Chapter 1554 - 20: Feast

Chapter 1554: Chapter 20: Feast

Su Xiao’s witch-hunting has three purposes. First, to raise his Witch Hunter level – once he reaches Red level (Level 3, top level), he’ll be able to access classified intel and look for clues related to "Mo." Second, to obtain Source of Exploration + Treasure chests. Third, to gain Holy Healing Church Reputation. Once he becomes a Black level (Level 2) Hunter, he’ll be able to exchange items at the Holy Healing Church’s Camp Shop, which will be a major profit.

Three birds with one stone, why not? Besides, Su Xiao will be staying a long time on Dark Raven Continent. If he doesn’t thoroughly prepare early-stage intel, it’s almost impossible to learn about the Blade Demon Sealing Device.

Riding in a carriage on the road is very bumpy, and the speed isn’t that fast, but Su Xiao will be going through high-intensity combat for quite a while after this, so he must have plenty of time to rest.

After a jolting ride, it was midday the next day when Su Xiao finally reached the Furnace Human Gathering Place. His target this time was Feast Witch Keith.

According to intel from the Holy Healing Church, Keith is a Third Stage Witch, bounty 128 Gold Coins, belonging to the Curse System.

This is Su Xiao’s first time dealing with a Curse Witch. This type of witch is the most bizarre. Flame Burst Witch Issa died at the hands of a Curse Witch; the way she died miserably is still vivid in Su Xiao’s memory.

Meilodi pushed open the carriage door. She’d already changed into a cool backless outfit, curves graceful.

"The Furnace Human Gathering Place is just ahead. Do we need to inform that White Witch Lord?"

With Gold Coins as temptation, Meilodi had already fully thrown herself into the work of a Witch Hunter Assistant.

"No need. How much do you know about Feast Witch Keith?"

"Not much. She’s an old woman. Of course, in most people’s eyes, her looks can be called stunningly beautiful. That’s a natural advantage of Curse Witches."

There was a hint of envy in Meilodi’s tone. Witches live two to three times longer than ordinary people. Most witches can maintain a youthful appearance through the first half of their lives. Once their age exceeds a certain limit, they begin to age rapidly.

If hunting a witch has a Difficulty of 10, then 60% of that Difficulty lies in finding the witch. They’re basically no different from ordinary women, unless you make close contact.

Su Xiao jumped down from the carriage. From the hidden compartment at the back of the carriage he took out a shotgun, and several potions of different colors.

"Just that? If your first shot misses, you’ll have to deal with the witch unarmed."

Obviously, Meilodi didn’t understand Su Xiao’s combat style. He brought this gun only to save on D·Assassin ammunition.

Su Xiao didn’t respond. He left A Mu to watch the carriage, then took Bubu Wang and headed toward the "Burning Furnace Gathering Place." Funny enough, the White Witch Lord who governed the Furnace Gathering Place was exactly the big shot Meilodi wanted to impersonate. That White Witch had contributed greatly to the Holy Healing Church, which is why she was able to gain a legal territory in the Central Plains Region. The gathering places ruled by people like Issa are not legally recognized and can be wiped out at any time.

Ten minutes later, Su Xiao arrived near the Furnace Gathering Place. Surprisingly, the walls here weren’t tall, only a few meters at most, but the equipment on the walls was very advanced.

The gate of the Furnace Gathering Place was wide open. Now that Su Xiao had Witch Hunter status, he entered the city easily. Not only that, but anyone who dared to reveal to outsiders that a Witch Hunter had entered the city would be committing a capital crime.

Just as he entered the city, Su Xiao caught a faint scorched smell. The Eye of the Apostle floated up into midair, beginning indiscriminate reconnaissance.

"Bubu, you’re responsible for this area."

By the wall’s edge, Su Xiao used a tree branch to draw a rough sketch on the ground. On the sketch he drew a circle, indicating that this was the area Bubu Wang would be responsible for.

"Coal Dith, use your Avatar to transform into a flying creature, preferably an eagle or sparrow. You’re responsible for this area."

"My name is Meilodi."

"Oh."

Just as Su Xiao finished speaking, an invisible Avatar appeared behind Meilodi. Her Avatar has no fixed Form; that’s the nature of her Ability.

The Avatar twisted, turning into a dozen sparrows. For some reason, when Su Xiao saw these sparrows, he recalled the massive flock of crows he’d seen when he first entered This World. That made him think that perhaps Dark Raven isn’t actually the strongest Elemental series in terms of combat effectiveness.

