Chapter 208

Chapter 206: The Empty Gate

In the dead of night, within North Songlin Farm No. 38.

After Thistle and his accomplices unleashed a barrage of bullets inside No. 38, they charged in, eager to swiftly eliminate any remaining resistance. However, what appeared before them was a scene of an empty room.

“What the hell is going on!”

Looking at the overturned gramophone and the standing human-shaped wooden sign in the room, Thistle shouted in agitation. The others who rushed in with him stood frozen in place, not expecting that this so-called meeting place would be completely devoid of people.

“Chad, didn’t you say there was a gathering here? Where’s that Rosy Cross?”

A Ming, who was also wearing a mask, directly questioned Thistle. Thistle, slightly enraged, shouted back.

“How the hell would I know! The intel was clearly correct! I got the info from those guys… intel… Oh no, could it be…?”

As Thistle muttered to himself, realizing something was amiss, sudden gunfire erupted around them.

Around No. 38, hidden among the trees and bushes, suddenly emerged over a dozen figures. They all wore standardized black cloaks, donned iron masks, and held uniform rifles, their dark muzzles aimed at Thistle and his accomplices.

Facing the cultists caught in a trap, the hunters from the Tivyán Bureau showed no mercy as they opened fire, bullets streaming from their guns towards Thistle and his cohorts who were gathered inside and around No. 38.

In an instant, Thistle and the others, who had planned to ambush, became the ones ambushed. They were defenseless against the hunters’ gunfire, with nearly half of them hit and falling to the ground immediately; the others barely managed to take cover.

Among the hunter squad, two figures with unique uniforms stood out. They were commanders of this group of hunters, observing the severely diminished cultists. One of them murmured.

“They instructed us to lay in wait on the outskirts. That ‘detective’ really calculated everything and set the trap for us.”

“It feels like we’ve been used as pawns. In my view, these guys aren’t a good lot, but the problem with that ‘detective’ is also significant.”

The other commander responded quietly, as the battlefield saw new developments.

“d*mn it… it’s the Black Dog! This is Black Dog’s trap! We’ve fallen for Black Dog’s scheme!”

Inside No. 38, Thistle gritted his teeth as he looked at the scene outside, believing that all of this was likely a plot by the An Yin Bureau, and that the so-called Rosy Cross was just a facade. They had been deceived!

“Charge! Break through in this direction!”

At that moment, A Ming also shouted commands towards a direction, now realizing that being suppressed like this would lead to their total annihilation, and they had to take a desperate gamble to carve a path for escape.

Responding to A Ming’s command, the few remaining extraordinary apprentices of “Shadow” in their ranks immediately switched to their melee weapons, transforming into shadows as they charged toward the hunters’ encirclement. Their speed was incredible, making it hard for bullets to hit them.

Three or four shadowy figures surged toward the hunters’ formation. If this hunter squad was composed entirely of ordinary people like those in the Igewent An Yin Bureau, these shadowy figures would quickly pierce through and overwhelm them. However, this was Tivyán.

As the few shadowy figures attacked head-on, the front shooters quickly retreated, as five or six team members wielding standard blades stepped forward behind them.

When faced with the charging shadows, the sword-wielding team members met them without fear. Close-range combat erupted as swords clashed, with bright blades flashing and the sounds of strikes echoing.

These hunters were not slow compared to their opponents. Like the others, they were all apprentice-level extraordinary beings of “Shadow,” also shadows themselves. They not only matched the attackers but also had more numbers, better coordination, and superior weapons. They not only kept the incoming enemies suppressed but also continuously wounded and knocked them down.

Tivyán’s hunting team comprised both ordinary members and higher-ranking apprentice-level extraordinary beings, giving the hunters’ apprentice force an advantage over the cultists.

Seeing the raiding squad struggling, Thistle and A Ming felt anxious and immediately rushed toward the battlefield, intent on joining the fight to break the blockade.

Just as they were about to charge into the fray, a whistling sound soared through the air. Realizing something was off, Thistle and A Ming stopped. Suddenly, a strong wind swept through, and the dirt before them flew into the air, creating a long furrow.

If they hadn’t stopped just now, that invisible line could have sliced them in half!

“It’s the Blade of Wind… elemental application of ‘Shadow,’ it’s a wind mage!”

Observing the scene before him, Thistle murmured, then he and A Ming looked toward the source of the whistling sound. Not far from them stood two slightly distinct-looking hunting squad commanders, one holding a small stone kn*fe, from which the furrow originated.

“d*mn it! Two squad leaders! There are actually two Black Dog teams here. Chad, these guys are well-prepared. We can’t escape just relying on ourselves. Hurry up and use the trump card; call for that esteemed person’s help! Otherwise, we won’t get out of here!”

Seeing the situation, A Ming felt grim, and hearing his companion’s words, Thistle reluctantly pulled a small glass vial from his clothing containing a bl**d-red liquid.

Without a second thought, Thistle smashed the glass vial.

Instantly, the liquid spilled out, but instead of flowing to the ground, it quickly vaporized and dispersed into the air.

A faint, strange metallic scent filled the air.

“So now, let’s buy some time…”

Throwing the glass shards to the ground, Thistle murmured as he gazed at the battlefield ahead.

—

Royal Sacred Crown University, King Campus.

At night, the gathering point of the Secret Knowledge Society was spacious and sparsely populated. As it was already late, many of Thistle’s direct personnel had been dispatched, leaving only a few students diligently reading.

Nephnis walked through the gathering point, her large cloak concealing her form, gradually making her way deeper into the premises. Although her demeanor and attire seemed somewhat unnatural, the sparse crowd focused on their books paid no attention to her oddity.

Slowly, Nephnis passed through the gathering area and reached the entrance of the cobweb corridor. After glancing around to confirm no one was nearby, she lifted her cloak, revealing Dorothy, who crawled out from within.

“We’ve arrived, Miss Dorothy.”

“Phew… thank you, Senior Nephnis.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, Dorothy scanned her surroundings and said. Taking advantage of the interaction between Thistle and the hunters, she had now come to breach the empty gate.

This time, Dorothy aimed to delve deeper into the ruins, and… she had to make her physical presence known.