Becoming a god starts with enhancing fire arrows.

Everyone was struck dumb.

They stood there stunned, processing this explosive news.

Rhodes suddenly understood many things and carefully examined the man.

The mayor of Phoenix has now fully reverted to his human form.

This is the appearance of a middle-aged human.

He has strong features, a still-defined jawline, slightly sunken eye sockets, and some fine wrinkles on his face.

He has broad shoulders, and the muscles beneath his skin reveal a sense of strength.

He was wearing a worn-out but exquisitely patterned outfit.

Phoenix stood up from the ground, stiffly moving his limbs as if reminiscing about this long-lost feeling.

Rhodes spoke up: "The best friend you mentioned, is it Stanley, the guild master of the Adventurers' Guild?"

Phoenix sighed, staring at the ceiling. "Yeah."

After saying this, he remained silent for a long time before continuing:

"When I was very, very young, Phil was an extremely lively and bustling human town."

"The three administrators of the town have worked together to govern this place very well."

"The mayor at the time was a kind and amiable old man who would hold all sorts of celebrations during festivals, bringing joy and laughter to the town."

"The town's bishop at the time was a highly respected priest. He would personally treat the residents' illnesses or injuries free of charge in the town church."

"The then-adventures' guild leader, Raymond, who was also the previous leader, led a powerful group of adventurers to sweep away all the dangers around the town."

"I remember that everyone in the town had a happy smile on their face back then."

His expression was full of nostalgia.

"Until I was five years old, I heard some terrible news from my parents."

"The town's bishop hanged himself in the center of the church..."

"I was too young at the time and had no idea how serious this matter was. All I knew was that the mayor was seriously ill and all affairs were being handled by the new mayor; and Guild Master Raymond was even more eager to recruit more adventurers to join the guild."

"All the good things in life seemed to be going downhill at that time."

"The town's celebrations are becoming less and less frequent, while Chairman Raymond is going out to lead troops into battle more and more often."

Phoenix spoke slowly, his voice still hoarse, and he sometimes had to catch his breath before he could continue.

But everyone present was listening attentively.

"Thirty-seven years ago, I officially passed the Adventurers' Guild's examination and became a trainee warrior."

"I also met Stanley, who was in the same batch of tests as me. We were both eighteen years old at the time."

"Stanley and I get along very well. We're both warriors, so we quickly became best friends who can talk about anything. Every day we formed an adventurer team to go out and defend the town, and every day we went to the tavern and got drunk together."

"Later, our talents were recognized by President Raymond, and our reputation gradually grew, making us his right-hand men."

"Twenty years ago, President Raymond announced his resignation."

Speaking of this,

Phoenix's expression suddenly turned very sad.

"On the day of his resignation ceremony, I witnessed President Raymond transform from an invincible warrior into a remorseful old man, unable to let go of the Phil Town district issue..."

"At the time, Stanley volunteered to take over as president, wanting to carry on the old president's vision."

"Our relationship is still very good. Although there weren't as many battles back then, we would still often go to the tavern and get drunk, just like when we were young."

"One day, two years after he took office, he suddenly told me that he wanted to secretly establish a huge intelligence organization, an organization whose tentacles could spread throughout the entire continent of Hize."

He said that as long as the organization grows and develops, it will eventually attract the attention of the three major human cities and bring more adventurers to Phil Town. In time, it may become the fourth major human city.

"I was stunned by his audacious plan, but I also felt that it might be a way to protect the town of Phil."

"We secretly gathered a group of nimble vagrants and began to build the prototype of this organization."

Rhodes nodded.

It turns out that the "Black Hand" organization was initially established by Phoenix and Chairman Stanley at the same time.

No wonder it has grown into such a behemoth in less than twenty years, with its presence even in other human towns.

"Later, the mayor stepped down."

"I naturally became the new mayor of Phil Town."

"The mayor's affairs were so busy that I gradually lost sight of the operation of the 'Black Hand' organization, and all the work fell on Stanley's shoulders."

"Ten years ago, while I was handling a case, I unexpectedly discovered that Stanley was secretly organizing members of the 'Black Hand' to conduct black market transactions and human trafficking."

"He even hired a drow named Cassandra to be the leader of the 'Black Hand' organization, a very ambitious drow."

"I confronted Stanley angrily, and he told me that this was the only way to rapidly develop this intelligence organization."

Phoenix suddenly started coughing violently as he said this.

Harvey kindly cast another healing spell, and the other person finally calmed down.

"That was the first time we'd ever argued so fiercely. Everything the old chairman did back then was to protect the town of Phil and safeguard those innocent civilians."

"By doing this, he has essentially abandoned all of the old guild master's ideals and principles. How can he still have the face to hold the title of guild master of the Adventurers' Guild?"

"Our relationship gradually deteriorated to the point of armed conflict."

"Until one day, he came to my door and invited me to the pub where we often drank together."

"That night he talked to me a lot, about both the future vision of the town and the development plans of the 'Black Hand'."

"It wasn't until I gradually realized that I couldn't move my hands and feet that I understood it was all his conspiracy."

"You already know what happened next."

Phoenix looked back at his cell:

"Not only did he hire a powerful sorcerer to draw a magic circle to seal me, but he also had a witch turn me into a tree to prevent me from escaping. I've been stuck in this dungeon for nearly ten years, neither alive nor dead."

So the shapeshifter with the mayor's face is actually Stanley's puppet.

The entire town was already under his control.

The story abruptly ends here.

Phoenix had fully adapted to his limbs and was ready to walk toward the dungeon entrance.

"Mayor of Phoenix, where are you going?"

Harvey, who was closest, was blocking the road.

Phoenix has been imprisoned for nearly ten years, and he is very worried that the other party might do something impulsive in his current mental state.

"Don't worry, I'm not stupid. You should worry more about yourselves."

"Help me break the transformation curse, or Stanley will definitely cause you trouble. I suggest you leave town immediately."

Phoenix didn't stop, ignoring Harvey's attempts to stop him, and walked straight out.