In a small warehouse near Clark's docks, there was a sewer entrance not marked on any city blueprints.
A ratman emerged from within, exchanging glances with two gang members standing guard to confirm safety before climbing out. Subsequently, over ten more people crawled out one after another—all those who had entered the sewers two days prior, including Dylan and Chloe.
The heavy rain had lasted two full days, forcing everyone to stay an extra day.
After everyone emerged, the ratman first collected each person's iron tokens, then drove them all out of the warehouse. Clearly, the 10 silver coin service ended here.
"Brother Dylan, thank you for everything before," Chloe said sincerely.
At the vineyard, if Dylan hadn't joined them, he would most likely have been the one to die.
"Not at all, I was the one receiving care throughout the journey."
In just a few words, both men knew it was time to part ways.
"Well then, Brother Dylan, I wish you success!"
"Big Brother Chloe, until we meet again."
The two men clasped hands, nearly embracing each other.
Lin Jun almost wanted to change the channel watching this.
Gazing at Chloe's departing figure, Dylan's feelings were complex.
By all rights, he should harbor enmity toward the demon race—his daughter's blood poisoning was still vivid in his memory.
Yet this Chloe had genuinely looked out for him throughout their journey, even if that kindness was based on mistaking him for a fellow demon.
He could only hope they would never find themselves on opposing sides.
Though on second thought, if his boss ever had the sudden whim to ally with the demon race, he and Chloe might suddenly become true comrades...
But opposing humanity and such developments—he didn't want that either...
"What are you spacing out for? Hurry and keep up!"
His boss's voice snapped Dylan back to reality, reminding him he still had a new mission.
Scanning around, he spotted the black-robed figure already nearly disappearing around a corner and quickly followed.
Lin Jun had Dylan tail and observe first, then consider whether to learn about this abyssal magic through trade or other methods.
Lin Jun's intense interest wasn't unreasonable. Though he hadn't learned to cast spells yet, he now possessed skills in other magic schools—only this one remained unseen, like a rare card that made his heart itch with curiosity.
Taking a step back, understanding more about this world's power systems was also necessary.
However, Lin Jun was thinking too simply.
Chloe's assessment of Dylan's spy skills was spot-on: complete rookie!
After following for just a short while, the black-robed figure ahead seemed to detect him, quickening his pace and ducking into alleyways.
Seeing this, Dylan also accelerated his pursuit.
In the alley, the two figures moved one after the other in an obvious chase.
Lin Jun watched speechlessly—now that they were completely exposed, what good would catching up do?
This was still within the city, after all.
Thinking about it, Dylan wasn't a professional, so asking him to tail someone was indeed making things difficult.
"Forget it, given the situation, let's not..."
Before Lin Jun could finish speaking, black light flashed in the black-robed figure's hand as he suddenly gathered a mass of twisted magical energy.
Dylan's extended leg suddenly went weak, and he barely avoided falling by bracing against the wall with both hands.
Oh?
Lin Jun's interest was immediately piqued.
Quickly pulling up Dylan's status panel, he indeed saw something different in the status bar.
[Weakness Curse: Attributes reduced by 20% (104)]
A curse!
The duration was only 2 minutes—not long.
This was Lin Jun's first encounter with a debuff effect classified as a curse.
Just knowing this made the chase worthwhile.
Poor Dylan was already suffering under the [Aging] status with its -20% attribute penalty, now stacked with another weakness effect.
Running now, he looked like he had kidney deficiency—unsteady steps, unable to maintain footing. In no time, the black-robed figure had shaken him off.
Not only that, but his weakened appearance attracted some scum lurking in the shadows.
While Dylan leaned against the wall catching his breath, five thugs wielding clubs and knives had blocked him front and back.
A foot extended from around the corner, tripping Dylan and sending his travel bag to the ground, scattering its contents everywhere.
These guys were at most bronze rank, if even that—normally they wouldn't dare target adventurers.
But if said adventurer looked like he might collapse unconscious at any moment, that was another story.
[Weakness Curse: Attributes reduced by 20% (4)]
Four seconds later, the curse disappeared. Dylan felt that sudden weakness vanish as abruptly as it had arrived!
Taking another deep breath, strength returned to Dylan's body.
The surrounding thugs clearly hadn't noticed Dylan's change. One thug approached with an iron rod, threatening:
"Old man, leave your sword and backpack behind, and we'll..."
"Old man" again!
Dylan's hand was already on his sword hilt. If this guy took one more step forward, he'd slice open his throat on the spot.
"What are you doing?"
From the alley's end, backlit, silver-gray armor reflected scattered gleams. The crisp sound of iron boots on blue brick made the air suddenly tense as an armored knight strode toward them.
"A knight?"
"Run!"
The thugs wouldn't even dare provoke city guards, let alone a knight.
Only Dylan remained in place.
Dylan had also wanted to flee, but thinking it over, running would be too suspicious, so he forcibly stopped himself.
He couldn't understand why a knight would bother with such matters—ignoring such trivial incidents was the norm.
Moreover, getting closer, Dylan discovered it was actually a female knight.
She wore armor but no helmet, with short chestnut hair and an old scar between her brows. From a distance, one really couldn't distinguish her gender.
It wasn't just Dylan who couldn't see clearly from afar—Knight Lyadelphine on the other side was the same.
Originally thinking it was an ordinary person being harassed by thugs, which was why she'd come to help, she hadn't expected to discover it was someone dressed as an adventurer upon approaching.
She didn't like adventurers, but having come this far, she still asked:
"Are you alright?"
Her businesslike attitude made Dylan relax slightly. He'd feared this knight had noticed some abnormality.
Dylan skillfully displayed the demeanor ordinary adventurers should have when encountering knights.
"Thank you for your protection, my lord. Thanks to your blessing, this humble one is unharmed!"
"Mm, that's good then."
Lyadelphine's gaze passed over Dylan, scanning the items that had fallen from his travel bag. Her eyes lingered on a somewhat familiar pendant.
After thinking for a while without reaching any conclusion, she decided not to linger. She really didn't want to converse further with these adventurers—half the city's security problems were caused by these people.
Watching the female knight's departing figure, Dylan also breathed a sigh of relief.
Those thugs Dylan could have easily dealt with himself. Rather, the female knight's appearance had disrupted his rhythm.
He felt no sense of being helped at all—more like being suddenly interrogated.
Fortunately, it passed without incident.
After collecting his things, Dylan identified the direction and headed toward the docks—he needed to inquire when ships bound for the archipelago would depart.
...
That evening, at Knight Lyadelphine's home.
Bang!
A fist slammed on the table.
"Wasn't that Wilfred's power pendant?!"
Comments