Open your monster encyclopedia

If you do encounter any new species of mutated creatures, you might even have a chance to acquire new monster abilities.

So I'll spend tomorrow morning doing missions. If I can collect the materials faster, I can start the training course at the camp earlier in the afternoon.

With this in mind, Lindsay made up his mind and accepted the task.

……

The next morning, just as the sun was rising above the horizon, Lindsay and "Broken Arrow," carrying their newly purchased and maintained equipment, along with their bags and baskets, arrived at the south gate of Wind and City.

The west and south sides of Wind and City are close to the Everlasting Forest, and the primeval forest between the two places is even more extensive and very close to Wind and City. It is only a few kilometers away from the edge of the primeval forest.

Lindsay tried asking the carriages waiting for passengers outside the city gate, but the drivers all refused when they heard that Lindsay wanted to go to the primeval forest, because the journey was too short and they didn't take passengers.

Well, since the journey is relatively short, I'll walk to the mission destination.

After leaving the city, the two began to walk through the refugee zone.

Lindsay discovered that since the last purge of the cultists, the refugee area outside the city was now deserted and dilapidated, with many things taken away or destroyed, leaving only some unwanted garbage and debris.

He casually kicked aside a broken plank on the dirt road: "These refugees all left in just two days. They're moving too fast."

"Broken Arrow" explained, "Captain, this is what I've heard: the nobles of Wind and City have issued a death order demanding that these refugees leave the area surrounding Wind and City within a day, or they will be treated as remnants of a cult."

I heard they've already dealt with a few troublemakers; they're serious now. The rest of the people naturally withdrew as quickly as possible.

"I see. No wonder there's been so little activity here. It's quite a difference compared to when we first arrived in Wind and City a few days ago..."

The two chatted as they walked, passing the time while they walked.

Linsel's nose suddenly caught a whiff of a mixed, chaotic scent, a result of human habitation.

He only recently realized what the [sensitive sense of smell] could actually detect, and it was probably something like this: the chaotic smells meant that the other party had different intentions, perhaps they were conducting reconnaissance.

"There might be other people around, and they're probably quite wary."

"Hmm? Oh, I see it!"

"Broken Arrow" pointed to the corner ahead, where several guards from Wind and City were turning the corner.

The guards also spotted Linsel and his companion, and they immediately ran over, shouting.

"Stop! Let us check!"

"Captain, should we run?" Broken Arrow hesitated.

"Why are you running? We're not cultists, we're adventurers, we should be fine."

Following behind was a small squad of guards, about twenty men, with a knight in plate and chainmail at the very back.

"Look closely and see who the last knight to appear is."

"Broken Arrow" looked closely: "Karina? Is it really her?"

When the guards at the front reached the two, they immediately lost interest upon discovering that Lindsay and his companion were adventurers.

"So you were just two adventurers. What a disappointment! You can leave now!"

"Wait a minute, 'Wolf Slayer' also has 'Broken Arrow'."

The captain of the guard squad removed his mask and helmet, revealing light yellow hair; he was indeed the female knight Karina.

"We meet again... The refugee settlements in the city are going to be completely demolished in a few days. What are you doing wandering around here?"

Linse stepped forward: "It's nothing, we're just passing through on our way to a mission in the primeval forest."

"I see. Then be careful. Fierce monsters often appear in the primeval forest, and many unexpected things can happen."

If you discover any cult members, remember to kill them. These lunatics are truly harmful.

After exchanging a few perfunctory words, Lindsay parted ways with Karina and the guard squad and continued onward.

After walking along the dirt road for an hour, the two reached the end of the road.

A drafty roof, a wooden door leaning to one side, a dirt road leading to a dilapidated little wooden house, and not far behind the house lies a primeval forest.

"Captain, we've been walking for so long, we're almost there!"

Linsset saw that the primeval forest was shrouded in white mist, blocking his view of the forest's outer perimeter.

By this time, the sun had fully risen, but its light was very weak because the fog had enveloped the cabin, and Linsset was inside the fog.

Something's not right. The fog should dissipate when the sun comes out, so why is the fog this thick this early morning?

"Broken Arrow" had sharp eyes and noticed a small white flower growing next to the cabin.

"Captain, look, isn't that an iris?"

Upon hearing his teammate's voice, Lin Sai immediately approached the cabin, took out the mission manual, and compared it with the sample.

The one in the picture is extremely similar, so it must be it. But isn't this flower supposed to grow inside a primeval forest? How come it's here next to this wooden house?

"Captain, come quick! There's a small flower bed behind the cabin, full of irises! We've struck it rich!"

"Broken Arrow" had reached the back of the cabin, and he shouted excitedly, which surprised Lindsay.

"Really?"

Linsset went to the back of the cabin and, just as Brinnan had said, there was a circular flowerbed with many white irises, at least several dozen in total.

These irises must be artificially planted, otherwise how could they grow in a flowerbed? Did the owner of the cabin plant them? But the cabin has clearly been dilapidated for many years, yet these flowers are so well preserved. Suspicious, very suspicious…

"Broken Arrow" was about to use both hands to pick flowers from the flowerbed.

"Wait a minute..." Linsel tried to call out to him, but "Broken Arrow" didn't listen at all. He grabbed the flower by the root, pulled it up, and threw it into the basket.

"Look, squad leader, my legs are all healed!"

Ok?

Lindsay turned his head at the sound and suddenly saw the "goat".

The other person came out of the small wooden house, holding a sling in his hand, which he was twisting around.

"Goat" shouldn't be in Linchui Town, so how did he end up in Wind and City? And his legs are actually healed...

Linsel broke out in a cold sweat. From the moment he discovered the white mist in the primeval forest to this familiar yet strange "goat," so many things seemed out of place. Had he been under some kind of spell without realizing it?

He immediately focused his attention and opened the panel.

[Phantom Ghost, Monster, Health: 80/80, Armor: 0]

A semi-transparent panel appeared above the "goat's" head.

It was an illusion; it really was the monster's doing!

Lindsay quickly drew Brand's sword and slashed at the fake "goat".