Chapter 83

Under the fierce midday sun, the battlements of Norwid faded to a pale gray in the glare, with only the cold sternness of the bluestone remaining in the shadows.

The iron-reinforced city gate stood wide open, where four guards were checking entrants in the shadow of the wall.

The flow of people in this area had grown considerable, and Dylan was finally allowed to put on his clothes and trousers.

However, at this moment, looking at the city gate from afar, Dylan's expression was not particularly good.

He had just received a reminder from the boss: "There is a magic array operating at the city entrance."

A magic array placed at the city gate, one could guess with eyes closed that it was some kind of low-level detection magic.

Although it is low-level, it is certainly more than enough to deal with a low-level 【Mimicry】 like his own.

Keeping a magic array running continuously consumes a great deal; since when have these nobles been so willing to spend money?

After leaving the dungeon, he rushed on the road and didn't ask about any news.

He didn't know if something had happened recently that he was unaware of?

In any case, the city cannot be entered.

Glancing at the merchant beside him whose name he had already forgotten, Dylan casually made up an excuse:

"It is safe here now; I have other matters, so I will not accompany you into the city."

The merchant seemed somewhat surprised: "Mr. Dylan, is there something you need? I still wanted to properly thank you after entering the city."

Dylan was too lazy to fabricate a reason; he simply waved his hand, turned his horse's head, and left.

"Mr. Dylan, could it be that you dare not enter the city?"

Pulling the reins to turn back, Dylan stared fixedly at the merchant.

What does that mean?

Has he been exposed?

Dylan's mind even began to consider the consequences of killing him here to silence him.

The merchant, however, seemed not to notice Dylan's strangeness and continued: "Could it be that you fear my excessive hospitality will delay your journey?"

His knuckles turned white and blue as they tightened on the reins; after a while, Dylan said hoarsely, "You jest; I indeed have other matters, so I will not delay here."

Having spoken, he pulled the reins and galloped away as if fleeing.

The merchant narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at Dylan's retreating back.

After riding along the small path for a long time, Dylan could no longer see the city walls, and passersby gradually disappeared from view around him.

However, when he turned back, he saw that familiar figure.

That merchant had actually followed him!?

By now, Dylan realized something was wrong with the merchant, but he could not figure out the other's purpose.

If he had accidentally discovered his disguise, he should have gone to find the guards to capture him, right?

Why follow him alone, not afraid of being silenced?

When something unusual happens, there must be a hidden motive; Dylan did not want to meet him face to face at all.

So he continued to run, running until the sunset was about to set over Luoshan, until the horse panted with its tongue out, exhausted.

Turning back, he finally could not see that merchant anymore.

But this was still not enough to feel safe; Dylan led the horse and plunged straight into the Lin Zili by the roadside.

Only when he could no longer see the path did Dylan stop.

Just as Dylan was preparing to take the luggage off the horse, a small stone flew over and struck him directly in the face.

Ignoring the failure of his 【Mimicry】, Dylan turned to look at the merchant who had followed him once again, feeling a chill run down his spine.

This is absolutely no ordinary merchant!

Only the backpack on the ground could bring him a sliver of comfort.

However, why hasn't the boss made a move yet?

Does he have to fight a round first?

Dylan drew his long sword, just as he thought there would be a fierce battle.

"As expected!" The merchant looked at Dylan's face, his voice filled with joy, "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, we are one of our own!"

Immediately, Dylan saw the merchant's head deform gradually like a water balloon.

It successively changed into several different faces, even including Dylan's face.

After the transformation was complete, the merchant said with a smile, "Now you understand."

Understand what?

That you are a monster?

Wait, one of our own?

Dylan touched his green face covered in mycelium, lost in thought.

Seeing him like this, the merchant thought he finally understood and sat down on a stone by himself. "Ah, in such a wretched place, it is truly rare to meet one of our own."

At this moment, the merchant looked completely relaxed, and his sitting posture was very casual, with none of the stiffness he had shown before.

"Let's get to know each other again; my name is Cloro, what is yours?"

Seeing him like this, Dylan temporarily put aside his intention to attack, simply putting the backpack back on his shoulders.

"Dylan."

"Brother, you are a parasitic type, I have seen it; I am asking for your true name, not the name of this body."

"Dylan..."

"Alright, alright," Cloro looked helpless, "Brother, your disguise skills are not great, but I didn't expect you to be so tight-lipped."

"Where is the flaw in my disguise?" This was indeed something Dylan wanted to know; the journey ahead was still long; if anyone could see through his disguise, how could he travel!

"Brother, let's not talk about how your 【Mimicry】 fails as soon as it takes damage, it definitely does not exceed level five; let's talk about your behavior—too strange!"

Clove came to Dylan's side, slapped a hand on his shoulder, and assumed the air of a senior earnestly instructing a junior.

"How could anyone ride a horse naked in broad daylight?

I suspected you from the very first glance!

When you saw the city gate behind you, did you notice their detection array?

Your escape was too obvious when you left. After I tested you with a single remark, you still exposed such a huge flaw. How exactly do they teach you over there?"

"Teach?"

Dylan thought for a moment about the words his boss had said:

"Alright, you look human enough now, so it should be fine."

Clove sucked in a sharp breath: "Such a trap? No acting training? No counter-intelligence instruction? Just sending you behind enemy lines with a low-level mimicry like this? Which sect are you from? Isn't this just sending you to your death?"

"Which sect..."

Seeing Dylan about to fall silent again, Clove felt a certain admiration.

"I get it, I get it. You can't reveal things casually.

But brother, brother Dylan, you must know that loyalty alone cannot get things done.

We spies rely on on-the-spot reactions and adaptability.

They sent you over without teaching you anything. Even by our Demon Race standards, that's a bit too wicked, isn't it?"

Having finished speaking, Clove rubbed his chin and began to think, glancing at Dylan from time to time, his eyes filled with sympathy and memories.

Dylan simply didn't know what to say, and the scene fell silent for a moment.

And within the Mycelium Network.

"Boss! What should we do?"

"What do you mean 'what should we do'? Isn't this going quite well?"

Lin Jun initially thought this shapeshifter wanted to figure out Dylan's background and then impersonate him, but he never expected such a development.

"But I'm not a Demon Race spy!"

"But you are a Mushroom Race spy. Round it off, and it's about the same."

"..."

Dylan recalled his experiences after being parasitized.

Gathering human intelligence for the boss, spreading "guides," writing wooden tags to lure adventurers, helping the boss communicate with human factions friendly to the mushrooms...

It really was spying, damn it!

On the other side, Clove seemed to have thought of something.

"Brother Dylan, I know you are still a bit wary of me.

But it is rare to meet a junior like you in this area, and I cannot bear to watch you go to your death with my own eyes.

Coincidentally, I have no mission on hand at the moment, so accompanying you for a stretch of the road to teach you is no problem."

Dylan looked at Clove with an expression of disbelief.

Are all of you Demon Race people so warm-hearted?

Clove fully understood Dylan's suspicion and was not in a hurry.

Like a friend, he sat down beside Dylan, took off the flask, and took two sips; after speaking so much, he was thirsty.

Now that he was closer, Dylan noticed that the flask actually contained mana potions...

(End of this chapter)