Stray

Chapter 21: The first task

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Bagelmore stared tremblingly at the silver candlestick beside him, trying to distract himself. The delicate silver and white patterns reflect a fascinating halo in the firelight, a scene that can never be seen in the abyss.

It knows that it is not special, and it completely inherits the timid characteristics of the Ke Ruiwen flat snake - they are born only ordinary middle-level demons, and live by devouring the corpses of other demons. Compared with other races, the powerful digestive power is their only special feature. After all, not every kind of demon can extract residual magic power from carrion.

Because of their timidity, most of them don't know how to spell the word courage, and the Ke Ruiwen flat snakes that can be promoted to higher-level demons are theoretically close to zero - unless they live long enough, and there are a lot of upper-level demon corpses whose magic power has not been dissipated. can be swallowed.

There really is such a place in the abyss.

The superior demons don't like their corpses being gnawed by a group of unknown soldiers. When their lifespan is approaching the limit, most of them choose to fall to the bottom of the abyss - there is the demon king's territory, empty and silent, filled with thick darkness. . Only a very small number of superior demons who are particularly confident in their own strength dare to go there for food. Rumor has it that there are some strange races that the demons themselves can't figure out, surviving in the icy darkness, but to be honest, they don't care about the sparse group of monsters.

They just need to know that it's the best place to sleep forever.

Since he has inherited the glorious tradition of his ancestors' counseling to the bone marrow, it is naturally impossible for Bagelmore to go to that kind of hell by himself. That day, it was dragging its huge body, intending to stretch itself in the lava—a dying man falling into the abyss just rubbed it, and the huge body of the superior demon smashed the rock platform into pieces, and the curled horns tied it. Hook firmly. The ribbon-shaped flat snake fainted out of nowhere.

After an unknown amount of time, it woke up at the bottom of the abyss and found that it was being carried by something in its hand like a hemp rope was cut-it was so shocked that its whole body was stiff, and the countless eyes on the edge of its body turned wildly. It is already a big man among the Ke Ruiwen flat snakes, and it can stretch even more than 500 meters. But at this moment it was being grabbed by the tail, and its head couldn't even touch the ground.

Its eyes are all turned in one direction - three huge red eyeballs are looking back at it in the airtight darkness, it has never felt such a terrifying magic pressure, the scorching hot force even makes it unable to stun freely fall. Bagelmore stopped thinking for a moment, and his body became even more rigid, desperately trying to get away with pretending to be dead.

The three odd eyeballs came closer, and Bagelmore's back throbbed violently. It trembled all at once, waiting in boundless terror for what might be more painful to chew or devour—

Yet death did not come.

Something hot seeped into its body through the wound, and the flat snake wailed silently. The blood in its whole body is boiling, and the pain is so painful that it can't wait to die in an instant. In the overwhelming pain and burning, Bagelmore rolled his body into a tight ball, and finally passed out as he wished.

When it woke up, it found itself wrapped in a thick cocoon. The huge monster has long since left, and its whole body is surging with endless magic power.

Bagelmore was dizzy when the pie fell from the sky, and it rammed into the darkness without hesitation, and quickly left the bottom of the abyss.

The ecstasy of the rest of his life mixed with the joy of inexplicable advancement, it almost burst all four of its hearts. It can finally leave here for real - although the middle-level demons are not restricted by the rules of the abyss, they can enter and exit the abyss freely. But with their pitiful strength, they would be smashed to the ground by the powerhouses of other races within a few steps, not to mention exploring far away.

It wandered in the middle of the abyss for several years, and finally found out the specific method of leaving the abyss. It took its own flesh and blood with great anticipation and practiced with anticipation—

And then was held down by fate and slapped wildly.

Damn Wright, damn Vance, damn everything. As the gray parrot stammered, he fell into endless annoyance—perhaps from the moment he was dragged into the abyss by the superior demon, his luck had not improved at all.

"Three giant red eyes." Vance completely ignored the grey parrot's bad mood and looked contemplative. "From your description, it sounds like the tenth generation, the three-eyed corpse dragon."

"I don't know," the parrot replied weakly.

"Do you know how many generations it is now?" The smile on Vance's face was even stronger, "The current devil is the nineteenth generation. Little guy, if you didn't lie, then you must have slept for almost two thousand years... You I don't know how, how much I wish you were lying."

The superior demon who resided in the human body folded his arms and did not seem to have any intention of respecting the elderly.

"According to you, the power of your flesh and blood was taken away by humans - this is the first time I have heard of such a thing in all my years of life."

"Maybe... maybe I'm not very skilled, I was only an intermediate before, you know..."

"Enough." The crystal pillar beside the candlestick suddenly said, and Vance was obviously not the only one listening. "Enough, Vance. We can get Wright and study it ourselves."

"no."

"why?"

"This bird does not have the aura of a demon king. I checked its flesh just now, and its flesh and blood really smells like a high-level demon—but its current strength is undoubtedly only the level of an intermediate-level demon. It's just that ordinary flesh and blood cutting will not When this happens, at least I don't know who can do it, Della Laineen."

"There's really no such case. That's why I suggested that Wright be captured—are you not curious?"

"If this crap isn't lying, it just means one thing."

"...you shouldn't..."

"All the power that belonged to the Demon King was taken away by Wright, which does explain Pandoratel's behavior. I don't think a flat snake has the ability to lie. Listen, that Wright doesn't seem willing to enter 'this side'. People, I believe they will seek the truth on their own. Just keep an eye on them."

