"Those black-robed figures drove out Tineva, Little Slime, and the others, disrupting the peace of the forest, and now they threaten White Thorn City. Moreover..." Luna Belle glanced at the Thiren beside her, a faint smile appearing on her face. "I believe in Ellen's strength, and I believe we can solve this problem."
Within the light screen, a smile instantly appeared on Cecilia's face. "That's wonderful!" Her voice carried heartfelt relief. "Thank you both so much for your selflessness and bravery! White Thorn City will remember your help!"
She reined in her excitement, regaining some of her dignity as City Lord, and promised: "In that case, from now on, you two are honored guests of White Thorn City and special consultants for this operation. During the investigation, if you need anything—be it intelligence, supplies, or manpower support—you can ask me or President Katerina directly. I will do my best to provide every convenience. Once the matter is successfully resolved... White Thorn City will surely offer rewards that satisfy you both; we won't let friends who help us take risks for nothing."
"As for the rewards, let's talk about that later," Luna Belle smiled somewhat shyly. "Now, the most important thing is to make a plan for how to deal with those guys."
"Miss Belle is right." Katerina took over the conversation, her fingers tapping the tabletop again, a hint of battle intent flickering in her red eyes. "Since the target is confirmed, we can't let them remain at large. Cecilia, I need to mobilize trustworthy elites from the city to coordinate with Miss Belle and Miss Ellen's actions."
She stood up, walked to the giant map on the wall, and pointed her finger precisely at the location marked 'Clear Water Lake.' "There's no time to lose; we must act as soon as possible to catch them off guard. I suggest setting out at dawn tomorrow. The forest mist won't have dissipated by then, providing some cover."
Sayu crossed her arms, nodded, and said: "I agree. The forest at night is too dangerous and not conducive to group operations. Dawn is the optimal time, balancing concealment and safety."
Luna Belle nodded and offered a suggestion. "We should also find a guide. Tineva is most familiar with the environment around Clear Water Lake. With her leading us, we can save a lot of trouble finding the path and avoid unnecessary dangers."
"That Water Spirit?" Katerina mused; as a native of Clear Water Lake, she was indeed the best candidate. "Then... Sayu, you'll have to work a bit harder later and return to the cave to communicate with Tineva, agreeing on a meeting place for tomorrow morning."
"Understood," Sayu replied succinctly.
Ellen yawned and rubbed her eyes, her shark tail giving a bored flick. She seemed to lack interest in the detailed battle plan, only saying vaguely: "Get it done early, come back to sleep early... Just tell me what needs to be cut, and I'll do it."
Katerina couldn't help but laugh at the Thiren's lazy appearance. "We've indirectly witnessed Miss Ellen's strength today. With you here, our chances of winning are much greater." She turned to Luna Belle and said, "Then, the basic action plan is set. At dawn tomorrow, Sayu, Miss Belle, Miss Ellen, and the Water Spirit Tineva will serve as the vanguard, setting out for Clear Water Lake to conduct reconnaissance."
"I will select an absolutely reliable elite squad within the guild and lead them personally to wait on the outskirts of the Gloomy Forest as backup. Once you send a signal or if you don't return by the scheduled time, we will enter to support you immediately."
While White Thorn City was in the midst of intense preparations, Clear Water Lake, deep within the Gloomy Forest, presented a different scene. The lake, which was originally as clear as a mirror and surrounded by pure water element energy, was now shrouded in an ominous dark purple mist. Around the lake shore, most of the once lush vegetation had withered and turned black, appearing sickly.
Not far from the lakeshore, a simple yet eerie altar had already been erected. The altar was built of rough black stones, its surface covered with twisted dark red runes. In the center of the altar stood a bone-white staff. The top of the staff was embedded with a turbid crystal that constantly leaked black mist, slowly extracting the life force of the lake and even the surrounding land, converting it into sickeningly foul energy.
Several figures wearing heavy black robes and the signature bird-beak masks were gathered around the altar, chanting obscure and tongue-twisting incantations in low voices. Their voices were hoarse, carrying a fanatical devotion. One of the black-robed figures had a thin silver rim engraved around the edge of his mask, indicating a status higher than the others.
He stopped chanting and looked up. From beneath the bird-beak mask, eyes flashing with eerie green light scanned the lake surface, seemingly still unsatisfied with the speed at which the altar was absorbing life force.
"The speed is still too slow." He spoke, his voice coming through the mask with a metallic, grinding quality, cold and devoid of emotion. "The resonance of the 'Holy Remains' requires more massive life energy to be fully activated. At this rate, by the time the 'Gate' opens and the Divine Envoy descends, it will take at least another half month."
A slightly shorter black-robed figure beside him bowed respectfully, his tone carrying a hint of trepidation. "Lord Priest, the life force of this forest is 'tougher' than we anticipated. Moreover, those remaining native creatures nearby, although driven out by us, their very existence seems to be invisibly resisting the erosion of the Holy Remains."
The black-robed figure called "Priest" snorted coldly, his eerie green gaze turning toward a certain direction in the forest. "A bunch of insignificant bugs. If not for the need to concentrate power to activate the Holy Remains, I would have purified them completely long ago."
He paused and asked: "Is there any news from the 'Eyes' sent toward White Thorn City?"
Another black-robed figure immediately replied: "Reporting to Lord Priest, this morning, a Goblin we controlled tried to sneak into the city to gather information, but... it failed. According to reports from the informants, it was seen through at the city gate and instantly subdued by two strange women. One of them seemed to have Demi-human characteristics and was very strong."
"Strange women? Demi-human characteristics? Has the Adventurers Guild recruited some new characters? Or... is it outside help invited by the City Lord's Mansion?"
"The specific situation is not yet clear; those two have never appeared in the vicinity before, as if they popped out of nowhere. Do we need to send more people to investigate?"
The Priest mused for a moment, the bird-beak mask slowly shaking. "No need. The guards and soldiers of White Thorn City are just a ragtag bunch; they won't amount to much. As long as the Holy Remains are activated and the 'Gate' opens smoothly, once the Divine Envoy descends, the entire White Thorn City will become a sacrifice to the Great Being. At that time, no matter what new characters they have, they will all turn to dust before the absolute darkness."
His tone was filled with unquestionable fanaticism and confidence...