Once upon a time there was a greedy snake.

Chapter 155 The Evil of the Ancient Serpent

The upper reaches of the river, the site of the Temple of the Sun.

Recently, the Sun God warriors who have received divine magic have been fighting extremely hard, not only because the serpent demon army in the lower reaches of the river has begun to retreat and become increasingly difficult to defeat, but also because many traitors have emerged from among them.

Those damned traitors actually betrayed the Sun God for a few weapons and armor given to them by the Serpent Demon, and even put on cloaks embroidered with the Serpent Demon's pattern—but what's most outrageous is that many of these traitors who betrayed the Sun God were once the strongest warriors of the Sun God.

Unlike the Serpent Demon army, these traitorous experts used the same tactics as the Sun God warriors, but their combat power far surpassed that of ordinary Sun God warriors—in recent battles, there have been frequent reports of a single traitor capable of killing an entire squad.

Clearly, those weapons and armor were far too useful.

What should have been a battle between the Sun God Warriors and the Serpent Demon Army gradually evolved into a war between the Sun God Warriors and the traitors.

"Traitors must die!"

As their familiar comrades died one after another, the warriors of the sun god grew increasingly hateful of these traitors.

However, at this very moment, a group of traitors turned back and returned to the embrace of the sun god.

Those traitors were all wounded, clearly having survived several fierce battles. Just looking at their blood-soaked appearance, heaven knows how they managed to hold on until now. Even so, these former traitors continued to shout prayers praising the sun god until they ran all the way to the camp gate, where they finally collapsed from blood loss.

"This……"

Looking at these former traitors, many of the Sun God's warriors immediately wanted to hack them to pieces.

However, just as they were about to take action, the priests who accompanied the army came out.

Lock them all up.

With the orders of the sun god priests, the warriors who had already drawn their weapons halfway could only angrily sheath their swords.

However, it was clear that the warriors' resentment was irrelevant to the priests. These priests of the sun god valued the traitors who had escaped more—or rather, the information they carried was the most important thing. The priests wanted to know what these traitors had seen and heard with the serpent demon.

To the priests' surprise, without even needing any torture, the dozen or so traitors who had escaped back were already telling them everything they knew.

"They actually escaped back?"

The priests still had some doubts, but they immediately reported the information to the war chief priest Matt Perry.

Of course, in the mouths of these priests, things became a different story. They claimed that they had collected all the intelligence themselves, and that the traitors who inexplicably defected back were carefully selected undercover agents by the priests.

Anyway, no one can disprove this kind of thing. It's a credit that fell from the sky, so why not take it?

"Well done, this intelligence is all true."

To the priests' surprise, the war priest Matt Perry directly confirmed the authenticity of this information.

“I have direct access to the gods, so I naturally have other intelligence channels… but what you have handed over does indeed confirm some of the information I received before.”

As he said this, Matt Perry nodded slightly.

"They've already created something like life points, and even built a Demon King's Castle... It seems the ancient serpent has gradually accepted divine magic. Well done, keep it up, make sure to fight big and fight well, and continue to keep that ancient serpent's attention."

The unexpected reward delighted the priests; they hadn't expected to receive credit for doing nothing. The only problem was that the traitors who had defected back wouldn't be easy to kill.

After all, these traitors now have the title of undercover agents. At least just now, according to these priests, the dozen or so traitors who had defected back were all brave warriors who endured humiliation and hardship. For the glory of the sun god, they even put on cloaks with snake demon patterns. They were the most loyal of all, their loyalty beyond words.

Killing such meritorious officials directly would inevitably cause trouble.

However, the priests never intended to kill him; after all, even a traitor could be put to good use.

"Since you all claim that you returned because you are loyal to the Sun God, then go to the battlefield and prove your loyalty."

With this order, those traitors who had defected were thrown back to the front lines.

This is the best way to deal with these traitors. After all, they have defected twice and are not trustworthy at all. Throwing them back onto the battlefield now will allow them to make the most of their remaining strength. If they actually achieve some results, it will be an easy achievement. If they die on the battlefield...

So what if they die? Those who die on the front lines are no different from one or two more.

Whether they were killed head-on by the serpent demon army or stabbed in the back by warriors who hated them, it didn't matter. For these priests, whether they lived or died, they had already won.

"Oh, right, and their equipment too."

Thinking of this, the priests also remembered the excellent equipment that the traitors had brought back.

Heaven knows how those serpent demon armies managed to forge such divine weapons. However, these things are now a boon to them—they can keep the weapons and armor that they find useful, and the ones that they don't find useful can be given as rewards to the meritorious warriors, just like the serpent demons do.

In any case, such divine weapons cannot be returned to those traitors. Since we want those traitors to prove their loyalty, let them start using bronze swords again.

"But... what is this?"

At that moment, a priest rummaged through the pocket of a set of light leather armor and found a small cloth bag.

However, what was wrapped in the cloth bag was not some magical weapon, but merely a blank parchment book and a few charcoal pencils.

There were obvious writing marks on the parchment, but they had been wiped off. Judging from the marks, it looked like someone had practiced writing on it.

"Using leather to make paper... seems kind of useful?"

The priest who found the book couldn't help but have this thought.

But immediately, the priest frowned.

It's useful, but it's too evil. If the Serpent Demons really start using this kind of reusable parchment and charcoal pencil, who will buy those expensive and easily soiled papyrus papers in the future?

"How evil! The serpent demon is truly wicked!"

Thinking this, the priest threw the book and charcoal pencil into the fire.

Along with all the other trash.

(End of this chapter)