Chapter 459: White Fog
“Dried human blood… it seems to be linked to the missing knight team.”
Lucius found a trace of long-dried blood on a wooden stake at the bridgehead.
“The missing knight squad?”
Although Han Dong had received so information from Mia, the specific situation was unclear.
“Formal knights, approximately once a month, have to conduct an ‘outside-the-city investigation’ around the Holy City as investigators, forming squads.
Especially for beginners who have just joined the Knight Regint, the outside-the-city investigation is an essential practice.”
Three weeks ago.
Due to a flash of blood, a regular investigation team received the task to conduct a basic survey in the Adlaga Mountains.
The investigation does not necessarily have to achieve a combat victory, only to acquire enough information.
This team had conducted no less than ten investigations before they disappeared. This task has simply required them to conduct simple recon in the foothills area. Withdrawal is allowed should there be any dangerous situations.
But… they mysteriously disappeared while exploring the Adlaga Mountains.”
“Was any information sent back?”
“None, from the mont they entered the mountain range, not a single signal was sent back…”
Han Dong nodded, “Captain Lucius, will you return to the Holy City now or continue across the bridge?”
“We promised Mr. Black White to take you to the base of the mountain range. Of course, we will escort you across this dilapidated long bridge… Before we cross, I’ll give you a reminder.
This ten-thousand ter suspension bridge was not built by our Knight Regint, but by heretics from the Gaine Forest decades ago.
There’s nothing wrong with the bridge itself.
However, under the bridge lies a chasm nearly a kiloter deep. If one falls, it is certain death.”
I will be the first one to cross, using my ability to reinforce the suspension bridge, and you all follow suit… Lunze, you’ll cover the rear.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Just from his behavior as a ‘leader’ alone.
This Blood Knight possessed a unique leadership quality that made one feel assured.
As soon as he stepped onto the suspension bridge, tendrils of blood spread out from under his feet and worked to reinforce the damaged areas of the bridge.
Lunze, who was at the rear of the team, enacted bone reinforcent to strengthen the structural integrity of the bridge, ensuring it would not break during the crossing.
The squad had barely set foot on the bridge, hadn’t even covered twenty ters.
“Hm!? Remote Blood Pact Secret Art!?”
A dangerous light flashed in Lucius’s eyes as he swiftly turned around.
Whoosh!
A blood needle nestled between his index and middle fingers shot out.
Lucius’s target was the spot where the trace of blood remained on the wooden stake at the bridgehead.
Right at this mont, an eye full of blood vessels that had seemingly grown out of nowhere was observing Han Dong and his group.
Swish!
The blood needle shattered it.
With the destruction of the eyeball.
A thick mist gradually rose from the chasm, enveloping the entire suspension bridge, reducing visibility to less than five ters.
“Be a bit careful, there seems to be sothing coming from within the mist…”
Full alert.
Having just experienced the story of “Mist,” Han Dong was all too familiar with this kind of dense, enveloping fog.
Caw Caw…
With a wave of his hand, over a dozen magic crows were released and began to circle around the squad, serving as reconnaissance.
Lunze, a necromancer standing at the end of the line, likewise waved his mysterious staff, and three ‘Skeleton Skulls’, used for detection and with a blue glow in their eye sockets, floated around the squad, serving as an early warning system.
“Let’s go.”
The squad maintained their normal pace, walking about a kiloter on the suspension bridge.
Hahaha~Ha!
Suddenly, a burst of manic laughter echoes from the mist.
Lucius, the leader, swiftly raises his hand, and his entire arm transforms into a blood hand that can infinitely lengthen and increase in size, seizing a specific target within the mist accurately.
Quickly.
A Blood Servant with a nobleman’s wig and mosquito wings is snatched out.
“You…you exude the delicious taste of the ‘Blood God’! Count will love it for sure.”
Such a sentence changes Lucius’s countenance, and a hint of deep unease flashes through his eyes.
Blood hand squeezes.
Snap!
A mosquito is squashed.
Hahaha~~ Just as the Blood Servant dies, more manic laughter is heard from the white fog.
Hundreds of strangely shaped Blood Servants shimr in and out of visibility in the fog.
While everyone’s attention is drawn by the Blood Servants, Han Dong, positioned in the middle of the team, feels a surge of apprehension. He suddenly opens his Little Demon Eye at the center of his forehead, gazing deep into the ravine.
“Watch out…there’s sothing below!!”
“What?”
Several robust-earth yellow tentacles embedded with rock matter suddenly rise from both sides of the suspension bridge.
Han Dong is seeing this type of tentacle for the first ti–it appears to be extrely heavy.
Without allowing people any extra reaction, the tentacles suddenly lash down…Crack! The whole suspension bridge shatters.
Even during the process of smashing the bridge, several Blood Servants in the white fog are also crushed.
The suspension bridge collapses.
Due to gravity, the six mbers of the squad are falling into a kiloter-deep ravine.
Just as Han Dong is about to fuse with Duo Zeya and initiate flight by transforming into Crowman Form, he suddenly notices an detail.
The tentacles that smashed the suspension bridge did not continue to attack them, nor showed any hostility, moreover…
Splat!
Han Dong lands on the surface of the giant tentacle…to be precise, the tentacle actively slows his fall.
The mont they make contact, a venerable and deep voice is transmitted into Han Dong’s mind via the tentacle.
“Honorable Lord, the Adlaga Mountains have been completely conquered by the forces of the ‘Scarlet Manor’.
At least one ‘Baron’ has set his sights on you. If you proceed recklessly, your lives will be in danger.
We used to be the native inhabitants of the mountain, and we bear no hostility toward the lord who hail from Gain Forest. We just wish to discuss a matter with you.
Please ask your human friends to relax. I will take you to a cave at the base of the mountain to temporarily evade the pursuit of the Scarlet Manor.”
“Okay.”
Han Dong decisively relays the information to Lucius.
Unexpectedly, Lucius, seemingly out of concern about matters regarding the ‘Scarlet Manor,’ accepts the assistance from the alien race… With Lucius’s command, Lunze and Jane, cease resisting.
The six of them land safely on the soft earthy-brown surface of the tentacle, smoothly arriving at the very bottom of the ravine.
The Blood Servants approaching from above seem to be wary of sothing as they stop halfway down the ravine.
As the group reaches the depth of the valley, the white fog disperses.
The earthy-yellow tentacles that destroyed the bridge and picked up everybody were retracted back into the giant formation at the base of the mountain.
A group of ‘native inhabitants’ enveloped in yellow robes are congregated here. The few parts of their bodies exposed outside have parts resembling humankind, and parts similar to rock layers, clay, vines, skeletons, and so on.
“Hmm?! Aren’t you the Giant Ghoul–Duilio Stuart?”
The voice of the native inhabitant still solely reaches Han Dong’s mind.
“Hush…the land deed has been changed, and I’m the new manor lord.
Besides, I ca here as a knight. Don’t let my companions know that I have a manor land deed, and don’t address
as lord; otherwise, it will cause a lot of trouble.”
“Understood.”
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