Will’s one-armed skeleton was found a way to be transported outside the city by his companions.

They did not choose to immediately notify the city guards, because strictly speaking, their Mushroom Worship Sect is an illegal organization, just like in gang wars no one would choose to call the police.

The morning breeze passed through the mushroom grove, fluttering the hems of their clothes.

Someone turned their face away, with shoulders silently shaking, while someone else stared hard at the skeleton, their eyes tinged red.

"Will, he," finally someone spoke, their voice choking in their throat, "he was such a good person, always volunteering to help everyone even with just one arm, never complaining, why does bad luck always fall on him?"

"Who did it?" Another voice rang out, thick with irrepressible anger, "Killing him wasn’t enough, they even had to take all the flesh... all..."

He couldn’t continue speaking.

"Unforgivable." Someone murmured softly, "We must find the killer."

Voices of agreement arose from the crowd.

They only knew Will for just over a month, but for those who were once homeless vagrants, this month-long bond was substantial enough.

Will was the kind who would quietly help move stones, would share the delicious mushrooms he picked with his companions.

A person like that, should have lived.

And for these vagrants who barely found a group to trust their body and soul, losing a companion felt like losing a family member.

Several impulsive young men already turned to find some handy tools, but when it came to seeking revenge, they truly didn’t know which direction to go.

Just then, footsteps sounded from behind the crowd.

Julia walked out, following behind Twelve.

"Sect Hierarch! Mushroom Envoy!" Someone immediately rushed forward, their voice full of excitement and expectation, "Take us for revenge!"

Julia raised a hand, gently pressing them down.

"No need for revenge."

The crowd momentarily fell silent, then exploded.

"Why?"

"Is Will just going to die in vain?"

"Don’t we call ourselves family? If family is harmed, not avenging them, what kind of family is that?"

Voices clamored, emotions surged. Some had tear-filled eyes, others gritted their teeth, some wished to argue but didn’t know where to start.

Amidst the chaotic noise, Twelve approached Will’s remains, extending a tentacle, wrapping around Will’s skull, giving it a slight twist.

Crack! The sound was very faint, but it silenced all voices.

Twelve cradled the skull in its hold, turning back to face the silent followers.

Its tentacles gently holding the bone, spreading a tender thought through the Fungal Network:

"Will hasn’t disappeared."

"He died upon the Fungal Mat, his devoted faith guiding his soul to the Mushroom Garden, where in the embrace of the Mushroom Lord, he finds rebirth."

"This skeleton left behind is proof his flesh has merged into the Fungal Mat."

"As for the perpetrator, they have gone to the place they must be, repaying their sins."

As Lin Jun said, Honesty was always his admirable trait.

Thus, he did not let Twelve conceal the truth about Will’s fate.

Anyway, these words, given without tangible evidence, when spread may result in one of two outcomes: either someone develops an interest in the Mushroom Worship Sect or it’s dismissed as a usual propaganda tactic of small churches to allure followers.

The congregants quieted, exchanging looks.

After all, it was the Mushroom Envoy speaking, and Will’s flesh had indeed vanished, yet some remained skeptical.

At that moment, a scene unpredictably surged into everyone’s mind.

The scene was dim, vaguely discernible as an enclosed space.

Stone walls, mushrooms growing around, and twisted human figures in the corners. Those figures were bound, their postures bizarre as if enduring something.

Compared to the dark imagery, continuous screams echoed within each person’s mind:

"No... don’t grow anymore! Give me back my body! Give it back to me... sob..."

The person trapped there seemed to be experiencing some unknown terrifying change, their shrill screams echoing incessantly.

The congregants jolted intensely. Some instinctively stepped back half a step, their complexion pale, some more faint-hearted even feeling their knees weaken, almost collapsing.

"This... is...?" Someone tremulously asked.

"The killer you were looking for," Twelve explained naturally, its tentacle still wrapped around Will’s skull, "as I said, repayment of his sin is underway."

The sound of gulping echoed all around.

After a brief silence, someone took the lead to shout: "Good!"

Soon, the crowd erupted.

Cheers arose one after another, someone ferociously waved their fist, others nodded with teary eyes, and some spat directly at the gradually fading scene.

This image projected directly into consciousness, more remarkable than Fungal Network communication, convinced the vast majority of congregants instantly.

A few still harbored some doubt, but couldn’t directly refute.

In any case, the matter of Will was essentially settled, and under Julia’s direction, his bones were buried beneath the Mushroom House.

Twelve stood aside, its tentacles still holding that skull, it was exceptionally handy to wrap, the size was perfect.

It hesitated a moment, quietly applying in the Fungal Network to converse with the reborn Will: "Well... could I keep your skull?"

This time, Will realized the thought exchange was with the Mushroom Envoy.

After understanding the situation, he sort of wanted to agree, yet felt it strange for the Mushroom Envoy to display his skull around in the future.

Twelve sensed Will’s dilemma, voluntarily chose to forgo, somewhat regretfully placing the skull back, leaving Will a complete corpse.

...

Meanwhile in the Mushroom Garden, No. 7 was guiding Will around the Garden area, teaching him how to command Puki, how to effectively use Fungal Network communication, introducing other residents of the Mushroom Garden...

He was like a model, presenting a standard training process for future Puki successors.

As the significance of faith projects increased, Lin Jun devoted more attention to the Mushroom Worship Sect.

This made their subsequent journey easier in subtle ways, the likes of thieves, rogue cults, and other troubles were preemptively handled by Lin Jun.

With intentional guidance, Lin Jun even demonstrated in the core followers’ inner ceremony, installing multiple skills in Julia, this ability akin to a divine blessing, rendered their faith even more devout.

Then, a new problem emerged.

The followers, if not deceased, couldn’t transform into Puki.

Thus, to elevate them into mushrooms, they must first die?

The result is correct, but why does the process feel awkward?

Somewhat familiar.

After contemplating, Lin Jun felt there was no need to force this, whether followers transform into Puki didn’t matter to him.

As long as they possess faith, they are permanent transferrable forces, dying sooner or later makes no difference.

The matter, however, was with the propagation of the Mushroom Worship Sect.

Certainly can’t just preach within the United Kingdom, over among the elves trying to let the newly established "Spore Society" become a channel for spreading Puki beliefs, while the Fungal Mat is not yet entirely laid over the Dwarf Mountains so there’s no hurry.

As for the Empire...

Lin Jun thought Eleanor’s territory with its blood livestock breeding grounds should be quite suitable for spreading such a belief that offers "salvation," right?

Time for Thirteen to be assigned some tasks.