Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Territory (End of this Volume)

“Is this the disaster brought about by the… ‘Old King’?”

The ground that had been torn apart by the weight of the Old King, although it had undergone ‘self-healing’.

Yet a kind of “apocalyptic plague” had sprouted within the Gaine Forest.

The plague originated from the [Giant-Footprint (the footprint left by the foot of the King of Ghoul)], infecting and contaminating the entire forest.

The intense, apocalyptic plague had formed an ‘overlapping space’ within the area covered by the footprint. The internal plague had even conjured a consciousness, resulting in a plague organism.

One needs to delve into it, completely eliminate the plague organism, to eradicate the plague from this area.

There were thirty-nine ‘giant footprints’ found throughout the Gaine Forest.

The Holy City dispatched the Plague Knights, well known for their expertise in handling these types of disasters.

They requested that the origin of the plague be eliminated within ten days, while also having the Holy Knights Group assist. After the eradication of the plague, they would drive away the contamination over a large area with the essence of the Holy.

Han Dong, who was traveling in the [Raven Messenger’s Car], had also encountered the ‘fully armed’ Plague Knights.

The knights were dressed in peculiar ‘anti-poison clothing’, a selection of anti-poison masks customized to personal preferences, and dark robes adorned with different epaulettes.

Even their horses wore a type of anti-poison mask on their faces.

The surface of the horses had been artificially modified, with many soft tubes externally attached, seemingly facilitating the transportation of substances within the body… allowing the horses to gallop through plague infested areas unaffected.

Such a troop advancing through the forest evoked an undeniable ‘apocalyptic feel’.

“Sir, do you not need to assist the knight regiment in handling this plague disaster?”

“This level of plague disaster merely ranks tenth since the establishment of the Holy City… This Old King did not actively launch a plague, but merely left it unintentionally while pursuing you.

If led by the Great Plague Chief, all the plagues in the Gaine Forest could be cleaned up within a week.”

“Hmm…”

Listening to this, Han Dong was extremely shocked.

It seemed that at the initial establishment of the Holy City, humans had suffered unimaginable terror invasions and doomsday disasters.

The carriage sped along.

Han Dong carefully observed the situation inside the forest.

The cracks in the earth had healed, leaving only a scar-like streak on the surface of the ground.

Moreover, the trees contaminated by the plague were also, through their own ‘miniature suction cup structure’, gradually expelling the plague that had penetrated the tree trunks, in a bid to survive.

“Strange… why do I feel like the earth and the forest itself have a strong self-healing ability? They resist the foreign plague to the best of their abilities, even if it can only delay death.”

Mr. Black White briefly explained: “Yes, the world dominated by the ‘Old King’ has indeed changed… even forests, mountains, and rivers that are not managed by ‘land deeds’ have certain regenerative abilities.

As long as the level of destruction is within their tolerance, the land will repair itself.

Otherwise, if it were still the world two hundred years ago, it would have been incapable of withstanding the existence of various ‘higher beings’… as organisms evolve, so too must the world.”

“I see.”

Listening to Mr. Black White’s explanations, Han Dong became more interested in this world.

“So, regions managed by ‘land deeds’, wouldn’t their ability to self-heal be even stronger?”

As the carriage left the forest,

The view that heralded Han Dong’s eyes was that of an intact ‘Stuart Manor’.

The wheat fields, towns, graveyards, and the old castle were all restored to their original state, as if nothing had happened here.

Of course.

Self-restoration is confined only to the most basic earth, wood, stone, and water.

Dr. Swollen’s factory will not recover.

As soon as Han Dong stepped on this land, he felt as if the entire area was integrated with himself, capable of monitoring every inch of the land’s details at any time.

Almost simultaneously,

Dr. Swollen, riding atop his favorite Ghoul mount made of iron, hurriedly arrived before Han Dong from the closest underground passage.

“Lord Messenger!!”

