Under the blazing midday sun, the battlements of Norwood had faded to an ashen gray in the harsh light, with only the shadows retaining the cold severity of the bluestone.
The iron-reinforced city gates stood wide open, with four guards inspecting those entering the city from the shade of the walls.
The flow of people in this area was already considerable, so Dylan was finally allowed to put his clothes and pants back on.
However, looking at the city gates from afar, Dylan's expression was far from pleasant.
He had just received a warning from his boss: "There's an active magical array at the city gates."
Any magical array placed at city gates would obviously be some kind of low-level detection magic—that much was obvious.
Though it was low-level, it would certainly be more than sufficient to deal with his own low-grade [Mimicry].
Keeping a magical array running continuously consumed quite a bit of resources. When had these nobles become so willing to spend money?
Having rushed here after leaving the dungeon, they hadn't gathered any intelligence.
Who knew if something had happened recently that he wasn't aware of?
In any case, entering the city was now impossible.
Glancing at the merchant beside him whose name he had already forgotten, Dylan casually made an excuse:
"It's safe enough here. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't accompany you into the city."
The merchant seemed somewhat surprised: "Does Master Dylan have some urgent business? I was hoping to properly thank you once we entered the city."
Dylan couldn't even be bothered to fabricate a reason. He simply waved his hand and turned his horse to leave.
"Master Dylan wouldn't be afraid to enter the city, would he?"
Reining in his horse and turning back, Dylan stared intently at the merchant.
What did he mean by that?
Had he been exposed?
Dylan's mind even began considering the consequences of killing this man to silence him.
The merchant, however, seemed oblivious to Dylan's strange reaction and continued: "Perhaps you're worried I might be too enthusiastic and delay your journey?"
His knuckles turned white against the reins. After a long moment, Dylan replied in a slightly hoarse voice: "You jest. I truly have other matters to attend to, so I won't delay here any longer."
With that, he spurred his horse and fled like a man escaping.
The merchant's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Dylan's retreating figure.
Dylan rode along the small path for a long time until the city walls were no longer visible and there were gradually fewer travelers on the road around him.
However, when he looked back, he saw that familiar figure.
The merchant had actually followed him!?
By now, Dylan had realized something was definitely wrong with this merchant, but he couldn't understand the man's purpose.
If he had simply discovered Dylan's disguise by accident, shouldn't he go find the guards to arrest him?
Why follow him alone? Wasn't he afraid of being silenced?
When things were abnormal, there was bound to be something sinister afoot. Dylan had no desire to confront him.
So he continued running until the sun was about to set and his horse was exhausted, tongue lolling out.
Looking back, he finally couldn't see the merchant anymore.
But this still wasn't enough to put him at ease. Dylan led his horse and plunged into the woods beside the road.
He didn't stop until the road was no longer visible.
Just as Dylan was preparing to take his luggage down from the horse, a small stone flew over and struck him directly in the face.
Not caring that his [Mimicry] had failed, Dylan turned to look at the merchant who had somehow caught up again, feeling a chill run down his spine.
This was definitely no ordinary merchant!
Only the backpack on the ground could give him a bit of comfort.
But why wasn't his boss making a move yet?
Did he have to fight a round first?
Dylan drew his long sword, preparing for what he thought would be a fierce battle.
"As I thought!" The merchant looked at Dylan's face, his voice filled with joy. "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous—we're on the same side!"
Then Dylan watched as the merchant's head began to deform like a water balloon.
It changed into several different faces in succession, even including Dylan's own face.
After finishing the transformations, the merchant smiled and said: "Now you understand, right?"
Understand what?
That you're a monster?
Wait, same side?
Dylan touched his own green face covered in mycelium, looking thoughtful.
Seeing his reaction, the merchant assumed he finally understood and found a rock to sit on without ceremony.
"Ah, in this godforsaken place, it's really rare to encounter one of our own."
The merchant now looked completely relaxed, sitting casually without any of his previous formal bearing.
"Let me introduce myself again—I'm Kloro. What's your name?"
Seeing his demeanor, Dylan temporarily abandoned his plan to attack, but he did put the backpack back on.
"Dylan."
"Brother, you're the parasitic type, right? I've seen them before. I'm asking for your real name, not this body's name."
"Dylan..."
"Alright, alright," Kloro looked helpless. "Brother, your disguise skills aren't great, but I didn't expect you to be so tight-lipped."
"Where did my disguise show flaws?" This was indeed what Dylan wanted to know. The road ahead was still long—if just anyone could see through his disguise, how could he continue?
"Brother, let's not even mention that your mimicry fails the moment you take damage—it's definitely not above level five. Just talking about your behavior—it's too bizarre!"
Kloro came to Dylan's side and patted his shoulder, looking like a senior earnestly teaching a junior.
"Who would ride naked on horseback in broad daylight?
I suspected you from the first glance!
Later, when you saw the city gates, you noticed their detection array, right?
Your sense of fleeing was too obvious when you left. After I tested you with one sentence, you showed such a huge flaw. Just how did your people train you?"
"Train?"
Dylan thought of what his boss had said:
"Alright, you look quite human now. Should be no problem."
Kloro drew in a sharp breath: "That's so irresponsible? No acting training? No counter-surveillance instruction? They just sent you behind enemy lines with low-level mimicry? Which faction are you from? Isn't this just sending you to die?"
"Which faction..."
Seeing that Dylan was about to fall silent again, Kloro felt somewhat admiring.
"I understand, I understand—you can't casually reveal that.
But brother, Dylan brother, you need to know that loyalty alone won't get things done.
We spies rely on quick thinking and adapting to circumstances.
Your people sending you over without teaching you anything—even by demon race standards, that's pretty unconscionable."
After speaking, Kloro began rubbing his chin in thought, occasionally glancing at Dylan with eyes full of sympathy and reminiscence.
Dylan had no idea what to say, and the scene fell silent for a moment.
Meanwhile, in the mycelial network:
"Boss! What should I do?"
"What do you mean what should you do? Isn't this pretty good?"
Lin Jun had initially thought this shapeshifter wanted to probe Dylan's background before impersonating him, but hadn't expected this development.
"But I'm not a demon spy!"
"But you are a mushroom spy. Round it off and it's about the same."
"..."
Dylan recalled his experiences after being parasitized.
Helping his boss gather human intelligence, spreading "strategies," writing wooden signs to lure adventurers, helping his boss communicate with pro-mushroom forces among humans...
It seemed he really was a fucking spy!
On the other side, Kloro seemed to have decided on something.
"Dylan brother, I know you're still a bit wary of me.
But in this region, it's rare to encounter a junior like you. I can't bear to watch you go to your death.
I happen to have no assignments at the moment, so there's no problem with me accompanying you for a stretch and teaching you a few things."
Dylan looked at Kloro with disbelief.
Are all you demons this warm-hearted?
Kloro completely understood Dylan's suspicion and wasn't in any hurry.
Like a friend, he sat down beside Dylan, took out his flask and drank a couple of mouthfuls—talking so much had made him thirsty.
Being closer this time, Dylan noticed that the flask actually contained mana potion...
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