Trouble

Chapter 16: Trouble

"Don't panic. First, tell us everything you know about those people!"

Ghost's words steadied the Nuoding Spirit Hall Steward. After taking a few calming breaths, he slowly began to speak.

"Lord Ghost should know about the Soul Bone robbery that happened not long ago, right?"

That incident had shocked the entire Spirit Hall. There were not many people who dared to confront Spirit Hall head-on, yet it had truly happened.

"Of course I know. We even lost a level 91 Elder because of it."

"Oh my, the news in the paper about Spirit Hall appointing a replacement Elder must have referred to that Elder just now?" Rota asked.

"Yes, Elder Kizaru. You are replacing the Elder who passed away before."

From the Steward's words, it seemed this group causing trouble had quite a background.

"What does that have to do with this?" Ghost did not understand what the Steward was trying to say.

"My lord, hear me out. The people causing trouble this time are the same group that robbed the Soul Bones."

"What?!"

The news was no different from a bolt from the blue. The criminals who had vanished for some time had actually appeared again, and in a small place like Nuoding City, no less.

"What exactly are these people after? What do they want to do now?!" Ghost furiously slammed the table, shaking the freshly brewed tea Rota had just made all over the tabletop.

Realizing that his thoughtless action had offended Rota, Ghost hurriedly stepped forward to apologize. "Elder Kizaru, I'm terribly sorry. I failed to control my emotions for a moment."

"It's fine, it's fine~ We're colleagues, so there's no need to worry about it. Still, I'm rather interested in these troublemakers now."

"Elder Kizaru, although you are very strong, the enemy we face this time is unknown. But anyone capable of killing a level 91 Elder must be extraordinarily powerful."

At the Titled Douluo level, killing one another was no easy task. Besides, would anyone who could become a Titled Douluo lack some means of saving their own life?

"What do you mean?" Rota was curious about just who these people were.

"After the Soul Bones belonging to Spirit Hall were robbed, the higher-ups immediately dispatched that Elder to investigate. It would have been fine if the Elder had brought back useful information, but unfortunately..."

Rota could roughly guess what had happened afterward. Not only had that Elder failed to bring back any intelligence, he had even lost his life.

"Then how did you recognize them?"

"Elder Kizaru, you may not know this. Although the deceased Elder did not bring back any other information, he used his Soul Power to draw their appearances. Otherwise, the wanted posters could not have been made." Ghost explained to Rota.

"I see. That is quite a problem indeed~"

They had hidden themselves for a while before this. What could their sudden appearance in Nuoding City possibly mean? It was impossible to guess.

"Ghost, I'm going for a stroll. Would you like to come along?"

Rota found this person rather interesting. Aside from Tang Hao, the Hammer Emperor, who had openly provoked Spirit Hall, he had not expected another one to appear so soon.

"If you are going, then Ghost will naturally come as well!"

If Ghost had been worried before, then hearing Elder Kizaru say that he would personally take action made all those concerns vanish like smoke. Moreover, Ghost was no weakling himself. Perhaps they really could capture that criminal.

"Steward, lead the way!" Ghost ordered.

"Please follow me, my lords!"

With Ghost and Rota joining them, the Nuoding Spirit Hall Steward became much bolder and felt immensely fortunate as well.

"Look, it's right ahead. The enforcement team clashed with them there just now," the Steward said, pointing toward the wreckage ahead.

As far as the eye could see, houses had collapsed everywhere, while blazing flames still burned all around.

"Such typical bandit behavior. How awful~"

The once peaceful and stable Nuoding City had suddenly become a chaotic mess. Far more than just a few houses had been destroyed; the entire street had suffered.

"Their methods are truly vile. I really don't know what their purpose is, attacking ordinary people like this." Even Ghost could not help feeling angry.

It was true that everyone could awaken a martial soul, but not everyone would possess Soul Power after awakening one. Those without Soul Power could not embark upon the path of cultivation and naturally became ordinary people.

"I completely don't understand their motive. The last time, when they stole the Soul Bones, one could understand that they might have wanted to grow stronger or gain money. But what about this time? Are they simply venting their anger?" Ghost was beginning to grow agitated.

Seeing Ghost getting worked up beside him, Rota spoke to stop him. "Ghost, calm down. Sulking will only make yourself angry!"

"Yes, Elder Kizaru is right!"

Ghost was not bad by nature. With a little guidance, perhaps he might even become Rota's follower.

Seeing Ghost heed his advice so readily, Rota began to entertain the idea of bringing Ghost and Yue Guan over to his side. Of course, that was a long-term plan.

"Then where are those people now?"

Looking around, aside from the ruined buildings and the corpses of ordinary people strewn across the ground, the criminals had vanished without a trace.

"I don't know. As soon as I received the message from the enforcement team, I immediately went to find you two, my lords." The Steward shook his head, indicating that he was powerless to help.

"What a headache~" Rota scratched his brow. In this situation, there was simply no place to start.

The enemy seemed to be fighting a guerrilla war, hiding here and there.

"Then what should we do now, my lords?" The Nuoding Steward was at a loss. He was only a minor figure himself; how could he have ever seen anything on such a scale?

Ghost shook his head without speaking. Instead, he looked toward Rota, clearly leaving the decision to him.

"I believe we should first comfort the families of the injured civilians, then rebuild the damaged structures. As for those people, there is no need to worry about them for now. Ghost and I will handle them!"

"I understand. I'll make the arrangements right away." The Nuoding Steward did not hesitate and hurried back.

While traveling there, Rota had already used Observation Haki, but he had not discovered anyone suspicious. The Steward had shown Rota the wanted posters earlier, yet there was still nothing to be found.

"Looks like the enemy this time is rather fast. In that case, let's ask around and see whether there are any witnesses!" Rota said to Ghost, his face expressionless.

"Alright, I'll check over there!"

The enemy was clearly outside the range of Observation Haki, so they could only use this method. Of course, there was another possibility: the enemy might have used some form of disguise.

However, Rota had never encountered these people before and was unfamiliar with their auras, making it difficult to judge.

"Why are there always so many troublesome matters~"

Rota slowly strolled in another direction, carefully observing everything around him as he walked.

Clearly, the enemy's operation this time had been highly deliberate. They burned, killed, and looted in one seamless sweep, then withdrew calmly. It had to be said that those who dared oppose Spirit Hall truly had some skill.

"Uncle... help... me..."

As Rota approached a pile of rubble, an extremely faint voice reached his ears. It was so weak and frail that its owner seemed as though they could pass away at any moment.