After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

"I want to surpass you..."

Slap! Slap!

The response to the New Moon Knight came in the form of two merciless slaps from Evelyn.

"Tafu, I've noticed that from the start, you've never changed—you've always been useless.

If you're a useless piece of trash, then you should obediently follow my orders.

From today onwards, I want you to live as my dog.

Serve the Mystic Continent with your strength.

Fight, kill, until all the Demons are wiped out.

At that point, I'll decide whether or not to kill you based on how much you've redeemed yourself."

Evelyn stared down at the trembling New Moon Knight wrapped in bed sheets, her eyes filled with contempt, as if she were looking at garbage.

The door of the dwelling swung open.

Evelyn was holding an iron chain, and at the end of the chain was a black collar adorned with rivets.

The collar was placed around the neck of the New Moon Knight.

The latter hung her head in despair, resembling a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment.

"What's going on?"

The eavesdroppers quickly scattered, pretending to busy themselves with their tasks.

And yet, their collective gaze drifted back.

The state of the New Moon Knight stunned them.

Her clothes were disheveled, her face pallid, her legs trembling like a sieve, and a magic collar fastened around her neck.

Was this still the bold and rebellious Demon who was one of the Four Heavenly Kings?

What had Lin Da done to her in just four hours?

Bailuo gasped in astonishment: "It's the 'Despair Contract.' With just a thought from the contract's owner, the rivets embedded in the collar will eject, piercing through the wearer's throat."

Yet this is an extremely rare magic item, its rarity comparable to weapons of the Chaos Three Stars.

The New Moon Knight averted her gaze, but when her eyes accidentally met Lin Da's, her legs buckled, nearly causing her to lose control on the spot.

The despicable Demon claimed to be performing purification on her, but in truth, he was settling personal vendettas and harbored the intent to kill her while pretending to purify.

If not for her Legendary Rank body's resilience, she thought, if it were a Law Tier Witch instead, she likely would've been purified to death by that Demon.

Lin Da, however, showed no grudge, smiling kindly: "From now on, we're all on the same team. Let's collaborate well."

"I... I will never forgive you. What happened today... I'll remember it forever." The New Moon Knight whispered hatefully in a small voice.

"I've fulfilled my promise. Evelyn, don't you owe me a favor?"

Lin Da paid no attention to the New Moon Knight; the moment the collar was fastened around her neck, she was no longer a threat.

"Yes, I owe you one," Evelyn said. "But don't expect me to thank you. Your favor will be repaid."

"Repay it now."

"Fair enough..."

Though surprised, Evelyn nodded in agreement.

"I want to know something."

Lin Da paused, his tone heavy: "The Dark Shadow... how exactly did I disappear?"

At those words, everyone present fell silent.

Absolute quiet descended upon the surroundings.

The New Moon Knight looked at Lin Da in confusion.

This Demon didn't even know how he had disappeared?

"Lord Coldmoon Duke, please tell the Captain."

Anna suddenly stepped forward, bowing in request.

Lin Da raised an eyebrow.

As expected, Anna knew the truth.

He recalled that Anna had mentioned before that she was forced by someone into signing the 'Silence Contract' and was unable to reveal the truth to him.

Now Lin Da understood—it was Evelyn who coerced Anna!

"If you only want the answer, you wouldn't need to use up this favor."

Evelyn shook her head: "An 'Evelyn Cold Moon Fire' favor is far more valuable than you think."

"Come with me."

Evelyn returned to the dwelling.

As a precaution, she set up a soundproof Formation.

Then she took out a Recording Stone, placed it in the center of the table, and used the wall as a projection screen.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes filled with curiosity and tension.

Lin Da followed Evelyn inside, with the others filing in behind him.

Standing before the Recording Stone, Lin Da felt his heart pound relentlessly.

Years of pursuing the truth were finally about to come to light.

Why did the Dark Shadow disappear?

Why was he brought to this continent?

Who was the mastermind behind it all?

Lin Da unconsciously slowed his breathing, his eyes intense and unwavering, fixed on the Recording Stone.

Evelyn infused Magic Power into it.

Swoosh.

A shimmering light screen projected onto the wall.

Lin Da clenched his fists secretly, his gaze fixed unblinkingly.

The scene presented in the recording was a vast desert.

An expanse of endless yellow sand stretched as far as the eye could see, with sparse cacti standing solitary.

The desolate wind blew across the dunes.

It gently fluttered the robe of a Black-clad Swordsman.

This was the 35th layer of the Great Mystery Continent—White Bone Desert.

The figure of the Black-clad Swordsman at the center of the light screen was his game avatar, Dai Lian, the 'Dark Shadow'!

This was where he had disappeared...

What would happen next?

A sinister wind wiping him out? The Four Heavenly Kings appearing together?

Or perhaps the Demon King descending?

Various possibilities flashed through Lin Da's mind like lightning.

Evelyn said: "This recording is from the day you disappeared. I sent the Magic item 'Retrospective Moonlight' with my subordinates to the 35th layer of the Great Mystery Continent to reconstruct the scene of your disappearance.

At the time, Anna was one of the viewers.

To prevent leaks and unnecessary panic, I had her sign the Silence Contract."

"I see." Lin Da swallowed hard, his palms damp with sweat.

Suddenly, within the recording, a seductive female voice echoed.

Her body happened to be positioned just beyond the view of 'Retrospective Moonlight's' range, leaving only a pair of lotus-white arms visible on the screen. She reached from behind and embraced the figure of the Dark Shadow.

Those arms encircled the Dark Shadow's neck and caressed the pure white mask on his face with a lover's tender touch.

The woman's movements were tantalizingly intimate, her touch seemingly traversing multiple years, reaching straight into Lin Da's heart and igniting him with a feverish heat.

Those soft, pale hands... they seemed so familiar...