Chapter 17: Overturning

"Greyhound!"

The figure atop the abandoned warehouse spoke.

"I didn't expect you to catch up so quickly, but unfortunately, you still can't catch me. You'll never catch me, hahaha."

His figure gradually faded.

"Hahaha! Chase me, come chase me, you greyhounds don't understand what a real Phantom Talisman is."

His figure disappeared, then reappeared, laughing wildly in front of Lauren's iron staff.

The laughter abruptly stopped as if a wild dog's neck had been gripped.

"Er... what's going on?"

Lauren said quietly, "The talisman is not bad, but next time, remember not to use it in front of a high-rank combatant who possesses the Fire Spark of a Puppet Master."

The man's face turned ashen, "Are you an Inspector or a Judgement Master?"

"For you, it's all the same," Lauren pressed the iron staff against his throat, "Now, answer my questions honestly, and I can take you to Stone City."

His face became very complex after hearing the words 'Stone City', and after a moment of silence, he answered, "OK."

"Name."

"Bas."

"Place of birth."

"Gem Town."

"Occupation."

"Stone mason, later became a priest at Blessing Church."

"The Doomsday Sect you follow."

"Polluter."

"Ideology."

"Pollution Fire will turn the Guardian Fire into spreading distortion, mutations, and Pollution Black Fire."

"Why do this?"

"We believe fire is hypocritical; it burns humans like firewood into ash—cruel and inhumane. Black Fog is merciful and kind. Humans immersed in it can last a thousand years without decay. Thus, it should envelop the world because mercy and kindness are the world's true truths. We are merely resisting stubbornly, blocking the unstoppable currents of history. Coexistence of humans and Black Fog is the right path. If we can achieve this goal early, we can hold high positions in the future Dark Age, immortal forever."

"Don't you know that all those contaminated by the Black Fog eventually go mad?"

"Our knowledge is limited; reason is nothing but a cage that binds the mind. Once we reach a higher realm, we gain greater freedom, unimaginable now, thus considered madness."

Lauren's expression remained unchanged, calm and serene; he continued in a deep voice.

"Do you recognize him?"

Bas shifted his gaze to Rod, whose long and pale face was expressionless, his narrow eyes distant.

Rod was a bit nervous.

He looked for a few seconds, then turned away.

"No, I do not recognize him."

Lauren took out a portrait from his bosom, lifelike almost like a photo.

"Do you recognize this person?"

Bas answered, "I recognize him, Grey Cat Alei."

"How do you know him?"

"He often came to Blessing Church for leftover cans and did odd jobs for us in exchange."

"Is he a member of your group?"

"I'm not sure, perhaps from another branch."

"On March 7, what did he do at Blessing Church?"

"I can't remember, probably no different from usual days."

"Why did you flee on the 16th?"

Bas gave him a surprised look, "I was discovered as a Doomsday believer; why wouldn't I flee?"

Lauren said calmly, "In fact, it was on the 17th, a day after you fled, that we confirmed you're a Doomsday believer."

A hint of sarcasm appeared on Bas's pale face but quickly disappeared.

"Had I not fled early, by the time you confirmed, I wouldn't have been able to escape. Of course, I haven't escaped now either. I don't understand—I was cautious enough. With the Outer City's Section One so large and chaotic, nearly a million people living here, how could you confirm so quickly that I was on Hammer Street? If you had given me another clock hour, I could have boarded a caravan bound for Iron Furnace City."

Lauren shook his head slightly.

"You wouldn't have passed the checks; you couldn't have gone anywhere."

Bas scoffed, "Go to my house and you'll know. The defenses of Royal City are hardly worth mentioning."

Lauren nodded, "Let's go."

Rod was startled.

No way?

You agreed just like that? That's too suspicious; won't you call for reinforcements?

But he couldn't voice these concerns; he could only follow them to a large abandoned warehouse nearby.

Maybe he is strong.

Rod thought to himself.

He had subdued the man with a single move, no need to be afraid; I just need to stick close to this strong support.

Soon, they arrived in front of the warehouse.

The huge warehouse looked very dilapidated, its blue walls covered with cracks and damage, and the Spirit Lamp hanging on the door had long since extinguished, inside pitch black as if shadows were drifting.

None of the surrounding houses were lit.

Bas pushed open the door.

"Go in."

Lauren took out a lamp and hung it on Rod's waist, then entered.

Rod could only follow.

The warehouse was pitch black, the light hardly illuminating much area.

Rod was a bit nervous, clutching his gun.

Just as he was about to speak a warning to Lauren, Bas rolled out of the range of the light.

"Hahaha! Tricked like that! Too stupid, Greyhound of the Internal Affairs Court!"

Whoosh!

A massive whooshing sound!

With the speed of lightning, Lauren swung down his iron staff.

Bang!

A long Giant Arrow was broken in half.

"Hmph, not bad combat strength, but what about this?"

From the broken Giant Arrow, a large amount of purple mist sprayed out, obviously highly toxic.