Chapter 331 330. Each for His Own Master
The air in the basement was filled with wood and a faint scent of fungi. The halo of the oil lamp stretched the shadows of the two people, casting them on the strange wall with round holes behind them, swaying slightly with the flames.
Chloro looked at Dylan, his face a mixture of surprise and disbelief. "Brother Dylan, I was wondering who could act so quickly to organize a mutual aid association in the newly built Mushroom City. You... I really can't guess it at all..."
He shook his head, his tone showing genuine surprise.
Dylan also looked shocked. He placed the two glasses of wine on the table and sat down opposite Chloro. His voice was filled with emotion: "Brother... I never thought we would meet here, in this way."
"Who says it isn't?" Chrollo took a sip from his wine glass, savoring the flavor as his gaze flickered between Dylan and the secret room. "That newbie who needed my hands-on instruction even on disguises has really...come along. How did your mission to the archipelago go?"
Dilan sighed, "I was unlucky. I failed, but I'm lucky to have come back safely. Honestly, if you hadn't guided me along the way and taught me so much, I would have given up long ago. I'll always remember this kindness."
After meeting again after a long separation, the two seemed to have endless things to talk about. They talked about Dylan's embarrassing survival on the deserted island, and Chrollo's thrilling escape from being captured by the knights of the church. While chatting and laughing, the wine in the glass soon became empty.
"Seeing that you are doing well, I, as your eldest brother, feel relieved." Chloro stood up and raised his hand to pat Dylan's shoulder very naturally, as if to give some encouragement to the younger generation.
However, just as his palm was about to touch Dylan's shoulder, something strange happened!
The five fingers of that hand suddenly twisted and deformed, and sharp black claws suddenly grew out of the fingertips, piercing Dylan's right shoulder and collarbone!
At the same time, a cold light flashed in his other hand, and a dagger tempered with dark blue paralyzing venom silently swiped towards Dylan's waist!
clang--!
The sharp sound of metal clashing echoed in the secret room. Dylan seemed to have anticipated it. He drew his dagger in an instant and slashed it across to block the sharp claws.
The huge impact force made both of them retreat half a step, and the insidious dagger just missed.
The two people who were reminiscing about the past instantly became enemies on the verge of a fight.
A complex emotion flashed across Chrollo's face, seemingly relieved, yet also regretful, before finally turning into a low sigh: "You're much quicker in your reactions, Dylan. In the past, you wouldn't have been able to block this."
"It's thanks to you, big brother, for teaching me well. It would have been better if you hadn't come here." Dylan said regretfully.
Chloro nodded helplessly: "Yeah, it would be great if I hadn't been sent here."
The traces of mycelium parasitism are not difficult to identify. After Krollo arrived at the Mushroom City and saw those Puji masters, he naturally remembered that Dylan's real appearance was very similar, with only a slight difference in color.
The idea of a so-called parasitic monster doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
If the two people never meet again, then this is just a small accident that no third person knows about, and it can be buried deep in memory.
But unfortunately, the two met again.
In Chrollo's opinion, this Puji House was most likely a trap set by humans, and he was already deeply trapped in it. The only way for him to escape was to kidnap Dylan, but unfortunately he failed.
At this moment, a round mushroom squeezed out from a small round hole in the wall with great effort, and its mushroom cap expanded with a "pop" sound.
Boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-
Soon, more than ten Puji emerged from the secret room one after another, filling the already narrow space and completely blocking all exits.
Chloro didn't continue his ugly struggle, but simply laid on the ground. "Dylan, don't blame me for being ruthless just now. If it were you, you would have to fight too, right? Considering our past relationship, can you please spare me the torture?"
Dylan sheathed his dagger, took two steps to Chrollo, who was tightly bound by mycelium tentacles, and squatted down.
"So, big brother, would you like to join us?" he asked in a calm tone.
Chloro twisted his body with difficulty, trying to force out an ingratiating smile. "Brother, please be kind... I'll give you all the information I know, and let me live, okay? Your sister-in-law and nephew are still waiting for me to come home in the north..."
"Brother Chloro, where did you get your wife and children? Have you forgotten that I once caught you in an adultery?"
“…”
Just as the awkward silence spread, a bloodthirsty voice, as if pulled from a pool of blood in the abyss, suddenly burst out from the tattered white cloth on Chrollo's chest: "Since you don't want to join... then die!"
Chrollo shuddered, but his survival instinct made him scream immediately: "Wait! We can discuss this! Let's talk again!"
Dylan obviously didn't expect this sudden situation, and hurriedly said: "Boss, please wait--"
But it was too late.
Puff——!
Several tentacles suddenly pierced through his clothes and sank into Chrollo's torso. The intense pain and rapidly draining strength made his consciousness blur. The last thing he saw was Dylan hurriedly pulling a bottle of healing potion from his arms.
Boss Dylan... is too efficient... This was Chrollo's last thought before he fell into darkness.
…
…
…
When I opened my eyes again, what caught my eye was the ceiling of the room at Puji's House Inn.
Everything was as peaceful as if it was just a bad nightmare.
Chrollo sat up with lingering fear, and then found that there were nearly ten crudely patched holes on the front and back of his coat, and the stitches were crooked, making his originally decent merchant outfit instantly look like a street refugee.
Obviously, it was not a dream!
Especially when he subconsciously touched his chest and clearly felt the extra hyphae in his body...
Chloro sat alone on the edge of the bed, silent for a long time, thinking over the whole cause and effect carefully, trying to figure out who was behind Dylan?
If it were a human organization, I would be in jail if not in a grave.
These hyphae and fungi are obviously very unusual, and are definitely not new things that have emerged recently.
But it appeared earlier, before he met Dylan, but he had been hiding!
And now, they are spreading so openly in the heart of humanity!
He thought it was reasonable if such a project was a grand plan planned by a certain imperial duke.
Unfortunately, he knew that was not the case. He had two missions on this trip:
The first is to investigate what exactly happened to the "Puji Master" who suddenly appeared behind the humans, what his strength is, and what his weaknesses are...
The second is to find the weaknesses of these fungal networks and try to cut off human logistical supplies.
These fungal mats could not possibly be our plan, otherwise wouldn't that be a blatant act of defiance against Your Majesty?
But from his point of view, this didn't look like something that humans could make.
Third party forces?
The most suspicious ones seem to be elves...but those long ears really can cause this...
Dongdong——
There was a knock on the door, neither light nor heavy.
Before he could respond, there was the soft sound of a key turning in the lock.
The innkeeper Dylan pushed the door open and placed a steaming hot breakfast on the bedside table with a professional and gentle smile on his face.
"Good morning, Brother Chloro, welcome to the Mushroom Garden! If you have any questions in the future," he paused, his tone as reliable as Chloro's before, "you can ask me anytime."
(End of this chapter)
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