In an empty warehouse in the factory area.
The group of Sea Hunters finally had a break after a long journey on the sea. As for the dilapidated warehouse that did not even have a bed, it was not a problem for them who were used to sleeping in the open.
"Everyone, work harder tonight. Split into two groups and keep watch according to the highest alert level. One group will be in the first half of the night and the other will be in the second half of the night. After the deal is completed tomorrow, other than the share that everyone deserves, I'll treat everyone to three days of drinks in the 'Pink House'. It's my treat! "
"Long live boss!"
"That's great …"
"No problem, boss. Leave it to us."
Stanley boosted the morale of his subordinates. In order to ensure that there would be no problems on the last night before the deal, he decided to personally lead the team to keep watch.
For an official knight who had a strong body, it was nothing for him to stay up all night.
After a bonfire was lit and a hasty dinner was settled with the dry food that they brought, dozens of people formed a large circle. A group of people took the opportunity to lie on the ground to rest while another group did nothing but stare at the box, ready to take over at any time.
Thud … thud … thud …
Even if there was one person holding the box and two people following behind him in circles in the warehouse, the exhausted Sea Hunters were not affected at all and fell asleep quickly.
"Hoo — zzZZ …"
In a short while, snoring sounds could be heard in the warehouse.
Tonight's handover went smoothly. Since they arrived at the warehouse at around nine o 'clock in the evening, they had successfully completed three handoffs without any accidents.
It was also one o 'clock in the morning, the time when normal people were the most thirsty to sleep.
Stanley who had completed his transcendental transformation was full of energy. It would not be a problem even if he did not sleep for a few days straight. At this moment, he was undoubtedly the most awake person here.
Seeing that his companions had completed their shift while maintaining a moving state, Stanley heaved a sigh of relief again. He got up and habitually looked around at his companions who were on night duty, but he soon noticed that something was wrong.
"Where did Todd go?!"
Stanley's expression changed slightly. His long life as an adventurer had given him extraordinary intuition and vigilance. After noticing that the key person, Todd, was not in the warehouse, he instantly became alert.
Whether it was this temporary shelter or the buyer later, Todd who was alone on the shore was in charge of the arrangements. Although Todd had always been his confidant, the consequences would be the most severe if something were to happen to him!
He immediately whispered to his subordinates, "Go, wake everyone up. Be careful, don't make any noise."
"Ugh …"
After exploring together for a long time, the Sea Hunters already had a tacit understanding with each other. They did not cause any commotion, and all of them had already regained consciousness. Other than the three people who were still in charge of carrying the box, all of them gathered around Stanley.
Stanley made a gesture, and the group of people didn't ask any questions. They quickly packed up their weapons.
Firearms, bows, crossbows, spears, blades, swords … Sea Hunters had all kinds of weapons, and each of them had their own specialties. However, they were all equally efficient, skillful, and cooperative.
Then, under Stanley's command, the three people who were still circling around quickly moved to the side of the warehouse. As an experienced Sea Hunter leader, Stanley had already scouted the terrain before he settled in.
There was a small door here that led to the depths of the factory area. There were many buildings there, and if there were any accidents, it would be very convenient for the small group to escape.
It had to be said that as a qualified leader, Stanley's reaction was swift, but to a traitor who knew him well … it was far from enough!
Before they could move to the door, the doors on both sides of the warehouse were pushed open at the same time.
Bang!
Under the dim night sky, the door was filled with the private soldiers of the nobles in black armor.
They were half-squatting on the ground, holding excellent heavy crossbows. Even in the moonless night, the triangular arrowheads on the crossbows flickered with a cold light.
They didn't even have the intention to talk.
"Fire!"
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"
The continuous firing of crossbows was not something that ordinary firearms could compare to in terms of accuracy and power. In the hands of these well-trained semi-professional private soldiers, they were extraordinary killing machines!
"No —!"
"Ah —!"
"Stop —!"
The shouts and screams of the Sea Hunters couldn't change their fate at all.
The steel arrowheads easily pierced through the bodies of the Sea Hunters, creating beautiful flowers of death amidst their scattered and powerless counterattacks.
Due to the betrayal of his companions, Stanley's strength was exposed. Not only did he not manage to escape with the powerful ability of a Transcendent Knight, but he was also the focus of fire. He was shot like a porcupine after taking two steps forward.
A low-level Knight was far from being able to crush a mundane army.
"Ugh … Todd … You …"
Bang!
