6kv Chapter 26 The Arrival of Mason
Chapter 26 The Arrival of Mason
"Good lad! You've got a trick up your sleeve!"
Holm was both surprised and delighted, and roared.
"Concentrate your firepower and attack its mouthparts or core, which may be hidden underwater!"
While the mental protective field was still active, the team unleashed their full firepower.
Rolin used the [Acid Erosion Ray] specifically to target the base of the tentacles, weakening their attack.
Holm conjured a massive stone spear and hurled it into the center of the puddle.
Other team members employed various methods.
Under the intense attack, the underwater monster seemed to be severely injured. Its tentacles retracted, the churning mud gradually subsided, and the oppressive feeling disappeared.
It seems to have chosen to retreat.
The team dared not linger and immediately led the injured members and collected samples away from the Silent Swamp.
Upon returning to the outpost, the exploration mission was rated as completed with the highest difficulty.
They brought back valuable terrain information and environmental samples, and more importantly, confirmed the existence of the Mud Devourer, a mutant with mental attack capabilities, in the Silent Swamp.
This is crucial for the future defensive deployment of the outpost.
Rowling's performance on the mission once again drew attention.
His precise interruption at crucial moments, quick wit in dealing with mental attacks, and stable spell output all demonstrate his comprehensive qualities far exceeding those of an ordinary third-class apprentice.
The outpost rewarded him with generous contribution points, and because of his suggestions on mental protection, the department later gave him an extra set of scrap materials for making a formal-level mental protection amulet.
A small fragment of the tranquil crystal.
This mission not only brought Rolin resources and contributions, but also earned him a deeper level of trust and respect from his patrol teammates.
At Gray Tower Outpost, he was no longer a newcomer, but had gradually become one of the core members that the team could rely on.
……
Time passed, and nearly a year had passed since Rolin arrived at Grey Tower Outpost.
Time seems blurred in this dark forest, weathered and stained by time; only the ebb and flow of energy tides and the cyclical changes in the activities of different monsters mark the passage of time.
Luo Lin has fully adapted to the pace of life on the front lines.
Patrol, stand guard, process materials, research and improve spells, and occasionally carry out exploration or extermination missions.
His skills have steadily improved through practical experience and the accumulation of resources.
On the panel, the proficiency of all spells has increased, especially [Acid Erosion Ray] and [Weak Force Field Armor], whose effects have become increasingly significant with frequent use and targeted optimization.
Their spiritual and magical power were also growing slowly but steadily, advancing towards higher levels.
Using that small fragment of the Tranquility Crystal, combined with his knowledge of runes, he successfully modified the simple mental protection array into a wearable amulet.
The effect is still limited, only able to weaken the psychological impact on a small scale, but it may play a role at crucial moments.
He also tried to incorporate the acid properties of the Darkscale Python into the [Acid Etching Ray], and made some progress, with a slight improvement in the ray's corrosive penetration.
That day, Rolin had just finished a three-day outer patrol mission, returned to the outpost to hand over the duties, and was preparing to go back to his stone house to rest.
But in the simple central hall of the outpost, which also served as a tavern and trading place, they saw a somewhat familiar figure.
The man, dressed in a dusty gray traveler's robe, was dozing off at a wine glass, slumped over a wooden table in the corner.
He looked travel-worn, with a lazy air that seemed out of place at this militarized outpost.
Luo Lin paused, examined the object carefully, and spoke with some uncertainty:
"Boss Ma Sen?"
The man groggily raised his head, rubbed his eyes, and was taken aback when he saw Luo Lin.
Then a signature slightly颓废 smile appeared on his face:
"Oh? Isn't this...Roland?"
"What are you doing in this godforsaken place?"
This man was none other than Mason, the owner of Grey Tower Grocery Store.
"Academy Recruitment Mission, Ten-Year Period."
"Boss Masen, what's going on here?"
After giving a concise answer, Rowling sat down opposite him.
"Don't even mention it."
Masen yawned and rubbed his messy hair.
"Business is getting harder and harder to do in my shabby shop."
"I heard that some good stuff has recently come out of the Black Forest, so I thought I'd come and try my luck to see if I could smuggle some rare items back with me."
