The sudden turn of events left both of them rooted to the spot. Neither had expected the investigators from Feren to have come with a specific target in mind.
Yuri Mo's expression abruptly turned solemn. "I advise you not to struggle needlessly. The consequences will be severe."
"My orders are to take over the Lia Sheriff's Office and bring you back." As he spoke, he gave a sinister smile. "Of course, I wouldn't mind bringing back a corpse to complete my assignment."
Annie's brows drew tightly together. For the moment, she couldn't figure out how she had been exposed.
But she didn't have much time left to think.
She turned her head to survey their surroundings, then spoke in a voice only she and Joey could hear. "In a moment, I'll hold them off. Get out as fast as you can."
Joey gave an almost imperceptible nod.
He wasn't good at fighting to begin with, let alone fighting in such a narrow alley.
Annie was a Pugilist. Close combat was her strength, so the arrangement made sense.
The idea was promising, but reality was cruel.
Before either of them could move, Yuri Mo's resigned sigh reached their ears.
"It seems you've made your choice." He shook his head indifferently. "What a pity. I suppose I'll have to bring back your corpse."
Joey noticed that, as Yuri Mo spoke, the surrounding space filled with violent spirituality factors.
He had sensed this same thing from Benny Hoyland before: the lightning element.
Turning his head, he saw blue-green arcs of electricity slithering like snakes across the bodies and hair of the people blocking their way, crackling as they moved.
Electrical arcs seemed to flicker in their eyes as well.
Joey looked bewildered. Annie, by contrast, went from relatively composed to utterly grave in