I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 633 - 633 632. Get some real stuff_1

Chapter 633: 632. Get some real stuff_1 Chapter 633: 632. Get some real stuff_1 Obtaining a part of the Sludge Monster was, of course, very difficult.

Stone, who once fought alongside the Sludge Monster, knew very well that although these monsters seemed to be everywhere, as ubiquitous as mud, in reality, every bit of mud was a complete individual. They certainly would not move while leaving traces behind, let alone the possibility that the one in this mansion might no longer be the original Sludge Monster.

Lu Ban had encountered Sludge Monsters at Nanhua Private Renji Hospital, in the Wasteland, and in Abandoned Capital, and it was clear that they were not the same kind. There was a continuous relationship of improvement between them.

For example, the initial one from the Wasteland was the original species, directly evolved from the Clan of an Ancient Overlord, but after being modified and merged with humans, it developed a powerful mimicry ability, even capable of disguising as humans and transforming into swarms of insects.

The one from Nanhua Private Renji Hospital evolved the ability to create a certain type of Foreign Domain space, using it to hunt humans and capture souls.

As for the one involved in the “Glass Flower” mission, it could already communicate and cooperate with humans to a certain extent, becoming a tool for humans.

These different Sludge Monsters might represent various evolutionary choices, and Lu Ban was unclear about which had appeared first.

The one in Storm Villa was clearly of a higher caliber, at least strongly related to Taoist Crane Cry. And according to Lu Ban’s knowledge, Taoist Crane Cry had also encountered another Ancient Overlord, suffered from severe Pollution, and the Sludge Monsters he created or summoned were likely far beyond the previous level.

“It’s difficult for us to use a part of this sludge to find it, but there is something else.”

Stone said.

“Gaude’s corpse.”

“…You mean, his internal organs?”

Shia realized with a start.

“Yes, Gaude is dead, and his internal organs have vanished without a trace. There has to be somewhere they ended up. If the Sludge Monster ingested them, then by tracking Gaude, we can pinpoint the location of his organs.”

Stone suggested, reasoning that even if the organs had been assimilated by the Sludge Monster, they were still Gaude’s organs. Since the Sludge Monster didn’t leave any droplets behind, they had no choice but to start from this poor victim.

With that thought, the three of them immediately headed to Gaude’s room.

The body hadn’t disappeared and still lay on the bed in a tragic posture. As a whole night had passed and the outside was stormy, the environment inside was damp. Gaude’s body had started to decay, emitting a strong, foul odor on top of the stench of blood—a smell like salted fish that had been forgotten on a cutting board for several days. One whiff would make a person vomit immediately.

Even in the hallway, the smell had already spread.

Stone frowned slightly, took out a mask and gloves from his coat pocket, put them on, and approached the body.

Immediately after, a small notebook materialized in Stone’s hand. At the same time, his gloved right hand reached toward Gaude’s body and grasped a handful of decaying flesh.

“How disgusting.”

Lu Ban commented.

“Shut your mouth.”

Stone cast a glance at Lu Ban as the decaying flesh in his hand was already half rotten, presenting a semi-solid paste that stuck to his hand in a nauseating way. In Lu Ban’s world, a normal person would probably have to wash for three days and nights straight to get rid of the psychological effects of touching such things.

But at that moment, several lines of text and rough sketches appeared in Stone’s notebook.

Stone quickly realized that it was a schematic of Storm Villa, and the place indicated by the schematic was the cellar below.

Within the cellar, Gaude’s internal organs were placed.

As to what state those organs were in, that was difficult to say.

The three exchanged glances.

It was still morning, and there were several days left until the Soul Summoning Night, so they had plenty of time to investigate.

Stone was the first to find the old housekeeper and express his intention to investigate Storm Villa and obtained the key to the cellar.

The underground wine cellar was located downstairs, and each manor tended to have one such cellar. Sometimes, the wine collection itself was part of the estate’s value, with some wealthy individuals even purchasing entire villas specifically for the precious wines stored within.

Storm Villa, however, did not have such a reputation.

The wine cellar here was ordinary, even rudimentary. The farther down one went, the damper it became, with the moss in the corners and peeling plaster on the walls becoming increasingly noticeable.

Descending further, the stench, akin to that which might rise from the ocean’s depths, grew more pungent. The place seemed permeated with seawater, moistening the very air itself.

In such conditions, Lu Ban certainly did not believe fine wine could be stored.

Not going moldy was already fortunate enough.

However, during Earth’s Middle Ages, wine was indeed widely consumed by the wealthy and nobility to prevent the spoilage of water. The wine of that era resembled watered-down fruit juice, bland and flavorless, so perhaps there really were some fine wines hidden in this cellar after all.

Arriving at the wine cellar’s entrance, Lu Ban could only smell the persistent, briny dampness of the sea; no scent of blood or putrefaction was present.

Using a key, they opened the old and solid wooden door to reveal a cellar full of oak barrels.

The air here was even better than outside; there was the faint aroma of oak and the smell of dust.

Mr. Bronning must not have been very fond of drinking.

Lu Ban knocked on one of the barrels, eliciting a dull echo.

The barrel sounded full, which made one eager to open it and taste the contents.

The three made a quick round of the wine cellar and, as evident, found neither Gaude’s insides nor any sign of the Sludge Monster.

Stone opened his ghostly notebook.

His gaze shifted across each barrel until it finally settled on one situated in the middle of the rack.

Drawing his revolver, Stone gestured with his eyes toward that particular oak barrel.

Shia raised her hand, ready to cast magic at any moment.

Lu Ban took out “Testament.” If the other party dared resist, he was ready to deliver a true chant of the Ancient Overlord on them.

“I’ll go.”

Shia said, as the strongest fighter among the three, she took the lead.

That oak barrel appeared unremarkable, no different from the other wine barrels.

Shia first employed a Detection Spell, but the feedback was not significant.

Approaching the barrel with caution, Shia placed her hand in front of it, where the air twisted in her palm.

[Mistral’s Void Burst Spell]

The astonishingly destructive spell hit the oak barrel in a sudden burst.

Before Stone could even react, the barrel exploded.

There was no splattering of wine, though. Instead, Stone saw a person curled inside the barrel.

The individual, looking to be in their thirties, was scrawny with high cheekbones and hair that was a withered yellow. He seemed as if he had been forcefully stuffed into the barrel and had jumped out due to the explosion.

Upon seeing Lu Ban and the others, he immediately raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

“Don’t kill me, I was invited here, my name is Byron.”