Ghost House Demonic Shadow

"What did you say?!"

The old guild master stood up abruptly.

"That brat took Lize to the Sairiel Haunted House? Why didn't you tell me sooner!"

"I only just found out myself, old friend."

Sereck wore a look of helplessness and a wry smile.

"I originally intended to find them and ask about the little guy's upcoming plans, but I didn't expect them both to be gone. Later, I learned that the kid had gone to City Hall and spent five hundred gold coins to purchase the Sairiel Haunted House—I have to say, for courage alone, I have high hopes for his future."

"Nonsense, it's absolute nonsense."

The old guild master slammed his hand on the table.

"That place isn't for just anyone to visit. Go and drag them back immediately!"

"It's too late, they've already gone inside."

Sereck shook his head, though a hint of a smile soon appeared on his face.

"But then again, old friend, why are you so anxious? Haven't you always hated those who break the mercenary rules? Isn't this perfect? If those two go missing in the haunted house, the mercenary group will be disbanded immediately, and you'll save yourself a slot, won't you? Why not just let them be?"

"That is one thing, this is another."

The old guild master furrowed his brows and complained with great dissatisfaction.

"That kid is a mercenary group leader now; how can a leader who doesn't take his responsibilities to heart be allowed to continue? Enough, Sereck, I hope you'll stop with the sarcastic remarks. Go and bring those two reckless brats back; there might still be time."

"Don't be so tense, my old friend. Perhaps things aren't as bad as you imagine."

"What do you mean by that?"

Hearing Sereck's calm and composed tone, the old guild master looked puzzled. Based on his understanding of Sereck, this sword master was not the type to be cold-blooded or solely focused on profit. Yet, the few things Sereck had said clearly implied something more.

"I mean nothing by it."

Facing the old guild master's curious inquiry, Sereck simply smiled and spread his hands with an elegant air.

"You haven't crossed blades with him, so perhaps you don't understand him, but I am different... Perhaps this young man has the potential to create a miracle. Since he dared to go, he naturally has confidence. We just need to watch quietly from the sidelines. Didn't you tell Lize? This is a gamble. She has placed her bet, and we must do the same—the Sairiel Haunted House is located in the Upper District, and our Mercenary Association has never been able to find a suitable opportunity to gain access there. If this young man can take the haunted house, it is a good thing for us, and I believe he thinks he has the capability to do so."

"It's nothing more than the arrogance and recklessness typical of the young."

The old guild master did not seem to agree with Sereck's assessment.

"There are plenty of idiots who think they are invincible just because they have a little bit of exceptional strength."

"There are also many geniuses."

Sereck chuckled as he finished the thought.

"Whether this young man is a fool or a genius, we don't know yet, but I think we will find out soon enough."

"I just feel like this is... a bit too exaggerated."

The old guild master raised his eyes, looking at Sereck with a trace of melancholy.

"Frankly, if you hadn't stayed in Deepstone City for these past few decades, I would really suspect that the kid had some connection to you, given how much you're protecting him."

"I wish I had some connection to him."

Facing the old guild master's mockery, Sereck sighed with a hint of weariness.

"I'm getting old. I didn't feel it until yesterday, but I never expected to be forced into a desperate move by such a little guy. Thinking about what I was doing at that age, and then looking at this group of children... don't you think we are truly falling behind the times?"

"But history will still have a place for us."

The old guild master said casually, picking up the pen in his hand.

"The young have their own glory, and we have our own pride. It is not yet time for you to admit you're old... Very well, since you think so highly of that brat, I won't interfere for now. But three days—if there is no word after three days, prepare to bring people to collect their corpses."

Inside the gloomy and dim corridor, the rotten floorboards creaked under heavy pressure.

Although the Sairiel Haunted House was legendary for its horror, as a building constructed in the Upper District, its original decor was quite high-end. The dark red velvet carpets, magnificent sculptures, solid wood furnishings, and crystal chandeliers all showcased its former prosperity and beauty—of course, that was when they were clean and pristine.

But now, with curtains full of holes fluttering in the wind blowing through the gaps of shattered glass, incomplete furniture, a chandelier that had fallen to the ground and smashed a deep crater into the once-gorgeous floor, and oil paintings covered in cobwebs everywhere, the view possessed a certain alternative aesthetic—though it was clearly not moving in a positive direction.

