Chapter 035 – Intelligence Enigma Lock
......
"Eli? I was just looking for you."
Matthew quickly put his minor annoyance aside.
He said to Eli:
"You mentioned before that you had a standoff with a Withered in the forest?"
Eli nodded solemnly:
"Kuna, that's her name. Kuna was once an excellent human druid, but she was abandoned by the spirit of nature because she failed the advancement ceremony three times in a row.
As a result, she harbored resentment and anger towards nature and turned to the opposite side of nature—
That is, the Withered you know."
There were some things he didn't say.
In recent years, more and more druids have turned into Withered.
This was a bad sign.
"Druids are falling at an accelerated rate, and a Necromancer is busy planting trees, this world is really crazy."
This was Eli's inner thoughts.
Matthew nodded slightly upon hearing this.
His understanding of the Withered was still very superficial, knowing only that they were a group of madmen who deliberately sought revenge on nature, a large part of whom were transformed from former druids.
"As far as I know, an organization called the Withered Sect has set its sights on this place."
He said:
"If possible, please tell me more about them."
Eli pondered:
"The Withered gather together to form the Withered Sect. I don't know the specifics of this organization, but I do know that the Withered usually don't appear in groups. They often operate in small groups of two or three to carry out destructive actions—
Because the Withered need to gain power from destroying forests, if there are too many people, the power each Withered gets will be spread too thin.
But the Withered also rarely act alone.
They only act alone when they are conducting evil advancement ceremonies deep in a forest."
He said.
His gaze swept around.
And gave a very certain answer:
"I think the number of Withered who will attack will not exceed four. If it exceeds this number, even if they turn all your oak trees into dead wood, they won't gain much benefit.
In addition, I infer that the Withered who act with Kuna should be around the third tier, and will not exceed level 12.
This is because every fourth-tier Withered is a walking tree plague, they have an undeniable aura of decay on them, as soon as they appear, I can smell them from two hundred miles away."
Four level 12 Withered?
Matthew had a bottom line in his heart.
Seeing Matthew in deep thought, Eli proudly puffed out his chest:
"You don't have to worry about these, as I said, I will drive away those Withered for you. Although I am only third-tier, if it comes to a head-on fight, four Withered together are no match for me!"
Matthew believed him.
The 'Shapeshifter' path that Eli took was one of the most combat-capable branches among the mid-tier druids, not to mention that he also mastered the powerful Ancient Tiger form.
Matthew felt that it might be Eli's appearance that delayed the Withered's action.
Otherwise, he and the Withered would probably have clashed long ago.
"Thank you, Eli, you've been a great help."
Matthew said seriously:
"But I'm considering how to wipe out this group of Withered in one fell swoop, after all, there's no such thing as a thief-proof for a thousand days."
Upon hearing this, Eli showed a look of agreement:
"If you want to lure them out, I can hide in a nearby cave—but there can't be any undead in there, I can't stand sharing a cave with zombies or skeletons!"
Matthew waved his hand:
"There's no rush, if they're really patient, let them continue to watch. In the meantime, I'll make ample preparations, and I'll need your help when the time comes."
"By the way, it seemed like you had something to say to me just now?"
Matthew noticed that this was the first time Eli had taken the initiative to approach his cabin.
Sure enough.
Eli said seriously:
"The food you brought this morning was very good, the sausages and bread were cooked to perfection, and the milk with honey was also unforgettable, so I came to thank you specially."
Matthew smiled:
"It wasn't me who made it, it was Peggy."
Eli's eyes lit up:
"Peggy? Is she your cook? The name sounds like a good girl with a gentle heart, no wonder she has such skills."
Matthew pondered:
"Well, Peggy is indeed a good woman......"
Eli pretended to be reserved:
"Then, please convey my greetings to Miss Peggy, tell her I'm looking forward to tomorrow's food, and if there's a chance, it wouldn't hurt to have a chat with her face to face."
With that.
He walked away with a swagger.
Leaving Matthew alone, struggling with what expression to show.
......
Inside the cabin.
Matthew examined Sodie's body in detail.
After undergoing 28 enhancements.
Sodie's level had reached LV12.
The excellent template of the Blade Dancer gave him a strong assassination ability.
Matthew speculated that Sodie under the cover of night would become the nightmare of all squishy targets!
"Just a little bit more! Need to plant a few more trees! Once he breaks through the fourth tier, Sodie will become a more useful companion than Little Phi."
Matthew gently stroked Sodie's strong spine.
At this moment, Sodie.
The core area of his body, mainly the chest cavity and spine, had grown a layer of dark red fibers as thin as cicada wings.
They tightly adhered and precipitated on the silver-yellow high-quality bones.
Under the illumination of the fire, they exuded a mysterious and eerie flavor.
At the same time.
The cloak on his back had also become larger and thicker.
The Night Cloak was originally just a piece of black cloth, but now there were two large red velvet-like materials at the bottom and around the neck.Sodie now looks like a big shot.
Matthew thought for a moment and decided to replace Sodie with a higher-level contract.
The current Sodie, like the scrapped Skeleton Soldiers before, has a temporary contract with Matthew that allows him to be summoned and discarded at any time.
