I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

After hearing the description, Aiden frowned and pondered, finally making a decision: "In this case, we can't waste any more time. We must find these clues as soon as possible, rescue the prisoners, and uncover the entire conspiracy. At the same time, we must also be prepared for the enemy to make a comeback."

Just as the atmosphere was growing tense, someone suddenly cried out in alarm. Several black dots appeared on the distant horizon, slowly approaching. "Again?" Gavin cursed under his breath, his guard immediately raised.

But everyone soon discovered that the situation wasn't as dire as they'd imagined. The gradually emerging figures weren't enemy forces, but rather the arrival of more friendly troops! Their arrival brought new hope and increased strength to withstand future challenges.

"I didn't expect so many reinforcements to come to our aid." The mysterious woman smiled a rare smile and said, "It seems fate doesn't intend to abandon our world."

There were many familiar faces among the newly arrived troops. Among them was a handsome, charismatic man who approached Aiden. He was one of the most renowned swordsmen in the nearby town. "We heard you needed allies to fight alongside us, so we rushed here. We hope to offer our humble assistance," the man saluted respectfully and stated his position.

Aiden expressed his heartfelt gratitude: "Thank you all so much for standing by me. Please believe that as long as we unite, no difficulty is insurmountable! Next, let us discuss how to deal with the coming storm next."

While everyone was engaged in a heated discussion, the girl who had been watching silently remained particularly silent. She secretly looked up at the starry sky and silently said to herself: "No matter what the outcome, I must persevere to the end... At least now there is someone worth my all to protect, right?"

Just as people were expressing their opinions and discussing countermeasures, a cold voice suddenly came from outside the crowd, breaking the brief peace: "You are so naive. Do you think that numbers alone can change everything?" The speaker was the dark apostle who had hurried away earlier but returned for unknown reasons.

This time, his face lost its usual smug expression, replaced by a seriousness never before seen. "Actually, I'm not here to fight, but to share some more important news with you." He paused, then added in a whisper barely audible to those nearby, "If you truly wish to defeat the Shadow King, please follow me to a place where you'll find the key to victory..."

The moment these words came out, everyone was shocked. No one could have imagined that the other party would make such a strange suggestion. "Are you serious? Don't try to trick us!" Gavin was the first to question.

Facing the crowd's questioning gazes, the Dark Apostle smiled faintly and didn't respond immediately. He looked over the heads of the crowd, gazing into the distance. With a somewhat mysterious tone, he said, "The truth always lies in the hands of a few. But if you're unwilling to accept this opportunity, then so be it..."

At this moment, the sky was already dyed with the color of sunset, and the whole scene seemed to be covered with a layer of soft gold. The air was filled with the tension of the story that was yet to be completed...

"What are your conditions?" Aiden asked in a deep voice, with a hint of vigilance in his eyes.

"My request is simple," the Dark Apostle said, his lips curled slightly. "I only need one promise from you: no matter what you find there, you must not harm me."

"Why?" Sal asked puzzledly.

The Dark Apostle's eyes became complicated for a moment, but it disappeared in a flash. "This is my only trump card. Whether you believe it or not depends on your choice." After he said this, he said no more, turned around and left the scene, leaving behind a mixture of whispers and incredulous looks.

At this moment, everyone senses that a bigger and more dangerous game is about to begin. The road ahead is filled with unknowns and uncertainties, but how will everyone's deep desire for victory and trust in their friends guide them forward?

**Conversation ends**. The air was thick with the aura of a new chapter, leaving the subsequent plot in endless suspense. Aiden took a deep breath and watched the dark apostle's retreating figure. He knew this decision was crucial. "We need to consider it carefully, but what he said may be a crucial breakthrough." He turned to the new swordsman and his companions. "Now, I would like to hear your opinions."

The young swordsman smiled faintly. "Since we are here to assist you in your fight against the Lord of Shadows, any information that can increase your chances of victory is valuable. However, regarding the Dark Apostle's request, I believe we can take certain precautions to avoid falling into a trap."

"Yes, this is a great opportunity! What if what he said is really useful?" a villager said excitedly, his face full of anticipation and desire.

An old hunter standing in the corner interjected in a calmer tone, "Young people are always too optimistic, but don't forget that the enemy is never so kind. We must be wary of any traps." His tone was full of wisdom and caution from years of experience on the battlefield, causing several young warriors around him to nod in agreement.

At the same time, a few children not far away were talking excitedly:

-"Wow, do you think this mysterious place really contains the secret to defeating the Shadow King? That's amazing!" exclaimed a little girl with ponytails.

Another child who looked a little older frowned and retorted, "Who knows? It might just be a scam. After all, they're our enemy..."

Just as everyone was arguing, Gavin suddenly stood up and said, "Listen to me, everyone. There's no point in discussing this any further. Why not let some people we trust go with him and see what happens?"

At this time, the girl who had been silent in the crowd - Meili spoke: "Captain, please let me go with them. Although my fighting ability is not good, I can at least ensure the safety of the information transmitted back to the camp." Her eyes were firm, as if she had made up her mind.

Seeing this, Aiden nodded and decided to have his most astute and loyal teammates accompany the Dark Apostle. "Very good. Since we all agree on the importance of this trip, let's prepare to depart as planned. We must also leave enough forces to defend the village and prevent surprise attacks."