Meanwhile, on the other side.
After leaving Howard Manor, Matthew and Freeman hurried back to Riverfall City.
They made their way straight to the Lord's mansion and urgently informed Lord Rudolph about the Nightmare.
In the office, Rudolph, who was in his fifties but showed no signs of aging, set down his quill.
He looked up at the two men, frowning, and asked, "Are you telling me that a high-ranking Nightmare has appeared in Riverfall City, and there's an Abyssal Node outside the city?"
Freeman, still shaken, replied with certainty, "That's right! We saw it with our own eyes. That man named Luca pulled a Nightmare Parasite out of Lady Lenna's forehead! Even the young lord witnessed it!"
Recalling the scene, Matthew's face paled, and he nodded repeatedly.
With a flustered expression, he said, "Riverfall City is far too dangerous, Father. Maybe we should evacuate for now!"
Rudolph shook his head and sighed, "Sometimes I really doubt that you are my son."
Rudolph sees Matthew's confused expression.
He explained, "If it really were a high-ranking monster, how could someone like Luca, a mere low-level Witch Doctor, possibly detect it? Even if he did notice something, the Nightmare would have certainly become aware the moment he removed the Nightmare Parasite. How could you have possibly survived?"
"So this so-called Nightmare was just a trick that Witch Doctor used to deceive you, and the fact that you haven't figured this out by now leaves me deeply disappointed!"
After hearing Rudolph's words, Matthew and Freeman were momentarily stunned.
Then, a wave of shame and anger surged in their hearts.
So, there was no Nightmare or Nightmare Parasite?
Everything was just a ruse by Luca, and they had all been fooled by that guy!!
"That despicable scoundrel!" Freeman's face flushed as he thought more about it, realizing that Rudolph's words made sense.
He had believed he was dealing with a high-ranking Nightmare.
Who would have thought it was merely a ploy by that youth to confuse them!
When he recalled his disgraceful behavior at Howard Manor, Freeman felt such rage that he could kill Luca on the spot!
Matthew was equally furious, gritting his teeth as he angrily declared, "Damn bastard! How dare he trick me! If I see him again, I'll make him pay!"
With that, he was ready to seek revenge on Luca.
In all his years, this was the first time he had suffered such a humiliation at someone's hands.
There was no way he could let this go!
Rudolph raised his hand to stop him, contemplating, "Not everything he said might be false. At the very least, the Abyssal Node should be real. That's not something he would dare lie about."
He picked up the Lord's token from the desk and handed it to Matthew, saying, "I'm going to visit Howard Manor shortly. Take the City Lord's guards and head to Beast Forest to assist the soldiers at Iron Mountain camp."
"Remember, do not cause any trouble!"
"I understand, Father!" Matthew's heart leapt with joy as he quickly accepted the token.
The Lord's token had the authority to mobilize both the City Lord's guards and the city's defenders. Normally, Rudolph wouldn't even let him touch it.
If it weren't for the unusual circumstances, Rudolph likely wouldn't have allowed him to use it today.
A look of satisfaction appeared on Matthew's face.
Now, with these guards, dealing with that Luca should be a piece of cake.
As for Rudolph's warning, he didn't take it to heart at all.
He couldn't swallow this humiliation—Luca had to pay!
Matthew left the office, beaming with delight.
Freeman hesitated for a moment but then followed him out.
He had guessed what Matthew was thinking, but this suited him just fine.
He couldn't face Franklin on his own, nor did he dare to act rashly.
But now, under the guise of the City Lord's authority, he could give Franklin's student a good lesson.
"Bang!"
The office door closed with a dull thud.
Rudolph's expression gradually softened.
He stood up, then knelt respectfully towards a shadowy corner of the room.
In a low voice, Rudolph said, "I apologize, Lady Tia. I didn't expect that old fool Franklin's disciple to be so skilled, to the point where he could even detect the Nightmare Parasite."
"I've just given Matthew command of the troops. With his temperament, he certainly won't let that boy named Luca off the hook. He'll definitely help you vent your anger, Lady Tia."
Not long after he spoke, a sultry voice echoed in the room.
She chuckled, "Lord Rudolph, you needn't worry. No matter what, Ryan has already achieved his purpose by leaving the Emerald State, and the church's plan has been successfully implemented—that's all that matters."
From the shadows, a tall figure slowly emerged.
It was a young woman with a slender, graceful figure, dressed in a long black dress.
