Even the most daring bandits of the Great Xia Kingdom wouldn't dare venture into such a forsaken place. Due to its isolation, the mountains of the Eagle-Cry Valley in Ghost-Mourn are rich in rare medicinal herbs, minerals, and a variety of unique beast warriors not found elsewhere.
Plant and insect warriors are particularly abundant here, and there are rumors of a terrifying insect warrior known as the 'Death Mantis' that preys on dragons. However, this is merely a legend, as no one has seen the 'Death Mantis' in a thousand years.
It's likely that this fearsome insect warrior has been extinct for centuries.
Jean is suspicious that the royal exploration team might have encountered a powerful beast like the Death Mantis, leading to their complete annihilation.
"Be cautious, this area might not have beasts stronger than level three, but we're dealing with plant and insect warriors that often appear in swarms with various detrimental effects like weakness, dizziness, poison, hypnosis, and parasitism. It's hard to defend against them. Eddie, be careful, especially of parasitic bees and spiders—you don't want to end up with a body full of insects," Jean warned, puzzled by Eddie's silence since their arrival.
"There are no signs of human activity here. Are you sure a royal exploration team went missing in this area?" Eddie harbored doubts as he carefully searched the terrain.
The valley is flanked by sheer peaks, with iron-clawed rock eagles inhabiting the heights and a misty insect-filled valley below.
The valley is teeming with insects, and the plants display bizarrely vibrant colors: red, yellow, purple, black, some with mixed hues, some even glowing.
Strangely, there are no normal green plants.
Jean finds Eddie's skepticism odd but rebukes him with a fierce glare, "Do you think I'm a liar like you? Why would I come here if no one was missing?"
Eddie notices a blood-red crow with blood-red eyes perched on an ugly branch of a strange blood-red plant. "Something's not right," he remarks.
"What's wrong?" Jean asks, seeing only a crow.
"Let me check the beast warrior guidebook," Eddie says, pulling out a thick guidebook resembling an Earthly dictionary. Jean shakes her head in exasperation, "No need, I'll tell you. That's a carrion crow, known as the Red-Eyed Iron-Winged Bird Crow.
It's twice the size of a normal crow, flies at 300 kilometers per hour, and is especially good at short-distance sprints. It's incredibly smart, able to open lidded bottles to drink water, and distinguish thirty-six colors and fifty numbers.
It has a poison resistance 100 to 150 times that of humans due to its carrion diet, carrying plague-like toxins.
Its peck can cause slow poisoning. It's a level two avian beast warrior, usually living in small groups, with three subspecies and two variants found across Dragon-Rise Continent, most common in Great Xia. Anything else you'd like to know?"
"Your memory is impressive!" Eddie acknowledges, confirming her description in the guidebook.
"Do you think there's something off about this crow?" Jean asks, puzzled, as this seemed like basic knowledge anyone who attended an academy would know. However, she refrains from criticizing Eddie too much, realizing he never had formal schooling.
"It's a carrion eater, so why is it following us? I noticed it from ten kilometers away, and it's been stealthily trailing us ever since," Eddie shares his suspicions.
"Could it be thinking we'll end up dead?" Jean quickly grasps the implication.
"I suspect it has seen the royal exploration team before and might have even feasted on their flesh. It probably thinks we'll end up like them—alive now, but soon to be carrion," Eddie explains his theory.
"You're certain just based on a crow?" Jean can't help but admire Eddie's sharp mind, despite his lack of basic knowledge. She's starting to believe she made the right choice in picking him as a partner.
Eddie doesn't reveal to Jean that his suspicion is one thing, but his Clairvoyant Eyes are the key. Through the Clairvoyant Eyes, Eddie can see there's something amiss with the crow; it's not just an ordinary Red-Eyed Iron-Winged Bird Crow. It exudes an unusual aura, distinct from demonic energy, and seems to be remotely controlled by someone, functioning as a reconnaissance tool like an unmanned drone equipped with radar.
"Hoping I'm wrong," Eddie thinks, anticipating an inevitable battle. Controlling an uncovenanted crow is not something an ordinary warrior can do.
"If you're right, who could be hiding in Ghost-Mourn?" Jean is alarmed by Eddie's serious tone, sensing an unseen threat lurking in the valley.
"We'll likely find out soon," Eddie replies, casually eating some hard rations to test the crow's reaction. The crow soars high, wary of the potential danger even in a simple piece of ration. However, as Eddie continues to eat and drink, the crow cautiously returns, keeping a safe distance while following them.
Jean observes Eddie's actions, gaining insight into his strategy. If the crow were uncontrolled, it wouldn't have reacted by flying away.
"A normal crow would pick at human food scraps and wouldn't be smart enough to recognize dried food as a danger and fly away," Eddie observes, realizing the crow's behavior is unusual. It's a sign that someone is controlling it.
Jean asks what to do next. Eddie, with a bright smile, suggests pretending to be intimate to lure the crow. Jean almost collapses upon hearing this and threatens to chop off his hand if he dares to touch her.
Eddie suddenly tackles Jean to the ground. As he starts to undress her, the curious crow cautiously flies closer, intrigued by Eddie's aggressive behavior. Despite Jean's resistance, Eddie quickly exposes a large area of her delicate, snow-white skin.
As Eddie excitedly reaches out, he disappears and reappears on a tree branch, grabbing the startled crow. He coldly smirks at it and says, "Curious, little buddy? Wait till I catch you, then we'll perform in front of you!"
Before Eddie can boast about his successful plan, Jean, furious, punches him to the ground. She accuses Eddie of taking advantage of the situation, asking if he really touched her. Eddie, feigning innocence, denies it, leading to an intense chase as Jean, sword in hand, pursues the fleeing Eddie.
Eddie argues that any man would have reacted the same way, but Jean, infuriated, declares that killing him is also her instinct.