"Oh?"
Old Com, who had neatly tucked his belongings away, lifted his cowboy hat and, with eyes that were slightly cloudy but still sharp, scrutinized Tark with a careful gaze before breaking into a low chuckle.
"Well done."
"Those cults of the Dark Gods," he continued, "seem to be getting more and more brazen in their meddling with the border city-states."
"And the local gangs... they too seem to have lost all sense of restraint."
"They've grown increasingly adept at using the locals as pawns."
Lighting his pipe, he took several deep drags, letting the smoke swirl around him as he began to speak with a hint of nostalgia.
"Back in the day, the people of Ramor High Tower were united."
"And the Count of Ramor—oh, that's right, he was still a baron back then—he would always stand on the frontlines of the city walls, using his magic to fight against the filthy creatures that crawled from beneath."
"He'd use healing spells to tend to the wounded of the supernatural, and even deliver food to the families in the Grey Night who had nothing to eat."
"Hmm... it's been so long since the Count of Ramor left the Tower."
"Otherwise, I doubt these Dark God cults would ever dare set foot in Ramor High Tower."
"In those days, the Baron would tie the followers of the Dark Gods to a cross in the city center, drenching them with oil before piling wood around them."
"And then, in the simplest, most primitive way, he would end their sinful lives."
"Heh... I must be getting old, rambling on like this."
"Among the young folks I know, you're the only one patient enough to listen."
After tapping out the ashes from his pipe, Old Com straightened up and adopted a more serious tone.
"Yesterday, that gang increased their hunt for witches."
"They've even started asking about the more powerful witches in Ramor High Tower."
"I'd wager you're already on their list."
"And just yesterday, a witch was hunted down in the Underdark District."
"How dare they?" Tark furrowed his brow.
"To think they would drag people from their homes and kill them... these cults of the Dark Gods are utterly disrespectful!"
"Heh... they are the cults of the Dark Gods. They've sacrificed entire city-states, so what wouldn't they do?" Old Com laughed softly.
"Are there no local witches resisting them?" Tark asked, still troubled.
"There were some witches who formed a small group," Old Com replied, "but unfortunately, they were betrayed the moment they stepped outside."
"And... well, that was the end of it," he said, chuckling darkly.
"Nowadays, many witches have fled or hidden themselves."
"Anyone who dares to come out, or worse, attempt to advance... you're basically the only one left who's still standing."
"You..."
Old Com lowered his voice and leaned in slightly.
"Interested in the Dark God cult's upgrade material—the Steam Core?"
"How could I possibly entertain such a bold idea? I'm just a humble apprentice witch," Tark said with an innocent shrug, his face expressing mock disbelief.
"I doubt even you believe that yourself," Old Com remarked with a sly grin.
"If you really want to advance to a first-tier witch, I could offer some assistance."
"At least ensure your safety during the process."
Tark paused and then shook his head.
"Your information has already been more than enough. I wouldn't dare trouble you further."
"You've got the right attitude when bargaining; it'll probably add a few years to your life," Old Com replied gruffly.
After bidding Old Com farewell, Tark walked through the narrow, relatively quiet underground street.
Using his powerful [Precision] ability, Tark perfectly concealed his witch identity.
Now, Tark had begun applying his "Precision" trait in various ways, controlling his sequence, source energy, and even his physical form.
By concealing his witch identity, Tark could walk through the underground streets without attracting unwanted attention, avoiding being targeted by hidden hunters.
"Originally, I planned to advance at home," he thought to himself. "But now it seems that the Underdark District must be thoroughly entangled by the Dark God cults."
"Advance one moment, and be hunted the next... this is madness."
"A bunch of lawless scoundrels... once I advance, I'll make sure they regret it."
Rubbing his temples, Tark considered the best location to carry out his first-tier witch advancement.
As long as he kept his wits about him, there was always a solution.
If all else failed, he could always retreat deeper into the underground and squeeze in with the goblins.
Alternatively, he had several hideouts prepared in the wilderness.
Tark was wary of triggering any unforeseen accidents with the Demon King's seal.
Thankfully, he had plenty of escape routes planned.
It wasn't the Demon King's seal that posed the risk this time, but rather the unchecked actions of the Dark God cult in Ramor High Tower.
"They're hunting witches in Ramor... the tunnels beneath the Steam Tower might be the perfect hiding spot."
"That's it!" Tark's mind snapped to an ideal location for refuge.
It was secure and warm, with one small issue—the "rats" in the area were a bit too numerous.
If it had been before, Tark might have hesitated to go near.
But now, with his S-tier [Precision] ability, he was confident he could turn that place into a cozy mansion.
---
With the lantern he had "borrowed" from Old Com in hand, Tark made his way to a burial tunnel near the high tower district, entering the underground passage.
The dim lantern light illuminated the dark path.
Tark walked at a leisurely pace.
"The S-tier supernatural talent range is 200%-500%."
"SS-tier supernatural talent range is 500%-1000%."
"My S-tier talent is at 478%. In a few days, I'll reach SS-tier."
"Once I cross the 500% threshold, there should be a major transformation."
"At that point, whether advancing to a first-tier witch or fighting after the advancement, I'll be significantly stronger."
As Tark moved deeper into the tunnel, bones began to appear, scattered across the ground.
The further he went, the more bones appeared.
There were human, rodent, goblin, and gremlin remains, but the most numerous were the "goblin" skeletons.
In the depths of Ramor High Tower's underground, there existed a massive goblin tribe.
These goblins, prolific and resourceful, had long harbored a deep grudge against the surface-dwelling Ramor High Tower.
To protect themselves, Ramor High Tower had been forced to establish an "underground tunnel defense line."
Soon, the bones completely buried the stone and dirt of the tunnel's floor.
Raising his lantern higher, Tark walked on.
The dim yellow glow from the lantern lit the corridor, revealing thick, misty vapors of the undead that drifted through the passage.
The ground was covered with bones, and even the walls and ceiling were "decorated" with an unsettling number of skeletal remains.
This was the "Bone Tunnel."
The smell of death lingered in the air, and Tark could hear the rustling sound of "skeleton rats" scurrying through the bones.
Yes, the rats here were especially numerous—the "Skeleton Rats" that feasted on the bones.