Chapter 85: The Masked Mans Companions Arrive (1/2)
Thirty minutes ago,
Somewhere in a silent and decrepit alley located inside the Northern town. An individual dressed in dark blue clothes and a featureless masked knocked on the door of a shop. The individual knocked in a certain pattern and on different places on the door.
A minute later the door silently opened, and the individual walked inside. The door immediately closed, revealing an old woman behind it. The old woman did not speak anything and just gestured for the masked individual to follow her. She brought him to another room inside the shop before closing down the door of that room as well.
The old woman then looked at the masked individual and spoke,
”Show me the crest.”
The masked individual then pulled out a small metallic plate that was hexagonal in shape from their pocket. The masked individual handed the hexagonal metal plate to the old woman, who quickly snatched it from him. After taking it, the old woman glanced at it for a second before inserting it into a small opening that was hidden in the seam of the wall behind her.
As soon as she inserted the hexagonal plate, a clicking sound was heard and then the sound of gears moving could be heard. Soon a rectangular outline appeared on the wall. A wooden panel then shifted to reveal the passage behind it.
The old woman then looked at the masked individual and spoke again.
”They're waiting for you.”
The masked individual silently nodded before walking through the new opening in the wall. After the masked individual was gone, the wooden panel automatically shifted and closed the entrance of the passage.
The masked individual walked for a few meters straight before reaching a staircase that descended deeper into the ground. The staircase was dark, unlike the dimly lit passage. Thus the masked individual picked up a lamp that was hanging on the wall and walked downstairs.
The masked individual must have walked for five minutes before reaching the end of the staircase. One could only imagine how deep the stairs went into the ground. At the end of the staircase, there was another door. The masked individual held the handle of the door and pushed it open, revealing the brightly lit room behind it. Quickly closing the door, the individual walked inside.
”You're late.” A voice spoke inside the brightly lit room.
The masked individual turned towards the source of the voice and replied,
”I found a few more clues of those people.”
The voice of the masked individual was feminine and cold, making one feel the chill on their skin. The masked individual then removed their mask, which revealed a beautiful face that was marred by a scar that extended from the left temple to the chin.
The masked individual was actually a woman.
”And what kind of clues did you notice?” The voice asked.
”Whoever they are, they have been going to the northern forest every day. I also found a few traces of blood on the route towards the northern forest.” The unmasked woman replied.
”Hmm, we'll investigate it then.” The voice spoke as it got closer.
Soon a man appeared in front of the woman. The man had short hair and was wearing dark blue clothes similar to that of the woman's. He had an average face that one did not find peculiar.
”Any new information?” The woman asked.
”Nothing in particular. Most of our companions are still out doing their task, while the rest returned an hour ago to report. You're the only one who was late.” The man replied and took a pause.
”Well not just you, Hei Wen has not returned yet either.” The man added.
”Why is he late? He's the most punctual of us all.” The woman asked.
”Hei Wen was assigned a tailing mission recently. He's been on it for a few days now.” The man answered.
”Tailing mission? Did they find a potential suspect?” The woman questioned.
”We do not know. He was directly informed by the leader.” The man answered.
”We'll just have to wait for him then, I guess.” The woman replied while walking towards a chair.
”Perhaps.” The masked man spoke with an uneasy voice.
The woman noticed the man's unease but did not question it, rather choosing to rest on the chair for a bit. The man also sat down on a chair nearby and closed his eyes.
A few minutes passed until a very high-pitched sound could be heard in the room. The pair of man and woman abruptly stood up with their eyes wide open. Five more people came out from a door that was to the left of the room.
”Someone has triggered the emergency signal.” They all spoke in unison.
”Follow me.” The short-haired man ordered.
The man then lead the six people to a room that was situated across the hall. He pulled out a key from his pocket and opened the door. Inside this room multiple tables were placed and on these tables, tens of rectangular plates were kept.
Currently, one of these rectangular plates seemed to be making the high-pitched sound. A disk-shaped opening had appeared on the rectangular plate, and the circular plate that was cut out from it was spinning rapidly.