I became the king of villains in the game

He came jogging over, his ball-shaped body wobbling.

Then he bent down with difficulty, picked up a scrap of the priest's robe, and stammered:

"My God, it's over... we're finished..."

Sweat poured down Brother Stuarton's fat face, and his lips trembled.

"Rose above, Father Carter has gone to the Lady's garden... but even the Father died in battle?!"

He hurriedly turned around and shouted at his men:

"Quick! The killer can't have gone far. Go after him!"

Chapter 17: Hitching a ride with a caravan

Lush woods dotted the verdant countryside grasslands.

Through the gaps between branches, small villages were even visible in the distance, along with a few tall windmills turning slowly in the sunlight.

A gentle breeze dispersed some of the muggy heat.

A small caravan was traveling along a country path.

More than a dozen tall horses of various colors were divided into three teams, pulling three wagons, with another dozen or so guards in leather armor escorting them.

All three wagons were built to the same specifications, with small front wheels and large rear wheels.

Wrapped goods were stacked on the wooden platforms at the front and rear of the wagons, as well as on their roofs, secured firmly with tarpaulins and rope nets.

A silver dragon's head was painted on the outside of each wagon-the emblem of the Silver Dragon Trade Association.

Leading the caravan was a bald, middle-aged man on horseback, with a young man riding beside him.

The young man's blond bowl cut looked rather comical.

At that moment, the young man glanced back at the rearmost wagon, looking thoughtful.

"Jit, what's wrong?"

The bald man noticed and asked softly.

"Ah... Mr. Walsh, nothing. I just find it a little strange. Why would a nun from the Red Apple Church be attacked by wild beasts out here in the wilderness?"

"Perhaps she met with misfortune on her way to that Apple Orchard...

"I hear the Red Apple Church has an Apple Orchard outside town, and they distribute the fruit they pick to the town's poor."

The bald Walsh shook his head regretfully.

"Oh, the poor nun... she's still so young."

He then pressed two fingers together against his forehead before extending his hand toward the sky and turning it over into a fist.

"May Radiance bless her."

This was the prayer gesture of the Church of the Stars.

His assistant Jit couldn't help silently questioning it.

Why would the deity of the stars bless a nun from another church? Were the Radiance Queen and Lady Rose close friends or something?

But he didn't dare voice such blasphemy.

Jit stared at the last wagon.

He kept feeling that the two people who had asked the caravan for help along the way were suspicious, but since Mr. Walsh had agreed to let them ride along, he couldn't very well say anything more.

The curtain on the wagon he was watching was pulled aside.

A black-haired young man poked his head out and flashed him a bright, innocent smile.

Jit froze, returned an awkward smile, then turned away and stopped looking at him.

An amused glint appeared in Chen Lun's eyes as he leaned against the window, fiddling with the Seashell Necklace on his chest.

Without this, I really wouldn't have been able to hitch a ride...

After escaping from the prison, he hadn't been able to get his bearings.

Out in the wilderness, he had no idea how far away the nearest town was.

Rather than blundering around aimlessly, he was better off finding someone to guide him.

Fortunately, he had encountered this caravan, so he had used [Siren's Song] to "persuade" its manager to give them a ride.

Though the wagon's iron-rimmed wooden wheels made for a terribly bumpy ride, it was at least better than walking.

Even though Chen Lun was already a Transcendent, endurance wasn't his strong suit, and he also had a weakened Froy to look after.

Not only did this save his strength, it also gave him a brief stretch of time and space to think.

Watching the beautiful scenery outside the window, Chen Lun's slightly restless heart gradually settled.

I have no leads on the third stage of Froy's quest for now. My first priority is to find somewhere to stay and recuperate.

Let's check out the town first. Froy and I look far too conspicuous right now...

An injured nun and a young man in ragged clothes looked suspicious no matter how you viewed them.

Next, Chen Lun took out the loot he had obtained from killing the priest.

It was a tiny red badge bearing a demonic face.

[Grade D Mysterious Object: Surging Badge]

Item description: A badge containing the power of flesh and blood. Wearing it grants surging strength and vitality.

The demonic face on it seems to be alive, revealing a sinister grin whenever you aren't deliberately watching it.

It appears to have been left behind by a priest, containing the mysterious substance and supernatural traits that separated from him after his death.

Eat. Eat more. You are the hungry Butcher. You are strength incarnate...

Item effect: Strength +2, endurance +2 when worn.

Item cost: Increased susceptibility to hunger and a larger appetite.

Chen Lun casually pinned it to his chest. A [Mysterious Object] that added four attribute points without much of a downside—not bad.

I'll use it for now. Once the players arrive, I'll sell it at a high price... I mean, use it to help them.

I'm so kind!

Such righteousness!

Chen Lun wiped away tears of admiration for himself.

Though this was only a [Mysterious Object] of the lowest grade, at the beginning of the game, if he called it a divine artifact, then a divine artifact it was.

After all, these things were scarce.

Chen Lun reached out to feel the breeze beyond the window and narrowed his eyes.

Before his transmigration, that handful of elite players at the very top of the pyramid had been beyond his reach.

He hadn't even made it into the first tier, but that hadn't diminished his influence among the players.

He had traversed the world alone, setting out on a solitary journey.

He had unearthed countless side quests hidden throughout that vast world, along with the stories behind them.

He had experienced customs and cultures utterly different from those of reality, recording them and posting them on the game's built-in forum for players to discuss with relish.

The players had affectionately called Chen Lun the "Mysterious Crawler."

Wherever he crawled, he wrote. There seemed to be no little secret he didn't know.

Of course, a man had to make a living.

Chen Lun had compiled plenty of lurid side-quest plots and bizarre stories into collections.

Paired with the scenic screenshots he had gathered on his travels, they sold incredibly well.

Of course, for regular customers, he would also bring out some of his treasured screenshots of truly spectacular sights...

How spectacular? He had paid a visit to every female character with even a little fame.

Perfectly respectable visits.

How could players' screenshots be called voyeuristic photos?

I was only checking whether their models were clipping!

Chen Lun turned to look at Froy beside him.

Her eyes were covered with a makeshift bandage of linen, and she slept nestled against a pile of leather and woolen fabric.

Despite the wagon's heavy jolting, Froy showed no sign of waking.

Her nun's hat had been removed, revealing her long, pale-blond hair. She looked like an exquisite doll.

I'll take things one step at a time. I still have plenty of options.

Chen Lun murmured inwardly.

It's not just about changing her fate... it's also about the third stage of the hidden quest.

The rewards are too generous. Without them, I can't get stronger. If I can't get stronger, I can't help the players. I'd feel so guilty I'd cry.

Just then, Chen Lun suddenly noticed that the caravan was slowly coming to a stop.

A clamor of voices gradually rose outside.

"Stop! Halt!"

"Who's in charge of this caravan?"

Shouts ordering them to stop came from outside the wagon, along with a flurry of footsteps.

Rather than poking his head out in curiosity, Chen Lun quietly lowered the curtain and observed through a gap.

He hadn't noticed until now that the caravan had reached the checkpoint at the bridge leading into town.

The caravan manager, Walsh, dismounted and approached a heavily bearded officer wearing chain mail.

"I am."