“Why don't you try walking through that again?”
The tall swordsman holding the silver sword stared fixedly at Elias, his tone cold and filled with suspicion.
The several investigators behind him shared the same expression, looking as if they had seen a ghost.
This shield wasn't some hotel's revolving door; you couldn't just come and go as you please.
Elias shrugged, maintaining an air of nonchalance.
He took a step backward, his body instantly passing through the wall of light that emitted a soft white glow, returning to the pitch-black exterior space.
Immediately after, he took another step forward, passing back through without any resistance and standing before the dumbfounded group.
If it weren't for the mutated siren's thick tail slamming against the shield outside, unable to advance an inch despite the muffled thuds, they might have suspected the shield had failed entirely.
“This... this isn't how mysticism works!”
Old Ed's shocked voice exploded in Elias's mind.
Elias ignored Old Ed's roaring; he simply spread his hands and looked at the group of civil servants, whose jaws were practically on the floor, offering a polite yet awkward smile.
“I don't know how you're doing that...”
The tall swordsman took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.
He didn't lower his silver sword, the tip pointing toward the ground, but his muscles remained tense.
“But who are you?”
“What are you doing down here in the sewers?”
Elias was well-prepared.
“My name is Batman.”
He solemnly offered this mischievous pseudonym, his expression so sincere it was as if he were telling the absolute truth.
“A law-abiding free transcendent.”
“I'm here to complete a commission from the Society of Freemen; I'm looking for someone.”
As he spoke, he moved slowly, reaching into his coat to show he wasn't pulling a gun.
He then fished out the duplicate copy of the Society of Freemen's commission and handed it over.
The tall swordsman took it warily, scanning it quickly by the moonlight inside the shield.
The magical seal on the commission was impossible to fake; it clearly stated a mission to find a missing person, along with a shockingly low reward.
“As for the explosion earlier, that was a Repulsion Array; I used a Repulsion Array.”
“Was that kid just now your client?” the swordsman pressed.
“That's right.”
“I had him hide.”
Elias pointed toward a high spot in the darkness behind them.
“In a situation like this, it's better if a child doesn't get involved.”
“There's an abandoned drainage outlet there with cover; it should be safe.”
Finn nodded and handed the commission back to Elias, the hostility in his eyes fading slightly, though his vigilance remained.
“Very well, Mr. Batman.”
“While your appearance is full of suspicious points, the situation is urgent; I am now officially requesting your assistance in hunting this mutated siren in my capacity as a Seventh Agency investigator.”
Just then, the investigator standing at the very front of the team, who had been holding his hands high to maintain the shield, spoke up.
“If he can be trusted, should I assign tasks directly?”
His voice was steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.
Clearly, after the creamy version of Nick Fury had been whipped away, he was the core commander of this squad.
He issued orders with rapid-fire speed.
“Miss Ryan, find a way to break through and check Minister Guardian's injuries.”
“Though the siren's strength is formidable, its current spirituality is not enough to kill him in one hit.”
“My guess is the Minister was struck while unguarded and has likely fallen unconscious.”
“If he's alright, wake him up with smelling salts!”
“Understood!”
A petite female investigator carrying a medical kit immediately responded.
“Finn, you and I will handle the frontal confrontation to stall the monster and buy time for Miss Ryan until Minister Guardian wakes up!”
Finn was the name of the tall swordsman.
“If possible, it's best to end the fight before the Minister wakes.”
“We don't need the Minister to act personally; this is also a chance to prove our squad's capabilities.”
Upon hearing this, the battle intent in Finn's eyes was instantly ignited, and his silver sword hummed.
“Yes, sir!”
“Next, Mr. Locke and Miss Hyllen.”
He turned to look at the other two investigators, a man and a woman.
“Your spirituality should still be sufficient.”
“Take over for me; channel your spirituality into 【Moon's Protection】 to maintain the shield.”
“Hyllen, if your spirituality runs low, stand under the moonlight to recover!”
“Understood!”
The two didn't waste words, immediately taking their positions at the array nodes, pressing their hands into the air as a pale blue spiritual glow began to flow.
The group moved into their roles, and the previously chaotic formation became orderly in an instant.
“Finally, Mr. Batman.”
