Elias ducked behind the corner, the azure glow of Spirit Vision flickering deep within his pupils.
Within the field of Spirit Vision, a surge of malevolent spirituality swirled around that most familiar of strangers, its intensity pushing right up against the threshold of Scale Three!
This was clearly the negative spirituality Aaron had mentioned.
"That damned fish actually followed me all the way here?!"
Elias roared in his mind, shocked.
"It seems those teeth you made it lose were truly important to it,"
Old Ed’s voice sounded somewhat solemn.
"Although I don't know much about the underground water network of Hope County, the urban water systems in the Kingdom of Velen are indeed interconnected in all directions."
"It likely followed your spirituality all the way from Hastings Port along the river."
With that kind of persistence, it's a shame it didn't apply for a government job!
Elias took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart as his brain worked at high speed.
"Could it be that the 'Lord' of the Mist Veil Society gave it a new mission?"
"Don't forget, the mission in the letter was to find the bloodline of the Fortville family in Hastings Port."
Old Ed quickly dismissed this hypothesis with a cold analysis.
"Even if these cultists have some plot in an inland city like Hope County, what does that have to do with a monster from the sea?"
"You have a point."
Elias had to admit that Old Ed’s reasoning was sound.
No matter how short-handed the Mist Veil Society was, there was no need to deploy a monster that was a specialty of the sea into a sewer filled with nothing but rats and filth.
Furthermore, based on the information from Aaron, the Mist Veil Society certainly didn't lack elite personnel if they could hunt down the entire Sorenstein family.
"By the way, do you have any impression of the Sorenstein family Aaron mentioned?"
Along the way, after learning Aaron's surname, Old Ed had been relatively silent, so Elias couldn't help but ask in his mind again.
"I really don't."
Old Ed sighed, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.
"When I was alive, I spent most of my time traveling between Arlington and Hastings Port."
"I only visited the capital, Landon City, a handful of times."
"Regarding those top-tier nobles in the Kingsbury District of Landon City, a country bumpkin like me might have seen their names in the newspaper at most. How could I know any inside information?"
"Fine."
Elias felt a bit disappointed.
During the gap in their rapid mental conversation, Elias, who had been watching the peripheral area ahead, suddenly saw the siren move.
The monster's original movements abruptly ceased; it seemed to have sensed something.
"Shh!"
Elias reacted instantly, quickly pulling his head back.
He also reached out to shove the small head beside him, which had peeked out of curiosity, back behind the wall.
The two of them pressed tightly against the damp brick wall, not daring to breathe.
After several seconds, hearing no movement from the monster, Elias breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He turned his head to look at the child beside him, whose face was pale and body was trembling slightly.
In that brief glance earlier, Aaron had clearly seen the situation over there.
Among the pile of mutilated limbs floating in the sewage, there was a corpse wearing clothes Aaron was extremely familiar with.
Though it was somewhat bloated from the water, that outfit and that build were unmistakable.
"It's basically confirmed. Your dear Mr. Ford likely died here,"
Elias said to Aaron in his mind.
It sounded cruel, but in this environment, one had to be efficient and cold.
"I'm sorry."
"I know this is hard to accept, but we should leave as soon as possible."
"That monster is a bit troublesome, and don't forget there are those lunatics who have been looking for you..."
At this point, Aaron could no longer control his emotions.
His shoulders heaved violently, and a suppressed sob escaped his throat.
Tears mixed with the coal dust on his face, washing out two winding trails.
That was the old butler who had grown up with him, the loyal servant who had protected him throughout their flight, and now he was discarded like trash in a filthy sewer, not even leaving a whole corpse.
This immense grief made him briefly forget his fear, and even his current situation.
"Ugh..."
The child's sorrowful cry, though heavily suppressed, still made a distinct sound amidst the gurgling water in the empty, silent underground passage.
To Elias's ears, this sound was more piercing than a clap of thunder.
"Holy crap!"
Elias was scared out of his wits. He clamped a hand over the boy's mouth, deathly sealing Aaron's sobs.
He sent mental messages frantically.
"I know you're sad, but don't be sad yet!"
"Besides, don't you think it's too stinky to cry here?"
"If you take one deep breath, won't you go straight to see the Mother Goddess?"
Aaron stared with tear-filled eyes, stunned by this sudden, absurd remark.
Before he could react, he heard Elias continue:
"Listen!"
"Once we get out and reach a safe place, pay me my fee first, and then I'll take off this coat and let you use it to wipe your tears and snot!"
"Wipe it however you want!"
Aaron: "..."
Is this even human speech?!
Aaron's eyes widened.
He really couldn't understand if this guy was comforting him in this bizarre way or if it was just for that damned commission fee.
And wipe snot on your clothes?
They were covered in the smell of the sewers; wouldn't the stench be unbearable on his face?
That extreme grief was forcefully interrupted by this series of actions.
He didn't even know if he should continue crying for Mr. Ford's tragic death or be driven to a frustrated laugh by this man's miraculous logic.
This was the first time in Aaron's limited twelve years of life that he had experienced such a complex and conflicted emotional state.
Ultimately, rationality took the upper hand.
He could only nod submissively, signaling that he wouldn't make another sound.
Time was of the essence.
Seeing that the boy had finally calmed down, Elias didn't dare delay any longer.
He quickly pushed Aaron's back, gesturing for him to go ahead while he gripped his elemental revolver to cover the rear.
The two of them lightened their footsteps, retreating quickly along the path they came.
However, just then.
Boom!
A massive commotion suddenly erupted from the giant reservoir area behind them.
This time it wasn't just the sound of water, but a mixture of chaotic, heavy footsteps, the explosive roar of weapons, the loud splash of something heavy hitting the water, and the painful, angry screech of the siren.
The entire underground pipe system seemed to turn into a giant resonance box, the echoes deafening as dust fell from the ceiling.
"Roar—!!!"
The monster's roar was laced with some sort of garbled curse, followed by a rapid succession of gunshots.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Who the hell is that?!"
Elias jumped in startlement, cursing inwardly.
This kind of noise was definitely not something one or two people could make; it sounded like a group of people was going to war with that siren.
But... this might be good news for him.
Since someone was clashing with that damned siren, he could smoothly slip away with the child.
This was a godsend!
Thinking of this, he no longer hid his footsteps and urged Aaron to speed up.
The two of them sprinted through the dim passage.
It was close!
The manhole cover, faintly revealing a sliver of light, was right before them!
That was the gate of hope leading to the surface!
As long as they climbed up, they could return to the safety of Miller's Lane.
Just as the two were less than ten meters from the ladder beneath the manhole cover and were preparing to dash.
A rhythmic sound of footsteps suddenly came from a fork in the passage to the front left.
Immediately after, three figures wearing brown trench coats and soft felt hats emerged from the other end of the fork.
The leader was a Scale Three, while the other two were Scale One.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Their eyes met.
Almost simultaneously, the three men reached for their waists.
"Damn it!"
"I knew it!"
Elias's heart instantly sank to the bottom.
What a freaking coincidence!
With a seemingly casual, gentle shove, he pushed Aaron back behind him.
"Hi! You kind gentlemen!"
Elias's voice came through the thick cotton mask, his tone incredibly warm.
Meanwhile, his hand behind his back, which appeared to be holding Aaron's, had already reached for the elemental revolver tucked into his waistband.
"If I said we're lost, would you believe me?"
Rate on N.U.