As Dr. Swollen kneeled, he glanced fearfully at the Raven Carriage on the side.

“Doctor, don’t worry… This is my mentor in the Holy City – Mr. Black White. If not for his help, my identity might have already been exposed.”

“Lord Messenger’s tutor, greetings!!”

Mr. Black White stepped off the carriage.

A sweat-like thick secretion constantly overflowed from the pores of the doctor’s large head.

Due to the doctor’s exceptional brainpower, his perception was stronger than that of his peers among Different People, and he could intuitively sense Mr. Black White’s strength.

With just a wave of his hand, he could make anyone’s head roll off.

“Mr. Messenger, how have you considered the ‘defense issue’ I mentioned last time?

Beyond me, all of the family executives are dead, and the [Maternal Body] was taken away by the previous King.

We need to replenish the manor with personnel strong enough for defense as soon as possible, and the residents… I’m afraid that I alone won’t be able to protect the area.”

As soon as the Doctor had finished asking this question…

Caw caw caw!

The cry of countless crows came from the forest area.

Headed by four ‘Crowman Elders’ and of the same scale as the last convoy… the entire tribe, tens of thousands of Crowmen, left the forest area and came to Stuart Manor.

“Doctor, are these new residents enough?”

As the swollen doctor stared at the four Crowman Elders who had reached the ‘Demon’ level, his head sweated profusely in fright.

“Enough, enough! That’s more than enough… By the way, in your absence, who will manage the affairs of the manor?”

The doctor was a still some distance from reaching the ‘Demon’ level.

Therefore, Doctor was very concerned about his future status in the manor, whether he would become a laborious research staff.

“Just the same…Doctor, you are the [Director] of the underground area.

As for the Crowmen who fully inhabit the manor, the four elders together will be responsible for the management and security of the ground area.

The position of the elders is just like yours, Doctor.”

Caw Caw Caw

Giving the Crowman tribe such a sanctuary was the greatest blessing Han Dong could offer them… and with this arrangement, the elders had no objections.

And, everyone has their own strengths.

In some respects, the role of the swollen doctor is far more potent than that of the Crowman elders.

The doctor would later launch the Crowman Enhancement Project, which would seek to address the lacking physical aspects of the Crowmen in a series of experiments and modifications once the underground experimental zone was completed.

A mutually beneficial relationship is established between the two.

“Thank you… thank you Mr. Messenger! I will… satisfy all the requests made by you.”

Being trusted so much and being able to sit on the same platform with the Crowmen who had reached the [Demon] level.

For a moment, the doctor was so excited that he teared up, tears filled with impurity spilling from his eyes.

“First, try to rebuild the lab using the current resources in combination with the Crowmen… I will gradually establish a supply channel.”

“Okay!”

Speaking to this point, Han Dong turned to the four lead Crowman Elders.

“Gentlemen, from now on, this is your new home.”

At his words…

Tens of thousands of Crowmen kneeled together, their bodies enveloped in black feathers, expressing their sincerest gratitude.

At the same time, Han Dong took out five nearly identical ‘land deeds’ from his backpack.

He gave them to the four elders and the swollen doctor respectively.

“You don’t need to know which ‘land deed’ is real, just keep them in the most secret place you believe secure, ensuring that no one can steal it.

I might not have many opportunities to leave the city in the future, so the manor is all yours to manage.”

“Don’t worry, we are determined to guard this land for you.” The elders emitted a terrifying aura, expressing their loyalty and determination.

Of course.

The Crowman elders also occasionally glanced at Mr. Black White with the eyes beneath their feathers.

They could perceive a sense of kinship from him, but his level was far above theirs… just staring at his black mask could make their feathers tremble with nervousness.

Mr. Black White looked at the grand scene of tens of thousands of Crowmen kneeling in homage, and a smile unknowingly appeared beneath his mask. He spoke to the other person in his heart:

“White, this is my choice.”