He didn’t wait for an answer.
“We don’t know. Because before this subsidence occurred, the Nightwatchers branch had never received any intelligence regarding underground copper pillars.”
Kraus’s tone remained unchanged, but Lu Yuan could hear the sharp edge in it.
“In the architectural archives of City Hall and the Governor’s Mansion, there are no records concerning the deep underground structures of Bronze City. Not a single word.”
He paused.
“I have already applied to headquarters to access the complete city-building archives. There has been no response yet.”
Lu Yuan noticed that as Kraus spoke these words, no one in the room spoke up.
“Based on these circumstances, our plans must be adjusted.”
Kraus pulled back his hand and leaned against the back of his chair.
“First, every district in Bronze City will be inspected. This includes the edges of the inner city, all sectors of the outer city, and all known pipe network entrances. Previously, we were short-handed and couldn't attend to it.”
He glanced at the representatives seated at the table.
“We have agreed to let the Ascension Society temporarily station themselves in Bronze City to assist with inspection and research. The Church has also sent personnel to provide support in purification and Sanity recovery. Combined with the Holy Armored Army and the Imperial Iron Guard, it will be enough to support this scale of operation.”
Heinrich nodded slightly. The Church nun’s expression did not change.
“Second, follow-up exploration of the deep pipe network. This isn't just for the North Ward. We need to confirm the distribution of copper pillars beneath the inner city sinkholes and the pipe networks in other areas.”
Kraus stopped there for a moment.
Then he looked at Lu Yuan.
“One last thing.”
“Regarding Lu Yuan’s contribution to this incident, the branch has already reported it to headquarters.”
His tone didn't change, remaining as steady as when he spoke of other matters.
“Following an assessment by the branch and confirmation from headquarters, Lu Yuan is being extraordinarily promoted to formal Nightwatcher Captain. Additionally, a sum of action points is currently being processed and will be delivered later.”
Lu Yuan didn't show much of a reaction.
Beside him, Bo Er gently patted his shoulder.
The corner of Glock’s mouth twitched, but he said nothing.
Kraus didn't linger on the matter.
“Now, regarding the subsequent descent.”
He turned to the pipe network map, his finger tracing down along the red lines marked on it.
“The cleanup of the pipe network layer is basically complete. However, we have not yet entered the areas below the copper pillars.”
“The copper pillar runes have recovered by about seventy percent. There is still a gap at the bottom, and roughly one-fifth of the runes are in a semi-activated state. They aren't completely destroyed, but they are far from fully recovered.”
Bolen added, “The rune structure is self-recovering, but the speed is very slow. At the current rate, full recovery might take six months to a year.”
“Furthermore,” Kraus continued.
“During the process of cleaning the pipe network, I noticed something.”
He looked around at the people present.
“The pipe network layer used to be clean. The copper structures of Bronze City can suppress the eerie; in the centuries since this city was built, ghouls have never appeared in the pipe network layer.”
“After the subsidence, ghouls entered the pipe network layer through the sinkholes. Their numbers aren't massive, but the pipe network tunnels are intricate, making the cleanup very difficult.”
“The remaining ghouls in the pipe network layer have mostly been cleared now. However, we have not yet entered the areas below the copper pillars.”
What else was there below the copper pillars?
Lu Yuan remained silent and continued to listen.
Kraus turned his gaze toward Bolen.
“Speak on the situation of the copper pillars.”
Bolen lifted his finger from his notebook.
“The copper pillars are a brand-new discovery from this operation. The branch has no relevant files, and they weren't mentioned in Bronze City’s construction records.”
He opened his notebook and pushed it onto the table.
“Vice Director Kraus and I went down to see them in person. Based on the inscription structures at the site, the copper pillars are core components of a large-scale sealing array. The flow of the runes extends downward, used to suppress something underground.”
“Something what?”
Bolen shook his head.
“I don’t know. There are no records. We can only infer from the specifications of the inscriptions that the grade of the sealed subject is very high.”
The conference room fell silent for a few seconds.
Kraus didn't dwell on the question. He leaned forward, his palm pressing down on the map.
“The copper pillar runes are currently about seventy percent recovered, but there’s still a gap at the bottom. Regardless of what is sealed down there, I need to know the situation below.”
He straightened up and scanned everyone in the room.
“We are restarting the exploration of the deep pipe network. We depart the day after tomorrow at dawn.”
Then he began assigning people.
“From the Nightwatchers’ side, Lu Yuan.”
Lu Yuan nodded.
“Glock, for command and coordination. We’ll also draw two people from the Third Team.”
Glock made a note.
“Imperial Iron Guard.”
Kraus looked toward the corner.
Wolf nodded without speaking.
“Bring two men with you. The effectiveness of the Furnace Pathway in the pipe network was proven last time.”
Lu Yuan noticed that when Wolf nodded, his hand under the table clenched slightly.
“Holy Armored Army.”
Heinrich sat up straight. “Myself and two knights.”
“Church.”
Kraus glanced at the nun in the corner.
“An observer will accompany the team. It was the Church’s request; I have no reason to refuse.”
The nun said nothing, only bowing slightly.
“Inscription consultant.”
Before Kraus could finish, Bolen spoke up.
“I’m going.”
Glock turned his head and frowned.
“Mr. Bolen, this time it’s below the copper pillars. It’s deeper than the depth we went last time...”
