Upon entering the hall, an immediate chill enveloped him.

This place was far more effective than any air conditioning.

The second floor of the museum remained open, revealing Nelson, who was meticulously inscribing runes onto his skeletal arm.

It appeared he was practicing the contents from the demon doll notes.

Hearing footsteps, Nelson glanced up slightly.

My lord, he said as he rose.

Scholar Nelson, I have acquired another totem type rune, Fong Hao declared, retrieving a totem scroll from his storage space.

Oh, let me see.

Nelson responded, taking it and opening it with great seriousness.

Soon enough, he rolled the scroll back up and spoke, "My lord, this type of totem is not particularly difficult.

Do you wish to have such a totem inscribed? What special effects does this possess?" Funhow inquired further, "This totem is indeed a type of rune designed to encapsulate special powers within a living being to be summoned when needed.

" Nelson elucidated the totem's function.

"And what powers does this totem hold?" Fonhow pressed on.

"This totem is of considerable rank.

" And the description indicates its effects are quite impressive, enhancing both magic and physical capabilities.

It would be of great benefit to you.

My lord, Nelson explained softly.

As expected, it aligned with Fong How's thoughts, essentially functioning as a passive skill.

In other words, inscribing this totem on his back would be akin to the Chilean tattoo of the enigmatic oil bottle brother, providing additional special effects.

It sounds quite promising.

Can you inscribe it? Fonhow asked.

Given that it was a beneficial tattoo and a reward from a treasure chest, there were no concerns regarding safety.

Though he rarely engaged in battle, the world still posed numerous dangers.

Having additional means of self-preservation was prudent.

Nelson nodded slightly.

I will need to conduct some research and practice before I inform you, my lord.

Very well, Fongghao replied, choosing not to further disturb Nelson and promptly exited the museum.

Upon returning to the Lord's Manor and having dinner, he engaged in a game with air for a while before drifting into slumber in the dead of night within the dimly lit basement of Lisa's city.

A vast circular wooden table occupied the center of the room, adorned with a luminescent stone chandelier.

The faint light cast an aura of mystery throughout the space.

12 figures cloaked in black surrounded the table, their forms obscured by the fabric and their faces concealed by masks.

Numerous empty seats indicated that nearly half of the members were absent.

The figure in black at the head of the table spoke very well.

Those who have completed their tasks may present them.

The attendees appeared quite familiar with the proceedings.

Three individuals retrieved their collected materials from within their cloaks and presented them before the figure at the head of the table.

The figure clad in a black robe gathered the documents into his embrace and nodded slightly.

Among the 12 individuals present, only three pieces of intelligence were procured.

The black rogue man continued to present several tasks, stating, "I am aware that everyone has been exceedingly cautious of late, yet these missions must still be accomplished.

Here are the tasks at hand.

Please peruse them and see who possesses the capability to undertake them.

" A stack of documents was distributed with each person examining them.

In turn, I am capable of managing the task involving the military factory.

One of the black robe figures asserted, promptly claiming the assignment.

I can also take on the mission to apprehend the traverser, but I lack a suitable interrogation location.

Is there anyone with a secure site for collaboration so that we may share the credit? Almost immediately, others began to chime in.

I have just secured a discrete location.

We can collaborate.

Very well.

Provide me with the address and I shall transport the captured individual directly to you.

The black robe man who offered the location swiftly inscribed an address on paper and passed it to the task taker.

Tasks could be claimed individually or tackled collaboratively.

While claiming them solo posed significant challenges, the rewards were greater.

Conversely, cooperating allowed for the distribution of risk, yet it also heightened the likelihood of exposing one another's identities.

inadvertently amplifying the danger.

It was a misconception to believe that one's status as a faceless entity rendered their intelligence valueless.

Soon enough, the assignments were allocated, and silence enveloped the room once more.

At this juncture, someone spoke again.

The lord of the city is intensifying the scrutiny upon us, and there exists a formidable team aiding her.

This issue must be addressed.

Indeed, half of those at the round table had dwindled away, leaving no one certain whether they would be the next to vanish.

This matter should be prioritized.

We must at least identify the team assisting her.

Who possesses leads on this group? I can arrange for them to be eliminated.

To directly eliminate the lord of the city would require no investigation.

What audacity.

If it were possible to kill her, she would have perished countless times by now, the crowd murmured in a cacophony of voices.

Their words revealed a palpable anxiety regarding the Lord of the city, a fear that the next to depart the round table might be themselves.

Even if the lord of the city would not execute them, the other individuals present posed a significant threat should one fall into the lord's clutches.

The faceless entities would swiftly dispose of them.

As the atmosphere grew chaotic with uncertainty and no viable solutions in sight, the leading man suddenly interjected.

If we are to discuss this mysterious team, I suspect one individual who fits the profile of someone assisting her.

All eyes turn towards him.

Who is it? It is the merchant who has recently emerged within the city.

Fong Hao.

Chapter 378.

The arrival of the Blackfoot cat upon hearing the name Fong Hao.

The crowd present was momentarily takenback.

This young man with his raven hair and obsidian eyes had made a name for himself in the city by designing garments for Rebecca and opening both a hot pot restaurant and a clothing store, thus drawing considerable attention.

Everyone, whether directly or indirectly, had heard of him.

However, his ostentatious behavior raised eyebrows, especially since he was not a local.

Thus, suspicions did not readily fall upon him.

After all, was he not an outsider? How could anyone possibly trust an individual from outside the city? Some voiced their skepticism.

Indeed, given his appearance, it seemed unlikely that he belonged to the ranks of transgressors.

I had conducted an investigation into Fong Hao and discovered that his visits to the city lord's mansion were merely for business dealings, and he possessed little knowledge of Liix's city, rendering the likelihood of his involvement quite slim.

Furthermore, I had received some peculiar information.

Fonhow allegedly had no interest in women as evidenced by his immaculate demeanor.

In truth, he favored men.

The crowd engaged in discussions and speculations concerning Fong House circumstances.

Despite his frequent appearances at the city lord's mansion, there was little inclination to believe he was assisting Rebecca.

The leader, cloaked in black, listened to the conjectures before gently clapping his hands to silence the ongoing debates.

He spoke, "I have obtained more detailed information.

This Fong Hao has registered a mercenary group at the task hall which indicates that he possesses his own team satisfying the conditions to assist our leader Rebecca.

Upon hearing this revelation, several individuals fell into a contemplative silence as they had not discovered any details regarding the mercenary group.

The assembly pondered the implications until another voice raised a question.

Fun Hao is an outsider merchant.

It is not unusual for him to have his own escort team.

Relying solely on this insight to ascertain his involvement seems rather tenuous.

Indeed, foreign merchants typically require escorts for their goods.

Besides employing mercenary groups, they often have their own escort teams as well and may casually register a mercenary group at the task hall to augment their income, a common practice.