed to have thought of something, Or perhaps, this is another fragment of the Tyrant Body scheme? Before he could think further, Lord Nine Brown chuckled, Im sorry you had to see that. He seemed unfazed by the assassination attempt, only expressing helplessness, There are always some unintelligent guys who think that if they kill me, theyll be able to control Sinless City. Leonard nodded in response, refraining from getting involved in such delicacies. Although he was rather curious about Lord Nine Browns secret skill, he didnt want to ask about it at this juncture. He had just received a significant opportunity from him, and pushing any further would be overstepping his boundaries. Besides, it wouldnt be appropriate to ask about defensive techniques after an assassination attempt. Wasnt that the same as asking about his weaknesses? Before long, someone came to drag away the unconscious assassin. The dining atmosphere wasnt affected in the slightest. Lord Nine Brown initially just wanted to meet the person who had saved his daughter. Now that he had seen Leonard, he found him acceptable and didnt intend to stay long. They had already discussed the main topics. Lord Nine Brown stood up and said, Mr. Leonard, I have some business to attend to in the gang, so I wont accompany you. Later, Rita will chat with you. You young people should interact more. Leonard returned the courtesy politely, You may go ahead. Chapter 312: 129 Assassination_3 Chapter 312: 129 Assassination_3 Translator: 549690339 When Lord Nine Brown left, there were only three people left in the room. It was as if an invisible pressure had disappeared. Only then did Leonard Churchill realise that despite the seemingly easy-going old man, his departure revealed the immense pressure he had been exerting. He looked thoughtful. At this time, however, Seven Brown drew close, speared a large piece of meat with a fork, and placed it on Leonards plate, reminding him, Eat more. Leonard didnt stand on ceremony and gorged himself: Thank you. The issue of the Profession Card was resolved, and there were clues about the Breathing Method. He was in high spirits. The food tasted good, and besides, he needed a lot of nutrition to maintain the ancestral growth of his muscles. After all the business was discussed, Seven Brown asked with anticipation, Leonard, shall we go to the workshop after dinner? Leonard nodded, Hmm. Waiting for the right time to find Master Merlin, this time was perfect to continue digesting those ancient documents. But not far away, Sophia Jones looked at Seven Brown with an air of helplessness, saying, Rita, youre not young anymore. Dont always stay in the workshop messing with your machines. Go out with Leonard more. Seven Brown thought she meant arranging for entertainment, so she replied, I took him out to the Flood Gang yesterday. He didnt seem too interested. As she spoke, she didnt forget to add, Isnt that right, Leonard? Sophia Jones gave her a blank look at her words. Seven Brown didnt quite understand the look, but she noticed that Leonard didnt seem to like staying in the Flood Gang. Without him, it would be impossible for her to decipher those Mechanical Drawings. Thinking that both her brother and the drawings were important, she said, Lets just go to the studio. If you want to relax later, Ill call some beauties up for you! Leonard had gotten used to such uncouth words and just laughed and said nothing. Sophia Jones watched, her eyes full of helplessness. Which young woman, when entertaining a guest, would keep arranging for beauties to help them relax? Seven Brown seemed completely oblivious and added, Aunt Jones, dont worry, Ive got everything under control! After dinner, she couldnt wait to take Leonard up the lift to the eleventh-floor workshop. As Sophia watched the two leave, she sighed slightly and went up to the thirteenth floor. Lord Nine Brown was standing in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the brightly lit Downing Street and the dock leading to the Old Continent in the distance. What do you think of the young man? Hes quite promising. I was impressed too. If something were to happen to the Flood Gang, Rita would have another reliable friend. I heard the Lionheart Family has visited before? Yes. They seem to have gotten wind of the Kings Key and are after it. Only a handful of us knew the secret, now that its leaked out, its hard to predict what will happen. These politicians from the Federation are no simpletons... In front of the glass window, both their expressions were very solemn. That Power Gem Golden Sphere was now his best training partner. Infuse it with curse power, and you can achieve super-weight. He has been practicing with it recently and grew proficient in it, so he embedded the gem into his inner armor so it was always readily available. The two of them grew closer, and after getting familiar with each others temperaments, Leonard didnt bother to avoid Seven Brown. Seven Brown watched Leonard go through his moves, marvelling, Leonard, I just realized you spend your time meditating, reading, or training every day. Dont you have any other hobbies? The more time she spent with him, the more she realized he was different from other people. Most of the people she saw in the gang were living in a dream, indulging in base desires. So, seeing someone with absolute discipline was quite unusual for her. Seven Brown thought of these past few days, of the attractive girls at the Flood Gang, the guy didnt even try to approach them. So she asked directly, Are you really not interested in women? To which Leonard simply responded, I am. Seven Brown believed him, but mumbled to herself, So... ah, are you only interested in someone as attractive as Aunt Jones? Leonard: ... Seven Brown shrugged, Ah... I cant help you with that. Leonard: ... Seven Brown didnt speak any further on this subject. After pondering for a moment, she looked at Leonards intense punches again and exclaimed, Leonard, I just realized how strong you really are. No wonder you were able to easily kill that second-tier Curse Witch. Leonard also managed to squeeze in a response while practicing, The potential of machinery is limitless. If you study carefully, you might be able to rival top-level card masters. Hmm, I think so too! Seven Brown nodded seriously. She found Leonard appealing, not just because he once saved her life. Even more so because he was someone who could truly understand the intricacies of machinery like she does. At this moment, Seven Brown thought of something and asked excitedly, By the way, Leonard, how strong are you now? Can you kill the underground fist king, Abel? Leonard thought for a moment before responding, I should be more or less on par. Hearing this, Seven Brown immediately became interested, How about we deal with that guy someday? I heard from Fatty Williams that Great Ivans convoy was robbed again recently. Even though they didnt catch anyone, I suspect that Abel tasted the sweetness of it and is secretly causing trouble. The two major gangs have now signed a ceasefire agreement, and all overt conflicts have ceased. But obviously, someone is still causing trouble in secret. Hearing this, Leonard readily agreed, Fine. Not to mention the Breathing Method. He was also interested in challenging a strong opponent. Abel was very strong, especially his deadly fighting techniques honed in death matches, and his curse power-infused air skills for body protection were all top tier among the second tier. If it were a friendly competition, his chances of winning would be three to seven. He had a three, and Abel had a seven. If they really fought to the death, it would be an even fifty-fifty split. But it was precisely because the opponent was strong, and posed a lethal threat, that Leonard found it meaningful. Chapter 313: 130 Master Merlin Chapter 313: 130 Master Merlin Translator: 549690339?iscover new chapters at novelhall.com Leonard Churchill and Seven Brown entertained each other with idle chat while attending to their individual tasks. Unbeknownst to them, a few red- eyed rats had been observing them from the shadows. Time flew by unnoticed. Huff... Huff... Looking at the clock that was about to hit seven, Leonard paused his tasks and wiped away the perspiration forming on his forehead. Then, he sat cross -legged and became deep in meditation. Neither of the two had any idea what they were waiting for. But all they could do was wait. Tick Tick Tick... The surrounding was very quiet, the movement of the hands on the pocket watch could be clearly heard. All of a sudden, Leonard opened his eyes and quickly glanced towards the dark tunnel not far away, murmuring, Theyre here. He checked the time C it was exactly seven. Almost immediately, Seven also turned his head towards that direction. The sound of footsteps started to echo from the tunnel. Both men stood up, assuming that it was Master Merlin. However, as the sound of footsteps came closer, they saw a... large rat? Yes! A fat, grey rat, as big as a human, resembling a giant hamster! There was no shortage of giant rats in Sinless City. But they had never seen a rat carrying a lantern! The rat seemed to possess human-like expressions, it glanced at the two men and turned away as if silently telling them to follow it. Surprised, Leonard and Seven followed it. As they journeyed deeper into the tunnel, the light from the lantern began to be swallowed by the darkness. The voice was recognizable, it was Master Merlin. Without hesitation, the two men went over. But as soon as they entered, they were thunderstruck by the sight before their eyes. It was a gigantic biological laboratory. The room had a ceiling height of almost a hundred meters. The whole space was packed with strange machinery. This wasnt just a small shack, it was a genuine super laboratory. All sorts of pipes supplied a green, fluorescent liquid of unknown composition into the lab. A series of jars, with luminous fluid bathing all sorts of mutation monsters, unknown animal body parts, demon beast tissues, human samples, strange plants... His gaze fell upon various pieces of mechanical equipment displaying magical energy screens. The area was filled with a strong aura of dark magical technology. Leonard initially thought that Master Merlin was just a Legendary Card Master who chose to live underground due to his disliking of hustle and bustle. The card master studio he had imagined was a quiet room full of books. However, he had never expected this. Upon seeing these technological devices, Leonard immediately revised his understanding of this worlds research capabilities. Furthermore, looking around, how could Master Merlin be just a Legendary Card Master? He could well be a Master of Mechanical Studies, Master of Engineering, Biologist, Natural Scientist, Doctor- Noticing the rows of dissected human samples, Leonard started to understand why Master Merlin was banished to Sinless City. Seven, standing nearby, was also stunned and could not help expressing admiration. Meanwhile, among the crowd of machines, an old man with white hair and peculiar mechanical glasses turned to look at them and asked, Little miss, Nine Brown tells me youre preparing to advance to the Second Tier? With just the words Nine Brown, the age relation became evident. Seven, who now displayed a docile demeanor, quickly regained his composure and said, Yes, Grandpa Merlin. As if immersed in an experiment, Merlin causally asked, Do you need any Profession Card? Seven Brown replied, I would still prefer to pursue the next profession in the Miracle Sequence [Diamond-io-Mechanical Apprentice]. Chapter 314: 130 Master Merlin_2 Chapter 314: 130 Master Merlin_2 Translator: 549690339 | Mechanics huh...Nowadays, there are very few card masters who follow this professional sequence. Master Merlin muttered upon hearing this. Seven Brown was slightly anxious, she too knew that very few people chose this professional sequence and many veteran card masters disdained it. But she didnt expect Merlin to seem very interested, he said, But its pretty good Thousands of years ago, mechanics was the superordinary fifth element, but those conservatives just did not admit it. The Miracle Sequence, it cant be that simple... Upon hearing this, Seven Brown sighed in relief. Merlin didnt babble: Go sit in the chair over there, let me check your attributes for you. Then, I will provide you with a highly compatible template. Hearing this, Leonard Churchill admired his professionalism. If you go to the market to buy a template, whether it matches or not, all depends on luck. But tailor-made templates? Is this what a legendary master is like? Seven Brown obediently nodded: Hmm. She went to sit in a strange chair on the side that looked like an electric chair. Although Leonard Churchill did not speak during the whole process, he observed everything closely. Just then, out of nowhere, a jar ten meters high not far away suddenly had its lid popped open and a tentacle like an octopuss stretched out from it. One, two...there were countless tentacles. Under the lid, it was as if some monster was trying to crawl out. Looking at it, Leonard Churchills pupils shrank dramatically: What kind of creature is this? Master Merlin seriously explained, This Evil God Tentacle is very sensitive to high mental power creatures. Just now it tried to corrupt you, but it should have been blocked by some relic on you. However, it also sensed an abnormality in your mental power. If Im not mistaken, you should be on the edge of deformation. Speaking of this, he also muttered to himself, Strange... I thought you came here to deal with the physical deformation. I never expected it to be a mental deformation... Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchills eyes gradually deepened. In front of this master, it seems that he has no secret. At this moment, Merlin seemed to have seen a magnificent experiment. He looked at Leonard Churchill and became very interested, I was very curious about what was so special that would make Nine Brown give the favor I left for him to you. Now it seems... its quite interesting. Having said that, he looked at Leonard Churchill, chuckled, and said, Nine Brown said that you managed to merge with the [Cursed Spades 4], and that piqued my interest. Let me see your transformation. His tone was not kind. No wonder Nine Brown warned many times that this old man has a bad temper. Listening to his tone, just by rendering a favor, he couldnt have met this master. However, Leonard Churchill didnt hesitate and said, Please guide me, master. He immediately infused curse power and his muscles started to swell. The black-blue fuzz also grew rapidly. In the blink of an eye, he transformed from a human form into a fierce werewolf. Because of the ancestral reversion, his size was much larger than regular werewolves. With green light in his eyes, just looking at him gave the feeling of a strong murderous intent. Master Merlin only took a glance and seemed to understand everything. He pondered, The degree of ancestral reversion is very high... That means, the quality of the werewolf main material you used to refine the professional card is not bad You certainly didnt waste that template. The key is that there is no sign of any deformation, which is unusual. Hmm... That means, the Demon Mark you merged with must be of Legendary Quality. Oh no, to be able to withstand such intense ancestral reversion, it must be an Epic Source Card. Following this thought, he analyzed to himself: Let me think. The [Mark- Four of Spades], one of the 52 Origin Cards, is in the Lionheart Family. So, you definitely did not merge with that mark But it still tips towards the dark attribute. There arent many fit cards left in the origin cards... Listening to these analyses, Leonard Churchills expression subtly changed. Since he had almost no understanding of the worlds top curse card master, he admitted that his estimation of Master Merlin before his arrival was underestimated.. Chapter 315 - 130 Master Merlin 3 Chapter 315: Chapter 130 Master Merlin 3 Translator: 549690339 Now it seemed that this mans research on the Extraordinary Power was unfathomably profound. But it was not entirely unexpected. If he had chosen to come, he must have considered that some parts would be exposed. After all, that Cursed Spades 4 was crafted by him personally. From the moment Leonard Churchill chose to trust Lord Nine Brown, he had taken a certain risk. And this risk was within his estimates. The so-called Legendary Card-Maker is those who could successfully craft cards of Legendary Quality themselves. That includes Profession Cards, various Function Cards, Skill Cards... and even the Demon Mark! Epic Cards hold a deadly attraction for others, but this Master Merlin may not necessarily think so. Probably guessing his thoughts, Master Merlin shook his head and laughed, Relax, young man. Each individual who comes here has their secrets. I am interested in your mark, but purely on a research level. Its just an Epic Source Card, although unattainable for others. But Ive helped with more than a few fusions myself. With that, he added, If you dont want to talk about it, I wont ask. And no one outside will know your secrets. Thank you, Master. Leonard listened with an unchanged expression. He did not believe that Master Merlin was merely a card-maker. Findd new stories at novelhall.com If the other party harbored hostility, other thoughts would be meaningless. As long as the Master personally promised confidentiality, there was nothing to worry about. And from what he heard in the latter half, he gained even more insights. So one could ask for help in merging Epic Source Cards? He surmised it was about asking the Master for help to control the mutation rate and such. What Master Merlin had said might be the most authoritative diagnosis in the world. Such a conclusion by a master like him implied that it probably really was not easy to solve. But Leonard, who had long been able to face death calmly, did not view this long-standing issue as a disappointment. Neither joy nor sorrow. Watching Leonards calm demeanor, Master Merlin smiled lightly and said, However, I do have a plan that might allow you to survive. It just depends on whether you are willing to undergo a bit of surgery. Leonard responded, I would like to know more. Master Merlin elaborated, Its what you saw just now, the Tentacle of Evil God. I can help you excise a bit of diseased tissue from your brain, and then transplant a baby tentacle into your brain, which would continue to absorb your mental power. It would be physical suppression. As long as you dont continue to cultivate mental power, youd most likely survive. But theres a problem. After the surgery, you ll still be you, but you wont be who you were before. You will lose a portion of your memory and cognition. Upon hearing this, Leonard immediately abandoned the thought and smiled, Thank you, Master. I will consider your suggestion carefully. If he had to give up a part of himself just to live, It didnt hold that much appeal to him. Although he was often perplexed by the thoughts in his mind, They were his own. Not long after, Leonard and Seven Brown left this amazing underground laboratory. It was like they had just accomplished a deal. Master Merlin was busy and had no interest in casual chat. Although Leonard guessed there might be many more details to be unearthed about his Profession Card, he wisely didnt ask much. He knew he was at a too low level to be in contact with such things. After all, Master Merlin had promised a Profession Card, the goal had been met. Since he knew this opportunity existed, he would have the chance to learn more later. There was no rush. And not long after Leonard and Seven Brown left, A man wearing a black cloak and mask quietly arrived. Master Merlin looked at the uninvited guest with a calm expression and said in an indifferent tone, I havent seen this mask in a long time... Without guidance, you were able to get here silently, your skill is impressive. Are you the Light Chaser of this generations Thirteen Masked Knights? Chapter 316 - 131:1 Am the World (9K) Chapter 316: Chapter 131:1 Am the World (9K) Translator: 549690339 Master Merlin, I apologize for coming uninvited. The masked man in the black cloak stepped into the laboratory. He met Master Merlins gaze and corrected himself,Rather than the misguided title Thirteen Masked Knights ascribed by the world, I prefer Illumination Secret Society, an ancient name. Upon hearing this name, Master Merlin revealed an unexpected look on his face. Obviously, he understood the meaning of this ancient name. He casually asked, So, what is your purpose for this visit? The man in the cloak responded directly, To sincerely invite Master Merlin to join the Illumination Society. Master Merlin seemed not surprised, he chucked and replied, I think the ideals of your organization are quite good, but Im just an eccentric old man cooped up in his laboratory, I dont have much interest in fights and conspiracies. Having said that, he glanced again at the guest, leaving things somewhat open- ended: Ten years ago, your predecessor, the Light Chaser, visited me. But he couldnt persuade me. Now, what reasons do you have to convince me to join? Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com The cloaked man seemed to have already prepared his argument, The situation is different from ten years ago. We, the Illumination Society, have an ancient prophecy The long night has come to an end, dawn will eventually arrive... From the time when the Old Continent was discovered, some prophecies have begun to be fulfilled. He continued, Oh, humanity has been in the dark for countless years, already forgetting what light is. I have unraveled some ancient documents, discovered some truths about the time before the Great Catastrophe, and deciphered some truths about the world... I thinkyou, Master, would be quite interested. Upon hearing these words, Master Merlins wise eyes gradually deepened. The cloaked man continued: The Old Continent has been discovered now, this could be a turning point for civilization. Regardless of whether we choose to face it or not, the ancient gods buried in the dust of history will inevitably awaken, and the terrifying entities coveting humanity will eventually turn their gaze upon us... We dont have much time left. This world is larger, more dangerous than what we see. The Card Master Civilization is like a candle in the wind, fragile and weak. Master Merlin took a glance and realized the man before him still had an agenda. Both of them were silent and looked at each other again. The cloaked man then said, Before this, lowly me would like to borrow something from Master Merlin. Master Merlin realized that the thing in question was not ordinary, he raised his eyebrows and said, Oh? Lets hear it. After hesitating for a moment, the cloaked man finally said, Id like to borrow the Kings Key that Master Merlin has been keeping. Upon hearing this, Master Merlins expression changed subtly,! dont know how you came to know that I have a key in my possession. But do you understand... what your request implies? The cloaked man said, Of course. Master Merlin replied, Since you know. So why do you think I have a reason to give you the crucial key that controls the passage to the Old Continent? The cloaked man corrected with a laugh, Not given to me. But someone will come to steal it later. I hope Master will leave a gap for the thief to have a reasonable chance. Upon hearing this, Master Merlin laughed lightly, Hehe...This style is an age- old tradition of your Illumination Society. You have participated in all historical changes, but you have left no trace. After a pause, he asked again, So, who do you want to get that key? The cloaked man calmly responded, Augustus. ??? Hearing this, Master Merlin seemed quite surprised. After a moment of thought, he asked, If I remember correctly, two hundred years ago during the blood-mist coup that caused the downfall of the Orlan Dynasty, the Illumination Society directly participated in it. Because of it, most of the Thirteen Knights died in battle. And now you guys want to help the remnants of the Old Era who dreamt of restoration? Chapter 317 - 131 - I Am the World (9K)_2 Chapter 317: Chapter 131 C I Am the World (9K)_2 Translator: 549690339 The cloaked figure didnt deny the historical facts, but rather argued, Times have changed. The demise of the old dynasty and the subsequent establishment of the Federal Government have made significant contributions to the continuity of civilization. Unfortunately, greed and pleasure are innate human weaknesses. In just two hundred years, the descendants of those who were pioneers of the Councillor Family and had pledged their loyalty, have become complacent politicians lounging in the Rich Ore Layer. They have lost the spirit of adventure, no different from the royal nobles of the past. Hoarding resources without acting like pioneers, theyve turned into bloated, greedy monsters... Judging by the current situation, the Federal Parliaments debate is still ongoing, but most likely, due to the unfair distribution of benefits, they might seal off the Old Continent. Master Merlin had long considered this. Beyond other matters, the Old Continent conceals too much high-tier extraordinary knowledge, which not only has significant effects on his own research but also on the entire Card Master Civilization. However, such a revelation that could change social classes would be much welcomed by those at the bottom. But not necessarily by those at the top. If the Noble Class isnt sure they can benefit from the Old Continent and live better than their current lives, they would rather seal the Old Continent and absolutely resist taking risks to disrupt existing power distributions. As a researcher, how could Merlin bear to see the door to truth opened only to be shut again due to certain peoples selfish desires? The reason Master Merlin was exiled and expunged from the Card Master Association was because of his unconventional viewpoints. This rationale was enough to move him. The cloaked figure continued, Once the five major councilors fail to reach an agreement, they will inevitably choose to temporarily, or permanently, close down the Gold-digging Dock. The Kings Key is vital. Even the Lionheart Family, the most powerful of those currently based in Sinless City, would not be able to resist the pressure of all the elite classes. Hence, this extremely significant bargaining chip must be given to the remnants of the old era in the augustus, those who are working towards restoration. Their only hope lies in the Old Continent. Therefore, they will definitely not close down the Gold- digging Dock, and they have the ability to protect it. Master Merlin: So, youre also confident of obtaining the other keys to the kingdom? The cloaked figure: Indeed, one from the Flood Gang, one from the Brotherhood, one from the Golden Oak Security Company, and the one in your hand. Master Merlin, upon hearing these words, seemed thoughtful and said insightfully, The restoration of the Orlan Dynasty may not necessarily be a good thing. Furthermore, the ancient gods of yesteryears... But this script was clearly pre-written. Then, a wave of mysterious law put into motion the events at this meeting, exactly as outlined in the script. Reading the content of the script, Master Merlin was shocked, realizing that the test had come to an end. Although this spell posed no fatal threat to him, To have accomplished this degree, one must indeed have reached the Legendary Realm. Looking at the script, his eyes were filled with satisfaction, Interesting... The Fifty-two Demon God Forbidden Techniques I am the world, it really lives up to its reputation. Whats more impressive is that your comprehension of the world has reached such a degree. Even I didnt sense it. The younger generation can indeed be terrifying. When the cloaked figure heard this, he was initially composed, As he had passed the test, that was one thing less to worry about. But after giving it some thought, his brows furrowed. Because he noticed an incomprehensible change in his world. It was something...beyond his logical understanding. Seeing this, Master Merlin chuckled, Your strength surpasses even your teachers. Hearing this, the cloaked figure snapped to his senses. He had never mentioned that the former Light Chaser was his teacher! The script seemed to contain a huge logical loophole. It seemed like the ending should have been deducible from the beginning, but everything ended up in shambles. The complexion of the cloaked figure drastically changed, as if a torrential flood had poured into his mind, causing turbulent waves. Chapter 318 - 1311 am the World (QK) 3 Chapter 318: Chapter 1311 am the World (QK) 3 Translator: 549690339 His technique seemed to triumph, but in reality... it broke down! The forbidden spell World, which was never wrong, has encountered an incomprehensible error. How could it be...? The man in the cloak was greatly taken aback. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com Master Merlin knows the seriousness of this cognitive collapse. Either it breaks to be rebuilt. Or it crumbles, never to recover. Either way, it wasnt about picking a winner. It was about another persons Spell World. Master Merlin calmly responded, Dont be so troubled. Your spell is the most perfect technique I have ever witnessed. I wasnt able to break it either. All I have to say is something your teacher left behind. The man in the cloak furrowed his brow in response, My teacher...what he left behind? In a blink, it was as if he understood. Indeed. Master Merlin smiled and continued, Ten years ago, your teacher failed to persuade me after meeting me. But we were on good terms. He later entrusted me with a message for the next Light Chaser who stood before me: Do not rely solely on your senses to perceive the World. Senses can deceive ones perception. The truth is often hidden in the most ordinary places. The laws of the universe number fifty, forty-nine are orderly, and one is chaotic. That one is the only weak point of the Demon God Forbidden Spell World. Upon hearing these words, the man in the cloak seemed to have an epiphany. He thought he had considered every variable, and yet his late teacher taught him his final lesson. Only in the face of this cognitive collapse could he comprehend the true nature of these words. He had lost. Not to Master Merlin. Nor to his teacher. But due to that one part chaos. It served like a message board. It is the most important hub for hunters to exchange information. He hasnt forgotten his agreement with Tracy Garcia. If they need to contact, they should leave a number here. The girl said she would bring many medical books from her family. Upon searching, Leonard Churchill found a post from Miss Bun Hair. After paying, he received an address: Red District Street, Tulip Hotel. Leonard Churchill saw that the message was posted a week ago. At that time, he was still on the Old Continent. He wasnt sure if Tracy Garcia had already left, considering that she wasnt a resident of Sinless City. Deciding to go and see, Leonard Churchill left, straddled his motorcycle, and tore through the city streets. Red District Street is not far from Dark Rain Streets Black Market, which has several large factories and is part of the Commoners Quarter, crowded and complex. After a long search, Leonard Churchill finally found the Tulip Hotel, hidden in a small lane on a crude red-light district, among a row of small hotels. Huh...why would Tracy Garcia choose this place to meet? Leonard Churchill thought this was very strange. He now knew that Camilla, Tracy Garcia, and her group were remnants of the old era who fled after the fall of the Orlan Dynasty. Though Tracy Garcia is not a lady, she still carries a distinct air of scholarly nobility. This hotel in front of him is inconspicuous and hidden, sending off a seedy vibe. It gave the impression of being a secret meeting point for some intelligence organisation. Thinking of the recent upheavals in Sinless City, Leonard Churchill wondered if something had happened. Without thinking too much about it, he rented a room in the small hotel, which had less than ten guest rooms. The room conditions were poor, but it had no effect on Leonard Churchill. For him, it was just another location for reading and meditating on his books. Time passed in the blink of an eye. Chapter 319 - 131:1 am the World (9K)_4 Chapter 319: Chapter 131:1 am the World (9K)_4 Translator: 549690339 1 It was already approaching midnight. The shift change at the nearby large factories had also been completed, and there were no pedestrians walking on the street at this time. The streets outside had also quieted down. Suddenly, Leonard Churchill snapped out of his meditation. Because he clearly heard someone entering the inn. This time it wasnt a pair of visitors coming for an appointment. It was one person. The keen hearing of a werewolf allowed Leonard Churchill to hear the footsteps on the stairs were very light, indicating that the person was a Curse Card Master. As expected, it wasnt long before there was a cautious knock at the door. When Leonard Churchill heard it, he knew it was Tracy Garcia. He got up from the bed and opened the door, seeing a hunter covered in a cloak and wearing a gas mask. The two stared at each other, recognizing one another. Seeing that it was Leonard Churchill, Tracy Garcia breathed a sigh of relief, It really is Mr. Leonard Churchill. She walked into the room and quickly closed the door behind her. She then removed her mask, revealing her delicate and somewhat cute face. But at this moment, there was clear fatigue and worry in her eyes. Leonard Churchill also sensed something, and asked, Has something happened? Upon hearing this, Tracy Garcia made a distressed face, Something major has happened on our end. Leonard Churchill: A major event? Yes, theres no time to explain. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com Tracy quickly explained, Yes, Ive been chased by these people for many days. Alison and Liam Martinez were with me before, but they all died during an ambush last time. It was thanks to the Cellular Activity Boiling Secret Skill, which you gave me, that I am still alive. Leonard Churchill, upon hearing those two names, remembered the two teammates he teamed up with last time They were pretty good. Theyre dead now... Life is indeed fragile. I must have been noticed when I went to the Hunters Association last time. She thought about something and didnt give any more explanation. She wore the gasmask and wanted to leave. Leonard Churchill asked, Who is looking for you? Hearing this, Tracy Garcias facial expression turned solemn. From just a glance, Leonard Churchill knew, it must be those leftovers from the old days. Whats going on? They are hunting down Camilla first, now Tracy Garcia. Infighting among their own? Theres no time for explanation. Tracy Garcia seemed anxious, I apologize Mr. Leonard Churchill, forbringing trouble to you. They are after me. Ill lure them away. In her memory, Leonard Churchill was formidable, but he was still the Apprentice Peak that he was the last time they separated, unable to deal with the current situation. Leonard Churchill also knew that this wasnt the time for conversation. His eyes turned, gripped Tracy Garcia, Come with me! There was no room for negotiation in his tone. Before Tracy Garcia could say Its dangerous, he had already grabbed her soft waist and jumped out of the window. No matter what had happened to Tracy Garcia, she came because she trusted him. Though she said she brought him trouble, Leonard didnt think its a big deal. And he wouldnt back down given the current situation. He had been observing the surroundings for a while, it was a typical densely populated city slum. In this complex residential building, by jumping from the window of the inn, it only took a few steps to reach another buildings corridor. Tracy Garcia wanted to resist at first, but found his grip unbearably strong. She frantically said, Mr. Leonard Churchill, you dont have to mind me. You can get involved in this... I have a way to shake them off! She was the only one who knew how much trouble she was in and how dangerous it was. Chapter 321 - 132: The True Identities of Camilla and Tracy Garcia Chapter 321: Chapter 132: The True Identities of Camilla and Tracy Garcia Translator: 549690339 For other card masters, Leonard Churchills current style of combat might seem a bit tricky to handle. Werewolves are naturally adept at hiding their traces. Paired with the Relic Cloak and the Shadow Submarine, the Underground City of Sinless City provides ample opportunities for ambushes. Same Tier professionals often dont notice the attack until its too late. Even if a Second Tier assassin cant be eliminated, they would transform into a brute, mindlessly chasing to kill. With absolute Agility attribute supremacy, the opponent definitely wont be able to escape. For fragile professions, like the time he killed the Curse Witch, unless they can eliminate Leonard Churchill quickly, its a complete slash and bash game once he gets close. For sturdier professions, like the Second Tier in front of him, they can neither run nor match his strength. They could only trade injuries, with the wolf claw swishing and the surgical knife stabbing at random, quickly ending the fight. Tracy Garcia was totally stupefied watching from the sidelines. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com She had never seen a First Tier card master so dominant even against a Second Tier squad. She could only watch as the towering werewolf executed several minions instantly, then pounced fiercely, pinning down the Second Tier fighter. After that, he simply sat on top of the guy, going full force into close quarters. In an instant, fresh blood covered the ground. Even as a Second Tier, the opponent couldnt hold on for too long and succumbed to his injuries on the spot! The scene was brutal and blood-filled. Only after Leonard Churchill had eliminated all the trackers did he take a breather. The characteristics of Beast Transformation gradually faded, and he turned back into human form. He looked at the girl with a round head looking stunned and said, Dont just stand there, help me dispose of the bodies. Only then did Tracy Garcia recover, Oh. After dealing with the aftermath of the battle, the two of them pressed on quickly. Soon, they arrived at an abandoned broken building in South City. Although it was nearly impossible to guard against various Mysterious Type tracking methods, they all had a certain release distance. Having determined earlier that the Golden Oaks method of locating Tracy Garcia was through biological recognition, it posed little threat now with the Relic intercepted. She knew that Leonard Churchill should have guessed her identity after their few encounters. There was no point in hiding it. Of course, Leonard Churchill knew what the mention of the Royal Court meant. He had previously sought information from the Information merchant. Two hundred years ago, the Orlan Dynasty crumbled and the newly established Federal Parliament led the last King of Augustus to the gallows. The remaining court guards of the old dynasty, along with some descendants of the royal family and palace treasures, began their exile. This was the Old Era Remnants that had been on the wanted list for over a hundred years. This group disappeared for a few decades before gradually resurfacing, playing an active role in the various political upheavals in the Federation, always striving for restoration. But due to the complexity of the underworld, they were well hidden and the Federal Government couldnt locate them. Leonard Churchill was familiar with Camilla and Tracy Garcia. From their conversations, it wasnt hard to deduce that these remnants of the Old Era must be hiding somewhere near Sinless City. After all, if they wanted to overthrow the Federation and restore the old order, the Old Continent filled with opportunities was their only chance. Based on Tracys comments, there was a high likelihood that one of the major powers in Sinless City, Golden Oak Security Company, was secretly backed by the Augustus King Party. Wanting to know more, Leonard asked, What exactly happened? Why is the Royal Court chasing you? He usually didnt pry into other peoples private affairs. But considering the present circumstances, Tracy Garcia was in grave danger. He didnt plan on leaving her here and washing his hands off it. But without knowing more about her situation, Tracy would inevitably face danger again. After a moment of hesitation, Tracy Garcia said, I... I dont really know myself My mother noticed something was off first, and arranged for us to escape... then weve been chased ever since. Chapter 322 - 132: The Real Identities of Chosen Chapter 322: Chapter 132: The Real Identities of Chosen Nine and Tracy Garcia_2 Translator: 549690339 | Leonard Churchill frowned as he listened. He too was surprised. How could this confused girl have not figured out why she was being pursued? Leonard Churchill thought of the extravagant palace treasures he had glimpsed in the storage ring. Even the current Federal Top Nobility might not have such an extensive collection. Could it be these treasures? Or perhaps her identity? It wasnt hard for him to guess that Tracy Garcia must come from a significant background, so he asked her directly: Little Garcia, what position does your family hold in the Royal Court? Tracy Garcia glanced at Leonard Churchills expression and answered meekly: Our Garcia family has always been the High Priest of the Royal Court since ancient times. After all, their dynasty had already declined and they, as remnants of the old era, had long since lost their former glory. Mentioning such a position now seemed more like an antique bragging about its former glory. It didnt evoke a sense of pride, rather an impression that something was being hidden. Leonard Churchills eyebrows twitched at this. He had guessed that Tracy Garcia was of a certain importance, but he hadnt expected it to be so high. He had learnt from some historical books that priests held an extraordinary status in ancient dynasties, and the High Priest, if called by another name, would be a national advisor . Essentially, it was the kings most trusted man, second only to the king. The power was secondary. The High Priests main responsibility was to master some royal inheritance secrets, rather like a human archive. They would know some ancient secrets that even the emperor might be unaware of. Diamonds Q, huh... Leonard Churchill was not surprised. He had never even seen such high-ranked card master, let alone heard about it. Yet, this still might not be the main reason for the assassination attempt. Another question came to him: So, if she merged with this source card, does it mean that she could assume the royal power? Hearing this, Tracy Garcias eyes widened: Ah...how did you know that, Mr. Leonard Churchill? Leonard Churchill frowned. At least now he knew why Sister Camilla was being hunted by her own family. If it was merely about merging with the source card, there would be no issue. After all, upon the death of a person who has merged with an Epic Demon Mark, it is 100% certain that the mark can be extracted. Having a person like this to support the remnants of the old era is unquestionably a great advantage. Even if the person was an illegitimate daughter. Its not enough to warrant total extermination. The only possible issue is that the source card might be tied up with symbolic implications. Such as, royal power. Looking at the incredulous expression on Miss Buns face, he responded: Just guessed. Since he had already started asking, he figured he might as well ask everything. So he asked again, What exactly is the issue with Camillas source card? Tracy Garcia thought for a while, then said with a complex expression, The Orlan Royal Family had two source cards and corresponding Occupation Advancements. One is the Spade K-Tyrant which is merged by His Majesty. The other is Diamonds Q-White Queen1. According to the King of Augustus traditional teaching, anyone who successfully merges either of the two source cards becomes eligible to inherit royal power. After all, there have been instances of a queen ruling the country... As she spoke, she glanced at Leonard Churchill again. It seemed surreal to her how he could have guessed. She hastened to add, But this is something only the royal family and the High Priest know. I only recently found out from my mother. After hearing all this, Leonard Churchill completely understood. The reason for Camillas pursuit was essentially a palace dispute. The King of Augustuss traditional teaching was that anyone capable of merging with a source card could inherit the royal power. This meant that the kingdom advanced the capable one. in this survival-of-the-fittest Extraordinary World, having a powerful king would be in the best interest of the kingdom. So, this kind of traditional teaching was not erroneous. The problem was with the people executing it. Something seemed to click in his mind, and Leonard Churchill spoke in a deep voice, Is His Majesty the King seriously ill, or for some reason unable to rule, and the queen ruling instead? Chapter 323 - 132: The True Identities of Camilla and Tracy Garcia_3 Chapter 323: Chapter 132: The True Identities of Camilla and Tracy Garcia_3 Translator: 549690339 Upon hearing this, Tracy Garcia looked as if she had seen a ghost: You...you...how did you know about that? This was a top-secret matter of the Royal Court! The King had contracted a strange disease about half a year ago, and now almost all the affairs of the Royal Court are being managed by the Queen. Tracy herself only found out about it from her mother just before she left. Outside of her mother, who was the High Priestess, and the Queen, nobody else knew about this! She was surprised how he could know about it. Leonard Churchill wore a bored expression, as he found this scenario to be quite cliched. He then added, Doesnt your Queen have a son? He seems to be well-rounded in many aspects. But he couldnt blend with the Spade K- Tyrant... Tracy was so surprised that she dared not answer. But her expression showed Leonard Churchill that he had guessed correctly. It wasnt that Leonard Churchill was particularly clever. In the end, it was still about human nature. Kingdom power is about the most high-profile temptation that humans can touch. In front of this temptation, human greed and ugliness are laid bare. Such palace power struggles were densely recorded in the history books of his previous life. Leonard Churchill didnt want to elaborate further. Understanding this much, he felt he had a clear picture of Camillas background. But what did this have to do with Tracy being hunted? Could it be that her mother had peered into some palace secrets and the whole family had to be erased? That couldnt be, her mother was a High Priestess, a person above all others. Huh! An idea suddenly flashed across Leonard Churchills mind, and he thought of a question. Camilla, being the illegitimate princess of a royal family, was already so powerful. Garcia, as the daughter of the High Priestess, appeared rather average in comparison. He directly voiced his doubt: Speaking of which, didnt your mother teach you any secret skills of the High Priestess? For some reason, even though Miss Tracy was usually slow, she quickly understood his meaning this time. Her slightly resentful expression seemed to speak: I get it, youre saying Im weak. Tracy slightly pouted, replying: The High Priestesss inheritance does not require teaching... Our Garcia lineage has a special way of inheritance. After my mother passes away, I will inherit her inheritance and become the High Priestess. The moment Leonard Churchill heard this, he suddenly understood: The head covering method? Well, I must confess my lack of knowledge. Since they have skill cards in this world, this inheritance method seems plausible too. These ancient families always pop out from strange places, refreshing ones understanding. Leonard Churchill returned to the previous topic and asked: What happened after they brought the coffin into the palace? Are there any changes within your Royal Court that deviate from the norm? Like someone dying, or a change in key positions... Given the guidance, Tracys thoughts became much clearer in an instant. Following his leads, she suddenly exclaimed: After that, the plague began! Plague? Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill also thought of something. The last time they went to the Greedy Mining Well, Tracy and her team were looking for a potion to treat the plague. Even earlier in the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth, Camilla and Tracy seemed to be looking for extra potion supplies. Linking cause to effect now, he casually asked: Is the plague from that coffin? Theres more! As if Tracy has suddenly opened up, she continued to recall: Because I am a doctor. After I brought the Witch Formula home, I had been constantly helping out in the quarantine zone to handle the plague. Not long after, I was sure I was infected too! But it was strange, there were no signs of illness. After I told my mother about it, she conducted some tests on me, and she seemed quite surprised. I remember she said something like: that plague may not be a virus, but might be due to high-level rule of extraordinary characteristic pollution. Chapter 324 - 132: The Real Identities of Camilla and Tracy Garcia_4 Chapter 324: Chapter 132: The Real Identities of Camilla and Tracy Garcia_4 Translator: 549690339 Youve been infected by the plague but showed no symptoms? Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill also had a moment of revelation, as if he had grasped something crucial. From what it appears now, that coffin probably was problematic. But the origin of the plague isnt important. The key is, Since it was a widespread infection, Tracy Garcia hadnt shown any symptoms. This could only imply that her body was special. If it were an ordinary person, it could be chalked up to probability. But coincidentally, Tracy Garcia was also the heir of a High Priest. An intuition told Leonard Churchill. The reason Tracy Garcia was being hunted was probably not because of some thing. But because of who she was! Leonard Churchill asked further: Then, after your mother discovered this, she told you to escape with all your belongings? Yes! As if understanding something herself, Tracy Garcias pretty face lit up. Afraid and on the run, she seemed to suddenly understand the reason now. But after thinking for a moment, her eyebrows furrowed again. She couldnt figure out the direct connection between this and her being hunted, and murmured: But...my mother didnt say anything... He knew asking like this, wouldnt lead to any results. He thought of something and said, I think... You should meticulously review the items your mother had you take. There might be something very important inside. Upon hearing this, Tracy Garcias pretty face expressed slight difficulty. Clearly, she had already tried. She stated straightaway, Mr. Leonard Churchill, why dont you help me check? Ive already looked through it once. I didnt find anything special. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchills expression looked somewhat speechless. It would be fine if it were an ordinary persons possessions. But the Orlan Kingdom, a kingdom that had ruled the Underground Kingdom for over a thousand years? Their royal treasures were probably priceless, something that even current nobles couldnt imagine. Even if she was on the run, as the daughter of a High Priest, how could the items her mother entrusted her with not have any treasures? This girl, is she really not concerned about an outsider? Leonard Churchill retorted sarcastically, Arent you afraid that I might run off with some supreme treasure the moment its found? Upon hearing this, Tracy Garcia was nonchalant, Ah...Mr. Leonard Churchill, if you find something you like, just take it. Presumably, when she entrusted him with the Storage Ring earlier, she had this thought. If she couldnt survive, it would be better to give the items to a friend. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchills expression also changed slightly. But he didnt comment, instead, he started helping Tracy Garcia rummage through her belongings. He felt that only by discovering some key, could the danger of Tracy Garcia being hunted be thoroughly resolved. But he only offered to help sort things. Leonard Churchill didnt believe that an outsider could discover hidden techniques left by the High Priest Orlan, whose Card Master level was unknown. As he sorted, he reminded her, Think about some secrets that only you and your mother know of. Like nursery rhymes sung to you when you were young, birthday gifts, shared riddles, word puzzles, proverbs, etc. Tracy Garcia also instantly had an idea, said, Oh. With a trustworthy helper, she could finally concentrate and think. Chapter 325 - 133: Relic-Treasure Hunter’s Compass Chapter 325: Chapter 133: Relic-Treasure Hunters Compass Translator: 549690339 The two of them began to rummage through the whole room of items in the Storage Ring in this dilapidated building. It was quite the eye-opener for Leonard Churchill. No wonder the few medical classics that Tracy Garcia had shown him earlier were all old antiques. They were all exclusive versions provided by the court. The transcendent knowledge of the Orlan Dynasty era was a noble privilege; these classics were invaluable. Now he realized that there were thousands upon thousands of them inside this Storage Ring. These classics, scrolls, manuscripts... they encompassed a wide variety of categories. If he were to truly delve into them, it would take ten to eight years to finish reading them all. Mr. Leonard Churchill quickly scanned the catalogues, which mostly consisted of classics related to the High Priest. However, as he read on, he felt something was a bit odd. After some thought, he finally realized what was strange. Among all these classics, there was not a single one related to ancient languages? For example, fragments related to the Taren ancient language can be found in more or fewer quantities in various shops in Sinless City. But the grand High Priest of the Orlan Dynasty doesnt study ancient languages? After finding this issue, Leonard Churchill directly asked about it. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com Tracy Garcia responded, Ah...the classics related to the Taren ancient language are forbidden to be studied by the Royal Court. Once discovered, they would be immediately destroyed. As far as I know, this has always been the case for thousands of years until the Federation was established. It was not until then that this prohibition was lifted.11 She added, And the Taren ancient language documents on the market now are almost entirely things that appeared after the discovery of the Old Continent in recent years. There were not many to begin with. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill furrowed his brow. From the looks of it now, the Taren Dynasty, which perished three thousand years ago, was a brilliant human civilization far more powerful than the Orlan Dynasty. Too many secrets were hidden in those ancient texts. If one could read them, they might even discover some astonishing things that could overturn civilization. A look of anxiety filled Tracy Garcias eyes. Being a doctor, she quickly laid Leonard Churchill down and checked his body. Soon, she found that there was nothing abnormal with his body. Mental power s warped? Tracy Garcia touched Leonard Churchills temples with both hands and quickly discovered something. But her expression changed drastically as a result. The last time they parted, she had already known about Leonard Churchills abnormal mental power. She had even given him all her Mental Secret Skills. Now, it seemed that the situation had not improved at all, but had reached the edge of abnormality. What to do... what to do... Tracy Garcias eyes trembled incessantly, and the look of anxiety on her lovely face grew denser. Seeing Leonard Churchill fall into unconsciousness, she was even more anxious than when she was facing a death crisis herself. After she got back, she asked her mother about it, but she got the same result: only by finding the suitable Mental Secret Skill could this problem be solved completely. But now, there was no solution to the situation. Tracy Garcia injected an Energy Potion into Leonard Churchill to suppress his condition. She also used a Calming Card. While performing some routine treatments, she was also thinking about how to solve this problem. But once a warp occurs, it is almost irreversible. What to do... what to do... Seeing that there was no sign of improvement in Leonard Churchill, the young lady with a bun had already become so anxious that teardrops were twinkling in her eyes. Just a few days ago, her best friends Alison and Liam Martinez died right in front of her. The feeling of helplessness at the parting of life and death, whenever she thought about it, there was a heart-rending pain. Now seeing Leonard Churchill in an unknown condition, she suddenly felt a sudden fit of grief. Was she going to watch the only friend she had right now in Sinless City die in front of her? After all, he just saved her life before, but why couldnt she do anything to repay him? He can still be saved, he must still be able to be saved... Chapter 326 - 133: Relic-Treasure Hunter’s Compass_2 Chapter 326: Chapter 133: Relic-Treasure Hunters Compass_2 Translator: 549690339 Tracy Garcia wipes away a tear, consoling herself to calm her nerves, I am a doctor, I will definitely find a way to save him! In this moment of extreme desperation, it felt as though a hidden gate had been opened. In the blink of an eye, this petite lady recalled a spell. It seemed like it popped out of nowhere. Even though she didnt know this spell, in this moment of urgency, she thought of it. Tracy isnt concerned about why she knows this spell; all she knows is that it should be useful. Yes! This one! Tracy, her mind devoid of any other thoughts, knelt by Leonard Churchills side, biting her finger till it bled. Then, she used her blood as ink, swiftly drawing a mystic Hexagram Curse Array on Leonards forehead. When the formation was complete, her eyes were full of cold determination, and she shouted sharply: Yuguisanmen-Seal! In an instant, three stone doors, each with an image of an evil ghost on them, appeared around the two. The derelict building they were in became filled with a sinister aura. Tracy was oblivious to the fact that when she performed this spell, an indistinct illusion appeared behind her for the first time. A wondrous scene ensued. Leonards eyes, which were rolling back as though possessed, seemed to be suppressed by some force and gradually calmed down. Seeing this happen, a look of joy finally appeared on Tracys face: Theres hope! It appeared they were not going to die after all... This petite miss sensed Leonards chaotic mental power subsiding and started to cry tears of joy. Mr. Leonard Churchill was finally not going to die. Almost simultaneously between the moments of despair and elation, a sentence echoed in her ears: Little Garcia, when you cant understand the path ahead... think about your initial steps, the things you love, and what youve held onto. Just like the spell, these words suddenly sprang from her memory. It was a moment of enlightenment. Tracy was quickly searching for the information she needed in the scroll when she saw someone sit up, startling her. As their eyes met, both were taken aback. In Tracys moist, sparkling eyes, a look of unmistakable joy was plain to see, immediately turning into an ecstatic smile: Mr. Churchill, youve come back to life?! Leonard, guessing that he must have scared the petite miss by suddenly blacking out, joked, Im not dead... Letting go of the scroll in her hands, Tracy could no longer contain her joy and gave him a big hug, crying, Oh... its so good youre alright! Leonard felt indifferent about all this. He patted Tracys back, and looking at the giant scroll she had been holding, asked, Hey... whats this? Its not until then that Tracy snapped back to reality, Oh... oh! Her mind started to function normally once again, explaining, It just popped into my mind, and I used spirit communication to bring it out. The scroll was spirit communicated out by you? Leonard guessed it must be something Tracys mother had left her. However, this method of hiding was indeed surprising. Spirit Communication Skill is usually used to connect with spirit targets. A scroll could be spirit communicated? This thing was certainly not ordinary. Innately, Leonard glanced over and saw a blank slate, No content? Yes, there is! Tracy looked down and immediately paused, Huh... there were just now. Only then did she realize that although she had just seen lots of text, there was now nothing at all. Seeing her puzzled look, Leonard thought for a moment and suddenly realized, It probably requires specific conditions to be visible. And it wasnt hard to guess that the specific conditions must be related to Tracy. Being an outsider, he didnt expect to see anything. He casually asked, Whats this scroll about? Chapter 327 - 133: Relic-Treasure Hunter s Chapter 327: Chapter 133: Relic-Treasure Hunter s Compass_3 Translator: 549690339 This is The Book of the High Priest1. Tracy Garcia gave its name but then reflected, Strange, I seemed to have forgotten its content. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill didnt think Tracy had poor memory, but was reminded of something instead. Because he had the same experience. When he read the High-level Demon Language on the copper scrolls, he indeed saw them. However, the moment he looked away, he couldnt remember anything. That suggested that the scroll was quite advanced. Leonard chuckled, Try to recall the conditions that enabled you to see it. Oh. Tracy nodded, then remembered something, But Mr. Leonard Churchill, your Mental Power... Leonard Churchill was optimistic, I should be fine for now. Lets slowly find a solution. Tracy frowned slightly, not saying anything. She had no solution either. Her gaze landed once again on the scroll in her hands. She had the hunch that it must hold a solution. She tried to place this odd large scroll into the Storage Space, but it couldn t be stored or placed inside. She could only carry it on her back. This signified that this item was rather unusual. Tracy buried her face in the scroll. Meanwhile, Leonard continued to inspect the ancient books. Suddenly, he felt his forehead becoming damp. Wiping it with his hand, he realized it was blood. Looking at Tracy out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to think of something. A hint of a smile gradually tugged at the corners of his lips. Regardless, it was a fact that the enemies had located his general spot using some special methods. Hiss... Divination again? Leonard Churchill pondered over it. The Light and Dark Holy Nail, the cross and the Weeping Angel... All of these were treasured possessions acquired from the Silver Moon Sect. If they found out, it would be reasonable to look for him. No way... if they really knew I possess the angel, would they dare to come? Arent they afraid that I might release and destroy them all in the process? Besides, didnt they have enough at Thunderbolt Fortress with Reuel Bible? This is Sinless City. If there is a large commotion, wouldnt it be unlike a deserted place in the wild? Leonard Churchill felt something was not right. After much diving, he still felt it was most likely they were coming for Tracy. Considering the power of the Old Era Remnants of the Orlan Dynasty, it was not to be underestimated. But, no matter who they were coming for, they would have to face it. Upon thinking of this, Leonard was not too anxious. If it were other enemies, never mind. If it is the Silver Moon Sect... He could trick them too. Reuel Bible and his team had been troubled over their inability to locate the Old Days Believer. Upon this thought, Leonard hurriedly ran downstairs, found a postman, and dispatched an urgent letter. He felt that this time, they might be able to frighten the people from the Silver Moon Sect for good. Otherwise, they would keep causing him trouble from time to time. Meanwhile, elsewhere. In a luxurious castle in Upper City, this was the Lords Manor of Sinless City. After Stan Millers death, with the help of his maternal family, Saul Miller took over smoothly, inheriting the title and the position of the Lord of Sinless City. At this moment, he was rallying his troops at the Lords Manor. In his hand was a very rare level four relic. Relic-Treasure Hunters Compass Details: A magical item laden with a hint of the Law of Destiny, a Level IV ancient relic. It can point towards your desired treasure. However, destiny is fair, full of ups and downs. It may point you to fortune, but you will also have to bear equivalent misfortune after use. By Sauls side, a gorgeous noble woman watched the Frost Knight Legion being rallied, she assured him smiling, Young Master Saul, dont fret. This relic inherited by the Shelley Family will never fail. Weve now confirmed the approximate location of the target. You will surely find the treasure you are looking for. Saul sneered, Hmph, after waiting so long, finally my day has come! Chapter 328 - 134: Plan Chapter 328: Chapter 134: Plan Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill again scrutinized the decrypted message from the Silver Moon Mirror several times. Finally, he concluded one thing. It seemed that the people from the Silver Moon Sect were not here to fight, but rather to help someone else locate something. Someone else was truly on the hunt. What is going on? Leonard was somewhat confused himself. Looking at it this way, the other party probably wasnt here for a cross or a weeping angel. Otherwise, they would have done more than just locating. They would have launched a direct attack. He thought for a long time but could not figure out those peoples objectives. Luckily, the three people from the X Bureau had arrived. After having drinks at the Thunderbolt Fortress the last time, Leonard had established some level of camaraderie with these official personnel, particularly with Reuel Bible, a generous and straightforward middle-aged man. The two had similar temperaments. Upon hearing Leonards call for urgency, Reuel arrived in no time, along with his team. In the dilapidated building, a muscly figure emerged from the shadows. After exchanging pleasantries, Reuel couldnt help but tease, Hey, how come it always feels like youre at odds with the Silver Moon Sect? Weve tried every means and cant find any clues to those old believers. But you, you seem to always run into them... Leonard spread his hands, also feeling somewhat helpless, I really dont know. He kept silent about the Silver Moon Mirror, which allowed him to understand the Demons language. Reuel, guessing Leonard had special information channels, tactfully didnt ask. Regardless, the feud was real. They didnt waste time chitchatting. Therefore. Sending the Old Cook who was good at manipulating the dead could not have been more appropriate. Once Reuel noticed the arrival of someone, a layer of death air enveloped his body. The ghostly entities sealed by the tattoos on his body didnt merely augment his combat power. They also had unique effects on perception. Suddenly, he seemed to have discovered something, saying, A spiritual entity monster has entered. Its the invisible kind. But theres no major problem. Its spiritual pressure is very low. It seems to only look for people. They cant see me, but theyve probably found you already. Hmm. With no change in his expression, Leonard took this in his stride. The Old Cooks tricky tactics were no longer new or surprising to him. But he inwardly admitted he was fortunate to have made some official friends. Otherwise, if he were discovered, he wouldnt even have the slightest idea. Now, what Leonard needed to do was act as bait. Once he was located by the people from the Silver Moon Sect, those who were behind the scenes would appear. Soon, Leonard confirmed one thing, Theyre really after me? The scouting ghost entities were lurking around him after discovering his presence. According to Reuel, they had not moved elsewhere, nor had they detected Tracy Garcia, who was hiding a kilometer away. Or had they missed Tracy, who happened to be a spirit communicator? And, the hunchback had not shown himself the whole time, seeming to only assist in locating him. All the while, Leonard was contemplating why the enemy would come after him. But before waiting long, news came again. There was a secret base of the X Bureau in Sinless City with strong reconnaissance capabilities. In addition, Mushroomhead Noah Wright and Ada, Reuels two assistants, had been observing from a high point in the distance. Using their binoculars, they could clearly see a large group of people approaching. When Leonard heard about the large group, he sensed that something was amiss. After all, in Sinless City, few forces could dispatch a large group of troops. However, it didnt take long before Mushroomhead relayed a surprising piece of information: among the newcomers, there seemed to be the frost knight elites from the Miller Family! Chapter 329 - 134: Plan_2 Chapter 329: Chapter 134: Plan_2 Translator: 549690339 Someone from the Miller Family? As soon as this piece of information came, Leonard Churchill had a sudden realization. He instantly guessed what the other party was coming for. They were not coming for Tracy Garcia, but specifically for him. The fourth master of Miller Family, had not given up on the Epic Source Card of the 407 Alternate Dimension! How could I have forgotten about this guy? Leonard had considered all possibilities while excluding Saul Miller from the list purely out of neglect. After all, it had been quite awhile. After the commotion at the Black Market on Dark Rain Street, the death of Stan Miller and the consequent turmoil at the Lords Manor, Leonard assumed that Saul Miller had quietened down for good. Unexpectedly, he had resurfaced again. Reuel Bible was equally dumbfounded. He originally intended to deal with the believers of the Silver Moon Family Sect, but why were the people from Lord Millers residence here? How are these two parties connected? If the intel had come from a different source, Leonard might have thought that he had made a mistake. But the intelligence had been obtained from the Silver Moon Mirror. The fact was, the hunchbacked old man from the Silver Moon Sect had indeed come. Inside the broken building, the faces of both men were extremely grave. The intel from Reuel Bible wasnt lacking. When Saul had initially made a ruckus looking for someone in Sinless City, those who had a good information network had guessed that he must be looking for a special treasure from the 407 Alternate Dimension. But treasures and the like held no allure for Reuel Bible. After all, he was an official from the X Bureau. If this trouble is not resolved, it will always be a hidden danger. Not to mention, there wont always be powerful aides like Reuel Bible. Hmm. Reuel Bible nodded, not surprised at Leonards bravery and insight and then said, Be careful then. He shared the same sentiment. Only by throwing a stone into muddy water can one see if there are big fish hidden underwater. He also wanted to use Leonard to expose more flaws of the Old Day Believers. But thinking of something, Reuel also said solemnly: The main family of the Miller family is one of the five major senators of the Federation. Without conclusive evidence, we, at the X Bureau, cant directly intervene. You need to be extra careful then. I will try my best to protect you at the most critical moment, but the risk remains high... Hmm. Leonard had already braced himself for the risks after choosing to make this decision. Given that he knows the other party is coming after him. Leonard deliberately increased the distance between him and Tracy Garcia. Although the Frost Knight Legion was very strong, he was not planning on a direct confrontation with the Miller familys elites. Given the broken building as a terrain, Leonards ability provides a great advantage. Unless there are exceptionally skilled opponents, no matter the number, it would not necessarily trap him. What he needed to do was to stir up the situation as much as possible. And see where the connection between Silver Moon Sect and the Miller family really lies. Moreover, it wasnt all bad news. Since Saul is coming for the treasure of 407. This means that the other party might still think Im just the Card Master Apprentice who ran away from the Black Market... Although the people of the Silver Moon Sect have intervened, they definitely wouldnt dare to expose their infiltration into the Miller family. So they shouldnt intervene. At least, not visibly... As for the top experts, with Reuel here, it should be possible to stop them. Plus, there is that one... II II Leonard kept analyzing various possibilities in his mind. Soon, a thin mist started to float over the large ruins. This physical obstruction gradually blurred the vision. While Sinless City, full of steam boilers, was often shrouded in a slightly toxic fog, it was not uncommon. But Leonard instantly realized that the enemy might have already sneaked in upon seeing this. Reuel Bible had already vanished out of sight, hiding in some corner. Chapter 330 - 134: Plan_3 Chapter 330: Chapter 134: Plan_3 Translator: 549690339 Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com At this point, Leonard Churchill heard a reminder in his earpiece, Two stealthy targets are on their way up to you. They are likely First Tier assassins and not weak, be careful. This small communication device wasnt something modern technology could fabricate. It was an ancient black technology obtained through archaeology. Some were kept in the X Bureau. The Federal Military did not even possess them. Having someone to alert him saved Leonard a lot of trouble. His face, concealed beneath the gas mask, had partially transformed into a werewolf. He sat in the same spot, pretending to be completely oblivious. Stealth was visual concealment, not disappearance. For Leonard, who was now in this state, it was not difficult to detect them if they approached. Suddenly! A dagger discreetly pierces the mist inside the dilapidated building. It cleverly attempted to strike Leonards head from behind. They probably thought capturing a card master apprentice would be a piece of cake. They didnt aim for a vital spot, perhaps intending to capture him alive. However, when the attacker appeared to succeed, Leonards expression suddenly turned as sharp as a knife, Theyre here! Leonard dashed, and with a sudden [[Barbaric Charge]], he rammed into the chest of the assassin behind him. The man didnt even have time to react, and his chest was caved in by a powerful force. His bones made a cracking noise, and he lost consciousness instantly. Leondard knocked the assassin unconscious with one strike. A cold light flashed in his hand, and his wolf claw made a swift jab at the assailants throat. Assassin Type card masters specialized in burst damage. Their Curse Power Value isnt high, and their physical defense isnt much stronger than a Magic Type. With this swift claw attack, the assassins throat erupted in a gush of fresh blood. The assassin died on the spot after a single encounter. These sudden changes came too suddenly, so quickly that it was unbelievable. The other assassin watched as his partner was killed, shocked on the spot. He was initially in stealth mode, intending to coordinate with his partner to intercept the target during a possible forward roll evasion, a standard coordinated tactic. But he never expected that in the blink of an eye, his partner was killed. The remaining assassin stood dumbfounded for a moment, but immediately chose to counterattack. But just as he tried to rush forward to close the gap, Leonards response was faster! Almost immediately after killing the previous assassin, he had already maneuvered for another strike. Using the resistance of the previous impact, he charged forward. The close-quarters rush of the Barbaric Charge was extremely effective at this range. The approaching assassin had just emerged from stealth mode and was about to attack, yet Leonards towering werewolf form was already charging at him. Using the same method of attack, Leonard knocked him unconscious in an instant. His silvery claw had already lacerated the mans throat. He killed another in the blink of an eye. Seeing all of this from the shadows, Reuel Bible was greatly shocked, thinking to himself: Hes strong. No wonder hes soconfident in provoking them... Having such a disposition and mentality, Reuel suspected Leonard was highly skilled. However, he had not witnessed it with his eyes until now. He did not expect Leonard to be so strong. If the person were to escape, the newly established relationship would be instantly severed. The Relic-Treasure Hunters Compass, although powerfully effective, comes with a high usage cost. If they dont find the person this time, the feedback of the relic will make it even harder to locate them next time. Hearing the report from Old Cook through the Silver Moon Mirror, she knew that the Miller people wouldnt be able to capture the target without their intervention. Useless! Madame Shelley cursed under her breath. Originally not planning to leave any traces of her intervention, her eyes narrowed and she disappeared on the spot. Leonard Churchill ran wildly. This was part of the plan discussed with Reuel Bible after they discovered that the people coming after them belonged to the Miller family. Given the previous situation, the people from the Silver Moon Sect didnt want to expose themselves in the Sinless City and were only helping with the location. But this was not what Leonard and Reuel wanted. To draw out the snake, they needed to bring out the big one. If the Silver Moon Disciples were unwilling to show themselves, they would force them to! Since the Silver Moon Sect was so eager to find people for Saul Miller, they must have an ulterior motive. They absolutely wouldnt stand by and watch as Leonard slipped away. Reuel Bible had crossed paths with members of the Silver Moon Sect before. He was clear that others might not be able to catch up, but the Silver Moon Leader definitely could! Leonard kept running in circles, and by the time the Miller family had responded, he had already broken through the encirclement and rushed out. With this speed, there was a sense of no return. However, suddenly, a strange scene unfolded. As Leonard continued to run, a breathtakingly beautiful figure seemed to flash before his eyes. At the same time, he heard what seemed to be a chanting of a demonic whisper in his ear. Moon Curse-Willbound! The disparity was too large, and Leonard didnt have any reaction at all. He only felt a moment of bewilderment and saw a bright full moon reflected in his wolf eyes, both shining with a blue glow. The moment the divine secret skill was used, it felt as if his consciousness was being bound by a mysterious force, falling into a wonderful dream, making him unable to move. His thoughts stopped flowing, and Leonard stood dazed on the spot. But the goal was accomplished. The target had appeared. From the corner of his ear, he heard Reuel Bible shout, Ada, stick to the plan, get Leonard out of here now! Saying this, he couldnt wait any longer and chased after the Silver Moon Leader that had just appeared. Falling for the trap was part of the plan. When the two discussed the plan previously, they were sure the Silver Moon Leader would make a move. But it wouldnt be a kill shot. Most likely, it would only be a mental technique restricting movement. If traces of her actions were discovered, revealing her identity as an Old Days Believer, it would lead to a loss. The Miller family were not fools and were bound to notice. It was risky, but Leonard chose to gamble. Things went just as they had expected. The leader appeared and used Mental Secret Skill to control Leonard. Chapter 331 - 135: Red-eyed Leonard Churchill Chapter 331: Chapter 135: Red-eyed Leonard Churchill Translator: 549690339 Damn, why is someone from the X Bureau here! The moment Madame Shelley exposed herself, and executed her Techniques, she instantly noticed something was wrong. The surging Killing Intent from the Heavenly Kings Curse Body was all too familiar. Wasnt it from that guy who chased them around the last time? Seeing this situation, Madame Shelley realised that she had walked into an ambush. This was not the Old Continent, this was in Sinless City! An unprecedented sense of death loomed over her. She completely disregarded the Miller Family and made a run for it. Her escape route was carefully planned. The original plan was for Leonard Churchill to be under Mind Control by now and whisked away by Ada, who was hiding nearby. They would first escape this ruin. And things were indeed progressing that way. Shortly after Reuel Bible started chasing the Silver Moon Leader, Ada used a steel rope to quickly descend from a nearby high-rise building. She landed beside Leonard. However, there was a slight deviation from their plan. Ada looked at Leonard who was standing there, dumbstruck. She was about to pick him up and run. At that moment, Leonard suddenly turned his head to look at her. Ada was genuinely surprised: You werent affected? However, not having time to think, she noticed movements out of the corner of her eye. She hastily whispered, Glad to hear. The Miller Family is on our tail, we need to leave now. However, instead of an answer, she heard a sinister chuckle and an absurd self-monologue, Escape? Why not kill them instead? Killing is much more fun than running... ??? Confused, Ada thought she might have misheard. But when she took a sideways glance at him, she saw a pair of blood-red wolf- like eyes. She was startled, you... She had never sensed such chilling Killing Intent on a First-Tier card master! This state still isnt enough to kill that guy... Leonard ignored her, he kept murmuring to himself. At the same time, the sound of cracking came from his bones. It was as if a certain limit was broken, and transformation enhanced even further. He had never felt this exhilarated before! Rationality was always like a birdcage, restraining all his crazy thoughts. Although occasionally he would vent his emotions. But from the start to finish, he had never completely lost control. However, at this moment. Leonards dominant, rational personality was sealed by the Silver Moon Leaders Seal. The cage vanished. The aspects of his self, suppressed by his rationality for years, were no longer bound. The waves of joy in his mind felt like a flood, each wave overpowering the last. During this time, Leonards Mental Power on his Attribute Panel surged exponentially. From a measurement of about 7, it skyrocketed to 13 in a short span! Beside him, a scalpel hovered in mid-air. It was a level of control he had never experienced before. This feels better... Leonard chuckled. Under these mysterious conditions, it felt like multiple versions of himself were contemplating simultaneously. His thoughts were both nebulous and crystal clear at the same time. This feeling was like when a computer suddenly upgrades, increasing its operations speed significantly. His ability to perceive thoughts increased more than tenfold! He just had to briefly glance at the surrounding figures, and in his mind, he had already deduced dozens of execution plans. Huh... this feels amazing... Chapter 332 - 135 Red-eyed Leonard Churchill_2 Chapter 332: Chapter 135 Red-eyed Leonard Churchill_2 Translator: 549690339 Leonard Churchill, his eyes aflame with a fierce red, was still basking in the feeling of freedom, like he had been incarcerated for too long. He was laughing, his body trembling with giddiness. This wasnt fear. It was excitement, eagerness, and frenzy! Like the trembling before a volcanic eruption. At the moment, he had a pent-up urge to vent these suppressed emotions. Suddenly! The red glow in his eyes became icy cold. Bang! A gust of air exploded. The imposing figure of the werewolf had disappeared there and then. Like it was delayed a moment, the cement ground where Leonard had stood before was now depressed as if a high-pressure explosion had created a web of cracks. At the same time, a surge of air visible to the naked eye pushed outwards swiftly. The view was momentarily lost. Ada sensed something was wrong, but before she could react to what had happened, she felt a sense of suffocation come over her. When she regained her senses, she found herself choking and hanging in mid-air. She was on the second tier! How can this guy be so remarkably fast?! Panic-stricken, Ada stared with wide eyes. In her view, the wolfs face was still smiling, yet its murderous intent was tangible as a needle. Leonard with flaming red eyes looked at Ada in his hand and gave a jesting laugh: I warned you, you dont leave, I cant resist murdering you. His five fingers tightened, and a faint sound suggested that muscle tissues were about to tear apart. In an instant, Ada felt suffocated and faced an enormous terror of death. However, before she could call upon her life-saving tactics, the strangulation around her neck mysteriously disappeared. The werewolf had already killed the fourth member of his team with a counterattack. The Black Knights face darkened. Swinging his giant axe, he charged. No matter what, he thought, he had to obstruct this brute for a moment. But to his disbelief, instead of running away, the werewolf turned around and threw a punch at him. The Black Knight, unafraid, counted on his heavy armor. How could he be scared of such an attack? He quietly drew the mechanical steel rope from around his waist, planning to ensnare the werewolf when it got close enough. Boom! A muffled sound, like the toll of a bell, echoed. The speed of the werewolf exceeded his expectations. The strange force on the fist seemed to permeate through the armor, dealing a heavy blow to the heart of the Black Knight. Through the gap in his helmet, a pair of eyes expressed horror, and blood veins instantly filled them. With a clatter, the Black Knight fell to his knees in front of the werewolf, the steel rope in his hand not yet drawn. The werewolf tilted his head to one side, looking at the corpse on the ground. Apparently, he didnt find the kill satisfying and started to chuckle eerily, So weak... Killing such weak enemies gave him no thrill. This was not a frost knight, but merely some rank-and-file soldiers nurtured by the Miller Family. Before his words fell, the werewolf had again disappeared into the mist. This region of architectural ruins was already unlit, utterly black. The deliberately spread fog made it even harder to see through, even for those with exceptional night visionmost of their senses were impaired. But for a werewolf of the Abyssal Clan, this was undoubtedly their home field. The werewolfs sense of hearing and smell could capture the enemies lurking in the fog sharply. The number of enemies, their professions, their precise locations... He could even discern the enemies tier based on the heaviness of their breathing and the agility of their footsteps. Leonard, with his red eyes, was like a ghost weaving through the fog. Wherever he passed, screams could be heard. He, alone encircled and trapped, swooped, pulled and tore his enemiess lives. In a very short period, several five-man teams lost their lives under his claws. Chapter 333 - 135 Red-eyed Leonard Churchill 3 Chapter 333: Chapter 135 Red-eyed Leonard Churchill 3 Translator: 549690339?????? And the Second Tier ones? The same principle applies, the legion soldiers have higher average combat power, but they have a lower maximum limit. In terms of individual combat power, almost nobody below the Third Tier can stall him. Indeed, this time several card masters above the Third Tier have come. But not all Third Tier card masters are agility-specialized assassins. If they cant catch up with Leonard Churchill, theyre pointless. Moreover, their biggest problem is that Young Master Saul Miller himself is here! In the foggy ruins, there are continuous screams, and the strong smell of blood quickly disperses into the air. Fear and panic are spreading among Miller Familys hunting team. What the hell happened?! Damn it, that guy has come back to kill! Can you pinpoint his location?! Nine oclock direction... no, twelve oclock... no, he ran away again... Quick, dispel the fog! Not good, that guy is charging towards the Lord! Protect the Lord! Cover the Lord to retreat first! Leonard Churchill, at this moment, is in a state of frenzied venting. But instead of being confused, his thoughts were becoming clearer and clearer. The hunting team does have many elites this time. But as long as Leonard Churchill shows intent to assassinate Saul Miller, those experts will inevitably retreat to protect him. Under normal circumstances, as long as Leonard Churchill avoids Saul Miller and his men, his safety would be greatly ensured. However... If he wanted to escape, he could have done so a long time ago. How could he possibly run away! Killing minions, the joy it brings, was becoming more and more diminished. The feeling of emptiness in his soul was like a hunger that urgently needed to be filled. At this moment, there was a kind of evil flame in Leonard Churchills heart. Killing was like pouring oil on fire, the more he kills, the more vigorous it becomes. The more oppressive emotions he released from the murders, the more exhilarated he felt. It was like a dam breaking, even if he knew it would lead to death, he could not stop the ultimate pleasure of releasing it. Leonard Churchill, transformed into a werewolf, had crimson eyes that shone brightly, charging towards the direction where the sounds were densely coming from without any hesitation. The thought in his mind, although crazy, was very clear. A series of footsteps against the air made a booming sound. The Millers only reacted then, the assassin really came. The look on Saul Millers face instantly turned shocked and confused: He really dared to come to die? The guards beside him also instantly tensed up. However, only the Fifth Tier commander, Morgue, looked indifferent, standing next to Saul Miller steadily like a mountain. A speed that could leave an afterimage, even a Third Tier Card Master might not be able to stop it. But in his eyes, its just like a child waving a sword, not threatening at all. He just watched coldly. The other Miller guards were already in a panic, not expecting the real assassin to come after some of their close guards had withdrawn. All sorts of barriers, ready to unleash their cards. But from the perspective of the werewolf who is in a frenzy, this slight chaos was enough for him to rush in. Only then, for the first time, did Saul Miller see that little thief. It was a terrifying werewolf, with a body full of turbulent curse power and eyes as red as fire. Despite being only First Tier, the werewolf gave off an unstoppable and rapid force, like a released arrow. The werewolfs face held a ferocious and mad smirk, as if greeting: Havent seen you in long time, Young Master Saul! The frantic and aggressive eyes were like burning flames, generating a sort of spirit pollution, leading to a fear originating from the deepest part of the soul. Even with Fifth Tier guards by his side, Saul Miller felt a chill crawl up his spine as he watched. This guy... really dared to kill him?! He had never faced such a real death threat in his life. For the first time, he felt the sensation of the close arrival of death. If not for his robust bodyguards, Saul might have wanted to back off due to weak legs. Morgue, the frost knight commander, maintained a cold face, and looked at the beads of blood seeping out of the werewolfs body, realizing in his heart: Potential activation... he doesnt want to live? Unlocking the bodys safety switch, stimulating abnormal hormones secretions, this was the principle of most berserk secret skills. No wonder a mere First Tier card master could have such incredible combat power. But even so, in Morgues eyes, there was still no threat. He watched the werewolf stepping on the rapidly forming ice, and tightened his grip on the longsword in his hand, ready to swing out a sword of aura and cut him down in mid-air. However, as he was drawing his sword, an unexpected situation occurred again. Morgue suddenly felt the scene in front of him becoming twisted, he could no longer catch sight of the werewolf. This is... a domain-level mysterious system spell. Morgues face turned pale in an instant, he exclaimed in his heart: Not good, a Legendary power holder! Chapter 334 - 136: Let it shine like fireworks Chapter 334: Chapter 136: Let it shine like fireworks Translator: 549690339 , This guy is really reckless... In a dilapidated building, a cloaked figure put down the card in his hand that he was using to cast a spell and looked at the lone werewolf charging towards Saul Miller, his tone slightly reflective. Surrounded by a large army, he doesnt think about escaping, but instead, with the strength of a first-tier card master, he intends to counter-kill the young, newly appointed Lord Miller? Hmph, in the entire Sinless City, youd probably not find any behavior more insane than this. Whats more, This was not the plan we agreed upon in advance! That guy just informed me before proceeding. If I hadnt come, or hadnt planned to intervene, or didnt have enough power, and any other unexpected circumstances, He would certainly die if he rushed over like this. But against all odds, he went. No wonder... The cloaked figure looked at the mad frenzy in the werewolfs eyes, pondering something. Then, he murmured to himself again: He hasnt transformed even till now, his will is really tenacious. Well then, let me see where your limit lies... Since I am here anyway, I will not let this guy die before me, either in terms of emotion or reason. He probably thinks the same way. On the other side. Leonard Churchill, with wild red eyes, was rushing on the battlefield. Looking at the newly appointed Lord Miller, who was just about to draw his sword but froze on the spot, he burst out into a wild laughter: Hahaha... Here it comes! Here it comes! As expected, it comes! This was the ultimate pleasure of risking everything, where the winner takes all! A slight mistake would certainly lead to death. Leonards understanding of Extraordinary Powers has much improved compared to the past. Last time he assassinated Young Master Kane, he became aware of it, so he wasnt surprised that Saul, a high-ranking nobleman, had life-saving cards. He had even specifically studied various protective barrier cards. The Miller family of Sinless City was best at Frost Armor. Saul was only a first-tier card master, and the upper limit of the rules of the barrier spell he could handle was at most third-tier! But that doesnt mean it cant be broken. At the very moment when Leonard forced Sauls Frost Barrier to emerge, his fast-spinning thoughts had instantly calculated the weak points in the barrier. At the same time, a radiant flying knife had precisely stabbed into the barrier surrounding Sauls body. The air crackled, and the intense cold tried to freeze the flying knife. But the Demonslaying Keyword on this artifact exempted most of the magic effects. Although the speed was limited, it still kept stabbing. Heh... Leonard, with a grinning smile on his face, stared at Saul as if he had a third hand holding a flying knife and jabbing it in. Frightened, Saul forgot to breathe. He watched as the sharp blade of the flying dagger pierced his forehead, getting closer and closer... until it hit! The sharp blade had cut open his skin. He could even feel the chill spreading from his forehead to his tailbone. This Lord Miller was already scared out of his wits, and he was on the verge of dying on the spot. However, at this moment, a single-edged longsword swung over like lightning. Clang! went the sound of metal clashing. The longsword accurately hit the flying knife, deflecting the deadly weapon. Turning his head to look, it turned out to be a swordsman dressed in black appearing from Saul Millers shadow. The dark guard of the Miller family! The third-tier profession, Weapon Expert, from the Courage Sequence, Diamonds A-Warrior. After this knife resolved the crisis, Saul was finally able to take advantage of the situation and fly back. Leonard, looking at his missed opportunity to kill, didnt show a trace of disappointment in his gaze. Instead, his wicked smile seemed to say: Killing so easily wouldnt be fun at all! Chapter 335 - 136: Let It Shine Like Fireworks ! Chapter 335: Chapter 136: Let It Shine Like Fireworks ! Translator: 549690339 He stomped on the ground, the air exploded with noise. The towering wolf body relentlessly pursued the falling Saul Miller. The third-tier darkly cloaked guard who had originally thrown the flying knife, intended to take the initiative to intercept this assassin. But who would have thought that this fellow would dare to chase? Seeing the wolfmans relentless posture, the guard was forced to return to defense, appearing ghostlike beside Saul Miller, retreating tens of meters with the lord who had been scared witless. Leonard Churchill pressed on relentlessly, the scalpel that had just been knocked off returned with a whirl and stabbed fiercely again. But after all, he was a third-tier weapon expert, and the darkly-cloaked guard had already caught the faint sound of wind breaking just from his slight movement of the ear canal. He didnt even bother to look again, simply swung a sword that again knocked the scalpel, attacking Saul miller like lightning, flying away. One knife, two knives, three knives... The sudden surge of mental power currently allowed Leonard Churchill to control the flying knife extremely smoothly. Similarly, the shadow of the guards knife was also impenetrable. Clang, clang, clang... The sharp sound of metal touching was endless in the ears. Sparks flew everywhere. In this brief moment of time, the knife and blade had made contact over a dozen times. Looking at his flying knife being stopped, Leonard Churchill knew that he couldnt harm Saul Miller if he didnt kill this guard. But even though he was a third tier, he had no intention of giving up, instead countless voices in his heart were howling: Its still not enough! Still not enough! Even stronger, even stronger... This strong obsession burst like a volcano, breaking through all sorts of safety thresholds in the body. The four frost knights stood at the four corners, forming an unbreakable high- level barrier, protecting young master Saul Miller in the center of the ice house. The Miller Familys hunting movement in South City this time was not small. Some well-informed information merchants and onlookers also followed. From far away, various tall buildings. Peoples heads and professional telescopes were watching the bizarre battle. Hiss...its outrageous, one person actually forced the Miller Family into such a situation. Indeed. If it werent for seeing it with my own eyes, who would dare to believe a first-tier Beast Walker would actually dare to assassinate the Lord of Sinless City? Looking at it now, it must be the person on the arrest warrant. Look at his relentless posture, hes a lunatic indeed. No wonder he dares to assassinate Young Master Kane of the Lionheart Family... He is crazy indeed. But from what Ive seen, no first-tier card master is stronger than this guy. Indeed. He charged and killed the guards of the Miller Family alone, even watching from such a far distance, its still heart-shaking. Tomorrows newspaper headlines are going to be lively. But its also over now. The frost knights have used the Frost Mirror Fortress war field. Lord Miller wouldnt die. Not necessarily. Have you guys not found a problem? The frost knight commander Morgue has not moved all this time? Its strange, if there is a master, why not kill him personally, instead allowing a first-tier to assassinate? The vision and well-informedness of information merchants are far superior to ordinary people. Watching the battle, they saw even more. On the other side. In a broken building not far from the battlefield, a cloaked watcher who was watching also had a frown on her face, talking to herself: Dont you give up? In that state, the body can probably support two more minutes at most... She received a message to help, to save Leonard Churchills life. However, its not to help him kill Saul Miller. Chapter 336 - 136: Let it Shine Like Fireworks_3 Chapter 336: Chapter 136: Let it Shine Like Fireworks_3 Translator: 549690339 Previously, aiding in restraining that Fifth Tier Commander and the other two Fourth Tier was already an exception. After all, there were many experts in Sinless City, and getting involved was bound to cause additional trouble. Killing Saul Miller would be a major inconvenience. She didnt want to reveal her identity yet. But since she had already taken action. She didnt want to owe too many favors either. She thought she might as well repay some right now. Originally, she was also curious to see where Leonard Churchills limit laid. But it seems now, this was his limit. He has already done very well... The cloaked figure murmured a sentence. In such a desperate situation, as long as one does not die, it may not necessarily be a bad thing for any card master. But it stops here. Even in her eyes, under that condition, there was no chance for Leonard Churchill to kill Saul Miller. After all, whether it was the number or the strength, there were too many gaps. She quietly went downstairs, ready to come to the rescue when the situation worsened. Apart from these outsiders, in a dilapidated building slightly away from the battlefield. There was a lady with a round head who was very anxious about the outcome of the fight that was about to be determined. After Leonard Churchill confirmed that the enemy was after him, he kept a distance from Tracy Garcia. However, this round-headed lady was not at ease and didnt go far. She wasnt clear about what had happened. But seeing forces from Millers family in the Lords Manor gathering, Tracy felt strange. At first, she breathed a sigh of relief when Leonard Churchill escaped from the siege. Coming back to his senses, he discovered that not only was his back already cold, but his crotch was also soaking wet. Although he was unwilling to face his own cowardice and this humiliation, he could not hide his inner fear, and his breathing was rapid and stuttered. As a high-ranking young noble, he was usually arrogant and contemptuous of everything, thus possessing some extra ordinary demeanor. But he never thought that facing death would be so unbearable. Saul Miller was truly scared. He came with imposing manner but he didnt expect... the loss of face! At this moment, he no longer thought about capturing alive. Transforming his full of embarrassment into anger, he yelled: Quickly kill that guy forme! With this roar, dozens of guards swarmed up. With the protection of a barrier, the third-tier Dark Guard had no concerns and directly approached the towering werewolf with the longsword in his hand. Leonard Churchill missed the opportunity to kill Saul Miller in one fell swoop. The opportunity was lost. Instead, he was surrounded and attacked by dozens of people. All kinds of card weapons were hitting him from all directions, the situation had reached a critical moment. Especially that Third-tier Dark Guard. With no concerns, he stuck to him and charged into the fight. Although Leonard Churchill plunged into berserk mode after transforming, his attributes were on par with the third tier. But the gap in tier suppression and understanding of the law was too large. This gap became fatal at this moment. The Third Tier Dark Guard could truly be considered an expert. Beat it unarmed combat, weaponry, experience.-he couldnt find any flaws in Leonard Churchill. Even relying on the flexibility of the Spirit-powered flying knife, he managed to hit the Dark Guard several times. But the scalpel, which could easily penetrate the bones and muscles of a First or Second Tier card master, only caused some superficial wounds at this moment. Such an enemy, simply sharp and Demonslaying Keyword was not enough. The third-tier card master could create Curse Seals, it was like a soft armor woven by curse power, and both physical and magic defences were super strong. Without the equivalent law attack, it was hard to cause fatal injuries. On the other hand, that longsword of his opponent could easily break through the tough fur of the werewolf and cut open wounds. His sword technique was exquisite, and there was that annoying sword aura that couldnt be defended against. Chapter 337 - 136: Let it Shine Like Fireworks A Chapter 337: Chapter 136: Let it Shine Like Fireworks A Translator: 549690339 |???? H The two sides had already clashed dozens of times within a short period. There were indeed several claw marks on the body of the dark guard, but they were inconsequential. Leonard Churchill, in his wolf form, had numerous bloodied wounds gaping open all over his body. Various members of the Miller familys guard had also swarmed around him. It was clear that if this continued to be a war of attrition, Leonard Churchill was undoubtedly going to die. In fact, if he wanted to escape, there was still some chance at this moment. But he didnt. Death was but a triviality; there was nothing to fear. If he was truly going to die, Then let it be as spectacular as summer fireworks. The smile in Leonard Churchills eyes became increasingly ferocious. As he was forced to retreat, losing at every step, his mind was becoming clearer. Can my body hold on for another two minutes...? I have to speed up. Having thought of something, the corners of his mouth subtly lifted into a smile. It wasnt a hopeless situation. He still had a chance! He still had a slim chance! The moment Leonard Churchill made his decision, the unexpected happened suddenly, to everyones surprise. The dark guard pierced his sword at him. Normally, Leonard Churchill, with his excellent agility, might have been injured but could have dodged. But this time, he didnt. As though he didnt react in time, he barely deflected the sword edge aimed at his heart and stood rigidly in place. Splurt- The sharp blade easily pierced through his muscles and bones, spewing out a splash of blood. The longsword passed through his chest. This kind of piercing wound that cut through his organs was undoubtedly fatal even if it hadnt hit his heart. Is he dead? The dark guard who had stabbed him looked mildly surprised. It seemed too easy, almost strange. The tide of the battle changed instantly. Before he could react, he saw a smirk spreading across the face of the wolf on the opposite side. That eerie smile, as if mocking this very sword thrust. The dark guard instantly realized something and cursed under his breath Damn it! But it was already too late. His sword was completely lodged in the wolfs chest. Consequently, the distance between them had closed to the extreme. At such a distance, the dark guard couldnt possibly pull out his sword. It was yet uncertain who would be the first to meet death! In the meantime, it felt as if some mysterious Spell was silently encroaching. The dark guard suddenly felt a blur in consciousness, his opinions frozen. Finally. With the thud of the last blow, the force resisting the flying knife disappeared. With the last smash, Leonard drove the entire handle of the scalpel into the Third Tier dark guards eye socket. Feeling no resistance, he finally lifted his head, which was now covered in bloody holes. Grim and horrifying. Youve got to be kidding me... Witnessing this scene, the onlookers in the distance were flabbergasted, gasping in unison. They had all thought that the Werewolf was a goner when the third-tier dark guard made his move. The previous scene played out like that. The Werewolf had been completely outmatched and was losing ground. However, none of them had anticipated such a sudden turn of events. Seeing the Werewolf being stabbed through the chest, they thought the battle was over. Who would have thought that it was all intentional! Next, they all witnessed the bizarre and horrifying scene. That Werewolf! With his head! Did he really just beat a Third Tier to death?! The brutal and bloody scene was deeply engraved in the minds of everyone present. Even the Cloaked figure who had quietly appeared nearby was dumbfounded. She had not expected such an outcome either. She thought Leonard would dodge the stabbing blow. But strangely, he got pierced through. Just as she was planning on intervening to potentially save him, she ended up witnessing such a ludicrous display. She would never have imagined that Leonard, in exchange for his own life would try to kill a Third Tier dark guard? The truth is, he actually succeeded! Of course, she also contributed a little help. But...wasitworthit? The Cloaked figure was puzzled why Leonard would do this. She figured killing Young Master Saul Miller was now impossible, the longer he lingers, the greater his risk. It was simply not worth it. Suddenly realizing something, her crystal-like eyes lit up: Wait! His life force did not diminish after the serious injury. Instead, it grew stronger...what Secret Skill is this? Chapter 338 - 137 [Yama Five-eyed Evil Cat] Chapter 338: Chapter 137 [Yama Five-eyed Evil Cat] Translator: 549690339 At this sight, the Miller Familys guards in the distance were completely dumbfounded. It seemed as if, for a moment, everyone forgot about the attack. They watched the werewolf, his head streaming thick streams of blood, and unconsciously swallowed their saliva. The key point was... he was still laughing! A wild, crazed laugh. After dealing with the troublesome third-tier guard, Leonard Churchill stood up, gripping the hilt of his sword, he pulled out the longsword that pierced through his chest. Then he felt his back. Pulled out two daggers. These were left behind by the assassin who attempted a surprise attack on him earlier when he bowed. Weapons pulled out from wounds, blood gushing out. At this moment, his entire, massive werewolf body was covered in wounds, looking like a bloody mess. These were serious injuries. Even if it didnt kill him on the spot, a normal person would have already lost his fighting ability. However, everyone was mistaken. Under everyones watchful eyes, a strange green light began to swirl around Leonard Churchill. And those wounds, visibly began to heal right before their eyes. They stopped bleeding, coagulated into scabs, and then fell off, fresh flesh took their place. In the blink of an eye, the wounds were all but healed. Ah... feels so good... Leonard Churchill reveled in the sensation of an overwhelming life force surging throughout his limbs. He felt invigorated down to every pore. That extreme pleasure, similar to the extreme fear of facing death, always enabled him to realize things he usually couldnt. This secret skill was none other than the Undying Secret Skill Cellular Activity Boiling he obtained previously. This secret technique was extremely difficult to master, and he hadnt made much progress. Just standing atop the Frost Barrier that was as clear as glass. What was he trying to do? This Barrier was able to withstand high-caliber artillery attack, how could a first-tier card master break it? No one dared to believe that the man could do something significant. However, only Saul Miller was staring upwards at the werewolf who was looking back down at him. No one understood the suffocating feeling of being targeted by the reaper better than him. Leonard Churchill grinned crookedly, as if he was greeting him again: Mr. Miller, here we meet again. While laughing, before anyone could react, he suddenly pulled out a sphere of dull metal against the barrier. And poured in his Curse Power madly! Upon receiving the influx of Leonards curse force, the Power Gem Golden Sphere, a supreme treasure, suddenly spawned some bizarre black lines around it. In an instant, it felt as if space itself was being torn apart and a strange force began to press down on the lower barrier. The small gemstone immediately became a high-density black hole, releasing a terrifying and weird weight, pressing downwards instantly! This sudden black line was not only tearing space apart, but it was also tearing everything around it. Leonards werewolf claws were torn to shreds by the strange power that occurred in an instant, becoming a pile of bloody mush. But he did not stop, and continued to forcefully pour in more curse power. Almost instantly after he brought out the gemstone, a miracle happened! All of a sudden, the cracking sound was heard crack crack, the Frost Barrier, which everyone deemed indestructible, startlingly began to crack like a spiderweb! And in the split second before anyone could react, with a loud crack, the entire barrier was unable to resist the horrifying pressure and exploded apart. The sight of the shattered barrier was reflected in everyones eyes. Everyones looks were stunned as if their thoughts were frozen. How could it be... This was the collective thought of everyone watching the bewildering scene unfold. Even the caped man, who was about to come to help, was left dumbstruck, It actually got broken through, What... how many secrets does this guy have! However, the barrier shattering was just the beginning. The murderous intent exploded next. Leonard, hand holding the gemstone, was pulled by the weird gravity. After breaking open the barrier, he fiercely crashed down. Crashing down straight. Chapter 339 - 137 [Yama Five-eyed Evil Cat]_2 Chapter 339: Chapter 137 [Yama Five-eyed Evil Cat]_2 Translator: 549690339 It happened to hit Young Master Saul Miller, who was terrified and unable to move below. There was a thud. The solid ground had been smashed into a huge cracked pit half a meter deep. Leonard Churchill felt as if every bone in his body had been crushed, and he coughed up a mouthful of old blood. But he still struggled to his feet. He staggered, obviously badly injured. But at this moment, Leonards face was adorned with an extremely bright smile. Because he was holding Saul Millers head in his hand. As if wringing a chicken, he held it up in midair. Findd new stories at novelhall.com Feeling as if his high emotions had finally found a vent, he let out an unrestrained laugh from his throat: Hahaha... Such a frenzied laugh sent shivers down the spines of the Miller Familys guards around him. But they were powerless to act because they feared hurting the hostage. The captain of the frost knights stepped forward and roared, Quick, put down our Lord! Leonard tilted his head to look at him, seemingly intrigued, What if I dont? A green light enveloped his body as his injuries were rapidly healing. He only delayed for a few moments to heal his injuries. The man wanted to intimidate Churchill, but considering that this maniac probably wouldnt respond to any threats, he was forced to compromise, As long as you let our Lord go... weU grant anything you want. Hearing this, Leonard seemed genuinely interested and pondered for a moment, Oh, then Ill let him go. But on his face, there was only a mocking smile. If those guards had been decisive enough to act the instant he fell, Perhaps they might have had a slim chance to save Young Master Saul Miller. What a pity. They didnt dare to gamble... Hahahaha! If you dont even dare to gamble with your lives, how can you win against me! With that, the wolfs claw, shaped like a hook, pressed against Sauls head, and the curse power pouring into his fingertips easily shattered the skull, creating a bloody hole. No! At the command, hundreds of people pursued him relentlessly. Without the surge of adrenaline he had before, Leonard, who was running, began to feel heavy in his hands and feet. Even though he was still agile and had broken through the encirclement relying on the terrain, His pace was slowing. His consciousness began to blur and double images started appearing in front of his eyes. Once a person has a way out, the will collapses at one point. This was different than before. He knew that the expert wouldnt help kill Saul Miller. But he was sure that the man definitely wouldnt let him die like this. The string loosened. His consciousness collapsed like a mountain. The world darkened before Leonards eyes, he staggered and fell to the ground. Almost the same time, Reuel Bible rushed over in a hurry. Seeing Leonard, who had just fallen in the ruins, he breathed a sigh of relief: Finally, I made it in time. After all, it was he who had asked Leonard to act as bait, luring out the people of the Silver Moon Sect, and he had promised to protect Leonards life. But he couldnt have imagined, Such a big change would occur. Ada had briefly explained the situation earlier, and Reuel Bible roughly guessed what had happened. He just never expected this guy to actually kill Saul Miller who was heavily guarded. Looking at Leonard, covered in blood, he shookhis head helplessly: Hes really gotten himself into big trouble... After all, Saul Miller was a high-ranking noble. And the Lord of Sinless City. His death would be a huge trouble. But now was not the time to think about the aftermath. Reuel Bible put on a respirator and jumped down. Just as he was about to carry Leonard away, he suddenly seemed to notice something and abruptly turned to look at the dark part of the ruins not far away. Although he couldnt see who the person was, the evil ghost around him gave off a warning. His pupils contracted fiercely: Another powerful being! But upon second thought, he instantly guessed that the newcomer likely shared the same goal as him. Saul Miller had high-tier guards with him. For Leonard to be able to kill him, someone must have been helping from the shadows. Chapter 340 - 137 [Yama Five-eyed Evil Cat]_3 Chapter 340: Chapter 137 [Yama Five-eyed Evil Cat]_3 Translator: 549690339 That Leonard Churchill, he has such assistance... Reuel Bible also dared not to act recklessly. Clearly, this person was likely here to rescue someone too. He was afraid that the other party would misunderstand that he wanted to harm Leonard Churchill and end up having a dispute that would waste time, so he was preparing to explain. However, at this time, another person arrived! A girl carrying a scroll from not far away rushed over anxiously, summoning the courage to shout: You... let him go! The person that came was none other than Tracy Garcia! Tracy Garcia had watched as Leonard Churchill was impaled through the chest by a sword and was extremely anxious. In her frantic state of mind, she hadnt cared about anything else. She had hit a secret skill on the scroll in a hurry, and rushed down. However, she was a spirit communicator, and her speed was not fast. By the time she rushed to the battlefield, she turned her head to see that Leonard Churchill had also killed the elder master of the Miller family. She sped up even more, ran a distance, and saw that Leonard Churchill had already fallen to the ground. She was too late again. Reuel Bible and the hooded figure both recognized the origin of that ghostly being. This undead creature that only existed in ancient books, still exists now? Just the spiritual pressure alone, any spirit communicator below fifth or sixth tier would have been swallowed by its malice, and its being obediently followed around? As Tracy Garcia spoke, the Five-eyed Evil Cat had already noticed the two of them and bared its teeth in their direction. As if the moment its master gave the order, it would lunge at them. Reuel Bible knew it was not the time for talk, he stepped back, saying: You go ahead and take the person away, Ill cover the rear. Okay! Only then did Tracy Garcia realize that the masked person in front of her was a friend of Leonard Churchills, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She didnt say much, quickly ran over, picked up Leonard Churchill and ran off. While escaping, she didnt forget to say a word of thanks: Thankyou. Reuel Bible listened with a complicated expression, complaining in his heart: It was fine when the one who didnt show up in the neighboring building, now theres another one here. This guy... where did he get so many outrageously strong friends? And on the other side, the hooded figure saw Tracy Garcia, who had stood up and was also thinking the same thing: It was fine when the masked expert came to the rescue, but then, a girl like this also came? She murmured, That guy, sure does have a lot of backup... Dancing on deaths door over and over again, this behavior seemed to be reckless and seeking death. But the fact was, he survived. The figure in the cloak seemed to have thought of something, didnt reveal himself, and quietly disappeared. Chapter 341 - 138: Some Daily Injury Treatments Chapter 341: Chapter 138: Some Daily Injury Treatments Translator: 549690339 1 Insane, but purposeful nonetheless. The trouble would persist if the fourth master of Miller family weren t put to rest. Leonard Churchill was certain that until now, probably no one except Saul Miller himself knew what treasure had emerged from room number 407. Therefore, the only way to reduce this hidden risk to its minimum was to get rid of Saul Miller. Leonard believed this implicitly. And then he did it. He knew his rationality was sealed off by the leader of the Silver Moon Sect. And then he couldnt suppress these crazy thoughts any longer. If rationality had the upper hand, a safer way would be chosen without a doubt. Leonard himself liked to occasionally pursue excitement to fill the void in his soul. But at least with a possibility of 20-30%, he would gamble; Not just throwing all caution to the wind. Seeing that one percent chance of winning, he dared to bet his life on it. Achieving the aim became secondary. What mattered more for him was to pursue that extreme delight of seeking a way out in a desperate situation. It felt like he had been dreaming for a long time. That restless emotion had been vented, which subsided and fell into silence. He did not know how long it had been when he faintly heard a murmuring sound in his ear. Ah... why hasnt Mr. Leonard Churchill woken up... I never realized before, but hes so sturdy. Uh... and very healthy. But he was way too reckless and nearly died. Every muscle in Leonards body ached and felt sour like being soaked in acid every time he moved. He barely managed to open his eyes. She was kneeling by his side applying the ointment, and the first thing that Leonard saw was her white, voluptuous cleavage. Her skin was smooth, curves plump and upright. A pair of rabbits cheekily peeking out. Whenever she applied the ointment, there would be a slight ripple with every movement of her body, presenting a delightful view. Normally, Leonard would avoid looking at such things to avoid any misunderstanding. After all, she was kindly treating him, and his sense of reason would avoid any discourteous behavior. But now, he couldnt control himself and didnt look away. Tracy seemed to have noticed his gaze and lowered her head, unsure of what to think. She said nothing more. But didnt deliberately move away either. She quietly continued to apply the ointment. A gentle breeze wafted in the dilapidated building. Under the full moon, Leonard took in the beautiful sight. Because his whole body was covered in wounds-much of his body was bare for the ointmentthe sight of it made him feel slightly hot and more awake. Tracy noticed the bulge in his pants out of the corner of her eye. A hint of red blushed on her face, and she didnt dare to speak anymore. She had seen it plenty of times over these past few days as she helped wash the blood off his body, and never felt shy. But that was when he was unconscious, and now he was awake. After a moment, Leonard discovered his own abnormality, his eyes narrowed a bit, understanding something in his heart: It seems like my willpower to control my cravings has decreased a lot... Normally, he could easily control such base desires. He understood the reason. This was the aftermath of his Mental Power breakdown. Once the wild beast was released, it was hard to cage it back up. If before, his rationality would take up 70%, the majority of the time, he could easily suppress his desires. Chapter 342 - 138: Some Daily Injury Chapter 342: Chapter 138: Some Daily Injury Treatments_2 Translator: 549690339 Now, logic and other emotions are on par with each other. Some bodily instinctual desires are difficult to restrain. Just like now. These desires are also a part of me. Leonard Churchill didnt feel troubled. Its just impolite in the end. This little Miss Buns is a good girl. Leonard Churchill thought for a moment and said, Im sorry. I... He wanted to explain. Tracy Garcia naturally knew why. But it was initially unspoken, she could pretend not to see it. Once he spoke, the expressions of Miss Buns became a bit flustered, responded in a hurry, Its okay. I am a doctor... While speaking, she felt a bit guilty and didnt continue. However, this is not a good sign. Tracy Garcia seemed to think of something, and seriously said, Mr. Leonard Churchill, your mental power problem is quite serious... Hmm. Leonard Churchill listened, no one knew better than him how severe the problem was. Tracy Garcia had no solution, thought for a while and said, Although it was dangerous earlier, at least some negative emotions were vented, which suppressed the mental deformities and slightly eased the situation. But because you have been too restrained in daily life, mental instability will intensify... While speaking, she stole a glance at Leonard Churchill and casually said, Sometimes its good to vent a little.Jt helps your condition. This thing...he dared say that if he really moved, he would die instantly. He knew Tracy Garcia had secrets, but this... it seemed too ridiculous. Controlling Evil Spirits far exceeding her own power, was like a tiger that required an iron chain to restrain, was locked by a hemp rope. Theoretically, its impossible! Unless... there was a problem with Tracy Garcia herself. Leonard Churchill didnt ask in detail. He vaguely felt that this might be the reason why Little Miss Buns mother wanted her to escape from the Royal Court. Her mother didnt dare to say it openly. Leonard Churchill thought hed better not ask much. To avoid causing big trouble for them both. Having thought of something, Leonard Churchill skipped the strange cat and asked, Did you see the content of the scroll again? Tracy Garcia also had a helpless expression saying, Hmm. I can see it occasionally now. After hearing this, Leonard Churchill thought of something, Thats right! He struggled to sit up, but the soreness in his muscles made it extremely difficult. Seeing this, Tracy Garcia immediately helped him up. Leonard Churchill looked and saw all his Storage Ring and pots were beside him. He picked up one Storage Ring, took out a bronze fragment, and asked, Tracy Garcia, can you read this? Tracy Garcia recognized it at a glance: Forbidden Law Copper Pieces of the Fifty-two Demon Gods? She blinked her big eyes as if surprised, Mr. Leonard Churchill actually has this thing?! Leonard Churchill nodded, Have you seen it? Yeah. Tracy Garcia nodded: The Royal Court has few fragments. My mother said they recorded the forbidden books of the Fifty-two Demon Gods. They were shattered in ancient times, leaving behind many fragments. Its a very, very precious thing. The difference of family conditions was showing on the cognitive level. Leonard Churchill cast a hopeful glance. Ever since he got this fragment, he had always wanted to find someone who could decipher the high-level demon language. Considering Little Buns can read the mysterious scrolls, maybe she can? However, as Tracy Garcia looked, she shook her head: I cant decipher it. Seeing Leonard Churchills instantly dimmed expectation, she further explained, I remember my mother telling me that high-level demon language is not something that lower creatures can understand. This character is not simply a letter, but actually the carrier of the high-level laws. If you do not reach that cognitive level, you cannot perceive the meaning of the laws. Thats why when many ancient characters are translated, their meanings become much more complex. A single high-level demon language character might translate into several thousand or hundred thousand words in a common language, and many spells come from this. Yet, even if its translated, its not its original meaning... Chapter 343 - 138: Some Daily Injury Chapter 343: Chapter 138: Some Daily Injury Treatments 3 Translator: 549690339 Upon hearing this explanation, Leonard Churchill was enlightened. However, he also appeared somewhat puzzled. If it was impossible to translate, then where did some people learn these Demon God Secret Skills from? Could it be that they all relied on something like Cellular Activity Boiling, with a gods will aiding the translation process? Take for instance, Reuel Bibles Heavenly Kings Curse Body. Leonard Churchill directly asked: Is there any other way to translate it? During the previous battle, he had deeply experienced how powerful the Demon God Forbidden Skill was. He would not have survived if he hadnt used Cellular Activity Boiling. In his hand was a fragment of the Supreme Tyrant Body. If it could be translated, the improvement to his combat power would be impracticable. Yes! Tracy Garcia thought for a moment and continued, If you want to translate these High-level Demon Languages, either you have to comprehend the law to a related height. Or you will need a high-quality dedicated Demon Mark. Leonard Churchill didnt fully understand the connection between these two: Demon Mark? Yes. Tracy Garcia said: For example, Cellular Activity Boiling should be the exclusive god skill pointed to by the Demon God Flaas of Diamonds Three- Plague Doctor. If the fusion is the epic mark of this sequence, it would enhance the cognitive understanding of this forbidden technique to a certain degree. After a pause, she continued: Of course, merging the epic mark alone isnt enough. One needs to undergo Demonic Solution preliminarily. Just like sister Camilla, when the Demon Gods Phantom appears. That is a display of being acknowledged by the Demon God. It means you can really control some of the Demon Gods Power. In this way, when releasing the Demons Power, one can borrow the Demon Gods cognition to help oneself understand the corresponding secret skill... So thats how it is. