Chapter 162: Even the bandits' homes have no spare grain—it's hot!

As a highly adaptable modern transmigrator, Ji Ming early accepted the grim reality that he couldn't painstakingly study proper knowledge, but any heretical trick came easily to him.

But...

Aren't justice angels supposed to be on everyone's side of order?

Why does Xi Er Wei Ya have such a skill that sounds blatantly fake, and its effect is straight out of a classic hentai?

Moreover, her Suggestion Technique is indeed powerful; the sentries on the wooden wall suddenly seemed to become blind despite having open eyes.

Even when the makeshift squad openly approached the stronghold's gate, not a single gaze was cast upon them.

And the one leading, Xi Er Wei Ya, reached out and lightly pushed; the gate, whose bolt had been shattered by the shock, slowly unfolded amid a heavy scraping sound.

This commotion was no small matter; it finally roused the bandits in the stronghold, causing them all to turn their heads.

However, their curious glances lingered only a moment before they all shifted away as if nothing had happened, returning to their tasks.

"To better protect mortals and fight evil, our Angel Clan is highly skilled in spirit magic."

Having guessed her companion's doubts, Xi Er Wei Ya turned back to explain.

"According to research, if one uses the Suggestion Technique to lower one's presence to the minimum, one can act conveniently and also prevent innocent people from seeing what they shouldn't."

For example, the scar-faced old uncle right now didn't even "hear" Xi Er Wei Ya speaking, and he was still waving his hands in front of passersby with a look of surprise.

Ji Ming's face bore a hint of doubt.

Although the explanation was reasonable, I still feel it's weird……

But the important thing is the mission, so he didn't dwell on these trivialities; instead, he slapped the old uncle.

"Stop playing; if you want to live, hurry and take us to the warehouse!"

If this were the old bandits' lair, the choice of location for a treasury would surely be made with utmost caution; they'd rather hide it deep underground and seal it with an iron door.

But after the hasty relocation, lacking time for defenses, they simply erected a few stone huts on flat ground and stationed heavy guards.

Although these guys' vigilance is certainly stronger than that of the idle loafers on the wall, against Xi Er Wei Ya's hypnosis they're all just giving it away for free.

"Take, you can take anything!"

From the armory all the way to the treasure pavilion, Ji Ming swept through, not missing even the small vaults of each mountain chieftain.

"Wait, my lord, why haven't we touched any of the food storehouses along the way?"

"Taking weapons reduces their combat power; taking wealth punishes their evil cunning; but taking all the food..."

Facing Cloi's question, Ji Ming pointed at the surrounding bandits.

"They have no backup forces for emergency resupply; hundreds of starving humans gathered together—what sort of filthy things could happen, I dare not imagine!"

A certain aberrant being, the evil wolf king who openly devours his subordinate magic wolves:?

One can only say the bandits are indeed filthy rich; by the time the group finished inspecting the last storehouse, Xi Er Wei Ya's magic pocket was already piled high with all kinds of supplies.

However, Ji Ming isn't interested in money; what he values most is weapons and equipment.

Having the little boss do a smart inventory, he found that last night's plus today's, although there are many substandard items, it's already enough to equip over seven hundred people.

"Really rich!"

Easily achieving half of the beta-test equipment demand, Ji Ming tapped the gold bars, feeling proud and satisfied.

Upon reflection, just sweeping through a batch of mountain bandits and outlaws yielded such income.

If we were to wipe out a nest of horse bandits or sea pirates…

"You, tell me if there are any other bandit hideouts nearby!"

The scar-faced old uncle stood there like a lackey, merely shaking his head nonstop.

"My lord, the several hideouts around here are all right here!"

However, he scratched his head and pondered a moment, then suddenly recalled.

"Right, lately the Barren Wilds have been plagued by a wolf disaster, and some grassland horse bandits have drifted down to the south."

Ji Ming immediately recalled those burly big men's mention of the "hyenas."

"How strong are they?"

"I haven't encountered them myself, but I heard the leader say many are horse-riding carnivorous beastmen with exceptionally strong combat power!"

"Strong? The stronger the better—how could we have a big treasure chest if they weren't strong?"

Ji Ming immediately asked.

"Where is their lair?"

The old uncle, however, drooped his expression and resumed shaking his head.

"They look down on us country bumpkins from the mountains; they won't even tell us many things."

"Although they left a means of contact, it's just leaving notes on designated stones to set a time, waiting for a material exchange."

Quite cautious!

