Chapter 368: Hair and the Desire for War

Compliance increased to 51, unlocking shared skill with Tolly.

Beginning random draw.

Draw successful.

Shared skill: Abyssal Maw.

Details: Opens a massive, black hole-like mouth that instantly folds and swallows the surrounding space. Whether physical matter or powerful magical energy, anything drawn into the Abyssal Maw is completely disintegrated and converted into the consumer's vitality and energy.

Holy shit!

That strong??

Luo De's gaze toward the blob Tolly grew strange.

Fungus Toru frowned and blocked his view with his body.

Forget it, forget it.

The blob isn't in my aesthetic, and NTR is fucking dead to me—I'm a pure love warrior.

He signed another soul contract with Fungus Toru, with looser terms, but labor was still required.

It also clearly forbade communication with any cosmic beings other than Tolly.

Tolly, apparently also a pure love warrior, expressed satisfaction with this clause.

After confirming there were no issues, Tolly and Toru clung to each other for a long while before reluctantly reopening the interdimensional rift and leaving.

Just before departing, the Abyssal Devourer Tolly handed over a stiff, brown filament as long as an arm.

Fungus Toru explained: "This is Tolly's gift to you. She says she found it while passing through a ruin in the interdimensional space. Its spiritual energy has partially decayed and lost its original function—it was likely left behind by some great being."

Arachne Elf Yuna saw this and turned pale, instinctively grabbing Luo De's sleeve.

"This is the Listener's Hair of that Lord."

"That Lord?"

Yuna's face filled with panic: "I mean—Spider Queen Ros—Yuna spoke hastily. I no longer recognize that one as my lord. Yuna's lord now and forever will be Master Luo De!"

She hurried to explain, fearing he'd misunderstand.

Luo De waved his hand, unconcerned: "Listener's Hair? Sounds like a surveillance tool. Since it's decayed, it's probably useless now."

"Yes. Spider Queen Ros often scatters Listener's Hair across the world to monitor changes in interdimensional and multiversal spaces. When an opportunity arises, she uses it to launch invasions, spreading fear and suffering."

"Huh. Is it useful to you?"

Yuna didn't answer.

The filament was indeed beneficial to her, but she dared not ask her master for it—it would make her seem useless and unfit as a servant.

"Just say it." Luo De chuckled.

"Y-yes. This filament decayed recently—I can use it to learn some spiritual energy techniques and increase my spiritual accumulation."

"That's good! Any enhancement for you benefits me a hundredfold. Next time something like this happens, speak up immediately."

"Understood, Master. Yuna was foolish."

Yuna apologized quickly, embarrassed.

Perfect.

At that moment, Tooth Fairy Rosalia sent a message: the Dark Elf had finally spoken—come quickly.

Rosalia blinked when she saw Fungus Toru trailing behind Luo De.

Isn't that the prisoner we needed to improve?

Last time Dimia sealed his spore-release orifice, he still hasn't submitted after a full month.

Luo De explained: "I recruited him. This guy begged relentlessly to call me Master—I couldn't stop him. You know me—I only like girls calling me Master. Males? It's disgusting."

Rosalia naturally didn't doubt him.

She only asked curiously: "How did you manage it? We tried many methods."

"Probably charisma."

Heh.

Rosalia laughed, knowing he wouldn't tell the truth.

"Of course. Master Luo De is the most charismatic man I've ever met."

"Hahahaha—"

Luo De laughed loudly: "Take him and use him. Shi Ying Town is crowded now, and Dimia must stay permanently in Claw Valley. Having a sixth-rank high-tier mage will help."

"I won't refuse. The town really lacks a higher-rank mage. Outsiders are too unruly—they won't cooperate with the municipal office."

She looked at the bound Dark Elf.

The transformation effect had been removed. His jet-black skin and the hollow puncture through his chest were striking.

Now he hung his head, blood froth dripping from his mouth, half his face swollen, breathing like a broken bellows.

His body was covered in burn marks, lash wounds, and needle punctures; fingers on his restrained limbs had been cut off.

Interrogator Xiao Fei stood beside him, blood specks on her face, grinning as she held a molar in both hands.

Uh.

Tooth Fairy fairies are kinda scary.

But interrogations are always like this, aren't they?

Being merciful to enemies is cruelty to your own.

Now came Rosalia's questioning.

In this regard, she was clearly more experienced, so Rod simply stood by and listened quietly.

About half an hour.

The information the Dark Elf revealed made everyone's hearts sink:

In Coral Bay, Dark Elves feared Shi Ying Town's stability and expansion, and secretly sent agents to undermine its economic lifeline—the mining district.

The five delayed explosive gems in the assassin's possession were meant for the five highest-yield mines in the mining district.

As for the attempt to assassinate the elf:

That was the assassin's personal act. According to his own confession, he hated traditional elves, and hoped to create a rift between Bicuiting and the Kingdom of Aitheron.

Luo De hadn't expected it.

A simple sightseeing trip had uncovered a terrifying operation threatening Shi Ying Town's lifeline.

Mine collapses are extremely troublesome.

I heard that over ten years ago, Shi Ying Town suffered a collapse that killed dozens. The mine shaft was sealed permanently, and a violent miasma emerged—no mage could locate its source or clear it. It remains abandoned to this day.

More importantly, Shi Ying Town's economy would suffer devastating damage.

Lately, most resources were diverted to handle the beast-tainted patients in Claw Valley, even all the Wendigos were pulled over. The mining district is indeed under-defended.

Rosalia was startled into a cold sweat by this news and immediately contacted Dimia to recall the Wendigos.

The situation in Claw Valley had stabilized somewhat after a month, and Luo De occasionally visited to inspect—likely no major issues.

Everyone exited the interrogation room.

The assassin must be securely detained—crucially, he must not die.

These creatures can resurrect. Keeping them imprisoned is best; killing them only restores their strength.

"The Dark Elves of Coral Bay clearly harbor strong warlike desires. They'll likely strike Shi Ying Town again."

Rosalia assessed.

She had deduced some of their intentions from the interrogation.

"If they can summon two dragons, they won't stay quiet."

Luo De sighed.

Red dragons and black dragons are chromatic dragons.

Unlike the gentle metallic dragons—bronze and silver—chromatic dragons are all evil-aligned, defined by brutality, cunning, and aggression.

What would they use them for? Even your toe hair could guess.

(End of chapter)