This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 331, Section 330: Each Serving Their Own Master
The air in the basement was filled with the scent of wood and a faint hint of fungus. The glow of the oil lamp cast long shadows of the two people onto the strange wall behind them, which had round holes in it, and the shadows flickered slightly with the flame.

Chloe looked at Dylan, her face a mixture of surprise and disbelief: "Brother Dylan, I was wondering who could act so quickly and organize a mutual aid society in the newly built Mushroom City. You... I really couldn't have guessed this..."

He shook his head, his tone genuinely surprised.

Dylan was equally shocked. He placed the two glasses of wine on the table, sat down opposite Chlorlo, and said with a sigh, "Brother... I never thought we would meet again here, in this way."

“Who says otherwise!” Chlorlo picked up his glass, took a sip, savoring the taste, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Dylan and the secret room. “That newbie who needed me to teach him even how to disguise himself back then has really… become quite successful. How did your mission to the archipelago go?”

Dylan sighed, "I was a bit unlucky and failed. It's good that I was able to come back safely. To be honest, if it weren't for you guiding me and teaching me so much along the way, I'm afraid I would have perished halfway there. I will always remember your kindness."

After a long separation, the two seemed to have endless things to talk about. They chatted about Dylan's desperate struggle for survival on the deserted island and the close call with Chlorlo, who was nearly captured by the church knights. In the midst of their conversation, the wine in their glasses was quickly emptied.

"Seeing that you're doing well, I, as your older brother, am relieved." Kloro said, standing up and casually patting Dylan's shoulder, as if to give the younger generation some encouragement.

However, just as his hand was about to touch Dylan's shoulder, something unexpected happened!

The hand suddenly twisted and deformed, with sharp black claws sprouting from its fingertips, aiming straight for Dylan's right shoulder collarbone!
At the same time, a cold light flashed in his other hand, and a short dagger coated with a ghostly blue paralyzing venom silently slashed toward Dylan's side!
clang--!
The sharp clang of metal against metal echoed in the secret chamber. As if he had expected it, Dylan drew his short sword in an instant and slashed to parry the claws.

The immense impact forced both of them back half a step, which also caused the insidious dagger to miss its mark.

The two people who were reminiscing just a moment ago have become enemies with swords drawn in an instant.

A fleeting, complex emotion flashed across Chlorlo's face, a mixture of relief and regret, before settling into a low sigh: "Your reaction time is much faster now, Dylan. You wouldn't have been able to block this before."

"It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, brother. If only you hadn't come here," Dylan said regretfully.

Kloro nodded somewhat helplessly: "Yes, if only I hadn't been sent here."

The traces of mycelial parasitism are not difficult to identify. After Kloro arrived in Mushroom Capital and met those Puji Masters, he would naturally recall that Dylan's true appearance was very similar, except for a slight difference in color.

The claim that it's a parasitic monster doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

If the two never meet again, then it's just a minor accident that no one else knows about, and it can be buried deep in memory.

Unfortunately, the two met again.

In Kloro's view, this Puji House was most likely a trap set by humans, and he was already deeply trapped in it. The only way to escape was to kidnap Dylan, but unfortunately, he failed.

Just then, a round, plump thing squeezed out of a small hole in the wall with great effort, and its mushroom cap unfolded with a "pop".

*Kiss* *Kiss* *Kiss* *Kiss*

Soon, more than a dozen Puji emerged one after another from the secret room, filling the already cramped space and completely blocking all exits.

Kloro didn't continue his ugly struggles, but instead lay down on the ground decisively: "Brother Dylan, don't blame me for being ruthless just now. If you were in this situation, you would have fought back too, right? For the sake of our past relationship, could you spare us the torture?"

Dylan sheathed his short sword, took two steps to stand in front of Chloro, who was tightly bound by mycelial tentacles, and squatted down.

"So, brother, would you like to join us?" he asked calmly.

Chlorlo shifted with difficulty, trying to force a fawning smile: "Brother, please... I'll give you all the information I know, just let me live, okay? Your sister-in-law and nephew are still waiting for me to come home up north..."

"Brother Chlorlo, where did you get a wife and children? Have you forgotten that I caught you cheating with someone?"

"..."

Just as the awkward silence began to spread, a voice, as if pulled from a pool of blood in the abyss, burst forth from a tattered white cloth strip across Chlorlo's chest: "Since you won't join... then die!" Chlorlo trembled, but his survival instinct made him scream, "Wait! We can talk this over! Let's talk some more!"

Dylan was clearly caught off guard by this unexpected situation and hurriedly said, "Boss, please wait—"

But it's too late.

噗哧——！
Several tentacles suddenly pierced through his clothes and sank into Chlorlo's torso. The intense pain and rapidly depleting strength caused his consciousness to blur quickly. The last thing he saw was Dylan frantically pulling a bottle of healing potion from his pocket.

"Dylan, that boss... is too efficient..." These were Chlorlo's last thoughts before plunging into darkness.

……

……

……

When I opened my eyes again, the ceiling of the Puji House Inn came into view.

Everything was as calm as if it were just a terrible nightmare.

Kloro sat up with lingering fear, only to find nearly ten rough patches on his coat, the stitches crooked and uneven, instantly turning his once decent merchant attire into that of a street refugee.

Clearly, that wasn't a dream!

Especially after he subconsciously touched his chest and clearly felt the extra hyphae inside his body...

Kloro sat alone on the edge of the bed, silent for a long time, carefully thinking through the cause and effect, trying to figure out who was behind Dylan.
If it were a human organization, I should be either in a grave or at least in jail right now.

These mycelia, puffs... are clearly very unusual and certainly not new things that have only recently emerged.

It appeared even earlier, before he met Dylan, but it had been hiding all along!

And now, they are so openly spreading in the heart of human territory!
Such a grand scheme, if it were a major plan devised by some imperial duke, would seem reasonable to him.

Unfortunately, he knew that wasn't the case; he had two missions on this trip:
First, we need to investigate thoroughly what exactly happened with the "Puji Masters" who suddenly appeared behind humans, what their strength was, and what their weaknesses were...

Secondly, they sought to identify weaknesses in these fungal carpet networks and attempt to cut off human logistical supplies.

These fungal mats could not possibly be part of our plan, otherwise wouldn't that be openly opposing His Majesty?
But from his perspective, it didn't seem like something a human could create.

A third-party force?
The elves seem the most suspicious... but those long-eared creatures really do produce this...

dong dong——

There was a light knock on the door.

Before he could respond, the soft sound of a key turning came from the lock.

The hotel owner, Dylan, pushed open the door and placed a steaming hot breakfast on the bedside table with a professional and gentle smile on his face.

“Good morning, Brother Chloro, welcome to Mushroom Garden! If you have any questions in the future,” he paused, his tone as reliable as Chloro’s always been, “you can ask me anytime.”

(End of this chapter)