Chapter 311: The Cenotaph Under the Old Banyan Tree

Ron and the others grew a bit more cautious after hearing such rumors, but that was all.

Sulina and her close friend weren't Adventurers. Lacking both martial prowess and Magic, they were prone to exaggerating when they encountered monsters. Ron, on the other hand, was rather eager to see just how strong a monster more unusual than a Death Knight could really be.

'Could it really be an Ancient Dominator, here to introduce me to General Manager Ke?'

"I'd advise you to drop that idea," the Shadow Spirit sitting in the corner said, lifting her eyelids to glance at Ron. "Some things may not exist, to begin with, but if you think about them, they just might appear."

Yelena's warning was well-intentioned, but it gave Ron a flash of Spiritual Light. 'When it comes to dealing with the so-called "indescribable," who among us has more experience than an Evil Mage? If I had to say, the only other one would be that Ghost Witch named Polly!'

The Shadow Spirit swore to her Sect Leader that she absolutely did not want to take part in an adventure that sounded so dangerous. But in Delusional Land, Ron called the shots now. So, no matter how unwilling she was, she could only brace herself and be dragged onto the team. She rose to her feet reluctantly, pulled the brim of her hood low, and walked out of the conference room to start packing.

However, Sera, the long-standing pillar of Ron's team, asked to sit this one out, not wanting to get involved. The barbarian had no fear of fighting colossal beasts to the death—even facing a True Dragon, giant, or Titan wouldn't waver her resolve to draw her sword—but she never wanted to clash with ethereal Undead again.

"'Fighting the air is mentally and physically draining, and it messes with my technique and my control over my strength,' Sera explained. 'Besides, if there's some mind-controlling phantom, I might just end up being a liability.'"

Sera's concerns were not unfounded. After considering it, the others agreed to let her sit this exploration out. But Yelena, who specialized in technique and agility, couldn't fully replace Sera's role. The team needed one more person to lighten Aive's load as much as possible during combat.

"I'll go with you," Quest said, standing up. "Come to think of it, even though I've known all of you for a long time, I've never had the chance to fight side-by-side. This time, Lord Ron, you must grant my wish."

"And I'm also curious. I've been a Spy for many years, yet I've never once heard of this supposed Count's domain. That's simply incredible!"

"We may not have fought shoulder to shoulder, but your contributions have been significant," Ron said with a smile. "However, since you've put it that way, I won't turn down your kind offer."

"Have the Centaurs decided? Then tomorrow morning it is. After we see them off, we'll set out as well!"

As for the others, the territory couldn't be left unmanaged, let alone without powerful individuals to hold down the fort. Jilannis couldn't spend all her time following Ron's group on explorations with unclear objectives. As for that Ghost Witch, Ron didn't dare bring her along again, so he simply never mentioned the matter to her.

Early the next morning, the Centaur Clan, having barely managed to come to a consensus, set out for the south ahead of Ron's team. After seeing them off for a short distance, Ron's group turned and headed straight for Dogman Canyon. Going past the Old Banyan Tree from there was currently the safest path to the other side of the mountain.

"The Green Dragon is dead, yet the plants it sowed are growing so lushly," Quest remarked with a sigh as they passed through the Green Dragon's garden, reaching out a hand to brush aside the harmless flora.

As they passed under the Old Banyan Tree, the Tiffling looked up at the remains of the Green Dragon. Even in its humiliating death pose, the corpse was still a breathtaking sight, and the Tiffling couldn't help but let out another sigh.

Yelena, who had come here before to retrieve the body of one of her own, was much calmer than Quest, who had never ventured deep into the lair. But just as the group was about to leave, the Shadow Spirit suddenly let out a soft cry of surprise. She had stopped in front of a small pit under the Old Banyan Tree. The pit was now empty. Judging by the surrounding marks, something had clawed it open.

"What is it?" Ron asked, walking over. If he remembered correctly, this pit hadn't been here before.

"I buried a few scraps of cloth from Von Richthofen's clothing here as a small memorial," Yelena explained. "But now, it's been dug up."

"Probably some wild animal," Delaford said, seeing no issue. "This isn't a city cemetery, after all. It's perfectly normal for something to get dug up, isn't it?"

"But I didn't bury any flesh, blood, or bone here," Yelena countered. "Why would a wild animal have any reason to dig it up?"

"Maybe it was just for fun," the Goblin Hunter said, unwilling to waste any brainpower on the matter. "Besides, look, the hole you dug wasn't very deep. Couldn't a strong gust of wind have just uncovered it?"

"I don't want to get hung up on this either, but your attitude is infuriating, goblin," the Shadow Spirit's lips, visible beneath her hood, curled in a sneer. "Forget it. I had her body sent back long ago anyway. Lord Ron, let's keep moving."

This small incident didn't disrupt the group's original plan. All sorts of creatures existed in Delusional Land; never mind a small pit being dug up, it was entirely possible for the mountain range they were heading to to be flattened one day. An unexplainable event didn't necessarily prove anything.

However, the mountain range had not been flattened. In fact, the Demon Village within the mountains had seen almost no changes.

With Sera absent, the party's hunting efficiency dropped sharply. By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, their rations had run out. Ron had no choice but to alter his original plan and pay a visit to the Pollution Worm Demon who had sided with order, hoping to buy some food in her village.

"I'm more than happy to do business, but..." The Pollution Worm Demon was still sitting primly in her room. Her expression was unchanged, but her tone was troubled. "Lord Ron, even if you offered five hundred thousand Gold Coins for a single loaf of bread, it would be useless. Gold Coins can't be spent here!"

"How about you try bartering instead?"

The wings on the Pollution Worm Demon's back trembled slightly. She pointed a slender finger outside, directing Ron's attention to the demonic and human peddlers roaming the village. "You see, they have no need for Gold Coins as a medium of exchange. Furs, handmade goods, or even seashells are sufficient to conduct trade."

"They don't have long to live. I believe introducing currency would bring them no benefit, only an added burden. Therefore, if you cannot provide something we have a practical need for, I'm afraid we cannot trade our food to you."