W-07 (Two-in-One)

After marking the numbers, Bai Xiaowen drew a black line according to the order of the Ambush points.

"Judging from the trend of this line, Ian's Black Wind Bandit Group's next target should be within these three regions." Bai Xiaowen put himself in Ian's shoes and deduced according to Ian's thinking, picking up a charcoal pencil and outlining the three areas on the map.

"It seems that all three locations are occupied by bandits, medium-sized bandit gangs, not as big as the Black Wind Bandit Group, but still about twenty or so people," Li Shuyi said.

"Yes, actually, if you think about it, it's not just people like Ian who are investigating the plague who might disguise themselves as bandits; even those conspirators who spread the plague might disguise themselves as bandits. After all, in the chaotic White Stone Town of White Rock, being a bandit doesn't attract much attention, and they have a relatively high degree of freedom..."

Bai Xiaowen continued, "Even without this side quest to investigate the truth behind the Necrotic Plague, I still need to wipe out the other bandit hideouts in my territory. So, let's make these three bandit hideouts our first targets."

Bai Xiaowen concluded by saying to the Zombie Doctor, "Then here's the second order for this month: you must research the secrets of the Necrotic Plague and develop a cure as soon as possible."

Zombie Doctor said with dissatisfaction, "What I lack now are samples and important equipment! Even if I were a top-notch... scholar, I couldn't produce research results detached from reality."

"I will give you the samples you need. As for the equipment, you will have to find a substitute yourself! I believe that creating research conditions when none exist is what a top-notch scholar should do," Bai Xiaowen said.

Zombie Doctor curled his lip. "Even if you try to provoke me, I won't fall for it... Alright, I can make some simple containers first for preliminary research. Also, here are some suggestions."

"Although I haven't seen the Necrotic Plague before, it's likely a rapidly spreading virus with a certain Stealth. To prevent you and your subordinates from being affected by the Necrotic Plague, you should take some protective measures during your investigation."

After a pause, Zombie Doctor explained in detail, "Viruses require a medium to spread, generally through breathing, food, blood, and sex. Food and sex are not a major problem, but we need to be careful with breathing and blood transmission."

Bai Xiaowen shook his head and said, "These two aspects are unavoidable."

In the Kane Plane, there are no proper gas masks. If the Necrotic Plague virus is indeed airborne, then the vast majority of people are destined to be infected. If it's blood-borne, in melee combat, who can guarantee they won't get injured or come into contact with the enemy's blood?

Informing the guards of this would only make them more hesitant and restrained in battle.

"Should we bring all five squads of guards?" Bonita asked. "Didn't you promise to build houses for the people?"

Bai Xiaowen said, "Leave the fourth and fifth squads of the White Stone Town Guard to assist Old Harvey in managing affairs and building houses for the people. We'll take the other three squads to sweep away the bandits' lair."

When Bai Xiaowen divided the bandits into teams, he paid attention to the composition of the teams. The fourth and fifth teams were basically composed of relatively timid bandit servants. As for the three stronger teams, especially the first team, Bai Xiaowen needed to keep them by his side at all times to prevent the Elite Tier bandits from instigating internal strife.

When they set off, Bai Xiaowen also brought Zombie Doctor with him.

Although he didn't say it aloud, Bai Xiaowen still valued Zombie Doctor very much. This was an unexpected surprise, and Zombie Doctor would be very useful in the future. If he stayed in White Stone Town, it would be bad if something went wrong while Bai Xiaowen was away.

If Zombie Doctor dies, although he can be summoned again, his consciousness will be damaged to some extent, which may affect his research ability, something Bai Xiaowen does not want to see.

The next day, Bai Xiaowen led a team to Ambush three bandit hideouts in succession.

Even the Black Wind Bandit Group had been incorporated into Bai Xiaowen, so these three bandit groups, which were only of medium size, naturally collapsed at the first touch. Before Bai Xiaowen's three guards, they obediently laid down their weapons and accepted reorganization.

Out of concern for the Necrotic Plague, Bai Xiaowen did not immediately incorporate these newly captured bandits into the guard, but instead temporarily placed them in the prisoner-of-war ranks.

It's worth mentioning that, with the deployment and encirclement of three teams of guards, all three medium-sized bandit hideouts were wiped out in one fell swoop, with not a single one escaping. This was something Bai Xiaowen had deliberately arranged; he didn't want any potential "spreaders" to get away.

