Anser turned to look. Several adventurers were standing at the doorway. Among them, a warrior in scale armor looked especially familiar—square-faced with a large head, highly recognizable.
He remembered at once. This was the warrior who had attacked the slave ship together with Ragna and Titch.
"Matthew?"
"It's me. Didn't expect to run into you here." Matthew piled on a smile and strode over in large steps.
Anser was somewhat surprised and had just been about to speak when the holy symbol on his chest suddenly grew hot—scalding hot—reacting with unusual intensity.
A chill ran across his scalp. Without changing his expression, he swept his gaze around. There were no other abnormalities nearby. Only Matthew kept approaching, and as the distance closed, the holy symbol grew increasingly hot.
'Something's wrong.'
He became highly alert, quietly mobilizing Magic Power, ready to fight at any moment.
"Something happened at Silver Scale Bay. I was worried for a long time. Why did you come here? How is Ragna?" he said with a smile.
"I don't know either. That night was too chaotic. We each ran for our lives. I didn't stop. I passed through Cloakwood and followed the Coast Way all the way here. I ran into you right after entering the city—what luck, haha…"
Matthew laughed cheerfully, talking nonstop as he clearly described how he had escaped and made it here.
"I see." Anser's smile did not change, but inwardly he sensed something strange.
He remembered that Matthew had been a rather taciturn warrior, not someone who talked much.
And that expression and those eyes felt slightly out of sync, as though… a half-beat slow. The richness of his expressions dulled that effect.
"Are you by yourself?" Matthew asked with a smile, his eyes constantly sizing up Anser and the surrounding environment.
"By myself, of course. I just arrived too," Anser lied without a flicker in his expression. "You know me—I have a horse. I ride fast."
"It's too dangerous for you alone. Why not come with us? We can look out for each other." Matthew pointed at the few adventurers outside the door, his expression sincere.
"Of course that sounds great. Where are you staying? I'll leave an address. Once I finish what I'm doing, I'll bring my luggage and come find you." A hint of excitement appeared on Anser's face.
The halfling at the side wore a strange expression, looking at this one and then at that one. His handlebar mustache twitched repeatedly, and he seemed to be holding something back with difficulty.
At first, he had thought it was a heartwarming reunion after a long separation. But the more he listened, the more something felt off.
This mage had clearly flown over from Fort Jacqueline—many people had seen it—and he had definitely not just arrived.
Matthew remained oblivious. Patting his chest, he put on a very loyal appearance. "We'll help you."
"That won't be necessary." Anser let an appropriate trace of reluctance show.
Matthew also realized he had been overly enthusiastic and could only give an awkward dry laugh. "Then go on with your business. We're staying at the Flying Dragon Inn. Don't forget to come."
"Drinks tonight." Anser smiled and waved goodbye.
Seeing that, Matthew could only wave and leave, looking back every three steps.
At that moment, the dice spun at high speed and finally detected the target's information:
[Intellect Devourer in a possessed state, Tiny aberration, Challenge Rating 2]
'An Intellect Devourer!' Anser's heart lurched.
After Matthew disappeared through the doorway, he decisively activated the True Sight Ring. Everything about that thing was great—except that after using it, there was an Aura of Vitality in his eyes, which was a bit eye-catching.
He ran to the doorway in a few quick steps, pressed himself against the doorframe, and craned his head out to look toward Matthew's back.
Matthew was still humanoid, but his skin was ashen, his Hit Point aura abnormally dim. Only his head's psionic fluctuations were unnaturally active—dark-purple threads spread everywhere like tentacles, wrapping around his whole body, horrifying to behold.
'An Intellect Devourer actually made it to Durlag! Is it just one, or a whole swarm…' Anser swiftly pulled his gaze back and retreated inside.
Lowering his head, he saw that the halfling was also leaning sideways, braced on the doorframe, craning and peering outside.
