Stiller didn't keep Lin Yu waiting for too long.

He quickly thought of a way to spread the rumors.

And just as Lin Yu had predicted, the idea Stiller came up with was somewhat laughable.

He walked straight up to the furnace, much like a student entering a bar for the first time but trying to act like a regular by heading directly to the counter.

"Hey there, Monster."

Stiller's tone seemed casual, but because it was overly casual, it actually came across as deliberate.

Lin Yu observed that Fern immediately frowned. "What is this guy doing? From his earlier performance, I thought he was a decent sort!"

"Why is he acting so sneaky now?"

And it wasn't just Fern;even the group of Players who had originally been acting with Stiller all cast sidelong glances.

"What is he up to all of a sudden?"

The bounty hunter was the first to show confusion. After all, he was the last to join this temporary team. Having the shallowest roots with the others, he was naturally the most attentive to Stiller's actions. Speaking up first to express confusion now wasn't a challenge to Stiller, but rather stemmed from a kind of simple concern and… an indirect way of protecting him.

Even the Barbarian over there couldn't help but look toward Stiller's position.

And the Furnace Fire also flared up.

"Is there something you need, human?"

"You claim to be a very ancient existence, so I just wanted to inquire about something," Stiller said, actually getting somewhat into the role. "During this Glory Festival, I witnessed something beyond my comprehension."

The Furnace Fire became interested, revealing a curious expression.

However, since Stiller had complimented it, although extremely curious, this Furnace Fire still put on a bit of airs first, also taking the opportunity to praise itself.

"Ahem, indeed, I have existed for a very long time, witnessing the vast changes and evolutionary shifts of this Black Marsh world."

"While I cannot guarantee I know every single thing, I believe your question will not exceed the scope of my knowledge."

Hearing this, Stiller still spoke somewhat stiffly. "Is that so… Well, the thing beyond my comprehension is actually a lifeform—or rather, a certain existence."

As he spoke, everyone became interested and began to listen intently.

Because Stiller's performance was a bit clumsy and clearly trying to hide something, everyone was even more drawn to what he actually wanted to say.

"Lifeform, existence? Such a mystifying way of putting it!"

Fern stroked her chin and commented.

Watching Fern focus her attention intently on Stiller, Lin Yu was very satisfied in his heart.

This was the effect he wanted to achieve.

The more suspicious it seemed, the easier it was to attract attention.

And the biggest nemesis of "deception" is not having flaws exposed, but rather… having no one look at it.

The hardest people for any scam to fool are always those who don't even give you a chance to speak.

The most sophisticated scam call can't fool someone who simply never answers the phone.

Suspicion, scrutiny—as long as their gazes fell on Stiller, it was the result Lin Yu wanted to see.

And Stiller continued speaking with deliberate affectation.

"I encountered a creature that was neither a beast nor a member of an awakened, intelligent race. That terrifying thing had the savagery and brutality of a beast, yet at the same time resembled a humanoid that could communicate."

This content instantly caught the Furnace Fire's attention.

"A very strange description. Elaborate."

The Furnace Fire pressed for details.

Stiller composed himself and put on a look of being shaken to the core as he continued.

"Not long after I first entered this festival, I encountered a Blood Rakshasa. He was a very combative and strong fellow. Upon seeing me, he wanted to challenge me."

"He was tall, robust, and looked very fierce. I didn't want any complications and just wanted to hunt prey peacefully, so I refused him. But I didn't expect him to persistently chase after me—this didn't surprise me, as 'challenge' is just a polite term, after all."

"I didn't have full confidence in defeating that Blood Rakshasa, so I engaged in negotiations with him… To avoid him, I deliberately kept circling the periphery of that deep and complex dense forest. Under the cover of night, his pursuit would be hindered… But I overlooked one thing: that this dense forest could also hide other things."

"After the chase lasted for some time, my stamina was nearly exhausted. Just as I was about to change tactics—suddenly! I noticed he seemed to have disappeared!"

"My first reaction was relief, but soon, relief turned into unease, because I heard some unsettling sounds and smelled a heavy scent of blood."

Hearing this, Lin Yu couldn't help but curl his lip.

So terrible…

Stiller sounded like a supporting character old man in a third-rate horror movie telling a ghost story to scare children—and telling a ghost story that would later come true.

Full of cheap emotional embellishment and pointless environmental descriptions.

Lin Yu could also guess the reason Stiller was telling the story this way.

"He's probably been reading too much Stephen King lately."

Since coming to this world, Stiller seemed very keen on reading various sci-fi and mystery novels.

"By the way, that guy looked arrogant and rude, but from a personality color analysis perspective, his behavioral patterns definitely wouldn't be the type to give up easily."

Hearing Stiller's next statement, the corner of Lin Yu's mouth twitched again.

"So Old Zheng was involved too."

Already knowing which part Stiller was going to fabricate next, Lin Yu, unsurprisingly, heard the "climax" of Stiller's impromptu little story.

"After an intense internal struggle, I made a decision—I would go back to find him, find that bastard! I wanted to see what had happened to him!"

"Whatever hidden strangeness there was couldn't scare me—that's what I originally thought."

"But… after I turned back, I saw the most terrifying scene among the trees."

"A huge, crimson, bleeding monster with four rough arms and a face as ferocious as a demon."

"And that Blood Rakshasa was clutched in its hands, completely unable to resist—he didn't even cry out!"

"That Blood Rakshasa and I had circled that dense forest many times. I never heard when such a massive thing arrived, and I certainly didn't see any footprints or traces."

"It was as if it appeared out of thin air—I don't even know if it was a contestant or a Player!"

"Then, under my watchful gaze, that red four-armed monster grabbed the Blood Rakshasa's limbs, and then…"

Stiller's voice trembled.

"He tore that Blood Rakshasa in half alive!"