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill immediately understood. One hole, one carrot. In other words, by integrating the epic mark of a specific sequence, one could decipher the corresponding exclusive Demon God Forbidden Skill. What about his Joker then? Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com It seems as if he could learn from all sequences... Tracy Garcia twiddled her fingers and said softly, In order to avoid being tracked down by mystic means before, I...I used a secret skill to link your fate and mine together, then entrusted it to the Spiritual Cat. I had just learned this secret skill, so I dont know how to undo it... Is that it? Leonard Churchill heard and chuckled, wondering if it was something important. He didnt take it to heart. He was more curious about the function of that spell and asked, Can this spell prevent tracking by mysterious means? Tracy Garcia explained: Yes. At least at the level of the law, if it is not higher than the mysterious technique of the Spiritual Cat, things like divination and prophecy...will fail. Even if they manage to divine something, it will point to the Spiritual Cat. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill said with a smile, Thats good news. He glanced at the spoils of war that were collected from Saul Millers body. He also knew that he had been located last time by the fourth-level relic, the Relic-Treasure Hunters Compass. Now that the guy was dead and with the secret technique being transferred, it seemed that the trouble was completely gone. Leonard Churchill was worried about killing Saul Miller, thinking that he might have to go to the Old Continent again to lay low. Now it seems, theres no need. Tracy Garcia was about to explain, But... Its fine. Leonard Churchill waved off her concerns with a shake of his head. As for the fate of being linked to Ms. Roundhead, his troubles would surely not be small. But no matter its good or bad, Leonard Churchill had no concerns. On the contrary, he is now looking forward to some uncertain future. Oh. Seeing his attitude, Tracy Garcia felt a bit guilty, but chose not to say more. Chapter 344 - 139: The Complete Overlord Body Method Chapter 344: Chapter 139: The Complete Overlord Body Method Translator: 549690339 With a blink of an eye, another two days had passed. After Leonard woke up, his body gradually improved. ?iscover new chapters at novelhall.com He was, however, entirely incapacitated and couldnt move. Fortunately, thanks to Tracys careful care, hed been able to meditate and recuperate. That day, While Leonard was meditating, he suddenly let out a deep breath: Finally, its over... Hed been unconscious for five days, and had spent two more days recovering. Only then did he manage to cleanse his body of the wild Curse Power and various negative energies. Once he glanced at his Attribute Panel, Leonard also felt that hed benefited from the disaster. Strength: 28.8 Physique: 29.01 Agility: 28.31 Tenacity: 27.94 Spirit: 13.2 Curse Power: 8846 All attributes have risen from around 23 to 29; his Curse Power Value even increased from previously 5000+ to almost 9000. His Mental Power had also doubled. Not to mention, his expertise and compatibility in various Martial Skills had increased significantly. This was all the result of the obstruction of his reason and the chaos caused by those guys. They were relentless in achieving their goals. They used consciousness to stimulate the secretion of hormones in the body, pushing the bodys attributes to the limit. After such a state of frenzy faded, if one did not die of a collapse, it naturally elevated the upper limit of ones physical attributes significantly. Thinking back on that state of hyper-consciousness, he realized it was incredibly risky. In that state, the wild consciousness controlled everything. The brain seemed to have lifted its restrictions, having absolute control over the body. But this state was extremely dangerous. With the Lord of Sinless City gone, unrest was inevitable. However, Leonard didnt care in the slightest. Checking the information on the arrest warrant, it was as he had expected, even his name wasnt mentioned. However, things like his scalpel and Martial Skills were exposed. He realized hed have to be more careful the next time he had to fight. Preferably, if he had to fight, he should leave no survivors. Leonard rode his motorcycle straight to the Flood Gang at No. 1 Downing Street. After crossing the gallery bridge, he directly showed the VIP card Seven Brown had given him last time, and a beautiful servant girl led him all the way to the tenth floor. This was where the administrative office of the Flood Gang was located. The beautiful servant girl didnt follow him out of the elevator, but respectfully said, Sir, President Jones is inside. Ill escort you here. Thankyou- Leonards lips curled up into a brilliant smile. The girl returned an ambiguous smile. Well... sometimes, doing as you please can indeed be quite relaxing. Leonard walked over, knocked on the door, and a response came from inside, Come in. He opened the door and walked in. Sophia Jones, wearing a gold dress with silver streaks, stood by the window. Hearing someone enter, she glanced back: Oh, you have recovered quite well. Like a gentleman, Leonard bowed slightly: President Jones, thank you for lending a hand last time. It was not merely an expression of thanks, but also a sign of respect to a top-notch powerhouse. Yes! The one who secretly assisted in restraining the Fifth Tier guard of the Millers last time was none other than the Vice President of the Flood Gang standing before him. When Leonard realized he was being tracked, in addition to informing Reuel Bible, to ensure safety, he also in passing informed Sophia Jones. After all, she had said that if there were troubles in Sinless City, she could be consulted. Actually, when he informed her, Leonard himself was not sure whether Sophia Jones would be that powerful. Informing her was simply because his intuition warned him that there might be changes in the situation, and putting all your eggs in one basket wouldnt hurt to have some extra protection. This is exactly when a good turn comes in handy. Sophia Jones glanced at him, gathered her skirt, and gracefully sat on the guest sofa, welcoming him, Sit. Despite knowing that she was a top-notch powerhouse, Leonard showed no signs of nervousness. He walked over and took a seat beside her. Chapter 345 - 139: Complete Overlord Body Method_2 Chapter 345: Chapter 139: Complete Overlord Body Method_2 Translator: 549690339 Sophia Jones glanced out of the corner of her eye, clearly feeling a change in Leonard Churchills manner from the previous moment. But she didnt say much. She asked: Would you like some tea? Leonard Churchill: Thankyou. Sophia Jones poured the tea into the cup, the fragrant aroma wafting throughout the room. At the same time, she casually struck up a conversation with him, asking, Im really curious, how did you know I could help you? Leonard Churchill chuckled: Intuition. He truly didnt know. At least before his consciousness was sealed, he only knew that Sophia Jones was powerful. But he didnt dare to assume just how powerful she really was. His decisions that followed were all based on the judgments of those guys. It was a kind of intuition that was hard to describe, even he didnt quite understand it at the moment. It was as if... influenced by Jokers Gambler of Misfortune. Gambler of Misfortune: Jokers life seems to be cursed by destiny. He becomes stronger in desperate and painful situations, finding his reason for existence by seeking thrills, and his luck increases proportionately to the madness of his situation. The moment he decided to confront Young Master Saul Miller, his thoughts became clearer. An idea in his heart grew stronger C she would definitely step in, she would certainly be of help! And indeed, as it turned out, President Jones had the power to turn the tide. Being able to silently control a fifth-tier card master was not a simple feat. Hearing this, Sophia Jones looked at him, her eyes flickering, What if I had not come, or didnt want to bother with the trouble? Then, I would pay the appropriate price for my judgment. Sophia Jones also understood why he was behaving differently and casually asked him another question, How is your mental state? Leonard Churchill replied, For now, everything is fine. The tea had a faint scent of freshness. They continued to sip the tea, cup by cup. Trusting her intuition, Sophia Jones seemed to figure something out, So... your visit to the Flood Gang is not just to express your token of gratitude, right? Churchill did not try to hide, I want to see Nine Master. Upon hearing this, Sophia Jones gaze deepened, Nine Master was attacked three days ago and he got injured. Meanwhile, at the Machinery Studio on the eleventh floor, occupied by Seven Brown. A dazzling spark from the welding torch illuminated a figure busily tinkering with mechanical parts. At the entrance, Lew Williams, the owner of Great Ivan, walked in. Brother Seven. The batch of custom machinery you ordered last time has arrived. Good, put it on the work table! Also, Lew, have the blueprints with upgraded mechanisms been manufactured at the military factory? Soon. It should arrive in a few days. Oh, okay. Hey, Lew. You seem unhappy lately, whats the matter? Ah, Brother Seven, you wouldnt understand... I tried to get more business for the shop by bragging last time I met Master Merlin. Now, Im in trouble. I cant find the person that the old lady is looking for, and I also arranged a meeting for old friends. Haha... I did some searching for that Sunny character, but theres no individual by that name in Sinless City. I also know it wont be easy to find him... Ah... the only good news now is, the Useless Great Sword was stolen. Ah... is it a good thing that it was stolen? lam not sure. The old lady said its good. But turning back to the original subject, lately, a group of robbers have been targeting our Great Ivan, incessantly stealing from us. Small issue, well soon take care of it and make them spit out all the spoils. Seven Brown and Lew Williams were having a sporadic conversation. Just then, the intercom buzzed with a message from the management downstairs, Seven Brown suddenly brightened up, Eh... Leonard Churchill is here! Immediately, she set aside her work, called out to him, Lew, well continue this conversation later. Ill be right back. Chapter 346 - 139 - The Complete Overlord Body Chapter 346: Chapter 139 C The Complete Overlord Body Method_3 Translator: 549690339 Saying this, he rushed out of the door hastily. Huh? Lew Williams was also quite flabbergasted. What could possibly be more attractive to Brother Seven than machinery? In the room, Leonard Churchill and Sophia Jones were having a casual chat. Suddenly, the door was carefully nudged open a crack. A head with a smoky makeup peeked in and weakly asked, Aunt Jones, I hope Im not interrupting you? Sophia Jones looked at her coldly. The only one who dared to enter this room without knocking was the Elder Miss Seven Brown from the Flood Gang. Upon seeing that both individuals in the room dressed decently as if nothing happened, she slipped in. Seven Brown walked over and plopped down next to Leonard Churchill, Hey hey hey...this guy, I havent seen you in a few days, and youve already taken care of the governor?! With that, she added in a low voice: You...youre too much...such a big thing, and you didnt even tell me? Leonard Churchill just smiled and did not respond. Seven Brown continued, her face full of inquisitiveness, Going to the Flood Gang and not looking for me, but directly looking for Aunt Jones...whats going on? Sophia Jones on the side, hearing this, also looked somewhat helpless. She stood up and said, Rita, lets talk while walking. Leonard Churchill has an important matter to discuss with Nine Master. Oh. Seven Brown was curious, Leonard Churchill, why do you want to see the Old Man? Leonard Churchill didnt hide it from her, saying, I have something to ask. The three of them rode the elevator straight to the twelfth floor. This was the residence of Lord Nine Brown. As he had been assassinated and was still recovering, Lord Nine Brown was still lying in bed. Upon entering the room, Leonard Churchill looked at the head of the Flood Gang who was still wrapped in bandages and his expression changed slightly. He wondered what kind of master could injure this man. From what Sophia Jones had previously implied, it seemed that the perpetrator was very strong, and not out to kill, but aiming for that so-called Kings Key. The perpetrator took away the item and left. If not, the life of Lord Nine Brown would have indeed been in danger. Upon seeing the main person, Leonard Churchill gave a respectful salute, Nine Learning that it was indeed the Overlord Body Method, Leonard was overjoyed. It really was! He had only thought it similar before, but hearing it acknowledged first-hand, could all his plans become reality? He directly said, I shall not hide my intention. What I seek is this secret skill. In front of the three of Lord Nine Brown, Leonard Churchill didnt hesitate to present the bronze fragment he held, saying, This was something I acquired earlier. It is a piece of the Supreme Tyrant Body, one of the Demon God Forbidden Techniques... Before he could finish, Lord Nine Brown, who had always been calm, suddenly changed his expression and blurted out, You actually have that thing!!! Sophia Jones, who was standing by, also narrowed her eyes. She obviously didnt expect Leonard to present this bronze fragment. Looking at Leonard, she now understood his purpose of coming this time. Leonard Churchill directly stated his intention, The skill on this fragment is recorded in High-level Demon Language, which I am unable to decipher. Hence, I have come to visit you in the hopes of seeing if you have a way to unlock this secret skill... He wasnt afraid of revealing his treasure, after all, the fragment was worthless unless deciphered. Moreover, since Sophia Jones had helped earlier, his relationship with the Flood Gang had become more delicate. At least they could share a lot of secrets. Lord Nine Brown took the Fragment from Leonard Churchill with a complex expression. It was as if he had half a treasure map in his hand and had suddenly found the other half. This coincidence, it was like a supreme treasure had fallen from the sky, making him feel incredibly incredulous. After a moment, Lord Nine Brown also took out half a bronze fragment from his Storage Ring. When put together, the two fragments fit perfectly! They formed a complete bronze page! It really is... Looking at the bronze page in his hand, Lord Nine Brown couldnt help but feel a little excited. In his current position, there werent many things that could genuinely move him. But the fifty-two Demonic God Forbidden Techniques definitely could. More importantly, this was his exclusive Forbidden Technique, the Supreme Tyrant Body! Half of the Tyrant Body Forbidden Technique was not equivalent to the complete one. He was confident that with the complete Forbidden Technique, his strength would increase several times. He might even achieve a higher realm. This was indeed a great opportunity. Seeing this, Lord Nine Brown also couldnt help but show emotion. Looking at Leonard Churchill, he sighed slightly, Young Brother Leonard, you have indeed given an old man a big surprise. He had originally thought that he had repayed his debt to his daughter. Now, he realized that he owed an even bigger favor. Listening to this, Leonard chuckled, You are too kind. This was indeed his intention. If he presented half of the secret skill, he could also receive the complete one. It would be beneficial for both. However, this complete secret skill was indeed of great significance. For both of them. Chapter 347 - 140: How about Becoming an Chapter 347: Chapter 140: How about Becoming an Undercover Agent? (?K+) Translator: 549690339 | Leonard Churchill decided to stay in the Flood Gang Headquarters again. He handed the bronze fragment over to Lord Nine Brown, all that was left was to play the waiting game. Deciphering the Demon God Forbidden Skill11 Supreme Tyrant Body takes time. Listening to the process invoked thoughts of interpreting scriptures, an endeavor that demanded delicate precision and might not fully bear fruit in the end. Lord Nine Brown himself had spent many years trying to reach his current level of understanding with the shard he held in his possession. Luckily, he now had experience, and his Law Comprehension was improving as he aged, meaning the process wouldnt be too slow. Leonard wasnt in a hurry either. Because the Flood Gang boss handed him the half of the secret skill he had already comprehended, suggesting that Leonard should try learning some of it in the meantime. After all, it was not part of his Professional Sequence, hence, the learning threshold for the Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skill was rather high. Leonard chose the same place to reside, just like last time, in the Machinery Studio on the eleventh floor. Seven Brown was quite pleased with this as well. Although Leonard had given her much convenience by offering the Taren Ancient Language Dictionary in the past, having a live translator at her side was even better. Just as they always did, one tinkered with machinery while the other read various books in the archive room. Living under the same roof, they did not disturb each other and provided each other with company to chat with. And thus, Leonards day-to-day life busied up once more. Tracy Garcia left him with many court secret texts from the Orlan Dynasty, which were extraordinary knowledge that wasnt available to purchase anywhere in the market. As she turned slightly, her enticing curves were no longer hidden from view. The sound of rushing water followed soon after. Leonard chuckled lightly to himself, just taking a glance before he returned his gaze to his book. The delight he could acquire from such low-level enjoyment was rather limited, compared to reading which enabled him to enjoy the fulfilling sensation that came from thinking and acquiring knowledge. Even so, rationality couldnt always suppress certain instinctive emotions and he would occasionally feel restless. Not long after, the sound of water suddenly stopped. The sound of footprints gradually grew louder in his ear. Leonard, what do you want to eat later? Anything is fine. With Leonards reply, his glances caught Seven Brown walking in wearing a loose bathrobe and drying her hair with a towel. As she raised her arms, her bathrobe gaped open, and in his peripheral vision, he caught sight of her curves. In the peak of her youth, even without support, there was no hint of sagging. Having not ventured outside, Seven Brown wasnt wearing her usual heavy makeup, her facial features were delicate, two parts pure and three parts cool and brash. This was just part of their regular interaction, there was no need to deliberately avoid anything. With that. Seven Brown straightforwardly came in. Leonard, not bothering to avert his gaze, took in the sight with interest. Seven Brown, entirely nonchalant about her accidental display, made no effort to close her robe, just rolling her eyes and grumbling, Hey... its not like youve never seen it before. But that was just typical of him. With a slight smile, Leonard shifted his gaze back onto the text. As Seven Brown sat next to him, her eyebrows rose in an arc, saying, But... I do think that you seem more like a normal person now. The two were growing more familiar with each other, and this Black Gang Daughter wasnt one to avoid discussing such topics. Chapter 348 - 140: How About Becoming an Undercover? (7K+)_2 Chapter 348: Chapter 140: How About Becoming an Undercover? (7K+)_2 Translator: 549690339 This relaxing mode of interaction put Leonard Churchill at ease. Seven Brown took a seat next to Leonard, a faint, pleasant scent wafting from her as she breathed. While still drying her hair, she glanced curiously at the book Leonard was reading. However, seeing that it was filled with dense medical terminology, she quickly lost interest due to the headache it caused her. Seeming to remember something, she said, Oh, by the way. I had Fatty Williams inquire about the multi-elemental magic core you were looking for. Its a rare item that even the Black Gold Trade Union Headquarters doesnt keep in stock. The best I could find was a Silver Quality Four-series Magic Core, but I doubt it would meet your needs. However, I did ask him to keep an eye out for you... Mm. Leonard nodded while he listened to her, feeling a slight headache. Master Merlin had already prepared the Air Skill Master Profession Card he needed to advance to the Second Tier. However, he still hadnt found a source for the high-quality, multi-elemental magic core he needed as a main ingredient. Even with the connection he had with Great Ivan and Lew Williams, buying it seemed nearly impossible. There was also a bounty for it at the Hunters Association, but there was no news of one being found. Leonard continued reading his book, not worrying about things he couldnt change. Seven Brown had finished drying her hair and left to change clothes. However, as Leonard continued reading, a surprising occurrence unfolded. As he was about to turn the page with his bookmark, Master Theodore? Reading up to this, Leonard had a thought. Next time, he could ask the Information Merchant about who this person is, it might help him guess who the mysterious pen pal is. But then he felt it was unnecessary. Maintaining the mystery was what made this letter exchange interesting. Leonard read without excitement or distress. He initially didnt have much hope. However, the following text, like a glimmer of light piercing through a dark cloud, plunged him into deep thought. Master Theodore said, in the end, its because many of the mental secret methods passed down nowadays are defective and of poor quality. Some ancient mental secret methods are said to reach the God Tier and can solve almost all mental problems. He gave an example of the mental secret methods practiced by the Old Days Believers in the past, which were superior to the secret methods practiced by most card masters. Although the ancient god corrupts beliefs, the essence of belief is mental power C to control so many believers requires a high-quality mental secret method as if the secret method was imparted by a god... The secret methods initially practiced by a card master were simplified from various Demon Gods mental methods. Oh, master said castrated, I dont know if I misunderstood. Unfortunately, it has been lost for generations. Sorry, it seems I couldnt help you. This? It seemed... like there was something to it. Upon reaching this point, Leonard seemed to have a flash of understanding. He also understood the contents of the letter. The mental secret method is like a blueprint, molding mental power, which is as scattered as sand, into shape. Chapter 349 - 140: How about Becoming an Chapter 349: Chapter 140: How about Becoming an Undercover Agent? (7K+) 3 Translator: 549690339 With the blueprint, the sandcastle piled up by mental power wouldnt suddenly collapse (mutate) anymore. The blueprint determines the compatibility of the mental power, while the quality determines the height of the mental power. But in the end, these blueprints are all inadequate as they are all broken. They cannot meet Leonard Churchills current needs to design his octopus-like mental power. These arent important. What Leonard Churchill is more concerned about is a later remark: Mental secret skill of the Ancient God Devotees can solve the problem? Yeah! The mental secret skill practiced by card masters is a castrated version of the meditation of the Demon God, so what about those directly inherited by the devotees from the God? Leonard Churchill seemed to have suddenly found a clue. Its not that others cant come up with this problem, but they never considered it because ancient secret skills are usually tainted by faith. But when others are tainted by faith, he himself would not be, since he possesses the Joker! Besides, Leonard Churchill has already been in contact with a sect of the Old Days C The Silver Moon Sect! It seemed that Silver Moon Leader was quite skilled with various mental tricks. Even if you only thought about it briefly, would know that the level of her mental secret skill must be very high. A series of thoughts flashed past, and an idea popped up in Leonard Churchills mind: I wonder if the Silver Moon Sects practice of mental secret skills can solve my current problem? Although he is not sure if it will be useful, at least there is a thought. Leonard Churchill didnt have any ancient secret skills at his disposal. He certainly wouldnt be able to find it anywhere else. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com He immediately thought of someone, Reuel Bible from the Federation X Bureau! At this moment, another line of text appeared on the letter paper. IBy the way, youve helped me a lot, and I rudely never asked for your name. The reason he sounded so resigned was that he was implicated too. He was supposed to destroy the Silver Moon Sect, but he never expected this man to assassinate the Lord on the street. Now, not only Leonard Churchill was wanted, but Reuel Bible himself was also seen at the scene, and he was considered a accomplice. Luckily, he disguised himself well and didnt leave any identifiable traces. Otherwise, if people came to know that a public servant from Federation X Bureau had helped a murderer, who assassinated Sinless Citys governor, escape, it would lead to a huge scandal. However, Reuel Bible also felt that it was not a bad thing that Saul Miller got killed. According to the information he had, Saul Miller was able to inherit the title because he was helped by the Silver Moon Sect. He was probably polluted. This could be considered as cutting off an important pollution point. Otherwise, if they needed to take action against the high-ranking nobility, they would have to fill out countless reports. Leonard Churchill was familiar with the bold and straightforward character of Reuel Bible, and he knew that this guy never minded getting into trouble, so he said, Thanks for last time. He heard from Tracy Garcia that after he lost consciousness, it was Reuel Bible who covered his back. Although this guy often made sarcastic remarks, he was really dependable. Reuel Bible shook his head in disregard, signaled the bartender for another draft beer. On one side, Mushroomhead Noah Wright blinked curiously at Leonard Churchill, as if seeing this familiar face who could kill the governor in a new light. As for Ada, she didnt look too happy. After all, this guy almost killed her before! Leonard Churchill didnt stand on ceremony and took a seat at the free spot at the table. The beer was served. The two clinked glasses. Reuel Bible said with a sarcasm: When I think about it, it seems that every time I meet you, there are always some sort of trouble. Thunderbolt Fortress once, Sinless City once...both were big trouble. Looking at Leonard Churchill after taking a sip of his beer, he remarked, I have a feeling that this time youve come to me, theres definitely some trouble again. Hearing the tease in his tone, Leonard Churchill did not bring up the main topic right away. Instead, he smiled and said: Thank you three for your help last time. And Miss Ada... I apologize. I lost control due to the mutation of my mental power, which led to that accident. Chapter 350 - 140: How About Becoming an Undercover? (7K+)_4 Chapter 350: Chapter 140: How About Becoming an Undercover? (7K+)_4 Translator: 549690339 With that said, the atmosphere instantly changed. Reuel Bible looked at him in surprise, You have Mental Deformation? Is it severe? Ada had guessed as well. But upon hearing the apology, her expression improved significantly. She lifted her cup for a toast. Hmm. Leonard Churchill didnt hide anything and affirmed, The situation is quite severe. Upon hearing this, Reuel Bibles forehead creased into a frown. He just met a friend he liked, and now this friend was dying. It was a real pity. He asked, Can it be resolved? Leonard Churchill calmly replied, Ive asked many people, it cant be fixed. Upon hearing this, all three C Reuel Bible, faded into silent contemplation. But Leonard Churchill made light of the situation, he added, Thats why Im here. I do have something I wanted to consult you about. Reuel Bible raised his cup again, seemingly to comfort Leonard Churchill, he casually replied, Oh? Lets hear it. Observing Churchills expression, Reuel knew the matter could be sensitive. He gestured with his hands on the table. Mushroomhead, who was sitting next to them, understood immediately. He took out a jamming device and placed it on top of the table. Only then did Leonard Churchill speak up, I wanted to ask, does your X Bureau have mental secret skill from the Ancient God Devotee? Upon hearing this, the pupils in Reuel Bibles eyes shifted, he immediately understood why Churchill was asking this, he exclaimed in surprise, You...Dont tell me you are intending to use the Ancient Gods secret skill to suppress your mental deformation? Mushroomhead, who was on the side, took the question very seriously. After thinking for a while, he said to himself, In theory... it seems like it could work. Weve tried this method before. But its almost impossible. Because getting close to those Old Days Believers would mean being contaminated by their beliefs, leading to immediate defection. The previous case with Lone Wolf Baron, he was actually our multi-face spy. But he got contaminated and completely turned into a Silver Moon Believer... I have a secret skill that can prevent the contamination of beliefs. How certain are you? One hundred percent. Hiss... Reuel Bible listened to Leonard Churchills response and finally understood why he dared to propose this mind-boggling plan to go undercover. But as soon as he thought of it, he realized this might be the best opportunity to uproot the Silver Moon Sect! In the past, they always acted after detecting them, which was passive and rushed, always resulting in the snake not being killed. If they could now uproot them entirely... its achievable! He was aware that Leonard Churchill had many secrets, so he didnt inquire about the secret skill. But to ensure that the plan was foolproof, he still decided to conduct a test. Suddenly, Reuel Bible took out a card and imbued curse power into it. A demonic statue with traces of black blood instantly appeared on the table. As soon as the statue appeared, a wave of evil energy spread out. Immediately, Leonard Churchill noticed a notification on his dashboard that read You have been exempted from a faith contamination. Leonard Churchill knew he was testing him and asked with a smile, What is this? Reuel Bible carefully observed his expression, then with disbelief confirmed that he truly was exempted from the contamination. He explained, This is an ancient relic with residual faith contamination. We usually use it as an antidote to prevent faith contamination. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill thought, so it can be used this way? Reuel Bible looked at Leonard Churchill and fell into deep thought. Reality had proven that a person who was not polluted by faith made this plan feasible. But as the X Bureaus top agent, he had dealt with too many special cases and was very aware of the associated risks. He asked again, Are you sure you want to go undercover? You must know that if you get caught while dealing with those Old Days Believers, it will be extremely dangerous. Most importantly, you may encounter some indescribable creatures. Chapter 351 - 140: How About Going Undercover (7K+)_5 Chapter 351: Chapter 140: How About Going Undercover (7K+)_5 Translator: 549690339 Of course. Findd new stories at novelhall.com Leonard Churchill had thought of this long before. For his current situation, the dangers warning him off provide shades of excitement to his otherwise mundane life. Also, he was very interested in the indescribable. Hearing this, Reuel Bible did not further argue. Being a professional, he quickly caught on: Given what youve said, I do have a plan...The Silver Moon Believers are currently trying to infiltrate the nobility. We have planned to establish informants in the noble class. I can set up a disguise for you as a down-and-out noble. It just so happens that Ive also gathered some clues about the Silver Moon Sect, which will provide a reasonable opportunity for you to approach... Leonard listened carefully, nodding from time to time. He believed the plan to be highly professional. The resources that the X Bureau could deploy far overshadowed what he as a loose practitioner could ever imagine. Reuels plan was much more secure and thorough than what Leonard had anticipated before. Everything on the broad strokes checked out. The two astute individuals further deliberated on various details in the room. This wasnt a question of whether he was aware or not, but rather if the X Bureaus warehouse had it. But he did say, Ill ask Noah Wright later, hes capable of remembering any document hes ever seen and he should know. As long as the warehouse has it, it wouldnt be a big problem. It just needs an application for using consumables. I thank you in advance. Leonard smiled. If one were to name the place with the most weird and wonderful treasures in the entire Federation, It wouldnt be a nobles treasury or a wealthy merchant guild. It would definitely be the Federation Disaster Response and Extraordinary Phenomena Containment Bureau! One of Reuel Bibles daily jobs was to contain all sorts of strange items. This mysterious department has existed for over a thousand years. From previous discussions with Reuel, there were countless origin cards, Demon God Forbidden Skills, and Disaster Objects in the warehouse. Although other places couldnt locate such things, the X Bureau warehouse might be able to. Before coming here, Leonard had already planned on asking about this. But these were state-owned belongings, and he didnt want to put his friend in a difficult position. He didnt have a good reason to ask before, but now, as a semi-official undercover agent, it was perfectly justified. Chapter 352 - 141: Mechanical Equipment from a Different Era Chapter 352: Chapter 141: Mechanical Equipment from a Different Era Translator: 549690339 Three days later. Woo...woo...woo... A luxurious steam train drove into the Upper City of Sinless City through the ore layer tunnel. The moment the train pulled into the station, the conductor was already waiting by the side, respectfully standing at the door to greet the guests alighting from each carriage. Unlike the filthy and noisy station in Lower City, the passengers disembarking from this train were either rich or important. They donned dazzling outfits, carried boastful expressions, and were often accompanied by a few guards and housekeepers. From the lead carriage, a youthful man dressed in a crisp white suit emerged. He was wearing a bowler hat, shiny and valuable white leather shoes, and held a pure silver tiger head cane in his hand. The most eye-catching feature was the antique black and yellow cross emblem hanging in front of his left chest. Just as he alighted, an old butler waiting close by noticed the emblem and bowed to the young man saying, Honorable baron, your car is waiting for you outside the station. The young man in the suit looked at him, a slightly arrogant smile curling up at the corner of his mouth, Hm. Yes, this man was Leonard Churchill. Reuel Bible had used X Bureaus resources to arrange a disguise of nobility for him, now called Charles. He was an inherited baron who had been destitute for a hundred years, possessing only a title, with no territories or duties. The Old Continent is akin to an undeveloped gold mine in the eyes of the Federalists. Many such fallen nobles have recently come to Sinless City. Theyre all trying to seize the opportunity, hoping for the chance to reclaim their noble glory. Besides, this Charles is not fictional. Should anyone investigate, theyll find out that such a character does exist. In the remote Moen City within the rich Ore Layer, there is indeed a town called Lilley Town where traces of this familys life can be found. Its a contrasting scene from that of Lower City, which is filled with hunters roaming around. On the small hill nearby, there was a lavish, Gothic-style castle, which is the residence of the Miller Family. This was Leonard Churchills first visit, and he was secretly amazed. But as soon as he got off the car, an arrogant mood washed over him and in a reluctant tone, he complained, Sinless City is such a filthy and sinful countryside- As if even breathing the air here would pollute his noble barons blood. Hearing this, Butler Weaver respectfully bent lower and led him into the small apartment at No. 233 Maple Street. This apartment had also been rented in advance. Upon their arrival, two maids and a cook were already there. Having housekeepers is a necessity. A noble has a reputation to uphold. Even if all the money in their pocket is borrowed, their face-value cant be disparaged. But renting the apartment and hiring the maids had already cost a lot. Charles needs to figure out a way to make money in Sinless City as soon as possible. As Leonard Churchill walked in, a maid immediately surfaced to help him with his overcoat, hat, and walking cane. The old butler pointed to a pile of invitation cards on the table saying, Sir Charles, hearing that you were to arrive today, the nobles and wealthy businessmen in the city are eager to meet you. These are their visiting cards... The butler spoke very highly of them. Leonard Churchill simply cast an eye on the pile. These werent nobles. They were simply visiting cards from the XX Commerce Guild and such. Hereditary nobles can pass on their noble blood through their descendants. Its a bit like being a human stud. A lot of wealthy businessmen wanting to break into the upper class are willing to marry into destitute nobility. It helps to elevate the bloodline of their family. At that moment, Butler Weaver handed over another invitation with a seal engraved with a long spear and a two-headed hawk. He stressed, This one is the most important. The Lords Manor is hosting a banquet tonight, inviting all the nobles of the city... Leonard Churchill glanced at it and said nonchalantly, Alright. His arrival today was precisely for that banquet. Chapter 353 - 141: Cross-era Mechanical Equipment! Chapter 141: Cross-era Mechanical Equipment! Translator: 549690339 Only by appearing prominently and appearing valuable to the Silver Moon Sect would they take the initiative to approach. The life of a noble is just like this, monotonous. The daily tasks involve not work, but socializing. Endless balls and endless banquets to attend. In the bedroom on the second floor, Leonard Churchill stood by the window, carefully read every invite and memorized the names. From now on, every single trace could potentially lead to key members of the Silver Moon Sect. Leonard inspected the furniture again in the room, and after finding no problems, he began his daily reading and meditation. In the evening, a young maid helped him bathe. Leonard changed into a new white suit and left by car. In a short while, he arrived at the Lords Manor. After two successive Lords died unexpectedly, it was hopeless for the Miller Family to control Sinless City through their own power. The Federal Parliament restrained the Main Family of the Miller Family, so the lordship of Sinless City couldnt be temporarily changed. The branch of the Miller Family couldnt bear to see such a big cake taken away entirely by the head family. Therefore, the dinner party tonight was meant to salvage some control. This was information obtained in advance by Reuel Bible. When Leonard arrived, several streets near the entrance of the Lords manor were filled with luxurious steam cars. After getting out of the car, showing his emblem and identity badge, he smoothly entered the manor. The old city walls were coated with luxurious gold, crystal lights dazzling brilliantly, making the whole castle shine. Leonard had taken the time to memorize the emblem designs of nearly all the noble families in the Orlan Dynasty, and had skimmed through their stories as well. The older the lineage, the greater the nobility. As such, not knowing all the people did not hinder him from joining their circles and engaging in lavishing praise on matters of business. Leonard expounded stories of ancient noble families, and no one doubted he was a pureblood and true noble. Those who visited Sinless City now were rarely true high-ranking nobles. Most were impoverished nobles like Charles, or lesser branches of major families coming to pave the way. Jabbering was just for show; Leonard, a professional actor, never showed stage fright. He quickly integrated into the Noble Circle of Sinless City. Making his presence known and observing everything discreetly. While Leonard was making his entrance, a woman in a black dress holding a wine glass was on the second-floor corridor of the castle, looking at the lively banquet going on below, lost in her thoughts. She had a head full of characteristic wavy blonde hair, a form of exceptional beauty, and a face that was gorgeous yet aloof. Although she didnt have any emblem on her, she was a true high-ranking noble. No one present didnt recognize the foremost intellectual lady of Silvermist City, the Silver Mist Rose from the Lionheart Family, Catherine Carter. After taking a sip of wine, the blonde womans eyes deepened. Since her defeat at Flood Gang, the spark in her eyes hadnt disappeared, but had become much more restrained. For some reason, she felt a sense of unease tonight. At this moment, a grinding sound of mechanical friction rang out. Not far away, a young man with a head full of bright blonde hair came over. Even for the banquet, one could see some precise military mechanical equipment under his suit. This was Kak, a Federation Lieutenant, the first Legion Commander of the Lionheart Familys Mechanical Legion. Even Young Master Kane, who died in the Thunderbolt Fortress, still had to call this man his fifth brother. Chapter 354 - 141: The Epoch-Making Mechanical Equipment_3 Chapter 141: The Epoch-Making Mechanical Equipment_3 Translator: 549690339 He is also Catherine Carters cousin. Kak walked over, laughing, Well, isnt this my cousin Carter? Why are you drinking alone here? The Lionheart Family has always encouraged the strong to lead. Although the Main Branch and the second branch have the same bloodline, they are also in competition with each other. Catherine gave him a glance, a slight smile on her red lips, politely acknowledging his presence. Coming to her side, Kak added, Oh- I heard that our lovely Miss Carter has been moping around recently. Did something unpleasant happen? The Sinless City is now being set up by the entire family, first come, first served. Catherine didnt feel that she could entirely hide her previous actions from her family. She caught the ridicule in this guys tone, yet she calmly responded, I met a stronger opponent. Its fair to lose in a gamble. Excellence has always been the target of envy. Having always been known as the intelligent beauty since her childhood, she was known as Silver Mist Rose in the public eye. But in the eyes of her siblings, she is a strong competitor. Upon hearing this, Kak didnt take the gang seriously at all, pretending to be surprised, You, our first talented lady of Silvermist City, are admitting defeat? I thought you would have dealt with those street gangs in Sinless City before I arrived... Catherine listened indifferently. In the past, she would have been mortified, wouldnt she? But now... she really doesnt care. That kind of failure is not a bad thing for her future life. Kak thought that this proud little princess was upset due to her setback, he found it amusing and added, Dont worry. I will take care of those gangs for you. At this, Catherine chuckled lightly, as if thinking about something. Catherine didnt want to discuss those boring topics with her cousin, so she smiled sweetly and happily agreed, Of course. With that, she picked up her skirt and gracefully descended the staircase. The spectators were taken aback by this scene. The young Lord Miller had not been dead for long, and no one expected that the suspected killer, with a city-wide bounty on his head, was in the Lords Manor at this very moment. Although Leonard Churchill disliked wasting time on useless social activities, his experience as a jester helped him master the art of understanding the human heart. Having stayed at the high society evening event in Sinless City for a short time, he soon became familiar with people around. He was very clear that he needed to be bold enough to catch the attention of the Silver Moon Sect. He also needed to be valuable enough so those lurking in the dark would see his worth and try to win him over. Leonard Churchill felt that mingling in some low-ranking noble circles would obviously not achieve the goal. Looking around the banquet, he noticed. The most powerful people in Sinless City right now were the Miller Family and the Lionheart Family. And as it happened, he recognized someone in the crowd. Wasnt that Miss Catherine Carter from the Flood Gangs casino last time? Around them, there were probably very few who were more noble than this young lady. If he wanted to stand out and make a big impression, it seemed nothing could be more fitting. With that in mind, Leonard Churchill walked straight over. As for the slight chance of being recognized? He didnt care at all. Instead, betting on that small uncertainty, he felt, was where the fun of life lies. At any other time, Leonard Churchill wouldnt have been sure if Miss Catherine Carter would accept a dance invitation from a fallen nobleman. But just now, he caught a glimpse of the slight frown on Miss Carters face, and guessed she was probably also tired of talking with the blonde man beside her. Chapter 355 - 141: The Era-Crossing Mechanical Equipment z Chapter 141: The Era-Crossing Mechanical Equipment z Translator: 549690339???? r So, he tried, and it was successful the first time. At the staircase, Leonard Churchill reached out and took the delicate hand that was held out to him, smiling slightly. Catherine Carter also gave a courteous curtsy in accordance with court etiquette. The rhythm of the dance was upbeat, and the two stepped into the dance floor to the beat, spinning with the rhythm. Catherine Carter had already noticed the noble emblem on Leonards chest and guessed that this young baron had ulterior motives. Initially, she just wanted to make an excuse to leave, paying him no mind. But after a single glance, she felt somewhat unusual. It seemed inexplicably familiar. Looking into her eyes, Leonard restrained the brilliance in his own, raising a bright smile and asking, Miss Carter, I apologize, the music is quite loud. Did you say something to me just now? Catherine Carter blinked in confusion, No. Leonard pondered this very seriously, Hmm...strange, why is it that all I can hear is your voice? Catherine Carter was stunned for a moment before realizing that she was being teased, and she chuckled. Her train of thought was suddenly interrupted by this slightly humorous flirtation, making her laugh. But then, she scoffed inwardly: a clumsy performance. Funniness and humor have always been the best ways to attract young girls. But nothing worked on her. However, she hadnt realized that she had already formed an impression of the young baron in front of her. Unbeknownst to her, many others, silently observing from the side, had noticed her unintentional smile. The dance was a normal court dance, joyful and elegant. But for Catherine Carter, the dance was merely an excuse to get away. When the song ended, so did this unexpected encounter. You must know, currently, most mechanical products are not seen as worthy in the eyes of high tier card masters. But the facts proved, tonight would definitely be extraordinary. Then, the show started. A soldier, with his right arm covered by a complex mechanical skeleton and holding a black rune inscribed single-edged longsword, strolled in, bowing to the crowd. Everyones eyes fell on the mans mechanical arm and sword. Looking at this situation, was this man going to spar with the two heavy armored frost knights? How absurd! Could this be possible? This was everyones initial reaction. The Miller Familys frost armor boasted an extremely remarkable defense; even the basic soldier armor could withstand most physical and magical attacks for a first or second tier card master. To everyone, it seemed impossible for the single-edged sword to break through the armor, unless a third tier card master used curse power. However, just as everyone doubted, a scene full of contrast happened. The sparring match started. The warrior wearing the mechanical skeleton activated the switch. In an instant, the runes on the longsword in his hand lit up, turning it into a dazzling blue lightsword! Leonard was watching this display and his eyes narrowed. If he was not mistaken, this mechanical warrior was only first tier, right? How did he do this? The guests were also full of confusion. At this moment, the lightsword warrior launched himself at the two frost knights. Though the heavy armor offered high defense, it clearly slowed their reaction time significantly. Evading the two large swords skillfully, the warrior slice a straightforward horizontal slash and hit the frost knight in the waist. Originally, everyone thought they would hear a crisp metallic sound. However, to their surprise, they saw the lightsword acting like a red-hot branding iron, corroding the rune on the armor in an instant and making a cut. Did it break through? It was not a sharp cut, nor a high temperature, but corrosion on a law level. Chapter 356 - 141: Cross-era Mechanical Equipments Chapter 141: Cross-era Mechanical Equipments Translator: 549690339 Upon seeing this, an exclamation of astonishment immediately emerged from the crowd. This... how is this possible? Are we certain this is simply mechanical equipment? By just a First-Tier[Warrior], the Frost Knight Armor was actually broken open? Gasp... Everyone couldnt help but suck in a cold breath. The Second Master of Miller Family beside the stage, seeing everybodys astonished expressions, had a satisfied smile spread across his plump face. But this is not the end. Although the double sword aura had cracked the armors defense, the outcome had yet to be decided. Just then, the mechanical arm of the warrior made a click, a cannon muzzle sprung out and began to charge up energy. Even though the two frost knights obviously had some elements of dramatic pausing as targets, the effect still exploded. After the cannon muzzle glowed blue, there was a bang, followed by a blue mana blast that directly hit the chest plate, the most highly defensive area of a frost knight. Boom! The eyes of the people in the banquet hall widened as they watched the towering frost knight fly backward and crash to the ground. At that moment, it felt as if time had stood still. The Frost Knight Armor now had a spider-web-like crack, and blood had started to seep out. The demonstration ended. Two types of brand-new mechanical equipment, close and long-range had both caused fatal threats to the low-tier invincible Frost Knight. All who had witnessed this scene understood that this alone was enough to be called a groundbreaking technological discovery of an epoch! For a time, the large banquet turned deadly silent. The nobles were shocked by the absurd scene before them and were too stunned to speak. Leonard Churchill, who had carefully observed the process, had to admit: Intriguing... now, mechanical equipment poses a threat to card masters above the third tier. What makes mechanical equipment powerful is not just individual combat power. Currently, the Federal Parliament had a big disagreement about the development of the Old Continent, and the conservative and exploration factions were still fiercely contesting each other. After two consecutive deaths of lords, even fools could guess that the federation harbored significant distaste towards the Miller family. They could even be behind the deaths of the lords. Given the current situation, if the Miller family dared to hold on to selfish intentions, in addition to the loss of more lords, the Federal Parliament would probably immediately issue an order to completely seal off the Old Continent. The presentation of these objects was also to tell everyone that groundbreaking technology is already here. If the Old Continent is sealed off, the Miller family wouldnt care, as they are already in possession of many key technologies. But the things are out now, and everyone can choose to cooperate. This sharing posture can quickly attract a large number of allies and reduce hatred. Even though the Miller family couldnt monopolize the profits, they had laid out this plan years ago and would still reap significant benefits in the end. Before long, the banquet ended. Leonard Churchill left the Lords Manor by carriage. The great nobles are discussing the division of interests and collaboration regarding the Old Continent. Thats not something a fallen noble can get involved in. Having spent his first day as a noble, he had come to familiarize himself with Sinless Citys upper class. After returning to Apartment No. 233 on Maple Street, Leonard spent an uneventful first day. The next morning. When the butler woke up, freshly baked bread was already laid out on the breakfast table. At this time, butler Old Weaver brought over a bunch of invitation letters. The second daughter of President Cliff, head of the White Bird Commerce, cordially invites Baron to her coming-of-age ceremony... Vice President Mary of the Firefox Commerce sends an invitation, asking if the Baron is free tonight. She would like to visit for dinner... There were more than twenty invitation letters, more than yesterday. It seems that showing face at the Miller familys banquet last night made an impact. As Leonard ate, he listened. In his mind, he filtered through the information, looking for potential clues related to the Silver Moon Church. At this time, a piece of information came to his ear: Baron Ramon has sent an invitation, inviting you to a Collector Exchange Meeting tonight at Fragrant Hill Apartment. Many mysterious guests will be there to share their family collections, and the rare and precious treasures theyve collected in Sinless City... Upon hearing this, Leonards instinct told him: It seems a baited hook had caught something. I only managed to get a single update out today, the writers block was severe and I wasnt feeling well. The quality isnt up to par and I had initially not wanted to post it, but not updating for too long isnt good either. Apologies to my readers, I will try and make up for it once I have sorted out my ideas in the next few days. Chapter 357 - 142: Collector Chapter 142: Collector Translator: 549690339 | After breakfast, Leonard Churchill and his butler Old Weaver visited a few wealthy businessmens homes. Although he disliked this kind of time-wasting socializing, it was necessary for Charles. This was just the daily life of a nobleman. Several times later, he received some valuable gifts and all kinds of ambiguous hints. And like this, the day passed quickly. At eight oclock in the evening, Leonard Churchill arrived on time at the luxurious mansion at number 12 Cotton Street by steam car. This was Baron Ramons Fragrant Hill Apartment, a house full of artistic flair with beautiful stained glass windows and gardens everywhere. It was said that Baron Ramon was a major collector of Starfall City. He came to Sinless City not to speculate, but to genuinely collect some good things from the Old Continent. However, since Leonard used an assumed identity, he now looked at everyone with suspicion. One more thing. The Silver Moon Sect, they were deceiving. They could appear in any identity, and Leonard would not find it strange. Baron Charles, please come inside. As soon as he got off the carriage, there were butlers and beautiful maids waiting at the mansion1 s entrance. Leonard Churchill looked closely at his surroundings C Baron Ramons taste was truly unique. Not only was his apartment luxurious, but the maids were of such high quality that it was astonishing. Compared to that, the two maids Leonard had hired felt a bit deficient. Walking into the house was like entering a museum, with various antiques and artworks placed casually in corners everywhere. Flower pots, oil paintings on the walls, bookshelves, small ornamental objects... anything casually seen here was immersed in the rich aura of antiquity. Seeing this, he took a seat. Since it was his first time participating in such a collectors exchange, he displayed the appropriate curiosity. Oh, Baron Ramon, your collections are truly stunning, I thought I had come to the Federation Museum... My God, these cards are all gold-quality! In the eyes of ordinary people, these would be considered supreme treasures, yet in your place, they are merely regular display items. Half flattery, half genuine curiosity. Leonard also took the opportunity to ask many questions about topics he was interested in. After going through all the idle chat, others also joined in the conversation. These collector exchanges were mostly just boasting and praising among peers of the same trade. If no one knew about the treasures in their possession, half the fun of collecting would be lost. Soon, all the guests had arrived. This was a small appraisal meeting, with a total of just thirteen people. Leonard also observed all the people without making a sound. Not a very formal event, Baron Ramon acted as the host: I want to thank everyone once again for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this collectors exchange at my humble abode... Recently, my hunter group has collected some very interesting things from the Old Continent... Without further ado, lets take a look at my first collection, the [Miracle Flowerpot]... Having said this, he clapped his hands. Immediately, a maid came over with a flower pot in her hands. Leonard looked at the flowerpot, and also at the maid. Only then did he notice that all the dozen or so maids he had seen in the apartment so far were all this same type of breathtakingly attractive and demure beauties. Thinking about it a little, he understood. It seemed that not only the collections were to be appreciated, even the maids were part of Baron Ramons collections. In noble circles, the quality of maids was also a symbol of status. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, Leonard noticed that the other nobles seemed quite interested in the maids, casting overtly ambiguous gazes. The maid smiled as she placed the flower pot on the display table, then took out a seed, buried it in the soil in the pot, and watered it. Chapter 358 - 142 Collector_2 Chapter 142 Collector_2 Translator: 549690339 | Again, a magical scene appeared. The seed sprouted and broke through the soil under everyones watchful eyes. Then, within just a few moments, it bloomed into a radiant rose. Oh my, this flowerpot is really unusual... Yes. It seems like a magical item from at least five thousand years ago... Whats even more rare is that its been preserved so perfectly. II II Watching all these, the spectators began to speak highly of it. Even Leonard Churchill was highly interested. The flowerpot might not be of great value, but its certainly very rare. In this world, its doubtful if a second one could be found. Once Baron Ramon had started, others also brought out their own collected items. This is my Andre Familys hundred-year-old heirloom, Alices Dream Music Box, which is fantastic for inducing sleep... This is the Giant Beans that my Commerce Guild found in a relic, supposedly seeds of an ancient deitys tree... This is the most sophisticated clock Ive ever seen, Baeliel Ills Pocket Watch, which I purchased with a hefty sum... One by one, each item was presented. While none reached the level of a relic, they were all extraordinary antiques with special effects. Looking at these various peculiar objects, Leonard had his share of exposure. However, he mainly observed and occasionally gave compliments. Despite possessing many true relics, he played the role of Charles, a down and out nobleman, having nothing worthy of display. As each exhibit was brought out, The painter seemed to have used some kind of mystical technique to portray the mysterious beauty and allure of this woman, even after thousands of years. Baron Ramon also introduced it in time: This painting is called The Montini Queens Golden Necklace. The unsurpassed beauty in the painting is said to be Queen Montini, the wife of the last king of the Taren Dynasty. This painting also possesses a special magic. It can make a person experience utmost pleasure. Please relax and appreciate it carefully... Upon hearing the name of the painting, Leonard noticed the golden necklace worn by the woman in the painting. Although for him, no matter how exquisite a painting or how monumental the piece work was, it was not that attractive. However, as soon as this painting was revealed, his gaze was immediately drawn. For, a scene filled with magical colors was just about to unfold. As he was observing, the figure in the painting came to life! Under everyones watchful eyes, the woman in the white gown, veiled in white, gracefully stepped out of the painting. The scene was dreamlike, leaving a sense of astonishment as if a beauty had walked right out of a history book. The spectators were dazzled, seemingly entranced in an irresistible dreamlike environment. However, this is when the eeriness began. As soon as the woman stepped out, a notification appeared on Leonards Enlightenment Panel. You have been exempted from the hypnosis of the Mysterious Technique Pleasurable Dreamscape. You have been exempted from ongoing faith contamination. If he was unable to exempt, i.e., he had unknowingly been ensnared, he wouldve been oblivious. Leonard had Joker to exempt faith contamination. He also had the rare relic from Reuel Bible at X Bureau that can resist the Mental Secret Skill of Silver Moon Leader, thus was exempted from the Mental Secret Skill. Among the people in this room, probably he was the only one who could perceive the anomaly. While everyone in the room watched in fascination, Leonard also acted similarly entranced, keeping an appearance of being besotted. But in his mind, he was certain-this Baron Ramon was affiliated with the Silver Moon Sect! Or perhaps there were quite a few in the room who were. Looking back, Leonard was certain that, starting from the time Alices Dream Music Box was presented, he had been part of the game. Chapter 359 - 142 Collector_3 Chapter 142 Collector_3 Translator: 549690339 | The music was soothing and induced a dream-like state an initial setup. The deity worshipped by the Silver Moon Sect is none other than Arachne, the Master of Dreams and Pleasure! The beautiful maidservants, too, were in fact subtle suggestions of pleasure. Once desire is aroused, it becomes much easier to succumb to pleasure techniques. Thinking of this, Leonard Churchill softly murmured with a twinkle in his eyes, Well... theyre finally here. He approached the Silver Moon Sect for the secrets of the ancient god. He had previously been concerned about exposing himself due to Reuel Bibles constant scrutiny. Now, seeing these figures remain active was indeed good news for him. However, not everything was an illusion. Even though Leonard was immune to mind manipulation, he distinctly saw a masked woman step out from a painting. And without a doubt, this woman might be the enigmatic Silver Moon Leader. She appeared here, likely planning to personally contaminate these newcomers. Leonard could guess why they had sought him out. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com He had read many ancient books on mysterious system spells. The limits of physical pleasure are defined, but psychic pleasure is boundless. Those who had failed to avoid belief contamination had already had their perceptions tampered with to some degree. Nobody seemed suspicious. Despite his flawless act, Leonard was well aware that he had revealed certain things about himself. Shortly after, the gathering of collectors concluded. Everyone thanked Baron Ramon on their way out. Just before leaving, almost everyone received a small gift from Baron Ramon. Leonard, however, was given two beautiful maidservants. In the Noble Circle, the practice of gifting maidservants wasnt unusual. He guessed it was likely an attempt to continue contaminating him. Without hesitation, he accepted his gifts. It was only after all the guests had left Fragrant Hill Apartment. At the window on the second floor. Watching the departing vehicles, Baron Ramon asked the masked woman standing next to him, Leader, of the guests invited today, five are recent strangers in Sinless City. Who do you think is most suitable? If Leonard were here, he would recognize her as the one who had emerged from the painting earlier. After a moments thought, the masked woman said, Looking at their backgrounds, none of them seem particularly useful. But, one of them does seem suspicious. And, I believe he is likely an X Bureau agent. Chapter 360 - 143: Tearing the Silver Moon Leader’s Clothes with a Single Grab Chapter 143: Tearing the Silver Moon Leaders Clothes with a Single Grab Translator: 549690339 Two days swiftly passed. Early that morning, Leonard Churchill got up and dressed with the help of two maids, and then proceeded to eat his breakfast as usual. After his last return from the Fragrant Hill Apartment, Baron Ramon had sent over two attractive maids. After trying them out, he found their professional competence far surpassed that of the servants he had hired from the agency. Churchill didnt want anyone else to be contaminated, so he gave a generous sum of money to both the butler and the two maids he had originally hired, and dismissed them. As he suspected, the warning of religious contamination had not stopped, no matter what methods they had used. However, this was a good sign. For the people of the Silver Moon Sect, only a valuable target was worth the great effort made to contaminate. The daily mission of reciting the invitations was also delegated to the two maids. Today was another ordinary day, usually filled with seven or eight appointments. Churchill was casually reading the days latest newspaper while eating his breakfast. Although it seemed inadvertent, he was actually expecting something; he muttered to himself, They should have detected my anomaly last time. The Lionheart Family is going to hold a banquet after the day after tomorrow, they should make their move then... Churchills undercover mission wasnt a lonely journey. Reuel Bible was also making connections through the X Bureau, providing him with some necessary assistance. Especially when it came to getting closer to the high-ranking nobility. Churchill had known in advance that the Lionheart Family would be hosting a banquet the day after tomorrow, and he was among those invited. Because Saul Miller was killed, the Silver Moon Sects infiltration plan for the Miller Family was declared bankrupt. After the X Bureau professionals intervened, almost all the Old Days Believers in the Miller family were wiped out. The few deep sleepers left didnt dare to pop their heads out. Should the opportunity arise, these items were a treasure trove that could not be overlooked. Baron Ramon, always impeccably well-behaved like a perfect gentleman with a handlebar moustache, didnt expose a single flaw, joyfully saying, Baron Charles, its been a long time. Churchills ear twitched slightly, confirming that he was the only guest invited this time, and he responded with a smile, I am extremely honored to receive an invitation from Baron Ramon. He knew that he had caught a big fish. Having been contaminated for so many days, Churchill felt that he should be more friendly. So his performance was similar to that of a close friend, full of merriment and enthusiasm. After their conversation, they ate. Despite the dinner just being a preamble, The renowned collector had prepared an extravagant banquet, serving a number of rare delicacies. Although Churchill suspected there might be something off about the food, he still relished every bite. The two of them casually discussed various topics related to high society. Finally, the main event arrived. As they were eating, Baron Ramon suddenly remarked, By the way, Charles, I recently obtained a rare ancient artifact, which I havent shared with anyone yet. Your family, the Norlingtons, have ancient and noble blood, and are aware of some secrets unknown to ordinary people... Could you help me decipher the origin of this artifact? Churchill was genuinely interested in the ancient artifact, but he said modestly, You flatter me, Baron Ramon. I know without looking that anything that has caught your attention would undoubtedly be a treasure. He knew that the other party definitely wanted him to have a look, so he added, However, I am actually very interested in seeing it. Hearing this, Baron Ramon laughed and clapped his hands. At that moment, a woman with her face covered walked in, carrying a tray on her hands. The tray held something covered with a cloth, but it appeared to be a spherical object. Churchill glanced at it and then allowed his glance to linger a moment longer on the masked woman. If he was not mistaken, this was the Silver Moon Sect Leader who had stepped out of the oil painting that day. Wow, a personal appearance. As soon as she entered the room, the atmosphere instantly became ambiguous and dreamy. Chapter 361 - 143: Tearing the Silver Moon Leader’s Clothes with a Single Grab 2 Chapter 143: Tearing the Silver Moon Leaders Clothes with a Single Grab 2 Translator: 549690339 Enlightenment also popped up: You have exempted the invasion of the Kings Fall spirit technique. Luckily, the relic left by Reuel Bible was high-end enough to exempt another very strong spirit technique. But Leonard Churchill knew, this had revealed him. Considering the sect leader herself had appeared, opting for such an attempt on him, it could only be an exploratory move. His expression remained calm. But to onlookers, it appeared more like a forced display. The veiled woman seemed to have anticipated this, chuckling coldly. The moment the technique was deployed, she dropped her act, murmuring: Tsk tsk, so... you indeed can resist. But Kings Fall is not an ordinary Pleasure Secret Art, its quite enjoyable once youre affected. Its not the state youre in now... You...! Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchills face changed dramatically. He enacted his shock from the reveal exquisitely. His pupils dilated, cold sweat on his back, his micro-expressions flawless. Without any hesitation, he grabbed a serving plate and shattered the expensive crystal chandelier. The room immediately plunged into darkness. Simultaneously, his muscles bulged, instantly transforming into a huge werewolf, ready to escape. But it was too late. The Baron Ramon behind him chuckled coldly, also transformed. A split appeared on the skin of his nape, shedding his human skin, and a large spider crawled out. Then a sip of web spewed out, sealing the window that the werewolf planned to leap through. This wasnt a move to fight, but to keep him from running. It fulfilled Leonard Churchills intentions precisely. Because... that was his gamble! He was certain that even if his identity was exposed, the people of the Silver Moon Sect would not choose to kill him immediately. Praise to the great Lord Arachne of pleasure and dreams... Leonard Churchill listened and murmured along. If he didnt react even after the others had begun their rituals, it would be suspicious. But while reciting the hymn, his heart was trying to suppress the chaos: Hey, hey, hey, dont do anything crazy now. Walking on the edge of this sharp blade was exhilarating, the irrational thoughts within him were ready to burst forth. Leonard Churchill was in his clutches now. The giant spider had disappeared without a trace. Only Leonard Churchill and the Silver Moon Leader remained in the room. The atmosphere no longer held the tension from before. He stood there, looking at the Silver Moon Leader in front of him, his mouth twisting into a smirk. The essence of faith pollution was the corruption of deity faith, not the corruption of the individuals worldview. Leonard Churchill remained himself. In theory, however, there will be some additional faith acknowledgement. He would consider the Old God to be supreme, an existence more important than his own life. The relationship between believers is more like colleagues. They are loyal to the god, not mental slaves to any individual. The Silver Moon Leader looked at Leonard Churchill, not completely letting down her guard and said indifferently, Alright. Remove the equipment and clothes you brought. Oh? Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill looked at her sideways, a cryptic smile on his lips. The Silver Moon Leader also looked at him coldly, looking as if she would act immediately if something seemed slightly off. Leonard Churchill understood what she meant. Faith pollution isnt completely unavoidable, ancient card masters had specifically developed some treasures to counteract faith pollution. The X Bureau had many. Take off your clothes, to prevent anything special on his body. Leonard Churchill raised an eyebrow, disregarding everything else. Chapter 362 - 143: Grab and Tear the Clothes of the Silver Moon Leader 3 Chapter 143: Grab and Tear the Clothes of the Silver Moon Leader 3 Translator: 549690339 | Having already torn some of his clothes during the transformation, he now stripped off the rest. In an instant, he is stark naked. You mean...like this? Leonard Churchill didnt feel embarrassed in the least bit, he provocatively tilted his head upward a little. Seeing this, the icy stare of the Silver Moon Leader clearly softened a lot. But just as Leonard was about to drop his boxers, with a pah sound of a foot hitting thin air, he disappeared on the spot. The next thing you know, he was choking the Silver Moon Leader against the wall, several meters away, chuckling, Woman, were you commanding me just now? As he spoke, he ripped off the womans face veil, tearing open the clothes covering her chest in the process. She was wearing a long dress, and a tug at it immediately exposed her exquisite body to the air. Ahead of him, an extraordinarily aloof face. Even with a hand around her neck, the Silver Moon Leader remained calm. Not sure if its a new face or the Silver Moon Leader has always been this breathtaking. Theres a divine quality to her, a beauty that transcends the mortal realm. This, combined with her beautiful skin, made her incredibly alluring. Leonard couldnt suppress his agitated desires. He reached to her chin, examining the view down her chest, he clicked his tongue, Ah... quite the figure, indeed. This wasnt an act. At this moment, his rationality couldnt control the others within him. It was also deliberate. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com Mental abnormality was like another charm for Leonard. What he needed to do now was to display some abnormal behavior to conceal his blind spots about the realm of divine believers. After all, no matter how perfect the performance, some flaws will always show. Just like what just happened. The Silver Moon Leader listened and took another look, it seemed she had already guessed it, So thats how it is. However, she had no intention of taking out the relic. She saw no need to fuss. After all, faith pollution is a much more sophisticated means than mental secret skills. Its like having a steel rope to bind the target, the presence or absence of a hemp rope wouldnt matter. If she rashly messes with that relic, it might expose this important chess piece. Seeing the Silver Moon Leaders attitude, Leonard knew that things were progressing as they had planned. This was another strategy of Leonard and Reuel Bible. The two of them never believed that they could fool the Silver Moon Sect through the use of relics. Leonards greatest reliance wasnt some disguised identity, nor Reuel Bible, but the unconditional immunity to faith pollution granted by Joker! The real effect of that relic is to prevent Leonard from being hypnotized by mental techniques, thus creating some uncontrollable troubles. The reality was similar to what they had planned. When Leonard came to the Fragrant Hill Apartment last time, he realized that his performance should have exposed some flaws. And it wouldnt be hard for the Silver Moon Sect to guess that he was using means to exempt him from mental secret skills. This time the Silver Moon Leader made that assumption and directly brought out Moon to pollute the faith. After the Silver Moon Leader has put on clothes, he looked at Leonards invigorated state, and indifferently said, If you want some pleasure, you can ask Sir Rosa to arrange some beautiful maids for you later... The Silver Moon Sect adheres to the creed of enjoyment of pleasures and endless dreams, primal desires are but natural, and they dont consider it offensive. Heh, such riffraff do not appeal to me. Hearing this, Leonard also laughed coldly. He went over and put on his own clothes, then nonchalantly asked, You... what should I call you? The Sliver Moon Leader replies, It doesnt matter. From today onwards, call me Sophia, your distant cousin. Chapter 363 - 143: Grab and Tear the Clothes of the Silver Moon Leader_4 Chapter 143: Grab and Tear the Clothes of the Silver Moon Leader_4 Translator: 549690339 | Leonard Churchill raised an eyebrow at her, seeming to ask, Oh? The Silver Moon Leader spoke of the plan, saying, The Lionheart Family is having a banquet the day after tomorrow. Ill be attending it with you as this identity. Youll need to help me get close to the Lionhearts fifth young master, Kak. This is the command of the great God. Hmm. Leonard Churchill, hearing the mention of God, spoke no more. The Silver Moon Leader, having thought of a new plan, continued, Oh, and one more thing. The Lionhearts Silver Mist Rose is also quite the beauty. If you can get close to her alone, Ill create an opportunity for pleasure for you. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill squinted his eyes, revealing an interested expression and said, Oh, really? But he was also slightly taken aback. He had thought about the first part of plan. Seduction was the best method to approach high-ranking nobility. With the Silver Moon Leaders stunning look and mastery of mental secret skills, any man would fall for her. It was no surprise to Leonard Churchill when she devised a plan to get close to young master Kak. But as for the implication of the latter part, does that mean... I have to seduce as well? Oh, thats right. If he could control Catherine Carter, he could infiltrate the high-ranking nobilitys core circle. It seemed that no one was more suitable for the job than him. It was slightly unexpected, but not a big issue. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com Of course. After the Silver Moon Leader gave a nod, she went on to dazzle him with further promises, After mastering the secret skills of our sect, youll be able to enjoy any woman you fancy. Youll understand, serving the mighty Lord Arachne will give you the most exquisite experience in the world... But it seemed that the Silver Moon Leader was no longer interested. She continued, I have a way to treat your mental deformation. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill said, Really? Ive asked many people, even the masters at the X Bureau, but no one could treat it. The Silver Moon Leader looked slightly arrogant and said, Others might not have a solution. But our Holy Sects skill is the worlds best mental contemplation technique. Hearing this, Leonard Churchill waited silently for her to elaborate. Without beating around the bush, the Silver Moon Leader pointed towards the Lunar Cataclysm Object in the room and said, This is our Holy Sects holy item. A divine object bestowed by the great God himself. Hidden within it is a God Tier Contemplation technique Void Moon Mind which, when recited, achieves immortality. When the secret skill is fully developed, you can reach the realm of gods. Hearing this, Leonard Churchill gasped. Regardless of whether this secret skill was as miraculous as described. This was the secret skill he came for! Leonard Churchill then cast his gaze towards the moon. Consequently, the enlightenment tip for pollution exemption began to blink more frequently. With no intention to conceal, Leonard Churchill immediately began to meditate. After all, who knows when the moon would be taken away, might as well make the most of it now. Seeing Leonard Churchill start meditating right away, the Silver Moon Leader didnt seem to mind. In fact, the strange feeling she had been sensing since she arrived disappeared completely. It seemed... His behavior was a bit unusual. But it didnt matter anymore. No one could maintain irreverent thoughts in front of the Holy Item. Especially considering the God Skill level contemplation technique, there was no fear of outsiders learning it. The more proficient one becomes, the firmer their belief becomes. Little did she know that someone could rely on their own Demon Mark to completely exempt themselves from faith contamination. Soon after, Leonard Churchill and his distant cousin Sophia returned to their apartment. The next day, bright and early, they received a banquet invitation from the Lionheart Family. Chapter 364 - 144: Dancing in Water Chapter 144: Dancing in Water Translator: 549690339 In the apartment at No. 233 Maple Street. Leonard Churchill and his cousin, Sophia, sat at the same table, leisurely eating breakfast and reading todays newspaper. Young Master Kak, likes to snatch others preferences, particularly married women. So, officially, I am your cousin, but in private, I am your lover. When the time comes, just give him some hints to bait him. Hmm. Hows the situation at the X Bureau? Only one person knows my real identity. I have a lot of autonomy, and I can easily make up an excuse when the time comes. Hmm, be careful not to expose yourself. If you do, in order to protect the secrets of the church, I might have to kill you. As she spoke, Leonard cast a sidelong glance at the incredibly beautiful girl. He was amazed. Just now, hed watched as the Silver Moon Leader transformed into this beautiful girl, without an apparent change of skin. And it wasnt just the appearance; the skin color, pupils, and body dimensions were all completely different. He was also beginning to understand the meaning of the term Thousand Faces of the Moon from the hymn. No wonder Reuel Bible and his team could not capture her. It wasnt just her appearance; the Silver Moon Leaders strength was also elusive. Reuel Bible was a formidable player. Though Leonard couldnt reach his level, he could sense this towering figure clearly. But this woman was like a cloud constantly drifting in the sky, impossible to truly comprehend. At her side, the two maids dropped their disguises. They wore the transparent gauze clothes of the Taren Dynasty period, serving the girl named Sophia with reverence. This gave Leonard a very eerie feeling. It felt like the scene from the painting Montini Queens Golden Necklace had been reproduced. This woman seemed like the queen Montini who had walked out from history. The Silver Moon Leader was aloof. Even though they were in the same apartment, they hardly chatted unless church business was involved. Leonard was happy with this arrangement. Although he was interested in this mysterious ancient god cult, he didnt dare to explore more for fear of exposing weaknesses. He spent the entire day in the apartment, contemplating the moon. In the evening, Leonard and Sophia dressed up splendidly and took a steam car to the Lionheart familys mansion for dinner. The Lionheart family had stationed fifty-thousand Beast Elites in the Upper City of Sinless City. They were undoubtedly the most powerful force in the city. Even though their mansion was not situated as high as the lord Millers house, it was just as grand. Located in West City, a massive white manor stood, this was the Lionheart familys Rose Manor. Creak- The steam car stopped at the entrance of the manor. The butler bowed and opened the door: Baron Charles, please alight. Leonard got off the car first, then gentlemanly extended his hand to help Sophia, dressed in a blue low-cut princess short dress, down. Having already adapted to the social activities of the upper circles in the past few days, Leonard was able to greet various nobles as smoothly as if he were an insider. He handed over the invitation and smoothly entered the manor. As soon as she got out of the car, Sophia, who had been an aloof queen beforehand, became a lively and mischievous young girl who seemed to be interested in everything. Leonard was also amazed at her acting skills. The two of them knew that many experts were watching everyones movements. One of them included Reuel Bible. The X Bureau containment expert, disguised as a guard, mumbled as he looked at Leonard and Sophia who had just entered: This kid is a master of disguise... If Baron Charles identity wasnt personally verified by him, he would have thought he was mistaking someone else. The handsome young man in the white suit, that aura of nonchalance blended with aristocratic air, couldnt be replicated unless he was a genuine nobleman. Chapter 365 - 144: Dancing in Water - Part 2 Chapter 144: Dancing in Water C Part 2 Translator: 549690339 | Reuel Bible glanced again at the blue-skirted young girl affectionately arm in arm with Leonard Churchill and clicked his tongue, Tsk tsk... this boy has an incredible way with women. Hes only been undercover for a few days and hes already hooked up with the leader of the Silver Moon Sect? If he hadnt seen it with his own eyes, he would have found it hard to believe. He had originally thought that successfully infiltrating as a lowly follower would be a big accomplishment, Leonards move was indeed out of his expectations. The risk, however, was not small. As the guests for the evening banquet were arriving at the manor in succession. In the study of the main mansion building. The members of Anka Clan had just conducted a secret meeting. The head of the second family, Federation Four-Star General Golden Lion Carlo was the first to come out. Following him were a group of young lion cubs from the Anka Clan with looks of excitement on their faces. It turned out that the Miller Family had suddenly gained the initiative in the Old Continent development by sharing a set of mechanical drawings which caused many nobles to choose their side. But unexpectedly, the higher-ups in their Lionheart Family also had their countermeasures. They even had access to numerous classified documents of the Old Continent. More than the Miller Family had! These young lions already knew the purpose of tonights banquet. Their Lionheart Family will announce the establishment of a new city in the Old Continent! This will be a monumental opportunity. According to Federation law, the family that establishes a new city is essentially pioneering new territory. Whoever establishes it will be the lord. She thought about something and took the initiative to question, What brings you to Sinless City, Mother? Its not very safe here. The mature lady asked teasingly, What do you think? Catherines eyebrows raised, For my marriage contract? The woman just smiled and said nothing. But it seemed that the atmosphere soured as they discussed this topic. After a moment of silence, the elder woman added, I heard from your father... you dont seem to be taking your marriage contract very seriously lately? You should know, your cousins from your uncles family are eager to take your place. After all, the object of this marriage alliance is very important and could even directly determine the succession of the next Lionheart King. At these words, the Fate Coin in Catherines hand suddenly trembled. She was a little confused, her azure eyes gazing towards the distance, she said softly, But... I dont even know who Im supposed to marry. The mature lady seemingly understood something and laughed, Didnt you say before you didnt mind? Besides, I remember before coming to Sinless City, you were looking forward to this marriage contract. You even went to your grandfather to finalize it yourself. Catherine remained silent. The marriage contract was indeed something she had sought for herself. Previously, she didnt find any issues with it. Because the concept she had always been in contact with from a young age was that a nobles marriage contract was a bridge of interest. She has no right to choose. So, she might as well pick the best one for herself. Maybe she could gain more power and ascend to the peak of authority. But she didnt know when, this thought, suddenly became unstable. She doesnt even know why. Just... the will she had since a young age to always aim for the first place, suddenly lost interest. Not that she lost her ambition. But she always felt that she was missing something. The elder woman had also once been a young girl, she observed her daughters demeanor and felt as though she had guessed something: Have you met a boy you like? Your mother was young once... Chapter 366 - 144: Dancing in Water - Part 3 Chapter 144: Dancing in Water C Part 3 Translator: 549690339 | But before she could finish her sentence, Catherine Carter shook her head. That...? The lady was puzzled after hearing this. Still not understanding, she smiled faintly and said, I can assure you that the man is handsome, not some chubby ugly fellow. And his status is high. You wont be disappointed after marrying him... This is the kind of inside joke high society ladies share, complaining that arranged marriages are like playing a lottery: if youre lucky, you wont end up with someone ugly. From her perspective, this match was the cream of the crop. But Catherine didnt see it that way and countered, So, Mother, are you trying to say that hes a prince? The lady looked surprised: You...guessed that? Catherines voice was calm: I hadnt guessed it before. But Ive figured it out now. The old continental documents Father obtained, they were from the Old Era Remnants, werent they? Looking at it this way, it seems this marriage contract fetched quite a handsome price. The lady knew her daughter was exceptionally intelligent and didnt provide further explanation. But those last words made her sigh lightly. It sounds like a transaction. But the honor of our family...! hope you understand. The only choice I can give you is to select the best for you. I see. I understand. Catherine responded indifferently. There was no hint of joy or sorrow on her face. But with those words, the Destiny Coin flickering between her fingers trembled once more. It was as though the gears of fate had turned a notch at that very moment. A thought flashed across her mind. The light suddenly sparked in Catherines elegant face. She finally understood the lingering feeling that something was missing. I am not anyones possession, nor am I a good waiting to be exchanged. I am who I am. I am Catherine Carter! The younger members of the Lionheart family slowly began to arrive at the party. There were only two official heirs. The cocky Young Master Kak, and the sensual Catherine Carter in her black- gold gown. As the hosts, their arrival prompted the guests to come forward and extend their greetings. The lights dimmed, and the elegant dance music started playing. The gentlemen in formal suits began inviting their dance partners to the dance floor for a dance. Sophia held onto Leonards neck, and whispered into his ear, Find a way to approach her. Alright. Leonard displayed no signs of anomaly. Making it so obvious would be extremely conspicuous. But after a dance, Leonard saw an opportunity. Catherine Carter was seated on a sofa beside the dance floor. As the most dazzling princess of the Lionheart family, she was naturally the focal point of attention for all the gentlemen present. As soon as she had sat down, several groups of handsome young men successively approached to invite her for a dance. Catherine Carter, however, had no interest in dancing and declined politely. The rejected men didnt seem offended; on the contrary, being rejected was a matter of honor. After all, no one could get a dance with her. Right then, Leonard approached. In a smooth move, he left his dancing partner, and headed for the resting area alone. Sophia, feigning annoyance, reluctantly made her way to a sofa on the other side. Young Master Kak was positioned not too far from there, and watched with interest. Catherine Carter, of course, saw all of this. Leonard walked over and greeted her cheerfully, Its been a while, beautiful Miss Carter. Catherine glanced at him but didnt say anything. However, her slightly relaxed demeanor didnt convey a rejection.

2. Which meant... Leonards learning efficiency was now over twice his previous rate! For his current situation, this was akin to a sleepyhead finding a pillow. It was essentially like he had doubled his learning time. Just from this aspect alone, the impact of this Shadow Clone on his transcendental ascension was comparable in significance to any Demon God Secret Skill, aside from Demons Feast. Apart from the high consumption of Curse Power, this Secret Skill was nearly flawless. But Leonard and the shadow were not two independent entities. Rather, it was like an independent thinking and cognitively shared second personality had emerged within him. Just this fact alone could make it difficult for others to grasp even the basics. But Leonard was all too familiar with this situation. He didnt mind having another one at all. In fact, because of this Shadow Trick, he even had a bold idea: could he create several more shadows in the future? But that was a matter for later. The Shadow Trick was only at Lv.1(103/1000) for now, and there was still great potential for improvement in the future. As his proficiency increased, the shadows range of activity would also continue to expand. Chapter 919 - 285: Perfect Impersonation_2 Chapter 919: Chapter 285: Perfect Impersonation_2 ... Leonard Churchill hid at the mouth of the valley, continuously observing those sentries of the Ariel Empire. At the same time, he was constantly keeping an eye on the communicator. Previously, Catherine Carter had messaged that a Seventh Tier Legion Commander had secretly infiltrated the Gold-digging Dock, but there had been no news since. Leonard was also eager to know the situation of the battle. The Seventh Tier Legion Commander, unfamiliar with the area, was able to sneak into Gold-digging Dock, which meant that a traitor had emerged among the high levels of the Federation. After all, Gold-digging Dock was now a place people with unknown identities could only leave, not enter. To allow that person to enter the dock directly meant that the insider aiding them was familiar with the detailed defensive layout of Gold-digging Dock and the complicated network of personal relationships. There were only a few people in the whole Federation who could manage this feat. They would inevitably hold high positions and wield great power. Someone among the five Senators, huh? Tsk tsk, to think theyve surrendered already... A smirk of scorn arced on Leonards lips as he pieced together bits of information. Although he had considered the inevitability of traitors within the Federation during his discussions with Catherine, Leonard felt an oddly perverse pleasure in actually witnessing such a display of human treachery. Instead of taking comfort from the warmth and brilliance of human nature, Leonard found this vile aspect of humanity, like a knife plunging into his heart, more soothing for his restless soul. Heh heh, how he longed to kill those bastards... As expected, a traitor had emerged, but it probably wouldnt be a big problem. Because as of this morning, Catherine had brought news: Barre Shepherd had finally returned at the last moment. And he had successfully advanced to the Seventh Tier! The venerable predecessor had been just a step away from the Seventh Tier; the moment he found the needed Material for his Profession Card, advancement was as natural as water flowing along its course. This was top-secret intelligence unknown to the rest of the Federation. Even if a traitor had sold everything out. A Seventh Tier Barre Shepherd would surely make the enemy pay dearly! .... This watch lasted for over ten hours. Leonard continued his vigil. Without the Seventh Tier Legion Commander to lead them, this group lacked the strength to sweep everything before them. The members of the Vanguard Team hiding in the valley didnt dare to run about. Concealed and out of sight, they probably thought that the people of the Card Master Federation were unaware that their commander had left. Suddenly, a message came through the communicator: Done! Upon hearing this, Leonards lips curled into a grin. The word Done revealed an excessive amount of explosive information. It meant that Catherine hadnt died, and that the Seventh Tier had been killed. Leonard didnt have time to think further. He did not wait for a moment longer before the valley suddenly erupted into chaos. Run! Split up! Avoid the towns and be careful of encirclement! ... Those Vanguard Team members seemed to have some method of confirming that their Legion Commander had indeed fallen in battle. Leonard didnt dare to be careless and immediately pulled back to create some distance. Within a few minutes, Shadow watched as more than a hundred people burst out of the valley. As soon as they came out, they dispersed into several groups. Previously, they had gathered together because with a Seventh Tier Legion badge, it was easier to raid large towns. Now that their top warrior had died, the group knew they were in grave danger if they were discovered by Federation Card Masters. They were already a scouting party and had sufficient experience to respond to such situations. To survive, their only option was to scatter and flee. Leonard knew that his chance had come. There were an unknown number of Sixth Tier card masters in this team, so he didnt dare to act recklessly, opting instead to keep a close watch on the group that included the sentries he had been observing. Normally, in the military, officers and elites wouldnt stand guard. And after observing their conversations, Leonard had managed to gain a general understanding of the relationships within this group from what was said by the sentries. Looking at the teams that had raced out of the valley, he easily chose one with several familiar faces and had Shadow follow them. It didnt require much thought; the more sentries there were, the weaker the team was likely to be. And he, himself, followed far behind the team. This pursuit lasted almost an hour. The team didnt dare stay near Demon Cross but instead ran into a desolate forest wilderness. The men were cautious enough to leave behind various early warning traps along the way. If it hadnt been for Shadow, Leonard might have lost track of them or even been discovered. Feeling safe once they reached the forest, the men finally stopped. What exactly happened? Why did we suddenly retreat? I dont know... seems like something happened to the Legion Commander. It must be those scum from before! Damn it, they feigned surrender to lull us, only to plan an ambush for our Commander! It looks to be the case. Otherwise, with the Commanders strength and someone to meet him, how could anything have happened? Those arrogant fools from the East Wilderness, theyre asking for death! That Capen family, Ill remember them, and once the main army arrives, Ill make sure to slaughter them first. The next time anyone talks about surrendering, just kill them on the spot! I always said, with our Empires strength, we dont need any traitors! ... The group ran in a most undignified manner. This turn of events not only made them feel the risk of death but also brought immense humiliation. The mighty Vanguard Legion of the Dragon Red Empire had been driven to flee for their lives by a small Card Master Federation without even a single Seventh Tier among them? It wasnt a matter of strength, but rather a blow to the face of their Empire! In the forest, a dark figure silently watched everything unfold. This was all part of the plan. Only if this ambush was successful would those within the Federation harboring ulterior motives calm down, and there would be far fewer insiders on future battlefields. Chapter 920 - 285 Perfect Performance_3 Chapter 920: Chapter 285 Perfect Performance_3 ` However, this was not for Leonard Churchill to consider. As he observed along the way, it seemed that there were no Sixth Tier members in the team, but at least there were Fifth Tiers. He didnt feel capable of silently killing someone to take their place. Leonard Churchill observed patiently. This wait lasted nearly two days. .... The team in the forest only had twenty or thirty people. Two days were enough for Leonard Churchill to familiarize himself with each members information, habits, and interpersonal relationships. He had also chosen a suitable target to infiltrate. Nine oclock, the appointed time, had arrived. Suddenly, hurried footsteps arose in the forest, and a team of over a hundred people arrived quietly. Leonard Churchill knew that the actors had taken their places. To replace someone in the enemy ranks, he would have to kill them first, and without leaving traces. He couldnt do it alone; he needed to shake people up. Two days earlier, Leonard Churchill had sent a message to Catherine Carter, giving her the coordinates of these people. Now, the reinforcements had finally arrived. The forest was full of early-warning traps, and the members of the Vanguard Team spotted them immediately. Not good! Its the people from the East Wilderness! Were surrounded! Breakthrough! ... A series of dragons roars thundered through the forest. Leonard Churchill watched as those guys transformed one by one into various Dragon Descendant forms. After observing in detail for two days, Leonard Churchill felt quite impressed by the high average tier of the card masters from the Ariel Empire. The entire Vanguard Team was composed of card masters of Third Tier and above. And their strength was not weak. The Great Dragon was inherently a High-level Being. Their Dragon Clan bloodline made it easier for them to advance, with various Elemental Affinities and physical strength far surpassing that of normal humans. For instance, the threshold for the Third Tier to comprehend Elements and condense a Curse Seal is something most Federation card masters could be stuck at for life. But for these Ariel Empires Dragon-blooded Card Masters, it was practically non-existent. The combat power of this group was such that, under normal circumstances, it could match an entire Federation army of a thousand men. However, the reinforcements Leonard Churchill had called were well prepared. In just that moment, all sorts of Curse Cards blasted through the forest like a violent storm. Wind Blade, Fire Serpent, Earthquake Skill, Quick Sand, Fireball, Ice Spear, Man-eating Vines... The Elements erupted like a torrent, felling large swaths of trees in the forest. Although the Vanguard Legion was intent on escaping, it must be said that these guys used their Curse Cards with much more exaggeration than the Federation card masters, with not only a greater variety and stronger power but also many Secret Skill-level spells the Federation card masters had never seen before. This was the advantage of having an uninterrupted legacy. In this chase, it was delicate that the Federation Card Masters did not gain much advantage. Yet, surreptitiously, someone was controlling this delicate balance. Seeing this, Leonard Churchill smiled and said, We have a master here... They couldnt wipe them all out, nor could there be too many casualties, they had to fight evenly matched. To perform so perfectly, it had to be a master. At least Sixth Tier, if not a Legend. But his infiltration plan was top secret, known only to a few. Leonard Churchill was still wondering who it could be. Suddenly, he saw a graceful figure appearing beside him. Aunt Jones? ` ` Leonard Churchill hadnt expected Sophia Jones to come in person. Hmm. Sophia Jones nodded slightly, a faint smile gracing her stunningly beautiful face. But this was not the time for chit-chat; she asked directly, Which one is the target? Leonard Churchill succinctly described the features: Brown hair, the one with the Wolf Fang Dagger. He had already observed an assassin-series card master named Joel who faced ostracism, had simple social relations, and possessed a combat style that was easy to imitate. Sophia Jones nodded, Lets go! The two of them rushed after the target. By now, the commotion of the battle in the forest had grown intense. Amid the chaos intentionally created, members of the Vanguard Team had been scattered, those couple dozen men fleeing in panic. With Sophia Joness help, they easily killed Joel. Leonard Churchill changed into the mans clothes, and with a shift of the Clown mask, he had completely transformed into Joels appearance. After observing for two days, his appearance wasnt the only perfect match; even the color of his Curse Power, dragon scales, and the assassins grim and relentless temperament in his eyes were exactly alike. In the midst of the battlefield, where both sides were still fiercely engaged, nobody realized that one of their own had been replaced. Even Sophia Jones, who had been watching the whole process, flashed a touch of surprise in her crystalline eyes. If she hadnt witnessed it with her own eyes, she wouldnt have been able to recognize that it was Leonard Churchill at all. With time pressing, Leonard Churchill handed over some unnecessary items to Sophia Jones, not daring to delay any longer, and said, Aunt Jones, Im off. Hmm. Sophia Jones nodded her head. She herself had experienced the battle at Gold-digging Dock two days ago and felt the strength of the Seventh Tier Dragon-blooded Card Master. Had it not been for senior Barre Shepherd, several of them legends would have faced serious setbacks. It was precisely because of this that she fully understood the enormous risks involved in this infiltration mission. After all, the enemys backup forces included genuine Eighth and even Ninth Tier card masters. Thats why, knowing Leonard Churchills plan, she had come herself. To ensure nothing could go wrong. Otherwise, even the slightest mishap would prove to be a deadly threat. A tinge of concern passed through her eyes, but in the end, she only said, Take care of yourself. Leonard Churchill responded with a bright smile, Will do! Adopting another identity, he saw the world through different eyes. He liked this feeling of hiding in someone elses shadow. It was as if he was in I am the world, having taken over someone elses thread of fate and walking it forward. The thrill of skirting on the edge of destinys blade was exhilarating. ... Before long, a group of people darted into a valley. The Earthquake Skill collapsed the rock walls around them, and the Venomous Bee Vanguard Group finally shook off their pursuers. Good thing we had a backup escape route, those East Wilderness folks probably wont be able to follow us. Damn it, we lost six brothers! If only we werent short-handed, I really would like to go back and wipe out those bastards! Joel, Rote, you two take charge of the lookout! Yes, Captain. ... An assassin-clad figure stood up in response. Nobody noticed anything amiss. This was none other than Leonard Churchill. Within the team, nearly everyone had injuries, and six men had died. Convenient! The friends Joel had been relatively close to in the team were not many to begin with, and as chance would have it, they were all dead. No one else paid any mind to this teammate who had always been on the fringes. ` Chapter 921 - 286: Thorny Snake Corps, Cage, Jar Chapter 921: Chapter 286: Thorny Snake Corps, Cage, Jar The battle at Gold-digging Dock saw the death of the seventh-tier Legion Commander, the red-haired Ron of the Venomous Bee Vanguard Legion, causing a great shock to the morale of the Lionheart Legion. At the same time, the Surrender faction within the Federation also suffered a heavy blow. Although most of those who colluded with the enemy to infiltrate Gold-digging Dock committed suicide after their plot was uncovered, a few were eventually caught alive. Moreover, the White Family used Secret Skills to extract a wealth of information from Rons corpse. When the two sources of information confirmed each other, it was discovered that the Capen Family, one of the five great Senators, was the traitor, and some smaller families were also implicated. No one had expected that Harold Capen, a top Federal elite, would surrender before the war even began. He had even offered up defense plans and most of the city-state maps of the Federation to the enemy. Once the news was released, all the major newspapers carried the story. The whole Federation was in an uproar instantly. The news ignited everyones anger, stirring up intense public sentiment. With the other four Senators covert instigation and leading troops to crusade, even the powerful and prestigious Capen Family collapsed virtually overnight. The Capen Family was thus erased from history. The two-hundred-year-old Federal Senator system also came to an end. But the chaos continued to spread, even showing signs of reaching the other Senators. With the Senators leading the betrayal, the commoner class instantly lost all trust in the Federal upper echelons. At this time, however, voices in support of restoring the Orlan Royal Court started to emerge from nowhere, and quietly multiplied. The New King of Orlan also appeared in the public eye for the first time, with the slogan Overthrow the decaying parliament. Leonard Churchill wasnt interested in politics. So when he heard the news from Catherine Carter, he wasnt particularly surprised. Moreover, Noah Wright had previously predicted that under the current situation, it was highly likely that the Orlan Royal Court would successfully be restored. Having personally experienced these significant events that would be recorded in history, Leonard Churchill came to more profoundly understand the meaning in Noah Wrights words: If you look far enough ahead, you will see that the change of dynasties is nothing more than history repeating itself time after time. Just like a classic stage play, with batch after batch of new actors, the core plot of the script still only has those thirty-six situations: revenge, revolution, ambition, disaster... While the East Continent was in tumult, the Lionheart Family in Gold-digging Dock remained wholly unaffected by the negative influence. On the contrary, due to the Capen Familys betrayal, everyone learned the truth of the war. Those Neutral forces that lost trust in the Federal power have also joined the Pro-War Faction. Gold-digging Dock was busier than ever. .... With the communicator, Leonard Churchill could almost always be informed about the situation in the Federation. Those messages were also like strings of cause and effect. Understanding them allowed him to better comprehend the world. However, the small squad he was embedded in was not having such an easy time. These people had completely lost their previous arrogance from slaughtering and plundering; they hid and scurried about, not daring to show their faces wherever people appeared. This hideout lasted for more than a month. On this particular day. In a dark and dilapidated relic. It was less than a hundred kilometers from Gold-digging Dock. A group of more than thirty members of a Vanguard squad was hiding in a shabby cluster of buildings. The campfire lit up a series of weary faces. Its time to change the guard. Joel, you go take my place on guard duty. Oh. Hearing this, Leonard Churchill emotionlessly got up. The Joel he was impersonating was an outcast, a quiet person that was usually given the dirty and tiring jobs, so he often had the most guard shifts in a day. But this was just fine for Leonard Churchill. He had only recently advanced to the Fourth Tier and needed a lot of time to integrate the new abilities gained from the advancement, and to comprehend the Demon God Secret Skills... Standing guard gave him ample time to train. Thanks to Shadow, not only has his tier been stabilized, but the progress of his training in various Secret Skills was visibly skyrocketing every day. Moreso, this period of adjustment had also made his impersonation less and less flawed. This was advice Leonard Churchill had previously sought from Noah Wright. After all, Mushroomhead had experience successfully infiltrating the X Bureau. He said that to disguise oneself effectively, one needs not just a disguise but to truly replace an identity. You have to truly become the person to avoid detection even by Mysterious Type perception methods. For the past month, Leonard Churchill had been doing exactly that. He had fully integrated into his current identity. He felt that he was now Joel, and Joel was him. The fate line had been entirely replaced. Leonard Churchill was confident that even the closest person would not be able to tell the difference. At least the Sixth Tier deputy Legion Commander Kuro, who arrived in the unit a few days earlier, had no clue there was a spy amongst them. Moreover, as time passed, the impersonation would become even more profound. Even when facing Card Masters above the Seventh Tier, the likelihood of him being seen through would decrease further. With this false identity, Leonard Churchill could also gather information without sneaking around. In the past month, he had obtained much intelligence from the conversations of those people. The Ariel Empire gradually unveiled its mysteries. The Card Masters of that empire had received all the traditions from the Taren Dynasty three thousand years ago, possessing various Spells, Martial Skills, and Cards that had been lost in the Federation. Even many of the fifty-two Card Master Sequence lost to the Federation were still passed down within that empire. Leonard Churchills Enlightenment was now extremely extraordinary. Nearly all the abilities displayed by those people, with a little reflection, he could mostly understand. In this time of various explorations, he had also grasped a great deal of new knowledge. Chapter 922 - 286: Thorny Snake Corps, Cage, Jar_2 Chapter 922: Chapter 286: Thorny Snake Corps, Cage, Jar_2 And these new pieces of knowledge were but bricks and mortar added to his understanding of the world. Previously, Noah Wright had said that I am the world was not only a Demon God Secret Skill but also the ultimate path to forming a Domain. As long as ones understanding of the world was sufficient, one would be able to continue on this path indefinitely. However, Leonard Churchills situation was slightly different from Noah Wrights. He was not exclusively practicing a single transcendental path, but rather the Myriad Manifestations. And for such Manifestations, a stable and solid foundation was required. I am the world was more than fitting for that purpose. As he became more proficient in this secret skill, he gradually discovered that almost everything he learned could be integrated into it. And as his comprehension deepened, Leonard Churchill also began to realize that he seemed to have found a unique path of his own. .... Atop the ruins, Leonard Churchill stood on guard. While he practiced, another scene floated into his mind. In the nearby shadows, he saw the captains of the vanguard team next to the campfire, holding an executive meeting. At the moment, Kuro, the deputy legion commander, was holding a conch-shaped instrument and babbling something. The Ariel Empire indeed had communicators as well. Purely Magical Power equipment. The Kindle Fire that went to the Southern Continent three thousand years ago had indeed inherited almost everything from the Card Master Civilization, but it had not kept any mechanical technology. It was said to be because Great Dragons symbolized strength, and mechanical technology was considered blasphemy against strength, heretical. For thousands of years, the Holy Church had forbidden the development of machinery, leading to its complete decline. Therefore, one could not see any Mechanical equipment on these people. The words spoken by Kuro, the deputy legion commander, carried a beast-like authority in their sound. It was not Taron Language, but Simplified Dragon Language. Great Dragons, like Superior Demons, were high-ranking species, and Dragon Language, similar to the Ancient Demon Language, possessed magical power. After all, the Ariel Empire was a land where Great Dragons ruled; hence, the Noble Class there had their own languagethe Simplified Dragon Language. In the army, only high-ranking officers were entitled to master it. It was not just a matter of status. It was also about Law Understanding. Just as there were thresholds for reading the Demons language, the same was true for Dragon Language. If ones strength was insufficient, even speaking was impossible. Moreover, due to the natural Elemental Affinity of the Dragon Bloodline, over the past several thousand years, Card Masters had also innovated and created a series of unique and powerful Dragon Language Spells and a Card System. This was also what Leonard Churchill had been studying all this time. After several days of eavesdropping, he