Anser grabbed him by the scruff, yanked him back, and tossed him aside. He himself crouched halfway down, his expression shifting unpredictably.
'Could the mind flayers have their eyes on this place?'
As everyone knows, Intellect Devourers are the minions of mind flayers. They serve their mind flayer creators by devouring other creatures' brains and then controlling their ownerless bodies.
After they eat a target's brain, they can learn everything the target knows, including spells and languages. Then they teleport into the skull and manipulate the body's actions.
Just imagine it: your friends, passersby—any of them could be an Intellect Devourer. How terrifying would that be?
"Honored guest?" The halfling jumped in fright and stared at Anser, at a loss.
"Where is the Flying Dragon Inn?" Anser looked solemn.
"At the south gate street corner. You'll see it as soon as you go in." The halfling hurried to answer. "It's a shabby little inn where lower-tier adventurers stay…"
"Mm. What just happened—don't tell anyone!" Anser snatched a large handful of coins from his pocket and stuffed them into the halfling's arms. "Recruit people the way I told you earlier—the more the better. I'll come back tomorrow morning."
"Oh, no problem. Rest assured, honored guest." The halfling hastily covered the coins with his two fuzzy little hands, grinning from ear to ear.
Right in front of him, Anser cast a spell, transforming into an ordinary-looking adventurer wrapped in a hooded cloak. Then he merged into the flow of people on the main street, eyes wide, quietly observing his surroundings.
Until the ten minutes of Truesight ended, he did not discover a second person like Matthew.
'Good. Good…' Without lingering, he went out and headed straight for Fort Jacqueline.
Truesight was extremely powerful. It could see through magical or nonmagical darkness, perceive invisible creatures and objects, pierce illusions, and directly discern the true forms of shapechanged creatures.
It could even perceive conditions on the Ethereal Plane!
The dice's detection required focused concentration and consumed a certain amount of time, whereas with Truesight, a single sweep gave a complete overview. For large-scale screening, it was far more practical.
'What a pity, Matthew.' Anser sighed inwardly.
The surprise of their reunion had already turned into an indescribable note of sorrow.
As he neared the castle, he teleported Giant Tail and Nornoth out, telling them to wait outside. Then he canceled his disguise and headed straight for the main keep.
"Where is Iris?" He stopped a servant. The gravity in his tone made the other's expression tense.
"Miss should be in her room. Please follow me." The servant took the lead at once, respectful in attitude.
This man might very well be the future master of the house; slighting him would only bring trouble upon oneself.
Anser followed the servant upstairs and then realized that Iris's room was directly above his own—meaning the room he was staying in was not a guest chamber.
Knock, knock, knock…
The servant lightly rapped on the door.
After quite a while, footsteps sounded from within. The door opened, revealing Iris's languid expression.
Her hair was disheveled. She wore sleepwear, wrapped tightly and quite conservative.
Seeing Anser, her body stiffened for a moment. Then, as if nothing had happened, she adjusted her hair and stepped aside, signaling for him to enter.
The servant had already tactfully left.
"You didn't sleep last night? Sleeping this late in the morning?" Anser looked at her suspiciously but did not step inside.
Iris rolled her eyes at him. "What is it?"
"I found an Intellect Devourer. It's in Durlag." Anser spoke in a low voice.
Iris's expression changed drastically, and she straightened unconsciously. She had received a formal magical education since childhood and was highly learned—nothing like a wild Sorcerer.
"Are you certain?" It was not that she doubted Anser; rather, with matters like this, one could never be too cautious.
"It possessed a friend of mine and called out to me on the street. That friend is from Silver Scale Bay… I used Truesight to search. For now, I've only found one." Anser briefly explained the situation.
Iris no longer harbored doubts. Previously, Anser had even detected a high-level rogue under invisibility; possessing such abilities or equipment was entirely normal.
"Wait for me a moment."
She closed the door. When she came out again a short while later, she had already changed into proper clothes.
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