“The copper pillar inscriptions need on-site analysis,” Bolen interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “If I don’t go, the information you bring back will be useless to me. Besides, I am the best Inscriptionist in Bronze City, bar none.”
Glock looked at Kraus.
Kraus did not veto it.
“Bring the tools you need.”
Bolen nodded and closed his notebook.
Beside him, Kail spoke in a low voice, “Teacher, I...”
Bolen glanced at him.
“You stay up here.”
Kail lowered his head and said no more.
Lu Yuan noticed him clenching his fists. His knuckles were white.
Lu Yuan said nothing, but his gaze shifted from Kail to Bolen.
The veins on the back of the old man’s hand holding the cane were very prominent. He had grown a size thinner since their last meeting. That trip to the pipe network had caused severe mental exhaustion; although he seemed to have recovered quite a bit over the last few days, going down into the pipe network again...
Could his body handle it?
Kraus continued to list the equipment and the assembly time. Six o’clock the morning after tomorrow, at the branch’s underground tunnel entrance.
While the others discussed equipment, Lu Yuan focused his gaze and scanned the people in the room.
Three seconds. His left eye felt slightly sore.
Bolen. A greyish-white aura of knowledge tinged with dark gold, thick but somewhat scattered. His spirit indeed hadn't fully recovered; there were several places along the edges of the aura that weren't solid enough.
Heinrich. A pale gold aura of holy light, very pure and uniform in concentration.
The Church nun. Also pale gold but much thinner, her rank significantly lower than Heinrich’s. But Lu Yuan looked a second longer.
At the base of the pale gold, there was a faint hint of something unusual.
It wasn't pollution. It was more like a marker of some kind.
It was as if someone were watching through her from a distance.
Three seconds was too short. There wasn't enough time to think it through.
Lu Yuan’s gaze shifted to the corner.
Wolf.
A dark red furnace aura flowed over the surface of his body. Wolf’s dark red was thicker and heavier than that of the two Imperial Iron Guard members beside him; the difference in concentration was obvious.
But beneath the dark red, Lu Yuan saw a mass of something that didn't belong to the furnace.
Greyish-green.
Very faint. Like a stain seeped into fabric. It was almost impossible to notice without looking closely.
It wasn't covering the furnace aura; it was mixed inside it.
The Knowledge Worm sent a sense of weariness. His perception withdrew.
【Sanity: -3... 114/120】
Lu Yuan’s expression remained unchanged.
Greyish-green.
The color of the pipe network hyphae.
The "micro-infection" determined by the greyish-white text on the day the pipe network operation ended.
He had seen it with his own eyes.
That mass of grey-green didn't look like it had just grown. Its edges were blurred, with no clear boundary between it and the dark red. It had been there for a while.
Did Wolf know himself?
Judging by his behavior, he was normal, and his mental state was clear.
Although the furnace aura had been invaded, it was still functioning.
If he spoke up now, Wolf would be excluded from the exploration team.
The Furnace Pathway of the Imperial Iron Guard was a vital combat force in the pipe network.
Last time, it was Wolf’s carbonization ability that cleared an entire section of tunnel blocked by hyphae.
Furthermore, exposing someone as infected in front of everyone was the same as backing them into a corner.
This matter needed the right moment.
And the right method.
Not right now.
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the red markers on the map.
He couldn't say it here.
But he had to say it.
The meeting ended ten or so minutes later.
People began to stand up. The sound of chairs moving echoed in the room for a while.
Bolen walked over and patted Lu Yuan on the shoulder.
“Have you made up your mind about the stone tablet?”
“Not yet.”
Bolen didn't press him.
“When we go down, bring it along. The things in the pipe network might help you decide.”
Lu Yuan nodded.
Bolen picked up his cane and led Kail toward the exit.
As Kail passed Lu Yuan, his eyes were downcast, and he didn't say a word.
Lu Yuan didn't follow them out.
He stayed in the conference room after the others had left.
Kraus was putting away his documents.
“Something else?”
Lu Yuan closed the door.
“There’s a problem with Wolf.”
Kraus’s hand paused.
“I can see certain auras. Wolf’s aura isn't right; there’s something mixed inside it that looks very similar to the hyphae we saw in the pipe network.”
“It’s been there for a while.”
Kraus was silent for a few seconds.
“Does he know himself?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Your assessment.”
“Behavior is normal, mind is clear, and the furnace is still functioning. But the hyphae concentration is higher in the deep pipe network. If the infection accelerates...”
Lu Yuan didn't finish.
Kraus set the documents down and leaned back in his chair.
“I understand.”
He didn't say he would replace him, nor did he say he wouldn't.
“I’ll make arrangements before we depart the day after tomorrow.”
Lu Yuan nodded and pushed the door open to leave.
When he walked out of the branch, the sunlight was pleasant.
Wolf hadn't gone far yet.
The dark red Imperial Iron Guard uniform was very conspicuous in the sun. His pace was steady.
Lu Yuan took a few quick steps to walk alongside him.
“Wolf.”
Wolf glanced at him sideways.
“Yeah.”
“How have you been feeling lately?”
Wolf’s step faltered for a moment—so brief it was almost imperceptible.
“Fine. Why do you ask?”
“You had the worst complexion in the conference room. Not getting enough rest?”
“Maybe I’ve been tempering the furnace for too long. We’ll talk later.”
Lu Yuan looked at his profile.
Wolf said no more and continued walking forward.
Lu Yuan stood in place, watching that dark red back...
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