Way Out

Holy City - Neunter.

The area closest to the city wall and with the lowest horizontal elevation is the Slums, the most densely populated area.

The inner city wall, the Moslaby River, serves as a dividing line, completely separating the Slums from the core area of Holy City... Rumor has it that there is Second City Wall beneath the Moslaby River.

Once the outermost city wall is breached, the Second City Wall at the bottom of the river will immediately rise.

Back to the Slums.

For Han Dong, there wasn't much to say.

After all, he hadn't stayed here for very long; this was merely the area where the original owner of this body lived.

Streets with dirty water flowing freely

Unregulated architectural style and layout

Pedestrians with little hope for life walk along the street.

To avoid drawing attention, he wore simple, unadorned clothes, which, combined with Han Dong's short and sallow body, allowed him to quickly blend into the crowd, and no one would doubt Han Dong identity.

"The news reached the Holy City about a week ago, although these wicked people who infiltrated did not 'do evil'."

However, the Knight Order and Adventurer's Guild have been mobilized en masse, conducting a comprehensive search of the Slums, even checking each household, but they have found nothing. This is simply too much to ask.

There must be some 'blind spot' that we haven't been able to discover.

Han Dong was not searching aimlessly like a headless fly.

At the dinner table, the moment Cas opened the Stone Box.

Han Dong secretly noted down this 'pollution' that could cause organisms to mutate, and through the special properties of the Lesser Demon Eye, he was able to conduct targeted searches for this unique pollution.

Just as Han Dong walked two streets.

A similarly simply dressed young man was standing at the exit of another street, meeting Han Dong.

Demps Martin.

Although they publicly stated that they would act separately.

However, Han Dong anticipated the extremely high level of secrecy surrounding this infiltration operation, and therefore privately invited Demps to help.

After all, both of them have connections outside the city, and exploring using unconventional methods might yield some discoveries.

Honestly.

Demps had no interest in these purely Copper Coin reward missions; the highest reward was 1,000 Copper Coin, Demps could easily earn with a flick of his finger.

During the meal, Demps did not utter a single word.

However, since his companion needed help, Demps was willing to lend a hand.

"... Come here for a moment."

Standing at the entrance of the alley, Demps beckoned Han Dong over to talk, as if he had made a discovery.

"This matter is very troublesome and the overall benefits are not high."

I need to ask you first, why are you investigating this matter? You owe me money, you can pay me back whenever you want, there's no need to take this risk.

"I'm personally more interested in the [Otherworldly Demon] behind it. Also, I want to help that friend break through his seed."

"Cas Maldini?"

"That's right..."

"Alright." Demps nodded and pointed deeper into the alley. "Follow me. I have quite a few informants in the Slums. They know more or less about what's going on in the shadows."

"In the shadows?"

"You have Mr. Black and White as your backer... but I don't."

Even Though I can please Hera, she will never plead for me or take responsibility if my identity is exposed.

Some necessary 'fallback plans' are still necessary.

It's like you, Nicholas, besides Mr. Black and White, are also slowly leaving some 'escape routes' outside the city.

thump thump thump...

When Demps knocked on a Wooden Gate deep in the alley.

Squeak! Squeak! A large swarm of rats immediately darted out from the opening at the bottom of the dilapidated Wooden Gate.

These rats, seemingly startled and running out, are actually using a detection method to identify the visitors outside the door.

The Wooden Gate opened.

A hooded homeless man poked his head out, and a foul stench emanated from his body.

"Lord Six Fingers, what brings you here in person? Please come in... And who is this?"

"My friend."

"Alright! Come in quickly. Recently, due to some troublesome matters, the Knight Order have been frequently conducting searches in the Slums."

Han Dong and Demps entered.

This person released even more rats, spreading them throughout the alleyway, so that anyone who broke in would be immediately detected.

Upon entering the room.

Demps immediately conjured a flame in his palm for illumination.

Inside is a dilapidated wooden house that appears to have been uninhabited for several years.

The ground and wooden beams were crawling with rats, and food scraps were scattered all over the place... It was nothing like the stronghold that Demps had described.

"This is [Ratman - Derig], my contact... I once rescued him from the dirtiest rat hole in the Slums. He's a very capable person with excellent senses."

"Hello!"

When Grid removed his hood, it revealed a face with a prominent protrusion and a long, stiff beard. He then extended a claw-like hand covered in black fuzz and shook hands with Han Dong.

Han Dong didn't mind.

Just as the two shook hands...

Han Dong could faintly sense an aura emanating from outside the city within this body, but it was extremely weak and required Han Dong to touch it very closely to perceive it.

Relatively speaking.

The rat-man also sensed a high-level pressure from Han Dong, and his eyes immediately filled with respect.

"This is... Wild Monster? No... it should be a human, right?" Han Dong was momentarily confused about Grid's identity.

However, upon closer reflection, considering Demps's previous remarks...

"Demps, could it be... that you granted this ability?"

Demps smiled knowingly. "The Vice Captain is indeed impressive... Grid, take us down there."

"Yes!"

Move the wooden bed.

Under Derigo's control, a large number of rats pushed open the wooden planks on the ground, revealing a secret passage leading deep underground.

The so-called 'outpost' was revealed.

It's similar to an underground tavern.

Lighted by a few candles, the room is filled with a diverse array of people, numbering at least several dozen... They are similar to the Ratman Drig, possessing characteristics distinct from humans.

When Derig led the two to the huge underground tavern.

All the civilians gathered here placed their right palms on their chests, bowed their heads, and greeted each other respectfully.

"Lord Six Fingers!"

Han Dong scanned the group of people with the enhanced vision of the Lesser Demon Eye. He could not find any impurities in their eyes. They were 100% loyal to Demps.

This scene led Han Dong to become connected with some underground churches.

If you replaced these commoners with believers, Demps would be their only god.

Clearly, Demps has spent a lot of time on this.

How did you do that?

Demps smiled and replied, "It's simple, I give them what the Holy City can't give..."

"Let me ask them. They live in the darkest part of the Slums and should know something."