This kind of contract is cheap and versatile.
But it is not conducive to the long-term coordination between the Necromancer and the summoned creatures.
Matthew had been observing before, wanting to see how far Sodie could be strengthened. Now, he felt that Sodie was qualified to consume one of his contract slots.
From now on, Sodie will become Matthew's exclusive contract undead summon, just like Peggy and Little Phi!
...
"The contract replacement was successful, your contract slot -1, exclusive contract creature +1
Current contract quantity: 3/5
...
You paid one Soul Crystal as a reward for the next three months of hard work. Your summon Sodie is extremely grateful, and his loyalty to you has increased to 105!
...
Grateful for your keen eye, generous cultivation, and generous financial support, Sodie shared his ability "Dark Night Cloak" with you!
...
Dark Night Cloak (Weaken): You have obtained a cloak that allows you to enter a strong stealth state anytime and anywhere. After entering the stealth state, you cannot be selected or attacked (but you may be accidentally injured by area attacks).
Duration: 45 seconds"
...
"It's much more reliable than Little Phi, who was raised by himself!"
Matthew was deeply moved.
The ability "Dark Night Cloak" is almost Sodie's trump card.
This is also one of the few abilities that Matthew can use.
Although it has a time limit and the effect is mostly weakened compared to the original version, it is already an excellent escape skill.
At least it is much stronger than the invisibility ring that Matthew previously obtained!
At this moment, Matthew tried it in the room.
After activating the Dark Night Cloak.
He felt like he was entering the water.
The surroundings were all blurry and flowing substances.
There was a deep barrier between him and the material world.
But it could be broken at any time.
Compared to the invisibility ring that cannot move while hiding or the stealth of a wanderer that will be slowed down, Matthew in the state of the Dark Night Cloak can walk at a normal speed!
Matthew deliberately walked far away from Eli.
The Ancient Tiger was indeed sensitive.
It jumped up at the first moment, but lazily lay back down with a sniff of its nose.
"Remember to take a bath next time or put on some perfume."
Eli proudly commented:
"I have remembered your scent a long time ago, Necromancer. Your invisibility technique may not be bad, but as I said, we Druids are the kings of the jungle!"
Matthew shrugged and walked away.
He believed that not everyone had a nose like Eli.
Next, he tested the cooldown time of the Dark Night Cloak.
7 minutes.
It takes 7 minutes to use it again after using the Dark Night Cloak once.
This time is a bit long.
But considering that this ability was obtained through the exchange of a Soul Crystal, Matthew was still content.
...
Moonlit Grove, a long-lost place.
Somewhere in the third level of the underground insect nest.
The strong wind blew.
Blowing away the thick layer of fallen leaves on the ground, revealing the decaying white bones underneath.
Samantha stood at the edge of the pit and introduced:
"These corpses have been purified, so you don't have to worry about whether they are still infected by the Frenzy Swarm."
Matthew nodded.
Without further ado, he directly summoned his lackeys.
Before long.
A group of trembling but spirited Skeleton Soldiers appeared in front of Matthew.
A total of twelve.
After excluding the exclusive contract summons, this is the maximum number of undead creatures of the same kind that Matthew can maintain at the moment.
The limit of summoning creatures for Necromancers can be increased.
If he has advanced at this time, this number will become eighteen, which is the current stage * 6.
In most cases, the maximum number of summoning creatures for Necromancers strictly follows this calculation formula.
Only a few people can exceed the limit.
Either they have mastered the power of the relevant field, or they possess ancient artifacts, or they are simply legends themselves.
The Undead Cataclysm is not that easy to trigger.
In fact, most Necromancers live their long lives cautiously.
They are no different from ordinary mages.
Maybe even poorer.
...
Samantha informed Matthew through Ella today that she has not yet completed the collection of information about the Su Kingdom, but she can take Matthew to complete the Skeleton Soldiers first.
Considering the current situation in Rolling Stone Town, Matthew agreed.
While controlling the unfamiliar bone frames, he casually asked:
"Why didn't I see Eli?"
Samantha said coldly:
"We have broken up."
Matthew was surprised:
"What? You used to be a couple?"
Doesn't seem like it.
Not at all!
Matthew recalled some details and scenes when he saw the two before. He believed that Eli's one-sided affection for Samantha was true, but as for being a couple—
Which couple has such unfamiliar physical movements?
Samantha seemed unwilling to discuss this topic too much:
"Yes, we were together briefly, but we broke up."
Matthew's heart moved.
Various scenes appeared in his mind.
Combined with the time Eli appeared in the oak forest, he roughly understood the cause and effect, but suddenly he appreciated Eli even more.
"What do you think of Eli?"
He asked again.
Samantha thought for a moment:"He is a good person, but not suitable for me. He is kind, honest, and strong, which is good. But his desire for control is too strong. When I am with him, I often feel like I am just his follower, which is unpleasant. So it was only a matter of time before we separated."
Matthew nodded:
"But he is suitable to be friends, right?"
Samantha said uncertainly:
"Maybe, but he is arrogant and easily misunderstood. Why are you asking so many questions? Are you interested in Eli?"
