Mushroom Lord in the Underground City-Chapter 253 - 245: This Is My Fungal Mat

The core content of the announcement was clear and firm: The Guild will officially and temporarily take over the actual management rights of Dumb Wind Town, and all outputs within the town and surrounding areas for several miles will be fully allocated by Branch President Fa’er.

The announcement also provided specific follow-up measures for Dumb Wind Town. On one hand, special personnel will be sent to investigate the current situation of the Underground City; on the other hand, roads will be cleared in and around Dumb Wind Town, and clear mushroom growing areas will be designated, with unified picking and management by personnel appointed by the Guild.

If adventurers still wish to collect mushrooms, they must either enter the Underground City or venture deep into the forests beyond the current management scope to search.

This wasn’t all; the announcement also mentioned that, as situations develop, this management scope could continue to expand.

For civilians, the response to this measure was relatively calm, even with a hint of anticipation.

Although they lost the freedom to gather on their own, Chairman Fa’er’s continuous provision of relief food led them to believe that these centrally managed mushrooms would eventually benefit many refugees.

Moreover, if large-scale mushroom field planning is truly enacted as stated, the significant labor demand would naturally involve these civilians, not the adventurers used to living by the sword, which could provide some civilians with stable livelihoods.

After all, they were already at a disadvantage competing with those adventurers in the original free gathering.

Conversely, this undoubtedly harmed the interests of the adventurers.

Although this move would not affect the survival of the adventurers, it just meant they couldn’t easily make quick money as they did now.

The fat meat that was already in their mouths was forcibly taken away; anyone would be envious and angry, so they protested here and now!

Of course, this courage also relied entirely on the protection of their numbers, as adventurers have always been a group that best understands how to assess the situation.

Fa’er understood fully well that there was actually no need to pay attention to this noise. He could enforce it strongly, and whoever dared to jump out would be thrown in jail for contempt of the Duke and the Guild, reminding them if the Duke’s family indeed had this authority from the law.

This was also Fa’er’s anticipated approach. Although it might offend adventurers and damage some reputation, it would have immediate results.

But Miss Inanna declared that she had a more "convincing" method.

Inanna did not reveal the details, and Fa’er did not have much expectation for this Duke’s Daughter who had no achievements to speak of, but since she represented the Saint Claire Family, Fa’er could only accompany her attempt.

The worst scenario would be if she made matters worse, causing a conflict, and then he would clean up the mess.

In fact, thinking of it from another angle, if she really messed things up, Fa’er might naturally gain more leadership in future actions.

Under the protection of guards and Puki, Inanna walked to the temporary high platform.

The moment her figure appeared, the raucous sounds in the camp rapidly subsided, leaving only suppressed breathing.

All the adventurers focused their gaze on this Duke’s Daughter, awaiting her statement.

"Fellow adventurers," Inanna’s clear voice pierced through the air, falling into everyone’s ears, "you should not be so dissatisfied; this land undoubtedly belongs to my Saint Claire Family."

She paused slightly, her gaze sweeping over the crowded people below, "As for this fungal mat, it belongs to me, and I naturally have absolute authority to dispose of it. In fact, you could even say it was you who previously dug mushrooms without permission, and I hadn’t pursued that."

"Ha?"

"What did she say?"

"The fungal mat grew in the Underground City. How could it be yours? Based on what? Based on that long-absent ’King of Puki’ beside you?"

Most adventurers present had heard of the "King of Puki." However, no one believed that having a Puki taken away long ago could represent Inanna’s ownership of the fungal mat, and doubts surged again.

"Such rude things!" Faced with these doubts against Miss Inanna, a guard, with his face turning blue, placed his hand on his sword hilt, eager to capture a few of the worst offenders for discipline, but was stopped by Inanna.

Fa’er, standing in the shadows a bit behind, slightly frowned.

He agreed with Inanna’s claim of territorial ownership, but directly declaring the fungal mat as personal property was likely to ignite public outrage. This Daughter of the Duke couldn’t have thought that merely stating it would make everyone agree, right?

Fa’er gestured for Mira Belle; he was ready to step out to help Inanna clear up the aftermath.

Facing the doubts, Inanna simply picked up Knight Puki, calmly walking off the high platform, heading straight to a newly extended fungal mat area on the camp’s edge.

All eyes followed her; the adventurers looked at each other in confusion, wondering what she was going to do. Was she just going to leave after announcing ownership?

Inanna stopped at the edge of the fungal mat, facing the crowd, and declared loudly, "First of all, it’s not called ’King of Puki’! Its name is ’Knight’!"

She lifted Knight Puki high in her arms, her voice rising imperatively, "Secondly, this fungal mat is indeed mine! And the proof is—"

Before the words had faded, she abruptly thrust Knight Puki towards the fungal mat!

Pop, pop, pop—

An unbelievable scene unfolded!

Under the astonished eyes of everyone, the fungal mat behind Inanna seemed infused with life!

Centering at her vantage point, an uncountable number of mushrooms sprouted as if by an invisible hand, like ripples spreading across the water surface, vying to break through the mat!

They didn’t just sprout sporadically, but emerged in clusters, expanding wildly!

In less than half a minute, the entire fungal mat area within sight was completely covered by a thick, lush, suffocating layer of mushrooms!

Various mushrooms squeezed together, their density far exceeding the limits of natural growth, with the much-desired delicious red mushrooms among them as well!

The entire camp fell into a dead silence.

The adventurers who had been shouting moments ago were as if choked, staring dumbfounded at the seemingly miraculous fungal mat, and then at Inanna and Knight Puki in front of it.

Even Fa’er stood with his mouth slightly open, unable to hide his extreme shock.

Anyone with some insight might suspect it was some kind of powerful natural magic item, but those like Fa’er, truly understanding natural magic, instantly dismissed such a possibility.

Even if it were natural magic, achieving such an effect would require a Great Mage of the elves to act personally; it was evidently not something a regular magic item could accomplish.

At this moment, an idea slightly absurd emerged in everyone’s mind: Was this fungal mat truly hers?!

"Hmph!" Seeing the speechless crowd, Inanna’s lips curled into a slight arc, with a faint humph. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The pride in her heart almost overflowed, as just now, the boss praised her for performing very well!