had not completely understood the Simplified Dragon Language, but by guessing and deducing, he had roughly figured out the content of the communication: Today at six oclock, the great army will arrive. Theyre finally coming... Leonard Churchill narrowed his eyes and murmured to himself. These days, while their team seemed to be evading in the east and hiding in the west, in truth, they were scouting and marking trails for the following grand army. A few days ago, when the Sixth Tier deputy legion commander arrived, Leonard Churchill had guessed this outcome. After all, their current location was near Gold-digging Dock; to some extent, it was because Leonard Churchill had intentionally guided them there. At the same time, several vanguard teams were scouting the routes; whichever was safest, the grand army would likely choose as the best option. Catherine Carter was fully aware of the location of Leonard Churchills team all along, and the defenses were naturally deliberately avoided. So it was almost as expected. The grand army would choose their route. Based on the intelligence obtained, it would be the Thorny Snake Corps from the Red Dragon Kingdom arriving. It seemed that they were planning to make a swift attack on Gold-digging Dock, then break directly through Sinless City to see if they could capture the Federation in one fell swoop. Such military intelligence was highly confidential, and ordinarily, a mere soldier would not be privileged to know such important matters. Unfortunately for them, the team had Leonard Churchill, a spy. Upon hearing this, he passed the intelligence along. What they would do with it, whether the intelligence was accurate or not, he cared little. Catherine Carters wisdom was more than enough for her to make the best response. And she wouldnt let her spy be exposed. After passing on the message, Leonard Churchill continued with his Meditation practice. ... In the blink of an eye, it was six oclock in the evening. In the midst of his Meditation, Leonard Churchill suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze zeroing in on the distant ruins, his pupils sharply contracting: Theyre here! The grand troops were marching, but it seemed they were using some kind of army equipment to cover up the sound. Only a cloud of black mist was visible, but no sound could be heard. Leonard Churchill was also not worried about the likes of Eighth Tier top warriors making a direct sneak attack on Gold-digging Dock. Because that probability was very slim. From what he had learned over time, he had noticed a pattern: the top-tier Card Masters of the Ariel Empire possessed an extraordinary pride. After all, they were Dragon Descendants, and their inherent rulers aura had no patience for any sneaky actions. Therefore, among the High-Order Card Masters from that side, the proportion of Assassin Type professionals was surprisingly low, whereas Close-combat brutes abounded. Now, facing a weaker Card Master Federation, Eighth Tier individuals were commanders of the kingdom, too prideful to stoop so low. Leonard Churchill had noticed, but the fierce look in his eyes quickly dissipated. After all, Joel could not discover this. But he did not want to be punished by military law for shirking his duties. He still made a show of being a good sentry. He stood up and patrolled the area from time to time. Finally, the Thorny Snake Corps leading forces arrived, and Leonard Churchill had already sensed some hidden Air in the darkness. He still pretended to see nothing. Waiting until someone triggered the outer warning traps, he was the first to shout anxiously: Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Chapter 923 - 286: Thorny Snake Corps, Cage, Jar_3 Chapter 923: Chapter 286: Thorny Snake Corps, Cage, Jar_3 The shout startled everyone in the camp, sending them scrambling out as they thought another fierce battle was upon them. Then, the deputy legion commander Kuro shouted, Dont panic! Its our own people arriving! As he spoke, he glanced at Leonard Churchill standing guard and said, This sentry did well. Logistics officer, take note, a commendation is due. Someone responded, Yes. Leonard Churchill also hurriedly thanked, Thank you, commander. Seeing the reinforcements arrive, the members of the Venomous Bee Vanguard Group heaved a sigh of relief, but were still somewhat uneasy. They had previously discovered the Card Master Federation of the East Wilderness, which was to be a glorious accomplishment. But later, General Rons greed for merit led to his death, changing the nature of the incident. Moreover, to keep the credit from leaking, all the evidence like maps was taken by Ron, and now their persuasive power was greatly diminished. They might even be punished for this. In an instant, figures clad in standard-issue leather armors and looking every bit the professional soldier emerged from the mist. The vast ruins were swarmed with people everywhere. A rough estimate suggested there were about a few thousand people. The number didnt seem too large, but the oppressive feeling emanating from these regular Dragon Descendant troops was incredibly strong. Leonard Churchill felt as if he was back to his childhood days, stepping into a circus animal cage for the first time. The soldiers standing in the mist were like malevolent dragons, spreading an invisible, intimidating air. At that moment, a group of people clad in gleaming golden armors approached. Deputy Legion Commander Kuro called out, General, sir! Leonard Churchill and the others from the vanguard team echoed the shout. Everyone then saw a towering, scar-faced man over two meters tall walking slowly, surrounded by a retinue of Golden Armor Knights. This scar-faced man glanced over the ruins, and no one dared to meet his gaze. Although Leonard had never seen him before, he had already learned that this man was likely Heman, the famous general of the Red Dragon Kingdom, and the legion commander of the Thorny Snake Corps. General Heman asked in a deep voice, Whats the situation? Deputy Legion Commander Kuro quickly reported, General, the Gold-digging Dock is just fifty kilometers to the east, and the route has been thoroughly scouted. General Heman then asked, What about my foolish brother? Wheres his body? Hearing this, Kuro swallowed hard, In the hands of those people from the East Wilderness... As soon as he said this, Hemans expression turned cold, and a wave of invisible pressure wrapped in killing intent instantly swept across everyone present. Leonard Churchill inwardly cried out, Dragons Might! He had experienced this feeling before in the Alternate Dimension. He also immediately understood the mans intent. The anger was just a facade; he really wanted to see if there were any spies within the ranks! Truly cautious... Leonard Churchill muttered to himself as he watched. If it had been anyone else, even a card master of a higher tier, they would have shown some signs of abnormality under the influence of such a top-tier forces Dragons Might. Almost instantly, he dared not show any weakness, and shivered along with those around him. General Heman swept his gaze over the crowd, apparently not noticing anything, and without another word, simply ordered, Draw ten, kill one. Kuros eyelids twitched, Yes, sir... .... Draw ten, kill one was a harsh form of collective punishment within the military. After a major blunder by a legion, one person would be executed out of every ten, as a form of retribution. Officers were no exception! Hearing this command, the dozens from the Venomous Bee Vanguard Group broke into a cold sweat. However, Leonard Churchill smirked surreptitiously, thinking, Heh heh... Ive fooled them. Just now, a bona fide Seventh Tier had completely failed to see through his disguise, and that was reason enough for rejoicing. As for the execution, he didnt care in the least. Leonard Churchill had never been afraid to risk his life. He didnt believe he would be the one in ten. Indeed, as he had anticipated, after the drawing of lots, the bodies of three unlucky ones were hung on the city wall. Leonard Churchill was unharmed. They were now very close to the Gold-digging Dock; it wouldnt take long for the Transcendents to cover a few dozen kilometers at full speed. General Heman led the Thorny Snake Corps and didnt bother to hide their tracks any longer as they rushed forth urgently. The primary mission of the Vanguard Legion was reconnaissance, not engaging in battle. At least until the end of the war, Leonard Churchill and his fellow members were temporarily resting in the camp. This place was relatively safe and had become the encampment for the subsequent troops of the Thorny Snake Corps. Not just a vanguard, but people kept coming continuously behind them. The soldiers faces showed fatigue, indicating that the Thorny Snake Corps had just experienced a lengthy march. Soon, over a hundred campfires were lit in the camp. The majority of troops began to rest and cook. The location of Leoounded by the main army. Entering the enemy camp alone was almost certainly fatal if exposed. Yet, far from fearing, this sensation made Leonard feel increasingly better. His identity as a scout also allowed him to better observe everything around him. Officers, army numbers, equipment, large siege weapons, and more... Quietly, Leonard had noticed everything there was to know about the Thorny Snake Corps. In his eyes, he also saw even more complex threads of fate. Not only individual threads of destiny but also those entwined with the Kingdoms fate and the fate of entire races... Countless threads interweaving, forming a tangled mess. This was why I am the world became increasingly difficult to master as one progressed further. Upon seeing this, Leonard couldnt help but feel impressed by how incredible Mushroomhead truly was. ... Quite a few people came from the Thorny Snake Corps, seemingly tens of thousands. After several hours passed since the vanguard had moved out, the following troops finally caught up one after another. They brought with them not just military forces but also a large group of humans slaves, collared and bound. After all, these people did not come to the Old Continent to wage war. They were here to reclaim land and hunt for treasure. Leonard glanced at those thousands of humans dressed in rough linen and knew they were destined to be the cannon fodder for exploring the Alternate Dimension. Just from the aura alone, it was clear there were no lack of Fifth or Sixth Tier card masters among the slaves. Seeing these slaves, Leonard felt as though he could already see the outcome if the Federation were to be breached and reduced to war slaves. Leonard swept his gaze over them. Strangely enough, he saw a huge cage covered with black cloth among the group of slaves. Weird, what on earth is inside that cage? Leonard was very curious. It looked like some kind of monster was imprisoned there. And the cage was located near the slave camp, as if it held some special kind of slave. Before Leonard could figure it out, a group of knights in golden armor surrounded a fat man and arrived at the camps of the Vanguard Team. Wherever there were people, it was always a society ruled by personal connections. After listening in, Leonard learned that it was Kuro, the deputy commander of the legion, who came to advocate on behalf of a well-connected individual. You see, Kuro, your Vanguard Team seems to be pushing all the glorious achievements outwards... You clearly discovered East Wilderness and were in for a collective first-class meritorious service. But now, due to your greed for credit and rash actions, Commander Ron is dead, and youve startled the enemy... If this news reaches the Marshal, its not going to be as simple as whipping ten and killing one. Lord Lam, you know that none of us could do anything about Commander Rons decision. I really need your help this time. Oh, and I almost forgot... these are treasures received from those people in the East Wilderness. I havent had the chance to give them to General Heman yet, if you wouldnt mind passing them along... Tsk tsk, those guys from th youll still need to rely on yourselves. Explore more, gain more merits... Have you heard that the Royal Family of Augustus has continued their legacy? There must be plenty of good stuff in the East Wilderness... Rest assured, Lord Lam, the moment our Vanguard Team finds anything, well be sure to let you have the first look. All these are trivial matters. Oh, one more thing, has your Vanguard Team found any clues yet? The Holy See is looking for a few Curse Jars, and theres been no news yet; upstairs isnt pleased with the progress... Havent found any yet. The Old Continent is too vast, and weve only explored up to here. By the way, Lord Lam, what exactly are those jars? Theres no pattern or reference. There are plenty of broken pots here in the Relics, but if we actually come across the real thing, Im afraid we wont even recognize them... I have no idea either. But from what I hear, finding those jars is a death command from the upper echelons of the Holy See. The priority is even higher than the Imperial Mausoleum of Augustus. Thats why theyve brought that monster along... Just keep looking. Its definitely not any ordinary jar; I think it might be some ancient artifact with strong Magical Power... ... Leonard, who was eavesdropping, initially thought it was just a simple bribery conversation. However, as he listened, he started to feel odd. Jars? Could it be the two he was carrying on him? Upon further consideration, now that it was confirmed that the jars contained an Old God from ancient tier ranks of the Ariel Empire. But, what did those fellows want with the jars? Chapter 924 - 287: A Heroic Toad Chapter 924: Chapter 287: A Heroic Toad The portly Lam left the Vanguard Teams camp with great satisfaction. Leonard Churchill silently watched from above the ruined building, his brow slightly furrowed. He glanced again at the giant cage in the distant slave camp and pondered, If the jar the Ariel Empires top brass is after is indeed the pottery jar in my possession...arent I just delivering it to them? Leonard didnt bring anything else, but he always carried the two Spell Clay Pots with him. Not only do these pots have a speed-enhancing effect on cultivation, but more importantly, they can prevent curses and exempt the bearer from some Super Tier Mysterious Type spell probes. According to Noah Wright, everything in the universe has its own threads of fate. That Leonard could obtain these two jars was already a part of his Luck. Carrying them also amplifies his own Luck. This is why many like to wear special Relics to ward off evil, eliminate disasters, and boost their fortune. Essentially, the objects themselves contain properties that can affect a persons own Extraordinary Traits. However, since the Spell Clay Pots are of such a High Tier, even Noah Wright couldnt specify what benefits they would bring. But he said at least Leonard has been carrying them for so long without incident, which means his Life Pattern can withstand them. Mysterious system spells like Divination come with a cost. Considering the jars already contain an Outer God sealed within, an existence of such a tier is simply beyond human divination. Thats where the hidden effect against mysterious spells comes into play. However, since that fat man mentioned the monster in the box is for finding the jars... If it really is the two I have on me, could it be that it has actually already discovered the jars on me? This was Leonards worry. His thoughts scattered in his mind like countless threads, turning his brain into an extremely complex maze where some ideas collided while others continued to extrapolate... In the end, he came to two conclusions. First, the monster hadnt discovered them. Second, it discovered them but didnt reveal it. Both his intuition and deduction told Leonard that the latter was more probable. If the Ariel Empire went through so much trouble to transport such a large cage, it signifies that the monster certainly has the ability to detect the presence of the jars. And at such a close range, if it had the ability to detect, it would have discovered them already. Tsk tsk, interesting. It found out but kept it to itself... which means the monster in the cage isnt fully under their control, huh. Leonard concluded and suddenly grew curious about what the creature actually was. Needing to be imprisoned and heavily guarded suggests that the relationship between the monster and the Thorny Snake Corps might not be friendly. Its likely being forced to assist in the search for the jars due to some special reason. Normally, if Leonard wanted to ensure his safety, leaving now would be the best option. There was no telling when the monster might reveal the existence of the jars on him for some reason. However, the decision to leave flashed through Leonards mind and was almost immediately dismissed. He chose to stay. While it was risky, it also spelled opportunity. Seeing those pure human War Slaves earlier, he knew that the Ariel Empire was not entirely united. The presence of so many slaves indicates that the rebelling forces were not weak. The enemy of an enemy is an ally, and although there was risk, Leonard saw a glimmer of opportunity to break the stalemate. .... The battle at Gold-digging Dock raged on for a long time and was fiercely contested. The sounds of explosions could be heard clearly even tens of kilometers away. Although General Hemans Thorny Snake Corps Vanguard had more than one Seventh Tier, Gold-digging Dock had also spent a great deal of wealth and resources on defenses during this period and was not easily breached. Moreover, the dock was also where Barre Shepherd and a group of the Federations top combat powers were gathered. Armed with detailed intelligence from Leonard, these proud figures were certainly not going to retreat without a fight. This side had initially thought it would be a blitzkrieg, but it ended up dragging on for much longer. However, more reinforcements kept arriving. Leonard informed Catherine Carter of this situation. He didnt know the specifics on her end, but he was aware that the Lionheart Family would definitely not be keen on defending Gold-digging Dock to the last. Finally, a terrifyingly earth-shaking explosion announced the end of the battle. The space in the Underground Cave world, being like tunnels, meant shockwaves had nowhere to go and surged like floodwaters everywhere. In the brief moment following the explosion and earthquake, shockwaves swept through the entire camp. It was the first time Leonard had seen such a massive blast. Sand and stones lifted by the blast from dozens of kilometers away were painful against the skin, let alone the horrific conditions at Gold-digging Dock. In the camp, buildings crumbled, dust flew, and chaos reigned. The soldiers of the Thorny Snake Corps were unanimous in their expressions of shock. Lacking mechanical technology in the Southern Continent, they also lacked fundamental understanding of physical explosions. What happened! How could there be such a huge commotion! Damn it! Those people from the East Wilderness didnt just blow up Gold-digging Dock, did they? ... Leonard narrowed his eyes, looking over the disordered camp, and understood the Lionhearts tactics. The previous war of attrition was meant to deliberately attract enemy reinforcements. To draw in reinforcements for a devastating Destruction Series suicide bombing attack. Bombs may have a limited impact on High-Order Card Masters, but quantity must be considered. The scale of the explosion led Leonard to suspect that the guess was correct, Gold-digging Dock was probably obliterated. But when it came to casualties, the Federation might not have the upper hand. Chapter 925 - 287 A Heroic Toad_2 Chapter 925: Chapter 287 A Heroic Toad_2 This tactic kills eight hundred of the enemy, but harms us a thousand. But Leonard Churchill knew that what was being fought over was morale. If considering battle damage, the best option for the Lionheart Family would be to retreat and play Empty City. But they did not. Instead, they chose to pay a great price to hold their ground head-on. Fear always stems from the unknown; there were already many in the Federation who favored surrender before the battle had even begun, thinking they had no chance of victory. Most people were waiting and watching. Without any hope of victory in sight, no one would willingly head to their death. Yet these two tough battles now painted an entirely new picture. The previous interception of a seventh-tier enemy broke the fear in everyones heart within the Federation that Super Tier enemies were invincible; This battle shattered the myth of the invincibility of the local corps; These two opening battles laid the foundation for unwavering morale in the many years of prolonged warfare that would come. ... The chaos in the camp continued. Leonard Churchills gaze swept through the entire camp. This kind of sudden chaos could expose a lot of hidden intelligence. Just like how Leonard Churchill saw tents being overturned all around, but a certain tent steadfastly remained still. It was clear that there must be a master inside. So the Thorny Snake Corps is hiding big shots... Leonard Churchill had thought it was just a corps coming to fight a war, but it now seemed it wasnt so simple. There was also the presence of a Mysterious Military Supervisor. And at that moment, Leonard Churchills eyes suddenly sharpened. The shockwave from the distant explosion also instantly lifted the black covering off the iron prison cart, and Leonard Churchill saw the monster inside for the first time. It was a huge... Warts Toad covered in festering boils? The toad slumped in the cart, not only with its shoulder blades pierced by chains dripping with blood, but its limbs were also bound by Magic-sealing Chains. It seemed those people were very worried about it escaping. Eh...? Leonard Churchill initially thought it was some sort of Demon Beast. But looking at the toads lazy eyes, his intuition told him this was a human. Leonard Churchill had previously encountered a Totoro that could speak and had seen many Demon Beasts with no small amount of intelligence. But even the most intelligent Demon Beast has a look in its eyes different from that of a human. The eyes can see the soul. A cursed human? And coincidentally, just as Leonard Churchill glanced over, the warty toad also looked right at him. In a camp of tens of thousands, it happened to fix its gaze here. Even with just a moment of eye contact, Leonard Churchill immediately understood that this fellow had seen him. Sure enough, it knows about the jar on me! Leonard Churchills pupils constricted slightly, but then the corners of his mouth raised in a curve. He had guessed rightly; the toad had long since discovered the jar on him. And just with that one look, he was also certain that the other party bore no malice. There might even be an opportunity for cooperation. Seems like I may have a chance to make contact with that toad... Leonard Churchill murmured to himself. Since the other party could sense the presence of the jar, it must know some secrets. After a moment of chaos, the guards once again covered the cage with the black cloth. Having spotted the master in a certain tent, Leonard Churchill didnt dare to look any longer. He also began tidying his own tent that had been blown messy, and then, the communicator he had been focusing on suddenly vibrated with an encrypted message. A simple message: I am still alive. Leonard Churchill read it and inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. The recent explosion must have also caused heavy casualties for the Lionheart Family; he had been worried that this old friend had died in battle. Then came another message: Your friends are also well. Leonard Churchill read it, and the last trace of concern in his heart also dissipated. Barre Shepherd and Sophia Jones had joined the battle largely because they trusted him and had agreed to work with the Lionheart Family. Thankfully, there had been no accidents. With the awaited news in hand, Leonard Churchills mood brightened. .... Soon, news from Gold-digging Dock came back. The process went more or less as Leonard Churchill had conjectured. General Heman leading the Vanguard Team couldnt quickly take down the heavily defended Gold-digging Dock and was stuck in a stalemate; reinforcements arrived later for a strong assault and finally broke through the city, initiating street fighting... But unexpectedly, in the midst of the battle, the Lionheart Family blew up both the city and the entire dock. Leonard Churchill did not witness the horrific scene first-hand, but it was said that rock walls for miles around crumbled and fell into the bottomless Abyssal Rift. Although the explosion didnt kill high-tier card masters including General Heman, the Thorny Snake Corps suffered significant losses. This battle silenced the entire Thorny Snake Corps. The main corps took a hit, and the people of the Venomous Bee Vanguard Group Leonard Churchill belonged to felt somewhat relieved. See, it wasnt that we were weak; the enemy was just too cunning. Before, only their Vanguard Legion bore the brunt of the blame, but now that the General himself had arrived and still failed to achieve the expected results, the pressure suddenly lessened. And whats more important, those people failed to rapidly conquer the Gold-digging Dock and cross the Abyssal Rift. The Divine Artifact chain connecting to the Gold-digging Dock had also been taken back by the Orlan Royal Family. The East Continent and the Middle Earth Continent had completely lost contact. However, looking at the reactions from different factions within the camp, the Ariel Empire appeared to have some special means of crossing the Abyssal Rift. That made sense. After all, the Southern Continent and Middle Earth Continent were also separated by a rift, and there must be special means to cross it. But bringing that thing over would take some time. Leonard Churchill was not particularly surprised. The course of the battle had almost all been within his expectations. What came next would be a long game of guerilla warfare. Half a month passed in a flash. With Gold-digging Dock gone, there was no longer any reason to remain in this wasteland. The Thorny Snake Corps set off towards the new cities that the Federation had established on the Old Continent, like Lion City. Chapter 926 - 287: A Heroic Toad_3 Chapter 926: Chapter 287: A Heroic Toad_3 However, after arriving there, what was left were mostly just empty buildings; the hunters had long since heard the news and scattered. Even so, there are probably several millions of people from the Federation in the whole Old Continent, with someone being captured almost every day. The Thorny Snake Corps, aside from interrogating for some intelligence, doesnt kill these prisoners of war. Instead, they use them as cannon fodder to pioneer the Alternate Dimension. Leonard Churchills Venomous Bee Vanguard Group was still tasked with scouting. But it wasnt blind scouting. Those people seemed to have parts of the Old Continents map, and that Warts Toad guiding them towards certain specific directions to explore. Since these people from the Ariel Empire were here to find the jars, besides the relics, they spared almost no Alternate Dimension. Others didnt understand why. But Leonard Churchill understood all too well. After all, he had obtained one of the jars in the Greedy Mining Well, an Alternate Dimension whose tier wasnt high, it was just very well hidden. But it required unlocking a very high level of difficulty to be obtained. They didnt miss any space, so the exploration progress was not fast. Also, the personnel consumption was very large. Follow-up troops from several other Red Dragon Kingdoms legions arrived, as well as a large number of war slaves. Until this day, they came to a city ruins called Waren City, where they discovered an Alternate Dimension called Waren Rebel Camp. The main legion stopped. This was a Fourth Tier Alternate Dimension; the difficulty was extremely high. Several batches of cannon fodder were sent in, but only a bit of preliminary information was explored. Leonard Churchill also understood some of it. These guys seemed to know certain directional clues, and whenever they discovered some special historical plot, they would focus on exploring it. This Waren Rebel Camp seemed to be related to the jars or something like that? However, Leonard Churchill wasnt concerned about any Alternate Dimension. Because he finally found an opportunity to get close to that Toad. .... The Old Continent was vast, and after entering the city, the Thorny Snake Corps spread out as well. Like a large net unfurled, they fished over a wide area and pioneered multiple Alternate Dimensions simultaneously. However, the Venomous Bee Vanguard Group was one of the best reconnaissance groups, and they always followed the main force. Leonard Churchill had been looking for an opportunity to get close to that Toad for several days. The legions were spread too thin, even now, the main force had only about a thousand people. The personnel configuration was also somewhat strained. Waren Rebel Camp, this high-difficulty Alternate Dimension, not only consumed a large number of war slaves but also some soldiers who entered it. After another batch of main forces were diminished, the Vanguard Team was also responsible for the work of supervising those slaves. The opportunity came that day. The slave was not only to be watched but also fed daily. And one of the tasks was to deliver food daily to the Toad and clean the excretions from the prison carriage. Normally, this wouldnt be a problem, but getting anywhere near that prison carriage, one could smell a poisonous stench of decay from afar. This task was the most despised job in the entire camp. Leonard Churchill was disguised as Joel, a silent type, and he was the one to do all the dirty and tiring work in the Vanguard Team. So, once the Vanguard Team was tasked with supervising the slaves. This job naturally fell to him. Leonard Churchill did not show any abnormalities. For three days in a row, he delivered food and cleaned the prison carriage. Even though he had the chance to contact the Toad, he did not make any moves. It was until the fourth day that the guards guarding the prison carriage became familiar with his face. Seeing Leonard Churchill come to clean, those guards kept some distance to avoid being contaminated by the stench. He started the routine cleaning with a thick black cloth covering his mouth and nose. Leonard Churchill seemed to observe more closely than usual. But this time, the Toad took the initiative to speak: You are very clever. Any stranger approaching would surely be under surveillance. I didnt expect that you resisted talking to me in the past few days. ... This remark slipped into his ears, causing Leonard Churchills pupils to shrink slightly. Normally, a Fourth Tier card master wouldnt notice that kind of surveillance, but Leonard Churchills Intention was now very adept. Combining it with I am the world, he deduced the Cause and Effect threads tangled around the Toad, and he was certain that approaching this guy would certainly be risky. These past days, he had always vaguely felt he was being watched. Therefore, he had made no moves, not even daring to misuse his Shadow, but instead silently observed where that risk came from. Moreover, he had to observe the Toad himself. If the Toad was an idiot with ill intentions, he definitely wasnt someone to cooperate with. His thoughts whirred rapidly in his mind, but his hands did not stop moving as he continued to clean up this guys green stinking feces that seemed deliberately unleashed, causing the guards to avoid going even further away. Although the Toad had spoken, it didnt use its mouth. It employed a skill akin to ventriloquism. Seeing that Leonard Churchills expression had not changed at all, the Toad also said appreciatively, Tsk tsk, quite courageous indeed. You knew I had discovered you, yet you didnt flee but instead came closer to me. In that case, you certainly arent from the Red Dragon Kingdom. Weird, youre not a Dragon Betrayer either... Oh, you must be someone from the East Wilderness Card Master Federation, right? Cooperation is always mutual. If the Toad had been approached by a fool, it would definitely not have spoken. After all, the people from the Red Dragon Kingdom wouldnt give fools a chance to live. ... Leonard Churchill still did not respond. The Toad was patient as well. Both remained silent, observing everything about each other. Finally, Leonard Churchill was the first to ask a question, Do you have something that would be of value to me? The basis of cooperation is the exchange of valuable things between the two parties. Chapter 927 - 287: A Heroic Toad_4 Chapter 927: Chapter 287: A Heroic Toad_4 Leonard Churchill approached the toad because he wanted to try his luck. He wasnt clear about what the other could offer him. If the benefits werent sufficient, he would definitely not continue taking risks. When he spoke, no sound could be heard either; he had learned this secret skillDirectional Sound Transmissionfrom Catherine Carter. The toad looked at the secret skill with a trace of surprise in its heart. But then it felt it was to be expected. Without this method, his disguise wouldnt have been so perfect. It replied, I havent exposed you for having that thing. Is that enough? Leonard Churchill replied indifferently, Not enough. This thing falling into the hands of the Red Dragon Kingdom would be even more disadvantageous to you, or perhaps some other people. This was the result he had deduced from countless possibilities over the past few days. The other party had not exposed him, and it was not without reason. The most likely reason was that this thing in the hands of the high echelons of the Ariel Empire would be very disadvantageous to the empires enemies. This guy was a prisoner; of course, he did not want to see his enemies grow stronger. Upon hearing this, a genuine flash of surprise swept through the toads eyes, Hey... Ive always thought you were quite cautious. Now it seems, I still underestimated you. As he spoke, he shifted his tone, However, your way of acting is also what makes me see you as the most hopeful person to save me thus far. From these words, it seemed there had been many attempts to save him before. But the fact was, he was still in the prison cart. In other words, those people had failed. Leonard Churchill asked calmly, Why should I save you? In the dialogue of intelligent people, there was no need for beating around the bush. If the toad could offer value, what he would have to repay in return would certainly be saving it first. Hearing this, the toad seemed to understand something and said with self-mockery, So you dont recognize me, huh. Heh, thats right, I suppose anyone wouldnt recognize me in this monstrous form... Without any further delay, it continued, If you knew my Professional Sequence, youd understand why I was imprisoned. And we would also have a basic foundation of trust. Leonard Churchill was curious as to what reason the other could use to convince him, Oh? The toad said lightly, My Card Master Professional Sequence is Heart 10 C Hero, and my advanced profession is Dragon Slayer. Dragon Slayer? In an instant, Leonard Churchill understood. He was no stranger to this sequence. The Giant Dragon Hunter which he merged in the Third Tier was a special card of this professional sequence. You could tell from the name alone that this sequence was the enemy of great dragons. It was no wonder that this guy was captured. However, why had the Dragon Slayer turned into a toad? The toad apparently knew that Leonard Churchill would surely be curious and said, As to why Ive become like this, its because Ive been cursed. I cant discuss the details now. If youre willing to take a risk, we can discuss a cooperation. If not, then I advise you to leave this place as soon as possible... Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill pondered for a moment, then asked, How to save you? Advancing in certain Professional Sequences required not only talent and Marks but also a personality and behavior that matched the person. Just like Reuel Bible, who belonged to the Diamond 6 C Outlaw, couldnt possibly advance to a High Tier without a heart of justice. Given that this toad could be locked up with such thick chains and had not turned into a monster, its tier must have been quite high before. That it could advance to a High Tier also meant it could be called a hero in a certain sense. At least from this aspect, there was no reason to doubt his character. This was also why the toad had mentioned the basis for cooperation. Indeed you have courage! The toad, hearing his continued resolute response, admired him once more and countered, Do you dare to take the risk? Leonard Churchill realized something, This Alternate Dimension? As soon as he said this, he understood immediately that the Waren Rebel Camp Alternate Dimension was definitely not simple. And the toad knew something else as well. So, from the start, it too had been creating opportunities for him to make contact. Tsk tsk... There are indeed masters everywhere. Leonard Churchill had thought he was the only one putting serious effort into making contact with the other; he didnt expect that the toad had also been laying out plans in the shadows. Leading the Thorny Snake Corps here, with heavy casualties, followed by the Vanguard Team taking over the watch... Steps that appeared to be just as they were meant to be. But now, hearing these words, Leonard Churchill saw a discreet, unremarkable thread of a plot beneath each link in the chain of events. The toad seemed to realize that Leonard Churchill understood everything, too, and was equally surprised without saying much more. It commented from the bottom of its heart, Your tier may not be high, but your sharpness of mind is the greatest I have ever seen. Your Professional Sequence is quite special, isnt it... Prophet? Bard? Wise Man? Leonard Churchill didnt say much, only replied indifferently, What do you need me to do? The toads tone was also very serious, Prepare for the possibility that you might die. At that statement, Leonard Churchill, far from being shocked, in fact, gave a sly smile. Chapter 928 - 288 Camp Mode, Rebels Chapter 928: Chapter 288 Camp Mode, Rebels Ready to face death? Leonard Churchill was aware of why the Toad had given him such a reminder. After all, in the Toads eyes, he approached it as an East Wilderness spy also seeking to gain benefits. If the risk was too high, no sane person would pay with their life for a stranger they were working with for the first time. Unfortunately, risk had never been the priority in Leonards decision-making. His mind always focused on the opportunities behind the risks. Looking at the current situation, This mysteriously originating Toad definitely had no small number of secrets tied to it. After all, High-Order card masters of the [Hero] Sequence are usually figures from epic legends. They even have a wider spread of tales than the kings of the [King] Sequence, whose names are recorded in official history. ... Leonard directly asked, Is there anything special about that Alternate Dimension? The Toad caught a hint of strangeness. It seemed the guy in front of it wasnt at all concerned about the danger it had warned of? A flicker of surprise passed through its eyes, but it responded, Theres a way to unlock the Slave Collar. Hmm. Listening, Leonard understood everything. All the slaves wore a Slave Collar around their necks. Including the Toad. The collar could track location, and could be detonated on command. Once a slave escaped beyond a certain range, the explosive Curse on it would be passively triggered, blowing the persons head off; This was also the most important means by which the Red Dragon Empire could control so many slaves. So, if Leonard wanted to rescue the Toad, the first thing he must manage was how to remove the collar. Looking for a key was almost out of the question. In the past few days, seeing every slave wearing a collar, Leonard had purposely inquired about it. The type of collar worn by the slaves is specially made by the Red Dragon Royal Military Workshop and requires a specific Curse key to be opened. And the key is usually only possessed by high-ranking military officers. The collar on the Toads neck was obviously a special make. Leonard guessed that even General Heman of the Thorny Snake Corps would likely not be able to open it. Even if he could, Leonard wouldnt consider that route. Because he couldnt beat them. So if Leonard wanted to save it, he had to figure out another way. And the Toad was well-prepared; it had found this Alternate Dimension. Even the Fourth Tier Disaster Level of the space seemed to be tailored for Leonard the spy. It was as if it was waiting for him to make contact. After being involved in a few high-stakes games set up by Noah Wright, Leonard wasnt surprised that the Toad could achieve this much. If it were himself, he would have done the same. After all, it wasnt easy to see even a glimmer of hope of escaping the cage. But what Leonard was more curious about, why was the Toad so certain that there was a collar key in the Alternate Dimension when it had never been there? .... Listening, Leonard had actually decided to make the trip. His current identity was Joel, and even if the Alternate Dimension was truly dangerous, there were more than one path to choose from. He directly asked, What will I get afterwards? For both parties working together for the first time, there was no deep relationship to speak of. In such a case, the terms of the benefit exchange needed to be made clear. The Toad liked this straightforwardness and said, You and your backing force would gain the friendship of the Rebel Dragon Army. ... Upon hearing this, Leonard paused for a moment, thinking, This guy really takes me for a spy from the Card Master Federation. Now the predicament of the Card Master Federation lay before him. They were far weaker in strength compared to the Southern Continent. The Thorny Snake Corps in the Red Dragon Empire was only a second-rate force. In the Ariel Empire, it wouldnt even be noteworthy. Yet such a corps had the power to obliterate the entire Federation. Even in guerilla warfare, the combined forces of Catherine Carter and the Revolutionary Army stood no chance. Winning against the Thorny Snake Corps would only lead to a relentless stream of reinforcements. Once the enemys support troops poured into the Old Continent en masse, casualties would increase dramatically. So a powerful ally was crucial. And the Rebel Dragon Army was the Revolutionary Army within the Airel Ancient Dragon Empire. It was an alliance of pure-blooded humans established to resist the rulership of the Dragon Descendants. If the Card Master Federation had such a strong ally, familiar with various intelligence, the situation would turn much better in an instant. Most importantly, these Rebels held the card master legacy of the Taron Kingdom from three thousand years ago. They possessed an abundance of Super Tier transcendent knowledge. This was something Leonard needed very much. As he pondered these things, the Toad threw out another bargaining chip, Besides, the plot of this Alternate Dimension involves some significant epic historical events and comes with very rich rewards. I can provide you with some targeted intelligence, allowing you to more safely claim those high-tier rewards. If you manage to get through this Alternate Dimension, you might even obtain Epic items. This was somewhat overselling it. Leonards expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. But what surprised him was something else. This guy seemed sure of certain plots and items in the Alternate Dimension? How did he know? Thinking of how the Thorny Snake Corps had brought him along to search for pots, he seemed to understand something. Did this guy have a prophecy-like treasure-hunting ability? Or some sort of perceptive talent? Wait! Isnt the [Hero] Professional Sequence path not meant for brutes? Leonard didnt rush to agree but simply said indifferently, Lets hear it. Regardless of whether he would go or not, listening would do no harm. The Toad didnt find his caution to be an issue at all. Given that this collaboration put the prisoner at a disadvantage, it outright said, The Waren City Rebel Camp plot is tied to a real gladiator uprising that happened in the history of the Taron Dynasty. The battle of Waren City ended with the Rebels being exterminated. But I can tell you for certain that not all the Rebels died. A man named Goron Frederick ultimately survived. At the time, he had an important ancient relic for preserving life... if you can secure it, it will be a reward for your risk-taking venture. However, this is not part of the normal plotline, and the difficulty of acquisition will be extremely high. Chapter 929 - 288 Camp Mode, Rebels_2 Chapter 929: Chapter 288 Camp Mode, Rebels_2 Speaking, he paused, Of course, if you develop the plot difficulty high enough, you might even find clues related to the Augustus Imperial Mausoleum in this Alternate Dimension... Thats also what those Red Dragon royals are looking for. ... Hearing this, Leonard Churchill confirmed that this toad really knew the plot. What Relics, mausoleum clues, and all that werent important... This guy directly mentioned a name. That was an extremely crucial plot anchor. Everyone knew that the death rate in this Alternate Dimension was very high, and this applied to both Non-Player Characters and Adventurers. As long as he could confirm that this plot character would not die, then by following him, observing him, he could greatly improve his own chances of survival. The value of this information was immense! The toad also knew that it was not in a position to bargain. Leonard Churchill said, Ive seen that armor before. Upon hearing this, there was a clear note of expectation and surprise in the toads voice as it asked in astonishment, That armor is in the East Wilderness? Leonard Churchill: Yes. Then, as expected, the toad said what he had guessed, Thats the armor of my ancestor Frederick. ... At this point, Leonard Churchill really didnt know what to say. Although there were many fake nobles in the Federation who misappropriated ancient surnames to glorify themselves, he did not think this toad was boasting. It was about a hero after all. But it all sounded too coincidental to be true. The toad guessed his skepticism, and stated directly, The underside of that armor should have a damage mark. Thats where my ancestor was bitten by the Great Dragons fangs during a battle. Even if it has been repaired, it should still have a flaw... ... Listening to this, Leonard Churchill truly believed it. No wonder he had been puzzled at how such a fine piece of armor could have a flaw so it was because of this? Fate seemed to play the fool, popping up unexpectedly in the least imaginable places to startle you. The toad too was shocked by the coincidence, murmuring, I never imagined that my ancestors armor would be passed down... ... It had to put enough chips on the table to make the spy from the East Wilderness think it was worth betting his life on. Before Leonard Churchill could ask anything, it continued, But you have to be careful. A very important reason why that siege rebellion failed was not just because the enemy was strong. It was because there was a traitor among the Rebels. Another crucial plot point! Leonard Churchill asked, Who is it? The toad replied, I dont know. Its a piece of missing history thats been covered in dust, no one knows what happened. Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill hesitated no further and directly voiced the doubt in his heart, Then how do you know? What was certain was that the losses suffered by the Thorny Snake Corps were so severe precisely because they did not have this intelligence. At these words, the toad fell silent for a moment, as if reminiscing about something, not responding immediately. .... Waren City was a Relic that had not seen human activity for thousands of years. This Waren City Rebel Camp was also an Alternate Dimension that had never been explored before. Leonard Churchill had initially thought it would be like his exploration of the Holy Grail War, where this guy had probably explored related plot spaces before, so he knew some of the plot. Unexpectedly, it mentioned something else that took him by surprise. The toads tone carried an inexplicable pride as it arrogantly said, The reason I know... is because my surname is the brave Frederick! Such surnames were rare; the chance of a surname collision was very slim. Leonard Churchill understood then. That surviving Rebel was very likely this toads ancestor. No wonder it was so sure that plot character would survive. No wonder it knew so much. So this Alternate Dimension was the story of its ancestor? That made sense. It was like connecting the most crucial piece of a puzzle, immediately making the logic sound. At this moment, in Leonard Churchills eyes, it was as if he saw a fate line that had twined through thousands of years emerge from ancient times, landing on this toad and also entwining his own fate line. And this interwoven fate line could possibly extend into the future for countless years. ... The toad seemed to think Leonard Churchills reaction a bit muted, expressing surprise, Havent you Easterners heard of this epic surname? This was an epic surname, the name of a hero! Leonard Churchill fell silent, ... He guessed that the name might be famous. But he had indeed never heard of it. After all, all books in the East Wilderness were burned during the City of Ember battle three thousand years ago. He searched his memory and indeed found some legendary stories in the poems of some Bards. But it all seemed to have nothing to do with the toad before him. Oh, and one more thing! The most recent contact he had had was with the invincible defense level five Relic Frederick Is Silver Shining Armor acquired by a Vampire during the Flood Gang battle. Leonard Churchill responded truthfully, Sorry, but theres been a severe disruption in the East Wilderness civilization. Ive only heard of an armor with that surname. The toad seemed somewhat bored before, but upon hearing this, it quickly replied, Frederick Is Silver Shining Armor? At the same time, it asked, You... where did you learn about this armor? That was also what Leonard Churchill wanted to ask; the toad had just named the armor outright. Until now, everything Leonard Churchill had heard from the toad seemed like listening to a story of some other civilization completely unrelated to himself. Chapter 930 - 288 Camp Mode, Rebels_3 Chapter 930: Chapter 288 Camp Mode, Rebels_3 But because of a set of armor, this story became entangled with his own cause and effect. However, these were not the immediate concerns to be sorted out. Leonard Churchill had in fact already decided to enter the Alternate Dimension, and after listening to so much, he simply wanted to infer whether there were other causal lines behind this matter. He always felt that the toad had other, unspoken purposes. Yet, Leonard Churchill didnt sense any malice, so he didnt beat around the bush and directly asked, Another question, how did you discover me? He raised the question that puzzled him the most. The toad wasnt surprised he would ask this and said, I could sense the Pottery Jar because of the curse on me. But those jars are entangled with some God Tier secrets, and even mentioning certain names could lead to contamination. Rest assured though, Im an exception. Those from the Red Dragon Kingdom have no way of detecting it... ... Listening to this familiar rhetoric, Leonard Churchill knew all too well what it implied. It was referring to the Outer Gods. But he had no interest in explaining that he knew he wouldnt be contaminated. As long as others could not detect the jars, that was enough. Now that the other party had essentially laid all the information on the table, Leonard Churchill did not feel entitled to push for more. This was the basis for an equal collaboration. The toad was straightforward, and he responded readily, Good! I will go into the Alternate Dimension. Without mentioning anything else, he would first secure the key to unlocking the Slave Collar. Hearing his tone, the toad still marveled, You do have courage indeed. If it werent so, Id think you were even more suitable for the Hero Sequence than me. In its view, spying for the sake of the East Wilderness at such great risk was already an unparalleled act of courage. Being able to decisively choose to participate in an Alternate Dimension with an extremely high death rate was even more of a heroic deed. Yet, what it didnt know was that everything Leonard Churchill did was not for the Federation, but purely for his own love of exploring unknown risks. And also, for the few close friends he had. ... The collaboration was reached, and everyone was overjoyed. Leonard Churchills task of cleaning the cage was also coming to an end. As for how to enter the Alternate Dimension, since the toad had mentioned it, it surely must have had a plan. Leonard Churchill didnt give it much thought. At last, the toad warned, Take care of yourself. The storyline difficulty to get the key will be very high. And once youre in the Alternate Dimension, I dont know what will happen either. But historically, that rebellion ended in failure. Leonard Churchill responded calmly, Hmm. Having experienced many high-risk Alternate Dimensions before, he was accustomed to such challenges. Watching him remain so composed, the toad suddenly felt a sense of incomprehension. Although they were collaborating, ultimately, he was risking his life for his own sake. After pondering for a moment, as if it had thought of something, it added a final reminder, Oh, one more thing... consider it extra compensation I can offer you now. Leonard Churchill: Oh? It was like a merchant presenting a free gift with a purchase. But not bringing up this gift until after the deal was done implied that the creatures character was indeed good. Leonard Churchill was still wondering what the compensation would be, but then the toad spoke again, offering an enigmatic bit of advice, If you have the ability to observe, try looking at the war from an outsiders perspective, and scrutinize the veins of that war closely. Perhaps then you might see some truths concealed beneath the surface. ??? Leonard Churchill was full of doubts. He seemed to hear yet did not understand at all. The toad evidently knew this and quickly added, If you cannot observe it, my words are meaningless. But if you can, you will naturally understand what Im talking about. Those things are usually only touched upon by card masters at the highest tiers, but the feeling you give me is very special... If you survive, you will inevitably come into contact with those matters in the future. Moreover, if you truly comprehend those truths, you might foresee some of what the Card Master Federation will encounter in this war in the future... ... Leonard Churchill suddenly understood. So thats how it was. Transcendent knowledge is like this, unreachable unless one attains a certain tier, making it difficult to witness the vistas beyond ones current level. He had no intention of forcing the issue. But what the toad referred to as the highest tier domain, could that possibly be above the Seventh Tier? Leonard Churchill was curious about what exactly it was. Had it been before, he might have been completely perplexed. But after comprehending I am the world, he vaguely felt something. It was like peering into the mists of the sky, where someone pointed the way, and as he focused, it all became clearer. ... In the days that followed, everything proceeded as usual. As Leonard Churchill had guessed, the toad had its own plan. No one knew what it had told the higher-ups of the Thorny Snake Corps, but they were acting like they were possessed, relentlessly stuffing people into the Alternate Dimension. It seemed they were about to achieve some result. But not quite there yet. The storyline difficulty was said to have reached Grade A. Consequently, there was a terrible toll on human life. The Alternate Dimension was impartial. Whether it was the powerful Red Dragon Kingdom or others, all beings were equal. The Fourth Tier disaster difficulty limited the tiers of those who entered, and to obtain a high rating, experts had to go in and break the challenge. The reinforcements from behind and the mercenaries hadnt arrived, while the slaves the Thorny Snake Troupe controlled were depleting. Moreover, after the loss at the Gold-Digging Dock, the high command of the Red Dragon Kingdom was very dissatisfied with the Thorny Snake Corps. Finally, the day came when everyone in the corps received an order. Within the corps, regardless of rank or status, Third Tier and Fourth Tier card masters Draw ten and conscript one. Chapter 931 - 288 Camp Mode, Rebels_4 Chapter 931: Chapter 288 Camp Mode, Rebels_4 As soon as the news broke out, there was a chorus of wailing within the legion. Leonard Churchill knew this was his opportunity, so when those guys in the Vanguard Team rigged the draw, he didnt take it seriously at all. He became the unlucky bastard without raising any suspicions, very naturally. ... That day. Outside the gate to the Alternate Dimension. Leonard Churchill stood among a group of soldiers with furrowed brows and gloomy faces, lining up to enter the space. These guys were all like him, chosen as the unlucky bastards. The one leading was Poison Hand Billy. This guy was a centurion, with considerable strength. Normally officers wouldnt need to participate in such explorations, but this time he was chosen. He cursed and swore all the way. Damn it! If you want to survive after you get in there, just follow the orders and dont fucking get me killed! Pay attention to the intelligence, dont cause any trouble. Once inside, send those slaves to the camp, and all of us will choose City Defense Faction, then regroup at the Administrative Government Residence, got it? ... Leonard Churchill heard, glanced at the intelligence in his hand, but he didnt take it seriously at all. Before long, they stepped into the space. You have entered Waren City Rebel Camp'' Current Disaster Level: Fourth Tier, current difficulty mortality rate: 77.8% Plot exploration progress: 66.4% Keyword: Camp Mode Clue: Waren City is a wealthy city on the frontier of the Taron Empire, renowned for its abundant food production. A group of rebels has infiltrated this small city, planning to forcefully loot the food reserves. Plot Mission: You and your teammates are refugees, you can choose camp missions, 1, Join the Rebels, raid at night to open the city gates, seize control of the city; 2, Join the City Defense Army, protect the citys notables, hold out until reinforcements... Tip: The settlement rewards for Camp Mode are related to the chosen faction; the truth of history is always written by the victors, the essence of war is not as simple as it seems on the surface, uncovering the conspiracies behind the event can trigger more difficult plot scenarios; Leonard Churchill read the tips carefully. It was not much different from the intelligence he had received. He did not choose to join the City Defense Army. Instead, he decisively chose to join the Rebels. You have chosen Rebel Faction, triggering an A-tier plot mission, seize the city and pillage grain, survive until reinforcements; the more Rebels survive, the richer the settlement rewards; The scenery around him changed, and Leonard Churchill found himself at a dark and quiet port. It was a river port outside of Waren City. Around him were a group of people with covered faces, their aura as dangerous as cheetahs. Their gaze periodically swept the surroundings, vigilantly scanning for any possible threats. An air of tension and oppression permeated the atmosphere. Leonard Churchill felt the somber mood and, rather than fear, his blood surged with excitement, thinking to himself, This is indeed a Gladiator uprising... These guys killing intent is really exaggerated. Because the outcome was already known, the Rebels attempt to steal the grain ended in failure, and these people would be surrounded and wiped out by the large army coming to reinforce Waren City. As a result, choosing the Rebel Faction starts with A-tier difficulty, with not a single survivor to date; This had been the outcome of many previous explorations. This is also why the Thorny Snake Corps never knew that this space contained the key to unlock the Slave Collar. Thats why that Poison Hand Billy had told the soldiers to choose the City Defense Army because it had a higher chance of survival. However. Toad said that Goron Frederick was its ancestor and survived. This is also why it was an A-tier plot and not an S-tier, there is always a glimmer of hope. And there was another breaking point. Which was that Toad said there was a Traitor among the Rebel troops. The plot in the Alternate Dimension could be changed. Leonard Churchill felt that if he could find the traitor, the result might be different. Chapter 932 - 289 Fairy Tale Town - White Crow Chapter 932: Chapter 289 Fairy Tale Town C White Crow The quiet harbor glistened with the dark waters ripples. Not far away, the lights of Waren City shone brightly. Leonard Churchill blended into a group of rebels clad in various burlap robes, meticulously observing every person in sight without making a sound. Any one of these people could be the traitor. He also had to find the ancestor of Toad, the man named Goron. About two hundred people disembarked from a few ships; their aura indicated they were elite fighters. Among them were not a few Fourth Tier card masters. Most were slave gladiators, heavy with killing intent, each one as alert as a leopard in hunt mode. Scanning the crowd, most had their faces covered, and no one spoke; it was impossible to tell who was who. Although he had already explored a few times before, since none of the people who joined the Rebel Faction had survived, there was very little intelligence. Leonard wasnt in a hurry; he carefully watched. ... The people who disembarked were still assembling. Leonard observed carefully, and suddenly a thought crossed his mind, Strange, if there is a traitor within the rebellion army, why didnt the military act to wipe them out before the fall of Waren City, instead of after paying a heavy price? From the intelligence he had received before, he knew that Waren City had become a camp for the rebels and was eventually almost destroyed and left with no survivors. The war had resulted in a large number of civilian casualties. As soon as this doubt surfaced in Leonards mind, he automatically deduced a possibility: Playing the long game to catch a big fish. The more than two hundred people here were just responsible for combat as the vanguard; if they couldnt win, they would retreat immediately. This was the flexibility of guerrilla tactics. But once they got their hands on the food, it would require a large number of people to move it, and the traces of retreat could not be concealed. Waiting for the main force of the rebellion army to appear, they would then be surrounded and annihilated. So, does this mean that the military is actually nearby? Thinking this, Leonards eyes twinkled with a hint of mockery, Interesting. To use an entire city as bait and make such a ruthless move... The commander planning this war is really severe... This tactic of luring the enemy out of hiding, tactically, makes perfect sense; it could indeed wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop; But from a humanitarian perspective, didnt that commander consider the lives of the Waren City civilians? This was different from Noah Wrights previous strategy in Sinless City, where he had no choice against the Crimson Sect that had already become a powerful force beyond the capability of a person to fight. However, the current gladiator uprising was an slave uprising with a huge power disparity. According to the intelligence obtained from Hero Toad, the uprising, whether in terms of numbers, equipment, or any other condition... The official forces had absolute power to crush the Rebel Army. Even in this Battle of Waren City. Yet in reality, the slave movements momentum was increasing, even showing signs of sweeping across the entire Taren Dynasty. The official reason was that they did not take it seriously at first, which led to the uncontrollable number of rebels. Leonard had also thought it was the case before. But now, thinking about it, was it necessary to sacrifice the residents of a city for such a rebellion? Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, and Leonard always had the feeling that this war seemed to be artificially spread. He suddenly thought of something, Is this the warfare rule that Toad wanted me to observe? ... At this moment, the people from several ships had all disembarked. Everyone fell silent. A sturdy man lifted his cloak, revealing his resolute big-bearded face and the twin swords at his waist. This was the leader of the Rebel Faction troops from the southern part of Taron, Blood Blade Batis, a Fifth Tier gladiator with exceptionally strong strength. He lowered his voice and began to speak, There are about two thousand City Guards in Waren City, mostly concentrated at the magistrates residence. Therefore, I need twenty brave warriors to sneak into Waren City with me and open the city gates. Then we can charge in and capture the city, seizing the food... As soon as these words were spoken, some people raised their hands. Ill go! Boss, count me in, Haines! ... The vanguard that came this time were all warriors who had been bloodied in the Gladiator Arena. No one feared such a perilous mission. Blood Blade Batis nodded at a few and quickly assembled more than ten people. In the crowd, Leonards eyes shifted, and without hesitation, he stood up and said, Leader, count me in! Im skilled at disguise and better suited for sneaking in. Normally, adventurers were not required to participate in such missions. Just wait for the Non-Player Characters to open the door and follow them in. However, Leonard wasnt thinking about just leaving the Alternate Dimension alive; he needed to find the key to the Slave Collar and also Goron. Currently, his identity was that of a displaced person, with very low trust from the Non-Player Characters, so he needed to become familiar with them as quickly as possible. And Blood Blade Batis, as the leader of the Rebel Faction, was inevitably involved in key plotlines. This was also why, after analyzing the intelligence, Leonard believed Batis was the most likely person to know the plot involving the key to the Slave Collar. Blood Blade Batis gave Leonard a look, seemingly familiarizing himself with this new brave warrior, and said gratifiedly, Good! Youll come with me! Leonard nodded his head. Enlightenment appeared: C-level side mission triggered: Infiltrate Waren City, assassinate the gatekeepers, open the South City Gate; upon completion, receive a settlement evaluation and specific faction rewards based on participation; According to the earlier Enlightenment prompts in the Alternate Dimension, the rewards would vary depending on the chosen faction. In other words, the rewards might be related to the Rebel Army. Leonard didnt say anything more. However, to his slight surprise, two more people also stood up at this time: Well go too! This was a fifty-person team space. Chapter 933: 289: Fairy Tale Town - White Crow_2 Chapter 933: Chapter 289: Fairy Tale Town C White Crow_2 Thirty-eight slaves, twelve soldiers from the Thorny Snake Corps, all but Leonard Churchill were in the cityhe was in the rebel camp. Although their appearance was disguised by the will of the space, by their expressions, Leonard could roughly discern which were adventurers and which were Non-Player Characters. Leonard wasnt surprised that the others were going. But these two were war slaves from outside. Strange... Leonards eyes narrowed slightly. Although there were rewards for slaves meritorious deeds, survival was the first choice. To so desperately explore the space for its storyline didnt make sense. Moreover, Leonard had observed everyone just now, and it was clear these two had stepped forward only after seeing that he was going. So, did those two recognize me? Leonard now had a strong ability for logical reasoning, and he almost instantly understood what was going on. If the two really knew him, the only possibility would be that they were related to the Toad. Hehe, interesting, so the Toad was trying to save these two? Suddenly, Leonard understood that not only himself but also these two might have been planted by the Toad. Though the Waren Rebel Camp alternate dimension was difficult, for war slaves who were bound to die, this space, if it could remove their collars, was their only chance. After all, the Toad had high standards and must have realized that Leonard dared to come in because he possessed exceptional strength. Leonard wasnt surprised; he had felt that the Toad hadnt clarified some matters before, and now with these two showing up, the plot in his mind suddenly became clear. He also thought of something else, So, these two guys have special identities? Or perhaps, they could help break the space? ... Twenty people assembled and made their way to the fortress under the cover of night. Soon, Leonard learned the use of those two people. Waren City was surrounded by walls over ten meters high, but such a height was no obstacle for a High-Order Card Master. The real challenge was here. The Taren Dynastys level of both Machinery and Transcendent technology was very high, and there were alarm triggers all over the city walls. Once the alarm sounded, the infiltration would immediately be exposed, the city gates would be locked, various restrictions would be activated, and at that point, the chances of breaching the city would be zero. Gladiators were mostly brutish close-combat warriors, and few of them were proficient in curse restrictions. And no one noticed anything unusual. However, when a group was approaching a certain section of the wall, one of them suddenly spoke up, Be careful! Theres a curse restriction here that senses heat. The formation corner is at nine oclock, with a range of fifty metersdo not get close... Leonard looked at the tall, skinny young man who was one of the two war slaves following him. The Professional Sequence of Diamond 8Spellcaster. This was a sequence proficient in the study of various restrictions and curses. Seeing this, Leonard thought the people the Toad had planted indeed might be useful. The leader, Batis, glanced at the man and approved, Good! The group avoided that route and chose another break in the wall. Without triggering any alarms, they had already successfully infiltrated the city. The original plan was for everyone to forcefully break through and kill the few squads of city guards, then open the city gate. Leonard took this opportunity to stand out and proposed, Leader, allow me to try first. Although he knew that no matter what they did, the military encirclement was already in place, the process still had to be followed. His action also successfully earned him some recognition. Leader Batis approvingly nodded, Whats your name? Leonard Churchill, he said casually, since no one knew him anyway. ... The plan to forcefully defeat a few teams of city guards and kill them would create a huge commotion, and the slightest mishap could But to silently take down a single guard and then disguise himself was much easier. Leonard crouched in a corner where a guard was unceremoniously urinating, took him down, changed into his uniform, and then boldly entered the gate control room. The city gates of Waren City were mechanical and could not be forcibly destroyed by human strength. But similarly, if the control room was taken over, it would be difficult for those outside to open it. This was a Fourth Tier Microspace, where the strongest beings were usually of the Fifth Tier. But such beings would not be assigned to gate duty. Leonard infiltrated the control room with his perfect disguise and with his powerful strength silently took down a team of guards, directly opening the gate of Machinery City. Enlightenment suddenly appeared: Completed Mission C-level Mission: Breach the City. Excellent evaluation, rewarded with an additional bonus of +30%. Leonard also conveniently sabotaged the control system, ensuring the city gate could not be closed anymore. This stunned Batis and his group outside. They had never thought breaching the city defenses would be so easy. They had expected a fierce battle. As soon as the gate opened, over two hundred gladiators poured into the city with the force of a thunderbolt, heading straight toward the governors residence. Although the Waren City Guard outnumbered them ten to one, they were scattered by the gladiators before they managed to regroup. The most unfortunate were Centurion Billy and the rest of the Thorny Snake Corps who had chosen the City Defense Army. They had just entered the space and hadnt had the chance to trigger some plot missions before the city was ablaze. Not good, Lord Billy, the rebels have entered the city! Damn it! How could those rebels have come so quickly? Isnt the intelligence report said that they would battle fiercely at the city gates? ... But the worse was yet to come. Unfortunately, Leonard also knew their rendezvous point clearly. And from the intelligence, he was already familiar with the entire layout of Waren City. Chapter 934: 289: Fairy Tale Town - White Crow_3 Chapter 934: Chapter 289: Fairy Tale Town C White Crow_3 His heroic behavior had previously earned the trust of the Rebellion Army, and at this moment, Leonard Churchill was leading a group of fierce fighters from the Rebellion Army, charging straight at the members of the Thorny Snake Group. Even though the Centurion Billy had considerable combat power, he was slain by the godlike Blood Blade Batis under his twin blades. Eleven of them, not a single one spared. This also saved Leonard some effort. Since his identity had already been suspected when he chose the Slave Camp, it was imperative that none of these Thorny Snake Corps members could make it out alive. .... The Governors Mansion also had Fifth Tier Knight Captains and elite Knights, but that was no longer Leonards concern. The Gladiators turned into bloodthirsty wolves, each one of them frenzied in their killing. Over two hundred Gladiators managed to make the City Defense Army flee in a few engagements. Leonard also performed valiantly, taking down some himself. The things he needed might be in the plot, as well as in the final evaluation rewards. Slain City Defense Army, contribution points +1, extra completion reward +0.2% Completed D-tier task, slain City Defense Knight Captain Jim... Completed C-tier task, captured the Governors granary steward, obtained intelligence... Completed B-tier task, breached Governors Mansion, participation 97%, increased chance to draw from Special Cards Lottery ... With the eleven Thorny Snake Corps members dead, Leonard was the only one in the Alternate Dimension who knew the intelligence. Though none of those who hadnt chosen the Rebels Faction survived earlier, Leonard had already taken part in many difficult tasks and gained some insights. The world inside the Alternate Dimension was like a script with its own logical progression. It was like a main quest in a game, with many side quests to complete. He used that intelligence to directly clear seven or eight tasks without even triggering them. Plus, with the A-tier task he had taken on when he first arrived, as long as he could survive this time, there was a high probability that his evaluation would be A-tier or above. The chance to draw Rare Cards would also increase significantly. But what he wanted was not an A-tier clearance evaluation. It was S-tier. To directly clear this Alternate Dimension, so the uncertainties after getting out were not in the control of the Thorny Snake Corps. That Toad had stuffed two people in here for that reason too. Just as he was thinking, two blood-covered men who looked like they had been through a fierce battle approached him. The tall and skinny boy was the Spellcaster who had previously detected the Restriction on the city wall. Seeing that there was no one around, he took the initiative and said, Are you the gentleman Mr. Aragon referred to? My name is Allen. Leonard sized up the two men without saying a word. He had just found out that the Toad was called Aragon. He could see the Air of the two men, but oddly enough, he always felt that the shorter man seemed a bit strange. Allen, seeing Leonard not saying anything, thought he was rather arrogant and initiated another conversation, Mr. Aragon said we should follow you, claiming you might help us. Leonards eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, What abilities do you have? As you can see, I am a Spellcaster.'' Allen spoke and introduced his companion, This is my friend, Brulu. Leonard listened and his eyebrows raised slightly. A favor from the Toad was to be repaid. But if they were of no help to the plot, Leonard would not carry two dead weights. He would find a place for the two to hide and wait for him to crack the Alternate Dimension. Laying low was the best form of cooperation then. However, he didnt believe the Toads act of inserting two people was just for as simple a reason as cooperation. Leonards playful gaze turned toward the other man who had never spoken. He was willing to cooperate with someone who revealed only bits and pieces of himself, guessing that the Toads real intention lay with this person. But he didnt aim to probe the others identity, instead simply saying, Then just find a place to hide. ... Hide away? Allen frowned upon hearing this. To him, he had already been quite polite, yet this person was too cold. And a bit too arrogant, wasnt he? No matter what, he was a Spellcaster of no small strength. If not cooperating, thats fine, but to be asked to hide away? His expression clearly showed disagreement, seemingly convinced that this East Wilderness spy was not all that impressive. Did this guy really think he could achieve a Super Tier clearance in this difficulty level of the Alternate Dimension by himself? ... Leonard caught the others expression but didnt feel the need to explain those misunderstandings. Instead, his gaze flickered again toward the one called Brulu. This guy was very well disguised, entirely unremarkable. If this had been before, Leonard could not have spotted any flaws. But I am the world had a very special ability. In the world he understood, if there was an existence that was beyond comprehension, the lines of cause and effect would be peculiar, like a BUG. This Brulu gave Leonard such a strange feeling. He couldnt pinpoint the problem. But he vaguely felt there was a problem. And couldnt articulate what the problem was. All he could do was infer from the side that the Toad had a deep purpose for inserting this person. And most importantly, this guy could disguise perfectly, whereas his companion couldnt. To Leonard, Allens slight expressions already betrayed that this Brulu was not simply a companion. If the other party was unwilling to speak, Leonard wasnt going to ask. So no cooperation was the best cooperation. You... Allen wanted to say something more. That Brulu, realizing it was impolite to still be wearing his cloak, lifted it off to reveal an ordinary face dotted with a few freckles. Chapter 935: 289: Fairy Tale Town - White Crow_4 Chapter 935: Chapter 289: Fairy Tale Town C White Crow_4 She interrupted her companion and said with a smile, Allen, this gentleman has already noticed. You dont need to say anymore. Clearly a male, yet he spoke with a very soft female voice. Leonard Churchill watched her composure, his gaze narrowing slightly: indeed, there was a problem. However, he was more curious about how such a clever disguise could be achieved. The person introduced themselves, My name is Alice. Because my identity in the Rebel Dragon Army is quite special, I have always been in disguise. However, Mr. Churchill, your disguise is even more ingenious. ... Allens expression changed drastically upon hearing this, seemingly shocked that his companion had revealed her real name. The information that this name pointed to, if known by anyone, could be exchanged for top honors at the Holy Church! Alice guessed her companions thoughts and shook her head, Its okay. This gentleman hasnt even heard of Mr. Aragons name, let alone mine. This woman was very smart. Leonard Churchill looked at her demeanor and became increasingly curious. Mr. Toad had introduced someone with a very special identity into their midst. It seemed she had been mingling among the slaves with this perfect disguise without being discovered. Of course, the likelihood that she had survived until now was probably due to Mr. Toads protection from the shadows. Alice said, Before, I didnt have much confidence in leaving alive. But now, seeing Mr. Aragons high appraisal of you, I believe as well. You truly are special. As she spoke, she looked at Leonard Churchill, and suddenly there was a sparkle in her eyes as she added, If you dont mind the trouble, I can tell you my true identity, even everything you want to know... But Leonard Churchill interrupted her, shaking his head, No need. Just tell me what abilities you have. Identity was not important in the Alternate Dimension. He would find out once he made it out alive. Alice seemed to guess that he would not listen and nodded politely, saying, I am a Fourth Tier professional of the Heart 4 C Witch Sequence, the Dream Weaving Witch, skilled in curses similar to mind reading... Leonard Churchill asked curiously, Mind reading? But what he cared about was whether this ability could help break the game. Alice meditated for a moment, then added, More precisely, it is one of the Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skills, Fairy Tale TownWhite Crow. As she spoke, a white crow appeared on her shoulder. Allen, upon hearing his companion lay bare her abilities, couldnt control his expression, which was one of shock, as if to ask his companion: Is this guy trustworthy? ... Hearing this, Leonard Churchills pupils shrank slightly. Looking again at the Alice who was disguised as a young boy, she suddenly seemed different. The white crow was her Cursing Spirit. Yet, to master the Demon Gods Mysterious Technique was not just a matter of identity. This was not just any ordinary mind reading technique. No wonder he felt as if this woman could see right through his thoughts. So that was it. Leonard Churchill did not inquire further. To probe into anothers transcendent abilities was indeed an offensive matter. However, merely from her knowledge of the Demon Gods Mysterious Technique, it was clear that her identity was indeed anything but simple. ... As the other party revealed her identity and abilities, Leonard Churchill introduced himself politely, Leonard Churchill. Pleased to meet you both. Alice, accustoming herself like a princess, tilted her head elegantly, as if performing a half curtsey, Mr. Leonard Churchill, hello. Its a pleasure to meet you. The Allen beside him saw Leonard Churchills clown-like professional smile and thought sullenly, comparing it to the indifference shown towards him earlier, Does this guy have two faces, one just now, and another at this moment... Leonard Churchill liked to work with smart people; it saved words. He didnt waste any words and directly asked, So, Miss Alice, have you found that Goron? Alice shook her head and stated plainly, No. I have been observing all along but didnt notice anyone like that in the team. Later, when the others arrive, Ill ask around. Hmm. Leonard Churchill listened and wasnt surprised, as he had thought the same. If Goron hadnt been discovered before, the likelihood was that he hadnt entered the city yet. It wouldnt be too late to inquire later. He then asked, What about the traitor? Have you discovered anything? Alice shook her head again, No. I used the Mind Reading Technique to check those around me before; either that person wasnt within my observation, or they have some special item on them that prevents such mystical methods from probing. ... Leonard Churchill listened, his eyes reflecting his thoughts, but he wasnt too surprised either. Considering the current difficulty of the plot, if there was a traitor, they must be part of a highly challenging hidden plotline. The chances of being exposed by a Mind Reading Technique were slim. Alice seemed to feel that she should help somehow and added, However, if that guy has drastic psychological fluctuations, the chances of my sensing it would increase greatly. Drastic psychological fluctuations? Leonard Churchill thought of something, an alternative plan he had deduced before, and said, I do have a plan that we could try... To earn an S-tier rating, the plot must be delved into deeply. This traitor was a crucial part of it. ... The Rebel Dragon Armys two hundred brave warriors broke through Waren City. At that moment, the city was engulfed in warfare everywhere, the warehouse had been opened, and mounds of food were discovered amid cheers of joy. After discussing their plan, Leonard Churchill went to find the leader Batis to execute it. He left Alice and Allen at the original spot. Allen looked at his companion with concern, Sister Alice, I think you shouldnt trust a stranger too much... I mean, if he gets caught, or under any hypnotic interrogation, just mentioning your name could bring about big trouble. Moreover... Alice cut off his worries, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, That gentleman is trustworthy. Allen glanced at her, Ah? Is it because you sensed something with your Secret Skill? Alice remembered something, a hint of astonishment in the depths of her eyes, No. Mr. Leonard Churchill is very special... Not only could I not read what he was thinking, but instead... I only saw a group of demons in his heart. Allen was a bit confused and echoed, A group? Demons? Yes. Alice nodded, explaining, Normally, his condition would have led to Mental Deformation by now. But he hasnt. Hes still exceptionally wise. Just that fact alone indicates that he possesses an extraordinary intellect. Moreover, my Demon Gods Mysterious Technique, which can deceive even the Seventh Tier, was actually noticed by him. His transcendent abilities are very special, too. I suspect its some sort of Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skill... The Mind Reading Technique felt not like reading one persons thoughts, but rather a chaotic mess, as if dozens of people were mixed together. That was what astonished her the most. Allen still didnt quite understand, Ah? Is he that amazing? Alice smiled slightly, If Mr. Aragon thinks highly of him, of course hes amazing. Allen couldnt help but retort, No matter how amazing, hes only a Fourth Tier... We only have a slight chance of achieving an S-tier completion by cooperating, the three of us. Yet I always feel that guy wants to go it alone from the beginning? Oh! I know, they say the East Wilderness is very barren, maybe there arent such high-difficulty Alternate Dimensions there. As his companion rambled on, Alices eyes gradually deepened, and she voiced her own insight, No. That gentleman must have experienced something more dreadful than death. That is why he has such a firm mind. After a pause, she added softly, I actually think that without us, the gentleman might have an even higher chance of completing the high-difficulty level... Allen was greatly puzzled, his gaze deep, Ah? Sister Alice, dont you think youre rating him a bit too highly... Alice herself hadnt figured out where Mr. Leonard Churchills confidence came from. She brushed away the complex thoughts and said, Lets not talk about that anymore. Since weve agreed to cooperate, lets just wait and see the outcome. In any case, Mr. Aragon was captured while covering for me. I must rescue him. Hearing this, Allen nodded earnestly, Yeah! With that, the two also disappeared into the courtyard. Chapter 936: 290: Is the Traitor the Rebels Leader? Chapter 936: Chapter 290: Is the Traitor the Rebels Leader? The battle in Waren City continued. After the Governors Mansion was breached, the Rebellion Army moved on to the mansions of various nobles in the city, engaging in a fiery rampage of burning and killing. The fires that devoured the city shot up into the sky, igniting the signal for assembly. The Rebellion Army, hiding in the darkness outside the city, flocked towards Waren City. Breaching the city was just the first step of that A-rank main quest; it was surviving afterwards that posed the real challenge of the mission. The main storyline had just begun, and Leonard Churchill was in no hurry. First, he triggered all the various difficulty quests that could be triggered according to the intelligence, then he had been scavenging inside the Governors Mansion. The most valuable things in Waren City were all here. With his proficiency in various lockpicking skills, he found many hidden safes that the Rebellion Army had not had time to open. His haul was considerable. A Mechanical Drawing [Heavy Steam Mechanical Siege Arm], a set of Silver heavy armor, a Golden Quality [Black Shining Stone Dagger], a Silver [Black Knight] Sequence Demon Mark, several Extraordinary Materials, a few hundred pounds of [Vine Demon Black Wheat] that could restore Curse Power when consumed, several Demon Beast Crystal Cores... All these were items that could be taken out of the Alternate Dimension and were the rewards for the high mortality rate of the Rebel Faction. If one could make it out alive, these items themselves were of substantial value. However, other than the food, these gains were not of much use to Leonard Churchill. What he sought were key items that could trigger hidden storylines. Moreover, Leonard also had a great interest in the history of the Taren Dynasty from three thousand years ago. The Governors Mansion housed the largest collection of books in all of Waren City. Leonard found a large number of historical books in a ransacked library. Although he could not take those books out of the space, he could read them on the spot! Leonards efficient reading ability came into play immediately. As it turned out, intelligence could be life-saving at critical moments. Having a bit more knowledge was vitally helpful for this Alternate Dimension, where the evolution of real historical events played out. Although the Taren Dynasty was decadent in its later years, its level of civilization was only higher than the present, not lower. The City Lord Manor had a large number of briefings, internal documents of the nobility, and other materials, which provided a lot of useful intelligence. Taron Calendar 3301, February 3rd, a riot broke out in the Gladiator Arena of Thunder City. Thirteen gladiators stormed into the Governors Mansion and killed the slave owner. They later formed a Rebel Faction with the citys slaves... Taron Calendar 3302, August 11th, an uprising at the Frostwolf Mountain Prison, one hundred thousand miners joined the Rebel Faction... Taron Calendar 3303, January 15th, The Four Knights under the King Grand Marshal Us Cornelius led an army of three hundred thousand and fought the Rebels on Blood Moss Plain, crushing the Rebels and beheading their leader, the Gladiator King Barbarian Balor, killing two hundred thousand enemies... ... Leonard paid close attention to the numerous reports about this slave uprising. These newspapers had detailed timelines and also included the events, locations of battles, and the participants. In Leonards eyes, those snippets of information were like beads of crystal clarity. Strung together along the timeline, certain causes and effects automatically played out in his mind. Like beads threaded into a curtain, they gradually radiated the mesmerizing luster of a dreamlike story. After reading some intelligence, he also had a general concept of the causes and consequences of the Rebel Army. Unfortunately, many details had been lost to the great fire, leaving fragmented information. This restriction was probably intentional by the Spatial Will. As Leonard continued browsing, he stumbled upon another important piece of information. Taron Calendar 3300, January 23rd, the King of Augustus died. A nationwide draft of craftsmen began to construct the Imperial Mausoleum... conscripting eight hundred thousand slaves... Forced conscription of slaves to build an Imperial Mausoleum, huh? Leonard mused over this piece of information. He guessed it might have been one of the catalysts for the slave uprising. However, intelligence was one thing; as Leonard perused those newspapers and notes, his consciousness fell into a very profound state. Keep in mind, these were newspapers from thousands of years ago! Yet, when looked upon, there was not a hint of incongruity. It was as if the events could still find their traces in todays newspapers. Oppression, resistance, violence, suppression... Indeed, as Noah Wright previously said, if one looked far enough into history, there would be nothing new under the sun. The scripts swapped around seemed to weave familiar stories, simply changing the names of the protagonists. Tsk, tsk, Mushroomheads scripts are truly profound... Leonard grasped that ephemeral insight, contemplating thoughtfully. And as he riffled through, he found a Sheepskin scroll tucked away in a corner. Unfolding it, it was a map of Waren City. It showed not only the internal street layout of the city but also the terrain of the surrounding suburbs. The city was surrounded by an expansive plain with abundant water sources and fertile black soil, making for a rich granary. Open spaces bordered the city to the east, south, and north, while a vast area of Dark River and various Underground Caves lay to the west. Most of the Rebels hid in those far-reaching burrows, retreating into the holes like field mice at the first sign of danger. Only by luring them onto the plain could they possibly be annihilated. Seeing this map, Leonard also had a rough understanding of the official armys ambush plans. If it came to fleeing for his life, the west was the only way out. .... The data was plentiful, and sorting out clues from a mass of useless information required a great deal of effort. Knowing that the plot could change at any moment, Leonard could no longer pay attention to anything else and quickly flipped through the information. Chapter 937: 290: Is the Traitor the Rebels Leader?_2 Chapter 937: Chapter 290: Is the Traitor the Rebels Leader?_2 In the study, only the rustling of the flipping pages and the oscillating gaze that read lines with a tenfold speed could be heard. It was as if Leonard Churchills eyes were scanning through densely packed subtitles racing by at fast forward in the Void. He continued to read rapidly, assisted by the Shadow, his brain running at high speed. Soon, the already cluttered study was strewn with the chaotic spread of open pages. Even though he sensed someones arrival, he did not stop. ... Previously, Leonard Churchill and Alice had split up to look for clues, agreeing to meet later to discuss their next steps. In the one or two hours since, the Rebellion Army reinforcements had arrived in droves, the city plunged into chaos with tens of thousands of troops. Feeling Leonard Churchills location, Alice was somewhat surprised that he was still in place after so long. She then returned to the Governors Mansion with Allen. Seeing the disarray of the study, both were profoundly astonished. Books, newspapers, scrolls were all over the floor, not randomly thrown there, but all showing signs of having been gone through. Oh, they must be looking for some key clues. Thinking this, the two of them walked in. Allen had some reservations about Leonard Churchill, the haughty spy from the East Wilderness. He looked at Leonard Churchill, who was still engrossed in various documents in the study, and muttered disdainfully, We risk our lives in the city to gather information, and this guy is leisurely reading books here... Even though he knew it was also for clue-gathering. But it seemed their risk was so much greater. Alice, on the other hand, read something unusual from the rapidly moving eyes of Leonard Churchill and a thought occurred to her: Could all these books have been gone through by him? Yet the volume of information in the study was so vast, it would take a normal person months to digest it all. This guy... Without any explanation, Leonard Churchill directly asked, Miss Alice, have you found any clues? Although his acquaintance with them was short, he had a rough idea of their abilities. Allen was just a big boy, still maturing mentally; Alice, although she had a very special professional ability, seemed to have lived in a very stable and comfortable environment, smart as snow but not quite sagacious. At least their approach to solving the mysteries of the Alternate Dimension was quite formulaic. The two of them used a common method for clue finding: triggering conversations with Non-Player Characters. This saved Leonard Churchill some effort. It was also part of the earlier cooperative division of tasks. Alice responded, We asked the Rebels and learned that to remove the Slave Collar, we need to find Master Gamil, who is said to be a legendary spellcaster. But he wasnt in the city; someone mentioned seeing him in the Rebel Armys camp before, but now its uncertain... As they spoke, a trace of disappointment crossed both of their faces. Without unlocking the Slave Collar, all efforts will be in vain. Leonard Churchill nodded, Hmm. Hearing their findings, he was not at all surprised. The Slave Collar wasnt part of the Waren Rebel Camp storyline. Like the Holy Grail he had obtained earlier, to get it, one would inevitably have to trigger extra hidden storylines. This required fortune and could not be rushed. Seeing Leonard Churchills always composed expression, Alice ultimately didnt say anything and continued, As for Goron... we couldnt find any information. She said with a puzzled look, We asked many people, but no one had heard of him. It was as if there was no such person in Waren Citys Rebels. No one? Leonard Churchill looked up at her as he heard this and frowned. The number of Rebels in Waren City must have exceeded tens of thousands by now; in theory, simply asking more people should have turned up someone who had heard of this Goron Frederick. Could it be that he was just a run-of-the-mill passerby unknown to others? But surely not to the extent that no one had even heard his name, given that the Toad had claimed his ancestor had been involved in and become famous from the battle of Waren City? At this remark, all three in the study fell silent. Allen murmured, Could it be that its been so long that Aragons ancestors got it wrong? This was indeed a possibility. Alice probably felt the same way, her expression darkening. If they couldnt find this plot anchor, surviving this A-level storyline would be difficult, let alone the still elusive S-level. However, after hearing this, Leonard Churchills train of thought expanded. His ability to deduce instantly reached its zenith. Sometimes. The absence of clues was in itself a kind of clue. If the Toads ancestors had gotten it wrong, surviving this Alternate Dimension would be challenging. But assuming the premise that Goron was indeed in the city... Then why has no information been found? Disregarding the twos investigative skills, Leonard Churchill immediately thought of some possibilities. It was as if Alice had sensed something. This clue was crucial, and she implored, Mr. Leonard Churchill, have you thought of something? Leonard Churchill was quite curious about her mind-reading ability and replied, Hmm, I have some ideas. He spoke plainly, Either Goron used a false name for some special reason, unknown to others; or he doesnt go by that name at the moment... Ah? Upon hearing this, both Alice and Allen looked shocked, as if thinking: Can it be considered in this way? At the same time, they both looked at Leonard Churchill, hoping for an explanation. Leonard Churchill shook his head, indicating that he hadnt figured out the follow-up, and said, Whatever the reason, this matter seems quite complex. But card masters who follow the path of a hero always have a special quality. Focusing on this aspect might turn up something. Chapter 938: 290 Is the Traitor the Rebel Leader?_3 Chapter 938: Chapter 290 Is the Traitor the Rebel Leader?_3 [Hero] A card master passing through is destined to shine brightly. A person with the traits of a hero cannot hide their brilliance in times of danger. Even when drowned in a crowd, they would be discovered due to the shining traits they possess. Therefore, a crisis is needed. And now, the situation is still not dangerous enough. Leonard Churchills slightly narrowed eyes brimmed with a hint of insight. The halo of the Gambler of Misfortune had always brought him good luck in desperate situations. Leonard Churchill continued, However, before that, we still have some things to do. In a few hours, the official armys encirclement will completely close in, and we must find a way to root out the traitor. Only then can we seize some initiative in the plot progression. And this traitor is the only possibility I can see right now for triggering an S-grade Plot... Upon hearing this, Allen immediately questioned, But if we dont find Goron, even if we trigger the S-grade quest, we wont survive. ... Leonard Churchills brows tightened upon hearing this. This is why he didnt like working with unfamiliar people. Too much needs to be explained for trust and unconditional cooperation to be gained. Of course, this guys concerns were normal. A normal person would think about whether they can survive after triggering a quest. But Leonard Churchills thought process was always that the joy brought by exploring the unknown came first. He couldnt explain this. He initially didnt want to waste words explaining, but Alice, as if reading something, quickly explained, Mr. Leonard Churchill, please dont misunderstand, Allen meant no offense. Mr. Aragon asked us to follow your advice throughout. We have absolute trust in you. We will unconditionally cooperate with your plan. As she spoke, she earnestly looked at Leonard Churchill and asked, What do you need us to do? Just command us. Although this woman hadnt quite understood, she was quite clever. It seemed as though she hadnt asked anything, but Leonard Churchill couldnt well ignore her question. He could only say, Go and tell the leader Batis that I have found some crucial traitorous intelligence. Try to get as many of the Rebel Armys higher-ups to gather together. Ill create conditions to reveal some information. At that point, Ill need your skill to identify who the traitor is. If were lucky, we might directly find... You mean to tell them directly about the traitor? Alice, hearing this plan, not only found it unfeasible but expressed her concern: What I mean is... weve tried this method before, but those plot characters completely ignore anything we say about this Waren City battle being an official conspiracy... Hmm. I know. There was no surprise in Leonard Churchills response as he allowed a slight curve to form at the corner of his mouth, I have an idea... Because not just them had tried it. Many who came to the Alternate Dimension before had tried this method. They would tell the Rebels Non-Player Characters that it was a military trap after entering the dimension. But the fact is, the NPCs couldnt hear those words. So, intelligence said that the rule of the space is you cant spoil to NPCs what doesnt belong to the current progress of the plot. Leonard Churchill once didnt understand why, and thought it was a spatial rule. Only after touching upon I am the world did he realize it was a sophisticated cosmic operation law. Effect is the continuation of Cause at some future time point. And the essence of spoiling is to mention an Effect that hasnt yet occurred, to influence the Cause. This concept itself is contradictory. The notion disregards a premisethat information needs to involve causal lines within the same world. Adventurers are outsiders, like readers of a book, bringing information from a godly perspective. Their fate lines and those of the Alternate Dimension are like two parallel lines, with no intersection at all. Its only because of the Spatial Will that they are forcibly integrated into the storyline. So the Effects that are spoiled, lacking the necessary Cause from the same world. Without intersecting causal lines, NPCs cant comprehend information beyond their dimension. Its like readers facing an anxious storyline, telling the characters you should do this or you should do that, but the characters cant hear and will still follow the original plotline. And it was during those days in Flood Gang, playing poker with Noah Wright, that Leonard Churchill deepened his understanding of the world. He saw the essence of the ban on spoiling space rule. .... After discovering this law, Leonard Churchill didnt see the spoiler approach as entirely useless like others did. Instead, he hypothesized conditions to make this approach workable. Leonard Churchill believed that every move an adventurer made could affect the direction of the plot. So it wasnt that spoilers were impossible. It was just that the Spatial Will believed your spoiling method was incorrect. Telling the NPC directly is not allowed by the rules. This type of rule limitation felt like AI devices in Leonard Churchills previous life. If you ask it where I can find a massage parlor, under the influence of rules, it would say I dont know. But if you ask, I dont want to go to a massage parlor, which places should I avoid? it would be able to give you specific names of places. This isnt considered a bug in the system but rather using the rules themselves to exploit them. .... Ah? You mean to say... In the study, both Alice and Allen were dumbstruck. The plan was explained in just a few sentences. But Leonard Churchills thinking was very complex. And not everyone had his ability to understand or the cognitive deduction capacity of I am the world. Chapter 939 - 290: Is the Traitor the Rebels’ Leader?_4 Chapter 939: Chapter 290: Is the Traitor the Rebels Leader?