Chapter 27: Old Man Tyrian

The infiltration squad entered the underground tunnel. About 70 meters in, they reached a crossroads. There were three distinct entrances to the inner layer of the complex. 

A left, right, and center entrance...which direction entails the most danger?

Derrick considered expanding his 'Authority' to scout out the area, but his skin involving spiritual projection was still lacking. He could only sense things in a 30-meter radius. 

Luckily, Naoto Gan stepped up and activated his spirituality. "Stand back everyone, I'll survey the interior." He placed his right palm on the floor and exerted a strong gust of wind. The wind spread through each of the entrances and scanned the entire sewage system in mere moments. It was a technique very similar to echolocation. By embuing the wind with spirituality, Naoto Gan could extend his senses to a wide area without the inherent danger of using an 'Authority'.

"There is a dangerous presence beyond the left entrance, but I'm also sensing something dangerous in the other two. It isn't as sinister, but it is noteworthy."

The large, intimidating man rushed towards the left entrance and dove into the darkness. No one even bothered stopping the man because they knew he couldn't be contained.

Ying broke the awkward silence. "Okay…Desmond and I will explore the right entrance. Is that okay with everyone?"

"Yes, it's fine. The rest of us will go into the middle entrance."

They walked into the darkness simultaneously with a strange tension lurking at every corner. It was clear that this mission wasn't normal.

The spirituality in the area…just what is this sensation I'm feeling?

___

[Left Entrance]

The sewers were filled with impoverished people with torn clothing and countless injuries. Dirty needles were strewn across the floor and some people were behaving erratically. Scratching, biting, or simply standing lifelessly, the scenery looked like hell.

This is just like those districts in my old world. Homeless people would often flake to specific city blocks for shelter, community, or resources. I suppose issues like this are present in any society. Any world.

Derrick unknowingly bumped into a man standing in the middle of the hallway. He seemed to be in a dazed and confused state. His arm was covered in needle wounds.

"Ah, sorry about that-"

"Who touched me? Who the fuck touched me?!" Suddenly, the man flailed his arms violently at the two foreigners in front of him. However, the pathetic excuse for an attack was interrupted by Ying. With a simple movement, Ying flipped the man onto his back. His body crashed onto the floor and stopped his sudden delirium.

He turned to his partner. "Derrick, look alive. I know it's a hard pill to swallow, but this is just how the world is. We need to find Reed Rowley before the Police or Naraka dispose of him."

"Y-yeah…okay."

They spent the next 15 minutes asking around for any information about the whereabouts of Reed Rowley. Despite showing photos of the target, the residents of the underground tunnels turned the duo away. Many were simply afraid and ignored the duo, some were unconscious from an overdose, and some were too aggressive to hold a conversation.

"Tsk, this is hopeless…I knew pursuing this was a mistake."

"No, we must keep searching. If we don't find Reed Rowley, this entire operation is a bust. We'll leave with no information and will make an enemy of the Alchemic order."

"...Very well. If we do not find the target, you will inherit all of the responsibility. Do you know what that means?"

Derrick froze for a moment. Inheriting the responsibility would mean that Ying would provide him no assistance in case of failure. This is what it meant to involve himself in The Hole. "Yes, I understand." Regardless, he was ready to accept the risk. After all, life was nothing but an assessment of risks. It was a measurement of loss and a measurement of gain. That was the lesson Elizabeth Abraham imparted to him in their short time together. 

Amid their discussion, an old man with a tattered robe and wooden cane approached them. "Are you too new here? I haven't seen your faces before." He greeted the gentlemen with a wave of the hand. 

"Yes, we aren't from here. Our friend was exploring the tunnel system in search of a rumored treasure, but we hadn't heard from him in a week. Do you know of this man? His name is Reed Rowley."

The old man closely inspected the photo. "Hm...I do believe I've seen this man before." 

"Really?!" Derrick said with an excited, relieved tone. 

"He was quite the panicked man. He came here just yesterday in search of asylum. I believe he is with the Leader."

"Leader...?"

"Ah, you have yet to meet him. The Leader is the man who provides us with such ecstasy. Water, food, drugs, and sex. He provides us all with our needs." The old man seemed genuinely comforted by the thought of this "Leader".

What type of leader deals drugs to his own people...this place is hell.

"Do you know where this leader is?"

"He is at the Central Cathedral just a ways down. It is quite a long walk from here, but you too seem like strong lads. You'll take care of yourselves."

"Thank you. What is your name?"

"Tyrian's the name, but you can call me Old Man Tyrian if you want."

___

[Middle Entrance]

Naoto Gan, along with his squad of contractors, made their way down the middle entrance of the abandoned sewer system. The pathways were filled with suspicious gazes directed at the group. Some individuals wore a tattered purple cloak, while others didn't wear any particular dress. 

It feels like they're staring daggers at us...is this outfit not convincing enough?

Suddenly, Naoto bumped into a little girl, causing her to stumble.

"Are you okay?" He offered the young girl a hand, but he didn't receive a response. Upon further inspection, the girl's body was incredibly weak. Her arms were thin like sticks and her lips were so dry that cracks and cuts began to form. He picked up the young girl and yelled in a state of panic.

"Does anyone have food and water? This girl is dying!" 

Despite his protests, nobody responded to his cries. "Will you all just let a little girl die?" No matter how many times he asked for help, not a single person would arrive to help her. Many of the citizens awkwardly avoided Naoto's gaze, others were too high or too tired to care. 

Damn. Is there nothing I can do?

Suddenly, a man coughed. It was a light cough at first, but it would soon turn into violent and painful hacking. Strange purple markings The cough would spread to two people, then three, then five. The man's sickness seemed to spread instantaneously!

"Everyone, spread out! Don't let yourself get infected!"

Naoto promptly separated from the young girl and split away from the group. He held his breath to avoid any infection. However, he noticed a peculiar "weakness" in the air. The spirituality was significantly weaker than it was just a few moments ago. 

Purple markings, sudden coughing, bodily weakness, and a spiritual vacuum? If I'm not mistaken, these are symptoms of Extreme Spirit Deficiency! Someone is draining the underground tunnels of its residual spirituality, along with everyone inside. I'd give us 30 minutes before we're all affected. I need to warn them!

Naoto turned to his left and announced his warning, but the tunnel was suddenly empty. His crew of mercenaries, as well as the sick victims of the attack, seemed to vanish from existence. 

"Hehe. Found the intruder~" A sickly man with a royal purple cloak appeared behind Naoto Gan as though he were a ghost. 

An enemy!

Naoto twisted his body 180 degrees, then jumped backward to avoid the attack. However, the assailant managed to plant a thin knife firmly in his lower back.

"You're a member of the Alchemic Order, aren't you? Do you know of a certain Reed Rowley?" He said with a confident smile.

"So what if I do? Why would I tell an intruder such valuable information? Oh, and drop the confident act, your face is practically screaming with pain~" The cultist hunched his back and violently scratched his face. His face seemed to indicate an extreme pleasure.

"..." Naoto immediately dropped the act and prepared for attack, creating the hand sign for wind with his right hand. "If you aren't going to tell me what you know, then I'll have to extract that information after you die!"

"Hehehehe~ I like that. I am Disciple William, and I will be your executioner!"