The group emerged from the tunnel into the sewers.
They followed the foul-smelling sewer channel toward the secret exit Five-Stringed had set up within the city.
The sewers were pitch-black. A faint mist drifted down from the street-side drains into the narrow channel, suggesting the streets above were also filled with a thin fog.
As they advanced cautiously along the channel, Colin remained constantly aware of his surroundings.
Although his human eyes weren’t much use in these conditions, and the helmet on his head blocked much of his vision, he still focused all his effort on observing his surroundings.
Colin had put on his full set of gear, and Kase was also carrying a heap of weapons.
No matter how careful the two were, their movements produced the scraping of metal and the clanking of weapons.
At a time when a battle could break out at any moment, such noises were quite vexing.
The Demon-controlled Fish Eye Gang had previously profited from smuggling goods. Their base was located in the sewers, giving them control over several secret passages leading out of the city—a situation that conveniently allowed the Demons to smuggle what interested them: kidnapped refugees.
Under these circumstances, it wasn’t impossible for the group to run into members of the Fish Eye Gang.
Of course, it wasn’t that they were afraid of a fight.
The gang wasn’t actually that large. After all, transit taxes were a decent source of income for Three Bays City, so any smuggler would be severely cracked down on. Even if the gang had suddenly expanded, they wouldn’t have too many enforcers—not enough to deal with Colin’s group, even with an ambush.
Their main fear was alerting the Cultists prematurely.
These guys were like dandelion seeds; once scattered, they would land, take root, and sprout all kinds of trouble.
After all, even with guidance from professionals, it had taken Colin and the others half a month just to track down this bunch of bastards.
"Can that guy really handle things over there all by himself?" Kase asked in a low voice.
Colin said matter-of-factly, "When it comes to Casting, Paladins have it much harder than Mages or Priests. The fact that he can use the Tier Three Magic, Create Food and Water, to maintain supplies every day means he’s a lot stronger than us."
Kase quieted down after hearing this, and the group continued to advance through the darkness.
They walked to the end of the sewer channel they were in and reached a corner. Colin raised a hand, and the others behind him immediately halted.
He peeked around the corner.
The next sewer channel was lit by an oil lamp.
Opposite the lamp was an unlocked iron-barred gate.
A table and chairs were set up in front of the gate. Several men dressed as movers in tank tops sat at the table, shouting and making a racket. Dice and cups were scattered across the tabletop.
A single glance was enough to tell these guys were gang enforcers.
From his investigation over the past two weeks, Colin knew these enforcers had participated in kidnapping many refugees and were ruthless when fighting other gangs. This was why Yuri had said there was no need to show them mercy.
Colin looked back at Kase.
The Half-Orc peeked out, trying to spot any other hidden lookouts in the area.
The half-drunk enforcers, busy with their gambling, didn’t notice the quiet arrival of the Death Deity.
After all, in the current gang war, the Black Cat Gang was almost powerless to resist. The Fish Eye Gang held an absolute advantage, so of course, they weren’t worried about their main base being attacked.
Colin drew his Giant Sword, gripping the hilt with both hands.
"Get ready to take care of any we miss," Colin said quietly, then looked forward.
He clenched the hilt in his hands and entered his Sword Dance stance.
It was so quiet you could even hear the faint sound of his palms rubbing against the hilt.
’If I were standing next to that table, how would I swing my sword?’
Colin mulled over the question in his mind. His accumulated Swordsmanship experience gave him a profound understanding of how to sever something—from what angle, with what force, in what posture... there was nothing he didn’t know.
He recited the Spell. The silver mist of Misty Step instantly enveloped the darkness around his vision, and a feeling of weightlessness washed over him.
At the same time, Colin twisted his waist and swung the Giant Sword forward with all his might.
A flash of steel.
The stench of blood, mixed with a wave of heat, hit his face through his helmet, as if he’d run headfirst into a cloud of steam.
With a THUD, three headless bodies collapsed onto the table.
A few cups fell under the table, spinning on the ground.
The others quickly came out from behind the corner and moved up.
Colin stared intently at the iron-barred gate next to the gang members.
Beyond the gate was a long, narrow corridor, also lit by an oil lamp. It wasn’t bright, but it was enough to see the path.
Knowing there were no more enemies nearby, Colin drew a vial of Sacred Oil and a Potion of Protection from Evil and Good from the Medicated Bandage on his chest.
He bit open the cork and poured the Potion into his mouth.
This Potion of Protection from Evil and Good had a strange feeling in his mouth. The Potion itself was quite viscous, like very dry lotus root starch, and had the astringent taste of strong tea.
Before Colin could savor the taste, the Potion slid down his throat with a GULP.
After he drank the Potion, a warmth spread from his stomach throughout his body.
Colin then uncorked the vial of Sacred Oil.
After drawing his Hand Half Sword, he placed the mouth of the vial against the base of the blade. The Sword Oil inside slowly flowed onto the blade, running down its spine to the tip.
Using a Giant Sword to fight indoors was definitely not a wise move.
To be honest, Colin even felt the Hand Half Sword in his hand was a little too long, but it was still usable.
The amber-colored Sword Oil seemed to have a mind of its own, spreading out from the center of the blade to the edges. The entire sword began to emit a faint golden glow.
Kase and the others came closer.
The Half-Orc’s Battle Axe and the Tiefling’s hammer also began to emit a faint golden glow.
Orelia then gripped her Lost Wanderer’s Holy Emblem and activated its power, granting every member of the party protection against Undead and Evil Demons.
A light from the Holy Emblem enveloped their bodies, and everyone was ready for battle.
Kase took the lead, opening the iron-barred gate and heading inside.
Colin followed close behind, his Hand Half Sword gripped in one hand.
The group didn’t walk far before they came to a cellar.
The cellar had a ladder leading up and was filled with crates and sacks. The stale, musty smell of old food hung in the air, making it look like the most Ordinary storage cellar.
"May the Morninglord guide my fate..." Orelia murmured the prayer, gently touching her forehead with her index finger.
A speck of golden light flashed at the tip of her finger.
The Tiefling looked around, her nose twitching slightly.
"Over here. I smell sulfur," she said, trying to move the crates. But she wasn’t strong enough, and only cleared a path with the help of the others.