Huiqi left Ward 5 the following day and headed for Ward 24. This time, instead of driving himself, he rode all the way to Ward 23.
High walls surrounded Wards 23 and 24. The CCG had built them to keep the ghouls of Ward 24 from coming out and attacking Cochlea, but under Sen Takatsuki's leadership, they had served little practical purpose.
Upon reaching the edge of Ward 23, Huiqi slipped through a series of narrow paths into Ward 24.
Although he was only on the outskirts of Ward 24, the ground beneath his feet felt soft, as though he were walking on sand.
What a disgusting feeling. Disgust crossed Huiqi's face. He had flown into Ward 24 last time and had never imagined the ground would feel like this.
Enduring the unsettling sensation, Huiqi spent a long time walking to the base from several years ago.
Now, even more of the old buildings had collapsed or fallen into disrepair. Everything in sight was a wreck.
Recalling the turns only vaguely, Huiqi entered along the route Kishou Arima had taken him before.
The entrance looked just as it had several years ago, unchanged except that its color now seemed darker, closer to stone.
The first level still consisted of underground structures, with plenty of basic building materials stored there.
On the second level, a faint red light glowed. The building materials were gone, replaced by scattered fragments of houses.
On the third level, Huiqi scanned his surroundings warily. This was where he had begun encountering all kinds of ghouls last time.
Everything around him was quiet, with no particular changes. The only difference, perhaps, was that there were fewer ghouls.
Suddenly, a strange sound rang out-a clattering, as though someone had stepped on loose stones.
Huiqi instantly went on alert,