To keep things stable and avoid panic over the Mycelial Network and mushrooms, Farr planned to downplay Lambert’s parasitic infection.
But things spiraled beyond his expectations.
Lambert’s odd mycelium infection already drew adventurers’ curiosity.
When he “accidentally” bonded with two ordinary Puffshrooms, commanding them with simple orders, it lit a fire under the adventurers’ gossip and exploration urges.
Sure, they were just basic, combat-weak Puffshrooms common on Mushroom Town’s streets, but controlling Puffshrooms?
Without contract scrolls or magic tools!
Soon, excited adventurers wondered: could dungeon Puffshrooms with combat skills be tamed too?
Lambert, tasked with probing his infection, didn’t wait.
By the time Mirabel got Farr’s orders to pull him from the public eye, he was already swept back into the dungeon by a hyped-up adventurer mob.
When they emerged, Lambert’s Puffshroom posse had grown from two “blanks” to over a dozen—varied types with different abilities!
In the dungeon, different Mycelial Network zones spawned unique Puffshrooms.
After trial and error, adventurers found a trick: offer a beast corpse in the right zone, and you might gain control of a maturing Puffshroom.
Not every sacrifice worked—success was random—but for adventurers, it just meant hunting more beasts.
These tamed Puffshrooms followed Lambert’s basic commands, even fighting alongside him, sparking envy.
Combat pets without contract tools!
Lost one? Replace it easily!
Weak individually? Numbers fix that!
No one could sit still.
Adventurers dug into Lambert’s mycelium origins and side effects.
Bound by his guild deal, Lambert vaguely blamed a level eight teleport trap, saying he woke up like this.
But enthusiasm was unstoppable.
Word spread that Vera’s team rescued Lambert.
Before they were warned, Vera’s crew, swarmed by eager questions, spilled the details of finding him.
Rumors morphed fast: lucky Lambert, chosen by a Puffshroom while dying, fused with it, survived, and gained Puffshroom control, costing only a goofy look and some mana.
Farr’s plan to contain the news collapsed.
But unlike his fears, people weren’t scared of the Mycelial Network—they were hooked, some itching to try.
Not what Farr wanted, but he couldn’t stop the buzz.
Lambert’s dozen Puffshrooms, if led well, matched Silver-tier power!
High-tier pros might scoff, but for countless Silver- and Bronze-tier adventurers, it was tempting.
The “ugly” downside? Strength trumped looks. Adventurers rarely banked on beauty anyway.
Some already ugly could blame it on chasing Puffshroom power.
No second “Puffshroom controller” yet—people were watching for hidden risks in Lambert.
Lin Jun watched it all unfold.
Everything followed his plan!
“Outsiders” like Lambert got the lowest Mycelial Network access. They could command a few assigned Puffshrooms, nothing more.
Lin Jun had no interest in chatting with these uncontracted folks—let them run wild.
Human losses at the front were a crisis and a golden chance.
After the Empire clash, if demons beat humans, they’d likely torch the Mycelial Network and Puffshrooms.
He could hide in the dungeon, maybe expand underground slowly.
But basking in sunlight topside? Forget it.
Humans were different. To fight the Empire, they needed mushrooms—and soon, Puffshrooms!
They’d have to compromise.
His Mycelial Network could spread to the frontlines!
“Heh heh… haha!”
Norris flinched at the eerie laugh in his head but, used to it, wisely stayed quiet.
Lin Jun didn’t forget side issues, like a demon spy who’d seen Dylan’s face and might make bad connections…
Crowd’s edge. Rita eyed Lambert, swaggering with his Puffshroom entourage, lingering on the white mycelium snaking his face.
Familiar… like Dylan’s, just a different shade?
Did that mean Dylan was human?
What was going on?
Maybe this human’s mycelium tied to a duke’s secret plan?
Rita wasn’t sure, but this needed reporting.
She slipped back, weaving through the crowd to meet her partner. A few steps in, she froze.
Ahead, Dylan laughed with Bianca, the shop girl, buying goods.
Rita thought fast, then ducked into a narrow alley, taking a detour.
Dylan might be fine, but caution never hurt.
She moved quickly through new stone houses, crowd noise fading.
Puff—
A faint sound echoed behind.
Rita kept her pace steady, face calm, but her sleeve-hidden hand morphed into claws.
Wind stirred. She spun, slashing.
Hiss—a bladed tentacle appeared, severed mid-air!
“Stealth…”
Rita’s heart sank. She leaped back, trying to disengage.
But as she landed, sharp pain pierced her back!
Her chest burst, blood outlining a tentacle.
“Ugh…”
More strikes sliced her throat and body.
Rita collapsed in blood, form melting into a gray, gelatinous shapeshifter.
As her vision faded, hidden Puffshrooms appeared, round and plump.
Before eternal darkness, an evil voice whispered, “Don’t poison again in your next life.”
(End of Chapter)
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