_4 Alice and Allen both listened, completely befuddled. Leonard Churchill didnt elaborate on the rule loophole he had discovered, simply saying, You dont need to do anything, just have someone notify me in the study. Then Miss Alice, you just need to observe again... Remember to seize the right moment. Alice: ... Allen: ... Their gazes toward Leonard Churchill had become very odd at this moment. Although they didnt fully understand, they were impressed. They also noticed that this person in front of them really seemed different. His thinking was so out of the box that they couldnt keep up at all. Alright! Alice agreed without hesitation. She still didnt quite understand why the guy before her had thought of this method. But at this moment, they had no other choice. Saying so, the two left the study. Leonard Churchill watched as the study emptied, and suddenly, his Shadow beside him stood up, coalescing into a solid form. He looked at his Shadow with a smile, Ah, who could the Traitor be... Leonard Churchill didnt know who the Traitor was. But if the Traitor knew there was an unknown ally within the Rebellion Army, they would probably be very surprised too. .... Not much time had passed when the message from Alices side was presumably delivered. All of a sudden, an exaggerated burst of dark element exploded within the study. Bang Bang several loud combat shockwaves tore through several buildings. A Shadow darted out at high speed. There were already many from the Rebel Army in the Governors Mansion, and they were immediately drawn to the commotion. Whats going on?! Whos fighting? It seems to be coming from the study, one of our brothers encountered an assassin! Where did the assassin come from? Weve already killed all the noble guards. I just heard there was a secret report of collusion with the enemy found, could it be... ... Leonard Churchill, hearing the hurried footsteps outside, casually lay down in the corner. .... Almost in the blink of an eye, Leader Batis rushed into the study, now in ruins, with a group of people. Alice and Allen also ran over with the crowd. But the two were petrified when they saw Leonard Churchill under the broken walls, a dagger fatally plunged into his chest. If they didnt know it was part of the plan, they would have thought Leonard Churchill had truly been murdered. But... Did he need to perform this realistically? Why choose the chest, such a critical spot to be stabbed? This guy didnt mess up and really die, did he? The shock on their faces was not an act, but real, both in their hearts and expressions, as shocked as everyone else. Just as they were thinking this, Leonard Churchill coughed up blood. What others thought was a fatal wound was nothing serious for someone who knew the Undying Curse Secret Skill. It wasnt the first time he had been stabbed in the heart; he was quite adept with his hands. His exquisite acting made it look like he was a seriously wounded soldier on the brink of death. Leonard Churchill took out a blood-stained letter from his breast pocket and weakly said to the people, Leader, theres a... a Traitor collaborating with the enemy... weve been tricked... At this, everyones faces turned pale. Yes! The method Leonard Churchill thought of was to guide the Non-Player Characters to realize by themselves that there was a Traitor. This was prompting the creation of a Cause in the Cause and Effect line, rather than directly telling them the result that theres a Traitor. The essence was completely different. He perfectly skirted around the spatial rules. As for the content of the forged letter, it was completely irrelevant now. Leonard Churchill used his own assassination attempt to make those who saw him doubt that the killer could only be the Traitor. As long as the Rebel Army was immediately preoccupied with the thought of a Traitor. Certain people were bound to panic. Alice, also frightened by Leonard Churchill, feared he might die at any moment, quickly came over and poured a Potion she had prepared into him. But just as she turned her back to the others, she caught the look in Leonard Churchills eyes and immediately knew this was the critical moment. Alice released her abilities fully and indeed detected abnormalities. But her sidelong glance at the person with peculiar readings from her Mind Reading Technique revealed even greater shock. Because the person she sensed having an abnormal psychological fluctuation was none other than the leader of this Rebel Army... Blood Blade Batis! How could it be? Chapter 940 - 291 S-Class Scenario Chapter 940: Chapter 291 S-Class Scenario Leonard Churchills wise display during the citys breach, and his courageous leadership in charging the Governors Mansion, were all noted by the Rebellion Army. The gladiators were mostly hot-blooded, rash men, who also greatly respected warriors. This pre-established trust was a necessary condition for the plan. Moreover, the fatal wound of a dagger thrust to the heartno one would suspect it was a ruse. Nor would they guess that it was his own Shadow that had inflicted such serious injuries to Leonard. ... Leonard handed out the secret letter in his hand. It was written before with the pen and paper from the study, imitating the Governors handwriting. It contained several pieces of intelligence, mainly reports of someone secretly informing the military about the Rebels within Waren City. Leonard wasnt sure which elements the space rules would block, so he wrote a little from various angles. No matter which bit the Non-Player Characters could see, the deed would be done. At that moment, the people who had gone after the Shadow returned. Boss, that guy got away just now, we didnt catch him! He has excellent Dark stealth abilities, a professional assassin. With such skills, it could only be a career intelligence operative from the military... Boss, do we have a Traitor among us? This is bad; our movements might have already been under military surveillance. Even Waren City itself could be bait. What do we do now? There is still so much food in the city. If we dont move it, it will be difficult to sustain ourselves later. But if we try to move it, we might not have enough time. ... A group from the Rebellion Army scanned the letter, and each face turned extremely grim. ... At this moment, Enlightenment appeared, A-grade hidden plot triggered: Your actions have caught the attention of military spies hidden within the Rebellion Army. They have realized that the bait plan has been exposed. The famed general Marcus, leading the coalition forces of the city-states, is hastening the enclosure. The main mission line has changed, you and your teammates can choose to Break Through with the Rebel Army, or you can choose to survive in the city for three days. You cannot leave the space until the battle is over... Seeing Enlightenment, Leonard also breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself, Its done. Now, as long as those from the Rebellion Army realize theres something wrong with this operation, who is the Traitor doesnt matter anymore. The aim of identifying the Traitor was to change the outcome of being completely annihilated while surrounded, to seize some initiative. The main storyline has now changed. This was exactly the best outcome Leonard wanted. If he had followed the original A-grade main storyline, the Rebels in Waren City would have been entirely wiped out while besieged within Waren City. Leonard and his group would have had to defend the city to the death. In such large-scale war, whether one could survive depended entirely on luck. Plus, without finding the collar key, its highly unlikely to receive an S-grade evaluation. Such a completion held no meaning for him. Meanwhile, Alice and Allen, the two teammates who had taken actual team actions, also saw Enlightenment. The flickers in their eyes could not hide their astonishment: Could the plot be manipulated like this? Their original plan was simple, to use the intelligence they knew to find Goron, and then try to survive following that guy. Only by surviving could they consider finding the key and triggering hidden plots. Yet, this guy directly changed the main plotline? With a self-staged assassination, he irreversibly steered the story towards an uncontrollable plot selection mode that they now had the upper hand in! Now they could choose to defend the city or to Break Through. Amazing... Seeing the outcome, both Alice and Allen felt a simultaneous admiration and were thoroughly shaken by the ingenuity of the arrangement. No wonder Hero Aragon had such high praise for this East Wilderness spy and asked them to cooperate with him all the way. Now it was clear there was something exceptional about him. Working with the same intelligence, they had tried before without success, but this guy succeeded. Alice also knew that Leonards ability to solve space stories was far superior to her own. A card master of the Intelligence Sequence? Alice couldnt help but wonder. What surprised her the most was that many times she had tried using the Mind Reading Technique, she found that this guy was always thinking with an unnatural coolness. Even with a knife wound in his chest, he showed no signs of emotional fluctuation from the pain. That was what she truly found outrageous. This guy had a kind of absolute confidence and madness about his own plans. ... Hurry up with the food transport; I need to confirm some things. Everyone else, wait for instructions on how to proceed, he said. Yes, boss! they responded. ... The food reserves of Waren City were a matter of life and death for a million men of the Rebellion Army. Even if it was a bait, they had no choice but to bite. So, even knowing the dangers, they couldnt just give up on it right away. Leonard also kept a close watch on everyones expressions throughout. He noticed that Blood Blade Batis face noticeably changed upon receiving the letter, it wasnt just grave, but also complex. When he saw the flicker of surprise in Alices eyes, Leonard guessed that the real Traitor was indeed among them. Is the leader of this Rebellion Army the traitor? was his first reaction. But he dismissed it soon after. The bloodlust of Batis wasnt something a cowardly Traitor could fake. Most likely, the man had become aware of who the Traitor was. The hint of difficulty and remorse between his brows suggested that he might have a close relationship with the traitor. The group expressed their concern for Leonard, the wounded man, and then dispersed. Everyone knew that a fierce battle might be imminent. Only Leonard and his two companions remained in the dilapidated study. Chapter 941 - 291 S-class Plot_2 Chapter 941: Chapter 291 S-class Plot_2 Alice then dared to ask, Mr. Leonard Churchill, are you alright? As she spoke, her expression was filled with anxious urgency, after all, there were no doctors present, and such a lethal piercing wound could not receive effective treatment here. However, before she could say more, Leonard Churchill seemed to not care at all as he nonchalantly pulled the dagger from his chest, casually replying, Im fine. Blood spurted everywhere, leaving Alice and Allen standing next to him dumbfounded: How could he possibly be fine? The Curse Power of the Curse of Immortality Secret Skill rapidly gathered at the wound, silently healing his organs. Leonard Churchill had no desire to explain his abilities and chose to leave the external skin wound to make the injury appear more genuine. He even took out surgical needles and thread and deftly stitched up the wound himself on the spot. While stitching, his tone remained as calm as ever as he asked, Miss Alice, did you notice anything just now? Ah? Alice was clearly stunned for a moment, watching Leonard Churchill, bloody-handed, sewing his own wound as if she were shocked by this operation. Is this guy really a priest? In the Southern Continent, where modern medicine is absent, she could recognize the expertise in his stitching technique. He must be a very skilled Healing Path card master. After a moment of shock, she came back to his question and answered, Um, that... Leader Batis might know who the traitor is. Ive already sent a Cursing Spirit to follow him. No sooner had she finished speaking than she seemed to discover something and added, Batis is heading to a house about three hundred meters to the southwest. Some people are being held there. Since the Rebellion Army was comprised mostly of people from humble origins, although they had slaughtered many nobles after breaching the city walls, they had not harassed commoners. Oh? Hearing Batis was going to a house, Leonard Churchill suddenly stood up: Lets go have a look. Not to mention, Alices intelligence gathering abilities were indeed quite impressive. Currently, her range of perception was even longer than his own Shadow. Alice still could not believe it and asked, But are you sure... your body is alright? Leonard Churchill replied indifferently, Yes. With that, he walked out the door. Although he felt knowing the identity of the traitor was no longer important, his intuition told him that this line of inquiry might dig up some other hidden plot. Alice, aware that this was not the time for idle chat, followed him out the door. Allen, who was at an age where he held the utmost admiration for heroes, was thoroughly impressed by Leonard Churchills demonstration and couldnt help his curiosity. He sincerely asked, That... Mr. Leonard Churchill, how did you do that just now? Why didnt those people listen to me when I talked to them before? ... Leonard Churchill fell silent. It wasnt that he was arrogant. It was simply impossible to explain that kind of logical deduction ability. If you understand, you understand; if you dont, no amount of explanation will make you understand. Alice guessed it might have something to do with his professional abilities and found such inquiring to be rude. Without waiting for Allen to finish, she quickly interrupted her companions imprudent behavior, saying, When you dare to plunge a dagger into your chest just like Mr. Leonard Churchill, then youll know why. Allens expression turned strange as he heard this: Ah? Leonard Churchill said nothing, but he smiled. That explanation was indeed almost sufficient. .... The trio arrived not far from a house built of white stones. Two gladiators holding torches were guarding the entrance, though they didnt approach too closely. However, at this distance, Leonard Churchills Shadow could already slip silently into the darkness and infiltrate unnoticed. Alices White Crow Cursing Spirit also slipped in and promptly reported back, There are a dozen women inside, dressed like nobles... Leonard Churchill nodded, Mhm. He had seen them too. And he had heard their conversation. The women from the Governors Mansion, the ones Batis had previously taken great pains to protect. The traitor was among them. Just as Leonard Churchill had surmised, the leader Batis recognized the Insider. But he himself was unaware of it. Batis rushed into the house, directly confronting the red-haired woman in distress and demanded, Miss Manya, did you intentionally give me that information? The red-haired noblewoman named Manya was taken aback for a moment and did not deny it; she very calmly asked, You know? You...!!! Upon hearing her confirmation, Batis was as if struck by lightning. The plan to plunder Waren City had been known only to a few top members of the Rebellion Army, so the possibility of an ambush was extremely low. But there was another possibility! The problem lay at the source! And the source of the information was this Miss Manya! The daughter of Waren Citys grain officer! Years ago, Batis was a prisoner of war, then became a Gladiator Slave in Waren City. A noble young lady and a young, handsome slave had a doomed affair. The process didnt matter. What mattered was that, dealing with a lack of supplies, Batis thought of the rich granary of Waren City. Previously, to confirm the food reserves in the city, he had even personally disguised himself and infiltrated the city. When he had learned from the grain merchants of a bountiful harvest and considerable reserves stored in the city this year, Batis had smelled a whiff of conspiracy. But curiously, at that time, he happened to meet his former lover, who then gave him information that dispelled his doubts and decided the siege operation. Now it appeared that this had been a deeply laid plot from the start to the end. Exposed, the red-haired womans tone suddenly became sharp, and she stopped disguising her true intentions: Yes! Not only did I deliberately leak the information to you, but even Waren Citys bountiful harvest and the hoarding of so much grain without transporting it away, it was all arranged by the military, as bait to attract you! Chapter 942 - 291 S-Class Plot_3 Chapter 942: Chapter 291 S-Class Plot_3 You... Upon hearing these words, Batis staggered, barely able to stand firmly. Since the moment the spy was exposed, he had already guessed this outcome. Now, hearing it with his own ears, it was as if his soul had been ripped from his body, he murmured inquiringly, Why... why would you do this? He knew that his decision would lead to the death of hundreds of thousands from the Rebellion Army right here. The red-haired womans eyes were filled only with hatred and sorrow as she yelled, Those damn slaves killed my father, my brothers, my little brother... Batis, why do you think?! But that wasnt the loss brought by this citys fall. It was death on the battlefield. Batis wanted to explain. That with war, death is inevitable. But he knew it was pointless. Right now, he could only see a pair of eyes filled with raging fury. Once again, the red-haired woman said, The true nature of mankind is not to hate power, but to hate not holding it in their own hands! Even if you succeed, once you sit in that position, youll find theres no difference between you and them! Havent you noticed? Your Rebel Army raping and plundering everywhere, the high ranks treating pillaged women as playthings, hoarding stolen treasures in their own vaults... How is that different from the nobility you think are the root of all evil? You hate the nobility, you kill the nobility, I can understand that. But turning rape and murder of women, the slaughter of the innocent, causing endless bloodshed... into acts of righteousness? ... Batis couldnt retort. Not all nobility were bad people. But likewise, not all of the Rebellion Army were good people. Once the machine of war is set in motion, often it no longer changes by individual will. Batis knew she was right. After waging war these years, he had long seen through the essence of war. The Rebel Army also contained much of humanitys ugliness. Even with his strongest efforts to contain it, what war brought was ultimately pain and death. And now, the Rebel Army was no longer the group of like-minded comrades united to liberate slaves. After saying her piece, with a fatalistic and enraged tilt of her neck, the red-haired woman demanded, Kill me! Just like you killed my father and brothers! Batis sighed deeply, eventually having killed the women. He walked out of the room, disheartened. ... Before Batis entered this house, he was like a lion. But walking out of the room, he was like an old man approaching his twilight years. Complete B-level hidden plot: The Traitor of Waren City. Extra card draw chance +30% Watching this scene from a distance, Leonard Churchill and his companions also came to understand the whole story. The traitor was not among the Rebels, but was this red-haired woman instead. No wonder Aragons ancestors never mentioned who the traitor was; even if Batis knew, he wouldnt say it. After all, his former lover being the traitor was essentially no different from being one himself. Alice, after reporting the information acquired by the crow, also sighed, So thats how it is... Allen muttered, No wonder my Teacher always cautioned us that love truly can make one lose their mind. And as Leonard listened to those words, his eyes gradually deepened. At this moment, the story thread of Waren City Rebel Camp was nearly complete. The previous fragmented clues could now be connected to infer the cause and effect. In his eyes at this moment, he saw threads of fate stretching out before him. But the plot was one thing. Leonard thought of the words the Toad had said earlier, suggesting he observe as a bystander, looking at this war from an outsiders perspective. He saw certain phenomena that inevitably appeared in the aftermath of a war. Plague, famine, endless violence, the greedy sins of envy, unrestrained lust, the greed of getting something for nothing, burgeoning desire for power... All the ugliness of humanity, like sewer rats, could normally be concealed, but war was like lifting the manhole cover off the sewer, exposing all the darkness and stench. The inevitable rule following the outbreak of war, huh... Leonard pondered thoughtfully to himself. The most important point of I am the world is that every cause has its effect. Once a war begins, these uglinesses inevitably come to light. Its a universal law where seeing the beginning enables the prediction of the outcome. But at this moment, Leonard still couldnt accurately describe what he had come to realize. He couldnt grasp that elusive insight, as if trying to hold onto mist. And instinct told him that what Toad wished for him to observe was something else. About the deeper rules of war and strategy. ... Alice, observing Leonards contemplative expression, thought he was considering the next plot developments. With reflection, she said, That woman inside is from the military. And Waren City is doomed to fall, if we can save her, even if the city is breached, we can still survive. Hearing this, Allens eyes shifted as he agreed, Yeah! Alice sister is right. Even though we are part of the Rebel Faction, our mission is survival. This is indeed a clue to staying alive... No sooner had the words been spoken, Leonard began to speak, shaking his head, Its still not difficult enough. He didnt deny this approach, which indeed could be a way to survive and leave the Alternate Dimension, a feat befitting of an A-level military challenge. But it definitely wouldnt reach the level of S. Moreover, by choosing to surrender to the military, they would completely lose the chance to find the key to the Slave Collar. The key was with the Rebel Faction, and if they followed the main plot, they certainly wouldnt get it. Chapter 943 - 291 S-class Plot_4 Chapter 943: Chapter 291 S-class Plot_4 Leonard Churchills phrase, The difficulty is not enough, instantly pulled Alice and her companion back to reality. Indeed. The normal methodo logy to break through the Alternate Dimension was correct. But this time their goal was not just to survive. The two of them were also very troubled, unable to think of any other way besides this. Alice set her gaze on the contemplative Leonard Churchill and read his composure, saying, Mr. Leonard Churchill, what do you mean? Leonard Churchill replied with a single word, Wait. Wait? Alice and her companion didnt understand and were just about to speak. At that moment, Enlightenment appeared: Main storyline changed: Difficult Choices. Batis realized the fatal mistakes in his decision-making had brought catastrophic destruction to the Rebellion Army. In order to allow more people to survive, he planned to lead a Break Through before the encirclement closed completely, drawing the militarys firepower... Optional missions: 1. Join Batis in distracting the militarys firepower; 2. Break Through with the main force; After choosing a mission, trigger hidden storyline missions of the corresponding difficulty level. You... Alices crystal eyes widened in surprise. She instantly understood what Leonard Churchill was waiting for. Allen, whose mind was straightforward, asked in shock, Mr. Leonard Churchill, did you know that Enlightenment would appear? Yes. Leonard Churchill nodded. That was the conclusion he had deduced after observing Batis, the leader. That blooded Gladiator with a sense of justice and loyalty, upon realizing his mistake, would definitely try to make amends as much as possible. Now that the encirclement had not closed entirely, leading an escape and drawing the armys pursuit would immediately disrupt the militarys plans. The military men were eager to kill these High Tier slaves skilled in combat techniques, not the ordinary slaves like miners and stone masons. Therefore, they would undoubtedly send heavy troops to pursue Batis. In this way, more members of the Rebellion Army in Waren City would have a chance to escape. The storyline seemed uncertain. But understanding Batis character, it became clear that this was his only and inevitable choice. Leonard Churchill offered no further explanation, simply saying, You two should go with the main force. Itll be safer. If you cant get out, save the woman in the house. As long as you ultimately survive, thats what matters. While speaking, he resolutely chose the following missions branch. Enlightenment promptly appeared: S-tier storyline triggered: Following Batiss Break Through, To get an S-tier evaluation, the Alternate Dimension would disappear. But it made no difference whether this evaluation was achieved alone or with three people. Leonard Churchill chose to bear this risk alone. And he also felt that fighting alone would be more convenient in the subsequent battles. Upon hearing this, Alice immediately understood something and stated without retreating, Ill go with you! How could she not understand that he was once again intending for them to lie down? After all, this space was created to save them, and Alice would not stand aside, letting a stranger take on the risk! She felt she could be of help. And there was no other choice. To survive, she had to gamble everything. ... Leonard Churchill glanced at her. He quietly commended her in his heart, acknowledging the womans courage. But courage is one thing. For him, a teammate who lacked strength was more of a burden. Alice also understood the hint of concern in Leonard Churchills heart and quickly explained, My abilities are more suited for survival in combat. As she spoke, to show her determination, she immediately selected the Break Through mission, and the Enlightenment for triggering the S-tier storyline promptly appeared. ... Leonard Churchill watched her slightly changing expression and said nothing more. None of the Demon God Secret Skills were simple, and since she dared to speak in such a manner, she was certainly confident. Once Alice made her stance clear, Allen also wanted to follow along. But before he could open his mouth, Alice interrupted him, Allen, you stay in the city. There might be a hidden storyline triggered here as well. We need someone on this side. But... Allen wanted to say something more, but he was cut off by a look. Dividing their forces between two factions was indeed the most rational choice. ... The news hadnt spread, but the leader Batis had already started assembling his troops. Leonard Churchill and Alice chose the Break Through mission and hurried over there. After all, it was the first time they had encountered an S-level difficulty scenario, and Alice could not hide her concern. She knew that breaking out this time would almost certainly result in a slim chance of survival. However, what surprised Alice even more was that, despite the life-and-death choice pressing down on her to the point where she felt her breathing grow heavy, When she turned her head, She was surprised to find that the person beside her still had calm and profound composure in his eyes. Where did this guy get his confidence from? Or was it that he simply knew no fear? At that moment, Alice was truly astonished. She dispensed with her reserve and directly asked, Mr. Leonard Churchill, are you confident? Leonard Churchill replied with a casual smile, An S-tier task, who dares claim to be confident in succeeding? Listening, Alices expression blanked, But... But without any assurance, youre far too calm, arent you? Alice asked again, Do you have a plan for the storyline? Since they were going to break out together, Leonard Churchill had no intention of hiding anything and said, I dont have a plan, just a bit of speculation. Alice looked at him with unmistakable anticipation, Ah? She might not have believed him before. But as the storyline had developed to this point, she had come to genuinely admire Mr. Leonard Churchill from the East Wilderness. Leonard Churchill said meaningfully, A hero will not back down... I suspect Goron should be part of the breakout team. Alice, being sharp as ice, immediately got the point, Yes! The card master heritage in the Southern Continent was more complete than in the East Wilderness, and she immediately understood the meaning of his words. A hero, before becoming a hero, is not that easy to kill. With the protection of the hero fate, even if the storyline changes, it is still hard for him to die! This is fate, one of the universal supreme rules! That is to say, if Goron is a hero, he will most likely choose to break out. And furthermore, he will most likely survive! Leonard Churchill, seeing the realization on Alices face, smiled faintly and felt it saved his breath. An S-level scenario, for others, is mostly hearsay. But for Leonard Churchill, he had ample experience. Outside, he would definitely choose carefully in such a situation. But in the Alternate Dimension, even an S-tier difficulty scenario would have a sliver of hope left by the Spatial Will. It was just a matter of whether adventurers could seize that opportunity. The information he had obtained from Toad allowed Leonard Churchill to basically guess where that sliver of hope lay. He wagered that Goron would appear in the breakout team! Chapter 944 - 292 Cinderella, Rainbow River, Da Hong Pao, Werewolf Chapter 944: Chapter 292 Cinderella, Rainbow River, Da Hong Pao, Werewolf Comrades! It has now been confirmed that we have been tricked... The raid for grain was a military ruse, and we are now surrounded by heavy forces. It was a major misjudgment on my part, Batis, during the intelligence gathering process. Due to my own fault, we find ourselves trapped, and I have failed all of you, my brothers. My life is not worth grieving over... But right now, hundreds of thousands of our compatriots are also within the siege... I plan to charge eastward, drawing enemy fire to create an opportunity for our families, the elderly and children, to evacuate. I need some brave warriors to stand by me. But this endeavor might leave us with no return... Leonard Churchill and Alice arrived at the gathering point in the citys central square just in time to witness this tragic speech by the leader, Batis. The leader of the Rebellion Army did not hide the truth. He even took all the blame upon himself. But in truth, everyone knew that even if they were aware of the deceit in Waren City, they would still have risked coming. Because without food, the millions in the Rebel Army would eventually face certain death. No one else could have likely done better than Batis. Therefore, no one cast blame. Only absolute trust and surging passion were present. These were, after all, a group of gladiators with battle in their blood. They were also longtime comrades who had fought and survived alongside Batis. Even knowing that the chance of surviving a breakout was slim, far from retreating, everyone eagerly volunteered to join. Leader, Ill go with you! Im in! Count me in, Olins! Batis, my brother, weve been through many battles together over the years, today, we shall go together! ... The square boiled over with noise. The brave, fearless, and tragic atmosphere coalesced, churning furiously. Like a flame burning brighter and fiercer. Even Leonard, it was his first time witnessing such heightened emotions. He could absorb negative emotions, and equally, he could clearly feel this robust bravery. At that moment, he saw those around him as if shrouded in dazzling white light, each like a War God from the Divine Hall of Heroic Spirits, fearless. This light of courage, Sharp as a spear! Steady as a shield! Such exaggerated courage... For Leonard, it was the first time witnessing such a spectacle, and he was filled with emotion. As if influenced by this tidal wave of courage, his own blood seemed to stir with excitement. His thoughts raced, contemplative. He observed the whole battle again, from the perspective of a bystander, and seemed to realize some things he hadnt noticed before. Would they still possess such courage without this battle? A thought crossed Leonards mind: Is it war... that creates heroes? Suffering seemed like a rite of passage for heroes. The more dire the situation, the more dazzling the human spirit shone. For a moment, Leonard felt he grasped something, and he thought in surprise, Is this what Senior Shepherd meant when he said that crisis is the best forge for Will... He could distinctly feel that his own Intention was resonating with the escalating courage. Becoming sharp, becoming keen. It was the fearless Will. Courage doesnt appear out of nowhere, nor is it innate. It only emerges glistening because one faces a desperate situation. And in that moment, Leonard saw, as if on each person, there were threads of fate. Most people in this world lead ordinary lives, but at a certain point, when they make a certain decision, their entire being shines with brilliant light. Without war, they might just have been a common folk who wouldnt even merit half a line in a history book. They could have been Craftsmen, farmers, slaves... From birth to death, they would have walked a smooth path of fate. But at that moment, they shone the brightest in their lives! The brilliance unleashed by life, even if it shines just once in a lifetime. In that instant, it dazzles like fireworks in the pitch-black night. ... While contemplating, Leonard and Alice also carefully observed each person in the square. The more people gathered, the higher the Knights spirit soared. Just then, a youth with flaxen hair, carrying a longsword, hurried to the square, calling aimlessly to Batis who stood atop the fountain statue, Uncle Roger, Im coming with you! Not tall, the youth looked about fifteen or sixteen years old, with muscles just beginning to form angles, considered strong among the common people. But standing among a group of gladiators, he looked frail. As soon as he arrived, Leonards gaze shifted toward him. From his aura, he was a Second Tier Close Combat Card Master. His strength wasnt very outstanding, and he wasnt among those who had charged at the front lines initially, which was probably why Leonard hadnt seen him before. But the youth seemed to be well acquainted with many of the gladiators. As soon as he got there, he was pushed to the outskirts by a few strong men. Anxious, the boy looked as if he might cry, Black Snake Uncle, let me through! The man immediately laughed and said, Hey, crybaby, this is for adults. The grain needs protection for transport, dont come here and make a fuss. Others joined in, Right. Go protect Aunt Daisy and the rest... they need you more. Leonard could see these gladiators didnt want the young man to join the breakthrough attempt where there was no chance of survival. In him, the elders saw the last vestige of hope for remembrance. Yet, even with tears in his eyes, the boy held his head high, his tone resolute, No! I am a qualified gladiator, a warrior! My destiny is to die in battle! When I die, my Soul will enter the Divine Hall of Heroic Spirits and feast with the gods! Chapter 945 - 292 Cinderella, Rainbow River, Da Hong Pao, Werewolf_2 Chapter 945: Chapter 292 Cinderella, Rainbow River, Da Hong Pao, Werewolf_2 His words carried a solemnity and boldness that belied his young age. These were the words passed down from the ancestors of the gladiators of the Extremely Cold Wasteland. They had no fear of death in the Gladiator Arena, because they believed that the souls of those who died in battle would return as heroic spirits. With these words spoken, the gladiators all fell into silence together. Looking at the silent and complex gazes of the crowd, the boy mustered his courage and bellowed, Also, Im not a Crybaby! My name is Goron Frederick, the valiant Frederick! The moment he said this, it was as if a candle had been lit, and the youth radiated with a glowing aura. That fearless and heroic aura was no less than that of anyone else present. Leonard Churchill and Alice exchanged a glance, their expressions both turning to delight. Theyd found him! Indeed, a hero cannot be hidden! Although they had their suspicions, finding Aragons ancestor in such a manner made even Alice feel it was a bit of coincidence. It was as if they were favored by fortune. ... The square quickly assembled two thousand brave warriors. The situation was urgent, and every moment they lingered made the encirclement of Waren City tighter. Batis wasted no time and shouted loudly, Brothers, follow me out of the city! Charge! Charge! Charge! The crowd responded with passion. Though High-Order Card Masters were fast at moving, long-distance raiding still required transportation. The Machinery technology of the Taren Dynasty was highly developed, and the Rebel Army, after entering the city, also plundered a large number of steam vehicles. There were also all kinds of Spirit Objects and Demon Beast seat machines. Tigers, leopards, lizards, spiders, ostriches... For a moment, all sorts of strange mounts appeared. In an instant, this motley crew of riders followed Batis, surging out from the East gate like a tide. Leonard Churchill had always carried a steam motorcycle in his Storage Ring, ready to ride at a moments notice. But Alice was a card master from the Southern Continent, where they had no Machinery technology at all. Just as Leonard Churchill was wondering how she was going to keep up, the girl suddenly gathered a rolling Curse Power around her. Alice, being a War Slave, had few Cards and relied on her own gathering of Spells, which was slightly slow. After waiting a couple of breaths, he then saw her eyes flash with resolve, and she softly chanted, Fairy tale town Cinderellas Midnight Chariot! Leonard Churchill watched with curiosity, Spirit Communication Skill? It seemed like it, but also not quite. He saw a blue Spirit Communication Array appear beneath Alices feet, its light growing brighter. In the blink of an eye, a chariot with eight horses, its eyes filled with soul flames, appeared out of nowhere before them. And what was even more surprising occurred. The moment she used the Techniques, Alice underwent a Transformation herself. Her sackcloth robe turned into a magnificent court dress, the water-blue gown shimmering like the stars on a summer night. She was wearing shiny crystal shoes, gleaming as if the Milky Way flowed through them. She also wore a very large witchs hat on her head, exuding a thick sense of mystery. It was not just her attire that changed; her appearance, hair color, height, and even her demeanor had all changed at once! From an ordinary Commoner girl, she had become a... graceful and mysterious Witch princess? Together with the Undead carriage, her demeanor was... strikingly odd. A midnight Transformation for Cinderella? Hisss... This doesnt quite match the fairy tales Ive heard. Leonard Churchills eyes twitched involuntarily. Although he knew that Alice had disguised her true face, watching her transform so drastically left him in wonder. In terms of the effect of the transformation of appearance and demeanor, this was no less remarkable than his Clown mask. Although the witchs hat covered most of her face, her features were still impressive. White Crow itself represents nothingness, and the[Heart 4-Witch] is indeed a pathway of mystery. This Secret Skill of creating something from nothing was outrageous. Having witnessed a Demon God Secret Skill, Leonard Churchill felt that his horizons had been broadened. After all, in the East Continent, the Professional Sequence of the High-Tier[Heart 4] heritage had long been lost. Alice summoned the Ghostly carriage and, glancing at Leonard Churchills motorcycle, did not forget to ask, Mr. Leonard Churchill, would you like to ride in my carriage? My Ghostly carriage is very strong in defense... In her view, although Leonard Churchill was resourceful, he was probably some type of Spellcaster Type professional. In such a battle, his ability to survive might not be stronger than hers. No need. Thank you. Without finishing, Leonard Churchill shook his head indifferently and had already started the motorcycle, Lets go! With that, the motorcycle sped off, keeping up with the main force. Seeing this, a hint of puzzlement flashed in Alices eyes, but she too drove the carriage and followed along. Probably due to some patch made by the Spatial Will, her carriage didnt attract too much attention within the troop. The two of them followed not too closely behind Goron. ... Leonard Churchill had seen a map of the area around Waren City before. The northeast and south sides were plains, and to the west were the complex waters and Underground Caves where the Rebel Army was hiding. With the situation now clear, the militarys men had already set their formations, just waiting to close the net. One could predict that there would be an encirclement to the northeast and south. Normally, the west would be the only direction where survival was possible. However, the two thousand Break Through warriors led by Batis headed east. They werent trying to escape, but rather to draw as much fire as possible. The good news was that its not easy to hide the movement of large troops on the plains, so the military encirclement would certainly not be small. To close it would take a significant amount of time. If the Rebel Army were to Break Through eastward like a dagger, it would certainly attract a lot of enemies. Chapter 946 - 292 Cinderella, Rainbow River, Da Hong Pao, Werewolf_3 Chapter 946: Chapter 292 Cinderella, Rainbow River, Da Hong Pao, Werewolf_3 The pressure on Waren Citys side will be very small. It was almost exactly as anticipated. Not long after this group burst out, a military machine vanguard cavalry emerged from the pitch-black plain. With military collaborators inside the city, seeing the Rebellion Army attempting to flee, they no longer concealed their movements and began to encircle and pursue. Before the people arrived, various cannonballs had bombarded the crowd. Boom! Boom! ... Explosions and flashes of fire detonated densely within the team. Although the coverage of ordinary artillery fire didnt greatly affect the card masters, it was enough to destroy those motorcycles. Leonard Churchill watched the menacing military machinery vehicles chase after them and couldnt help but marvel in his heart. Scorpion War Chariots, jumping Mantis Cars, burrowing Centipede War Chariots, Spider War Chariots that moved over any terrain as if on flat ground... various magical steampunk-style mechanical chariots made their appearances. This was visibly several tiers higher than the mechanical technology of the East Continent. The firepower of these chariots was also formidable; with dozens or hundreds of cannons firing at once, the two-thousand-strong contingent of the Rebellion Army was blasted apart in an instant. However, this scene had almost no effect on Leonard Churchill. In his eyes, the moment the cannonball was fired from the cannons mouth to the entire process of it hitting the ground, forming parabolic arcs, they were like lines of destiny. As long as he saw them, they could not possibly hit him. Riding the motorcycle, Leonard Churchill moved nimbly with all kinds of maneuvers. It looked extremely perilous, but in reality, there was no threat at all. Meanwhile, on the other side, Alices midnight carriage chose to take the cannon fire head-on. True to her word, the carriage was very explanatory. The cannonballs that hit the Ghostly Carriage were like pebbles cast into a lake, disappearing immediately. Apart from stirring up a bit of Curse Power ripples, there was no effect whatsoever. Leonard Churchill also didnt understand the principle of this spell. Alice was equally astonished. She had been worried that Leonard Churchills steam motorcycle might be at a disadvantage under the cannon fire. But now, she saw that her concern was completely unnecessary. She noticed how he seemed to be in peril amidst the flames, yet he skillfully dodged the densely exploding cannonballs that nearly detonated beside him every moment. Once could be luck, but to avoid them every time, it was not a question of luck anymore. How did this guy do it? He never even looked back, as if he had eyes on the back of his head. What Alice didnt know was that Leonard Churchill had a Shadow; his field of vision had virtually no blind spots. ... The plain was vast, and it wasnt easy for the military forces to block this breakout by the Rebellion Army. The militarys firepower was fierce, but the Rebellion Army was no pushover either, fighting back in various ways. The battle chariots of both sides chased and fled across the plain, and in a blink, they had covered a dozen kilometers. At that moment, the Rebellion Army saw a row of chariot lights suddenly shining on the distant horizon and knew that a tough battle was approaching. The military had anticipated their escape trajectory and organized a battle formation to intercept. In large-scale wars, such head-on collisions were nothing out of the ordinary. This kind of corps-level clash was truly a meat grinder on the battlefield. Seeing this, everyone knew that a tough battle was coming. Leonard Churchills eyes narrowed slightly, and he began to feel his blood stirring. It wasnt until this moment that he felt a true sense of crisis. Not far away, Alice on the Ghostly Carriage also took action; her long-accumulated Curse Power surged as she let out a light shout, Demonic Solution! In an instant, an Illusion of a witch-like figure emerged behind her. This turned out to be one of the fifty-two witches pointed out by the Heart Sequencethe ancestral Witch Grinker! Legendary Mark? Leonard Churchill saw Alice perform the Demonic Solution, revealing the Demon Gods Phantom, but he wasnt surprised. However, what followed was yet another showcase of the unique aspects of the Witch Sequence. After Alice employed her Demonic Solution, Curse Power surged to its limit throughout her whole body, and her spell promptly condensed: Witch Secret SkillColorful River of Magic Power! In an instant, around the carriage appeared a magnificent river of elements as splendid as a rainbow. Leonard Churchills pupils shrank as he observed. This was no illusion technique. It was a high-density river of elements truly formed by the power of the Demon God! Huh... This move is impressive! Leonard Churchill had thought that only his Gluttony secret technique could condense such exaggerated elemental Curse Power. Who would have thought that the Witch sequence could as well? Clearly, this was just the beginning. With sufficient Curse Power to back her up, Alices spell condensed once again: MysteryThe Grand Crimson Robe of the Dark Witch! Looking again, the white crow on her shoulder suddenly melted away, transforming into a red cape. Under the cape, Alice appeared solemn, with a fire Elf joyfully dancing in the palm of one hand, while around her body, the Curse Power twisted and changed, forming the Illusion of a werewolfs Beast Transformation. Little Red Riding Hood? Werewolf form? Leonard Churchill was also dumbfounded as he watched. The Witch sequences Demon God Secret Skills had completely vanished in the East Wilderness, and he had never heard of such methods before. Now, seeing someone using them, he had only two words in his mind: Impressive. Mere Curse Power intensity considered, Alice was the most exaggerated he had ever seen among the Fourth Tier. And the quality of this spell, exceptionally high. This woman was truly formidable. No wonder she had such confidence to come along before. Ready, Alice didnt forget to urgently remind: Mr. Leonard Churchill, dont stray too far from me! She probably meant to say Ill protect you, but considering a mans pride, she didnt articulate it directly. Hehe... Leonard Churchill listened and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly into a curve. He didnt reject the kindness, and replied with a radiant smile: Okay! ??? Alice was stunned for a moment. This guy is laughing? Were about to fight for our lives, and he can still laugh? This is an S-tier mission! She thought she might have seen wrong, But a moment later, She understood that smile. That guy, was indeed smiling. From the bottom of his heart, Brilliantly and excitedly. ... Brothers, follow me in the charge! Facing the unavoidable, leader Batis bellowed fiercely and took the lead, charging toward the battle formation made of Mechanical Shields. With a thunderous boom, Dual Knife Armor Break, with the Steam Siege Hammer on the war chariot striking the blade Mark on the shield formation, immediately chiseled an opening. Batis was the first to rush into the enemy ranks. Everyone else swiftly followed suit. Like a breached flood, they poured in frenziedly. From this initial direct contact between the two armies, the bitter fight began. Leonard Churchill and Alice also closely followed, charging in. Having chosen the faction mission, they could only follow this path to the end. Chapter 947 - 293: Griff Green Copper Ore Area Chapter 947: Chapter 293: Griff Green Copper Ore Area Brothers, charge with me! Dont get entangled, fight our way out! ... The Rebellion Armys over two thousand brave warriors tore a gap through the militarys steel defenses, and a melee combat instantly unfolded. Most of the people breaking through were battle-hardened gladiators with notable combat power, and their resolve for a do-or-die fight made them unstoppable. They shot forward like arrows released from their bows, cutting through the wind. However, the equipment of the military side was clearly several levels superior. Uniform high-tier armor, various high-tier cards, Magic Energy Mechanical Equipment... And with well-trained battle formations, their combat power was extraordinary. When the two thousand charged into the formation of ten thousand, it was like flesh churning in a meat grinder, with someone dying every second. Batis, the leader, was at the forefront, attracting the most intense firepower. This Fifth Tier samurais combat power was unmatched, slashing wildly with his Twin-bladed Crescent Knives. The blade aura swept across dozens of meters, each strike guaranteed to leave a trench of equal length on the ground. The targets, whether Heavy Armored Black Knights or Mechanical Warriors, were all cut in two. With several High Tier gladiators coordinating silently by his side, they were like a sharp spearhead, unstoppable. This relentless charge, with no concern for retreat, also sent the militarys ten thousand-strong legion into disarray. Their mission was to break through and attract firepower, not to engage in protracted fights; within moments, they had burst through the first steel defense line. Among the group, Leonard Churchill and Alice followed closely without hesitation. Leonard Churchills and his companions mission was to keep breaking through with the main force, enduring the brunt of the battle. The danger was immediate, and Just in the brief moment they broke through the defense line, the two thousand-plus Rebellion Army had lost nearly one-tenth of their number. In such a situation, they could only charge all the way to the end, as anyone who fell behind was certain to die. Their target was also clear, to follow Goron. In such a battle, Third and Fourth Tier card masters could be killed instantly, yet this guy was unbelievably lucky. Leonard Churchill had been observing him closely. From a gods-eye view, he also saw many more intriguing details. Despite not being the strongest, protected by a hero fate, swords and spears seemed to have eyes, always missing Goron by a stroke of luck as he narrowly avoided them. This guys destiny line was extraordinarily tough. This made Leonard Churchill even more convinced of his hypothesis, Before becoming a hero, heroes are blessed by fate. It was probably like the effect of his own Gambler of Misfortune entry, always lucky in desperate situations. On the other hand, Alice was not only watching Goron, but she also kept an eye on Leonard Churchill. Initially, she had wanted to protect this East Wilderness spy who risked his life to help them. But to her surprise, it seemed like he didnt need her help at all? At the moment, Leonard Churchill was just focused on riding his motorcycle without using any cards. But around him hovered six scalpels gleaming with cold light. It was these six spirit scalpels that, in the brief moments of combat, had brought unexpectedly significant results with their minimal effort. The cold light moved nimbly and covertly, slipping into the gaps of shields and armor, silently killing more than a dozen enemies who tried to block the way. They looked inconspicuous, even unnoticeable in the crowd. In some ways, not only had she not protected him, but it was his precise flying knife kills that had allowed her to break through more safely. Well, this low-key approach did fit the characteristics of a spy. Low key yet deadly. This guys Mental Power control skills are really exaggerated... Alice couldnt help but be amazed internally. Being of the Witch Sequence, which specializes in Mental Power, she recognized the frightening proficiency in the skill with which he controlled the flying knives, confirming to herself, So, is he indeed a card master from the Wisdom Sequence? With such ability, no wonder he was so composed. Alice felt like she was beginning to understand. She was confident in controlling objects with Mental Power too, but managing six flying knives with such finesse was something she admitted she couldnt do. .... It was in the instant of Alices contemplation that she saw Leonard Churchills eyes also shift towards her. When their eyes met, Alice read an excitement and ferocity under his calm gaze, as well as an inexplicable terror! What kind of monsters are hiding inside this guys heart?! Alices clear eyes trembled in an instant. It was then that she realized, even after understanding, it seemed she understood nothing at all. She had noticed that there was something off about Leonard Churchills Mental Power before, but it had seemed very mild then. Like a circus-trained wild beast, it was fierce in appearance but not terrifying. However, at this moment, Alice found that something had changed! The demons in that guys heart had broken out of their cages! How could he sustain such a chaotic mental state without going mad? Alice was shocked to her core. If it hadnt been for Leonard Churchills apparent normalcy, she might have thought she was seeing someone suffering from Mental Deformation. Just with that single glance, Leonard Churchills lips curled into a sinister smile, stretching up to his ear, Heh heh... Seeing that familiar, yet strange, smiling face, it was like watching dozens of demons grinning at her, their gaze as if warning her: Dont pry into other peoples secrets! She even felt that if she harbored the slightest ill intent, those entities would pounce to tear her to shreds. Alice felt a chill down her spine, even thinking this guy in front of her was more dangerous than the enemies surrounding them. Leonard Churchill smirked mischievously. Though he knew she held no malice, neither did he. Chapter 948: 293 Griff Green Copper Ore Area_2 Chapter 948: Chapter 293 Griff Green Copper Ore Area_2 But at this moment, in a state of deathly agitation, he was not someone whose primary personality could call the shots. Alice also understood that look in his eyes and hastily withdrew her probing thoughts. While still shaken, she suddenly thought of something else. Thats not right! She had already been fighting with all her might. Besides Mental Power flying knives, she hadnt seen him use any other means, not even Demonic Solution... Could it be that his strength went even beyond that? At that moment, Alice realized that she might have never truly understood the strength of this temporary teammate. .... The group burst through the first line of defense, then the second, the third... The vast plains gave the Rebellion Armys breakout team ample space to maneuver. They were all light cavalry, and their speed was fast. By contrast, the Heavy Armored Army behind them seemed somewhat cumbersome. Like a tiger chasing a cat, the agility allowed the cat some space to survive. But this was only temporary. As the encircling net gradually tightened, like a bag cinching closed from all directions, the Rebellion Army encountered the militarys blockades more frequently, and their casualties increased. Finally, after breaking through the seventh blockade, more than half of the group of over two thousand had died, leaving fewer than five hundred. And behind them, tens of thousands of regular troops charged like a herd of wild bison, relentlessly pursuing them. Even Leonard Churchill found it very troubling. Because he saw in the enemys ranks no fewer than six officers wearing the Centurion rank insignia. Which meant, at least six Fifth Tier card masters. After all, this was the Taren Era, when Card Master Civilization was at its peak thousands of years ago. The techniques of these Fifth Tier practitioners were much stronger than those of the Federations Same Tier counterparts. Previously, Leonard had observed that not only were the militarys techniques formidable. Even the hodgepodge Rebel Army had much higher standards for their cards, spells, and Martial Skills compared to the Federations Same Tier. The transmission of knowledge hadnt been interrupted, and they possessed many Transcendent Secrets that later generations couldnt imagine. Although Leonard was now hidden in the crowd, for the time being, he was safe. But if they were to be stopped by the large army, once they halted, facing an enemy hundreds of times their number, death was certain. And this S-rank mission wasnt just about ensuring his own survival, but also about breaking through alongside the main force of the Rebellion Army. Relying solely on Goron, he saw no hope for surviving. Heroes might ultimately have some fortuitous encounters and not die. But for them, that was not necessarily the case. Leonards mind raced as he pondered. He wanted to take some initiative. The more he felt the shadow of death looming behind him, the sharper his brain worked. It was also a good thing that he had a friend like Catherine Carter, the daughter of a warlord. After meeting once before, she had sent him some military gifts. As he thought, riding his motorbike, he was like a hen laying eggs, dropping a large number of anti-armor bombs along the way. Not to say how many people it could kill, but at least it significantly slowed down the pursuers. And there was still a decent stock left. On the other hand, Alice was looking very anxious. In the current situation, she saw no hope for survival. Although she was confident in her abilities, in a large-scale war, the advantage of individual combat power was minimized to the lowest. Even if she could outfight those of the Same Tier, or even dozens of Same Tier, what about the elites they led? With Chiliarchs and Centurions everywhere behind them, Alices eyes grew increasingly solemn. Unable to think of any way to break the situation, her gaze turned towards the guy speeding on the motorbike not far away. Just that glance made the corner of Alices eye twitch inexplicably. What caught her eye was still that unchanged expression. Even without using the Mind Reading Technique, she could tell that the guy had no fear at all. Rather, was he getting more and more excited? She had a strange feeling that while everyone was desperately trying to snatch some chance of survival from the hands of death, this guy, in the face of death with the scythe already touching his throat, not only had no fear, but the arc drawn by the corner of his mouth seemed like a mockery of fear? He rode his motorcycle with all sorts of fancy maneuvers, leaping, vaulting, zigzagging... It made one feel he wasnt riding on flat ground but was a circus performer walking on a tightrope. Seeing this, Alice couldnt help but mutter to herself, What a strange guy... .... Commander Batiss expression grew uglier and uglier. After charging all the way up to now, he had also exhausted a lot of energy and feared that if he charged a few more times, they would be stopped. He was already prepared to die. His own death was not a pity. But the thought of the brothers who lived and died with him was heart-wrenching for Batis. And it wasnt just on this front C more people might die in Waren City. They had dragged this out long enough, and they could only go this far. Thinking this, Batis seemed to make a decision, bellowing out, Everyone, split up! Teams disperse and flee! At this command, everyone understood that this was the last charge. But... Stop hesitating! This way, theres still a glimmer of hope for survival! ... In the ranks, upon hearing this, Leonard breathed a sigh of relief, Finally, a decision, huh? He had been waiting for this command. From the beginning, he knew that Commander Batis was definitely a key figure to watch. So, the only chance of survival Leonard could think of was for this man to deliberately draw fire, while the others scattered and fled. The experts would pursue Batis, and the other teams might then be safe. Chapter 949: 293: Griff Green Copper Ore Area_3 Chapter 949: Chapter 293: Griff Green Copper Ore Area_3 By now, the Rebel Army had only four to five hundred survivors left, facing legions numbering in the tens of thousands, such a mass assault had lost its meaning. Therefore, Leonard Churchill had tried previously to hint to Batis about employing split forces tactics. But the Spatial Will reminded him that he could not alter this Break Through mission. Unless Non-Player Characters made their own decisions, he could only follow and resist forcefully. Now, it was still not too late. Though the rebels also knew what splitting their forces meant, no one dared to hesitate at this moment. Almost instantaneously, the team shattered into over twenty small squads, finding gaps and charging out in all directions. Leonard Churchills gaze, however, stayed fixed on Goron. He had anticipated a division of the forces. But what he did not wish to see, also happened. The key Non-Player Character, Goron, whom he considered to be the anchor point of the plot... had actually joined Batiss group and charged out! Upon seeing this, a cold light flashed through Leonard Churchills eyes, and in an instant, he quelled the last bit of hope in his heart, sneering at himself with a hint of self-mockery, Heh, Aura of Misfortune... indeed, whatever you dont want to happen, happens. But after only a moment of thought, he decisively followed Goron in pursuit. Ordinarily speaking, Batis, the chief of the outlaws, was bound to attract most of the elite forces from the military for the manhunt. This squad was the most dangerous. Leonard Churchill felt that by following the other squads, his chances of survival would be greater. But... survival was possible. Yet there was still an unfinished task to complete! Without finding the key to the Slave Collar, if he left the space alone, he wouldnt have such an opportunity again. And by following Batis, the main character of the plot, more encounters might be triggered, achieving a higher completion rate. The reward for card draws upon settlement would be higher, too... This was the only way Leonard Churchill could think of that, although the hope of obtaining the key was slim, it was still possible. As he anticipated, the notification also appeared: An A+ hidden sub-quest has been triggered: The Choice of Courage. Total reward upon completion increased by 30%. .... It was precisely the moment when Leonard Churchill turned. Alice, who was struggling intensely, also saw this scene. Her bright eyes trembled, and she felt a great surprise, That guy actually chose this side... She herself had no choice, but he did. Without the restraint of a Slave Collar, Leonard Churchill could start over as long as he could get out alive. But why would he take such a deadly risk? Even Alice herself was torn just moments ago, even if she got out alive and was captured by the Red Dragon Kingdom, she wouldnt die immediately. But if the wrong choice was made now, it would mean real death. In an instant, the intense turmoil in Alices heart subsided. She glanced at the receding figure from the corner of her eye, bit her silver teeth, and followed closely with the carriage. Leonard Churchill, seeing Alice catching up, a hint of a light smile surfaced on his brow, This woman is certainly decisive... He wasnt sure he could survive either, so he didnt make the choice for others. Alice herself chose her own fate. Only now was it really time to fight for their lives. .... It wasnt all bad news. The good news was, the one to two dozen people following Batis had the highest average combat power among all the squads. With fewer people, the squad was more flexible, and they could run faster. However, just as expected, at least the elite forces of the enemy were also converging, relentlessly pursuing them. Leonard Churchill saw three Fifth Tier Centurions and a troop of Third and Fourth Tier card masters catching up. In the eyes of these commanders, the rebel leaders were something they absolutely couldnt let go ofan achievement of great value. Alice caught up with Leonard Churchill, and their eyes met. In this critical moment, she suddenly understood something and asked directly, Mr. Leonard Churchill, do you have a way to break through? Leonard Churchills eyes gleamed with increasing madness, No. But I do have an idea. Storm, meteor, land fissure, swamp... Cards flew chaotically behind them while various high-tier spells also greeted them. This was no time to hold back anymore. The motorcycle beneath him roared thunderously as Leonard sped to the front, bellowing, Leader, follow me! In his despair, Batis was incredibly surprised by the sudden appearance of Leonard. Those willing to follow him to death were comrades with whom he had fought side by side for many years. Yet Leonard, a stranger they had only met today, was actually following him? A complex mix of gratitude and guilt quickly surfaced in Batiss eyes. Without hesitation, the Revolutionary Army leader responded, Alright! Although he had no idea what Leonard planned to do, there were no other options left. Leonard rode his motorcycle ahead, leading everyone towards the northeast at full speed. Even so, the Fourth and Fifth Tier card masters continued their relentless pursuit. They too realized that Batis was now in a hopeless situation. But a cornered beast fights most fiercely, which is also the most dangerous time. Nobody dared to move in rashly to carry out the killing blow. They simply wore them down from a distance. Nevertheless, in just a blink of an eye, several more members of the Rebellion Army fell in battle. The cloud of death hung heavy over their heads. Like circus spectators watching an underwater escape artist struggling to unlock their shackles... Everyones breath felt as heavy as suffocation. Even Leonard had no guarantee that any of them would make it alive to the place he envisioned. However. Suddenly! The key turned! The first light of hope appeared at the last moment of desperation. Seeing that their pursuers were drawing closer, just when everyone was on the verge of despair, they suddenly came upon something... It looked like the entrance to a mine that had been abandoned for countless years? Seeing this mine entrance, everyone realized what Leonard had in mind and saw a glimmer of hope for survival! Alices face lit up as she looked at the mine entrance. Once again her gaze fell on Leonards silhouette, her shimmering eyes seeming to ask, How did he know? Even Batis was incredibly surprised. How could there be a mine here? The sight of the mine entrance brought joy flooding into Leonards heart, Haha, its indeed here! Previously, he had perused various documents at the Governors Mansion, including the municipal history of Waren City. Because he knew they were going to be surrounded by the military. So he focused on the topography around Waren City. From the numerous strategies deduced, he searched for special terrains that might allow them to escape the military encirclement. This mine was one of several alternatives! Not only was this fertile land abundant in crops, but hundreds of years ago, it was also a rich Green Copper Ore Area! However, it had been mined for a long time, the ore in the rock layer was exhausted, and it had long been abandoned. Even the locals of Waren City might not know about it. As it happened, the military planners had also overlooked this abandoned mine. Previously, Leonard was certain that Batis would never abandon the others to enter this mine. But now that their numbers were reduced, the narrow Underground Cave became an advantage. Below ground, there was a vast and complex network of mine tunnels! This posed the best restriction for the large troops outside. Without any hesitation, Leonard charged into the mine on his motorcycle. The moment they entered the mine, Enlightenment also prompted simultaneously, You have discovered the hidden storyline space Griff Green Copper Ore Area, exploration +30% Chapter 950: 294: Disaster Object - Hero Cloak Chapter 950: Chapter 294: Disaster Object C Hero Cloak Bang! Bang! Bang! ... Just as the Rebel Army burst into the mine tunnel, the bomb Leonard Churchill had left at the entrance detonated instantly, collapsing a large section of rock. However, such terrain obstacles could only delay the pursuers for a moment. To a High-Order card master capable of splitting mountains and breaking stones, the rubble was no different from rotten wood. Sure enough. Just a few breaths after the Rebel Army had rushed into the tunnel, the area behind them that had collapsed was immediately blasted open with a punch. The militarys High-Order card masters were hot on their trail. Previously, it had been an open plain where the prey could never escape the encirclement, and the military could afford to leisurely wait for Batis and a few High Tier rebels to exhaust themselves before moving in for the kill. But now, seeing the Rebel Army dart into the abandoned mine pit, unknown to them, they immediately realized that if they didnt act now, big trouble would ensue. If they let the rebel leader Batis escape, even if they slaughtered many rebels, the merits of this roundup operation would be greatly diminished. This was not the outcome they wished to see. So much so, that even if the three Fifth Tier centurions at the lead knew the dangers, they still pursued relentlessly. ... In the pitch-black mine passage, the walls glimmered with the metallic luster of ink-green. A faintly damp air permeates the atmosphere. The scale of this Griff Green Copper Ore Area was not small. There were flat iron tracks laid in the mine, which allowed the steam locomotives to pass smoothly. Leonard Churchill rode on a steam motorcycle, speeding along the decayed minecart tracks. Behind him followed the surviving dozen or so members of the Rebel Army. The cramped mine tunnel let everyone breathe a sigh of relief. But a look of worry immediately appeared on everyones faces. Although the tunnel could prevent the militarys main forces from carrying out a roundup, it also meant that they were now trapped. If there was no other way out, the mine would surely become their grave. In the midst of the speeding, Batis glanced at Leonard Churchill, who was leading the way. Finding this mine to catch their breath was already an unexpected boon. But now was not the time for pleasantries; he asked anxiously, Sunny, where do we go now? His own death was of little consequence. But if the others could live. To save one was to save one. Leonard Churchill was not one to dilly-dally, he shouted loudly, Theres an underground river beneath this mine. But I dont know in which area! He had seen a record when he had browsed through the annals of Waren City before: Taron Calendar, March 16, 2999, water seepage accident in Griff Green Copper Ore Area, over two hundred miners dead... That accident happened when digging through to an underground river during mining, causing a major disaster. But the records did not specify the exact location of the accident. The mine area was enormous. The mine shafts extended from the surface deep into the earth, easily reaching over a thousand meters, and the mining area was conservatively estimated to be several hundred square kilometers. Such a vast mining area was difficult to search through in a short time. Thus, even coming here, Leonard Churchill did not feel certain about survival. He just felt there was a glimmer of hope. ... An underground river? If we find it, we might be saved! At these words, a glimmer of hope instantly appeared in everyones desperate expressions. They all understood what Leonard Churchill was referring to. If there really was an underground river, then they might indeed have a chance to escape through the subterranean waterways. Although they didnt know where it would take them, neither did the military. This had a higher chance of survival than making a frontal breakout. And without the main forces to round them up, the more complex the terrain, the more they could maximize their individual combat power. They also gained a bit of initiative. However, the reality was that the pursuers behind them would not make it so easy to find the underground river. In just a blink of an eye, the collapsed mine passage behind them was once again blasted open by a terrifying Elemental air wave. Three Fifth Tier centurions in standard military uniforms, along with a group of senior officers, had already appeared about a hundred meters away, brimming with Killing Intent. This distance, for a High-Order card master, was just a sprint away. Life and death might be decided in that instant. It just so happened that at this moment, the mine tunnel came to a fork in the path. Batiss eyes flashed with determination as he made a decisive call, Split up! Ill hold them back! In the current situation, continuing to stay together would lead to nothing but annihilation by the military. He was very aware that only he, a Fifth Tier, could stop those three centurions. No sooner had the words left his mouth than Batis surged with an eerie Killing Intent, apparently using some desperate Secret Skill. He leaped from the motorcycle, and his twin blades were wrapped in a sinister ripple that seemed to tremble the Void. The expressions of the three centurions hardened instantly, not daring to be careless. Before anyone could react, Batis had already charged forward. In the narrow mine shaft, a fierce battle had already erupted. Boom! Boom! ... A few muffled sounds, the ground shook, and the mountains trembled. Batiss figure was engulfed in a cloud of dust. Thats when Enlightenment appeared: Main storyline has changed: Your actions have altered the militarys pursuit plan, and the breakout squad has been driven into a corner. You need to survive the roundup... Leonard Churchill also let out a sigh of relief. At last, he didnt have to die together with this group. In the current situation, continuing to stay with Batis was certain death. Spatial Will still left a thread of life. ... Batiss life bought the others a brief chance to escape, and though they were grief-stricken, they did not dare to stop. Within a few breaths, they had reached the deeper parts of the mine tunnel. Here, paths diverged everywhere, and the passageways became increasingly complicated. Leonard Churchill didnt know what to expect in this mine pit. To survive now, their only option was to rely on luck. Chapter 951: 294: Disaster Object - Heros Cloak_2 Chapter 951: Chapter 294: Disaster Object C Heros Cloak_2 Someones chasing us! Theres a Fifth Tier! We need to split up too! Take care, brothers. Whether we can survive this is up to fate! ... There were quite a few people from the military side, and Batis could hold off a few. But not dozens. Aside from the leader Batis, nearly every surviving member of the rebel army was a high-value fugitive wanted by the military. Seeing these contribution points, the military would never let them escape. The rebel army knew that staying together would mean certain annihilation. They scattered, each fleeing for their life, hoping the extensive network of mine tunnels might offer a slim chance of survival. At this critical moment, Leonard Churchill dispensed with any pretense. No sooner had he spoken of splitting up, he grabbed Goron, who was clearly lagging, and darted into a pitch-black mine tunnel. The others dispersed in different directions, with only Alice following closely behind. The mine tunnel became narrower and rougher, making it unsuitable for riding. Leonard decisively abandoned his transportation. Alices ghostly carriage also dissipated instantly. At the same time, she cast a spell, enveloping them in a thick fog behind her. Probably because none of the three were fugitives, the military first pursued those well-known rebel officers on their list. After running for a while, there was no sound of pursuers behind them. At this moment, even Leonard Churchill let out a sigh of relief. He had been most worried that the military would kill them at the first encounter with overwhelming force, but now the situation was as ideal as it could be. They were temporarily safe. Alices face, tense the whole time, also relaxed considerably. Reflecting on their harrowing escape journey, she felt as if it had been a dream. They were alive? Although it was only temporarily, Alice found it incredible. It felt as though she hadnt done anything. Shed been led along, as though sleepwalking, to their current refuge. As the three hurried through the mine tunnel towards the depths of the earth, she couldnt resist voicing her doubt to Mr. Leonard Churchill, Mr. Leonard Churchill, how did you know there was a mine tunnel here? Leonard responded offhandedly, I saw it in Classic Books at the Governors Mansion previously. Huh? Alice, stun, had guessed as much, but hearing it for real, she found it incredible. She recalled the sight of Leonard poring over books alone in the Governors Mansion. Still, with so many documents in the library, could this guys luck really be so good to find a lead on this Griff Green Copper Ore Area? Alice wasnt naive. The only explanation she could think of was that Leonard might not have stumbled upon it by chance. Instead, he might have memorized all the materials he browsed. Then, in a critical situation, he was able to pick out the chance to survive from countless pieces of information. But, who would spend precious time reading countless ancient Classic Books that might be utterly useless, in an Alternate Dimension typically focused on combat? As Alice considered this, her admiration mingled with reconciliation with herself. It wasnt that she wasnt smart enough. It was simply a method others couldnt learn. Without being a Wisdom Sequence card master, one wouldnt have such a terrifying reading and memory capability. After all, Aragon had described him as an exceptionally acute and clever person. From her observations since entering the space, Alice thought the same. She blinked and asked, Are you a Scholar? No. Leonard knew what she was puzzled about. But he didnt want to explain further. After all, it would become apparent soon enough. He was thinking about other matters. With his ample experience, he didnt believe an S-class task would just end like this. If they actually managed to reach the Underground Dark River, something unexpected would surely happen, making the difficulty skyrocket. If unprepared, they wouldnt even know how they died when it came. Reflecting on this, Leonard suddenly asked, Did you pay attention to the abilities of those three Fifth Tier Centurions just now? If you faced any of them, how long could you hold out? Huh? Fifth Tier? Alice looked at him, not responding directly, and didnt ask further. In her mind, she might have been a bit rude. However, out of the blue, Leonard asked such a jarring question. After a moment of recollection, she responded carefully, About... a quarter of an hour, I suppose. Leonard nodded and began calculating in his mind. He then inquired further, What about that Element Manipulator? Alice was puzzled as to why he was asking this, but after pondering, she answered seriously, Well... within half an hour, I shouldnt die. My witch profession has certain advantages against the Elements. Hmm. With that, Leonard also had an idea. Normally, a Fourth Tier facing a Fifth Tier, missing a whole tier, wouldnt stand a chance unless they were card masters with combat power well above their peers, like himself. Anything beyond receiving a few blows would be remarkable. Alice claiming she could last half an hour was already much stronger than expected. This increased their chances of survival. During their earlier escape, Leonard wasnt just focused on fleeing; he carefully observed the combat power of almost every high-tier card master in view. Of course, those three Centurions were of particular interest. As the leader, Batis was a Diamonds A-Warrior of the Professional Sequence, and close-combat card masters would be most suitable for restraining him in this environment. From what he observed earlier, the Professional Sequence of the three Centurions were Black Knight, Element Manipulator, and Punishment Iron Guard respectively. Chapter 952: 294: Disaster Object - Heros Cloak_3 Chapter 952: Chapter 294: Disaster Object C Heros Cloak_3 According to Leonard Churchills speculation, leaving at least two out of the three behind was the only way to ensure they could take down Batis. And it was most likely going to be the Black Knight and the Punishment Iron Guard. Therefore, if they were truly to be chased down, the Element Manipulator had the highest probability of being so. ... Alice had just responded when she realized why he had asked that question and couldnt quite believe it, Youre planning to... fight head-on? Leonard Churchill spoke indifferently, Its not what Im planning. The difficulty of an S-rank mission is extremely high. Its impossible for us to just smoothly make it out alive. Alice blinked, ??? Although the recent breakthrough had been perilous, most of the pressure had been taken on by the story characters. For the two adventurers, it could at most be considered A-rank difficulty. If they really could escape like that, Alice would also find it somewhat unbelievable. She hadnt had time to think it through before and hadnt realized where the problem lay. Now reminded by him, she unconsciously nodded in agreement, Hmm... thats true. But after contemplating for an instant, she suddenly realized what was off and asked, You... youve experienced an S-rank Alternate Dimension before? Leonard Churchill was still pondering their next move when he offhandedly responded, Hmm. ... Upon hearing this, Alices eyes twitched inexplicably. No wonder she had always felt something unnervingly calm about this guy. It turned out to be genuinely unsettling! Looking at his expression, did he not only experience the horrifying S-scenarios that would terrify the average person, not just once? This guy... Could he be one of those adventurers who pursue difficulty and challenges? Although she was shocked, Alice knew that now was not the right time to discuss this. She too felt that there was a high likelihood they would have to fight to the death later on. As the thought passed through her crystal eyes, she also understood why Leonard Churchill had emphasized that Element Manipulator. Alice expressed her concerns as well, But besides the Centurion, there are plenty of Chiliarchs and Centurions... If it really came down to a fight, it would be a melee. She didnt dare be certain of the outcome. Leonard Churchill interrupted her worries with a tone of unparalleled calm, Those do not pose a fatal threat. ... As Alice looked at his expression, for some reason, her eyelids began to twitch again. No threat? Hiss... Arent you also just Fourth Tier? Although the meticulous mind that the Wisdom Sequence brought indeed solved many problems earlier. In a chaotic battle, it was not about just being smart to stay alive. Alice recalled the enemies methods and thought that with even three to five of the Same Tier, she herself would be in danger... However, before she could sort out the jumble of thoughts in her mind, she heard again the thunderous words, If it really comes down to a fight. You do your best to hold off the Fifth Tier, I will take care of the rest. It was still that tone devoid of fluctuations. Alice turned her head to look, and her rigid expression spoke volumes about her current state of mind: this guy must be insane! The Mind Reading Technique also confirmed her judgment. She discovered that Leonard Churchills state of mind was very unusual at the moment! As agitated as if boiling over. Yet strangely, his demeanor and mental state were two completely different conditions. With his Mental Power about to explode, how could he still appear so indifferent? Alice truly didnt know, and Leonard Churchill was not being arrogant. It was the confidence after observation and deduction. With his current power, as long as he didnt encounter someone with special abilities like Alice, there was basically no threat within the Same Tier. Especially since the army, aiming for uniform combo tactics, rarely included various peculiar Professional Sequences. The observations during their escape also made Leonard Churchill remember every enemy he saw and their abilities. The ability of I am the world allowed him to deduce various countermeasures. Right now, Leonard Churchill also deeply understood why Barre Shepherd had previously remarked that the ability of the Pursuer of Light was hard to kill without an overwhelming tier discrepancy. Because... Whatever he sees, leaves no puzzle unsolved. Such an ability would leave no secrets in his sight of the opponent. Deductions are future happenings. Although Leonard Churchill hadnt reached such an exaggerated level yet, for dealing with the Same Tier, it already sufficed. .... Alice quickly concealed her amazement. Although she couldnt understand where Leonard Churchills confidence originated from. Her intuition told her this guy certainly had the strength to match his composure. What she didnt know, however, was that Leonard Churchill didnt. No matter how strong he was, he wasnt so arrogant as to be certain he could survive under the hands of a Fifth Tier. And if he appeared so indifferent, it wasnt because he was confident of surviving. It was entirely because he believed that fear, that sort of emotion, would affect his judgment, so he would never allow it to surface. Leonard Churchill deduced all possible schemes and concluded: under current conditions, their survival probability was less than 5%. He murmured to himself, What is still lacking? As he frowned in thought, at that moment, Goron, who was following them, suddenly spoke up. He didnt know why two strangers would save him, but being saved was a fact, and so he earnestly said, Thank you for saving my life... The previous conversations between the two were patched by the Spatial Will, so Goron found nothing strange. As he spoke, both turned their gaze towards this somewhat young lad. Leonard Churchills saving of Goron was not out of kindness. Instead, it was imperative that they kept close to this Non-Player Character. As soon as Goron spoke, a flash of inspiration sparked in Leonard Churchills mind. Huh... Upon further reflection, wasnt this Goron precisely the most reliable anchor he had identified for triggering a high-difficulty scenario and surviving, right after entering the space? Chapter 953: 294: Disaster Object - Hero Cloak_4 Chapter 953: Chapter 294: Disaster Object C Hero Cloak_4 There were no others present now. Time was of the essence, and after exchanging pleasantries, Leonard Churchill directly asked, Goron, do you know Master Gamil? He hadnt forgotten that survival was just one of his goals. Another essential condition was to find the key to the Slave Collar. Hearing Leonards question, Alice also cast a hopeful look. She and Allen had not easily come upon this name, but now they were close to death and still clueless. Seeing the intense gazes of the two, the boy also felt a little unsure, Ah... are you talking about Grandpa Gamil? At these words, Leonard and Alice both lit up with joy: There was hope! Worried that it might be someone of the same name, Leonard went straight to the point, I have a friend who is locked up by a high-level Slave Collar and cannot escape, and we want to find Master Gamil to break the spell... Oh. Grandpa Gamil is indeed adept at breaking Slave Collars, Goron gave the response they were hoping for and added, But hes not in Waren City right now, hes in the Rune Highlands studying ancient curses. If we can make it out alive, I could take you to him. But... As he spoke, he looked at Leonard and Alice, his eyes not showing fear of death, only regret. Yet, upon hearing this, Leonard revealed a satisfied expression! That was enough! Not only did they now know the exact location of Master Gamil. Even if the main storyline wouldnt let them get in touch, this gave them hope. Because drawing cards in the Alternate Dimension had a hidden condition. Anything encountered in the spaceCmartial skills, Demon Marks, materials, intelligence... and so on might appear in the card pool. And delving deeper into related storylines would increase the odds of getting them through the post-mission draw. From Gorons tone, it was clear he was quite familiar with Master Gamil, reaching a point of relevance to the storyline. In other words, from this moment, Leonard was certain that the key would appear in the settlement card pool! Alice also couldnt hide her delight. She never expected that the clueless key would so coincidentally appear before them. But before she could ponder further, she suddenly tensed, as if she had noticed something, and warned, Someones coming after us! Leonard knew that Alices sensory abilities were stronger than his own, so he didnt dare be careless. No sooner had the words left her mouth than Alices expression changed, Not good! My Cursing Spirit has been discovered! The opponent might be Fifth Tier! ... Leonards eyes narrowed, and he didnt consider it bad luck. Rather, he felt that this encounter was the Spatial Will adjusting the storyline difficulty to S-rank. This meant that a death battle lay ahead. But now, fighting, Leonard saw no chance of victory. He hadnt forgotten, Toad had mentioned before, that his ancestor had survived a battle in Waren City because he had a special life-saving Relic in hand. With that in mind, he cut straight to the chase, Goron, do you have any special Relics on you? Relics? How could I have such treasures... Goron looked slightly embarrassed. As a Gladiator Slave, the most valuable thing he had, aside from his underwear and cloth shoes, was the sword in his hand. Oh, right! Suddenly remembering something, he took off a cloth bag from his back. Facing the two who had saved his life, he didnt hold anything back and said, Grandpa Gamil, before he left, gave me a cloak. He said I could wear it when I became a hero... Leonard and Alice both looked over together. Inside the cloth bag was a gray cloak made of coarse fabric. In this world, extraordinary items are just like this: if your cognition cant discern their special Intention, they would seem as ordinary as a stone by the roadside. Right now, what lay before them was a simple, unremarkable coarse fabric cloak. The material was entirely common hemp, and they could not sense any overflow of Extraordinary Traits. Alice looked disappointed. In her eyes, from any perspective, there was nothing special about this cloak. Goron, scratching the back of his head, also seemed to find it somewhat embarrassing to treat such a tattered cloak as a treasure, muttering, Grandpa Gamil said its a treasure and told me to keep it safe... However, looking at it, Leonards eyes lit up. He knew that some items, like Disaster Objects. Required specific conditions to recognize their Transcendent Traits. And this cloak was one such item. It could only show its uniqueness to someone with a hero fate. [Hero Cloak] Quality: Epic Description: Hero Luck +9; exclusive Relic of the Hero Sequence; every hero has a cloak of their own, always fluttering in the wind; it is a cloak worn by many historically Epic heroes, initially ordinary, but bestowed with extraordinary traits by the heroes; you need enough courage to wear it, and it will bring you the luck of heroes from ages past in the midst of war; This was indeed a treasure. And an extremely rare, Disaster-item level ancient Relic that boosted ones luck! Chapter 954: 295 Fierce Battle Chapter 954: Chapter 295 Fierce Battle Leonard Churchill looked at the Hero Cloak in front of him, his brows slightly furrowed. Epic Quality was already a Disaster Object level of Relics. A great item was certainly a great item. But it was precisely because he saw the attributes of the cape that he felt somewhat... uncertain about what use this cloak could possibly have. This cloak only had one Extraordinary Trait, Hero Luck +9, and nothing else. It wasnt an offensive artifact, nor was it a defensive artifact. In other words, wearing it was no different from wearing an extra piece of clothing. Would wearers have better luck just by putting it on? The Law of Destiny is one of the supreme laws, and nobody could clearly define its use. Alice, who was by his side, also saw Leonard show hesitation for the first time and asked, Whats wrong? Is there a problem with the cloak? The young Goron also appeared somewhat anxious. Leonard frankly said, This is an epic cloak. But it only adds Hero Luck... With this explanation, Alice understood that this was a profession-exclusive Relic. No wonder she couldnt see the mysteries within. But what she was curious about was why could this guy in front of her see a Hero exclusive Relic? Before she had time to think further, she sensed something, glanced at the mine behind them, and said urgently, Someone is coming! They must have a way to lock onto our position. Leonards gaze shifted, and he no longer dwelled on the matter of the cloak, Lets go! In history, Goron managed to survive the battle in Waren City, perhaps due to this cloak. Leonard felt that keeping this cloak on Goron would be more useful than on himself. The trio once again dashed towards the lower reaches of the mine. As they ran, Leonard observed the lay of the mine. Suddenly, they arrived in a huge, empty cavern, still facing various dark and unknown mining paths. Even without Alices warning, Leonard sensed a group of people catching up from the tunnel they had come through. Running like this was pointless; they would be caught sooner or later. Battle was inevitable. Thinking this, Leonard decisively made a decision, Goron, you continue to look for the location of the underground river! Well hold these people back! But... Goron wanted to stay and fight, but he also knew his combat ability was no match for a Centurion, and after a moments hesitation, he agreed, Alright! But you guys be careful! Leonard watched as Goron ran deeper into the mine and no longer kept running. Seeing this, Alice also stopped. Her Curse Power swirled, and the Demon Gods Phantom appeared behind her again. She knew that their chance of survival may depend on Goron. With the blessing of hero fate, this plot character was more likely than anyone else to find a chance to survive. .... In the mine, the sound of the enemies footsteps was audible, probably sensing they had stopped, and the opponents speed had also noticeably slowed down. Alice carefully sensed and then said to Leonard, Nine enemies. One Fifth Tier, three Fourth Tier, five Third Tier. Hmm. Leonard nodded and laid out the battle plan, In a moment, you try to hold off that Fifth Tier. Ill kill the others and then come help you. ... Listening to his words, Alice shot a quick glance at the man in front of her, feeling something was amiss. Three Fourth Tier and five Third Tier... all elite military personnel, are they that easily killed? If it werent for the trust established during their previous cooperation, if he were a stranger, Alice might even think the man was planning to have her hold off the Fifth Tier while he made his escape. But the sarcastic thoughts that flashed through her mind were fleeting, and a determined light appeared in Alices eyes. She chose to trust Leonard, Alright! I will try my best to hold them off. Good. Leonard didnt dare to be careless either, as dark Curse Power surged through him. His body crackled with the sounds of bones and muscles popping as he visibly began to swell. Alice was preparing her Spell, and seeing Leonard suddenly transforming beside her, her crystal-clear eyes instantly stiffened, This guy... Is he a Close Combat Card Master? It was completely unexpected for her to witness such a scene. That telekinetic flying knife earlier made Alice assume that even if Leonard wasnt of the Wisdom Sequence, he was probably some other type of Spellcaster Card Master. But what about the exaggerated muscles bulging and shimmering with a metallic luster? Rubbing her eyes, she thought she was hallucinating. However, the surprise was yet to come. Leonards body grew visibly taller, his hands and feet transformed into what resembled the steel claws of a Werewolf, his skin turned the dark red of a Hell Demon, and dragon scales appeared on vulnerable spots like his neck... It wasnt just one type of Beast Transformation, but several different types. In the blink of an eye, his Gang Air blazed up around him, as if crystalizing into armor. Seeing this, Alice realized, her mind filled with astonishment, Golem Transformation? Is this guy really a Fighter? The scene had become bizarre. The card master heritage in the Southern Continent hadnt been interrupted, and she had seen many unique abilities from the fifty-two Demon God Sequence. But Leonard in front of her was an enigma she completely failed to understand. Alice felt that even if she were to die here today, she would at least want to resolve this mystery, and asked, Are you... an Air Skill Master? Something like that. Leonard cracked his neck, and it made several popping sounds. It was just as Master Merlin had predicted, the Blood Plague in his body had finally stabilized over the past month or so. Now he was also able to Transform. Chapter 955: 295 Fierce Battle_2 Chapter 955: Chapter 295 Fierce Battle_2 The benefit of Golem Transformation was that he could control local changes in form. That is to say, he could transform into whatever was needed at the moment. For example, when defense was needed, he could cover himself with dragon scales; when he needed to rush on his way, he could change into a Werewolf form... The state before him was the outcome of multiple attempts, the form he had deduced to be the most suitable for comprehensive combat. But... Alice wanted to say something more when she suddenly saw Leonard Churchills body merge into the darkness. At the same time, Leonards voice came from beside her ear, Ready. Alices eyes twitched involuntarily, mentally complaining: Ive been in battle mode for a while now, yet its you who... Only then did she realize that from the moment of trying to break out until now, this guy hadnt really been taking it seriously. Alice looked at the figure shrouded in Dark Elements and felt as if it was only at this moment that she understood where that guys confidence came from. She still read no fear of death or retreat; instead, she sensed only the exhilaration of a tide. That feeling was like... The fierce beast that was previously locked in a cage was now set free. Being on the same team and still feeling a scalp-tingling sense of oppression. If one was the enemy, how utterly despairing would it be? Leonard, now fully engaged in battle, no longer paid attention to anything else. His brain had entered a state of extreme excitement, and countless battle plans were automatically being deduced. Not far away, the shadows had clearly revealed nine enemies stealthily approaching in a dagger formation. He whispered to himself, Elemental marking, huh... Having determined the method the enemies were using to lock onto him, Leonard quietly concealed all traces of his presence in the dark. Probably because the Rebels believed that aside from their leader Batis and a few key figures, none of the others posed much of a threat. The Fifth Tier Centurion, Lambert, also had no fear of any traps and charged headfirst into the mine. By doing so, he found himself facing the red-cloaked Witch Miss who had been waiting for a long time. .... Alice muttered to herself upon seeing the Fifth Tier form in front of her with a shadow of a Lava Giant Cursing Spirit behind him, So he guessed it right, huh... The newcomer was the Fifth Tier Element Manipulator they had discussed previously. Seeing him, Alice also breathed a sigh of relief. For her, a card master with element-based abilities posed much less pressure. As soon as the man arrived, the Spell Alice had been preparing for a while also materialized, Forbidden Spell: Sticky Candy House! In an instant, her body was surrounded by a bright seven-colored rainbow light, and the air immediately filled with the sweet fragrance of candy. Before their eyes, the cold Rock Walls seemed to turn into crispy chocolate, the stones became candies, and the ground turned into sticky syrup... The vast mine was instantly transformed into a candy-making factory. Not far away, Centurion Lambert quickly saw through the nature of this Spell and sneered, A Barrier inside Spell, eh... You think you can trap me? Hmph, overestimating yourself! Before the candy mud at his feet, acting like a swamp, could cling to his legs, he lightly stamped his foot and easily freed himself from the predicament: Spell: Mud Solidification! In a flash, Land Elements rapidly gathered, and the ground beneath Lamberts feet instantly turned into hardened ground. Meanwhile, the three Cards in his hand flew out like bullets: Mystery: Rain of Exploding Flames! The Cards exploded in a triangular formation in mid-air, and in an instant, fiery projectiles the size of bullets appeared, distorting the very air around them with their heat. His move was a Mystery Spell, intended to inflict a heavy blow with a single strike. Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! ... Alice could only watch as the fiery projectiles blanketed her like a rainstorm, coming at great speed and leaving her with no chance to evade. Fortunately, she had been prepared; clenching her teeth, the shadow of a grandmother wolf beneath her cloak also conjured a deep blue of Water Elements. Almost at the same time, both parties Spells collided. Pop, pop, pop... Like a downpour hitting a pond. Countless projectiles were blocked by the wolf Shadow. But the candy Rock Wall behind her was burned through, leaving large charred holes, like melted chocolate, flowing down. Alice caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye and felt her blood surge, This guys comprehension of the Fire Law is so high... Though she had managed to withstand the attack, this was just the beginning. But not only was she surprised, Centurion Lambert across from her was also astonished that his Mystery Spell had failed to harm this Fourth Tier card master in the slightest. Their gazes met for an instant, cold and intense. Both were ready for the next Spell. Lamberts hands were infusing Curse Power into the Cards, while behind Alice, the Shadow of a Gold harp also appeared... But just then, an unexpected turn of events occurredone that neither party had anticipated. A pfft of someone spitting blood instantly put both on alert. The enemy that came into the mine was not one, but nine! Alice glanced to the side and saw, among the Centurions and Chiliarchs, a robust figure that was like a werewolf yet not, suddenly appearing. She hadnt expected that Leonard would choose a head-on clash with those eight men! But in the instant her gaze shifted there, the Fourth Tier Chiliarch who had been struck by a punch was already sent flying. His breastplate was undamaged, yet the blood containing bits of his innards that he coughed up had already claimed most of his life. Such a domineering Fist Method! How can his level of Controlling Air be so high? Alice wasnt an ordinary observer, and she immediately spotted the uniqueness of the punch, No, theres also a force from the Destruction Series... Chapter 956: 295: Fierce Battle_3 Chapter 956: Chapter 295: Fierce Battle_3 She had seen too many experts. Likewise, she immediately recognized the terror of Leonard Churchills punch. The Fist Method, Controlling Air, technique... all were extremely proficient. That was how Gang Air could be poured through plate armor and into the flesh, severely injuring the enemy. But understanding was one thing. How did that guy manage to do it! It was known that High Tier military armor possessed intricate enchantments, not only providing superior defense against both physical and magical attacks but also significantly reducing the effectiveness of penetrating forces. That meant, even the residual force from that punch that penetrated the enemys body was powerful enough to cause severe trauma. Had it not been for the plate armor, that punch might have exploded the foe! If she hadnt seen it with her own eyes, Alice would hardly have believed it. The enemy was a Fourth Tier Black Knight, no less?! And he was heavily injured with just one punch? Not only was Alice shocked, but the expressions of those who were ambushed also evidently faltered. Watching their companion being sent flying, before they could react, there seemed to come a splitting sound through the air. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ... Six streaks of cold light, moving faster than the naked eye could follow, burst from the darkness, attacking from an unknown angle. It was then that Alice clearly saw that those were six flying knives enshrouded in a strange Gravitational Force field. In the moment the enemies were caught off guard, each knife aimed for the necks, two knives each targeting the vital spots of three Third Tier Centurions. Two of them didnt even have time to react before the silver light pierced their throats. The third, reacting more quickly, made an extreme evasive motion. Even so, a flying knife managed to slash a gash with flesh turned out across his neck. Blood gushed from the wound like a fountain. Although the three were not killed on the spot, the flying knives were already coming back for more. ... So fast, those flying knives! Alices eyes went rigid as she watched. She now understood that Leonard Churchill hadnt used his full strength when he previously controlled the flying knives. She also noticed that the strange gravitational force surrounding the knives was the same as that on his fist. A sudden realization struck Alice unfamiliarly, Could it be the Demon God Secret Skill!? If it was some other Secret Skill, she might not be so sure. But with this Gravitational Force Secret Skill in play, she was almost certain it was one of the Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skills, the Celestial Godfall! Because it was a skill that the hero Aragon was proficient in! Is this guy from the [Hero] Sequence? Suddenly, Alice felt like she was starting to understand. No wonder this guy could see the cloaks propertiesif hes a hero, that wouldnt be strange at all. But wait... What about that Mental Power and the exaggerated Curse Power? However surprising it may be, watching the scene unfold, Alice couldnt help but feel worried. Although Leonard Churchill achieved the element of surprise, he had heavily injured a Chiliarch and three Centurions in an instant. But the enemies had come to their senses! The moment Leonard Churchill made his move, that Fourth Tier [Assassin] had already thrust his dagger towards his neck. Another Fourth Tier [Samurai] also drew a dagger from his waist, aiming for Leonards flank. The combatants in the military were most adept at various joint attack tactics. These two strikes were made without leaving Leonard any room to evade. No matter how he responded, He was bound to be hit by one of them! From a distance, as an observer, Alice watched this scene unfold, her breath almost stopping in anxiety. She knew Leonard must have been confident, but she didnt think he could avoid both strikes, Damn it! This guy is being too reckless... It was fine to employ tactics that quickly inflicted heavy damage on four people. But serious injuries would make the subsequent fight much more difficult. Alice wanted to help, but the incident happened so suddenly, no one had the chance to react. ... As expected, the scene played out. The dagger and the short blade each struck, hitting Leonards neck and lower back respectivelyboth vital points. Alice, too, had not expected Leonard to make no move to dodge. Just as she thought she would witness blood spraying, suddenly, there was a flash of sparks where the blades made contact. Accompanied by a clang, the sound was jarring, like a metal weapon striking metal. Alices pupils contracted sharply as she saw an absurd scene, This... The dagger and short blade had slid across a layer of golden painted dragon scales, sparking light? They hadnt penetrated! Leonard had taken both blows! Alice internally exclaimed, recognizing it, The Supreme Tyrant Body of the Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skills! She had seen it! This bronze glow, it had to be the Tyrant Body Secret Method! The two enemies clearly hadnt anticipated that their lethal strikes wouldnt even make a cut? Leonard felt the destructive force entering his flank, his lips curving into a devilishly charming smile. Both being Fourth Tier, with no greater Law Understanding than him, how could they hope to breach the Supreme Tyrant Body? From the very start, the moment these foes underestimated him, their fate was sealed. Leonard would not give the enemy any time to react. Taking the blows, his fists wrapped in a bizarre gravitational force, powerfully detonated, Tyrant Fist: Earths Roar! In an instant, the very space rippled as if shattered like a mirror, breaking into spiderweb-like cracks from the center of the fist. Those two fear-stricken Chiliarchs, despite their best defenses, were instantly reduced to ragdolls, spitting blood as they flew backwards from the Catastrophic-level Divine Skills. Smack! Leonard stomped the ground fiercely, relentlessly pursuing, his fists like a torrent raining upon the wounded, yet living enemies. Echoing through the vast mine were the sounds thump, thump, thump... Like artillery fire. ... This raw and domineering scene was equally savagely etched into her mind. Chapter 957 - 295: Fierce Battle_4 Chapter 957: Chapter 295: Fierce Battle_4 Alice looked at Leonard Churchill charging into the enemy ranks with an invincible stance and was beyond shocked, Just how many Demon God Secret Skills does this guy have? They werent surrounded by the enemy. It was he who had surrounded them. Only then did Alice realize why he was so nonchalant when he said the others are not a threat. The scene unfolding before her eyes was more outrageous than she could have imagined. With that momentum, that guy could probably take out the eight other enemies in a short time. Hiss... so strong! Alice inhaled a cold breath inwardly. At the same time, a bright spark flickered in her crystal eyes. The sudden twist in combat occurred at that instant. Not only did Alices jaw drop, but Centurion Lambert further away turned ashen. He too hadnt anticipated that, besides Batis, someone else could inflict such heavy casualties on their military force. However, the battle happened too swiftly, and in the brief moment of his stupefaction, four of his subordinates had died, and four were wounded. Lamberts Curse Cards in hand also switched targets, flying towards another direction. Seeing this, how could Alice give him the chance to attack Leonard? As she spotted his moment of distraction, she simultaneously released her spell, Witchs Curse SpellExploding Matchsticks! A few torch-like matches speared forward like lances. Hmph! With a sideways glance, Lambert snorted coldly. Such a degree of fire element spell was utterly trivial in his eyes. With a slight twist of his body, he reached out one hand and used a single-handed molten fire shield to block the incoming spell. But just as the disdain in his eyes hadnt fully shown, he suddenly looked up and realized, Overlapping Spells? Across from him, Alices eyes sharpened, and the second spell silently unleashed, Secret TechniqueMelting Gingerbread House! The surrounding gingerbread houses melted away in large swathes, and seeing the ground beneath him melt once more, Lambert knew that she intended to trap him. Looking at Alice with dark eyes, he exclaimed angrily, Seeking death! Although the spells were still not much of a threat to him, Lambert had to respond with all his might. With that thought, the Fifth Tier Centurions body erupted with a dense aura of the Elements of Fire and Land, and he roared, DomainVolcano World! Alices expression also grew solemn as she watched. Even with an elemental shield covering her body, she still felt the piercing burn. This was a crush of tiers. She knew that he was truly serious now. .... The few who were ambushed by Leonard knew that they would certainly die if they resisted head-on, so they chose to scatter and retreat, using the terrain to fight and fall back. Leonard would not give them the chance to escape alive and call for reinforcements. Only by killing them all could he focus on that Fifth Tier opponent. The sounds of fierce fighting echoed through the empty mines. But the enemies were intent on escaping, so Leonard also spent some time in pursuit. A quarter of an hour later. The noise of combat had gradually subsided. Meanwhile, on the other side. The battlefield between Alice and Lambert was incredibly brutal. The Underground Cave had turned into a world of lava, similar to a Volcanos mouth. Two Lava Giants, over five meters tall, were wreaking havoc, with Lambert continuously throwing out High Tier Cards. In a corner, the Rainbow River had already dried up significantly. Alices robe was singed everywhere, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Being outmatched by an entire tier, she was beaten back step by step. That she was still standing was the result of exhausting all her means. Im almost at my limit... Alice panted heavily, a trace of sadness appearing in her eyes. In this volcanic environment, even breathing was torture. The scorching fire elements poured into her lungs through her airways, as if to ignite her very body. She acknowledged the S-tier difficulty of the story, indeed a matter of life and death. However, a turn of events came quietly. Just when Alice felt she might collapse at any moment, a figure walked slowly from the far reaches of the mine. At the same time came that familiar voice, Ah, sorry... I ran into a few more enemies coming for reinforcement on the way. So it took a little bit of time. Upon hearing that, and the ever-calm tone, it was as if Alice heard the most inspiring words. Her eyes lit up. That guy had finally arrived. Yet, Only she, who had experienced the strength of their opponent, knew that even with Leonard arriving, victory was still a tall order. If he chose to flee, Alice felt she wouldnt blame him. But just as this thought surfaced, The next moment, Alice looked at Leonard arriving in her line of sight and was shocked once again. For at that moment, behind Leonard, there appeared a Clown Illusion with a crimson grin that reached its ears. What kind of Cursing Spirit was this? No, thats not right! This was a Demon God! Her eyes widened as she stared at a completely unfamiliar ally. The guy walked out leisurely, That mocking face wearing the same sinister smile as the Clown Illusion behind him. His eyes were filled with fierce exhilaration and high Fighting Intent. Leonard looked at Centurion Lambert, and then at the surroundings, This is quite troublesome... Chapter 958 - 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 958: Chapter 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass) A mine tunnel filled with fiery red lava. Alice looked at Leonard Churchill as he approached slowly, her eyes sparkling tremulously, unable to conceal her mixed feelings. How could she not be struck by such a great contrast in the same person? If the Leonard Churchill of before was an assassin lurking in the shadows, alert and cunning, then the Leonard Churchill at this moment was like a Knight of Light marching before thousands of troops, brave and fearless. At this moment, Leonard Churchill was fully unleashed, his aura domineering and unmatched. Even when facing an enemy whose tier overwhelmed him, his eyes still revealed a fearlessness and a hint of mockery. Each step he took was a gathering of Air. His aura rose higher and higher. In the blink of an eye, the Gang Air swirling around his body was as sharp as needles. Alice was greatly shocked inside, Just who is this guy... She also realized that Leonard Churchill was definitely not an ordinary spy from the East Wilderness. This level of strength was preposterous; among the Fourth Tier, even among the pure-blooded dragon descendants of the Ariel Empire, she had never seen anyone stronger or more preposterous than him! ... Seeing Leonard Churchill arrive, even Lambert, the Centurion, furrowed his brows. This mans appearance here meant that the subordinates he brought with him had all been killed. Lamberts expression turned cold with undisguised killing intent as he sneered, Heh, you Rebels, you really are full of surprises... That a Fourth Tier witch had delayed him for so long was already a rare skill; yet now an even more formidable one had appeared. Though his tone carried surprise, there was no trace of fear, only a tangible killing intent. But you dont think that just because you could kill a Chiliarch, you are qualified to fight me head-on, do you? No, no, no... Leonard chuckled, shaking his head. His face, with its wicked smile, showed no sign of urgency. He even had the leisure to chat for a bit, Ive seen Your Excellencys methods. With tier suppression, even if I were to use all my skills, my chances of winning would not exceed ten percent. Ten percent? Lambert sneered, clearly not believing it. How could he possibly lose to two Fourth Tiers? Leonard Churchill looked at Lambert and didnt take his words to heart, simply saying, Hehe, but it wont be that easy for Your Excellency to kill me... He knew that the other party wasnt rushed, and was actually recovering Curse Power in secret. Moreover, the main force from above was already on its way, just waiting for Batis, the leader blocking the road of the Rebellion Army, to be killed, and then everything would be over. ... Lambert listened and his expression subtly changed. He knew his thoughts had been seen through. The fact that this witch across from him had the ability of Mind Reading Technique was one thing, but why did he feel that this jester-like fellow in front of him seemed to have some kind of... ability that made it seem like whatever he did would be thoroughly predicted? The feeling was odd. It was like... the battle hadnt started yet, but it was as if the future had already been played out once. No matter what action he took, it wouldnt have any outcome. Just as the other had said, killing the two of them wouldnt be that easy. Alice, not far away, also noticed this issue. But she had not realized that this was an application of the Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skills. ... Leonard Churchill was feeling extremely good at this moment. After days of hard practice and comprehension of I am the world, his understanding of this Secret Skill had become more and more profound. The strength of this Secret Skill didnt lie in boosting direct combat power, but in its control over the battlefield. When he previously killed those of the same tier, Leonard had already felt the exaggerated effect of this ability. To his eyes, any technique the enemy used was predicted from its initiation to its outcome. This allowed Leonard to almost one hundred percent predict his opponents next moves, landing spots, and intentions... With nothing unforeseen, it was impossible for the enemy to kill Leonard Churchill. The outcome was predetermined to be in his favor. Only then did Leonard understand Barre Shepherds evaluation of I am the world. A card master proficient in this Secret Skill was nearly impossible to kill, unless overwhelmed by tier. And if someone reached the level of Noah Wright, who could turn the Secret Skill into a Domain, they could fully predict everything even before the opponent made a move. A strategy unfurling invisibly. Just like Five Finger Mountain, no matter how you tried to escape, you were within the realm of ones predictive hand. Thats also why many said the Domain of the Pursuer of Light was unsolvable. This Demonic God Secret Skill didnt change anything, but rather deduced the laws of movement of all things; it left no trace, and hence, there was no real way to solve it. A thought flashed through his mind, and Leonard Churchills gathering of Air was also almost complete; he did not wish to delay any further. He glanced sideways at Alice, who was not lightly injured, and said directly, If you dont have a means to deal a heavy blow to that fellow, you should go first. Leave this to me. To have held out this long was already quite commendable. Leonard also knew that if this woman could get out alive, even without removing the Slave Collar, the chances were she wouldnt die. With the current situation, even if they joined forces, aside from delaying the inevitable for a short while, it was meaningless. And if the delay continued, the pursuers from above would arrive. Finding that underground river might offer a sliver of hope for survival. When Alice heard him, her beautiful eyes momentarily filled with complexity, and she asked, And what about you? She too saw the current situation clearly, and although she didnt have as many thoughts as Leonard, she knew that the choice in front of her was a matter of life and death. And Leonards suggestion for her to go first was, in reality, giving her a slim chance of survival. But how could Princess Alice, kindhearted since childhood, abandon the person who had risked his life to save her? Me? Leonards face bore an indifferent expression as he cocked his head, glanced at the two Flame Demons and the Fifth Tier, and his eyes narrowed slightly, Fancy taking a gamble. Chapter 959 - 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 959: Chapter 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 Hearing this, Alice asked in utter astonishment, Bet on what? Leonard Churchill said with profound meaning, Bet...on courage. ??? Alice did not fully understand the meaning of his words but she faintly guessed that Leonard might have found some other clues to breaking the situation. Before she could figure it out, the Centurion Lambert across scoffed coldly, interrupting her thoughts, You two really dont take me seriously, do you! As soon as these words were spoken, killing intent surged suddenly. Leonard, fearless, continued to walk unhurriedly towards the enemy guarded by the two Lava Giants. It was at this critical moment that Alice set her pretty face in determination. She didnt choose to flee, instead, she mustered her courage and said loudly, I have a forbidden curse technique that can hurt a Fifth Tier. But it takes a long time to prepare! Oh? Leonard listened but did not turn his head, simply saying, Then give it a try. I will try to distract for you. Everything that needed to be said had been said, how Alice chose was her own decision. As he saw several cards transform into a few firebirds flying toward him, Leonards gaze suddenly became piercing. Before one could see what he did, the air where he stood suddenly exploded. A pop of an air explosion sounded, and the scorching lava all around rippled in waves. Looking again, Leonard had already appeared less than two meters in front of Lambert, as swift as lightning. Close Combat Card Masters rarely use their bodies to endure spells when facing Spellcasters; avoiding with the advantage of their bodies is the correct method of response. Although Leonard had just entered the Fourth Tier, the base attributes he accumulated from the previous tiers had already grown substantially, like a snowball getting larger. After his transformation, he was already comparable to some Late Fourth Tier Close Combat Card Masters. In terms of his physical attributes alone, that was far beyond what a Fifth Tier Spellcaster could match. Leonard approached the enemy and launched his strongest punch without any hesitation, Tyrant Fist: Earths Roar! The fist, surrounded by a strange gravitational force, created mirror-like fractures in the void, an intimidating sight. However, this move that could heavily damage those of the same tier, the Calamity Divine Skill, only elicited a derisive cold snort from Lambert, his eyes seemingly mocking: Naive! The Centurion had anticipated this close-ranged sneak attack and didnt even bother to raise his hand. A Flame Curse Power Shield appeared around his body. Thud! A muffled sound rang out as Leonards punch slammed into the flame shield, sparks flying like bursting iron flowers. This shield was not just for defense. The sparks that splashed onto Leonard burned through his Protective Gang Air, leaving burned spots on his skin. The air was filled with a faint smell of seared flesh. Leonard felt the pinpricks of pain on his skin and, far from being alarmed, murmured, Heh, so this is Tier Law Suppression, eh... Although he had suffered a minor injury, this was his first encounter with a Fifth Tier upfront, and he measured with his body the degree of Law Comprehension of a Fifth Tier Card Master. This kind of cognitive improvement was priceless to him. As a result, the deductions he could make were now far more precise. ... Huh? In an instant, as the two exchanged blows, Lambert was also somewhat surprised; his own Flame Law-infused shield splashed, and it hadnt injured a Fourth Tier? And having personally felt that punch just now, he also understood why his subordinate, the Chiliarch, had been heavily injured. What a tyrannical fist method! Although he wouldnt admit it aloud, in his heart Lambert recognized it as the most threatening punch he had seen from anyone below the Fifth Tier. A thought flashed through his mind, and as he glanced with the corner of his eye, he saw that witch in the distance had already started playing a golden lyre, apparently preparing some high-tier secret skill. Cursing Spirit: Great Flame Demon! Lambert couldnt afford to be careless; as the Cursing Spirit appeared, he flipped over a card that was already bursting in his hand, Flame Ring! As Leonard punched out and before he could retreat, a Hexagram Array appeared beneath the enemys feet, and the fire elements composing the surrounding shield erupted, blazing into a huge cylindrical body. The Fifth Tier Card Masters control over elements and proficiency in spells also had an overwhelming advantage. Leonard moved lightning-fast, stepping twice in the void, yet he was still caught, with most of his body enveloped in flames. It was fortunate that when his Profession Card merged, he gained a bit of the Hellfire bloodline ability, which granted him high resistance to fire. Otherwise, such elemental suppression and flame damage might not even be blockable by the Tyrant Body Secret Method. The flame eruption only persisted for an instant before receding like an ebbing tide. Leonard recognized the spell, so he did not intend to dodge. Ignoring the burning pain on his body, he flipped in mid-air and stepped again, lunging a second time toward Lamberts shield with a heavy fist. Thud! Another punch. Again, the shield sprayed sparks in all directions. Then came the second punch, the third punch, the fourth punch... In mid-air, overlapping figures were seen, the fire burning the air with crackling sounds. With the measurement in mind, Leonard clearly felt that the flames damage could not instantly defeat him, so he began to attack intensively. He had inherited the Overlord Fist Technique from the old man Barre Shepherd. It was fierce, powerful, and domineering. Leonard was well aware that just relying on this elemental shield, it would be impossible for him to kill Lambert. The only strategy was to wear him down! While the Fifth Tier Cursing Spirits elemental shield was powerful, correspondingly, its consumption was not insignificant. Even with the suppression of the Spell Tier, a Fourth Tier could not possibly outlast the Curse Power of a Fifth Tier Card Master who had ten times his own. But Leonard had the Secret Skill Gluttony to restore Curse Power, and he was not afraid at all in the short term. Chapter 960 - 960 296 Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly ?Chapter 960: Chapter 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass)_3 Chapter 960: Chapter 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass)_3 He launched a barrage of attacks like a violent downpour. Fists landed densely like raindrops, giving no chance for his opponent to disengage and disrupt Alices spellcasting from afar. This aggressive fighting style indeed had its effect, quickly depleting Lamberts substantial stack of Curse Cards within a short period. After all, this was a Centurion from the Taren Dynasty three thousand years ago! Lambert had mastered many Spells and Secret Skills that had long been lost to the ages, with casting techniques that dazzled the eye. Even though Leonard was quick to react, there were several instances when he was put in grave danger by Secret Skills he had never seen before. Fortunately, he had the Curse of Immortality, and as long as he wasnt killed on the spot, he could fully recover. Of course, it came at a considerable cost. It was a desperate battle, no time to care about anything else. However, while it seemed Leonard was paying a higher price in this war of attrition, he was slowly but surely understanding the enemys methods. With each crippling blow he took, with every new Spell his enemy used, the enemys secrets diminished a little more in Leonards eyes. And his predictions for the battles future became clearer. The Clown illusion enhanced his already high Enlightenment, along with the I am the world ability bolstering his recognition of the world. Everything became clearer in Leonards eyes. As the battle raged on, his Enlightenment refreshed ceaselessly. You have captured the secret of Flaming Strike, Spell proficiency +25, Elemental Recognition +1 Youve insightfully analyzed Lava Analysis, proficiency +76, Land Elemental Recognition +1 Through keen observation, youve discovered a vulnerability in the Fire Elemental Shield, Law Understanding +9 ... Barre Shepherd had once taught: Battle against an opponent who can bring you to the brink of death is always the quickest way to improve. Leonard took this lesson to heart, feeling its truth more deeply now than ever before. His first direct battle with a Fifth Tier card master felt like a forced ascent to a new level of Law Understanding. Everything was new. Everything happening in front of him was nourishment he could use to grow stronger. And Leonard was devouring it all voraciously, like a whale gulping down its prey. Although he seemed to be at a disadvantage throughout the barrage, with his opponent only expending a bit of Curse Power and remaining unharmed, Leonards response became increasingly more effortless. Because he was understanding his enemys methods more and more. In the world before his eyes, secrets were becoming scarce. Lambert, as Leonards opponent, felt this even more keenly. .... As the fight dragged on, Lambert realized he was dealing with an incredibly stubborn opponent. The problem wasnt that he couldnt defeat Leonard. It was that he couldnt kill him! Damn it, how on earth is this guy unkillable? Lambert wondered and cursed to himself more than once. He had already used several of his ultimate moves, even the tricks he kept in store for emergencies... Any other Fourth Tier card master he had faced before would have died countless times by now. But not this one, not Leonard. And although Lambert had inflicted serious injury multiple times, in the blink of an eye, there Leonard was again, jumping around as lively as ever. Though uncertain about which Healing Secret Skill could heal so quickly, the fact remained. If you cant kill your opponent, he can keep on fighting indefinitely. Even though Lambert understood there must be a cost for Leonards healing ability, the frustration of it all was beyond anything he had experienced before, even from those of the same tier. And that wasnt all! Being unkillable was just a minor issue! The longer the battle lasted, the more Lambert realized that his opponent seemed to see through his moves with increasing clarity. That feeling of being scrutinized by a Mind Reading Technique made him feel as if his entire arsenal was laid bare. It was only at one moment that he came to a belated realization. It turned out... From the very beginning, Leonard had intended to force him to use his most secretive Spells. By the time Lambert had a chance to regain his composure, he found himself out of tricks to use! Damn! What kind of freak is this? Lambert cursed inwardly. The tricky part was, even if he realized that his opponent was stealthily learning his Spells, he was utterly powerless to stop it. Because if you cant kill your opponent, the only option is to keep fighting and to continually attempt new methods. And then you helplessly watch as a fight that should have been an absolute victory slowly tilts the balance, leading to signs of a draw? Before the battle, he had never imagined being brought to his knees, trickless, by a Fourth Tier. Now, he wasnt even thinking about quickly killing this Rebel. He just hoped to hold on a little longer, waiting for reinforcements to arrive and deal with this outrageous enemy together. ... At a distance, Alice, who was concentrating on casting her Spell, also kept a close watch on the battle. Seeing this scene, she was extremely astonished. She could hardly believe that the Centurion, who had pushed her to the edge several times not long ago, was now being suppressed. This healing ability... couldnt be another Demon God Secret Skill, could it? Numerous thoughts flitted through her mind. It was only because she saw it with her own eyes that she found it unbelievable. As a former princess of the Red Dragon Kingdom, Alice was well-versed in transcendent knowledge. Even if she hadnt witnessed the Fifty-two Demonic God Mystic Arts herself, she had heard of most of them. She saw several methods on Leonard that resembled the Demon Gods Mysterious Techniques. But then she resigned herself to the obvious explanation. His healing speed was far beyond that of normal Spells and considering the circumstances, she was likely correct in her guess. After witnessing too many strange things that day, Alices reaction was a mere twitch at the corner of her eye, followed by a calm acceptance as if it was all standard fare. Alice felt a profound sense of wonder, Oh, right. If its him, it doesnt seem strange at all... Chapter 961 - 961 296 Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly ?Chapter 961: Chapter 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass)_4 Chapter 961: Chapter 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass)_4 Watching the combat figure before her, shimmering like a phantom through the battle, she truly felt the deathly crisis that weighed upon her heart had been significantly alleviated. Although it seemed that Leonard Churchill was completely unable to get the better of the enemy. But the fact was, quietly, he had gradually taken control of the battles rhythm. Moreover, the outrageous combat power that Leonard Churchill displayed was just one aspect! Alice also recognized his terrifying capability to learn while fighting and his ability to control the field. The same spell might injure him the first time it was used. But the second time, it would be absolutely impossible. To the enemy, this was a nightmare. Even though a Fifth Tier card master had a vast array of spells at their disposal. To face an enemy who could only be attacked with a spell once, anyone would find themselves at a loss for tactics. It was due to this strategy that he was gradually able to achieve a draw from what was clearly a desperate situation. Controlling the field, scheming, without a single mistake... is this guys mindset really not affected by negative circumstances at all? The more she watched, the deeper Alices admiration from the bottom of her heart grew. Being an observer, she could see those minute details more clearly. Alice knew very well that even a slight mistake under a Fifth Tier card master could almost certainly lead to death. Yet that guy, from beginning to end, did not make any mistakes that shouldnt have occurred. He remained alarmingly numbed to humanity throughout. ... The battle thus continued to intensify in deadlock. No matter how fierce the enemys offensive was, Leonard Churchill always managed to respond just right. Like a light leaf swaying in the gales, but never once blowing away. The more Leonard Churchill fought, the higher his momentum grew. But the Centurion Lambert became increasingly stifled as the battle wore on. It seemed that to obtain a result between the two, one must wait until the Curse Power of one side was exhausted. However, there was another person on the battlefield. Alice was also pleasantly surprised to discover that the Fifth Tier enemy had not been able to break away to interfere with her concentration of spells throughout the entire fight. This gave her ample time to cast the spell that exceeded her own tier. Finally, behind Alice, the rainbow river of Elements shone once again with dazzling brilliance, and the Gold harp had fully materialized. The magical harp of Fairy tale town played a melodious tune. She also sang that beautiful forbidden enchantment, Listen! The bells echo, ringing joyously, tinkling sound... As midnight draws near, the carriage comes from Hell, Cinderella puts on her beloved crystal shoes, a fatal symphony plays in the palace... The singing gradually rang out. The sound was not loud but reached every nook and cranny of the mine with crystal clarity. As Alice mentioned, this spell required a long time to chant. Several minutes of beautiful singing had already passed, and yet there was no sign of any tangible effect. However, upon hearing the song, a smile played on Leonard Churchills lips, Hey, the Witch Sequence really can do anything, huh... Because he had seen this spell before. Back in the Divine Ruins Treasure House, one of the Four Knights beneath the King from the Orlan Royal Court, the Puppeteer Domingo, had used this sonic spell and shattered Barre Shepherds clothes. This Mysterious Type method was basically indefensible! At that time, Puppeteer Domingo needed hundreds of Puppets to successfully perform it, whereas Alice needed much longer with her single harp. With this in mind, it became even more impossible for Leonard Churchill to let the enemy disturb her. In the distance, Lambert may not have seen it before, but he also had a bad feeling. He tried to stop Alice from casting, but he could never get rid of Leonard Churchills entanglement. Finally, the last note of the song abruptly ended. Alice cried out sharply, Explode! As her words were uttered, the law followed. The killing wave embedded in the sound wave penetrated the Elemental Shield with a unique frequency, striking directly at the enemys body. Lamberts complexion changed drastically, but he was still unable to do anything. Pop, pop, a series of firecracker-like sounds erupted as his blood vessels burst open all over. Crimson flooded the ground, and he couldnt help a surge of warmth in his throat, gushing out old blood, Purgh Seeing this, a glint of elation flashed in Alices eyes, but as if she had exhausted her strength, the rainbow river of Elements behind her also dimmed. Even Leonard Churchill was pleasantly surprised by the might of Alices spell. He seized the opportunity to charge forth, showering Lambert with a flurry of fists. Thump! Thump! Thump! ... Leonard Churchill, bracing against the onslaught of two Lava Giants, unleashed a barrage of punches on Lambert. For the first time, his fists touched the enemys body. Harrowing shockwaves surged like tides into every section, causing large swathes to collapse throughout the entire mine. Yet even grievously injured, a Fifth Tier card master was not so easily killed. Leonard Churchills punches landed on Lambert, producing a crackle, crackle of what sounded like ceramic shattering. The guy was protected not only by a Fire Elemental Shield but also an armor of Land Elements! Like a bulletproof vest, this layer of ceramic armor absorbed the brunt of the damage. While Leonard Churchills Ground Roar was exceedingly destructive, when it hit the enemys flesh, barely a tenth of its power remained. Unable to kill him swiftly, Lambert forced Leonard Churchill back with a Flame Burst Card, propping up his Elemental Shield once more. Seeing this, Leonard Churchill knew they would not be able to kill this man. But it was in that moment, he also realized, they had reached a pivotal moment in the plot. .... If they couldnt kill this Fifth Tier, they wouldnt be able to escape. It should have been time for despair for Leonard Churchill and Alice. Not far away, the expression on Alices face dimmed in an instant. Because at that moment, her Detection Curse Spirit had sensed a large force approaching. Chapter 962 - 962 296 Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly ?Chapter 962: Chapter 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass)_5 Chapter 962: Chapter 296: Clearing the Stage (Seeking Monthly Pass)_5 That is to say, leader Batis had already died in battle. A few moments later, the armys main force descended, and what greeted them was death. Is this the end... Alices eyes dimmed. Even the strongest Forbidden Technique had been used, but the outcome remained unchanged. She couldnt see any hope of survival. Glancing at Leonard Churchill, her heart was filled with guilt: she had even dragged others down with her. But it was this glance that felt strange to her: Why isnt this guy panicking at a time like this? No! It wasnt just a lack of panic, The guy was... smiling! .... Leonard Churchill had certainly noticed the newcomers above. He had also stopped fighting and stood at a distance. However, as if sensing her gaze, he looked back at Alice with a smile on his face: Hahaha... The laughter became more and more hearty. It was a laugh like that of a victor, unrestrained and arrogant. Alice, not understanding, asked expectantly, You... do you have some way...? If he hadnt gone mad, then this guy must have seen through something. But with the encirclement a foregone conclusion, how could they possibly turn the tables? Leonard Churchill knew what she was puzzled about, and considering they were comrades through hardship, he didnt want to keep his teammate in the dark. He laughed and said, Didnt we say wed bet on courage before? As he spoke, he answered his own question: We might have bet right. Alice looked utterly confounded: ??? Leonard Churchill ignored Lambert in the distance, speaking calmly: It turns out, we cant kill this plot character. But Ive deduced all the clues, unless were unlucky and have really overlooked the correct way to clear the game. Otherwise, what we inherently could do, weve already done to the best of our ability. Indeed... Hearing these words, Alice also murmured in her heart. Thinking back on their journey, they had done everything possible to the utmost. If they still couldnt pass, it was very... very confusing. Could it be that the method of clearing the game was wrong? Before she could think further, Leonard Churchill continued: But we still dont stand a chance of survival, do you think others who come will survive? Even in S-class storylines, theres bound to be a glimmer of hope. Alice seemed to understand something, her bright eyes shaking: So...? Leonard Churchills heart was already absolutely certain of his judgment: So, if we want to exit alive, its not about killing him. Its a different way. He had analyzed all the known plot information and had deduced various possibilities. So the chance he had overlooked the correct method was very low. If that were the case, he would accept it. He was willing to lose the bet and face death calmly. But obviously, the likelihood wasnt that their method was flawed. The condition for clearing the game was not necessarily to kill this Fifth Tier Centurion. Just as he had encountered in several S-class storylines, like the Secret Keeper in Grand Cemetery Labyrinth, the Dragon Hawk Garen in Battle of Ironforge... Those S-tier monsters were only necessary conditions for the story, not targets to be killed. Alice also had a sudden realization, exclaiming with surprise and anticipation, You mean... Goron? Right! Leonard Churchill nodded, giving a mysterious smile: If all goes well, we should be waiting for the result now. True to his words, as soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous boom boom like a breached dam echoed throughout the mine. Alices face beamed with the joy of deliverance from despair: The underground river has been found! Leonard Churchill said in a deep tone: Yes. His words seemed not to be for Alice, but rather affirmation for the voices inside his own heart. At this moment, everything felt incredibly right. The entire plot now formed a perfect logical loop in his eyes. The storyline missions and plot threads were connected in his mind. It was a feeling of epiphany as if he had seen through everything. Enlightenment also hinted: You have discerned a thread of the worlds operation, I am the world proficiency +255, world comprehension +3. This extremely rare ability to enhance the Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skill, at this moment, visibly surged in proficiency. In the blink of an eye, a torrential flood surged from the bottom of the mine. Before being submerged, Leonard Churchill saw Enlightenments message: Congratulations on completing S-class mission Break Through, story evaluation Excellent; 16 surviving members of the Rebellion Army, additional reward +16% He knew they had bet right. They had cleared the game. PS. Asking for a wave of guaranteed monthly votes, please support~ Chapter 963 - 963 297 Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice ?Chapter 963: Chapter 297: Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice Chapter 963: Chapter 297: Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice ` It was probably because the rebel leader Blood Blade Batis had already been beheaded, and the other henchmen were no longer important. Or perhaps intimidated by the strength of Leonard Churchill and his companion, Centurion Lambert gave chase for a while but failed to catch up, and no one else pursued them either. And so, Leonard Churchill, Alice, and Goron, the three of them floated down the turbulent currents of the Underground Dark River for several hours. Guessing that they had likely left the encirclement, they finally found an exit and reemerged on the surface of the land. In the wilderness on a hillside. Dripping wet, Alice took several deep breaths with great excitement, murmuring to herself, We survived... The previous battle had left them spent, with her lips slightly pale. But now, her face bore the excitement and joy of having survived a calamity. Enlightenment had already indicated the completion of the main storyline. This also meant that the most dangerous moment had passed. However, because the underground river in the mine had burst open, and at the same time a new subplot The Aftermath of War had been triggered by Goron, the two of them had not immediately left the space. In an instant, Alice saw Leonard Churchill not far from her. A wave of uncontrollable relief emerged at the bottom of her bright eyes. If not for this teammate, whose strength was outrageously powerful, she knew that she would have had no chance of surviving this S-ranked mission. Mr. Aragon was right; this man was truly formidable. Alice was also glad that she had chosen to trust him from the beginning. In her eyes, Leonard Churchill had already completely regained his usual calm and indifferent demeanor. In the end, Alice couldnt help it, she didnt ask him about the unfathomable Demon God Secret Skill he possessed but curiously said, Mr. Leonard Churchill, why were you so sure just now that we could survive? Recalling the last moments of the battle, it seemed as though he had an unwavering certainty of controlling fate. That image was deeply etched into her mind. There was no certainty... Leonard Churchill said with a laugh, shaking his head in response: I simply chose the option that was most likely to allow us to survive. Then we were lucky, and we did survive, thats all. There was nothing he couldnt say. I am the world had deduced the option most likely to allow survival. He had trusted his own judgment. That was all. If he was certain about anything, it was this: Alternate Dimension would necessarily leave a glimmer of hope. It was only after attempting with all his might to kill the Fifth Tier Centurion and failing that Leonard Churchill finally confirmed his guess: Alternate Dimension was testing for courage, not to kill a Fifth Tier. But this method would be useless even if someone else knew about it. Even if one knew that Alternate Dimension tests for the trait of courage. Courage is not something that can be feigned. Leonard Churchills courage came from his genuine willingness to stake his life on verifying his guess. Moreover, it wasnt just about having courage; one also needed strength that corresponded to the difficulty of the storyline. Otherwise, it would be impossible to survive before the obstacle of the plot difficulty set in Alternate Dimension (Centurion Lambert). Anyway. This Waren City Rebel Camp tests adventurers for their courage, strength, and intelligence. One cannot be without any of these. .... However, as soon as the words were spoken, Leonard Churchills eyes gradually grew profound. At this moment, he also felt a light and joyful sensation in his soul. Before, Noah Wright had said that once I am the world had been comprehended deeply, ones emotions would become very stable. Leonard Churchill now had a clear realization of this. If it had been before, having gotten through such a thrilling S-ranked storyline, he would have experienced an extreme excitement, a cerebral climax from gambling with his life and winning. But now, he was very calm. It felt as if cause necessarily led to effect. The thrill that he should have felt was no longer perceptible. Just like Alice would feel the excitement and thrill of surviving a close call. Whereas Leonard Churchill himself only felt, as expected. But now, Leonard Churchill was experiencing a different, more wonderful sensation. The storyline of Alternate Dimension felt like a condensed segment of the fate of life, and controlling the storyline brought a kind of pleasure that seemed to elevate the soul. Oh. Alice listened to Leonard Churchills words, thoughtful. Leonard Churchill didnt feel like explaining more and smiled with narrowed eyes. