Investigating a few skills—Aedin had thought it would be simple. But unexpectedly, it turned out to be somewhat tricky.
The records at Yafeng(Silentwind) Town’s branch were limited to begin with, and a large portion had been destroyed during the previous monster tide.
With no other choice, Aedin applied to Fahl for access to the headquarters’ archives.
Checking the records itself wasn’t the issue—the problem was it required a communication crystal, which was costly to use.
Fortunately, Fahl approved immediately, without even asking why Aedin wanted the information. That sense of professional distance was exactly why Aedin liked working with him.
That same afternoon, Lin Jun received Aedin’s report:
【Mental Guidance】
A racial skill of the extinct monster “Dreamflower.”
It once grew on Dream Island in the Western Isles, the island itself named after it.
Those who landed without protection would be ensnared by its deadly pollen, lured into a paradise illusion where they died blissfully, their bodies ultimately feeding the flowers.The island was swallowed by fog twenty years ago, and the Dreamflower went extinct.
【Resonance】
Possibly once possessed by the also-extinct “Chorus Bee,” though its extinction was so long ago that no details about its effects or mechanics remain. Records are fragmentary and inconclusive.
【Negative Energy Collection】
This skill is confirmed to exist. One known source is certain high-ranking scarecrows deep within the Strawman Abyss, in the “Forgotten Manor” region.
Another source is the Deathmoss growing in the depths of an ancient, half-abandoned dungeon within the Empire, the “Tomb of the Ancestors.”
…
The report made Lin Jun very pleased.
It was worth it to have carefully chosen Aedin back then—his efficiency was unmatched!
That silly Pink Pujis had still been waiting on people to ask back home, while Aedin had already delivered results.
Considering Aedin’s past work—especially maintaining stable transmissions at the temporary camp—Lin Jun decided he’d spend the cost and give him a small S-rank magic crystal as a reward later.
Having capable subordinates was such a blessing!
With humanity’s vast knowledge network at his back, it was invaluable.
As for 【Negative Energy Collection】—since it already had confirmed sources, Lin Jun dismissed the idea of wasting his rare extraction chance on it. He could just find a way to reach the deep levels of Strawman Abyss someday.
If that failed, he could issue a quest for adventurers to fetch it.
Or worst case, buy some of that Deathmoss from the demon race!
【Mental Guidance】 turned out about as he expected. Amusing, yes, but of little combat value.
After all, if he could already induce hallucinations in enemies, why bother weaving illusions on top of that?
Maybe it had uses in interrogation?
But Pujis had no need for prisoners now.
Old Dylan might’ve liked this skill though…
The only mystery remained 【Resonance】. The guild’s records didn’t even offer as much detail as his own panel did.
By process of elimination, Lin Jun leaned toward choosing it.
Still, he held off. Pink Pujis’ channel might dig up something different.
…
Two days passed.
During that time, Lin Jun mostly accompanied the elf in her “dungeon adventure game.”
Her return journey wasn’t exactly smooth.
Not because of danger—Elawen clearly knew the Divine Tree Dungeon well. If the Pujis scout ever detected a diamond-tier monster from afar, she had already detoured without being warned.
The problem was bad timing—they ran into migrating “Walking Trees.”
A whole forest shifting location. It didn’t matter if an individual tree was strong or not—just their colossal size and sheer numbers flattened anything in their path.
Even local elves had no choice but to wait until the migration was over.
So, for two days, Elawen simply watched as Feifei, her foolish bird, kept pestering the Pujis, only to get caught in new ways, swallowed, and forced to cry pitifully for help from inside its belly…
She also learned something surprising: Pujis, like plants, needed sunlight!
But after sunbathing, they also had to drink water.
She hadn’t known that before, and found it enlightening.
…
Two days later, Pink Pujis’ report finally arrived.
And it was… disappointing.
Exactly the same as Aedin’s report, word for word. Clearly, both had drawn from the same archive.
Lin Jun even suspected the duke’s household, upon receiving the request, had simply gone to the guild for the information.
Still, he couldn’t fault Pink Pujis for that.
With Aedin, it was strictly business. Rewards and punishments as earned. For now, Aedin’s record was solid, so he had rewards without penalties.
But with Pink Pujis, things were different. She had no practical utility for Pujis beyond her emotional attachment.
So she had to be coaxed instead.
And she hadn’t failed—she just hadn’t exceeded expectations.
So Lin Jun praised Inanna a little through the mycelium network, and had a Knight Pujis ruffle her hair with its tendrils. That was enough to make her beam.
Problem solved.
Lin Jun was about to open his panel to make his final decision when Inanna suddenly piped up:
“Boss, are you looking for these things?”
“…More or less. Why?”
“Well, my family might actually have some Dreamflowers.”
“Hah?” Lin Jun’s eyes lit up. “I thought they were extinct?”
“Not living ones! Preserved as alchemical ingredients,” she explained. “When I was little, my mother needed potions mixed with it to sleep. After she passed, the leftovers were sealed in storage. I don’t know if they’re still there… Do you want them?”
Inanna gazed at the Knight Pujis in her arms with big eyes, as though if Lin Jun said “no,” she would be disappointed.
Of course Lin Jun wouldn’t let Pink Pujis down!
“Yes! Of course! You’re amazing, Little Pink!”
Something extinct for twenty years!
Truly worthy of being a duke’s daughter, of a ducal house!
The Knight Pujis enthusiastically ruffled Inanna’s hair again—this time with all six tendrils, triple the passion.
“Hehehe!” Inanna melted under the caress and Lin Jun’s repeated praise.
…
Well then—what was there to hesitate about?
Ordinary heroes chose one.
But as the Mushroom Lord, he chose them all!
Pink Pujis’ find reminded him of something: he could target skills he wanted, then see if they could be bought directly on the market.
Even if it didn’t let him swallow them to high levels like at the original source, just unlocking the skill codex would be incredibly useful.
He’d have Aedin handle that after he handed him the S-rank crystal.
But for now…
Lin Jun decisively opened his panel!
【Acquired Skill: Resonance LV1】