The figure gradually came into focus: a tall man draped in magnificent royal robes, his face imposing, yet his brow marked by an indelible weariness and the weight of years.
Su Ye looked at the projection and noticed that he resembled the king in the murals.
"Greetings, newly arrived adventurers. I am Kodo, founder of Green Canopy City and king of its people."
The projection spoke, his voice echoing through the great hall. "This is merely a projection I left behind. If you can see it, you are either greedy enough or sufficiently confident in your own strength."
Su Ye raised an eyebrow. Without the slightest hesitation, he used an Eye of Detection on the projection.
[Name]: Kodo's Projection [Description]: The king who founded Green Canopy City. For certain reasons, he left behind only this projection to guide newly arrived adventurers.
The description was simple enough, and there was nothing to suggest any hostility.
Su Ye felt a little reassured, but his hand remained on his weapon, his guard firmly up.
"Many years ago, I was exiled here along with a large number of convicts."
The projection seemed not to notice Su Ye's actions-or perhaps this was simply a prerecorded sequence.
"At first, I was no different from those convicts, until one day I fell into this cavern and found a peculiar gemstone."
The projection raised his right hand slightly, as though gazing at something.
"The gemstone granted me tremendous power. I fashioned it into a scepter and used that power to subdue all the convicts, leading them to build Green Canopy City and giving them a place to call home."
"But I never imagined that this gemstone was a crucial part of the seal imprisoning a demon."
The projection's voice grew pained and remorseful. "In the tenth