Secret Stone

Snap!

Demps snapped his fingers immediately.

The high-temperature flames engulfed all the food on the table.

When the surface of the dish is boiled, you can see that the inside of the food has completely decomposed in a short time, with soft, tentacled-like substances forming inside.

Typical pollution sources cannot do this.

The ability to mutate Organic Matter must come from extraordinary life forms outside the city.

The source of this peculiar pollution was a dark gray coin stored inside the Stone Box, the material of which is unknown.

Click!

After everyone witnessed the coin's special properties, Abel immediately closed the Stone Box again... otherwise, if the pollution continued to spread, the Adventurers' Guild would come knocking.

"Abel, where did this thing come from?"

Han Dong could sense a polluted aura on the surface of the coin that was even purer than that of the former Great Lord Stuart, most likely originating from a demon.

"I temporarily joined the special training group, which is completely different from the Knight Training Camp... There is no fixed training location, and we need to move around every day, which is similar to a small-scale Expeditionary Activity."

About ten days ago, the team found a [Demon]'s lair in the Gravel Canyon.

The leading Knight Order demanded that we completely overwhelm them and capture their lair.

However..."

At this point, Abel's expression began to change.

"What's wrong?"

Everyone at the dinner table was very curious about this matter, since it involved the strange Stone Box and coins that Abel had taken out.

"There are only a few low-level evil spirits that have been born for less than a year in the cave nest... According to the exploration of the sensing personnel, there seems to be a strange aura mixed in with the cave that does not belong to the interior."

Meanwhile, we also found an extremely deep secret passage at the bottom of the grotto.

The secret stone path leads to the Holy City and connects with the previously abandoned Underground Sewer.

According to the inspection, the entrance barrier installed in the Old Sewers still exists...

"But the other party passed through?" Han Dong added.

"That's right... The demons and their wicked followers somehow managed to bypass the barrier and have completely infiltrated the Holy City."

They might be hiding in abandoned Underground Sewer, or they might be disguised and concealed in Slums.

Intelligence has reached the Holy City, and the Knight Order have been active during this time... The Adventurer's Guild has also posted many missions regarding searches of the [Slums].

"Still haven't found it?"

"No... there has been no substantial progress on this matter."

By the time Abel finished speaking, Han Dong already had some ideas.

They exchanged a Eye Contact with Demps, who was sitting opposite them, and the two seemed to be completely in agreement on a certain point of view.

"There must be a 'traitor' in the Holy City, right? First, they receive 'visitors from outside the city' in the abandoned Underground Sewer, and then they give them normal civilian identities."

After all, many people die every day in the Slums due to disease, suicide, or strange occurrences.

By secretly disposing of the deceased's body without reporting it, one can create a new 'identity'.

Abel nodded. "Indeed, I believe the Knight Order have also noticed this."

Therefore, we are now conducting a door-to-door search... but we still haven't found anything.

"Nothing has been found at all? Only a thorough investigation can clarify the situation." Han Dong currently has limited information and can only make these inferences.

"Captain Abel, tell us about what you have in your hand."

This thing must be closely related to the guy hiding in the Holy City, right?

"The Stone Box and the coins... It's a little embarrassing to say."

Due to an injury sustained during special training and my consistently poor condition, I did not join the main group in venturing deep into the underground passage, but instead remained inside the grotto to guard it.

Feeling extremely tired, I had to maintain Owl Stance to improve my concentration... which is why I unexpectedly noticed a mechanism in the cave that corresponded to a secret chamber.

Before informing anyone else, I secretly took away the Stone Box that was stored on the stone platform in the secret room.

During the special training, many people also did some small things like I did in private, trying to gain some extra benefits.

Submitting this to the Knight Order separately would definitely boost my overall score in this special training... but after some consideration, I think we could also use it internally.

So I called everyone together to discuss this matter.

Han Dong pressed further. "So, no one knows about the Stone Box and the coins?"

Abel nodded. "Hmm... If we can use this special evidence to find the [Otherworldly Demon] lurking in the Holy City, we will be rewarded."

This is a large-scale Bounty Mission issued by the Adventurer's Guild. Take a look.

"Large Bounty": The Secret Stone Incident

Location: The surface of the Holy City, the entire Slums.

Details: A Stone-like Evil Spirit group has infiltrated the Holy City and infiltrated the Slums through special means.

Difficulty: Undetermined (This event involves not only ordinary evil spirits but also a [Demon], Highest Difficulty than Knight-Errant can handle.)

If a demon is suspected of being discovered, please evacuate the scene immediately and relay the information to the Knight Order as quickly as possible.

Scale: Large (This Bounty Mission can be accepted by multiple teams, and the reward will be determined based on the evil spirits killed and the clues provided by different teams)

Time limit: None.

Completion condition: Until the Knight Order officially confirm and announce the death of the invading demon.

Task Rewards:

1. Kill and bring back a single, independent evil stone to receive a reward of 50 Copper Coin.

2. Providing the Knight Order with accurate information about the [Otherworldly Demons] will earn you a reward of 1000 Copper Coin per person.

Note: 1. This event has a high probability of being 'contaminated', please be sure to wear [goggles] when performing the mission.

2. After completing the task, you must go to the nearest church, Discipline Hall, or other place for baptism and release of "stress".

The Bounty Mission also includes a portrait of a person who appears to be a discovered evil spirit (Secret Stone User), whose facial skin has slightly peeled off, revealing the Darkstone structure beneath.

Everyone who provides accurate information about the Otherworldly Demons will receive a reward of 1000 Copper Coin, First Year sum for Knight-Errant. (Don't compare yourself to Demps.)

Han Dong pinched the tip of his nose. "Things are not as simple as they seem... If we want to delve deeper into this incident, the risks are extremely high."

"How so?"

"Captain Abel, didn't you just say that you discovered a different aura that didn't belong to these [Secret Stones] when you went deeper into the cave? This matter may involve more than just one Otherworldly Demon..."

Not to mention, there were even people in the Holy City who came to their aid... The secrets hidden behind this might be extremely deadly.

"How about we get together for a bit this time... and then I'll hand the things over to my grandfather and let the Knight Order handle it themselves?"

"That's a bit of a waste. Since we brought them back, we might as well investigate them a little... Have all of Abel's people who went to the city for special training returned, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'll go get two 'reliable' friends. Wait a moment... We can split into two groups and investigate from different angles."

If danger is detected, immediately stop advancing.