Chapter 155: Inquiry Under Fear
Chapter 155: Inquiry Under Fear
"Do you want to continue living?"
Lindsey approached the Corrupted Venom Spider.
This dangerous creature was currently unable to move, but it replied immediately, "I want to live!"
"I'll give you whatever you want."
Lindsey was quite satisfied with this honest cooperation:
"Of course, I can exchange your life for treasure, but before that, I have some questions for you."
The Incubating Venom Spider struggled to respond, "Ask away!"
Only then did Lindsey begin his inquiry:
"First question, did you establish your nest here under the command of the Dragon Beast?"
"Yes, it ordered me to live here with the spiders and monitor the world's borderlands."
"Second question, what is the advancement status of that Dragon Beast?"
"Smoothly, in a few thousand days and nights, it will succeed."
"How can you guarantee that your answers are truthful? Shouldn't you be loyal to that Dragon Beast, and yet you're telling me its information so readily?"
"I just want to live!"
"Loyalty to it is submission to force, and you'll be drained of Essence. I can't bear it!"
"..."
Lindsey raised an eyebrow.
The previous questions he had asked were all tests for the Corrupted Venom Spider.
Moreover, judging from the Corrupted Venom Spider's responses, the monsters of Black Mountain might not be very satisfied with this ruler who was eager to advance.
Lindsey's expression became more intrigued.
At the same time, after the previous questions, the Corrupted Venom Spider seemed to have grasped something.
It took the initiative to speak:
"If I live, I can help you defeat that Dragon Beast!"
Lindsey didn't bother with it but continued his questioning:
"There are many spiders in the forest, enough to completely block those monsters from reaching the world's borderlands. Why do you let them through?"
With its life in someone else's hands, the Corrupted Venom Spider could only give up its attempts to deceive and continued to answer:
"It's an order, the Dragon Beast's order."
"It doesn't allow me to expand my territory, and it specifically requires that some escape."
Did the Dragon Beast order the Corrupted Venom Spider to let these creatures escape?
Lindsey frowned, a bit perplexed.
The Dragon Beast's command.
The only possible consequence of this command was that some lucky monsters would escape to the hidden fringes, indirectly informing humans of the events here.
It, which was eager to break through, had no reason to let something happen that would expose itself!
"What is the reason for the Dragon Beast's command?"
"I don't know."
Lindsey's further questioning only elicited a disappointing response.
He stared intently at the Corrupted Venom Spider's crimson eyes, but he couldn't discern any emotions from those inhuman pupils.
Lindsey had to give up on getting to the root of the matter and asked a different question.
"From here to Black Mountain, what other dangerous monsters are there, and how many of them were personally assigned by the Dragon Beast?"
"I know that ahead, there's a Tree Mother, the mother of the Tree Spirits."
The Corrupted Venom Spider gave a somewhat useful response.
Moreover, to increase its chances of survival, after this answer, it specifically added an explanation:
"It's very strong, stronger than me."
"You're no match for it, so be careful."
Lindsey asked, "Since she's so strong, in what aspects is her strength superior?"
The Corrupted Venom Spider honestly replied, "I don't know, but her Essence is much greater than mine, and her control over spiders is far greater."
"Human, don't challenge her."
"..."
Lindsey felt a bit disgusted.
Although he knew that the spider was begging for its life, being concerned by a giant, yellow-green spider felt insincere.
Indeed, it still made one feel physically uncomfortable.
Lindsey continued his inquiry:
"And that Tree Mother, was she also forced to pledge allegiance by the Dragon Beast?"
The Corrupted Venom Spider hurriedly replied:
"I don't know, but I think so."
"..."
Lindsey paused for a moment, deep in thought.
The Treant that had previously incited the Ice Badger to attack the town was a fourth-stage Monster.
According to the Corrupted Venom Spider's statement, the Tree Mother, as the mother of all Treants, was clearly more powerful than it, yet she was also subservient to the Dragon Beast.
It could only be a sixth-stage Monster.
In the classification of Awakened abilities, up until the fifth stage, strength growth was a gradual and orderly process. However, once the fifth stage was reached, and even more so in the sixth and seventh stages, each advancement was a leap akin to a life-changing transformation! If there was a sixth-stage Tree Mother blocking the way...
Lindsey's journey would encounter significant trouble.
"In times like these, we can only respond to what we encounter."
Lindsey muttered under his breath and continued his questioning:
"How large is the Tree Mother's territory?"
"Very large, extremely large."
"How long would it take to cross it in a straight line? Can we bypass it, and if so, how long would that take?"
"It would take 100 sunrises and sunsets to cross it in a straight line. You can bypass it, but it would take several hundred sunrises and sunsets."
Lindsey confirmed once again that the journey he had embarked upon was one that traversed the entire world.
This could be inferred from the time the Corrupted Venom Spider provided.
"I don't have that much time to waste."
Lindsey shook his head regretfully, realizing that he would have to deal with another formidable foe personally.
He then changed the topic:
"Apart from the Tree Mother, do you know of any other dangerous individuals?"
This time, the Corrupted Venom Spider's information was disappointing.
"I don't know."
With no other choice, Lindsey switched his question once again:
"Since that Dragon Beast forced you to help it advance, there must be rebels in this world, right?"
The Corrupted Venom Spider's response was as expected:
"Yes, but they were eradicated."
Lindsey probed further:
"They're all dead, not a single one left?"
After this period of intense questioning...
The fifth-stage Corrupted Venom Spider was also gradually intimidated by Lindsey's reputation as the Spider Terror Eraser.
It dared not lie.
It even avoided any ambiguity in its answers:
"There might be some scattered remnants barely surviving."
"But in the Black Mountain World, it's already difficult to find any trace of them."
"..."
At this moment, Lindsey realized he had run out of questions.
With the information he had obtained from this Corrupted Venom Spider's area of activity, he had enough.
Moreover, this inquiry was initially an impromptu decision. To expect the Dragon Beast's weaknesses and other specific clues from this spider was perhaps unrealistic.
"Is there anything else to ask..."
Lindsey raised an eyebrow.
At the same time, the Corrupted Venom Spider noticed that the human before him seemed to be ending the interrogation.
Instead, it eagerly said:
"Human, you haven't asked about the treasure's location. Can we continue our transaction?"
"I am a man of my word."
Lindsey nodded and once again took out his bow and arrow, aiming the flaming sharp arrowhead at the Corrupted Venom Spider's head..."
"I won't ask about the treasure's location."
"But I'll take your life."
(End of Chapter)
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