NOVPUBChapter 161: Chapter 160: Making the World a Better Place
Chapter 161 -160: Making the World a Better Place
This statement could also match Ge Wei’s description, Shandela thought to herself, although Ge Wei did not mention that the monster was transformed by Aibuvich, at least it was the people from Paradise who had eliminated the monster. And a priestess of the Mechanical Sect certainly could not have any collusion with cultists, thus significantly increasing the likelihood that the monster originated from Black Steel’s side.
Remembering the support the lord had given her, Shandela finally made up her mind, “I can overlook your prior actions, but I hope you can act alongside me—the City Guard needs Paradise’s help.”
She had already sensed that this group was far more efficient in reconnaissance and intelligence gathering than the army, which was also the reason she had always been one step behind.
Even though she knew little about this organization, as long as they could be ruled out as cultists, there was no reason why the City Guard could not cooperate with them.
“Of course, it won’t be for free. The City Guard sometimes employs mercenaries, adventurers, and experts to expand its capabilities, and the compensation will certainly not disappoint you. Besides, I can also grant you special law enforcement rights, just tell me the plan, and you can attack the enemy as you wish. Furthermore, the City Guard will exchange the intelligence we have with Paradise, what do you think?”
“It seems you have finally understood that there’s no advantage in staying put and have started to learn to take steps forward,” Chaoyang said in a tone of approval, “Paradise can share intelligence, but only regarding the cult issue. And we don’t need compensation because Paradise does not accept employment from others, even if it’s the lord’s defense officer. Everything we do is for one reason—to make the whole world a better place.”
Shandela ignored the last sentence.
In her opinion, an individual could hold noble ideals, but an organization could not.
“How should I contact you afterward?”
“Find Mr. Zhao from the Paradise Foundation. He knows how to notify me,” Chaoyang paused, “Do you have any thoughts on investigating the cultists?”
“Nearly three hundred people from the Black Steel camp and company staff, as well as the deputy manager of Heigang Company who has not returned from the Misty Zone, interrogating all these people should still uncover some other clues,” Shandela no longer concealed her thoughts, “Also, before Aibuvich left Heigang Building, he had met with Jerry Will from the shipping company, and I plan to have a talk with him too.”
“To thoroughly solve the cult issue, you will need more professional personnel.”
“The Mechanical Sect are the experts in this area. Naturally, I will consult with them.”
Chaoyang nodded in satisfaction, “With that being said, let me give you an additional suggestion. Check the sewers near the four Distant View Towers in the city. Sometimes, you don’t need to be close to these concrete towers; there are ways to destroy them.”
This was, of course, to guard against the Miners’ Brotherhood.
According to Haiqi, they had already transported some explosives into the city and had carved explosive cells in the sewers. Although they had reached an agreement with the Brotherhood not to detonate for now, leaving these preparations unchecked was still a potential threat, so it would be better for the City Guard to address these gaps.
Shandela looked at him with surprise and then thoughtfully replied, “Thank you, I will check it out.”
“Then… I look forward to hearing about your investigation.”
Chaoyang turned around, stepped over the railing, and jumped towards the direction of the sea.
“Hey, you—!”
Shandela hurried forward, but at this moment, there was no sign of anyone below the tower other than the guards.
Was this also the ability of the secret magical artifact he possessed…
She looked up at the sea bathed in the afterglow, where the sun was left as a mere thin crescent of gold, with only the water near it shining with a reddish hue; the rest of the sea had been engulfed by nightfall and turned into a deep purple-black.
It was as if she could see Magnificent Castle at this moment.
…
After returning to the barracks of the city guard, Shandela ascended to the office at the top of Distant View Tower. She barely had a chance to sit down when she heard footsteps approaching from outside the door.
It seemed the interrogation was progressing smoothly, uncovering new findings so quickly.
“Come in,” she called out preemptively, “Speak your mind.”
The door was pushed open, but instead of Woody, it was another city guard soldier who entered. His footsteps were sluggish, as though he were drunk, and his shadow stretched long in the flickering candlelight.
Shandela paused, setting down the scrolls and looking toward the door.
Then, a black strip of cloth shot toward her with the speed of lightning. As it pierced her body, it also shattered the window behind her, and the cold sea breeze surged into the room, making the flames on the candelabrum quiver wildly!
“Cough…” Shandela took two deep breaths, then suddenly laughed, “So this is what the Priest described as the dark creature… I see, it’s nothing special!”
With a loud shout, she pushed the black strip out of her body, grabbed the desk with both hands, and smashed it toward the soldier, who now only had half a body left!
The black strip that extended from the body danced quickly, slicing the desk into several pieces in an instant!
Taking advantage of the moment, Shandela rolled to another corner of the office, where weapons were stored. However, when she lifted the silk cloth on the weapon rack, she found it completely empty!
Had she been outmaneuvered?
A chill settled in Shandela’s heart. The dark creature had appeared too abruptly, causing her to be at a disadvantage from the start—facing that lightning-fast strike, she had instinctively blocked the black strip with her hands, diverting the attack that was aimed at her heart. From the side, it looked as though she was impaled, but in reality, it only cut through the flesh at her waist.
But such a reflexive move came with a cost. The wound on her waist could widen at any moment, and if she didn’t control her power properly, she might even tear her abdominal cavity, so she hadn’t actually escaped danger. Plus, without a suitable weapon in hand, she would certainly be the one to die if the fight continued.
She had to finish the fight quickly!
For a master-level warrior, the body itself was a weapon!
She swung the weapon rack with one arm, hurling it at the dark creature, then kicked against the wall and shot out with a fierce yell. As she predicted, the weapon rack was again sliced to pieces by the black strips, but it was during this brief moment when all the black strips were extended that Shandela violently collided with the dark creature, the force lifting both their feet off the ground!
The flimsy wooden door couldn’t stop the pair from flying out, and Shandela and the dark creature burst through the top of the tower.
Falling from this height would be fatal for an ordinary person, but not so for her. Additionally, if they were to crash to the bottom of the tower, it would surely draw the city guard’s attention; fighting with numbers was better than a lone struggle.
However, what surprised her next was beyond belief.
The dark creature stretched all of its black strips out, embedding them deeply into the wall like elastic bands, stopping their descent. Then, it rapidly retracted its limbs, pulling both itself and Shandela back up!
Because Shandela’s back was to the tower, she was the first to slam into the stone wall on the pull up. The Commander felt a sharp pain in her back as the stone wall collapsed halfway with a thunderous roar! Still propelled by the huge inertia, she crashed through another tea table and an entire oak bookshelf in the office before tumbling to the ground.
Shandela struggled to rise, but her limbs were numb. She opened her mouth and violently coughed up a large mouthful of fresh blood.
Gritting her teeth, she raised her head and saw the dark creature’s upper body emerging from behind the collapsed wall, aiming its retracted black strips at her once again.