Blaine's gaze pierced through the group, landing precisely on Elias.
“Thanks to your array, this siren has revealed its true form.”
“We suspect it has accepted some kind of evil power; it is now extremely bloodthirsty and cunning.”
“According to our investigation, in the few days since it arrived in Hope County, it has already killed and eaten over ten people near the sewers and the estuary.”
“If it weren't for our investigation and encirclement today, perhaps even more would have died.”
“If we let it escape today, it will inevitably flee back to the sea, making it nearly impossible to catch.”
No, no, no, Elias thought to himself, it came here looking for me.
“At that time, we would have to issue a high-value bounty,” the investigator continued.
“So, if you help us today, regardless of the outcome, the Seventh Agency will provide you with a corresponding reward.”
“Based on the highest standard for a Scale Three exotic creature.”
At the mention of a reward, Elias's previously lazy posture straightened instantly, his eyes sparkling with the light of gold coins.
This wasn't just work; this was like picking up money!
And it was a win-win!
He could take down the enemy that was relentlessly pursuing him and milk the officials for a bit of profit at the same time.
That's right, he would win twice.
“No problem!”
Elias snapped to attention, his expression as serious as if he were taking an oath.
“Maintaining the peace of Hope County is my inescapable responsibility!”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The other man nodded slightly.
“I would be most grateful if you could help us draw the monster's attention!”
Draw its attention?
Elias was stunned for a moment, then he felt delighted inside.
Did he even need to help with that?
Of the people present, who was more hated by that siren than him?
If he just stood there, he would be the brightest aggro beacon on the field; he wouldn't even have to open his mouth to curse, the siren would definitely prioritize punching him the moment it saw him!
This job was practically tailor-made for him.
“I can help, but it's dangerous.”
Even with the temptation of a reward, Elias maintained the survival instincts of a modern man.
“I need to ensure my personal safety; I'm just an ordinary free agent, I don't have the high-end equipment you guys do.”
“That won't be an issue.”
The lead investigator was clearly prepared; he turned and nodded to the male investigator named Locke.
“Mr. Locke, please cast a defense on him.”
Locke immediately complied.
He raised a hand, and a complex purple-blue rune appeared in his palm, with a web-like halo constructing itself in the air.
With a low shout, the purple-blue halo instantly flew toward Elias, forming an elliptical shield that enveloped him.
“【Arcane Ward】.”
Old Ed provided a dutiful explanation.
“This is a passive defense spell of the mystic school; it's characterized by its ability to be projected at a distance to protect others.”
Immediately after, the lead investigator cast a spell as well.
He raised his short staff and pointed it toward Elias from a distance.
A beam of soft moonlight condensed beside Elias, transforming into a transparent shield that slowly rotated as it floated around his body.
“【Moonlight Barrier】.”
Elias recognized this even without Old Ed's explanation; it was a signature ability of the Moon Lord pathway.
“The other guy is also a believer of the Moon Lord, at Scale Three,” Old Ed added.
Just as Elias was feeling the two thick layers of bulletproof armor on him, a gentle and clear voice suddenly rang out directly in his mind.
“My name is Blaine, leader of the First Investigation Group of the Seventh Agency's Hope County branch.”
“It seems you are also a believer of the Moon Lord, Mr. Batman.”
“If your spirituality runs low, you can recover within this beam of moonlight.”
It was a 【Mental Message】.
But this voice wasn't just Blaine's alone.
Immediately after, the gruff voice of the tall swordsman, Finn, chimed in.
“I'm Finn.”
The voice of the petite Miss Ryan followed as well.
“I'm Ryan, I'm going to save the boss; you guys hold on.”
Elias was stunned.
This was completely different from the point-to-point, two-way mental channel he usually maintained with Aaron or Old Ed.
This time, he felt as if he had entered a group chat.
An invisible mental network connected all the investigators present, and everyone's thought waves were shared in real-time on this channel.
“If there are any issues, please communicate here promptly; it's much faster than shouting.”
Blaine's voice echoed in his mind.
“Welcome to the temporary channel, Mr. Batman; I look forward to our cooperation!”
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over Elias.
What the hell?
Is this a group chat welcome?
Rate on N.U.
