What He Desired

Flavi's reaction was truly surprising.

In addition, he had just revealed that he could not disclose more information due to his contract with the businessman.

Therefore, the immediate reaction naturally caught Linsey's attention.

He immediately went over to Flavi and asked him:

"Did Ya Li Kun leave a backup plan for this guy?"

"Your expression suggests you're worried about danger. Where does this danger come from? Is it a person or an object?"

Linsey quickly questioned Flavi.

He knew the other party couldn't reveal information directly, so he wanted to glean information from Flavi's reaction.

On the other hand, Reze also noticed something from Flavi's appearance.

Unlike Linsey, his extensive exploration experience allowed him to react quickly, immediately shouting to his companions:

"Everyone, gather together!"

"Danger may still occur here, so don't stray too far from each other. Awakened ones, protect the ordinary people!"

Under Reze's guidance.

People quickly gathered at the entrance to the valley.

Some of the faster workers moved trees and piled up several makeshift shelters around the crowd. Even the prisoners were well controlled.

Only the Formless Ones remain steadfast in their beliefs.

He stared intently at Linsey, his eyes filled with resentment and longing.

However, the reactions of the Exploration Team members also prompted him to think more deeply about things.

At the same time, this is based on an assessment of Flavi's reaction.

Linsey has roughly pieced together some information.

The Element Manipulator he killed was a close confidant of Ya Li Kun.

The businessman had left a contingency plan on this guy; after he was killed, some dangerous retaliatory mechanism had been activated and was approaching them silently.

"Danger..."

Linsey opened the map; there were no Red Dot indicating hostility around.

Switch the module to "Decryption Game" and scan your surroundings.

The [Clue Collection] function works normally, but the highlighted clues are everywhere – in the forest.

The changes in the forest have made the environment itself a huge source of clues.

Especially inside the secret realm, this light is like the morning sun. It seems fine at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it can still scorch your vision.

At the same time, due to the valley's inherent secret realm attributes.

The environment here contains an extremely high concentration of Essence, which also suppresses the awakened's own perception abilities.

After gathering the crowd, Reze walked up to Linsey and asked, "Linsey, what news did you get?"

Linsey shook her head:

"We only know that there is indeed danger, but we haven't found any trace of it yet."

Just when the two were at their wits' end.

From the prisoners' side, a voice suddenly rang out. "Listen, I know what's going to happen next!"

Linsey turned around and saw the Formless Ones shouting at her, his voice filled with excitement. "I have a way to bypass Ya Li Kun's contract restrictions!"

"But you also have to tell me, how did you find me just now?"

They heard the Formless Ones speak.

Flavi, who had been fidgeting, suddenly brightened up and immediately chimed in, "Gentlemen, the Formless Ones do have some tricks up their sleeves when it comes to evading contracts. I think this is a good deal!"

"..."

Linsey frowned.

He certainly didn't want to reveal his information to the enemy.

But with the safety of his brave companions at stake, Linsey wouldn't hesitate and immediately agreed to the condition, "Okay, I can tell you."

"I was able to detect your approach and location because of my skill, which allows me to indiscriminately search for information in the environment and report it back. Even if you conceal your physical form, you cannot disappear in the broader context of the environment. That's why I was able to find you!"

"..."

"Environment... craftsmanship..."

Upon hearing Linsey's answer, the Formless Ones's breathing became rapid, and his eyes flickered back and forth.

Anyone present could see how he felt at that moment.

Soon, the Formless Ones continued to press:

"How should this skill be trained? What is your profession, and what path are you taking?"

Linsey replied frankly:

"I'm Game Player, and as for how to cultivate this skill—unfortunately, the conditions for cultivating this ability are not currently available."

Upon hearing the first half of Linsey's sentence.

The Formless Ones opened its eyes wide, its pupils filled with an intense longing for the answer that lay ahead.

But when Linsey said that it was currently impossible to cultivate this skill, his expression plummeted, instantly falling from expectation into an endless Abyss of despair.

"Impossible!"

"If you lack the necessary conditions for cultivation, how did you acquire it?"

Linsey didn't explain, but instead asked in a calm tone, "Now that I've already spoken to you, my prisoner, do you think I still need to hide such details?"

"..."

Linsey's answer was like a blow to the Formless Ones, a stark reminder of reality.

Now his life and death are in the hands of the man in front of him.

For someone who is powerless to resist, there is indeed no reason for the other party to deceive them.

Bang! Upon realizing this, the Formless Ones's previous excitement instantly vanished from his body.

The strength in his body seemed to vanish, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud. His gaze was fixed on the ground before him, and he could barely move.

"..."

This intense feeling of loss is difficult to explain using the previous reasons.

Linsey frowned and asked:

"Your attitude doesn't seem to be simply because you're worried that I can see through your invisibility."

"Hehe--"

The Formless Ones chuckled self-deprecatingly, his voice like the startled cry of a flock of geese in the cold:

"Linsey... right? What do you think the consequences would be if our Formless Ones arts were to delve deeper into the final stages?"

The Formless Ones did not expect Linsey's answer.

After making a self-deprecating remark, he kept his promise and revealed the contingency plan left by Ya Li Kun: "I'm telling you now, the danger comes from the surrounding forest."

"Ya Li Kun left an ability called [Debt Transfer] on this guy."

"Now that you have killed him, the calamity and hatred that enraged the entire forest have naturally transferred to you... Ugh!!!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the backlash from violating the contract arrived.

The Formless Ones being's body suddenly disappears from the spot and then suddenly reappears.

He frequently switched between the two states, and although he did not die from breaking the contract, he still fainted on the spot.

Rumble—

It's as if it's responding to the Formless Ones.

The ground around them suddenly trembled, and the twisted trees in the forest echoed it, as if something dangerous was watching the land!

"Debt Transfer..."

Linsey's eyes narrowed, realizing that something was wrong.

He immediately activated the [Goods] skill to investigate the information of his companions and the prisoners.

It turns out that the Formless Ones were not lying.

The descriptions on the prisoners were those of normal awakened beings, but on Linsey's Exploration Team side...

The information descriptions of everyone present all had an additional entry.

— [The Gaze of the Forest's Wrath.]

But there was one thing that puzzled Linsey.

Because when he checked his Attribute Panel, he did not find any similar negative status.

Everyone got infected.

Linsey himself, who killed the Element Manipulator, is an exception!