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he looked at Goron, who was draped in the [Hero Cloak] beside him. This crucial Non-Player Character had survived the danger, and his aura had completely changed. What surprised Leonard Churchill was that during the chaotic chase while drifting down the underground river, this guy had used a kind of gravitational Secret Skill. Leonard Churchill was absolutely certain that it was the Demon Gods Mysterious Technique Celestial Godfall. He was also surprised; that technique was clearly an exclusive Secret Skill of the 9-Destruction Sequence Path of Catastrophe, so why could a hero from the Miracle Path learn it? And he had just asked Alice. Leonard Churchill confirmed that Aragon, a descendant of Goron, was also proficient in this Secret Skill. That made him consider further possibilities. He thought about the source of his own Secret Skill. During The third Holy Grail War, the hero Garen was not a card master, but a hero, and he knew this Secret Skill. So, what is the inevitable connection between the Hero Sequence and the Destruction Path? .... After resting for a moment, the three of them, Leonard Churchill, did not linger long and found a road to hurry back towards Waren City. Another teammate, Allen, was still in the city, and they were not sure whether he had survived. Leonard Churchill and the others also wanted to follow Goron to see if they could dig deeper into the subplot of the Slave Collar key. However, due to the war, Waren City had been sealed off by the military, prohibiting all outsiders from entering. It wasnt until the next day that the three of them managed to blend in with a group of various news reporters and enter the city. ` Chapter 964 - 964 297 Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice_2 ?Chapter 964: Chapter 297: Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice_2 Chapter 964: Chapter 297: Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice_2 The good news is, Allen is still alive. Almost as planned, he saved the daughter of Waren Citys grain officer, Miss Manya, which allowed him to survive the militarys encirclement and capture. He also completed his A-tier main quest. And the campaign ended more smoothly than expected. Because the militarys ambush plan was prematurely detonated by Leonard Churchill, the Rebels chose to break through, so the original plots intense siege street battle did not happen. Soon, accurate news came out in the newspapers. Renowned general Marcus led four hundred thousand city-state allied forces to a great success in the eradication campaign. The rebel leader Batis and a host of key members were almost entirely beheaded. Heavy casualties were to be expected. However, what Leonard Churchill cared more about was another piece of news. The newspapers reported that nearly a million rebels came to rob Waren City. In reality, less than twenty percent were actual combatants, many of whom were desperate refugees and slaves. As a result, the military did not encounter intense resistance during the capture, and nearly three hundred thousand rebels were taken alive. This was the point of interest for Leonard Churchill. Even knowing that most of these three hundred thousand captured rebels were commoners, General Marcus ordered them all to be massacred. From the ordinary persons perspective, the rebels deserved to die. If one were a compassionate person, they would only think that Marcus was too bloodthirsty. However, Leonard Churchill deduced something else from these strands of fate. He now saw entirely through the human manipulation behind this rebellion war; the traces were too abundant. This massacre might be tied to political machinations, or perhaps the pursuit of greater military accomplishments... but it might also be related to the path to Extraordinary Power! Before entering the Alternate Dimension, Toad had asked him to observe the patterns of war. Leonard Churchill seemed to glimpse a thread of the cosmic wheel. He had previously thought that war was merely a product of the political sphere. But now it seemed, it wasnt that simple. The entire war was like a planned... ritual. Leonard Churchill couldnt yet understand the directional purpose of this ritualistic existence. But he thought of something else. He remembered how the New King of Orlan deliberately created terror to comprehend his own Law of Fear. Wasnt that also like a ritualistic process? Could war be something that some people deliberately created, aiming to gain insight into the High-level Laws? He recalled discussing with Noah Wright at Flood Gang the nature of The Third Holy Grail War they had tried their best to understand. Back then, Mushroomhead used his power to deduce that the war between humans and Demons over the Holy Grail was like a sacrificial ritual needed by God. In reality, Leonard Churchill encountered the Silver Moon Sect, which enjoyed sacrificing human beings to gain the power to communicate with God. It was probably the same principle. And now, seeing General Marcus massacre three hundred thousand rebels, Leonard Churchill felt even more certain of that speculation. This was not just a slaughter. This was more like a bloody sacrifice set up using the war as a pathway. Some people who orchestrated the war could sense a type of high-level Extraordinary Power through this bloody ritual. As for what it was. Leonard Churchill didnt know. But he realized Toad was right, it needed to be comprehended on his own. This was a cosmic law. Once understood, he would truly come into contact with it. .... Leonard Churchill and his two companions dallied in Waren City for most of the day, making sure the future hero Goron was safe, thus completing the side quest. Unfortunately, the main storyline had already ended. The Spatial Will no longer allowed extra time. They could not find Master Gamil in the Rune Highlands as the legend went. However, within his capabilities, Leonard Churchill had dug out as much of the related storyline as possible. Theoretically speaking, the items should already be in the settlement card pool. The rest was up to luck. In a room in Waren City, the three prepared to leave. The story ended, and the Enlightenment for clearance also appeared. Congratulations on clearing the Waren City Rebel Camp Space Exploration Degree 87%, fixed reward 90%; additional exploration 44%, receiving an A-tier rating, rare card draw +30% Unparalleled Wisdom and Bravery: high-tier card draw probability +7% Hidden Story Explorer: high-tier card draw probability +9% Live Towards Death: extra rare card draw probability +5% In Sync Teammates: rare card draw rewards +4% Insight Seeker: Special cards probability +3% Rare Survivor: rare card draw reward +1% Completion of S special storyline Break Through*1; A+ hidden storyline Heroic Choice*1; A-tier storyline Survivors of the Encirclement*1; B-tier story quests Waren Citys Traitor, Breaching the Governors Mansion, Wars Aftermath, C-tier quests Breaking the City, Granary Intelligence; D-tier quest Decapitating Captain Jim*1... Treasure box rare chance +26%, total rewards +30% Overall rating S, receiving 4 Clearance Settlement Treasure Boxes As Leonard Churchill had anticipated. After many experiences in the Alternate Dimension, he had a clear grasp on which actions would improve card draw probability. Adventurers surviving in small numbers, high story exploration degree, high difficulty, challenging high-difficulty bosses... Basically, all would increase card draw probability. Below were the basic card draw probabilities: 3% Black Iron, 50% Silver, 41% Gold, Dark Gold 7%, Special 1% Surviving the main quest in Fourth Tier Alternate Dimension essentially guaranteed a floor of Silver cards. Leonard Churchill looked at the four settlement treasure boxes that appeared in front of him and promptly opened them. Upon opening the clearance treasure box, received a special item One Mysterious Note Upon opening the clearance treasure box, received a Dark Gold card Summoning CardLava Giant Chapter 965 - 965 297 Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice_3 ?Chapter 965: Chapter 297: Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice_3 Chapter 965: Chapter 297: Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice_3 Opening the final treasure chest, received Golden Mechanical Blueprint Giant IV Generation Magic Energy Heavy Armor Mechanical Barrier Design Diagram'' Opening the final treasure chest, received a special item Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice'' ... Leonard Churchill glanced at the items pulled from the first four chests, his gaze tightening slightly. The items were somewhat unexpected. [Summoning Card: Lava Giant] Description: A Fifth Tier element summoning card that, once imbued with Curse Power, can summon two Lava Giants with high defense and magic attack to aid in combat; This was the spell used by that Fifth Tier Centurion. The Lava Giants, condensed from earth and fire elements, possessed great combat power. Although they werent of much use to Leonard Churchill, they still had high value. As for the mechanical blueprints, they were similarly encountered on the battlefield as military battle armor. The appearance of these two items was to be expected. Yet, Leonard Churchill found himself puzzled as he examined the note that looked like a draft, wondering, A treasure map? Or something else? [One Mysterious Note] Description: A rough sketch casually drawn by Master Gamil, seemingly a map pointing to a coordinate in the Rune Highlands; A Special Card obtained with a one percent probability surely wouldnt be disappointing. Mmost importantly, it bore the name Master Gamil. This was a name that had appeared only in the plot so far. But that didnt prevent Leonard Churchill from knowing he must undoubtedly be a historical figure of great importance. Such a legendary figure was bound to be involved in significant historical plots. Rune Highlands was a location within the Taren Dynasty, also findable on the Old Continent. Leonard Churchill thought he would know once he checked out the place. The fourth item, now that was interesting. An exceedingly high evaluation score yielded a correspondingly high chance of drawing special items. It was the first time Leonard Churchill had seen something like this. [Dreamers Lead-Loaded Dice] Description: A one-time use item, a cheating dice from a dream come true, involving a thread of the Law of Destinys relics; imagine in your mind what you wish to obtain, throw the dice, and the higher the number, the higher the tier of item you receive (wishing for a Plot Item youve come into contact with in this Alternate Dimension increases the probability); alternatively, you might end up empty-handed; He had not even begun to understand the use of these three dice when he heard Allens despondent voice from the side, Its over... My rating is A-, but I didnt draw the collar key in three tries. In an instant, he turned to Alice and asked, What about you, Sister Alice? ... Upon hearing this, Alices demeanor became gloomier as well. Her silence was her reply. The main storyline of this Alternate Dimension had a very low association with the slave collar key. It was normal not to draw it. However, without it, when they left, they would still be under the control of the collar, eventually to be caught by the Thorny Snake Corps. Thinking of this, both Alice and Allens expressions were very grim. Oh, thats right, they were war slaves destined to die, and from the first moment they entered the space, she was prepared to take a chance on luck. Now that they missed the slim chance of survival, it was normal. They had done all they could. However, Alice turned her gaze to Leonard Churchill. She knew that this teammates evaluation was definitely higher than her own, and the probability was certainly higher as well. Seeing the eager look in their eyes, Leonard Churchill knew what they wanted to ask, and shook his head, I didnt draw it either. Upon hearing his words, Alices eyes dimmed instantly. But before she could despair, Leonard Churchill produced the three dice hed just acquired, However, I did draw this. Alice at first thought anything but the collar key would be meaningless. But upon seeing the dices description, hope flared in her heart again, This... Allen, outspoken and excited, said, With these [Dice], we can make a wish come true! ... But Alice showed concern and used her peripheral vision to signal Allen to refrain from speaking further. Although she saw hope, she also recognized the value of this dice. If Leonard Churchill used this dice to make a wish, whether it succeeded or failed, it would mean giving up a supreme treasure. For instance, he could have wished for something like a Space Teleportation Card or a Substitute Strawman, special cards that are extremely difficult to procure from the Alternate Dimension. If he drew one, it could truly save his life. More valuable than a key that might have no connection to him whatsoever. Alice did not selfishly think that for the sake of the key, one should make such a significant sacrifice for nothing. However, she couldnt imagine that, to Leonard Churchill, many things were more important than life-saving equipment. Leonard Churchill had indeed considered using the dice to draw something he needed. But since he had promised the Toad, he intended to keep his word, of course. As for the Space Transfer Card and other cards, it would be best if he had them, but he wouldnt insist on having them if he didnt. To him, having an escape route made the adventure meaningless. Seeing Alices troubled expression, Leonard Churchill also thought this teammate wasnt too bad and cracked a slight smile. Catching a glimpse of that smile, Alice was momentarily startled. Before she could sort out the complex thoughts in her mind, she saw Leonard Churchill take out a gray cloak and drape it over his shoulders. Oh. Of course, the cloak was the Hero Cloak. When Goron mentioned giving it to Leonard Churchill, it became a reward item that could be taken out of the Alternate Dimension. The relic was most likely damaged or had disappeared during the long years, which allowed it to be taken out of the space. Add luck to an item, and its effects are unpredictable. Conveniently, the dice was also a relic of destiny. BUFF stacking is better than nothing. Leonard Churchill put on the cloak, and with a relaxed demeanor, he rolled the three dice. Alice and Allen, who stood nearby, were already at peak tension, eyes locked on the tumbling dice. Leonard Churchill recalled every possible clue related to the Slave Collar Key in the Alternate Dimension, and then he made his wish. The three dice spun in the Void, and then one showed a one. At this point, both Alice and Allen gulped. But Leonard Churchill was quite composed. Because at that moment, in his eyes, it was as if he could see fate mocking him. He saw the number on the dice and had already deduced the outcome. There were only two possibilities: Either extremely bad, or extremely good. Immediately after, he watched as the other two dice stopped, the second one was also a one, and the third onealso a one! A triple! It was unclear if it was Leonard Churchills good luck or the fortune added by the cloak, but he rolled such a significant number. The dice transformed into a reward. In front of them appeared a card bearing an image of an antique key. Alice, seeing this card, opened her mouth slightly in surprise: He got it! He... he really helped! Gamils Omnipotent Key Detailed description: A spell card crafted by the legendary Craftsman Gamil, capable of breaking nearly all curse locks below the God Tier; He really drew it, huh... Leonard Churchill looked at the key and, while feeling fortunate about his good luck, a profound contemplation also emerged in his eyes. He chose to wish for the key. But it wasnt just because of his promise to the Toad. He also saw a series of destiny threads extending from this key. So far, the Ariel Empires strength was unimaginable, and the Card Master Federation on the East Continent stood no chance against them. And now, with the Ariel Empire needing a massive number of cannon fodder to explore the Old Continent, they would most likely not kill captives they caught but would use them as War Slaves to pioneer new lands. And the Slave Collar was the most crucial means of enslavement. Leonard Churchill always had a premonition that the Universal Key would have significant use in the future. Perhaps he himself would need it someday. Chapter 966 - 966 298 Not Like I Havent Seen It Before ?Chapter 966: Chapter 298 Not Like I Havent Seen It Before Chapter 966: Chapter 298 Not Like I Havent Seen It Before Waren City ruins camp. The bonfire burned brightly. A team of Thorny Snake Corps guards listlessly waited near the Twisted Light Gate of the Alternate Dimension. Calculating the time, the last exploration should also be nearly over. Not far away, the next team preparing to explore the space was already getting ready. Accurate intelligence pointed out that among the slaves of the Waren City Rebel Camp in this space, some had participated in the construction of King Augustuss Mausoleum. And the upper echelons of the Red Dragon Kingdom had issued a death order to obtain clues about the Tomb. Therefore, this space was absolutely not to be missed. But everyone knew that uncovering such a subplot outside of the main storyline would be extremely difficult. Apart from slaves, it would also require the participation of the elite forces of the Thorny Snake Corps. There had been significant losses for this reason over this period. The soldiers hung their heads in dejection, whispering among themselves in small groups. Sigh... It will be a while before the mercenaries and hunters from the empire arrive. Our Thorny Snake Group might have to clash with this space to the death. Yeah. And who knows how many will die. Last time, Billy was drawn, and I dont know if he will survive... As long as you choose the City Defense Faction, the chances of surviving are still pretty high. But the intention from the Legion Commander seems to be that the clues from the City Defense Army arent very valuable, so the ones drawn to go in next will have to choose the Rebel Faction. Its said the Rebel Faction starts at an A-level difficulty, and currently the death rate is one hundred percent... Sigh... Its all because of the defeat at Gold-digging Dock last time. Who knew those guys from the East Wilderness would directly blow up the dock? It seems the Legion Commander is trying to make up for the past failures... Yeah. Hey... look! The space... the space entrance disappeared! Could it be someone has succeeded in a high-difficulty completion? ... Without any warning, the Twisted Light Gate suddenly vanished. People watched the disappearing space entrance, shocked for a moment, but then expressions of joy emerged on their faces. The disappearance of the entrance meant that someone had breached the Alternate Dimension. Almost instantly, this news spread throughout the entire camp. It wasnt just that the Legion Commander, General Heman of the Thorny Snake Corps, personally came to check. Even from the mysterious tent that Leonard Churchill had been keeping an eye on, a majestic Big Beard in court attire emerged. Elsewhere, near the slaves shanties. The giant Toad inside the Black Iron cage was also awakened by the noise, and its originally lazy, unfocused eyes gradually sharpened with expectation, That guy really did it, huh... It understood better than anyone what had happened. The disappearance of the Alternate Dimension meant there was a high probability of an S-grade evaluation completion. Aragon had more than once witnessed heroes tackling S-level difficulty stories and knew all too well that the success rate for such difficulty levels was extremely low. Even with the information he provided, it still required the corresponding strength, wisdom, and courage to attempt. The death rate was very high. Truly a pleasant surprise... I wonder if Miss Alice survived... Aragon felt overwhelmingly emotional within. He had previously met Leonard Churchill, which was only a slim hope amidst despair. He really hadnt expected this spy from the East Wilderness to take the risk. And to actually succeed. If it were Aragon, he would also find it hard to believe. While everyone in the camp was curious about who had cleared the space, the news arrived. No one returned to the camp. The person who completed the mission had vanished without a trace. At this moment, the members of the Thorny Snake Group realized that something was terribly wrong. Normally, if it were a soldier from the group who completed the mission, they would definitely return to claim credit. Even if the survivor were a War Slave, they would be bound by the collar and could not possibly escape far. Yet the reality was, there was no sign of the person who completed the mission appearing; they had disappeared into thin air. Seeing this, the Toad in the cage finally expelled a breath of relief. If Alice and the others survived and came out, it meant they had found the key. Ha ha ha ha. Aragon laughed heartily within his mind. It was a moment of relief he hadnt felt since being captured by the people of the Red Dragon Kingdom. With this, he could be at ease. As for his own life and death, that was completely unimportant now. Just as he thought this, loud shouting erupted throughout the camp. Everyone, search! We must find the person who came out from the Alternate Dimension! Pull up all the names of those who have entered the space! Check! Who has been in contact with that Toad recently! Get all those who have contacted it under control, I want to interrogate them one by one! ... Legion Commander Heman was furious. Only now did he belatedly realize that the Toad probably tampered with the exploration plan. .... Elsewhere. In the pitch-black city ruins, three figures quietly fled into the darkness. They skillfully avoided various sentry posts, ambushes, and traps, heading towards the deep parts of the Relics. Leonard Churchill hadnt just been reconnoitering information while in hiding. He had already become as familiar with the terrain around Waren Relics as the back of his hand, and had planned numerous retreat routes. He could even say without modesty that many of the alarm devices near the camp were arranged by his disguised identity Joel. Now those arrangements were coming in handy. Leonard Churchill led Alice and Allen away without encountering any obstacles, smoothly escaping the Thorny Snake Corps defensive perimeter. By the time the enemy realized, they were already several kilometers away. Finally, the light of the fires was no longer visible behind them. In the dark wilderness, the three stopped, finally daring to breathe heavily. Chapter 967 - 967 298 ?Chapter 967: 298 Its not like I havent seen it before_2 Chapter 967: 298 Its not like I havent seen it before_2 The cool breeze caressed their faces, and Alice and Allen breathed in the air of freedom greedily. It was only after the shackles of the Slave Collar were removed that they truly felt alive. In the months since they had been captured, the two had been living in constant fear, and only at this moment did they truly savor the exhilarating pleasure of regained freedom. The crisis was over. Alice hadnt forgotten who had saved them. She curtsied elegantly toward Leonard Churchill, I really cant thank you enough, Mr. Leonard Churchill... you saved our lives. To show her sincerity, she revealed her biggest secret, Allow me to reintroduce myself, before I was the princess of the Red Dragon Kingdom, Alice Tarris. Now, I am a member of the Rebel Dragon Army. ... Leonard had noticed earlier that Alice had a certain elegance about her, distinctly different from the commoner class. Even as she tried to conceal it, the occasional elegance in her gestures and movements hinted at her uncommon identity. It made sense that she could be a princess. But what surprised Leonard was... the princess of the Red Dragon Kingdom? The Thorny Snake Corps was the vanguard of the Red Dragon Kingdom; how did Alice, a princess become a slave? Leonard also understood why he had felt Alice seemed to know a lot before. This insight was not something ordinary people could be compared with. She was the princess of one of the three great kingdoms. No wonder. Alice, of course, knew Leonard would be curious, and explained, My identity is a bit special. I am a Dragon Descendant, and more specifically, a Pure Blood. Normally, I should have been a sacrifice to the Great Dragon. But I think I inherited my mothers Witch bloodline, which suppressed my dragon bloodline. That made me a taboo in the Ariel Empire. It involves some ancient secrets that I cant fully explain at the moment... Later, I was imprisoned. After that, I met Mr. Aragon, who took me out of Kings City. I gained my freedom and joined the Rebel Dragon Army... The story was long, so she just mentioned some key parts. As she spoke, she looked at Leonard with a genuinely sincere gaze, You may not fully understand the implications of my identity and Rebel Dragon Army, but if you wish, I can explain it to you slowly. There was no need to hide anything from the person who had saved her life. If he was wary of her for it, she expressed her understanding. Hmm. Leonard responded with a friendly smile. He also knew that Alice had make her identity known ahead of time, to avoid any potential misunderstandings. His decision to cooperate with Toad was aimed at this kind of information. However, Leonard wasnt completely unaware of the situation in the Ariel Empire; over the past month, he had learned quite a lot. His personal curiosity was just to satisfy his love of the unusual. The real need for strategic intelligence belonged to someone else. Ive already discussed this with Mr. Aragon. I need some information, and there might be some cooperative efforts in the future. I will take you to meet a friend of mine. She will have a good talk with you. Alright! The three of them walked and talked. Most of their conversation revolved around the Transcendent knowledge that Leonard was curious about. Like about the missing sequences from the fifty-two suite in East Continent, Demon God Forbidden Skills, and some missing history from the Taren Dynasty three thousand years ago... Leonard had a photographic memory, and having read so many Classic Books, he had amassed a wealth of knowledge. And Alice, being a princess of the Red Dragon Kingdom and a Witch, spent her childhood in the Royal Familys library. Both were astounded by each others extensive knowledge. The topics of their conversation were many, and the more they talked, the more they seemed to hit it off. As for whether Alice was a Dragon Descendant or not, it was of no consequence to Leonard. All that mattered was that she wasnt an enemy. The atmosphere of their conversation gradually relaxed. Alice was also concerned about Aragons safety, but Leonard knew that even if Toad were exposed, the Thorny Snake Corps wouldnt dare to kill it. After all, only Toad could sense the presence of the jar. Leonard already had a plan to rescue it. But now wasnt the sensitive time to act. Wait, and a better opportunity would present itself. .... Riding a motorcycle wasnt difficult. Especially for people like Alice and her companion, who were accustomed to riding dragons, it was even simpler. Their travel by foot turned into a ride, and after two days, they finally reached their destination. This was an ancient site shrouded in darkness with no light, looking like an abandoned village, veiled in a faint mist. On a cliff in the distance stood a decrepit castle. The branches were as tough as iron, and a few strange birds perched on the limbs. Leonard surveyed the surroundings and if he hadnt been sure this was the coordinates set by Catherine Carter, he might not have noticed any signs of life here. Alice and Allen also looked around vigilantly. They were now curious about the East Wilderness card master they were about to meet. After all, having met Leonard, the people from the East Wilderness had made quite an impression on them and they wondered if others from there were just as exceptional. Not long after, several figures emerged from the mist. Leonard, seeing the familiar silhouette, called out, Miss Carter, its been a while. The cloaked figure lifted her hood to reveal a delicate and pretty face and a waterfall of golden locks. She greeted, Leonard, its been a while. Behind her were several trusted retainers and nobles from the Lionheart family. It was clear that the Lionheart family had taken this meeting very seriously. With that, Leonard introduced Alice and Allen. He thought he might need to translate for them, but just as he began to introduce them, Catherine warmly spoke up, Miss Alice, welcome to you and your companion. Chapter 968 - 968 298 Its Not Like I Havent Seen It Before_3 ?Chapter 968: Chapter 298: Its Not Like I Havent Seen It Before_3 Chapter 968: Chapter 298: Its Not Like I Havent Seen It Before_3 The words that came out were fluent in Taron Ancient Language. It was then that Leonard Churchill realized that it was not only him who had been improving all this time, but others had also been striving to understand that powerful and unknown enemy. When Alice met Catherine Carter for the first time, she was slightly surprised as well. She hadnt expected the person in charge from the East Continent to be so young and so beautiful. But she responded with proper etiquette, It is my honor. Catherine naturally possessed a strong charisma, and even upon a first meeting, she interacted with others as if they were guests, but even more so as if they were friends. Her gaze appraised Alice briefly before she generously praised, Miss Alice is really quite beautiful~ Alice felt the goodwill and replied, Miss Carter jests. You are the one who is truly stunning... The two shared a similar smile. Catherine then indicated politely, Apologies, but please come inside the castle. Due to the special circumstances, the setting is quite modest. I hope Miss Alice wont mind. Alice didnt mind at all, Of course not. Our Rebel Dragon Army camps are much the same. Although the East Continent and the Southern Continent had been separated for thousands of years, they both inherited the ancient courtly etiquette of the Taron Royal Family, and both women conducted themselves with poise and grace. After meeting each other, the group made their way towards the ancient castle. Alice was also very surprised. She knew the Mind Reading Technique and could sense the goodwill or malice from others. She had originally thought it would be a formal and somewhat awkward Alliance meeting. But unexpectedly, she encountered the young Miss of the Lionheart Family and in just a few words, the atmosphere turned friendly, like that of friends, and not so distant after all. Alice had a very good impression of Catherine, who was not only a woman but also a leader of wisdom and decisiveness. Since she and Leonard Churchill were already acquainted, they walked behind together. Alice curiously asked, Mr. Leonard Churchill, is Miss Carter your...? It seemed like gossip, but in reality, the question was important. It was about the cooperation that would follow. She could trust her life-saving benefactor, but that didnt necessarily apply to others. Leonard knew why she was asking and assured with certainty, A trustworthy friend. Alice smiled meaningfully, Oh. Ahead, as Catherine listened, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. ... The forces of the Card Master Federation from the East Continent, led by the Lionheart Family, are now called Allied Forces on the Old Continent. The arrival of Alice and Allen was top secret. Only a few at the top were aware of it. Nevertheless, their arrival caused quite a stir. Currently, the Allied Forces were no match for the Ariel Empire of the Southern Continent in direct combat. Aside from their insufficient strength, the most critical problem was their almost complete lack of knowledge about the enemy. Even though they had captured some prisoners at a great cost, the intelligence they gathered was very limited. But all the more for this reason did the Allied Forces need to grasp enemy intel as soon as possible. Only then, in the full-scale war to come, could they gain some initiative. So in the recent guerrilla warfare, although the Allied Forces took the offensive, they were also repeatedly defeated and suffered heavy casualties. However, it was in their darkest hour that the turning point came most unexpectedly. And fortunately. Even Catherine hadnt anticipated that while they were still deploying spies to infiltrate the enemy ranks, prepared to pay a hefty price for intelligence... it was the communication from a certain individual that changed the tempo of the war. While their own spies were still in training, Leonard had already brought back reliable and detailed intelligence. It could be said that Leonard alone had accomplished the work that the entire intelligence system wouldnt have managed in several years. That intelligence even meant saving countless lives. The two individuals Leonard brought back were not only knowledgeable about detailed intelligence on the Southern Continent but also possessed many Super Tier insights and secrets of the missing history of the Old Continent... All of which were of vital importance and urgently needed by the Allied Forces. Most importantly, behind Alice were the Rebel Dragon Army! This was a powerful ally. ... Underground, within the rundown fortress. This was one of the secretive strongholds of the Lionheart Family. For safety reasons, there was no opulence in the surrounding structures. The living conditions within the fortress were also kept very basic. But after Catherine learned of Princess Alices identity from Leonard, she organized a welcome banquet for the distinguished guests, with only the top commanders in attendance, even with limited facilities. Leonard had no interest in banquets. But it was a necessary etiquette of the upper-class society. Alice and Allen appreciated the kindness and warmth, and both host and guests were in good spirits. There was no rush with the intelligence. The two would stay as guests with the Allied Forces for a considerable period in the future. Moreover, Alice and Allen had suffered enough in the slave camps, and after traveling continuously these past few days, they needed rest now. After the banquet, they retired early to their rooms. In the banquet hall, where the attendees had dispersed, and no outsiders remained, Catherine and Leonard chatted while eating. Leonard, I find that every time I meet you, you always bring me surprises, Catherine said. Heh heh. If youre not in a hurry, could you stay for a few more days? I might have to leave. I have some things to attend to. Oh. The table was laden with fruits of red, green, and yellow; there was also golden, juice-dripping roasted chicken, crispy suckling pig, and aromatic roast meat... Although the surroundings were modest, the chefs were noble cooks. Having almost become sick of the military rations hed been eating lately with the Thorny Snake Corps, Leonard savored the array of exquisite food with relish. Chapter 969 - 969 298 Again Its Not Like Ive Never Seen It ?Chapter 969: Chapter 298 Again, Its Not Like Ive Never Seen It Before_4 Chapter 969: Chapter 298 Again, Its Not Like Ive Never Seen It Before_4 Across the table, the light of the candles flickered slightly, casting an exquisitely beautiful face. Dressed in her finest, Catherine Carter elegantly used her knife to cut a piece of food and placed it in her mouth, chewing slowly and deliberately. You really helped me out this time, I dont even know how to thank you... ... Leonard Churchill laughed it off, unfazed. The two had been through life and death together; they were not the kind of friends who needed to be polite with each other. Catherine spoke in a calm voice, That battle at Gold-digging Dock. I almost truly died. Leonard glanced at her, ... Catherine remained calm, but recalling the event, she said, Right, do you remember when we last met, you offered to buy me a drink? Leonard said, I remember. Suddenly, Catherine raised her glass and smiled, Shall we have a drink then? As she spoke, she sighed, Who knows if we will have the chance to drink together like this again. War is always cruel. Especially a war with such disparity in strength. No one can guarantee they will survive until the end. Hearing this, a trace of a different look flashed through Leonards eyes, which he then quickly concealed, and raised his glass, Cheers. The pleasing music continued to play in the background. After a few drinks, the atmosphere was like that of old friends, lightly inebriated. Then, Catherine suddenly felt an urge and suggested, How about, you dance with me? Leonard looked at her and laughed, Why the sudden interest? Catherine seemed to remember something and teased with a laugh, Do you still remember the times you asked me to dance before? You always had ulterior motives, like at Rose Manor, the Miller Family... It was all for gathering information. Back then, I said, Cant you have a pure motive, just once, and ask me to dance?'' With that, Leonard remembered. Indeed, he had previously asked Catherine to dance at Rose Manor as an undercover member of the Silver Moon Sect, with a hidden agenda. The other occasions were similar. Considering she was in the mood, Leonard stood up and bowed politely, inviting her, Would I have the honor to ask the beautiful Miss Carter for a dance? Catherines neck gracefully arched like a swans, as she extended her delicate hand and accepted gladly, Of course. Its my honor as well~ In the room, it was just the two of them. They danced with light steps, swaying to the rhythm. Leonard found this state very relaxing. Dancing and talking. By the way, whats been happening on your end lately? Over on the East Continent, the Federal Parliament has all but collapsed, and the Orlan Royal Family has been restored. It is said that the New King Arthur of Orlan has successfully entered the seventh tier, sweeping through the Parliaments major families with his four Knights. The White Family has also become the High Priest... Oh? The good news is that after this restoration, the Orlan Royal Family has finally recognized the crisis and publicly disclosed the royal secrets that had been sealed for three thousand years. Anyone who pledges loyalty to the royal family can receive Super Tier card master heritage. However, the high-tier resources in the East Wilderness are far too scarce, and even with that heritage, its difficult to make a breakthrough... That New King of Orlan has big ambitions, and he has no intention of settling in the East Wilderness. I estimate that once he consolidates various forces in the Federation, he will certainly try to make his way to the Old Continent. After all, Ive already discovered spies and secret operatives that the Orlan Royal Family has planted in advance within the Alliance Army... The Orlan Royal Family seems to be engaged in a secret operation; they are searching for some of the Augustus Royal Familys heritage. My people have spotted some of their relic-hunting teams deep within the Relics... ... Leonard was not at all surprised about the restoration of the Orlan Royal Court. This was something Noah Wright had deduced quite some time ago. Facing a formidable enemy, the major families of the Federation lacked the power to respond, thus a leader was necessary. The strength of the Orlan Royal Court was unrivaled in the East Wilderness, and its restoration was inevitable. Moreover, the Royal Family of Augustus were descendants of the Taron Royal Family from three thousand years ago and possessed knowledge of the secrets of the Old Continent that others couldnt even imagine. It was certain that they wouldnt just be trapped and perish in the East Wilderness. Some methods were naturally to be expected. Listening to the news from the East Continent during this period, Leonard Churchill felt not the slightest bit surprised. Instead, he found the complex situation becoming more and more lively. The dance music was light and lively, just like the soft and beautiful atmosphere in the room. Leonard Churchill gracefully encircled Catherine Carters tender waist, their bodies pressed close, and he could clearly sense her robust heartbeat. Catherine Carter was half a head shorter than Leonard Churchill, which put her charming face right before his eyes. Suddenly, Leonard Churchill noticed something, Eh, your Air is quite special. Catherine Carter wore a proud and coy expression reserved only for friends, as if to say, Youre just noticing now? She said with a smile, Senior Shepherd taught me. Leonard Churchill, surprised, exclaimed, Ah? Catherine Carter seemed to have anticipated his reaction and explained, After we met at the Gold-digging Dock last time, Senior Shepherd said I had good potential and gave me some pointers. Oh. Thats when Leonard Churchill suddenly understood. Although Catherine Carter was not on the heros path, she had already condensed her life pattern of hero fate. It was normal for Senior Shepherd to take an interest in mentoring her. Catherine Carter still had a light smile on her face, The senior also said, once Ive learned, I should beat you up. ... Leonard Churchill just rolled his eyes. But upon closer observation, he could see that Catherine Carter had indeed changed considerably and her strength had visibly grown stronger. However, it was through this downward glance that Leonard Churchill caught sight of a proud and lush expanse of white. Because the distance was so near, every detail was crystal clear. Smooth as jade. Catherine Carter was wearing a low-cut golden court gown that day, with layers of lace and silk skirts as light and ethereal as clouds. It was a dress that suited her temperament perfectly. It fully showcased the youthful grace of her figure and that hint of charming, yet not vulgar, sensuality. Usually, such a glance wouldnt have mattered. There was no need for modesty given their relationship. He looked away, as if nothing had happened. However, Catherine Carter caught Leonard Churchills gaze and a teasing smile flashed through her bright eyes as she prodded, Oh, now you know to look away? At these words, Leonard Churchill looked at her once more. Catherine Carter held her snow-white neck high, her eyes clear and sparkling. With an unconcerned tone, she spoke again, Its not like you havent seen before. If you want to look, just go ahead. ... At her consenting words, Leonard Churchill found himself at a loss for words for a moment. On reflection, it seemed he really had seen it quite a few times. Just then, as the rhythm of the dance music changed, they were embraced by a great softness. Under the brilliant lights, Catherine Carters pretty face beamed with the victorious smile of a general. She stepped lively to the beat of the dance music and spun around. In that moment, she was elegant and exceedingly beautiful, nonchalantly graceful. PS. A picture of Catherine Carter in her court dress is forthcoming (pending review).jpg Chapter 970 - 970 299 The Four Great Kingship Holy Artifacts ?Chapter 970: Chapter 299: The Four Great Kingship Holy Artifacts Chapter 970: Chapter 299: The Four Great Kingship Holy Artifacts The following day. In a secret room deep within the bunker. The rooms bookshelves were crammed with various books, a map with intricate strategic routes hung prominently on the wall, and a thick stack of documents lay on the mahogany table... This was Catherine Carters study. She had chosen this place for the meeting. There were no outsiders present. The whole room was filled with a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. On the soft sofa, Alice and Allen were seated comfortably. This was not a very serious meeting, but more like a casual chat between friends. Miss Alice, how did you sleep last night? I havent slept so soundly in a long time~ Thank you, Miss Carter, for your hospitality. ... The conditions could be simple, but sincerity could be felt. Alice, as a guest, was very satisfied with the atmosphere. The whole person also looked relaxed. .... As the mediator, Leonard Churchill naturally had to be present during the first day of discussion. And he himself was very interested in the information about Alice. Practicing I am the world required a deep understanding of the laws of the world. The more you know, the more perfect the world becomes. He also took the opportunity to ask many questions that he was curious about. With Leonard there, someone both sides trusted, the atmosphere of the conversation was expectedly easy-going. Catherine was naturally talkative, always managing to extract the necessary information from casual conversation in just the right way. Initially, she wasnt sure what level of cooperation the alliance arranged between Leonard and Alice entailed and thus conversed with some reservation. But it turned out she was overthinking it. Alice was representing the higher echelons of the Rebel Dragon Army; they were hostile to the Ariel Empire, and there wasnt much that couldnt be revealed. Moreover, Leonard had saved her life. That absolute foundation of trust meant that the conversation was bound to be pleasant. After chatting for a short while, both sides realized that their concerns were unfounded. Because they both trusted Leonard. So they quickly got to the main topic. The Alliance Army in the East Wilderness was in urgent need of various pieces of information from the Southern Continent, and most of Catherines questions revolved around information needed for the war. Alice was quite interested in the East Continent and answered questions as well. Leonard was curious about all sorts of transcendent knowledge and ancient history. The four of them chatted merrily. So, youre saying that you arent very clear about the situation in the Old Continent either? Mm. In the final years of the Taron Dynasty, Catastrophes struck, leaving the people in despair as rebellion armies rose everywhere... The Royal Family of Augustus grew extremely wary of the commoner tier and sealed off much of the information. If were talking about who understands the Old Continent best, it would probably be that branch of the Royal Family that went to the East Wilderness... I see. Miss Alice, are there many Great Dragons in the Southern Continent? Mm, quite a lot. But most are hybrid dragon breeds, not many are pure-blooded Mythical Dragons. When our Kindle Fire went to the Southern Continent, Great Dragons were already present, along with some Dragon Descendants... How powerful are real Great Dragons? Usually, they are about half a tier stronger than the Same Tier legendary Demon Beasts. Hiss... Doesnt that mean a seventh tier is almost equivalent to an eighth tier? Mm. You could say that. Apart from card masters, are there many high-tier Demon Beasts, Catastrophes, and such in the Southern Continent? Not too many within the human Kingdoms. But the Southern Continent is vast, and the three major Kingdoms only occupy a very small area... beyond that, there are various perilous lands like the Demon Beast Forest, the Great Monster Sea, the Winter Wasteland, the Misty Abyss, Hellfire Volcano, the Battlefield of Ancients... many places that even adventurers dare not easily tread. It is said that within these dread lands, there are Super Tier Demon Beasts and Catastrophes, as well as Mythical Creatures as old as the dragons... So there is no lack of Extraordinary Materials? Of course. Theres even a wide selection to choose from. If Mr. Leonard Churchill is interested, I could take you to see sometime... However, the Holy Church controls the Southern Continent, and those guys also restricted the spread of these Super Tier secrets. What I know is very limited. ... As Leonard and Alice talked, they were once again astonished by the vastness of this fantasy world. The Southern Continent was boundless just like the East Continent. Except there, the produce was richer, the environment harsher, the Elements laws more intense, and the creatures stronger. Listening on, Leonard even started considering a visit to the Southern Continent. Meanwhile, Catherine Carter had already begun to sketch out the map of the Southern Continent as she described it. Are you saying that the discovery of the Old Continent on the Southern side is also a recent event? Mm. Around the same time as you guys. After the discovery of the Old Continent, Mr. Aragon theorized that the worlds continental plates are mobile... Three thousand years ago, the Southern Continent and the East Continent drifted away from the Central Continent, and now they are approaching it again. It could also be the masterpiece of ancient Gods, or perhaps an inherent cosmic law... ... As Leonard listened to this theory, a strange idea suddenly popped into his head. The worlds continental plates seemed like... a movable rubiks cube? Or shifting islands? As they continued talking, they touched upon the seventh tier, the deadly bottleneck that had troubled card masters of the East Continent for over two thousand years. Alice, with the utmost brevity, revealed the secret: The seventh tier is actually an act of presumption by personality. Its the crucial step from human to Demigod. Normally, to ascend into the seventh tier requires the card masters consciousness to be powerful enough to control the mutations that come with gaining the great Demons Power as the body advances. Accomplishing this is extremely difficult. It requires an extraordinary Will and arduous training to comprehend Divine Power. Very few people choose this method. High-Order Card Masters in the Southern Continent are a bit special, as most are Dragon Descendants. The Dragon Bloodline inside them naturally endows them with some Dragons Might, making it comparatively easier to advance to the seventh tier. Chapter 971 - 971 299 The Four Great Kingship Holy ?Chapter 971: Chapter 299: The Four Great Kingship Holy Artifacts_2 Chapter 971: Chapter 299: The Four Great Kingship Holy Artifacts_2 Other card masters can use a similar method, which is to seek the essence of legendary creatures bloodlines and refine a card that can change part of their own bloodline. Just like acquiring the Dragon Bloodline, one possesses it. This can greatly increase the success rate of advancement... However, the cultivation system of Dragon-blooded Card Masters is quite special. The richer the Dragon Blood in their bodies, the higher their potential limit. Yet for pure-blood humans, it actually becomes a shackle. After all, no matter how good the materials are, they come from other creatures, not a perfect fit with oneself. In the later stages, like the Sixth Tier, Seventh Tier... the risks of advancement become greater and greater. Moreover, those who can cultivate Divine Power through hard work and enlightenment are true Demigods, with extremely high limits. Even in the Southern Continent, they are very rare... However, I do not have such secret methods at hand. When the Old Continent fully opens up later, the Rebel Dragon Army will also enter the Old Continent, and then I will figure out a way... ... Leonard Churchill also fully understood. This was almost identical to Master Merlins speculation. Advancing to the Seventh Tier requires reaching the level of Divine Power on the spiritual plane, in order to anchor the surge of formidable strength that comes with bodily advancement. The shortcut is to fuse the bloodlines of different species to obtain abilities similar to Dragons Might that are readily available, to help with advancement. Only upon hearing this did Leonard Churchill realize that old man Barre Shepherd was truly formidable. According to what Alice said, even Divine Power is accessible through some cultivation secret methods. But that old man, relying purely on his own efforts and groping in the dark, forged his way through a century of arduous cultivation and finally managed to comprehend the essence. This is a true display of might. Catherine Carter, sitting beside him, was also meticulously recording all this content, her crystalline eyes sparkling with excitement. This information was too important for the current Alliance Army. Having been sealed off for two thousand years, the Transcendent heritage of the East Continent was inaccessible, and Transcendent resources were scarce. Those who could still reach the Sixth Tier under these conditions had top-notch talent, effort, and mental fortitude. Currently, among the Alliance Army, there were several seasoned legendary powerhouses, as well as a group of Sixth Tier card masters. Some of them had been stuck at the threshold of the Seventh Tier for decades, already so close to breaking through. If there were indeed a reliable and clear path for advancing to the Seventh Tier, even if it was the shortcut, it would surely bring immense hope to everyone. In time, the top combat power of the Allied Forces would gradually grow. ... Catherine Carter was also extremely surprised that Alice would divulge so much secret information without any reservations. Listening to the story of how Leonard Churchill and Alice met, she realized that the valuable information she held in her hand was won by Leonard Churchill betting his life. Even though that guy liked taking risks, this was a huge favor for which she didnt know how to repay. Their conversation topics also became increasingly wide-ranging. From transcendental knowledge, political situations, cultural geography, to local customs... they chatted about everything. Alice was equally interested in the East Wilderness. Catherine Carter also shared the history of the last three thousand years with them, as well as some technological specialties of the Federation. After all, although the Card Master Civilization of the Southern Continent was strong, it was nearly primitive in terms of technology. Alice listened with great interest. Upon hearing how the Orlan Royal Court restricted the spread of Transcendent knowledge to maintain political stability, Alice was indignant. After all, whether it was three thousand years ago or now, the Royal Family of Augustus had always held the most top-notch card master heritage from the Taren era. Speaking seriously, those guys from the Royal Family of Augustus even hindered the development of human civilization. As the conversation unfolded, they came to the topic of the New King of Orlan. The Royal Family was shrouded in secrets to common folk. Leonard Churchill asked curiously about a few doubts he had, By the way, I know someone used a special method to advance to the Seventh Tier, do you know anything about it, Alice? After listening to his description, Alice apparently knew the details: Are you talking about... the New King of Orlan who quickly advanced to the Seventh Tier? About this... I think I know the reason. That topic might not be known to others. But she, being a princess of the Red Dragon Kingdom, happened to know some secrets that only the Royal Family knew. After pausing, she said, According to what you say, the New King of Orlan managed to advance to the Seventh Tier in a short time possibly because he had a certain Kingship Holy Item in his possession... As they listened, Leonard Churchill and Catherine Carter both looked intrigued. A Kingship Holy Item could help in advancement? Alice frowned in deep thought for a moment before speaking: Sorry, that part of history is indeed very ancient. I remember reading in the Classic Books long ago... if Im not mistaken, the branch of the Royal Family that went to the East Wilderness should have taken one of the four great Kingship Holy Items, the Thorn Crown? Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill asked, Is it a crown that looks like black iron thorns? Alice nodded her head: Yes! With this, Leonard Churchill twitched the corner of his eye: Yes, that crown is indeed in the hands of the New King of Orlan. He now understood that the crown was not just the key to the Old Continent but also had such a use. Continuing, he asked, But what does his advancement have to do with the crown? This goes back to a very, very long time ago... Alice began to explain: According to legend, the founding emperor of the Taron Dynasty, the great hero who ended the chaotic Dark Age, the miracle worker and the terminator of darkness, Lanlingster M. Augustus, he once possessed all four great Kingship Holy Items. They were the Kingship Orb signifying Order and law, the Xismark Holy Grail symbolizing love and healing, the Thorny Crown signifying authority and glory, and the Olympus Holy Sword symbolizing strength and destruction... Chapter 972 - 972 299 The Four Great Kingship Holy ?Chapter 972: Chapter 299 The Four Great Kingship Holy Artifacts_3 Chapter 972: Chapter 299 The Four Great Kingship Holy Artifacts_3 This is the advantage of an unbroken lineage. Alice revealed to Leonard Churchill a piece of astonishing history that not even the bards had mentioned in their legends. However, when he heard the name Lanlingster M. Augustus, Leonard suddenly grasped something. He hadnt forgotten that when he had obtained the Jokerwhich bore the Demon Markthere was a signature with the letter M on it. (The Mark is a pact of enslavement by the Demons? No, on the contrary, it is the mark of conquest by Curse Card Masters over the power of Demonsthe signature M.) Could it be the same person? And that wasnt the only thing that surprised him. Besides the crown, Leonard had also seen the Xismark Holy Grail, which was in Camillas possession. Could it be that the Grail, apart from saving lives, had an even more mysterious use? His thoughts raced. Alice continued, It is said that each Holy Item of kingship possesses powerful and mysterious forces. By obtaining them, one can gain the recognition of the law of kingship. Moreover, because the Holy Items themselves are forged by a God, they possess indescribable powers of divine kingship, enabling the holder to elevate their tier by deepening their understanding of the laws of kingship through the Holy Item. Currently, the Kingship Orb is in the hands of Pope Bolarante A. Russell from the Holy Church, which is one of the key sources of his power as one of the foremost mighty figures of our times. As for the whereabouts of the other three Holy Items... they remain unknown. Being a member of the Red Dragon Kingdoms Royal Family, she was more knowledgeable about these matters than an outsider. As an afterthought, Alice added, However, the enlightenment process for the law of kingship is different from other laws. It requires kingship. This means the holder not only needs to have the Life Pattern of kingship, but also to fully unleash the Extraordinary Traits within the Holy Item, one must possess the rights of a king. Im not entirely clear on the details, as, apart from the Pope of the Holy Church, no one has ever held the four Holy Items... but Ive seen some statements in some ancient court texts, which suggest that the greater the rights a king wields, the more they benefit from the Holy Artifact, and the stronger they become... At this revelation, Leonard and Catherine Carter exchanged a glance, both revealing looks of astonishment. So this was the correct way to use the Holy Items of kingship. So, after Arthurs restoration succeeded, his surge in strength was because of the Thorny Crown? Leonard thought of this, and then of Camilla. Although she had the Xismark Holy Grail in her possession, as a lone individual, it seemed she couldnt utilize this particular trait of the Grail. .... As the conversation turned to this topic, Alice seemed to recall something else and said, However, there is another rumor Im not sure about. Leonard and Catherine directed their expectant gazes towards her. Alice went on, The upper echelon of the Ariel Empire is looking for several mysterious jars. Theyre also searching for the other three Holy Items of kingship. And there is a precise clue indicating that the most powerful of the four, the Olympus Holy Sword, rests within the mausoleum of a certain King of Augustus. No wonder. Leonard now understood why the Thorny Snake Corps had been so persistent about that Alternate Dimension around Waren City Rebel Camp. They were in search of the mausoleum of the Augustus emperors. Catherine, too, picked up on something and asked in puzzlement, The most powerful Holy Artifact? Yes, the strongest! Alice nodded, It is said to be a supreme divine weapon capable of destroying heaven and earth. However, even the glorious Taren Dynasty has suffered interruptions due to war and Catastrophes. That sword has not been seen by anyone for countless years. Im not too clear on the specifics. But as a former member of the Red Dragon Royal Family, I have heard some legends about that sword... Her expression turned slightly awkward, and casting a glance at Leonard and Catherine, she continued, The Olympus Holy Sword is quite special. Kings long for its approval and yet greatly fear it as well. Catherine: Fear? It was a word that seemed difficult to comprehend. Why would a king fear a Holy Item of kingship? This world contained too many secrets, and even someone as well-read as Alice did not know everything. Contemplating for a moment, she spoke with a tone of uncertainty, Because the legend says... it is a Regicide Sword. Legend has it that whoever gains the swords favor can ascend to become the King of Diamonds C Regicide.'' As he listened, Leonards eyes narrowed slightly: Interesting. It was a Professional Sequence unheard of on the East Continent. Tsk, tsk, one could tell why there had been interruptions in the lineage by that name alone. For the stability of its rule, the Orlan Royal Family would even block knowledge of a Super Tier. Regarding the term Regicide, they probably hated it so much they wished to banish this sequence. However, Leonard Churchill was more curious about another term, Promotion? Yes! Now Alice also knew that the card masters from the East Continent had a very limited understanding of Transcendents above the seventh tier, and took the initiative to explain, The high-ranking JQK sequences control not just one path to godhood, but also can be promoted through specific methods. Just like the [King of Diamonds-Regicide]... I dont know how to be promoted, but thats what the ancient texts record. Its said that it requires killing a king who possesses the life pattern of kingship... Leonard Churchill also showed great interest upon hearing this. He had thought that the fifty-two Professional Sequences were fixed, but it turns out there was such a thing as Promotion. And to kill a king? How did that sound like a necessary ritual for a new kings ascension? Indeed, the very name of the sequence Regicide suggested that this path was quite special. Leonard Churchill also widened his horizons while listening. The four of them talked in this secret room for several days, exchanging and learning from each other. They benefited a lot. The key intelligence brought by Alice relieved the urgent need of the Allied Forces and even directly influenced the future strategic layout of the allies. .... On this day. Outside the dilapidated castle. Leonard Churchill mounted his steam motorcycle. He was leaving. It was time to check on Toad and see if he could be rescued. That was the agreement they had made before. Moreover, after hearing Alices intelligence, he became even more interested in the role-playing game of espionage. Whether it was the Old Continent or the Ariel Empire, there were too many secrets waiting for him to explore. Leonard Churchills departure didnt attract much attention, with only three people seeing him off. Alice and Allen were going to be guests here for a while longer. To wait for the main force of the Rebel Dragon Army to come to the Old Continent, and then to meet up with them. The two had already become very familiar with Catherine Carter over the past several days and were getting along happily. There was no need to worry too much. Watching Leonard Churchill with the steam engine of his motorcycle already roaring to life, Alice and Allen waved their hands, Mr. Leonard Churchill, take care. They had always held respect for the man who saved their lives. Leonard Churchill smiled, Yeah. Catherine Carter also looked at Leonard Churchill and smiled slightly, Take care. The two of them had parted ways before, Leonard Churchill wasnt sentimental, You too. Such was the cruelty of this world. No one knew if parting meant forever. Catherines beautiful eyes shimmered, and she smiled, Next time we meet... Ill buy you a drink. Leonard Churchill responded with a beaming smile, Deal. Then, amidst the roar of the engine, the steam motorcycle sped off, quickly vanishing into the darkness. Chapter 973 - 973 300 Opposing Nature ?Chapter 973: Chapter 300 Opposing Nature Chapter 973: Chapter 300 Opposing Nature Half a month later. Over two hundred kilometers northeast of the Ruins of Waren City, there lay an expanse of swamp forest enveloped in miasma. The map marked it as Plague Marsh. A few days ago, the Thorny Snake Corps vanguard arrived at this area and discovered a large number of ancient architectural relics within the swamp. The entire corps then encamped on the edge of the swamp and began their exploration and excavation. However, due to the swamps terrain complexity and numerous highly poisonous creatures, the progress of the exploration was far from ideal. Fortunately, during this time, a large number of mercenaries and hunting teams from the Red Dragon Kingdom had also arrived as reinforcements. This finally provided enough manpower to start clearing the land. Tens of thousands of adventurer tents also sprung up around the military camp, stretching far and wide. The harsh living conditions of the Southern Continent meant they had a hunter culture even more profound than that of the East Continent. The camp was home not just to thousands of large teams, but also to small adventure groups and lone hunters, a dozen or so in number. In one corner of the campsite, a tent displayed the mercenary banner featuring a two-headed viper. The campfire dispersed the pale green fog, and the scent of food was in the air. The hunters excitedly discussed topics related to the swamp relics. Old Continent really is a great place. And lucky for us, our leaders got such a strong background that we got the chance to be among the first to clear new land. Otherwise, we might have missed this golden opportunity to make a fortune. True enough. Back in the wilderness of the Southern Continent, we could only hunt Demon Beasts for some materials. Old Continent is different; just stumble upon an ancient relic and its like picking up money, with piles of ancient relics and High Tier Alternate Dimensions everywhere... Yeah, relics are as common as dirt in the Old Continent. Its like stumbling upon a gold mine everywhere you go. If we can survive this trip and make it back, well be set for several generations. Hey, what do you think those Thorny Snake Corps guys are looking for in the swamp? Its full of poisonous creatures, the casualties are huge, and yet they keep at it. I think theyd be better off excavating some city ruins instead, without having to wade in water all day... You dont understand. Relics that the military is eyeing must contain something valuable. Judging by the ancient items unearthed these last few days, this relics status is quite high, seems to be related to some family heritage of the White Family, the God Stealers from the Taron period... Wow, the White Family? No wonder there are so many bizarre creatures in the swamp... ... Viper Mercenary Corps is a large Mercenary Corps from the Red Dragon Kingdom, with a Duke from the kingdom acting as their financial backer. Because of this, they were among the first hired by the royal family to clear new land in the Old Continent. This single division alone counted over a thousand people. Next to a tent, a man with a lean face and a hood obscuring his eyes was sitting by the campfire. He was cutting meat with a small knife, eating and listening with interest. Leonard Churchill had blended into the mercenary ranks for several days now. Today, after much effort, he had finally found an opportunity to replace a man named Lorne. He had originally planned to repeat his old tactic of replacing a soldier and going directly to the Thorny Snake Corps; that way, it would be more convenient to approach the Toad. But he gave that up after a try. The previous incident had caused a huge commotion, and the higher-ups of the Thorny Snake Corps were on guard. There was also a likely guess that there was an enemy adept at disguise among them. Therefore, it was nearly impossible for soldiers from the corps to venture out alone, leaving Leonard no chance to switch places. Most importantly, Hemans tent, the Legion Commander, was not far from the iron cage. Anyone attempting to get close to the Toad was subject to stringent scrutiny. Leonard had no choice but to find a roundabout way, and after several days of trying, he finally located the Viper Mercenary Corps, situated close enough to the military camp. ... Camp life included the usual nocturnal routines. Now was the time for rest and recovery. After dinner, most chose to rest in their tents. Leonard did not display any abnormalities. When midnight came, a shadow quietly slipped into the darkness, making its way towards the massive iron cage. After several days of observation, he had more or less figured out the schedules of the Thorny Snake Corps higher-ups and the sentries shift changes, finally spotting a small gap. After all, no human can be vigilant at all times. Leonard only feared the corps few High Tier perception-focused card masters; the rest were of little concern. Moreover, it was clear that Aragon was also creating opportunities for him. The Toad in the cage occasionally caused a bit of misleading commotion to expose the hidden surveillance tactics. Leonard, controlling his shadow, hid underneath his cloak in the darkness and smoothly bypassed the sentries, quietly arriving next to the prison cart. Aragon seemed to have suffered greatly during this time. Apparently, the people from the Red Dragon Kingdom must have expected someone to attempt his rescue because, in addition to the Slave Collar and chains that once confined him, there were now several Curse iron nails driven through the Toads limbs. Fresh blood constantly flowed from the wounds, seemingly to keep him in a state of weakness. However, throughout these days, the Toads broad face had maintained an air of nonchalance. Leonard could see that the creature never intended to save itself; its plan had always been only to rescue Alice. As for its own survival, it had no expectation of leaving alive. Leonards shadow hid in the dark part of the cage, lit by fire, and he greeted, Mr. Aragon, how are you doing? Upon hearing these words, Aragon seemed surprised at first, and then as if he had expected it, he muttered, You really dared to come back... After all, having rescued Alice, Leonard had almost all the information he wanted. Whether he saved himself or not made little difference. But making contact again involved immense risk. Chapter 974 - 974 302 Opposite Attraction_2 ?Chapter 974: 302 Opposite Attraction_2 Chapter 974: 302 Opposite Attraction_2 ` If it were someone else, he probably wouldnt have the courage to come into contact with himself under these circumstances. But the person in front of him, Aragon could understand. Ever since he daringly agreed to cooperate, he had felt this guy was very different from ordinary people. In the end, his most concerning thought, Aragon asked, How is Miss Alice doing now? Leonard Churchill replied, She and Allen are in a relatively safe place. Hmm. Aragon also let out a sigh of relief after hearing this. In his toad-like eyes, there was also full satisfaction; with this, it didnt matter what happened to him. Not seeing Leonard Churchills person, Aragon understood something and said, Your shadow secret techniques are indeed miraculous. I was worried that if you disguised yourself as someone else again, you could be discovered... After all, the people of the Holy Church have become alert after the last incident. This method was indeed clandestine, virtually undetectable by normal means. Even if detected, they couldnt catch the person. It was only then that Aragon let go of his previous worries. You mean, there are people from the Holy Church in that tent? Leonard Churchill had already heard about the situation with the Holy Church from Alice. The people within the Holy Church were Dragon Descendants with very high blood purity, and their strength was formidable. Moreover, their authority even overrode kingship. With time pressing, Leonard Churchill got right to the point and directly asked, Is there a way to save you? Aragon spoke about his situation indifferently, Im afraid there is no chance. The Holy Church has come for the pottery jar. They will definitely not let me go. Leonard Churchill knew this very well. If he had been one of the higher-ups in the Holy Church, he would certainly not let Aragon go, but rather use him to the death. But at least one thing was certain, Aragon wouldnt die before the jar was found. Leonard Churchill had already thought about what to ask, so he straightforwardly inquired, Whats in this Plague Marsh? Aragon said, There might be a jar. Leonard Churchill countered, Might? Aragon replied, Yes. The plague that once ravaged the Taren Dynasty, its source was a few spell clay pots. One of them, it appeared in this marsh. The poisonous fog and those monsters in the marsh, theyre almost all because of this reason... Leonard Churchill understood that he spoke so cautiously for fear of contamination and didnt dawdle, directly asking, What are the powers of that Outer God? At the question, Aragon responded with surprise, You know a clay pot seals an Outer God? Leonard Churchill said, Yes. I know some. Im aware of the Crimson Corruption, and Ive encountered vampires. He had come across three jars, and two were already on him. Thats why he was more curious about what exactly was inside the other jars. On hearing this, Aragon barely concealed his astonishment, Could it be... Crimson Corruption has appeared in the East Wilderness? Thats not right, that Outer God once descended in a divine form. That Crimson Contamination, it even destroyed most of the Taren Dynasty... So your East Continent hasnt been contaminated? There were some problems, but they have been resolved now. Leonard Churchill didnt elaborate further. That matter could be a lengthy discussion. Aragon, knowing this, didnt pursue the matter further, but the look in his eyes shifting expressed his extreme surprise. He still couldnt believe that the East Wilderness, a place without even a seventh-tier, could actually withstand the onslaught of Crimson Corruption? Before he could ponder further, Leonard Churchill asked again, Is there any opportunity within the marsh? Or any places that require caution? Knowing about the Crimson Corruption, Aragon felt much could be explained, The title of that Outer God is the Source of the Plague... the origin of toxins and plagues... But this Outer God is a pure deity of destruction, who doesnt need worship, nor does it contaminate belief, but simply leads to the extinction of living creatures, gaining strength from death... If you really want to go in, it would be best to have a top-level card master who is proficient in medicine, and to prepare plenty of potions for neural and septic toxins... He could see that Leonard Churchills disposition was that of an adventurer, one who would not back down from danger. Even without himself, he would definitely be interested in the marsh. After all, the guy already had two jars on him. Aragon then asked, Do you know why I became like this? He answered his own question, Because my ancestor was infected in the battle with that Outer God. This plague curse has accompanied our Frederick family for thousands of years. Of course, its not all bad. Much of our familys Extraordinary Power also comes from this curse... Leonard Churchill also realized upon hearing this. Aragons Warts Toad form was not only filled with venomous boils but also his breath was a cloud of poison. Leonard Churchill had previously felt that Aragon and this Plague Marsh were very compatible; it turned out he was contaminated. Other people might not fully understand the situation with this plague curse. But Leonard Churchill did, in fact, understand. Because he himself was infected with the Blood Plague. If it werent for some special circumstances that suppressed the contamination, he would be a vampire right now. Dr. Merlin had already researched, the genetic chain was altered, which also means that if he had offspring, the contamination would be inherited. However, Leonard Churchill was surprised that he could resist the contamination due to special circumstances, but could Aragon too? Perhaps it was Innate Virus Antibody or maybe his Hero profession was also related. But as long as one does not die from the contamination, they would become stronger because of it. The cost of Crimson Corruption is to become a vampire, so is the cost of the Source of the Plague to become a toad? ` Chapter 975 - 975 300 Opposing Nature_3 ?Chapter 975: Chapter 300 Opposing Nature_3 Chapter 975: Chapter 300 Opposing Nature_3 Leonard Churchill was indeed interested in this Outer God of Plague as well. But he still felt it was better not to get infected. Werewolf form was just ferocious, whereas the Toad was... truly ugly. Aragon looked at Leonards odd expression and, despite being unable to guess what he was thinking, added a reminder, Regarding the relics, I dont know much either. But this relic was once a Secret Tomb of the Immortal Aegis Family of the White Family, the God Stealers. If there are descendants of the White Family on the East Continent, asking them may yield some insight. Leonard asked about a term he didnt understand, Immortal Aegis Secret Tomb? Aragon said, Yes. The God Stealer Sequence has always been mysterious, and the succession has been broken in the Southern Continent. Im not very clear on the specifics myself. ... Listening, Leonard also came to a realization. .... Looking at it now, forcibly rescuing Aragon seemed completely impossible. In this camp, there were at least two or three from the Sixth Tier, and countless Dragon-blooded Card Masters from the fifth and sixth tiers. It seemed that even if all the high combat power from the East Wilderness combined, they would still have no chance of success. The only thing that could be used to their advantage was the Plague Marsh itself. Just like with the previous Alternate Dimension, using the dangerous environment to create some opportunities. Leonard told Aragon about some plans he had deduced previously, which Aragon had also considered. But without a suitable opportunity in sight, they could only wait for the right moment. After chatting for a while, Leonard discovered that the hiding effect of his shadow was even better than he had anticipated. The sentries changed, but no anomaly was detected. Since he hadnt been discovered, Leonard didnt waste the opportunity and chatted a bit more. At that moment, he also posed a question he had been quite curious about, Mr. Aragon, do you know the Demon Gods Mysterious Technique called Celestial Godfall? Did Alice tell you? Aragon wasnt surprised when he heard this, as Demon God Secret Skill was something anyone would be curious about. He seemed to know why Leonard was asking and followed up with, Are you curious why I, from the Hero Sequence, know this Catastrophe Sequences Demon God Forbidden Skill? Leonard: Yes. Aragon smiled mysteriously, This is a domain that only top-tier card masters will encounter... In fact, its somewhat related to the pattern of war I mentioned to you before. Leonard: Oh? Even with all the knowledge of Extraordinary Power he had, Leonard couldnt understand the connection between the two. This was completely out of his area of expertise. Aragon continued leisurely, Actually, the Hero Sequence has its own Demon God Secret Skill. But it has always been a forbidden technique of the Taron Royal Family. Aside from the royal members, no one can learn it. Leonard was puzzled and asked, The royal family wanted to forbid the Secret Skill of the Hero Sequence? So it wasnt a lost legacy, but rather one that was prohibited. That reminder sparked a thought in him instantly. If it was forbidden by the royal family, then surely the Secret Skill must affect the rule of kingship. Aragons next answer confirmed his thought. You might have guessed... the ruling class has never liked the emergence of heroes. Leonard understood that heroes represented the will of the people, which could affect the authority of the ruling class. Aragon then asked, Do you know what the end of the path for the Hero is? Im not talking about the Professional Sequence, but the path of ones life. ??? Of course, Leonard had no idea. As they reached this point, Aragons voice took on a deeply meaningful tone, If youre familiar with the patterns of history... you should know that, in times of chaos, heroes often emerge. They are adored and respected by the people and possess formidable combat power, sometimes even bringing an end to the chaos... This is a Life Pattern quite suitable for a King. In fact, thats how it has beenthe first kings of all dynasties in history are, over ninety percent of the time, people with a hero fate... Hearing this, Leonard had an epiphany. That was indeed the case! Those with a hero fate need not necessarily be from the Hero Sequence; but card masters of the Hero Sequence certainly have a hero fate. The emergence of a hero was something kings would wrestle with. Aragon continued, Therefore, no matter the dynasty, almost all heroes have a predetermined end... Either they become rulers themselves, retreat from the world, or are killed by those in power... ... Leonard now fully understood. No wonder the Kingdom of Augustus would seal away the Secret Skill of this Sequence, it all made sense now. Aragon slowly revealed some ancient secrets that common people could never know, I also dont know what the exclusive Demon God Secret Skill of the Hero Sequence is called. But it is said that those who cultivate this exclusive Secret Skill to the pinnacle will assume an angelic form. At the end of the Taren Dynasty, there once appeared a God Tier Guardian Angel, who was a top-tier hero cultivated by the Taron Royal Family... An angel? Leonard found the beginning of the statement rather remote, as the Secret Skill seemed far beyond his reach. But upon hearing the latter part, he inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity. An angel? Could it be the Weeping Angel, who was killed by Tracy Garcias ancestors and sealed everywhere? No wonder Leonard felt so strangely, for at this moment the soul of that angel still resided within him! So this is the Hero Sequence? For a moment, Leonards mind seemed to connect all related fragments and clues together. Now that the remnants of the angel had mostly been unsealed, he believed that the Demon God Secret Skill would see the light of day again in the future. However, you still havent explained, why you, a hero, know the Catastrophe Sequences Secret Skill? Leonard hadnt even asked the question out loud. Yet Aragon had already answered, Do you know how heroes come to be? Or rather, under what circumstances are heroes born? The previous comments were just a prelude; now came the crux of the matter. Listening, Leonard felt as if a bright light flashed through his thoughts. He then realized that his previous line of thinking had been rigid, overlooking some critical issues. A hero is not just a Professional Sequence. Take Catherine Carter, for instance, whose hero fate was formed later in life. Or rather, its a title that requires certain conditions to manifest. As he pondered this, Aragon slowly said, I like an old saying: Times create heroes. ... Upon hearing this, Leonard seemed to understand something. He also understood why Aragon had mentioned before that heroes were related to war. ... Heroes are always born from suffering, despair, and catastrophe. A stable, peaceful, and orderly world doesnt need heroes, nor will it have them... Just as the definition of happiness is always granted by suffering. Those who have never experienced darkness will never be grateful for the light. If there is enough suffering, and people can survive it... then heroes will inevitably arise. Therefore, in a certain sense, Hero and Catastrophe are opposites, yet coexist. This is also why I can master and comprehend Celestial Godfall, a Demon Gods Mysterious Technique from the Catastrophe Sequence. Because I deeply understand catastrophe... Antithesis is a perception that can only be touched upon in the realm of the highest tier transcendents, and its also a Universe Law. Like light and dark, water and fire, war and peace, healing and plague, chaos and order... the Fifty-two Demon God Sequence possess Transcendental abilities that comprehend Universe Law, and of course, there will be opposition and coexistence... ... Aragons words opened a new door to the world for Leonard. At this moment, the world in his eyes seemed to come full circle. With the opposition of light and dark, everything began to have cause and effect. Thinking along these lines, many of the fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skills indeed were opposing. If ones understanding of a set of laws was deep enough, then naturally, the understanding of the opposing laws would also come with greater ease. So thats how it is... Hence, after one realization led to another, Leonard finally understood the War Law he had observed in the Alternate Dimension. Heroes are born from suffering. Therefore, in war, other things can also be born. War, plague, famine, brutality, fear... These incomprehensible Universe Laws, because of the carrier war, manifest outwardly, allowing people to easily touch and comprehend them. War is suffering for the commoner; but for some people, its a pathway to understanding Extraordinary Power, a means to their end, a rite of passage to Transcendence! No wonder the situation in Waren City Rebel Camp during the slave uprising became increasingly bizarre; no wonder they plotted to kill hundreds of thousands, no wonder... Chapter 976 - 976 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again ?Chapter 976: Chapter 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again Chapter 976: Chapter 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again In the following days, whenever he had the chance, Leonard Churchill would go and chat with Aragon. He looked for opportunities to carry out a rescue and also discussed various transcendental knowledge. The Frederick family to which Aragon belonged had carried on a heroic bloodline for thousands of years, inherently passing down many ancient secrets unknown to others. Perhaps because Leonard had saved Alice, Aragon didnt shy away from any topics and answered almost every question. Leonard also learned much interesting knowledge about the Southern Continent, the world, and the pathways to transcendence. Every Hero is destined to lead an extraordinary life. Aragons ancestors played various historical roles adventurers, dragon slayers, exorcists, saviors, generals... Many of them were renowned figures in the history of the Southern Continent. Those epic stories only heard from bards in taverns were, for Aragon, just oral accounts of his forebears. Leonard felt that merely listening to those stories was a very wonderful experience. It was like the protagonist of a novel recounting his thrilling adventures in the book right in front of the reader. Leonard had a rudimentary understanding of the Time Rule. Listening to the stories was like watching history pour into reality, giving him a magical sensation of traversing through history. He saw the lines of fate for each Hero within those stories. And he saw how heroes in the worlds grand script affected countless other lines of fate. Some people are destined to shine brightly. Heroes are such beings, inevitably one of the few standing at the pinnacle of their era. Besides these discussions, they also talked about the Demon God Secret Skill Celestial Godfall. Previously, in the Battle of Ironforge, Leonard had obtained only a section of the introductory mantra for this Secret Skill. But Aragons family possessed a bronze fragment of this Secret Skill. Although the Secret Skill inscribed on the bronze piece was also incomplete, it held much more than what Leonard had obtained. And after thousands of years of contemplation and practical use, the family had amassed innumerable insights and techniques for deploying this Demon God Secret Skill. Normally, discussing ones personal cultivation Secret Skill was a very private matter. Yet Aragon was sharing without any reservation. What Leonard didnt know was that Aragon initially offered to share some transcendental knowledge because of their collaboration and as gratitude for saving Alice. But later, it was because Aragon found that they were kindred spirits. He saw certain traits in Leonard that Leonard himself wasnt even aware he possessed. And coincidentally, Leonard happened to have the Power Gem Golden Sphere, a legendary cultivation relic exclusive to Celestial Godfall. Aragon strongly felt that it was destiny. ... Plague Marsh was much like the Relics of Summer Shepherd City Leonard had visited before. There were few Alternate Dimension spaces here; instead, it was itself a vast outdoor Mysterious Realm. The marsh was filled with strange creatures. There were also monsters of unknown tiers and ancient Restrictions, making the death rate for explorers quite high. To card masters from the East Continent, this place might indeed be considered forbidden, beyond their ability to challenge. But there were not a few top-tier card masters in the Ariel Empire. As time went by and the main forces of mercenaries and hunters from the Red Dragon Kingdom arrived, such open Mysterious Realms would eventually be subdued. Leonards original plan was to wait and gather information, to see if there was a suitable opportunity within the Mysterious Realm to rescue Toad. The situation had been like this for the past few days. Hunting Teams, leading War Slaves, forged ahead deeper and deeper. People gradually ventured into the central area of the marsh, unearthing a wealth of ancient artifacts and bringing out a lot of intelligence. Leonard analyzed this data every day, discussing with Aragon whether any of it was suitable. But before a chance could present itself, an accident happened. That day, in the camp of the Viper group, Leonard was packing up his gear. Recently, the higher-ups of the Red Dragon Kingdom had released many missions to explore deeper into the marsh, and just in time, the main force of the Viper group had arrived, preparing to move out. However, a sudden explosion and shockwave rocked the entire camp. Boom! Deafening. The shockwave rolled over tent after tent, like a wave overturning boats. Adventurers looked towards the depths of the marsh, abuzz with speculation. What happened? That shockwave... looks like the work of those folks from the East Wilderness. I heard that someone spotted people from the East Wilderness in the Relics a couple of days ago. General Heman of the Thorny Snake Corps even personally went to capture them. It looks like we have some results today... ... Leonard, picking up on the faint smell of gunpowder in the shockwave, understood what had happened. Although there had been sporadic sounds of fighting from inside the marsh these past days, the noise from a bomb explosion was still quite distinctive. People from the Southern Continent dont use bombs. It could only have been people from the East Wilderness. Strange... just who is in the marsh? Leonard squinted slightly, deep in thought: Judging by the magnitude of the explosion, it should be the K35 Magic Energy Bomb that detonated. Such military-controlled explosives arent easy for ordinary people to get their hands on. He had actually heard about the discovery of an East Continent card master in the relics yesterday but didnt pay much heed to it. After all, Leonard had communicated the situation here to Catherine Carter, and the Alliance Army wouldnt send anyone over. Thoughts drifted to some unfamiliar forces; he hadnt been too concerned. But now, witnessing the explosion, Leonard had this inexplicable feeling that something was off, as if the conflict involved him somehow. Chapter 977 - 977 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again_2 ?Chapter 977: Chapter 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again_2 Chapter 977: Chapter 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again_2 ` K35 was one of the top military bombs on the East Continent, posing a substantial threat even to Fifth Tier and Sixth Tier card masters. Currently, although there were quite a few card masters in the East Wilderness of the Old Continent, most people who might have this kind of bomb were in the Alliance Army. Or maybe it was the Orlan Royal Familys secret exploration team? Leonard Churchill couldnt figure it out. But it didnt take him long to find out who it was. The Thorny Snake Corps Legion Commander, General Heman, along with another Seventh Tier Mercenary Group leader, personally went to exterminate whoever was in the swamp, so whoever was inside was highly likely doomed. One hour later, a group of soldiers escorted out a dozen wounded prisoners from the swamp. The prisoner walking in front was full of stubble, looking like a sloppy drunkard. Leonard Churchill recognized him with surprise, Broken Gunman Anlos? This wasnt just anyone, he was a cadre of the Revolutionary Army who had shown up in the last battle before the Flood Gang was destroyed. As Leonard Churchill looked at the other prisoners, he recognized several who were notorious criminals on the Federations wanted list and suddenly realized, Does that mean, the people fighting in the swamp were from the Revolutionary Army? He could ignore the others, but there was a friend of Leonard Churchills in the Revolutionary Army. If cadres like Anlos were captured, could Sophia Jones have also been there? To have two Seventh Tier leaders personally go into an extermination campaign, there werent many card masters from the East Wilderness who could receive such attention. It might really have been her! Leonard Churchills brows furrowed, lost in deep thought. He had previously asked Catherine Carter, who also wanted to cooperate and build an Allied Forces with the Revolutionary Army. However, the Lionheart Family was an official mercenary force, and there had been numerous conflicts with the Revolutionary Army before, so they couldnt reach an agreement. But there was still some communication on intelligence sharing and supplies between the two sides, so it was understandable that the people of the Revolutionary Army might have K35 bombs. But... what were the Revolutionary Army people doing here? Did Aunt Jones come for the White Familys Relics? Leonard Churchill suddenly remembered the intelligence Aragon had given him. Inside this Plague Marsh was a Secret Tomb of the Immortal Aegis belonging to the White Family. Since Sophia Jones had acquired the White Familys heritage, it made sense for her to come to the relics for something. This just became complicated... Leonard Churchills eyes trembled frequently. Without Sophia Jones among the prisoners, there were still many uncertainties. Had she not been captured, or had she been killed... or something else? But with the two Seventh Tier leaders having gone for the hunt, no matter what, if Sophia Jones had come, she was definitely in a dire situation. It was a pity he couldnt contact her in advance. The communicator was still a laboratory product, not yet mass-produced, which made information exchange a major issue. Sophia Jones might have come to the Plague Marsh and possibly tried to reach out, but the Joel he had disguised himself as had already died. Realizing this, Leonard Churchill started to churn thoughts rapidly, speculating on the situation. Meanwhile, as the card masters from the Southern Continent were seeing the card masters from the East Continent for the first time, they were pointing fingers, full of curiosity. Whats the situation with these people? A few card masters from the East Wilderness... These guys were sneaking around the marsh, and General Heman and the others just casually captured them. Hey, Fifth Tier and Sixth Tier war slaves, they might sell for a good price. ... These people were just low-ranking soldiers; they didnt have any valuable information. After listening for a while, Leonard Churchill only confirmed one thing: the two Seventh Tier leaders, General Heman, did not return! Moreover, the Thorny Snake Corps was planning to bring Toads into the swamp! This also meant two possibilities: either a master had escaped and they were continuing to pursue, or there had been some major discovery in the swamp. .... If Sophia Jones really did come, and she wasnt dead, her situation was definitely not good. Being hunted by two Seventh Tier leaders, even Barre Shepherd might not be able to escape. Leonard Churchill didnt know if he could be of any help. But he was certain that he had to go take a look! When he saw the prisoners being escorted back, those with keen instincts realized there were discoveries in the swamp, and some Mercenary Groups quietly broke camp. Not waiting for the Viper Mercenary Corps to act, Leonard Churchill blended with the large troupe, quietly following along. Then, when no one was paying attention, he decisively broke away from the group and rushed toward the depths of the swamp. The Plague Marsh had been explored for many days, and adventurers had cleared several safe paths. Leonard Churchill already had a detailed map woven from the information acquired these days in his mind C where the High Tier monsters were, where the lethal poison miasma lurked... he knew it all clearly. Although it was his first time entering the Plague Marsh, it was as if he was walking into his own backyard; Leonard Churchill encountered no danger, charging for tens of kilometers. A faint scent lingered in the air, left behind by those who had escorted the war prisoners. The sharp sense of smell of the Werewolf allowed Leonard Churchill to sniff out an accurate route. However, he did not underestimate the higher-ups of the Thorny Snake Corps, who might have long suspected that a spy was already in their midst, just waiting to set a trap. In the midst of the fog, Leonard Churchill suddenly stopped, realizing that following the scent so conspicuously could be too obvious, and pondered, The source of the scent is to the northeast... If I were a Thorny Snake Corps leader, I would surely set traps along the way, waiting for someone to follow the scent to the rescue... The tracking method was direct, and if the enemy hadnt anticipated this, then General Heman surely hadnt learned his lesson. With this in mind, Leonard Churchill rapidly went through the latest information he had acquired in his head, and based on the position of the previous battles and explosions, speculated, If trapped, the most likely escape directions would be these. But one also has to beware of being surrounded by others and tracked by tracking series card masters... I can only choose the most dangerous areas... So, if its Aunt Jones, could she perhaps be near the Tower of Breeze? ` Chapter 978 - 978 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again_3 ?Chapter 978: Chapter 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again_3 Chapter 978: Chapter 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again_3 Leonard Churchill was very familiar with Sophia Joness character. I am the world also allowed him to replace roles and think from anothers perspective, so Leonard Churchill quickly deduced a coordinate. With that thought, he did not hesitate to change his approach and charged straight toward that target. Leonard Churchill had not expected his intuition for danger to help him avoid a lethal choice. Trudge, trudge, trudge... His feet were half submerged in the soft, muddy water, producing a series of subtle sounds as he moved. As he ventured deeper into the swamp, the surrounding mist gradually thickened. Glowing algae provided a faint light source, reflecting a pale green color like dense cotton-like poisonous fog. The swamps fog was a complex toxin; the deeper one went, the more potent it became. Normally, an advanced gas mask wouldnt completely filter out such a deadly threat, but at this moment, Leonard Churchill was completely unharmed. Another hidden attribute that followed the infection of the Blood Plague came into play at this instant. In theory, toxins were a branch of the plague, with the Blood Plague being a poison even more toxic than conventional toxins for the average person! So, serendipitously, Leonard Churchill now had a very high resistance to toxins. Even if he were to breathe with his mouth and nose exposed, these toxins would have no adverse effects on his body. However, this area was no longer part of the route mapped by adventurers. Various dangers lurked in the surrounding slime, such as Tyrant blood leeches, water lizards, green scale flower pythons, demon crocodiles, splendid venomous spiders, parasitic human-faced beetles, burrowing worms, corpse fragrance eating demon flowers... all sorts of highly poisonous creatures were a common sight. They were predators in the mist, emerging from places one least expected, preying on humans who trespassed into their territory. Leonard Churchill had previously gleaned detailed information about these swamp creatures from the adventurers, and was familiar with their habits. He had dashed all the way here without causing too much trouble. But even so, he had killed quite a few. At that moment, Leonard Churchill suddenly stopped. The surrounding flying knives flicked off a purple leech that was sucking blood from his skin, dropping a drop of green blood. As the blood fell onto the exposed aquatic plants in the air, it immediately corroded the tender greenery into a pile of mush. This was a new species not mentioned in the intelligence reports. It had just been attached to his body, easily biting through his Protective Gang Air, and he hadnt noticed at all. If it werent for the Blood Plague making the leechs absorption somewhat poor, Leonard Churchill might have been drained dry without even realizing it. He looked at the bisected worm corpse and then at the mist so thick he couldnt see his own hand. His brows furrowed deeper and deeper. As his days practicing Air Perception went deeper, even without sight, he could clearly sense the many dangerous air intentions lurking around him. Plague Marsh hid too many secrets, and even top-tier card masters wouldnt dare venture deeply without caution. Leonard Churchill did not believe that he could survive if he continued to blindly wander through. Moreover, even if he had deduced that Sophia Jones might be nearby, finding her would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. At this thought, Leonard Churchill decisively took out a fireworks launcher, arranged some covert signals, and pulled the trigger into the sky! Whoosh~ Bang! The sky burst into brilliant fireworks. These were distinctive signal fireworks, with light that could penetrate far through the fog. Leonard Churchill knew the risks of what he was doing. Although this could possibly be seen by Sophia Jones if she was nearby, it would certainly be seen by the enemy as well. He then treaded across the void towards a previously explored safe area to hide. The first signal fireworks attracted no one but a few light-hating monsters. Leonard Churchill changed his location and triggered it again. If that didnt work, he would switch again... Grids appeared in his mind. Theoretically, if Sophia Jones was indeed in this area, she would eventually see them. The ultimate gamble was whether Sophia Jones would find him first or whether the enemies would come knocking first! ... At this very moment, a figure with a pale complexion and clearly not lightly wounded was rapidly retreating through the swamp mist. As she ran, she occasionally looked back at the mist, her eyes filled with a cold color. Sophia Jones knew she was being targeted by a tracking card master. Escaping their perception was nearly impossible. Moreover, with two seventh tiers among the enemies, Sophia Jones knew full well that if she were to be cornered again, she would have no chance of survival. The only glimmer of hope she could think of for breaking the situation was to draw the enemy into this more dangerous area. But risk was relative. What could be fatally threatening to the seventh tiers was even more so for her. However, just as Sophia Jones was about to gamble on that slim chance of luck to see if she could encounter a swamp monster that could kill her pursuers, yet allow her to survive before her curse power was completely depleted... Suddenly! A firework exploded in the sky. Although the bright red light of the firework was almost imperceptible behind the mist, Sophia Jones saw it and her expression suddenly turned stern, That guy...actually came?! This custom firework was the signal she had agreed upon with Leonard Churchill! She knew that Leonard Churchill was infiltrating the enemys ranks, but she hadnt expected him to find her in this way! Unlike Leonard Churchills prediction, Sophia Jones had come to the Plague Marsh earlier than the Thorny Snake Corps. When she realized that adventurers from the Southern Continent had entered the marsh, she too had tried to contact Leonard Churchill, but Joel had disappeared. So she gave up. After all, Sophia Jones had come to find the Relics left by the ancestors of the White Family. She didnt want Leonard Churchill to get involved in such dangerous exploration. Chapter 979 - 979 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again_4 ?Chapter 979: Chapter 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again_4 Chapter 979: Chapter 301 Swamp Encounters Sophia Jones Again_4 This guy... Sophia Jones looked at the fireworks, her clear eyes filled with complexity. She was very familiar with Leonard Churchills intelligence. That guy, being able to guess that she was here, would definitely not fail to realize that her situation was undoubtedly a desperate one. But still, he did it without hesitation. Using such a conspicuous signal as fireworks, he boldly announced that he was coming to help! Leonards willingness to risk his life to help spoke volumes, a comradeship that was beyond words. But... the enemies in pursuit were two Seventh Tier and a whole squad of elite troops. He really is reckless! Sophia cursed silently in her heart. But now was not the time to think about such useless things. She decisively rushed towards the direction of the fireworks. She knew that if she really went there, she would definitely lead the pursuing enemies over, which would also directly endanger Leonards situation. But she was also very clear about his personality. When he decided to use this method, he must have anticipated this outcome. And if she didnt go, the enemy would surely return! As Sophia ran wildly, her mind was rapidly flashing with various thoughts. She just thought about showing herself so Leonard could retreat. Then she would lead the enemies away. But suddenly, an idea flashed through Sophias mind, and a trace of brightness appeared on her face: Eh... Before, trying to stay alive by herself, she could almost only bet on that slim chance of luck. But now, there seemed to be a better way! Although Leonard was just a Fourth Tier, she could not be more familiar with his abilities. If were talking about hidden survival skills, Leonards were stronger than those of many Fifth or Sixth Tier card masters. With this thought, she increased her speed once again, dashing violently through the mist. .... Leonard had already ignited the fourth set of fireworks. Although it had brought quite some trouble, his intuition told him he needed to do this. Just as he was about to change locations to set off the fifth, a shadow suddenly appeared from the thick fog, charging through the wind. Enemy? Or... Leonard left a shadow by the fireworks, so he wasnt worried about being discovered. His thoughts had barely shifted when he recognized that graceful figure, even though he hadnt seen the face clearly yet. Its Aunt Jones! Leonard felt both joy and shock in his heart. Joyous because his calculation was correct and he had finally found her. Shocked because, seeing Sophias hasty demeanor, the situation must be very grim. However, as soon as his thoughts shifted, Sophia also saw the marks left near the fireworks. She changed direction and charged into the mist once more. Leonard emerged from the water, right in the path of the hurriedly approaching Sophia. Sophia knew that, however dangerous her plan was, Leonard would certainly agree to it without hesitation the moment she spoke. So she didnt waste any words and urgently said, Ive been marked! Ive learned a new Secret Skill that allows me to parasitize inside your body... Leonard was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately agreed, Okay! Since Sophia did not tell him to run away, this plan might be able to save their lives. Without waiting for Leonard to understand the plan, Sophia shed all her clothing like shedding skin, leaving everything on the ground. Leonard had not yet made out her bare figure when he smelled a mature womans fragrance invading his nostrils. Then, he felt a pain in his neck, as if he had been bitten. Looking again, he saw a flash of white gloss as Sophia seemed to be sucked into the wound on his shoulder, disappearing on the spot. Leonards pupils narrowed: The White Familys Secret Fetus Parasitic Technique?'' He was no stranger to this Spell; he had encountered it several times and had even been parasitized before. Oh! He almost forgot, Sophia Jones had received the White Familys legacy, so it made sense for her to know this Secret Skill. With just this brief exchange, Leonard completely understood how Sophia had reasoned things out. She had been marked. Only by using this parasitic technique could she avoid the mark. Moreover, she needed someone who could carry her parasitic state and escape with her. Although the plan carried great risks, In the environment of the Plague Marsh, Leonard was not necessarily intent on escaping at all costs and would not be so easily caught. Realizing this, Leonards eyes sharpened slightly, and the corners of his mouth curved into a slight arc. Being able to help was a great fortune. Ignoring the pile of clothes on the ground, he dashed away at high speed into the fog along the escape route he had already found. Chapter 980 - 980 302 DP-955 Research Institute ?Chapter 980: Chapter 302 [DP-955 Research Institute] Chapter 980: Chapter 302 [DP-955 Research Institute] Leonard Churchill had just left not long ago. In the swamp, the commander of the Thorny Snake Corps, Heman, and a group of people hurriedly pursued. Amidst a thick fog, they accurately located the last place where the two individuals had met. Looking at the clothes in the water, the expressions of the group grew solemn. Standing with Heman in the team was an elderly woman with half-black, half-white hair. She was the leader of the Poison Vine Mercenary Group, Black Widow Hester. Club 3 C Plague Doctor, a Seventh Tier Voodoo Grandmaster. A support card master who excelled in using poison, curing poison, and controlling various venomous creatures. Her hands, like dried-up branches, picked up the soaked clothes from the water, sniffed them near her breath, and ultimately shook her head, muttering, Strange, the poison markers have completely disappeared. The target must have used some unconventional methods to avoid biological energy leakage. Pausing, her murky eyes showed a hint of contemplation and puzzlement as she added, Ive never seen this skill before, likely its one of those lost Professional Sequence secret skills. Hehe, those card masters from the East Wilderness still have some interesting spells inherited... Hearing this, Heman spoke helplessly, It must have been the fireworks earlier that gave away the direction. The womans companion came to their aid. Hester said, There are traces of dark element residue here, not very high in Law Understanding. The one who came to help is probably around the Fifth Tier. But the hiding technique is exceptional; its going to take some effort to find them in this swamp... ... Heman sighed lightly upon hearing this. If she said it was difficult to find them, then it was indeed difficult. Heman was already considering giving up. After all, a Sixth Tier War Slave wasnt worth wasting too much time on. But at this moment, a strange sense of familiarity surged in his heart. ... The inexplicable disappearance of the Waren City Rebel Camp before had still yielded no investigative results. Although it was almost certain that it was the work of a double agent from the Rebel Dragon Army. But who broke the space, who was saved, and how they contacted that Toad... Many questions remained, with no definitive clues to this day. Now watching as a Sixth Tier being pursued by the Corps escaped, Heman couldnt shake off a feeling of de?ja? vu. The clues left at the scene were very sparse, meaning the person who came to the rescue was exceptionally capable of handling emergencies. Wise, calm, and with decisive action. Most importantly, the audacity. Daring to come to their rescue despite knowing two Seventh Tiers from the Thorny Snake Corps were in pursuit spoke volumes of courage not possessed by ordinary people. This was just like the previous plan of daringly contacting and rescuing some slaves from under the nose of the closely guarded Corps. The impression was of someone dancing on the edge of a knife. Heman didnt believe it was a coincidence that they encountered two such individuals in a short span of time. It seemed more likely to be the work of the same person. Rescuing slaves, he could understand. But what was the meaning behind rescuing a person from the East Wilderness? Could they also be after the Relics? As he was thinking, the people in the team began to discuss. They were the only ones who knew how challenging their opponent was on their way here. Any other Sixth Tier would have died countless times over by now. A Sixth Tier being able to comprehend domains is no surprise given their outrageous combat power. If it were in our Southern Continent, two or three of the same tier might not be able to handle this kind of