Chapter 140 Action of the Protagonist Team
In the carriage, Hobert sized up the three team members besides Dunn. One had black hair and brown eyes, with a scholarly air about him—Klein Moretti. Another had black hair and green eyes, unkempt and carrying a poet's aura—Leonard Mitchell. The last one had a prominent nose, an icy and gloomy demeanor, with a pallor that resembled more a corpse than a living person—Frye.
Captain Dunn mobilized three team members at once, partly due to the seriousness of a Sequence 7 enemy and, of course, to watch out for Hobert.
Even after confirming Hobert's identity through a telegram to Backlund, Dunn remained cautious.
That was normal; after all, they hadn't fought together and lacked trust.
"So, Mr. Hobert," Dunn said, "about what you mentioned earlier—what clues do we have for divination?"
Hobert took out his wallet and carefully pulled out a corner of a banknote. "I saw him put this banknote into his pocket with my own eyes. After that, he rushed ahead to the ambush site before me. He wouldn't have had time to take it out after things went haywire."
"So I think that banknote is likely still on him."
The banknote in question was the 5 Soli divination fee Hobert had paid to Archer. As he took it out of his wallet earlier, he had discreetly torn off a small corner.
Klein examined the tiny piece in his palm, using it to find the rest of the banknote. It wasn't too difficult to do.
Leonard smiled and asked, "What if—oh, I mean, what if he didn't have the banknote on him?"
"Then I'll take you to the rented house where he had his divination," Hobert said. "If we find clues there, we'll continue investigating. If not, then it's closed, and I'm out of it."
"I love hearing the word 'closed'," Leonard said with a smile.
"Alright, let's get going," Dunn interrupted their increasingly off-topic conversation.
Klein began directing the coachman using a method called 'Dowsing Rod Divination'.
Hobert, now with some idle time, looked at the people in the carriage and suddenly felt a bit surreal, as if he had suddenly joined the adventure of the protagonist team.
The carriage gradually left the city and arrived at a rural village on the outskirts, finally stopping in front of a farmhouse with a water wheel.
The people in the carriage immediately sensed a dangerous atmosphere inside the farmhouse. The horses pulling the carriage were restless; without the coachman's control, they would have left long ago.
Hobert sighed. With a 'Seer' on their team, finding people or things was indeed convenient!
He took out his gun and reminded them, "Be careful. It seems like the enemy can transform into a kind of creature that exudes madness and corruption. If you see signs of transformation, don't make eye contact."
Everyone nodded and quickly approached the farmhouse. Soon, they discovered dead dogs and several chickens inside. If there were people in the farmhouse, their situation was likely grim.
Klein divined, "The opponent is inside the farmhouse, posing some danger, but within acceptable limits."
After a brief inspection, Dunn said, "I'll pull him into a dream. Wait a dozen seconds before entering."
"No, I can 'bring him out'," Hobert said, pulling out the 'Teleportation Statue'.
Dunn nodded. His earlier suspicion of Hobert stemmed from doubting whether a Sequence 8 could severely injure a Sequence 7. Seeing this Sealed Artifact and Hobert's previous words made Dunn more inclined to trust him.
Then, leaning against a tree outside the courtyard wall, Dunn lowered his head, seemingly entering sleep. Soon, a tranquil aura enveloped him completely.
"Ah..."
A pained cry came from inside the farmhouse, followed by the sound of things being knocked over. But soon, everything quieted down.
Hobert held the 'Teleportation Statue'. "Ready!"
Klein and Leonard glanced at each other, ready for what?
Hobert began using the 'Teleportation Statue'. Within a 15-meter radius, everything, including people and objects, fell under his control. He then moved Archer from the farmhouse into the courtyard.
At this point, Archer hadn't completely lost control; some semblance of reason still remained.
But his entire body had swelled to twice its size, covered with black growths that resembled tumors. Within these growths, some emitted black mist while others oozed murky liquid. Particularly on his back, it seemed to have turned into a thick liquid, emitting an aura of dirt and corruption.
Several people raised their guns and aimed at Archer's transforming head.
Hobert sighed again. Having teammates who could 'control' was really helpful! If he had faced such a monster alone, a fierce battle would have been inevitable. No, he would more likely have fled and then reported it.
After a volley, they realized something was wrong. Where Archer's head had been hit, thick black fur was exposed.
Dunn suddenly looked up. "Bad news. An evil creature is using Archer's body to manifest."
Earlier, Archer had been resisting the manifestation of this evil creature. By pulling Archer into a dream, Dunn inadvertently accelerated the creature's descent.
At this point, golden deer antlers sprouted from Archer's head. Hobert immediately understood—they were the creatures Archer had summoned earlier.
After Archer began to lose control, he became the vessel for their descent.
In the 'Nation of Disorder', this problem would be easily solved—just cut off the path of descent. But in reality, Hobert lacked this ability.
At this point, Dunn also drew his pistol. "Kill Archer!"
Hobert, shooting along with them, marveled, "Captain Dunn's reaction is so fast, immediately understanding the situation and quickly coming up with a countermeasure."
Archer was now the medium for the descent; killing him would also end the descent process.
Archer didn't dodge the bullets but suddenly lay down, writhing and rubbing his back.
When he got up again, the thick slime on his back had been wiped away, revealing thick black fur inside, along with human flesh and bones.
The human flesh and bones were gradually being replaced by the thick black fur.
Dunn buried his head again. Archer's movements immediately slowed down, and Dunn shook his body, struggling against the opponent.
Leonard assisted from the side, chanting, "If life deceives you, don't be sad or troubled. Stay calm on gloomy days."
Everything around them became calm again, and Archer's movements slowed once more. Hobert and Klein almost lost their desire to attack.
Hobert, who had been searching for Archer's weakness, finally found it. There was a piece of human flesh on Archer's back that hadn't grown thick black fur.
He fired two shots, overturning that piece of flesh, revealing black ribs inside. Most of Archer's Beyonder characteristics were concentrated in this black rib, crucial to this descent!
"Cover me!" Hobert said, jumping into the courtyard.
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