Before anyone realized it, more than half the people in the Third Main City had fallen. Crucially, they were all extremely cautious and would never collect spacetime stone powder unless they were certain they could do so discreetly.
Orange Star's commanders still had no idea that some of their people had fallen and continued directing their teams to level up as usual.
Meanwhile, Black Ghost discovered that some Cthulhu Followers displayed remarkable intelligence. Once they understood their lord's will, they offered Black Ghost a suggestion.
"Why not convert the city lord and the locals? Once they're converted, they can secretly lead groups of adventurers into a hidden chamber, stun them, and turn them into Cthulhu Followers..."
"Adventurers don't trust ghosts, but they really trust the city's locals. They almost never question what locals say or the quests they post. Even if they do have doubts, they'll need time to verify them."
Black Ghost listened to the player's suggestion and found it very reasonable.
Black Ghost then changed tactics, sending black ghosts ahead to the Fourth Main City and the other main cities to target every city at once.
At this point, the human adventurers had yet to reach the Fourth Main City, so in their eyes, it was unexplored territory filled with unknowns.
Ke Meng had no idea that Black Ghost had made a major breakthrough. Even if he had known, he would have been unable to look pleased; Cthulhu's face could not form that expression.
It was then that Ke Meng heard a call from the horizon.
It sounded like murmuring, like worship, with a hint of fanaticism.
A follower was making a sacrifice. Ke Meng accepted it, and his consciousness descended upon a crystal-producing region.
This was the Crystalfolk's territory. Multicolored crystals protruded from the ground everywhere,