Mushroom Lord in the Underground City-Chapter 248 - 241: Return
"No way!"
Although it was a response to Inanna’s request to go out, Eric’s scrutinizing gaze was fixed intently on Aiden, who was sitting on pins and needles beside him.
To resist the fierce assault of the Demon Race, Duke Alama needed to personally oversee the High Castle Fortress. Affairs in the rear territory were fully entrusted to his most trusted steward, Eric.
Thus, the request regarding the control of the Fungal Mat by Fa’er did not need to disturb the Duke at the frontline; it only required Eric’s nod of approval.
Eric agreed with Fa’er’s request, with refugees being just one aspect of it.
The intelligence he possessed far exceeded Fa’er’s. This time, the Demon Race’s momentum was overwhelming, and the offensive was unlikely to cease soon. The Elven allies, whom great hope had been placed upon, had an ambiguous attitude, causing the food supply to become a significant risk.
Though efforts were made to procure supplies from the Archipelago, it was clearly insufficient to cover the gap.
The food shortage could potentially evolve into a long-term crisis, making it reasonable to bring such a strategic resource under control.
As for the resentment of those opportunists?
The noble Saint Claire Family couldn’t possibly care about that!
However...
His agreement did not include allowing the young lady Inanna to personally take the risk and go there!
"Why?!" Inanna looked at Eric discontentedly, her cheeks puffed up with anger.
"It’s too dangerous!" Eric’s voice brooked no argument, "Isn’t that Underground City still on the verge of collapse? How can you, miss, go to such a dangerous place?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
"I’m not going inside the Dumb Wind Town! Just on the outskirts, near the temporary camp!" Inanna twisted her fingers in her clothes, arguing with reason.
"The outskirts?" Eric’s lips tightened further, his gaze sweeping outside the window, "That place is now crowded with desperate refugees and greedy adventurers, a mix of good and bad! The Lord took most of the elite guards. Outside the manor, what can guarantee your safety?"
"I have this!" Inanna suddenly raised the knight she held in her arms high and quickly pointed at Aiden, who wished he could shrink into the wall: "And Aiden! He will protect me too!"
Aiden, suddenly called out, froze, feeling as if Eric’s knife-like gaze had pierced right through him. He barely managed to pull out a smile that was uglier than crying, feeling his scalp tingle.
"Oh?" Eric stepped forward a few steps, expressionless as he tidied his cuffs, his voice flat and calm: "If that’s the case... then let’s give it a try."
"Try...try what?" Inanna blinked her big eyes, not catching on yet.
Eric said, word by word: "Try the abilities of these two ’guards’ you rely on. As long as they can hurt me, I’ll recognize their capabilities and will no longer stop you."
Inanna looked at Eric, then turned to look at Aiden.
Aiden’s expression had completely stiffened; he desperately wanted to shake his head now.
"Alright!" Inanna replied full of confidence.
Aiden: This is not good!
...
Soon, Aiden and Knight Puki stood in the Duke’s family’s training ground.
The bluestone-paved floor shimmered with a cold, hard luster under the afternoon sun, and the rows of weapon racks around added a touch of severity.
Opposite, Eric had taken off his neat steward’s attire and donned a set of sleek, dark gray combat wear. The pair of dark, heavy metal gloves on his fists, with menacing protrusions at the knuckles, emitted a dangerous aura.
"Eric, don’t injure Puki after we start!" Inanna cupped her hands around her mouth from the stands, concerned as she made an unreasonable request as soon as she opened her mouth.
To Aiden on the field, he very much wanted to ask, could someone be concerned about whether I’ll be injured too...
Inanna waved her hand: "Start!"
Knight Puki was the first to make a move, its round, rolling body suddenly lowered, and a Mushroom Cannon, far more powerful than an ordinary Puki, suddenly blasted forth! The solid ground of the training yard instantly had a large pit blasted open!
However, amidst the billowing dust, Eric’s figure had long vanished from his original spot, moving so fast that only an afterimage was left behind.
He ignored Puki’s threat and instead pounced directly towards Mage Aiden first!
Aiden’s figure blurred, several indistinguishable phantoms splitting off from his true self, simultaneously, each "Aiden" without hesitation raised a hand, sending out several sharp Wind Blades that shrieked through the air, weaving a net aimed at the rapidly approaching steward.
"Illusion Technique?" Eric let out a low hum, his momentum paused, and his right foot stomped heavily down!
A tremendous force entered the ground, causing the ground to tremble violently, countless stones shooting out in all directions!
The stones passed through the illusory images without hindrance, prompting only one Aiden to instinctively sidestep in evasion!
Then Eric, using an Arm Guard, blocked the Wind Blades, while his right fist, encased in a metal glove, came crashing towards Aiden’s true body with a whistling force, ruthless and unyielding!
Another Mushroom Cannon shot came flying in, yet with no intention to avoid Aiden, wrapping both of them within its attack range.
No choice; Lin Jun wasn’t controlling it, and Puki’s combat style has always been indifferent to friendly fire...
Aiden cursed inwardly, and in his haste could only use a whirlwind forcibly to sweep him away awkwardly, narrowly avoiding the dual assault of the fist and Mushroom Cannon.
While airborne, he didn’t forget to toss out a few Wind Blades, attempting to block Eric’s evasion path.
Faced with this pincer attack, Eric instead spun on the spot, his fist meeting the Mushroom Cannon head-on!
A visibly condensed force emitted from his punch, slamming into the flying Mushroom Cannon!
Bang——!
The Mushroom Cannon was forcibly detonated mid-air by this formidable force; the violent energy shockwave swept out, causing Eric’s clothing to flutter noisily in the wind, yet he remained as steady as a rock.
