Wizard: Starting with Dealing with Magical Plants

Chapter 285 The Enforcement Team's Invitation

The next day, the old mole indeed brought food and a rough but fairly clear map.

The map covers the general topography of the northeastern branch of the Sighing Mountains, several known dangerous areas and landmarks, as well as the relative locations of several major human city-states and powers on the Dustwind Plains.

The area surrounding the sunken town is marked with several important resource points, danger zones, and underground river exits.

As for news about Glenn the Skinner, the old mole brought less than good news.

"That madman seems to be in a really bad mood lately." The old mole lowered his voice with lingering fear. "It's said that he got his hands on some ancient construct core a while ago, but something went wrong during his research, blowing up half of the lab and injuring himself in the process."

"He's holed up in his hideout now, refusing to see anyone."

"There's a sign at the entrance that says 'Trespassers will be killed.' A few days ago, some fool tried to steal something, but he was cut into more than a dozen pieces by the automatic defense traps at the entrance. The fragments are still hanging on the wall as decorations."

Rowling frowned slightly. The timing wasn't right.

"Are there any other people who can handle the tagging?"

"There are a few, but their skill level is far from sufficient. They might be able to handle ordinary curses, but yours—" The old mole shook his head, "I doubt it'll work. Perhaps—sir, you could wait a little longer?"

"When that madman's mood improves, or his injuries heal?"

That's all we can do.

For the next few days, Rowling and Ellie stayed in the old mole's dwelling, keeping a low profile.

Rowling focused on healing his injuries, while Ellie took care of him and kept watch.

The effects of [Black Soul Ointment] and [Earth Marrow Powder] were indeed quite good. With the assistance of [Quiet Dust Star] and milky white pebbles, Rolin's recovery speed far exceeded expectations.

Five days later, the deepest wound on his right arm had scabbed over, his internal injuries had mostly healed, and his star power had recovered to about 60%.

Although he is still far from his peak condition, at least he can move freely and cast some spells that do not require much effort.

That evening, feeling good, Rowling decided to go out for a walk to familiarize himself with the environment of the sunken town and see if he could buy anything useful.

He changed into an inconspicuous gray cloak provided by the old mole, which covered his wounds and overly conspicuous attire, while his face remained covered with a strip of cloth.

Ellie dressed up similarly, leaving the two rainbow finches in the room and only taking Baha with her.

The two left their shelter and joined the crowds in the muddy and eerie streets of the sunken town.

There were many stalls lining both sides of the street, selling a wide variety of things, some of which looked fairly normal: ores, herbs, etc.

Animal hides, some exuding an eerie and dangerous aura, organs soaking in unknown liquids, bones engraved with evil runes, fragments radiating ominous energy.

The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and hushed conversations mingled together, creating a unique and oppressive cacophony.

Rowling's gaze slowly swept across the area, ignoring anything that clearly carried an aura of evil or danger, focusing only on potentially useful materials, potions, or books and fragments about ancient knowledge and energy research.

Rowling stopped in front of a stall selling all sorts of junk salvaged from ruins and battlefields.

The stall owner, a one-eyed goblin, was enthusiastically trying to sell a rusty metal plate stained with dried blood to a customer wrapped in a black robe.

Luo Lin's attention, however, was drawn to a few inconspicuous metal fragments in the corner of the stall, dark in color and with extremely fine, regular patterns on their surface.

The style of those patterns was somewhat similar to the styles on the maintainers and adjudicators he had seen before, but it was more ancient and rougher.

He walked over, squatted down, and picked up a shard.

It feels cold and heavy to the touch, and the patterns are worn so badly that they are almost invisible. However, when you touch it with your fingertips, you can still feel a trace of extremely faint, almost completely dissipated, residual energy of order.

"Hey! You have a good eye, sir!" The goblin stall owner immediately came over, his single eye gleaming. "This is a real find, dug up from the depths of the Sighing Mountains, from an ancient battlefield no one remembers!"

"Don't let its unassuming appearance fool you; it might hold the secrets of an ancient golem or construct!"

"Just ten—no, eight standard energy crystals—and they're all yours!"

Luo Lin put down the fragments, his tone calm: "They're just rusty iron pieces from who-knows-when, their energy is almost completely dissipated."

