Temporary Stronghold
Lu Yuan waited for about ten minutes.
He only stood up after confirming that it was completely quiet outside.
"Walk."
Lu Yuan's voice was very soft.
"If you don't take the way you came, that street is no longer safe."
Boer nodded and said in a low voice, "Go west through the alley, around to the back of the Old Dye Workshop. There's a narrow path that leads to the South Section of the Outer City. You can go back from there."
Are you sure?
"I've been in North Ward for three years," Boer said calmly. "I could walk there with my eyes closed."
Lu Yuan didn't ask any more questions.
"Lead the way."
The iron gate was slowly pushed open.
No gray-red figure could be seen through the crack in the door.
A few streetlights were still on, their glow filling the empty space except for the crisscrossing dark red drag marks on the ground.
That was left behind by the Ghoul when they carried their prey.
It has a very strong fishy smell.
Nine people filed out silently.
Boer walked at the front, keeping his body low to the ground, and moved quickly along the base of the wall.
I don't walk on the main streets.
Go through the alley.
The alleys in North Spinning District are so narrow that only two people can pass side by side, with crooked wooden beams and clotheslines overhead.
The darkness stretched endlessly.
But Boer left without hesitation.
Turn left, go straight, turn right, and go through a low doorway.
Turn left again.
Every step was precise. They passed through an open area, where another Night Watcher column could be seen moving in the distance.
The firelight flickered, and gunshots rang out sporadically.
They weren't the only ones withdrawing.
Clearly, the intelligence gathered from the initial reconnaissance was seriously flawed!
The number of Ghoul was far greater than imagined.
If it weren't for Laurina's potion, Lu Yuan's team would have suffered heavy losses as well.
Boer didn't stop.
The alley narrowed as you walked, eventually becoming a narrow gap between two walls, requiring you to turn sideways to pass through.
After passing through the narrow gap, the view suddenly opened up.
Ahead lay a slightly wider gravel road, and the buildings on both sides were noticeably better than those in the North Spinning District.
There are copper decorative strips on the walls, and the density of streetlights has increased considerably.
South Section of the Outer City.
The smell of copper is noticeably stronger here.
The sour, rotten smell of blood in the air was much diluted.
Lu Yuan glanced at the edge of his field of vision.
[Environmental Perception: A few unusual things detected...]
The number has decreased.
After the distance increased, the copper's coverage area returned to normal, and the number of Ghoul decreased significantly.
"Let's hurry," Lu Yuan said quickly, "Let's go back to the Alchemy Workshop first."
When I returned to the Alchemy Workshop, the lights were still on.
And there was more than one.
Centered on the Alchemy Workshop, within a radius of 100 meters, the Night Watcher constructed a temporary Defense Line.
The street entrance was blocked by overturned wagons and planks, and behind the roadblocks were Marching Lamp, their bright white light illuminating the entire area.
A quick glance revealed at least twenty Night Watcher on the outer Defense Line.
Upon closer inspection, a ring of copper connecting nails was found nailed to the ground at the entrance of the Alchemy Workshop, gleaming with a faint blue light.
Temporary defensive fortifications.
There are Defense Line on the outside and outposts on the inside.
The Night Watcher at the gate visibly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Lu Yuan.
"Captain Lu."
What's the situation inside?
"That's what the Night Watcher said."
"This place will serve as a temporary outpost. Miss Laurina has already been taken away."
Lu Yuan paused in his steps.
"When?"
"About half an hour ago, the Deputy Chief personally sent people here, escorted by three Night Watcher, to the Inner City Safe Zone."
Lu Yuan remained silent for a few seconds.
Klaus's arrangement.
While he was being sent to the North Spinning District, another team came to pick up Laurina.
This shows that Klaus knew from the beginning how bad things would get tonight.
Sending him to plug the breach was a mission.
The advance transfer of Laurina was part of the contingency plan.
The collapse of the inner city was greater than that of the Outer City.
However, the Night Watcher Headquarters itself has the highest level of defense in the entire city, with a complete bronze structure, full coverage of silver runes, and is heavily guarded year-round.
Klaus sent her there, rather than to the Outer City outpost, indicating that he judged Headquarters to be the safest location.
What was her condition when she left?
The Night Watcher recalled something.
He was carrying a box, probably containing alchemical equipment. Before leaving, he asked, "Where's Lu Yuan?"
We told you you were on a mission.
She just followed them without saying anything more.
Lu Yuan nodded.
He didn't say much.
This looks a lot like Laurina.
When it's time to leave, I don't dawdle; I take everything I need.
He pushed open the door to the Alchemy Workshop.
The workbench on the first floor was pushed against the wall, and the space that was made up was filled with several cots and ammunition boxes.
In the corner were piles of spare Sandworm Oil (unrefined version), Alchemy Grenade, and Silver-Plated Bullet.
A hand-drawn area map was pinned to the wall, with several locations circled in red, presumably nearby Collapse Point and patrol routes.
The prototype of a temporary command post.
A lean, middle-aged Night Watcher turned around from beside the map.
"Team Nine?"
"Temporary squad, Ninth Squad Leader Lu Yuan." Lu Yuan glanced at him. "And you are?"
"Glock, the temporary commander of this outpost." His tone was flat, but his eyes betrayed the exhaustion of a sleepless night. "The Deputy Chief gave the order half an hour ago to establish an outpost on the South Section of the Outer City, centered around the Alchemy Workshop. I brought twenty-three men with me, and the outer Defense Line are already in place."
Lu Yuan nodded.
"My team just returned from North Spinning District, and we have wounded soldiers who need treatment."
"The first-aid kit is in the corner," Glock pointed, "It was left behind by Miss Laurina before she left."
Boer walked to the map, looked at it for a few seconds, and then turned to look at Lu Yuan.
It seems our mission isn't over yet.
Lu Yuan walked to the window and looked outside.
At the farthest point of the horizon, there was a very faint grayish-white.
It's not a light source.
It is a harbinger of dawn.
In about an hour, it will be dawn, and then the city will have a brief respite.
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze and found an empty seat to sit down.
Boer arranged for the team to rest. The eight Night Watcher found a corner and cots to sit on. Some began to check their weapons, while others simply closed their eyes.
Those who were injured were using medicine to clean their wounds.
After a night of fierce fighting, everyone was pushed to their limits.
Not long after I sat down, I heard a commotion outside.
The other Night Watcher squads have returned.
The door was pushed open, and three Night Watcher walked in.
One of them was being held up; his left leg was missing below the knee, the severed section bound with a belt. The bleeding had stopped, but his face was as white as paper.
"Is there a doctor here?! This injured person needs urgent medical attention!"
Upon seeing this, Lu Yuan frowned, stood up, and went over to check on the injuries.
The cut surface was treated very roughly, and the tourniquet was too tight; if it is not adjusted soon, there is a risk of necrosis.
"I am!"
Lu Yuan then took out disinfectant and bandages from the emergency medical kit left by Laurina and re-treated the broken ends.
The movements were quick and precise.
[Basic Medical: +0.1...2.6/20]
After it was all done, more people came over.
"Can you take a look at this? My shoulder was grabbed."
Lu Yuan glanced at it; it was a superficial wound with no toxins penetrating, but it needed disinfection.
They didn't refuse and took it to handle.
[Basic Medical: +0.1...2.7/20]
In the time that followed, the door to the Alchemy Workshop was repeatedly pushed open.
Each group that came in brought worse news than the last.