Bandits

After some exploration, Olivia and Lin roughly figured out the use of this 'strange object.'

Its ability is quite powerful, mainly 'animating'! It can animate and manipulate all life within hundreds of meters, even non-living entities.

For example... earlier, it animated a chair, causing the chair to produce a wooden staff.

At the same time, it also has some blood magic and healing abilities.

It can be said that with this staff in hand, Lin would even dare to fight the High Priest.

This is an extraordinary item that completely surpasses their current level!

Moreover, perhaps because it has been purified, its side effects are not very severe.

"Hmm, let's call it the 'Blood Flesh Staff.' I roughly understand its side effects... It will cause the holder and nearby people to gradually develop a fetish, and it will get worse over time and can't be eliminated or treated... Even holding it through gloves won't help."

Lin forced herself to look away, resisting the urge to touch the Blood Flesh Staff, and said in a trembling voice.

"Indeed... its side effects are not too strong, and compared to its effects, they can be ignored... You just need to have a firm will... firm..."

Olivia coughed, "Let's put it away as soon as possible..."

Lin found a long, narrow box, and as the box closed, both of them let out a long sigh of relief.

"This is the property of our master!"

Lin thought for a moment and said in a serious tone.

Although the main power of the staff is from the Scarlet Moon, the maker is still the Spirit of Deception!

"Yes, this is our master's blessing!"

Olivia said joyfully.

"I want to offer it to our master, but our master does not yet accept our physical offerings..."

Lin sighed sorrowfully.

...

Crimson, blood...

Old tree, branches, hanging entrails...

A crimson eye in the high night sky...

"Whew..."

Alan sat up from the bed, rubbed his ears, feeling a bout of tinnitus. Fortunately, it gradually faded away, and after a short rest, he felt much better.

"The influence of the Scarlet Moon?"

He murmured to himself, "Although I washed away the pollution... the mental impressions and influences need to be overcome by myself..."

"I can even contend with the Scarlet Moon... It seems my potential mysterious status is still quite high... although it was only in a dream."

This time, Lin's adventure was indeed a bit too reckless.

Even Alan felt a bit of cold sweat recalling it, almost causing his followers to be completely wiped out, reverting him to his previous state of a wandering soul.

He shook the bell, summoned Daili, dressed up, and headed to the dining room to enjoy his breakfast.

Alan's current life is quite regular. Every day he wakes up early, exercises a bit, handles some official duties, and then takes a nap in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, he goes out to inspect his territory, has dinner, and then goes to bed early, seldom indulging in the night life that nobles relish.

In general, he tries to stay in the dream world as much as possible.

After all, that is the source of the extraordinary and mysterious!

Compared to the extraordinary, what is mundane power?

Especially after experiencing that mysterious power firsthand, Alan looked down even more on the small, broken place that is the Green Forest.

In this world, nothing can compare to the pursuit of the extraordinary.

And as long as he walks this path, even if he can't achieve immortality, there won't be much regret.

"At least... I am doing what I am interested in..."

After finishing a fruit salad for breakfast, Alan wiped his mouth with a napkin and went to the office.

At this moment, Eight Fingers was waiting at the door, obviously with something to report.

"What's the matter?"

Alan rubbed his temples, feeling that there seem to be constant troubles in his territory.

Although it has been over a month since the incident with Knight Chrysalis.

It seems that when a person is at leisure, time flies quickly.

At this moment, Alan felt a pressing sense that he doesn't have enough time.

"It's about the Black Stone Territory. Recently, a group of bandits seems to have drifted there. Last night, they broke into Dave's garden, injured him, and stole a lot of vegetables and grain..."

Eight Fingers bowed and said.

"A roaming bandit group?"

Alan pondered for a moment, "Could it be the recent security campaign in the Green Forest driving them to constantly relocate?"

In this era, many people are struggling to survive, and it is not surprising to become a bandit.

Some farmers, in fact, might switch to being robbers or rioters when the opportunity arises!

All for survival!

Ordinary lords, when faced with such roaming criminal groups, would catch them if possible, and if not, drive them into another lord's territory.

Alan's sense of responsibility is slightly stronger, so he has a dedicated sheriff and patrol team.

"Eight Fingers..."

He looked at Eight Fingers, a slight smile on his face, "Can't you even catch those little rats? I remember that your previous profession should easily allow you to blend in with them and gather a lot of information, right?"

Eight Fingers used to be a thief, so it was indeed easy for him to mingle with bandits and at least gather a lot of information.

Speaking of this, Eight Fingers immediately smiled wryly and answered, "When I started following you, I swore by my grandmother's name that if I continued mixing with them, I'd be taken by the Winter Wolf! These roaming bandits are often more ruthless than local ones, committing crimes and then hiding in the deep mountains or fleeing to other territories, making them very hard to catch... I've heard that the leader of this bandit group is nicknamed 'Wolf,' a notorious bandit in the Green Forest with connections to some wild tribes..."

"Since that's the case, I'll have Sanchez bring ten men to help you, equipped with short bows and Leather Armor..."

Alan casually wrote a command, handing it to Eight Fingers: "Don't disappoint me, my constable!"

"Rest assured, my lord!"

Eight Fingers pounded his chest and turned to leave with large strides.

Alan watched his back, nodding and shaking his head, preparing to proceed with his daily training.

…

Outside the manor.

A wandering farmer saw Eight Fingers leave and immediately hid in a nearby house, secretly releasing a raven through the back window.

The night raven flew to the edge of Black Stone Territory, landing in a black forest.

A large hand grasped it directly, taking off the note: "Boss, the raven brought news. It seems the lord does not intend to act personally…"

His boss was a burly man, standing two and a half meters tall, akin to a small giant, sitting on a large rock, gnawing on a deer leg bone.

This burly man had high nose and deep-set eyes, with three claw marks on one cheek, seemingly left by a beast. Upon hearing the news, he stood up: "Looks like the damage we caused wasn't enough… Tonight, I'll take action myself and give that little brat a profound lesson, hahaha…"

Only a few within the Wild Wolf Bandit Gang knew that they had always been funded, being a blade in the hands of certain people.

At this moment, orders from above dictated that they deal with the Baron of Black Stone!