The History of the Town

“You’re not wizards??”

The innkeeper’s face immediately showed a look of astonishment, as if he couldn’t believe it at all.

“We’re just ordinary supernaturals,” Luo Wei said indifferently. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be asking you these questions. If you answer me honestly, I might consider letting you go.”

The innkeeper seemed unable to grasp the difference between wizards and supernaturals. He fell into deep confusion and began muttering to himself.

“Could it really not be the same group of wizards from before?”

“That’s strange... Then why are you here...”

Luo Wei shrugged. “We’re here on vacation.”

“Vacation?” The innkeeper thought he had misheard. “You’re here on vacation??”

“What’s wrong with that?” Luo Wei sneered.

Then, his face began to twist, and a powerful wave of mental corruption emanated from him, causing the innkeeper to scream in terror, nearly fainting on the spot.

“Answer my questions. I don’t have much patience,” Luo Wei said with a terrifying grin.

“Okay! Okay...”

“I’ll answer, I’ll answer...”

“Please, stop smiling... I beg you...”

Luo Wei nodded and gradually retracted his grin, which had stretched almost to the back of his head.

The innkeeper, now thoroughly frightened, finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the young man before him was far more terrifying than the group of wizards from before...

Under Luo Wei’s relentless questioning, the innkeeper finally revealed what had happened in the town.

The origin of everything dated back fifteen years. Back then, Hegles was extremely impoverished. Due to overfishing, the nearby fisheries had long been depleted, and the people lived in dire poverty.

But at some point, the townsfolk began to worship a deity from the sea. This deity was different from the gods of the church—this one actually responded to the prayers of its followers. It was real!

The fishermen of the town were overjoyed. After they began worshiping the “Sea God,” this great deity bestowed them with abundance and prosperity. The fish in the shallow waters seemed to multiply endlessly, as if by divine miracle, and the townsfolk who depended on the sea gained unimaginable wealth...

Thus, the townsfolk became even more devout in their worship, forming a fanatical religion.

After all, what could be better than a god who not only answered prayers but also made its followers rich?

The townsfolk didn’t even mind the fact that their bodies had gradually transformed, becoming half-human, half-fish abominations. They saw it as a blessing from the deity.

In fact, their lifespans had been extended. The elderly in the town never died and even became as agile as swimmers...

The town’s newfound wealth couldn’t be hidden from outsiders for long. Combined with the townsfolk’s grotesque appearances and the numerous disappearances in the area, strange rumors began to spread, eventually attracting an investigation from the Bruges City Hall.

This was the incident Luo Wei had read about in the newspapers. At the time, there had been a violent clash, resulting in many deaths, and the town’s cult had been eradicated.

However, like weeds that spring back after a fire, a few townsfolk had managed to escape by hiding in the sea. For the next ten years, they lived in secrecy, becoming more isolated and hostile toward outsiders.

To ensure no information leaked, the wealthier townsfolk even infiltrated the city hall, which was why there had been no further conflicts in recent years.

But this peaceful coexistence eventually came to an end.

The turning point came half a year ago...

A group of powerful and terrifying wizards stormed into the town and headed for the coast. No one knew what they were after, but the townsfolk hated them deeply because, from that day on, the fishing industry that had sustained them disappeared.

Later, not only did their chance at wealth vanish, but even their ability to survive became incredibly difficult.

The land grew barren, unable to sustain anything. Food became scarce, the townsfolk’s bodies began to degenerate, and madness spread. The town became like a cursed, accursed land.

When the townsfolk tried to flee, they were horrified to discover that they could no longer leave.

As soon as they stepped outside the town’s borders, they would die. Their bodies would wither into terrifying mummies. They were truly cursed!

And the reason for all of this was because...

On the day the wizards arrived, the deity’s corpse washed up on the shore...

The god was dead.

“It must have been those wizards!! They killed our god! That’s why the god’s vengeful spirit now haunts the coast, casting a curse of punishment!!”

The innkeeper screamed hysterically, “Everyone will die! The god is punishing us for our sins! The wizards, you, all of you! Die! Die, hahahaha!”

After hearing his story, Luo Wei and his two companions were visibly shocked.

“The god is dead??” Evelyn widened her eyes. “A god can be killed?”

Luo Wei, however, was thinking about something else. The wizards the innkeeper mentioned were likely members of the Magic Hermitage.

He hadn’t expected them to be so bold as to target a “god.” Whether this god was real or not, the mere idea of “deicide” was enough to be earth-shattering...

Luo Wei silently gazed toward the direction of the sea at the edge of the town, falling into deep contemplation.

What exactly was the Magic Hermitage trying to do?

Or rather...

What was Tilis trying to do?

...

At that very moment, in a small wooden cabin by the sea, several kilometers away.

Elder Margery had already left. A young apprentice in a light-colored robe stood respectfully before Tilis.

“President Tilis, your friends have arrived in Hegles Town. There was a fight in the town last night.”

Tilis, who had been busy at the alchemy table, suddenly paused.

“Finally, they’ve arrived...”

She didn’t ask whether Luo Wei had dealt with the townsfolk, as she knew such matters were trivial for him.

Tilis silently set down the alchemy tool in her hand. Though her movements remained calm, she knew she could no longer continue the experiment.

Her mind was in turmoil.

For four years, she had been eagerly awaiting this day. But now that it had finally come, and she was about to reunite with him, she felt an inexplicable sense of unease...

Tilis took a deep breath and slowly opened a drawer.

Inside were two gift boxes, prepared for him and his sister.

As images of their impending reunion flashed through her mind, a serene smile appeared on her face.

“Prepare two good rooms in the town for them. They must be exhausted after their journey...”

Just as the apprentice was about to respond, Tilis added,

“Oh, and one more thing.”

She continued, “Leave the townsfolk alone. They can’t escape, and each of them is a valuable test subject. Don’t kill them all.”

The apprentice nodded, then suddenly remembered something and said,

“But President, there are three of them.”

“Three?”

Tilis was momentarily stunned, then frowned slightly.

“The Princess of the Fifth Rank from Weignar?”

The apprentice immediately shook his head. “No, it’s a female vampire.”

This time, Tilis didn’t show surprise. Instead, she narrowed her eyes slightly.

“I see...”

It was someone she didn’t know.

So... a new lover?

A cold glint flashed in her deep purple eyes.

As her emotions shifted abruptly, Tilis’s body suddenly rippled with an eerie distortion.

The apprentice thought he was seeing things and widened his eyes in shock.

“Vice President... your body...”

“It’s nothing,” Tilis said softly, waving her hand. “Go make the arrangements.”

“Yes.”

After the apprentice left, Tilis stood in place, silent for a long time.

Another “containment,” is it...

In that case.

This time, I’ll resolve all the troubles once and for all...