The Strange Village

Chapter 62: The Strange Village

On the Continent, it was well-known that many great clans, like the Markey Family, set up information points in places such as Black Mountain Stopper. Many other great clans also had their own information points there, some in the form of simple shops, while others operated as mercenary groups.

The main purpose behind these great clans establishing information points in Black Mountain Stopper was not to monitor any important military or national affairs. It was virtually impossible for any significant events of that nature to occur in Black Mountain Stopper. Instead, the primary goal of these information points was to recruit talented individuals.

The great nobles of Ark Continent, having lived for thousands of years, were well aware of the importance of talented individuals. While nobles valued the assistance of powerful warriors, they also recognized the significance of skilled adventurers like those found in Black Mountain Stopper. Therefore, various great clans would send spies to the area in hopes of discovering potential warriors and recruiting them to strengthen their own clans.

Because of this, when Zhao Hai and his group appeared in Black Mountain Stopper, many great clans received information about them and began keeping a close eye on their activities. However, those who were observing Zhao Hai and his group were somewhat puzzled. They had not expected that instead of staying in the city, Zhao Hai and his companions would venture outside and retreat to the space during the evenings. This made it difficult for those tracking them to determine their whereabouts, which added to the air of mystery surrounding them.

Nonetheless, the observers deduced that Zhao Hai must be a Dark Magician due to his conspicuous display. However, these individuals were not attempting to win Zhao Hai over but rather feared that he and his group might pose a threat to their own clans.

While it was true that some noble families gathered a few Dark Magicians, they usually had a good understanding of their backgrounds. No noble family would willingly associate themselves with a rogue Dark Magician. Hence, none of them made any contact with Zhao Hai.

Zhao Hai and his companions remained unaware of the people who were secretly following them. They continued on their journey at a moderate pace. Their progress was not particularly fast, as there were many pedestrians on the road, and they didn't want to attract unnecessary attention.

After three days of travel, they had passed through several small towns and villages, which revealed the prosperity of Purcell Duchy. On the fourth day, during their morning travel, Zhao Hai suddenly sensed that something was off. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but felt that something was missing. Puzzled, he looked around, trying to figure out what it could be.

Meg, noticing Zhao Hai's confusion, spoke up, "Young Master, it's strange. We've been walking for two hours, and there hasn't been a single person passing by. Usually, there would be plenty of people at this time."

Upon hearing Meg's observation, Zhao Hai finally realized what was amiss. They had been walking for two hours without encountering a single person, which was highly unusual. That's why he had felt that something was missing—there were no people around.

Feeling that something might be wrong, Zhao Hai immediately ordered a halt. Alien stopped, and Zhao Hai stood up, grabbing onto Alien's rib. He turned to Green and asked with concern, "Grandpa Green, is something wrong? We've been walking for such a long time without seeing anyone."

Green nodded, indicating that he had also noticed. He reassured Zhao Hai, "Don't worry, Young Master. Let's continue moving forward. I'll investigate the situation. If anything happens, you can always hide in the space. No one will be able to find you."

Zhao Hai forced a smile. He hadn't expected Green to notice as well. Although Green's response seemed somewhat careless, it was the right approach. They couldn't stop their journey just because something seemed off. They had nothing to gain from being overly cautious.

With this in mind, Zhao Hai nodded and waved his hand. "Alright, let's continue." Alien resumed its steady pace, although it now seemed a bit slower.

While Zhao Hai and Meg tried to remain calm, they couldn't help but feel anxious. They were not accustomed to such emptiness. Unlike Green, who remained calm, Zhao Hai and Meg were constantly on edge, worried that magical beasts might suddenly appear from the surrounding forest.

To their surprise, they continued walking for the entire morning without encountering a single person. The villages they passed by appeared deserted, as if the villagers had suddenly disappeared. Zhao Hai and his group entered one of the villages and cautiously inspected it. Not a soul was in sight. The homes appeared as if they had been abandoned in haste. The kitchens were still dirty, and the beds were left in disarray, as if the residents had fled without time to tidy up.

There was an eerie silence, with not even a bird or a dog in sight. The village was completely lifeless. The disorderly state of the village sent chills down Zhao Hai and the others' spines. It was even stranger than their own peculiar group.

Green examined the village carefully, searching for any clues. However, he found nothing significant. His face darkened, and he turned to Zhao Hai, saying, "Little Hai, you should call Grandmother Merine. She may be able to determine what happened."

Zhao Hai followed Green's advice and opened the portal to the space, calling for Merine's presence. Merine had been keeping an eye on the situation outside and was aware of the strange occurrences. Without saying a word, she carefully observed the surroundings before closing her eyes and softly chanting an incantation.

A blue radiance enveloped her body, spreading out like sunlight for about five minutes before slowly fading away. Merine opened her eyes and spoke solemnly, "Young Master, this is the work of a seduction technique used by some Dark Magicians in Black Magic. It attracts all living creatures in the village. I'm not sure where they went."

Zhao Hai asked in surprise, "Black Magic? Are you saying there are Dark Magicians here?"

Merine nodded. "Although the magic energy in this area has dissipated, I am certain that someone is attempting to use Black Magic here."

Zhao Hai and Green's expressions darkened. They realized that the lack of people they had encountered on the road was likely connected to this situation. If they weren't careful, they might become involved in a serious matter.

They couldn't forget that Zhao Hai was currently posing as a Dark Magician. If he became suspected due to these events, it would bring about significant trouble. Zhao Hai was most worried about avoiding any unnecessary complications.

Merine seemed to have the same concerns and turned to Zhao Hai. "Young Master, perhaps we should reconsider your role as a Dark Magician. It may bring you more trouble than it's worth."

Zhao Hai shook his head and replied, "If I were to impersonate someone else, it wouldn't take long for others to discover my true identity. That would only put us in greater danger. Merine Grandma, can you sense the direction in which these Dark Magicians have taken the people? Let's pursue them and see if we can resolve this troublesome situation. If we can solve it, that would be ideal. Otherwise, we might be suspected by the Purcell Family."

With such a significant event unfolding, it would be impossible for the Purcell Family to ignore it. This was their domain, and the villagers were their people. Neglecting their duty to protect the villagers would be unthinkable. However, Zhao Hai's current status couldn't withstand any suspicion. They needed to find the true culprits and hand them over to the Purcell Family, proving their innocence.

Green didn't want Zhao Hai to get entangled with the Purcell Family, but considering the circumstances, he reluctantly nodded and said, "Very well, let's proceed as you suggested. If we find the culprits, we'll turn them over to the Purcell Family. This way, our future plans can continue without suspicion."

Merine nodded in agreement. Having used her magic, which took approximately ten minutes, she pointed in the direction of Casa City and said, "The culprits likely went in that direction. The reason we haven't encountered anyone so far might be due to this situation."