In White Stone Town, on a large open space, bandits from three medium-sized bandit dens were driven to the center of the area.

"Everyone, put your hands behind your heads and squat down obediently!"

Bai Xiaowen waved his arm, "News from the Empire: there are spies from the Remnants of the fallen among you! Therefore, you must all be questioned... Anyone who dares to make a move will be killed on the spot!"

Bai Xiaowen's cold words silenced the bandit prisoners present.

Yesterday's battle had shown them Bai Xiaowen's strength and the power of the guards who had been transformed from the Blackwind Bandits, so they didn't even have the slightest thought of resisting.

Bai Xiaowen nodded towards Bonita.

Bonita, wearing a monocle, appeared. She gently adjusted her glasses, and a faint ray of light seemed to float slowly above the frame.

Yesterday, Bai Xiaowen tested the Holy Light brand "Plague Detector" and discovered a batch of grain Stealth Necrotic Plague in a granary of one of the bandits' dens.

Any person or object Stealth the Necrotic Plague virus will emit a green glow in the Plague Detector's field of vision. The denser the green glow, the more concentrated the Necrotic Plague virus.

"Ah..."

Suddenly, Bonita gasped.

"You've discovered it so quickly?" Bai Xiaowen was slightly taken aback.

"No, no... this scholar is also glowing, but the color is slightly different from yesterday's green light," Bonita said with a grin.

"Never mind that, just thoroughly examine these prisoners!" Bai Xiaowen reminded them. "You only have 60 seconds to examine them; time is precious!"

Why does Zombie Doctor also have light on him?

The answer is simple: because he is Undead Species creature.

According to the information Bai Xiaowen had gathered, humans infected with the Necrotic Plague would die within a short period of time once the virus broke out, and would then be transformed into Ghoul, Undead Species.

The Holy Light brand "Plague Detector" mistakes Zombie Doctor for a human who has been transformed into Ghoul after a viral outbreak, and will therefore emit a green light as a warning.

Time ticked by, and Bonita walked past the prisoners who had their hands over their heads, muttering to herself:

"No... this isn't either..."

Soon, the 60-second detection time passed, Bonita still hadn't found anything.

"It seems there aren't any left." Bonita turned around and said to Bai Xiaowen.

"No?" Bai Xiaowen frowned. Could his judgment be wrong? Was Ian's next target not among these three bandit strongholds?

Just as Bai Xiaowen was lost in thought, a handsome boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old, standing next to Bonita, was trembling in the crowd, arms crossed. Someone pushed him, and the boy cried out as he fell heavily to the ground like a bag of wet cement.

Bonita was startled and took a small step back.

However, Bonita was, after all, a knight deeply educated in love and justice, and helping the weak was a knight's duty. She felt a pang of self-reproach and quickly stepped forward to help the boy up. "Are you alright?"

The boy hunched his shoulders, seemingly unable to bear the bitter cold of the Northland, and asked in a low voice, "Sister, what are you looking for? Will the lord kill us?"

"Find the undead... no, find the spreader of the Necrotic Plague virus..." Bonita said with a smile, trying to reassure them, "Of course you won't be killed, because you aren't."

"The... spreader of the Necrotic Plague virus?" A hint of confusion flashed in the boy's eyes, then his voice suddenly changed, becoming sinister and cold. "Then look, are you looking for... me?"

With that sound, the boy's originally handsome face trembled in a wave-like motion, transforming into a grotesque face covered in dark wrinkles. As Bonita was taken aback, he suddenly reached out and grabbed his monocle.

"This... is the key item you're using to find the Necrotic Plague, right?"

The strange man chuckled eerily, then suddenly squeezed hard, crushing his monocle to pieces. "Too naive. The Overlord's grand plan is not something you ants can stop."

"Ah!!!"

Bonita emitted a high-decibel sound like a little girl seeing a cockroach.

Anyone who sees such a strange face up close will be shocked and terrified, and Bonita, being just an apprentice knight with limited combat experience, is no exception.

Tap tap tap...

The sound of hurried footsteps rang out, and Li Shuyi's speed increased dramatically, leaving a blur in her wake. With a Savage Charge skill, she rushed in front of Bonita and knocked the strange man away.

"Capture them alive!" Bai Xiaowen's voice rang out.