She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with long hair as smooth as purple silk and a face of striking beauty. She wore two serpent-shaped earrings, and her amber-colored eyes were both alluring and captivating.
On her fair chest was a tattoo of a purple serpent, adding an air of mystery to her already enchanting presence.
If Luca were to see this tattoo, he would undoubtedly be shocked.
For in the future, this tattoo would become the symbol of a notorious and infamous organization!
The Nightmare Cult!
A fanatical cult that worships the Abyssal Demon Lord, the Nightmare Sovereign "Jormungandr!"
"Thank you for your generosity, Lady Tia!" Rudolph breathed a sigh of relief, but he bowed even lower.
Throughout the entire encounter, he didn't dare lift his head to look at the woman before him.
Rudolph was all too aware of the terror the woman before him could invoke.
Her mastery of dreamcraft was so profound that even high-ranking warriors who could rival her were few and far between.
With his mere Platinum Grade strength, she could end his life with just a single thought.
The woman, named Tia, gazed out toward Beast Forest in Riverfall City, her amber eyes narrowing slightly. "Although your mission failed, the Abyssal Node has already appeared, and the church's plan is proceeding smoothly."
"When the plan is completed, we will certainly fulfill our promise to make you the next Count of the Emerald State. After that, you'll no longer have to live in the shadow of the Howard family."
She tilted her head slightly and lowered her gaze, looking at the kneeling Rudolph with a smile. "If you continue to serve us faithfully, there's even a chance you could become a Marquis of the Southern Territory!"
"You know, with the power of our church, that's something we can easily arrange!"
Rudolph understood the underlying implications in her words, but he didn't mind.
"Thank you, Lady Tia. From this day forward, I will serve the church with unwavering loyalty!" Rudolph clenched his fists, his face flushed, and his eyes filled with excitement.
He had lived under the shadow of the Howard family for decades.
Outwardly, he appeared distinguished, but only he knew the frustration and humiliation he had endured.
For years, he had thought day and night about how he could climb to the top.
But every time such thoughts arose, that bastard Ryan would crush them!
Now, after so many years of waiting, his moment had finally arrived!
"That's good. As long as you complete the church's mission, everything you desire will be yours." Tia flashed a seductive smile, like a demon tempting someone into sin.
Rudolph's expression was fervent as he earnestly declared, "I understand, my lady. No matter the cost, I will help the church accomplish this plan!"
Tia nodded in approval, about to leave, when something seemed to cross her mind. An intrigued expression appeared on her flawless face as she said, "By the way, that boy named Luca piques my interest. If it weren't for their reminder, I might never have realized that the Nightmare Parasite had vanished."
"I'm very curious to know how he managed it. If possible, bring him back to me alive!"
Rudolph nodded, accepting the order. "I won't disappoint you, my lady. I will bring him back unharmed!"
Tia gave a slight nod, and in an instant, her figure vanished like a ghost, dissolving into black smoke that dissipated within the room.
It was as if she had never been there.
...
At the same time, in the Iron Mountain camp.
Inside the infirmary.
Cassman lay on the bed, his upper body bare, with a horrifying wound on his abdomen so deep that his internal organs were visible.
A mass of gray mist clung to his insides, writhing incessantly.
It as though it were consuming something, giving off an eerie and terrifying aura.
Luca stood by the bedside, his hands enveloped in a faint, blue mystical energy as he reached into Cassman's body.
Slowly, he began to extract the mass of gray death energy from within him.
Cassman, lying on the bed, immediately felt a difference.
He asked in disbelief, "Did you really remove it that quickly?"
Cassman found it hard to believe that the death energy, which had tormented him for so long, was being dealt with so easily by Luca.
He focused inward and realized that the death energy, which had plagued him for many years, had completely vanished—there wasn't a trace of it left!
Feeling an overwhelming sense of relief, as if his body had been rejuvenated by ten years.
Cassman nearly leaped off the bed in excitement!
"Your wound hasn't been stitched yet! Do you have a death wish?" Luca quickly pressed him back down, scolding him with annoyance.
Once Cassman settled down, Luca carefully stitched up the wound.
[Ding! Congratulations on completing the task "Cassman's Old Injury!" You have received 10 drops of the mid-grade material "Essence of the Earth," along with 300 gold coins!]
[Essence of the Earth: A mid-grade item that increases the user's constitution by 30 points. Each person can only use 10/10 drops, with a cooldown time of 1 day between uses!]
[Ding! Cassman's favorability toward you has increased by 400 points, reaching the level of "Trust"!]