Get Out

Lynch had confirmed two things.

First, the hillmen were definitely targeting Maya. Someone had tipped them off about her exact hiding place, though for some reason, she had managed to escape beforehand.

Second, he and the officer were likely finished.

He had wiped away most traces inside and outside the house, but he hadn't anticipated that these strange creatures tracked their environment by scent.

Both he and Officer Natalie felt their hearts sink. The creature downstairs was a high grade powerhouse capable of destroying a giant tree from hundreds of meters away. Even though Lynch had claimed to have a plan, who could guarantee they would survive this ordeal?

"Search for them. Drag those two rabbits out of their hole. I want to see how long they can hide."

The urgent voice made both of their hearts skip a beat:

"Their scent cannot be hidden. We will search slowly. Everyone, be careful. Anyone appearing here now is certainly not irrelevant; they might be those police. If you find them, do not hesitate. Deal with them immediately."

Execute on sight.

That single sentence shattered all their fantasies. Officer Natalie felt immensely fortunate that she had listened to Lynch's advice and avoided a direct confrontation, otherwise she would likely be dead already.

With their retreat cut off, the officer became strangely calm. Since there was no room for negotiation, she would have to fight for life in the face of death.

With a subtle rustle of clothing, the officer placed her sword in the most accessible position, waiting only for the final moment to arrive.

Even if they were outmatched, she would grit her teeth and fight. She would strike from the darkness and take a piece of flesh out of them before going down.

Perhaps then, they might survive.

Across from her, Lynch gently patted her hand in comfort. He had no confidence in his heart either, but a person could die, yet never be a coward. He remained outwardly calm, eyes closed as he listened to the movements downstairs, even though his heart was racing.

Footsteps echoed. The hillmen had searched their way up. Soon, the old hillman's distinct voice came from the doorway.

"Heh, little rabbits in the hole, did you think you were hidden well? Even without your scent, the power in your souls as Soul Severers cannot be concealed. It is as obvious as the smell of fresh blood in a cave. You actually thought you could hide from me; I am laughing to death. Heh heh, so you are here. I have found you."

In the darkness, Officer Natalie took a soft breath, knowing the critical moment had arrived. Her soul manifestation had silently emerged behind her. As soon as the ladder was pulled down, her power would erupt.

And Lynch... the phantom image of a red moon appeared behind him out of thin air, radiating a faint crimson glow.

Just as the ladder clicked and was pulled open from the outside, Lynch suddenly clapped his hands lightly, saying in a calm, flat, and almost emotionless voice: "Congratulations, you found me. Clap, clap, clap. You did a really good job. Do you want me to give you a certificate?"

As he spoke, he smiled at the officer, then the phantom exploded, activating his transcendent state.

It was less than a tenth of a second of the transcendent state. Lynch could do nothing, but this was true divine authority—the power belonging to gods, the authority that only gods could wield.

The eruption was but a fleeting moment. The one tenth of a second of power instantly drained him, and he automatically exited the transcendent state. Yet, the next moment, a thud came from downstairs, followed by several urgent, sharp cries like the wailing of infants.

"Priest, Priest, what is wrong?"

In the master bedroom downstairs, the old hillman's previously fierce expression had turned pale. He slumped to the floor, staring blankly at the opened secret ladder.

For someone with normal perception, they might not have noticed any difference; this tenth of a second might have just felt like a surge of power. But for a powerhouse whose strength was already high and whose perception was exceptionally keen—one who could sense observers from hundreds of meters away—what he saw was an entirely different world.

It was a rising red moon, the majesty of a god one dared not look upon, a vast and incomprehensible power, an indescribable, twisted horror.

The moment he sensed that power, the old hillman felt only infinite insignificance and fragility, as if the lowliest insect were looking up at the endless night sky.

He felt true terror—a pressure emanating from his very soul, a power no mortal could ever comprehend.

He even felt that if it had lasted a second longer, he would have been utterly crushed by that pressure.

Fortunately, the other party seemed to have no malice. The terrifying power was released for only an instant before being retracted. The person opposite him returned to that laughable, weak, and almost undetectable state. But comparing that current fragility to the vastness he had felt a moment ago, the old hillman realized that the person inside could hide such terrifying power so deeply—like a rookie who had just undergone soul alienation. Perhaps that was what made them truly terrifying. The ridiculous one was actually himself.

