Chapter 79: The Real Traitor

“Master, are you saying there’s a monster lurking among us?”

“Exactly.”

Ye Lian nodded.

She then swept her gaze over the players scattered around.

Boyang and the others approached the group of players guarding the Plaza to inform them of what had happened earlier and the points they needed to watch out for.

Dancing Elephant and the rest left the Plaza to get closer to the players standing helplessly on the streets.

Bai Xue followed Ye Lian’s gaze, searching for anything suspicious on the others.

But she found nothing at all.

First, she didn’t know these people well.

Second, none of them showed any abnormal behavior.

“Master, do you already know who the traitor is?”

Ye Lian shook her head.

“Not yet, but I have a few suspects.”

“When did you start suspecting this?” Bai Xue asked curiously.

“From the moment we found Michael’s body.”

Ye Lian fixed her gaze on Boyang.

“Michael’s body was handled very roughly; most of the wounds weren’t fatal.

The purpose was to drain his blood quickly.

It’s clear the perpetrator was pressed for time.

Also, the Magic Circle on the ground was much cruder than the one near the Watchtower.

But the carving style and the pattern characteristics are 100% from the same person’s hand.”

She paused briefly.

“That means the monster that carved the ritual Magic Circle and the one that killed Michael are very likely the same.”

From Michael’s disappearance until we encountered those players waiting by the Storefront, about twenty minutes had passed.

During this time, the opponent seemed to have already anticipated our arrival and acted very quickly.

At the same time, they were anxious.

This is evident from how the body was handled and the Magic Circle was inscribed.

‘Why so anxious?’

Obviously because the information on our route was leaked by the traitor.

Hearing this, Bai Xue couldn’t help but ask, “Master, isn’t it too rash to suspect a traitor among us based on just this speculation? Besides, no one has left the group. How could the traitor have passed out information?”

“That’s right. Such speculation, without solid evidence, can’t serve as proof. But the very fact that I have suspicion indicates a problem. As for passing information, humans use letters, codes, and all sorts of methods. Monsters naturally have their own ways too.”

Ye Lian explained.

“But they haven’t shown any strange behavior,” Bai Xue tilted her head slightly.

If there really were traitors parasitized by monsters, they should behave differently from usual.

“That’s just habitual thinking. Who ever said a parasitized person must show abnormalities? No one.”

Ye Lian shook her head gently.

“Perhaps some monsters can hide inside the human body without affecting the host’s thoughts or actions. Just lurking, waiting for the best opportunity.”

Bai Xue thought it over and found it reasonable.

After all, so far they had only encountered two players parasitized by monsters.

With so few samples as reference, to jump to conclusions would be wrong.

“If they really don’t affect the host, wouldn’t that be perfect camouflage?”

“Perfect is a stretch. I have ways to expose them.”

Ye Lian said calmly.

Bai Xue pondered for a moment, then exclaimed, “Ah, it’s that one!”

“Shh~” Ye Lian made a finger-to-lips gesture.

The latter understood immediately and kept silent.

Although no one else was around, who could guarantee those monsters weren’t listening?

***

After a while, Boyang and Dancing Elephant returned with their teams.

“Thank you for your hard work.” Ye Lian said.

“It’s no trouble; it’s what we should do.”

Boyang said humbly.

“Exactly.” Dancing Elephant nodded.

“Jimite, what’s wrong?” Boyang suddenly looked at his subordinate with displeasure.

The man looked dazed, as if distracted.

At a time like this, zoning out—he probably wasn’t fully awake!

Normally, Boyang would have slapped him.

But now, with White Knight as the leader, doing that without her permission would be disrespectful.

Upon hearing this, Jimite’s vacant expression vanished, replaced by alertness.

He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly and said, “I was just thinking about something and got distracted. Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. Don’t do that in battle.”

Ye Lian patted his shoulder.

The force was a bit heavy.

“Yes!” Jimite straightened up and replied loudly.

“Dancing Elephant, Boyang, and Jimite, since you came into contact with the body while at the Watchtower, your Pollution Value might have risen. It’s best to check.”

Ye Lian glanced at the three and reminded them.

Dancing Elephant vaguely sensed something and hurriedly opened his panel.

Seeing his Pollution Value was only 40, he finally felt a bit at ease.

“It has gone up a bit.

Mine is at 40 points now.”

He said.

“My Pollution Value is 50.”

Boyang’s face turned pale.

The corpse of 【Whose Chicken】 was handled by the three of them.

Boyang spent the second-longest time in contact with it.

“I, I have 75 points…” Jimite’s face turned ashen, his pupils shaking.

His voice was trembling noticeably.

Bai Xue’s gaze snapped to him, a flash of icy blue killing intent in her eyes.

But seeing Master’s expression remain calm, it normalized again.

Jimite might not be the traitor.

“It’s okay, I’m here.”

At that moment, Ye Lian looked at Jimite and pulled out three bottles of potion from her backpack.

“Your Pollution Values rose so much because I had you take down the body. Consider these potions compensation.”

All three gratefully accepted them.

Boyang and Dancing Elephant opened their potions and drank them immediately.

They didn’t seem worried about the contents at all.

In fact, there was nothing to worry about.

If someone really wanted to harm them, it would be effortless.

“…” Jimite held his potion but didn’t drink.

He didn’t even open the bottle.

(Weird, why can’t my hand move?) he thought, staring at his hand with a strange expression.

“Jimite, why aren’t you drinking?” Ye Lian urged.

Bai Xue’s heart stirred; her face filled with caution.

Dancing Elephant and the others all looked at Jimite at the same time.

“I, I don’t know why my hand won’t move!” Jimite panicked when he noticed their gazes.

As soon as he said that, the hand holding the potion relaxed.

The bottle containing the Spirit Recovery Potion slipped from midair.

It was about to shatter on the ground.

“Careless about dropping things, huh?” Ye Lian flickered forward in an instant and kicked the potion bottle lightly up.

“Since your hands won’t cooperate, I’ll feed it to you myself.”

Saying this, she pressed one hand on Jimite’s shoulder and with the thumb of the other hand flicked the cap off the bottle.

As if sensing a deadly danger approaching, Jimite struggled wildly, red veins swelling in his eyes.

‘But how could he possibly match Ye Lian?’

One pressure, one kick, and he was kneeling on the ground, mouth wide open in pain.

Immediately after, Ye Lian poured the potion into him with lightning speed.