Chapter 11 - Hustle and Bustle in Xinjiang

In the annals of relic research, few names shone as brightly as that of Professor Adrian. His peers spoke of him in hushed tones, with a reverence reserved for the greatest minds of their age. For more than three decades, he had devoted his life to the study of his chosen field, eschewing all distractions, including the mundane pleasures of life, such as marriage or having children.

At the age of fifty, his eyes still shone with a fierce intelligence, and though his face was lined with the wisdom of experience, there was still a hint of mild handsomeness about him, with the only telltale signs of aging being the subtle grey streaks that crept into his brown hair.

Yet, despite his fame, Professor Adrian remained a humble man, his unassuming demeanor and gentle voice belying the depths of his wisdom. It was this unassuming nature that had made his abduction by HADES all the more shocking. Days ago, they had taken him from his residence, and no one had seen or heard from him since.

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[In an unknown location]

There was a room without windows, without doors and without any discernible means of entrance or exit. The air was thick with the scent of mildew and decay, and the sound of water dripping echoed through the void.

Despite being bound to a chair, Professor Adrian could feel the cold, damp walls pressing in on him, as if they were alive and sentient. The only light came from a flickering bulb that hung from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows across the room. It was a place that seemed to exist outside of time and space, a place where the rules of reality no longer applied.

And yet, despite the overwhelming sense of dread that suffused the air, Professor Adrian could not help but feel a strange fascination with his surroundings. It was as if he had stumbled upon a secret world that existed only in the depths of his own mind. A world that he was powerless to escape from, no matter how hard he tried.

The shadows stirred, once, twice - and two figures stepped out of the shadows, which seemed to have been a portal of sorts for them.

The two figures from HADES stood in front of him, their faces obscured by shadows. The man was tall and muscular, with a menacing glint in his eyes. The woman was smaller, but no less intimidating. Her eyes were cold and calculating.

"Tell us what you know, Professor," the man growled. "Everything you know about the Reglia, spit it out now."

"I've told you everything I know," Professor Adrian replied, his voice strained. "I don't have anything else to give you."

The woman stepped forward into the light, a cruel smile on her lips. "But why does it feel like you're holding back on us?"

Professor Adrian shook his head, sweat beading on his forehead. "I swear to you, I'm not. I've given you everything I can."

The man grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head back, exposing his neck. "Don't lie to us, old man!!! Ritter told us everything and we're not going to let you go until we get it."

Professor Adrian was terrified, but he refused to give in. He had dedicated his life to academia, to the pursuit of knowledge, and he was not about to betray his principles now. Hearing the name of his colleague come out of the man's mouth made his mind wonder for a brief moment : Did Professor Ritter also get kidnapped and tortured? Or was he one of them all along?

The woman leaned in close, her breath hot on his ear. "You don't know who you're dealing with, Professor. We'll do whatever it takes to get what we want. And we always get what we want."

Professor Adrian gritted his teeth, his body wracked with pain. He knew his captors were not lying, but he knew even better that they are seeking information based on his research topic on Regalias, which were relics that could possibly be classified higher than Myth, Legend or Divine-Grade relics.

And as the room spun around him, and the darkness closed in, he made his decision. He would never give up, never surrender, never betray his principles. And even if it cost him his life, he would die with honor, with dignity, with the knowledge that he had stood up to evil, and faced it down, and prevailed.

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As the interrogation of Professor Adrian continued for several hours, the two oppressors from HADES stepped aside to have a private conversation.

"We're wasting precious time," the woman said, her voice low and menacing. "We should just use mind-reading relics and torture that information out of him."

The man snorted. "You're too hasty, Diana. We can't take any chances. We need that information, and we can't risk the Professor becoming a vegetable with your reckless methods."

Diana rolled her eyes in annoyance. "And what if he really won't tell us anything, Karl? We're wasting time!"

The man called Karl shrugged. "At this point, it doesn't matter what he knows...The boss wants us to keep him here, and worst come to worst..." Karl's hand crept up to his neck and with a slow, deliberate motion, he drew his thumb across his neck, the sharp edge of his nail leaving an imaginary trail of blood in its wake. The message was clear - Professor Adrian's life was to be taken, by any means necessary, should he no longer have any use.

Diana sighed, but didn't argue. She knew better than to question the leader's judgement. She and Karl had been working together under the leader for years, and she understood that everything they did had a purpose.

"Fine," she said. "What do you suggest we do?"

Karl grinned. "We move on to plan B. We target Professor Shiva."

Diana's eyes widened. "Shiva? Have we located her? She went *poof* the moment we abducted Adrian."

