Fourteen people in total emerged from beneath the World Tree.
Each of them had a heavy expression, slumped shoulders, and walked with difficulty, as if they were wading through mud.
The iris was doing somewhat better, but Alberto, on the other hand, was ashen-faced and closed his eyes in self-reproach. Gale and Kit whispered to each other, seemingly trying to comfort him.
An eerie silence fell over the square.
What happened?
How could the Phoenix Flower lose?
They shouldn't keep winning.
Everyone found it hard to understand.
A single setback for the Phoenix Flower will directly impact external assessments of the future of the Pigeon City. Today's prosperity may soon turn into a bubble.
"You bastards! Who allowed you to lose? My house! You'll pay for my house!"
A portly merchant dressed in luxurious clothes jumped out, his chubby hands adorned with jeweled rings, and pointed at the group of people including Luanweihua and Baige, cursing loudly:
"I just spent tens of millions of gold coins to buy this apartment building last week. Your failure this time may result in me losing half of it. How are you going to compensate me? Are you all mute? Speak up!"
There are quite a few people like the fat businessman who engage in speculation and profiteering. The failure of the strategy to conquer the Phoenix Flower indirectly led to the shrinkage of their assets.
"Hey, don't forget who made White Dove City what it is today!"
"Isn't this just crossing the river and then burning the bridge? Everyone makes mistakes sometimes."
"Go, Phoenix and White Dove Adventure Team!"
Ultimately, the majority of the crowd were rational, but the fat merchant's mind was filled with the lost gold coins; his heart was bleeding, and he glared angrily at the fourteen people who had returned from the World Tree.
"An apology is a must, isn't it? A sincere apology to those of us who believed in you, you bastards!"
"Ooh~!"
Before the fat businessman could finish his rant, he was grabbed by the collar and lifted up by a girl with short, light blue hair.
Lulu was already in a bad mood, and being a subspecies of beastman, she didn't have much affection for humans. She only stayed in White Dove City because Linda was there; she wasn't about to indulge the fat merchant in the slightest.
"Say it again, and I'll kill you."
Lulu stared coldly at him, her aura emanating from her Moon-Rank cultivation. In no time, the fat merchant went limp, a warm current gushing from his groin.
With a thud, Lulu threw the other person to the ground, took out a handkerchief, and frowned as she wiped her hands.
"Waaaaah! Bad people, all the Phoenix Flower people are bad people!" The fat merchant turned pale and scrambled away from the square.
"Hehehe, serves you right!"
"Do they really think Linda and the others are just employees? People like that need to be taught a lesson!"
"Damn it, am I the only one who wants to know what happened on the 20th floor?"
A chorus of voices arose.
"Where did the ultimate pervert go? Where's Rand?"
At that moment, Kami, the editor-in-chief of the White Dove Morning Post, rushed over and tremblingly pointed the magic camera at the Phoenix Flower Adventure Team.
The title "Ultimate Pervert" was given to Linda by Kami, but she was also the person who least wanted Linda to be in danger.
Cammy rose to the position of editor-in-chief in just six months by relying on Linda's scandals.
Once Linda got into trouble, there was no more dirt to dig up about her.
Kami's question also represents the sentiments of everyone.
Pairs of concerned eyes turned to Ebernar and his group.
"Dead."
Rand is dead.
Linda lured away the demon shark adventure team for our sake and has not yet returned.
When Cammy first heard the word "dead," he thought it referred to Linda, and the magic camera almost fell to the ground.
Upon hearing that the deceased was someone else, Kami actually felt a shameful sense of relief.
"Master Rand frequently sponsors orphans, and was even featured in the year-end summary of White Dove City last year."
"Huh? Uncle Rand is dead?"
"The Giant Shark Adventurer's Guild? This is a demon race adventurer's guild? I've never heard of it before!"
Many things are beyond the comprehension of ordinary citizens.
A month ago, White Dove City didn't even have a single Rising Sun-class weapon, so naturally they wouldn't pay attention to the Demon Clan's Rising Sun-class weapons, since it was none of their business.
A star-rank adventurer from out of town murmured, "I've heard of the Giant Shark Adventurer's Guild. Their captain is called Difeng, and he's ranked 201st on the Adventurers' Guild's monthly ranking for demons. Captain Linda, things are dangerous."
[Monthly Ranking] Most people know about this ranking; only the strongest monthly rank can make it onto.
In the South White Red region, no more than seven people are on the monthly list.
The highest-ranked is Linda, at number 398.
Upon hearing that Difeng had 201, everyone's expression changed.
He surpassed Linda by nearly 200 places.
Will Linda be able to return from the pursuit of such a powerful figure?
…
Amidst unease and trepidation, the sun set, casting a dark shadow over the square.
Every second that passes feels like an eternity.
The longer they wait, the slimmer their hope of seeing Linda seems to become.
Even Anna and Tasia, who trusted Linda completely, couldn't help but wonder if something had really happened to Linda.
Another half hour passed.
A blue beam of light, signaling teleportation, illuminated the area beneath the World Tree.
But no one dared to relax easily.
It's possible that another adventure team is returning.
During the waiting period, they were pleasantly surprised dozens of times.
When the returning adventurers heard about Linda's situation, they were all stunned and stood frozen in place.
Many apprentice adventure teams and rock-class adventure teams idolize the Phoenix Flower.
They also aspire to be like the phoenix flower, becoming the rising sun of White Dove City.
One by one, they dragged their weary bodies and joined the waiting line.
Many people might not be able to sleep tonight if they don't see Linda return today.
Viren, and even Mevent from the city council, fat and thin officials, also came.
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