Chapter 297: The Farmer and the Power Thief (IV)
Hearing this, Gideon's expression turned a little awkward.
He quickly pushed Luen away. "Lord Luen… I have no idea what you're talking about."
But the latter clung tightly to his leg.
"Every day without you has been torment! No one can set up defensive arrays like you—none of them! I've tried!"
The scene drew strange looks from everyone present, including Lynn.
Gideon hurried to distance himself, while Luen continued pouring out his grievances.
After leaving Ravensfield Town, he had been constantly harassed by evil spirits…
Listening to the tearful account, Gideon finally understood what this illegitimate heir had gone through.
He rubbed his nose. "Well… ahem… I'm honored you've had a change of heart."
Luen shook his head vigorously. "No! I was wrong! As a member of the Clauso family, I was arrogant and foolish before!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Gideon's eyes. For a native of this world to reach such self-awareness—it wasn't easy.
Nearby, several people showed visible surprise at the mention of "Clauso."
"So this Father Gideon… isn't ordinary. Even the Clauso family treats him with such respect," Austin thought.
He then spoke softly, "Gentlemen, this isn't the time to reminisce. We need to rescue her."
Luen nodded immediately. "What do you need me to do?"
Austin pointed toward the fields. "Dylan will lure the Butcher away. The rest of us will rescue the nun from the hook."
Luen's eyes widened—he hadn't expected them to risk themselves for a stranger.
Sensing his thoughts, Austin smiled. "We've worked together many times. We have coordination. If you join midway, it might disrupt things."
Gideon nodded. It was a smart decision.
"However," Austin added, "you two will handle transporting the injured afterward. That's how you integrate with us."
"I have no objections."
"N-neither do I."
Austin nodded and mimicked a crow's call. Soon, replies came from the cornfield.
Moments later, several people quietly approached the hook.
Vera's condition was terrible. A massive iron hook pierced beneath her shoulder, her limbs hanging limp to ease the pain. Blood dripped steadily from her toes.
The Butcher stood before her, motionless.
At that moment, Dylan slipped behind it.
After signaling, he suddenly dashed forward and grabbed Vera, pretending to rescue her.
The Butcher was instantly enraged, roaring as it swung its axe.
But Dylan had anticipated it—he dodged smoothly, then provocatively pointed at the creature.
Gideon frowned slightly. That motion seemed unnecessary.
Yet the next moment, the Butcher grew even more furious, revving its chainsaw and chasing Dylan.
Both figures quickly vanished into the corn.
Only then did Austin signal the others to approach.
According to plan, they would circle around after the rescue to avoid exposing the camp.
That left Gideon and Luen with time to search for relics.
Since Gideon had already located one using Divine Eye Restraint, the two moved toward the generator.
"G-Gideon… shouldn't we set up some relic defenses first?" Luen clutched his arm, trembling.
"If it makes you feel better, go ahead," Gideon brushed him off.
Once it was clear relics couldn't be used directly, the best defense was speed.
Especially now, with someone drawing the Butcher's attention.
Without hesitation, Gideon inserted the relic into the generator.
"Click."
"Clack… clack…"
The pistons began to move—slow at first, then rapidly accelerating as the relic's energy was drained.
Sparks flickered—
Three of the four bulbs lit up, illuminating the area.
But Gideon's gaze locked onto the base.
A small chute—like a vending slot—opened.
A hexagonal token dropped out.
It was slightly larger than a coin, marked with a purple eye.
Gideon picked it up and instantly understood.
[Teammate Mark]
Effect 1: When you are hooked, all survivors' positions are revealed to each other. If the Scavenger is within 16 meters, its location is also revealed.
Effect 2: When another survivor is hooked, all survivors' positions are revealed to you. If the Scavenger is within 16 meters of them, its location is also revealed.
Evil Spirit's Note: Now that you know your hooked companion's location… feel free to search for treasure.
Gideon's eyes flickered. "So this is the 'special ability' Austin mentioned."
Extremely useful—especially in a place where visibility was so poor.
Seeing both allies and enemies through terrain could dramatically increase survival chances.
As for the "note," Gideon ignored it completely.
Abandoning teammates with such an advantage would be the height of stupidity.
He pocketed the token—it required conscious activation.
Looking ahead, Vera had already been rescued and was being supported by Lynn.
The heartbeat returned—rapid and urgent.
The Butcher had noticed.
Soon, the chainsaw roared again.
Gideon also spotted Dylan moving safely through the corn.
If they could shake the Butcher, the rescue would succeed.
So he held off using the token.
Just then, Lynn and Vera approached, and Gideon and Luen moved to meet them—
A sharp screech suddenly tore through the air.
Gideon instinctively dodged.
A shadow flashed past him—then stopped in front of the two nuns.
A bloodstained white dress floated above the ground.
A slender figure raised a long blade.
A nurse.
Only then did the ground beneath glow red.
The heartbeat intensified to a near-explosive rhythm.
"A… Scavenger?" Gideon narrowed his eyes.