"Do you know where the designated trading spot is?"

"I know, I know! Although the leader didn't tell me, Jenny told me!"

"... Why are we talking about trivial matters again?"

Ji Ming doesn't know much about the Barren Wilds, but someone on the team does.

Cloi tilted her head.

"If they're hyena people, then they should be professional grassland horse bandits, and their lair won't lack treasures!"

Good, then one knows the location, another understands the situation.

Adding to that, her own combat strength is strong, and she can use various magics to control the battlefield and scavenge—Xi Er Wei Ya…

"Leave the grassland bandits' affair to you three; if you can catch their tail, do so, but don't insist if you can't."

The scar-faced old uncle froze for a moment, then immediately knelt on the ground and began kowtowing.

"Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life; thank you, my lord, for sparing my life!"

In fact, even without this follow‑up, Ji Ming, even if he didn't kill him, would certainly not let him go.

So after returning to the Dungeon, he immediately threw him into a mine shaft as slave number 【0004】.

"Brother 01, why are 02 and 03 all sleeping?"

"Shh, stop talking, get to work quickly."

"Oh…"

"By the way, Brother 01, what were you caught for?"

"…Uncle, I'm called Zuoge, a mercenary… I don't even know what happened, yet I was captured!"

"Ah, me too, no wonder I always thought your face looked familiar!"

Isolated from the world, helpless, just a few bird‑people; even if they pierce the heavens they can't stir any waves.

So Ji Ming glanced over and went to the adjacent chamber.

The laugh‑and‑tear reunion segment had ended, and the members of the Iron Chain Squad were murmuring among themselves.

When Ji Ming pushed the door open, everyone looked a bit embarrassed and cramped.

"Dr. Ji, Moton has already told us about the situation here."

In the end, the squad leader Sitong spoke first.

"To be honest, we don't really trust this place, but since you vouch for it, we're willing to try to trust."

This is the fundamental reason Ji Ming is willing to bring the Iron Chain Squad into the Dungeon.

— No concealment, say whatever's true; it's always more reliable than falsehood and deception.

"Rest assured, as long as everyone can earnestly complete Lord Master's task, this place will be more suitable as a home than Sunlight City."

"As for what Lord Master's task actually is…"

Speaking, Ji Ming placed the work plan he had prepared in advance before the group.

They leaned forward anxiously to glance at it, and when they looked up, their expressions were uniformly shocked.

It wasn't because it was excessive, nor because it was difficult, but because…

"That's it?"

Moton, Charlie and Beli's task is to set up a blacksmith shop and begin systematic forging and repair of ironware.

Sitong, Anna and Lao Bo Er's task is to serve as instructors for the Pioneers, handling bow‑crossbow and warrior training respectively.

And according to the written description, there's leave when there's leave, salary when there's salary, and if the work is done well, bonuses can be issued.

The income is stable, and this job is far easier than being an adventurer!

"Just like when I first met you, set aside your worries and guard, and let the professionals handle the problems."

"Moreover, we can even deal with living and dead flesh and bones, so there's no need"

The crowd nodded thoughtfully, and finally Anna asked

"Actually I've been wanting to ask, does AdaiEr know about this place?"

Ji Ming shook his head.

"For the Dungeon's safety and secrecy, at least for now, theoretically only entry is permitted, no exit."

"Let's keep this from her for now; later she'll find out."

"…It can only be that way."

Seeing that no one had further questions, Ji Ming placed a large sack of weapons on the table.

"!"

He had thought the problem could be solved in half an hour, but to go fetch money from a bandit hideout, Ji Ming didn't return to the Clinic until noon.

Thus when he opened his eyes, the first thing he heard was a hurried knocking.

He checked his clothing, then adjusted his expression in front of the mirror.

But just as he opened the door, before he could speak, he heard a sentence.

"Doctor, have you fainted from crying?"

"What? I didn't…"

AdaiEr:?

"Um…"

Ji Ming slowly covered his face.

"Yes, I did faint from crying."

When he went down to the lobby, he realized he wasn't sure whether he had actually cried himself faint, but the patients waiting there were truly faint from pain.

"Quick, quick, AdaiEr, we're ready for surgery!"

The fact proved that slacking off feels good for a moment, but rushing a crematorium makes two people busy until the afternoon.

"Damn, I wasn't slacking!"

After sending off the last patient, Ji Ming leaned weakly on the sofa.

He'd been working day and night nonstop, but finally had a bit of time to rest.

