Southeast of Berely City's central district.
Ash-gray goose-feather snow lashed rapidly against the streets beneath the cold wind. Two rows of beech trees covered a narrow street so thoroughly that it was sealed tight. The grand manors on either side looked incomparably sinister against the wind and snow, lending this deserted, deathly silent street an eerie, bone-piercing evil chill out of nowhere.
Berely City had descended into complete chaos. The gigantic Hydra that had suddenly appeared had actually swallowed the Gallic Empire's emperor in a single bite, making every civil and military official, noble, and commoner who witnessed it scream themselves hoarse. Fully armed soldiers ran everywhere throughout the central district. Some muddled-minded soldiers even seized their weapons and broke into private homes, burning, killing, plundering, and looting to their hearts' content, leaving the entire city in a foul mess.
Only this little street, no more than two li long, remained cold, empty, and spotless. Shrouded in a faint layer of gray mist, its deathly quiet seclusion made it resemble a cemetery. Now and then, low, suppressed groans drifted out from some deep courtyard, making the atmosphere all the more terrifying.
Wrapped in a black cloak, Lin Qi and Enzo, who wore an unmarked black Gallic Empire army uniform with a sword at his waist, walked shoulder to shoulder into the street. Strange muttering came from behind the blackened beech trunks standing out against the snow. Twisted shadows could vaguely be seen hiding behind them, and from time to time, several sinister gazes swept over Lin Qi and Enzo.
A hurried bark suddenly rang out. A wild dog with mottled fur and thick drool constantly slipping from the corners of its mouth roared loudly, its muscles twitching violently as it abruptly charged out from behind a large tree. Opening its