Chapter 837: Chapter 837 Registration Chapter 837: Chapter 837 Registration “Toad Ancestor’s offspring?”
When Count Leter gave out this term,
Dumps immediately stepped forward, stretching out his hand to pluck out one of the tadpoles… gripping it with the Sixth Finger, causing the little creature to tremble all over; it simply wasn’t possible, nor did it dare to burrow into his body.
Dumps produced a needle from somewhere and lightly pricked the belly of the tadpole.
Strange noises emanated.
The round-tooth-shaped mouth hidden inside the tadpole’s body was revealed… the outer layer consisting of round teeth, and the inner layer of triangular teeth.
Having done all this, with a snap of his fingers, Dumps burned the tadpole to ashes.
“It indeed possesses traits of the Toad Ancestor… it seems there’s no mistake, the bizarre area the Expeditionary Army passed through is related to the ‘Toad Ancestor’.”
“The ‘Toad Ancestor’? An Old King?”
Dumps nodded. “Yes… a rather special and mysterious Middle Position Old King.
But the problem with this ‘wetland’ is significant, I can’t even figure out how such a wetland was formed for a time.”
“Given ‘Mother Superior”s Long Legged Cabin, I often accompanied her on journeys… and happened to have visited here eight months ago. Back then, this was just a normal plain, even home to some demonic villages.
Even if a ‘territorial coverage’ occurred, it shouldn’t have reached such a vast extent.
How did they manage it?”
Duke Leter, who was fishing nearby, chimed in: “Messenger, if you come to the territory of the ‘Toad Ancestor,’ it’s actually quite manageable.
The Toad Ancestor has connections with the great lord of the Deep Sea… through your status as a messenger, you should be able to summon the overlord of this territory.
As for the territorial issues you mentioned, they might be related to a treasure in the hands of the Toad Ancestor.
The Toad Ancestor himself is an Old King fond of encroachment, and any area marked with a ‘Toad Statue’ will display certain wetland traits.”
“Mmm, quite interesting information… Thank you, Count Leter.”
“You’re most welcome, Messenger. If the toads give you any trouble… our Fishman tribe is also willing to fight.
Though most of us are either elderly or injured, we can still fight in moist environments.”
“No need… We’ll come to you when we truly encounter something related to the ‘Sea’.
By the way, Count Leter.
In a while, I’ll arrange for you to visit the laboratory to try and inject some youthful vigor into you or to heal some of the serious injuries from the past.”
“Thank you, Messenger.”
Having obtained the information they wanted, Han Dong and Dumps returned.
By then, the army encampment was complete, and the Mechanical God Aides even built a Boundary Copper Wall at the army border that effectively blocked the encroachment of moisture, and a ‘Wetland Reconnaissance Recruitment Order’ was issued simultaneously to four legions.
Teams were organized to scout the bizarre wetlands.
Investigators must be capable of not being affected by the moist atmosphere.
Based on the reconnaissance information brought back, appropriate rewards will be awarded.
The causes of the wetland’s formation, potential dangers, and the covert movements of demonic forces must be clarified before the Expeditionary Army dares to continue marching forward.
If they are ambushed, coupled with the restriction of rules, preventing the commanders from intervening, a surprise attack would lead to heavy casualties.
“Let’s go… let’s sign up!”
“Ah? Shouldn’t this be something for those elite knights in the first and second legions? I heard that many knights have been invaded by moisture, their bodies filled with tadpoles… Ew~ pretty disgusting.” Mia made a face of reluctance.
“Mia, you stay here, everyone else, follow me.”
The other members of the squad all looked eager, especially Abe.
Dumps and Han Dong were the main contributors in the siege of Perugia City. Abe, who had stayed in the legion, could barely contain himself… Since there was an opportunity to fight, he had to seize it.
Getting accustomed to the rhythm of combat outside the city beforehand would enable better performances in subsequent large-scale battles.
Abe’s ears perked up through his white hair, looking impatient.
Winry also quickly tied her fiery red hair into a ponytail, grabbed her blacksmith hammer, and appeared eager to try.
Seeing the situation, Mia hurriedly followed, “Let’s go… I’m just worried.”
Thus, the squad arrived at the Demon King Castle.
Compared to the siege, there were far fewer sign-ups for the ‘Investigator’ mission this time.
Rumors of ‘Wetland Infection’ had spread throughout the legion, due to the unknown moist infection and an unknown type of toad larvae that would massively reproduce inside the body.
With the source of infection unknown and the properties of the wetland fully unknown, most knights chose to watch and wait.
Apart from those gathered here to sign up, there was also a group of Scarlet Doctors in white coats.
The doctors’ cases were filled with syringes, each loaded with freshly cultured tadpole liquid… To make sure nothing went wrong, this liquid needed to be injected directly into the bodies of the investigators.
Only the knights who could resist the ‘Wetland Effect’ on their own were allowed to partake in this unknown ‘reconnaissance mission’.”
“Valen Nicholas, rejection rate 100%, no parasitic reaction, approved!”
“Dumps Martin, rejection rate 70%, can expel it internally through his magic energy, approved!”
“Mia Seminovich, rejection rate 80%, can expel the parasitic body through insect autophagy, approved!”
“Abe Rhein, rejection rate 100%, immune to wetland effects due to dragon bloodline, approved!”
When it was the blacksmith Winry’s turn, a problem occurred.
“Knight Winry, could you relax a bit?”
The three curved syringes scattered on the floor, unable to penetrate Winry’s body, failed to complete the test.
Even if Winry relaxed completely, the needles just couldn’t penetrate her skin.
As the doctors changed strategies and prepared to have Winry take the tadpole liquid orally, Han Dong thought of something and suddenly stepped forward, placing his hand on Winry’s shoulder.
“Winry, this situation might not be suitable for you… Why don’t you join the support troops and help with your blacksmith skills?”
Watching Winry leave somewhat dejected.
Mia quickly asked, “Why did you suddenly ask Winry to give up here? Winry’s strength is the strongest among us… She might be helpful at a critical moment.”
“I just realized something… It’s precisely because Winry’s muscles far exceed the limits of a knight. If she were to be deeply parasitized, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Moreover, you should have also noticed a detail.
The reason the needles couldn’t penetrate Winry’s muscles isn’t that she couldn’t relax… but rather the self-protective traits of the muscle layers, not allowing her to relax completely.
The muscles autonomously detected danger, preventing the injection of the tadpole liquid.
That’s it then, the four of us are enough… The main goal this time is to search for the ‘Toad Statue.’ Once we locate it, we can determine the problem of the wetland.
If possible, I’ll initiate a war.”