At the end of the deep, dim maintenance passage stood a shell-like hatch, but two Siren sentries armed with weapons guarded it. Hao Ren hid behind several pipes and looked up at the guards in the distance. "I figure they won't let us pass... And they don't look like the kind of Siren puppets that have lost the ability to think."
Hassu carefully took out a hand crossbow. "Looks like we have no choice but to fight. I'm confident I can take them out instantly without making much noise."
Shaqila hurriedly stopped him. "Wait!"
"We have to act," Hassu seemed to have misunderstood Shaqila's meaning. "These Sirens have been controlled. They're enemies now."
"That's not what I meant. If you kill them here, they'll soon revive somewhere else in the palace district, and it'll attract a whole group of guards." Shaqila waved her hand slightly. "Without thorough preparation, killing a Siren permanently is extremely difficult. It requires a complicated sealing ritual."
Lily tugged at her ears. "Awooo... So why did you all evolve so ridiculously?"
However, the word "sealing" from Shaqila gave Hao Ren an idea. He quickly surveyed the surroundings and waved to indicate that he had a plan. "Back off a little. Shaqila, can you make some noise to lure those two over?"
Shaqila did not understand, but she still nodded. Once everyone had retreated some distance, she opened her mouth toward the two sentries. Nobody heard a sound, but the two Sirens immediately grew alert. After exchanging a glance, they twisted their bodies and swam toward the corner where Hao Ren was hiding.
The distance slowly narrowed, and Hao Ren's body tensed, ready to spring. When the two Siren sentries came within five meters of him, they clearly sensed the presence of a stranger in the water.