Behind the Iron Curtain

"Ahhh—"

The eerie wail continued for a full five or six seconds before gradually weakening beneath the crowd's pale faces.

Only its echo remained, drifting through the dim, empty hall, appearing and disappearing like a ghost and chilling everyone to the bone.

"What happened?"

Ricky frowned and shouted softly, "Report!"

The Calamity Swords all turned their heads, nerves taut as they searched for the source of the scream.

A dozen torches were raised high, illuminating their surroundings. The group looked like adventurers opening up a wasteland, nervously guarding against the unfamiliar and unknown.

Tales, still shaken, withdrew from Hell Senses. Apart from dust floating in the darkness, abandoned stone tables, and cells filled with bones, he had seen nothing.

Orders were relayed layer by layer, from the hall to the stone steps under tight guard.

"No," Mercenary Sunny's breathless voice came from behind after a while.

"It wasn't one of ours. The reports from the rear are all normal."

The doubt on Ricky's face deepened.

On the other side, Fuse whispered a few words to a subordinate who had appeared at some point. Only after watching the subordinate retreat into the darkness again did he raise his head solemnly.

"Not ours either."

"It's something else."

Ricky turned to Semir and cast an inquisitive look at the former Star Kingdom noble.

Semir seemed to have noticed something. With slight surprise, he examined the metal plaque beside the Iron Curtain, then looked at the metal ring beside it. "So this is..."

But at that moment—

"Wuuuh—"

That ghostly, heart-rending scream came drifting out of the darkness again!

Everyone's hearts tightened once more!

This time, the terrifying "ghostly cry" was accompanied by an ear-piercing scratching sound. "Screee—scre—"

Almost everyone instinctively frowned hard. Some even covered their ears.

"Damn it!"

Russell's face twisted. "What