She looked at Matthew with big eyes.
Matthew quickly waved his hand:
"No, not at all."
He was still thinking whether he should tell Samantha that her ex-boyfriend is now working for him.
But Samantha casually started saying goodbye.
"Well then, Skeleton Soldier, I have completed you. If you need more corpses, go to other similar tree pits on different levels. They are all corpses that Eli and I have purified before."
She turned into a leopard as she spoke:
"As for the intelligence of Su Kingdom, I will organize it for you as soon as possible. Thank you for enlightening me about your domain. Well then, goodbye Matthew!"
With that, she ran away quickly.
She headed towards the depths of the insect nest alone.
"She still doesn't want to cooperate with me until now. She is such a stubborn woman."
Matthew shook his head slightly as he watched Samantha's figure disappear into the distance.
At this moment, Ella, who had been withered for several days, flapped her wings excitedly:
"Matthew, Matthew!"
"Now that you have a strong army, are you finally ready to go on a killing spree?"
Matthew asked in surprise:
"Where did you see that I have a strong army? The quality of these skeletons is obviously average, and they are not as experienced as the ones I had before."
Ella pleaded:
"Then let's kill a few more insects today before we leave!"
Matthew reluctantly nodded:
"Alright."
However, until the threat of the withered ones was resolved, he didn't want to exert too much energy in other aspects.
So, three minutes later.
Matthew looked at a newly formed skeleton clumsily destroying a new insect nest that had just been built beside the road, and successfully killed two Frenzy larvae that crawled out from inside.
Matthew immediately said to Ella with a smile:
"Can we stop now?"
Ella tilted her head and couldn't say a word.
...
The next day, at the Artisan Protection Association building.
Matthew walked lightly through the hall.
Following the guidance of the receptionist.
He walked up the stairs and headed towards the third floor. However, when he passed the second floor, Matthew suddenly stopped and walked towards the locksmith's office as if possessed.
Just like last time, the office door was still half open.
Behind the desk sat a middle-aged gentleman who was reading a book.
"Do you need another lock opened?"
This time, Richard didn't hide it. He had already looked over at Matthew before he approached the door.
"No, this time I'm here to find the blacksmith. I just came to see you on the way."
Matthew said with a smile.
As he spoke, he took out some fruits from the bags he was carrying and placed them on the table.
This gentleman in front of him was a wanderer of the fifth rank or above. It would be beneficial to establish a good relationship with him.
Richard sneered:
"There's no need for that. I have seen too many good things when I was young. Some fruits can't buy me over. So, what do you want me to help you with?"
Matthew helplessly smiled and started to leave:
"I really just came to see you. I'll leave now."
"Wait!"
Richard stopped Matthew.
He glanced at the fruits on the table and asked:
"What are you looking for the blacksmith for?"
Matthew explained:
"I need to commission someone to make two daggers."
"Daggers?"
Richard looked at Matthew suspiciously:
"Has an assassin been born among your summons?"
As expected, Matthew couldn't hide it from Richard, so he admitted it.
"Congratulations! Having another wanderer under your command is useful, especially in the middle and low ranks."
Richard closed his book:
"But you came to the wrong place. The association has many excellent artisans, but there are very few outstanding blacksmiths. It's difficult for me to recommend someone from within."
Matthew frowned slightly.
Fortunately, he knew that excellent blacksmiths were scarce, so he was only here today to try his luck for Sodie.
"Do I have to go to Rapidflow City or Baiyan City?"
Before Matthew could voice this thought.
Richard picked up a pen and quickly wrote a few words:
"But I can introduce you to someone. Everyone calls him Old Falong. He is the vice president of the 'Veterans Mutual Aid Association' and once followed Raga to battle in Purgatory. He has excellent forging skills. He hasn't done business with the outside world for many years, but I can try to help you get in touch with him."
Matthew thanked Richard repeatedly after receiving the letter of introduction.
Richard waved his hand and said seriously:
"This is not free help, Matthew. I'm sure Zeller has already mentioned the challenge from the three major organizations to you. It's very unusual. I need to think about it, seriously think about it—"
"Have you ever seen a similar behavior in history, in a book?"
Don't rush to answer me.
Take a deep breath.
Think. Remember.
You are the only one among us who might figure it out, I mean, if such a thing really happened in history."
Richard's words sounded strange.
But as Matthew tried to think in the way Richard suggested.
After a few seconds.
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An expression of astonishment appeared on his face!
"I remember—but, what is going on?"
Matthew was extremely surprised.
Indeed, a large section of related content had appeared in his mind.
But before this moment.
It seemed as if they didn't exist in his own memory."That's a curse laid down by the Gods before they departed, Matthew."
Richard's voice seemed to drift down from the clouds:
"Much profound, useful knowledge, significant, readily accessible history, all hidden by the curse known as the 'Enigma Lock'. Even though it has lingered in many people's minds, only those with intelligence above 15 points - especially Mages, have a chance to recall it.
That's why I told you, this world ultimately belongs to the spellcasters.
You were born exempt from one of the three major curses left by the Gods in the world, how could you not be the favored ones of the heavens?
Now, tell me, what exactly have you remembered?"