As Thomas turned to the first page of the document, his expression shifted from shock to worry, and this tension quickly spread to everyone. "This…" Thomas took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "According to the records here, we're facing a long-established secret society that possesses certain ancient rituals and dark powers." He continued, "And more importantly, it seems these guys' goal isn't just to rule this area; the information implied in the document suggests their ambitions are far greater—they even want to open a portal to another world through some forbidden ritual."
Arya listened intently, her brow furrowed, her wand involuntarily glowing faintly—a subconscious reaction to the approaching threat. "You mean…they might try to summon something that shouldn't exist in this world?" she asked softly, glancing at her companions for answers or encouragement.
At this moment, Leah, who had just joined the team, curiously peeked over to see what was written on the document. Seeing this, Rex gently patted his new friend on the shoulder and comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, no matter how difficult the task ahead may be, with Robin's leadership, we will definitely overcome the difficulties safely."
Indeed, hearing his teammates' words of trust strengthened Robin's resolve as one of the leaders. "That's right, as long as we are united, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome!" he said, turning to everyone earnestly. "But the most important problem now is how to find where those guys are hiding and nip the threat in the bud."
As they were talking, a few passersby who looked like readers came by from the other end of the library. Seeing the group of four and the girl sitting around having such a lively discussion, they couldn't help but stop and listen for a while.
One of the men, wearing glasses and looking quite scholarly, exclaimed, "Wow, I never imagined that such a big secret was hidden beneath our peaceful little town..."
Another slightly younger girl immediately chimed in, "Yeah! I heard when I passed by the entrance earlier that a small team had successfully defeated several monster attacks. I never knew there was such a big backstory behind it!"
Being praised like that by a stranger naturally makes one feel much better, and even Thomas, who is usually rather serious and introverted, showed a hint of a smile. "Actually, this is all part of our duty," he said gently but with a touch of pride. "Protecting ordinary people from harm and bringing light to the world is the inescapable mission of every adventurer."
"Mmm," the girl nodded in agreement, then continued somewhat shyly, "Um, I was wondering if I could participate and help out if similar events or incidents happen in the future? I've always longed for a life of courage and justice..."
Before she could finish speaking, her friend hurriedly interrupted, "Are you crazy, Sophia? This kind of thing is too dangerous for ordinary people like us to get involved in..."
Sofia retorted, "I know there are risks, but someone has to step up! And look at everyone else, they're all doing just fine." At the same time, a hint of envy flashed in her eyes.
Just as the onlookers were arguing, a faint sound of footsteps approached from afar, alerting Robin. "Alright everyone, thank you for your support, but we really do have a lot of work to do right now."
As he finished speaking, the others stood up, ready to depart. "A reminder again, please remain vigilant to avoid any unexpected attacks," Arya added as she left, offering a friendly piece of advice.
Only after confirming that all irrelevant personnel had left their sight did Robin lower his voice and ask Thomas about the details of the mysterious document, "Now can you tell me what exactly is written on it?" At this moment, everyone clearly realized that the real test might be about to begin...
And so, with the arrival of a new round of unknown challenges, this brave team embarked on a new journey, leaving behind a steadfast silhouette on their path to uncovering the truth...
Just as Robin and his companions were about to leave, a figure quietly peeked out from behind a nearby bookshelf. This man, Mark, was a regular at the library and an avid enthusiast of the occult. He approached cautiously, his gaze fixed on the document in Thomas's hand, as if it contained some unbelievable power.
“Um… excuse me for interrupting you,” Mark’s voice was soft, but it was enough to draw everyone’s attention to him. “I… I just wanted to say… if you really want to fight against such an ancient organization and uncover all its secrets, perhaps… I can offer some help.”
Faced with such a sudden, kind stranger, a subtle shift occurred within the group. "Oh? Is there something special about you?" Rex asked, half-jokingly, half-seriously, trying to ease the tense and heavy atmosphere. Arya's gaze sharpened further, her wand tightening slightly; she always habitually maintained a state of heightened alertness towards anything unknown.
Feeling the complex gazes from the crowd, Mark blushed slightly, but he still mustered his courage and continued, "Actually, I have a very deep understanding of local history, especially regarding ancient legends and documents." He then took a large bag from behind his back, opening it to reveal it filled with various notebooks and several strange antique objects. "For example, this bronze mirror..."
Before he finished speaking, a strange light flashed before everyone's eyes—through that small mirror, it seemed as if they could see a scene from another time and space! Robin immediately realized that this young man named Mark might really be another powerful partner sent to them by heaven.
Just as the four were about to discuss their next move, a flurry of footsteps and screams suddenly erupted from the library entrance. "What's going on!" Robin reacted immediately, rushing out to investigate. Several figures dressed in black robes and wielding strange magical artifacts had appeared on the street, clearly with ill intentions. Even more worrying, several unsuspecting townspeople tried to stop these strangers from entering, only to be easily pushed to the ground, creating a chaotic scene.
Seeing this, Robin stepped forward without hesitation to shield the innocent, shouting, "This is not a place where you can act recklessly! Tell me what you want!" However, he was only met with a low, malicious laugh. "What we seek is beyond your comprehension..." one of them replied coldly, then quickly formed hand seals, and an invisible energy began to ripple through the air.
Meanwhile, Thomas and the others, sensing something amiss, quickly gathered their data and joined the support. Arya raised her wand and waved it, creating protective barriers; Lydia displayed her agility, weaving through them to find the best striking positions; Rex, with his strong physique, became an impenetrable first line of defense. The battle thus erupted suddenly in the quiet of the town's night…
After a fierce confrontation, the opposing team, clearly unprepared for such a tenacious resistance, was forced to retreat in frustration. "Who was that? They didn't look like ordinary bad guys..." Sofia, peeking out from the corner, asked in surprise. Her friend, who had been constantly by her side, retorted, "How many times have I told you not to meddle? Do you really think adventures in a game world are so easy to imitate?!"
Sofia wasn't discouraged; instead, her resolve to follow in the footsteps of these true heroes only strengthened. "No matter what... I have to do something, even if it's just a tiny little thing... I can't always stand behind, can I?" With that, she ran towards Robin and the others, seemingly wanting to share some important news.
Meanwhile, after the atmosphere had calmed down somewhat, Mark slowly walked up to Robin and said softly, "That energy flow just now... I think we should go to the old church ruins as soon as possible to investigate. Because as far as I know, there is an important history closely related to it hidden there."
Looking at the growing crowd of concerned people gathering around him, and the expectant eyes of his companions, Robin nodded. "Very well, then let's set off without delay!"
As the sound of synchronized footsteps faded into the distance, the town seemed to return to its peaceful state under the cover of night… But only those who had personally experienced it all knew clearly that the real curtain had only just been raised, and much more unknown awaited their exploration and discovery. Even long after they had left, a few local residents remained, whispering amongst themselves:
"Oh my goodness! Are you sure this is all true? We really do have quite a few strange things hidden around here..."
"I wonder if these children will be alright. They're so brave..."
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