The Demon Race has already set its sights on the human Hero, but it's unclear whether they have confirmed their intentions or are still investigating.

Yet, the Hero is only Level 18 and doesn't seem to have much protection.

Putting myself in his shoes, if Lin Jun were the Emperor of the Hermit Empire, he would have sent competent subordinates to eliminate him and prevent future troubles.

Lin Jun himself is a Hero, so he naturally knows that this idea of an emergency level-up from a crisis doesn't actually happen.

If it did, he wouldn't have been so miserable at first.

So… what exactly do humans want to do?

Could they be using the Hero as bait?

Thinking this way, it seems somewhat possible.

But to use a Hero as bait, have his life in the hands of others, is truly too miserable.

Following this line of thought, Silver Sand Bay is likely to become a battleground for both sides, and it's not a place to linger.

Lin Jun has no interest in getting involved in the war between humans and demons; he hasn't even figured out which side he's truly on.

Honestly… these skills panels look so much like a game, can't the alignment system be more game-like too, with allies marked in blue and enemies in red for clarity?

As for Dylan, the clues about his daughter have now completely dried up.

There's no choice but to temporarily give up and board the ship for the return journey.

Of course, he also brought along that batch of Red Coral Fruits.

For Dylan, this outcome is mixed, at least it's not news of his daughter's death.

As for Lin Jun…

It really doesn't matter much at all.

From the beginning to the end, Lin Jun simply spent one capacity of [Subordinate Control] accompanying Dylan on a reckless journey.

Lin Jun's goal is to see the world.

Demon spies, Sword Saints, Abyss Magic, Mist, Heroes…

For now, the harvest has been quite bountiful, at least he gained a general understanding of many things.

Finally, if he can successfully bring back the [Delicious] Red Coral Fruit, it would be perfect.

God forbid they encounter mist or pirates again; last time Dylan lost his gold coins and +4 pendant, but this time it's Lin Jun's fruit…

As Dylan embarked on the return journey, two carriages also drove into the range of Dumb Wind Town.

-----------------

Inside the comfortable carriage, a white-haired young man looked gloomy.

Even though the month-long trek was nearing its end, there wasn't a trace of joy on his face.

In the villages they passed, half the farms had been ruined, deliberately poisoned and destroyed.

Their luck hadn't been as fortunate as initially, as they never caught a second spy.

Though they hadn't captured any, corpses of demon spies who had been caught littered the outskirts of towns they traveled through—executed and exposed.

This was undoubtedly the Empire's plot.

Those nobles of the Empire are certainly bloodthirsty, evil, and twisted, but by no means foolish; they wouldn't waste their own spies for no reason.

It can't be that they're trimming their spy network to cut expenses, right?

They must have other plans; are they on the elf side?

Although these matters should be considered by those at the top like his father, Fa'er couldn't help but ponder over what he saw and heard along the way, consuming a lot of his energy.

A peeled fruit was offered to Fa'er's lips, which he naturally accepted and swallowed.

The taste was quite ordinary, as this was merely a supply purchased locally in the later half of the journey.

The delicacies brought from Oath City had already been consumed.

Yet Fa'er didn't mind; despite growing up surrounded by exquisite food and clothing, he claimed not to care for such culinary desires.

As the carriage entered the town, with wooden buildings lining both sides of the road, Fa'er decided to get off and take a look, hoping to gather insights not found in reports.

The first thing he noticed after disembarking was a cluster of mushrooms…

After just a few dozen meters, Fa'er's brows furrowed deeply.

Mushrooms grew everywhere, under wooden eaves, in corners.

People eating along the roadside emitted fluorescence from their bowls and lips.

The most common words overheard along the way were Puki and mushrooms, no matter the subject of conversation.

This little town… feels very strange!

Especially when those diners with glowing mouths all turned their gaze toward Fa'er, the well-dressed outsider, making him feel as though he entered hostile territory and was under watch.

This feeling only improved slightly once he reached the guild—built of stone, without mushrooms.

The Branch President, or rather former Branch President Obel, was rarely sober today.

Despite his sunken eyes, clearly from excessive drinking, Obel managed to pull himself together to complete the handover with Fa'er in the hall, in front of everyone.

The so-called handover merely involved transferring the branch's seal, introducing personnel, and sharing a few empty formalities.

It was purely procedural.

"He really dislikes you," Lillian whispered to Fa'er, watching Obel leave.

Fa'er nodded; he had noticed it too, as an original plan to dine together seemed to have been omitted.

Regarding Obel's dislike, Fa'er could guess some reasons but didn't care much.

Once again acquainting himself with the remaining branch staff, including Mira Belle, Fa'er finally sat in the Branch President's office to deliver his first directive post-taking office—organize all intelligence post-Demon Tide concerning the Underground City and send it over.

The order was naturally given to Mira Belle. Though Fa'er brought accompanying administrative staff, he hadn't officially assumed appropriate positions and preferred not to waste time waiting.

Fa'er didn't necessarily want to replace important positions with his own people if the original branch staff could prove useful; retaining them wasn't out of the question.

Mira Belle clearly understood this was her chance to shine, and before sunset, two large stacks of documents lay before Fa'er.

As he read, his expression grew darker, culminating in -

"Obel, that bastard!"

Slamming the table, Fa'er now only wanted to drag Obel back and have Lillian give him a good thrashing.

Laziness has its limits!

What does it mean that not every level of the Purple Crystal Dungeon contains a Purple Crystal, but certainly contains Puki?

Though levels nine and ten don't yet, it seems inevitable.

Such obvious changes—how could Obel overlook them? They weren't even mentioned in the report submitted to the central guild.

What does it mean when Puki started renting illuminating Puki?

Doesn't this imply that these creatures are exhibiting commercial behavior?

In such abnormal circumstances, Obel made no move!

That Obel!

Fa'er decided that once the mushroom matter is resolved, he would certainly criticize Obel extensively for his negligence in the report submitted back.

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