"Where did those guys go? Are they getting ready for the First Lord's... uh, gathering, or was it a dinner party..." Ju Fufu asked.
"Neither sounds right! It should be something like... the First Lord's Forging!" Pan Yinhu imitated their tone as he said "the First Lord's Forging," making everyone laugh.
As they walked on, they began to notice something.
A huge number of high-ranking Ethereals were roaming the path ahead. This number was clearly someone's doing.
"What's going on? There are so many high-ranking Ethereals guarding this place.
Everyone, be careful," Belle said seriously.
Yixuan joined the fight too. With their master's help, everyone easily took down these high-ranking Ethereals.
"Master, just take a rest. Leave these small fry to me," Xu An said as he massaged Yixuan's shoulders.
"It's fine. Consider it a warm-up," Yixuan said.
They continued on.
"It looks like we can get through over there," Ju Fufu said, pointing at an elevator.
The elevator opened, revealing an enormous figure inside. It was humanoid and wore the Order's clothing, so it appeared to be one of their members.
"Everyone, watch out!" Unable to dodge in time, Ju Fufu had to take the fellow's attack head-on and staggered backward.
Xu An hurried forward and steadied his eldest senior sister.
Then the five of them simply stood there staring at the person who had attacked them.
"Um, could you not hit my face..." The man grew a little awkward, but inwardly, he was regretting it. If only he hadn't attacked the moment the doors opened without looking...
After a series of screams, the member was left with a bruised face and swollen nose. Even Belle had taken part in the fight.
I only hit him a few little times, but even my hand hurts. He probably hurts too, right? Belle thought.
Yet the fellow being beaten was thinking, Who's that? They're so nice, hitting so lightly. Hit me a few more times and keep those other brutes off me. It hurts so much.
But he didn't dare say that aloud. After all, if he dared, they would probably beat him senseless.
"Hmph. Remember to walk the right path next time." Xu An sent his sword flying, ending the man's life before leaving. Surely this fellow hadn't naively thought he would let him go?
"Why won't this elevator open?" Ju Fufu kept trying to open the elevator the fellow had just come out of, but nothing worked.
"It probably needs an access card. Let's find another way."
"Should we go back and search that guy?" Ju Fufu suggested.
"No need. I already searched him. There was nothing." Xu An indicated that he had looted bodies countless times after killing people. How could he forget that?
They continued forward.
"Hmm? There seems to be something strange over there," Ju Fufu said, looking at some documents on the ground nearby.
Belle followed her over and picked them up.
"These are... drug experiment records?! What exactly is the Order trying to do?" Belle asked in puzzlement.
"Human experimentation? Then selecting some kind of new humans like in the movies? Ones that can survive in Hollows?" Xu An guessed wildly.
They continued searching for papers nearby, reading them one by one.
"This is... a report on turning living animals into Corruption?" Belle was very surprised.
"No way. Did I actually guess right?" Xu An's heart skipped a beat.
"Turning animals into Corruption? Isn't that way too cruel?" Ju Fufu couldn't help commenting.
"Come to think of it, could those refugees from earlier be the next batch of test subjects? Is this ritual meant to transform them rather than sacrifice them?"
"Look! There seems to be something over there." Ju Fufu pointed nearby. (☉д⊙)
On the ground a short distance away was a large, purple-black sphere exuding an ominous aura. It seemed to be gestating something.
"Master? What's that?" As Xu An asked his master, he extended his divine sense toward it, but Yixuan caught his hand and gave him a look, signaling him not to probe it.
Belle took out her camera, snapped a photo, and sent it to her brother.
"Belle, I received the visual information you just sent. The Order really did hide a large amount of Corruption at the gathering site.
I'll show everyone the visual information right away. It's time they saw the truth about this gathering for themselves...
This way, they'll definitely leave the Hollow with me," Wise said happily.
Great! (o´ω`o) We'll leave the evacuation to you, then. We'll keep checking the area and keep everyone safe," Belle said.
Ju Fufu chimed in too. "Yeah! Once everyone's safely out, we can teach those Order guys a lesson without holding back. Hehehe..."
Xu An said, "O_o? Senior sister, that laugh makes us sound like villains."
"What are you talking about!" Ju Fufu retorted. "I'm just incredibly happy thinking about teaching those bad guys a lesson later. What's wrong with having a laugh!" she declared righteously.
"All right, Belle, let's leave it there. I'll go evacuate them. Stay safe, everyone, and please be sure to keep Belle safe," Wise said in parting before ending the call.
"'Keep Belle safe~' Wise, Master and I are both here. What are you worried about? Hmph," Xu An said dismissively. "I don't think anything of those small fry. Even if that damned priest showed up, he'd still take a couple of blows from Master and me."
"Yes, yes~ Senior brother is the strongest." Belle smiled at Xu An, her eyes narrowing into crescents. Then she realized what she had said and added a few more words. "Of... course, Master is strong too. Don't get too full of yourself, senior brother. C-careful you don't throw your back out."
If your shyness hadn't contributed another ten attribute points to me, I might've actually believed that nonsense, Junior Sister Belle~
Hehe, since your little sister likes me so much, Wise, if we get together later, he probably wouldn't dare beat me to death, right?
Xu An thought of Mr. Wise, the ultimate siscon.
Before long, Wise's voice came over the comms again. "Wonderful, they're finally willing to evacuate. I'll take them out of the Hollow now. I'll leave the rest to you."
"Don't worry, big brother. Bye." Seeing that Wise had finished giving his instructions, Belle said goodbye, then continued, "I found an access card among those reports just now. It should open the elevator. Let's give it a try."
They retraced their steps and returned to the elevator.
Belle tried swiping the access card, and the elevator opened just as expected.
After they entered, the elevator descended. Soon, its doors opened on the other side.
"Whoa, some kind of underground laboratory?" Xu An looked at the long, narrow corridor, which gave off an eerie red glow. Some substance seemed to hang in the air, filling the entire space with a red haze and making it look very strange.
"Hmm... I keep feeling like there's some kind of noise nearby... Am I imagining it?" Ju Fufu seemed a little scared, and her voice unconsciously became much quieter.
"The Order's basement... hmm, it really feels like monsters might show up," Pan Yinhu agreed quietly.
"Junior brother! Why would you say something so unlucky!" Ju Fufu complained, seemingly startled.
"Aw, no! It's just that this is how it always goes in the movies."