Chapter 22
Danger
The black mist sealed within instantly expanded.
Countless densely packed, foul-smelling tentacles surged out from the ping-pong ball-sized amber sphere, engulfing the dissection table and the corpse of the enchanted wolf in an instant.
The twisted mass of tentacles surged like a tide toward the silver-haired witch who was holding the iron door bolt.
Lucy was shocked.
This is bad there’s no time!
...
Knock knock knock!~
The iron door of Morgue No. 66 was knocked on, followed by a woman’s voice from outside:
“Lucy, I’m Lisa from the Advancement Society. I think we need to talk again about whether you’re going to join the Society.”
Hearing no response, Lisa raised her voice a little: “Carlton is... is a trustworthy leader. He can definitely lead us to survive.”
Knock knock... boom!
Just as Lisa lifted her hand to knock a second time, a muffled sound came from behind the door.
Immediately after, the entire iron door exploded with a loud crash, and a slender figure was thrown six or seven meters out, hitting the ground hard.
As she rolled from the impact, the semi-transparent arcane shield around Lucy dissipated into nothingness.
However, thanks to the presence of the “Basic Ring of Resistance,” Lucy did not sustain significant injuries just a pounding headache and aching all over from the tentacle’s impact.
But now was not the time to catch her breath.
Those terrifying tentacles had not been dealt with yet.
Just as she forced herself to get up and flee again, a panicked scream came from behind.
“What is this? No, help me, help!”
Lucy turned back.
She saw Lisa who had somehow appeared at the entrance of Morgue No. 66 already entangled by the swarming tentacles around both her legs.
Although she tried to activate some kind of witchcraft in her panic,
she failed repeatedly, every attempt ending in vain.
Immediately, those thick, octopus-like tentacles wrapped around her entire body.
Lisa struggled desperately, but human strength was far too feeble before such an enchanted beast.
Her muffled whimpers gradually turned into despair.
Everything happened too quickly. By the time Apprentice Karen, who was in charge of the lower levels, arrived after hearing the noise, Lisa’s body was already no different from a torn rag.
“How could an Abyssal Tentacle get into the lower morgue! What were those screening apprentices even doing… They’d better compensate me for this week’s task reward!”
Though he cursed, his hands didn’t stop. The magical energy in the air surged more intensely.
A ball of violet flame shot toward the tentacle monster.
With a deafening boom, the violet fire exploded on the filthy Abyssal Tentacle, tearing open a human-sized gash.
“...More troublesome than expected.”
Karen muttered, gritting his teeth as he hurled three more fireballs in quick succession.
Only then was the tentacled beast large as a morgue finally slain, its massive body crashing to the ground.
The heavy drain on his mental strength left Karen’s face pale and bloodless. He nudged Lisa’s lifeless, battered body with his toe, his expression filled with disgust and disdain.
“Go summon the servants to clean up. And have them fix the morgue while they’re at it.”
With that, Karen, face full of anger, leaned on his two-handed staff and headed straight to the second floor of the West Tower, clearly intent on questioning someone about the Abyssal Tentacle.
Lucy stood in front of Lisa’s corpse for a long time.
During that time, Carlton had appeared, taken one frightened glance from afar, and fled in panic clearly with no intention of dealing with Lisa’s remains.
Lucy sneered coldly in her heart. So, not joining the Advancement Society had been the right decision.
A leader unwilling even to collect a corpse who could he possibly protect?
But now wasn’t the time to indulge in stray thoughts. This tentacle monster hadn’t only killed Lisa, it had destroyed her Morgue No. 66. She needed to contact the servants to begin repairs.
Fortunately, she had already transported all her organ specimens a few days ago, so the damage was minimal.
Soon, informed servants arrived at the morgue. The massive enchanted beast’s corpse was taken away, and repair work on the morgue began with evident efficiency and experience.
...
One hourglass later.
Just as Lucy was wondering whether to return to her dormitory, Karen’s voice came from behind her.
“Lucy Felicia.”
She turned around, slightly taken aback.
Karen, having returned from the second floor, now wore a grave expression.
“Senior.”
He stared at Lucy’s delicate face for a moment before speaking: “If I were you, I’d carefully consider whether you’ve offended someone recently.”
Lucy looked at Karen in confusion, not understanding what he meant by that.
He continued, as if speaking to himself, “Someone’s been asking around about you, and most likely already knows you’re a probationary apprentice in the West Tower.”
A storm of thoughts surged through Lucy’s mind.
She had always followed the principle of keeping a low profile within the tower and had never provoked anyone or any faction.
But for someone to deliberately dig up her information clearly didn’t bode well.
Suppressing her unease, Lucy took out two magic stones from her pocket and placed them in front of Karen.
“Thank you for the warning, senior. May I ask who’s been asking about me?”
Karen didn’t even glance at the magic stones. He turned and walked toward the morgue on duty, saying:
“I only heard the news by chance. I don’t know anything more. As for the magic stones... I’m not making a deal with you. But if you survive this time, remember you owe me a favor.”
Hearing this, Lucy said no more. She put away the magic stones, gave a respectful bow, and quickly left the West Tower.
She had initially thought the incident in the morgue had been just another accident. After all, she had witnessed enchanted beasts rioting in other morgues before.
But after what Karen said, she realized the severity of the situation.
Why had there been amber spheres inside the enchanted wolf’s skull, and why had they only fallen out when she pried open the skull? Could it be that the person investigating her had planted them?
But who could she have possibly offended?
It had only been ten days since her transmigration. Apart from Talia and Nure, she had barely interacted with anyone else.
Could it be Blaji Hall, who traded the Devouring Contamination Potion in the plaza yesterday?
But she quickly dismissed that idea.
That was a consensual transaction. She had never revealed her identity, and the other party didn’t even know what she looked like. There was no reason for him to target her specifically.
Then who could it be...
If she hadn’t reacted quickly just now, if she hadn’t just completed the witchcraft model for “Magical Energy Storage,” if Lisa hadn’t happened to be right outside the door...
The one lying on the floor now, ravaged like a torn rag, would’ve been her.
Lucy had witnessed the entire process of Lisa being tortured to death. The look of despair and the blood-curdling screams would haunt anyone’s soul.
The more she thought about it, the more grave Lucy’s expression became. A killing intent began to rise within her.
The sunlight outside made her squint slightly.
Beyond the desolate courtyard, a black-robed figure stood.
Upon seeing Lucy appear, the figure turned and quickly vanished around a corner.
Lucy froze, one foot lifted in hesitation.
That figure... I’ve seen it somewhere before...