Chapter 118: Mind Flayer
Anse turned to look, and several adventurers were standing at the door, among them a warrior wearing scale armor who looked particularly familiar, with a square face and big head, very recognizable.
He immediately remembered; this was the warrior who had attacked the slave ship together with Ragna and Tich and others.
“Matthew?”
“It’s me. I didn’t expect to meet you here.” Matthew grinned broadly and strode over.
Anse was somewhat surprised and was about to speak when the holy symbol on his chest suddenly grew hot and burning, reacting intensely.
His scalp tingled; he casually scanned the surroundings without drawing attention. There were no other abnormalities nearby, only Matthew continuing to approach. As the distance shortened, the holy symbol grew even hotter.
‘Something’s wrong.’
He was highly tense and quietly mobilized his mana, ready for combat at any moment.
“Something happened in Silver Scale Bay; I was worried about you for a long time. How did you get here? How is Ragna?” he said with a smile.
“I don’t know either. That night was too chaotic; we all fled for our lives. I didn’t stop, passed through Cloak Forest, followed the coastal road all the way here, and ran into you right after entering the city. What luck, haha…”
Matthew laughed happily, talking nonstop and describing in detail how he had fled to this place.
“I see.” Anse kept smiling, but he sensed something odd in his mind.
He remembered Matthew as a rather silent warrior who didn’t talk much.
Moreover, his expression and gaze felt somewhat discordant, always seeming… a beat slow, though the rich expressions diluted this influence.
“Are you alone?” Matthew asked with a smile, his gaze constantly scanning Anse and the surroundings.
“Just me; I just arrived too.” Anse lied without batting an eye. “You know, I have a horse; it runs fast.”
“It’s too dangerous for you alone. Why not join us? We can watch each other’s backs.” Matthew pointed to the adventurers outside the door, his expression sincere.
“That sounds great. Where are you staying? Leave me the address, and I’ll bring my luggage to find you after I’m done.” Anse showed some excitement on his face.
The halfling nearby looked peculiar, glancing at this one then that one, his mustache twitching, holding back uncomfortably.
He had initially thought it was a heartwarming reunion, but the more he listened, the more off it seemed.
This mage had clearly flown here from Jacqueline Castle; many people had seen it, and he definitely hadn’t just arrived.
Matthew seemed oblivious, patting his chest in a very righteous manner: “We’ll help you.”
“No need for that.” Anse appropriately showed a hint of reluctance.
Matthew also noticed his own excessive enthusiasm and could only chuckle dryly: “Then get busy. We’re staying at the Wyvern Inn. Remember to come.”
“Drinks tonight.” Anse waved with a smile in farewell.
Seeing this, Matthew had no choice but to wave and leave, looking back every three steps.
At this moment, the dice spun rapidly and finally detected target information:
【Possessed mind flayer, miniature aberration, challenge rating 2】
‘Mind flayer!’ Anse’s heart jolted.
Once Matthew disappeared through the door, he decisively activated the true sight ring. This thing was great in every way, except that using it left mana spiritual light in his eyes, a bit conspicuous.
He hurried to the door in a few steps, crouched by the doorframe, and peered out at Matthew’s retreating figure.
Matthew was still humanoid, but his skin was dull, his life spiritual light abnormally dim, with only unusually active psionic fluctuations in his head. Dark purple threads like tentacles spread everywhere, wrapping his entire body—utterly horrifying.
‘A mind flayer has come to Dulag! One or a horde…’ Anse quickly withdrew his gaze and ducked back inside the door.
Looking down, he saw the halfling also leaning out, peeking around the doorframe.
He yanked him back and tossed him aside, then half-crouched on the ground, his expression shifting uncertainly.
‘Could the mind flayers be targeting this place?’
It was well known that mind flayers were the minions of mind flayers; they devoured other creatures’ brains and manipulated their masterless husks to serve their mind flayer creators.
After consuming the target’s brain, they learned everything the target knew, including spells and languages, then teleported into the skull to control the body.
Imagine if your friends or passersby nearby could all be mind flayers—how terrifying that would be.
“Distinguished guest?” The halfling jumped in fright, looking at Anse in surprise, at a loss.
“Where is the Wyvern Inn?” Anse’s expression was serious.
“South Gate street corner; you can see it as soon as you go in.” The halfling quickly replied, “It’s a rundown little inn where low-level adventurers stay…”
“Mm. Don’t tell anyone about what just happened!” Anse grabbed a handful of coins from his pocket and stuffed them into the halfling’s arms. “Recruit people as I just told you—more the better. I’ll come back tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, no problem, distinguished guest. Don’t worry.” The halfling hurriedly covered the coins with his two furry little hands, beaming with joy.
Anse cast a spell right in front of him, transforming into an adventurer in a hooded robe with an ordinary face, then merged into the crowd on the main street, eyes wide, quietly observing everywhere.
Until the ten minutes of true sight ended, he found no second person like Matthew.
‘Good, good…’ He didn’t linger and headed straight out to Jacqueline Castle.
True sight was extremely powerful: it could see through darkness produced by magic or non-magic, spot invisible creatures and objects, pierce illusions, and directly see through transformed creatures and their true forms.
It could even see into the Ethereal Plane!
Dice detection required concentration and took time, while true sight swept everything at a glance, making it more practical for large-scale searches.
‘What a pity, Matthew.’ Anse sighed inwardly.
The initial joy of reunion had turned into an indescribable lament.
Nearing the castle, he teleported out Giant Tail and Nolnos, having them wait outside, then dropped his disguise and headed straight for the main keep.
“Where is Illyas?” He stopped a waiter; his grave tone made the other’s expression tense.
“Miss should be in her room. Follow me.” The waiter proactively led the way, attitude deferential.
This one might be the future master; slacking off would just bring trouble on himself.
Anse followed the waiter upstairs, then realized Illyas’s room was right above his own—which meant he wasn’t staying in guest quarters.
“Knock knock knock…” The waiter gently rapped on the door.
After a good while, footsteps came from inside; the door opened, revealing Illyas’s languid face.
Her hair was disheveled, and she wore pajamas wrapped tightly around her, quite conservative.
Seeing Anse, her body stiffened, then she casually straightened her hair, stepped aside from the door, and gestured for him to enter.
The waiter had already tactfully left.
“You didn’t sleep last night? Sleeping in the middle of the morning?” Anse looked at her suspiciously, not entering.
Illyas rolled her eyes at him: “Something?”
“I found a mind flayer, right here in Dulag.” Anse said gravely.
Illyas’s face changed drastically; she unconsciously straightened up. She had received formal mage training since childhood and was knowledgeable, not like some wild sorcerer.
“Are you sure?” It wasn’t distrust of Anse; this kind of thing could never be too cautious.
“It possessed one of my friends and called out to me on the street, and that friend came from Silver Scale Bay…
I searched with true sight; for now, only one.” Anse briefly explained the situation.
Illyas no longer doubted; Anse had even detected an invisible high-level rogue before, so having such abilities or equipment was perfectly normal.
“Wait for me a moment.”
She closed the door and emerged moments later, now properly dressed.
