After finishing their conversation with Songyan, everyone followed Dahao to the innermost part of the office. Then they began discussing the real matter.
"As you have seen, ever since the Stellaron disaster arrived, the madness of the 'mara-struck' has begun to spread.
"Mara-struck has always been a fate the people of the Xianzhou avoid and fear. I believe you have already learned some related information from Nero.
"But under the watch of the Ten-Lords Commission, mara-struck should not have been appearing so frequently."
At this point, Dahao's brows tightened. After pausing for a second, he continued in a more serious tone.
"But now more and more people, especially Cloud Knights who must endure pressure and risk, have begun to fall into mara-struck.
"And the form these people transform into isn't quite the same as the mara-struck I used to know."
Dahao lowered his eyes slightly and clenched his fists, but he did not stop speaking.
"This matter is truly rather suspicious.
"The average age at which Xianzhou people fall into mara-struck is between seven hundred and eight hundred years old."
"But now, the people who have fallen into mara-struck are, in the vast majority of cases, far younger than that number."
"Not long ago, during the mara-struck incident that Nero and the others resolved together in Changletian Square, one of the Cloud Knights involved was a newly enlisted recruit. He was only two hundred years old."
"Although we are unwilling to believe someone could fall into mara-struck at such a young age, the facts are as they are. The eyes of the public and Lady Dragon's diagnosis are obviously unlikely to be wrong."
Listening to Dahao's explanation, everyone gained a clearer and more precise understanding of how serious the matter was.
They also realized that this kind of abnormal change was an extremely important issue for the Xianzhou.
But March still couldn't help feeling shocked by what Dahao had said.
"Two hundred years old is still considered young?"
Of course, she only said that in her mind.
After all, she had just arrived on the Xianzhou, so it was normal that she didn't understand these things yet.
At this moment, Dahao continued speaking.
"As you saw earlier, these mara-struck transformations have already forced those people's bodies and appearances to change drastically.
"To say they are extremely terrifying and resemble monsters would not be an exaggeration."
"So… you want us to help eliminate the mara-struck?"
Stelle pulled out her bat and rested it on her shoulder, tilting her head as she looked at Dahao. The whole posture made her look like a little delinquent.
Recently, when they were at Belobog's Fragmentum factory, she had been having a lot of fun fighting every day.
Because of that, Stelle's way of thinking had become somewhat direct.
In a certain sense, this meant her thinking had perfectly synced with Nero's.
As the saying goes, if there's a problem, start with a jumping slash; if hesitation continues, bring out the bat.
Stelle's straightforward attitude made Dahao freeze for a moment. Then he quickly waved his hands.
"How would we dare trouble you with something like that? Suppressing the mara influence is something the General already has plans for."
While speaking, Dahao couldn't help glancing at Nero a few times.
It was hard to tell whether this Divination Commission official was hoping to borrow Nero's miraculous slaps again, or hoping to hear some inside information from this promising young hero who was very close to the General.
However, Nero just stood there listening, seemingly a little distracted.
In his beautiful eyes was a kind of purity untouched by knowledge.
Dahao quickly regained his composure and continued speaking to Stelle.
"You are highly capable, and the General entrusted you with solving the strange matter of the replicants."
"Now that mara-struck incidents are becoming severe, you will inevitably encounter mara-struck while traveling the roads..."
"During that process, if you discover any clues, I hope you will inform the Divination Commission."
"On one hand, my colleagues and I can respond in time. On the other hand, if there is anything we can help with, we can contribute earlier."
After hearing Dahao's words, Stelle subconsciously followed the line of thought.
Suddenly her eyes lit up.
'There actually is something!'
When they had first arrived at the Xianzhou, they rescued Miss "Tingyun," whom they hadn't seen for a long time. During that process, they defeated quite a few mara-struck enemies.
From one of those enemies, they had picked up a letter.
Thinking of this, Stelle immediately rummaged through her things, pulled out the letter, and handed it to Dahao.
"We got this earlier during a battle with mara-struck."
Dahao took the letter Stelle handed over, opened it, and began reading it carefully.
As he read, the expression on the official's face changed again and again. Heavy seriousness and shock twisted together, and beads of sweat even began forming on his forehead.
After finishing the letter, Dahao showed a look of disbelief. Then he immediately started reading it again from the beginning.
With the way he leaned forward, it looked like he wished he could push his eyes directly into the paper, examining every tiny detail between the lines.
After reading the letter twice, Dahao suddenly stood up from his chair.
He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and apologized, "My apologies, everyone. Please excuse me for a moment."
After saying that, Dahao moved around the group and hurried out.
After quite some time, he returned with a woman who had pointed ears.
When the woman entered the office, she looked around.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
Then, under everyone's confused gaze, she quickly walked over, taking three steps as if they were two.
Her target was clear. She headed straight for Nero.
Then she spoke in a tone like someone teasing a kitten.
"Nero, you're here too? Hurry, let me pet you!"
Before she even finished speaking, the woman had already reached out and started smoothing Nero's hair.
Nero didn't really react.
He usually didn't reject other people's affectionate actions.
March, however, stared wide-eyed at the scene.
Although she didn't say anything, her expression seemed to be shouting, "Who are you!? Why are you touching him the moment you show up? After meeting again this time, I haven't even gotten to pet Nero yet!"
'Clearly I was here first!'
Stelle, on the other hand, showed a helpless bitter smile.
"Nero really is popular no matter where he goes..."
"Uh..." Dahao, who had brought the woman back, stood there staring blankly.
He hadn't expected something like this to happen, and for a moment he didn't know what he should do.
Then again, Nero looked like he would feel very nice to touch. He also really wanted to try.
But… he didn't dare. Better forget it.
By the way, that pink-haired young lady who looked a little slow-witted… why had her expression suddenly turned as if she wanted to eat someone?
Dahao stood there stunned for a moment. After snapping out of it, he cleared his throat to remind someone to pay attention to their image.
The woman finally released her hands, her face showing a satisfied expression.
It wasn't often she got the chance to absorb some Fish. Since she caught the opportunity this time, she had to enjoy it properly.
"Uh… I've read the letter you found…" After the scene gradually settled down, Dahao spoke to Stelle again.
"To be honest, I don't know how to handle this problem.
"This matter has exceeded the jurisdiction of the Divination Commission. So I contacted the Seat of Divine Foresight, where the General resides."