Chapter 299: Spread and Locate

"Hey! Boss! What the hell are you trying to say?!"

Ryan jolted awake from his confusion, but the drunken haze still clung to him.

So, foolishly, he smashed his wine glass on the floor and stood defiantly facing Boss Valery.

The other patrons, seeing entertainment, immediately cheered.

Not a single person tried to mediate—everyone egged them on to throw punches.

Shouting things like, "If you can take this, you're not a man!" and "Cowardly boss, too scared to hit back!"

It was pure indifference to personal feelings—targeting everyone equally, just for the spectacle.

Brawling, name-calling.

Always the best snack to go with Giant's Ale.

As expected.

The trash-talking duel between the boss and Ryan began first.

But drunk and still mentally clouded by magic, Ryan stood no chance against the battle-hardened Valery; soon his face flushed red and he swung first.

They traded blows—punch for punch, back and forth, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The patrons around them cheered in unison.

As if they didn't care at all that one was first-rank and the other seventh-rank.

And Seamus.

The head of the Bahadur Magic Academy's Photography Club had already left the tavern.

He listened to the shouts, cheers, and thuds of fists hitting flesh echoing from the Violet Tavern behind him.

It sounded unnaturally loud in the night street.

Seeing no one chased after him, he felt an odd sense of relief—like he'd escaped death.

He stared at the crystal ball in his hand.

"This won't be easy to fix."

Crack—

Perhaps the vibration from walking caused it—the crystal ball emitted a twisted sound along its crack, then split cleanly in two.

The chaotic spiritual energy hidden inside immediately leaked into the air.

Seamus grimaced, face twisted in anguish.

Done. Completely beyond saving.

"There are people like this even in Shiying Town?"

His face showed no fear—only eager, excited anticipation.

"The Igors separated by the far west, the Guardian Array, the powerful scorpion women and promiscuous forest wardens in the Windwall Forest, even the tavern boss I can't see through—this town is an unparalleled subject for imagery!"

He muttered to himself as he strode quickly down the street.

Soon, he turned into a mercenary inn.

Inside the room, he quickly began jotting down his thoughts.

But suddenly, he slammed his fist against his forehead.

Calmed his excited emotions.

"No, no—take it one at a time. Image production forbids juggling multiple projects. Besides, the Professor's assignment must be rushed—the beastification plague must spread quickly."

"The current obstacle is Claw Valley. The warden Luo De and his lovers, plus the official power of Shiying Town on the Hansen River—I predicted the ritual's location and pre-placed delayed detonations, so it should be fine. But is this warden's strength really that absurd? He's clearly less than seventh-rank, just a spiritual warrior."

"Sigh—if only I had the location of Melu Ruins, why go through all this trouble? The Professor suspects the Golden Chalice inside holds the blood of some dead ancient god. With it, our research into Ascension could leap forward. Damn ratmen—brain-dead old fossils, deserve to be manipulated by cosmic beings."

"Where should I shoot next? Claw Valley! Yes—it's Shiying Town's key defense line against beastified patients, perfect for a big production. Too bad I couldn't control Ryan—the 'irrational fool' character arc failed. Damn, my legs are shaking. What the hell was that tavern boss? I'm checking out tomorrow!"

Seamus scribbled and muttered to himself as he wrote.

It was one of his little habits.

Of course, to avoid eavesdropping, he'd already cast a silence and anti-eavesdropping spell.

Funny enough, Ryan didn't know who'd targeted him—he'd been implanted with three tracking spells.

Even at seventh rank, he's still just a spiritual warrior—pathetic tactics.

Wait.

Why wait until tomorrow to run?

I can leave right now!

No more hesitation.

Seamus leapt to his feet, yanked a large leather case from under the bed, and snapped open the metal clasps.

He tossed his clothes and documents haphazardly inside.

"Huh? What's this?"

Suddenly, Seamus noticed an unusual bump on his own hem.

Unlike the silk fabric, it was a black metallic fluid, gleaming faintly and shifting slightly.

"Shi Laimu?"

No sooner had he spoken—

He felt something, whirled sharply toward the left window.

Against the dark sky, an unnatural white light flared suddenly at the edge of a building.

Whoosh—

A surge of spiritual pressure shattered the window.

It pierced through the ceiling of the cramped room, then cut cleanly through Seamus's neck.

"Mmm?"

A low groan escaped his throat as a thin red line circled his entire neck.

He looked out the window in confusion.

In his final vision, a tall, handsome man stood gripping the window frame, holding a massive pruning shear, staring coldly at him.

Behind the man, various women—frost-like elves, tree spirits descending midair, shadow-wrapped succubi—stood at different positions, all perfectly framed within the window's edge, forming an ideal composition.

"Perfect… perfect…"

Seamus's eyes widened with excited fervor as his head separated from his body.

The expression remained even after he lost all breath.

"A puppet?"

Luo De stomped on the head, which felt utterly devoid of flesh or blood.

Had he not sensed the 【Disguise Field】 inside the "corpse," he'd have believed he'd killed a real Bahadur student.

No wonder Bahadur Magic Academy is so good at survival tactics.

He activated the 【Disguise Field】 to cancel the field on the "corpse," revealing the true form—a brown wooden puppet.

The elf Kali stepped into the room.

Without a word, she pulled out various ritual materials, silver knives, and filters to purify the ambient spiritual energy.

"Move your foot."

"What are you doing?"

"Trace ritual. Might extract some information—though it's mostly luck."

"Fine, go ahead."

Luo De stepped aside.

Tally slid into his arms.

"What's this, Master? All this trouble just to kill such a tiny thing? I haven't even eaten enough~~"

Her master had suddenly pulled out his weapon mid-meal, gathered the group, and rushed to Shiying Town.

The succubus was annoyed—but now, in the inn, she felt a flicker of arousal.

She wanted to spend the night with her Master in this cramped room~

Knock knock knock—

A frantic knock came at the door.

Luo De pushed Tally aside and went to open it.

"Damn it! What the hell are you doing?! Waking everyone up at this hour! You think I won't keep your deposit?!"

A fierce-looking middle-aged woman launched into a tirade the moment the door opened.

(End of Chapter)