Chapter 343: The Most Efficient Approach
Chapter 343: The Most Efficient Approach
Lindsey now faced a problem—fear. Not of the enemies he was about to face, but of the fear his companions had for him. The sudden burst of combat prowess and the swiftness with which he had identified and defeated Aly Kun's doppelganger had set him apart from the rest.
This exceptional ability had drawn an invisible line between him and his companions, even though they didn't explicitly show it. But as Lindsey's gaze swept over them, they couldn't bear it, and their eyes unconsciously averted.
Lindsey nodded slightly, understanding their reaction and accepting the reality. Not far ahead, Mira was tending to the wounds of a captive. The flame musket, imbued with the power of fire, not only pierced the enemy's body but also left behind a scorching burn.
Mira stopped the bleeding and removed the charred flesh, occasionally taking out medicine during the process. The entire treatment was tense, and she was completely focused on saving the captive without saying a word.
Lindsey didn't disturb the female physician but took the opportunity to turn his attention to Lei Ze beside him. "Sorry, Lei Ze. I had something to hide from you earlier."
"It's fine. Everyone traveling outside should have their secrets," the explorer replied, his gaze fixed on the forest ahead, more concerned about their overall situation. "The problem now is that we've provoked the Riverbank Chamber, who are also the culprits behind the anomaly in the forest."
Lei Ze paused, his gaze returning to Lindsey, and asked slowly, "Lindsey, do you still intend to continue on this path?"
The explorer's meaning was clear. They had already opposed the Riverbank Chamber, and even if they didn't face a Stage Six powerhouse in the short term, the current situation made it likely they would encounter such a scenario in the future.
He needed to know Lindsey's true thoughts.
Lindsey calmly stated the facts, "Lei Ze, I made the first move."
After expressing his attitude, Lindsey straightened his posture and extended his right hand to Lei Ze, "And my real name is Lindsey."
"I'm glad to be on this journey with you all."
The two men locked eyes, and the explorer firmly grasped Lindsey's hand, nodding in response, "Lindsey, I'm glad to meet you too."
Mira, the female physician, now faced a question she couldn't ignore. The two captives appeared to have been shot by a sword or a crossbow bolt, but their actual injuries were different. The ammunition of the musket, aside from its incredible penetration, also shattered upon impact, causing significant damage within the body.
If the two men weren't Awakened but commoners, they would have been killed instantly. Mira even had a premonition that if Lindsey's weapon spread, it might prompt physicians to open a new medical research topic. Perhaps it could even help a powerful figure advance to Stage Six.
"Mira, how are they?" Lei Ze asked from behind.
Mira sighed and turned to report, "I've removed the weapon fragments from their bodies. Their injuries won't worsen, and they're definitely out of danger."
Lindsey spoke up, "Mira, there's another enemy in the forest. It's best to extract information from them quickly, and then I'll deal with that guy."
The female physician pouted and took out a bottle of deer horn wine, waving it under Aly Kun's doppelganger's nose.
"Ugh—"
"Cough... Cough!"
The captive, upon smelling the pungent odor, immediately trembled as he regained consciousness. He quickly realized his current situation, and his expression turned angry, "Mr. Aly Kun already knows everything that happened here!"
"We'll see about that. None of you will escape!"
Facing the arrogant captive, Lindsey briefly recalled Red's approach. The next moment, he held a steel spear and pierced the man's lower ribcage with a 'pfft' sound.
This strike was so powerful that the spearhead pierced the ground, only stopping when it was fully embedded.
"Ah!"
The steel spear pierced through the man's body, causing him to tremble in agony. The searing pain prevented him from moving, and he could only contort his body, gasping heavily.
Lindsey spoke coldly, "Losers should know their place."
"I don't take pleasure in tormenting people, so before things get any more unpleasant, it's best you tell us everything you know."
"Umm..."
The man, impaled by the spear, broke out in a cold sweat.
Despite his reluctance, he still refused to answer, glaring at Lindsey with hatred.
"You... won't get away with this..."
Lindsey furrowed her brows. She didn't want to torture the captive, but if this man wouldn't cooperate...
"Mira, please!"
At that moment, Lezer, standing nearby, spoke up. He didn't press the man lying on the ground but instead turned to the physician in their team with a pleading look.
"This request is not for our personal gain."
"..."
"Alright." Mira nodded.
As a core member of the expedition team, she understood the importance of this journey.
Mira reached into her waist pouch and took out a dead insect that resembled a bamboo stick. She crushed it into a powder with a gentle squeeze, then patted it below the man's nostrils. The powder entered his nasal cavity as he inhaled.
"What are you...hmm..."
The man on the ground, who had been about to question them, inhaled the insect's powder.
His eyes became hazy, and he stopped his cries of pain, no longer feeling the agony in his body.
Lezer seized the opportunity to ask, "Tell us, what were you doing in the forest?"
The man, now with a dazed expression, replied, "The chamber discovered the forest's ley line and wanted to extract it to restore their status in Platinum City."
Lezer's face clouded with doubt.
"Restore their status?"
The man continued, "The former Seven-Stage leader of Riverbank Chamber went bankrupt and committed suicide in Platinum City. As a result, we were expelled from the core trading circle and had to venture into this borderland in search of opportunities to regain access to the commercial center."
Lezer wasn't interested in the merchants' petty schemes and only pursued forest-related topics. "What is the forest's ley line? What does it do?"
The man answered, "It's the essence of the Forest Courtyard and the Forest Will, condensed into Source Essence."
"In theory, it's enough to advance a Seventh-Stage Awakened, and it's worth a fortune."
Advancing to the Seventh Stage!
The news sent a ripple of astonishment through the forest's inhabitants.
A Seventh-Stage Awakened was almost beyond their reach.
Hearing such news, their hearts raced, and various thoughts uncontrollably flooded their minds.
Lindsey, having crossed the Black Mountain World, was less surprised by this revelation. She calmly continued her interrogation, "So, the forest's anomaly was caused by this, right? What did you do to it?"
The dazed man replied, "Stimulating the forest's ley line triggers its anomalies. Simultaneously, we can search for the direction of its connections based on these fluctuations and locate the core of its true body."
Lindsey nodded slightly.
The man's information aligned with what she had discovered during her reconnaissance, indicating its reliability.
"What did you say!"
At that moment, a voice filled with anger sounded beside Lindsey.
Lezer clenched his fists, almost grinding his teeth as he asked, "You've been causing the frequent anomalies in the forest for the past six months!"
"Are you insane?"
The man on the ground answered honestly, "This is the most efficient method."
"Riverbank Chamber's commercial license in Platinum City is about to expire. We have to act fast."
"..."
"Lezer, calm down!"
As Lezer's anger threatened to spiral out of control, Lindsey quickly restrained the explorer and asked the man on the ground, "Tell me, who is the last person left in this Hidden Realm?"
The man answered truthfully, "It's a sorcerer from the Elemental School."
"Aly Kun arranged for him to stay here and stimulate the forest's ley line."
(End of Chapter)
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