Chapter 262 - 178: Shadow Cave 2

"They’ll go in rotations," Luo Ge said calmly, looking at Le Ti with a slight smile. "We just need to ensure there’s only one person at the contact point at any given time, right?"

"This..." Le Ti looked troubled.

"Of course, if any special circumstances arise, the person can be switched out," Luo Ge added.

"..." Le Ti was completely speechless.

’This guy is really pushing it, isn’t he?’

’This is outrageous!’

Le Ti grit his teeth.

"No problem, right?" Luo Ge asked with a look of concern.

"...Of course!" Le Ti forced a brilliant smile.

"All you need to do is ensure there’s only one person at the contact point."

The Storyteller and the other three players were taken aback at first, then had to suppress their laughter.

’This is one interesting cutscene!’

The Storyteller understood the whole situation in an instant.

’The Candlekeeper must have met with Le Ti and struck a deal. We players are needed to establish a contact point, but only one of us can be there at a time.’

’But the Candlekeeper told him to bring several people to rotate in and out, essentially exploiting a loophole in the agreement...’

Seeing the matter settled, Luo Ge nodded. He glanced at the Storyteller, then said to Le Ti, "Take him first."

He then took out a small, exquisite candle and handed it to the Storyteller.

[Acquired: Returning Candle Spirit Wax (Unrestricted)]

A special quest item. This candle allows its user to return to Candle Island or travel to this location, Gael’s Depression.

The Storyteller glanced at it before putting it away.

Then, with a nod from Luo Ge, he walked forward.

Le Ti sized up the Storyteller, then let out a strange chuckle and handed him a badge.

[Acquired: Mockery of the Deceiver (Unrestricted)]

[Mockery of the Deceiver (Unrestricted)]

[Type: Quest Item]

[Effect: Allows you to pass the verification of certain Powers, letting you proceed to an unknown area.]

[Explanation: Only by hearing the mockery will you know the Deceiver is present.]

Another quest item.

The bizarre, laughing face on the badge, a weave of black and purple, was rather unsettling.

Le Ti walked before the shattered doors of the Divine Hall. He reached up and, as if unzipping the air, pulled a purple doorway right out of the wall above.

"Hold the badge, and you can enter the world behind this door."

"Please, step inside, Candle Spirit..."

Le Ti said with a smile, giving a polite bow.

The Storyteller didn’t falter. Holding the Mockery of the Deceiver, he stepped through the entrance unopposed.

Then, with a low chuckle, Le Ti followed close behind.

Not long after, the purple doorway vanished.

With a wave of his hand, Luo Ge summoned a Milestone Spirit Candle.

He then turned to the other three players, briefly explained how to travel back and forth, and led them away.

Of course, Le Ti would never have allowed him to go as well.

Luo Ge had secretly tried to enter just now and found a powerful, repulsive force.

The badge Le Ti had given him did lessen the repulsion somewhat, but the force rejecting him remained, clearly and consciously targeting him.

Without a doubt, this was a silent warning from the Shadow of Deceit.

Seeing this, Luo Ge naturally abandoned any such notions.

He would have to wait for the Storyteller to return to find out what was truly going on with the Shadow of Deceit.

...

Upon stepping through the Teleportation Gate, the Storyteller felt the world spin wildly before everything settled into pitch-black darkness. He lost his balance, his body swaying uncontrollably.

Thankfully, a hand shot out and steadied him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa~ Can’t even keep your balance? Don’t fall, now. That would be so embarrassing..."

Despite his concerned words, Le Ti wore an expression of pure gloating.

The Storyteller, however, paid him no mind.

Once he was steady on his feet, the scene around him stopped shifting. The Storyteller popped a Recovery Wax Block into his mouth, feeling some of his Spirit return.

"Follow me."

Seeing that he had regained his footing, Le Ti gestured for him to follow.

The Storyteller followed, carefully observing his surroundings.

It was dark, gloomy, and cold. The sound of dripping water echoed around him. Sharp stalactites hung from the ceiling and jutted from the walls, and braziers burned with black and purple flames...