While it might look like an artistic scene if viewed quietly, the noise that followed ruined it all.

"Clatter."

Rhode brushed the dust off his hands and tossed the fragments of a wooden table—which had turned into a pile of trash under his feet—to the side. Behind him, Lize watched him with trepidation.

"Mr. Rhode, what on earth are you doing!"

"Cleaning up."

With a gesture, he signaled the Soul Bird to use its powerful wind to clear away the accumulated dust. Only then did Rhode turn his head and, with his usual serious, expressionless face, say to Lize in an understated tone.

"After all, no one has lived in this haunted place for years, and these things should be taken out and thrown away... As a base for our mercenary group, we don't need to make it as troublesome as the nobles; simple is better... Hmm, though the quality of this carpet is quite good, we can keep it, what do you think?"

"Sir, sir!"

Lize was on the verge of tears. Rhode looked exactly like a homeowner who had just bought a new house and was here to decorate and renovate. He looked here and there, picking and choosing with no pressure at all. Lize, on the other hand, had been under immense pressure since they entered. After all, the haunted house had a notorious reputation, making the poor girl jumpy at every shadow; even the rustling sound of the wind blowing the curtains was enough to terrify her. This couldn't really be blamed on her; although Lize had faced life and death many times in mercenary operations, those were visible, tangible enemies, and she could remain calm. But now, deep inside this haunted house, she didn't even know what the enemy looked like or where they came from. Looking at the dilapidated mansion, Lize's heart was in her throat.

Rhode took in the girl's behavior, but he didn't say much. He was quite familiar with the flow of this quest. Back when he first triggered this quest, he had also been cautious, holding his weapon and searching every corner of the house, terrified that a monster might suddenly pop out. But even Rhode hadn't expected that the danger here would appear at the most unimaginable moment and in the most unacceptable way—frankly, even now, recalling that scene made Rhode feel a chill; after all, that was the first time he had been so badly frightened in the game.

Claiming to be cleaning was just a pretense for Rhode. Although he had indeed obtained the deed to the property from City Hall, the mercenary group construction system did not recognize this base, which meant he hadn't completely conquered this haunted place yet. That was why he had brought Lize here; firstly, to completely secure the land, and secondly... this would be of great help to Lize's technical improvement. Since she was his only subordinate, he had to ensure her growth kept pace with his own. However, Lize was not a player, so Rhode certainly couldn't say things like, "Come, here's a quest, get ready to gain experience and level up." NPC leveling in the game had its own characteristics, different from players. So, aside from patience, Rhode had no choice but to keep this simple, poor girl in the dark and trick her into coming along—anyway, she had no other choice.

The sun set behind the western mountains.

The dim night shrouded the surroundings, making the already gloomy house look as if it had been painted with a thick, heavy ink, its boundaries blurred into obscurity. Only the light and heat radiating from the bonfire in the center of the hall brought a few flickering glimmers to this dark place.

"Mr. Rhode, I think we should head back. It will be the same if we come back to tidy up tomorrow."

As the sky darkened, Lize felt increasingly uncomfortable. It was not a physical pain, but an instinctive suppression. It felt as if some indescribable danger was congealing beneath a thick layer of ice, waiting to break through at any moment.

"No need, resting here is fine. After all, this is already our stronghold."

Rhode took in Lize's unease, but he did not say much. He knew very well that Lize must be suffering; the moment they stepped into this area, Rhode had received a system notification—Entered Evil Territory.

[System Notification: You have entered Evil Territory.]

For pure angels, Evil Territory was an absolute nemesis. The eternal opposition between good and evil meant that both sides would deal devastating blows to their arch-rivals on their respective turf. Lize was currently within the range suppressed by the influence of this evil land, which was why she appeared somewhat fragile and even anxious. However, she was a half-angel after all; with half human blood, she could at least barely manage to keep her condition from worsening.

It was almost time.

Casually comforting Lize, Rhode carefully recalled the details of the mission he had undertaken in the past. Then, he reached out and silently summoned a bright red card.

"Clang..."

Just then, a low, resonant chime suddenly rang out.