"Vance." There was a bit more iciness in the cheerful male voice. "You have no authority over me."

"But I can kill you," Vance answered briskly, licking the corner of his lips.

The grey parrot moved desperately into the shadow of the candlestick, trying to reduce his presence.

"Just a little curiosity, I'm sure you can overcome it," Vance added softly. "We have more important things to do, don't we?"

There was a long silence over the crystal.

"...Although I don't think it's very likely." The voice sounded again, and the tone was equally cold. "Are you too influenced by humans? We all know, Vance, that 'Demon Lord' is just a wishful name for humans. It's not our king, and it doesn't require the bullshit loyalty of our little characters. For us , it's just a monster of monsters."

Talbot Vance did not answer. He lifted the shivering grey parrot, and his other hand made a virtual circle in the air. The black incantation climbed up the parrot's neck, and it trembled more and more.

"Shh... good boy, don't be afraid," he whispered. "It's just a small guarantee—if you mention today in any way, it'll blow you into pretty blood, so keep that in mind. a little."

He let go, and the grey parrot scrawled out of the dark basement, completely forgetting that he still had wings.

The two people who were still at the registration office were inexplicably relieved about it.

"I really didn't see it." Nemo touched his nose awkwardly and looked away from Oliver's face. "Ann said it could find me. You see, it's probably a... ugh, you know. So it shouldn't be a problem. Besides, its power is still with me!"

For the first time in his life, Oliver came into contact with such a careless demon believer - or a suspected demon warlock - he had nothing to say, but nodded.

"It's not convenient for me to squeeze in, so please go to the task bar and take a look." Ann slumped in the corner and threw the small lead cube around his neck in Nemo's direction. "Hurry up, and save the good quests from being picked up... Remember to pick up the ones near Hailam!"

Nemo deftly caught the flying metal pieces, and pulled Oliver into the crowd, as if using the latter as a shield. Seeing the two coming over, the crowd made a gap very interestingly. The smiles of the female employees remained motionless, as if painted on their faces. She took the three lead squares that Nemo handed over, made a gesture, and the three dim black seals suddenly fell into Nemo's palm.

Nemo couldn't help but look down for a few seconds. The black seal is heavy, there are positives and negatives, like a living lizard carved on the front, and a simple magic circle on the back, plus the name of the holder - but the magic circle looks gray, not Like it can be used.

"It's all lizards?" he asked aloud.

"Your team has not been reduced or increased. This is a tentative comprehensive rating." The girl said sweetly, "Please pour magic into your black badge and choose your mission."

Nemo squeezed the black metal as hard as he could, but it didn't help the magic - the black chapter lay quietly between his fingers, unresponsive.

Well, his usual form is back again. Nemo immediately gave Oliver a look of help.

Oliver touched the black chapter with his fingertips, and the next second a light screen the size of a book page appeared in front of them—a dense list of tasks was listed on it, and new ones appeared from time to time, or the old ones went out.

"You can specify the country or city, as well as the type of task." The female employee made no secret of her concern for the two. "Common language, the pronunciation is standard enough."

"Garland, Hiram." Oliver cleared his throat. "The type of mission... um, the type of mission..."

"How about someone or something?" Nemo said. "Feel safe."

"But isn't there a task limit for the Advanced Black Badge? Will this kind of task not... have..."

The two men stared at the real-time results—a task lay there silently.

"Quick pick." Nemo jabbed at the flashing line of text, then found to his dismay that his touch had no effect. "… Whoops, I hate this design."

The quest description was very brief, not the type that should appear in the scope of the Black Chapter quest.

"'I'd like to have a face-to-face talk with Adrian Close. The deposit is prepaid, and the remuneration is negotiable.' The client, Joanna Edwards, is located in Hiram. There is no limit to the trustee." Oliver read, frowning slightly. . "Will this be a bit..." It's too ordinary, but it looks suspicious.

"Maybe it was just hung up, maybe it was a couple arguing — oops, pick it up first. Don't miss it, my friend!" Nemo snapped his fingers anxiously. Just now he could see a lot of quest titles such as "Hunting Ten Mutated Griffins" and "Dealing with Plague Carcasses". Compared to this, this is simply touching.

Oliver touched the fingerprint mark next to the mission, and a parchment full of contract instructions appeared in front of them instantly. Nemo quickly read it, it was full of official rhetoric and nothing of substance. Oliver seems to have noticed this too - he stretched out his finger and scribbled his signature under the contract. And just as he removed his fingers, the roll of parchment turned into a solid body and slowly fell in front of him.

"This is the end?" Nemo looked curiously at the roll of parchment.

"...probably." Oliver rolled the paper, sounding uncertain. "Let's go and say hi to Ann."

"Grab it? It's very neat." Ann leaned against the corner of the wall and nodded at the scroll in Oliver's hand. "What mission?"

"It's a tracing request from a lady," Nemo said. "She wants to meet Adrian Cross."

"A search request, yes... Wait, who? Who to meet?"

"Adrian Cross."

"… Who?!"

This time the two found something was wrong, and Nemo and Oliver looked at each other deeply.

"Adrian Cross..."

"... I'm going to be killed by you two sooner or later." Ann's hunting spear slammed to the ground, and she buried her face in the palms of her hands. "Gosh, we're screwed."

,Wonderful!

(m.. = )