so-called Legendary Card Master from the East Wilderness. The inheritance of card masters in the East Wilderness was broken; the strongest are only Sixth Tier. Stuck at this bottleneck for thousands of years, figuring out some tricks to master domains early is not surprising. But speaking of which, that womans domain was quite formidable. The Descending Gods from the War Sequence, and a few very odd Xian Dao techniques... If she really advanced to the Seventh Tier, shed be a formidable adversary indeed. No matter, the top-tier card masters from the Kingdom are now arriving on the Old Continent. Even if a few Seventh Tiers really did emerge from the East Wilderness, they wouldnt be able to make much of a wave. We should focus on exploring and completing the mission assigned by our superiors. The Holy See is set on obtaining that object, and if we cant find it, well have no choice but to present our heads... Yes. There seems to be a large-scale ancient ruin beneath that swamp. Based on the current clues, its very likely the White Familys secret research base. If its really what we think, we might find that object... Lets hurry up and get that Toad here for verification... ... Although Heman decided not to continue the chase, he couldnt shake the feeling that this trouble wasnt over yet. Compared to a Sixth Tier, they had more important missions. The Corps had been exploring the Plague Marsh for so long, and now that they were on the verge of a major discovery, they couldnt afford to waste too much time rat-catching. ... Meanwhile. In the depths of the swamp lay the ruins of industrial buildings. A group of mysterious figures clad in white cloaks entered the underground through a passage. This was a concrete passage, with mottled white painted characters on the walls, barely making out the words DP-955 Research Institute. The group was trying to decrypt the security of a sealed steel door. Then, an Illusion of a nightingale emerged in the Void. What, youre saying that woman escaped? Yes. We just received the message from our people infiltrated in the Thorny Snake Corps... With our information guiding them and two Seventh Tiers involved, they still couldnt hold her? Yes. That person used several life-saving techniques in the fight that weve never seen in the intelligence reports... and heres the crucial point, those secret skills arent spells from the War Sequence, but they do closely resemble our White Familys God Thief heritage... Chapter 981 - 981 302 DP-955 Research Institute_2 ?Chapter 981: Chapter 302 [DP-955 Research Institute]_2 Chapter 981: Chapter 302 [DP-955 Research Institute]_2 Youre saying that woman used some of the Immortal Aegis Animals Secret Skills from our White Family? And she managed to escape, possibly using the Secret Fetus Parasitic Technique? Yes. Among those Secret Skills, there seemed to be ancient Forbidden Techniques that our White Family has lost. ... The leading person, as they listened to the report from the Immortal Spirit, slowly pulled back their cloak to reveal a fair and handsome face. If Leonard Churchill were here, he would immediately recognize him as the Number One Genius of the White Family Wayne White, whom he had encountered before. His brows, more charming than a womans, narrowed slightly with a sly smile in his eyes, Hehe, if we talk about seniority, she is actually my aunt. But its strange. When her mother was expelled from the White Family, all memories about the inheritance of the White Familys Secret Skills were sealed with a vow. Where did that woman learn them from? At that moment, another person in the group spoke, The people from the Revolutionary Army found this secret research facility before us, so its not strange that they might have found some inheritances. Plus, she has the bloodline of the White Family and considerable talent, so its not out of the question that she might have fortuitously received the recognition of an Immortal Aegis Animal... This was also the reason they used spies to lead those from the Southern Continent here to surround and kill members of the Revolutionary Army. Earlier, the White Family thought they were the first to arrive at these Relics, only to discover upon arrival that the Revolutionary Army was also searching for this research facility. Sophia Joness performance at the Divine Ruins Treasure House, where she fought against two under-kings and four Knights alone, had already proven her combat power. To kill her without Seventh Tier strength was almost impossible. The group from the White Family didnt want to fight her in a life and death battle, which is why they chose to use others to kill her. Who rescued her? Were not sure yet. But based on the situation, the person who came to her aid was most likely someone embedded in the adventure teams in the Southern Continent, maybe even the Thorny Snake Corps. Otherwise, they wouldnt have received precise intelligence and arrived so swiftly to provide reinforcement. Tsk, tsk, if my aunt manages to escape, she will become quite the trouble in the future. ... Although Wayne White spoke such words, his face bore no expression of concern. He stared at the locked machinery door, muttering to himself. With so many poisonous creatures converging in the swamp, our White Familys Supreme Treasure, the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals, must surely be in this research facility. If we can find it, the rise of the White Family is just around the corner... Indeed. Besides, this place was once a Secret Tomb where our White Family ancestors worshipped the Immortal Aegis Animals. If we are fortunate enough to receive the protection and recognition of an Ancestral Spirit Immortal Aegis Animal, our White Family will have gained a foothold. The situation on the Old Continent is very complicated. Since all branches of our White Family were destroyed, that battle back then must have been extremely bitter. Whether any Ancestral Spirit Immortal Aegis Animals survive or not is hard to say... Faith never dies, Gods never perish; as long as the incense continues to burn, those top-tier Immortal Aegis Animals wont dissipate so easily either. Keep a close watch on what the Thorny Snake Corps is up to, draw people in as quickly as possible. Sacrificing those people, if not to awaken Ancestral Spirit Immortal Aegis Animals, will at least awaken some High Tier Immortal Aegis Animals... Yes. ... .... Leonard Churchill was well aware that the ones from the Thorny Snake Corps who forced Sophia Jones into a dire situation must have included a card master skilful in tracking. Although he felt that he had eradicated his tracks very cleanly, he feared some unheard-of sensing methods. The lineage of card masters in the Southern Continent had not been broken, making this possibility quite significant. Leonard Churchill ran wildly through the swamp. He occasionally used the Shadow to mislead. But soon, he breathed a sigh of relief. The early-warning devices he had set up had not been triggered, meaning that most likely there was nobody chasing him. Seeing this, Leonard Churchill automatically sorted through the dozens of scenarios in his head and finally arrived at the two most likely possibilities. First, either the two Seventh Tiers were not interested in pursuing a Sixth Tier, deeming it a waste of time; After all, the card masters of the Southern Continent and those of the East Continent may be adversaries, but they only aimed at capturing a few War Slaves, without any particular conflicts. If the cost was too great, then it was meaningless. Second, they had more important things to deal with. Leonard Churchill was more inclined towards the latter, his eyes narrowing slightly, Did they really discover some important clues in that swamp... In these days, Leonard Churchill had discussed a lot about the Ariel Empire with the Toad. He learned that the orders from the Holy Church took precedence over Kingship. If the Holy Church was searching for the vessel, the Thorny Snake Corps would not dare to delay. Now that even the Toad, who had always been imprisoned in the camp, had been transported here, it was clear that there must have been significant discoveries in the swamp. With this in mind, Leonard Churchill stopped. He had managed to rendezvous with the person in question without any mishap. Glancing at his shoulder, Leonard Churchill looked at the wound that looked like a snake bite and raised his eyebrows slightly, Aunt Jones? He tried calling out but got no response. Many of the Spell techniques of the White Family were family secrets, and outside parties didnt understand the mechanisms. The Secret Fetus Parasitic Technique was one of the very peculiar Spells among them. Even Leonard Churchill, who had been subjected to the technique, still didnt understand how the enemy managed to accomplish it. It seemed that the host had to be on the precipice of death for the parasite to be forced out. It looked like he couldnt communicate with Sophia Jones for the time being. Or perhaps she had no intention of coming out any time soon, avoiding some sensing methods? Or maybe she was seriously injured? Regardless, he had already rescued her. Leonard Churchill was in no hurry now. Since nobody was chasing them, he lost his sense of urgency. Since those people did not chase immediately, he assumed they wouldnt later either. Leonard Churchill changed his direction away from the danger zone. Chapter 982 - 982 302 DP-955 Research Institute_3 ?Chapter 982: Chapter 302 [DP-955 Research Institute]_3 Chapter 982: Chapter 302 [DP-955 Research Institute]_3 The previously preset escape routes were no longer necessary; Leonard Churchill returned to the safe path leading back to the camp. The few routes that had already been explored were all marked, and it was not uncommon to encounter adventurers who had ventured into the marsh. In no time, Leonard Churchill, following a scent, encountered the squad escorting the Toad. It probably was because the Thorny Snake Corps was stirring that sharp-minded individuals had sensed an opportunity, and countless adventure groups were also flooding into the marsh. Judging by this momentum, it seemed that the tens of thousands of adventurers who had been outside the marsh encampment had mostly arrived. Leonard Churchill observed this throng of people with a subdued brilliance in his eyes. He obviously could see the opportunities that these people could see. And he saw them even more clearly. In the world through Leonard Churchills eyes, all beings and things displayed ever-shifting trajectories of destiny. But I am the world could infer the origins and outcomes of events. As Leonard Churchills expertise in the Demon God Secret Skill grew, he began to notice something different: Why do I feel like were being deliberately led into the marsh by certain people? There is no need to speculate that something significant must be involved for Heman of the Thorny Snake Corps to personally embark on exploration. For mercenaries to swarm there for a chance at a vast fortune is also normal. However, having experienced Noah Wrights stratagems several times, Leonard Churchill understood that truly ingenious plots left almost no traces. To uncover such schemes, it was very important to pay attention to some details. For example: Aragon mentioned there might be a jar inside; and coincidentally, Sophia Jones happened to be here as well... Contemplating this, Leonard Churchills train of thought focused on these two points, and he discovered a problem: Thats not right. The Revolutionary Army are experts in guerrilla warfare, so how could they be found so easily and cornered? Could it be an insider? Suddenly, Leonard Churchill thought of something, and his thoughts branched out: Heh, interesting. Did an insider reveal the Revolutionary Armys position to the Thorny Snake Corps in a plot to use them as a weapon against their own? Assuming this possibility, there were only a few conclusions one could draw. Conspiracies are unnecessary in the face of absolute power. The superiority of the Southern Continent over the East Wilderness means spies are almost impossible at the moment. Therefore, if there is an insider, it can only be someone from within the East Wilderness. And the card masters from the East Wilderness on the Old Continent are mostly from the Alliance Army. There is no enmity between the two. Thus, those insiders are most likely coming from the restored Orlan Royal Family. Are the people of the White Family also in the marsh? Leonard Churchill mused momentarily, almost certain of this outcome. When it comes to espionage, the God Stealer Sequence of the White Family is undoubtedly the most fitting job sequence he has ever seen. A variety of Immortal Aegis Animals and mysterious system spells left one unprepared for defense. Just like how Leonard Churchill wouldnt have known that a body could harbor another living person if he hadnt seen it for himself? If Leonard Churchill could infiltrate, its likely that the White Family had long since arranged for people to blend in among these adventurers from the Southern Continent, perhaps even the upper ranks of the Thorny Snake Corps. This could also reasonably explain everything. Using the might of the Thorny Snake Corps to severely damage Sophia Jones and her party from the Revolutionary Army. But then the question arises. So, what is the White Family trying to accomplish by attracting so many people into the marsh? As Leonard Churchill reached this point, he suddenly felt the situation become even more intriguing. Using others to eliminate ones enemies was indeed a clever strategy. But it also risks exposing the secrets deep within the marsh. Clearly, the people of the White Family didnt mind revealing these secrets, instead appearing to deliberately draw these people in. Looking at the crowd before him, the colorful threads of fate in Leonard Churchills eyes suddenly turned a dull, lifeless shade. The inferences of I am the world confirmed everything he had thought of so far without any logical flaws. That is to say, he had most likely deduced the most accurate result reflecting the actual situation. Sacrifice? The word suddenly popped into Leonard Churchills head. Indeed, allowing so many people into the marsh could help with pioneering the land. But after clearing the land, the White Family lacked the strength to snatch the treasures from these powerful individuals from the Southern Continent. The only possibility, then, was that they were confident these people posed no threat. And only the dead pose no threat. The marsh was already a site of the White Familys Immortal Aegis Animals Secret Tomb, and no one knew better than the White Family what lay within. So while these adventurers were still alive, they were already as good as dead to the White Family. The White Family must be concocting some kind of large-scale Sacrifice Ceremony in secret. After all, the Secret Skills of the God Stealer Sequence and the divine secret skill of the Ancient God Devotees held many similarities. Such actions were not out of the ordinary. This was the only reasonable explanation. Thinking this, Leonard Churchills expression turned knowing: Tsk tsk, the White Family sure plays a ruthless game... This perspective revealed that the East Continent was not as easy to conquer as believed. Such an increasingly mysterious situation had a unique allure for Leonard Churchill. As he gazed at the monochrome threads of fate before him, his eyes caught sight of the iron cage wrapped in black cloth. In the world as Leonard Churchill saw it at this moment, it was the only object not colored gray. A mysterious black. Inside the cage was a hero held captive. Just like in the Waren City Rebel Camp Duplication, Goron served as a narrative anchor. To Leonard Churchill, Aragon C the Hero C was also a crucial point at this moment. Even if others died, it wasnt that easy for a hero to perish. Heh heh... Thinking this, Leonard Churchill flashed his white teeth, his mind overtaken by a singular, intense, and mad thought. He wanted to go in and see for himself! He had been planning to find an opportunity to rescue the Toad, and now it seemed the only viable chance had arrived. Chapter 983 - 983 303 Entering the Underground City ?Chapter 983: Chapter 303: Entering the Underground City Chapter 983: Chapter 303: Entering the Underground City PS. This post is a bit rough, the content is as the title suggests. Leonard Churchill had already spent several days at the Adventurers Camp and had long observed several alternative identities to utilize. Following the team heading deep into the Plague Marsh, he easily found a replacement identity and blended into the team. The large troop moved slowly and had a conspicuous target which attracted quite a few monsters from the swamp, leading to occasional battles. Fortunately, the Legion pushed through with ease, and there were no significant obstructions. Ouch, such a big operation, whats the situation? I heard they discovered a large ancient relic. They say its filled with treasures. Let me tell you, our Pioneer Hunter has confirmed that its indeed the family base of the White Family from the Taren Dynasty, a top-tier God Stealer family. Its a huge, well-preserved Underground City. I heard that even a chunk of the door is made of valuable Red Copper Alloy... The White Family of the God Stealer Sequence? Wow, back in the days of Taron, that was a top-level noble family... And the God Stealer Sequence, thats a lineage with the power to command Gods and Demons... Hey, if you could get the card master inheritance from the White Family, youd be set for life. ... As they journeyed, the troops numbers swelled. Rumors spread like wildfire, drawing almost every Adventurer from around the Plague Marsh to the scene. In the past, the White Familys status in the Taren Dynasty would have been akin to a prince in todays tiered society. Not only were they wealthy enough to rival nations, but the White Family also held the resources for cutting-edge card masters, making them top-tier elites. In the team, Leonard listened to the news and formed a general impression of the Underground City known as the DP-955 Research Institute. In the eyes of these hunters from the Southern Continent, it was as if even the doors of the institute were cast in gold. However, Leonard listened with a calm heart. To him, the Underground City was but a carnivorous flower emitting a tempting fragrance. After much deliberation, he had fully confirmed that the White Family had arrived at the marsh. So it was highly likely that the news was intentionally spread by them to attract as many people as possible. Among these people from the Southern Continent, there were some experts who probably saw the hidden dangers. Nevertheless, finding the jar was the top priority, and they would not give up on it. Moreover, those individuals from the Holy Church were not as simple as they seemed. Leonard thought of this and his gaze landed on a huge iron cage covered by a black cloth not far away in the troop. Cloaked figures shrouded in mystery lingered near the cage. He had contemplated making contact with the Toad before. But it wasnt just that the Thorny Snake Corps was on high alertthe individuals Leonard had observed hiding in the tent were always near the cage too. Despite the cloaks, Leonard could tell that these individuals held a much higher status than those from the Thorny Snake Corps. Even the seventh-tier Legion Commander had to show respect when approaching them. Their strength was definitely formidable. Tsk, I wonder if the White Familys people can deal with these few... Seeing this, Leonard felt a schadenfreude excitement, anticipating a conflict between two mighty parties. The Whites, confident enough to set this trap, must have been sure of their success. And the Holy Churchs powerful and mysterious individuals were likely unknown to the Whites. A fierce battle between the two sides would surely result in injury. This provided an opportunity Leonard considered ideal for rescuing the Toad. ... The deeper into the swamp they went, the more monsters there were. The large troop advanced, combating creatures along the way. After nearly a days march, they finally arrived at their destination. When Leonard arrived with the large troop, the swampy ground had been solidified into hard earth, and a sight of tents as far as the eye could see had been erected. The flames cleared away the poison fog, creating a bustling scene in the camp. Large items that couldnt be stored in a Storage Ring were being transported; Leonard watched as adventurers brought doors and windows, several meters, even over a dozen meters high, to the surface. Under firelight, these metals gave off a subtle reddish copper glow and were intricately carved with arcane curses. As previously rumored, the research institute was full of Red Copper Alloy. Red Copper is a type of inert Transcendent metal, capable of warding off evil and suppressing demons. Most importantly, it can contain Plague in the realm of mysticism. Seeing these metals and thinking of the Toads suggestion that there might be a jar inside, Leonard understood the purpose of the Red Copper. Such a large-scale operation implied that the institute was likely trying to contend with the Source of the Plague, an Outer God. Leonard had experienced firsthand how severe the Contamination by an Outer God could be. He wondered if the people from the Southern Continent could withstand it, especially since no one knew the current state of the institute after thousands of years. But given that the adventurers were able to dismantle items from the laboratory, it shouldnt be a major problem. The largest tent in the camp served as the temporary office for the Adventurers Guild. It was crowded. Fresh ruins always required a lot of manpower for initial exploration. Various recruitment notices were dizzying, with new information appearing on the bulletin board every moment. The Iron Boots Mercenary Group is recruiting! Exploration of Area B22, looking for Healing Series professionals, group assembles in ten minutes! B-class Reward: Exploration of Area C11, in need of an expert in lockpicking and decrypting! Someone familiar with ancient Caesar ciphers, come forward! Bear Blast Group recruitment for pioneer exploration: Underground Depth Area, seeking a large number of Healing Series card masters... Buying a batch of War Slaves at a high price, contact the White Eagle Group if youre looking to transfer... Chapter 984 - 984 303 Entering the Underground City_2 ?Chapter 984: Chapter 303 Entering the Underground City_2 Chapter 984: Chapter 303 Entering the Underground City_2 Red Dragon Kingdom S Reward: Titles, lands for the significant discoveries made by individual adventurers and teams... ... As soon as the large troop arrived, adventurers swarmed into the few entrances to the Underground City. Leonard Churchill didnt rush to take action. He was mingling with the Viper Mercenary Corps, the official mercenaries of the Thorny Snake Corps, and had to move with the large troop. He was also certain that Toad would definitely create an opportunity to go down. It wouldnt be long before the main forces of the Thorny Snake Corps would descend. Leonard was in the camp, helping to set up tents. At the same time, he was controlling Shadows to gather information. The conversations of the hunters, the recruitment notices on the bulletin boards, the ancient Relics being excavated... These fragmented pieces of information were like the shards of a shattered porcelain vase, which, when pieced together, might form a complete vase. Leonards brain was working at high speed, slowly piecing together the situation in the research facility below. The Underground City was vast, with at least seven or eight areas from A to G discovered so far, filled with a large number of monsters of varying degrees of danger. The casualties brought up from these areas had mostly rotting skin and were showing black and green complexions, clearly suffering from poison and Plague Contamination; There were also new monsters, Rot Monsters, Poison Gas, Soul-devouring Wolf Spiders, Plague Zombies... These were not mentioned in previous intelligence reports, and even the people of the Southern Continent had never seen such mutated creatures. So far, the monsters discovered in the research facility were not too powerful, the strongest being only Sixth Tier. But they were numerous and highly toxic, which made them very troublesome. Leonard certainly did not take the situation lightly. Since the White Family thought this place could bury those from the Southern Continent, it posed a fatal threat to him, a Fourth Tier as well. All the clues he noted now could be life-saving straws later on. Leonard did think that it would be more assured to inquire more about the situation before descending, but the teammates around him were becoming a bit impatient. Seeing the large number of ancient Relics being unearthed made everyone envious. Relics are not like the Alternate Dimension; if youre late, they may indeed be gone. When do you think were going to wait until? Look, those guys from the Snow Eagle Group who came with us, its only been half an hour since they went down, right? And theyve dug out so much stuff already... Yeah. If we wait any longer, Im afraid we wont even be able to eat hot shit... Look! That chain those guys are carrying out, its actually made of pure Mithril? My, oh my, how much money would that big chain sell for? Hey, are those metal lumps the legendary Mechanical equipment? Ouch, those Forbidden Objects can only go into the furnace now... ... Leonard joined his teammates in complaining while discreetly observing the situation around the iron cages. The fellows from the Holy Church had gone into the tents and hadnt appeared again, seemingly planning to wait for these hunters to explore. No wonder, for adventure has always been the job of the lower classes. Leonard was also curious about what Aragon would have to do to get those guys moving. This wait lasted for several more hours. Far from decreasing, the number of people in the camp kept increasing. You cant deny the power of numbers. The card masters of the Southern Continent were already strong, and with tens of thousands pouring into the Underground City, they quickly mapped out large areas of it. A chance came quite suddenly. An Adventure Group found a mysterious door leading deeper into the underground. After calling in lock-picking experts to open it, the people discovered that it was a passage to the core area of the research facility. The adventurers quickly found the second floor of the research facility. Although the second floor of the research facility caused a huge number of casualties, some astonishing discoveries were made. Its said that some well-preserved laboratories and a large number of valuable ancient Relics were found. However, as the exploration went deeper, the death rate grew more alarming. According to the hunters, not only was the second floor of the Underground City filled with lethal toxins, but it seemed to be hiding some horrifying creatures. Low-tier card masters had virtually no chance of coming out alive, and even the mortality rate among High-Order Card Masters was very high. Apart from a few elite groups that continued to explore, others dared not enter the second floor at all. The pace of exploration suddenly slowed down. At this rate, it might take ten days or even half a month to explore it thoroughly. In the midst of this situation, no one knew what Toad had said to the people of the Thorny Snake Corps, but suddenly the Legion Commander Heman gave orders for the main forces of the Corps to set off, and they even brought along that big iron cage. The Viper Mercenary Corps, to which Leonard belonged, became the vanguard, to scout the path to the second level of the Underground City in advance. Now the teammates were wailing again; earlier they wanted to go, now they were afraid to go. With such a high death rate, nobody wanted to face certain death. But as official mercenaries, they were paid to follow orders, not their own will. As the noble Legion set off, other hunter mercenaries also surged into the depths. The official Corps dealt with the troubles, and it was time for the Loose Practitioners to make their fortune, in a mutually beneficial arrangement. Just like shrimp feasting by cleaning the gaps between a sharks teeth after it eats a big fish. ... The main forces advanced downwards. The research facility was enormous, practically a huge Underground City. Entering the main part from the passages, each area appeared as a silo. Like bucket-like cylindrical spaces, with densely arranged and orderly rooms layer by layer, it seemed that this research facility once housed many people. The walls were made of thick concrete and steel, the ceiling overhead crisscrossed with pipes rusty with age. Even after thousands of years of exposure to toxic gases eroding metals to the brink of destruction, the core of the research facility remained intact. Chapter 985 - 985 303 ?Chapter 985: 303 Chapter 985: 303 The first floor had already been picked clean by adventurers, like locusts passing by, every valuable item dismantled spotlessly. Nothing worth noting. While his teammates were still complaining, Leonard Churchill had already memorized all the passages he saw and was analyzing in his mind how to plan the retreat route in case something went wrong. The elevator was corroded, so they could only take the stairs all the way. Leonard Churchill and his group descended nearly three hundred meters, finally coming to the front of the massive mechanical iron door leading to the second floor. On the wall beside the door, the spray paint of DP-955 Research Institute was still visible. There were magic lamps hanging on the walls all along the way, providing decent visibility. But as soon as they arrived downstairs, a pungent smell like ammonia immediately wafted up, making people dizzy. The folks from the Southern Continent didnt have gas masks, only simple anti-poison packs made of gauze and herbs, which didnt filter very effectively. Fortunately, the official Legions equipment wasnt bad, clearing the way with wind-based filtering cards made things much better. Everyone, stay sharp, be careful! If you feel poisoned, drink the antidote yourself. First group, watch out for the water under your feet, second group check the ceiling, third group take the lead... ... Not long after entering the second floor, they came to a huge space. The concrete walls here were visibly more solid, and there were rows of cabins around, like prison cells. Leonard Churchill looked at those cabins and inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity. The architectural design of one era was much the same. The 407 Abnormal Creature Research Institute he had crossed into was also an underground research institute, basically of the same design style as the one he was currently in. Were these cabins once used to detain experimental creatures? Leonard Churchill took another good look and already had some guesses. Although most of the cabin doors had been corroded away, it was still apparent that these were not rooms for people. Not just the rooms, he also saw some severely decayed research equipment. Metal instruments might corrode away, but many of the glass vessels had been well-preserved intact. In jar after jar of green liquid, various biological limb samples were preserved. A giant heart, the embryo of an unknown creature, a strange brain, tentacles, eyeballs... It was uncertain how these had been preserved, but after thousands of years, quite a few samples were still somewhat intact. Seeing these, Leonard Churchill felt as if he was looking at Master Merlins laboratory and thought, What a pity, if these instruments were intact, Master Merlin would probably be too excited to sleep. If there were any research materials, that would be even better. After all, the technology level of the Taron Dynasty was much higher than the present... Gurgle gurgle~ Gurgle gurgle~ ... This level had a serious water leakage problem. Leonard Churchill carefully followed the Viper Corps through the water that brushed against their thighs, exploring cautiously. Every so often they saw a corpse floating up on the waters surface. Leonard Churchill looked at those desiccated corpses with a frown, Drained of their blood? Thinking of something, he immediately became cautious, watching the water closely, as well as every part of his own body. Whether it was the Dragons Might released by several Sixth Tier strong ones at the back that kept the creatures down here at bay, they had not encountered any trouble on their way. They had not run into any of the monsters that caused massive casualties before. This was one of the benefits of being Dragon Descendants. The bloodline of the Great Dragon naturally possesses a dominance over other lower creatures, and most monsters, sensing this, smartly avoid it. The adventurers also thought it was due to the Dragons Might that they encountered no monsters, and gradually let their guard down. However, what they didnt know was that, deep within the research institute, a group of people from the White Family were whispering to each other. Young Master, most of the people have come in; we can start now. Heh, those Seventh Tiers from the Southern Continent actually all came in, which saves us a lot of trouble. The monsters on the second floor are not something a low-tier card master can handle; its normal for Seventh Tiers to come down. If they can help us deal with those monsters, maybe we can even get the remaining research materials inside the institute... ... With no monsters appearing, a large number of adventurers had also poured into the second floor of the research institute. Leonard Churchill became more cautious. He knew the White Family must have set up something in the shadows, and once action commenced, it would likely be a matter of life or death. With the entrance of Seventh Tiers, the difficulty of exploration had suddenly decreased a great deal. Especially the leader of the Poison Vine Mercenary Group, Black Widow Hester. This Seventh Tier Voodoo Grandmaster used a few Curse Cards, and in the blink of an eye, absorbed the pervasive poison into his body. The air around them cleared instantly as well. This certainly sped up the progress of the expedition. Leonards group, the Viper Corps, was the vanguard, and they soon arrived at the core area of the second floor. Upon close inspection, there were several iron-doored rooms firmly shut. Just from the structure and materials of the doors, it was evident that these rooms were special. Commander, come quick, theres a well-preserved room here! The room has a password, call the lock picking expert! Hahaha, looking at the setup, these must be some of the most important rooms in the institute, certainly full of good stuff... ... The teammates were all excited. After all, if they truly found something, they would receive the credit. Leonard also examined the layout, suspecting that the room could be the Central Control Room or something critical on the second floor. This significant discovery also drew the main force of the Thorny Snake Group closer. Perhaps sensing that the vessel might be inside, even the Legion Commander Heman came to check personally. However, suddenly, Leonard noticed something odd. Looking down, he saw an inconspicuous leech already clinging to his leg. He had encountered it once before; this unknown leech could bite through skin and suck blood without any problem. There really is something... Leonard quietly used his hand to sever the worm. He was already on alert. He knew that trouble was approaching. If his own strong senses could not detect it, what about the others? He reckoned that most Sixth Tier card masters would have difficulty noticing the leech. It seemed that many of those who had entered the second floor had likely already been bitten by these worms. Realizing this, Leonard silently created some distance and slowly approached the iron cage. Chapter 986 - 986 304 Devil Leech and Corrupt Human Mushroom ?Chapter 986: Chapter 304: Devil Leech and Corrupt Human Mushroom Chapter 986: Chapter 304: Devil Leech and Corrupt Human Mushroom General, the cipher of this room is not difficult to crack. However, the trouble lies in the high level of authorization required, which seems to be a bloodline authority restriction or perhaps an exclusive item authority restriction. Unless we can find specific authorization items, such as identity cards or something of the sort, cracking it could take a long time, Go and ask our people below if anyone has found anything like that in the Relics. Right, is it possible to force it open? Nearly impossible. I used a tier seven Cutting Card and couldnt leave even a scratch on this door, not to mention the whole room is made of some special alloy coupled with ancient restrictions. I estimate it would take at least tier nine Spells to possibly break the restriction on the door... ... After the initial excitement, everyone was immediately hit with a cold dose of reality. They couldnt open the cipher door of the room, which meant they would be stuck here for a considerable period of time. Legion Commander Heman looked on with furrowed brows. But he couldnt think of any other solution either. Since Toad was sure that there was likely a jar here, they absolutely wouldnt give up. The members of the Thorny Snake Corps gathered around the Central Control Room, pondering how to open the door, but just then, the tier seven Voodoo Master Hester suddenly sensed something and her expression turned grim: Somethings not right, theres something in the water! This reminder jolted everyone awake and they all turned their gaze to the water. Only then did they notice something was off. Some semi-transparent creatures had appeared in the water at some unknown time. Hey, Luo, whats that worm stuck on your neck? Let me pull it off for you. Whats the matter, it wont come off? Mark, it looks like you have one on your arm, too. No, theres one on your neck and legs... Damn it, what is this thing, and how did it get inside my armor? Help me get it off. No good! These leeches have paralysis poison; theyre frantically bloodsucking! ... The lighting in the research institute was already dim with very low visibility. The leeches were like chameleons, changing color with the environment. By the time people noticed, each person already had several leeches quietly attached to them. The trouble was they were like mosquitoes, not felt at all when they bit. By the time people realized there was a problem, the leeches had already injected their toxin and drawn a lot of blood. The others, still unaware of the severity of the situation, were busily looking for leeches attached to them. At that moment, the Voodoo Master Black Widow Hester also picked off a worm and looked at it carefully. It was an inconspicuous leech, but once severed, not only was its blood highly corrosive, the cut body halves were still wriggling, and the wounds were visibly healing at the naked eye. In an instant, one worm became two! Just like cloning, they were identical. Upon witnessing this, her expression drastically changed: Careful, these are Abyss Devil Leeches! These were ancient magical worms capable of draining a Great Dragon dry. Monsters that had been thought extinct were here! Breaking Strong, Armor Piercing, splitting and regenerating, nearly immortal. In large numbers, they posed a deadly threat even to top-tier powerhouses! Saying this, even the tier seven powerhouses face looked as if she had just seen a ghost, as if predicting some terrible outcomes, she urgently called out: Quick! Everyone get out! .... Seeing even the toxin expert Hester taking the situation so seriously, Legion Commander Heman and everyone else immediately realized the grim situation. Not sure if because of the raised voices or something else, but the semi-transparent worms that were initially stealthily moving in the water suddenly lit up with fluorescence. They went berserk, swarming towards everyone in the Relics. In an instant, the water up to their waists and thighs seemed to glow with fluorescence. At a closer look, innumerable worms, coming from who knows where, were swarming from all directions in the water towards everyone there. A wave of terror spread through the crowd in an instant. Ah... Damn it! How can there be so many worms! Help me! Somebody save me! Cant kill them, they are indestructible! ... Almost in an instant, the green fluorescence started to fill the entire pool. The Adventurers who were too slow to react were swarmed by hundreds, if not thousands, of leeches climbing all over them. From seemingly harmless, they became deadly killers in an instant. The worms easily bit through Protective Gang Air, Curse Seals, and even dragon scales, bloodsucking frenziedly. Everyone immersed in the water was surrounded by the worms, undying and unshakeable, each worm on them as if slashing open a gaping wound, blood gushing out. In just a few moments, the bodies of lower-tier card masters could be seen visibly shriveling up. Sounds of splash, splash of bodies continuously falling into the water filled the air. Once someone fell into the water, they would be enveloped in the green glow in a blink, the worms pouring into their bodies through mouth and nose, leaving no chance of survival. Even surrounded by other people, no one could help, as everyone was too preoccupied with their own plight. The large research facility on the second floor, with thousands of people, was filled with an unceasing chorus of screams and cries of agony. .... Physical damage is useless, use fire! Alchemy salt, alchemy salt works! I dont have any left, who has extra alchemy salt, please save me... Quick! Use fire, deplete the Elements of water! ... The Adventurers tried every possible method, but physical means were almost completely ineffective. Even if the leeches were sliced into dozens of pieces by Sword Air, those pieces of leech could still survive, instantly turning back into new living entities. Chapter 987 - 987 304 Devil Leech and Corrupt Human ?Chapter 987: Chapter 304: Devil Leech and Corrupt Human Mushroom_2 Chapter 987: Chapter 304: Devil Leech and Corrupt Human Mushroom_2 Unless crushed to ash, they can hardly be killed. Even with elemental attacks, only the burning effect of fire elementals is somewhat effective; other elemental damages are very limited in killing these worms. Moreover, there were too many of the worms, and most were attached to human bodiesto kill the worms with fire would mean burning the people as well. Not far away, Leonard Churchill had already quietly retreated next to the iron cage imprisoning the toad. But even he was feeling very heavy-hearted. He knew trouble would come, but he never imagined there would be so many worms. They seemed endless! And these Abyss Devil Leeches were different from those he encountered outside. The ones here seemed to have a more advanced lineage, with eerier abilities. Unkillable, regenerating when cut, naturally high magic resistance... Leonards pupils dilated as he took in the whole research institute at a glance. He also discovered that these worms were not attacking indiscriminately but were stealthily attaching themselves to lower-tier card masters on the outskirts first. By the time they were discovered, the encirclement was already complete. Leonard sensed something and thought, Do these worms have intelligence? It was as though they were like ants; individually, they might not have complex consciousness, but collectively they exhibited a hive mind. Or was there some kind of worm king? The Voodoo Master Black Widow Hester, who was obviously more familiar with the origins of these worms, was already sweating coldly as she watched the scene unfold before her. Just moments ago, Hester thought she might try to clean up these worms, but upon realizing the swarms intelligence, she immediately sensed something was very wrong. Her tone once again turned sharp and she shouted, Retreat quickly! Theres a Leech King! If it were just Devil Leeches acting on instinct, the problem wouldnt be too severe. But once theres a Leech King, it means... they are not just a swarm, but individuals too! Hearing this, Legion Commander Heman, who had already transformed into a Fire Dragon spewing fire everywhere, also hesitated no longer. With a shudder of his form, a breath of Dragon Flame dried up a large area of water nearby, and the bursting force of Dragons Might swept through the entire space in an instant. However, seeing this, Leonards pupils slightly contracted, feeling more and more that great trouble was imminent: Are these leeches life tiers not lesser than a Great Dragons? At this moment, the several-meter-long Red Dragon, into which Heman had transformed, was also covered with glowing worms. Although they hadnt penetrated his protective Domain, countless worms were frantically devouring the energy leaking from his body. The most important thing was that Dragons Might did not shake off the worms? This meant that these Devil Leeches were either not less than tier seven, or their life-form tier and the Great Dragon were similar. Regardless of which case it was, neither was good news for Leonard. ... Leonard had quietly left the crowd earlier, thus avoiding the area most fiercely attacked by the leeches. At the same time, because his blood was contaminated, the worms felt unwell after absorbing it, which made it easy for him to detect the worms clinging to his body. The scalpel swished as he cut wildly; for the moment, he was unharmed. Leonard followed the others and ran towards the second floors doorway, but before he could reach the entrance, he saw countless people from the first floor rushing towards the second floor in terror. Looking at the people from the second floor trying to run out, and those coming from the first floor shouting loudly to stop them, Dont go up to the first floor, the air outside is filled with poisonous spores! Upon closer inspection, those flooding into the second floor of the institute were experiencing a horrifying scene. As they ran, visibly growing on their skin were some buds that rapidly turned, absorbing nutrients from their bodies, into colorful mushrooms in the blink of an eye. One by one, they looked like mushroom people from a fairy tale, covered with numerous colorful mushrooms. But as the mushrooms flourished, the bodies of these people became more and more withered. Running, they soon became mere husks to nourish the mushrooms. Even more terrifying, they spread powdery spores throughout the air as they ran. Damn it! Thats the parasitic monster Hell Corrupt Human Mushroom... Be careful not to expose your mouth and nose to breathing! That monster is a parasitic creature; its spreading mycelium will parasitize inside living beings through respiration and skin... ... Some people were still shouting warnings. But it was too late. Like a plague, the mushrooms mycelium had almost covered every corner of the institute. Card masters without countermeasures barely had the chance to cry for help before they were infected and died. Leonard was an Air Skill Master, his Gang Air covering his body and his breath circling inside him, which allowed him to block the spores parasitism for a short period. But others were not so lucky. Like cutting through wheat, people throughout the Relics fell in large groups. Leonard, looking at the thousands of mushroom people swarming towards him, couldnt help but shudder and whisper to himself, The White Familys methods are indeed sinister... These mushroom spores on the first floor, the Devil Leeches on the second... they were all plague-type monsters. Not particularly strong, but they gave people the feeling of helplessness, no way to start handling them. The current situation was that going to the first floor of the institute meant certain death, and so did staying on the second. Even the ground level camp was probably in trouble now. The situation had become irreversible. The hundreds of thousands of Adventurers who had come to the DP-955 Research Institute were likely to have a survival rate of less than one percent. .... Leonard had long guessed that this was a sacrifice by the White Family. Apart from the method being somewhat unexpected, nothing about the present situation surprised him. Looking at the current state of affairs, neither the mushroom spores nor the leeches were fatal to tier six or seven card masters in the short term. Chapter 988 - 988 304 Devil Leech and Corrupt Human ?Chapter 988: Chapter 304: Devil Leech and Corrupt Human Mushroom_3 Chapter 988: Chapter 304: Devil Leech and Corrupt Human Mushroom_3 But Leonard Churchill didnt think it was over just like that. He surmised in his heart, After the sacrifice, those people from the White Family will probably pull out their big moves to deal with these High-Order card masters from the Southern Continent... If I dont escape now, the trouble will be massive. Plus, the main structure of this research institute has been so well preserved, if the White Familys people gain access to it before us and close the door, we wont even be able to escape... If Leonard wanted to stay alive, his best choice was to bolt out of there as quickly as possible. But that might not necessarily mean hed survive. And once he fled, he would inevitably expose some of his methods, invoking suspicion. Moreover, the most important thing was, the only chance to save Toad would also be missed. At this moment, Toad was still locked in an iron cage. But because the cage was above the waters surface, and those from the Holy Church had used some method, the leeches hadnt climbed up there yet. At life and death moments like this, no one adhered to the prohibition of approaching the iron cage. The nearby adventurers and soldiers, in their desperation to survive, also climbed onto the prison cart. A tiny iron cage, now carrying hundreds of people. Escaping would most likely mean survival. Leonard saw this, and a touch of determination flickered in his eyes; he decisively chose to use the hero as his survival anchor. Compared to escaping, staying with Toad might not be riskier. As soon as the thought arose, Leonard also took advantage of the chaos to run over. Like the other adventurers, he clung to the iron cage in sheer panic. This was the only time in a few days that he could get so close to the iron cage. To rescue Toad, he first had to pass Gamils Omnipotent Key into its hands. However, those cloaked figures from the Holy Church seemed to have been on guard early on. They were carefully watching every single person on the iron cage. Leonard didnt dare reveal any flaws. And in the blink of an eye, a message of despair came again for everyone. Before Leonard even had a chance to pass the card to Toad, suddenly, the whole space echoed with the click clack of gears engaging. No good! The relics gate is closing! Damn it, were going to be trapped here. Quick, escape. ... Seeing this, the people from the Southern Continent also realized that, besides them in the relic, there seemed to be other outsiders. And those outsiders also had some control over the relic. This set off alarm bells for Legion Commander Heman as well. Before the gate was shut, they had the option of both entering and leaving. But once the relic was sealed off, nobody dared to guarantee what would happen. No one thought that those controlling the gate had any good intentions towards them. Now, it was either fight to escape or be doomed to die there. Leonard also keenly observed Heman exchanging glances with those from the Holy Church. The result was, they chose to stay. Because they knew that if the container was really in the relic, those outsiders were very likely here for that very thing. Once out, it cant be guaranteed that the container would still be there on a subsequent visit. .... Just as the people of the Thorny Snake Corps decided to stay, the second-floor gate of the research institute was slowly closing. Leonard watched, his pupils reflecting a trace of contemplation. This research institute was very likely studying the Outer God in the container, with a high level of security that ordinary people couldnt imagine. Even after thousands of years, trapping a group of card masters, whose highest tier was only seven, wouldnt be a big problem. The closing gate didnt surprise Leonard. His eyes were always watching those from the Holy Church. They didnt seem to be in the urgent dismay of someone about to be trapped to death, which proved that they might have some other ace up their sleeve. With this in mind, Leonard was no longer in a hurry. The spores wouldnt affect him in the short term. And although the Devil Leeches couldnt be killed or eradicated, Leonard was carrying a variety of items. If truly surrounded by leeches, at least the alchemy salt would be enough for him alone. Leonard sketched out countless possible situations in his mind. But no matter which, the current situation could hardly be considered a dead end for him. However, Leonard knew that the crisis wasnt limited to this; he pondered in his heart, What exactly do the White Family people want by sacrificing these souls? Just as this thought arose, an expected surprise occurred. Everyone watched as some ghosts-like spiritual bodies slowly materialized in the air. Although these spiritual bodies were oddly diverse, the most numerous were those resembling snakes, worms, foxes, and crows. Leonard had seen this scene before and murmured to himself, The White Familys Immortal Aegis Animals... Seeing this, he already understood the purpose of the sacrifice. As long as the incense burns, the Immortal Aegis Animals do not perish. The White Family used the souls of tens of thousands of people to re-condense the spirits of those Immortal Aegis Animals that had disappeared from this research institute. Looking at those floating spiritual bodies, Leonards eyes gradually became playful. The Immortal Aegis Animals the White Family worshipped during the Taron era had combat power that rivaled Gods and Demons. If one of those ancient Immortal Aegis Animals were to be awakened by the White Family descendants, things would become quite interesting... The people of the Thorny Snake Corps watched these illusions of Immortal Aegis Animals with distraught expressions. But at that moment, the trouble wasnt from those newly-condensed ancient Immortal Aegis Animals. At that moment, those numerous Devil Leeches in the water, having gorged on blood, began to emit a strange green glow. Under the gaping stares of Leonard and the other survivors, the green light converged, dozens of leeches merging into one larger leech, then hundreds into an even larger one... Chapter 989 - 989 304 Devil Leech and Corrupt Human ?Chapter 989: Chapter 304: Devil Leech and Corrupt Human Mushroom_4 Chapter 989: Chapter 304: Devil Leech and Corrupt Human Mushroom_4 It turns out these devil leeches could not only split but also merge! Even the surviving high-order card masters used all their tricks, but aside from hindering the monsters merging progress, they saw no possibility of killing it. In the blink of an eye, all the green light in the vast pool converged into one, transforming into a terror demon leech as massive as an aircraft carrier! Not even alchemy salt could prevent this, and even the fire dragon breath of Legion Commander Heman could only scorch it, without killing it. In nature, the size of a monster is often directly proportional to its combat power. The small devil leeches from before wouldnt even count as First Tier, but this Leech King before us already harbored a terrifying air that could crush anyone present. Black Widow Hester also had a very unsightly expression as she said solemnly, Abyssal Devil Leech Emperor, I never thought such mythical creatures truly existed! Heman asked beside her, Can it be killed? Thinking of the content recorded in the Ancient Book, Hesters murky eyes looked grave as she replied, This is the legendary Abyssal Immortal Clan. Once it evolves into a Leech King, even great dragons are helpless against it. It can split infinitely, merge infinitely; theoretically, as long as it has even a sliver of its body, it is undying... Heman then asked, So what do we do? Hester said, We can only wear it down slowly... But it has absorbed too much human blood. Im afraid we cant outlast it. She had only seen this legendary creature mentioned in fragments in ancient books and didnt fully understand it. With that, the expression on each high-order card masters face stiffened simultaneously. However, it was in the very moment of the groups exchange that the Devil Leech Emperor launched its attack first! From its body emerged countless glowing tentacles, just like a jellyfish. In an instant, the Devil Leech King was transformed into a giant caterpillar. Leonard Churchill felt goosebumps all over and a lethal sense of crisis at the sight of those tentacles. He didnt recognize this monster and had no idea what it was capable of. But that sense of death was as tangible as anything. The monster was so large, and as the Thorny Snake Corps and others unleashed various cards, flying chaotically and exploding with booming blasts, a series of whoosh sounds suddenly arose, making ones scalp tingle. Not good! Be careful! ... A few top-tier card masters seemed to have sensed something and tried to warn the others. But the creature was so large, its tentacles had already spread like tree roots across every corner of the second floor of the research facility. Although Leonard was sharp enough to sense the danger, he was entirely powerless to stop it! It was like the sudden downpours in summer; even if youre holding an umbrella, you cant completely stay dry. Seeing those glowing tentacles shooting toward him rapidly from all directions, Leonard tried to dodge but found nowhere to escape. Though he used his flying knives to cut off dozens of tentacles, in an instant, several more pierced through his body. These tentacles, like the previous devil leeches, also possessed the Breaking Strong attribute. Leonards body was easily penetrated C what more others? In that instant, along with the other survivors beside him, they were skewered like kebabs, forming a grim sight. The situation had changed so quickly that no one had any time to prepare. Not that preparation would have made any difference. Card masters below Sixth Tier were almost instantaneously annihilated. No solution! Leonard ran through all possible scenarios in his mind but didnt see any chance of survival. Looking at the tentacle piercing his wound, his expression was exceedingly serious. Although he had the Curse of Immortality, he wouldnt die for the time being. But what about after that? It was as he looked toward the Toad, planning to place his last hopes for breaking the situation on this anchor point, that something unexpected happened. From a ring on his right hand, a little blood-colored bat flew out. Leonard looked at it, his expression momentarily strange: Prosperity? A thought suddenly popped into his head. If the terror demon leechs only fatal method was bloodsucking, and the Artifact Spirit Prosperity of the God Stealer Ring also sucked blood... Which of the two was more formidable? Chapter 990 - 990 305 Aunt Jones Has a Great Figure ?Chapter 990: Chapter 305 Aunt Jones Has a Great Figure Chapter 990: Chapter 305 Aunt Jones Has a Great Figure Leonard Churchill, like candied hawthorn on a stick, was impaled upon the bioluminescent tentacles of the Abyssal Devil Leech Emperor. In that instant, he could clearly feel the weakness as if his arteries were slashed open and his blood was being sucked from his body with the force of a gushing well. He, like the adventurers around him, looked visibly withered, as though their bodies were deflating balloons. It seemed he would explode and die on the spot. However, just then, a turn of events occurred. Threads of crimson quietly wound around the wound on Leonards finger, instantly halting the violent outflow of blood. His heart filled with joy: It really works! Prosperity, the Ring Spirit, had absorbed the Divine Material of the Crimson Sect in the Divine Ruins Treasure House last time, and currently possessed the power of a Fifth or Sixth Tier card master at the level of the Law. Although it was certainly no match for the Leech King, who may have lived for an unknown amount of time, it was at least much stronger than a few tentacles. With his life no longer in immediate danger, Leonard was in no hurry to escape and thus remained suspended, a dead weight on the tentacle. Prosperity had activated bloodsucking mode, not only stopping the outflow of blood but also reversing it, drawing back a large amount of blood from those tentacles, nourishing Leonards gradually withered self. If Leonard wished, he could even instantly restore his body to its original state. But he didnt know if such actions would be noticed by the Leech King. So he dared not suck blood too conspicuously. He maintained his withered body in a state that was not quite dead and hung in mid-air. The Leech King, seemingly satisfied with capturing its prey, did not control any new tentacles to wrap around and kill. The play dead tactic was effective, and Leonard also heaved a huge sigh of relief. He then began to observe the environment around him. In the current situation, relying on Prosperity alone was completely insufficient for survival. Whoever won the current battle, whether it was one side or the other, it would not be good for Leonard. ... The tentacles of the Leech King covered the entire second floor of the research facility, attacking with the density of a torrential rain, leaving no possibility for evasion. In a very short period of time, card masters below the Sixth Tier were almost completely annihilated. And Heman, among other High-Order Card Masters, found themselves in a difficult battle. Those cloak-wearing individuals from the Holy Church finally revealed their abilities, as various exaggerated Dragon Language Spell Cards arced across the sky. Seeing these moves, Leonard silently felt relieved that he hadnt rashly exposed himself earlier. These were all high-tier card masters of the Red Dragon Kingdom, and their professional materials were mostly Fire Series Giant Dragons. The vast second floor of the research facility watched as one card master after another transformed into various forms of Red Dragons, their dragon roars echoing through the space, spitting Flame Dragon Breath that turned swathes of bioluminescent tentacles into ash. However, the Leech King had the ability to infinitely divide and merge, with a number of tentacles that seemed endless and invincible. The Flame Dragon Breath could only limit the spread of the tentacles but not solve the problem at its source. Heman and the other surviving card masters could barely protect themselves, but the body of the Leech King kept growing larger and clearly had the upper hand. Both sides were locked in a war of attrition. The emergency came very suddenly, and even Aragon inside the prison cart was caught off guard. He guessed that Leonard must be near the prison cart at this time, but wasnt sure which one. But as he watched those countless tentacles penetrate and hang hundreds of people on the prison cart, he thought to himself: This is bad. Just as he was thinking this, a shadow quietly slipped a card into the cart during the chaos, while a familiar voice by his ear said: This is the collar key, Lord Aragon, please be careful. The one who slipped in the card was Leonard. Now the Holy Churchs people were battling fiercely with the Leech King, which gave him the fleeting chance to reach the Toad. Seeing this, Aragon responded in astonishment: What about you... how are you? He never expected that, in such a desperate situation, Leonard didnt forget his promise and was trying to save him. I cant die yet. Leonards body was still impaled on tentacles as he quickly added, By the way, why havent those tentacles attacked you? He had also noticed that while the tentacles had pierced everyone hanging on the sides of the iron cage, they seemed to spare the Toad inside. Aragon was equally puzzled and replied: I dont know either. Its probably because of my Bloodline Curse. ... Leonard heard this and felt rather solemn. His previous judgment wasnt wrong: Heroes probably cant die. But that cant be said for others. Leonard suspected that the tentacles didnt attack Aragon because of the Bloodline Curse, but he didnt have that kind of thing. That escape plan was also ruled out. As he was considering, Aragon, also knowing the urgency, directly proposed the only way he could think of to save Leonards life, saying: If you can get into the prison cart, I can temporarily swallow you. That should avoid the Leech Kings attack. But... No need for now. Leonard knew what he was about to say and immediately denied the plan. If he was swallowed by the Toad, he would probably avoid the tentacles. But by doing so, the members of the Thorny Snake Corps would immediately notice his relationship with the Toad and become alert. Even if he avoided the Leech King, the threat of the Thorny Snake Corps was no less than the monsters. Unless it was absolutely necessary, Leonard didnt think it was a good choice. ... Having successfully handed over the collar key, Leonard had completed one mission. His eyes scanned the entire space. The bioluminescent tentacles of the Leech King had already covered the entire second floor of the research facility, with no safe place to hide. His gaze swept around several times, finally resting on the Central Control Room with its tightly shut door. At the moment, it seemed to be the only safe place in the entire research facility. As long as he could get inside, he could avoid the Leech King, and even the Seventh Tier card masters would not be able to touch him. Chapter 991 - 991 305 Aunt Jones Has a Great Figure_2 ?Chapter 991: Chapter 305 Aunt Jones Has a Great Figure_2 Chapter 991: Chapter 305 Aunt Jones Has a Great Figure_2 Although it might mean being sealed inside, it was already the best and only option. Given the current situation, the Leech King was more likely to kill those people from the Thorny Snake Corps. Even if the people from the Red Dragon Legion truly had an ace up their sleeve and managed to kill the Leech King, theyd inevitably suspect something was amiss with Leonard Churchill when they found him alive. Staying outside meant certain death. And there was another hidden threat. The people from the White Family who were meddling behind the scenes had not shown themselves yet. The illusions of the Immortal Aegis Animals in the Void were becoming clearer, and Leonard Churchill did not believe the White Family would allow them, the outsiders, to live. All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Among the few choices Leonard Churchill had deduced, heading to the Central Control Room actually seemed to be the least risky at the moment. Moreover, he always felt that there might be something very important related to this research facility inside that room. However, how to open it was another problem. .... The lockpicking expert had already confirmed that there was virtually no chance of picking the door lock with its technological security measures. To open it, one would need specific items of authority from inside the research facility. And the most important reason Leonard Churchill dared to consider this plan was that he had the God Stealer Ring, a special item. This DP-955 Research Institute was a secret base of the White Family, so the access rights should be related to the White Family. As it happened, the God-stealing Ring in Leonard Churchills hand was a supreme treasure that only the head of the White Family could possess thousands of years ago. Theoretically, the ring held high authority. Perhaps it was worth a try? Opportunity was fleeting. With this thought, Leonard Churchill immediately put it into practice. Just then, the people from the Thorny Snake Corps in the distance also noticed that the Toad in the iron cage was not being attacked by the tentacles and all converged towards it. They probably also wanted to find out why the tentacles did not attack the Toad, seeking a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough. Who knows who it was that spewed a breath of Dragon Flame to burn away a large section of the fluorescent tentacles on the ceiling above the iron cage. Leonard Churchill and a large number of bodies fell into the water. His thoughts were running at top speed. He dared not reveal that he was still alive, and as he fell into the water, he drifted along with the battle shockwaves. He then precisely used his Gang Air to change the direction of the water flow, avoiding the battlefield area. Soon, Leonard Churchill was washed near the Central Control Room without much danger. Tentacles glowing all around could sense organic life forms. However, the life signs of Leonard Churchills grievously injured body were very weak, attracting few of the tentacles. With Prosperitys bloodsucking to preserve his life, it wasnt a big problem. Shadows, being pure elemental bodies, would not be bound by the tentacles at all. Leonard Churchill dared not expose his real body to open the door. He controlled the Shadow holding the God Stealer Ring, weaving through the gaps between the tentacles and carefully approached the door of the Central Control Room a dozen meters away. Finally, the Shadow neared the door and placed the ring on the identity verification area of the password lock. Leonard Churchills gaze was piercing as he watched the complex and ancient door before him. At that moment, his breathing seemed to freeze. Suddenly, he saw the mysterious Curse symbols on the security system light up. The door is open! Leonard Churchill was overjoyed. As he had surmised, the ring held high authority! It was the surprise he had expected. But the crisis was far from over. In fact, it became even more perilous! Nearly at the same time, almost everyone on the second floor of the research institute noticed the Restriction was opened. Thinking this, Leonard Churchill did not hesitate to condense his Curse Power. The green healing light of the Undying Curse wrapped around his body, instantly restoring his physical condition. At the same time, with a pop sound, He stepped into the air and charged toward the alloy door that had just cracked open. Leonard Churchill was keenly aware that now was the most critical moment for life or death. Milliseconds were a matter of life and death! At almost the same instant, the tentacles nearby reflexively detected the surging life force erupting from within him and pierced through like lightning. However, with the distraction of Heman and other Sixth and Seventh Tier card masters drawing their firepower, the center of the battlefield was no longer on his side. Leonard Churchills control was as precise as a scalpel, severing those hundred or so tentacles. Before other tentacles could surround him and just a step away from rushing through the door, Leonard Churchill felt an increasingly bad sense of foreboding as he approached the final moment. His sense of Intention clearly detected several Killing Intentions, as tangible as physical gazes, locking onto himself. ... A Seventh Tier card masters perception was extremely sharp, and Leonard Churchill did not believe his previous subtle movements could have completely eluded those characters. At least the Voodoo Master Black Widow Hester hadnt been fooled! The Plague Doctor Sequence card masters have a more sensitive perception of life forces. From the start, she had detected that there was a life hanging by a thread in the water. At that time, the old woman had never imagined that the person close to death was actually an East Wilderness spy so deeply concealed. Leonard Churchills sudden outburst was also a shock to Hester. Heman and others who had transformed into their Great Dragon state and were breathing fire everywhere were shocked as well, but the distance was too far to prevent anything. But Hester was a Spellcaster Card Master. She reacted the fastest, and her methods of attack had the longest reach. Watching Leonard Churchill burst up, she instantly played a card engraved with a Curse, and a streak of Dark light shot towards him. In the corner of his eye, Leonard Churchill saw the flash of black light, recognizing the origin of the Spell and muttered grimly to himself, Sixth Tier arcane, Dark Devouring Voodoo Beam! The potency of this Curse was not particularly strong among those of the Same Tier. But its advantage lay in its extreme speed! And the old witch had predicted Leonard Churchills path towards the door; as the card disintegrated, the Spell hit its mark almost instantaneously. Chapter 992 - 992 305 Aunt Jones Has a Great Figure_3 ?Chapter 992: Chapter 305 Aunt Jones Has a Great Figure_3 Chapter 992: Chapter 305 Aunt Jones Has a Great Figure_3 Leonard Churchill knew he couldnt avoid it, but he tried his best to dodge the vital points. The streak of dark light also dangerously grazed past his heart. The next second, with a thud, a disheveled figure tumbled into the room. Simultaneously, the streaking shadow immediately closed the door. Outside, Heman and the others watched the door close and their expressions changed in unison, Damn it! This Central Control Room was also what they believed to be the only safe place in the research facility. Now, the light of hope that had briefly flared up was extinguished once again. ... Listening to the crisp sound of the door closing, Leonard Churchill finally let out a sigh of relief, murmuring to himself, Finally, I am still alive... But before he could catch his breath, he looked down at the wound in the center of his chest, his eyebrows furrowing. A Sixth Tier spell had crushed two entire tiers at the law level, and the fiery burning sensation at the wound was incessant. Even the healing of the Curse of Immortality couldnt completely prevent the spell from corroding his body. Seeing this, Leonard Churchill quickly took out a High Tier potion from his Storage Ring and poured it over the bloody hole. Sizzle... As the potion fell on the wound, it fizzled, emitting white smoke. The intense pain made Leonard Churchill draw a sharp breath, Such a vile curse. Being hit by a Sixth Tier curse for the first time, he experienced the overpowering damage of high-tier laws to the body. Fortunately, his physical strength was strong enough. Otherwise, if it were any other Fourth Tier card master, they would have died for sure from this curse attack, even if it hadnt hit a vital point. Even so, it would probably cost him a lot of his lifespan to recover from such an injury. While treating his wound, Leonard Churchill also took the time to observe the enclosed room. As he had expected, this was indeed the Central Control Room of the research facility. First reaction, no monsters. Only then did Leonard Churchill truly feel at ease. However, before he had time to observe more, he suddenly felt a swelling sensation on his shoulder, as if something was about to burst through his skin. Huh? Leonard Churchills eyebrows rose. He was no longer unfamiliar with this feeling. He guessed it was probably because his recent state had been on the verge of death, which seemingly triggered some kind of stress response from the Secret Fetus Parasitic Technique. Sophia Jones, who was parasitizing his body, was about to come out. As Leonard Churchill thought this, a hint of relief even spilled from his eyes: The timing was just right. If she had come out a bit earlier, even if Sophia Jones was much stronger than him, under those circumstances, she likely wouldnt have survived. As he thought this, the expected scene unfolded. Leonard Churchill caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye as the skin on his shoulder bulged into the shape of a hand, struggling to break free. In a blink of an eye, he watched as a smooth arm emerged from his shoulder. Then came a head and torso, and finally those slender, beautiful legs... In an instant, Sophia Jones appeared before him. Although a lot of her life force had been drained, in comparison to the injuries, it was not a major problem. Leonard Churchill leaned against the wall, lying weakly with a curve on his lips, observing with interest the person who appeared out of thin air before him. The Secret Fetus Parasitic Technique involved fleshly possession, completely without anything external. The enchanting figure of Sophia Jones was exposed to the air. Although she was protected by Holy Light Armor, one could still vaguely discern her graceful form. As soon as she emerged, Sophia Jones quickly glanced around with piercing eyes, and only after confirming the safety of their environment did the stern look on her face subside. She looked at Leonard Churchill and immediately asked, What happened? How did you get injured like this? Her memory still lingered at the time they met in the marshes, assuming that it was because of her that Leonard Churchill had been chased and harmed to this extent. She felt full of guilt. Leonard Churchill knew what she was thinking and, shrugging his shoulders, said with a somewhat helpless tone, Its not what youre thinking... but, I might have brought you into an even worse situation... He described what had happened using the shortest possible words. .... After a moment, Leonard Churchill finished recounting and said with a slightly helpless tone, So, the situation now is that theres a big battle going on outside, and we might be trapped here... What? Sophia Joness expression grew increasingly strange as she listened. Leonard Churchill had once saved her life. Of course, she wouldnt feel dragged down by the current situation. What Sophia Jones found strange was: How was this guy still alive? Just hearing about several Seventh Tier beings outside, along with the Holy Church and a Leech King of unknown strength, the Abyssal Devil Leech Emperor... In such a scenario, even she didnt think she would have survived. And yet, Leonard Churchill had managed to live? The more she heard, the more inconceivable it seemed. However, remembering that since their first acquaintance, his way of doing things had always been like this, Sophia Jones understood. Her thoughts shifted quickly, and she pieced together the cause and effect of the situation, So, was I ambushed by the White Family? Leonard Churchill nodded, Most likely. Although he hadnt yet seen anyone from the White Family, various signs had proven his deductions. I see... Upon hearing this, Sophia Jones finally understood that the ambush and encirclement of herself and the members of the Revolutionary Army were no accident, but a calculation by others. No wonder she had felt something amiss. Remembering this, a cold light flashed in her eyes. But because she had learned the truth, Sophia Jones looked at Leonard Churchill with even greater astonishment. She had also noticed his meticulous and outrageous deductive ability. She hadnt even noticed the presence of people from the White Family, yet this guy had figured it out? Sophia Jones had seen this ability before and knew that Leonard Churchill was acquainted with the Pursuer of Light, so she directly asked, Did you learn I am the world? Chapter 993 - 993 305 ?Chapter 993: 305 Chapter 993: 305 Leonard Churchill gave a noncommittal laugh, I can barely say Ive started... ... Sophia Joness eyes flickered with surprise as she listened and felt reassured. She was truly impressive... She had watched Leonard Churchill growing up step by step, and that made her even more emotional. The room in the Central Control Room wasnt large, the door was shut tight, and there was no longer a sense of urgency. Sophias injuries were already serious, and once her vigilance relaxed, her vitality and blood suddenly surged in chaos. She couldnt even maintain the Domain Armor of the Descending Gods, and the Holy Light around her body dissipated instantly, fully exposing her stunning figure to the air. Leonard blinked. Before him was a body that exuded a mature charm, breathtakingly beautiful. Peachy peaks were full and clearly heavy, yet not showing any sign of sagging. Proudly standing erect. His gaze naturally traveled downward; her skin was delicate and fair, her thighs and buttocks round and firm, possessing the softness of a woman and also the explosive power of robust combat power... The slight lingering Holy Light on her skin made her look like a goddess had descended, adding an aura of transcendent beauty. Although it wasnt the first time he had seen her like this, Leonards gaze lingered appreciatively for a natural extra moment. Sophia was aware of his gaze but didnt show any unusual reaction, remaining composed. She didnt feel offended, nor did she feel uncomfortable being naked. It was not just because she had already been seen naked by him once during a bet at the Flood Gang long ago. More importantly, her relationship with Leonard was no longer that of strangers. Not only did they share a life-and-death kinship; they had the responsibilities entrusted by the Old Ancestor Vera Williams of the White Family; there was also the fate contract made when Leonard entrusted the Secret Box from the White Family ancestor to her... Sophia didnt see any need to be restrained by such small formalities, and it didnt weigh on her mind at all. This feeling was mutual; Leonard held deep respect and admiration from the bottom of his heart for Aunt Jones, who had helped him many times. His appreciation was for the aesthetic of beauty. There was not a trace of disrespectful intentions. He could even look at her and very calmly say, Aunt Jones has a great figure. It didnt bother Sophia to be looked at a few times more, but she still felt this guy ought to restrain himself a bit. Hearing the compliment, she glared at Leonard mildly and asked, Arent you going to help me find some clothes instead of just looking? Previously, in order to escape being tracked, she had discarded all her possessions, including the Storage Ring. Now she had nothing on her. Leonard laughed, Of course. In his Storage Ring, he always had an array of disguises and clothing for various occasions, and he found some womens clothing that fit and handed it over. Sophia put on the clothes, and the charming spring view was concealed. The two of them then started to talk about serious matters. Sophia said, Going by what youve said, I might know why the White Family sacrificed so many people... Oh? Upon hearing this, Leonard also looked at her with an inquisitive gaze. After all, in order to find a way to break the situation, the most important thing was to know what the enemy truly intended to do. Now, the motives of the White Family had become the biggest obstacle in his deductions. Sophia Jones thought of something, her eyes misty as she spoke in a deep voice, The people from the White Family are most likely here to find the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals, one of the three supreme treasures of the Taron era. As she spoke, she paused, then revealed the reason, The reason I came to find this relic was also to search for the exclusive supreme treasure of the God Stealer sequence. ... Leonard Churchill listened, deep in thought. The Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals? Just by the name, it was clear that it was a formidable treasure. Sophia continued, This relic is also one of the Secret Tombs of the Taron White Family. This place was once used for fostering the Immortal Aegis Animals. After the Great Catastrophe that led to the fall of the empire, those Immortal Aegis Animals dissipated... Moreover, the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals, apart from nurturing the Immortal Aegis Animals, can also preserve their remains, even if only a wisp of spirit remains. The people from the White Family sacrificed those tens of thousands of adventurers from the Southern Continent in hopes of rekindling the ancestral fire and see if they could allow the ancient Immortal Aegis Animals that dissipated here to recondense their immortal bodies... So that was it. Hearing this, Leonards eyes narrowed slightly. He had deduced this possibility before. But having it confirmed by Sophia, he also felt that the situation was somehow more outrageous than he had anticipated. After exchanging glances, Sophia also voiced some of Leonards current thoughts, The God Stealer sequence is very special, and the Taron White Family once had not just one God Tier Ancestral Spirit Immortal Aegis. Even if only a dead spirit is condensed this time, with sufficient future ancestral worship, it could still possibly recover its former combat power... Leonards eyes twitched involuntarily. Noah Wright had said before that the power of the White Family might be the greatest among the Federations five major Senators. Now it seemed... it was far beyond the other four. If the White Family were to find the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals and gain recognition from those ancient Immortal Aegis Animals, coupled with the ancient inheritance, their power would skyrocket... it was unimaginable. That was the meaning of heritage. Leonard felt deeply moved, No wonder... Their conversation had finally made clear to him the confidence behind the plan set by the White Family. After the sacrifice and gaining the recognition of the ancient Immortal Aegis Animals, it might not be something a few Tier 7s could stop. Accordingly, the situation for Sophia and Leonard was definitely not good. For now, the presence of the Leech King and Heman and his people was holding things back, so it was not a concern. But if the White Family were to free up their hands, even with Sophia here, the chance of survival for the two of them was extremely low. Sophia, standing beside him, clearly guessed Leonards thoughts, However, its not entirely hopeless. The White Family probably doesnt have a Tier 7 yet, so for me, the threat isnt too great. As she spoke, she glanced at Leonard, then continued, Moreover, I am here for the same reasonto find the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals. They could gain the recognition of the Immortal Aegis Animals, and with my White Family bloodline, I can as well. If I can gain the recognition of some Ancestral Spirit Immortal Aegis, our situation would improve considerably... Hmm. Leonard listened and nodded, his thoughts already whirling. This conversation suddenly gave him hope of breaking through an otherwise hopeless situation. Sophia had received the inheritance of the White Family Ancestor, so her strength and talent were exceptional. Truly speaking, she had more right than any other member of the White Family to gain recognition from the ancient Immortal Aegis Animals. There might still be a possibility of turning the tables. But currently, the trouble for Sophia and Leonard was figuring out how to resolve the awkward situation of being trapped here. With this in mind, Leonard turned his gaze to the Central Control Room they were in. Aside from some instruments, there were also a large number of file cabinets. His intuition told him that this room, which had been unvisited for thousands of years, might contain the most important truths of the entire research facility. Chapter 994 - 994 306 The Accident That Once Happened at the ?Chapter 994: Chapter 306: The Accident That Once Happened at the Research Institute Chapter 994: Chapter 306: The Accident That Once Happened at the Research Institute With Sophia Jones, that legend, helping to counteract the curses erosion of the Law, Leonard Churchills injuries, which originally required a great sacrifice to suppress, were handled in no time. With their lives no longer in danger, the two began searching for clues in the Central Control Room. Thousands of years had passed, yet the light from the alchemy lamps on the rooms walls remained as bright as ever. Each metal filing cabinet looked as new as it did originally. Leonard Churchill had previously noticed a crystal ball in the most eye-catching position in the room. It looked like some sort of magic energy black technology. Leonard theorized that such a device would likely require special access to activate. As it happened, he possessed a God Stealer Ring, and Sophia Jones was of the White Family bloodline. The two of them met all the access requirements needed for this research facility. However, the instrument was several thousand years old, and they werent holding out much hope that it would work. After some tinkering, they gained access with the ring and performed bloodline authentication, before replacing the powdery stones in the energy tank with a few energy barytes... To their surprise, the magic energy device was actually triggered! ... Huh, its actually still intact? As he watched the Crystal Ball slowly light up, Leonard, amazed, had already guessed what it was. Sophia also found it very novel, as this type of ancient magic energy device was not seen anymore. Both of them stared at the Crystal Ball, which slowly began to display images. It was a patch of green fluorescence, resembling aquatic plants. Sophia had not yet understood what the image was, but Leonard could not be more familiar: Is this a live feed from the second floor of the research facility? It seemed he was right; it was an Image Crystal Ball. In other words, it was a surveillance device in this world. With that reminder, Sophia also realized that the fluorescent seaweed were in fact the tentacles of a monster. But it was precisely because she recognized them that she gave Leonard a more surprised look, saying, You just survived an attack from that monster? Seeing the actual creature, she truly grasped how terrifying the Leech King mentioned by Leonard was. Just its size alone was enough to make one gasp. Yeah. That creature is quite troublesome; it can break through strong defenses, pierce armor, and suck blood... Leonard nodded and gave a brief introduction. But this wasnt the time to discuss it. He looked at the images in the Crystal Ball, his gaze growing more serious as if hed noticed something unusual. Sophia saw something at the same time and spoke up, Did those people from the Southern Continent escape? Or were they killed? A hint of confusion also appeared on Leonards face, They probably werent killed. In the Crystal Ball, they could see the Leech King, but no signs of a battle. It had not been long since the encounter, and given the combat power of Hemans group of seven tiers, even if they were outmatched, they wouldnt have been killed off so quickly. A more reasonable explanation was, they either escaped; or they had used some special Relic to hide their tracks, avoiding detection by the Leech Kings attacks. With thoughts racing, a deep look flashed across Leonards eyes. Suddenly looking at his chest wound, which was still not completely healed, he realized a deeper plan and murmured to himself, I see. So thats what those guys from the Southern Continent were planning... Sophia couldnt keep up with his train of thought and looked at him questioningly, Hmm? Leonards eyes shifted, and his mind was already racing with the epiphany he had just had. A look of certainty crossed his face as he explained, If nothing goes wrong, Ive probably been marked... With that, Sophia immediately understood what he meant and replied, That old woman of the seventh tier is indeed skilled at marking and tracking. I was locked onto by her and couldnt escape before. Yes. That was exactly what Leonard meant. The Black Widow Hesters strike with her spell had indeed been a two-pronged approach. If they had killed him, they could have taken the opportunity to enter this Central Control Room. If they didnt, the mark was their contingency. But Leonard was not only unbothered about being marked by the enemy; instead, a bold plan quickly formed in his mind. A contemptuous smirk for his adversaries appeared on Leonards lips, as he mused, If things are as expected, at this moment, those people are likely waiting somewhere for me to lead them... Now it seemed that Heman and his people had always had a way to escape from the second floor of the facility. They had been stubbornly holding out before, just to find the jar. After all, from what they knew, they were certain that they werent the only ones in these relics. There was also an unknown enemy. Leonard surmised that Hemans group must have thought he was an agent for the behind-the-scenes schemer. After all, he had opened the door to this room very easily in front of everyone. If he himself wasnt an insider, he wouldnt believe it either. So, Hemans group must have also been worried that the jar would be taken away quietly by someone else and had no choice but to stand their ground. But now that the prey had been marked, they had a better option. Pretend to retreat, wait for the outsiders to really get the jar, and then strike unexpectedly to reap the rewards. ... Observing Leonards composed expression, Sophia already guessed he had a plan for dealing with the situation and asked, So, what do you plan to do? Leonard replied, Earlier, I carefully observed that among those people from the Holy Church, some used cards that seemed to employ the Space Law. If those people have already left the second floor of the research facility, its highly likely they controlled some kind of Space Law... Chapter 995 - 995 306 The Accident That Once Happened at the ?Chapter 995: Chapter 306: The Accident That Once Happened at the Research Institute Part 2 Chapter 995: Chapter 306: The Accident That Once Happened at the Research Institute Part 2 Spatial Spells, eh... Sophia Jones expression grew grave upon hearing this. Space Law is a high-level law. Once mastered, that ability becomes very troublesome. If it came down to a direct confrontation, she feared she wouldnt stand a chance of escaping with her life. However, Leonard Churchills expression wasnt nearly as pessimistic. He added, But they dont have the ability to enter this room, which means the restrictions of this room surpass their spatial displacement ability. Its highly likely they are clueless about whats happening in here right now. So neither the White Family nor those from the Southern Continent know about your existence, Aunt Jones. This is an advantage we can use... Hmm. Sophia Jones nodded. Despite what was said, with her current strength and her injuries, the situation was still far from optimistic. Before she could say anything, Leonards gaze suddenly became sharp, and he changed the subject, I have a plan. At this point, Sophia had already guessed what it was, and shot back, Youre planning to lead the disaster away? Leonards eyes held an unfathomable depth as he nodded, Yes. Neither of them had a chance of winning against either the White Family or the people from the Southern Continent at the moment. The ideal scenario would be for the two opposing sides to fight each other to death. But neither side was foolish. And the White Family definitely didnt want to confront those from the Southern Continent head-on. Thus, what was needed was a fuse to bring both sides together. As it happened, Leonard had been marked. Once he stepped out of this room, he would surely be detected. Understanding Leonards plan, Sophias expression remained bleak. The plan sounded simple. But the difficulty was in the execution and the risks involved. Even she felt there was little chance of survival if she were to undertake it. Sophia looked at Leonard and said candidly, But... its very dangerous. If they couldnt survive, then any plan was meaningless. Leonard shook his head, a confident smile appearing on his lips, No. It seems dangerous, but its not. Whichever side catches me, they will surely be curious about the information I possess. So, they definitely wont kill me right away. And only by making this choice do we stand the greatest chance... The more desperate the situation, the more stimulated his brain became, with a dozen versions of himself inside his mind helping him strategize. He was now in a very peculiar state. The threads of potential futures he had deduced were playing out as clearly as the past before his eyes. It was a solid certainty of predicting the outcomes far into the event horizon. Thinking of something, Leonard added, The fact that the White Family found this place indicates that they have inherited some information about this research facility. Since theyve started the sacrifice, they have most likely already found the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals by now. If we dont do something, the opportunity will truly be missed... You... Upon hearing this, Sophia looked at Leonard, hesitated for a moment, and found herself at a loss for words. After exchanging ideas, she realized that Leonard had actually thought everything through, even more thoroughly than she had. Suddenly, Sophia felt a mysterious weight lifted off her. Although they were two tiers apart, she sincerely acknowledged that he was a truly reliable teammate. As she felt relief and reassurance, she couldnt help but remark in admiration, The power of I am the world is as troublesome as the legends said... She had never fought with a Pursuer of Light before. But now, she was witnessing it on Leonard. Such meticulous thinking, forecasting nearly every possible future scenario. Without fighting, he had already gained a measure of pre-emptive advantage. ... In the crystal ball, the Leech King, having lost its target, had quieted down. It was still absorbing nutrients from those bodies. The Central Control Room was very safe, and Leonard and Sophia had a moment of peace to rest and recover. While discussing the next steps of their plan, they were sorting through the documents in the filing cabinets. The technological civilization of the Taren Dynasty was very advanced; despite thousands of years passing, everything in the room was well preserved. Here, Leonard found what he needed. He learned what had happened in this research facility from those files. File #001, the institute has contained a leaked top-grade contamination. Involving a high-level Outer God, classified as SSS secret, no independent access permitted; starting sealing and containment attempts... File #079, the third containment protocol failed, confirmed as high-level compound Plague Law contamination... attempting to activate the backup plan, while using the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals to burn Divine Power and weaken the contamination... File #1089, a minor leak occurred in the laboratory, Outer God attempted to contaminate and escape, level one alert, isolation and eradication... File #2213, the Tombkeepers from the Rune Highlands have discovered the mythic species Abyss Devil Leech Emperor, now extinct, a major surprise. Using the monsters property of absorbing out-of-control plague contamination from biological bodies, weve effectively suppressed the spread of the disease, allowing our test subjects to survive longer; record as follows... File #2279, preliminary research on a related plague potion, named Hope Potion. However, the potion can only cure the plague to a certain degree and cant cut off the contamination. The Outer God cannot be killed, and our power is insufficient to re-seal it; it will always exist. Spirit Communicators came up with a new plan, much like how Immortal Aegis Animals choose an Accompanied Card Master, humans could become vessels for Outer Gods, potentially containing the Contamination Source for a finite lifespan. Alas, the odds of finding one who can withstand the contamination are very slim... Chapter 996 - 996 306 The Accident That Once Happened at the ?Chapter 996: Chapter 306: The Accident That Once Happened at the Research Institute Part 3 Chapter 996: Chapter 306: The Accident That Once Happened at the Research Institute Part 3 File number #3001, experiments confirm that Holy Knights, Heroes, and Plague Doctors all demonstrate strong resistance to contamination...natural super antibodies to plague discovered in experimental subjects... The research facility was attacked, the Central Control Room automatically locked down, data archived... ... In the room, only the sound of swish, swish, swish page-turning could be heard. Behind him, a Clown Illusion appeared, endowed with Enlightenment, his brain operating at its limit. Leonard Churchills eyes quivered rapidly as he flipped through the pages at high speed. Wherever his gaze landed, the lines of text on the documents in front of him seemed to be photocopied into his mind. These files, even within the White Family famous for their communication with gods thousands of years ago, were of the utmost confidentiality. They involved too many high-end secrets. Leonard did not look at those obscure and complex research materials. He was more focused on what exactly had happened in this research facility. Meanwhile, Sophia Jones also glanced sideways. She had originally intended to help search for information together. But witnessing this scene, Sophia felt there was no need for her to interject. The efficiency of his perusal, ten times her own, filled her with covert admiration. However, she did not disturb him. Even so that Leonard could browse more efficiently, she thoughtfully took the documents out of the cabinets and stacked them neatly within his easy reach. Leonard surveyed dozens of lines at a glance, completely absorbed. Soon, the documents piled up around him like a small mountain. Only then did he realize that there truly was a Pottery Jar within the DP-955 Research Institute. And that Leech King outside was a creature meant to filter out the contamination leakage from the Plague Master. However, compared to some of the expected intelligence, Leonard was more interested in catching certain keywords within the details. For example: the Leech King was discovered by a Tombkeeper in the Rune Highlands. The Rune Highlands, he had heard of this place before. Leonard recalled the map he had obtained from the Waren City Rebel Camp, which pointed to somewhere within this area. And the title Tombkeeper was also quite special. Only the highest nobility would have a family of the era appointed as Tombkeepers to guard their tombs. Considering the various relics unearthed in the Old Continent, the Taren Dynastys latter period saw a considerable number of nobility and thus a large amount of large-scale tombs. So, it was not strange for there to be a tomb in the Rune Highlands. Reading that line, an instinctive guess arose in Leonards mind, So... is there an important tomb in the Rune Highlands? This seemed like yet another disconnected piece of information. But Leonard thought of what Noah Wright had said before: every fragment in this world has meaning. Just like shards of porcelain buried in the soil. In the eyes of ordinary people, they are just useless fragments. But to historians, those porcelain shards are symbolic of countless pieces of information, such as the economy, technology level, scientific advancements, population distributions, climate... and so on. If there are enough fragments, even without seeing the complete picture, one can glimpse the historical truths buried by time. Drawing connections between various pieces of intelligence, Leonard suddenly had a guess: Could it be that Augustuss royal tomb is on the Rune Highlands? This thought flashed by. Leonard memorized it. Right now, he had other things to focus on. No wonder Aragons ancestor didnt die after contracting the plague, turns out the Hero class truly has natural resistance to plague... The Hope Potion can solve over ninety percent of the plague? If so, it seems like the issue isnt too serious. Using a human body as a vessel for an Ancient Gods seal? Hisss... How strong would a card master have to be to integrate the power of an Ancient God? And this plan was almost completed in research? The ancestors of the White Family really were formidable... ... As time passed, the information in Leonards mind became clearer and clearer. He soon had basically figured out what exactly had happened at this relic site. Simply put, a jar leaking contamination was sent here from the secret research institute. Then the people of the White Family began to work on researching sealing and cure solutions. They experimented countless times, over a very long span of time. In the end, due to some unknown incident, the control room was sealed off, and the archives suddenly went silent. ... There is a vast amount of data in this Central Control Room. Leonard Churchill didnt bother looking at the research data, which made up over ninety percent of it. It took him nearly an hour, but he had almost finished going through it all. No wonder they created such a special room. It was evident that the people of the White Family knew that the plague couldnt possibly be eradicated and wanted to preserve this valuable research data. Phew... Finally, Leonard Churchill finished reading the last piece of data and placed it beside him, exhaling a long breath of relief. Seeing his relieved expression, Sophia Joness eyes showed a trace of expectation. It was then that she spoke up, curiously asking, Have you found anything? Leonard Churchills demeanor had completely relaxed, and he revealed a wide grin as he replied, This research institute doesnt have many secrets left from me... Sophia Jones: Oh? Leonard Churchill accurately picked out a few blueprints from the pile of documents, pointing to the densely packed schematic, This is the design plan for the institute. It includes an emergency escape route. We can use this passage to leave the institute and also avoid the Leech King outside... Hearing this, a look of surprise appeared on Sophia Joness pretty face: We can get out? Although her combat power was not to be underestimated, she didnt understand everything. Especially these obviously encrypted, intricate design plans. Yes. Leonard Churchill nodded, adding, But leaving now is not a good choice. I plan to take a trip to the third floor first. Indeed. He had previously speculated that this research institute had not only a first and second floor but also a third floor. Which is where the jar was sealed! He hadnt found how to get there before, but the institutes design plan he had just discovered pointed precisely to a space over a thousand meters underground. After pondering for a moment, Leonard Churchill said, If Im not mistaken, the people of the White Family should be there right now. And considering the way the Immortal Aegis Animals are gathering outside, the sacrifice ritual must be complete. They are likely offering the sacrifice, waiting for recognition from the Immortal Aegis Animals. This is the best opportunity... Leonard Churchill had previously been unsure how much time the White Familys offering ritual would take... But with Sophia Jones, the insider, explaining, the actions of those from the White Family were no longer unknown guesses in his eyes. ... Sophia Jones listened with a solemn expression. She knew that Leonard Churchills actions were not just about stopping the people of the White Family from gaining the inheritance. Most importantly, even if the two of them were to leave now, they would surely be intercepted and killed by those from the Southern Continent. Only by leading disaster elsewhere would there be a path to survival. With this thought, she decisively said, Okay! Ill go with you! Sophia Jones knew the journey would be perilous. But even if it meant facing death, she absolutely would not let Leonard Churchill bear it alone. Upon hearing her words, Leonard Churchill shook his head, mysteriously smiling, The Fox Immortal of the White Family is cunning... It was them who leaked the information before, leading the people of the Southern Continent to ambush you, Aunt Jones. They must also know that someone came to your rescue later and even deduced your hiding method. If I show up before them, they might guess you are residing in my body... Taking another breath, he looked at Sophia Jones and said, Therefore, if you truly accompany me below, you will definitely be restrained. Sophia Jones also furrowed her brows, listening intently. Upon further thought, his words made sense. The more she understood the capabilities of the God Stealer sequence, the clearer it became that the methods of the White Family were not to be underestimated. But if she did not use the Secret Fetus Parasitic Technique, both the White Family and those from the Southern Continent would discover her. A direct confrontation would surely not be advantageous. She understood the logic and could not think of a better method, so she directly asked, Then what should we do? Chapter 997 - 997 307 Immortal Laws Secret Scroll ?Chapter 997: Chapter 307 [Immortal Laws Secret Scroll] Chapter 997: Chapter 307 [Immortal Laws Secret Scroll] Leonard Churchill directly asked, Aunt Jones, what are the conditions needed to gain the recognition of an Immortal Aegis Animal? Whether Sophia Jones could be recognized by a Super Tier Immortal Aegis Animal was the most crucial key to determining if the two of them could ultimately survive. In order to prevent any mistakes in his plan, Leonard Churchill needed as much accurate information as possible. He also wanted to deduce whether he could find more opportunities within the information. Upon hearing this, Sophia Jones replied, Generally, there are two methods. The first is to contract with an Accompanied Immortal Aegis Animal from a young age. In such cases, it usually depends on Bloodline Talent, as the Immortal Aegis Animals autonomously select hosts that they are compatible with; the second is to contract with a suitable Immortal Aegis Animal later in life. Besides Bloodline Talent and the abilities of the God Stealer Sequence, whats most important is the Immortal Aegis Animals recognition of the card masters own talent. After all, the cultivation of an Immortal Aegis Animal is directly related to its host. The higher the potential, the more likely it is to be acknowledged by a High Tier Immortal Aegis Animal. Of course, there are also... some sacrificial offerings. Contracting with Immortal Aegis Animals is similar to subduing a Demon Beast to serve as a combat companion. If one lacks absolute strength, it cannot possibly be subdued. The God Stealer Sequence of the White Family is rather special, as it pertains to the bloodlines incense and fire offerings. They have not only the accompanied contracts with the Immortal Aegis Animals but also a symbiotic relationship that allows for mutual growth. Leonard Churchill, thoughtful, latched onto a key word: Sacrificial offerings? Yes. After thinking, Sophia Jones continued to explain, Sacrificial offerings are generally not too important, yet they are critical. Well... its somewhat like bait for fishing. You need to present the right offerings for the Immortal Aegis Animals to be interested in showing themselves. However... As she spoke, she looked over. Leonard Churchill also understood that look. Previously, in order to save her life and escape, Sophia Jones had discarded all her belongings, so naturally, she had none of the prepared offerings left. If they really needed offerings, they only had Leonard Churchill to turn to. Leonard Churchill never considered this a problem. He would not hesitate as long as he could provide it. This was also the only area where he thought he could be of help. He directly asked, What is needed for the offerings? Without reservation, Sophia Jones answered, Items with Spirituality. Vital flesh and blood would be best. Saying this, the two exchanged glances, their expressions revealing a hint of oddity. The White Family had sacrificed over a hundred thousand Adventurers; they could not replicate such an offering on that scale. Continuing, Sophia Jones added, Normally, the offering is just a gesture. Its sufficient as long as the Immortal Aegis Animals can sense the sincerity. But this Relic was once a Secret Tomb of the Immortal Aegis Animals of the Taron White Family. There surely were Seventh Tier and higher Immortal Aegis Animals here in the past. So Im not certain what the situation with those Super Tier Immortal Aegis Animals might be. However, Im thinking the more advanced the offering, the likely better the effect... Leonard Churchill thoroughly understood now. The offering was a knock on the door. Only if the offering was good enough would there be a chance to catch the big fish. Sophia Jones, with her talent advancing to Legend, might be considered incredibly gifted in the East Wilderness. But in the Taren Dynasty three thousand years ago, in the era of the God Tier card masters, she would not count for much. If the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals awakened the Immortal Spirits of some top-tier Immortal Aegis Animals, Sophia Joness talent might not suffice to attract Their attention. Moreover, the people from the White Family came prepared, perhaps with better methods or inherited treasures to contract with them at present value. Could the only thing Leonard Churchill and Sophia Jones could attempt involve the sacrificial offerings? Thinking this, Leonard Churchill fell into deep thought. The people from the East Wilderness White Family had sacrificed over a hundred thousand, and it was impossible for Sophia Jones to surpass them in terms of offerings. But suddenly, Leonard Churchill thought of a special Material he had on him and asked, What about Divine Material for the offerings? Sophia Joness expression first froze upon hearing this, and then she said, Divine Material would be the best. Immortal Aegis Animals follow the God Stealer Sequence, and they can steal Divinity to enhance their own cultivation. This is a more direct source of energy than the power of incense and prayers, certainly a perfect offering. But... Such a thing was not easy to come by. Even in her previous searches, she only found some ancient Relics with traces of Divinity. Sophia Jones was about to say that such materials were incredibly rare when she noticed Leonard Churchills expression and, unable to hide her surprise, exclaimed, You have some? Yes. Leonard Churchill nodded, rolled up his sleeve, and revealed the vein-like patterns on his arm, saying, Back in the Divine Ruins Treasure House, didnt I go to destroy the blood pool of the Crimson Sect? By a stroke of Fortune, I found this Material that the Believers were preparing for the Resurrection of an Outer God... Sealed within his arm was a section of the Crimson Decay Vital Blood Vessel. This was Divine Material capable of facilitating the descent of an Outer God. Theoretically, it should completely meet the requirements. Seeing this, Sophia Jones could hardly contain her excitement, This... you plan to let me use this as the offering? Leonard Churchill replied, Yes. If its possible. Sophia Jones carefully sensed the Divinity of the sealed Material, her brows knitting together, But... this is an extremely precious Material. Your Professional Sequence is very special, and you might need it once you reach a high tier... She considered this Material a pleasant surprise. It was precisely because of its value that she hesitated. Before she could finish, Leonard Churchill shook his head and said, Treasures only matter if theres life to cherish them. And the value of a Material lies in its application. All his planning was dedicated to serving the subsequent battle strategies. Anything that could improve the success rate of the plan, if doable, should be executed at its best. Leonard Churchill was staking this chance for reversal entirely on Sophia Jones. Chapter 998 - 998 307 Immortal Laws Secret Scroll_2 ?Chapter 998: Chapter 307 [Immortal Laws Secret Scroll]_2 Chapter 998: Chapter 307 [Immortal Laws Secret Scroll]_2 Only if she earned higher tier recognition from the Immortal Aegis Animals than those from the White Family would they have the best chance of getting out alive. Sophia Jones of course understood this, but the material was indeed too precious. Once borrowed, it could not be returned. Having just been saved, she already owed a huge favor. Now it seemed she was about to owe another. However, before she could say anything more, Leonard Churchill was already preparing to undo the Sealing, and at the same time, he asked, Aunt Jones, this divine blood vessel has very strong Contamination. Can you control it? Looking at that expression which showed no concern for the treasure, the hesitation in Sophia Joness eyes finally faded away, replaced by determination. She nodded, Hmm. No problem for a short time. Leonard Churchill smiled and said, Then thats good. ... Just as Leonard Churchill and his companion were entering the Central Control Room, in the research institutes underground, there was a huge space. The dim light cast a metallic luster of red copper on the surrounding Rock Wall. Upon closer inspection, the walls were etched with dense and mysterious runes. Around the vast space, more than a dozen beast-shaped stone sculptures, each over a hundred meters tall, stood firm. Snakes, worms, crows, foxes, bears, tigers, cranes... Each sculpture exuded an ancient aura, as if filled with immortal qi. These were the Accompanied Immortal Aegis Animals that had guarded this Sealed Space for a thousand years. Their angry brows and imposing presence stood out. In the middle of the imposing statues, the focus of their stare, stood a thirty-some-meter tall pyramid. If Leonard Churchill were here, he would recognize it at a glance. In front of the pyramid lay an ancient bronze-colored pot-shaped oil lamp. The lamp was carved with thousands of animal patterns all over, and the handle was set with several colored gemstones. At this moment, wisps of blue smoke, akin to souls, were overflowing from the lamps spout like a gooses neck. The blue smoke swirled around the entire hall, as if breathing Spirituality into the surrounding Immortal Aegis Animal sculptures. Amid the misty vapor, indescribable Spiritual Pressure slowly converged, becoming heavier and heavier, creating a mysterious sense that the smoke hid numerous Gods and Demons within. At this moment, a group of people in cloaks were conducting a Sacrifice Ceremony around the divine lamp. Each had their own Accompanied Immortal Aegis Animals floating behind them. No one disturbed them, and the Sacrifice proceeded smoothly. The effects were even far beyond expectations. The people of the White Family also showed satisfied smiles on their faces. This Sacrifice has been very successful. The Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals has re-condensed the spirits of the Immortal Aegis Animals that dissipated years ago. With these Immortal Spirits protection, our White Family can truly rise to power... Yes, we have to thank those guys from the Southern Continent. Otherwise, it would not have been easy to get so many blood media offerings... During the Sacrifice, I clearly felt the presence of the ancestor of the Dark Nether Divine Crane. Haha, with the assistance of such a Super Tier Immortal Aegis Animal, advancing to tier seven should be no problem for me... Ive gained the recognition of the spiritual consciousness of the Three-Eyed Undying Bird ancestor and already signed the Accompanied Spiritual Contract... Once I fully restore this strand of the Ancestral Spirits divine soul, it should at least enable me to easily advance to tier eight... ... These Immortal Spirits were originally the contractual Immortal Aegis Animals of the Taron White Family three thousand years ago. The kind of contract originating from bloodlines, along with the grace of reconstructing the spiritual bodies now, also gave each of the White Family descendants present a Big Chance. Meanwhile, the man leading them, with a sly fox-like appearance and a pale face, held a scroll that was slowly lighting up. Strings of mysterious golden text flashed in the Void. This scroll, unknown to outsiders, had a significant history. It was none other than one of the White Familys three legacy Supreme Treasuresranked alongside the God-stealing Ring and the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortalsthe Immortal Laws Secret Scroll! Though only a fragment, the scroll recorded a multitude of exclusive Spells for the God Stealer Sequence created by the White Family ancestors and the contract documents of top-tier Immortal Spirits through the ages. For the White Familys legacy, it was more valuable than anything else. However, due to the passage of time, the original contract holders and Immortal Aegis Animals had passed away, causing most of those ancient contract documents to become dull and lusterless. Much of the Super Tier Spells were incomprehensible to anyone. But at this moment, as the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals re-aggregated those fragmented spirits of the Immortal Aegis Animals, the gray contracts on the scroll also regained their color. As long as the faith endures, the Immortal Spirits do not fade. Once the Immortal Aegis Animals are back in place, the White Familys rise to glory is just around the corner. Wayne White looked at the scroll before him, and his eyes never lost their sparkle. Suddenly, he seemed to catch something and exclaimed with surprise, Eh, I think I saw the name of some Ancestral Immortal Aegis Animal appear! Really?! Upon hearing this, everyone from the White Family was ecstatic! With the protection of an Ancestral Immortal Aegis Animal, the White Family could truly stand tall. Not to mention fearlessness against the threats from Ariel Empire on the Southern Continent, for many years to come, they would have real footing to stand on. Even the highest tier enemies would have to take into account the Ancestral Immortal Aegis Animal when meditating harm to the White Family. However, as Wayne White carefully observed the golden text emerging on the scroll, which wouldnt linger in his mind, he muttered with a hint of confusion, But its strange, the Spiritual Pressure of that Ancestral Spirit seems to be very strong, as if its not just a remnant soul... After attempting to communicate, Wayne Whites expression turned slightly embarrassed, However, it seems the old ancestor doesnt seem to want to pay attention to me... At that, the crowd also became collectively surprised and doubtful. Ah? How could that be? It must be some Ancestral Spirit from the Old Continent who is in deep seclusion. Such a high-tier person would naturally have high demands for their Accompanied host. Perhaps our talents are too modest to catch the eye of the old ancestor, and its normal not to receive a response... Chapter 999 - 999 307 【Immortal Laws Secret Scroll】_3 ?Chapter 999: Chapter 307: Immortal Laws Secret Scroll_3 Chapter 999: Chapter 307: Immortal Laws Secret Scroll_3 Yes. However, after all, its the White Family that has provided shelter for the Immortal Spirit, and theres bound to be some fondness for old ties. There have been quite a few exceptionally talented individuals in my family over the years. After we return this time, well gather the family members; its possible we could find someone that the elder would look favorably upon... Indeed! ... These people had come to think of some reasons as well. But no matter how you looked at it, the result was good. As long as it was an Immortal Aegis Animal recorded in the Immortal Laws Secret Scroll, it was inevitably bound by contract to the White Family. There would always be an opportunity to make contact in the future. They were not in a hurry. Just knowing that such beings still existed in the world was already great news. ... The Sacrifice Ceremony had been very successful. The goal of the White Family had been exceeded. Once the many Immortal Spirits inside the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals were stabilized, everything would be complete. Strange, why did the battle above end so quickly? Those guys from the Southern Continent knew they couldnt kill the Leech King, so naturally, they retreated. Theyre probably waiting outside to ambush us now. Its a pity our spy is dead; otherwise, we could have known what happened... We mustnt be careless. According to the intelligence we received earlier, high-ranking members of the Holy Church also arrived. Those guys are very skilled. The fact that they managed to escape shows how capable they are. Its a real pity the research facility didnt trap those people from the Southern Continent. Otherwise, if they and the monsters had both been badly wounded, we might have had a chance to take out a few of the Seventh Tier ones and get some rare materials... But speaking of which, what exactly is the Contamination Source sealed in this pyramid? It seems that those people from the Southern Continent also came for this Contamination Source. Unfortunately, written records have been interrupted. However, based on the limited clues we have, it might be the Outer God known as Plague Master. Outer God? Last time in Sinless City, that Crimson Corruption almost caused us a huge setback... Its also fortunate that the Thirteen Knights are not weak; otherwise, we wouldnt have discovered that the Outer God Followers had infiltrated the Federation for so long. It is also thanks to the wisdom of our White Family ancestors that by burning the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals for thousands of years, the divine material of the Contamination Source was completely burned away; otherwise, we wouldnt have been able to come here... ... The people of the White Family chatted with each other turn by turn. Wayne Whites expression, however, occasionally grew tense. His Accompanied Immortal Aegis Animal was the Silver Eyes Immortal Fox. This bestowed upon him an unmatched wisdom and Crisis Perception Ability. Even though the situation seemed favorable, for some reason, Wayne felt as if some very important information had been overlooked. But no matter how sharp his wit, without some key information, he couldnt figure out where this sense of crisis was coming from. Moreover, this Seal Space was the area with the highest security level in the entire research facility. Aside from the direct lineage of the White Family, no one else could enter. Nor could they find the entrance. Wayne thought he might be overthinking it. Yet at a certain moment, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he internally shouted, Not good... Someones here! The Elf positioned at the entrance had detected an intruder and immediately issued a warning. Almost instantaneously, the White Familys experts also detected the intruder. The group charged fiercely toward the entrance. No matter how skillful the infiltrators movements were, how could they withstand the full suppression of several Sixth Tiers? There was almost no resistance, and he was captured immediately. Wayne urgently shouted, Take him alive! An outsider being able to find this Seal Space appeared incredibly suspicious to him. If they did not get to the bottom of it, he felt it could lead to serious problems. In the blink of an eye, the infiltrator, wearing the adventure gear of the Southern Continent, was tied up and captured. Even a Sixth Tier used the Word of Truth Spell on him, eliminating any disguise in an instant and revealing his true form. Seeing that familiar face, everyone from the White Family was greatly shocked. Because they had seen this face many times on the Federations arrest warrant. It was none other than Leonard Churchill. Its you! The moment Wayne recognized Leonard Churchill, his brow furrowed deeply. He thought of something, and his expression changed slightly as he urgently ordered, Quick! Seal him! Seeing Leonard Churchill appear here made him realize everything in an instant. It must be that woman! Sophia Jones, the deputy leader of the Revolutionary Army, Lady Valkyrie! His aunt in name, who happened to know this man, and their relationship was anything but ordinary! This meant that when she was rescued, it was Leonard Churchill who had coordinated the escape. And now, his presence here was surely because of Sophia Jones. After all, that woman also had the blood of the White Family. However, that woman and her mother were expelled from the clan long ago; why would she know about this research facility? And how did she know about this Sealed Land? Waynes doubts grew more intense. And that sense of crisis became even stronger. He stared at Leonard Churchill before him and demanded coldly, How did you find this place?! ... Leonard Churchill cracked a bloodstained grin, showing his white teeth. His body bore several cuts, and the various meridians had been sealed, leaving him barely clinging to life. The members of the White Family had not held back at all in their handling of him. But Leonard clearly understood that their methods were not because they feared him, a mere Fourth Tier. Rather, it was Sophia Jones whom they feared. The Secret Fetus Parasitic Technique was a Secret Skill of the White Family, and these people knew how to deal with it. By sealing the acupoints, even if Sophia Joness spirit resided within him, there would be no chance of escape. Instead, he had fallen into a trap. Yet Leonard remained exceedingly calm. Because he had already anticipated everything. From the moment he descended, he had not expected to avoid capture. He also didnt believe he could keep any secrets in front of several Sixth Tiers. Nor was there a need to. Because, just then... the anticipated change occurred. Before they could employ their interrogation techniques, a red and black glow of a Space Rift suddenly appeared beside Leonard Churchill. A claw covered in black dragon scales reached out. Seeing this, the faces of the White Family members all drastically changed. From the beginning to the end, they never expected that people from the Southern Continent would appear directly here! Chapter 1000 - 1000 308 Leading Disaster Eastward ?Chapter 1000: Chapter 308: Leading Disaster Eastward Chapter 1000: Chapter 308: Leading Disaster Eastward A few minutes ago. The adventurers camp on the ground of the research facility. The bonfire was still burning fiercely, but inside the countless tents, there was dead silence. Upon closer inspection, the entire camp was filled with shriveled corpses, their dead faces twisted and covered with growing mushrooms. At this very moment, Heman and a dozen or so surviving high tiers had somber expressions as they gathered inside the legion commanders tent. Before entering the relics, they had left space coordinates on the ground as a precaution. They hadnt expected to actually use them. Yet, it was this that had fortuitously saved their lives. It seems that those East Wilderness folks had long been planning, just waiting to lure us to the second floor of the research facility to trap and kill us... Indeed. The information that brought us here was probably deliberately spread by insiders they planted, just to ensure they had enough people for the sacrifices. Wed all be dead under the tentacles of the Abyssal Devil Leech Emperor if it werent for Lord Thornes spatial abilities... Heman, the Thorny Snake Corps has been completely wiped out, and when the kingdoms higher-ups assign blame, it will be hard for you and me to escape heavy responsibility... Not just us, the mission was issued by the Holy See. If unfulfilled, everyone here will be punished... However, as long as we find the Spell Clay Pot, theres still a chance, Damn it! Once the empires Void Dragon Ship arrives, I shall lead the vanguard and flatten the East Wilderness! Stop talking nonsense. Prepare now, we absolutely cant let those people escape. Its all thanks to Lady Hesters foresight in leaving a mark, otherwise our trouble would be far greater. As long as that guy leaves the room, well be able to find them! ... Inside the tent, people chatted sporadically. The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive. The complete annihilation of the Thorny Snake Corps along with more than a hundred thousand adventurers was not just a loss of face but also a massive blow. No one had expected that the little East Wilderness, not even boasting a seventh-tier, could cause them such a huge defeat. As they were talking, suddenly, Black Widow Hesters expression tightened with surprise, Eh... their coordinates have appeared! Theyre two thousand meters below ground! Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent was overjoyed. Without the slightest hesitation, the middle-aged man who had been silent in his cloak instantly transformed into a black dragon. The dark gold card in his hand disintegrated, and a lightning-like space rift suddenly appeared. Trap or not, they had no other option. The group entered one by one. ... In the blink of an eye, on the third floor of the research facility. Heman and the others looked at this mysterious sealed space, also taken aback. They had all braced themselves for a space rife with deadly traps. Who would have thought theyd actually find the right place? Looking at the dozens of meters high pyramid before them, then at the Immortal Aegis Animals statues all around... This was a Sealed Land of exceptionally high standards! And it must have a direct connection to that pot! Weve found it! Heman and his comrades could hardly contain their excitement. In an instant, they turned to the astonished faces of the White Family members, their faces already filled with cold murderous intent. Surprised? Delighted? It was this damned lot from the East Wilderness that nearly caused their total annihilation. Now you know what true despair is! ... The White Family members stared at the Dragon-blooded Card Masters who emerged from the space rift, their expressions freezing. This Sealed Land contained super tier prohibitions that interfered with space, and under normal circumstances, not even card masters who understood the Space Law could sense that there was a space beneath the ground. Unless... Unless they had precise coordinates. Wayne White thought of something, his gaze quickly darting to Leonard Churchill, who was completely immobilized: It was that guy! In that moment, the White Family also understood everything. Someone on them must have been marked with a space coordinate by those people from the Southern Continent. He had been captured on purpose just now, just to lure the enemy here! Damn it! The White Family members cursed in unison in their hearts. However, by the time they realized it, it was already too late. The Thorny Snake Corps had been bottling up a bellyful of fury. Seeing their enemies invoked a fierce loathing. Almost the moment they faced each other, dozens of various Curse Cards were shot towards one another without a word of introduction. Boom Boom Boom... The lights of various Law elements exploded brilliantly like fireworks. The Thorny Snake Corps had four seventh-tiers, whereas the White Family, despite having a slight advantage in numbers, had at best a Sixth Tier Legend. Caught off guard, they were all blown away, coughing up blood at the first encounter. ... During the vicious battle, the White Family had no time to attend to a certain captive. Leonard Churchill had anticipated this and tried to protect his vital points as best as he could, waiting for the shockwave to hit him, and he was shot out like a cannonball. With a thud he crashed heavily against the metal wall. Puh~ A mouthful of murky blood sprayed out, and Leonard felt as if he had been struck in the chest by a bulls horn, almost knocking him unconscious. But immediately after, a vicious and exhilarated smile cracked his lips, Heh heh, not dead yet... The most dangerous moment in the entire plan had been this one. Only if he didnt die in the first clash between the two sides would he have the chance to watch what was coming next. As with the blueprints, this sealed space was designed to prevent contamination from leaking out and contained a significant quantity of Forbidden Magic Curses, leaving card masters almost no Laws or Elements to draw from the surrounding space. Thus the potency of the myriad curses unleashed was much weaker than outside. Although the confined space made the fight highly unpredictable, overall, it remained within expectations. Chapter 1001 - 1001 308 Diverting Trouble Eastward_2 ?Chapter 1001: Chapter 308: Diverting Trouble Eastward_2 Chapter 1001: Chapter 308: Diverting Trouble Eastward_2 With the blessing of the Hero Cloak, his luck seemed quite good, as several lethal injuries didnt kill him outright. This also made it possible for Leonard Churchill to recover from his injuries with the Curse of Immortality. Similarly, The White Family didnt suffer much either, thanks to the Forbidden Magic Domain. The Forbidden Magic Domain restricted everyone in this space. Normally, a Dragon-blooded card master would have more abundant Curse Power and a crushing advantage in tier, leading to a one-sided situation. However, This was the White Familys home ground. The conditions of the God Stealer Sequence were only a small part of their combat power. The greater part of their combat power came from the Immortal Aegis Animals! Almost at the first clash, the Whites, led by Wayne White, simultaneously manifested their contracted Immortal Aegis Animals behind them. Some single, some multiple. Serpents, insects, crows, foxes, bears, tigers, cranes... Some were wickedly odd, some were powerful and dominant, and some were solemn and holy. Among those gradually materializing forms, there were even a few that seemed as light as mist yet shone with a faint golden light, exuding an indescribable etherealness. These were the top-tier Immortal Aegis Animals they had just conjured with the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals. As various Immortal Aegis Animals appeared, the momentum of the White Family members soared suddenly. And at the same time, they each took out a sorcery card bearing the same pattern, infusing it with Curse Power. Wayne White, leading the group, with the Immortal Laws Secret Scroll in his hand shining brightly, shouted sternly, Immortal Law, Return of Ten Thousand Immortals! In an instant, auspicious cloud-like Curse patterns condensed onto the skin of more than a dozen people, suddenly giving off an air of immortality. The combined presence of more than a dozen people and twenty to thirty Immortal Aegis Animals was frightening. Their aura was in no way weaker than that of the opponent of the Seventh Grade. Leonard Churchill watched, alarmed, Joint Strike Spell? He had always heard that the White Family had many sinister spells, and now, seeing it firsthand, his eyes were truly opened. Not only were the Immortal Aegis Animals varied and strange, but the spells used by the White Family were also diverse. Many were very niche on the market. Commanding the Undead, insect control, Spirit Communication with beasts, manipulating plants... Like a sandstorm, God-Eating Bug that could melt steel, Hell Fire Vine that could inflict a Soul Strike on a human target, Soul-Draining Monarch... These were all exceedingly rare and secret spells. But their might was not small. The Immortal Aegis Animals gave the White Family card masters combat power beyond their tier, and their centuries of heritage became their greatest reliance. Leonard Churchill, watching the White Family members enhanced by the Immortal Aegis Animals, narrowed his eyes slightly and thought, This Immortal Law secret skill feels a lot like Divine Power... It seemed that the White Family had jointly used a spell of Immortal Law that was higher than their current tier, emitting an aura similar to Divine Power, an aura not of ordinary mortals. It was because of this aura that they werent suppressed at all by the opposing Dragons Might. But surprise aside, Churchill steadied himself as he watched, muttering, Only then does the White Family have the ability to fight to mutual destruction against those from the Southern Continent... He had previously worried that the White Family lacked the power to confront the Thorny Snake Corps head-on. Now, it appeared they did. ... Heman and the others, realizing they faced card masters of the East Wilderness accompanied by Immortal Aegis Animals, finally understood that they were dealing with the descendants of the once God Stealers, the White Family. All their doubts were resolved. This was the ancestral land of the White Family; it made sense that they could set such a trap. The two sides started fighting fiercely within the Sealed Space, completely ignoring Leonard Churchill, who was hiding behind a God statue in the corner. Rumble rumble... The shockwaves from the battle grew more intense with each wave. Even the remnants of the battle nearly killed Churchill several times. The Hero Cloak he wore already had cracks, and he dared not take it off. Leonard Churchill kept his aura low, closely observing every detail of the battlefield. This was his first encounter with high-level combat; despite the danger to his life, his gains were substantial. You have observed Immortal Law: Sandfall of the Bug Sea, your insect control skill +11 You were affected by Void Dragon Breath, intimidation +1, youve touched upon the secret of Space Law You were affected by Soul Tremor, your soul spell experience +33... You observed... Enlightenments kept appearing. Leonard Churchill fell into a wondrous state of Comprehension. The combatants on both sides were almost all representing the pinnacle of their respective fields. All sorts of rare spells and transcendent abilities were emerging continuously, like a living encyclopedia on display. This was an extraordinary learning opportunity. If one does not die, one must always learn. Leonard Churchill watched carefully. The more he understood the enemys methods, the greater his chance of survival later on. The fierce battle in the Sealed Space became intense from the start. The two sides exchanged blows, each sustaining damage, fighting incredibly fiercely. But after all, the overall tier of the White Family was far behind, and the Immortal Aegis Animals that had just re-condensed their forms were not at full strength yet, limiting their combat power. As time passed, they clearly fell into a disadvantage. However, those from the Southern Continent also knew that killing the Whites wouldnt be easy. After all, they had seen those golden Immortal Aegis Animals. Every tier beyond the Seventh Grade Supernatural Advancement represented a qualitative leap in strength. Those golden Immortal Aegis Animals were once top-tier beings themselves. If things dragged on, waiting for them to absorb... Moreover, among the Thorny Snake Corps, some were proficient in Divination and Prediction, and they had a bad feeling. They always felt that this space hid a deadly threat. The people of the White Family were even more aware of this. Chapter 1002 - 1002 308 Drawing Disaster Eastward_3 ?Chapter 1002: Chapter 308: Drawing Disaster Eastward_3 Chapter 1002: Chapter 308: Drawing Disaster Eastward_3 Once the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals had absorbed the tens of thousands of offerings, or if they were lucky enough to awaken one of the Ancestral Spirit Immortal Aegis Animals, they might not be unable to deal with these enemies from the Southern Continent. But they were more aware than the people of the Southern Continent of one thingthat the exchange of fire between the two sides was no accident, but deliberately orchestrated by someone. Besides the two of them, there was a third party involved. People of the White Family knew all too well that Leonard Churchill wouldnt have lured his enemies here without a solid backup plan, even if it meant mutual destruction, as a Fourth Tier couldnt just pick up a bargain from such a situation. Moreover, the very fact that Leonard Churchill could access the third floor of this research facility was full of doubts in itself. If they delayed any longer, something unexpected might happen. After the encounter, both parties understood they had to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. So. Since neither side could defeat the other in a short period of time, achieving the goal became the top priority. The people from the Southern Continent naturally saw that pyramid at the center. It was not hard to guess that the jar they were looking for was probably sealed inside it. Amidst the battle, Hemans group also began to sabotage the pyramids sealing, intending to snatch the most important object first. The sealing was of a very high standard, and breaking it seemed almost impossible. But thousands of years had passed, the energy of the seals restrictions had long dissipated, and there was also a black dragon capable of tearing a Space Rift. Crack, Crack... The tearing of space had a sound like thunder exploding. As the black dragon kept pounding with its fists, the stones on the pyramid began to split open with cracks. Leonard Churchill watched without any concern for Contamination leakage. Having encountered several jars already, the Outer God Contamination that alarmed others was not a significant problem for him. Besides, if those people from the Southern Continent dared to dismantle it so violently, they must have some means to handle the hazards. Instead, Leonard Churchill looked at the black dragon capable of tearing space and felt extremely impressed, Space Law truly deserves to be among the High-level Laws, so powerful... Is that creature a Void Dragon Descendant? Tsk tsk, if only I could get out alive and obtain some of that Void material for my class transition, seems like a great idea... Space Law, whether for traveling or fighting, was an excellent choice. Previously, he halted consideration due to the extreme rarity of space materials. But now seeing this black dragon, Leonard Churchill felt it was promising. ... While the battle seemed intense, Leonard Churchill also noticed that both parties already had intentions of leaving. This situation was not unexpected. If indeed neither side could defeat the other, a stalemate was inevitable. A withdrawal after a stalemate was also inevitable. Even if oblivious of Leonard Churchill as the third party force, the crisis detection capabilities of a Seventh-Order Card Master were exceptionally strong, and they must have sensed something. Just then, with a loud thud, the black dragon finally punched through the pyramids exterior wall, revealing through the cracks the ordinary Spell Clay Pot inside. Upon witnessing this, both the White Familys people and those from the Southern Continent could hardly conceal their astonishment. This was the first time theyd seen the jar. But Leonard Churchill was quite indifferent, having grown accustomed to it, murmuring to himself, The timing is about right... This was the fourth jar hed seen, nothing extraordinary. Without any Contamination warning, he even breathed a sigh of relief. This was another most dangerous phase; he feared the seal would break, instantly exposing everyone to Contamination. But... It seemed this jar was not leaking? Hey! That wasnt right, the research reports stated there was Contamination leakage, didnt they? Otherwise, they wouldnt have set up such an extensive Sealing around the jars body. Why was there no Contamination? Leonard Churchills mind raced, but his hands showed no hesitation as he crushed a card in his hand, sending a signal to Sophia Jones. Almost instantly, a series of blastsobviously explosivesrang out. The entire Seal Space trembled violently along with them. The faces of both the White Family and the people from the Southern Continent changed as they all realized something at once: someone had sabotaged the institutes passage, trying to lure the Leech King down! .... This was Leonard Churchills Plan B. Regardless of who won between the two sides, neither he nor Sophia Jones were likely to escape pursuit and kill. Since neither side had been able to wear each other down, they had to rely on something external. Inside the Central Control Room was the access control authority for the entire research institute. Leonard Churchill had tinkered with Sophia Jones in there for quite a while, not without doing something. They opened the third floors access control and used explosives to blast, drawing both the water and the Leech King from the second floor. Even though the institutes structure was exceptionally sturdy, Leonard Churchill was an expert in architecture and engineering, with blueprints at hand. Precise directional blasting easily created several breaches between the second and third floors. Almost simultaneously with the explosions, a whooshing sound of water echoed throughout the space. The second floors water poured into the third, carrying countless luminous worms. Witnessing this scene, both the White Family members and the Thorny Snake Corps stiffened in unison. Leonard Churchills timing for the detonation was incredibly cunning. He waited until the people from the Southern Continent had seen the jar, assuring themselves of the prize before their eyes that they could not bear to leave behind, before setting it off. He knew very well that retrieving the jar was an absolute order from the Holy Church. With the Thorny Snake Corps nearly wiped out, Legion Commander Heman and a few others were facing death. Finding the jar was their only hope for survival. So these men, even at the risk of their lives, would never stand idly by as the jar was taken. The people from the White Family were even worse off, lacking the Spatial Displacement Ability. Now with the Leech King descending, it was a matter of who could last longer. Chapter 1003 - 1003 309 Recognition from Top Immortal Aegis ?Chapter 1003: Chapter 309: Recognition from Top Immortal Aegis Animals Chapter 1003: Chapter 309: Recognition from Top Immortal Aegis Animals The third-floor seal space of the research institute was much smaller than the second floor, and the water from above flooded in like a dam burst, quickly rising above the knees. Countless devil leeches in the water coalesced into numerous tendrils, sharp as spears, attracted by the breath of the living, stabbing wildly like lightning. This creature had previously given the people from the Southern Continent a taste of its power, and nobody wanted to tangle with it. But Hemans group hadnt gotten the jar from inside the golden pyramid and had no intention of retreating; they defended against the glowing tentacles with dragons breath while destroying the pyramid. The White Family didnt know why the Southern Continent group was searching for that jar, but whatever the enemy was urgently looking for, that was exactly what they intended to thwart. Besides, if those people actually managed to escape, it would be the White Family who would have to face the nearly unsolvable Leech King. Having a group to share the Leech Kings firepower also seemed better. Both parties continued to clash over the jar. The instigator, Leonard Churchill, was once again pierced by several tendrils. However, he had become accustomed to it. Avoiding the fatal spots, he repeated his old trick: using Prosperity to suck blood and continue feigning death while playing dead. The Leech King possessed a certain level of wisdom, but it wasnt very high. It still couldnt discern his kind of feigned death. At least he wasnt a priority target. Although the people from both sides now knew that a third party was messing with them, they had to fight this battle of open strategy. And as they were all too busy vying for the jar, nobody had the leisure to deal with Leonard, who was hidden among the tentacles. If he faced only those glowing tentacles, Leonards chances of survival could even be higher than those of the seventh-tier combatants. The situation developed almost exactly as he had deduced. The fight between the White Family and the Southern Continent people turned into a three-way battle with the glowing tentacles. Casualties occurred frequently. Facing the Leech King alone, both sides had a fighting chance. But in a three-way battle, they always had to guard against the other sides dirty tricks. With an insect control master, the White Family faced much less threat from the Leech King compared to the people from the Southern Continent; the crisis instead became an advantage for them. The White Family also clearly understood that they had been targeted, and if they didnt take down more of the Southern Continents people, even if they managed to leave the research institute, they wouldnt be able to escape smoothly. The more the two sides fought, the more they coveted each others positions. ... Leonard Churchill didnt pay attention to the intense battle over there. Regardless of who emerged victorious between the White Family and the Southern Continents people, it no longer had anything to do with them. The goal of instigating the battle had been achieved. What Leonard needed to do now was to preserve his life as much as possible. So, he controlled the air to float against the current in the water, keeping his distance from the battlefield as much as possible. The commotion from the battle continued for half an hour and then abruptly came to a halt. It was unclear what happened. But judging by the sounds of the battle, both sides must have suffered losses. The number of living airs Leonard sensed dwindled from over thirty to less than ten. The outcome of the battle was very much in his favor. It was very likely that Hemans group had snatched the jar and escaped using spatial methods. The White Family may also have had some other means at their disposal. Leonard didnt give it much thought. Without those extremely vital high-order card masters, the Leech Kings tentacles again dispersed. The water was filled with small, semi-transparent leeches. Leonard suppressed his own vital signs to a very low level; the Leech King clearly wasnt interested in such an insufficient blood meal. Although his body was covered with leeches, with the help of Prosperitys bloodsucking ability, it was not a significant concern. Continuing to control the air, he drifted in the water for nearly an hour before Leonard returned to the second floor of the research institute. .... In the Central Control Room. Sophia Joness look of concern finally dissipated as she watched Leonard Churchill return. It was good that he had come back alive. She had initially wanted to help but realized that she couldnt be of much assistance in that situation. Leonard didnt feel it was particularly dangerous, as most of the situation had been within his expectations. The other parts of the process that depended on luck didnt matter anymore. Being alive was now a fact. However, after a momentary eye contact, Leonard also keenly noticed a hint of something amiss in Sophia Joness expression and asked, Aunt Jones, what happened? Sophia Joness brow furrowed slightly as she said, It seems Ive failed. Failed? Leonard was momentarily stunned before he realized what she was talking about and confirmed, You mean... your sacrifice failed? Mhm. Sophia Jones nodded. She seemed to be at a loss herself, pondering for a moment before adding, I dont know what went wrong. But the fact is, I offered the sacrifice according to the ritual. But... the result was, I didnt receive any response from the Immortal Aegis Animals. As she spoke, her expression contained a hint of apology. After all, a Crimson Decay Vital Blood Vessel was a top-tier divine material that was extremely rare and valuable; it was a pity to have wasted it. Ah? Leonard was surprised to hear this. He had never expected it to fail. He had seen the Immortal Aegis Animals summoned by the people from the White Family on the third floor, each one imposing and commanding, with some even exuding terrifyingly oppressive golden auras. This implied that the Secret Tomb of Immortal Aegis Animals indeed harbored many ancient Immortal Aegis Animals spirits. So how could it have failed? In terms of qualifications, talent, mark, lineage, and the sacrifice itself, Sophia Jones was impeccable compared to those from the White Family. It seemed impossible for her to fail. It wasnt expected that she would summon a golden Immortal Aegis Animal, but at the very least, some ordinary ones should have responded, right? This situation was akin to a pond clearly full of fish, where even high-grade bait for shark fishing had been consumed, yet not even a small fish showed its face? Chapter 1004 - 1004 309 Recognition from Top Immortal Aegis ?Chapter 1004: Chapter 309: Recognition from Top Immortal Aegis Animals_2 Chapter 1004: Chapter 309: Recognition from Top Immortal Aegis Animals_2 Could something have gone wrong with the steps? Sophia Jones looked at Leonard Churchills expression, her eyes dimming with remorse, Im sorry... Her sacrifice had failed, but it wasnt just about not being recognized by the Immortal Aegis Animals. It was about cutting off their chances of survival. Now they were being targeted not only by people from the Southern Continent, but the White Family surely wouldnt let them off the hook either. Having completely offended both groups, once they left the Relics, they would inevitably be hunted down. Only with the recognition of a High Tier Immortal Aegis Animal could Sophia Jones have the strength to stand up to a Seventh Grade, otherwise, they hardly had any chance of winning. Aunt Jones, theres nothing to apologize for... Leonard Churchill responded with a chuckle. Now it seemed likely that something had gone wrong with the procedure. Which was understandable. After all, God Stealer Sophia Jones had changed her Professional Sequence mid-way. Normally, the jar Leonard Churchill found in the Mithril Vein was intended for a descendant of the White Family. The White Family ancestor who left the jar probably assumed that, as a descendant, one would naturally know the Secret Skill passed down in the White Family. But Sophia Jones hadnt known any of the White Familys Secret Skills before. It was essentially like having no foundation in Sword Skill but being given a Mystery Sword Codeit was bound to be like building castles in the air. An error was to be expected. Leonard Churchill, however, lamented the waste of materials. He merely wondered where the error had occurred. Given the situation, he did not think it was Sophia Joness fault. If anything, it was just bad luck. ... Sophia Jones could clearly see that Leonard Churchill genuinely didnt mind, even the impending Death Place seemed to leave him unfazed. But since the error was on her part, she couldnt get past the guilt. Leonard Churchill, though, appeared to skip right over it, saying directly, Aunt Jones, get ready. Were going to break out of here. The two could stay in the Central Control Room for a while without any immediate issues. But if they lingered too long, there was no guarantee that other experts from the Southern Continent wouldnt make another attempt. Now, while the White Family and Hemans Thorny Snake Corps were all severely injured, was the best chance to break through. Saying this, he revealed his backup plan, I have another ally. If everything goes well, he should be nearby waiting to assist us. Together, we stand a fair chance. Ah? Upon hearing this, Sophia Joness eyes shone with shocked delight: So there was a backup plan? But given the current situation, they at least knew they had one Seventh Grade enemy who was versed in the Secret Space Skill. Unless Barre Shepherd himself came, who else could save them? Leonard Churchill knew what she was wondering and explained, I met a high-ranking member of the Rebel Dragon Army from the Southern Continent before, quite powerful... He briefly mentioned Aragons situation. In the Crystal Ball, they could only see an empty cage, the Toad that had been imprisoned was now nowhere to be seen. Aragon was a Hero; if he had escaped, he would definitely find a way to come to their aid. Leonard Churchill had no doubt about this. Understanding his confidence, Sophia Jones realized where his assurance came from. If they indeed had a Seventh Grade on their side, their chances of winning significantly improved. Yet... Sophia Jones, looking at Leonard Churchill, saw a glimpse of something different in his profound pupils: This guy always managed to bring surprises. ... Leonard Churchill crammed everything that could be taken along from the Central Control Room into the Storage Space, including the Image Crystal Ball. The two opened up all the passageways of the first and second floors of the research institute and dashed out the moment the control room opened like lightning. They rushed all the way. The Leech King, though unassailable, needed time to gather its tentacles. For a High-Order Card Master who was not in an enclosed environment and understood its habits, it was not necessarily fatal. Leonard Churchill and Sophia Jones managed to charge into the first floor of the research institute quite smoothly. The air here was filled with deadly spores, but the two in their full hazmat suits were unaffected. They took the previously planned route and easily broke through to the surface. The surface was strewn with bodies covered with growing mushrooms; they did not pause but continued charging towards the depths of the swamp to the west. Almost the moment they escaped, as expected, Sophia Jones suddenly tensed up, as if sensing something, and immediately conjured the Domain of Descending Gods. Leonard Churchill also hesitated no further and fired a flare. Glancing behind at not too far away, a Space Rift dramatically appeared. Four figures emerged from the rift. The two leading Seventh Grades were Black Widow Hester, whose survival surprised even Leonard Churchill; and a bearded middle-aged man with Spatial Ability. Two were Sixth Tier. The fact that the Thorny Snake Corps Legion Commander, Heman, wasnt here meant that he must have died in the Relics. With just four people, the pressure was much less than expected. Nonetheless, it was still fatal. Leonard Churchill looked over with narrowed eyes, his attention caught by the Jar hanging on the middle-aged mans belt, thinking, Is the Jar on this guy... At that moment, Sophia Jones said with a serious tone, Leonard Churchill, if theres a chance, you make a run for it first. Ill hold them off. Leonard Churchill shook his head. With a Spatial Ability user present, his chances of escaping were virtually zero. A fierce struggle was the only option. As the two sides confronted each other, Leonard Churchill and his companion did not continue to flee. The stern-faced foursome from the Southern Continent didnt strike immediately either; they seemed to be waiting for something. They also wanted to see just who it was that had caused them such a heavy loss. Chapter 1005 - 1005 309 Recognition from Top Immortal Aegis ?Chapter 1005: Chapter 309: Recognition from Top Immortal Aegis Animals_3 Chapter 1005: Chapter 309: Recognition from Top Immortal Aegis Animals_3 It was only a matter of two or three breaths into the standoff when something huge seemed to charge through the mist of the swamp. Leonard Churchill knew the four from the Southern Continent were also waiting for Aragon to arrive. And Aragon was bound to come to help. So, a battle was inevitable. The six people locked in the standoff all cast sidelong glances at the giant figure leaping through the mist. Yet, as Leonard watched, he had a bad feeling about it all. Because this was not quite what they had agreed on before. Aragon had said clearly that once the Anti-Magic Slave Collar was removed, he would be able to suppress the curse on his body and revert to human form. Why remained he in his Toad State? Before long, a colossal Warts Toad leaped into view. On the face of the toad, Aragon showed a very anthropomorphic expression of apologetic intent. While he stared at the four from the other side, Hester included, he also explained to Leonard Churchill, Theres been a problem. I had an unseen hand from the Holy Church on me that I previously did not notice... Now my strength, it can only wield less than twenty percent. Long story short. He felt it necessary to speak up about the situation beforehand. The middle-aged man transformed into a Black Dragon across from them showed a mocking look, as if he had expected as much. After all, those were methods left by the high echelon of their Holy See. Otherwise, how could they possibly feel at ease sending this guy to the Old Continent! ... Listening, Leonards eye twitched. An Aragon with only twenty percent of his combat power was unlikely to be stronger than Sophia Jones. Not to mention he was still in a Beast Transformed shape. This made things difficult. The previously evenly matched battle suddenly seemed devoid of any hope for survival. Nevertheless, even knowing he might die with only twenty percent of his power recovered, Aragon still came without hesitation. Seeing this, Leonard exhaled a turbid breath and had nothing more to say. There was nothing left but to fight to the death. With this thought in mind, Leonard almost instinctively turned and dashed out. In such an intense battle, he was of little help. Now, the only plan Leonard could think of that might break the deadlock was to take a turn in the dangerous areas deep within the swamp. To see if he could find any swamp monsters above the Seventh Grade or any potent battle environment. Otherwise, the three of them were destined to die today. No sooner had he taken off than the sounds of fierce combat erupted behind him. Sophia Jones and Aragon tacitly understood why Leonard had turned and run. They knew Leonard wasnt trying to flee but to seek a glimmer of hope. Therefore, they had to resist with all their might. If they could hold on, perhaps they would see that glimmer of hope. ... Leonard had all the information collected by adventurers these days in his head. He also knew well the distribution of those high-ranking areas. Leonard ran towards those areas. The four from the Southern Continent didnt seem to have any intention of pursuing. Even though he had run several kilometers in the blink of an eye, Leonard still felt deaths shadow relentlessly accompanying him. He knew there was a mark on him, and no matter how far he ran, he couldnt escape. The tangible press of looming death made his brain plunge into a state of absolute calm and rapid thought. Under this immense terror of death, his I Am the World deductive abilities were operating at their peak. In his head, various pieces of fragmented information flashed like slides in a presentation. About everything related to the Plague Marsh, about the enemys Transcendent abilities... Then piecing together, deducing, finding errors, overturning, and deducing again... In an instant, dozens of lines of thought were deduced concurrently. Leonard had considered countless plans. But no matter how he deduced, Leonard felt they were doomed today. Sophia and Aragon would not last long. But not necessarily Leonard himself could find that slim chance of survival alive. Even though he was still alive now, never before had he felt the cold touch of the Death Gods Scythe against his neck as clearly as in this moment. Am I truly going to die this time...? Leonard felt his brain surge into extreme excitement once again at the advent of death. This state made him feel great. He was not afraid of death, but he did not wish to die in this way. With that belief, it seemed as though everything revolved around the thought of surviving. However, suddenly, a flash of inspiration vanished from his mind. Leonard Churchill unexpectedly felt the looming threat of death disappear into thin air. As if he had thought of something, he stood still in his place. After deducing once more, a smile stretched to his ears, Oh, so thats how it is... .... On the other side, Sophia Jones and Aragon were fiercely battling the Black Widow Hester and her three companions. Both of them had used desperate measures to tap into their potential, only managing to hold out for a moment against two Seventh Grade enemies. They both knew what Leonard Churchill was attempting, yet they didnt hold much hope. Because they couldnt hold on for much longer. The Black Dragon with mastery over the Space Law had overwhelmingly powerful tactics, leaving no glimmer of hope in sight. The two of them could only think to delay the enemy, maybe allowing Leonard Churchill to escape far enough away. It was at that moment. With a loud boom, Sophia Jones was caught off guard by the Black Dragons blink, a punch landing on her God Armor. The Seventh Grade Space Law directly shattered her Domain, and she couldnt help spitting out blood, sent flying a hundred meters. Aragon was too busy to look after himself; his huge Toad body was also being beaten back. Just as the two of them thought they were about to be defeated. A figure leisurely walked out from the mist. Sophia Jones recognized the newcomer, her pale face suddenly changing: How did this guy come back! Even Aragon and the four enemies opposite were collectively taken aback. They couldnt understand what Leonard Churchills return at this time meant. Did he know there was no chance of victory, returning only to die? But when Sophia Jones saw the calm expression on Leonard Churchills face, an unbelievable thought flashed through her mind: Could it be that this guy found a way? Leonard Churchill walked to Sophia Joness side and calmly helped up the seriously wounded Sophia Jones. Sophia Jones was both shocked and bewildered, You... If it was truly time to die, dying together didnt matter much. But Leonard Churchills expression seemingly held no realization of facing death. Instead, he murmured to the air, Its about time. That senior should be making an appearance... Clearly, those words werent meant for himself; Sophia Jones initially thought Leonard Churchill was spouting nonsense. But as her thoughts shifted, she suddenly realized something, You mean...!!! Leonard Churchill looked up at the fog in the sky as if he was certain something was there: I carefully reconsidered all the details. I discovered... perhaps, Aunt Jones, your sacrifice wasnt a failure. It may have succeeded, only that senior had some... intentions... This... Sophia Joness bright eyes trembled. Her feeling was growing stronger, that of a Contract being formed. The Immortal Spirit Contract was always bidirectional. The host offers sacrifices in hopes of receiving the Immortal Aegis Animals recognition and acceptance. Similarly, the Immortal Aegis Animals also test the host. Especially certain Top Tier Immortal Aegis Animals that have their own pride. Not just because of the White Family bloodline and contract, they would respond favorably. If the hosts conditions fail to satisfy them, being unresponsive is normal. Clearly, Sophia Joness qualifications were likely not a problem; at least, they could elicit some response from ordinary Immortal Aegis Animals. But the reality was, she received no response at all. If it wasnt a problem with some part of the sacrificial procedure, Then it meant a Top Tier Immortal Aegis Animal took interest in this host, wanting to test and see if the hosts character was worthy to become its vessel. Leonard Churchill just stood there, ignoring the several enemies with murderous intent opposite him. This crazy self-confidence not only drew the curiosity of everyone present. Even from the Void, a voice transmitted, Kid, did you recognize me? ??? Upon hearing these words, Leonard Churchill was taken aback. He was not surprised to receive a response. For this was the nearly certain result deduced by I Am the World. But... what surprised him was the use of the word recognize. Since that immensely powerful Immortal Aegis Animal uttered these words, it implied... They had met before? Leonard Churchill sifted through his mind for potential candidates. The next instant, he immediately realized who was speaking. He had indeed met numerous Immortal Aegis Animals of the White Family, but had only encountered one Top Tier Immortal Aegis Animal. It was the Dragon-Scaled King Serpent that had lived for several thousand years, which he met at the Mithril Vein sealing site two hundred years ago! Leonard Churchill also hadnt expected that serpent to be here. And moreover, Sophia Jones had attained its approval! Chapter 1006 - 1006 310 The Expert Stabilizes ?Chapter 1006: Chapter 310: The Expert Stabilizes Chapter 1006: Chapter 310: The Expert Stabilizes The White Dragon was also very puzzled. As an Immortal Aegis Serpent that lived for several thousand years, its tier had grazed the pinnacle of the Plane, and therefore it had seen too many strange and extraordinary things. But, the individual before it was an existence it barely understood. A hundred years ago in the Mithril Sealing Mine Vein, it encountered that mysterious elder who it had seen three thousand years prior, an existence it still couldnt make sense of to this day. Now, it had encountered that young lad from a hundred years ago again. That sensation had returned. The key point was, how could this kid look exactly the same as he did a hundred years ago? The White Dragon had thought that Leonard Churchill, like Elder Clinton, was a master of the Time Rule and not a person eroded by time. While observing its new host, it also wanted to observe him. But unexpectedly, after observing for a long time, it found that this was merely a small Fourth-Tier card master. Moreover, it was also curious, how could such a Low-Rank card master have noticed it? .... Leonard Churchill, of course, didnt possess the ability to discover such a Top-Tier Immortal Aegis existence. His conviction from start to finish was based on deduction. Hearing the voice beside his ear now, all deductions in his mind became reality. And when he realized that the Immortal Aegis that responded was the great serpent from a hundred years ago, Leonard Churchill was surprised by such an encounter, yet he respectfully replied, Senior, its been a long time. Since he had recognized Sophia Jones, they were naturally not enemies. This appearance meant that they could finally survive. After twists and turns, the plan had returned to the original idea, they needed Sophia Jones to successfully contract a High-Tier Immortal Aegis for survival. Only, the Immortal Aegis that responded exceeded expectations by far. However, when Leonard Churchill guessed the identity of this Immortal Aegis, thats when he realized that the memory from a hundred years ago was somewhat vague in his mind. It seemed as if he had forgotten something very important. This was very unusual for him, who had a photographic memory. The only reasonable explanation Leonard Churchill could think of was that back then, he might have seen something beyond his understanding and failed to remember it. But he always felt that perhaps, back then, the great serpent had discussed something with Elder Clinton. Elder Clinton was entangled with very terrifying Cause and Effect, and anyone who came into contact with him and didnt die would be involved in this fate for a very, very long time. Previously, Leonard Churchill couldnt make sense of that kind of ethereal Cause and Effect. But now he could vaguely understand some of it. He even had the feeling that the great serpent appearing here might not be a coincidence but a Cause and Effect laid down hundreds of years ago. ... Standing by, Sophia Jones watched Leonard Churchill seemingly talking to the air and her expression stalled at first. But the feeling inside her became clearer and clearer, there was an undeniable... sense of being protected and safe. She realized that the Immortal Aegis Contract that was half-done before... had been completed! Sophia Jones then suddenly understood. She had always found it strange. The Sacrifice Ceremony might have been her mistake. But the Crimson Decay Vital Blood Vessel was Super-Tier Divine Material. Not only is this Material fatally Contaminated for humans above the Seventh Grade, but it is the same for Immortal Aegis Animals. Since the Material had disappeared, it meant that there must have been an Immortal Aegis that consumed the sacrifice. Before, she didnt understand why the sacrifice was gone and there was no response from the Immortal Aegis. Now she knew, a powerful Immortal Aegis had wanted to test her. It seemed that she had, perhaps, passed the test? From despair to hope, Sophia Jones was greatly surprised in her heart. But what surprised her even more was that Leonard Churchill actually knew that Immortal Aegis? ... Not bad... The voice from the Void came again, carrying a hint of appreciation. The intense battle also abruptly ceased at the sound of this voice. At the same moment, a pressure so powerful it took ones breath away descended from above. The faces of the Black Widow Hester and her three counterparts changed drastically. Because just then, they watched as a giant white-scaled serpent head slowly appeared amidst the mist above Sophia Joness head. It seemed to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere, yet also as if it had always been there. Though most of the serpents body was submerged in the mist, one could estimate its length to be over a hundred meters! Just its size alone made the four Dragon-blooded Card Masters look like tiny lizards in comparison. The amber vertical pupils were cold and domineering, like two full moons, completely disregarding the two Seventh-Order Dragonkin Card Masters present. Upon its appearance, the entitys pressure instantly suppressed the Dragons Might radiating from the four humans. It simply floated in the clouds, like a Big Mountain overhead, giving an air of deadly pressure as if the very air had solidified. The most striking feature was the pair of small horns atop the White Snakes head. Seeing this, all four abruptly narrowed their eyes, shocked in their hearts: Dragon horns! This was an Ancestral Spirit Immortal Aegis! They were aware this research facility was a Secret Tomb of an Immortal Aegis. They thought that even if the people of the East Wilderness could elicit a response from a High-Tier Immortal Aegis, at best it would be some newly formed consciousness, residual spirits not posing too much threat. Like the incomplete golden Immortal Spirits summoned by the descendants of the White Family before. Yet... How could there be such an existence with a pressure so terrifying? This wasnt a mere spirit! Could it be... An ancient Immortal Aegis that had lived for several thousand years? Just one look was enough to make ones back break out in cold sweat, the power of this Dragon-Scaled King Serpent far surpassed everyones imagination. The situation for hunter and prey was instantly reversed. Black Widow Hester and Thorne, both Seventh-Grade, locked eyes and immediately made a decision: Retreat! They knew there was no chance of victory and decisively chose to flee, scattering in all directions. Whether they could survive now depended on their individual methods. As they retreated hastily, all four simultaneously unleashed their most powerful techniques. Chapter 1007 - 1007 310 Expert is Steady_2 ?Chapter 1007: Chapter 310: Expert is Steady_2 Chapter 1007: Chapter 310: Expert is Steady_2 Hester, the Voodoo Master, swiftly pulled out several legendary Curse Cards and launched them towards the giant snake in the sky. With a boom, the cards exploded in mid-air, releasing clouds of purple toxic smoke that instantly formed into sinister skeleton heads. This was her strongest spell available, the Spit of the Poison Dragon, a double-whammy of flesh toxins and spirit curses that even adversaries of a higher Great Rank would avoid at all costs. However, to Hesters despair, the giant snake didnt react at all. It didnt even bother to open its eyes for another look, letting the poison gas explode on its scale armor without showing any sign of discomfort or pain. Instead, those amber vertical pupils looked with a hint of interest towards the Black Dragon, Thorne, who was using his spatial ability to flash a hundred meters away in a blink. It opened its huge maw, and suddenly thunder exploded in the air, with several thick bolts of lightning spewing out, heading straight for Hester and her companions. The two Sixth Tier members didnt get far before they were struck down. Hester, relying on her own healing domain, barely withstood the hit. However, as she tried to keep running, she found her body continuously flickering with lightning, showing no signs of fading. The erosion of the High-level Laws was constantly damaging her body, and in no time, the lightning, like an executioners knife, sliced her into a thousand wounds. Leonard Churchill watched this scene and felt a pang of fear. He had observed before that the domain of Black Widow Hester had the dual effects of extreme poison and healing. She had survived up to this moment in the Leech Kings attack because of this ability, which was very similar to the Curse of Immortality, an infinite healing power. Normally, killing a high-tier Healing Series Card Master like her would be immensely difficult unless one could deal a lethal blow in a single hit. However, at this moment, Leonards eyes were opened. The giant snakes breath of thunder wasnt a one-time damage; it was continuous burning. Paralyzed, Hesters body couldnt move, and although her healing ability prevented her from dying instantly, she was still burned alive by the lightning fire on the spot. Tier Law Suppression... Leonard saw this and his eyes narrowed as if seeing himself. ... A single blast of thunder killed three people. Leonard and his companions all twitched at the corner of their eyes and heaved a great sigh of relief. However, what they were most concerned about was Thorne, the Black Dragon in the distance. After all, he was a Senior Deacon of the Holy Church, extremely powerful, and skilled in secret spatial spells, making him difficult to kill. Indeed, the giant snakes thunder breath killed the three others, but it only made Thornes body stiffen for a moment before the lightning was absorbed by a space rift. Seeing this, the giant snake grew somewhat interested and murmured to itself, Exile to the Void? Heh, interesting. Too bad, you cant long-range teleport in my domain. How will you escape? In the distance, Thornes expression was dark enough to drip water. No one knew better than he did what that meant. Tearing through the void had been as easy for him as tearing through a piece of parchment; but now, with the domain restriction, the void had become like thick steel, demanding ten times the Curse Power to tear. Thorne knew it would be difficult to escape on his own. With a fierce light in his eyes, he suddenly pulled out a card depicting a purple gemstone door: Release! The card disintegrated, and almost instantaneously, an ancient-looking gate appeared out of nowhere. [Relic?Gate of Void] Explanation: Level V ancient relic; exclusive to the God Thief Sequence. Using it requires mastery of high-tier spatial Elemental Laws; consumes Void energy to create a portal to a designated coordinate space; Leonard, looking at this preparation, was also surprised, An ancient relic? It wasnt just a fifth tier, but a spatial treasure he had never seen before. One had to admit, the foundation of the Holy Church was indeed profound. A common deacon simply pulled out a level five relic. With such a relic at his side, it wouldnt be easy for anyone to keep hold of him. No wonder Thorne had been fearless all along. However, the giant snake, looking on, only sneered in its serpentine eyes, Trying to escape? Hehe... Suddenly, it spat out a blast of frost. In an instant, with the sound of crack, crack of forming ice, lines of deadly frost spread across the swampy ground, and in moments, the Black Dragons scale armor hundreds of meters away was encased in a sheen of crystal. The temperature in the air around plummeted by dozens of degrees. Although the Extreme Cold Law was one of many Elemental Laws, it had a crowd-control ability unmatched by other elements. Once the temperature dropped low enough, microscopic matter would gradually lose its activity. Not just movement, but even the activity of consciousness could be frozen. With that single breath of frost, Thorne, who was just about to open the Void Door to escape, was frozen on the spot along with the door, his hands motion of twisting the doorknob slowed down by dozens of times. The freezing too was a continuous law damage, and it looked like he was about to die on the spot. Leonard and his companions, watching this, finally breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out spatial Elemental Laws were not entirely invincible. When faced with a tier hierarchy oppressive force, the rules still had to be followed. At that moment, the giant snakes eyes tightened, showing an unprecedented seriousness. Leonard and his companions also acutely sensed the sudden heavy atmosphere, guessing in unison, Could there be another powerful adversary? Almost at the moment of the thought, They heard a click as the lock on the door opened. The[Void Door]had actually opened! Not good, its a two-way passage! Leonard immediately realized something was terribly wrong. Because the Void Door wasnt opened by Thorne, but from the other side. Chapter 1008 - 1008 310 The Expert is Stable_3 ?Chapter 1008: Chapter 310 The Expert is Stable_3 Chapter 1008: Chapter 310 The Expert is Stable_3 That is to say, someone on the other side of the Void Door is coming through! The Thorny Snake Corps is just the vanguard, and the Southern Continent has top-level Card Masters. The one coming now is definitely not an ordinary powerhouse. As soon as the door cracked open a sliver, a terrifying Dragons Might instantly leaked out. Leonard Churchill, like a cat with its tail stepped on, had all his hairs stand on end. It was a kind of pressure he had never felt before. The hostility was undisguised, piercing like needles, forcing one to avert their gaze. Exactly which tier is it? Leonard was pinned down by that Dragons Might, unable to move a muscle. He was already on thin ice, as if he could fall into an ice cave at any moment. But at this moment, a sense of excitement arose from deep within him. Looking up at the scenery from the peak of the world, the world in his eyes became clearer. In the instant his thoughts froze, the Great Snake snorted coldly, Hmph! A Ninth-Order Card Master from the Southern Continent... Overreaching so far, do you really think you can show off in front of this entity? The White Dragon understood the significance of a Card Masters heritage better than most. Though those Dragon Descendants of the Southern Continent were strong, in its eyes, they were nothing more than servants enslaved by dragons. It certainly wouldnt let these fellows be killed off Before the aura from inside the Void Door could run rampant, the Great Snakes oppressive force pushed back just as fiercely. The person behind the door seemed to sense the danger and didnt dare to show up rashly. Taking advantage of the crack in the Void Door, a dragon claw reached out and swiftly pulled Thorne toward the gap. However, because Thornes lower half was frozen into the ice, this violent tug directly tore his legs off. The person behind the door didnt seem prepared to be so cautious, thinking that this was the only way to rescue from afar. With a rip, blood and ice froth splattered through the air, and Thornes upper half shot into the Void Door. The Space Rift instantly healed, and that domineering Dragons Might also vanished without a trace. ... Escaped? Leonard watched the disappearing space door, the pressure vanishing on the spot. This was good news for them. However, the White Snake overhead looked at the place where the Void Door had vanished, its gaze equally grave. Although it had repelled the enemy, in that moment of clashing auras, it too sensed that the other party was very strong. And furthermore, there was more than one powerful aura. Of course, it also didnt know that in the faraway Southern Continent, at the headquarters of the Holy Church in the Ariel Empire, Pope Bolarante and several Red Robed Archbishops looked at Thornes half-remaining corpse, their faces darkening in unison. Coming to his senses, Leonard certainly didnt forget the proprieties, saluting to the Great Snake in the sky, Thank you, senior, for saving our lives. Sophia Jones at his side also said, Thank you, Ancestral Spirit, for saving our lives. This White Snake was the Immortal Aegis Animal contracted by the White Familys ancestors three thousand years ago; for all descendants of the White Family, addressing it as Ancestral Spirit was absolutely correct in terms of seniority. The White Dragon glanced over at Leonard without paying much attention and then turned its gaze to Sophia, nodding slightly, Hmm. It seemed quite satisfied with its chosen host, speaking again, You, girl, are not bad. Facing a top-tier being, and one entwined with her fate and bloodline as an Ancestral Spirit, Sophia didnt dare take any liberties, Ancestral Spirit, you... But before she could say more, the White Dragon impatiently interrupted, No need for niceties. I just didnt want to take advantage of you youngsters, consider my intervening as a trade for that offering you made. ... Sophia listened with a slightly awkward expression. Leonard, standing beside her, kept silent. Neither had a hint of temper. Such behavior was understandable for a Top Tier Immortal Aegis Animal. The fact that it stepped in to help was already showing them much favor. To foolishly think of using any contract to bind it was pure fantasy. But considering the difficulty of encountering such an expert, Leonard was not about to let this opportunity slip away. Moreover, The fact that the other party did not disappear on the spot actually left room for conversation. Leonard guessed that the Great Snake was probably curious about the current state of the White Family, or perhaps about his own situation. But a senior has their pride, and some things need the junior to bring up. Leonard took the initiative to ask, Excuse me, senior, I have a question... The White Dragon indeed knew what he wanted, answering directly, You want to ask about the Jar that fellow just took away? Continuing, it answered its own question, Its just an empty Jar, nothing significant. Empty? Leonard Churchill listened and inexplicably sighed in relief. Although he didnt know the purpose of those from the Southern Continent seeking the jar. But he definitely couldnt let them get it so easily. However, another problem arose. The jar was empty; where was the Outer God that was originally sealed inside? Leonard Churchill directly asked, Senior, what about... the Outer God that was sealed inside? The White Dragon casually said, That jar sealed the Plague Source Tacapala. Its divinity was burned clean by the Lamp of Ten Thousand Immortals for thousands of years. Just a piece of Godhood remained, which I took by the way... The tone of this great snake was casual, yet it revealed several extremely explosive pieces of information. Godhood? Divinity burned away? Casually mentioning the name of an Outer God? Leonard Churchill listened and his eyes flickered with thought. Could it be that an Outer God can be killed? The White Dragon saw through his thoughts and directly said, The Plague Law is one of the oldest Universe Laws. Plagues are something that will never disappear. That Plague Source Tacapala was one of the most venomous and dangerous Old Day Rulers from the previous era. The problem has only been temporarily solved, but in the future, He will inevitably make a comeback. ... Leonard Churchill listened thoughtfully, his thoughts automatically beginning to speculate. Old Day Rulers? The previous era? What was this situation? Leonard Churchills understanding of world history seemed to suddenly expand further, with countless thoughts branching out. Before he could ponder any longer, the White Dragon, as if seeing through something, muttered, Your ability reminds me of something familiar... It looks like that detestable fellow I once encountered. Oh, right, the Pursuer of Light from the Illumination Secret Society. That guy was using this ability... As it spoke, the creature mumbled to itself, No wonder. I was wondering how you found me earlier... ... Leonard Churchill didnt dare speak anymore. He even restrained all his thoughts. In the presence of such an existence, it felt as if everything he did lacked any semblance of privacy. Even his thoughts were seen through. Naturally, the White Dragon had no interest in prying into the secrets of a low-rank card master. Looking at Leonard Churchill and Sophia Jones, there was a slightly odd glint in its vertical pupils. Heh heh, it really is strange. The God-stealing Ring, a Supreme treasure of the White Family, is in the hands of you, an outsider, while that God Stealer origin card has merged with another, and yet the Immortal Laws Secret Scroll is in the hands of another group from the White Family... The weaker a family is, the more chaotic things become. ... Hearing this sarcastic remark, both Leonard Churchill and Sophia Jones didnt know how to reply. The ring was found. The origin card was merged with by chance. Honestly, they were indeed outsiders to the White Family. But the White Dragon wasnt interested in pursuing the matter; it only cared about its own host. Glancing at Sophia Jones, it couldnt hide its disdain as it said, Also, you girl, despite having pretty good talent, youve only learned the secret skills of the White family half-heartedly, even botching a sacrifice ceremony... Although the Immortal Aegis Animals have long lifespans, their cultivation is extremely slow. They must have a host to assist with their cultivation. Moreover, it had reached the final steps and needed a host with sufficient potential to have the chance to advance further. The Sixth-Tier host before it clearly did not meet its expectations. Sophia Jones listened to the critique about herself, and even with her usual grace and composure, she couldnt hide her awkwardness in front of this entity, saying, Ive disappointed the Ancestral Spirit... Enough... Although the White Dragon wasnt satisfied, it had no other choice. Becoming one who could merge with the God Stealing origin card was certainly not too bad. Like a snake that had lingered for too long, it was accustomed to talking to itself. Thinking of something, it continued, You shouldnt wander around aimlessly during this time. Focus on learning the secret skills of the God Stealer Sequence... Let me think, there should still be some ancestral lands of the White Family in the Central Continent. Ill give you a few addresses; go find them yourself. Also, get your hands on the Immortal Laws Secret Scroll on your own; that thing is very important for your future promotion to a high tier... Dont bother me if its nothing important, and I wont respond to you. Whenever you can summon me out with your own power through a contract, then we can talk about other matters... Sophia Jones quickly said, Many thanks to the Ancestral Spirit. Leonard Churchill also felt elated upon hearing this. This support was stable indeed. Though the great snakes words sounded disdainful and distant, the world itself was cruel. Strong card masters are not produced by seniors who pre-chew food and feed it to their descendants. Rather, they grow on their own amidst crises. The fact that the great snake was willing to give pointers was already the best outcome. Chapter 1009 - 1009 311 Spoils of War of the Voodoo Master ?Chapter 1009: Chapter 311 Spoils of War of the Voodoo Master Chapter 1009: Chapter 311 Spoils of War of the Voodoo Master The Immortal Spirit Snake, ancient beyond measure, seemed to have little interest in its new, feeble host. Its manner of speaking was aloof and perfunctory. After giving Sophia Jones a few pointers, it vanished into thin air. Yet Sophia Jones appeared as if she had comprehended something profound, her eyes sparkling with sudden understanding as she respectfully said to the fog in the void, Thank you, Ancestral Spirit, for your guidance. Only she knew that while the Ancestral Spirit seemed detached, it had actually imparted all the guidance she needed. The food was fed right to her mouth; at her current realm, that was all she could digest. .... Leonard Churchill watched as the great snake disappeared, only then breathing a sigh of relief. Although the snake bore no malice, the oppressive feeling of its tier was very real. Moreover, now whenever he saw anything, his brain would involuntarily start to extrapolate. Contemplating the White Snake, an Immortal Aegis Animal embodied with High-level Laws of the Universe, gave him a feeling as if his brain could crash. It wasnt unnameable, but it was certainly an incomprehensible existence. Meanwhile, Aragon was struck dumb with amazement. He had never imagined that things would develop to this stage. He had come resigned to his fate, ready to face his death in fulfilling the agreement with Leonard Churchill. Facing the experts of the Southern Continent, he saw no chance of victory. But unexpectedly, the situation changed so abruptly. Leonard Churchills companion had actually gained recognition from a top-tier Immortal Aegis Animal? How did a Sixth Order Card Master manage to win the approval of such a high-tier Immortal Aegis Animal? Although the God Stealer line of the White Family had been interrupted in the Southern Continent, there are many commonalities in the fifty-two Professional Sequences; Aragon was a descendant of the Hero Frederick lineage and had seen the pinnacle of this world. Because his perspective was so high, he was even more baffled about how such a contract could succeed. The ability to comprehend such a domineering Domain at the Sixth Tier surely indicated an exceptional talent. But that definitely was not the primary reason. For an Immortal Aegis Animal of that caliber, even Eighth-Order or Ninth Order Card Masters might not catch its eye. Aragon knew there must be some secret involved that was not meant for outsiders to know, and tactfully showed no intention of prying further. ... The crisis had ended. The swamp was covered with a layer of frost, the cold wind biting. Leonard Churchill did not forget Aragons timely reinforcement, and said to the large Toad, Aragon, thank you! The big Toad shook its head slightly, a hint of apology in its voice, I didnt help much. In its eyes, it had not only failed to help but had almost put both Leonard Churchill and himself in danger because of its own problems. Leonard Churchill did not feel the same. They had survived because of the snake, it seemed. But having understood the world better, he knew that acquiring an outcome related to every element of the situation at that time. Part of it was certainly influenced by the Heros destiny. The two were no strangers to each other, and having understood each others character, Leonard Churchill did not stand on ceremony. Then, Aragon took out a Card from the depths of its crimson tongue, Heres the Key back to you. Looking at the sticky card, then back at the Toad, Leonard Churchill hesitated. The Gamils Omnipotent Key was a rare Relic in itself. Aragon could barely hide his apology as he said, I had intended to meet up with Miss Alice first and then discuss the Alliance with you. But it seems plans have changed... I still have methods left by the Holy Church in my body, and Im sure there will be a lot of trouble later... Its dangerous for you if I stay with you... So, I plan to keep away as much as possible for a while, until I solve this problem inside me, then I will come to join you again. Listening, understanding flashed in Leonard Churchills eyes. Aragons identity was special, and it was expected that the higher-ups of the Ariel Empire would not let him go easily. Not putting on any pretense, Leonard Churchill simply said, Fine! Take care. Hmm! Aragon nodded his head. After discussing plans to meet up later, the giant Toad hopped away into the depths of the swamp. ... With Aragon gone, only Leonard Churchill and Sophia Jones remained. Without outsiders around, Leonard Churchill began to gather the Spoils of War. There lay the bodies of two Sixth Tiers and the Seventh Grade Black Widow Hester. Transcendent knowledge above the Seventh Grade was a scarce resource even in the Southern Continent. Leonard Churchill held high expectations for these Spoils of War. The commotion from the earlier battle had not been small, and since the space door had rescued the severely injured Thorne at the end, the higher-ups of the Ariel Empire must already know what happened here. There were also many teams from the Southern Continent surrounding the Plague Marsh. The two did not dare to linger at the battlefield for long, gathered the belongings from the bodies, processed the signs of battle at the scene, and then quickly vanished into the swamp. Deep in the marsh, in a sequestered Dense Forest, Sophia Jones was meditating and healing her wounds with closed eyes. Her injuries were severe, requiring considerable time to recover. Moreover, having just successfully Contracted her first Immortal Aegis Animal, she had much to Comprehend. The unique aspect of the God Stealer Sequence was not just that the Immortal Aegis Animals could help in battle. More importantly, it was the assistance in cultivation. To some extent, the mutual cultivation Comprehension between the Contracted master and the Accompanied Immortal Aegis Animals could enhance each others understanding. This wasnt just the kind of guidance a Teacher gives to a student; it was a major shortcut. It was like being close to a fireplace, where even if the fireplace is silent, you could still feel its warmth. Especially for the ethereal cultivation related to understanding Universe Law, this shortcut can make the masters cultivation far more efficient. Chapter 1010 - 1010 311 Voodoo Masters Spoils of War_2 ?Chapter 1010: Chapter 311 Voodoo Masters Spoils of War_2 Chapter 1010: Chapter 311 Voodoo Masters Spoils of War_2 The Churchill familys cultivation is a secret that is never divulged to outsiders. But Sophia Jones did not avoid mentioning it and told Leonard Churchill quite a bit. After knowing the truth, Leonard envied her greatly. Although the Giant Snake of the Immortal Aegis animals seemed indifferent, the contract still existed. Its understanding of laws would constantly nourish the host. In other words, Sophia Jones is now standing on the shoulders of a giant. Even without the giant pointing out anything, the scenery she could see was completely different from before. Leonard was quite happy that Sophia had obtained such a Big Chance. After all, he was waiting for her to comprehend the super tier domains transcendent knowledge, which would then provide an additional path for him to obtain it. At this moment, Leonard was not thinking about the future. He was fully engrossed in browsing through the Spoils of War. In the several Storage Rings he had previously collected, there were too many things to fill the gaps in his knowledge. Two Sixth Tier, one God Thief Sequence, and one Beast Walker Sequence. Sixth Tier professionals in the Southern Continent were already considered High-Order Card Masters, and they had a large amount of precious professional classic books and Secret Skills. This is an unbroken lineage of card mastery that has developed for three thousand years. Leonard found too many spells, Martial Skills, and transcendent knowledge he had never heard of before. He was utterly fascinated by them. The most important acquisition was the Storage Ring of Black Widow Hester! The Seventh Grade professional bloody card of the Plague Doctor, Voodoo Master, had also been looted, but it was only of Golden Quality. There were also several relics and some Curse Cards, which were also quite valuable. But Leonard wasnt very interested in those. What he was more concerned about was those invaluable classic books. So it is indeed the Curse of Immortality... Upon seeing the Plague Doctors Undying Secret Manual found in Hesters Storage Ring, Leonards eyes sparkled with excitement. He then confirmed that the Secret Skill Hester had used earlier was one of the Fifty-two Demonic God Secret Skills, the Undying Curse! However, the Secret Manual recorded in this manual was clearly not the original version and was missing a lot. It seemed to be a greatly simplified version. Even so, after thousands of years of improvement, the lineage of Plague Doctors from Hesters line had developed a very strong Healing Secret Skill. Leonard read the manual carefully. As he was cultivating this Healing Demon Gods Mysterious Technique, he could easily understand it. His own Curse of Immortality was directly from that half of the Primordial copper plate, and he had comprehended and understood the Secret Skill himself, which had limitations. Although at the same Fourth Tier, the Plague Doctors Undying Secret Manual definitely could not reach the healing abilities Leonard currently possessed. The good thing was that it also used much less life span. The card masters from the Southern Continent who compiled the Secret Manual discovered some unique cultivation insights. To Leonard, this was a treasure that he could not find even if he sought it. Every word in this manual was a summary of experience that required countless generations to try again and again, fail, and then record. If it were up to him alone, it might take hundreds or thousands of years for him to think of something so comprehensive. Moreover, the most important thing was that the puzzlements at his current realm, in the eyes of the Black Widow Hester, who was three Great Ranks higher, were not puzzling at all. Within this manual, he resolved many problems he had encountered before. It not only perfected some weaknesses in his current cultivation of the Undying Curse but also showed him the path he needed to take for the future development of the curse. To him, the value of this manual was immeasurable. And so, Leonard was immersed in the task of poring over the Spoils of War. Inside Hesters Storage Ring was not just the Curse of Immortality, but also a large quantity of classic books related to Plague Doctors. Such as Alchemists Plague Note, Cairns Voodoo Spell Encyclopedia, Legend of the Duckbill Doctors during the Dark Ages, Voodoo Book: The Gift of the Reaper and the Convenant of Life, Light of Plague and Cure... Spellcaster Type Card Masters who advanced to high tiers were generally masters in researching certain domains. Hester was no exception. Her accomplishments in the fields of Curses, Toxins, Plague, and Healing were very high. The Storage Ring contained her research results and various reference documents, a significant portion of which were unique secret manuals passed down only within her lineage. This was transcendent knowledge that money couldnt buy on the outside. As Leonard reviewed them, his scope of knowledge greatly expanded. He regarded these books as treasures and avidly absorbed them. He was engrossed in that efficient state of learning, feeling that even with Shadows helping him to learn, time was not enough. Several days passed in a blink. .... On this day. Shadows next to Leonard were briskly flipping through various classic books, while in front of him lay a Sheepskin Scroll wrapped in a field of Mental Power. This was a special piece of sheepskin, written not in ordinary ink but with a type of alchemical ink that could bear the attachment of Mental Power. This allowed readers to not only see the words. But also to feel some of the intention that the author wanted to express. The written language on it was esoteric and difficult to understand, not Taron Ancient Language, nor Demons language, but Simplified Dragon Language. After several days, Leonard could already roughly understand this language used exclusively by the Noble Class of the Ariel Empire. And this particular Sheepskin Scroll had occupied him for several hours now. He couldnt bear to put it down because it contained secrets on the Understanding of Divine Power! It seems that its very hard to advanced into Seventh Grade... Unless one has a strong Dragon Descendant bloodline that naturally brings with it Dragons Might to assist in advancement, comprehending Divine Power to advance seems nearly impossible according to population probability... Chapter 1011 - 1011 311 Spoils of War from the Voodoo ?Chapter 1011: Chapter 311 Spoils of War from the Voodoo Master_3 Chapter 1011: Chapter 311 Spoils of War from the Voodoo Master_3 Leonard Churchill furrowed his brows tighter as he read on, muttering to himself from time to time. Hester was a bona fide Seventh Tier. According to her cultivation notes, the Southern Continent also boasted countless individuals of exceptional talent, all of whom had attempted to advance on their own by comprehending Divine Power. But the reality was cruel. To advance to the Seventh Tier as a card master was already a talent among ten thousand. And amongst those, the ones who could understand Divine Power on their own were even rarer than phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. How difficult it was, Hester couldnt even describe. But Leonard saw from her cultivation notes that she had tried very hard, spending nearly ten years in the process, yet she failed. In the end, she had chosen to increase the purity of her Dragon Descendant bloodline and only with the help of Dragons Might did she step over the threshold of the Seventh Tier. Most of the top-rank card masters in the Southern Continent had followed this same path. Do I also have to, like the Old Man, be stuck at this threshold for decades? Leonard thought of this with a headache. Before comparing, he did not know any better. Now, after looking through Hesters cultivation notes, he understood that Barre Shepherd was truly remarkable. In the Southern Continent, there were many Secret Skills and special potions to assist the comprehension of Divine Power, but those who succeeded were still few. Yet that old man managed to feel his way through the darkness on his own and truly made it... Everyone knew that comprehending Divine Power on ones own would mean a higher ceiling for future potential. But from between the lines, Leonard could see the word esoteric. It wasnt a path where effort guaranteed results. It wasnt as if there were no geniuses in the Southern Continent; many proud talents chose to undergo secluded and arduous cultivation. However, the result was that after decades of desolate meditation, very few succeeded; the vast majority wasted years in vain and still couldnt take the final step. No matter how he looked at it, luck and esoterism seemed to play a bigger part than effort. Leonard looked at the sheepskin scroll and muttered, This is difficult... He thought that perhaps in the future, he might need to look for cultivation secret methods related to Divine Power. ... Maybe it was Leonards muttering that disturbed her, but at this moment, Sophia Jones, who hadnt opened her eyes for days, suddenly spoke up, Whats wrong? Leonard held up the sheepskin scroll and said, This. Its about Divine Power Cultivation. Thinking that Sophia was also at the threshold of the Seventh Grade, he handed her the scroll, translated the content in Dragon Language for her, and shrugged, According to this, comprehending Divine Power seems very difficult... Indeed, it is very difficult. As Sophia looked at the text on the sheepskin scroll, her eyes divine glow slightly subsided, showing seriousness. She had struggled in this realm for no short time. Of course, she could appreciate the difficulty of that threshold more than Leonard. Yet she had thought of something and said, However, during our time at Gold-digging Dock, Barre Shepherd gave a few of us Legends some guidance. Now, there seems to be some clue. Sophia Jones continued, looking at Leonard as if to offer guidance, If you focus on the cultivation of Fighting Intent, it might be easier. ... Of course, Leonard knew that. Barre Shepherd had already spoken to him about this veterans experience long ago. But the cultivation of Intention had no mantra or technique; it grew through continuous trials and tribulations. Even if spoken about, this method made little difference from being left unsaid. At least for Leonard, the only benefit was that in certain dire situations, he had a comforting rationale to justify his actions. Hmm... Sophia hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to say something. But without reaching a certain realm, even if she spoke, Leonard wouldnt understand. She glanced at Leonard Churchills slightly pursed lips and understood what was troubling him. Despite being at the Fourth Tier, it was as if he could foresee the inevitable bottlenecks others would encounter in their life. The more talented a person is, the more pride they tend to have. In her eyes, Leonard Churchill was the most outstanding of them all. Sophia Jones was certain that if he ever reached that point in the future, he would not take a step back and seek shortcuts, but rather would choose to confront Divine Power head-on. Thats why he was troubled. This kind of obsession could become a driving force, but if unresolved, it could also become a hindrance. Leonard Churchill was obviously unaware of his own obsessiveness; though he verbally expressed his difficulties, his heart was quite calm. The Seventh Grade was still too far off. Curiously, he looked at Sophia Jones and asked, Aunt Jones, do you now feel confident about reaching the Seventh Grade? After thinking for a moment, Sophia Jones spoke with precision, Hmm... Before, I wasnt very confident that I could advance by comprehending Divine Power on my own. According to Senior Barre Shepherd, I still lacked some experience and fortune. But now... She paused, then added, The old ancestor who made a contract with me became my Accompanied Immortal Aegis Animal; the things I didnt understand before, I now grasp. Perhaps, it wont be a problem anymore. These past few days, she had clearly made significant gains. Listening to her, Leonard Churchill felt happy for her, Oh? He raised an eyebrow and with a playful tone joked, Then in the future, I will have to rely on Aunt Jones quite a bit. His words were unabashed, his thick-skinned expression clearly conveying his intent to cling to a wealthy woman and ride on coattails. Sophia Jones smiled joyfully, well aware that he was joking. But she unusually refrained from modesty, and as if a thought struck her, she hinted with a subtle smile, If you truly reach that bottleneck, when it comes right down to it, I can actually help you out a bit. Hearing this, Leonard Churchill exclaimed in delight, Ah? Was a joke he made offhandedly really possible? No sooner had Sophia Jones spoken than she seemed to swallow back her words, simply saying, If you can comprehend while in the Sixth Tier, well talk then. Hmm? Leonard Churchill felt that she hadnt finished her thought. This... Sophia Jones noticed Leonard Churchills inquisitive look and furrowed her brows slightly. Considering the nature of their relationship, there was no need to hold back. After a moment of contemplation, she slowly said, While I cant assist you in comprehending Divine Power, if one day you come across the threshold of a Domain, I... I do have some secret methods that could help you successfully comprehend it. At least, my Descending Gods, youll likely be able to comprehend. Leonard Churchill blinked, guessing with a slight surprise, The God Thief secret method of the White Family? He recalled the benefits Sophia Jones had mentioned about the contract with her Accompanied Immortal Aegis Animal. It sounded like a similar method. Something like that, she said. Sophia Jones showed no intention of elaborating. She lazily lifted her eyelids and gave Leonard Churchill a glance, her fleeting gaze seemingly hiding some unspoken words. Alright. Leonard Churchill chuckled, not pressing further. If Sophia Jones had said so, then it must be possible. Domain was also a significant threshold. According to what Aragon and others said, Domain is usually a power of law control that Seventh-Order Card Masters can comprehend. The East Continent is special because it was stuck at the Sixth Tier for three thousand years. Thus, many predecessors who perished at the Sixth Tier had gleaned some forward-looking experiences, creating the special Legend realm, a semi-step into the Seventh Grade. Now having mastered the Divine Skill Catastrophe Ground Roar, Leonard Churchill would certainly be able to touch upon the Domain more easily than others. Additionally, with Sophia Joness Descending Gods by his side, it sounded very promising. Chapter 1012 - 1012 312 Why did you have to capture this ?Chapter 1012: Chapter 312: Why did you have to capture this Plague God of all people? Chapter 1012: Chapter 312: Why did you have to capture this Plague God of all people? Be extra cautious of the White Family. Those guys didnt succeed last time, and with such a big mess this time, theyre sure to be relentless in coming after you again, Hmm. But I actually think they wouldnt dare to come in the near future. As long as youre aware of the situation. Take care. Okay. Aunt Jones, see you next time. Hmm. ... Sophia Joness injuries had almost completely healed. She still had to visit several ancestral lands of the White Family in search of the God Stealer Sequence legacy. It was a trial and test meant only for her. Leonard Churchill didnt feel his strength qualified him to accompany her. And so they parted ways. Battle noises could already be heard nearby the marsh, and Leonard Churchill wasnt inclined to linger; he turned and left. As for the threat from the White Family, Leonard Churchill didnt take it to heart. The enmity was already established, and he didnt think pulling in a bit more hatred would make any difference. Moreover, if those guys werent fools, they could certainly guess that the fact Leonard Churchill and his people had survived an ambush in the Southern Continent meant they must possess powerful means. Without a sure-fire plan, they definitely wouldnt show themselves rashly. Considering that this expedition to the Plague Marsh included the elite of the White Family, suffering heavy losses, they were likely to stay quiet for a long period. As for the Spoils of War in the DP-955 Research Institute, all the valuable items were on the very bottom floor, and Leonard Churchill thought there was no need to consider them for the short term. Ordinary people couldnt take them anyway. With the indomitable Leech King guarding, even a Seventh Grade would be marching to their death. And since the jar had already been taken, the top powerhouses of the Southern Continent were probably not interested in taking the risk. Leonard Churchill figured he would wait until he had enough strength before considering taking a look. He reckoned Master Merlin would certainly be interested in those research materials and the Leech King, so after passing the message to Catherine Carter, he left the Plague Marsh. ... Every day, a large influx of adventurers from the Southern Continent pour into the Old Continent. Besides the Thorny Snake Corps, there were several other corps near the Plague Marsh. The news of the Thorny Snake Corps complete annihilation spread quickly among those adventurers in the Southern Continent, driving them wild. But almost no one knew exactly what had happened. This also attracted a lot of curious people to explore the deep Marsh and the remains of the research institute. However, the Corrupt Human Mushroom was in some ways trickier to deal with than the Leech King. That region had only the dead and a large number of highly poisonous spores. Once a few people died, the adventurers who gathered out of excitement dwindled. Several days later. In the pitch-black valley, a fully armed group of mercenaries were escorting supplies as they stealthily advanced at a steady pace. The air was thick with the scent of decay. On the bare and glowing tree branches, red-eyed ravens perched, watching the passing group below. This path, marked on the map as the Valley of Death, was a dangerous area once a battlefield of old, where many humans had perished and, as a result, numerous Undead Creatures roamed. As the mercenaries escorted the supplies, their losses were not insignificant. Oh, damn those Ghouls, last night we lost three brothers again... Guys, keep a sharp eye out, this is the cargo commissioned by the Royal Academy. Dont mess up. Weve got seventy kilometers to go, lets put in the effort! Captain, once we deliver this cargo, do we really plan to check out the Rune Highlands? Of course, were going to take a look. But Ive heard that place is just a wasteland of Undead Spirits, full of Undead Creatures, with exceptionally high casualty rates for explorers. Tim, you just dont get it, do you? Didnt you see our cargo is for the Royal Academy? First comes the cargo, then the Academys main forces are expected to arrive. Do you think the information those noble lords have could be flawed? I suspect that theres definitely a huge treasure in the Rune Highlands, and we cant go wrong by trying our luck... The captains right! Hey, Scar, do you guys know what Rune means? Yo, I almost forgot youre an Archaeologist. Lets hear it... The ancient texts say that Rune is the origin of all curse inscriptions, the manifestation of symbols from the Universe Law. Its said that each Rune Inscription possesses a magical Transcendent power, and by obtaining one, you can glimpse the secrets of the High-level Laws... This wasteland to the northeast has been called this name for tens of thousands of years, but whats strange is that even during the Talun Era, there are hardly any records. Dont you think there are some secrets? .... Among the Big Cigarette Mercenary Corps, a nondescript middle-aged Swordsman sat on a wagon pulled by a Demon Beast, listening to the others idle chatter. Thats right, this was Leonard Churchill in disguise. Under normal circumstances, having been involved in such a ruckus in the Plague Marsh, Leonard Churchill, a significant participant, should have fled far away. But he didnt do that. Often, the safest place is right under the lights. With multiple treasures like the Clown Mask and the Hero Cloak, he wasnt worried about being detected by the enemy through mystical means. Moreover, the Spoils of War he obtained from Hester, the Black Widow, and others had firmed his intent to continue muddying the waters among these people of the Southern Continent. The Old Continent is vast, and the deeper you go, the higher the risks. If he were to wander alone like a headless fly in search of treasure, not only would the efficiency be low, but the gains would also not meet expectations. The Southern Continent folks all had systematic, uninterrupted Card Master legacies. The Spoils of War from just those few people would be considered a major discovery in the East Wilderness that would shock the Card Master World. This was much more efficient than Leonard Churchill exploring ancient relics bit by bit, whether alone or with countless teams. And the most crucial point intelligence! The Ariel Empire had deployed a massive number of corps and adventurers to develop the Old Continent, and the vast population supported an accurate intelligence network. Chapter 1013 - 1013 312 Why did you have to capture this ?Chapter 1013: Chapter 312: Why did you have to capture this Plague God of all people?_2 Chapter 1013: Chapter 312: Why did you have to capture this Plague God of all people?_2 ` Leonard Churchill needed these pieces of intelligence. He picked this caravan because their destination was the Rune Highlands. In Leonards hands was a mysterious map obtained from the Waren City Rebel Camp. After much contemplation, he suspected that the place pointed to in the Rune Highlands might be related to the Augustus Imperial Tomb. Previously wanting to go, he had no clues. But people from the Southern Continent, relying on a large number of adventurers, had already discovered several relatively safe routes. Following this team would be much safer. Moreover, he had also learned a lot of information he was interested in. For example, he was very interested in what people were saying about the Rune Highlands. There are certainly experts among the folk, and these professional mercenaries, who risk their lives for a living, have a keener nose for treasure than the higher-ups. Then there was that matter of the Royal Academys supplies. Leonard had also inferred some details that were more specific than what the mercenaries knew. He had seen the escorted supplies before and found that they included luxury daily necessities essential for noble life, and irrelevant to adventures. Such as gold cups, silver plates, fine imitation blankets... This meant that a Royal Academy noble group might already be on their way here. Only those pampered noble sons and daughters would indulge in such luxury. This piqued Leonards interest greatly. What exactly was in Rune Highlands is, for the time being, unknown, but at the very least... in his eyes, the Royal Academy Trial Group was a walking treasure trove. The Southern Continent is a pure kingship society where nobles hold the absolute high-end resources. According to Aragon, the Southern Continent has inherited most of the fifty-two Sequences. And it has Sequences that truly lead directly to God Tier! Most of those unbroken inheritances are held in the hands of the great nobles! The Ariel Royal Imperial Academy happens to be the empires premier noble academy, where its students are either rich or noble. Leonard especially likes various noble sons and daughters. And if those noble students have gone to the Rune Highlands, there must be a reason. This made him even more certain of his own conjecture: somewhere in that wilderness, might indeed be the location of the Augustus Imperial Tomb! .... It wasnt fast traveling seventy kilometers, and after killing a few hundred Undead Creatures, the Big Cigarette Mercenary Corps escort team finally reached the Lament Valley Camp. This was westward, toward the Rune Highlands. When they arrived, a large temporary camp made of huge logs had already been erected. In the camp, bonfires burned vigorously, with armored, sword-wearing adventurers coming and goingan animated scene. By now, Leonard had become very familiar with spy life, and after arriving, he didnt rush and simply inquired about intelligence. The moment he arrived at the camp, he noticed something strange. There were three regular corps here, about the same size as the Thorny Snake Corps, well-trained, and with many High-Order Card Masters. But these regular armies didnt seem to be here for exploration; they looked more like they were clearing obstacles in advance and exploring the path to welcome the noble sons and daughters of the Royal Academy Trial Group that would follow. The task of exploring fell to the mercenaries and hunters. These people from the Southern Continent had already been here for many days, and the camp was full of intelligence. This Rune Highlands is really mysterious. I heard that yesterday the Red Beard Group of over three hundred people returned with only Old Burn, the leader, surviving. They said they encountered an Undead Bone Dragon... Hiss... A Bone Dragon? Not just the Bone Dragon. There are also Undead Spirit Giants, Behemoths, Human-faced Ghost Spiders, Demonized Treemen... these are all high-rank Undead species capable of spawning legendary monsters. No idea where this damned place got so many rare species... Yeah. Ive heard there are some card masters specializing in Undead Material coming to the camp. Its said that a few days ago, a lucky guy caught a Sixth Tier mythological Undead Creature, a Terror Gryphon, whose combat power is close to Seventh Grade... Hiss, those are some good Spirit Pets. If you take it back to the empire to auction, its worth more than a million gold coins... The Rune Highlands is indeed a holy place for training for Necromancy Series and Dark Type card masters... but for us, aside from the monsters, not a single relic has been found. Dont know whats worth digging for here. If it werent for the high mercenary fees, I would have thought of leaving... Hey, you just dont understand, do you? It is said that several Alternate Dimension spaces have been discovered, all related to Tombs storyline... I reckon there could be a large tomb nearby. Havent you seen that the Three Great Kingdoms have sent official corps here? A big event is definitely happening around here! Hopefully. War Slaves are not enough; I hope the hunting team can catch more people from the East Wilderness to make up the numbers. Otherwise, relying on us, who knows how many people will die before we can explore such a vast wilderness... Yeah. But, speaking of which, have you heard about the trouble in Plague Marsh... ... Leonard strolled around the camp and had already heard a significant amount of scattered information. It was as expected, Rune Highlands was extremely dangerous. But Leonard was also curious: why were so many Undead Creatures gathered here? Like Bone Dragons, Giants, Behemoths, Gryphons... those mythological Undead are extremely rare. Normally, youd be lucky to even encounter one, let alone a gathering. And there were many in the Rune Highlands? The adventurers couldnt figure it out. But when Leonard heard those reports, he felt a familiar sensation in his mind. Because he had encountered it once before. The Silver Moon Sect had once summoned Bone Dragons and Giants in Sinless City. And that core member, the Hunchbacked Old Cook, had used a legendary SpellUndead Catastrophe! ` Chapter 1014 - 1014 312 Why did you have to capture this ?Chapter 1014: Chapter 312: Why did you have to capture this Plague God of all people?_3 Chapter 1014: Chapter 312: Why did you have to capture this Plague God of all people?_3 So, Leonard Churchill instinctively thought of a possibility: Could it be that the Rune Highlands harbored so many rare Undead Spirits because someone had once unleashed a major Undead Catastrophe there? The more he deduced, the more he felt that this possibility was considerable. This highland had witnessed an unknown great battle thousands of years ago. ... Several days passed in a flash. Leonard Churchill settled down in the camp. Every day, a large number of people arrive at Lament Valley Camp from other places, and numerous adventurers depart to explore the wilderness. All sorts of new information also trickle back to the camp continuously. While Leonard Churchill was gathering information, he also noticed an increasing number of regular soldiers in the camp, and among the crowds, secret guards disguised as adventurers were investigating suspicious individuals. Seeing this, Leonard Churchill knew that the adults from the Royal Academy were about to arrive. That day. Like usual, Leonard Churchill was drinking in the shabby Hunters Tavern, listening to reports brought by hunters from all directions. He now goes by Sean. In the past few days, he had become quite familiar with the adventurers in the tavern. Having anticipated the arrival of the Royal Academy group, Leonard Churchill had disguised himself as an Information merchant to conveniently blend into the noble troops later on. However, before the Academy group arrived, an unexpected arrest warrant came first! While he was drinking, several soldiers clad in shining armor placed an arrest warrant in the most conspicuous spot on the taverns notice board. This immediately drew the curiosity of Leonard Churchill and the rest of the patrons. Whoa, a serious wanted notice from the Kingdom... Whats the deal with this guy? Not even Seventh Grade, yet on the S-level Wanted list? Wow, the bounty for information is three million Gold Coins? What on earth did he do to merit such a high bounty, hes worth as much as those rebel commanders... Could it have something to do with the incident in Plague Marsh? Probably not. This warrant is issued by the Red Dragon Royal Family. Knowing the character of the Royal Family, since they dared not reveal the reason for the warrant, it might involve some royal scandal. Hey, the timing of this warrant reminds me of a piece of gossip. About half a month ago, the treasure vault of the Red Dragon Royal Family was robbed, and they lost something very important... It caused a huge stir in the Royal City. Oddly though, the Royal Family only looked for the culprit but never disclosed what was stolen... How did a theft in the Royal City end up on an arrest warrant over here in the Old Continent? According to the description on the warrant, could this person be a professional spy from the East Wilderness? Hey, interesting. ... Everyone was puzzled. Among the adventurers who came from the Southern Continent this time, many were criminals, sent to the Old Continent to redeem their crimes through service. Therefore, it was virtually impossible for any wanted notice to be circulated in the Old Continent. Leonard Churchill was also puzzled. When he saw the description of suspected spy from the East Wilderness on the bounty notice, he thought it was a warrant for himself that had been posted. But it was not. The masked portrait on the warrant clearly depicted a woman. Even though the face wasnt visible, the bun hairstyle was drawn very vividly. Leonard Churchill felt it resembled a Bun-Haired Miss he knew. But still... The Southern Continent was so far away; surely she wouldnt have stolen something and fled to the Royal City of the Red Dragon, would she? Whats going on... There was a slightly strange expression in Leonard Churchills eyes. But then he thought, given Tracy Garcias means to emerge from The Gate of the Underworld, it wouldnt be surprising for her to venture to the Southern Continent. Yet what exactly did she steal? Leonard Churchill was extremely curious. Nevertheless, it was good that she hadnt been caught. As he was thinking, suddenly the camp outside the tavern erupted into commotion. Suddenly, someone yelled out, Come take a look! A big shot has arrived at our camp! Leonard Churchill listened as the light in his eyes retracted from the warrant, and he murmured, Theyve finally arrived, havent they. He had been preparing for so long and had finally waited until now. .... Wow, why have so many young nobles suddenly shown up? Oh my, the one leading them... isnt that His Highness, Nineteenth Prince Salo from the Royal Family? Indeed it is! And look at that princess dressed girl, shes Princess Caroline from The House of Duke Misty Mountain... That red-haired one is young master Beck from the Earls family. I was once employed by their Commerce Guild, only saw that young master once... What are all these important figures doing in this godforsaken place? Oh, I know, this must be the graduation trial from the Royal Academy! I never imagined the teachers would choose the Old Continent for the trial site... ... Leonard Churchill stood on the second floor of the tavern, blending in with the crowd to watch the group of young nobles escorted by knights enter the camp. He listened to the whispers nearby and matched the names and identities of those individuals. After sensing their aura, a cold glint flickered through Leonard Churchills slightly narrowed eyes: Theyre all quite strong... The graduates of the Royal Academy, the weakest among them, were Third-order Card Masters. In this group of young nobles of similar age to himself, there were even those of Fourth Tier and Fifth Tier. They werent just Dragon Descendants with a high purity of bloodline. They were also elites accumulated from childhood with the best resources. Their combat power was definitely not to be underestimated. Nor were their identities anything but distinguished. In this Trial Group of just a few dozen individuals, there were several princes and princesses. Leonard Churchill never underestimated these people. But personally witnessing the foundation of nobility, he still felt adventurers underestimated the nobility. These young masters and misses were wealthy, but not foolish. On the contrary, they were generally strong and excellent. The nature of the Dragon Clan was lustful, even to the point of disregarding race. Chapter 1015 - 1015 312 Why did you have to capture this ?Chapter 1015: Chapter 312: Why did you have to capture this Plague God of all people?_4 Chapter 1015: Chapter 312: Why did you have to capture this Plague God of all people?