It's relatively easy for players wanting to join the Shadow Council, as many strategies have already been shared on the forums.

Quite a few players, eager to experience the role of a villain in the game, even gave up their Four Gods Sect identity to turn and join the Shadow Council.

However, being part of the Shadow Council isn't that easy, as the game is somewhat too realistic.

There is no content filtering in this game, so some players, after joining the Shadow Council, were exposed to many extremely bloody scenes, and the Shadow Council also demanded that they do some harmful things.

Initially, since it was just a game, many didn't take it seriously, but due to the game's extreme realism, quite a few players, holding weapons while facing unarmed civilians, found themselves unable to act.

In a daze, they felt this was a real world, and the NPC reactions were too realistic, making them hesitant.

Some players therefore gave up joining the Shadow Council, and some even developed psychological shadows from these experiences, leading them to quit the game altogether.

Yet there are players who were extremely excited, doing these things without any psychological pressure, becoming members of the Shadow Council.

Robert learned quite a bit about this on the forums, and he inherently couldn't accept the modus operandi of the Shadow Council.

To him, there was no need to join this evil faction when there was a bright future ahead, without having to traverse the dark sewers.

Moreover, due to the lack of filtering mechanisms in this game, many players have already discovered new modes of play within the game.

For instance, Azure Vault City indeed has brothels, and at night, scantily clad women are soliciting business everywhere. Some players, after trying it out, were amazed to find that they could actually experience the entire process, almost as if it were real.

These players immediately got addicted, working tirelessly within the game just to experience it at night, without any risk involved.

Robert thought: "Since Duke mentioned that a rat from the Shadow Council sneaked in, it means he is opposed to the Shadow Council, and the Shadow Council even causes trouble..."

He quickly realized that if he wanted to continue following Duke, he must not have any ties to the Shadow Council, or he would sever this quest chain.

"It seems this game's faction delineations are subtly defined, and every choice players make will have a significant impact on the future..." Robert mused.

Robert also noticed another detail in Duke's words: that upon hearing about the matter, Holy Daughter Dali immediately brought a large group of followers over.

What is Holy Daughter Dali coming over for? It's likely to assist Duke, indicating that Duke's relationship with the Light Sect is not ordinary, at least, his relationship with Holy Daughter Dali should be good.

Robert's mind quickly spun, and as these thoughts flashed by, he became more aware of the immense power behind this mysterious NPC before him.

Holy Daughter Dali is already an absolute top presence within the Light Sect, and given her good relationship with Duke, it indicates Duke also holds a high status.

"Since Duke is opposed to the Shadow Council, perhaps I could leverage this angle by providing some valuable information." Robert thought.

He realized that for the NPCs within the game, the Shadow Council is hidden in the shadows, and thus obtaining effective information should be scarce.

But for players, information on the Shadow Council is easily accessible; reviewing the game forums reveals plenty, with many players who joined the Shadow Council sharing experiences or complaints.

The Shadow Council plans to utilize players because of their Undying Bodies, but they fail to recognize that players lack any sense of loyalty nor can they be expected to keep secrets.

The Shadow Council probably never imagined something like player forums exists, leading their information to be completely exposed with no secrets left among these players.

Players joining the Shadow Council unscrupulously share all sorts of information on the forums; to them, it's just a game, and who would genuinely adhere to the rules of an in-game organization?

"Lord Duke, I have some information concerning the Shadow Council," Robert said hastily.

"Oh? Let's hear it," Duke replied with interest.

Robert nodded and began to explain the information he'd gathered from the forums about the Shadow Council.

The Shadow Council is an enormous organization rooted in various locations throughout the entire Oracle Plane, forming a colossal underground faction.

There has always been a presence of the Shadow Council in Azure Vault City, though in the past, they were quite discreet with no large-scale operations.

This time, they've surfaced mainly to recruit players into the Shadow Council.

The Shadow Council had an eye on the players' characteristics, intending to enlist these divinely endowed individuals with Undying Bodies to work for them.

Upon joining the Shadow Council, players are assigned numerous tasks, and completing these tasks is the only way to obtain the extraordinary power promised by the Shadow Council.

"Recently, many players have been tasked with capturing some civilians, who are then transported to a mine far from Azure Vault City. The Shadow Council has discovered a special mineral deposit there, requiring a lot of manpower for mining and smelting..." Robert continued without holding back the information he knew.

"A mineral deposit?" Duke keenly picked up on this keyword.

What could tempt the Shadow Council wouldn't be ordinary mineral resources, likely Magic Metal.

Duke had also learned a bit during this time; there are numerous kinds of Magic Metals in the Oracle Plane, though there currently isn't a stable way to acquire them.

Buying them wouldn't be feasible, as he needs too much.

Duke's Yellow Sand Crystal has only a bit over thirty tons of Metallic Yellow Sand left, requiring a lot of Magic Metal replenishment.

At least a hundred tons or so is needed to maintain decent combat power, eliminating the worry of depleting it all at once without reserves.

However, that quantity is too vast, and it's not the Plane Wars period now, leaving no means for large-scale acquisition.

But the information Robert provided is crucial; if the mining area the Shadow Council is currently exploiting is indeed Magic Metal, Duke would need to devise a thorough plan.

He pondered for a while and then asked, "Robert, do you have a way to obtain the ore from that mining area or the refined metal?"

Duke first needs to confirm the mineral deposit's nature there before making any other plans.

Robert thought about it and replied, "No problem, I can get it!"

If he went alone, it would naturally be extremely difficult, but acquiring those ores or metals doesn't require him to go himself; he just needs to use the power of money.

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