Just as his eyes closed, he felt a cold wind sweep in and couldn't help shivering.

He opened his eyes and, to his surprise, Lao Nv Shi was standing at the doorway of his Clinic.

"Oh, it's just a dream…"

But as he was about to continue resting, a stick struck his head.

Buluowa paused his staff, his words laced with anger.

"I told you we were supposed to go to Sheng Guang Jiao Tang together this afternoon, didn't I? Why didn't you come!"

"I was copying, got busy and forgot!"

"Sorry, Ms. Buluowa, I've been quite busy with work lately; I certainly didn't mean to stand you up!"

Ji Ming hurried back to the second floor, and after drinking a bottle of SpiritGathering Liquid to restore his energy, he changed into a reasonably decent outfit.

As a doctor who makes medicines, he naturally carries his own products wherever he goes.

So this time he packed three more bottles in a wooden crate, intending to give them as a gift to the mysterious bishop.

When he returned to the hall, Buluowa sized him up for a moment, then let out a cold snort.

"Heh, at least you look the part."

Counting on an elderly person walking to the church was impossible, so the two rented a carriage.

Ji Ming only now had a chance to look at the old lady's attire and found that she had changed dramatically today.

The shabby black robe was replaced by a somewhat outdated mage's robe, and the unsightly cane became a gem‑inlaid staff

—considering its length, it might even serve as a magic staff.

As for the most striking feature on her, the terrifying cheek scarred with wrinkles and a missing eye was hidden beneath a very wide hat.

In other words…

She went from a horror‑movie ghoul grandma to a bizarre, frightening old witch.

Just as he was thinking, Buluowa's eyes flicked toward him.

"I suddenly feel you're thinking something rather rude,"

"Nothing!"

"Heh…"

She quietly withdrew her gaze, and Ji Ming fell into thought.

Holy Light, a term that almost every Western‑fantasy setting can't avoid—has it finally appeared in this world after all?

Long, long ago, the Holy Light Church was synonymous with justice, a quintessential noble sect.

But after audiences grew tired of that trope, the Holy Light Church was forced to become an inescapable villainous force.

And when viewers grew weary of even that, the Holy Light Church had to sacrifice its saintesses, priests, and maidens…

Ahem, I'm digressing.

In short, given that this world has gods and that he himself is a higher‑dimensional being, Ji Ming truly doesn't want to get involved with this world's churches.

If this world's prayer rite directly contacts a deity, and that deity happens to be on duty—if, fortunately, the Death God happens to be handling that matter, and inadvertently senses the strange aura on him, glances curiously, and with such keen sight perceives his very origin.

Then.

A bizarre planet, an abnormal deity—real? fake? Lost in confusion…

He had no choice but to ask the little boss again for confirmation.

【Rest assured, you have me (World Will), the fate of all things, and the Triple Protection of the Heavenly Dao—there's absolutely no way any spiritual contamination will spread!】

【—unless the other party maliciously seeks death.】

Ji Ming doesn't like to argue, but he asked immediately.

"What if the Holy Light God is actually the Death God of a parallel world?"

…

【Based on my understanding, the Holy Light God is a very proper being and wouldn't cause any strange incidents.】

After a brief silence,

【If it really can't work, I've got you covered!】

"Alright, alright!"

Ji Ming was after the phrase about the bright moon; he let out a small sigh and began asking the old lady about the Holy Light Church.

"The Holy Light Church, actually, is one of the oldest churches across the continent now."

Perhaps because he spoke of the past, even a stiff old lady like Buluowa became chatty.

Ji Ming listened silently while extracting the key information.

... The Holy Light Church is the state religion of the northern Hui Guang Kingdom, with its holy site atop a mountain outside the capital.

... Although it claims no political power or stance, it has intervened many times, rescuing civilians during chaotic times, aligning with order.

... Its doctrines are many, yet it imposes few restrictions on believers, rejects blood sacrifices, and opposes aggressive wars.

... It befriended the austere church of the Elven pantheon's chief god five hundred years ago, and after the Kingdom of the Sacred Tree fell, it risked accepting some elven refugees.

And so on.

He keenly sensed the hidden implication behind the last point.

If he combined that with the deductions about Ms. Buluowa…

No wonder they can cooperate so deeply with the Holy Light Church; the root lies here, huh?

Then.

Since the church's reputation is so good, the Holy Light God probably won't cause trouble!

…

Repeating the sentence in his mind, Ji Ming held his breath and sensed carefully.

Good, no ominous premonition.