abnormal mutation

Chapter 85 Feng Ping was murdered
Roland's expression shifted slightly. He really wanted it. The Paradox Worm was of a high level, and if the Rune Seed could digest it, he couldn't even imagine what it would be like.

Verdura saw through Roland's thoughts and said with a smile, "I think giving it to Roland is fine too. I happen to be very interested in buying it from him, which would save you some money."

Benedict quickly expressed his agreement: "Your Highness's suggestion is most appropriate."

"I have no objection," Roland said, feigning indifference.

In his heart, however, he felt that this Committee Member Mosley was extremely narrow-minded; how could someone like that be a committee member?

“Very well.” Suleiman gave Roland a deep look, his eyes filled with profound meaning.

Julia secretly rolled her eyes at Roland, clearly realizing that he wanted it himself.

Roland pretended not to see it. He hadn't expected that such a magical item would be so unpopular, and that he would be given it to him in just a few words. It was truly unexpected.

The crowd quickly dispersed, even Tana and Alex were sent away, leaving only Julia, Veldora, and Roland in the room.

"You've gotten too arrogant lately. Do you really think you're the illegitimate child of the goddess of fate? You dare to touch anything." Yulia's eyebrows shot up. If there weren't outsiders present, she probably would have already started hitting him.

“I have other uses,” Roland argued.

“Your aunt is truly devoted to you. She talked to me all night. You must be filial to her in the future.” Veldela smiled, emphasizing the word “aunt.”

“We should thank Your Highness for your generous gift,” Julia said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Roland understood and quickly expressed his gratitude.

He turned to look at Julia, their eyes met, and then immediately looked away.

He didn't know how the two women talked, but in the end, Veldella gave him the sap of the golden tree for free.

"Pack up in a bit, and after dinner we'll head back to Ice River Town together. These next two days should both be Dark Moon Days, so we'll choose one day to hold your awakening ceremony," Yulia instructed.

Roland nodded slightly, his expression showing a hint of anticipation.

…………

After breakfast, a sled sped out of the camp’s west gate and headed toward the frozen canyon.

Kili and Freych were in charge of pulling the sled, which consumed one spiritual glimmer per 100 kilometers and was much faster than a steam snowmobile. Veldora and Julia sat backwards on the sled, while Roland stood behind and steered.

The backpack contained the Paradox Worm, all his possessions, as well as gifts and meat for Evan and the others.

Winter hunting and ruin exploration won't start anytime soon, so Veldora, having nothing to do, decided to visit Ice River Town. She didn't bring any guards or maids, which was quite casual of her.

A cold wind swept across our faces, and fine snowflakes fluttered down.

The two women, covered by cloaks, spoke in hushed tones. Roland was also having a lively conversation with Pro through a mental link; it had been forced to play dead earlier due to the presence of a high-sequence powerhouse.

“The Paradox Worm was probably a product of ancient alchemists who used it to balance the contamination of potions. Back then, they would use extraordinary traits left behind by humans as potion ingredients…” Pro pondered.

"So it can be turned from waste into treasure." Roland suddenly felt that there was a reason to keep this thing.

“This might be the new direction to reverse pollution and madness. You’re exempt from the negative effects, so why not give it a try?” Pro tempted.

"If you're afraid of dying, don't try it." Roland was speechless. This wasn't an ordinary magical item; how could one drink a potion so carelessly?

He was more concerned about the upcoming awakening ceremony: "Are all potions contaminated? Will it affect me?"

"Pursuing perfection is a disease. Your resistance is ridiculously high, making it highly unlikely that you'll be contaminated in low-order sequences," Pro complained.

"That's good."

The sled sped across the snowfield, returning much faster than it had come.

More than two hours later, the sled entered Taipei City and stopped at the back gate of Rose Cross.

Veldora and Julia jumped off the sled and put their backpacks at the door.

"After you get back, adjust your condition and come back on Dark Moon Day," Yulia instructed.

"it is good."

Roland drove away, not entering through the North Gate, but instead circling around to the West Gate from outside the town, to avoid drawing too much attention.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed, but he could hear voices coming from inside.

"Bang, bang, bang—" He pounded on the door.

The gate opened a crack, and a head wearing a leather hat peeked out.

"Big brother—" Talgen exclaimed with delight.

A series of footsteps approached, and several boys rushed out, shouting and laughing excitedly.

"Big brother, why are you only getting back now?"

"Big brother, did you really kill the polar bear? Are you alright...?" "..."

"Stop." Roland waved his hand. "You're all adults, yet you're so immature. Go and move these things down."

Seeing the boys jumping around, his face was full of smiles.

Strolling into the courtyard, everything was still the same as before, with two carbonization furnaces bubbling and emitting smoke, and traces of life everywhere.

He put his backpack in the storage room, took out his shotgun and pocket watch, and placed them on the dining table.

