NOVPUBChapter 156: Chapter 155 The Brain Taker
Chapter 156 -155 The Brain Taker
But how could she explain these things to Shandela?
She wasn’t a follower of any divinities, nor did she understand what this all meant.
In the end, Ge Wei simply said, “You’re lucky not to have truly angered them. I suggest you switch your investigation target to the Heretical Cultists, such as the Heigang Company.”
“Who are you referring to?”
Shandela still couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
Ge Wei did not offer any further explanations but started to gather up the black strip-like objects.
“Are you taking these things with you?”
“Evil things do not belong to this world, so here they cannot truly die. As long as they exist, they could harm others. I will take them back to the church for further processing.”
Shandela frowned, “So, were they summoned by the Heretical Cultists?”
“Uncertain, as no one has ever categorized them,” said Ge Wei, hoisting the black strips over her shoulder, “There are many ways they come to this world, and summoning is but one of them. Maybe you’ve never really encountered evil things before, but I hope you understand that such creatures could easily annihilate your city guard. If it appeared on Central Street of Magnificent Castle, it would be a disaster for the whole city. Now someone has taken this responsibility for you, so I call them the saviors of the city.”
Having said that, she walked directly toward the city.
Damn, she definitely knew something. Shandela called Woody over, “Search the entire camp; if you find any survivors, detain and interrogate them separately. This might be related to the Heretical Cultists.”
“The Heretical Cultists again?” the deputy responded seriously, “Understood.”
It was only when the sky began to lighten that Shandela had a clearer understanding of the whole affair. Just as Ge Wei had said, the campsite of the Heigang Company had been attacked by an unknown assailant and quickly fell into paralysis. Many mercenaries had knocked down the wire fencing at the rear wall and fled the camp without looking back. When the city guard arrived to search, there were fewer than fifty people left in the camp, most of them injured.
According to the survivors, the attack happened in the early hours, and it seemed they had timed it precisely to coincide with Aibuvich’s return, somehow blowing up the carriage he was in. They wanted to fight back but were pinned down by a hail of bullets. It sounded like the enemies had an overwhelming force, but the city guard soldiers couldn’t find any signs of such a large number of troops moving around the camp.
The only likely ambush spot they found was a small pit by the side of the road. There were traces of artificial modification around the pit, along with many overlapping footprints.
However, the pit was only big enough to hold ten people, far from enough to carry out such an overpowering offensive.
This immediately reminded Shandela of the Wangshui Villa attack and the high train hijacking incidents. In both cases, survivors mentioned experiencing concentrated firepower disproportionate to the number of assailants, and afterward, no evidence matching the testimonies was found.
Then the monster appeared.
No one saw where the creature came from; it seemed to materialize out of thin air at the entrance of the camp. The mercenaries who rashly approached were cut into several pieces in an instant, and everyone was terror-stricken, scrambling to escape to the camp. Those injured mercenaries who couldn’t run hid in the barracks, shivering until the city guard came to their rescue.
These testimonies were corroborated by the bodies found. According to her subordinates’ reports, indeed about a dozen mercenaries were chopped into sections, with the cuts being unnaturally smooth.
If Ge Wei’s statements were added to this, everything would make sense—the group that attacked the camp turned their guns on the monster as soon as it appeared. It turned out their capabilities were indeed extraordinary, and not even such a ferocious enemy could escape being annihilated.
“We haven’t found Aibuvich’s body, and the survivors haven’t seen their boss either,” Woody said. “He hasn’t shown up till now, so there’s a very high chance he died in the attack.”
Shandela rubbed her forehead. “The team from Magnificent Castle that went to investigate the Heigang Building has sent new information,” she said. “There was an explosion in the building last night, and the third floor was almost completely destroyed. When our people arrived, the guards were desperately trying to obstruct them and hide the situation, only letting them in when they had no other choice. They said they had seen Aibuvich before the explosion.”
“So whether he was in the carriage or in the building, the outcome is the same?” Woody couldn’t help but lament. “My God… It’s like there was a hit plan specifically targeting the boss of Black Steel. To think that such a huge security company could… just fall apart overnight…”
Black Steel still had many operations in progress, such as the Guard Squads commuting between Magnificent Castle and the Durey Ring, and the guards who watched over the noble properties; even if they removed the mercenaries from the camp, they’d still have more than half their manpower… But Shandela knew the deputy commander was right—Black Steel as a security company was finished. As soon as daylight broke, scores of journalists would surround the place, and the whole city would know they couldn’t protect anything.
At that moment, another subordinate came with new findings.
“Sir, we’ve found a deep well about a hundred meters north of the camp,” the subordinate reported. “It seems to be a secret prison at the bottom, holding several strange people.”
“Strange? How strange?”
The man hesitated, a look of disgust in his eyes. “Their brains have been removed, with huge scars on the back of their heads. Yet, they are not dead… They still breathe, can walk around, just as if they’ve lost all perception… almost no reaction to external stimuli.”
Shandela and the deputy commander exchanged glances, seeing the surprise in each other’s eyes.
People with their brains gone could still live?
“How did you find this deep well?”
“Captain Shidong found a secret underground passage leading out of the camp while investigating Aibuvich’s residence. This well is the exit of that passage,” the subordinate paused. “Additionally, Captain Shidong has apprehended a man suspected to be the guard of the prison, who says everything at the bottom of the well was arranged by the boss.”
Related to Aibuvich? Shandela’s heart skipped a beat. “Have Shidong and his men come see me,” she ordered.
“Yes!”
Soon, the guard was brought before the Commander. The man was listless, mumbling indistinct words and his dilated eyes brimmed with fear. It took several inquiries from Shidong before the man whispered his name, “Mashif.”
“Listen carefully, private imprisonment and torture of others are against Magnificent Castle’s laws, and for someone like you this could very well lead to a hanging,” Shandela said in a soft, persuasive tone. “But I understand you were coerced by the boss to do these things, so as long as you tell me everything you know, I can spare your life. Tell me, what is this prison used for?”
Mashif plucked up the courage to glance at Shandela. “I… I recognize you; you’re the Lord’s defense officer. May I ask… what about that monster…”
“It has been eradicated.”
“By the city guards?”
Shandela answered patiently, “Of course. Now, what about my question?”
Relief seemed to wash over him upon hearing the confirmation, and the fear on his face dissipated a good deal. “…Seeds. I’ve heard those people mention they’re cultivating seeds.”
