[Seize the Heart of the Bloodvine]
The target is the Deadwood Orc Tribe, located on the edge of the buffer zone. The tribe's shamans recently raided the Alliance's Black Street 73, slaughtering adventurers for blood sacrifice.
Successfully condensed a "Blood Vine Heart" containing powerful vitality.
Intelligence shows that most of the tribe's warriors and shamans have switched to professions related to wood-attribute magic. The tribe is heavily defended, making raids extremely difficult.
Mark's eyes swept over the three tasks, and the smile on his face faded.
Destroy human supply lines?
Assassinate mercenaries working for the Church of Holy Light?
Although their Mark team does not follow any rules and there is no absolute justice, they still have human (or humanoid) blood flowing in their bones.
The dwarf Enzo has always been on good terms with humans. When the elf Anna first came out of the Elf Forest, the first thing she thought of was to enter the human kingdom as an adventurer.
Let them wield the sword against their compatriots and allies?
This goes beyond the bottom line.
Monica's wine-red eyes swept coldly over the first two scrolls. The ring on her fingertip gleamed faintly, and she seemed too lazy to even do the appraisal.
There was also a hint of disgust in Anna’s emerald eyes.
Enzo even growled out loudly: "Bah! You want me to stab my own people? Don't even think about it!"
Mark casually threw the first two scrolls back onto the ground, leaving only the third.
He looked at the thief, his voice calm but unquestionable: "The Holy Light guides us to purify the heretics. We accept this orc mission."
The corners of the thief's mouth under the mask seemed to curl up in an expected arc, but his eyes were still cold.
"The Deadwood Tribe? You're quite courageous. But don't blame me for not warning you." He smiled sinisterly, "This mission isn't just for you. Including you, there are at least six parties who have accepted it.
"There's only one Bloodvine Heart. Whoever gets it first will become a second-level member. As for the others..." He gestured as if wiping his neck, "They'll either die at the hands of orcs, or... die at the hands of 'their own people.' I wish you good luck, Your Excellency."
With that, the thief's figure blended into the shadows as silently as when he appeared, and disappeared at the entrance of the cellar.
There was a brief silence in the cellar.
"Shit! Six teams fighting for one?" Enzo was the first to break the silence, his fists clenched so hard they made a crackling sound. "Is this how the Rotten Ivy Alliance assigns tasks?"
Anna's face was filled with worry: "Also, we have to be wary of other people who take on the task and stab us in the back."
Monica calmly analyzed, "The mission's difficulty is deliberately emphasized. 'Most warriors and shamans have transitioned to wood-attribute professions,' meaning the tribe's defenses will likely rely on abilities like vine entanglement, thorn barriers, and rapid healing, making a forced attack nearly impossible."
"The intelligence mentioned that they had just successfully performed a blood sacrifice, so the tribe must be extremely vigilant. Add to that the other five competing teams... this mission is a tough one, and one specifically prepared for the Kindred."
Just as Monica said, although the other two tasks also seem difficult, anyone with a discerning eye can see that the one the Rotten Ivy Alliance really wants people to choose among the three tasks is the first destruction task!
These three tasks are actually mostly used to screen the composition of members!
This Rotten Ivy Alliance is indeed not simple!
Mark grinned, revealing his white teeth, his eyes flashing with excitement and danger:
"A tough nut to crack? That's a lot of fun! By the Holy Light, isn't this exactly the trial we want? A wood attribute? I wonder if it's good enough compared to our team's current peak state! As for the others..."
He clenched his fist, and the colorful black light covering it flashed and disappeared. "Even if we are both human, want to fight for food? It depends on who can withstand the iron fist of the Holy Light!"
He picked up the animal skin map that had been marked with the approximate location of the "Deadwood" tribe after they accepted the mission, and injected a trace of magic power into his fingertips. The red light spot representing the tribe on the map appeared particularly dazzling.
"Let's go! Guided by the Holy Light, let's go give those green-skinned people a surprise!"
On the other side, in the black street No. 03 of the buffer zone, there is the "Throat of the Corrupted Snake" tavern.
Cheap alcohol, sweat, and a faint smell of blood mixed into a sickening warm current that surged through the dim and noisy tavern.
In the corner, twelve figures sat silently. They were dressed in worn leather armor and robes, and their attire was no different from that of the fierce-eyed adventurers around them, like a few inconspicuous stones in the quagmire.
However, if someone with keen perception approaches, they will catch a glimpse of the cold and hard aura of iron and fire, as well as a deliberately suppressed yet pure aura of holy light, from beneath the seemingly ordinary attire.
The two people in the lead were none other than others.
It was Kyle and Ruby, acquaintances of Mark's team.
Kyle's face was more robust than when he was in Osborne Town half a year ago. Some of the immaturity between his brows faded, and he looked more calm and reserved.
There was clear water in the wooden cup in front of him.
Ruby seemed a little impatient, her fingers tapping the table unconsciously, and the hot breath around her was slightly twisted, as if an invisible flame was stirring in the air.
Even with her power suppressed, the true nature of the Sister of Flame is still difficult to completely conceal.
A scarred woman walked up to their table, twisting her waist. Between her greasy fingers, she held an equally greasy animal skin scroll and slammed it onto the table.
"Freshly baked 'hard goods', three tasks, dare you take them?"
Her voice was hoarse, carrying the calculation and temptation unique to residents of the black street, and her eyes wandered over Kyle and Ruby's faces.
Kyle calmly unfolded the scroll.
Ruby took a closer look, and her eyebrows were instantly furrowed. The turbid air in the tavern seemed to be heated by her sudden anger.
[Destroy the Iron Wall Line's Seventh Supply Station]
[Assassination of the Deputy Leader of the Silver Glow Mercenary Group]
[Seize the Heart of the Blood Vine].
"The Ivy Alliance are a bunch of scum! They're maggots who betrayed the Holy Light, betrayed humanity, and colluded with heretics!" Ruby's voice was extremely low, but like a red-hot iron, every word was hot. "Kyle, what are we waiting for? Mobilize the Knights and completely cleanse this buffer zone of filth! Burn these Ivy Alliance scum along with those greenskins to ashes!"
She tightened her fingers, squeezing the edge of the wooden cup so hard that it creaked.
Kyle calmly held down Ruby's slightly trembling wrist, his movements gentle but with unquestionable strength.
His eyes swept across the scroll, then slowly raised their heads and scanned the mercenaries and killers in the tavern who worked for the Rotten Ivy Alliance. His eyes were as deep as an ancient well.
"Ruby, anger is the spark of Holy Light, but a raging fire needs to be guided by reason." Kyle's voice was calm and powerful, with a honed, steady magnetism. "Purifying heretics is our bounden duty. There is no doubt about it."
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