Archibald and Leopold exchanged nces, both keenly aware of what the approaching group was there for.


    They were looking for them!


    "One might say this mountain has always been unlucky, just burn it all down and be done with it," one person grumbled, clearly unhappy and not wanting to waste time here.


    "If you''re so tough, why don''t you set it on fire yourself? I''d like to see how you''d exin that to the others afterward," another retorted with augh, slowly walking toward their direction.


    As the group approached, both Archibald and Leopold grew anxious, fearing they might be discovered.


    They were just about to look for an opportunity to escape when unexpectedly, the group stopped.


    "Let''s just call it quits; there''s nothing worth seeing ahead. Let''s not waste more time here."


    "You''re right, with all those disgusting things up on the mountain, if they are still alive, they''re probably not faring well anyway."


    After this, the people turned and walked away, cursing and grumbling as they left.


    "This time''s offering is really bad luck! If the deity mes us because of this, we''re screwed!"


    "Exactly! I heard even the brides ran off, such bad luck. Those pretty girls, had we known, we should''ve had our way with them first!"


    "Forget it, even if those girls were avable, we wouldn''t be the first in line anyway. It''s always the old timers who get their turn before us."


    Hearing these words, both men shuddered.


    They suddenly felt grateful that they had managed to rescue Isabe and Amelia this time.


    They also felt a heavy burden.


    They had indeed rescued them this time, but what about those who hadn''t been saved?


    They dared not think about what had happened in this ce before.


    The two waited until the surroundings werepletely silent before they left.


    "This is really bad luck!" Leopold cursed.


    Archibald was furious too, but he held it back.


    "We can''t mess up big brother''s ns. Let''s scout the entire hilltop as he instructed, find what he mentioned, and then we can head back!"


    Both men suppressed their disgust and remained silent, resolutely.


    Right, they had toplete the mission first.


    Even if there were distasteful things, they had to endure them!


    Isabe and Amelia had not encountered anyone searching the mountain and quicklypleted the tasks John had given them.


    Time swiftly approached evening.


    Several people, along with their clones, gathered at the edge of the back mountain, ready to dash out at the first signal from John.


    John himself had also returned to the back mountain for a brief moment, positioning his clones nearby.


    He found that these overseers actually possessed some intelligence and could engage in some level ofmunication, though it might be challenging.


    "Why hasn''t the vige chiefe yet? He didn''t go drinking again, did he? To dy such an important matter," a priest dressed almost entirely in white robes frowned.


    [Name: Godfall Vige High Priest]


    [Level: lv50]


    [Skills: Pray, Godfall]


    [Description: A high priest whomunicates between reality and illusion, possessing the power to converse with the deity.]


    The deity?


    John scoffed when he read the description.


    What kind of deity was this?


    They knew better than anyone!


    "The priest! It''s terrible, the vige chief is dead!"


    At that moment, a man came scrambling from the direction of the vige chief''s house, his face full of panic, and his body stained with some blood.


    "What chaos, what exactly happened? Calm down and exin!"


    The priest''s face darkened instantly as the captain beside him stepped forward and grabbed the man.


    "I was wondering why the vige chief hadn''t shown up for so long, so I thought to go to his house to call him, but I didn''t expect... I didn''t expect that the vige chief was already dead!"


    A murmur erupted almost instantly, and everyone around couldn''t help but react vocally, their expressions turning to sheer panic.


    "The vige chief... his head has been chopped off, there''s blood everywhere, it''s so terrifying, truly horrifying!"


    The viger looked as if he had witnessed something dreadfully horrific, his body shaking uncontrobly, rambling incoherently.


    The surrounding vigers grew even more frightened, their bodies trembling non-stop, mumbling something under their breath.


    "Great deity, please protect us!"


    "With the deity''s protection, we fear nothing!"


    "It will be alright, surely it will be alright, as long as the deity is with us, we fear nothing!"


    Although they spoke these words, their eyes betrayed a flicker of panic.


    It was clear that something about their mood was off, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what.


    "Silence!"


    The High Priest was visibly displeased with themotion around him, his face showing a hint of displeasure.


    After he spoke, the others instantly quieted down, though their bodies continued to tremble slightly.


    "The ritual is about to begin, and I will not allow anyone to disrupt it! You all know the consequences if the deity bes angered!"


    At the mention of this, everyone fell silent, trembling like quails frozen in ce.


    John watched everything from a distance, his mind filling with doubts.


    If all these vigers were followers of the dark god, then why were they so terrified of this so-called great deity?


    He now understood that this supposed deity primarily drew power from the pain and negative emotions of these people.


    But now it seemed that things were not quite as he had thought...


    It appeared that these so-called vigers and followers were merely bait for this great deity.


    "But... but now we don''t even have an offering, how are we supposed to continue?"


    Someone said this, and the High Priest''s expression immediately turned stern, his gaze sharply turning in that direction.


    The person quickly lowered their head, trying to make themselves as small as possible, as if fearing being noticed.


    They were shaking all over.


    "Without an offering, do you think we cannot continue? What was the situation before? Have you all forgotten?"


    After the priest said this, everyone trembled, not daring to speak another word.


    They were afraid of drawing the fire onto themselves!


    The High Priest, utterly indifferent, instead sneered and pointed at a few people in the crowd, who immediately copsed to the ground.


    "High Priest, my family has been loyally devoted to the great deity for many years; we have always striven to do everything right. You can''t abandon me now; I have the elderly and young ones at home. If you sacrifice me, how will they survive?"


    "High Priest, please spare me. I will strive toplete all the tasks you assign; I will not falter. Please, I beg you, spare my life!"


    The people whose names were called out wailed nonstop, and John, watching this scene unfold, saw a faint ck smoke slowly rising from these people and floating in the air.


    This ck smoke was very subtle, almost invisible unless looked at closely.


    The smoke gathered in the air and slowly drifted towards the altar.


    He noticed that a wooden statue had somehow appeared there, covered with a red cloth just like the ones outside.


    Although it was hard to see what this statue was exactly, John felt that it was identical to the ones outside, without any difference!


    It seemed that destroying this statue was key to their mission this time.


    John had a good idea of what he needed to do now, but he forcefully controlled his emotions, keeping himself from getting too excited.


    He felt that some things had to wait until the ritual started before they could truly bring everything to an end.