As soon as the strange man appeared, Bai Xiaowen immediately used his Insight skill and discovered that the strange man was weak, only at the level 4 of the Standard Template! If Li Shuyi had struck his vital point with her sword and triggered Critical Hit, he would probably have been instantly killed.

Li Shuyi's sword, originally aimed at the strange man's neck, was abruptly deflected, striking his shoulder blade instead.

Just as the strange man tried to resist, he was struck by Bai Xiaowen's Intimidation skill, his body stiffening and unable to move. Immediately afterward, Kitz rushed over, grabbed the strange man's right arm, and pinned him down with a backhand scissor.

However, the strange man's behavior was different from that of ordinary people. It was as if the arm that was being grabbed was not his own. With a forceful twist, the arm snapped with a crack, revealing white bone fragments, but he felt no pain at all! With this ruthless force, he broke free from Kitz's control and rushed towards Bai Xiaowen.

Bai Xiaowen pulled out his Desert Eagle and shot the monster in the left knee. This shot triggered the 100% cumulative Critical Hit bonus of [Ryuji Yamazaki's Fighting Gloves], and with the Desert Eagle's +4 Headshot effect, he actually broke the monster's left leg!

Despite not being afraid of pain, the strange man still lost his balance with a broken leg and fell over while charging forward at high speed. Several Elite Tier bandit guards pounced on him and pinned him down.

Bai Xiaowen walked up to the strange man. The man looked up at him.

"You seem to be too hasty, Mr. Spreader," Bai Xiaowen said.

The strange man cackled, "The Spreader? Not bad. I spread the supreme glory of the Overlord... But don't be smug. There are countless people in the Northland like me who are willing to spread the Overlord's glory! And you, you've lost a crucial tool for detecting the Necrotic Plague! White Stone Town can no longer stop the spread of the Necrotic Plague... I sacrificed myself for the Overlord, everything I did was worthwhile!"

"Really?" Bai Xiaowen chuckled and pulled out a monocle.

The strange man's pupils contracted.

"Impossible! Only an archbishop who is proficient in the Way of Holy Light could make such a special item. The quantity must be limited. There's no way there could be another one in the remote White Stone Town!" the strange man shrieked.

"You're right, there's only one in White Stone Town. But the one you destroyed was just a fake," Bai Xiaowen laughed. "The one I have is the real thing. Let me explain... You fool, you've been fooled!"

Just as the strange man was shocked, frustrated, and discouraged, a yellow Spell Talisman suddenly appeared in Bai Xiaowen's palm and shot straight into the strange man's forehead!

At this moment, in the White Stone Silver Mine, Jobb's large body suddenly convulsed, his eyes rolled back rapidly, and he fell backward to the ground with a thud.

Talisman Switching - Heart-Confounding Talisman, Activate!

"The enemy's strength ratio is 0.411:1, and the success rate of the Heart-Confounding Talisman is 58.90%."

"Due to the Suppression of your lord status, the success rate of the Heart-Confounding Talisman has been increased!"

"Because the target is in a state of mental breakdown, their Willpower Check is weakened, and the success rate of the Heart-Confounding Talisman has increased!"

"The Heart-Confounding Talisman has successfully achieved its bewitching effect; Plague Spreader W-07 has been successfully bewitched."

Bai Xiaowen took a deep breath, feeling a surge of excitement. Indeed, just as Bai Xiaowen had thought, the bewitching effect of the Heart-Confounding Talisman was linked to many factors.

The most fundamental factor is the ratio of enemy strength to one's own; this ratio determines the basic success rate.

Bai Xiaowen's lord status creates Suppression, but it will also provide certain boosts and benefits.

Later, Bai Xiaowen deliberately attacked the mind of the Plague Spreader, undermining their will and putting them in a state of depression, just to test whether this situation could increase the success rate of deception!

This proved to be feasible.

There's an emotional concept called "taking advantage of a weakness," and the same principle applies to Spell Talisman control. Although the Spirit Realm is a data-driven dimensional world, it's still extremely close to reality.

Bai Xiaowen closed his eyes slightly, spent 100 Psionic Points to activate Telepathy, and began to peruse the memory fragments of the Plague Spreader W-07.

Yesterday's court appearance was eye-opening and I was so angry my liver hurt... I only recovered today. Sorry everyone, I'll update later.