Sharon

"What's wrong with you? Say something!"

Madam Sharon looked at the tongue-tied man across from her and spoke impatiently.

"But, but..."

The hooded man looked around frantically, terrified. "Something's wrong! Really, really wrong!"

"What nonsense are you talking..."

Madam Sharon grew even more impatient. Just as she was about to question him, her vision was suddenly painted red with blood.

"AAAAAHHHH!"

The hooded man let out a miserable howl. It was as if an invisible blade had pierced through his chest and abdomen, instantly tearing open a huge wound!

Madam Sharon and the girl beside her were splattered with flying blood. For a moment, they could not react and simply stood there in a daze. Only when his scream rang out did they snap back to their senses.

"Trissy, get back!"

Covered in blood, Madam Sharon somehow looked even more bewitching. She shouted for the girl beside her to retreat, then opened her right hand. A roughly twenty-centimeter-long charred black wooden wand appeared in her palm—the wand, a special item created by her Demoness abilities.

"He's been cursed!"

Madam Sharon snapped, "And he didn't even notice it himself! What an idiot!"

She raised the charred wand in her hand. Accompanied by a low chant, a beam of black light shot from its tip, forming a black hemispherical membrane above the hooded man's body. The moment her defense was complete, she saw the surface of the black membrane cave inward, as though an invisible blade were stabbing into it.

The invisible strike failed to pierce the membrane and retreated after several seconds.

"Heh..."

A smile had just appeared on Madam Sharon's face when a flash of blood-red light suddenly appeared overhead!

Boom!

A vicious curse laden with the resentment of death came crashing down. The barrier could not withstand it and shattered with a crack. The hooded man below did not even have time to scream before he was smashed into a puddle of flesh and blood!

Splurt!

Blood and human tissue splattered in every direction, as if coating the entire room in red paint.

Sizzle—

The scattered flesh and blood were corrosive, scorching the entire room until smoke rose from it.

"Ahhh—my face! My face!"

Madam Sharon's wand exploded into two pieces, while she clutched her face and screamed. Her exposed, rounded arms, the fair and slender calves beneath her evening gown... every part touched by the curse began to mutate! Beneath that alluringly pale, tender skin, ugly tumors bulged out like flower buds yet to bloom.

Her hair began to thicken and move without wind, as though every strand had gained an independent life.

Because she had hidden behind Madam Sharon, the girl named Trissy luckily escaped disaster. Watching Madam Sharon roll around on the floor, Trissy's eyes held the conflicting emotions of schadenfreude and worry. She stood silently to one side, allowing the other woman to howl.

After several seconds, Madam Sharon's cries weakened. The tumors slowly receded, and her hair returned to normal. Only then did Trissy ask, "Are you all right?"

"It was the aura of the True Creator! The Aurora Order! Those lunatics! I told them long ago not to deal with those lunatics!"

Madam Sharon climbed to her feet. Half her head had been corroded away, including her smooth, waterfall-like hair and that pitifully alluring face... Half of it had burned away, exposing bright red flesh in a horrifying contrast with the other half.

She cursed the Aurora Order hysterically.

Seeing her appearance, Trissy could not help but widen her eyes in shock before lowering her head.

The next day, Blackthorn Security Company.

"The manager of William Shipping Company... was he called Mr. Pound? He, the company owner, and several executives have all been arrested."

Dunn, who had returned after a sleepless night, said this to Luther, who had been waiting.

Luther was somewhat surprised. He looked at Leonard, who had gone out with Dunn, and asked in confusion, "The Nighthawks discovered this case. Shouldn't we be the ones making the arrests and conducting the investigation?"

The previous night, after receiving the news, Dunn had led the team members and relevant police officers to William Shipping Company in the Harbor District. When they saw an entire ship's hold full of people from the Southern Continent, they had been stumped and had not known where to begin.

Luther could not be bothered with it, though. Using the excuse that the ritual had drained him too much, he returned to Blackthorn Security Company alone first, leaving Leonard behind to help. After returning to the company, he took the chance to change out of his bloodstained shirt so he would not frighten Cecilia when he went home.

"William Shipping Company's business involves colonies in the Southern Continent and is connected to the Military. They forcibly took the case from us."

Leonard explained, looking extremely displeased. "We had just arrived downstairs at Pound's home when they showed up. There wasn't even time for the captain to use Dream Infiltration to investigate... The Military said this matter involved military secrets and forbade us from investigating."

"Why do I feel like they're covering something up? That Beyonder from that night also seemed to be there to silence someone."

Luther frowned. Thinking back to that fierce stab from last night, his chest seemed to ache faintly. "There's definitely something suspicious going on."

He had also looked through some information after returning that night. That Beyonder had a light body, swift movements, and could jump down from high places without any burden. Their attacks were sharp and vicious, always targeting the opponent's weaknesses. These characteristics closely resembled a Sequence called Assassin, which seemed to be connected to the Demoness Sect and the Gnosis Order.

Both organizations were secret organizations hostile to the authorities. Could the Military be connected to them...

"I've already reported the situation to the Cathedral. The Cathedral will negotiate with the Military." Dunn's deep eyes remained calm. "Until then, we should not act rashly."

Both of them nodded in understanding. Forcing an investigation at a time like this might instead give others something to hold against them. Let the important figures above waste their breath arguing about it.

After giving them a few more instructions, Dunn hurried away. He still had many matters to deal with, leaving Leonard and Luther alone in the room.

"You're all right now?"

Leonard looked at Luther's chest and asked quietly.

"Yeah."

Luther patted the spot where the wound had been, producing a dull, even sound that made Leonard's eyelids twitch wildly.

After hesitating for a moment and checking that no one was around, he leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "What exactly is going on with that?"

"I don't know either."

Luther played dumb. "Ever since I was sacrificed to an evil god, then forced to drink a Potion, and went through all sorts of messy ordeals, my body has become very quick to heal."

"..."

Leonard looked as though he found that explanation difficult to accept and struggled with it for a long time.

"Then have you felt anything abnormal?"

He asked unwillingly.

"No."

Luther replied, "Keep it a secret for me. If my sister finds out, she'll worry."

He patted Leonard on the shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of pleading.

Leonard nodded helplessly, turned, and left the lounge, heading for the underground Armory.

"Did you find anything?"

At an empty spiral staircase, he spoke to the air. A moment later, he tilted his head and listened, but soon showed an unhappy expression and curled his lips. "Old Man, you're really useless..."

Inside the lounge, Luther stretched lazily.

The Secrets Suppliant Potion in his body had almost been completely digested. Only a small part remained unmoved. Perhaps there was still something about the principles of Acting that he had failed to comprehend.

"Last night really was dangerous..."

If not for his astonishing Flesh Regeneration ability, he would definitely have died that very night.

Maybe I should agree to help Azik. He's a High Sequence powerhouse and can help me improve.

With that thought, Luther made up his mind. After going back, he would ask Klein for Azik's address, then pay him a visit.