Meilodi took a deep breath, violet light flickering in her eyes. The dozen sparrows flapped their wings and flew off.

Su Xiao held a tablet computer, watching the images being fed back by the Eye of the Apostle.

On the inner side of the Furnace Gathering Place, inside a mushroom-shaped building—

"What...creature is this?"

In a lab that wasn’t luxurious, but was piled high with items, a witch in pajamas, looking lazily drowsy, sat up and picked up a transparent Crystal from the table.

With a crack, the Crystal burst into dust. A scene appeared out of thin air.

"A white level Witch Hunter? To dare come alone to hunt the Feast...what a reckless young man."

Just as the pajama-wearing witch was about to dispel the scene in front of her, the Su Xiao holding the tablet in the image turned his head. A moment later, Su Xiao looked away.

The image slowly faded. The spoon in the pajama witch’s hand slipped and fell. During those few seconds just now, she felt as if she’d been making eye contact with that white level Witch Hunter.

At the same time, Su Xiao’s hand lightly tapped the tablet’s screen. An image froze, zoomed in, and its clarity was parsed.

"Bubu, go near coordinates 297.86.37."

Su Xiao pressed the earphone at his ear, and Bubu Wang’s barking came through.

Half an hour later, Su Xiao stowed away the tablet.

"Let’s go."

"Eh?"

Meilodi looked at Su Xiao in confusion. Su Xiao didn’t explain her doubts; he simply walked toward the inner city. Soon, he arrived near an abandoned warehouse.

"Wait here."

Su Xiao unshouldered the shotgun on his back. The barrel was at least five centimeters thick. When he fired, hundreds of Diamond fragments would spray out.

Five minutes after Su Xiao entered the warehouse—

Boom!

A loud explosion came from underground, followed by deathly silence.

With a bang, the wooden door of the warehouse was slammed open. Meilodi outside the door was so startled she took several steps back. A woman in ragged clothes, her right arm blown clean off at the shoulder, rushed out of the warehouse. There was only one emotion in her eyes: terror.

Sss~

The Metal Wire contracted, and the ragged woman fell to the ground. As the wire tightened, the woman was quickly dragged back into the warehouse.

"Help me..."

The woman raised her single arm, calling to Meilodi not far away for an Appeal for help.

Meilodi backed up a few more steps. She recognized who this woman was: Feast Witch Keith.

Splurt!

After the sound of blood spraying, the warehouse went completely quiet. The arm that was still outside the warehouse door rapidly withered, the skin losing its luster, finally turning into skin-and-bones. This was Feast Witch Keith’s true appearance.

Su Xiao walked out of the warehouse and took off the Gas Mask from his face. There was a large space beneath the warehouse; to ordinary people, that place was Hell’s Kitchen. Even mentally mature adults who entered would be scared limp on the ground.

[You have killed Keith.]

[You have obtained 0.4% Source of Exploration. Total Source of Exploration acquired: 1.2%.]

[Your Talent ’Soul Eater’ has activated, permanently increasing Mana Value by 25 points. Current maximum Mana Value: 6541 points.]

[You have gained 60 points Holy Healing Church Reputation. Current Reputation: 60/100 (white level).]

[Special Reputation Quest: Witch Hunter (3/10).]

...

[Reminder: Hunter may choose one of the following rewards.]

A. Golden Treasure Chest (this Treasure chest has received an extra bonus; Treasure chest rewards increased by 50%)

B. Curse Resistance (unique to This World): Resistance to Curse Witches’ curses, Erosion-type Abilities, etc. increased by 40%, with a low chance to become Immune.

Reminder: This Ability is only effective in Dark Raven World. After leaving Dark Raven World, it will be converted to Abnormal Attribute Resistance at a certain ratio.

...

Choosing between a Golden Treasure Box and Curse Resistance—based on Su Xiao’s evaluation, Third Stage witches drop Gold to Legendary Level Treasure chests. Of course, Legendary treasure boxes are often underwhelming. Considering the 50% bonus, this one should be a lower-mid Legendary Level Treasure chest. Fourth Stage Witches can drop mid-upper Level Legendary treasure boxes. As for Fifth tier, that’s definitely top-level among Legendary Level, perhaps even higher Level Treasure chests.