In the meantime, Dogli had already escorted Hamoin to the location where the colossal worm had met its demise.

Upon beholding the motionless mass of flesh, a deeper sense of earnestness flickered in Hamoin's eyes.

This is the descendant of the ancient demon god, Bargalon. It's truly a pity that the last of its kind has perished in such a manner... Hamoin stood there, lost in a momentary reverie.

The sheriff and several police officers turned their heads. Dogli inquired, "Is there anything amiss, Chief Officer?"

Hamoin resumed his steps, as if nothing out of the ordinary had transpired. "It's nothing. I'm merely a bit taken aback."

He had a penchant for walking with one hand behind his back, his back ramrod straight, his gait exuding elegance and stability.

It was an oddly comforting sight to behold.

The site was under round-the-clock surveillance by police officers on rotation, to prevent any unauthorized individuals from entering or any unforeseen incidents from occurring.

The sheriff presented his identification, and only then were they granted entry.

In truth, this procedure had been added on a whim. After all, with a superior present, it was imperative to demonstrate strictness.

As they neared, a thick, acrid stench assailed their nostrils.

Everyone promptly covered their mouths and noses.

Just as Dogli was about to approach further, Hamoin extended his hand to halt him. Frowning, he said, "Is this how you usually approach it?"

The sheriff, perplexed, grunted, "What else would we do? Is there something wrong with that?"

Hamoin couldn't help but close his eyes and shake his head. When he opened them again, he said solemnly, "For a dangerous creature of unknown origin like this, it's advisable to take comprehensive precautions. Even if it's deceased, aren't you concerned that the stench it emits might be toxic or cursed?"

Upon hearing this, several officers in the vanguard leaped back as if scalded, quickly distancing themselves from the colossal worm's corpse.

Dogli's countenance also darkened. He was deeply worried about the safety of himself and those officers who frequently approached the worm's body.

However, this couldn't be held against them. In this rural area, many of the police officers were locals who hadn't received any formal training. They had been gradually trained by Dogli and a few team leaders.

Even so, they hadn't encountered many extraordinary incidents, so naturally, they were ignorant of the necessary precautions.

"Chief Officer, then what should we do now..." Dogli asked nervously.

Hamoin raised his hand, swept it through the air, and then extended his tongue to lick the tips of his fingers that had passed through the air.

He closed his eyes, as if savoring the odor.

"Rest assured. It's merely the ordinary stench of decaying flesh. It won't endanger your lives, but it's best not to inhale too much of it."

Upon receiving Hamoin's reassurance, Dogli and several officers breathed a sigh of relief.

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"Seeing that you're unprotected, it's rather perilous. Allow me to assist you." Hamoin suddenly declared, and with a snap of his fingers.

Snap!

Everyone in the vicinity, including himself, was enveloped in a transparent film resembling a form-fitting garment, which clung to their clothes without impeding their movements.

"You're a mage, sir?!" Dogli exclaimed in surprise, eyeing his smooth hands.

"You could say so. Well... I should say I'm more than just a mage." Hamoin kept his hands behind his back, his gait remaining as elegant and steady as ever.

As they drew closer to the colossal worm's corpse, they noticed a continuous seepage of a black, pus-like substance from the surface of the mass of flesh, accompanied by the incessant buzzing of flies.

"This black substance wasn't here when I last visited," Dogli remarked.

Hamoin narrowed his eyes.

There's the faint aura of a werewolf's curse...

He kept his conjecture to himself and merely circled the worm's body, observing it intently.

"As I suspected," Hamoin suddenly blurted out.

He intended to impart some information to these individuals.

"What is it?" Dogli inquired as expected.

Hamoin turned around. "Have you ever heard of the descendants of the demon gods?"

"Descendants of the demon gods?" The sheriff's expression clearly indicated that the term was unfamiliar to him.

The chief officer gazed at the enormous worm's corpse and slowly elucidated, "The demon gods, perhaps that's what they call themselves. That's how we refer to them. They're a group of beings whose very existence is capable of unleashing disasters. I'm not entirely sure how to describe them precisely, but they're extremely formidable. And this colossal flesh worm is said to be the descendant of a certain demon god, and it's the last of its kind. That's why the higher-ups are taking this matter so seriously."

After listening, Dogli wasn't fully convinced. Information of this nature shouldn't be divulged so readily, or perhaps the other party had only revealed a portion of it.

Hamoin suddenly wheeled around and asked, "So, who on earth killed it? This creature possessed numerous means of escape. It managed to survive the chaotic environment of the last century and endure until now. It shouldn't have been felled so easily."

Sure enough, he's testing me... Dogli tensed internally but maintained an outward composure. He replied, "I've already submitted a report on the details. We're not certain exactly what transpired. When we arrived, everything was already over."

This response didn't satisfy Hamoin. He slightly narrowed his eyes, and the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes deepened. "Sheriff, your pupils wavered briefly before you spoke, and your reply was a tad too hasty. Based on my years of experience, you must know something, correct? Lying isn't a commendable trait, Sheriff."

By now, Dogli's heart was pounding rapidly. But as the long-standing head of the police station, he still managed to maintain a steady tone as he retorted, "Chief Officer, please refrain from using such spurious reasons to interrogate me. I stand by what I said earlier. I've reported everything I know."

"Hehe..." Hamoin tilted his head slightly and regarded Dogli with a sidelong glance. This gesture lent him an air of sharpness, exerting an indescribable pressure on Dogli. "Sheriff, don't mistake me for those incompetent officials who are only interested in taking credit and oppressing the lower ranks. I'm a reasonable man and don't adhere rigidly to the rules. Provide me with some useful information, and I'll overlook the fact that you deceived me. What do you say?"

Beads of sweat appeared on Dogli's forehead. Just as he was about to shake his head resolutely, a police officer dashed over from a distance and shouted, "Sheriff, a Mr. Glen is seeking you. He claims to be your friend."

Oh, no! ... Dogli's eyes widened in alarm, and he suddenly turned around, sensing that something was amiss.

Hamoin caught this reaction. The corners of his mouth twitched into a smirk, and he directly instructed the police officer, "Tell him to come here."

The police officer hesitated and glanced at Dogli instead.

Observing this, Hamoin retrieved an identification card adorned with a golden griffin from the inner pocket of his gold-trimmed coat. "I'm the highest-ranking official here. Do as I say."

The police officer swallowed hard but remained rooted to the spot.

Hamoin's eyes turned icy, and the police officer felt as if he had plummeted into an abyss, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"Do as the Chief Officer commands," Dogli interjected in a timely manner. The police officer scurried back the way he had come.

Moments later, in the police station.

Glen was seated on a bench in the rest area, tracing patterns with his fingers.

He had just returned from the housing area on the western side of the town. That fellow named John had readily acceded to Glen's request.

The other party had merely informed Glen to prepare materials such as cement and bricks, and they could commence work at any time.

After reaching an agreement, he recalled that Ravel had mentioned Dogli's visit the previous day. So, he had come to the police station to inquire. To his disappointment, Dogli had just stepped out. A police officer had gone to notify him, and he was now left with no choice but to wait.