He fell to the ground.
Although he was never a good person, the leader of the Sea Hunters had never thought that he would die in such a cowardly and ugly way …
After three rounds of firing, the private soldiers in black armor skillfully shot at the survivors who were still moving. In just a short minute, there was no one left standing on the open ground where the Sea Hunters were.
If they were in a forest, an island, or even a city with complicated terrain, these experienced Sea Hunters wouldn't have sacrificed themselves in such a meaningless manner. They would have definitely caused great casualties to the private soldiers of the nobles.
Unfortunately, there were no ifs in a battle.
The leading officer of the nobles' private soldiers looked at the results of the battle and grinned. He waved his hand, and the armored soldiers entered the warehouse in a single file.
Hiss!
For some reason, when the soldiers entered the warehouse, they felt a gloomy and cold aura lingering around them. However, the target of the mission was right in front of them, so they ignored the slight discomfort.
"Find it!"
The bodies of the Sea Hunters were moved away and thrown aside. Even in the face of the bloodstained faces with round eyes, it couldn't stop the fanaticism of the private soldiers.
The mission this time was extremely simple. Kill these trashy hyenas at sea and bring back the box. Their master would then bestow them with unimaginable wealth and status. There was nothing more perfect than this.
"Sir, we didn't find the box."
"It's not here either."
However, after all the bodies were moved away, the private soldiers in charge of the search brought him bad news.
"What? What happened? Did the box run away on its own?! " The leader of the private soldiers turned around abruptly and looked at the short-haired young man behind him. It was Todd, who had gone missing earlier.
"Dear Mr. Todd, I need an explanation!"
The elite private soldiers that faintly surrounded him gave him immense pressure. Todd gulped, raised his hands, and said innocently with a bitter face, "I really don't know. I was clearly here before I left."
Todd didn't dare to play any tricks after he had killed all his companions for a promise. To be honest, he hoped that he could successfully retrieve the box more than the private soldiers.
"Eh, what's that sound?"
Drip … Drip …
At this moment, the clear sound of water dripping suddenly sounded in the empty warehouse. It was getting louder and closer …
"Where is the sound of water coming from?!"
"I don't know."
The private soldiers that were still searching for the box stopped in their tracks and looked around to find the source of the sound.
Suddenly, Todd felt a burning sensation at the back of his neck. He reached out and touched it. It was blood-red. He looked up. Drops of red liquid dripped from the cracks in the ceiling and dripped onto his face.
The thick smell of blood instantly filled his nose.
"Ah —!!!"
A shrill scream pierced through the silent night sky and stopped abruptly …
No one knew when.
The box that was wrapped in black cloth had been opened, revealing a black wooden box carved with various strange drama characters.
It was placed in the middle of the Sea Hunters that had been completely wiped out. It was untouched but miraculously, it wasn't discovered by the private soldiers that were searching for it.
Amidst the sound of the clockwork, the box once again let out that terrifying aria:
"Oh —! Thank you for the sacrifice you offered me. I … like it very much!
New Haven, what a familiar and wonderful smell. I'm back. Oh, hehehe … Heh … Ga … Ga … Ga … "
As if it was stuck, the originally terrifying voice slowly turned into a strange laughter that sounded like an old owl. It echoed in the empty warehouse and sent chills down one's spine.
However, there wasn't a single living person here who could react to it!
"Get up and take me away from here. I can already feel that old thing's breath. He's still in this city! "
Hearing that.
"Stanley" who had been dead for a long time and had lost most of the blood in his body got up from the ground. He pulled out the arrow that was stuck in his body and threw it on the ground.
He picked up the box on the ground without saying a word. At first, he had difficulty maintaining his balance as he staggered out of the warehouse. However, he quickly got used to it and walked faster and faster until it was as if he was flying. Soon, he disappeared among the buildings in the distance.
Only a lingering voice was left, "Oh, the game has just begun … The first act."
Silence had just returned to the warehouse.
A faint brilliance appeared in the air.
Creak —
A magnificent brass door made of various complicated gears and machinery appeared out of thin air. It was slowly pushed open amidst the creaking of gears.
An old man in a white robe walked out from behind the door. He looked at the blood-soaked miserable scene in the warehouse and revealed an expression that said, "I knew it.
I'm a step too late?
The Dead Soul Box … As expected of a God's toy! "
He turned around and stepped through the brass door again.
"Perhaps, this isn't a bad thing …" The voice seemed to dissipate in the wind.
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