Xingyue looked at Mark's fearless look, and a hint of imperceptible amusement flashed in her eyes.
She shrugged, as if it were just a casual remark. "Whatever you say. But, a kind reminder, the orcs' Shaman's Eye and Blood Roar Warband are no less than the scumbags of those slave-hunting teams. I wish you... have fun."
After saying that, she said no more and patted the little black dog's head.
The little black dog "whoosh" rushed into the shadow, and Xingyue's figure also disappeared silently as if blending into the night, leaving only a faint breath of stars there.
"Brother Mark, do you think that little black dog looks familiar?" Anna asked uncertainly.
"Does it look familiar?" Mark frowned in confusion, as if he had seen a similar little black dog at the Adventurer's Guild clerk in Osborne Town, Elaine.
However, Ailian was just an ordinary person with two non-combat professions: an appraiser and a clerk. She probably just raised an ordinary little black dog. More than half a year had passed, and it was likely that it had grown into a big black dog by now.
Xingyue's little black dog is no ordinary dog at first glance. It seems to be a creature with the blood of some magical beast. The two of them only look alike.
…
After solving Grom's troubles and being "kindly" reminded by Xingyue of the huge troubles brought by the skull crown, Mark's team took a short rest in an unfamiliar corner of the black street.
"Fuck, this damn place is not safe anywhere!"
Enzo spat out a mouthful of blood and pressed the wound hard with a relatively clean piece of cloth.
When you are with Mark, the fake priest, it is better not to let Mark use holy light to heal when you are not fighting.
Otherwise, it was just some superficial injuries, but if Mark had treated him, he would have been injured more seriously.
Mark stroked the cross necklace on his chest and scanned the dim streets.
The smile with a hint of superstition on his face appeared again, but there was a barely perceptible sharpness hidden deep in his eyes.
"What are you afraid of? By the Holy Light, the more trouble you have, the more opportunities you have to improve your strength. The orcs want the skull crown? Let them try!"
Monica's wine-red eyes calmly observed the surroundings, the faint light of [Ring of Truth (IX)] flowing through her fingertips.
Invisible identification ripples swept across several figures nearby who were peeking around with greedy eyes, and those people immediately shrank back into the shadows as if they were being stared at by poisonous snakes.
"The most urgent thing is to understand the rules and information here. If we run around like headless chickens, we will only cause more unnecessary trouble."
"Sister Monica is right." Anna's emerald eyes flashed with worry. "The orc leaders may have sensed the skull crown. We must find a way to safely obtain intelligence as soon as possible, or... leave the swamp."
"Leave? That's so boring!" Mark grinned and patted Anna's shoulder. "Since we're here, how can we not get some benefits? Let's go find a place where we can 'talk'."
They quickly locked onto a pub in the black street of Buffer Zone No. 23, which looked the most chaotic and was also the most likely to be the place where they could get information.
Well, the pub here is so shabby it doesn't even have a name.
When they pushed the door open, they were hit by a foul air mixed with the smell of cheap alcohol, sweat and blood. All kinds of malicious eyes were instantly focused on them, especially Mark and Monica, whose equipment was relatively "clean".
Mark didn't care and walked straight to the bar. A heavy gold coin bounced on the greasy bar with a "ding" sound, spinning and emitting an attractive light.
The bartender was a one-eyed burly man with a scar on his face. He glanced at the gold coins, then glanced at Mark and his imposing companion behind him, and the greed in his eyes was replaced by a hint of caution.
"Let's have some 'clean' water and some 'clean' news."
Mark's voice was not loud, but it had a strange penetrating power.
He had a friendly smile on his face, like a charlatan, but his fingers were pressing on the cross on his chest intentionally or unintentionally, and a condensed holy light was emanating from him faintly.
The bartender narrowed his one eye, put away the gold coin, and lowered his voice: "Church of Holy Light? What do you want to know? The rules of this underworld are that information is not cheap."
"The Rotten Ivy Alliance."
Mark spit out four words.
The bartender's pupils shrank slightly, and then he smiled knowingly yet with a hint of mockery.
"Heh, another priest looking to cash in? Okay, for the sake of the gold." He glanced around and lowered his voice. "If you want to live comfortably in this buffer zone, joining the alliance is one way. Once you join, the alliance will give you a magic map."
"Map?" Enzo asked gruffly, moving closer.
"Yes." The bartender nodded. "It's updated daily. It'll show the approximate battle zones where the main forces of the Orc and Human armies will clash. Avoid these areas and don't get sucked into the meat grinder."
"We'll also mark some...small orc tribe strongholds that are 'non-Alliance collaborators,' or the activity areas of isolated mercenary teams."
He made a gesture of wiping his neck.
"Got it? Whether you want to scavenge for scraps at the edge of the battlefield or go 'hunting,' it's up to you. But..." He paused, "The elite scouts and special operations teams of both armies aren't marked on the map. You'll be unlucky if you run into them."
Mark and Monica looked at each other and saw the surprise in each other's eyes.
This map is exactly what they need!
It can avoid large-scale legion conflicts, target small orc tribes to obtain intelligence or conduct "trials", and the risks are relatively controllable.
As for those unmarked elite teams?
Mark grinned. When it comes to small-scale combat, their Mark team has never been afraid of anyone.
As long as the team is not led by a legendary old monster, it is just right for training!
"How to join?" Mark asked.
"Go to the 'Rotten Vine Mark' blacksmith shop at the end of the street and find old Lame Buck. He'll give you the 'Trial' quest. Complete it, and you'll become a peripheral member of the Alliance and get the map. This information is worth twenty gold coins."
After the bartender finished speaking, he stopped talking and turned to wipe his glass, which could never be cleaned.
After paying the gold coins and leaving the nameless tavern, the four members of the team found a relatively secluded corner.
"Damn it! Finally there's a way!"
Enzo waved his fist excitedly, which hurt the wound and made him grimace in pain.
Anna's emerald eyes were filled with worry. "Will joining the Rotten Ivy Alliance... be dangerous? They seem to be deeply involved."
She remembered the scene where Grom was silenced.
Monica calmly analyzed, "There are certainly risks. But this is currently the most direct and efficient way to obtain key intelligence. The magic map allows us to avoid the most dangerous areas and focus on our target. As for the Rotten Ivy Alliance itself..."
A cold glint flashed in her wine-red eyes.
"We just use their resources to gain intelligence, stay alert, and be ready to withdraw at any time."
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