She did think so at first, until three days later, when she discovered new changes in the two of them.

They have grown taller.

Very…very not obvious, but I have definitely grown taller.

Okara has grown about 1 cm taller, and Jonny has grown about 2 cm taller, making it easier for them to pick the fruit.

I see. Rather than a test, it is more of a trial of inheritance.

Johnny grew taller, probably because he picked more fruits.

He can pick 3 to 6 fruits a day, while Okara can only pick half as many.

And their bodies have become stronger and stronger, and Okara’s right hand injury is also recovering.

If this change can continue, then one day they can grow to three or four meters or even taller, and they can touch the top of the tree with a wave of their hands.

And those spider monsters.

These spider monsters who called themselves “Atlak-Nakea believers” were also growing larger as they shared the Ice God Fruit.

The metabolism and reproduction of spider monsters is much faster than that of humans. According to Hitzfeld’s observation, the spider monsters that have grown larger due to the Ice God Fruit will also give birth to larger spider monster offspring.

This means that the power of the fruit can be passed down naturally.

Spider monsters can do it, and so can humans.

If Allwater is allowed to develop like this, will the people here become little giants in a few decades or a hundred years? They will look like two different species from now?

Is this the truth about why Allwater produces tall people?

Hitzfeld had some guesses, but wasn’t completely sure.

Fortunately, the story’s rhythm is quite tight.

After three days of waiting, which seemed not long to her, two groups of uninvited guests broke into the cave and started a fierce battle with these “believers of Atlach-Nakea”.

These people belong to two camps.

Most of them were wearing heavy armor, holding maces and axes, and when they moved, hot steam would come out of the gaps in their armor. There were dozens of them.

The other wave was wearing ordinary equipment. Leather armor, chain mail, and even dresses. Most of them were armed with long-barreled guns. There were hundreds of them.

Hitzfeld originally thought that since these spider monsters were intelligent, they might be quite powerful, such as possessing some special abilities like some evil creatures, but they were defeated by the Steam Knights and the crude thermal weapons. Their disgusting bodies covered with tumors could only resist bullets to a limited extent, and if they were hit in the soft abdomen and stomach, they would burst directly, making them extremely fragile.

They even captured the giant spider Atla alive and hung it up in a huge net.

“I warned you, Rude, not to make any deals with evil creatures!”

Following a scolding, an old man with a white beard, wearing a pure white robe and an exaggerated golden pendant, strode over.

Hitzfeld had heard their conversation before and knew that this man was the “Bishop Kadega” that Johnny had mentioned.

He was the head of the Northern Diocese. All diocesan forces within the nine cities of the entire Northern Diocese were under his jurisdiction. If necessary, he was even qualified to take over military power and perform duties on behalf of the local chief executive.

“This is indeed my fault.”

A middle-aged man in a black coat and of medium build also walked towards him, nodding and admitting his mistake as he spoke: “They actually attacked the mine guards… These beasts are too crazy!”

“No! We didn’t…!”

The giant spider Atla struggled violently in the web bag. Its ferocious and terrifying appearance made many people guarding nearby take a few steps back.

“I have always restrained my children… they have never attacked humans on their own initiative!”

“They broke in here on their own! They were the ones who took the initiative to make this deal with us!”

“trade?”

The middle-aged man raised his eyebrows and looked at Okara and Johnny who were being surrounded and walked to the front.

“Is that so?”

“I…” Johnny opened his mouth.

He saw it very clearly. The middle-aged man – Rude, and Bishop Kadega were both staring at this place with their eyes slightly narrowed.

Not only that, he also keenly heard the sound of a gun barrel being loaded behind him.

“It lies!”

Okara made his statement before him.

He pointed at the horrible giant spider in the web bag with fear on his face.

“I swear to everyone in the name of the goddess!”

“This monster forced us to do everything!”

Chapter 43: Ice Dust Disaster 6

Although he was rescued, Johnny was not happy about what happened next.

Thanks to Okara’s identification, the fact that “the two were captured by the spider monster” has been completely determined. Everyone is concerned about them and takes good care of them, but he always feels that his conscience has been tormented these days.

Whether or not the monster had intended to eat them at first, it at least hadn’t actually done so.

And he always felt that… Rude and Khadgar were secretly planning something. They seemed to be eager to prove the dangers of these spider monsters, and they even twisted the facts and forced them to spread lies.

Compared to the giant spider Atla who kept his promise, he vaguely felt that these two people were more terrifying.

When he found Okara privately and told him his idea, Okara was very surprised.

In his opinion, because of this encounter – coupled with cooperating with the two big men to complete their plans – they have truly entered the top circle of the Northern Diocese, and even the huge debt has been forgiven.

If nothing unexpected happens, he plans to ask those people to join the garrison. At least he can get a job as a miner based on his experience in picking fruits.

The miners in Orwater are different from those in other places. The treatment they receive is excellent.

But Johnny now had such thoughts, thinking that what they were doing was wrong? Was it to help the “bad guys”? Was it a betrayal of the giant spider Atla’s trust in them?

He thought Johnny must be crazy.

No matter what plans Rudd and Khadgar have, they are human beings, and there is always a human bottom line when doing things.

