208: The city is surrounded by rats from the outside world? Go and lure the monsters over.

Aide was stunned. He had thought Mo Yan would treat them as private property, like the priests of the past. He never expected the other party to be willing to set them free and even plan for their future.

"Thank you, Lord! Thank you for your kindness!" Aide's old tears flowed freely, and he was about to kneel heavily on the ground again.

Mo Yan did not speak again.

A gentle force supported the knees of Aide and all the villagers, preventing them from kneeling.

"I told you, I am not a god," Mo Yan's voice was calm. "Stand when you speak. Your knees should be reserved for your ancestors."

The villagers felt the miraculous power, and their inner shock was beyond words.

"I also need a guide," Mo Yan's gaze swept over everyone as he continued, "Someone familiar with this continent, especially with the strongholds of the Light Church."

"Yes! Of course, there is!" Aide suddenly raised his head, as if remembering something. "Idora from the village is our best scholar!"

"Her father was the previous generation's knowledge Legacy holder in the village, and he was killed by that demon Camus! She has thoroughly read all the notes her father left behind and knows every inch of this continent like the back of her hand!"

Soon, a tall, thin young girl was brought before Mo Yan.

She was about twenty years old and wore linen clothes.

Her long, flaxen hair was simply tied behind her head, revealing a dirt-stained forehead.

Her features were not exceptionally beautiful, but they were very pleasant when put together, especially her eyes, which held the calm demeanor of an intellectual.

Even when facing Mo Yan, she did not cower like the others, only bowing slightly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Idora greets you, Lord."

"I need you to mark all the Light Church stronghold locations you know on a map," Mo Yan looked at her. "In return, you can choose anything you need from my supplies."

Idora shook her head, a flame igniting in her clear eyes.

"Lord, I don't need payment."

"Camus killed my father, and the church has enslaved us for generations. I only want revenge, to personally watch those hypocritical liars fall from the clouds and turn to dust."

"As long as I can destroy them, I am willing to lead you, to traverse every corner of this continent."

A hint of approval flashed in Mo Yan's eyes.

A guide with brains, motivation, and who couldn't be easily bought was the best choice.

"Welcome to the team."

Upon receiving Mo Yan's approval, a look of excitement also appeared on Idora's face.

Then she turned and ran back to her dilapidated thatched hut.

Soon, she returned, holding a very old-looking wooden box with a solemn expression.

"Lord, this is something my grandfather left behind," Idora's voice trembled. "When I was little, I heard him say that when the Empire fell, a royal knight desperately escaped the capital."

"He entrusted something to my great-great-grandfather, saying that it contained the Empire's secret, and that we must keep it safe, waiting for the true successor to appear."

Everyone's breathing stopped, their gazes fixed on the wooden box.

The Empire's secret?

Mo Yan took the box; its surface was covered with scratches from time.

He didn't bother to pry the lock; with a slight movement of his spiritual power, he heard a "click," and the lid automatically sprang open.

Inside the box, two items lay quietly.

A simply designed key, made entirely of silver, with the Diens Empire's double-headed eagle emblem at its top.

And a piece of tough parchment map, mostly burned away, with charred edges.

Mo Yan's fingertips gently brushed over these two items.

【Key to the Royal Archives】

Quality: Rare (Purple)

Type: Special Item

Description: The only credential used to open the Diens Empire's Royal Archives. It is said that all the knowledge, Legacy, and secrets of the Empire from hundreds of years are preserved there.

【Damaged Imperial Map】

Quality: Uncommon (Blue)

Type: Special Item

Description: Records the detailed geographical locations of the Diens Empire during its peak. Although damaged, the core areas, including the terrain around the capital, are still clearly visible.

Several special locations were also marked on it.

Mo Yan's eyes immediately lit up.

He was still worrying about how to find clues in this unfamiliar instance world, but he never expected the key Dao item to be delivered to him like this.

The Royal Archives!

What better place than an Empire's treasure trove of knowledge to reveal the truth of what happened back then?

The mission finally had a clear direction.

Mo Yan put away the key and the map: "These are very useful to me. Thank you."

"Idora, take us to a secluded place later, a cave or a cliff top will do."

"Yes, Lord!" Idora nodded heavily.

While the villagers packed their belongings, Mo Yan finally had time to check the frantic messages sent by Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen: Mr. Mo! We are facing an unprecedented crisis! The energy of the East District Shelter is running low, and tens of thousands of mutated giant rats have besieged the South District!

Zhang Chen: Major General He asked me to tell you, he earnestly requests your military assistance! We are willing to pay any price!

Mo Yan's brows furrowed slightly.

Mutated beasts appeared so quickly?

The moment the message was sent, the other side replied almost instantly.

Zhang Chen: "Mr. Mo! We finally got in touch with you!"

"We've done a preliminary investigation; the leader of the rat swarm is a Rank 3 mutated giant rat king, and the rest of the smaller monsters are basically Rank 2. Their numbers are too great, and our shelters scattered in various districts simply cannot hold out!"

Only Rank 3 at most?

This Rank posed no threat to Mo Yan.

Mo Yan: My territory happens to be in the southern suburbs. If you can lure them there, my people will clear them out."

Inside the H City Command Center, Zhang Chen's face, which had just shown joy upon seeing this reply, instantly froze again.

Lure them there?

Easier said than done!

Those were tens of thousands of bloodthirsty mutated giant rats. Who would lure them?

How would they lure them? What's the difference between that and sending people to their deaths?

If the bait ran a little slower, they would be torn to shreds instantly.

He Yongping, who was beside him, also saw the message, and a hint of struggle and helplessness flashed in his bloodshot eyes.

He knew what Mo Yan said was the most effective method, but the cost...

Just as Zhang Chen didn't know how to reply, Mo Yan's second message came through.

Mo Yan: "Your shelter's energy shield is maintained by crystal and source stones, right?"

Zhang Chen: "Yes. This is also our biggest problem right now. Energy reserves are being consumed too quickly, especially in the East District; it can last at most twenty more minutes!"

Mo Yan: "You immediately send someone to my territory to find Manager Lu. Before I left, I explained all the trading matters to him."

Mo Yan: "Also, you can borrow a few Azure Profound Birds from him, but only one person can ride at a time. Azure Profound Birds are very fast, so you can transport resources in the sky. The ground is not safe. Remember to return them after the matter is resolved."

"..."

Inside the Command Center, Zhang Chen and He Yongping fell into a long silence as they looked at the messages from Mo Yan.

Borrow flying mounts?

Perhaps they could use the mounts to lure the mutated beasts away.

A smile finally appeared on He Yongping's tired face.

He patted Zhang Chen's shoulder: "Go! Do as Mr. Mo says!"

"Zhang Chen: Thank you, Mr. Mo! I'll arrange it immediately!"

After arranging everything, Mo Yan was about to close the communication when he suddenly thought of something.

Mo Yan: "By the way, it's been several hours since I entered the instance. How long has it been on your side?"

Zhang Chen: "Several hours? No... It's only been less than an hour since the Frozen Age descended."

A hint of understanding flashed in Mo Yan's eyes.

The time flow inside and outside the instance was different; several hours had passed inside, while only tens of minutes had passed outside.

This was incredibly good news for him.

He could calmly develop and strategize within the instance, and by the time he came out, only a day might have passed in the outside world.