Chapter 23

Ranger Karl knelt and unfolded a paper package on his knees, being very careful not to spill its contents. His movements were slow and steady, with a special rhythm, even exuding a sense of sanctity.

After carefully picking through it, he found the part that satisfied him, pinched it gently with three fingers, and placed it on a reed leaf beside him. The wind picked up in the forest, and the keen-eyed ranger caught it even before it reached the tree hollow. His hands, swift and agile like hummingbirds, hurriedly rolled up the paper package on his knees to prevent the mischievous wind from stealing it.

Then, he rolled the reed leaf into a tube and put it in his mouth. A smoldering piece of wood was brought close, lightly touching the far end of the reed leaf, and immediately a wisp of blue smoke rose. Karl squinted his eyes, his breathing becoming slow and deep, and the worries in his heart seemed to dissipate with the smoke.

The old dog hated it when the ranger smoked. It always made its nose itchy and caused it to sneeze. He moved his body away, crouching down to avoid the smoke. He still had a few more years to live and didn't dare get too close to the toxins.

Although his animal companion disliked his habit, Ranger Karl didn't think smoking was a big problem. He had a light addiction and was very picky, especially fond of a type of tobacco called "Fairy Fireworks." This tobacco was only produced in one place in the world: the Healthy Forest.

The Healthy Forest was vast, providing shelter for a large number of creatures, including a gnome village. They had lived there long before human and dwarf pioneers established villages at the edge of the forest, always using various illusions to hide the location of their village. They only communicated with the rangers of the deep forest and some trusted druids to obtain information from the outside world. Otherwise, they lived in isolation.

"Trouble won't come if you don't provoke it." This saying was a bit too optimistic, but the gnomes lived by it, strictly guarding the secret of their village's location. Now, the gnome village had a population of two thousand, making it a large town, but to outsiders, the existence of the village was still a mystery.

"Fairy Fireworks" was a product of the gnome village, primarily used not for smoking but as a magical ingredient for casting certain illusion spells.

"It's been a long time since I last had it, about half a year, I think." Karl gently blew out a smoke ring, then coughed hard. "I don't seek you out, and you don't come out. You just stay in that place, don't you ever get bored?"

"We have many things to do, so we don't get bored." A gnome spoke, sitting cross-legged on the ground, his back against the ranger's large python. With a big head, small body, short limbs, round eyes, and three tufts of goatee, he said, "Mr. Ranger, the elder sent me to assist you, but didn't tell me what the matter was. Can you tell me now?"

"Some bad news has come from Viper Cliff Castle. Some scavengers saw strange black shadows there. Setting aside the exaggeration due to fear, I think their description of the black shadows is very similar to the Enraged Servants." Karl took a deep drag, almost inhaling the entire reed leaf into his lungs. Thick smoke came out of his ears, and the gnome, seeing this, quickly covered his upturned mouth with his fingers.

Clearing his throat, the gnome barely restrained his impatience and spoke in a calm tone. "It's still this troublesome matter? The demon priest's relics haven't been found yet? Viper Cliff Castle was destroyed three hundred years ago, but during these three hundred years, Enraged Servants have appeared from time to time. We want to know when this problem will be completely resolved."

"Your elders have also personally explored Viper Cliff Castle, but they couldn't find the Mask of Chaos either." Karl was somewhat impatient, and the gnome's attitude annoyed him. He had his own troubles, and his head was full of questions with no one to answer them. What happened between the missing Soru and the injured Mike? What about the bloodstains and the missing weapons? Why were some small animals brutally killed, but the big white goose "Sausage" was unharmed?

Yesterday, he sent the python to the gnome village for help. This afternoon, he left for a while to patrol the forest and meet the returning python. When he returned home, he saw a mess. The chaotic marks on the grass indicated a fierce battle, but there were only half-orc bloodstains on the ground. Mike was just a novice in combat and should not be a match for Soru. So who injured the half-orc, and where did he go?

"Enraged Servants don't leave that area unless they accumulate a certain number, so as long as they are eliminated early, there won't be much of an impact. I'll go to Viper Cliff Castle in a couple of days to check the situation, but I need the Radiant Gem Amulet now." Karl extended his hand to the gnome, but the gnome seemed not to understand.

"Radiant Gem Amulet, don't tell me you didn't bring it!" Karl's eyebrows rose, and he clenched his fists: "Only the amulet's protection against evil and calming effects can control the influence of the Enraged Servants; otherwise, the danger there is too high!"

"Of course, I brought the amulet, but this time is different. I will bring the amulet and go with you." The gnome shook his head and smiled slightly. "The elders believe that perhaps the Mask of Chaos will only reveal itself when the Enraged Servants appear. In the past, simply clearing out the Enraged Servants was treating the symptoms, not the root cause. The longer it drags on, the greater the impact on our community. So this time, I will go with you. Let me introduce myself again, I am the village's best spellcaster, Greens Mumu."

"This is different from the original agreement. The rangers of the deep forest protect the Healthy Forest from evil, and the residents here must provide timely assistance."

The gnome raised his index finger and waved it. "I am the assistance?"

"The Radiant Gem Amulet is the assistance, you will just be a hindrance!" Ranger Karl was blunt: "Your village has been isolated for a long time, using illusions to hide and avoid. No one has real combat experience. Taking you to the battlefield would be better than taking the young man downstairs, at least he is tall enough to attract the enemy's attention and cover me for a couple of seconds."

"Hmph, Mr. Ranger, the situation now is that wherever I am, the amulet is there." The gnome was unyielding, showing no sign of backing down. "I will show you the power of my magic!"

The gnome flicked his fingers, and a sprinkling of glittering dust fell from his fingertips. A beautiful incantation sounded, and the gnome's figure became hazy like a mirage, then gradually disappeared.

The dog ran to the door, sniffed with his nose, and subtly pointed a direction with his front paw, indicating that the gnome was hiding there. Karl shook his head, not intending to expose it. The old dog lowered his head and whined twice, scratching the ground with his paw, indicating that something was happening downstairs.

"What, did that guy wake up?" Karl stood up, brushed the dirt off his body, and grabbed the vine beside the tree hollow to slide down to the next level. He saw Zhao Mai yawning and waking up, while the puppy was still sleeping soundly.

"Tell me what happened."

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