This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 384, Section 383: The Missing Riel

[Seven Sins of Greed Trigger]

[Plunder Skill: Elvish LV9→LV10]

[Plunder Skill: Ancient Elven Language LV2→LV3]

[Plunder Skill: Natural Magic LV7→LV8]

[Plundering Skill: Archery Proficiency LV8→LV9]

[Plunder Skill: Stealth Step LV4→LV5]

[Plunder Skill: Life Perception LV2→LV3]

……

What is the ancient Elvish language?
I don't understand.

Hiccup~
The elven race was suddenly struck by a great calamity, and Lin Jun was equally heartbroken.

Unfortunately, I am just a mere mushroom and cannot infiltrate the Elf King's city to participate in the burial ceremony of the Elf King Auriel. This is truly a regret in my mushroom life.

During that turmoil, Puji saved little Riel.

Riel followed the Puji as they scurried through the underground tunnels, eventually ending up in the Puji Dungeon.

There are many reasons why we brought Riel here.

For example, Riel has already witnessed Puji's true abilities and underground network, so it's inconvenient to just put it back casually.

For example, Lin Jun had long planned to bring back one or two elves to reflect the diverse culture and inclusive spirit of Mushroom Garden, and to satisfy her collecting obsession.

But in reality, it was because Lin Jun was too lazy to concoct medicine herself.

The pharmacy at Puji House has opened and business is pretty good. Lin Jun then experienced the daily overtime life of a working person.

If you're already the boss, and you still have to meet quotas every day, then what's the point of being the boss?!

The priests of the Mushroom Clan and the Lizardmen tribe do indeed concoct potions, but their methods are full of the randomness of primitive tribes—the amount of materials is entirely based on feel, and the efficacy of the finished product varies, making the quality comparable to opening a blind box.

This is purely a self-taught approach, and if you force them to change their style, they won't even be able to produce such an unstable finished product.

In contrast, Riel, personally trained by the old elf, although still inexperienced, had standardized techniques and procedures that completely outclassed the group of amateurs. He was exactly the kind of high-quality talent that Lin Jun desperately needed.

Since the opportunity was so good, we brought her over.

There was just one small problem: due to the language barrier, Riel seemed a little uncomfortable.

……

"Little fairy~ Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I really don't mean any harm~"

Norris put his hands, which had ten-centimeter-long claws, behind his back and coaxed the trembling Riel in the gentlest voice, while trying to force a friendly smile.

However, seeing the lizardman staring straight at him, his sharp teeth practically gleaming and drool practically dripping from his mouth, Riel buried his face in the body of the giant mushroom beside him and mumbled in Elvish with a tearful voice, "Don't eat me... Riel has very little meat... Big mushroom, save me!"

Seeing Riel's terrified expression, Norris felt that he was the one who was most hurt, but he still had to continue trying to comfort him.

Finally, after being labeled "useless" by his boss, Norris had no choice but to invite the language master, Yellow Book, from the Mushroom Garden.

The Yellow Book truly lives up to its reputation as a professionally seductive and wicked book. Even without using those tricks, it only took a few minutes of conversation to successfully calm Riel down.

The yellow book even clarified things for the incomprehensible Norris, explaining that he was only terrifying in appearance but actually kind-hearted. "But... but his claws are that long!" Riel was still shaken by those ten ten-centimeter-long claws.

Did you notice it doesn't have a tail?
Riel nodded; she didn't see any tail on Norris.

[Actually, he used to have a beautiful big tail, but...]
As the Yellow Book unfolded its story, Riel's gaze toward Norris gradually changed.

After hearing the story, she mustered her courage, stretched out her slightly trembling little hand, and gently patted Norris's scaly head, which was squatting on the ground.

Now she thinks that this lizardman who was willing to share his tail with his companion when food was scarce could not be a bad guy!
Norris will take care of the children.

Interestingly, in terms of age, Riel is actually a few years older than Norris.

However, due to the difference in mental maturity between the races, coupled with his long-term life in the peaceful Elf Forest, Riel still acts like a child, while Norris is already a mature lizardman who has rejected the love of werewolves more than ten times.

Besides recruiting a new member for the Mushroom Garden, Lin Jun naturally wouldn't forget the SSS-level mission she had risked her life to take on.

He decisively sent Aidin and Inanna to inquire about the current situation of that adventure team.

The most crucial thing right now is to figure out the attitudes of those diamond-level adventurers towards the artifact fragments.

If they only see it as a valuable prop, Lin Jun could easily obtain it through an exchange in the name of Aidin or Inanna.

Gold coins and S-grade magic crystals are negotiable. If all else fails, the wealthy Inanna can pay in advance. It's unlikely that she'll be blinded by greed and ask for an exorbitant price.

But if they believe the fragments of the burial core have some irreplaceable value and insist on not letting go, then things become a bit tricky.

After all, Lin Jun was determined to obtain this artifact fragment, given the allure of a skill without level restrictions.

……

The spread of fungal carpets in human-occupied areas is now progressing well, no longer limited to just three cities, but continuing to spread steadily to surrounding cities.

With the deliberate encouragement of human officials, one fungal carpet has even extended directly to a castle near the northwestern front.

The first batch of Puji soldiers recruited by humans have been deployed there.

However, since this fungal carpet was entirely laid by humans, there is only a surface layer of fungal carpet, and the underground network of tunnels did not follow.

To be honest, Lin Jun was also very curious about how much of a role human Puji Masters could play in a real war.

While theoretically it should perform well, no one can guarantee how effective it will be in actual combat.

He sincerely hoped that these Puji Masters could live up to expectations, since their performance directly affected whether the Fungal Creep could successfully expand its territory.

Unfortunately, although the castle where the Pujishi were stationed was close to the front line, it did not directly confront the demon army.

In fact, even the Puji Masters themselves felt that they might not have the chance to participate in the battle.

Whether it's the northwest front guarded by the Sword Saint or the northern high fortress where Duke Alama is stationed, the demon army they face has recently appeared to be in low spirits.

They rarely take the initiative to attack, spending most of their time simply setting up camp and engaging in a stalemate. Even when they do launch an attack, it seems perfunctory, as if they have no intention of fighting.

Duke Alama's side switched from defense to offense and won several victories in a row.

Many Puji Masters privately discussed how they regretted not being able to catch the right time and missing the opportunity to make meritorious contributions.

Confined to their second-line fortress by the fungal carpet's reach, they could only watch enviously as other units reported frequent victories.

This war of aggression, launched by the demon race, was about to end in a disappointing fashion, with humanity successfully repelling the enemy.

(End of this chapter)