""

"I'll take this crystal back and study it."

"A piece? You must be joking!" the goblin exclaimed dramatically. "This is an antiquity! A witness to history—"

"Two dollars, or forget it." Luo Lin stood up, making a move to leave.

"Hey! Don't go! Deal! Deal!" The goblin quickly stopped him, hurriedly wrapped up the fragments, and stuffed them into Rolin's hands. At the same time, he took the two energy crystals Rolin handed over, afraid that Rolin would change his mind.

Rowling collected the fragments and continued walking.

These fragments are not of great value, but they may be able to deduce some information about the earlier creations of the Observer civilization.

After browsing for a while, at a stall selling used books, Luo Lin spent a few crystals to buy a severely damaged book.

However, it contains some handwritten records about the unique energy plants and minerals of the swamp, which are relevant to Ellie's "Azure Wood Spiritual Art".

This might be helpful for future pharmacy studies.

Just as they were preparing to return, a commotion suddenly broke out on the street ahead.

Several figures emerged from the depths of the street, their faces filled with terror. Immediately afterward, a tall figure, clad in black leather armor and wearing a metal mask, exuding a fierce and cold aura, appeared like a ghost at the street corner, blocking the path of the group.

They are the enforcers of the shadow hand!

"Violating the ban, engaging in private combat outside the designated area, resulting in death." A cold, emotionless voice came from behind the metal mask. "Take him away."

The men tried to struggle and beg for mercy, but two more figures dressed in the same attire flashed out from behind the Shadow Hand. They moved with lightning speed, subduing the men in a few moments, putting black hoods and shackles on them, and dragging them into the depths of the street.

The whole process was clean and efficient, without any unnecessary words or fighting.

The surrounding crowd seemed to take this for granted, simply stepping aside briefly, whispering a few words, before returning to their original clamor.

Rowling watched this scene quietly. The order of the sunken town indeed had a ruthless side.

Just then, the leader of the Shadow Hands, wearing a metal mask, seemed to sense something. He slowly turned his head, and his cold gaze from behind the mask landed squarely on Rolin across the crowd.

To be precise, it landed on Rolin's left hand, which he had unconsciously clenched slightly, at the location marked on his wrist.

Luo Lin felt a chill run down his spine.

What a keen sense of perception!

This person is extraordinary!

The masked man stared at him for about three seconds, and then, surprisingly, he walked towards him!

The surrounding crowd automatically parted to make way for him, their gazes toward Rolin filled with curiosity, sympathy, or schadenfreude.

Ellie nervously grabbed Rowling's arm.

Luo Lin stood still, his expression calm. The star power within his body, which had recovered most of its strength, flowed slowly, and the power of [Quiet Dust Star] was also quietly mobilized, ready to deal with any situation.

The masked man stopped two steps away from Rolin. He was half a head taller than Rolin, with a robust build, and even through the leather armor, one could feel the concentrated power emanating from him.

A cold gaze pierced through the holes in the mask and landed on Rolin's face.

"Newcomer?" The voice behind the mask remained cold, but it seemed to have lost some of the murderous intent it had shown while carrying out its duties, and instead carried a hint of scrutiny.

"Yes," Rowling replied briefly.

"He's injured, and carrying—something unusual." The masked man's gaze swept over Rolin's wrist again, then moved to Rolin's face. "Not bad. Why did you come to the Sunken Town?"

"Healing, dealing with troubles, finding a way out," Rowling said frankly.

The masked man remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly trying to determine the truthfulness of Rowling's words.

Then, he suddenly spoke up: "The administrator wants to see you."

"Now, come with me."

Manager?

Who is the real mastermind behind the sunken town?

Luo Lin's mind raced.

Is it a blessing or a curse?

reject?

The other party clearly represents the highest authority here, and refusal would likely mean conflict, which is not a wise move given his current state and situation.

"Okay." Rowling nodded and winked at Ellie, signaling her to follow.

The masked man said no more and turned to walk deeper into the street.

Rowling and Ellie followed behind, with Baha silently landing on Rowling's shoulder.

The surrounding crowd watched them leave, and the murmurs grew louder.

The fact that this newcomer was personally introduced to the administrator by the Hand of Shadows suggests he's no ordinary person.