As expected of the Crystal Family's turf, the economy and the city planning here are easily one of the best in the surrounding. Maybe it's because the weather's great, it looks like a majority of the citizens are outdoors today. It's not to the extent where everyone's squeezing each other for space but it's definitely rowdier than your average city.
Tagging behind the knight squad, Pandora didn't wander around like a lost tourist. She had a clearer objective in mind which was to investigate this incident thus she followed the knights, with the knight squad clearing the way in front of her, her investigation process became smoother and more efficient.
Unfortunately, the knight squad slowed down after half an hour. The people walking around thinned out as the path got wider. Soon, a building so large it can only be called a castle appeared in front of the squad of knights.
The cocky knights also changed their attitudes when they approached the big house that looked like a palace. They exuded a professional and honorable air around them. They adjusted their footsteps when they drew closer to the building.
This squad was made up of lower-ranking knights of the Crystal Family. They averaged Master and Grandmaster in power. The leader is a Saint realm expert. In Crystal's family, this knight squad is second-rate. Even so, that didn't dissuade them from walking around town like they owned the joint.
The great three noble houses, the fame, and the reputation they held outclassed someone without an official organization.
In a vacant plot near the castle, the knight squad stopped. Wu Yan could finally see the whole ensemble. It wasn't just this squad, other squads were arriving in droves. It looks like they are trying to organize an army here, it's certainly impressive to see.
The Crystal family didn't just recall a part of their forces, it looks like they recalled all of their outstation personnel. It seems like they are treating this haunting with a more severe undertone.
It wasn't just because Crystal's officials are afraid of dying. Their entire clan was in a precarious position.
On their home turf, there's news of a man-eating demon. If they played their cards wrong, the Family might become known as the clan of monsters.
At that time, people wouldn't mind kicking them while they are down. This is especially so when the number 3 noble family, the Gray family wants nothing more than to quickly increase their status to replace them as the new no.2 noble power.
In view of this, it seemed natural that they enhanced their defense as much as possible.
Looking at the thousand-man army, Pandora scratched her cheek, as she looked at the Crystal family's HQ.
She wondered to herself.
Should I sneak inside?
He did not doubt that the monster lurking in the family was linked to the black light.
The timing was too uncanny for this to be an accident. A monster pops out around the same time the black light got chased here.
There was already a precedent where her previous enemy turned into an abominable monster.
Empowered by the black light which came from a source from the Chaos Organization.
A black wisp of light that can turn a human into a monster capable of bizarre feats of power, that shouldn't be possible under normal conditions, right?
Thinking back, the man's transformation was most likely linked with his ascension into the Demigod realm. If that's the case, the black light's effect isn't just simple empowerment. It can forcefully raise a host's tier, that's an OP effect.
She must get rid of this thing.
Suddenly, someone appeared, it was none other than Maximus Crystal, the next patriarch of the family. He stood upon a podium, he roamed his gaze over everyone present with a tense look.
"Good, you're all here, listen well to what I am about to say..."
Maximus continued.
"In a short while, you will all receive your respective positions for the night."
"After confirming your positions, you will report there immediately and guard your posts without fail."
He emitted cold lights from his eyes.
"Tonight, we will drag that monster out, this task must succeed!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
The soldiers replied. Maximus's tense look somewhat diminished as he waved his hand, ordering his guards to pass the documents and memos down.
Pandora heard Maximus's words loud and clear, but she had another plan, in a flash, she disappeared from the gathering grounds.
The night slowly enveloped the city.
After all the trouble and talks during the day, the squads were sent to their respective regions. They were anxious when night came, however, they are more curious about the monster mentioned in the rumors.
Crystal's family is very strong and influential, as clan members or affiliated persons, they know full well just what their clan is capable of.
The soldiers also know their positions in the organizational chart. They were just underlings working under the family. That's part of the reason why they were sent outstation by their commanders. The people who get to stay in Crystal's Family HQ are the individuals with real power.
Most of the soldiers were in the Master realm, and that's normally for positions like basic infantry, guards, and the like. Grandmaster would be the average power here. There are high-ranking officials in Saint realm power although they are rarely seen. The Crystal HQ's power is great as could be seen from the mobilization of their infantries.
Yet, no one noticed the "ghost" haunting the place. In the end, they lost thirty members to the ghost.
This started causing unease among the soldiers as well as a macabre interest in unveiling the identity of the ghost.
A crescent moon hung high up in the sky, raining down its cold light upon the land. It also gave the Crystal's Family HQ a silver luster that looked out of this world.
Most of the inhabitants here are still awake because they knew a major operation was in place, they were also not comfortable enough to sleep with a man-eating demon on the prowl.
The ones who were tasked with tracking down the demon were also taking their jobs seriously. They made sure to keep their eyes open so they can see the ghost when it appears.
More like, they didn't want to end up as monster food.
On a high wall overlooking the entire clan compound, Pandora sat within the shadows of a nearby corner. With her eyes shut, her slow breathing was barely perceptible. Meanwhile, she continued covertly channeling magic as she expanded his consciousness beyond the limits of her mind. Her consciousness started surging.
If someone can sense Pandora's psyche, they will find that he already covered every inch of Crystal's HQ compound. He can see with indelible detail, the entire compound of the Crystal Family, he can even see the movement and locations of the personnel here.
When she sneaked into this place, she used this recon magic to quietly wait for the appearance of that "Ghost".
Although her blood isn't reacting, she had a feeling that she would uncover something if she stayed here.
As time moved on, the soldiers on patrol and guard duties waited for the Ghost, even Maximus was ready to move at the drop of the hat.
He walked along the corridor with a calm look. Inside, his guard was up but he also felt a sense of helplessness.
He should know the troubles his family found themselves in.
His uncle sold his comrades out while cooperating with shady people from an unknown organization. Turning into a monster, his uncle got killed by someone. That was already big news that shook the clan to its core.
With news of another monster in their clan compound, the citizens outside are already talking about conspiracy theories like how the Crystal Family is a clan of monsters in human skin.
If they failed to catch the monster tonight, let's just say the Crystal family will have more trouble waiting for them.
Maximus sighed as he tried to shake the negative thoughts out of his head.
Suddenly, something happened.
Swoosh!
A very soft sound came. Maximus took notice and he flew in that direction.
Turning into a blurry figure, he ran past corridors and landed near a relatively dark and isolated corner.
Fwoosh
Maximus felt something blow by him, it was a gigantic dark figure that disappeared behind another intersection.
Suddenly,
"Argh!!!"
Someone yelled in pain. It sounded like someone fell victim to a demonic attack.
The shriek riled up the entire place. Chilled by the insidious power, their hairs stood on their ends, including Maximus.
Gnashing his teeth, he quickly dashed over to the scene of the crime only to see.
There, was a monster with scales all over it, it had a long reptilian tail and that monster was feasting on the dead body of the soldier it had just killed. It was emitting creepy crunching sounds, and blood splattered everywhere.
It was eating him!
Visit freewe𝑏nov(e)l.𝗰𝐨𝐦 for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience