Chapter 23: Giving Up on Stealing, the Mysterious Weird Man

William felt that he should not steal Shirley’s Endowed Supernatural Ability when the system explained that one would lose their Endowed Supernatural Ability once it was stolen.

However, he was curious about how the system would snatch it from others. It meant that the system was not robbing like bandits if one could develop a new Endowed Supernatural Ability.

However, the truth was that the system followed the same rules as this cruel world.

Perhaps it was the dark forest, where the strong preyed on the weak.

It was also what Mr. George had said. This world did not give the weak a chance to survive.

“Give up.”

William said softly in his heart. The system fell into silence, and the words [ Heaven’s Messenger ] disappeared before his eyes.

He had figured out how to steal someone else’s Endowed Supernatural ability. Physical contact and knowing the person’s Endowed Supernatural Ability. Perhaps it was just the latter, and there was no need for physical contact. The specifics still needed to be confirmed.

“Ah!”

A cry of alarm sounded.

William looked up. He had been immersed in his conversation with the system just now, so he did not notice that they had already reached the outer perimeter of Fort Vienna.

It was called the outer perimeter was because Fort Vienna had three tall circular walls. There was still a long distance between the walls. The function of these walls was to divide them into four regions, the Central Region, the first wall area, the second wall area, and the outer perimeter of the fortress, besides resisting the monsters.

The most central region was also the most prosperous region. It was decorated with tiles of the same color. The Earl’s mansion, the Academy, and the Hope Society were all located there. It was the safest place, and only nobles and the wealthy could live there.

The first wall was only separated from the central area by a wall, but the situation was much worse. The ground was dirty and covered with dirt. It would become bumpy, dirty, and unhygienic when it rained. The smell of charcoal was always in the air, and the people living here were people with low-level Endowed Supernatural Ability. They had no hope of becoming strong. They could only do work, such as refining weapons in the central area.

The second wall area was even worse. There were not even complete houses here. It was also known as the birthplace of thieves and swindlers. The people here generally did not go to school. Many people had not awakened their Endowed Supernatural Ability. They could only live there. Their bodies would be the wall to defend once the monsters came and broke the wall. They would be the equipment to delay time and allow the people in the first wall area and the central to escape.

It was needless to say about the situation outside the fortress. There was still some distance between the fortress and the military camp. Many tents were set up there, and the people living in it were people who had escaped from other fortresses. They could not enter the fortress unless some big shot in the central area took fancy on them, and then they would be brought in and work their slaves.

And the one who cried out in surprise when William and the others just arrived at the outer area of the fortress was Sam, who was at the front. He was riding a tall horse and was immediately surrounded by more than a dozen refugees.

“Do us a favor and give us some food!”

“It’s been a long time since we ate! Save my child.”

The refugees treated Sam as a big shot. Some grabbed his legs, and some hugged the neck of the horse. Some were so hungry that they even lost their minds and opened their mouths, about to bite the horse’s legs.

“Get lost!”

Martin rushed forward and waved his horsewhip, whipping the refugees.

The sound of the horsewhip hitting the refugees’ bodies and the screams of the refugees formed a symphony.

The pain woke the refugees up, and they didn’t dare to go forward. Martin glared at his student with dissatisfaction. A person who had awakened his Endowed Supernatural Ability was scared by a group of refugees.

Martin led Sam from the front while George stopped his horse and waited for William to ride over before he followed along at the back of the line.

William noticed that George’s money bag had a small opening, and a few copper coins dropped out. A few children saw it and quickly ran up to pick them up.

William wanted to say something but stopped. George rode his horse alongside William and said, “Do you want to ask why didn’t I gave all of them but only gave a few copper coins?”

William shook his head and said, “Mr. George, I understand. Humans are not evil, but money is the source of evil. They will only attract disaster to themselves if you give them too much, and they will not be able to keep it.”

He turned around as he spoke and saw that the few children who picked up the copper coins had already been surrounded by a few sturdy-looking young men.

William couldn’t help but say to Mr. George, “Next time, we shall bring some dry food so that they won’t be able to take a bite of it at least.”

George saw that his students were so thoughtful and kind-hearted. He was both relieved and worried.

Kindness was the most useless thing in the world, and sympathy was also a deadly knife.

William followed Mr. George into the fort.

Not long after they left, a mysterious man in a black robe came to the entrance of the fortress.

The man was not fast, but he walked with a strange stiffness in his body. Some cracking sound sounded along with every step he took.

He raised his head. It was dark under the hood. There were only two balls of red-light flashing. He stared greedily at the tall wall and said in a hoarse voice, “What a good place. I can smell the stench of blood and flesh. Unfortunately, the wall is too high. It will be even more wonderful if they fall…”

As soon as he said that, a group of refugees surrounded him.

“Please, sir, give us some food!”

“Sir! We’re going to starve to death!”

The children who had surrounded Sam also surrounded him. The copper coins they had picked up into their pockets were taken away by someone before they could keep them.

“I can help you get rid of hunger forever.” The mysterious man’s hoarse voice sounded, making everyone shudder. The refugees were so scared that they wanted to leave. Suddenly, the man’s black robe exploded, and a cloud of black fog gushed out. It surged towards all the refugees.

The refugees screamed in horror and turned to flee, but the black fog was like a rope wrapping around each refugee and pulled them back.

“Let me grant you a new life!”

All the refugees in the black fog exploded as soon as he finished speaking. But strangely, not a single drop of blood fell to the ground. Instead, it condensed into some red fruits.

The sound of horse hooves came from the direction of the wilderness.

The mysterious man waved his hand, and all the black fog entered his black robe. His hand holding the red fruits also shrank into his wide sleeves, and he quickly walked into the fortress.

The adventurers who came back later were all curious. Why had all the refugees who gathered at the entrance of the fortress gone?

And the mysterious man passed through one wall after another seemed invisible to the people guarding the city wall.

The mysterious man suddenly stopped when he reached the center area and looked at the sewers at the side. His ears twitched, and he heard a squeaking sound.

The man squatted down and reached his hand into the sewers. A fat gopher was in his hand when he took it out again.

“Little one, don’t be afraid. I’ll give you a new life.”

The man stuffed the red fruit into the gopher’s mouth. The gopher let out a painful cry, but the gopher changed not long after eating it.