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墨書 Inktalez
At that moment, it wasn't just Freyr who felt confused; the others also cast suspicious glances in his direction. The butler, overwhelmed by so many scrutinizing eyes, fell to his knees with a thud and began to cry, "I didn't want to resort to such despicable means. Someone gave me these things, and if I didn't follow his orders, my family back home would die. I don't know how it came to this. I really didn't want to do it, but then he sent me an ear of my late spouse. I recognized it, along with some recordings of them crying in despair. I couldn't bear to see them suffer, so I had no choice but to comply."
"Is he one of us? And why didn't you report this situation? Is it meaningful for one person to bear this alone?" Freyr's expression suddenly darkened as he spoke sternly.
"I did report it, but no one wanted to believe me. They thought I was cursed. Later, I learned from those involved in the Ritual that they all had someone manipulating them. If they didn't act as Priests, their families would suffer. The only thing I understood was that they could do such things because they were connected and influential. If I didn't comply, I'd lose my life. I'm just a worthless life, but my family..." At this point, the butler broke down in tears.
A hint of sympathy flickered in Freyr's eyes. "Alright, get up. We're here to help you resolve this matter. After tonight's turmoil settles down, if you still have contact with him, please share his contact information with us."
"Um, I only correspond with him through letters. He leaves a note at the entrance of my inn. Usually, when I find it, no one is around. Then those involved in the Ritual come to the inn looking for me, and I help them with some matters. That's all there is to it. I don't want to do this; even though I didn't kill them myself, it feels like I'm sending them on their way. If this continues, I'll go insane. Even if I die, my family..." The butler's eyes dimmed as if he had lost all reason and hope regarding life and death.
Freyr's expression grew serious again as he continued, "Is that so? If that's the case, it's troubling. But you must trust us; we can change your current situation. If there's anything else, please tell us as soon as possible. By the way, there's something else I'm curious about: why hasn't today's Priest shown up? Is there really no action planned for tonight?"
The butler suddenly whispered, "Someone will come based on that letter. Just do what you need to do and don't discuss other matters before you arrive."
Xiong Tai jumped up in anger. "What? Are we being controlled too? Why is this happening? Who has a grudge against us?"
"It may not necessarily be a grudge against anyone; it could just be a coincidence. That person exploited human weaknesses and found no one else to manipulate, so they decided to use the elderly instead. We just happened to arrive at this inn and heard all of this from the butler." Freyr sighed and shook his head quickly. "What a clever strategy! But we don't even know who our opponent is; that's quite troublesome." He took a deep breath and continued after a moment of silence: "Actually, we shouldn't be so disheartened; there are always places where things can go wrong. If they only understood that we are a Soldier-Level Hunter Team, they should realize our strength isn't too weak either. Taking such risks is foolish; however, our team's capabilities are stronger than they might think. We have three seasoned hunters on our team; that's quite significant. If they only assess our strength based on the label of Soldier-Level Hunter Team, they'll misjudge us. If we can't uncover the truth now, we'll wait for their plans to fail and follow the clues back to them for the final showdown."
"Right! Listening to you as Commander!" Mackey chimed in with a thumbs-up.
"Alright then, everyone rest up and conserve your strength; we might have more work tonight," Freyr said.
Afterward, he opened the door with the butler and headed downstairs.
In fact, the weapons brought along for this operation were mostly outdated Cold Weapons since ordinary firearms would struggle to inflict serious damage on Insectoids unless they reached nuclear levels of power.
The current defense systems created by human technology are such that even a regular sniper rifle may not be able to kill a fully armed Elite Human.
Within the Human Alliance, the Elite Humans are mainly divided into two factions. One faction consists of those who have unlocked their Gene Lock, representing the most primitive and basic combat weapons. The other faction is formed around various precision techniques, with the Assassin Association focusing on assassination work. They can sometimes move without making any sound, their bodies so coordinated that they can evade infrared sensors while running. These individuals are also referred to as Elite Humans. Additionally, there are the Hunter Association and a more primitive yet once prosperous Alchemist Association that has thrived for over a century.
The Alchemist Association primarily engages in research work; without it, how could technology advance so rapidly?
Their topics of study are endless, even believing that the human body harbors even greater powers, including the significance of discarded DNA. With the continuous development of Genetic Engineering, this secret organization has been researching human genes and the ultimate capabilities of the human body.
Gene Lock was invented by the original creators within the Alchemist Association, followed by the elemental control abilities mastered by the Hunter Association.
Sometimes, cold weapons can achieve effects that hot weapons cannot. Modern warfare still relies heavily on hot weapons, so the development of cold weapons must proceed quietly behind the scenes.
The butler secretly procured a common handgun from the cellar, which has limited range.
After clearing away the decayed newspapers covering it, the handgun inside was surprisingly well-preserved.
Although it hadn't been tested yet, after careful adjustments by Freyr, it should still be usable for a few shots; after all, this weapon is somewhat old.
Aside from its age, there is also the concern of it suddenly malfunctioning due to being too old. But now was not the time to be picky about weapons; as long as it works, that's enough.
The butler sighed and said, "This is as far as I can help you. I hope to see you again in the morning."
"Don't say such gloomy things; it's not like we won't meet again. I promise I will fulfill my word, so please believe me," Freyr replied.
The butler appeared even more helpless, nodding and saying, "Alright, just a little patience."
It was eleven o'clock at night.
In Slyland City, the night was alive with spirits as people, drained of energy, finally ventured out after a brief rest.
