199: New plans

In the Swamp.

After listening to Zhou Hai's account, Wang Chen fell silent.

He never expected that his trip to the Barren Land this time would lead to such a ridiculous mess.

He had planned everything perfectly before: first, raise Ice Purity and Susu's Ranks to the current stage's limit.

Then, he would fish in troubled waters, snatching food from the tiger's mouth right under the noses of the Awakener Guild and Adventurer Groups, looking for an opportunity to kill a Rank 100 wild monster boss.

But now…

Behind this Rank 100 wild monster boss, the Skeleton Lord, there was a 5th Rank Awakener and other unknown Awakeners.

This made Wang Chen's plan of snatching food from the tiger's mouth impossible to carry out.

When Ice Purity and Susu reached Rank 80, his strength would already be comparable to an ordinary Rank 4 Awakener.

But in front of a 5th Rank Awakener, it was completely insufficient.

If he continued to execute the original plan, it wouldn't be snatching food from the tiger's mouth, but rather delivering himself to their doorstep.

"Troublesome!"

Wang Chen thought with irritation, his gaze falling on Zhou Hai, who looked somewhat dazed.

"Why do you know this information?"

After some thought, he asked.

"I have a cooperative relationship with some of them; I took their money when they spread the news about the Rank 100 wild monster boss."

Zhou Hai replied blankly.

Hearing his words, a murderous glint flashed in Wang Chen's eyes.

To be associated with Zhou Hai, this Bounty Hunter, that unknown force must be cut from the same cloth.

"Is it a Bounty Hunter gang? Or some evil organization?"

Wang Chen felt somewhat indecisive.

The current development of events was somewhat beyond his expectations.

If the previously formulated plan had an eighty percent chance of success, now, the success rate was a big fat zero.

"Should I tell the North Wind City Law Enforcement Team about this?"

"No."

"I'm just speaking out of thin air; with only this information from Zhou Hai, I can't make them believe me."

One idea after another emerged in his mind, but they were quickly dismissed by Wang Chen.

"Should I give up on this Rank 100 wild monster boss and go somewhere else to find another one?"

He thought with some frustration.

However, just then, his gaze, which had been fixed on Zhou Hai, suddenly lit up.

"You usually work as a Bounty Hunter in the Barren Land; hasn't anyone discovered you?"

Zhou Hai was a Bounty Hunter.

Logically speaking, such a notorious fellow should not be able to enter the city.

But earlier, Zhou Hai said he took money from that unknown force to enter North Wind City and spread the news about the Rank 100 wild monster boss.

This was somewhat contradictory.

"I possess a special piece of equipment that changes my appearance, so I have another identity in North Wind City."

Zhou Hai said without reservation.

As his voice fell, he directly took out a mask from his storage equipment and respectfully handed it to Wang Chen.

"This is my special equipment."

"Hmm?"

Taking the mask, a strange light flashed in Wang Chen's eyes.

[Equipment: Disguise Mask.]

[Type: Special Equipment.]

[Grade: Silver.]

[Rank Restriction: Rank 40.]

[Attributes: Strength +10, Physique +10, Agility +10.]

[Enchantment Effect: 1. After wearing, it can change one's appearance and aura within twenty-four hours.

(Note: 1. After the duration ends, it enters a seven-day charging state. 2. The mask's disguise effect can resist detection from Seven-Turn Professionals.)]

...

"This equipment..."

After reading the attribute information of the Disguise Mask, Wang Chen's eyes flickered.

Although this equipment was only Silver grade, its value was probably higher than Gold grade equipment.

Especially the enchantment effect; its power was simply formidable, capable of deceiving even a Seven-Turn expert after disguise.

Holding the mask in his hand, a daring idea couldn't help but surface in Wang Chen's mind.

"If Zhou Hai can sneak into North Wind City with this mask, can I use it to sneak into that unknown force?"

"Since they are using a Rank 100 wild monster boss to attract other Awakeners, they must have special items in their possession."

"Perhaps I can bypass the Skeleton Lord's subordinates and approach it earlier."

As he pondered silently, Wang Chen's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

The more he thought about it now, the more feasible he found his plan.

If he could really infiltrate that unknown force, he might be able to complete his Rank 3 mission and simultaneously earn a bounty in North Wind City.

"Where do you usually meet with those people?"

After some thought, Wang Chen looked at Zhou Hai with some excitement.

"In the White Bone Jungle."

"We Bounty Hunters have an agreement with them: as long as we bleed a wild monster in the center of the White Bone Jungle and water the Wind Message Grass with its blood, they will send someone to pick us up to participate in their operation."

Zhou Hai was now practically spilling everything, not only stating the location but also revealing the entire contact method.

White Bone Jungle.

A red danger zone on the Barren Land map, inhabited by a large number of Skeleton Warriors, it was one of the gathering places for the Skeleton Lord's subordinates.

"Is that so?"

After listening to his words, Wang Chen's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Since it was a contact method established between the Bounty Hunter group and that unknown force, his chances of successfully infiltrating were almost one hundred percent.

"Alright."

"I have no more questions to ask."

Seeing that Zhou Hai had been completely drained, Wang Chen lost interest in dealing with him.

"Commit suicide!"

After some thought, he decided to test the limits of the Mark of Enslavement's control.

"As you command!"

Zhou Hai said with an unwavering tone. As his voice fell, he gripped the dagger in his hand and plunged it heavily into his own heart.

Thud!

His body, gradually losing its vitality, fell weakly to the ground.

"Hiss!"

Witnessing this scene, Wang Chen's eyes were filled with immense shock.

The effect of this Mark of Enslavement was even more overbearing than he had previously imagined!

To make someone commit suicide just by commanding it, it was truly terrifying!

"Currently, Susu can use this skill to control two targets whose intelligence attribute does not exceed hers."

"Let's focus on leveling up first and raise Susu's Rank."

"This skill will definitely play an unexpectedly significant role in my actions."

Silently looting everything from Zhou Hai's body, Wang Chen had already made a decision for his upcoming actions.

Susu's intelligence attribute was now as high as 4,300 points, almost on par with a magic-based Awakener who had just entered Rank 4.

If operated properly, during his infiltration of this unknown force, it could provide him with two Rank 4 helpers who were fearless of death and completely obedient to his commands.

"Let's go!"

"We're going to the next area to level up!"

Wang Chen suppressed the excitement in his heart, destroyed Zhou Hai's body, opened the map to confirm the direction of his next target location, and then quickly left the Swamp with the two little ones.

He didn't have much time left; he had to speed up and raise Ice Purity and Susu's Ranks to Rank 80 before infiltrating that unknown force.