177: Chapter 177 Cause and Effect

After spending nearly half a day following the footprints left by the migrating townspeople, Nie Ning arrived at Weipala City.

At this moment, a large number of tents had been set up near the city gate, and many disheveled residents with numb expressions were walking among them.

With Nie Ning's appearance, many people couldn't help but look up at this person with wings.

Nie Ning's Spiritual Power swept across the area, and he quickly located Lida.

Following Lida's aura to a larger tent, he found that almost all the prominent figures of the city were there, besides Lida.

However, these people looked exhausted; clearly, the matter of the Sludge Monster had left them overwhelmed.

"Sir!"

Seeing Nie Ning enter, Lida hurriedly went up to greet him.

Others wanted to step forward to greet him, but Nie Ning had no time to listen to their nonsense.

"Tell me, what is going on?"

Nie Ning went straight to the point.

Lida looked bitter, then began to recount the situation at the time.

Just over twenty days ago, the Sludge Monster suddenly appeared and, taking advantage of The Federation's lack of reaction, devoured a large number of ordinary people.

In the following three days, Lida and the others used the formation within The Federation to barely contain the Sludge Monster, preparing to wait for Nie Ning to return to deal with it.

But just then, a wizard named Dylan suddenly appeared.

Under the guise of helping, Dylan destroyed the formation while they had lowered their guard, releasing the Sludge Monster.

Dylan was only a First-Ring Wizard, and perhaps fearing he could not beat Lida, he fled immediately after destroying the formation.

With no other choice, Lida had to join forces with the people from the City Lord's Mansion to start evacuating the city's residents.

But faced with a Corruptor like the Sludge Monster, the poisonous mist it released alone possessed a strong transmission effect.

Although the evacuation was ultimately successful, at least nearly 150,000 people died, which also made the Sludge Monster incredibly powerful; with their abilities, it was impossible to kill it.

After listening to Lida's account, Nie Ning suddenly frowned.

Lida had been talking for so long, but where was Charlie?

He was a Second Ring Wizard; not to mention killing the Sludge Monster, he should have had no problem containing it. In that case, so many people definitely would not have died.

Nie Ning looked at Lida: "Where is Charlie?"

"Ah?"

Lida stammered, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

"You aren't going to tell me he ran away, are you?"

Nie Ning asked with an expression of disbelief.

Lida looked bitter and didn't speak, but this was undoubtedly the most powerful answer.

Under Nie Ning's stern gaze, Lida finally confessed honestly.

Charlie had indeed arrived at the scene, displaying an attitude of 'I am the greatest in the world.'

But after only a few moves, Charlie realized he was no match and abandoned everyone to flee on his own.

Moreover, they originally had a chance to use the formation to seal it again, but whether Charlie did it on purpose or not, he actually lured the Sludge Monster toward one of the Witch Apprentices who was carrying the formation plate.

In the end, only Lida and one Witch Apprentice managed to escape, while the other seven Witch Apprentices were successively devoured by the Sludge Monster.

"A dog truly cannot change its nature!"

Nie Ning's expression darkened, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Not to mention his usual behavior, he rose to power relying on The Federation's resources, yet he actually ran away at such a critical moment!

Just then, Nie Ning suddenly sensed a powerful mental fluctuation, and immediately after, a man with a handlebar mustache walked in.

The mustachioed man looked at Nie Ning the moment he entered.

"This is Wizard Chebuman from The Federation headquarters."

Seeing this, Lida hurriedly stepped forward to introduce him.

"So you are the Guardian Wizard of Ska City?"

Chebuman squinted at Nie Ning, a fierce look appearing in his eyes: "With a Corruptor running amok in the city, you, the Guardian Wizard, actually went missing. You didn't run away out of fear, did you?"

Hearing this, Nie Ning did not argue, because it was indeed his dereliction of duty.

Although this matter could not have been predicted, if he had been in Ska City at the time, so many people would not have died.

Even if he had just been out and about, he surely would have returned to the city to check upon seeing the first note.

"This is my fault; Sir left the city only because he wanted to find a medicinal herb to treat my injuries."

Seeing that Nie Ning did not refute, Lida spoke up, trying to take the responsibility upon himself.

"Hmph!"

Chebuman let out a cold snort.

At this moment, Nie Ning looked up at the door, and an old man walked in with the person Nie Ning least wanted to see.

Charlie!

Seeing Charlie and the old man walk in, Chebuman suddenly changed his expression, softening significantly: "You should thank Charlie more."

"If he hadn't blocked the Sludge Monster, who knows how many more people in Ska City would have died!"

Hearing this, Nie Ning couldn't help but look at Lida, but he saw a flash of anger in the depths of Lida's eyes.

"You must be Bronk, I am Skadi; I believe you should know who I am."

The old man looked Nie Ning up and down, stroked his beard, and said.

Meanwhile, Charlie stood with his head held high and chest puffed out, a mocking smile on his face.

Seeing Nie Ning's cold expression and silence, Skadi couldn't help but frown slightly, but ultimately said nothing more.

"Now that Ska City is occupied by the Corruptor, we must kill it as soon as possible. Otherwise, once it completes its metamorphosis, no one in the entire Wilbes Republic will be able to handle it."

"Why doesn't the Crimson Holy Blade send people over?"

Nie Ning suddenly asked.

The Crimson Holy Blade was not under the control of the Wilbes Republic, and from the few words Audrey had said back then, one could see how powerful this faction was.

If they sent people, dealing with a Sludge Monster should not be difficult.

Skadi glanced at Nie Ning, remained silent for a moment, then shook his head, replying in a cold tone: "They are different from us, and they wouldn't be able to make it in time. We must handle this matter ourselves."

"Then when are we going to deal with the Sludge Monster?"

Hearing this, Nie Ning did not continue to press, as he only wanted to deal with the Sludge Monster first.

With Skadi there, along with three Second Ring Wizards, dealing with a Sludge Monster should not be difficult.

After all, Corruptors also need time to grow, so naturally, the sooner such things are dealt with, the better.

"What are you in such a rush for? Without first thinking of a strategy, are you in such a hurry to go and die?"

Charlie, who hadn't said a word until now, suddenly retorted in an overbearing manner.

Perhaps because he had been suppressed by Nie Ning for too long, or perhaps because Skadi was present, Charlie's words were full of the attitude of a superior.

"Well said; this matter needs careful consideration. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, it will have a major impact on the entire Wilbes Republic."

Chebuman, who was on the side, chimed in, looking deeply agreeable.

Nie Ning frowned, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Compared to the playboy Charlie, he was more willing to believe Lida's words.

However, he was not in the mood to argue with Charlie about this matter right now.

After dealing with the Sludge Monster, he would let Charlie know the consequences of offending him.

As for that sycophantic villain Chebuman.

He was just a small character; it wouldn't take long before he would come crawling on his knees to beg him!