Sewer

The atmosphere inside the water plant's main control room was extremely tense.

Beside the kicked-open drain cover, a black aura, visible only to Lu Yuan, still lingered.

"Confirmed."

Hans withdrew his gaze, his face grim. "This is probably the source. Those guys used some kind of ritual to open up the node here."

"Then they infiltrated the water plant through the pipes and turned it into their stronghold."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, and quickly issued instructions.

Toby.

Hans looked at the youngest and fastest man on the watch in the group.

"Go back to base immediately and report the situation here."

"Tell Mary that the water plant has been compromised, the underground water system is deeply polluted, and traces of organized rituals have been discovered."

"Make sure she sends at least one more captain-level support officer. I'm worried that we can't handle it with just the few of us."

"Yes."

Without a word, the young man named Toby slung the greatsword back over his shoulder, turned around, and rushed out of the control room.

Hans looked at the remaining three and continued:

"Ed, Gray, same old routine. One of you scouts ahead, the other covers the rear. Who's in?"

The slender man with two pure silver curved blades at his waist stepped forward. He pulled down his mask, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes: "I'm in charge of reconnaissance."

This is Ed, who is quite skilled at reconnaissance.

The taciturn man, with a burly build like a bear, said in a low voice, "I'll cover the rear."

He is Gray, the team's heavy gunner, carrying a thick tower shield and a tantalizing musket on his back.

"Ron." Hans looked at the last team member, a wary-looking middle-aged man.

"You're in charge of protecting Lu Yuan. He's the vice-captain, and also our only doctor and scholar here. I don't want to see him lose even a single hair."

"Understood." Ron nodded, walked half a step to Lu Yuan's side, and placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

After arranging everything, Hans turned to look at Lu Yuan, his tone softening slightly.

"Dr. Lu, do you have any suggestions regarding this combat deployment?"

Lu Yuan shook his head.

"Let professionals do what they're good at." Lu Yuan checked the pistol's cylinder. "I'm only responsible for telling you some book knowledge. As for how to chop, that's your specialty."

Hans grinned, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

"Then let's take action."

...

The sewer entrance is located in the basement of the water plant.

The group first cleared away a few scattered mutated creatures at the entrance. After ensuring a safe escape route and leaving two specially made climbing ropes, they filed in.

The underground drainage system in Grimport is exceptionally large.

This place not only handles the city's sewage discharge, but also connects to the old-fashioned smuggling passages.

The main road is wide enough for three adults to walk side by side, and there are maintenance walkways on both sides that are above the water.

But now, this place has completely changed.

The walls, which should have been damp and dark, were now covered with a thick layer of dark green moss.

They resembled some kind of living skin, twitching slightly under the flashlight beam, and even secreting a viscous liquid.

A strong, fishy smell filled the air, mixed with the stench of decay, making one involuntarily frown.

"stop."

Ed, who was walking at the front, suddenly raised his fist, a gesture to stop moving forward.

He crouched down and carefully touched the moss on the wall with the silver curved blade in his hand.

"Sizzle—"

A sickening corrosive sound rang out, and a wisp of blue smoke actually rose from the edge of the curved blade.

"This stuff is corrosive, and..." Ed glanced back, "it seems to be trying to entangle my knife."

Everyone's hearts tightened.

Hans looked at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan didn't speak. He took a long pair of tweezers from his medical kit, picked up a small sample of moss, and put it into a test tube that he had prepared beforehand.

With the grayish-white prompts, the clump that looked like a plant immediately revealed its true nature.

[Sighting of Mutated Creature: Corpse Moss (Low-Rank Group)]

[Characteristics: Possesses weak activity and predatory instincts, preferring to attach to carrion or living organisms to absorb nutrients. The secreted mucus has both paralyzing and digestive properties.]

Weaknesses: Strong acid, flame.

"Corpse moss".

Lu Yuan shook the test tube, looking calmly at the green substance inside that was frantically crashing against the glass wall.

"This thing isn't a plant; it's alive."

"They love to eat meat. If you dare to stick to the wall, you'll become their fertilizer in less than ten minutes."

"Furthermore, its mucus has a numbing effect, so if it accidentally gets on your skin, you must clean it off immediately. Also, they are afraid of fire."

Upon hearing this, Ed instinctively moved a little further away from the wall.

The watchmen, who had initially looked down on this "parachuted vice-captain," now had a different look in their eyes.

To be able to provide such a precise analysis in this environment, this doctor is truly remarkable.

"Keep moving forward, and don't bump into any walls."

Hans gave the order.

The team continued its advance.

As Ed ventured deeper into the area, his sense of unease grew stronger.

As Lu Yuan walked behind, he observed his surroundings.

Because he discovered an extremely incongruous phenomenon.

"Something's not right," Lu Yuan suddenly said.

"What's wrong?" Hans immediately stopped and looked around warily.

"It's too clean."

Lu Yuan pointed to the path beneath his feet, "This is the sewer, the dirtiest place."

"Logically speaking, this place should be teeming with rats and cockroaches."

"But we've walked for so long, and apart from this moss, we haven't seen a single cockroach."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

Yes, this is very unusual.

"Where did the rat go?" Ed asked in a low voice.

"They've probably all been eaten."

Lu Yuan looked at the plump, wriggling corpse moss on the wall, his voice turning cold, "Corpse moss can only survive by eating rotten flesh. To grow so lushly, it needs a large source of meat."

"All the rats and insects became nourishment for these things."

At this point, a hint of unease flashed in Lu Yuan's eyes.

"But rats alone cannot sustain such a massive carrion community. They are still spreading deeper into the area, and they are growing better the further in they go."

"What does this mean?" Hans gripped his greatsword tighter.

"This indicates that there is a much larger 'source of flesh' inside."

Lu Yuan said slowly, "A canteen big enough to feed the entire sewer system."

This conjecture sent a chill down everyone's spine.

What's in the cafeteria?

Needless to say, everyone can guess—those missing workers.