The entire garrison unit remained silent, returning Ye Chen's gaze with cold, machine-like stares.
At the same time, from the far end of the alley, a man clad in the same pitch-black hunter's trench coat approached Ye Chen in long strides, a cigar more than half burned clenched between his teeth.
He was Hao Wan, the captain of the garrison unit whom Ye Chen had met once the previous night.
Compared with the other garrison members, whose expressions were as cold and mechanical as machines, this captain's features carried noticeably more of a living person's presence.
Thus, Ye Chen turned to Hao Wan and asked again in a cold voice:
"Are you people alive or dead?"
Hao Wan took one last drag from his cigar, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, and crushed it beneath his shoe.
"Sorry, young man. I'm not capable of answering that question."
Without changing expression, Ye Chen pressed on:
"Tell me. Where did those two children go?"
Hao Wan answered evenly:
"They were taken to the Upper District. Only after you kill every last one of us will you be able to leave the Lower District."
Ye Chen looked at the corpses of passersby who had unfortunately been caught up in the destruction, then questioned Hao Wan again:
"You intend to wage war against me right here in the city? Then what about these civilians? You don't care whether they live or die?"
Hao Wan replied without expression:
"No one cares. They are nothing more than dispensable background scenery. You shouldn't care either."
At those words, a fluid membrane of blood like blazing flames instantly surged over Ye Chen's entire body, while his crimson eyes filled with cold, merciless killing intent.
"I see. Very well. I understand."
As soon as he spoke, Ye Chen transformed