He took the script of an exorcism legend, but became the number one anti-fraud expert.

As the sky grew brighter, the sound of distant waves crashing against the shore could be heard from time to time.

The fog was thinning, and small shadows could be seen moving by.

The temperature was rising, and the four of them held their breath.

Not far away, there was a fishman's strange cry, sharp and hoarse, like a child going through puberty for the first time.

The four remained silent, watching the darting shadows and wishing the fishmen searching for them would disappear to somewhere else.

Benjamin lowered his head in thought. He noticed Abby's bare feet, with thick calluses and traces of dried soil beneath them.

Abby was very nervous, his toes gripping the pebbles on the ground.

Torture, while causing negative emotions, can also enhance combat capabilities.

However, if you encounter someone who is self-destructive or selfish, not only will your teammates suffer, but you will also be in trouble.

Benjamin then understood why the progress gained could increase so dramatically when facing evil spirits.

This is good news, but it's frustrating given that we're still just a hair's breadth away from inspiring virtue.

After a period of mental struggle, Benjamin gave up the torture.

Benjamin chose to confront evil head-on; great legends all begin with facing desperate situations—virtue.

[Virtue: Fountain Accumulation Progress: 93%]

Just selected,

Heavy footsteps came from behind, slow, but each step made my heart tighten.

Based on his extensive combat experience, Pete said softly, "This way, I know the way back."

"Pete, you're a deserter, going back means certain death anyway. Avery won't let this opportunity to kill you slip by..."

"We're going to die either way, so live as long as you can. If we die here, we'll all drown. Do you want to become evil spirits?"

John remained silent.

"Wait, didn't you say that drowned ghosts can self-destruct? Have you ever seen the power of that?"

Benjamin's words startled Pete, who had just taken a step. He looked into Benjamin's eyes with a hint of surprise.

"Dude, are you serious? Forget about the power; it might kill us, and even if it doesn't, it might attract all the fishmen on the beach!"

"Then we'll become heroes, saving others, right? That way, even if we run back, we won't be considered deserters."

John stared wide-eyed at Pete: "Pete, what this guy says makes sense."

Abby: "My God, look at your faces. It's virtue at work. Stop daydreaming. You're not exorcists."

"Shut up! You cunning Indian!" John snapped.

Tell me your plans.

Benjamin thought for a moment: "Isn't this simple? Lure the merman over, get it close to the drowned ghost, and then make it self-destruct."

"Then what do we do? Merfolk don't dance around drowned ghosts!"

"Someone has to take the risk and lure the murlocs over. We'll run behind the drowned ghosts and wait for them to gather together before we fire."

Obviously, to attract the fishmen, you must be faster and more agile than them.

Benjamin prided himself on not being as selfless and great as Peter and John, so he was just like them...

The three of them looked at Abby, who was petite but agile as a swallow.

Abby tilted his head back slightly and shook his index finger at the three of them from side to side: "NONONONO! By the truth, you will go to hell for doing this."

"Abby, this is an order!" John stepped forward and threatened.

"I am Avery's servant! I am loyal only to Avery!"

"Will Avery buy you shoes? Look at your bare feet, your owner doesn't treat you like a human being!"

Benjamin pulled two pounds from his waist pocket and shoved them into Abby's hand: "Listen, buddy, I'll buy you a pair of shoes after this, I swear on the name of the Hod family!"

Abby was taken aback. This was the first time someone had sworn an oath to him since he left his hometown and came to this foreign land.

Still in the name of their noble family!

As a Sikh, Abi's loyalty to his oath was beyond question, and he understood that noble white men would not easily swear an oath on their family lineage.

For Abby, this is an honor.

"Mr. Hord, are you sure?"

"I'm sure, new shoes, and a new outfit too."

"No, I mean, you really swore an oath in the name of your family?"

Benjamin was taken aback.

Hearing the fishman's cries and the approaching footsteps of the drowned ghost behind him, he nodded, puzzled.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Its massive body swayed back and forth; the drowned ghost's enormous form could be seen without getting close.

Not to mention the increasingly strong stench of rotting flesh, like opening three cans of herring.

"Rush!"

At Pete's command, three figures rushed toward the drowned ghost.

The drowned ghost immediately raised its heavy arm and swung it in a circle forward. The three of them immediately bent over to dodge.

At the same time, they continued to attack the drowned ghost's body with their bayonets.

The drowned ghost roared as it tried to grab anyone it could reach.

But none of them succeeded.

Finally, as the stench grew stronger, shouts came from behind:

"Help!"

It's Abby.

The three quickly grabbed the drowning ghost, whose flesh had been pierced by the three and was hissing like gas.

"It's going to explode!"

Pete's reminder startled everyone.

However, at that moment, Abby had just run to within about three meters of the Drowned Ghost, with three fishmen behind him.

Despite their small size, these merfolk were not difficult for the four-man guard to deal with.

But the sight of the little fishman's sharp fangs in his wide-open mouth was still chilling, especially with the drowned ghost in front of him...

"Walk!"

Pete gave the order and yelled at Benjamin and John.

Without the slightest hesitation, and in fact, such a decision was perfectly reasonable.

Indians are worthless here; any white person wouldn't even glance at them.

Besides, he's Avery's lackey.

The three abandoned their attack on the drowning ghost and, taking advantage of the moment when the ghost raised its hand, immediately circled around to its back.

"No! You can't do this to me! Mr. Hord, you swore an oath in the name of the family!"

Abby pleaded desperately not to abandon him, for the exorcist's name would be synonymous with legend, and this decision would determine how others perceived Benjamin.

His choice was...

[Virtue: Save Abby, after all, a guy who doesn't keep his word doesn't deserve the title of legend, +50%]

[Torture: Abandoning Abby's contribution to the Guard Corps ensures no one will tell anyone about it upon returning, +50%]

Damn it,

It doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with giving up on Abby.

The surname Hod wasn't exactly associated with any city-state aristocracy!

Abby's death will only make this operation go more smoothly.

But when the word "legend" echoed in my mind...

Benjamin's steps instinctively halted, as if clamped by the pebbles beneath his feet, unable to continue his run.

He tried to turn around, and it was incredibly smooth.

"Damn it! What are you hesitating for?!" John roared.

"Benjamin!"

Although Pete and Benjamin were not yet close enough to share both good and bad times, and their so-called cooperation was only a verbal agreement, Pete still stopped as a human being and a comrade of the Guard.

Benjamin gripped the brown bess, raised it, and aimed at the back of the drowned ghost's head.

'Bang!'

Gunshots echoed along the coast of Fenghou Town.