The Enemy's Plan

The trio continued forward, and Luo Wei soon discovered another vast space where multiple tunnels converged. This appeared to be a hub of Saint Callen's sewer system, though it had now become a stronghold for underground gangs.

Under the dim light, Luo Wei spotted numerous gang members and stacks of firearms wrapped in waterproof tarps and oil paper lining both sides of the space. The sheer quantity of weapons was staggering—enough to arm a small militia.

Beyond that, deep in the shadows, lay countless corpses piled high. Though the bodies were severely decomposed, there was not a trace of the foul stench one would expect.

This anomaly caught Luo Wei’s attention. He suspected the corpses had been preserved by some form of dark magic, likely serving as materials for a summoning ritual—a tactic typical of ghouls.

When the gang members on guard heard the footsteps of Luo Wei and his companions, they immediately raised their guns.

"Who's there?!"

"Don’t shoot! It's me!!" Luo Wei raised his hands in surrender, feigning panic as he rushed toward them.

"Dick? What are you three doing here?" The gang member eyed Luo Wei suspiciously but kept his weapon raised.

"It's bad! Really bad!" Luo Wei gasped, looking over his shoulder as if pursued by something terrifying. "There are three enemies outside—one man and two women, all powerful supernaturals! They’ve already killed our men!!"

Ophelia and Tilis nodded frantically, their faces etched with exaggerated fear.

"What?!" The gang members tensed, their expressions turning wary.

Luo Wei urged them urgently, "They might be from the Special Affairs Department! We need to report this to Boss Fly right away!"

"Got it!" A gang lieutenant barked orders. "You, take a few men and check it out. As for you, Dick—come with me!"

Luo Wei lowered his head and followed the lieutenant, who seemed intent on leading him to the gang leader.

The open space around them was cluttered with crates of weapons and corpses, but in the distance stood a clean, well-kept tent. As they approached, the lieutenant glanced back and asked,

"What abilities do those three have? How do you know they’re from the Special Affairs Department?"

"I’m just guessing..." Luo Wei shook his head. "I couldn’t see their abilities clearly—it was too dark, and everyone was dead before I knew it. I barely escaped with my life..."

"You didn’t even see them?" The lieutenant slowed his pace, eyeing Luo Wei skeptically. "If they’re that strong, how did you three make it back alive?"

"Who knows?" Luo Wei replied casually, scanning their surroundings.

The area around the tent was deserted—most gang members were guarding the weapons and corpses, and a squad had already been sent outside.

"Wait a minute!" The lieutenant suddenly stiffened, realization dawning. "What kind of nonsense is this? You can’t possibly miss things in the dark!"

He stared at "Dick," whose expression no longer matched the panic from before, and his eyes widened in alarm. He opened his mouth to shout—

But Luo Wei was already behind him in an instant. With a swift chokehold, he clamped down on the lieutenant’s neck, cutting off his air. The man’s eyes rolled back, foam bubbling at his lips as he slumped silently.

After dragging the unconscious body into the shadows, Luo Wei activated [Shadowmeld], blending seamlessly into the darkness.

The underground gang was in chaos over the earlier disturbance, but the area around the tent remained quiet. Luo Wei had planned to signal the witch and storm in to capture Fly, but a new figure caught his attention.

A robed, gaunt woman emerged, her gaze fixed on the tunnel Luo Wei had come from. After a brief pause, she hurried into the tent.

Luo Wei crept closer, eavesdropping on the conversation inside.

"Don’t worry. So what if they’ve found us? Unless it’s that Fred from the Special Affairs Department, anyone who comes here will die. No one can touch me."

The gruff, arrogant voice undoubtedly belonged to Fly, leader of the Night Crows and the 32nd most-wanted man on the wanted list.

The woman’s voice, however, was laced with irritation. "The Holy Maiden’s plan must succeed. Until then, our methods cannot be exposed. Move the hideout immediately."

"What a pain. Transporting all these weapons again will take ages..."

She sneered. "The weapons don’t matter. But the corpses I brought—those are essential for the ritual. Make sure they’re secure."

"Tch. Fine..."

Luo Wei frowned as he listened. So the corpses were her doing. Two things stood out to him.

First, an outsider had managed to smuggle so many bodies under Saint Callen’s nose, suggesting deep infiltration within the authorities. It reminded him of Bishop Lawrence’s betrayal—perhaps the mole was within the Holy Edict Church itself. After all, the church was the perfect place to store corpses openly.

Second, the method to summon the Ghoul King didn’t originate from the ghoul gang—it came from the Siston Theocracy, the very bastion of "holy light."

Inside the tent, Fly continued, "I’ve studied the Necrophagic Liturgy you brought. Now tell me—how do we escape unscathed when chaos breaks out? That’s my real concern."

"Rest easy," the woman said confidently. "Once the emperor dies, the war of succession will begin immediately. No one will spare a thought for rats like you. The empire will fracture, and our Holy Maiden will seize control, bathing this land in sacred light..."

"Enough!" Fly cut her off impatiently. "I’ve heard this a thousand times. Your Holy Maiden’s ambitions mean nothing to me. I’m only doing this for my people."

"But this is for your people!" Her voice grew fervent with devotion. "The Holy Maiden has promised a nation where no supernatural being faces discrimination. Everything you do now is for that glorious future..."

"Spare me the lies!" Fly scoffed. "You expect me to believe that? The Theocracy has hunted our kind for a thousand years—don’t take me for a fool! The only reason I’m working with you people is because I’ve got no other choice."