The whole scene was utterly bizarre.

’Right, where did I just come out of?’

At this thought, the Storyteller glanced back instinctively.

The black and purple Teleportation Gate was still open, its swirling energies mesmerizing and unsettling.

Just then, a figure began to emerge from within.

It was a head, floating in midair. An eerie mist, mixed with fragments of shattered bone, swirled from below its neck and around its ears.

[Unknown]

[Notice: The Power of the Spirit Candle cannot be manifested here. Target information cannot be acquired.]

The Storyteller had instinctively tried to use the game’s interface to get information, but all he got was "Unknown" and the system prompt below it.

’This... Does this mean the Spirit Candle’s Power can’t reach this area?’

’So that’s why they need specially chosen people to come here and gather intelligence.’

Numerous thoughts and theories instantly flashed through the Storyteller’s mind.

At that moment, the smoky head’s gaze naturally fell upon the humanoid creature before it.

Its ashen eyes snapped open, as if it had spotted a fresh delicacy. In a blur, it was suddenly beside the Storyteller, its nose twitching as it greedily inhaled his scent.

"Hah... such a novel scent~"

Its eyes gleamed with excitement.

"I need your skin! Peel it off... You can have anything you want!"

A chill ran down the Storyteller’s spine. ’What the hell is this thing?’ he thought.

He glanced back, only to find that Le Ti had vanished.

But even so, he didn’t panic. His heart had leaped when the creature got in his face, but he quickly composed himself.

Seeing the creature’s desperate expression, the Storyteller narrowed his eyes and then smiled.

"My skin doesn’t come cheap... What are you willing to pay?"

’This smoky head clearly has no intention of attacking me, yet it wants my skin... and it seems powerful.’

From this, he could easily deduce one thing.

’This place... must have some kind of rule or restriction against acts of Attack.’

’Or at least, there are restrictions on it.’

This was the source of his confidence.

Hearing the Storyteller’s words, the smoky head grew even more excited. It opened its stinking, bloody maw and began to speak rapidly.

"Speak! What do you want? The currency of a nation? A powerful Weapon? A treasure to increase your Power? Or specific coordinates?"

"How about the location of a place rich with Spiritual Material?"

"Or the hidden cache left behind by a powerful Fire Worshipper upon their death?"

"Or information on the other creatures in this Shadow Cave?"

The Storyteller ignored the smoky head spewing bloody spittle before him, instead thoughtfully committing the information it revealed to memory.

’Information... A hidden cache...’

’And from the looks of it, this place seems to be some kind of trading hub?’

"Damn you, speak! Speak up!"

When the Storyteller didn’t answer, the smoky head grew frantic. Its veins bulged as it roared.

Just as the Storyteller was about to speak and fish for more information, the Teleportation Gate behind him stirred again.

An elegant, headless female figure dressed in strange, luxurious robes emerged, walking with graceful steps.

A black flame burned fiercely where her neck should be, emitting a stream of dark characters.

At her arrival, the smoky head’s face contorted in an instant.

It was then enveloped by the dark characters and fell dejectedly into the headless woman’s hands, daring not to utter another word.

"..."

The headless woman seemed to have no interest in the Storyteller and simply continued on her way with elegant strides.

The scene left the Storyteller baffled...

"Heheheh, impressive composure you’ve got there..."

Just then, the vanished Le Ti reappeared from out of nowhere, watching him with great interest.

He seemed quite disappointed that he hadn’t gotten to see the Storyteller in a flustered panic.

"It seems you aren’t nervous at all, Candle Spirit. Not afraid I’ll sell you off?"

The Storyteller glanced at him and chuckled. "If the price is right, I’ll be the one collecting, not you."

Le Ti choked on his words.

"Besides, even if I wanted to be sold, I doubt you’d agree to it, would you?"

the Storyteller added.

Le Ti fell silent for a moment, then shrugged and sighed dramatically.

"Sigh... The one thing I hate is dealing with clever people."

"Come with me."