Chapter 314: Chapter 306: Can’t Live Without Mushrooms Anymore

A few burly laborers were shouting in unison as they exerted all their strength to stack huge stones onto the ever-growing city wall.

Beside them, mages dressed in magic robes were holding specially crafted engraving pens, and they were intently carving complex patterns into the already built wall surface, enhancing it with various strengthening and defensive runes.

Although they were called “laborers,” those capable of carrying such large stone bricks were at least copper level warriors, and their pay was naturally not insignificant.

The section of the city wall being constructed was still quite a distance from the current residential area.

This was based on an optimistic forecast of future population growth, planning out a city domain beyond its existing scale.

In this world, city walls, under the reinforcement of large composite magic arrays, became indispensable solid cornerstones of the defense system.

As long as resources and magic power were sufficiently supplied, it could even become an invincible barrier like Duke Alama’s renowned “High Castle Fortress,” able to withstand the onslaught of demon race armies.

Of course, as a back-line location, Mushroom Town’s city wall had a different focus.

Compared to absolute defense, the detection, warning, and anti-concealment magic runes engraved on it were more critical. Their main purpose was to effectively counter the infiltration and sabotage of ever-present demon race spies.

The lessons of demon race spies destroying crops were still vivid, and Fa’er did not want similar issues to arise in the mushroom fields.

Not far away, Fa’er stood with his hands behind his back, observing the progress of the city wall’s construction while listening to reports on this week’s total mushroom export volume and revenue.

Ever since the unique value of mushrooms was discovered, neighboring areas, even the royal capital, had not refrained from attempting to obtain spores to cultivate them independently.

However, for some unknown reason, those spores either couldn’t survive at all or were half-dead, barely growing into decent mushrooms.

Some suspected it was connected to the local fungal mat’s direct link with the Underground City.

In any case, in the end, they could only rely on Mushroom Town’s stable mushroom production to fill the enormous military and civilian food gaps.

After multiple failed transplantation attempts, the strategy from the Royal City became very straightforward: on one hand, they continued urging Mushroom Town to expand its cultivation scale; on the other hand, they almost monopolized all production exceeding local consumption, continuously transporting it to the front lines as an important strategic resource.

Of course, the return was also quite substantial.

In exchange, stones, magic materials, skilled mages, craftsmen, and various urgently needed supplies for Mushroom Town were generously provided by the nobles.

But Fa’er had a broader perspective. At present, the economic lifeline of Mushroom Town was entirely dependent on mushroom export, a structure too singular, which was unhealthy.

He eagerly hoped this city wall could be completed soon. Once Mushroom Town was upgraded to “Mushroom City,” he would be able to justifiably establish a comprehensive administrative and tax system, thereby developing a more well-rounded economy.

“Guild Master! Guild Master!” At that moment, an urgent shout came from afar. Mira Belle was rushing over, “You’d better return to the guild immediately! The Underground City… there’s a new situation in the Underground City again!”

…

The guild hall was bustling with people, a group of adventurers crowding outside a room, whispering and discussing, the air filled with the scent of gossip.

Inside the room, Lambert was sitting silently in a corner.

Beside him, several guild staff members were operating a complex device embedded with several magic crystals. The runes on the device surface were flowing, clearly projecting his detailed physical data.

This device could serve a function similar to the reconnaissance skill but far more detailed, able to precisely detect the skill level and physical status of the target.

However, the usage process was cumbersome and costly, usually only activated when adventurers voluntarily paid and wanted an in-depth understanding of their own status.

Having discovered his body was “molding,” Lambert rushed here the moment he exited the Underground City.

Although, apart from becoming uglier, he currently felt fine, who knew what hidden risks these things growing in his flesh might harbor?

By the time Fa’er returned, the examination report was already generated but had yet to be disclosed to Lambert.

“Guild Master, it’s parasitic!” Mira Belle quickly approached, handing the report over.

“What kind of parasite? Demon creature? Or a curse derivative?” Fa’er asked while quickly flipping through the report.

“The exact type is still unclear, it might even be some new type of skill. According to his account, it seems Puki approached him when he was on the verge of death. Our examination also confirmed that the material proliferating on his body surface and subcutaneously is indeed mycelium.”

Fa’er’s expression turned grim immediately.

He was puzzled because discovering a new type of parasitic skill shouldn’t be urgent enough to call him over.

Unexpectedly, it was related to Puki!

If it involved Puki, then it was related to the fungal mat and mushrooms; if anything went wrong…

Fa’er continued asking, “Then… what are the symptoms?”

“Uh…” Mira Belle carefully examined the report, “The mycelium seems to have actively repaired the severe damage he sustained during the battle. Additionally, the host is beginning to show a slight craving for magic power.”

Fa’er nodded; a parasitic organism repairing its host to maintain survival was understandable. The craving for magic power was likely necessary for the mycelium to maintain activity, which made sense.

“Hmm, anything else?”

“That’s it.”

“What? No harm?” This was clearly inconsistent with Fa’er’s understanding of parasites.

“The host’s thoughts are clear, he passed all spiritual assessments, showing no signs of life force being siphoned, and the currently parasitic mycelium does not hinder any of his physical functions. Overall… aside from the mycelium traces on the surface, there are temporarily no negative issues discovered.”

“?!”

“Guild Master, how should we handle this?”

Fa’er paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, then stopped, and issued rapid instructions: “Assign someone special to continuously observe all his subsequent changes, require him to come back regularly for examinations, and all costs will be covered by the guild. For now, do not include this incident in the routine report to headquarters until a clear conclusion is reached. Among other adventurers, try to guide the issue towards ’the influence of the special magic array,’ to minimize association with Puki!”

“Understood, Guild Master, but…” Mira Belle seemed a bit hesitant.

Fa’er stared at her for a moment and then said in a deep voice, “Mira Belle, Mushroom Town… no, the United Kingdom, currently cannot afford to lose the mushrooms! This parasite presently shows no explicit harm, we should avoid unnecessarily causing public panic about mushrooms and Puki! The front lines are already taut with tension, and if our mushroom supply encounters any trouble at this time, the situation would be far more severe than just one or two people being parasitized!”

He paused for a moment, then solemnly added, “Of course, our investigation into the parasitic phenomenon itself must not slacken! If there are any new findings, report directly to me immediately, at any time!”

Mira Belle nodded earnestly and went to communicate with the worried Lambert. With the help of the all-powerful gold coins, they quickly reached a consensus.

However, before dawn the next day, Fa’er was summoned from his bedroom by an urgent knock.

Standing outside the door was Mira Belle with a peculiar expression.

“Guild Master! The adventurer who was parasitized… he, he just acquired two Puki pets!”

“What?”

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