Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

Chapter 493: Chapter 493: You tell me, who is the mole?

”Just lost like that?”

Such a valuable thing lost just like that, Yang Yu was also helpless.

Whichever race it may be, as long as they feel that some things need not be minded, they would lower their guard, only to realize its worth once truly lost.

Just like the Trojan Horse, the soldiers guarding Troy guarded the city every day, thinking the horse was a war trophy left by the enemy, and boldly pushed the horse into the city, probably numb from collecting others’ trophies every day.

The Plant Clan, having been isolated from the world for so long and having not experienced anything similar before, considered that storing the Racial Essence in the Tree Mother would ensure complete safety.

Little did they know, this very point was being exploited.

”Besides you, does anyone else know the location where the Racial Essence is stored?”

The blooms atop her head drooped, and Lilith shook her head, ”There are very few in the Plant Clan who know where the Plant Race Essence is stored.

The Plant Racial Essence, as everyone knows, is crucial for our race’s continuation, I believe they would absolutely not steal the Essence for themselves.”

”Really...” Yang Yu said verbally, but inside he was pondering.

Based on the games he had played in the past, if a precious item that should never be lost was lost, it was either taken by a highly skilled Thief or it was an inside job, a betrayal.

Yang Yu was more inclined to believe that there was a betrayer among the Plant Clan.

One reason being, when Yang Yu used the Racial Essence, six tutor options had popped up on his panel, but there were seven people here.

According to Hans’s tone, extensive use of the Racial Essence would make one lean more towards the Plant Clan.

Based on this, the options that popped up when absorbing the Race Essence were likely the possible evolutionary paths for Upper Species, and the success rate of evolution could depend on the purity of the Upper Species power in the Essence.

”Ms. Lilith, I have some matters I would like to verify with you.”

”What is it?” Lilith didn’t feel any annoyance, only yawned sleepily.

”You’ve joined the Council only in recent years, right? Was it your first time making the Essence?”

”Indeed it was. Is there a problem?”

Lilith stared at Yang Yu with a puzzled look, sensing that Yang Yu was vaguely aware of something.

Just as Lilith was about to ask Yang Yu what he had discovered, Yang Yu turned his head towards Hans,

”Mr. Hans, were you also involved in making the Racial Essence last time?”

”Why suddenly ask this question.”

Hans’s face held an innocent smile, slightly surprised at the question posed by Yang Yu but did not show it on his face.

”Just purely curious, how a child so young like you could handle the side effects.”

Cuiyu couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh, ”You really are underestimated, this look of yours indeed causes quite some misunderstandings to outsiders.”

After laughing, Cuiyu crossed his legs, showing off his long legs conspicuously,

”He just looks young, he’s the oldest here besides Elder Quan. Every time we gather the Racial Essence, he’s the most enthusiastic.”

Hans frowned slightly, revealing a somewhat helpless smile, ”As Cuiyu said, while I have the strength, I need to contribute more to the Plant Clan, so I can rest peacefully after death.”

His gaze lingered on Hans’s face for a while, then looked towards Quan Xiangguo sitting opposite, firing the next question.

”The Plant Racial Essence is formed by the power of various Upper Species. Is there a way to separate each of their powers from your Racial Essence?”

”You have a lot of questions,” Meiyu’s gaze was clearly displeased. ”Why do you want to know this?”

Yang Yu answered calmly, ”I’m just purely curious, whether after you all extract your Strength from the Racial Essence, some remnants might allow a Lower Species to become a corresponding Upper Species.”

After pondering for a moment, Quan Xiangguo still decided to continue sharing what he knew with Yang Yu:

”If you extract a little, it doesn’t greatly affect the efficacy of the Racial Essence.

However, without a certain Upper Species’ Strength, it’s impossible for a Lower Species to evolve into the corresponding Upper Species.

But trying to single out and completely extract one type of Strength from the intertwined Racial Essence is very difficult.

Even with meticulous effort, there’s bound to be some residue, making it impossible to remove completely.”

”What if the person possessing the Strength does it himself?” Yang Yu pressed on.

The room fell silent as soon as Yang Yu asked this question. They vaguely sensed Yang Yu’s idea, and even though Lilith just stated that people from the Plant Clan would not steal from themselves, Yang Yu still suspected that there was a traitor among the Plant Clan.

They couldn’t fathom why anyone from the Plant Clan would steal the Racial Essence.

To barter it with Humans for money? Don’t be ridiculous, money is basically useless here.

To keep for their own use? That’s even less plausible than a joke. If it had been used, it would have been discovered long ago, why wait till now to capture Yang Yu?

Anger flashed under Meiyu’s helmet, she wanted to scold Yang Yu loudly, but Quan Xiangguo gestured for her to calm down and then answered Yang Yu’s question.

”If it’s operated by the person himself, indeed, they can completely reclaim their Strength that was infused into the Racial Essence...”

”I see. Thank you for the explanation.”

Yang Yu smiled.

According to the System’s characteristics, even if there were only a fraction of a percent left, as long as it could influence his life’s path to some extent, it should have been listed.

But there was nothing.

At that time, Yang Yu could only choose from six mentors. If there had been an option involving vines, he might indeed have stayed a bit longer before making a choice.

Considering Quan Xiangguo’s recent testimony, Yang Yu was certain there was a seventy percent chance that the traitor was Hans Morning Glory.

But it couldn’t be ruled out that someone intentionally drained the Plant Clan’s Racial Essence of the Morning Glory portion to frame Hans.

To prove whether it was Hans who did it, some evidence was needed.

Making baseless accusations wouldn’t make the traitor confess, and instead, he’d be accused of sowing discord.

Only in the face of absolute evidence would the culprit relent.

Finally seeing some direction, Yang Yu felt confident. All he needed to do was wait for their Task and then boldly gather evidence.

Before Yang Yu could rejoice for long, a questioning voice from Hans resonated not far away, representing the Plant Clan expressing their doubts,

”Are you suspecting that there’s a traitor among us?”

Apart from the inquiry, his words carried no other emotional undertones.

Faced with Hans’ question, Yang Yu just smiled, ”Occasional disagreements within a team are normal, just as in the Council. Some people simply can’t convince everyone to follow their views. Turning against each other due to differing principles is quite normal.”

”An interesting perspective.” Hans simply showed a pure smile like a child. ”However, I trust everyone here. Racial Essence is key to our survival; no one would take it away for their personal gain.

If there really is a traitor, Mr. Yang Yu, who do you think it is?”