A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 281 Sir this way!

Rorschach quickly urged him to get up. He felt it wasn't a good thing for a middle-aged man to kneel before him, but it was best that the battle was over.

He used the Mage's Hand to support the surrendered leader, then looked around.

None of the other cultists were conscious; it was either thanks to him and the dwarf uncle, or it was the leader's thick green smoke that knocked them down. Obviously, the latter was an indiscriminate attack that didn't involve friendly fire, and this uncle got the highest K/D ratio.

The ship had no shortage of ropes; seawater-soaked hemp ropes bound the believers tightly. Finally, Singhlev dragged over the anchor chain, and the chieftain said with a grin, "Great strength, dwarf! Impressive!"

No, you're way less competent than your colleagues on the surface. Can't you show some of the unwavering faith and professional skills needed to stir up trouble? Rorschach has dealt with quite a few underground cults, but he never expected a true underground cult leader to slide onto the ground so smoothly.

He is now stretching out his hands, waiting for Singhlev to tie him up.

"Wait a minute! Your attitude is not bad, you voluntarily handed over the dangerous items." Rorschach stared at the small leader with [Arcane Vision]. He had many "magical tools" that were highlighted on his body, but they were all cheap items with little spiritual light. The only one that was relatively eye-catching was the seed he fed to his subordinates.

The man tried to pull another trick, handing over all the other powders and potions except for the seed, which Rorschach retrieved using [Mage's Hand]. Singrev, with his fiery temper, immediately slapped him hard across the face.

"I was wrong, sir, spare my life, sir, spare my life!"

Stop crying like this, it makes us look like villains. Rorschach asked, "Are you followers of 'Mother'?" After all, this place was too magical, and symbolically it was "underground", so Rorschach still didn't call her "Mother Earth" or similar titles.

"Yes, yes, we are cultists. I am Crawp, the head of the semi-submersible area. I am a 48-year-old male from the western part of Storm City. I came here last summer." Crawp had clearly taken the stance and directly reported that he was a cult member. He also gave a detailed and fluent account of his personal information, which made people wonder if he had been to the police station before.

He was once a wool merchant in Istani, who went bankrupt and became heavily in debt due to unforeseen circumstances. When he desperately jumped off the bridge, he found that he was not ready to end it all and miraculously struggled to reach the shore. The "shore" was actually a sewage outlet in the Tams River.

"When I woke up vomiting river water, I was already here."

Klopp was quite satisfied with this, because no one came to collect debts anymore! The problem was that the quality of life in the semi-submersible area was not as good as when he was bankrupt, until the tentacles of the underground cult extended into the semi-submersible area, and only then did good days truly begin.

"Why did they choose you to be in charge?" Singhlev asked, puzzled. This bald man with a potbelly, beer belly, and two layers of skin on his chin had nothing to offer. Should he be praised for being a wise man who knows when to yield?

"There are two points. First, I have been a boss before, and apart from that count, there is no one in the semi-submersible area more capable than me. These dimwits are not as intelligent or knowledgeable as farmers on the ground!"

"Secondly, most people who fall to the underworld want to go back. I think it's good that there's no law here. The debts on the ground have nothing to do with me. Maybe my boss wants to find someone who is willing to stay on the ground and work."

It turns out that religious groups, like businesses, prefer to hire "stable locals," which makes sense. Singhlev wanted to ask more, but Rorschach interrupted him: "Don't waste time here, we're preparing to move."

He glanced at the bound and gagged cultists, Rorschach not wanting to deal with them: "Come to think of it, apart from this Crawford, none of the other cultists have ever clearly seen our faces?"

The poet thought for a moment, "That's true." The battle started with their side launching a sneak attack, and they remained hidden throughout the dense white fog that Rorschach had deliberately created. The few who slipped through the net were then deliberately drugged by the enemy leader.

"Alright, Freddy, go and have the Earl's guards take him away." After giving the order, Rorschach had Singerev watch over Crawp and the others, while he returned to the captain's cabin to take away as much information and potentially useful items as possible.

As Rorschach came down, the dwarf patted his belly: "We forgot to save some sugar! We're still hungry!"

Klopp's eyes lit up upon hearing this, feeling that another opportunity to shine had arrived: "My lords, please come to my humble abode; I will certainly treat you with the utmost hospitality!"

Just then, the captain of the guard entered, carrying a long spear. He glanced at the fallen cultists and was slightly startled. Freddy, striking a pose of great authority, shook his head and gave orders to the captain: "My two attendants and I, acting on the Earl's orders, have successfully apprehended several cultists. The ringleaders will be taken away and dealt with; the others are yours to handle. Tell the Earl that the second mission is complete!"

Of course, the investigation wasn't finished, but according to Cropp, all the believers in the entire submersible area were here. They had come in droves, and this was a perfect opportunity to wipe them all out. For Count Elgin, this was even more effective than the "investigation," and it was considered an overachievement of the mission.

As for Crawford, Rorschach pulled off his linen hooded robe, revealing a loose shirt underneath, and put on a pilling old wool vest. Although extremely inappropriate by land standards, it was still better dressed than most people in the semi-submersible area.

His hands were tied behind his back, and Rorschach and Freddy helped him out of the shipwreck. To warn the regional leader not to try anything funny, Rorschach's [Mage Hand] kept his neck lightly choked.

Once they had left the curious crowd, Crawley began giving directions: "Adults, go that way, turn left, then turn right."

The four of them traveled through pipes and caves. In addition to the "houses" built of wooden planks and felt, there were also real houses. These houses could be considered sturdy if they had one or two stone walls built by building on the ground. There were even "detached villas".

Klopp lived in a "detached villa" that occupied a rather large cave and enclosed a large area of ​​land. He had constructed a fence using stalactite pillars, thick hemp rope, and wood, and luxuriously lit several lamps.

"According to my research, it was once part of the old imperial governor's castle," Klopp explained with great pride. "I went to great lengths to obtain it, so it's a kind of underground 'mansion,' haha." His laughter sounded like he had phlegm stuck in his throat, but you could definitely feel his joy.

Singrev believed that in the chaotic Shadowlands, might makes right, while Klopp clearly lacked any martial spirit: "How did you get these? Were they also a reward from the Order?"

Klopp seemed insulted: "Sir, this is all the result of my hard work! Everyone was distraught when they first fell, and even the top businessmen had no interest in making a name for themselves here."

"But people always need to eat, drink, and relieve themselves, and they always need to make transactions. I was fully committed to the world of the semi-submersible zone from the beginning, and joining the cult was just to add a layer of security to my increasingly coveted wealth."

It seems that this man, who had failed on the surface, had successfully gained some kind of advantage from the underground world. Despite the terrible material conditions, compared to other residents who were in even worse situations, the man was quite content with life in the Shadow City.

"Master, you're back," a thin maid greeted them. Her skirt resembled a sack, but tied at the waist with a rope. She was hunched over and as tall as a dwarf. Crawp cleared his throat, trying to project an air of authority: "We have distinguished guests. Quickly prepare food!"

(End of this chapter)