"Lu Li... Yes... I remember that name... Eliminated The Time of Silence, the legendary exorcist..."

Will Ken, who was attached to the parchment, murmured in recollection.

And Lu Li remembered him too: the Old Era, during the time when the Exorcists Association, investigators, and night watchers were broadcasting as an alliance, the retired legendary scout Will Ken.

"The Time of Silence was not eliminated."

"But it turned into Silent Moments, wasn't it..."

"Why are you here, like this?" Lu Li, not intending to discuss his past, asked.

"That was a long time ago... Whether in memory or on the scale of time."

Will Ken slowly recounted his experience.

After his surviving second son Stephen died in the Bottomless Abyss, Will Ken was invited to participate in the Alliance's broadcast. When the expedition against The Time of Silence was completely wiped out, before Lu Li embarked on the path enticed by the Rope of Descent, Will Ken left the Alliance broadcast and headed to the Bottomless Abyss in the Barren Lands.

He wanted to avenge his child. Even if he failed, he could be buried alongside his son.

The journey across the desolate land exhausted this once honorable old man of all his strength; no one expected a successful revenge tale, and unsurprisingly, Will Ken fell into the Bottomless Abyss.

When he regained consciousness, he found himself as a roll of parchment, lying soaked in the swamp inside his former backpack.

The "companions" in the backpack gradually decayed and rotted, but the parchment he possessed remained intact despite its filth.

"Unable to die, unable to move, the long duration made me gradually lose myself... Am I truly Will Ken, or just a parchment gaining an exorcist's consciousness named Will Ken?"

A sigh ended the story.

"The Bottomless Abyss connects to the Swamp?" Lu Li asked.

"I don't know... After entering the Bottomless Abyss, I heard many whispers around me, as if they were surrounding me, hidden in the surrounding rock formations. Ultimately, when I lost strength, I heard Stephen's voice... I don't know if it was real."

"Young and great exorcist, you came for the Cursed Title, didn't you? I will tell you all I know..."

"We've been here too long."

Nunes suddenly interrupted them, glancing out at the low entrance: "The contestants from the Bloodline Families have noticed us, let's get out of here first."

Nunes picked up the parchment, and Lu Li left the small hut, returning to the second floor of the grocery store.

The stuffy room was silent, with the four contestants clearly divided.

Heinz Ellis from the Noble Council leaned against the wall, maintaining the greatest distance from everyone. Knight Pasha Rivas stood guard-like beside Tovani, and Ida stayed nearest to the coat rack by the door.

"Where did you take His Excellency Lulian?" Heinz Ellis was displeased with Nunes leaving them behind.

"Some private matters."

"Let's continue our previous discussion." Knight Pasha Rivas gave Lu Li a knight's salute: "His Excellency Lulian's involvement allows the Alliance to accept more contestants."

And there's no need to worry about internal betrayal.

"Hold on."

Nunes, who initiated the coalition, halted the discussion and handed the parchment to Lu Li.

After a brief pause, Lu Li extended his left hand to receive the parchment.

"There's a hidden exit in the mine area..."

Will Ken's aged voice echoed from deep within his mind.

"How do you know these things?" Lu Li pondered.

"My consciousness can extend... It can spread like air, seep like water, and stretch like branches. Perhaps it's granted by the parchment, or maybe it's my awakening of a negligible ability..."

"It's very useful."

"Thank you... You can leave the mine district through the hidden exit to avoid conflict... Trust Will."

When others cast their eyes on the unremarkable parchment, Lu Li maintained a calm voice: "There is a tunnel leading to the outside world at the bottom of the mine area, allowing us to leave without alerting the Bloodline Family Alliance."

"Escape? But we don't currently need to." Heinz Ellis frowned.

Uncharacteristically, Knight Pasha Rivas agreed: "The strength we have is enough to crush them and gain the score."

Tovani from Giant Tree Academy would only follow Lu Li's decision, while Ida, due to spider nature, excelled at lurking and plotting conspiracies.

"Everyone, let's not ignore one point." Nunes gently shook his head: "The number of contestants digging in the mine area can be counted, and we don't know how many people from the Bloodline Family Alliance are outside. Merely estimating logically: perhaps their numbers are sufficient to handle everyone."

"Are you saying the alliance was meaningless from the start?" Knight Pasha Rivas asked assertively.

"No... the alliance is the only thing we can do." Nunes answered.

"Will the Bloodline Family Alliance spare us because of Lu Li?" Ida asked, with the warts on his skin swaying as they approached maturity.

"The possibility is small."

They all heard about the conflict between the Bloodline Family Alliance and Lu Li upon entering Midnight City.

"Those stubborn, self-righteous folk will do anything for their so-called 'family honor'." Heinz Ellis understood these more arrogant and bothersome people.

"Is it confirmed?" Nunes asked Lu Li, and after getting a response, he lightly clapped his hands: "I agree to leave through the mine tunnel."

"I have no objection." Tovani immediately responded.

Unsurprisingly, no one opposed.

Lu Li and Ida would head to explore the mine tunnel, while others temporarily remained in the mine area to find teammates willing to leave with them.

"They agreed to keep the presence of Mr. Luli a secret, thus before revealing anything about Lu Li."

Heinz Ellis reminded everyone.

Evidently, the excavation core of the mine area was a forbidden zone to approach, therefore emphasizing the earth dwellers' love for money—their character stood out—as long as a suitable price was paid, they could trade anything, including life.

For some unfathomable reasons, the emphasis on money delved into their souls.

Carrying a mining lamp, descending into the dim mine tunnel via the elevator, Lu Li and Ida gradually deviated from the main paths traveled by earth dwellers and miners, following Will Ken's guidance.

"This is the mine passage, I feel it leads to the outside world..."

After confirmation, Lu Li retreated back to the elevator to wait.

...

"You'll regret refusing to form an alliance..."

Heinz Ellis sneered in a cold whisper, turning away, thus ending the last performance before heading to the mining area.

The young members of the Bloodline Families watched his fading figure in the depths of the street with haughtiness and indifference.

"Is it settled?"

Around the corner of the street, Nunes, waiting, asked.

Besides Pasha Rivas and Tovani, three contestants who agreed to join the alliance were also nearby.

"Those arrogant fools won't notice us for the time being." Heinz Ellis spoke confidently.

"Very well, it's time to rendezvous with Mr. Luli."

The Bloodline Family Alliance wouldn't understand why contestants from different factions could form an alliance.

As long as Lu Li exists, they cannot betray one another.

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