MoP: Ch. 167

---Third POV---

They were almost at the mayor's manor, yet none of the undercover players had spotted the Last Siren's whereabouts.

Bored felt his head throb. He had no choice but to give up idle chatter for now and focus on business.

Before long, Garble sent a message below.

[Garble]: She's with me.

[Bored]: ?

[NeverShowOff]: ??

[CowardlySurvivor]: ???

[Apple]: It's fine, it just means one more siren left the city. Shouldn't be a big problem... probably.

---

After sending the message, Apple lay on the hillside with a long sigh.

"What a mess this is!"

He lowered his head, peering through a homemade telescope at the three sirens still facing off in the distant river, and sighed again.

Beside him, Thor asked, "What now? Won't this upset the balance of power in the city?"

Apple shot him a sideways glance.

"Of course it will! Four sirens won't be able to win for sure!"

After all, Edgar had said there was a Magus in the city, level 80 or above. That one alone could restrain at least two sirens. The remaining two would have to deal with everyone else. They'd be spread too thin.

He quickly typed in private chat.

---

[Apple]: Garble, you didn't tell us you were so charming you picked up three girls at once!

By the river, Garble sat cross-legged in a cave facing the Duskwind River, the three sirens in the water all clearly visible.

His headache was no less than anyone else's as he replied:

[Garble]: I've only met that black-haired siren once. I've got no idea why she followed me here!

[Apple]: Good grief, so it's a secret crush!

[Garble]: Cut it out. Where's that special siren sleep-inducing potion you guys were working on?

[Apple]: Under the big thumb-shaped rock on the left side of the cave. According to Edgar's analysis and Gaeman's field test, it's enough to put two sirens to sleep for six hours. But now that there's an extra "lady guest," you'll have to judge the dosage yourself. It takes half an hour to kick in. Best to get them to leave right after taking it, otherwise I'm afraid the four sirens in the city will be crushed.

Taking the chance to move around, Garble indeed found a small packet of white powder hidden in a crack between the rocks.

He carefully held it in his hand and sent one last message:

[Garble]: Keep the line open. Update me on the underground city's situation at all times.

---

At that moment, chaos had already broken out in the underground city. The sirens had appeared openly and attacked directly, making everyone sense imminent danger.

Irrelevant personnel scattered in panic.

When Abel arrived with his guards, all he saw was a collapsed signboard and a shattered gate.

His face darkened.

"They have the nerve to be this presumptuous! This is the Human Kingdom!"

These magic-born races, relying on their natural talents, had truly become reckless.

The captain of the guard spoke from the side, making a slashing motion across his neck.

"Do you mean...?"

Abel raised a hand.

"No need. They're just a bunch of rats hiding in the sea. They'll get what's coming to them soon enough. Let's go check the situation first."

The captain nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, my lord."

By the time they tracked down the sirens based on the information from the Redstone Auction House's manager, they had already reached the second basement level of the auction house.

This was the central breeding zone shared by the three major auction houses.

The slaves kept here came from various races, all captured through joint operations by the three houses.

They were temporarily kept together until the time was right, when an internal auction would determine their final owners.

Abel found them in the beastkin holding area.

By then, the gate confining the beastkin had been completely destroyed, and the four reunited sirens were preparing to move on to their next target.

"Wait a minute!" Abel shouted loudly.

Josef stopped in his tracks, his tone anything but friendly.

"Abel, you still have the nerve to come here."

Abel wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Let's talk this out, there's no need for violence, right?"

He spoke while cautiously inching closer. Behind him, the owner of the Redstone Auction House cast a hostile glance at the manager standing near the sirens.

Look at the mess you've caused!

The entrance to this place was hard to find. If it hadn't been for the manager's help, the sirens might never have made it here so quickly.

Now, seeing the destroyed rooms around them and noticing that several beastkin slaves were missing, the owner's heart bled.

The manager, however, was helpless.

If he hadn't followed them, how could he have kept track of the sirens' movements?

