Tactical Victory

After passing through the tremendous chaos caused by the pocket watch, Lin Jie and William finally entered the heart of the Gremlin lair.

The space opened up into a vast underground cavern, part natural grotto and part maze of artificial pipes.

The air was thick with the smell of machine oil and metal, almost tangible. The clinking and grinding of colliding parts filled the cavern, blending into a chaotic symphony of industrial beauty.

A breathtaking sight lay before them.

A towering "Mechanical Shrine," tens of meters high, occupied the center of the cavern. It was built from a haphazard pile of scrap metal, clockwork gears, steam pipes, and all manner of industrial waste.

Gremlins tirelessly scurried up and down the "shrine," embedding one "holy relic" after another—objects they had stolen from the surface world—into the colossal construction.

They weren't building anything useful. They were carrying out a pure "sacrificial rite" to industry and machinery.

At the very top of the shrine sat a Gremlin nearly twice the size of its kin.

Its fur was a deeper shade, and instead of holding a scrap part like the others, it gripped a little hammer made of gears and connecting rods. It rhythmically tapped a brass plate, as though conducting this grand construction.

There was no doubt about it. This was the "Artisan Leader" of the Gremlins, the ultimate target of their mission.

"There are too many," Sergeant William said gravely.

He estimated that at least thirty Gremlins were moving around on the shrine.

If they were spotted and surrounded, even an elite hunter like him would be torn to pieces in an instant.

"So we can't attack the leader directly." Lin Jie calmly surveyed the cavern, quickly analyzing the terrain and the enemy's positions. "If we go straight for it, every Gremlin will focus on us. We need to cut off its support first and create more chaos."

He pointed to an area on the shrine's left side.

Several Gremlins were there, apparently part of a "materials processing" crew. They were gathered around a few dismantled alarm clocks, gleefully pulling out the springs and clockwork.

"Sergeant William, see them? Those enemies are relatively isolated, farthest from the shrine's core, and completely absorbed in those 'toys.' We can start with them."

A brand-new "lure and hunt" strategy quickly took shape in Lin Jie's mind.

"Here's the plan," Lin Jie said quickly in a low voice. "I'll exploit their hatred of order to lure them again. But this time, I'm not going to lure all the Gremlins—just that group."

"I'll separate them from the main force and draw them toward the narrow passage we came through. That's where your shooting comes in."

William immediately understood what Lin Jie meant.

It was a high-risk plan, but the potential reward was just as great.

It demanded precise calculations from the one doing the luring, and absolute confidence and marksmanship from the sniper.

If either of them made a mistake, they could end up facing the whole tribe.

"Are you sure you can do it?" William asked, looking at Lin Jie. There was no doubt in his eyes, only the final confirmation one partner needed from another.

Lin Jie smiled and pulled another "little prop" from his coat: a small silver music box for a lady. He had picked it up during his earlier shopping on a sudden hunch.

"Let's hope the 'lullaby' poor Mr. Billy found in his grandfather's things works here again."

They put the plan into action at once.

Lin Jie wound the music box, and a clear, lilting melody of "Greensleeves" drifted through the air.

He didn't reveal himself. Instead, he gently tossed the playing music box into an inconspicuous side passage behind the "materials processing" crew.

The music wasn't loud, but amid the cacophony, its distinctive "harmony" was like a needle, pricking straight into the Gremlins' senses.

Sure enough, the Gremlins dismantling the alarm clocks all stopped at once.

The crystal lenses on their faces snapped toward the source of the music, and they let out an intensely agitated buzz.

After hesitating for a moment, they seemed unable to endure the profane tune defiling their sacred work. They abandoned their "toys," formed a combat squad, and charged toward the side passage!

They had successfully been separated from the main force!

"They took the bait!" Lin Jie whispered. He and William immediately retreated into another passage they had chosen in advance, one that intersected with the side passage to create a crossfire.

It was far enough away to reduce the effects of the Mechanical Curse, and it would serve as a hunting ground prepared specifically for the Gremlin squad.

The white-painted Gremlins charged angrily into the side passage and soon spotted the little silver box making that hateful noise.

Just as they prepared to rush it and tear the "heretic" into pieces, a deadly tongue of flame erupted from the darkness on their flank!

Sergeant William finally showed his true ability as a legendary veteran and sharpshooter—the kind of skill that made him feared.

He didn't use the Colt Revolver. Instead, he took a Winchester M1873 lever-action rifle from his back.

The weapon was known as "the gun that conquered the West" for its high rate of fire and reliability.

In William's hands, it became a precise scythe that reaped lives.

William's shooting stance was as steady as a mountain.

He made no wasted movements. Each lever pull, shell ejection, reload, and trigger press flowed smoothly into the next.

This was no longer just shooting skill. It was a killing instinct that had long since seeped into his blood and bones.

"Bang!"

The first bullet pierced the crystal lens on a Gremlin's head.

The little creature fell stiffly to the ground without a chance to cry out.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A rapid, rhythmic volley followed without pause!

William's rifle seemed enchanted. Each bullet found one of the white figures racing through the narrow passage.

He wasted not a single shot. Every crack of the rifle was followed by a Gremlin hitting the ground.

Lin Jie had only one task: keep the beam of the Carbide Lamp trained on the area, giving William a clear, well-lit view.

That was teamwork.

One lured and supported, drawing the enemies into a trap.

The other unleashed fire and hunted, clearing the threat with the most reliable firepower.

In less than ten seconds, Sergeant William had cleanly wiped out the entire Gremlin combat squad with a single lever-action rifle!

When the last Gremlin fell, the entire underground cavern fell silent for a moment.

The Gremlin horde in the distance had noticed something was wrong. Countless crystal lenses turned toward them, and wary buzzing filled the cavern.

But before they could mount an effective counterattack, Lin Jie and William had already withdrawn soundlessly into the deeper darkness after delivering their deadly blow, leaving no trace behind.

They had succeeded.

They had achieved a perfect "tactical victory" at minimal cost.

Once he was sure they were safe, William slowly lowered the rifle, a faint trail of smoke still rising from it.

He turned to look at the young man beside him, who was breathing heavily.

A smile spread across his face.

"Kid, you were born for this line of work."