"What are these things? They're so heavy!" Luke and Andrew each carried a cloth bag in.

"Steelback meat is delicious. You can eat your fill today." Roland said with a smile. He deliberately left more than two hundred minas to help them recover.

The flesh and tissues that combine extraordinary qualities are inedible to ordinary people, but can be eaten by these beasts, of course, only by low-sequence extraordinary creatures.

Targen's eyes lit up: "Big brother, you really went hunting? What kind of beast is a Bristleback? Is it powerful?"

“Steelbacks are extraordinary creatures, their backs are like mountain ridges…” Roland didn’t mind satisfying the boys’ curiosity. Since he was going to train them, it was necessary to expose them to some extraordinary common sense.

"Big brother, are you also an extraordinary one?" Evan asked curiously.

"I'm not quite there yet, but low-sequence extraordinary beings can't beat me," Roland laughed. "Who told you I killed a white bear?"

"It's in the newspaper! The whole of Ice River Town knows." Evan pulled a newspaper from the bedside and handed it to Roland. "It says that White Bear, who works for the Thistle Merchant Guild, colluded with a cult to rob the Northern Union Merchant Guild, but was killed on the spot by Big Brother and his companions..."

"And this too." Evan pulled out another newspaper, dated today. "Is the law enforcement agency really colluding with the White Bear? Is it true they're finding someone to take the blame?"

Roland was shocked. The newspaper headline read: "Law enforcement officers condone criminal gangs to make others take the blame; law enforcement agencies recruit descendants of meritorious officials, which may be shrouded in secrecy."

He glanced at the top of the newspaper again; it was indeed the Ice River Morning Post, a definite official newspaper.

The content is quite explosive, directly exposing the fact that the law enforcement agency has been accepting bribes for many years and implying that White Bear is finding someone to take the blame. It also includes the testimony of Caius, one of the parties involved.

The most outrageous part is that the article uses this incident to question the fairness of law enforcement officer recruitment, speculating that there must have been privileged transactions involved, and that the murder of the descendants of meritorious officials is likely not an isolated case! This is clearly questioning the entire judicial system.

Roland was utterly bewildered: 'This can actually be published? Are the newspaper editors and publisher out of their minds?'

Once this information leaked, the law enforcement agency was completely discredited in Glacier Town.

Moreover, the relationship between the Thistle Flower Merchant Guild and the White Bear was very secretive, yet it was revealed. Many details are clearly not fabricated; they are logical and well-founded, which is extremely unusual.

'The law enforcement officers and the Thistle Flower Merchant Guild have become the villains, their reputation and prestige damaged. Who benefits? Why do this?'

A name popped into his mind: the Seventh Authority. But this method was too brutal and not discreet enough. Could it be that other forces were taking advantage of his misfortune?

"Brother, is what the newspaper said true? The law enforcement officers are really scoundrels." Targen said indignantly.

"The first part is true, but don't spread rumors about the recruitment of law enforcement officers," Roland cautioned. "Has the White Bear Labor Service Company dissolved?"

“There’s no one at headquarters; they must have disbanded,” Evan replied.

Roland sighed and said, "Never mind them. I brought you gifts. A pocket watch for each of you. Hide this hunting rifle. I'll find someone to help you get gun licenses later."

"Wow, it's so thick..." Luke grabbed the shotgun, fiddled with it for a long time, and still didn't know how to use it.

Several boys were happily fiddling with the pocket watch and the hunting rifle, clearly enjoying them.

Roland waved his hand: "Let's cook first, and I'll teach you later when I have time."

At lunch, Roland summoned Drake and had them get to know each other.

In the afternoon, he delivered one hundred pieces of Mina meat to the orphanage, chatted with Grandma Mia, told her about his recent situation, but did not mention anything about stepping into the extraordinary realm, so as not to worry her.

Afterwards, he took Drake, Evan, and a few others for a stroll around Glacier Town, buying some daily necessities and saying hello to familiar friends.

The Bloodborne Warlock pathway Sequence 9 awakening ritual requires a human settlement of over a thousand people, indicating that the human aura is important for the ritual, and he felt that doing so should be somewhat useful.

Back home, his mind was filled with the awakening ceremony, and his emotions were in turmoil.

He simply sat cross-legged on the bed and practiced the Mind Lake Meditation Method. His breathing became longer and longer, his mind became focused, his thoughts drifted, and he gradually emptied himself.

The mind is like a still lake, calm and undisturbed, but a single thought can cause ripples to spread.

When he awoke from his meditation, oil lamps had already been lit in the room. Apart from the sound of burning charcoal, no one spoke, for fear of disturbing him.

"Today is Darkmoon Day," Drake whispered as he saw him wake up.

With a click, Roland opened his pocket watch. It was eight o'clock, still early.

The period of stillness refers to the few hours after 2 a.m., when the moon gradually disappears, the stars dim, and it is the darkest and quietest time.

(End of this chapter)