"And then... hey, I almost lost my life on the way."
"The monsters in this godforsaken place are more troublesome than the rumors suggest."
Rowling nodded, not surprised by this.
He had personally experienced the dangers of the Black Forest.
"Grey Tower General Store... that name does sound a lot like this outpost."
Upon hearing this, Masen's face showed a strange expression. He picked up his glass, took a sip of the cheap ale, and smacked his lips.
"You think I just picked out this shop name randomly?"
"Let me tell you, kid, the name of my shop and the name of this outpost both originate from the same place."
Rowling became interested.
He only knew that the outpost was called Gray Tower, but he didn't know its origin.
Masen looked around and lowered his voice.
"I stumbled upon it in some old, outdated notes."
"It is said that long ago, on the edge of this Black Forest, there was more than just this Gray Tower outpost."
"Deeper still, near that dangerous area known as the Rotten Hollow, there once stood a real gray tower built by ancient wizards."
"That is the true origin of the name Grey Tower."
"An ancient wizard's tower?" A thought struck Roland.
Ancient shamans often symbolized lost knowledge and potential treasures.
"Um."
Masen nodded, reverting to his lazy demeanor.
"But those are all outdated."
"The notes say that the tower was abandoned a long time ago, and it's probably not even a ruin left now. It might have been completely swallowed up by some swamp or some kind of monster."
"I just thought the name was interesting, so I used it."
"Who knew we'd end up suffering in the 'hometown' of this name?"
He complained and took another swig of wine.
Rowling didn't completely believe Mason's words, but he astutely picked up on a few key words:
Rotten depressions, ancient wizards, gray towers, abandoned.
When put together, this information points to a possible ancient site.
Mason may have just taken it as an interesting anecdote, or even held back some details, but for Rowling, who was always looking for opportunities, it was undoubtedly a clue worth noting.
He didn't press further about the Grey Tower ruins, lest he arouse Mason's suspicion, and instead asked:
"Did Boss Ma Sen find what he was looking for this time?"
"Don't even mention it," Masen sighed, looking gloomy.
"Just as we approached the edge of the rotten depression, we encountered a horde of crazed swamp mutants. We barely managed to escape, but we gained nothing."
"We even lost a few life-saving scrolls; this place is no human being!"
He glanced at Rolin, his eyes darting around.
"But you seem to be doing pretty well here?"
"I just overheard people talking about the Silent Swamp quest a while back; it seems you put in a lot of effort?"
Rowling remained noncommittal: "It was just luck."
"Hehe." Ma Sen chuckled, not delving into the matter further. He leaned closer and lowered his voice even further.
"Luo Lin, since you're here, could you do me a favor, brother?"
"Of course, I won't let you help me for nothing."
Rowling asked, "What kind of help?"
"I came here mainly to find a type of mushroom called the fluorescent mushroom, preferably one that is quite old."
"This thing only grows in specific areas of the rotten depression and is the main ingredient for a high-grade camouflage potion."
"I risked getting close to it before, also because of it."
"You see... could you possibly find a way to get some?"
"I'm willing to trade you contribution points that are 30% higher than the market price, or other things of equal value."
Mason's face showed a pleading expression.
Luo Lin pondered for a moment.
He had heard of the fluorescent mushroom; it was indeed a rare and valuable magical plant that typically grew in areas with stagnant energy and harsh environments, and the rotten depression met these conditions.
But it is more dangerous than the Silent Swamp, a high-risk area that the outpost strictly forbids people from approaching at will.
"Rotten depressions are off-limits."
Rowling reminded him.
"I know, I know."
Masen quickly replied.
"It's not necessary to go deep."
"It might be found on the edge, near those pools where energy has accumulated."
"With your skills, if you're careful, there shouldn't be any major problems."
"Furthermore, I can provide you with a hand-drawn map that I have collected, showing the relatively safe routes and danger points along the edge of the rotten depression."
"It's incomplete, but it's better than nothing."
As he spoke, he carefully pulled out a rather old-looking, simple map drawn on some kind of animal hide from his pocket.