"I heard you were looking for me?" The voice, devoid of any worldly emotion, drifted down from the attic.

The old hillman's voice trembled as he stuttered shrilly: "Wh-wh-which supreme existence walking the mortal world is this? Or perhaps, which god-blessed one..."

It really worked? How should I answer?

Lynch didn't know what the old hillman had hallucinated, but he knew that old age brought cunning. Deceiving the other party was no easy feat. If he said one wrong thing and aroused suspicion, it would all be over.

'What do I do? Neighbor, neighbor, please help. Teach me how to speak like you—to make myself sound like I am not human.'

Fortunately, Lady Luna ignored him.

'Understood. Isn't there an existing example? I will just improvise according to your guidance.'

Lynch chuckled softly and said in a calm, icy tone: "Do you truly wish for me to answer those questions? I do not mind."

"No, no, please forgive me, Excellency. I was muddled. I truly do not wish to know."

The old hillman couldn't even sweat anymore. He shook his head frantically, fearing that an answer might emerge from within. Many things were a disaster for mortal beings to even hear, even if he were a mysterious creature.

Asking such questions was a probe in itself. No matter what the attic answered, it would mean lowering his status to that of a normal mortal. But the response that came out tasted just right—perfect. Only one who truly understood high level existences could deliver such a response.

For a moment, the old hillman didn't even dare to harbor doubts. He could no longer feel the god's pressure from the attic, but the more this was the case, the more the old hillman felt fear.

"Hmph. I should not have interfered with your mortal lives. I saw you strange creatures wandering around the city and chose to ignore it, even helping you clean up those spiders that conflicted with you. And yet, I only brought people here to watch the spectacle, and you had the audacity to seek me out. Well played."

"The moonlight last night... it was you, Excellency. A misunderstanding. Excellency, it was all a misunderstanding."

The old hillman's face was ashen; he was on the verge of tears. This made Lynch breathe a sigh of relief, knowing the first hurdle had been cleared and their lives were safe.

But the moment his life was secure, his greed flared up again. With such a good opportunity, wouldn't it be a waste not to extract some clues?

However, this guy was currently intimidated by me. If I ask something wrong and he figures it out, then Officer Natalie and I probably won't be able to return to the city. It is best not to ask overly sensitive questions. It is best not to ask questions directly related to them, otherwise, it is too easy for things to go wrong. So...

Lynch felt as if he were dancing on the edge of a blade. He knew the danger, yet was full of excitement.

"Whether it is a misunderstanding or not, it is all just your mortal trivialities. I have no interest in knowing. But you are actually in contact with the Shadow Alliance? That actually interests me a little. I had wanted to hear what purpose they had in involving themselves in your petty affairs this time, only to be interrupted by you. You say..."

"Excellency, I do not know the specifics, but it seems they are also interested in Mordiggian."

Who is that?

Lynch wasn't stupid enough to ask out loud, but the word "also" told him he had asked the right question. This was definitely a key name. With this name, today's danger had not been in vain.

Lynch firmly memorized it and, as if losing interest, said sullenly: "So it was just the trivialities of your railway after all."

The old hillman downstairs only offered a sycophantic smile and said nothing. It must indeed be the key to the railway issue.

"Enough. My interest has been ruined by you lot. I cannot be bothered to haggle with you. You had best disappear quickly, lest I change my mind. Do not bother me in the future; I do not wish to see you again. Now, get out."

"Yes, yes, we are leaving at once."

The old hillman was granted an amnesty. He signaled the other hillmen to help him up, and without a second's delay, they scrambled out of the cabin in a stumbling mess.

Not until the sounds had faded away for a long time did Lynch and Natalie in the attic let out a long breath. Lynch collapsed onto the chair, panting heavily, his muscles feeling soft and weak. Officer Natalie, who hadn't dared to make a sound, now wore a strange expression. She punched him on the shoulder, then grabbed his arm with both hands, biting her lip and laughing softly.

"It seems there are still good people in the world, even among ghouls, there are such helpful good people."

Lynch leaned back in the chair, letting the officer grip his arm, and just laughed softly.

The feeling of surviving a disaster was truly wonderful.