Gremlin

The chaos inside the warehouse continued. A dozen or so half-mechanical monkeys, dyed white, darted wildly between the towering shelves.

The high-pitched hum from the crystal lenses was filled with anger and confusion, turning the building into a noisy cage.

The admiration on Sergeant William's face told Lin Jie that he had done far better than expected on his first major test.

"Marcus, hold the entrance. Don't let any of them get out. Sergeant William, we're pulling back. Keep our distance and observe. It's not time to reap the rewards yet." Lin Jie issued his orders calmly, not letting the excellent "shooting range" before him cloud his judgment.

His goal had never been simply to hunt them. He wanted to understand these unknown creatures completely.

Their numbers, habits, and the greater secret behind them were far more valuable than simply killing a few little monsters.

He pulled the Free Hunter Manual from his coat. This booklet, published by the I.A.R.C., was far more important than it looked.

The first half of the manual contained rules and regulations, while the second half was a concise, portable summary of the Black Book.

It included information on every Caution Rank UMA confirmed by the Association, as well as key traits of a few common Town Rank UMAs.

Though nowhere near as comprehensive or detailed as Karl's diary, this summary was a precious survival guide for a newcomer.

By the light of the Carbide Lamp, Lin Jie quickly flipped through the manual.

His fingers brushed over page after page of sketches depicting strange creatures. From the Forest Spirits that lured travelers astray in European woodlands to the Water Ghosts that dragged fishing boats beneath the rivers of South Asia, he quickly matched the key traits of the creatures before him—

"Similar in size to monkeys," "operate in groups," "have a particular fondness for metal and industrial goods," "exceptional climbing and stealth abilities." He pinpointed a likely match.

One page in the manual featured a detailed engraving of a creature almost identical to the ones he had seen.

It crouched on the valve of a complex steam engine, gleefully twisting off a screw with its claw, which was made of brass joints.

Beneath the illustration was a detailed description of the creature.

[UMA Number: C-077]

[Official Name: Gremlin / Other Names: Mechanical Gnome, Industrial Thief]

[Threat Level: Caution Rank]

[Species Overview: A fae-like UMA originating in the Black Forest region during the early Industrial Revolution. Gremlins display a religiously zealous obsession with human-made machines, especially devices powered by brass, steel, and steam.

They do not feed on flesh and blood, but instead survive by drawing on the "etheric residue" generated by operating machinery. Natural-born artisans and saboteurs, they instinctively steal industrial parts and raw materials to build enormous, chaotic, and utterly useless "Mechanical Shrines" deep underground, usually in abandoned mines or urban sewer systems.]

[Behavioral Traits: A typical group-dwelling species with a strict social structure, led by a large, highly intelligent "Artisan Leader." They are agile, with exceptionally keen hearing and vision, especially when it comes to changes in light, and are adept at stealth in complex environments. Individual combat ability is low, and their claws and fangs inflict limited physical damage, but their main threat lies in their unique "curse" ability.]

[Special Ability: Mechanical Curse. The mere presence of Gremlins generates a negative "etheric field" that interferes with nearby precision machinery.

In areas they inhabit for long periods, the rates of firearms jamming, steam engine valve failures, and stopped clocks all increase dramatically. When angered, they can actively intensify this curse, even rendering a gunner's weapon completely useless in an instant.]

[Weaknesses and Methods of Repulsion: Gremlins despise "stability" and "harmony." Continuous, regular sounds, such as the ticking of a metronome or the steady music of a music box, will cause ongoing mental interference, leaving them irritated and confused. They also fear pure, intense firelight, but simply driving them away is unlikely to eradicate the group completely.]

Once Lin Jie finished reading the page, all the mysteries fell into place.

He finally understood why the stolen goods had all been industrial materials that seemed to have little value: they were sacred items these Gremlins needed to build their nest.

He also understood why the Night Watchers had mysteriously disappeared. They had probably stumbled upon the little creatures' "procurement" operation, been swarmed by the numerous Gremlins, and dragged into their underground lair. Their fate was easy to imagine.

The warehouse doors and windows were still intact because these little creatures had extraordinary stealth and climbing abilities. They had no need for ordinary methods of breaking in.

More importantly, the passage about the "Mechanical Curse" made Lin Jie break out in a cold sweat.

He immediately shouted to William, who was holding up his Colt Revolver with interest, apparently looking for a good angle to shoot from. "Sergeant William, put your gun away! Don't fire yet!"

William froze and looked at him in confusion.

Lin Jie hurried over, pointed out the passage about the "Mechanical Curse" in the manual, and explained as quickly as he could. "When these creatures are angered, they can make firearms malfunction! If we shoot now, our weapons could become completely useless. If they swarm us then, we're done for!"

At this incredible piece of information, William's expression turned grave.

As a veteran who entrusted his life to the weapon in his hands, he knew better than anyone what "weapon malfunction" meant on the battlefield.

He was skeptical of this unheard-of "curse" ability, but out of trust in the Association's records, he slowly lowered his gun.

"So we're just supposed to stand by and watch them run wild in here?" Marcus asked impatiently from the side.

"Of course not." Lin Jie smiled confidently. His gaze turned to the old pendulum clock hanging on the wall of the warehouse office, still dutifully ticking away.

"The manual says they despise 'stability' and 'harmony.' Continuous, regular sounds can cause them mental distress."

A targeted strategy quickly took shape in his mind.

"Sergeant William, Mr. Marcus, we're not going to hunt them. We're going to drive them away." Lin Jie's voice brimmed with confidence. "We'll turn this chaos into a migration, and direct it wherever we want."

He began laying out his plan in detail.

They needed to make all kinds of monotonous, rhythmic noise, press in on the Gremlin group from every direction, and leave a single "quiet exit" leading to the underground drainage channel, forcing them to flee back to their lair of their own accord.

That would let them avoid the risk of damaging their weapons in a direct fight while following the trail back to the creatures' nest. From there, they might even capture the crucial Artisan Leader and claim more valuable spoils.

As William listened to Lin Jie's plan, he could no longer hide his admiration.

After obtaining crucial information, this young man hadn't reacted like an ordinary newcomer, thinking only about how to exploit the creatures' weakness and hunt them recklessly.

Instead, he was thinking about how to maximize their gains, minimize their risks, and turn a simple repulsion operation into a far more valuable "nest hunt."

This calm, pragmatic tactical thinking, with its broad perspective, was already far beyond the level of a "newcomer."

Watching Lin Jie confidently expound on the manual and give orders to a legendary veteran, Marcus's expression shifted from disdain to confusion, then astonishment, before finally settling into a rueful smile of genuine respect.

He finally understood why Barton and the Geneva headquarters had held such a high opinion of this seemingly ordinary young man.

In the brutal hunting game of the Underworld, courage and strength were certainly important.

But the ability to see through the game and set the rules—that was the truly rare and priceless decisive force.