Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Map

In the An Yin Bureau of Igewent, everything suddenly became bustling. People came and went, and the assembly bell echoed continuously in the underground space.

At Brandon’s workstation, there was also a flurry of activity. He was anxiously processing the search hunter equipment collection procedures with two team leaders of the search hunter squads. Looking at the task target column on the equipment collection form, Brandon felt surprised.

‘Flooded Dock… It really happened… Did something unexpected happen that caused a half-hour delay? Should I use the ‘Dream Anchor’ to confirm with Mr. Buck later? No… Mr. Buck has already instructed that the Dream Anchor should only be used when the search hunter squad does not go out or delays its departure. But they left very quickly this time…

Brandon thought with some concern. After finally handling the search hunter squad’s equipment collection procedures and watching them leave through a secret passage, Brandon returned to his seat, still frowning deeply.

‘I’ll worry about it later. The search hunter squad has already gone out, and their destination is indeed the ambush site set by Mr. Buck… According to what Mr. Buck said earlier, he had set up the ambush long ago, so there shouldn’t be any problems. The signal came half an hour early due to some unknown factor, so it was sent ahead of time. Although it was a bit early, everything is still within the plan. It might just be that the Flower Shop people made a mistake with the timing. The Dream Anchor Sigil is very precious; I only have one now and can’t use it recklessly…

As he thought, Brandon’s expression grew more resolute.

‘The early signal was an accident, but everything is still proceeding according to plan. Now that the search hunters are out and James isn’t here, this is my chance… Mr. Buck told me to act on the situation, so I can’t be rigid. Since the signal came early, my actions must also be accelerated.’

While thinking, Brandon turned to look at the heavy iron door behind him, his eyes darkening.

Then, at an unobserved moment, Brandon took out a thick iron key, walked to the iron door, inserted the key into the hole, and opened the door, stepping inside.

…

In the bustling lobby of the Cedar Shirt Building, a woman named Ada, who wore glasses and had slightly gray hair, sat behind the front desk, constantly writing something. As she wrote, she muttered to herself.

“Last month one bouquet, today another… Haha… When did I become someone who exclusively receives flowers? Young people nowadays… don’t even send letters properly, they have to hide them in flowers. Romantic, huh?”

Ada adjusted her glasses and added with a hint of longing.

“If only one of these bouquets were meant for me…”

“Ma’am! Flower Bud Flower Shop delivery service, your flowers will be delivered here at ten thirty this morning. Please check for receipt.”

Ada finished speaking, and a cheerful voice sounded from in front of her. Looking up, Ada saw a young man holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Oh… Just put it here, thank you, young man.”

“You’re welcome, ma’am. This is customer request. The item has been delivered, I’ll be going now.”

The young man spoke quickly and ran out of the hall. Ada looked at the flowers on the table with a hint of surprise.

“This is only half an hour apart… Another bouquet. Haha… If they keep coming, the bureau could open a flower shop…

Ada glanced at the small envelope in the flowers and took it out. Opening it, she read the note card inside and frowned slightly.

“To the esteemed guardians of Igewent, the Crimson Eucharist will hold a gathering at eleven thirty this morning in Warehouse Number Two in the East Storage Area of the Flooded Dock.”

After reading the information on the card, Ada pondered for a while and whispered with some difficulty.

“But those boys have already gone out…”

…

In the morning, in the eastern part of Igewent, downstream of the Iron Mud River.

The Flooded Dock was inhabited by homeless people and a few poor residents, with most areas in disrepair. Especially the eastern storage area, where abandoned buildings stood unfinished. With the repeated flooding, many places were extremely dangerous, making it undesirable for anyone to settle here. This was the most desolate part of the already desolate Flooded Dock.

From a hiding perspective, it was also an ideal hiding place, suitable for any clandestine activities.

Around Warehouse Number Two in the storage area, four unfinished buildings and an abandoned clock tower stood. At this moment, all members of the Holy Communion had taken up positions in these buildings, each group consisting of five or six people, armed with long and short firearms, aiming through hidden gunports at the central warehouse.

The ambush was set, and they were quietly waiting for their prey.

“How much time has passed, Buck? When will those guys come?”

Inside a room on top of the abandoned clock tower, an elderly man named Colif said, looking hunched over. Listening to him, Buck, dressed sharply in a suit and holding a ruby cane, glanced at his watch before responding slowly.

“It’s twenty past eleven. Our flowers will be delivered at ten thirty. The An Yin Bureau is not close, and they need time to prepare. They won’t arrive soon.”

“Heh… Prepare? Those guys think they’re here to hunt, but they don’t realize they are the hunted… Hehe…”

Colif chuckled sinisterly, while Buck continued.

“Don’t get too excited yet. If that mysterious society is actually a branch of the An Yin Bureau created by James, then the search hunters won’t fall for it. They either won’t come out or will carefully arrange a counter-ambush after preparing. I instructed Brandon to use the Dream Anchor if they showed any signs of not going out or delaying their departure.”

Buck glanced down at the ground where a member of the Holy Communion was sleeping soundly, in a state of dreaming, which was crucial for receiving information from the dream world.

“But since there’s no word from him, it means we were overly worried. James probably knows nothing about that mysterious society. They should be heading our way now…”

Buck continued, and Colif nodded.

“Yeah… I hope those guys hurry up and come to their deaths. I’m getting impatient. There’s no news from the sentinels, which means they haven’t entered the dock yet…”

“Be patient. I guess the sentinels should be able to detect them soon. Focus your energy and wait for the sentinels’ signal…”

Before Buck could finish, a loud gunshot echoed through the air. In everyone’s stunned gaze, Buck’s head exploded with bl**d, and he froze, falling down.

At that moment, in a third-floor room of a three-story building seven hundred meters away from the clock tower, Elena, holding a rifle, pulled back the bolt to eject the spent cartridge. The barrel, protruding from the window and pointing towards the distant clock tower, was still smoking.

Elena squinted one eye, maintaining her aim, and the smooth rear of the rifle had no optical sights attached.

“Thank the Glimmer, thank the Holy Father, grant me light, illuminate me.”

Muttering, Elena loaded the next round and turned to Gregor, who was standing beside her.

“It seems I hit the boss in the head. We can advance now.”

“Mm, as expected of you, Elena, the guide of the lamp…”

Laughing, Gregor drove his bloodied sword into the ground and looked at a map spread out on the floor.

This was a detailed hand-drawn map depicting the Flooded Dock. Every building and road in the area was meticulously illustrated, with numerous annotations on the map.

These annotations detailed ambush points, number of ambushers, detection of sentinels, camouflage, and other information. The ambush points were centered around Warehouse Number Three, while the sentinels were scattered throughout the Flooded Dock.

However, most of these sentinel points were now crossed out with the sword in Gregor’s hand.