Alien world

Chapter 1899, Section 532: As if no one else is saying this.
The spider cave has several branch paths, all covered with layers of spider webs, with spiders crawling in and out of them. Some of these spiders are half a person tall or even larger. The spider tide splits and flows into these branch paths.

Meanwhile, Annan and his men followed the dwindling main force deeper and deeper into the cave.

A faint light shone from ahead, and the rustling crawling sounds seemed to carry a sense of emptiness.

As the spider swarm dispersed, a cave appeared ahead. By the faint light filtering in from somewhere, Annan and his companions could see an altar several meters high standing in the center of the cave, with a dark elf atop it.

The Imperial Minister's row of small eyes turned to Annan.

How could Annan possibly admit it? He pretended not to see it, staring at the dark elf on the altar, his thoughts wandering.

Damn it, could Spider-Man be behind this conspiracy too?
Considering the spider's previous appearances in the far north, coupled with the behavior of the Stunn clan, it is indeed highly likely that it is cooperating with the ratmen...

Annan didn't know what to say. Meeting Little Spider here was the worst encounter... and also the best encounter.

At least he still has a chance to change the situation. What if Spider-Man succeeds in his plan and does something bad to the Empire?

The surging tide of spiders crashed against the altar, and as it dispersed, the waves grew lower and lower, eventually revealing a white-bellied spider the size of a fist.

It climbed up the altar, ran up the dark elf's body and arm, and lay in her outstretched palm.

"What's happening outside?" The dark elf's deep, magnetic voice echoed in the cave.

A few seconds later, the dark elf's bright purple eyes swept towards the cave entrance: "Since you are a guest, why don't you dare to show yourself?"

No one answered her; the cave was quiet except for the rustling of spiders.

The dark elf suddenly crushed the motionless white-bellied spider in her palm, letting its sharp limbs pierce her hand. She turned it upside down, and the crushed spider fluid and blood mingled together, dripping onto the altar and flowing along the outlined runes.

Suddenly, a powerful aura entered the cave, and the spiders scattered on the floor tiles parted to reveal a path.

From the depths of darkness, a colossal creature slowly emerged. Its body lay at the bottom, but its row of eyes was level with the dark elves on the altar.

The dark elf uttered obscure and incomprehensible hissing as it communicated with the giant spider. It closed its eyes to listen for a moment, then opened them in confusion.

"No?"

……

Meanwhile, Annan and the others, realizing something was wrong, retreated back to the cave ahead of time.

"This is where the dark elves and spiders are. Let's go back," Annan said. His plan was to suggest splitting up and exploring separately from the Imperial Minister once they returned.

The Imperial Minister, however, seemed to read Annan's mind and said, "You stay and investigate; I'll go back and explore the right side."

Annan hesitated, "How can that be? What if something happens to you..."

"I am the Minister of the Empire. Do you think I would explore the rat hole with you without any protection?"

“Then I’ll have Black Pearl, Jerry, and Lulu go with you.”

Black Pearl turned her head: "Huh?"

She had a strange feeling that Annan was deliberately distancing himself from her...

Annan explained, "I have a special ability to hide myself, but if I bring you along, I will be discovered, so I can only act alone."

The Imperial Minister didn't expose him: "I don't need to either."

"Then, Black Pearl, you take Jerry and Lulu to explore the middle."

Annan was glad there were three paths; if there were one less, he wouldn't have been able to send the others away to find the little spider alone.

"Black Pearl, you won't let me down, right? Although we've only known each other for a short time, I know you're a responsible and dependable black dragon..."

Annan's six bright eyes stared at Black Pearl, who, feeling dizzy from his words, agreed. Returning to a side path free of spiderwebs, Annan dispelled the transformation spell. After a slight hesitation, he generously took out the Leaves of Another World, distributed them, and explained their usage.

"It allows you to hear the voices of other beings within a 1000-meter radius... and can also pinpoint your location. Don't worry if you get trapped."

The Imperial Minister received the Leaf from another world with deep, penetrating eyes.

Annan had prepared his answers to keep the conversation going, but he didn't ask anything.

This indirectly suggests that the Empire does indeed know something...

The Imperial Minister and Black Pearl set off one after another, while Annan stayed behind, opened a portal, and first informed his family of the situation.

Upon learning that the Battle of Old Val had ended and that they had won a great victory, with the Moon Eater Clan suffering heavy losses and no longer able to threaten the Imperial borders, the Kingdom's army also set out to aid the Imperial army.

Annan also told Liberty City about his general findings.

The Moon Eater Clan's crushing defeat is good news; the three gray rats I just recruited will have an easier time getting ahead, and they might even become rat elders.

"And there's good news."

Olmedo walked over and finally caught Annan: "Because the Moon Eater Clan suffered heavy losses, Philos took advantage of the situation and manipulated the Rat King to become the new Rat King of the Moon Eater Clan."

"So the Lunar Eclipse Clan is already considered one of ours?"

Olmedo handed a document to Annan: "Not yet. I think the Rat King and Philos will send non-Clan members to the front lines to be worn down, replacing them with their own people."

Annan lowered his head and opened the document: "Tell Philosopher that Liberty City will fully support them."

"She does have a request, but I dare not grant it."

Annan was curious about what kind of request would make Olmedo hesitate to agree, and after Olmedo finished speaking, he also paused and fell silent.

Because what Philosophy wants is a magic musket.

Despite Liberty City's impressive use of magic firearms, no species can match the Skaven in terms of adaptability.

The production cost of magic muskets is already low enough, but the cost of ratmen is even lower, and there is a high probability that the production rate of magic muskets cannot keep up with the rate at which ratmen are born.

Most of the raw materials needed for the magic musket must be obtained through mining, and apart from dwarves, no race knows mining better than the ratmen.

If the ratmen were given a magical firearm...

Worried about opening the ink cartridge, Olmedo did not immediately reply to Firos, leaving the decision to Annan.

"If we're always worried that our inventions will be obtained by others and pose a threat, then we won't need to develop anything."

Annan made a decision and sent Philosopher's siblings a magic musket. And even if they didn't give it to her, Philosopher could get one elsewhere—magic muskets could be bought anywhere on Free Street, right next to the children's toy store.

In some places, children are strictly restricted from buying alcohol, but they can buy magic firearms.

Philosophy's purpose in asking was simply to get Annan's opinion and consent.

"By the way, she hasn't assigned her a position as a ratman elder, has she?"

"No, the elder is not dead."

"That's good."

After all, Annan had promised three gray rats.

(End of this chapter)