Turning

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Chapter 666

The manager was promptly taken down by an object thrust into his back. It was Kishiar who had effortlessly drawn the old, heavy candlestick that had viciously struck the back of the manager's head, without even touching it.

Yuder, paying no attention to the groaning manager rolling on the floor, opened his mouth.

"Although the information provided by Elpkins and others was useful, this place is indeed structurally complex."

"Well, at least we have someone with a good sense for finding the right people, don’t we? That's all that matters."

Their current task was simple. Before the fight began in earnest, they were to identify and individually defeat the few gangs roaming around for welcoming guests or patrolling.

The Nukijo gang, though numerous, were not always present in the fighting arena. Especially now, during the 'waiting time' when participants were supposed to come up, change into the day's designated attire, and select their weapons, there were fewer people around.

Elpkins, who had fought in the arena ten times, explained the Nukijo gang's security policy for guarding the arena and suppressing the participants.

"On the day of the fight, you're blindfolded and taken to the second basement, which leads to the waiting room behind the stage. The only thing you encounter on your way there are narrow, complicated storerooms, and Nukijo's minions periodically patrolling. All these men are non-Awakeners, but... knocking them down is useless. There's no way to go upstairs from behind the stage."

To escape, one must go upstairs. However, the way up was in front of the stage, which meant crossing the spectator stands.

According to Elpkins, 'all sorts of terrifying things' existed between the stage and the spectator seats.

"I've seen it a few times. People who suddenly try to flee the stage during a fight. When an escapee appears, a magic wall around the stage blocks them first. Even if they're lucky enough to break through, arrows rain down from all directions, and numerous creatures guarding in front of the spectator seats charge at them."

Most couldn't even withstand the arrows and ended up horribly dying like porcupines riddled with arrows. This was due to the large crossbows equipped with formidable arrows, installed at the very top of the spectator stands.

But what would happen if someone managed to withstand all that and still tried to escape?

Elpkins knew the answer.

"I saw it happen just once. A really strong person. He nearly escaped by taking a hostage among the esteemed guests, but... He suddenly died."

"Suddenly died?"

"Exactly. As if killed by something invisible."

Visible attacks could be countered, but invisible ones, unknown and therefore more frightening. Elpkins, naively unfamiliar with magic, believed it to be a tremendous magic power, but Yuder thought otherwise.

‘There's only one guess. An awakener with excellent stealth skills hidden among the guards.’

Kishiar also asserted that it was exceedingly difficult to execute such an attack and murder with the current magic powers.

"Setting up a protective magic circle around the fighting stage is easy. But for today's mages to acquire a stealth magic tool made by mages centuries ago and use it to perfectly conceal and attack... that's nearly impossible."

In this manner, the number of Awakeners hidden in stealth guarding the front of the stage remained unknown. This was mainly because most, like Elpkins, perished before they could discern this much.

Therefore, Yuder and Kishiar decided to first clear the area behind the stage, then wait until enough guests had arrived to execute a pincer movement both inside and outside the arena.

The backstage, intricately narrow and complex, was designed to hinder the escape of the fighting participants. Conversely, this meant it was also an ideal structure for them to isolate and defeat their opponents one by one.

"It's actually a blessing in disguise that no one notices even when their comrades disappear one by one."

The Nukijo gang, likely relaxing upstairs at that moment, couldn't even begin to imagine what was unfolding beneath their feet.

"Uh... Ugh..."

Just then, the manager, who had been unconscious for a while, let out a groan and lifted his head. Feeling the blood flowing from the back of his head, he screamed in terror.

"Ugh... Aaaah! These bastards... trying to escape...! Hey...! Is anyone there? Help me!"

But no matter how loudly he cried, no one came. The manager's voice gradually faded and finally silenced, realizing the strangeness of his colleagues' absence.

Yuder, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke.

"I was curious how long you'd call out, but you have even less stamina than Elpkins."

The manager, not knowing who that name belonged to, was too frightened to ask by the dark, emotionless eyes that coldly observed him.

Those eyes, more impassive than if they were staring at a ball, filled him with utter terror. They looked down at the bleeding man without pity or thrill of violence, just as one would look at a mere task to be done.

"Did-did I introduce you to the boss yesterday and that's why you're doing this? I had no choice! It wasn't me who decided to lock you down there, it was the boss's orders and I didn't do anything...!"

"..."

"Really, I didn't do anything..."

After desperately trying to justify himself for a while, the manager once again fell silent under Yuder's gaze.

"Is that it? Go on, say more."

"Uh... Ugh..."

He instinctively realized that whatever he said would not get through to the men before him. They were merely curious to see how long he would keep screaming, nothing more, nothing less.

Yesterday, he thought they were just simple, gullible fools, but now, looking up from his prone position, their faces seemed as emotionless as death itself.

Giving up on feigning pity, the manager screamed in defiance.

"Damn... You filthy homosexuals, catamite! I don't know where you came from, but there's no need to bother hiding from me! The boss will catch and kill you!"

"Is that so?"

And then, the reaper finally passed his judgment on the manager.

"Whether there's anything to come out of dealing you, we'll just have to see. It's fortunate that you still have some energy left. I had many questions to ask."

Yuder, genuinely pleased, grabbed the manager by the scruff of his neck as he tried to spew more insults. The manager flailed in pain as Yuder's hand wrapped around him like the wind.

"Ugh... Aaaah, Aaaaah! Help me!"

"Sure. The Awakeners you tricked and dragged here probably said the same."

Behind Yuder, who stood with his fists clenched, the water and fire, air and earth simultaneously shimmered in an eerie dance. Witnessing this spectacle, the manager's face turned ashen, as if he was on the verge of fainting.

Soon, a scream echoed through the empty warehouse, unheard by anyone else.

"Feels refreshing to have used my body after a while," Yuder mused.

He cracked his neck and looked down at the sprawled manager. In the hellish predicament of facing punishment whether he responded or not, the manager quickly abandoned all loyalty and, begging for his life, readily spilled all the information he knew.

"Where is Nukijo now?"

"Up... upstairs..."

"Do you know when he comes down to the fighting arena?"

"When the first fight starts, he will come down... It's always been that way."

As is often the case with those from the backstreets, the Nukijo gang had a very weak sense of solidarity and lacked anything resembling loyalty.

Thanks to the manager, Yuder learned that Nukijo had been vigorously promoting their 'first fight' scheduled for today, and as a result, numerous 'esteemed guests' were expected to visit overnight. Everything was going as he had hoped.

‘Nukijo hasn't noticed the movements of the Cavalry yet. Seems like everyone on that side is doing well.’

"I... I've told you everything now... Please, let me live... That's all I know..."

"Who said anything about killing you? I have one more question, so answer it correctly."

The final question was about the Awakeners with stealth abilities guarding the arena.

"There are Awakeners among those guarding this place, right? Who are they?"

Yuder deliberately asked as if he already knew the fact, rather than merely speculating. The bewildered manager, his mind not functioning properly, took the bait as Yuder had anticipated.

"I don't know much about that... Even the boss doesn't tell me..."

'So, it was a shot in the dark, but it turns out I was right.'

As Yuder quietly scraped his foot against the ground, the manager screamed and responded.

"I've never seen them, I really don't know! How can I know who they are when they have the ability to become invisible!"

'The ability to make themselves invisible, huh?'

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