Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
During those seven days, operations in the Middle City and Lower City remained largely unchanged.
In the Upper District, however, most people sensed that something strange was afoot.
First came the inexplicable lockdown order.
The Upper District was completely sealed off. No one could enter or leave without a special written authorization from the Marquis's Residence.
The only exceptions were the transcendents. Over those seven days, most of the transcendents in the Middle City and Lower City had gradually begun moving into the Upper District.
They also took control of all its important facilities.
Everyone who could afford to live in the Upper District was either rich or influential. Their connections formed a tangled web, and a rumor soon spread among them.
Something had happened to Marquis Yuri, the ruler of Constantine City.
For a time, the entire Upper District descended into chaos, and fierce clashes broke out between Constantine City's official transcendents and ordinary transcendents.
In the end, however, the official transcendents swiftly quelled the unrest with their superior equipment and seasoned combat experience.
The Government Office hall had become a temporary command center for William and the others.
Only two-thirds of the usual official transcendent force stood before him.
William nodded slightly.
That was already more than he had expected.
Looking at the transcendents gathered there, William spoke.
"You've all been briefed on the situation. The only thing we can be certain of is that the marquis is still alive, trapped deep inside the residence. The entire residence has become a nest for those monsters, and tonight's Moon Tide is our only chance.
"I'll lead an elite squad into the residence through a secret passage to rescue the marquis. Your task is to draw out as many of