Chapter 486: Communication and Buffs

"Hmm"

This sacrificial parchment has a communication function too?

Luo De's magical knowledge was truly lacking; he couldn't discern its underlying principle.

So he held the parchment and let out a pretentious sneer.

Fortunately, the other side actually heard him.

And burst into joyful cheers:

"Mr. Gorgon! Mr. Gorgon responded!"

It was a rich, powerful, masculine voice.

In addition, Luo De heard a spluttering, bubbling sound.

And it wasn't just one man cheering—at least four other voices mingled in the background.

But the man was closest, drowning out all other noises.

Nearby.

Tally saw the small shawl on Vivian's shoulders and rolled her eyes.

She pouted and shoved the other aside, then giggled as she squeezed into her master's arms.

Vivian's exquisitely painted face showed no emotional fluctuation.

Perhaps she didn't feel jealousy at all—no resentment, merely drawing closer to Luo De again.

But with the mischievous succubus occupying his lap, she could only lean against his side arm.

She pressed her cheek against it, expressionless.

Luo De's attention was fixed on the parchment; he didn't notice, and instinctively raised his arm to embrace the girl.

The cheers from the other side of the parchment soon quieted.

The background noises immediately grew louder; other sounds gradually emerged:

"Help! Help! Don't kill me!"

"Don't kill me!"

"Spare my life!! Spare my life!!"

Pleas and screams.

Whippings, drowning, all accompanied by violent struggles.

Merely listening evoked a fierce will to survive.

Luo De: "..."

He could already imagine it.

This radical druid group was probably executing those who harmed nature.

"Mr. Gorgon! When will Lord Zugmoi descend into the physical dimension?! The natural world here is severely polluted by mages and towns—it's on the brink of collapse and desperately needs Lord Zugmoi's salvation!!"

The deep masculine voice spoke again.

He spoke passionately, as if burdened by the fate of the land.

Luo De thought for a moment.

Radical druids were combat assets—and without moral constraints, they could prove even more effective.

He'd originally planned to summon them to Coral Bay to help slay the dragon.

But upon further reflection.

He wasn't the real Gorgon; bringing them to Dusk Hill risked exposing himself.

It might eventually lead to the Fungus Lady's exposure—no different from bargaining with a tiger.

Hmm, better to minimize contact.

Getting free materials and gold is more than enough for me.

So.

Luo De gripped the parchment and let out a loud, mocking laugh.

He said nothing.

The druids on the other end grew cold with sweat, fearing they'd offended him or that their offering displeased him.

They began explaining and defending themselves, speculating on the meaning behind the "Gorgon's" laughter.

But the more they explained, the louder his sneer became.

They grew utterly uneasy.

A true master.

The hallmark is ignoring others' words and speaking only his own—disregarding all requests and opinions.

Luo De judged the moment right, severed the parchment's connection, and stuffed it back into his spell satchel.

The voices in his mind ceased abruptly.

The sneer carried multiple meanings.

He intensified it especially when they explained the quantity of the offering.

"I hope you understand: I want soul items, rare treasures, and fifty million Jin Along. Thank you."

Luo De clasped his hands toward the horizon and bowed.

The next morning.

Luo De arrived at the Eucalyptus Grove, carrying a bag of gifts.

He felt refreshed, his skin plump and glowing.

Last night in the cannon room, another round of battles earned him six buffs: 【Random Stat Boost】, 【Twilight Concealment】, 【Minor Luck】, 【Low-Level Instrument Talent】, 【Spell Range Overload】, 【Martyr's Oath】.

Six buffs, six different little games.

One: Everyone covered their eyes, no peeking; the girls formed a circle facing each other, and the spider-spider Yuna acted as referee, rolling dice and guiding Luo De—whatever number came up, they moved that many steps around the circle.

Emphasizing randomness—who'd be the lucky one to gain spiritual energy?

The second used the occasional peeking half-deer girl Xiao Ke: whoever completed a full act within five meters of her won.

The third was a bodily fluid wheel.

The fourth required playing music during the act and ensuring the piece remained complete.

The fifth had the girls as targets; Tally, as host, remotely calibrated trajectories—hitting the target granted a buff.

The sixth involved a touch of blood: each had to make a wound, then press together, bathing in blood while acting.

This game was generously sponsored by the female orc Amy.

She said her mother told her.

That when her parents were deeply in love, they had a fight, then went at it fiercely, each bleeding profusely.

One battle, all grudges vanished.

That same day, they kissed passionately, had the most ecstatic sex of their lives, and conceived Amy.

Though Luo De found it strange.

But you know what? 【Martyr's Oath】 was actually quite good.

【Details: When a partner is near death, you may voluntarily take half their damage.】

This was a life-saving ability.

The forest girls were still weaker than him, especially in damage resistance.

With major events piling up, something might happen—this skill eased Luo De's mind considerably.

"Lady Hera! Lady Hera, are you there?"

As he pondered.

Luo De had searched every place in the Eucalyptus Grove where the scorpion woman Hera might appear.

Unfortunately, he found nothing, so he shouted loudly.

In the past, by this point, Luo De would've given up.

But hearing that the half-wolf druid Ojia and the spider-spider Yuna both said Hera's condition was odd.

He refused to let it go.

After all, she had genuinely saved his life before.

"Lady Hera! It's me, Luo De!"

"Scorpion Lady of the Eucalyptus Grove!"

"Hera!"

"Little Hera~~"

"Little Hehe——"

So he shouted as he searched.

He was relentless—shouting from morning until evening.

"Ugh, you're so noisy."

Hearing the familiar voice.

Luo De finally smiled, downing the mushroom tea that Yuna had just delivered.

Instinctively using 【Spider Sense】 to scan—he sensed nothing at all.

He was startled.

【Spider Sense】 had always been reliable—everything nearby had always been visible to it.

Now the sound could be heard, but the radar detected nothing.

It's pretty creepy.

Luo De used the most primitive method to follow the sound.

There, sitting on the branch above, was a slender figure—it was Scorpion Girl Hera, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

Her jet-black purple hair, cut straight at the ears, covered the upper half of her face, smooth and neat.

The exposed nose and lips were high, small, sensual, and soft.

Her black-purple exoskeleton formed only over her chest and hips, resembling a hot woman wearing a crop top and hot pants.

But the terrifying scorpion tail, once held high, now hung limp and lifeless.

(End of Chapter)