novelraw Chapter 63: Black Shield Armband: Undercurrents
Chapter 63: Black Shield Armband: Undercurrents
Buzz buzz buzz....
As the flame motorcycle slowly stopped in front of the Green Forest Light Supermarket.
Hans looked at the scattered glass fragments under his feet and the thick smoke still billowing out from the fourth floor, his eyes flickering.
The other knights arrived beside him one after another.
"Two people stay on guard, the rest go check the situation inside the building. Be quick and leave here before Thug Prison and the Black Shield Police Department arrive."
Following Hans' arrangement, the Flame Knights quickly sprang into action.
They split up, some taking the escalator directly to the fourth floor, others using the stairwell passage, everyone fully armed.
But the moment the thugs taking the escalator reached the fourth floor, they fell to the ground in an explosion, already lifeless.
"Careful, it's a tripwire mine!" someone warned.
A fierce glint flashed in Hans' eyes. Ignoring his subordinates' dissuasion, he still took the escalator upstairs. Just as he reached the fourth floor, he saw a corpse with its throat slit, then proceeded to the office area. Looking at the devastating explosion scene, Hans detected a familiar smell from it, his brows slightly furrowed."Boss, this is our timed bomb! Are there other brothers from home here?" A Flame Knight approached Hans holding a piece of explosion debris to show him.
Hans took the object and immediately recognized it as the timing device of a Burning Fortress timed bomb, combined with the distinctive smell lingering in the air.
He instantly thought of the incident that happened previously in District 9, a cold light shooting from his eyes.
"Everyone, search carefully. This was done by the same group that attacked Priest Hualuo before. Don't overlook any trace."
All the Flame Knights were shocked upon hearing this, then all revealed killing intent.
"Understood! Boss!"
The search proceeded quickly, and soon Fatty Mahada's corpse was discovered. Hans hurried over to examine it. Looking at the bullet hole in the other's head and the obvious signs of looting, he also felt this enemy was quite troublesome.
Cautious, careful, decisive.
He paced to the window of the room. The window glass had been shattered by the explosion. From here, the parking plaza of the Green Forest Light Supermarket could be seen in its entirety.
His gaze was drawn to a half blood handprint on the window frame. He touched it with his hand, lightly rubbing his fingers.
He suddenly looked up.
It was left just now!
An image appeared in his mind: someone hanging outside the building by gripping the window frame with their hands, evading the enemy's search.
"Skillful move!" Hans murmured softly.
Just then, someone reported discovering a corpse in the stairwell passage. Through characteristic comparison, it was confirmed to be the leader of the Blood-Hand Gang they were tracking.
Hans went to the stairwell passage. The smell of gunpowder from the recent grenade explosion still lingered here. Blood was still flowing from Mahada's body; he had died just moments before they arrived.
"Boss, we've checked all the surrounding exits. We also found a corpse at the staff passage exit, but the body is already cold, probably dead for a while. No trace of the enemy has been found for now."
As soon as one Flame Knight finished speaking, another person came to Hans holding something.
"Boss, we found something!"
Hans looked over, his eyebrows slightly raised.
It was actually an armband. The armband still had torn fabric and blood on it.
Looking at the black shield pattern on the armband, Hans immediately recognized it as the emblem of the Black Shield Police Department.
He pinched the blood on the fabric; his finger immediately became bright red and moist, still very fresh.
"Where was it found?"
"On a protruding wire at the corner of the staff passage... probably got caught there when someone was running in a hurry."
"Black Shield Police Department..." Hans looked at the armband, thought for a moment, then went to the parking plaza. He took a whistle from his chest and blew it towards the sky.
Wheee—
As the whistle sound rang out, a falcon soon flew down from the sky and landed on Hans' outstretched arm.
Hans tied a note and the armband to the falcon's leg. He took a piece of dried meat from the pouch at his waist, fed it to the falcon, and patted its head.
"Go quickly, my treasure!"
Screech—
The falcon soared high into the air and, accompanied by a cry, disappeared into the sky that was already growing slightly cool.
And as the falcon disappeared, a manhole cover on the roadside about a hundred meters from the parking plaza slowly closed.
Yu Yuan put away his binoculars, his mind still replaying the scene he had just witnessed.
"So that whistle can summon that falcon!!!" Thinking of the pure titanium outdoor whistle he had found on the Flame Priest's body, he suddenly understood.
Yu Yuan looked at the slightly glowing tactic on his Virtual Panel – [Diverting Disaster Eastward], the corner of his mouth curling up.
"I wonder if they found it... tsk tsk... whatever, let's leave this place first!"
Returning to the sewer, he summoned Mie Mie, and then one man and one sheep dashed towards the direction of the shelter.
After Yu Yuan left, the people from the Burning Fortress also soon departed, but the situation in the entire East District instead became increasingly turbulent with undercurrents.
Eastern Suburbs, Thug Prison.
Baku was reporting to Habaar about the matter with 'Black Lung' Victor when a prison guard walked in.
"Warden, Deputy Warden, an hour ago there was a violent explosion in District 10. Our people went to check. A total of twelve people died at the scene, suspected to be members of the Blood-Hand Gang, a plunderer organization often seen in the wilderness. The leaders, the Mahada brothers, were both killed. Also..."
Habaar looked over, somewhat impatient.
"Also what? Spit it out quickly..."
"Also, there seem to be traces of Flame Knights at the scene..."
Upon hearing this, both Habaar and Baku were stunned for a moment. They exchanged a glance, then Baku looked at the prison guard.
"Are you sure it's Flame Knights? What's the situation?"
The prison guard immediately replied: "We found traces of a large number of motorcycles at the scene. The tire marks on the ground indicate the number of vehicles was probably around 15 to 20. Also, we found signs of someone rummaging and searching at the explosion scene. And finally, this..."
The prison guard took out a bag from behind, containing some charred objects.
"These are explosive debris found at the scene, consistent with the materials the Burning Fortress provided us before. So, this explosion, combined with their presence there, might have a lot to do with the Burning Fortress."
Baku's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this.
"Burning Fortress?"
"Among the supplies that were stolen from us a couple of days ago, there was also a batch of explosives, right?"
The prison guard was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then immediately replied: "Yes, the supplies we lost included twenty-five bundles of timed bombs..." He hesitated, looking at Baku: "Deputy Warden, are you suggesting this explosion was also done by the same group as last time?"
Baku lightly pushed his glasses up his nose bridge, a thoughtful gleam in his eyes.
"Let's put that aside for now. The current focus is on those Flame Knights. Find their trail. I want to know what their purpose is for staying here."
"Yes!"
As the prison guard left, Habaar finally looked at Baku.
"What exactly is going on?"
Baku waved his hand, signaling Habaar to not speak for now. Seeing this, Habaar immediately shut up; he knew this meant Baku was deep in thought.
After about ten more minutes, a light flashed in Baku's eyes. He suddenly looked up and looked at Habaar:
"I understand. No wonder a Flame Priest suddenly appeared last time during our transaction with the Burning Fortress. It seems these Flame Knights today are the real reason the Flame Priest came here..."