But what about Atla? It’s just a talking animal. Befriend it? Trust it? Who cares about such a thing?

Are we going to leave this peaceful human society behind and hide in the dark underground with these spider monsters to eat insects?

Okara totally disagreed with Johnny’s point of view. He advised his friend to have a good rest and not to think about random things all day long.

“You saw the skeletons in that pit, didn’t you?” he finally said to Johnny. “They are cannibals… They are not your friends, brother. Your friends should be me and the Bishop.”

Johnny didn’t reply to him, so Okara could only pat him on the shoulder and get up and leave.

But what Johnny didn’t expect was that soon a real big shot would come to see him.

In the evening, in the tent at the corner of the cave, he met Khadgar with a nervous mood.

“Don’t be nervous, kid.” Khadgar comforted him first, “I heard from Okara that you are not feeling well (Johnny immediately looked at the curtain of the tent)… It’s okay, there is no one else outside, I forbid them to follow.”

“Lord Khadgar.” Johnny swallowed, “I don’t know… I don’t understand…”

“Don’t panic.” Khadgar interrupted him, “Stand up first.”

“?” Johnny stood up with a puzzled look on his face.

“Walk around twice and stretch your limbs.”

Although Johnny didn’t understand, he still did what he was told.

“Very good.” Khadgar’s eyes lit up as he stared at the other’s healthy body that had obviously grown taller. “This matter is actually very simple… It’s nothing more than that Sara is looking for a new way out for mankind.”

“A new way out?”

“Yes.” Khadgar nodded. “How old are you, Lister?”

“31 years old, sir.”

“In your 31 years of life, have you ever seen the Goddess of Mechanical Sun truly appear?”

“……should not.”

“No, there is none.” Khadgar nodded again, this time with great force. “Apart from the replica of the tablet, we have no clear evidence that such a deity exists. We cannot get any help from her when we encounter irresistible danger. Apart from chanting her name and kneeling down to pray, or taking up arms and fighting with our own courage and strength, we have no other choice.”

“Sir…” Johnny’s face changed, “This…”

“You are a very smart boy, Lister.” Khadgar smiled at him, “You should be able to see that now, we have a choice.”

What the fuck——

Hitzfeld almost cursed in his heart.

Well, now she knew why the parish was trying so hard to cover up the truth about the disaster in Allwater.

Even now, she still didn’t understand what had happened. But the disaster was a background of great treason.

They seem to want to change their beliefs!

Abolish the belief in the Goddess of Jiyang and replace it with the representative behind this ice crystal fruit tree, the “Ice God”!

and many more.

Her heart tightened as she recalled the White Shadow Palace’s unusual attitude toward her.

The royal family’s control over the major dioceses is absolute.

Especially in this kind of environment with evil spirits and disasters everywhere, the control power will be stronger than she thought.

So, do the Central Diocese and even the White Shadow Palace know about what the Northern Diocese is doing now?

She felt that it was hard to say.

Khadgar did not stay in Johnny’s tent for long, but he had clearly outlined their plan.

Simply put, Khadgar intends to use the northern diocese as a “pilot”.

Through the development and research of the ice crystal fruit tree, the alienation of local residents is accelerated to test whether they can master power beyond the limits of human beings. And study whether this power can be used to fight against evil spirits.

They negotiated and traded with the spider monster group before, not because they couldn’t defeat them, but because they had to eliminate dissent and make up their minds when discussing this plan.

Now that they have defeated the group of spider monsters guarding the ice crystal fruit tree, their next plan is to cut off the cliff and bring the fruit tree back to the city safely.

They had long been dissatisfied with that kind of collection efficiency.

By the way, you can also use Atla to enslave these monsters and force them to continue producing cryolite ore.

After hearing the news, Johnny couldn’t calm down for a long time.

That night, he quietly slipped out of the tent, and after many twists and turns, he found the deep pit where the giant spider Atla was imprisoned, wanting to communicate with it.

“I already know everything…”

Atla’s voice was a little weak.

Johnny turned the oil lamp and saw that all eight of its claws had been cut off, with yellow-white mucus constantly oozing from the broken ends.

“Atra, your injury…”

“I am a believer in God. I will not die at this level.”

“But, human, your companions are too greedy, which will bring you terrible disaster.”

“Disaster?” Johnny was stunned. “You mean… the curse of the fruit tree? … Can’t it be moved in this way?”

Cut the cliff, and then Khadgar can decide whether to plant the fruit trees in a deep pit or lay them flat. Picking the fruit trees does not have to follow the original rules.

But it sounds like this is the wrong approach?

“The disaster is not in your actions themselves, but in the consequences of doing so…”

Atla chuckled.

“Your native civilization is very strange. According to the information I received from the Lord God, an extremely terrifying existence once stayed here, but there are not many traces of its remains in the entire world…”

“Only these trees… they are the mysterious seeds that sprouted… grew… their origins were once closely connected, so they are also connected to each other…”

“The offense against the Ice God Tree will not immediately backfire on you, but you will alarm them…you will alarm it…”

“What’s the alarm?”

Johnny’s whole face was distorted.

“Tell me Atla! Please…”

“A snake.”