Mushroom Lord in the Underground City-Chapter 358 - 350: Dawn of the Low Tier Evil Mage

Deep Area, in a dim cave, there echoes a discordant noise.

"Help! Help us! Let us go!" A tall, skinny figure and his companions, tightly bound by mycelium, are almost immobile, squeezed together like sheep and pigs awaiting slaughter, emitting cries of terror.

"Scream! Go ahead and scream! Scream until your throat is raw, but no one will come to save you! Hahaha!" A terrifying, inhuman voice rings out. The cave falls briefly silent, then erupts into more desperate wails.

Little Pig disdainfully folds her arms, frowning: "So noisy, boss, do you really have to tease them like this?"

"Such a spoil sport!" Though complaining, Lin Jun grants Little Pig’s request.

Hallucinogenic Spores quietly disperse, and the cries within the cave quickly dwindle to silence, leaving only heavy breaths and occasional unconscious muttering.

After a bit of "processing," not long after, a "Delicious Tall Skinny figure" brimming with strange allure is freshly baked.

Little Pig carefully takes a sip of crimson liquid and places it in her mouth.

As the liquid flows down her throat, Little Pig’s entire body shudders violently, as if shocked by electricity!

She tightly closes her eyes, tilts her head back, savoring some ultimate flavor, remaining still for a long time.

Lin Jun hastily asks, "How is it?"

Little Pig slowly opens her eyes, gazing again at the unconscious tall skinny figure with a gaze utterly transformed, as if staring at a rare treasure unrivaled in the world!

"Boss," her voice trembles slightly with excitement, "I can say without exaggeration, if you send this person to the Empire, there’s really a chance a high-ranking Vampire will trade an entire city for him! Of course, more likely they might fight over it..."

"Is it really that valuable?" Lin Jun is also shocked.

Little Pig nods vigorously, her tone utterly certain: "Boss! This is truly unique Delicious blood!"

Still [Delicious Level 8]!

Lin Jun ponders for a moment, finding this assessment quite reasonable.

Using cups engraved with Preservation Magic, she fills several jars, hands them to Keroro, and sends them back through Duke’s spy network, marking their importance as highest level.

...

Meanwhile, in the Crimson Tower.

Sigmund is frowning, browsing an ancient tome on Soul Essence and Stripping Technique.

On his spacious desk, books of similar themes are piled mountain-high.

His newly appointed adjutant stands respectfully beside him, reporting the latest progress on "recruiting Abyss Magic users."

The previous adjutant, who began to suspect him, has long been maneuvered by Sigmund through the means of a secret demotion, to oversee the tedious and trivial logistics work.

This new adjutant knows nothing of Duke’s "abnormalities," instead believing access to core affairs is a tremendous trust.

Regarding the antics of that "cohabitant" within his body, using his name as an instrument for personal gain, leaving him to clean up the mess, Sigmund chooses to turn a blind eye, temporarily tolerating the other’s machinations.

In return, as part of this mutual understanding of "non-interference," Lin Jun does not stop Sigmund from reading these soul knowledge texts, even though Lin Jun knows Sigmund seeks to find ways to completely eliminate or at least expel this uninvited guest.

Under this strange and fragile balance, the two maintain a "roommate" relationship, alternating use of the body, pursuing their respective plans.

As for the fate of those Low Tier Evil Mages, no one cares.

However, in reality, the recruitment plan issued proceeds unexpectedly smoothly.

-----------------

Half-demon Valen tightens the edges of his worn mage robe, his gaunt face marked with fatigue and a desperate urgency. In his sunken eye sockets, his eyes gleam with an unusual light upon seeing the recruitment announcement not long ago.

Duke Sigmund... openly recruiting Evil Mages, even setting no Level restrictions!

This news, like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, has stirred vast waves among those Low Tier Evil Mages struggling in the Empire’s shadowy corners.

Valen decides almost without hesitation; he must go!

Though Evil Mages are not explicitly banned or hunted down as they are in the Human Realm, this doesn’t mean they have any good reputation here.

Their numerous "glorious deeds," often resulting in their own demise and taking half a lab or a team with them, make them, in most people’s eyes, akin to walking unstable explosive runes.

Especially the Low Tier Evil Mages.

Those who survive long enough to become High Tier Evil Mages have generally figured out relatively reliable casting methods. It’s usually these mages that the Empire is truly willing to accept and collaborate with.

Clearly, Valen does not belong among the High Tier Evil Mages.

Just last week, he nearly exhausted all his savings to buy seven strong slaves from a black market merchant, dragging them to his secret laboratory.

He was brimming with confidence to conduct an experiment he deciphered from a damaged ancient tome, supposedly to summon and control some evil being.

The result... was a complete disaster!

The ritual’s energy went completely out of control at the last moment, and those seven slaves couldn’t even manage a full scream before detonating.

The laboratory still reeks with a lingering scent of blood, and clearing out those fragments nearly made him vomit.

Not only did the experimental materials become a total loss, but there was no money left to purchase new "consumables."

The creditors have already started knocking, and he knows if he can’t come up with the money, he won’t fare much better than those slaves.

In this desperate moment, he saw the Duke’s recruitment order.

To serve the Duke!

This means stable funding, plenty of precious materials, and most importantly, protection!

As for the danger?

Valen scoffs, could it be any worse than now?

Dying in the Duke’s mission might even be better than being captured by debt collectors to become a slave.

The thought of Duke intentionally tricking him is something he didn’t even consider!

Even in this dog-eat-dog environment of the Empire, public credit is still an unquantifiable asset of great significance.

A distinguished Duke would surely not sacrifice his own reputation just to deceive these insignificant Low Tier Evil Mages who can’t even yield much profit, right?

He’s more worried about the competition!

The announcement says no limit on numbers, but it’s easy to imagine that the Duke wouldn’t really keep a large group of failures like him?

In the end, likely only the most excellent or fortunate one or two will remain.

Seeing those around him who came with hope, registering for the recruitment, their eyes show the same vigilance and calculations.

Regardless, this is his last chance. He must seize this precious opportunity!