Chapter 102: 101 Curses

In a small warehouse near the dock in Venom Lake, there was a sewer not marked on the city maps.

A rat-man crawled out from inside, exchanged a glance with two gang members on guard, and only climbed up after confirming it was safe.

Shortly after, more than a dozen people crawled out one by one; all had entered the sewer the day before, including Dylan and Clolo.

The heavy rain lasted two days, forcing everyone to stay an extra day.

After the group emerged, the rat-man collected everyone's iron tags first, then drove them all out of the warehouse.

Clearly, the service for 10 silver coins ended there.

"Brother Dylan, thank you for everything before," Clolo said sincerely.

At the Grape Manor, if Dylan hadn't joined, the one who likely died would have been him.

"Don't mention it; I was the one who received so much care along the way."

With just a few words, both knew it was time to part.

"Then, Brother Dylan, I wish you success!"

"Big Brother Clolo, we shall meet again."

The two clasped hands, nearly hugging each other.

Watching this, Lin Jun almost changed the channel.

Gazing at Clolo's retreating back, Dylan's heart was complex.

By rights, he should hold a grudge against the Demon Race; the incident of his daughter being poisoned by blood still stood vividly in his mind.

Yet this Clolo had truly been kind to him along the way, even if that kindness was based on the mistaken belief that he too belonged to the Demon Race.

He only hoped the two of them would never end up on opposite sides.

But then again, if his own boss suddenly got the idea to ally with the Demon Race someday, perhaps he and Clolo might unexpectedly become true allies...

But opposing humanity or something like that was a development he did not want either...

"What are you staring at? Hurry up and follow!"

The boss's voice made Dylan suddenly remember he still had a new mission.

Scanning the surroundings, he spotted the black-robed figure almost disappearing around the corner and quickly hurried after him.

Lin Jun had told Dylan to follow first and observe, then consider whether to learn about this Abyss Magic through trade or other methods.

It was no wonder Lin Jun cared so much; although he still hadn't learned to cast spells, he already possessed magic skills from all other schools, and this one he had never seen before was like a rare card, making him itch to learn about it.

Furthermore, gaining a deeper understanding of this world's power system was necessary.

However, Lin Jun had still thought too simply.

Clolo's assessment of Dylan's spy skills was very accurate: a rookie!

He hadn't followed for long before the black-robed figure ahead seemed to notice him, quickened his pace, and darted into an alley.

Seeing this, Dylan also quickened his steps and followed.

Inside the alley, the two went one after the other, openly beginning a chase.

Watching this, Lin Jun was speechless; once exposed, what good would catching up do?

This was, after all, within the city.

Thinking about it, Dylan wasn't a professional, so asking him to tail someone was indeed difficult for him.

"Forget it, since it's already like this, let's not..."

Before Lin Jun finished speaking, a dark glow suddenly appeared in the black-robed figure's hand ahead, and a twisted mass of magical energy suddenly gathered.

Dylan's leg suddenly went weak as he stepped forward; he had to brace himself against the wall with both hands just to avoid falling.

Oh?

Lin Jun's interest was instantly piqued.

Quickly pulling up Dylan's panel, he indeed saw something different in the status bar.

【Weakness Curse: Attributes reduced by 20% (104)】

A curse!

The duration was only two minutes, not long at all.

This was the first time Lin Jun had encountered a debuff effect classified as a curse.

Just knowing this meant the chase was not entirely in vain.

Poor Dylan, already bearing the 【Aging】 status with a -20% attribute penalty, now had Weakness stacked on top. Now running as if suffering from kidney deficiency, his steps were unsteady and floating; within a couple of strides, he was left behind by the black-robed figure.

Not only that, this weakened appearance attracted some scum living in the shadows.

While Dylan leaned against the wall gasping for breath, five thugs wielding clubs and small knives, looking like hooligans, blocked him from front and back.

A foot extended from a corner, tripping Dylan so he stumbled; his luggage bag fell to the ground, and its contents scattered everywhere.

These guys, at best Copper-rank, or even not even Copper-rank, generally dared not target adventurers.

But if an adventurer looked like he would collapse and faint in the next second, that was another matter.

【Weakness Curse: Attributes reduced by 20% (4)】

Four seconds later, the curse vanished; Dylan felt the sudden weakness that had appeared disappear just as suddenly as it had come!

Taking a deep breath again, strength returned to Dylan's body.

The few people around clearly did not notice Dylan's change; one thug stepped forward holding an iron rod and threatened:

"Old man, leave your sword and backpack here, we..."

Old man again!

Dylan's hand was already on the sword at his waist; if the guy in front took one more step, he would slit his throat right there.

"What are you doing?"

At the end of the alley, where the light was reversed, silver-gray armor reflected fragmented glints; the crisp sound of iron boots stepping on blue bricks made the air suddenly tense as a figure clad in knight armor strode toward the group.

"A knight?"

"Run!"

A few thugs wouldn't even dare provoke the guards, let alone a knight.

Only Dylan remained in place.

Dylan had wanted to run too, but then he thought, if I run, it will be too suspicious, so he forced himself to stop.

He also couldn't figure out why a knight would bother with such a matter; ignoring such small things is the norm.

Moreover, as he got closer, Dylan realized the one before him was actually a female knight.

She wore armor but had not put on her helmet; she had chestnut short hair and an old scar between her eyebrows; from a distance, one truly couldn't distinguish her gender.

Dylan wasn't the only one who hadn't seen clearly from afar; the knight opposite him, Leadrin, was the same.

She had originally thought a commoner was being harassed by thugs and had come to help, but she didn't expect to find a fellow dressed as an adventurer upon approaching.

She didn't like adventurers, but since she had already come, she asked:

"Are you alright?"

Her official attitude made Dylan breathe a sigh of relief; he had feared the knight had come because she discovered something abnormal.

Dylan skillfully displayed the demeanor an ordinary adventurer should have when meeting a knight.

"Thank you, my lord, for your protection; thanks to you, this humble one is fine!"

"Hmm, that's good."

Leadrin's gaze swept past Dylan, glanced at the items that had fallen from the luggage bag, and lingered for a moment longer on a pendant that looked somewhat familiar.

After thinking for a while without coming to any conclusion, she simply stopped lingering; she really didn't want to say much to these adventurers, as most of the city's security problems were caused by these fellows.

Watching the female knight's retreating figure, Dylan also breathed a sigh of relief.

Dylan could have easily dealt with those thugs himself; it was the female knight's appearance that disrupted his rhythm.

He felt no sense of having received help; it was more like being suddenly interrogated.

Fortunately, there was danger but no harm.

After packing up his things, Dylan identified the direction and headed for the dock—he wanted to inquire when there would be a ship to the archipelago.

That night, at the home of the knight Leadrin.

Bang!

A fist slammed onto the table.

"Isn't that the power pendant of that fellow Wilfred!?"

(End of this chapter)