The inn's door was knocked open, and this time it was the Hunter Team disguised as the Ritual participants.
However, once they stepped outside, they expected to face inhumane humiliation. To their surprise, those who surrounded them cast nostalgic glances, clearly reluctant to let go.
The Priests had a tradition that spanned from ancient times to the present. They were treated well in life, enjoying good food and drink, holding a status second only to the Chieftain within their tribe.
Evil sorcerers could communicate with the divine, bridging the earthly realm and connecting with deities to convey blessings and wishes.
In truth, those who harbored such thoughts were destined for death from the moment they were born.
The four were shackled with wooden locks. While these chains could bind humans, they could not contain them. At that moment, they played the role of ordinary Priests to witness the truth before them.
If people were to realize that what they believed to be Insectoids were merely an emerging biological race that could be directly slain, then awakening on both a spiritual and faith-based level would be beneficial. It could lead many to enlightenment through this battle, creating more than just an image of heroism.
They were placed in a wooden Prison Cart, and soon after, they were taken away by several individuals with colorful designs painted on their faces. A large crowd followed behind them like wandering ghosts.
The ride was quite comfortable, allowing them to sit back and enjoy the food that was brought to them. They felt safe during this time, and if there were any needs in that regard, it was likely someone would meet them. After all, they were positioned at the entrance of an alley where the fate of others hung in the balance, serving as the messengers of the divine. It was impossible for their needs not to be met.
Freyr sat quietly in the wooden Prison Cart, lost in thought. He had no idea how much time had passed when they traveled a certain distance and suddenly a mountain appeared on the road ahead. As they approached this mountain, everyone seemed to slow their pace.
They must have reached their destination. A few oil-stained men helped them down from the cart and gestured for them to kneel.
The night had deepened, and the people here did not carry flashlights; they walked with very ordinary lanterns. The oil in the lamps burned steadily, keeping the flames alive.
It seemed that the time had come. Suddenly, a dark spectacle appeared on the other side of the mountain. Strangely enough, the shape of this mountain resembled a hornet's nest, which was somewhat disconcerting. It was as if an artist had adorned everything with spirit, crafting a mountain that connected to the earth, with openings from which dark figures continuously emerged.
One after another, they quickly took flight in the air.
Upon witnessing this scene, the oil-faced men led by example, prostrating themselves on the ground and prompting those behind them to do the same.
"Honorable Insectoid beings," they murmured in a strange dialect, "we have brought you the food you requested. May we be blessed with favorable weather and safety for the coming week."
A buzzing roar filled the air, causing a splitting pain in their heads.
"These are earaches; everyone open your mouths and focus your energy," instructed the Insectoids as they exerted their strength, seemingly using their skills to attack the group dressed in white who knelt before them.
In truth, after Freyr gave his instructions, it was clear that everyone's resistance had increased.
The sound waves still penetrated their minds, causing some pain, but it felt as though it wouldn't reach a level that could shatter their heads.
The members of the Soldier-Level Hunter Team, who had been kneeling on the ground, stood up one by one. The Oily-Faced Men widened their eyes in fear and whispered, "What do you want? Kneel down quickly, or everyone here will lose their lives along with you."
"Is that so?"
Xiong Tai immediately struck the man on the chin with an elbow and removed his white coat, which resembled something from the underworld.
Everyone followed suit; it was nighttime, so no one would notice the clothes they wore underneath.
The white clothing made them feel a suffocating sense of death, and after taking it off, they felt much better.
Xiong Tai threw his head back and let out a joyful wolf howl, dispelling the oppressive atmosphere as he gathered energy in his left hand.
At the same time, everyone drew their configured Cold Weapons—some wielded long swords, others hammers—all crafted by ordinary artisans.
After a simple sharpening process, the weapons were ready for use, but it was truly unfortunate for The One Who Pays.
Behind them stood a large crowd, at least hundreds or thousands strong, yet not a single person dared to look up. A few figures resembling shamans were immediately knocked unconscious by the Hunter Team.
Strange Insectoids with bizarre shapes descended rapidly from above; the threat seemed imminent. Each member of the Hunter Team couldn't help but change their expressions as they noticed that there were at least forty to fifty Insectoids overhead, possibly even more.
The most eye-catching Insectoid was a flying creature, entirely green with dry yellow eyes, looking extremely eerie and terrifying.
It appeared to be a hybrid organism; indeed, scientific analysis confirmed that Insectoids could reproduce with any living being to create new and terrifying life forms.
It resembled a bat, its wings like those of a demon, black and terrifying, clearly embodying the oppressive atmosphere of the Realm of Death.
This fearsome Insectoid seemed to have its king hidden within the cave, their territory. These were likely the so-called Advance Troops, part of the food-gathering efforts.
However, when the real soldiers appeared, one would truly understand what terror meant; this was no less than a high-risk mission executed by a Royal Hunter Team.
Xuanhui felt that even a team collaboration task could not compare to this level of difficulty. Indeed, accepting such a mission at this stage seemed like a waste.
Because they might end up working hard for nothing, or receive no rewards at all.
Humans could not understand the Insectoid's language, but they could smell a familiar scent, and without hesitation, they charged at the four individuals before them.
They were unarmed, relying solely on their powerful bodies to trample forward.
It was as if they were signaling that they would crush them just like stepping on ants on the ground.
"Let's go for it! Everyone maintain formation!"
The weakest member of the team was Relock. Fortunately, Parker Parkinson and Ross were not present; if Ross had been there, he might have been able to share some of the pressure with everyone.
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