He had even been about to unlock the door with his key, but the sirens had no patience and insisted on smashing their way through instead. He hadn't been able to stop them, much less refuse.

Josef crossed his arms, towering over him.

"Since you had the guts to show up, do you still remember our agreement?"

"Of course! Of course I do!"

Abel forced a broad smile, all affability.

"You asked us to help find those fallen sirens who defected to the Song of the Dead. The Watchers are cruel and wicked. Even without payment, we'd still be happy to assist!"

Then his tone suddenly turned serious.

"Go bring out the jewels our esteemed siren guests provided!"

"Yes, sir..."

"No need!"

Two voices overlapped.

The latter came from Josef, who waved his hand impatiently.

"If you delay any longer, I'll pin you to the wall myself. If you still remember the deal, then let us search the entire auction house, top to bottom."

Abel hesitated.

"Of course, of course. But searching room by room will take too long. Why don't we just bring everyone out... n-no problem, please, go right ahead!"

Seeing the sirens' pupils narrow, he immediately corrected himself. His old bones couldn't survive a single toss through the air. He stepped aside, saying not another word.

Josef strode forward first, the other sirens following close behind.

Behind them, a figure slipped out from behind a rock, NineTails.

Watching the group's retreating backs, she gave a silent whistle.

"Damn, that's impressive. Power really does mean everything."

She quickly typed a message:

[NineTails]: Four sirens, levels 58 to 73, doing whatever they want under heavy guard, and there are bystanders watching too, can you believe it?

Players hiding all over the place began to reply.

[Holy shit, are there really NPCs this fearless?]

[The slaves on the first floor already ran off with me. It's safe to move in soon!]

[Edgar's holed up in the Scarlet Casino and wants to shelter NPCs. Head for this map location!]

Everyone was busy with their own missions.

NineTails watched the chat.

If things were like this, she couldn't fall behind either.

Just as she was about to move, someone grabbed her arm.

Domie looked at her seriously, concern in her eyes.

"Don't go out there!"

NineTails patted her on the head.

"I'm heading for the Scarlet Casino near the northern exit."

With that, she stood up swiftly and followed after the main group disappearing into the distance.

The entrance to the third underground level, usually heavily guarded, was now completely deserted.

She slipped through with ease and hid in a secluded corner that had been chosen in advance.

Unlike the first and second levels, the third underground floor wasn't divided into multiple rooms by corridors and walls. Aside from the luxuriously decorated hall, there was only one massive door.

Bang!

Josef smashed apart an oddly shaped tall wooden horse and pried open all of its fixed decorations. Only after confirming there were no hidden doors did he turn his attack on the large inner gate.

However, the massive door, five meters wide, didn't move an inch.

A listless Tina opened her eyes. "How can that be?"

Josef was the physically strongest among them. His power rivaled that of a high-ranking human swordsman.

And yet, he hadn't even managed to leave a single mark on the door?

Josef's expression grew grim.

"A rare-grade magic item?"

Such an enchanted construct could only be made by a top-tier craftsman. With such formidable defensive power, the enchanter's level must also be extraordinary. The finished product's cost was definitely far beyond what a mere town mayor could afford.

He glanced back at the obsequiously smiling mayor, a chill running through his heart.

"Humans truly have no bottom line."

In one of the previous rooms, they had even discovered a group of tamed goblins.

It was hard to imagine what use such lust-driven creatures could have.

Abel explained weakly, "The third level is only opened for distinguished guests. No slaves are kept here. All the nonhuman slaves in Nary Town are above."

Josef ignored him and pointed at the door.

"Open it!"

Abel hesitated, then sighed as if helpless, waving for his manager to open it.

The heavy door, nearly ten centimeters thick, was slowly opened.

Inside was a white, square room, completely empty, not even a single window.

Josef, who had been full of confidence, froze and looked toward Tina.

She was equally stunned.

"Selina's information can't be wrong. I even went out to confirm it myself. The auction is in a week. The people must be inside!"

