Chapter 87

Fifth-layer cavern.

The various mine tunnels originally collapsed by Lin Jun during the demon tide have now almost all been excavated, and several additional passages have even been widened beyond the original layout.

This is all thanks to the fifty-plus digging Pujis working here continuously, along with some humans who have figured out the mine rules.

Clang-clang echoes reverberate through the mine.

Norris walked out from the depths, a pickaxe in hand and a basket of stones mixed with demon crystals on his back.

Along the way, he encountered many digging Pujis; some demon crystals lay scattered beneath their feet, but Norris did not pick any up.

One of the mine rules is: do not steal the fruits of the Pujis' labor. Norris has seen many dishonest fellows; the best outcome for them was being stripped bare, while the worst likely meant they became part of the fifth layer.

He was not unaware of the Great Black Mushroom incident causing such a commotion outside, but he felt no particular worry about it.

He had encountered the Great Black Mushroom twice, and each time a single glass bead had been enough to deal with it. In his view, the likely reason the entire Gold Squad was wiped out was that they violated the rule prohibiting attacks on Pujis within the fifth layer and were swarmed to death.

As long as one follows the rules, the fifth layer is practically paradise for a bronze-level adventurer like himself.

There are no monsters that might suddenly spring out to attack him; he can earn slightly more reward by mining demon crystals than in the upper layers, and the only thing he needs to do is prepare the toll for passage back and forth—two monster corpses.

However, today's situation was slightly different. When he finally emerged from the cavern, he encountered a nobleman-dressed uncle.

Norris instinctively wanted to cover the demon crystal ore on his back, but then immediately abandoned that action.

Judging by the other's attire, a single button on the clothes was probably worth more than everything Norris owned; the ones he needed to guard against were those as poor as himself.

But why would such a big shot appear in the cavern?

Norris did not know, but the other's gaze remained fixed on him. Under the invisible pressure, he felt compelled to speak first: "U-um... Mr., is there something you need?"

Edin curiously sized up the young man before him; he had wandered around the fifth layer and had only encountered this one living person.

Most adventurers were greatly frightened by the Great Black Mushroom incident.

"Why are you here alone?"

Norris looked at the pickaxe in his hand, then turned his gaze to Edin...

Edin also realized his phrasing was wrong and rephrased the question: "Are you not afraid of encountering Black Pujis?"

"Not afraid. I brought glass beads."

Norris shook his head while revealing the small pouch at his waist, which contained five glass round beads of different colors.

"Have you encountered Black Pujis?" Edin seemed interested. "So the rumor among adventurers that Black Pujis like glass products is true?"

Norris nodded.

"Truly interesting. Could you sell me two beads? I am willing to pay one gold coin, of course, the gold coin will only be given to you after you go up, as I have no money on me right now."

As he spoke, Edin patted his pocket, indicating he carried no money.

Norris handed over two glass beads with no emotional fluctuation.

Let alone glass beads; for an existence that clearly looked like a big shot, even if he demanded the results of Norris's two days of digging from his back, Norris could only agree.

As for the one gold coin reward?

Just listen and take it as such.

After handing the glass beads to Edin, Norris intended to leave.

He dared not get too close to Edin, so he stepped off the mushroom path onto the fungal carpet, but in the next moment, Edin reached out and pulled him back.

Norris was somewhat puzzled.

Edin simply stepped aside and said: "Walk properly along the path; do not step outside it."

Watching Norris walk away, Edin took out a scroll from his robes.

Channeling his mana to activate the scroll, a large amount of information floated before Edin's eyes.

【Race: Mushroom-Puji】

【Race: Mushroom-Puji】

【Race: Mushroom-Puji】

【Race: Mushroom-Puji】

... As expected.

Although it was not the first time he had seen them since coming down, seeing the ground covered with Pujis possessing self-destruct skills, as revealed by the reconnaissance scroll, still made Edin's scalp tingle.

Just in the circle around him alone, there were seven or eight; relying solely on the eyes, it was impossible to distinguish them!

He felt that there was no need even to search for the Great Black Mushroom; the situation on the ground alone was enough to explain the reason for the total annihilation of that Gold Squad.

With such numbers, he would not be surprised if the entire fifth layer disappeared one day!

Of course, the Great Black Mushroom still had to be found, otherwise he could not report back.

But the problem was, with so many scan targets, each one scanned caused mana consumption, greatly reducing the effective range of the reconnaissance scroll.

Originally, he thought five scrolls would be enough to find the Great Black Mushroom; now it seemed that was impossible, and perhaps this trip would end in failure...

Just as Edin thought this, the Great Black Mushroom appeared within his field of vision.

It was leisurely strolling on the fungal carpet outside the mushroom path, and upon seeing Edin, it actually approached.

This did not surprise Edin; the intelligence stated that the Great Black Mushroom liked shiny things, and with his own attire so magnificent, it would be strange if it were not attracted.

Nevertheless, Edin still tossed out a glass bead, observing the Great Black Mushroom's movements.

The Great Black Mushroom seemed attracted by the glass bead, ran onto the fungal carpet, and laboriously picked up the glass bead.

Edin threw the second glass bead with force, and the Great Black Mushroom chased after the direction the bead flew.

After doing this, Edin took out another scroll from his robes and waited quietly in place.

When the Great Black Mushroom approached him for the third time, Edin activated the scroll in his hand: Wind Blade.

The Wind Blade flew out and directly sliced off the Great Black Mushroom's mushroom cap.

The mushroom cap that fell to the ground scattered into a pile of white mycelium, and from within the Great Black Mushroom, a very ordinary-looking Puji emerged.

This scene seemed somewhat unexpected to Edin, but there was no time to think deeply, as the landmine Pujis all around jumped out simultaneously—

Without the slightest resistance, after a series of explosions, Edin vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a shattered demon crystal at the spot.

Lin Jun, who had been directing this entire play from behind the scenes, was not surprised by the scene before him.

Lin Jun had noticed this Edin the moment he entered the dungeon.

It was not for any other reason, but because he had no panel.

A puppet? An illusion?

Probably those, anyway, it couldn't be the true body.

Too special; one look showed he was here for the fifth floor.

Lin Jun used 【Assimilation Absorption lv3】 + 【Mimicry lv4】 to craft a big black mushroom, doing his best to make the big black mushroom appear before him like some monster following fixed patterns.

Following patterns meant controllable; controllable meant there was no need to forcibly eliminate it.

If this information could be transmitted out, then this problem would be considered resolved.

It was just that, on this fellow who had never revealed his true body throughout the entire process, Lin Jun smelled a trace of a kindred spirit's aura; he hoped this makeshift solution he had come up with wouldn't reveal any flaws...

——

In a guest room of an inn in Silent Wind Town.

Edin slowly opened his eyes, looking at the demon crystal in his hand broken into two pieces, his expression somewhat playful.

Attacking the big black mushroom was equivalent to triggering an explosion trap; the glass bead could perfectly draw the big black mushroom, and the big black mushroom's "true face," away.

Taking this information in his hand now to report should be no problem.

It was just that he felt the entire sequence of events, from the big black mushroom's appearance to the completion of his experiment, was too smooth.

Smooth just like the path he walked all the way to the barn back then.

Should he go investigate again?

Hmm...

Rubbing his chin, Edin didn't think for long before giving up.

Losing two special demon crystals and several scrolls in one trip; if he came a few more times, wouldn't he end up losing money?

In the end, doing more brought no extra reward...

(End of this chapter)