Bandits

After some exploration, Olivia and Lin roughly figured out how to use this "curio."

Its ability was quite formidable, primarily "animation"! It could animate and manipulate all living, or even non-living, things within several hundred meters.

For instance... it had previously animated that chair, causing the chair to "grow" a wooden staff.

At the same time, it came with some flesh-based spells and healing capabilities.

It could be said that if she held this scepter, Lin would even dare to fight the High Priest.

This was an extraordinary item that completely transcended their current level!

Furthermore, perhaps due to the purification, its side effects were not particularly intense.

"Hmm, let's call it—the 'Scepter of Flesh.' I think I understand its side effects... it causes the wielder and those nearby to gradually develop a fetish for the object, and it gets worse over time, impossible to eliminate or cure... even holding it through gloves is useless."

Lin forced herself to look away, resisting the urge to stroke the Scepter of Flesh, and said in a trembling voice.

"Indeed... its side effects aren't too strong; compared to its effects, they are practically negligible... one just needs a firm will, a firm..."

Olivia coughed: "We had better put it away as soon as possible..."

Lin found a long, rectangular box, and the moment the lid closed, both of them let out long sighs of relief.

"This belongs to Our Lord!"

Lin thought for a moment and said in a solemn tone.

Although the power within the scepter was primarily that of the Scarlet Moon, the creator was still the Spirit of Void!

"Yes, this is a gift from Our Lord!"

Olivia said, her face full of joy.

"I want to sacrifice it to Our Lord, but Our Lord does not yet accept our physical sacrifices..."

Lin sighed softly.

Scarlet, blood...

Ancient trees, bifurcations, hanging viscera...

High in the night sky, a scarlet eye...

"Hoo, hoo..."

Aaron sat up from his bed, rubbing his ears as he felt a bout of tinnitus. Fortunately, it kept fading, and after resting for a while, he felt much better.

"The influence of the Scarlet Moon?"

He muttered to himself: "Although the corruption was washed away... the mental impressions and influence must be overcome by oneself..."

"To think I could actually cross hands with the Scarlet Moon; it seems my latent mystical status is quite high after all... although, only in a dream."

Lin's adventure this time was truly far too reckless.

Even Aaron broke into a cold sweat recalling it; his followers had nearly been wiped out, returning him to the state of a lonely ghost.

He rang the bell to summon Daili, and after getting dressed, he headed to the dining room to enjoy breakfast.

Aaron's life was quite regular now; he exercised after waking up early every day, handled some official business, and then by the afternoon, he would take another nap.

After that, he would go out to inspect the territory, and after dinner, he would rest early, rarely participating in the nightlife that the nobles talked about so much.

In short, he spent as much time as possible in the dream world.

After all, that was the source of the extraordinary and the mysterious!

Compared to the extraordinary, what did worldly power even amount to?

Especially after experiencing that mysterious power firsthand, Aaron looked down upon this tiny, broken place of Upper Green Forest even more.

In this world, nothing could compare to the joy of pursuing the extraordinary.

And as long as one walked this path, even if one could not achieve immortality, there would be few regrets.

"At least... I am doing what I am interested in..."

Aaron finished his fruit salad breakfast, pulled a napkin to wipe the corners of his mouth, and arrived at the office.

At this moment, Eight-Fingers was actually waiting at the door, clearly having something to report.

"What happened?"

Aaron rubbed his temples, feeling as though his territory was constantly beset by turmoil.

Although, it had been over a month since the incident with Knight Yiman.

Perhaps when people are idle, time passes by in a flash.

Aaron now felt urgently that he did not have enough time.

"It is in Blackstone Territory; a group of bandits seems to have drifted in recently. They broke into Dave's garden last night, injured him, and stole a lot of vegetables and grain..."

Eight-Fingers bowed and said.

"A roving band of thieves?"

Aaron pondered for a moment: "Could it be that the recent security battles throughout the Upper Green Forest are forcing them to constantly relocate?"

In this era, there are plenty of people who cannot survive, so becoming a bandit is nothing strange.

In fact, some farmers who usually till the land will even switch professions to become robbers or thugs when a suitable opportunity arises!

Everything is for the sake of survival!

Ordinary lords, when encountering such roving criminal gangs, usually catch them if they can, or simply drive them into someone else's territory if they cannot.

Aaron's sense of responsibility is slightly stronger, which is why he has dedicated bailiffs and patrol squads.

"Eight-Fingers..."

He looked at Eight-Fingers, a faint smile appearing on his face: "Can you not even catch those little mice? I recall that your previous profession should make it very easy for you to blend in with them and gather plenty of intelligence, right?"

Eight-Fingers was a thief before, so it is indeed easy for him to mingle with bandits, or at least be well-informed.

Speaking of this, Eight-Fingers immediately replied with a bitter smile: "When I first followed you, my lord, I swore by the name of my old grandmother that if I continued to associate with them, I would let a Winter Wolf carry me away! These roving bandits are often more vicious than local ones; once they commit a crime, they hide deep in the mountains or flee directly to other territories, making it very difficult to catch their tails... I have vaguely heard that the leader of this bandit group goes by the nickname 'Wild Wolf,' a long-renowned bandit in the Upper Green Forest, and it is said he even has connections with some savage villages..."

"Since that is the case, I will have Sanchez bring ten men to assist you, equipped with short bows and leather armor..."

Aaron casually wrote out a warrant and handed it to Eight-Fingers: "Do not disappoint me, my bailiff!"

"Please rest assured, my lord!"

Eight-Fingers thumped his chest, turned around, and strode away.

Aaron watched his retreating figure, nodding and then shaking his head, preparing to go about his daily training.

Outside the manor.

A wandering farmer saw Eight-Fingers leave and immediately ducked into a nearby house, secretly releasing a raven from the back window.

The night raven flew off, arriving at the edge of the Blackstone Territory, and landed in a black forest.

A thick, large palm grabbed it directly and removed the note: "Boss, the letter raven has sent word; it seems that lord does not intend to take action personally..."

His boss was a burly man two and a half meters tall, sitting on a large rock like a small giant, gnawing on a deer leg bone.

The burly man had a high nose and deep-set eyes, with three claw marks that looked like they were left by a beast on one cheek. Hearing this, he stood up: "It seems the damage we caused isn't enough... I will do it myself tonight and give that little brat a profound lesson, hahaha..."

In the entire Wild Wolf Bandit Group, only a few people know that they have actually been receiving funding and are the blades in the hands of certain people.

At this moment, the order from above is to deal with the Baron of Blackstone!