Otherwise, how could they secretly hold such a grand auction for special guests?

Unconvinced, the sirens scoured every wall, even checking the ceiling, but found nothing.

Josef's brows knit tightly.

"How is this possible..."

"Ah!"

A scream came from the doorway, followed by the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground.

He spun around, pupils contracting.

"Tina!!"

Tina, who had been near the door, was suddenly attacked. They had fallen into a trap.

Bang!

Sure enough, the next instant, the door slammed shut.

Josef dashed toward it but couldn't reach it before it closed completely.

"Damn it! Open the door!"

He pounded on the door with all his might, but it didn't respond at all. The others ran to Tina and carefully helped her up.

"How are you? Are you okay?"

One of the sirens released her wrist and said in shock, "It's internal injury, and only one attack!"

Hearing that, Josef turned around in disbelief.

Tina was a level 67 mage, only slightly weaker than him.

Who could injure her with a single blow?

At that moment, an inconspicuous stone on the ground stirred, and a projected image flickered to life.

Abel still wore a smile, but it had moved from amiable to sinister.

"Sirens, that's all they are."

"A two-way projection stone?" Josef started. "This was your setup?!"

He looked at the square-faced middle-aged man in a purple wizard's robe beside Abel.

That man hadn't been there a moment ago.

"It's you. There's a Magus here?!" Josef's shock was plain on his face.

Abel stroked his white beard and smiled smugly.

"Those of the magical kind, riding on gifts from the gods, run rampant. Did you ever imagine humans could one day capture them?"

He bowed respectfully to the man at his side.

"Master William, thank you for stepping in. Otherwise it would have taken us much more effort to catch these sirens."

The middle-aged man straightened his chest and lazily raised a hand.

"No trouble. I'm merely catching my own slaves."

His gaze skimmed past the two male sirens and lingered lecherously on the scantily clad female sirens.

"I've heard that intimate relations with people of the White Dove can raise both parties' power."

"Perfect. We'll test whether that rumor is true."

Abel's eyes darkened in the shadow, then he continued smiling and agreeing.

"Of course. You've solved such a big problem for us. Using them as payment is only fitting."

"Is that so? What if I want another one?" William arched an eyebrow.

Abel's fingers tightened beneath his sleeve. His face showed some reluctance.

"Well..."

"See? Fallen sirens are in your hands!"

Inside the room, Tina pressed the spot where she'd been struck and stared fixedly at the scene in the projection stone.

"They're nearby, aren't they!"

Abel opened his mouth awkwardly.

"What of it?" William admitted proudly. "Soon you'll be like them, lambs led to the slaughter."

He grinned, enjoying the sirens' fury and fear.

Josef's face burned with anger.

"You really think a rare-grade magic device lets you do as you please? Give me..."

He tried to swing, but the force he gathered dissipated uncontrollably halfway through.

He was stunned.

"What's happening?!"

His control over magic weakened. His stamina began to drain rapidly.

One of the sirens pointed at Tina's feet.

"What's that?"

A small purple incense box released a faint floral scent. With each breath, their stamina drained faster and faster.

Josef summoned a torrent of water and smashed the incense box to pieces.

The voice from the projection stone became even more triumphant.

"Pointless. There's no exit from this room. In three hours, you'll be waiting to be taken alive!"

Watching, NineTails gaped and hurriedly sent messages.

[NineTails]: Bad! White Dove's been drugged. The local gang might win with zero casualties!

[What?! Drugging, what a vicious scheme!]

[The local gang is so rude. If you've got guts, fight face to face!]

[Garble, get your girlfriend army back, team danger return ASAP!]

[Garble]: ...

Boom!

A dull, thunderous sound shook the whole space.

NineTails looked up and saw a pronounced bulge in the wall near the main door, like a fist pushing out.

The projection stone showed it. The siren who had just been weakened landed a single blow and deformed the wall.

NineTails clasped her chin and updated the feed.

[NineTails]: No, there's a reversal?! Team, do not return!