The Polluted Waterway

Lu Yuan's eyes narrowed.

"I'm just a consultant," he said coldly. "This kind of suicide mission is not covered by the contract."

"And why is my name on the Viscount's desk? I remember you said you would keep my identity a secret."

"Because this matter is so big, that idiot Viscount, in order to shirk responsibility, filled the list with every 'professional' he could mobilize."

"This also includes you, an unofficial member who responded to the call-up."

Mary rubbed her temples in exasperation. "We didn't expect him to do this. The list has already been published. If you refuse, it's tantamount to disobeying a wartime conscription order. Your identity will be exposed immediately, and you might even be wanted by the police."

Lu Yuan fell silent.

Refuse? Your identity will be exposed, you'll be targeted by forces secretly hunting down doctors, and you'll lose the protection of the Night's Watch.

Accept it? Go to that lost water source and face unknown dangers.

But looking at the pool of stagnant red water in the sink, Lu Yuan knew he had no choice.

If the water problem isn't solved, even if he's not killed, he'll either die of thirst or be forced to drink this mutated corpse water.

"I have two conditions."

Lu Yuan raised two fingers, regaining his composure. "First, for this mission, I must act with a team leader, such as Hans."

"No problem, Hans will be leading the team this time." Mary nodded, "And you'll be the vice-captain, responsible for technical analysis and medical support."

"Second," Lu Yuan pointed to his eyes, "that counts as overtime. I need the library to unlock higher-level access for me."

Mary paused for a moment, then smiled.

"You really are a... madman, but it's a deal. After all, you've already stepped onto the extraordinary path, and most knowledge is no longer enough to corrupt you."

...

Half an hour later, the team was fully assembled.

Besides Hans and Lu Yuan, there were four other fully armed veteran Night Watchmen.

Lu Yuan tucked the last bottle of intermediate-grade holy water into his pocket, carefully wiped the silver-plated pistol clean, and loaded it with bullets.

Although it's not very powerful, it makes me feel safer holding it than holding a scalpel.

The group rode in a horse-drawn carriage and drove out of the city.

There are two water sources in Grimport.

One is the purification tower located in the inner city, and the other is the "Black Pine Forest Water Plant" built deep in a remote forest.

The latter was the one that got into trouble.

The carriage stopped at the edge of the forest.

The fog here was so thick it was almost impossible to dissipate, the trees were twisted and grotesque, and the air was filled with that familiar, nauseating, salty, fishy smell.

"Get off the bus and walk."

Hans drew his greatsword from his back, his expression grave. "It's too quiet up ahead."

It was indeed too quiet.

There should have been guards and workers stationed here, but now, there is nothing but deathly silence.

The group advanced in tactical formation.

Lu Yuan was protected in the middle, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding trees.

[Environmental awareness: Plant roots are contaminated, and the soil contains high concentrations of decaying matter.]

"Watch your step," Lu Yuan whispered a warning. "There's something wrong with the soil here."

"Slow down, everyone! Listen to the vice-captain!" Hans shouted, following Lu Yuan's words, and the entire team immediately slowed down.

Lu Yuan didn't care that no one listened to him; he only needed to fulfill his duties as deputy captain.

After walking for about ten minutes, the gate of the water plant came into view.

It was a fortress-like building with towering outer walls.

But at this moment, the iron gate was wide open, and it was quiet inside; not even a light was on.

"Prepare for battle."

Hans made a gesture, and his entire demeanor changed, like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath. He then took the lead and went inside.

The anticipated fierce battle did not occur.

Because there are no living people left here.

In the water plant's yard, more than a dozen corpses lay scattered about. No, to be precise, they were "cocoons."

They were enveloped in a translucent mucus, their bodies drained of moisture, leaving only shriveled human skin.

Beside the enormous water reservoir, several enormous monsters were roaming about.

They were covered in pustules, on all fours, with sharp spines all over their backs, and long tongues sticking out of their mouths, greedily licking the black water overflowing from the pool.

[Sighting of a mutated creature: Water Flood Toad (Currently advancing)]

[A contaminated creature, highly toxic throughout, possessing considerable vitality; its weakness lies in its abdominal air sacs and its vulnerability to fire.]

Lu Yuan reported the information very quickly: "It's poisonous, and both the abdomen and flames can suppress it."

"receive!"

Hans roared and swung his greatsword out with a gust of wind.

The other watchmen also threw Molotov cocktails.

"boom!"

Flames rose.

The monsters screamed in agony amidst the flames, their abdominal sacs bursting open one by one, spewing out foul-smelling poisonous mist.

However, thanks to Lu Yuan's reminder, everyone put on gas masks in advance, and no casualties occurred.

The battle ended quickly.

A few minutes later, Hans shook off the slime on his sword and walked to Lu Yuan's side.

"How is it?"

Lu Yuan squatted by the water storage pool and took a small water sample with a test tube.

Black, viscous, and wriggling on the test tube wall as if it were alive.

[Highly polluting source: A highly reactive pollutant diluted in water.]

"It's completely contaminated." Lu Yuan stood up and threw the test tube into the fire. "And the water is full of eggs and excrement."

"The waterways here probably need a major cleaning."

"Damn it!" Hans slammed his fist on the railing, sending rust flying off. "Where are the guards? This place is home to a near-superhuman with a 'mutated pathway'! How could it have fallen without a sound?"

Despite his anger, his eyes remained sharp.

Hans strode to the door of the water plant's main control room and checked the door lock and the surrounding defensive runes.

"The doors and windows are intact, and the runes are still functioning."

Hans narrowed his eyes, his voice turning cold. "There are no signs of a forceful attack, nor any fluctuations from a large-scale psionic clash."

"With a half-step transcendent being and a dozen fully armed guards, relying on the fortifications here, we can hold out for half an hour even against a small beast tide."

"But they died so quietly that the alarm didn't even have time to sound."

Hans turned to look at Lu Yuan, his tone resolute:

"This place wasn't breached; it collapsed from within. Someone, or something, appeared directly inside their defenses."

Lu Yuan nodded, agreeing with Hans's assessment.

"Not only that."

Lu Yuan pushed open the door to the control room and walked straight to a trash can in the corner.

There was no blood in the room, and everything seemed normal.

What appears to be merely ashes from burning paper money to ordinary people is, in Lu Yuan's eyes, a visible black aura rising from them.

The aura twisted and swirled like tentacles, finally pointing dead to a drain in the corner of the room.

The effects of [Taboo Studies - Specialization] have already quietly begun.

"here."

Lu Yuan pointed to the inconspicuous floor drain.

"Someone held a ceremony here, or dropped something. This place connects to the sewers, which is the entire underground network of Grim Harbor."

Hans strode over, looked at the drain, and his face was so gloomy it could drip water.

"sewer..."

He kicked open the drain cover, and a strong, fishy smell rushed out instantly.

"Did those rats crawl in through the pipe?"

"No, it's not just about climbing in."

Lu Yuan stared at the bottomless pipe, feeling the nauseating abyssal smell of the deep sea, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"They opened a door here."