_4 As a Dragon Descendant, Leonard naturally inherited related habits. Nobles revered the density of Dragon Descendant bloodlines, so the higher the nobility, the more chaotic their lives, and the more offspring they had. It was said that the current King of the Red Dragon Kingdom had over a hundred children. But with so many princes and princesses, not all could have the right to inherit the throne. Therefore, the struggle for kingship was exceptionally brutal. Under such brutality, the strong were revered. After taking note of everyones looks and relevant information within the Trial Group, Leonards thoughts began to deduce and he confirmed something, thinking to himself, Heh, with these princes coming... this means that the Royal Family is here for that Great Sword... Initially, it was just speculation. But now, looking at those princes, he was almost one hundred percent certain that the Augustus Imperial Mausoleum was in the Rune Highlands. It looked like a graduation trial. In reality, it could be a struggle for royal power. After all, Aragon had mentioned before that the Olympus Holy Sword, one of the Four Great Sovereignty Sacred Artifacts, was likely to be within the King of Augustuss Mausoleum. Some well-informed members of the Royal Family had already extended their hands. ... Having anticipated this, Leonard wasnt surprised at all. He watched the group of nobles welcomed with bows by the hunters as they walked into the apartments specially constructed for them in the center of the camp. He also paid special attention to the accompanying guards, noticing many skilled individuals. The chances are slim... Leonard watched and pondered in his heart. Unless these noble young masters and mistresses get personally involved, with such security forces, Leonard might not even get past the external sentry. Those at the bottom of the hierarchy of the Royal Academys graduation trial were not in the know, and Leonard lacked sufficient information to deduce exactly what they were up to. But he wasnt in a hurry at all. Based on the current intelligence, the risks in the Rune Highlands were far greater than in the Plague Marsh. As long as these people were going on an expedition, he might as well wait; the opportunity might just present itself. The noble youngsters had entered their tents, and the crowd dispersed in a commotion. What followed were supplies, servants, and the slave procession, which werent particularly entertaining to watch. The slaves were kept outside the camp, chained together like animals. Leonard gave them a cursory glance. They were cannon fodder, expendable, and usually didnt warrant much attention. However, it was during this glance that he suddenly froze, a surge of surprise and doubt filling his heart, Eh? He even blinked a few times, almost believing he had seen incorrectly. After taking a closer look, Leonard was certain he wasnt mistaken; his eyelids twitched as he couldnt help but complain in his mind, Out of all people, why did you have to capture this one? Recently, there had indeed been many slave catchers all over the Southern Continent. There were also many people from the East Wilderness on the Old Continent, and many had been captured recently. But of all people... They had captured the one person they shouldnt have. Heh, havent seen you in a long time, old senior, Leonard greeted the man with a sneer. He hadnt expected to encounter an acquaintance in this manner. If he hadnt seen any opportunities before, Now, upon seeing that slave, he saw one. The one with a Slave Collar around his neck, a gap in his front teeth, and his lecherous gaze darting around... If not for Elder Clinton, whom he hadnt seen in a long time, then who? If others were captured as slaves, even if it was a hero like Aragon, Leonard would think the future unpredictable. But of all people, they had captured Elder Clinton, an individual akin to the Plague God? Based on past encounters, this man was a death focal point. In Leonards eyes, there was only one outcome. No matter what would happen in the future, Elder Clinton would survive, The others, if not tough enough, would die. Chapter 1016 - 1016 313 Information Merchant ?Chapter 1016: Chapter 313 Information Merchant Chapter 1016: Chapter 313 Information Merchant But really, what brings Elder Clinton here? Leonard Churchill saw Elder Clinton in the slave camp and felt no urgency about this old acquaintances situation. While other war slaves might face death at any moment, he would not. The fate lines on the elder were extraordinary. His presence here surely meant he came of his own volition, not due to other factors. Being captured as a slave was merely a means to an end, not the cause. Leonard Churchill wondered, Could there also be a Forbidden Ruins Stele in the wastelands? Elder Clinton had forgotten what he was searching for, but Leonard Churchill rememberedthose steles that recorded historical truths. Summer Shepherd City, Upper State Prison, the sealing of the Mithril Vein... Leonard Churchill knew about the steles in these three places. Elder Clinton had visited them all. But recalling the incident with the sealing of the Mithril Vein a century ago, Leonards memories grew hazy; the more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed, Huh... didnt that huge serpent mention some connection between the elder and the stele? The memory was blurry, and he couldnt recall what exactly had happened at the time. However, considering the laws of cause and effect, Leonard felt there must be some direct link between the steles appearances in those places and Elder Clinton. Upon further reflection, both the God-stealing Ring and the Demon Mark were brought out from the mines, and later the giant serpent recognized Sophia Jones as the contract master, suggesting some inexplicable connection. ... The noble young masters from the Royal Academy had arrived, and the most popular topic among the patrons at the adventurers inn was the identity of these nobles. Scandalous affairs of upper class societys big shots had always been one of the main sources of entertainment for the lower class. Tales of romances between princes and princesses, affairs of countesses, and wicked stepmothers of princesses... Leonard Churchill also pricked up his ears for these stories, whether true or false, sometimes even concocting ambiguous tales just to boast and shoot the breeze. Now that his targets had arrived, he just had to wait for his opportunity. He was currently Sean, one of the most active information merchants at Lament Valley Camp. Leonard felt that even if these noble young ladies and gentlemen werent fools, they would necessarily understand the importance of information. Although the nobility also had their own intelligence systems, civilian intelligence, especially regarding wilderness adventures, was often more grounded and practical. Especially in the high-fatality Rune Highlands, information was an indispensable preparation for increasing the chances of survival. Information merchant was the most reasonable role Leonard could think of to get in touch with that group of people. The situation unfolded just as he had anticipated. While Leonard was drinking and boasting in the inn with a bunch of familiar patrons, a broker with official backing approached him quietly, saying that a VIP wanted to inquire about some information. Leonard followed the broker out of the inn and headed to an apartment built for the nobility in the camp. The apartment wasnt large, but it was opulent. Compared to the adventurers shabby tents, it was considered extremely luxurious. There was even a private study in the apartment. Leonard had assumed he would meet with staff or intelligence officers. However, to his surprise, he was greeted by none other than Salo, the Nineteenth Prince of the Red Dragon Royal Family himself. And there wasnt just one information merchant. In total, seven had arrived in succession. Leonard glanced around and saw that nearly all the most well-informed colleagues from the camp were present. The information merchants were shrewd; seeing the situation, they understood what was going on. This muscular young man with red hair was one of the most promising candidates for the throne in the Red Dragon Kingdom. It was said that Prince Salos dragon blood lineage was very pure and his strength formidable, and his reputation had long preceded him at the Imperial Royal Academy. Although the information merchants often bragged about knowing various important figures, everyone present was officially receiving a summons from His Royal Highness for the first time. No one spoke, only the occasional sounds of nervous swallowing and heavy breathing could be heard. Leonard did not show any signs of nervousness. Once everyone had arrived, Prince Salo didnt even bother to open his eyes to look at the group of information merchants, simply stating lazily, Ive heard that you are the most well-informed information merchants in the camp. I need some information. There will be a generous reward for whatever interests me. To serve Your Highness is an honor for us. Leonard and the information merchants, all flattered, immediately responded with obsequious eagerness. The Royal Family looking for information would definitely pay a good price. Moreover, this could be their only chance in their lives to curry favor with royalty. Everyone was aware that the Nineteenth Prince gathered them together both to save trouble and to foster competition among them, ensuring he would receive more useful information. The merchants clamored to share their intel, fearing being too late and missing out on the reward. Yesterday, the Mongoose Adventure Group discovered an Underground Cave in the highlands called Sennas Cave, and they found Ghost Fog Grass inside, a rare material needed for top-tier potions, but there is also a Sixth Tier Nightmare Spider Swarm. Your Highness, this is the latest information, and its exclusive to me... Reward. Your Highness, the leader of the Giant Axe Mercenary Corps is my cousin. Theyve explored deep into the Rune Highlands. Two days ago, they found a Bone Dragon Nest with a Seventh Grade Bone Dragon and a large number of Undead Spirit Crystals... Hmm. This piece of information is good. Give the coordinates to the steward later. Reward! Chapter 1017 - 1017 313 Information Merchant_2 ?Chapter 1017: Chapter 313 Information Merchant_2 Chapter 1017: Chapter 313 Information Merchant_2 Your Highness, I know of a lone adventurer in the camp who has in his possession a treasure map of the Highlands. It has been preliminarily confirmed to be an ancient tomb robbers route map, pointing to some mysterious treasure. But the region is very dangerous, and the adventurer is recruiting people in the camp... Reward! Your Highness, I happened to buy a few pieces of mysterious metal that cannot be melted in the Adventurers Marketplace in the camp, which I suspect are the legendary [Arcanite]. Ive inquired about their origin, and they were brought back by the Lynx Hunter Group. We have bought all the related intelligence, and none other knows... Reward! ... Professional information merchants have their own sources of intelligence, holding onto some secrets not even known by the officials. They are all shrewd, knowing that the prince was not interested in ordinary intelligence, they all revealed their most guarded secrets. As they said, the majority of the intelligence was exclusive, unknown to outsiders. Its true, many were pieces even Leonard Churchill, who had inquired for so long, had never heard of. Prince Salo was also very generous, handing out bags of gold coins on the spot as a reward. This was far better than selling intelligence to haggling adventurers, the merchants talked for over half an hour, each earning a handsome profit. The prince was satisfied as well. Occasionally, Leonard Churchill also interjected with a few pieces of intelligence rarely known by others, never appearing too conspicuous throughout. .... Have you seen that Bounty Orders? Have you spotted any suspicious individuals? Unfortunately, Your Highness, we have not. ... Soon, the exchange of intelligence concluded. The merchants turned to leave. If Leonard Churchill were to walk away just like that, he would miss the opportunity he had prepared for a long time. He deliberately lagged behind at the end. Prince Salo was obviously very perceptive and saw the complex expression of hesitation and eagerness to perform on his face. Prince Salo, with a self-assured confidence as if he could see through peoples hearts, chuckled and asked, It seems theres some intelligence you havent finished sharing? A mere information merchant had no place to beat around the bush in front of him. If the intelligence wasted time without value, he would not show a pleasant expression. Yes, Your Highness. Leonard Churchill also took the opportunity to speak, adding, Forgive me for not speaking directly earlier, the intelligence I have concerns a matter of great importance... Oh? Prince Salo looked interested. In front of this person, Leonard Churchill knew he couldnt keep him in suspense, and he dropped a bombshell, saying, Based on my observation during this period, I suspect that the Rune Highlands may be related to the royal tombs of the Talun Era! ... Prince Salos expression remained the same, but a sharp glint that others would find difficult to perceive flickered in his eyes. He seemed to show only casual interest as he said, Your source of intelligence? Lets hear it... ..... Leonard Churchills current abilities were particularly well-suited for intelligence work. Most other information merchants were involved in the trade of intelligence. But he truly understood intelligence. The Adventurers Guilds task board was teeming with thousands of tasks, with a vast amount of new information updated daily. This intelligence varied greatly in value. There were those that were ineffective, misjudged, or fake... Not everyone could discern the truth. To deal with those fragmented and disordered bits of intelligence required incredibly meticulous thought, logical thinking, and sharp intuition. All the intelligence in the Lament Valley Camp was about the Rune Highlands. It seemed unrelated at first glance, each piece an independent message. But viewed from a high enough perspective, by analyzing a large quantity of intelligence... One could glimpse that these pieces of information were like puzzle pieces, eventually revealing the entirety of the Rune Highlands! Previously, Leonard Churchill didnt possess such abilities. But I Am the World did. Noah Wright was able to plan without fail largely because this ability gave him efficient and accurate analytical and deductive abilities to process intelligence. These past few days, Leonard Churchill, using his shadow overtly and covertly to gather intelligence, had acquired a substantial amount of it. Mixing all of them together and analyzing, he made some guesses that were almost close to reality. ... Leonard Churchill directly took out a map he had drawn and began his explanation. This was a map he had created recently from the intelligence he had gathered. In the entire camp, it would certainly count as the most detailed and accurate adventure map of the Rune Highlands. Such a map might not be unique to the royal family; they might even have more precise military maps and various ancient maps and relics left from thousands of years ago. Rather than keeping it hidden, it was better to show its value. Anyone who knew their stuff would immediately see that the drawer of the map was an expert in intelligence! As expected. Just by taking out this map, Prince Salo, looking at the densely drawn place names and annotations, also narrowed his eyes slightly. For the first time, he seriously regarded Sean, the information merchant. Leonard Churchill glanced at the prince from the corner of his eye and began his explanation. Seven days ago, the Iron Boots Adventure Team discovered a simple village ruin in the Red Rock Plateau Mountain Region. Although no valuable ancient items were found, in my view, the village itself is an important piece of intelligence... Even during the Talun Era, this wilderness was not suited for human habitation... so the identity and motives for their dwelling deserve scrutiny. Three days ago, in a direction thirty degrees northwest of the highlands, a suspected ancient rammed earth layer of a road was discovered. I suspect its a road for transporting materials for some large construction. However, whats strange is that so far, no large ruins have been discovered on the highlands... Chapter 1018 - 1018 313 Information Merchant_3 ?Chapter 1018: Chapter 313 Information Merchant_3 Chapter 1018: Chapter 313 Information Merchant_3 Five days ago, the Twin Sword Mercenary Group found some rust-covered weapons on the body of a human ghoul near the Giant Cliff, and I have seen the mark on the weapons, he said. There is a high likelihood that they bear the mark of the Royal Family of Augustus. The presence of such a person with this identity in the wilderness could very well be that of a Tomb Guardian... Also, the recent discovery of several Alternate Dimensions has also proven that the Rune Highlands contain tombs... Moreover, theres the Grave Diggers Treasure Map mentioned by my colleague Mr. Golangtai before. Ive heard about it as well. But I think its not just some ordinary treasure mapit might be a map for tomb robbing... ... Leonard Churchill spoke at length, pointing at the map. His arguments were well-founded. Not only Prince Salo, but several staff members and guards in the room also glanced over, clearly impressed. Leonard knew that by choosing to show his face before the nobility, he would draw more scrutiny. But that was all part of his plan. A solitary identity might seem easy to impersonate, and not easily exposed. But thats predicated on the assumption that no one knows he has infiltrated their ranks. When Leonard infiltrated the Thorny Snake Corps, thats how he operated. However, his role as the expertly disguised East Wilderness Spy was already exposed by the events in the Plague Marsh. To continue pretending to be inconspicuous now would only make him a more likely suspect. The role of an Information merchant, which entails dealing with many complex characters, involves many lines of cause and effect. Its not merely a matter of imitating the habits and individual markers of the person youre impersonating but also managing each thread of cause and effect well. Such an identity wouldnt normally be the first choice for someone looking to disguise themselves. But oddly enough, Leonard chose it. He had mastered enough skills and intelligence, and a near-paranoid confidence in his heart reassured him that he would not expose any flaws! This bold attempt would also yield great rewards in his role-playing endeavor. The proficiency of I Am the World skyrocketed. Leonard was well aware of this. This was just the beginning, the real test was yet to come. He continued to point at the map without any sign of timidity, drew out an area, and declared his findings, I have analyzed a lot of intelligence these past few days... I speculate that if there is a tomb, it is eighty percent likely to be within this area! ... After Leonard finished, the study fell into silence. Even Prince Salo turned to listen closely to his analysis. Leonard didnt guess wrongly. The Red Dragon Royal Family indeed had an ancient map of the Rune Highlands, as well as the latest map drawn by the militarys professional cartographers based on recent surveys, which was even more detailed and accurate than the one before them. But Leonards map gave Salo a new perspective. Salo was not surprised by the news that the Kings Mausoleum was somewhere in these highlands, for he knew in advance. But that was top-secret information that very few in the Royal Family were privy to! This information merchant before him had deduced it from various pieces of intelligence, and had even arrived at a suspected region nearly identical to that which the Royal Familys advisors had established from some Top Secret Files? His thoughts still pondering those fragments of intelligence, Leonard had finished speaking. Prince Salo came to his senses and looked at him, still speaking calmly, Your powers of observation are quite impressive. A substantial reward. Saying that, a guard brought out a large chest of treasure. Leonard, seeing it, said with joy, Many thanks to Your Highness. As he spoke, he performed the ultimate balancing act on his face, showing a well-concealed ambition to climb the ranks of nobility, but also fear of displeasing the other party. Salo noticed it, not at all surprised, his lips curved in a smile of royal arrogance. After all, too many people sought to connect with the Royal Family through him, and he had seen too many such ambitious individuals. Yet Salo said nothing more, speaking indifferently, If you have any intelligence in the future, you can come directly to me... Alright, you are dismissed. Yes... Your Highness. Leonard, upon hearing this, allowed just the right touch of regret to flit across his face. But resignedly, he left the room. ... Leonard never thought he could explore the Kings Mausoleum of Augustus alone. He knew he must use these peoples power. To guide them there. Besides, he could analyze this, and the Red Dragon Royal Family surely had advisors who would eventually come to the same conclusion. After leaving the residence, Leonards lips slightly curved upwards, murmuring to himself, Such an arrogant fellow... Heh, if I were him, what would I do... Some people you only understand after youve seen them firsthand. This meeting provided Leonard with extra information, filling in the crucial details necessary for his deductions. Several princes and princesses had arrived with the Royal Academy Trial Group. Leonard speculated that some of them might be aware of the Rune Highlands situation. Previously, he wasnt sure who it was. But now, he was almost certain that this Salo had to know. Otherwise, he wouldnt have been so eager to summon the information merchant. The merchants took the money, and the exclusive intelligence was theirs alone. No one dared to resell it. Meaning that Salo had more intelligence than the other members of the Trial Group. A formidable opponent, lacking neither ambition, strength, nor cunning. Yet, the stronger the opponent, the more they excited Leonards interest. .... Once the residence was free of outsiders, Prince Salo looked at the map Leonard had left behind, and his face finally lost its calm composure. He made no attempt to hide his admiration, clicking his tongue in wonder, Quite the capable intelligence officer... Even though hes an outsider with limited sources for intelligence gathering. But managing to do this much is impressive indeed. Chapter 1019 - 1019 313 Information Merchant_4 ?Chapter 1019: Chapter 313 Information Merchant_4 Chapter 1019: Chapter 313 Information Merchant_4 Speaking of which, he seemed to sense the approaching figure and said towards the door, Teacher, you agree, dont you? At that moment, an elderly man dressed in a white robe slowly walked into the study. He looked at the map and affirmed, Indeed, not bad at all. Prince Salo looked at the map, his ambitions undisguised in his eyes, and mused, Since even a mere information merchant could think of this, others must surely have thought of it too. Once these pieces of information from the Rune Highlands get back to the Royal City, I fear my uncles and brothers will swarm here. We must expedite our exploration. If we could successfully find the Olympus Holy Sword, all problems would be solved. Mm. The old man nodded in agreement but also cautioned, However, the Rune Highlands are extremely dangerous. Your Highness must take that Prophecy seriously... Prince Salo, however, was unconcerned, Prophecies are futures that cannot be changed. If my mothers prophecy is true and I am to face danger in some adventure, then what difference does it make where I go? With a light laugh, he added, Besides, that prophecy is but a vague indication, not a definite outcome. My fate has always been in my own hands. Besides, I still have you, Teacher, dont I? ... Having grown familiar with his disciples nature, the old man sighed gently and said no more. Suddenly, Prince Salo recalled something and asked, By the way, Teacher, how goes Uncle Andres promotion ceremony? To ascend to the throne, he needed powerful support. If his uncle could take that next step, it might even be more reliable than acquiring the Olympus Holy Sword, that Royal Holy Artifact. Upon hearing this, a deeper light surfaced in the old mans eyes as he replied, The Augustus Royal Family is the legitimate royal line with a bloodline tradition, so such a nation-extinguishing war is of the highest caliber and will yield abundant Plane Laws; it indeed represents a rare opportunity. Once a large-scale war is triggered, the promotion ceremony can also begin... Prince Salos face lit up with joy, Yes, it is indeed a good opportunity I hadnt expected. As if already envisioning the outcome of the war, he continued, Theres intelligence indicating that another Royal Holy Artifact, the Thorn Crown, rests in the hands of the current King of Augustus. Tsk, it is a pity that his rule is not yet secure. Once hes almost done integrating the East Wilderness, I wouldnt mind trying the Regicide approach... The old man said, The overall power of the East Wilderness is indeed too weak to stir up any significant trouble. Nevertheless, we still need to pay attention to some details. According to information from the Holy See, the fall of the Thorny Snake Corps poses a significant issue. It seems someone in the East Wilderness has contracted a high-tier Immortal Aegis Ancestral Spirit... Prince Salo replied, The God Thief White Family is indeed strong, but even an Ancestral Spirit Immortal Aegis wont change much. In his view, the Immortal Aegis was the primary reason for the demise of the Thorny Snake Corps. However, the old man seemed to perceive something deeper, as he spoke earnestly, The Immortal Aegis is but one threat. On the contrary, I find the abilities of those people from the East Wilderness to stay hidden more noteworthy. If they could infiltrate the Thorny Snake Corps undetected, it means that these individuals possess perfect disguises... If they hide within our group during the exploration of the Imperial Mausoleum and strike at that time, the consequences would be unimaginable. Prince Salo frowned slightly upon hearing this. This detail he had indeed overlooked. Continuing, the old man added, The complete annihilation of the Thorny Snake Corps is a lesson. From the known intelligence, that spy used the Substitution Method to infiltrate. If I were that spy, a loner who even cracked an S-level difficulty Alternate Dimension, someone crazy, arrogant, and not weak in strength... then knowing the Royal Academy Trial Group has arrived, Id definitely find a way to make contact. We might have even met him already. Oh? Reflecting upon this, Prince Salos eyes mirrored his contemplative state, as a chilling gleam flickered within. Having thought of something, he commanded, Someone come, reinforce the defenses in the camp and carefully scrutinize every person entering and leaving the camp, especially those of a solitary nature who rarely interact with others! No sooner had his words fallen than a guards response came from outside the door, Understood. Chapter 1020 - 1020 314 The Spirit Communication Brought ?Chapter 1020: Chapter 314: The Spirit Communication Brought Forth a Bun-Haired Miss Chapter 1020: Chapter 314: The Spirit Communication Brought Forth a Bun-Haired Miss After the arrival of the Imperial Royal Trial Team, the Lament Valley Camp became bustling with activity. Although the Ariel Empire is an ancient nation ruled by centralized nobility, it extols martial force because its supreme ruler is the Great Dragon. Even the legitimate heirs of the nobility are not entitled to their inheritance without sufficient strength. Wars are a perennial occurrence among the Three Great Kingdoms. Nobles usually have numerous offspring, and only the strongest can inherit titles; the weak are ruthlessly weeded out. The graduation trials of the Imperial Academy are also quite brutal, with a high death rate every year. But if one can pass the trials with excellent results, it typically means they have secured their right to inheritance. Leonard Churchill emerged from the Nineteenth Princes apartment and returned to the tavern. Only an hour had passed, and various pieces of information were already flying around. The mission for the Royal Trial Team had been announced. The young noblemen and noble ladies need to explore the Rune Highlands and reach predetermined locations. In the process, they must hunt Undead Spirits to obtain high-grade materials, with final rankings determined by points. The rules are somewhat like an orienteering competition. Once the goal is set, how to get there is entirely up to the participants abilities. Since its a graduation trial, the young nobles are only allowed to bring a small number of bodyguards, so they must also depend on their own abilities to recruit mercenaries. Forming a team is itself a part of the test. As soon as this mission was announced, it took many young nobles by surprise. After all, the adventurers in Lament Valley Camp are limited, which means whoever can hire a skilled Mercenary Corps has a higher chance of passing the trials. For a while, the Adventurers Guild in the camp became very lively. These wealthy nobles were very generous, immediately offering hefty sums for mercenary recruitment. Any Mercenary Group or Adventure Group with a bit of name recognition was snatched up in no time. Eventually, even an ordinary Hunter squad with certification could command a hiring price several times the market rate. .... The tavern was packed with people. Each adventurer had pockets full of jingling coins, ready for revenge spending. Hahaha, were rich now. The escort mission to the Giant Forest yesterday was only thirty Gold Coins, guess how much today? Oh, Princess Caroline of The House of Duke Misty Mountain is offering two hundred Gold Coins! Limp Cliff, dont get too happy too soon, their destination is deep in the Rune Highlands, a dangerous unexplored area... Its uncertain if they can even make it back alive. Who cares! Im just taking on an escort mission, not engaging in exploration and combat, the price is ideal! Hey, whats that compared to this? I heard that Nineteenth Prince Salo is starting the household establishment fee for recruiting mercenaries at five thousand Gold Coins, with additional shares from exploration discoveries. However, theyre only recruiting certified mid-level or above Mercenary Groups. Us small groups dont even qualify to apply... Hey hey hey! Its gone up again! I told you guys not to be in a rush to sign the mercenary contracts! Princess Betty from Black Dragon Kingdom didnt recruit enough people, so she doubled the bounty again! I heard shes also recruiting various experienced Hunters skilled in adventure exploration... What counts as an experienced Hunter? Arent we that? Blowing your own trumpet, arent we? Come on, lets give it a try too! ... The patrons chatted excitedly among themselves. The arrival of the Royal Trial Team presented everyone with a chance to make a fortune. Thirty young nobles needed to form thirty Adventure Groups, and with them being so free with their money, tens of thousands of mercenaries were required in no time. Everything from the good to the bad tried their luck at the camp. Leonard Churchill found it all quite amusing. This type of trial not only requires manpower but also demands ones own effort in gathering information. The Sean he was disguised as was a seasoned information merchant at the camp, and in just half an hour, he too made a tidy profit. Now, information merchants were highly sought after for recruitment. Normally, they would not participate in adventures. But the current situation was somewhat different. The young nobles urgently needed an Intermediate who could solve their problems. In the wilderness, there was no better candidate than a professional information merchant. Information merchants are familiar with everything at the camp, know the ins and outs of various adventure groups, and can connect resources. Most importantly, they have extensive connections, which can spare them from much trouble when encountering other teams in the wild. In the tavern, Leonard Churchill saw several of his peers seemingly receiving recruitment invitations one after another. He definitely needed to go to the Rune Highlands. And following the Trial Group was the best opportunity. But Leonard Churchill was not in a rush. He was waiting for that invitation from Nineteenth Prince Salo. He just hadnt received it yet. Strange, shouldnt he come to recruit me... As Leonard Churchill pondered whether there was an oversight on his part, just then, a man disguised as a bearded merchant came over. The man sat down beside him as if very familiar, patted his shoulder, and said, Hey, Sean brother, long time no see. When did you get here? Encountering an acquaintance? With that, a hint of vigilance flashed in Leonard Churchills eyes. The Sean he was impersonating did exist. And the challenge of impersonating such a role lay precisely here. Social relationships were too complex and prone to slips. No matter how skilled Leonard Churchill was, he couldnt possibly know all the people Sean knew, especially those from the Southern Continent. The most feared situation for this kind of substitution disguise was the sudden appearance of an acquaintance. As a professional spy, the usual approach would be to muddle through. Chapter 1021 - 1021 314 The Spirit Communication Brought ?Chapter 1021: Chapter 314: The Spirit Communication Brought Forth a Bun-Haired Miss_2 Chapter 1021: Chapter 314: The Spirit Communication Brought Forth a Bun-Haired Miss_2 Pretending to be acquainted, he chatted about some ambiguous matters with a ha-ha air. In this way, even if the other party suspected something, it wouldnt cause too much trouble. But the premise was that the other person truly was an acquaintance of the original person. Hearing this abrupt greeting, Leonard Churchill did not know what he thought of, but suddenly he realized that the newcomer bore ill intent. As he turned around, he saw the man with the goatee and his reflexive reaction was to show a trace of doubt, You are...? Leonard Churchill didnt pretend to recognize him. Instead, he chose outright not to recognize him. He was very clear that for a professional information merchant, this instant reflexive response was enough to confirm a lot of information. Leonard Churchills choice was risky. If the person really was an acquaintance of Seans, this action would immediately expose himself as an imposter. However, the consequences of such exposure were not too severe. The greater danger came from another possibility. That was, if the newcomer was also a fake acquaintance who pretended to recognize him in order to test him, and if Leonard Churchill had just said he recognized him, that would be a big problem. The man with the goatee keenly captured Leonard Churchills doubtful gaze, his eyes clearly paused for a moment to ponder, confirmed something, and then joked, Oh, brother Sean. We met before in the city of Tunis, Will from the Black Forest Chamber of Commerce! While the other person was observing him, Leonard Churchill was also observing the other person. Seeing the reaction of the goateed man, he immediately determined that this guy was not an acquaintance of Seans. But rather, an official sent to test him. The Sean that Leonard Churchill was pretending to be was a veritable information merchant. He perfectly portrayed the stance of not recognizing the person, yet trying his best to flatter him for business, continuing the conversation, Oh, brother Will... what brought you here? As expected, when the man with the goatee saw this, the trace of doubt in his eyes completely disappeared, The guild has a bit of business here. Oh, I also have some proper business to attend to, Ill find you for a drink once its done... Since he was sure there was no issue with the man, he didnt plan to hang around any longer and left after finding an excuse. Leonard Churchill called out casually, a smile also appearing on his face, muttering to himself, Tsk tsk, that Prince Salo is really cautious, huh... At this moment, he was completely certain that this was a person sent by Salo to test him. Not only him, but probably every information merchant who had been to the apartment would be tested. However, from another perspective, this was also a good thing. After the testing was over, it was time for the invitation. Sure enough, not long after the goateed man left, the broker who had invited them to the apartment came with an employment contract. That Prince Salo offered a very high price to have him serve as an intelligence advisor. Leonard Churchill had been waiting for this opportunity and naturally accepted with pleasure. If youre going to go, go with the strongest team. ... Having agreed to the employment, Leonard Churchill didnt idle. Assuming the role of an intermediate, he began helping to recruit people within the camp. He first contacted several Mercenary Corps and Adventure Groups he had already arranged, then went to help the Slave merchants buy a few teams of War Slaves. Quite naturally, he also managed to get Elder Clinton included in Prince Salos Cannon Fodder camp. With Elder Clinton in the team, Leonard Churchill felt everything was in place. Next was to gather resources. The Trial Group was estimated to stay in Rune Highlands for several months, requiring a large amount of living supplies. The camp originally didnt lack supplies. But with the arrival of the Trial Group, prices surged for everything including food, grains, and equipment. Leonard Churchills expertise was also acknowledged by the Royal Court steward he worked with on procurement. After a whole day of busyness, he finally settled down. The main force planned to depart the next day, so Leonard Churchill returned to his own tent. The camps defenses had noticeably multiplied due to the arrival of the noble lords and ladies. Leonard Churchill didnt feel threatened at all. Having passed the test, the feeling of being watched had also disappeared. He didnt mind being watched anyway. By now, Leonard Churchill had completely merged into the role of Sean, with no flaws in his speech or behavior. It was only rightful that an information merchant would have a high-grade tent with a Restriction Barrier. Only within the secluded tent was Leonard Churchill truly himself. He meditated in a cross-legged position in the tent, practicing his arts while reviewing the Classic Books he had obtained earlier. With so many masters around, even the Shadow didnt dare to roam around freely, and instead browsed through materials in the tent alongside him. Diligent cultivation was Leonard Churchills routine, oblivious to the passage of time. Every night he would reflect on his experiences of the day. His boldness was not blind confidence but rather was based on numerous simulations and enough information to support his judgments. The current situation didnt allow for any mistakes. A single error might mean death. Leonard Churchill recalled everything he encountered today. The Royal Trial Team, the arrest warrant, meeting Nineteenth Prince Sane, the testing, procurement, Elder Clinton... Leonard Churchill quickly went through a simulation in his mind and didnt find any flaws, which made him sigh in relief. However, for some reason, after reflecting, Leonard Churchill always felt as if he had overlooked something. Having deliberately honed Intention, this kind of sixth sense was becoming more and more accurate. He didnt dare to take it lightly and simulated multiple times. But he never felt like there was any problem with himself. Strange... what did I overlook? Leonard Churchill suddenly opened his eyes, filled with confusion. It felt like something was guiding him. Spirit Communication? Chapter 1022 - 1022 314 The Spirit Communication Brought ?Chapter 1022: Chapter 314: The Spirit Communication Brought Forth a Bun-Haired Miss_3 Chapter 1022: Chapter 314: The Spirit Communication Brought Forth a Bun-Haired Miss_3 Leonard Churchill thought of Elder Clinton, but that guy didnt need him to worry. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head, he remembered something, Eh... could it be Bun-Haired Miss? After inquiring again during the day, he was basically certain that the S fugitive who had stolen from the Red Dragon Royal Family was none other than Tracy Garcia. As the thought struck him, Leonard Churchills mind began to race. The methods of the Great Priest Lineage of Tracy Garcia were indeed mysterious and unpredictable, but their tier wasnt high, they werent considered outstanding amongst the elites gathered on the Southern Continent. Moreover, the place she had gone to was the Royal Court of the Red Dragon Kingdom. Suddenly, Leonard Churchill realized a critical issue. How did she get in? And how did she escape? Leonard Churchill felt that, based on the intelligence he currently possessed, attempting to steal something from the Red Dragon Kings Court would be a feat not even a Ninth Order could escape unscathed from. Since she was wanted, she definitely got in. Hiss... Could it be that the girl never actually escaped? At that thought, Leonard Churchills temples twitched violently. It was indeed possible! Having thought of that, an idea suddenly popped up in Leonard Churchills head, and he immediately took out a scroll sealed with curse runes. This was the communication scroll the Bun-Haired Miss had left with him when they had met earlier. She had said he could contact her in an emergency. The scroll itself was of Legendary Quality, extremely precious, and he had never used it before. But now, holding the scroll in his hand, that feeling in his heart grew ever stronger. Thinking it was worth wasting a scroll to give it a try. No sooner had Leonard Churchill decided than he tore off the seal and spread the scroll before his eyes. He immediately bit his finger and dropped a bit of blood onto it. In an instant, the Spirit Communication Array on the scroll was activated, and the dense, mysterious runes started to glow. Before Leonard Churchill had time to identify what High-level Laws the curse runes pointed to, suddenly, he watched as the scroll exploded, and a figure tumbled out. At the same time, a familiar grumbling voice reached his ears, Ah... if I dont get out, Im going to be suffocated. The tent was very small, and the plump young woman crashed directly onto him. Leonard Churchill looked into the eyes of Bun-Haired Miss in his arms, and the corner of his eye twitched inexplicably. Wasnt this supposed to be a communication scroll? How did Spirit Communication summon a whole, live person? ... Tracy Garcia was a bit disheveled from the fall, sitting up and looking at Leonard Churchill, her big watery eyes suddenly brightened, Wow... Mr. Leonard Churchill, we meet again! As she spoke, she looked around the tent, Eh, where is this? ... Leonard Churchill rolled his eyes. The girl obviously knew the scroll was meant for summoning a person. And she also knew she was going to be summoned. Tracy Garcia blinked her shining, limpid eyes and said, Ah, thanks to Mr. Leonard Churchill for summoning me, otherwise I would have suffocated in that box. ... Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill pretty much guessed what had happened. But he still asked, Little Garcia, what exactly happened? How did you come to be wanted by the Red Dragon Kingdom? Ah? Im wanted? The Bun-Haired Miss was habitually slow to react, she thought for a moment, as if just realizing and said, Oh, right, I took away that Supreme Treasure. Its normal for them to issue an arrest warrant when they couldnt find it. She looked at Leonard Churchill with surprise and added, But how did the arrest warrant get to the Old Continent? ... Leonard Churchill listened with a forehead full of black lines. Though he had deduced from the information on the arrest warrant that the Red Dragon Royal Family had lost something very important. But hearing it from the thief herself, he still felt he might have underestimated the value of the stolen item. Tracy Garcia looked at Leonard Churchills expression, seeming to realize she had caused trouble, and stuck out her tongue. The Bun-Haired Miss knew Leonard Churchill must be curious about what had happened, so she began to explain, Well, heres the thing... I was training in the Underworld passage when I just happened to see someone opening the passage... But not just anyone can open that Underworld passage, its a targeted coordinate left by the ancestors of the Augustus Royal Family and our Great Priest Lineage. Then out of curiosity... I followed the Spirit Communication passage to take a look. Turns out those guys had one of our Great Priest Lineages ancestral Supreme Treasures, the Book of the Undead, so I took it... ... Listening to this incredible story, Leonard Churchills face twitched unwittingly. He suddenly thought of the incident at Upper State Prison. And he finally understood why Tracy Garcia was able to come out of the Underworld. So the result was, she had the treasure, but there were too many experts in the palace, and she hadnt been able to run away. In the end, Tracy Garcia had no choice but to hide inside the Royal Familys domain, using a Spirit Communication Secret Skill to live inside an ancient Relic. Then, it was a long half-month of waiting, Waiting for Leonard Churchill to summon her out. After hearing the whole story, Leonard Churchill finally understood the situation and commented dryly, What if I hadnt used that scroll? But Tracy Garcia blinked and with a sly smile on her pretty face, she replied, Ah... our Life Patterns are entangled, we can sense each other no matter the distance. The longer Im trapped, the stronger my yearning will become. You would have sensed it sooner or later. ... Hearing this, Leonard Churchill finally realized that the feeling he had earlier wasnt just a random sensation. It was inevitable. Chapter 1023 - 1023 315 Some Daily Life ?Chapter 1023: Chapter 315 Some Daily Life Chapter 1023: Chapter 315 Some Daily Life PS. Written in a hurry, the content is as the title suggests. After listening to Tracy Garcias recount of the process, Leonard Churchill couldnt help feeling both helpless and amused. He couldnt understand why the girl had such unwavering trust in him. Leonard himself didnt believe he could necessarily survive every adventure, but Tracy Garcia was certain that he would use the Spirit Communication Scroll to save her. But it was pointless to talk about that now. What mattered was that she was alive. Looking at Bun-Haired Miss, covered in dust and dirt, Leonard guessed she had been through rough times and invited her to sit, casually offering, Would you like some tea? The tent was a single-person deerskin shelter, quite small. Tracy Garcia didnt mind in the slightest, taking a seat next to Leonard Churchill and responded with a beaming smile, Sure! While Leonard was pouring the tea, she glanced at the Classic Books on the small table and remarked, Wow, Mr. Leonard Churchill, you are as diligent as ever... Leonard was already very strong now and could live a comfortable life if he wanted to. But in Tracys memory, every time they met, he was either on an adventure or immersed in arduous training. She never saw him enjoy himself. Leonard had become accustomed to this monk-like lifestyle and didnt find it hard at all. He let out a laugh and poured a cup of amber-colored tea. Tracy held the cup of tea Leonard poured, her smile revealing a pair of shallow dimples, Thank you~ It had been a long time since they had last met, and Bun-Haired Miss seemed quite excited. Seeing her enthusiastic face, Leonard reminded her, Be careful. The Red Dragon Kingdom has issued an S-level arrest warrant for you. Bounty Hunters are searching everywhere for you. There are many High-Order Card Masters in the camp, too... Oh. Tracy responded obediently. But the sparkle in her crystal-clear eyes didnt show a hint of concern about the arrest warrant. She was aware of the many people nearby and curiously asked, By the way, where is this place? Leonard answered, Its an adventurers camp near the Rune Highlands. Rune Highlands? Tracy mulled over the name, as if she knew something about it. Leonard poured himself a cup of tea as well and sat opposite her. Considering she was a descendant of the Taron Grand Priest lineage, he thought she might know some secrets. He naturally asked, Right. An expedition from the Royal Academy has come to the Southern Continent to explore this wasteland. And I suspect that the Augustus Imperial Tomb is nearby. Some people in the Trial Group might be after the Olympus Holy Sword hidden within the Kings Mausoleum... He had nothing to hide from an old friend, So he briefly explained the situation in the simplest terms. Tracys eyes showed a trace of surprise as she said, You... How did you know the Tomb of the Augustus King is here? Hearing her tone, Leonard knew he had guessed correctly, and explained, I encountered some things before and made some deductions, roughly guessing the location. And now that the Royal Family from the Southern Continent has arrived, my suspicions are all but confirmed. Oh. Tracy appeared to suddenly understand. Yet her expression was hesitant, as though she was having trouble admitting something. Leonard glanced at her and asked directly, You know about it, too? Instead of answering, Tracy looked back at him, pursing her lips, I cant say. ??? Leonard, curious about her response, pressed for more information. It wasnt that she didnt know, It was that she couldnt tell. Tracy shrugged, her tone slightly helpless as she explained, The Grand Priest lineage and the Augustus Royal Family have a protective agreement. Many things cant be disclosed. In other words, Id like to tell you, but I cant. Leonard now understood. Indeed, if someone planned to excavate the tomb of the ancestors of Augustus, the Taron Grand Priest would definitely not reveal any information. Tracys mind seemed to be racing, as she pouted her lips. She wanted to say something but had to hold back. After struggling for quite a while, she finally managed to squeeze out a few words, The Kings Mausoleum is very dangerous... Oh? Leonard mused over her words, sensing they revealed quite a bit. Of course, he knew the risks. The tomb of the Augustus King was from the era of the Taren Dynastys rule, so danger was a given. But 3,000 years had passed, the Dynasty had fallen, and the biggest danger had essentially vanished. What remained were most likely just monsters and restrictions. But Leonard wasnt the main force in this upcoming exploration. It was the people from the Southern Continent. If those folks dared to come, they must be well prepared. Since Bun-Haired Miss mentioned only danger and didnt dissuade him from going, it meant there was room for maneuver. With that in mind, Leonard felt even more confident about the upcoming adventure. Knowing they couldnt continue discussing the Kings Mausoleum, he changed the subject, Little Garcia, whats happening on the Southern Continent? Sorry, I havent really figured it out... Tracy knew what piqued his curiosity but honestly couldnt answer. She playfully stuck out her tongue, adding, I only made a loop inside the palace of the Red Dragon Empire and couldnt even leave. ... Leonard took it in stride, amused. Luckily youre tricky, girl, otherwise, you might have been in big trouble. Recalling something, Leonard then asked, By the way, what is this Book of the Undead you mentioned? He was curious about what could have given the Red Dragon Royal Family such difficulties they couldnt speak of. Here~ this one. Upon hearing his question, Tracy, thrilled like she was sharing spoils, promptly pulled out an ancient book wreathed in black mist. The books cover was made of black leather material with complex curse inscriptions embossed on it, and at the center, there was a haunting, lifelike human eye. Chapter 1024 - 1024 315 Some Daily Life _2 ?Chapter 1024: Chapter 315 Some Daily Life _2 Chapter 1024: Chapter 315 Some Daily Life _2 The edges of the book were worn, as if it had been leafed through countless times, and an ancient, mysterious aura rushed forth. Merely taking it out, the temperature inside the tent plummeted, and a soul-chilling sensation instantly assaulted Leonard Churchills heart. Leonard Churchills brow immediately furrowed, that feeling was like... like the immense terror felt countless times at the brink of death! Enlightenment also appeared at the same time, You are being eroded by the Law of Death... The Law of Death is one of the supreme laws. It was a domain that Leonard Churchill had not yet touched. However, after a moment of his hairs standing on end, he was not deterred by this deathly aura; instead, a brilliance appeared on his face, and he thought to himself, What a magnificent item! He had experienced this mind-clearing sensation many times at the edge of death. And he missed it dearly. A thought instinctively surfaced in Leonard Churchills mind: Wouldnt this mean that with this book, he could artificially create that terrifying state at the threshold of death? Tracy Garcia apparently guessed what Leonard Churchill was thinking and explained with a tone of regret, This Book of the Undead records the secrets of the Law of Death. It also has a strong contamination. Without reaching a corresponding level of the law, touching this book will significantly shorten ones lifespan. As she spoke, white light swirled in her hand and instantly suppressed the black energy emanating from the book. Shorten lifespan... Upon hearing this, Leonard Churchill raised an eyebrow; it clearly wasnt so easy to exploit a bug. Tracy Garcia looked at the ancient book and could not hide her excitement, I didnt expect that this Book of the Undead would end up in the hands of those people from the Southern Continent. And it just so happens that the Red Dragon Empire has a very powerful necromancer, who was actually able to open the coordinates of The Gate of the Underworld recorded in the classic books... ... Leonard Churchill caught on to something suddenly. If the Red Dragon Royal Family had a top-tier necromancer. That meant, next to Prince Salo, there might also be a very powerful undead spellcaster, right? Perhaps that was the confidence they had to target the King of Augustuss Mausoleum. As Tracy Garcia spoke, she casually opened the ancient book. She had been discovered before she got a chance to take a closer look. As she read, she couldnt help expressing her astonishment, Its said this tome was compiled by King Lanlingster, a required read for high-ranking Spirit Communicators and Necromancers. My mother said this tome was lost for over ten thousand years. Wow, I never expected to find such a relic... ... Leonard Churchill glanced from the corner of his eye. The dark red pages were densely packed with ancient text. And there were some intricately hand-drawn illustrations. He recognized those characters; this was Ancient Taron Language. A bit like Classical Chinese, it was an older, more obscure, closer variant of the High-level Demon Language, evolved from Tarons common language. Leonard Churchill recognized some of it, yet found it hard to understand the implications. He merely glanced at it and knew that the content was advanced, not something he could comprehend at that moment. But he wasnt in a hurry. Since it belonged to this bun-haired miss, there would always be a chance to look at it later. Tracy Garcia was obviously also interested in this tome, flipping through it roughly. At that moment, Leonard Churchill caught sight of something in the corner of his eye and suddenly noticed a few hand-drawn images on one of the pages! He didnt understand the text, but he understood the drawing. It seemed to be a process for making a mummy. Above was a human corpse divided into several parts, with the soul also extracted. The body was nailed to a cross, wrapped with a corpse-wrapping cloth... Leonard Churchill found it strangely familiar. Upon another look at the few tools in the picture, werent these the Light and Dark Holy Nail, Light and Dark Cross, and Light and Dark Shroud C the sealing trinity set? Could this be the Weeping Angels sealing ceremony? Leonard Churchill thought, as if flashes of insight passed through his mind, but he couldnt grasp them. Intuition told him that when the Taron Royal Familys Guardian Angel was killed by Tracy Garcias ancestor, there might have been more to it. Seeing the change in Leonard Churchills expression, Tracy Garcia asked, Whats wrong? Leonard Churchill, pointing directly at that page, asked, What is this? Tracy Garcia looked and furrowed her brows, Ahh... I havent learned this spell yet, and I dont understand it well either. Hmm... but by the looks of the introduction, it seems like a secret skill to break through ones realm by utilizing the path of death. Oh, and resurrection. Leonard Churchill, Resurrection? Yes. Tracy Garcia nodded, Though I dont understand it yet. But with a certain level of research into the Law of Death, naturally, you would also become proficient in the Law of Life. Opposing natures! Once heard this, Leonard Churchill thought of the domain of knowledge that Aragon had mentioned, only accessible to a top-tier card master. His eyes tightened slightly, and he suddenly understood something. The Weeping Angel wasnt just killed! Perhaps the High Priest who killed the Weeping Angel in the past left a plot for future generations. Noah Wright had once said, some ancient powerful beings might have died, but their plots could affect the continuity of civilization for thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of years. Like the Divine Ruins Treasure House of Sinless City. This kind of plot would play its role at a necessary time. So brilliant... Leonard Churchills mind raced. Using I Am the World, he extrapolated a line of cause and effect stretching from three thousand years ago, one strand of which fell upon himself. After all, the soul of the Weeping Angel was now in his possession. Tracy Garcia was gradually deciphering the spell on that page, and looking up at Leonard Churchills expression, she asked, What is it? Leonard Churchill, thoughts whirling, asked, Little Garcia, do you know about the Weeping Angel? Chapter 1025 - 1025 315 Some Daily Life_3 ?Chapter 1025: Chapter 315 Some Daily Life_3 Chapter 1025: Chapter 315 Some Daily Life_3 I know some. My mother mentioned it to me before... Tracy Garcia said, her expression suddenly darkening, But... Leonard Churchill knew what she was about to say. Last time, Auntie Garcia didnt fight the Orlan Royal Family in the Divine Ruins Treasure House but instead helped the Hidden Cult to trap and kill all the Old Days Believers. New King Arthur of Orlan would definitely not let it go. However, things werent as bad as he had anticipated. Tracy Garcia said with disappointment, It seems like my mother has been imprisoned. Leonard Churchill murmured to himself, Imprisoned? There was intel from the East Continent that the Orlan Royal Family had been restored, and the White Family was now the High Priest. Mm. Tracy Garcia nodded with a gloomy look and explained, The Great Priest Lineage and Augustus have a bloodline protection contract. Even if the Orlan Royal Family no longer trusts the Garcia Clan, they would never harm my mother. Last time... Oh, the time you were with me. After seeing my mother in Sinless City, she said some strange things to me, and then I couldnt contact her again... ... Listening, Leonard Churchill inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Auntie Garcia had once saved him, and it was good that she was alive. But he didnt know how to solve this problem at the moment, so he didnt continue the conversation. The tent fell silent for a moment. The initial excitement of seeing a good friend had faded, and a wave of sleepiness suddenly washed over Tracy Garcias brows, her eyelids seeming too heavy to lift. She closed the Classic Books and turned to Leonard Churchill to ask, Mr. Leonard Churchill, Im sleepy. May I rest here for a bit? Leonard Churchill smiled faintly and responded, Of course. Tracy Garcia tried hard to keep her tired eyes open and responded with a soft, Oh. The bun-haired miss seemed truly very tired. No sooner had she spoken than she lay down on the small table and fell asleep? Leonard Churchill looked at the girl sleeping soundly, his expression crossing with surprise before he chuckled, How long has it been since you slept... Oh, she must not have been able to sleep while hiding in the Red Dragon Kings Court. The small table was meant for reading, not comfortable for sleeping. Leonard Churchill called out to her, but Tracy Garcia did not respond. He thought for a moment, then gently lifted the bun-haired miss and laid her on the makeshift field bed nearby. Then he covered her with a blanket. Throughout, this typically very vigilant High Tier Spirit Communicator did not show any signs of waking up. Her body was limp as mud, completely without any defenses. It was as if she knew this was the safest place. Leonard Churchill watched her peacefully sleeping face and shook his head with a smile. He sat beside her and continued to flip through his own Classic Books. Just like that, the night passed in a flash. ... Around six or seven in the morning, the camp gradually became noisy. The young nobles of the Royal Trial Team were planning to set off early. Mercenaries and hunters were also up early, getting their adventure gear ready. On the clearing outside the camp, dozens of teams were fully equipped, their Demon Beast mounts pulling carts filled with supplies, ready to head for the Rune Highlands. Leonard Churchill also packed up his tent. At that moment, a certain bun-haired miss sleeping soundly suddenly opened her eyes and sat up. Leonard Churchill was packing up the desk, glanced at her, and smiled faintly, Youre awake. Tracy Garcia blinked a few times, saw that she was sleeping on a bed, recollected for a moment as if just realizing what had happened the previous night. How could she have taken up the bed? And what about her sleeping posture, could it have been unsightly? Was it impolite? Did she say any strange things in her dreams? In an instant, the girls mental workings were extremely complicated. Thinking of this, Tracy Garcias cheeks flushed with a hint of rosy color as she murmured with embarrassment, Ah... I really was very impolite~ Leonard Churchill laughed, not minding at all, and simply said, Were setting off soon... She was a fugitive, of course, she couldnt possibly follow him. His thoughts interrupted Tracy Garcias random musings, and realising her situation, she didnt wait for Leonard Churchill to finish speaking. A spells light flashed, and her figure vanished from the tent. Her slightly frantic reply came from beside him, Mr. Leonard Churchill, Ill go to the highlands to have a look first. If there are any problems on the way, contact me with this scroll. Leonard Churchill listened and glanced at the scroll on the table, shaking his head with a smile. The bun-haired miss didnt need his worries. Watching her disappear, Leonard Churchill packed up his tent, shouldered a huge backpack, and made his way out of the camp. A new adventure was about to begin. PS: I found another picture perfect for Tracy Garcia, Cheongsam Bun-Haired (pending review).jpg Chapter 1026 - 1026 316 Have We Found the Imperial Mausoleum ?Chapter 1026: Chapter 316: Have We Found the Imperial Mausoleum Already? Chapter 1026: Chapter 316: Have We Found the Imperial Mausoleum Already? Four days later. Rune Highlands. A gloomy forest marked on the map as Ghost Howl Forest. Dark mist shrouded the area, and the trees were withered like iron. The air was filled with the scent of death and decay. Ahead of the team, a three-headed dragon with red, brown, and green heads was spewing Flame Dragon Breath, causing the surrounding trees to scream like ghosts and howls of wolves. On closer inspection, the burned trees all had strange human faces on them. They were burned by the dragon breath until their faces were ferocious, and wisps of ghostly fire were rising from their trunks. This three-headed dragon was none other than Prince Salo after his transformation. With his own strength, he had surpassed the noise of hundreds of mercenaries in combat around him. Since this was the Royal Academys graduation trial, the results would directly affect their final grades. The students spared no effort in showing off their abilities, using all sorts of powerful and lethal skills. Next to Prince Salo, the young female mage holding a staff of Legendary Quality was equally formidable in her presence. This was Princess Betty from the Black Dragon Kingdom. She was also a Fifth-Order Card Master, a Club 8 C Element Manipulator. Great Dragons are naturally masterful at magic, and dragon-blooded card masters inherit this Bloodline Talent. Thats why the Southern Continent has a large number of card masters proficient in the Secrets of the Elements. Members of the Black Dragon Royal Family have exceptionally pure Black Dragon Bloodline, allowing Princess Betty to be born with a high affinity for the dark element and Law Understanding. Coupled with her status as a wealthy princess, she lavishly scattered cards as if they cost nothing. She could cast Mystery Level annihilation spells with a flick of her wrist, reaping monsters in large swaths. At another corner of the triangle, there was Second Young Master Kelly from the Duke Scarlet family of the Red Dragon Kingdom. Fourth Tier Black Knight, his dragon-scale defense was nearly invincible. Clad in heavy armor, he charged fearlessly through the tree monsters, unstoppable. In the battlefield, these three stood out the most. ... This was a massive Trial Group that totaled over eight thousand people. Graduating students from the Royal Academy teamed up for better results. Prince Salo, Princess Betty, and Kelly. These three were among the top five in combat power in the trial team. To get better trial results, they opted for a powerful alliance. The mercenaries and adventurers hired by the three were also the elite of the camp, and together they formed a formidable force. This was the strongest of the more than ten trial teams. Hence, for the past few days, the team virtually bulldozed its way through. Upon reaching Ghost Howl Forest, they encountered troublesome monsters for the first time. Leonard Churchill got his first glimpse of the threes exaggerated combat power. Sean did not need to fight as a non-combatant. He took the opportunity to observe everything closely. All sorts of Relic Level equipment, Mystery Level spells, Dragon Language Secret Techniques... The resources of the Royal Family were much richer than those of ordinary adventurers, representing the glorious card master heritage of three thousand years of Taron. This opened the eyes of Leonard Churchill, the card master from the East Wilderness. Behind the threes combat power, which was far beyond the Same Tier, he saw a systematic Transcendent system, high-Quality Demon Marks and Profession Cards, and the extraordinary power of Dragon Language Spells... This was the combat power of the aristocracy, representing the upper echelons of the card master community on the Southern Continent. However, Leonard Churchills gaze lingered more on Prince Salo. Seeing him slay his way through the enemies, even he couldnt help but feel genuinely impressed, That guy is really strong... Mastering three paths was extremely rare. The three dragon heads each wielded Extraordinary Power in the paths of strength, fire, and Order. With such high Law Understanding, each path far exceeded a typical Fifth Tier. His exaggerated combat power was largely due to one of the Professional Sequences secretly passed down by the Red Dragon Royal Family. It was the Fifth Tier special Profession Card of the Spade 6 C Order Sequence the Three-Headed GolemHoly Dragon Iron Guards. The name of this Sequence wasnt a secret. Leonard Churchill found out about it with a little inquiry. He even knew why this guy chose this Sequence. Previously, he learned from Aragon that some Professional Sequences could evolve. And Club K C Pope was a high-tier path that required mastering at least two Deity Communion paths, Order and Kingship. Spade 6 C Order perfectly served as a transitional Sequence to Pope. This was one of the Royal Familys secrets. But at this moment, what Leonard Churchill thought of was not about Kingship. The corners of his mouth curved slightly, This Profession Card fits me quite well too... Leonard Churchill had previously been considering the issue of advancing to the Fifth Tier. When he advanced to the Fourth Tier, he discussed with Master Merlin about the choice for future advancement. The Masters advice was that Leonard Churchills physique was already strong enough and his foundation solid, so he could consider abilities from the Spellcaster Type for multidimensional improvements, maximizing his tier combat power. But advancing just to the Wisdom Sequence seemed a waste of his JOKER Talent to Leonard Churchill. Not until he saw the Three-Headed GolemHoly Dragon Iron Guards right before his eyes. Wasnt it perfect? Elements, flesh, wisdomall three aspects of Transcendent power well accounted for. It couldnt get any better. Indeed, it had to be from the Royal Family. All the best Transcendent resources were in the hands of these folks. ... On the outskirts of the team, three noble young masters were leading a group of mercenaries in fierce combat. In the center of the team, a group of non-combatants like doctors, strategists, maids, and the like huddled together, waiting for orders. As the situation looked good, these people started to chat leisurely. Chapter 1027 - 1027 316 Found the Imperial Mausoleum ?Chapter 1027: Chapter 316: Found the Imperial Mausoleum Already?_2 Chapter 1027: Chapter 316: Found the Imperial Mausoleum Already?_2 Old Karen, what kind of monster is this? Ive never even heard of it before. A Human-faced Tree Monster, its said to be a fusion of a resentful Undead Spirit and a tree over a hundred years old. It can only form in places where the air of death is extremely dense. This place is cursed~ I have no idea why the prince chose this path. There are clearly better routes to take to the academys rendezvous coordinates... Brother Sean, youre well-informed, do you know something? I do know a bit. But its not something that can be discussed. ... Leonard Churchill, of course, knew why they were taking this route. It was because of the intelligence sold to Prince Salo by a fellow explorer, which included a map dug up by the Grave Diggers that pointed to a mysterious treasure. Leonard Churchill hadnt obtained that map. But by traveling this way and making some deductions, he guessed the route the team was taking was likely the one indicated on the map. Also, this particular direction coincidentally matched the direction he suspected where Augustus Mausoleum was located. As they chatted, they saw the young Swordsman within the tree monsters who wore a Slave Collar and wielded the Fishbone Slim Sword. But speaking of which, that slave from the East Continent is pretty impressive. Whats with his Sword Skill; hes darting out several meters in the blink of an eye? He might only be Fourth Tier, but hes stabbing to death Fourth Tier Catastrophe tree monsters like its nothing; his methods are truly sinister. Thats the Time Sword Intention. Its no wonder ordinary people cant understand it. I dont know how that guy trained to even begin to grasp the Time Rule, one of the High-level Laws. Although the card masters of the East Wilderness arent high tier, given the sheer number of people, there are a few geniuses. Its said that when the Slave Hunting Team captured this kid, quite a few of them died. In the end, a Sixth Tier had to take action just to contain him. Later, he was sold to the Nineteenth Prince for a good price... ... Leonard Churchill narrowed his eyes slightly when he saw that figure. The youth who moved like a phantom was none other than Colin. The Relic Level slim sword in Colins hand was the Flashing Heart-piercing Sword that Leonard had given him, which also made Leonard somewhat sentimental. The first time he met him, he was just a slightly naive Swordsmans apprentice. Now, he had grown into a very powerful Great Swordsman. Elder Clinton had been captured, and of course, Colin had been taken along as well. However, because of his strong combat power, Colin had become one of the slave guards, rather than cannon fodder. Leonard Churchill withdrew his gaze without any particular concern. If Colin could survive this long alongside Elder Clinton, his Life Pattern certainly wasnt so easy to extinguish. As for Elder Clinton... Leonard Churchill glanced once and thought nothing more of it. Unsurprisingly, as the battle neared its end, a disheveled old man crawled out of a pile of twigs looking sneaky as ever. While many cannon fodders had died, this old man looked ragged but was completely unharmed. True to form, the ultimate survivor, the Dog King. ... Human-faced Tree Monsters gathered into a large forest, and the strongest among them, a Fifth Tier Catastrophe, was the lord. For a small Adventure Group, this was nearly an insurmountable land of death. However, for Leonard Churchills team of over eight thousand people, it was almost like bulldozing through the opposition. After a few, like Lorne, killed the monster lord, the battle entered its final stage. Medics entered the scene to treat the wounded. Others cleared the battlefield. But Prince Salo seemed to be determined to find something, ordering a thorough search of every corner of the forest. Although the others didnt know what was going on, they complied. With no monsters to hinder them, this carpet-style search was highly efficient. Before long, someone suddenly shouted. Found the entrance! Your Highness, theres a grave robbers tunnel here, it looks like it was left by Grave Diggers! Hahaha, were going to be rich! There are so many ancient Relics in the cave! ... No wonder the Hunters were so excited. These young nobles were willing to spend money, and there were shares in the treasure discovered during exploration. No sooner had the words been spoken than a group of people rushed over and scrambled down through the entrance covered with dead branches. Leonard Churchill, listening, wasnt surprised in the least. He knew that in all probability, they had found the mysterious treasure coordinates on the map. Given there were ancient Relics, he also surmised that this place might have a connection with the Kings Mausoleum. After all, thus far, almost no large Relics had been discovered in the entire Rune Highlands, only various monsters. Now they had made a promising start. As he contemplated, a cautious voice reached his ears, To gather such dense Undead Air, the ground beneath must be no simple matter; I fear there are a great number of Undead Creatures... The speaker was a middle-aged man with graying hair. He was called Old Karen. Leonard Churchill also slightly turned, a hint of amusement that was not easily detected by others flickered in his eyes. According to Old Karen himself, he was an Archaeologist who knew many strange and unusual pieces of knowledge and had been hired to be part of the team. They all belonged to the non-combat personnel, had many interactions along the way, and had become familiar with each other. However, Leonard Churchill didnt see it that way. Not everybody is a perfect actor. Old Karen was indeed, as he claimed, a learned Archaeologist. However, after a few days of interaction, Leonard deduced some differing truths. An ordinary person couldnt see anything odd about Old Karen. But in I Am the World, the logic of all things is interconnected. Behind one lie, countless others are needed to fill the logic gap. By now, Leonards proficiency in the Demon God Secret Skill had grown considerably. Behind this seemingly perfect identity, after some deduction, some traces began to emerge. Chapter 1028 - 1028 316 Have We Found the Imperial Mausoleum ?Chapter 1028: Chapter 316: Have We Found the Imperial Mausoleum Already?_3 Chapter 1028: Chapter 316: Have We Found the Imperial Mausoleum Already?_3 Leonard Churchill could almost be certain that the Old Karen was a member of the Royal Familys Secret Guard. Accordingly, this guy might have also realized that someone had been infiltrating their ranks. However, Leonard did not feel that he himself had been exposed. On the contrary, he found the situation increasingly interesting. Since he had not been discovered, then, it must be someone else. Setting aside the struggle for kingship on the Southern Continent for the moment, it was highly likely that among this team were political rivals of Prince Salo; but on the East Continent, there were only a few suspects. Unfortunately, all of them were Leonards enemies. .... The White Familys legacy had not been broken, and now they served as the national advisor to the Orlan Royal Family. Leonard did not believe the New King Arthur would simply watch as these people from the Southern Continent dug up his ancestral spirits. But he could not stop them outright. And there was no method more suitable than the White Familys subtle means of infiltration. Therefore, Leonard suspected that among this expedition team, there must be a member of the White Family. With this thought in mind, these past few days, he had occasionally used his identity as an information merchant to subtly suggest the White Familys infiltration tactics to Old Karen, in light of the Plague Marsh incident. ... Your Highness, it appears to be a huge Underground Palace down there! My god, so many relics! ... Before long, the first group of mercenaries that had burrowed underground brought up exploration intelligence and a large number of ancient items. Old Karen, the archaeologist, was called over as well. After a quick assessment, he immediately confirmed that those rusted metal weapons and broken pottery jars were from the post-Talun Era. And they were burial goods. Meaning, beneath the earth lay a Tomb. This news excited everyone. There were many nobles during the Talun Era, and correspondingly, many Tombs too. If they truly had discovered a Tomb, it would be as if the adventurers had hit a gold mine. When Leonard heard this news, he was slightly surprised, Just like that, they found it? And now he had some information indirectly confirmed by Tracy Garcias account: The Rune Highlands were indeed the resting place of the King of Augustus Royal Family. There couldnt possibly be ordinary tombs in the vicinity of the royal burial site. Thus, even if the Underground Palace below was not the Kings Mausoleum, it had to be the Tomb of some significant figure. The others had not yet realized the significance of this Tomb. But Prince Salo had specifically come for the Kings Mausoleum, so he immediately ordered everyone to go underground. The message could not be leaked, and even the logistical staff like Leonard followed them down. The space underneath was vast. It was truly like an Underground City. With various colossal pillars supporting it, and the ceiling at its highest point towering a hundred or even two hundred meters, it was impossible to see the end at a glance. Although many areas had collapsed, the space still remained incredibly spacious. Leonard and his thousands of compatriots could disperse without any issue. The nimble assassins clambered up the columns and lit the everlasting lamps on the high walls of the burial chamber. In a moment, the orange light illuminated the entire Underground Palace. A supremely magnificent scene unfolded before everyones eyes. As the light shone brightly, faces all around simultaneously displayed expressions of awe. My god, what level of monumentality is this burial site! No one present had ever seen a tomb so vast, and everyone was astounded by the scene before them. It was an Underground Palace of a burial site in the style of the Talun Era, entirely constructed from gigantic, dark yellow-stoned slabs. Huge guardian statues, standing a hundred meters tall, were positioned all around the Palace, their presence majestic and solemn. The walls were decorated with colorful, finely detailed exquisite frescoes. The frescoes depicted scenes of everyday life during the Talun Era, stories of wars, and mythological tales... The characters were lifelike, as if a vivid historical scroll was unfolding, granting physical touch to the splendor and mystery of the Taren Civilization. All the items in the Underground Palace seemed to have been built for the Gods. Everything within sight was ten times the size of normal human objects. Leonard and his thousands seemed as tiny as ants. This also evoked a sense of reverence and astonishment in everyones hearts. As they gazed upon the scene, they were struck dumb. Even Leonards eyes were trembling with excitement as he murmured to himself, Could it really be the Kings Mausoleum that weve found... He had this thought because he had seen this style before. Right on the outskirts of Sinless City in that Grand Cemetery Labyrinth of the Alternate Dimension, the style was identical. But it was precisely because it seemed they had found it that he felt puzzled. Because, it was all too easy. This instinctively gave Leonard a sense of crisis, as if they had been led here by someone. Exactly! It all started with that Grave Diggers map, and from there the thread of cause and effect began. Leonard thought of something and a look of perplexity briefly crossed his face, Strange, if someone really led us here, who could it be? This thought had hardly arisen when an intriguing sense of conspiracy washed over him. Very few people knew that Rune Highlands were the resting place of King Augustus Royal Family. The Orlan Royal Family, the White Family, the Great Priest Lineage, the high echelons of the Ariel Empire... Leonard rapidly ran through his mind, But he couldnt think of anyone who had a motive to lead Prince Salo and his group to the Kings Mausoleum. As he pondered, a distant shout from one of Prince Salos guards rang out, The Prince commands, all who enter the Tomb will be rewarded with one thousand Gold Coins! After we return, there will be a share of the rewards for everyone. Start exploring now, whoever makes a significant discovery or achieves a great feat will receive immense reward! At these words, the mercenaries and hunters were all excited. Everyone knew the risks, but they were paid to explore, so rewards were more than welcome. With the promise of great rewards, the adventurers excitedly sprinted toward the depths of the Underground Palace. ... Prince Salo knew the Kings Mausoleum of Augustus must be full of lethal dangers. Hed brought this group clearly as Cannon Fodder. Leonard thought to this point, and decisively scanned the Cannon Fodder slave camp, quickly spotting a cowering old man. Tracy Garcia had informed that the Kings Mausoleum was extremely dangerous, and Leonard himself was not confident that he could survive in the perilous Tomb. But, Elder Clinton could. Chapter 1029 - 1029 317 Gold Coffin Dark Crystal Stone Stele ?Chapter 1029: Chapter 317: Gold Coffin, Dark Crystal, Stone Stele Chapter 1029: Chapter 317: Gold Coffin, Dark Crystal, Stone Stele Having discovered such a large ancient tomb, the mercenaries and adventurers of the Trial Group were initially shocked but then plunged into a state of near-mad excitement. Just by looking at the specifications of the tomb, everyone knew that it must contain significant treasures. Not to mention anything else, just the exquisite stone carvings and murals, if they could be transported back to the Southern Continent, would be ancient artifacts that the upper-class nobles would purchase at a high price. The amount of money they could share far exceeded the compensation for their hire. However, Leonard Churchill felt increasingly that something was not quite right. While others were searching for treasures in this empty Underground Palace, he quietly approached Elder Clinton. War Slaves could regain their freedom if they accumulated enough merits through adventure. At the moment, all slaves were excitedly searching for treasures throughout the Underground Palace. Yet, this old man was hiding in an inconspicuous corner, looking up at the mottled ancient writing on the walls as though he was reading something. This was the Ancient Taron Language. Even in the Taron Dynasty three thousand years ago, the number of scholars who could understand these characters was few. It wasnt just the meaning of the words, but one needed to grasp the intention of the vocabulary in the context. Leonard Churchill tried to read and managed to understand some of the words, but he couldnt penetrate the longer sentences. But he knew that Elder Clinton definitely understood them. After all, Sean was an Information merchant, and no one would suspect his interest in cultural relics and ancient texts. He also pretended to have that nearby. Catching a glimpse out of the corner of his eye, he saw the old mans yellowed and blackened face twitching like a piece of jerked meat as if hed seen something horrifying. Then Leonard Churchill watched as the old man rubbed under his filthy robe and soon produced two mud pills in his hand. Looking at those pills, his keen sense of smell had already told him what they were, and his eyelids twitched inexplicably, but his curiosity grew: What is this guy up to? Then he watched as Elder Clinton quietly inserted two mud pills into his ears. Is he blocking his ears? Leonard Churchill began to understand some of it. Elder Clinton knew some strange and unusual ways to save his own life, such as putting his head between his legs to prevent Evil Spirits. As absurd as the methods seemed, Leonard Churchill had tried it himself and found them very effective. Now, seeing the old mans strange actions, he somewhat understood and quietly found some ointment to seal his own ears as well. Thinking of something, he also took the opportunity to covertly use directional sound transmission to speak to Colin. The young Swordsman was surprised by Leonard Churchills advice within the team but was more excited than surprised. ... In the antechamber of the Underground Palace were mostly funerary objects, which were mostly decayed and not of much value. Thousands of people scavenged like locusts, and it didnt take long to explore everything thoroughly. The Archaeologist, Old Karen, who clearly also had a deep understanding of tomb structures, found a special wall section and blew it open, revealing a stone door. Though Leonard Churchill wasnt very knowledgeable about archaeology, he knew enough to recognize that this was the passage leading to the main burial chamber. Prince Salo, who was after the Olympus Holy Sword, of course, wouldnt settle for staying in the antechamber. Such a thing could not be touched by others; he had to enter personally. At his command, a group of people followed the passage into the depths of the tomb. Once inside, they realized the antechamber that had left them in awe was just the tip of the iceberg. The scale and luxury of this Underground Palace tomb were such that it left people incredulous. ... Old Karen, whats going on here? This scale might belong to a Royal Family tomb from the Talun Era. According to the literature, the upper-class nobles of the later Taron periods were excessively extravagant, and their tombs were immensely luxurious. The extent to which they ruled in life was the same extent to which they desired in death. I guess that if this Underground Palace is a Royal Tomb, it might be even larger than our Red Dragon Kings Courts Achilles... Sheesh... Thats outrageous. How much manpower and resources must it have taken to build? What do you think caused the Rebels to run rampant at the end of the Taron Dynasty? Just to construct tombs of this scale, millions of laborers were required. Moreover, the Taron Dynasty had a ritual of human sacrifice, so those laborers building the tombs couldnt survive. The tombs pervasive aura of death is likely because many have died here... Then we should be extra careful. Afraid of what! With all this treasure, if the one buried here were to Resurrect, Id still knock some teeth out of it! ... Even with his ears sealed, Leonard Churchills hearing was good enough to communicate without issues. It had to be said, Old Karen indeed knew a lot of tricks. He could describe the stories behind each of the tombs murals. Leonard Churchill also knew that Prince Salo was well prepared for tomb exploration. Everyone could guess that such an Underground Palace would inevitably have unknown dangers. But for mercenaries who were trading their lives for money, nothing could stop them from searching for easily attainable treasures. And they were fortunate not to have encountered any great danger. The passageway only contained a group of Ironback Spiders that had made the tomb their nest and some normal traps... The deaths of a dozen or so War Slaves exploring the path didnt cause much loss. This made the members of the Trial Group even more enthusiastic. The group continued to walk and search, gradually discovering a variety of funerary objects. Pottery Jars filled with jewelry, chests stuffed with Gold Coins, heaps upon heaps of gold and silverware, and even some Relic Level armor and weapons... In the light of the fires, the passageway shimmered with the dazzling luster of treasures. Chapter 1030 - 1030 317 Gold Coffin Dark Crystal Stone ?Chapter 1030: Chapter 317: Gold Coffin, Dark Crystal, Stone Monument_2 Chapter 1030: Chapter 317: Gold Coffin, Dark Crystal, Stone Monument_2 The specifications of this tomb were extremely high, and naturally, the accompanying burial objects would not disappoint. Just the burial accompaniments alone amounted to a huge harvest. The adventurers were thrilled, picking up items along the way, stuffing their Storage Rings to the brim, and hanging bars of gold and silver jewelry on themselves. However, Prince Salo had little interest in these vulgar treasures of gold and silver; he ordered everyone to keep moving deeper. The team of thousands stretched out long, with Leonard Churchill blending into the middle of the procession, staying close to Elder Clinton. But the corridor seemed endless, as though one could walk and never reach its end. After seemingly covering several kilometers and descending several hundred meters, someone finally noticed something was amiss. Suddenly, someone shouted sharply, stopping the advance of the team, Your Highness the Prince, we seem to have entered a cyclical labyrinth! The team included professional adventurers skilled in exploration, and breaking labyrinths was their specialty. They also realized that the corridors had begun to repeat at the first opportunity. That meant, they had returned to a certain starting point. With that revelation, the crowd instantly became agitated. Leonard Churchill was not the least bit surprised in his heart. Because he had noticed it long ago. He was all too familiar with this environment. The dark cyan thick earthen walls surrounding them, the architectural style, wasnt this the maze corridor from the Grand Cemetery Labyrinth? However, there were differences. Leonard Churchill remembered every single path he had taken in the previous labyrinth, yet he hadnt seen any scenes from his memory here. This was not the labyrinth he was familiar with. In fact, from the beginning, he had a feeling that this was not the Kings Mausoleum of Augustus. But such standards, even a prince wouldnt have the qualification to build. If it was not the tomb of the King of Augustus, then what could it be? ... The Trial Group heard they were trapped, and there was a slight panic among the adventurers. However, Prince Salo, the temporary leader of the team, wasnt concerned at all. If finding the King of Augustuss Mausoleum had been this easy, that would have been suspicious. On the contrary, a bit of crisis seemed more logical. Moreover, this was an Extraordinary World, and it was only natural for a tomb to have maze mechanisms. Besides, just a maze, no matter how intricate, could never really trap them. Leonard Churchill thought so too. Prince Salo waved his hand authoritatively, ordering, Continue the exploration. The mercenaries, hearing this, dared not say anything. With His Highness the Prince present, their less valuable lives seemed to have nothing to worry about. However, the adventurers no longer dared to run about aimlessly, mostly gathering around the three young nobles. Compared to the tense mercenaries, Prince Salo, Princess Betty, and that Kelly appeared much more composed. Their insights and strength were the backbone of facing any crisis. Salo, what exactly is going on here? It looks like a royal tomb from the Talun Era, its just unclear which royal it belonged to. This is the first time someone has discovered a tomb of this scale on the Old Continent. The trial or whatever isnt important now. If we can find some relics or heirlooms of the Royal Family, our trial results will definitely not be bad... Thats true. ... Leonard Churchill followed behind, listening to the conversation between the three. He also pretty much confirmed that aside from Salo, the other two didnt know the situation of this tomb. The team continued to walk through the corridor without encountering any danger. Leonard Churchill observed as he walked; his Deductive Abilities now were dozens of times more active than before, and he also saw some tricks within the maze. But there was no need for him to pipe up with a reminder. There were many adventurers in the team proficient in solving puzzles. Soon, the mazes Restriction was naturally broken. It was just a moving maze that wasnt particularly tricky; after blocking several key intersections, it was no longer infinitely cyclical. However, they hadnt found the way out. Rather, they discovered a huge space. The main burial chamber is found! Someone in the front excitedly shouted. Leonard Churchill heard this and became even more cautious. Found it so easily? And once again, he noticed that Elder Clinton, as if having a premonition of some misfortune, had already shrunk into a corner. ... Prince Salo led the bulk of the troops into a vast space. Structured like a vertical shaft, the people appeared on the half-way point of the walls. A hundred meters below, there was a massive space the size of several football fields. Upon entering, as if walking into a cold storage, they were assailed by a chill so biting it seemed to shiver their souls. A glance around revealed an expanse engulfed in Death Air. At the bottom of the pit, the ground was covered in a thick layer of mist resembling a black blanket, obscuring any view of what lay on the floor. Nevertheless, everyones gaze was drawn to the center of the space, to that colossal golden coffin! The coffin was carved with ancient and mystical Curse inscriptions, luminous without external light. The Magic Lamp shone upon it, causing mysterious patterns to flow on its surface, along with the dazzling light of Seven-colored Gemstones. Gigantic, heavy, luxurious, and noble! A grandeur that was visibly indescribable emanated from it. There the golden coffin lay, like a sovereign ruler. From a high vantage point, the most eye-catching feature was the totem engraved on the coffin lid. An eagle-headed humanoid crowned with a royal diadem, holding a Treasure Bead in the left hand and a Holy Sword in the right, with the Holy Grail floating beside... Leonard Churchill also recognized it at a glance, the pattern of the Four Great Sovereignty Sacred Artifacts! Upon seeing this scene, nearly everyone recognized it, The Eagle god Totem of the Augustus Royal Family! This was the oldest emblem of the Taren Dynasty. Only the true emperors of the Augustus lineage could make use of it, representing the supreme totem of Kingship. Chapter 1031 - 1031 317 Gold Coffin Dark Crystal Stone ?Chapter 1031: Chapter 317: Gold Coffin, Dark Crystal, Stone Stele_3 Chapter 1031: Chapter 317: Gold Coffin, Dark Crystal, Stone Stele_3 Could this be the tomb of some Augustus Emperor? Seeing the totem on the coffin, almost everyones breath became heavier. Only then did they realize what an incredible relic they had stumbled upon. If it was indeed the tomb of the King of Augusts, it must contain treasures of inestimable value! Even the nobles accustomed to seeing treasures were shocked at this sight. Princess Betty covered her mouth in astonishment and exclaimed, This is actually the Augustus Imperial Tomb! Prince Salos eyes burned with excitement as he stared at the Holy Sword pattern on the coffin, barely containing his anticipation, murmuring to himself, Have we found it... At that moment, the Vanguard Mercenaries below reported, Your Highness, its safe down here! Hearing this, Kelly laughed excitedly, Hahaha, weve really hit the jackpot this time! With that, he leapt down. Although the three of them were temporary allies, with such extreme wealth before them, it was not the time to be modest. Whoever got it, Others might not know of the existence of the Olympus Holy Sword, but the Scarlet Family had heard some rumors! However, now was not the time to share. Watching her teammate jump down, Princess Betty certainly did not want to be left behind, and with a grip on her skirt, she leapt as well. Regardless of which Augustus King it was, there must be supreme treasures in the tomb! Strike first to gain the upper hand! As soon as the two went down, a large group of people followed, climbing down from the rock wall. Prince Salo watched, but he did not rush to follow; instead, his gaze swept to the archaeologist Old Karen not far away. The two exchanged glances, as if communicating something. This scene was quietly observed by Leonard Churchill. But before the two could hesitate about anything, an excited discovery came from the vanguard below. Were rich! Were rich, haha... Look, there are so many high-quality Dark Energy Crystals here! My God, is this a mine vein of Dark Crystal? How come there are so many crystals. Hey... there are signs of battle! Has someone already been in this tomb? ... Prince Salos heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and his expression changed drastically. Had someone else already claimed the early advantage? If that were the case, it would be a serious problem. He could no longer delay and followed suit, leaping down. After the three nobles went down, their guards and the elite teams also jumped down in succession. The War Slaves, however, were left behind. Of course, Elder Clinton was going to go down. Although reluctant, the old man was driven to follow the main force down the ropes to the ground. Leonard Churchill followed as well. Passing through nearly twenty meters of cold black fog, their feet once again set on the firm land. Even after using the dispelling spell, the ground was still marbled with stream-like dense dark air. It wasnt just the dark air; the people seemed to have entered a crystal mine, surrounded by black crystals everywhere. Clusters of sword-hilt-like stones were densely packed together, forming a dazzling Dark Crystal Forest. Seeing this, Leonard Churchills pupils shrank slightly, but he inwardly thought it was not a good sign: Dark Matter Crystals, ah... These crystals were not ordinary dark attribute Energy Baryte, but rather Dark Matter Crystals formed from the overflow of Divinity! Leonard knew them because he had seen them before. In the Mysterious Realm of Summer Shepherd City, the Underground Cave that sealed the Weeping Angel Remains also formed a large number of these crystals because of the Divine Power overflow. Could it be that there were also parts of an Angels Remains here? ` The wings and body have been found. So, are there any angel heads here? Leonard Churchills mind instantly thought of this. However, the Underground Cave of Summer Shepherd City was previously arranged to suppress part of the Master of Dreams and Pleasure Arachnes Divine Body, with not much Divine Material overflow. The congregated Crystal Cores were far from the Black Crystals that looked like a forest in front of him! ... What exactly is going on? Isnt this the King of Augustuss Mausoleum, why are there Angels Remains here? Leonard Churchill was greatly puzzled in his heart. But for him, this was not necessarily a bad thing. The Dark Matter Crystals condensed from the overflow of Divine Materials are valuable. These are highly pure crystals that can be directly absorbed as Extraordinary Traits. He didnt dare to imagine how many attributes would skyrocket if he absorbed all the crystals here? At least reaching the peak of the Fourth Tier would be enough! Leonard Churchill silently estimated in his heart, and a hint of joy appeared in his eyes. He had indeed come to the right place this time. The higher the tier, the higher the Quality required for Extraordinary Traits, and the traits provided by ordinary corpses had become very limited. These Crystal Cores resolved his urgent need. At the same time, Leonard Churchill thought of the Resurrection ritual he had seen in Tracy Garcias Book of the Undead. The appearance of Angels Remains here must have a purpose. He vaguely saw a grand scheme extending from three thousand years ago. However, at the moment, he wasnt thinking about those things; he had quietly started using Feast Devour. His current tier could withstand the infusion of more powerful Extraordinary Traits; this absorption provided him with a significant amount of attributes due to the super high purity of the crystals. Enlightenment flashed forth continuously. Unknown Dark Elemental Affinity+1 You have used the Feast, Mental Power+0.01 You have used the Feast, Curse Power upper limit+0.03 You have used the Feast, physique+0.07 ... .... There were obvious signs of battle in the Underground Palace, with thousands and thousands of corpses. Everyone was walking cautiously. But what was strange was that outside of themselves, there were no other creatures in the entire Underground Palace. They also didnt encounter any danger. Leonard Churchill was somewhat skeptical about how these guys died. But the time was too long ago, and with the corrosion of Black Air, the corpses had all turned into dry bones; Leonard Churchill couldnt figure out the cause of death of these corpses. He followed Elder Clinton, devouring Extraordinary Traits all the way and treading carefully towards the Gold Sarcophagus. When he arrived at the center, he just saw Prince Salos group, who had arrived first, pondering over a Black Stele. Leonard Churchills eyes slightly lifted at the sight of this familiar black obelisk. With another glance at Elder Clinton nearby, whose eyes were misty, he thought to himself: So theres a Forbidden Ruins Stele... It seemed like things were getting even more complicated. Leonard Churchill was certain that the Gold Sarcophagus didnt contain any King of Augustus! However, it was located right in the main chamber of the tomb. As Leonard Churchill pondered, his gaze gradually deepened. ` Chapter 1032 - 1032 318 Necromancer ?Chapter 1032: Chapter 318 Necromancer Chapter 1032: Chapter 318 Necromancer People below the sixth tier shouldnt look at the stele, otherwise who knows what kind of mental deformation they will experience! Theres actually the legendary Forbidden Ruins Stele here, has anyone understood it, what does it say on it? It seems to record a battle that once took place in this Kings Mausoleum of Augustus? Hmm, I see the name of Mad King Auduin on it... The emperor of the Taron Dynasty? Hehe, dont tell me this is the tomb of Auduin? ... The group led by Prince Salo was still studying the stele. Such black steles were obviously not the only one, and a few people from the Southern Continent had heard of them. But the stele was inscribed in true High-level Demon Language, and obviously they couldnt understand it either. Since they suspected that the Underground Palace was the Mausoleum of Augustus, no one dared to be careless. Leonard Churchill watched from a distance, curious about what exactly was written on that black stele. But from the information he knew so far, it seemed that the content on the stele appeared differently to each person. Elder Clinton found on the stele memories that had been awakened, Catherine Carter comprehended a Demonic Solution from it, and Pursuer of Light read the historical truth on the stele... Leonard himself had also seen scraps of information about a plague on the stele in the Upper State Prison. And he almost became addicted to it. Previously unable to understand it, he didnt think he would understand it now either. But thinking of the commonalities where the steles appeared, Leonard had a thought: Could the existence of the stele be related to Divinity? It seemed that the stele required Divinity to charge it to maintain specific functions, such as revealing inscriptions? Nonetheless, the stele was not important at the moment. What was important was that the atmosphere of this Underground Palace was very eerie. That feeling, as if a snake was slithering up from the ankle to the back of the neck, was becoming clearer, and now it had reached the neck. Yet there were no anomalies detected. Not just Leonard, but the high-tier guards and mercenaries had not sensed anything either. The source of this eerie feeling could not be pinpointed. Leonard glanced at Elder Clinton, who had shrunk into a corner of the crowd, knowing that something bad was happening. ... Having guessed that this was a Royal Family Mausoleum of Augustus, no one dared to be careless. But looking at that mysterious golden coffin, everyones eyes were filled with greedy fervor. Prince Salo had come here for the mausoleum, and seeing nobody could read the stele, he didnt waste more time and ordered, Go, prepare to open the coffin. As he spoke, the guards protected the three young nobles, and various Restriction Cards were set up around them. Then a few War Slaves took crowbars and walked shakily towards the golden coffin. Leonard watched intently as well. He had thought that the source of the danger would be the coffin. However, no one expected that before the slaves even got close to the coffin, there was a sudden boom, like the rumble of canon fire piercing their ears. Turning to look, the three nobles were actually fighting among themselves? It was Second Young Master Kelly from the Duke Scarlets household who struck, landing a punch on Prince Salo standing beside him. The attack was so close and sudden that Salo was caught off-guard, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. The guards were shocked and quickly protected Salo. Leonard, watching the scene, his brows knitted together with confusion in an instant. Although he had guessed that the nobles were not to be taken lightly, this seemed too early to reveal their true intentions before the loot was divided, wasnt it? Prince Salo was also puzzled. Although he had not planned to share the treasure with anyone, now was not the time to act. Besides, there were academy tutors responsible for supervising the examination in the team. He shouted, Kelly, do you realize what you are doing?! But what no one expected was that hearing this, Kellys mouth curled into a sinister smile, and his throat issued a raspy voice that did not seem human: Those proficient in mausoleums must... die! The voice wasnt loud but reverberated clearly throughout the Underground Palace. The thousands in the Trial Group felt their skin crawl as if they had seen a ghost. Everybody understood, Young Master Kelly was possessed by an Evil Spirit! Prince Salos brow furrowed, seeming somewhat puzzled. A guard nearby already shouted, Beware Mental Pollution! Beware Evil Spirits! Use Holy Light to dispel it quickly! After all, they were elite guards of the Royal Family, and these people responded immediately. Looking at Kelly who had become someone else, the situation was nothing but a Mental Illusion or an Evil Spirit Possession. Kellys guards rushed forward, pinning their young master underneath them, ready to perform an exorcism... The Rune Highlands was rife with Undead Creatures; the mercenaries were also prepared. Various pieces of Demon-banishing Equipment, Holy Water, Holy Light Spells, and Anti-Curse Artifact Items were taken out. In a moment, the vast space blazed with Holy Light, and the dark air was dispelled. From a distance, Leonard watched this sudden turn of events, a perplexed look flashing in his eyes: Strange... how come I didnt detect any Contamination at all? Normally, High-ranking nobility wasnt short of treasures, and Young Master Kelly would certainly have gear to defend against Mysterious Type methods. If it really were Evil Spirit Possession or Mental Pollution, others should have been more susceptible to it. How did he get affected first? Moreover, not a single ghostly Shadow had been seen in the mausoleum from start to finish, so where did this possession come from? Eliminating these possibilities, it seemed to be a control of the Mental series. Could it be some undetected Mental Series Undead Spirit? Or perhaps some kind of Relic? Chapter 1033 - 1033 318 Necromancer_2 ?Chapter 1033: Chapter 318 Necromancer_2 Chapter 1033: Chapter 318 Necromancer_2 ` Leonard Churchill had a bad feeling. Although Kelly was only at the Fourth Tier, he was just a step away from the Fifth. The deluxe equipment on him... it had allowed him to be targeted silently. The quality tier of this mental technique must be extremely high. Leonard estimated that those below the Seventh Grade would have a hard time being exempt. It looked like out of these few thousand of the Trial Group, there were hardly any individuals who could exempt themselves from this bizarre attack. ... The mercenaries might not have anything of value, but the hands of the three major noble families were certainly not lacking. For this trial in the Rune Highlands, the nobles had prepared a large amount of equipment and Curse Cards to deal with the Undead Creatures. Hundreds of Holy Light Cards exploded like firecrackers, and two Seventh Grade Divine Expulsion Sorcery Cards released ripples of white light that swept through the entire Underground Palace. Inside the Underground Palace, the dazzling Holy Light shone brilliantly for quite a while. The smell of money also brought a strong sense of security to people. Hahaha, I told you, following the princes team, its much safer... Exactly. With these high-level Cards, any century-old Evil Spirits would be burned to ash. ... The Holy Light revealed the excited faces of the mercenaries. This mercenary job was simply too easy for them, as they had been pushing forward on their way, hardly encountering any significant obstacles. Now, when they faced a bit of danger, the confidence born from financial strength dispelled everyones Fear Emotion. However, Leonard was watching, his expression growing increasingly solemn, Strange, how exactly were they targeted? He still couldnt see where the problem lay. But for Elder Clinton to respond in such a sleazy manner, it definitely wasnt a small problem. Moreover, with the large-scale Holy Light dispersion that just occurred, if there were any Undead Creatures in this Underground Palace, even if they were hiding deep, they should have been exposed by now. But after the Holy Light passed, no Undead Spirits appeared. Moreover, young master Kellys face, who was forcibly undergone an exorcism by the guards, was still ferocious. No matter how high-level the exorcism spell was, it was completely useless! Before Leonard could figure it out, the next moment, the crisis quietly rewarded them. The white light engulfed them for a moment, and a strange smile slowly appeared on each mercenarys face, and they muttered to themselves, Those skilled in the Kings Mausoleum must... die! The mercenaries also noticed that some strange individuals had appeared in their team. Old Six, whats wrong with you? Why are you showing such a scary face? And hey, point your knife away from me, its creepy... No, dont come any closer! Look he is just like what young master Kelly was a moment ago... Hiss...Evil Spirit Possession? But wasnt the Holy Light supposed to dispel it... ... In an instant, the terror that had just been quelled spread once again. Everyone in the Underground Palace discovered in horror that more and more of their companions around them started muttering to themselves. Their murmuring voices came together like a spell to summon the god of death. It sent a chill down peoples spines. Leonard had also long noticed the problem. Wearing the Clown mask, he could see the Fear Emotion of people. Above each of the few thousand heads, there was a trace of fear in the form of black lines. But in that moment, he watched as the fear black lines on some peoples heads vanished into thin air? Under these circumstances, Leonard himself felt a chill down his spine, and the others definitely could not completely mask their fear. There must be something amiss. First it was dozens of people, then hundreds, and finally thousands... Leonard watched as nearly all the mercenaries around him lost their fear, their faces only showing that strange smile. Thinking about this, he felt a great sense of foreboding, Not good! Those guys have been controlled! In this Underground Palace with six or seven thousand people, the majority were controlled. How was this achieved? This unknown method made even Leonard feel his scalp tingle. The real danger of the Kings Mausoleum had arrived! It came so suddenly that it didnt give anyone a chance to buffer. At that moment, he couldnt care about exposing anything and immediately walked over to Elder Clinton, who was not far away. At that moment, Elder Clintons beady eyes were shrewdly watching everyone around him. He seemed to know those people were controlled and anticipated some bad developments. Just as he was about to avoid them at a great distance, he saw Leonard coming over. Leonard instantly reverted to his true appearance and greeted, Elder, its Leonard Churchill. Elder Clinton heard this and his expression changed, Huh? Leonard who? ... Leonards cheek twitched at the response. The elder seemed to have forgotten him. But before Leonard had the time to reminisce, he saw Elder Clinton glance over at the group in the distance, and his face instantly filled with panic. The elder, not caring about Leonard at that moment, suddenly stiffened up like one possessed, and just collapsed straight to the ground. Play dead? Heartbeat and breathing were suppressed, but not completely gone. Leonard watched Elder Clintons actions, and without knowing the reason, he also followed suit without hesitation. The Feign Death Skill was quite basic for an Air Skill Master. However, as soon as he lay down, Elder Clinton opened an eye and complained, Get away from me, kid. The vitality and blood in your body are so vigorous, its hard to deceive that thing! Hard to deceive? Leonard himself felt that he had perfectly concealed his Air, yet the elder spotted it instantly. But he didnt think he was going to be the death of the elder. Leonard had no intention of moving away, he thickened his face and asked, Elder, what should I do then? Elder Clinton also felt like this fellow was purely out to trouble an old man like him but as if realizing who Leonard was, he urged anxiously, Cover yourself with a nearby corpse, and just avoid trouble for the moment. ` Chapter 1034 - 1034 318 Necromancer_3 ?Chapter 1034: Chapter 318 Necromancer_3 Chapter 1034: Chapter 318 Necromancer_3 Leonard Churchill followed the instructions. Before he could ask anything else, Elder Clinton suddenly lost his breath. Leonard Churchill did not dare to be careless and concealed his presence. The next instant, a fierce battle erupted in the Underground Palace. Then, suddenly, Leonard Churchill saw the mud pill that the old man had stuffed in his ear and guessed how those people had been bewitched. ... Captain Les, why are you attacking us? Damn it, Lame horse, why did you activate the Magic Energy Bomb? Careful! Theyve been possessed by Evil Spirits too! ... The vast Underground Palace instantly became chaotic. Thousands of bewitched mercenaries turned their blades against their comrades all at once. More than eighty percent of the mercenaries were controlled, including Fifth Tier and Sixth Tier card masters. This overwhelming number made the battle almost a foregone conclusion. The crowd was dense, and in the blink of an eye, the Trial Group suffered heavy casualties. Not only the mercenaries, but even among the guards brought by the three nobles, there were quite a few bewitched. And to their horror, they found that spells to disperse Undead Spirits and Mental Pollution were completely useless! They could not think of any means to exempt themselves from that mysterious control. Prince Salo and Princess Betty were anxiously surrounded by dozens of people, and they were quickly cornered. The reversal of the situation was so sudden that it left no time for anyone to react. Fear spread rapidly. In the distance, Leonard Churchill and Elder Clinton, who had collided and died, avoided the first wave of attacks from their comrades. Although he had sealed off nearly all the signs of life in his physical body, his shadow still lurked in the darkness, observing carefully. At this moment, he had also understood the situation regarding the ancient corpses scattered all over the ground when they had first entered. The monster hadnt even shown itself yet, and these thousands were likely to perish here. The vast majority would die without understanding what had happened. And the group with Prince Salo, which concentrated eighty percent of the high-end combat power of the Trial Group, although outnumbered by tens of times, didnt look like they would be wiped out quickly. But they were definitely not going to fare well. However, at this time, Prince Salo suddenly shouted an order to someone, Dont retreat! They had come all this way, and with the coffin right in front of them, it was inconceivable to give up like this. When Leonard Churchill heard this, he knew these guys still had some tricks up their sleeves. He had witnessed the ability to teleport through space in the Plague Marsh before and thought these people probably had similar lifesaving items. The Underground Palace couldnt trap them. At this moment, Leonard Churchill controlled his shadow to look at Old Karen. In the current situation, this person could no longer conceal himself. He dissipated a Dark Gold Card in his hand with a flick of his wrist, and behind him, the Demon Gods Phantom appeared, covered in black dragon scales. He stomped his foot and instantly yelled, Corporeal Field Display! Leonard Churchill watched and thought to himself without surprise, A Domain, a Seventh Grade strongman! This guy finally made a move... Old Karen indeed was an official hidden among the Adventurers. Once the Domain was deployed, hundreds of mercenaries around him simultaneously stiffened. He then took out another black Sorcery Card, his eyes sharp, and declared, Explode! The Spell took effect instantly. Suddenly, a series of crack and pop sounds erupted, and body parts flew chaotically through the crowd. Corpse Explosion? So hes not an Archaeologist, but a Necromancer from the [Clubs 9 C Ghost Talker] sequence... Although Leonard Churchill had never witnessed this spell personally, he had come across its description in Classic Books. It was a signature spell of high-tier Necromancers. The principle of the spell was to detonate the bioenergy within a freshly deceased body, creating a biological bomb. Its power was roughly equivalent to a card master instantaneously detonating several times their latent potential, which was quite significant. Normally, one corpse could kill or injure several Ranked Card Masters of the same tier. With Old Karens move of Corpse Explosion, he detonated dozens of nearby bodies, instantly clearing out the people within a hundred meters. Impressive... Leonard Churchill silently nodded to himself in admiration. Bang! Bang! Bang! ... And the Corpse Explosion was just the beginning. Old Karen detonated dozens of Curse Cards in succession, quickly clearing a large area. The ground was strewn with severed limbs and intestines, the crimson gore spreading across the land. However, it was after this bloody explosion that everyone finally noticed something odd. In the cracked open skulls of those blasted apart, creatures resembling spiders with tentacles were parasitizing the brains. Ominous Heart Eating Insects! Damn it, so it was these bloody insects! The larvae of these things are smaller than air particles, entering the brain through the ear canal, then growing and eventually taking control of the person! Stop wasting time! They have been parasitized, and the larvae have matured, theyve long been dead! Werent these poisonous insects extinct for tens of thousands of years? How could they appear here... ... Someone recognized the origins of the small tentacled creatures and turned pale with fright. At this moment, everyone understood why the previous banishing spells had been ineffective. Because this wasnt a case of Evil Spirit Possession, but physical parasitism. From the moment they entered the tomb, the Trial Group had been parasitized by these insects without knowing when it began. Leonard Churchill, watching those creatures using the host brains to draw sustenance, also felt secretly relieved. If he hadnt sealed his orifices earlier, he wouldnt have known how he died. This Extraordinary World really is full of all sorts of oddities. ... With things having come to this head, everyone knew there was no salvation for those who had been parasitized. The group no longer had any reservations in taking action. Normally, nearly five thousand parasitized individuals would have been enough to cause heavy damage to Prince Salos hundred or so people, if not wipe them out completely, but now they were engaged in a battle where both sides could suffer. However, there was a Seventh Grade Necromancer here. Old Karens use of Corpse Explosion to clear the field was just the beginning. With the appearance of the Demon Gods Phantom behind him, a gigantic Hexagram Array took shape under his feet. Waves of Curse Power flowed into the array, instantly sweeping a dense aura of Undeath throughout the Underground Cave, infusing the corpses on the ground. On a second glance, all those people that had been blown to death were now standing up again. Summoning Technique is one of the Necromancers specialties. For a Necromancer, corpses are weaponsthe more, the better. Old Karen directed the Undead Spirit Army to attack the parasitized individuals. After the two sides clashed, a mass of bodies fell, but with the invocation of undead spells, they rose again. In the blink of an eye, the situation shifted from one-sided to evenly matched. And then, the Undead Spirit Army grew increasingly vast. The more they killed, the more swelled their ranks. In the midst of everyones stunned silence, this person took control of the situation in a short time! He alone, commanding an Undead Spirit Army, had completely taken control of the situation! The crisis that had seemed like a certain wipeout was reversed by a single individual in the blink of an eye. ... So thats how it is... Leonard Churchill also understood seeing this. Prince Salo and his group of people recruiting so many mercenaries wasnt just for help with the exploration. Now it seemed the more crucial goal was to provide Old Karen with some mobile corpses. A Seventh Grade Necromancer with thousands of corpses ready to be blasted into Undead could nearly steamroll everything. With the crisis averted, Leonard Churchill too breathed a sigh of relief. But suddenly, something occurred to him. Insects? Why does it feel like a strategy of the White Family? Not the White Family of the current East Wilderness but that of the Talun Era. With Old Karen taking control of the situation, everyone else was left in shock. The Prince Salo respectfully addressed him with a Teacher. Only then did everyone understand his identity. With Undead to handle the aftermath, Old Karen was not concerned. He walked not far from Prince Salo, and in a moment when no one was expecting, he suddenly thrust a bone spear, piercing through the heart of one individual. This scene frightened the onlookers, who thought he too had been parasitized. But before everyone could fully express their surprise, they saw a humanoid figure on the impaled corpse, struggling as if it wanted to burst out of the skin. Leonard Churchill watched this scene from a distance and chuckled to himself, So the White Familys people have indeed been rooted out... Chapter 1035 - 1035 319 ?Chapter 1035: Chapter 319 Chapter 1035: Chapter 319 Old Karens bone spear killed a man named Haku. He was the logistics officer of the Trial Group, one of the few who could approach the three aristocrat students and often interacted with those from the lower social strata. Leonard Churchill had previously speculated that if he were from the White Family, which identity he would choose to inhabit. Haku was one of them. Leonard didnt know what method Old Karen had used to see through him, but as a Seventh Grade Necromancer, he must have had some special means. The God Stealer Sequence had been severed in the Southern Continent, and no one had seen the methods of the White Family. Now, as a human-shaped object emerged from the hollowed skin, each onlookers expression turned to fear, mistaking it for some sort of monster. Old Karen didnt give the figure a chance to fully materialize, as his lightning-fast bone spear, now bloody, pierced once more into the swelling skin. But as the spear pierced the flesh, like air from a deflating balloon, Hakus entire body went limp, and a wisp of blue smoke drifted out. Hmph! Seeing this, Old Karen snorted in disdain and flicked a Sorcery Card into the air where it exploded, sending several fierce Evil Ghosts lunging toward a point in the void. Only then did everyone clearly see the blue smoke emerging from the corpse, condensing into a young man with a seductive and handsome appearance. The mans body was like a light gauze, appearing both illusionary and real, clearly in an Elemental state. As the Evil Ghosts descended upon him, a mischievously disdainful sneer flashed on the fair-faced mans visage, Im quite curious, how did you discover me? As he spoke, his eyes narrowed fiercely, and behind him a white Fox Immortal aura emerged. But this Accompanied Immortal Aegis Animal was not the inferior Silver Eyes Immortal Fox from before. It was a majestic Golden Pupil Immortal Fox, its white fur streaked with golden luminescence, and a pair of enchanting golden eyes! At the appearance of this Immortal Aegis Animal, it devoured the several Evil Ghosts in an instant, seemingly enjoying this delicious offering, with a dangerous smile playing across its fox face. With the Immortal Fox at his side, Wayne Whites presence became ethereal and elusive. Man and fox, with a cunning smile, regarded the hundred or so people from the Southern Continent, without a hint of fear. Leonard, recognizing the beguiling figure, thought to himself, Oh, an old acquaintance, huh. If not Wayne White, the number one genius of the White Family, then who? Leonard gazed at the Golden Pupil Immortal Fox behind him and murmured, But this guy has gotten a lot stronger than before... Back in the Plague Marsh, he hadnt been this formidable; now he could stand unfazed in front of a Seventh Grade? Indeed, the combat power of the God Stealer Sequence of Card Masters derived largely from the Immortal Aegis Animals. This Golden Pupil Immortal Fox was one of the few high-tier Accompanied Immortal Aegis Animal souls that the people from the White Family had awakened in the DP-955 Research Institute after sacrificing tens of thousands of people. It was unknown how the White Family nurtured it, but the Immortal had regained such strength in such a short time. Wayne, however, was undaunted. Yet he did not believe he had the qualifications to confront them head-on. In Prince Salos entourage, Old Karen was not the only Seventh Grade. Wayne White merely sneered as he glanced at the Underground Palace, then narrowed his eyes at the golden coffin, as if confirming something, a cold smile spilling from the corners of his mouth. Others may not have known the situation of this tomb, but the White Family did! It was not the Mausoleum of the King of Augustus. It was a Suspicion Tomb! The purpose was to trap and kill those who ventured into the mausoleum. Old Karen, seeing he hadnt killed his foe, broiled with Undead Air and withdrew several Sorcery Cards, ready to launch them. The others around Prince Salo were also stealthily entering a state of ambush, having formed an encircling trap. No one could possibly escape from their hands. Yet Wayne White didnt afford them another chance to act; knowing his situation and having no intention to flee, he instead scoffed coldly, taunting, Since you all want the treasures within the Kings Mausoleum, lets show you whats inside! As soon as he spoke, Old Karen sensed something and shouted in alarm, No good! Stop him! But it was too late. As those words left his mouth, everyone saw Wayne White dissolve into a wisp of lingering blue smoke on the spot. In the next moment, he was at the golden coffin stealthily, harshly kicking the lid of the coffin. A heavy thud sounded as the coffin lid hit the ground. A twinge of anxiety struck everyone. Even Leonard Churchill, feigning death from afar, didnt feel good about this; he quietly reached for the Light and Dark Holy Nail at his waist. For instantly, Enlightenment dawned: You are exempt from the Soul Curse damage from the Weeping Angel... Just as Leonard had guessed, there was no body of the King of Augustus in the coffin, only the remains of a Weeping Angel. Like several other encounters, this remnant emitted uncontrollable Energy Leakage. Nearly as soon as the lid was lifted, an indescribable oppressive force swept across the entire Underground Palace. Leonard had encountered this several times and was no longer surprised. For the people of the East Continent, this normally spelled doom, as nobody had witnessed anything beyond the Sixth Tier. But for the people of the Southern Continent, it was not an entirely insoluble predicament. Even the Red Dragon Kingdom had Ninth-Order Card Masters. They had a clear understanding of top-tier Extraordinary Power. The Weeping Angel was a formidable Guardian Angel of the Taron Dynasty during life, but its power would significantly wane after death, especially when only a partial remnant remained. Prince Salo and his party had come to unearth the Imperial Mausoleum, so naturally, they wouldnt come completely unprepared. Chapter 1036 - 1036 319_2 ?Chapter 1036: Chapter 319_2 Chapter 1036: Chapter 319_2 At the moment when he sensed the overflow of the curse, a quaint silver mirror with an evil dragon carved on its back suddenly appeared in Old Futens hand. The mirror shone brightly in white, and before anything could emerge from the coffin, the silver light from the mirror covered it completely. Leonard Churchill saw that the mirror was an exclusive relic. [Grave Diggers Spirit-Seeking Mirror] Detailed explanation: Level V ancient relic, exclusive to the Ghost Talker sequence; with additional entries such as Soul-seal, Spirit-ban, Tomb-explore, and Curse exempt... causes extra damage and suppression effects based on ones own Law Understanding against all Undead Type creatures; Some really good stuff... Leonard Churchill muttered to himself. The mirror was capable of suppressing the curse of the Weeping Angel, which spoke volumes about its Quality Tier. But before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, they watched as strands of darkness began to emerge from the coffin, slowly inching towards the silver mirror. In an instant, the previously shimmering mirror began to tarnish, gradually becoming dim and lusterless. The mirror was about to become ineffective. Old Futens expression shifted subtly, and he hastily muttered something, as if trying to communicate with the entity in the coffin. However, before he could finish, it was as if an invisible force struck him in the chest, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Old Futen exclaimed with a shocked expression, Thats not right! How could the residual Law Corruption be so high for just a Divine Corpse? The card masters of their Ghost Talker sequence deal with various Necrotic Creatures. At his tier, he had seen God Tier remnants before. But he had never encountered such strong residual contamination from the dead. The entity inside the coffin did not give the impression of decay and dissolution but rather a feeling of vibrant vitality, as though it were about to resurrect! And yet it was not the kind of transformation into an Undead Spirit... With this thought, Old Futen felt a surge of confusion and fear, turning pale. If the one inside the coffin were to emerge, he might survive, but everyone else here would perish. The mirror could not last much longer, and the only choice for this group from the Southern Continent was to leave immediately. Since it was not the King of Augustuss Mausoleum, Prince Salo had no intention of continuing the adventure. Seeing his teacher spitting blood, he also asked, Teacher, are you alright? This question also meant to ask if it was time for them to leave. Just when Old Futen felt there was no need to take further risks, he suddenly looked at the mirror with a surprised joy, Eh! Ive found the true entrance to the tomb! Upon hearing this, Salos pupils flashed with a glimmer of dark light, Teacher, you...? Right underneath us! Old Futen, looking at the indications on the mirror, revealed an epiphany of joy, Theres a very strong presence of undead energy underground. Haha, if the coffin hadnt been opened, I might not have discovered that this Suspicion Tomb was just a ploy to cover the real entrance to the mausoleum. Haha, the legendary Mirror-image maze tomb really exists... what a brilliant trick! [Club 9 C Ghost Talker] The entry-level profession for becoming a Grave Digger is well-versed in the structures of various tombs. It can be said that as long as they were sure the King of Augustuss Mausoleum was in Rune Highlands, they would have found it sooner or later. Really? Salo also rejoiced. But before he could say more, Old Futen suddenly furrowed his brows, his tone shifting to a serious one, However, someone has been down there. Others might not notice, but as a fellow Grave Digger, he could see traces left behind by his peers. Such as some preparations for returning. Moreover, what he didnt mention was that it was precisely because of these traces left by those who came before that he was able to locate that ingeniously hidden entrance so effortlessly. Salos eyes showed a conflicting expression of anticipation and fear of disappointment, Ah? Old Futen cautiously explained, There are some mechanisms left by Grave Diggers here. However, they dont seem to have been laid recently, but a long time ago. As he spoke, he added another line, And... those who went down, didnt come out. Old Futen knew the reason Prince Salo had come. These words were also a reminder that venturing down might mean no return. Salo, unfazed by this, said, Since the King of Augustuss Mausoleum is here, theres no reason not to go. If he had been afraid to take the risk, he wouldnt have come to Rune Highlands. Plus, he was not a Grave Digger; he had the powerful Red Dragon Royal Family backing him. With this, Salo looked at Old Futen, Teacher, what do you think? Old Futen replied indifferently, Your Highness just needs to make a decision. They had come for the tomb in the first place, and were mentally prepared for it. Despite a small accident, the plan was still on track. Salo laughed softly, Lets give it a try then. Old Futen said nothing more, and promptly took out a dark red card, placed it on the ground, calculated the spatial coordinates, and a Twisted Light Gate appeared. The mirror was already dull and lifeless, and the entity inside the coffin could no longer be restrained. The group from the Southern Continent didnt hesitate and entered the gate one by one. ... Clang! The pitch-black mirror fell to the ground. The vast Underground Palace suddenly became quiet. With the suppression gone, the presence inside the coffin once again swept through the entire palace. Leonard Churchill had witnessed the whole scene. It was no surprise to him that Prince Salo and his party managed to escape. The use of Spatial Ability was also expected. But unexpectedly, this group had found the real location of the Kings Mausoleum? And moreover, someone had been there before, which tomb raider could be so formidable? Leonard Churchill had a premonition that when Old Futen said someone had been there before, it somehow related to the Treasure Map of the Grave Digger they had obtained earlier.