Karl shrugged. "She's the only other person who could have the information we need on the location of the Regalia. And if Adrian doesn't have it, she's our next best bet."

Diana nodded solemnly, understanding the logic.

The man smiled, full of arrogance and proud of the stratagem he devised. "I'm one step ahead of course. We already mobilized the HADES hunting and tracking squad. Someone has been keeping tabs on her every move for us. We know where she is, and we know when she's vulnerable."

The organization's resources were vast, and their methods were ruthless and relentless. Diana knew that they were capable of almost anything, and that they always got what they wanted. The two of them turned back to Adrian, who was still bound to the chair, his face twisted in agony as he overheard the conversation from earlier.

"Looks like you're out of luck, old man," Karl said with a smirk while cracking his knuckles. "But don't worry. Your colleague will be joining you soon enough."

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[The streets of Xinjiang, China]

The sun beat down upon the dusty streets of Xinjiang, casting a hazy glow upon the bustling crowds of people. The scent of spices and sizzling street food wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of chatter and honking horns.

Xinjiang city was a symphony of sound. The bustling streets hummed with the energy of a thousand voices, each one calling out in a different dialect. The clanging of pots and pans mingled with the melodic strains of traditional instruments, while the rhythmic thud of footsteps echoed off the cobblestone streets.

A group of travelers strolled down the narrow alleyways, trying their best to blend in with the locals. They wore loose-fitting clothing and carried cameras, pretending to be tourists exploring the city. But beneath their guise, they were on a mission to protect Professor Shiva from those who would seek her out.

"I can't believe how amazing this all looks," said Yukie, her eyes wide with excitement as she took in the sights around her. Of course, this was all an act.

"I know," replied Connor, nodding in agreement. "I could spend hours just wandering around here, trying alllllll the different foods."

This however, was not an act. The group had spent the last several days making their way from Karakoram Mountain Range on foot to arrive at Xinjiang, and hadn't had a decent meal in days.

As they passed by a food stall, the group's eyes widened at the array of skewered meats and various food cooked with fragrant spices on display. The sizzle of the grill and the aroma of the food beckoned to them, and they couldn't resist the temptation to indulge in the local cuisine.

"Wow, look at all this food! I could eat everything here," exclaimed Connor, his eyes sparkling with excitement, his mouth already salivating.

"I know, right? It all smells amazing," replied Jack, his stomach grumbling in agreement.

As they ordered their food and waited for it to cook, their conversation shifted to their true purpose in Xinjiang. They had come here under Jack's suggestion to move Professor Shiva to a safe location, a neutral location that nobody else would know.

They had not reported their decision to move Professor Shiva to the enforcers nor Heaven's Watch HQ. They last discussed that there was a possibility of information leak happening on either side and decided that it was best to avoid unwarranted danger. They had left Maya, the survivor of the patrol squad who had recovered sufficiently, behind in Karakoram to continue sending in periodic fake reports as a form of misdirection.

"We need to be careful," warned Lady Enki, her voice low and serious. "Enjoy your food but don't get caught off guard."

"I agree," said Takamura, scanning the crowd for any suspicious activity while munching down on the appetizers served earlier. "We need to stay vigilant and watch each other's backs. After all this territory-...nevermind."

Their food arrived, interrupting their conversation, and they dug in eagerly. The flavors exploded in their mouths, a symphony of spices and textures. They savored each bite, letting the food distract them from their worries for a moment.

"Not gonna eat, Ethan?" Takamura asked as he took a bite out of his meat skewers.

"I'll pass. Not a fan of the Chinese spices," Ethan replied offhandedly as he watched his colleagues dig in like wild animals, clearly sick of the standard rations they've been eating for the past couple of days.

"I don't like the feeling of being watched," Ethan added, nervously looking around.

"Relax. We're almost at the safe location," Jack reassured Ethan, handing him a bowl of dumplings. "You need to eat up, we'll need everyone in top form for the next place we're headed."

"Speaking of...you still haven't told us where you're taking us." Connor asked, full of curiosity. His hands however, were moving to sample every single dish the group had ordered without stopping.

"Hmph! I have an inkling...but I'll leave it to you, Jack." Lady Enki down an ice cold glass of lemon tea and crossed her arms, giving the side-eye to Jack who was rather secretive of where he was taking the group.

"You'll see later." Jack said before downing a bowl of noodle broth and wiping his mouth clean.

The streets of Xinjiang continued to bustle around them, a chaotic mix of colors, scents, and sounds. The group's adventures in the upcoming days would no doubt be eventful, to say the least.