Lynn froze.
Then—
"Slash!"
Vera collapsed again.
Lynn snapped out of it and fled.
The nurse didn't chase. Instead, she raised a hand—dark energy gathering.
With another shriek, she vanished.
A shadow appeared behind Lynn.
A scream followed.
Moments later, another scream rang out elsewhere.
Then another.
Pain and cries spread across the field.
Blood soaked the corn.
Austin clutched his shoulder, trembling in fear.
"How… how is this possible… two Scavengers at once…"
Panic erupted. Survivors scattered.
Gideon crouched in dense grass with Luen.
He had reacted instantly—saving them from injury.
But the situation had collapsed.
Vera, Dylan, and several others were down.
Dylan, trying to help, had been struck from both sides—by the Butcher and the nurse.
Now he was being dragged toward a hook, leaving a trail of blood.
The nurse floated toward Vera.
Gideon quickly imitated a crow call—the signal for "rescue."
Responses came.
Relief flickered—
But the message was clear:
Retreat.
Gideon frowned.
Austin had chosen to abandon the injured.
This was a problem.
Everyone here had already been hooked once.
Another time without rescue—and their souls would be consumed.
Vera was no exception.
In this place, manpower was everything.
But Gideon and Luen alone couldn't save them all.
Meanwhile, the nurse lifted Vera again, drifting toward the hook.
Gideon turned to Luen.
"Do you want to save your sister?"
"O-of course!"
"Good." Gideon smiled faintly. "Then go stand under that hook."
"…Me?"
Luen froze.
"You're the only one who hasn't been hooked yet. You'll replace her."
Gideon pressed the token into his hand.
Luen wanted to protest—
But after reading it, he understood.
Gideon would handle the rescue.
He would be the bait.
"Will it… hurt?" Luen's breathing quickened.
Gideon shrugged. "Tell me after you try."
"…You—!"
"I'm asking for encouragement, not a review!"
"Hurry. We're out of time."
In the distance, Dylan was already hanging—dark energy swirling above him.
Gritting his teeth, Luen activated the token.
His eyes widened.
"I… I feel my power returning…"
"I know. Move."
Gideon's brows lifted slightly.
The moment the token activated, he felt his own power return—
But only one ability at a time.
With limited time, he chose Preacher.
"So that's it… the token temporarily reconnects this space to external holy power—but only briefly…"
In truth, while Gideon was still thinking, the effects of [Preacher] were already rapidly fading.
Before the technique fully dissipated, he only had time to glance at the two Scavengers.
"Oh? That's…"
Gideon narrowed his eyes, committing what he saw to memory.
He then patted Luen. The latter nodded and immediately rushed out.
Not far away—
The nurse-like Scavenger had already reached the hook. She lifted Vera from her shoulder, about to hang her up.
But the next second—
Bang!
The "prey" in her hands suddenly dropped to the ground.
She lowered her head, only to see a male human pressing his shoulder against the hem of her dress.
Sensing something was off, Luen slowly raised his head.
Their gazes met in the rotten air.
His throat bobbed. Then he raised a finger—and pointed straight at her, repeatedly.
This was exactly what Gideon had instructed.
Apparently, it drew the Scavenger's attention more effectively.
The next instant—
Slash—
A spray of blood burst from Luen's shoulder.
He screamed, clutching the wound as he ran.
To buy Gideon time, he couldn't get hooked here.
And besides… he still had to draw in the other one.
Moments later, the chainsaw roar joined the chase.
Behind Luen now trailed not one—but two monsters.
The cornfield collapsed in wide swathes under their pursuit.
This commotion caught Austin and the others, who hadn't gone far yet.
"This… Scavengers don't usually chase the same person together. Did he do this on purpose?"
Just as they were wondering—
Luen was struck down.
With two Scavengers attacking at once, his body even flipped midair before crashing to the ground.
Thud… squelch…
The wet sounds echoed.
Even after he fell, the Scavengers didn't stop immediately—they each took turns hacking at him before finally stopping.
"…That hurts… so much…" Luen spat out blood.
The sight sent chills through Austin and the others.
Fortunately, due to the rules, the extra blows didn't cause additional lethal damage.
"…That guy… really got it bad…"
They silently mourned as Luen was lifted onto the hook.
But the next moment, Austin's eyes narrowed.
Luen's body suddenly glowed with a distinct yellow hue—visible even through the corn.
Around him, the two Scavengers radiated a vivid purple aura.
"This is—!"
Austin quickly looked around.
Nearby companions were also glowing yellow.
Further away, several figures crawled on the ground—also marked.
And at a distance, someone was waving their arm repeatedly.
A moment later, crow calls echoed again.
The rhythm was clear:
Rescue.
Austin immediately understood.
Someone had inserted a relic into the generator.
Though not permanent, the granted ability allowed all survivors to see each other.
"So that was his goal…"
Austin looked toward Luen's direction, a trace of admiration appearing in his eyes.
"Bishop… should we—?"
"Move. We save them."
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