She is not an investigator.

"Wait!"

Before she could finish speaking, Igris had already jumped down and disappeared into the cave entrance.

"…well."

Now that things have come to this, it seems there's no going back.

……

"It stinks."

"After all, it's a sewer."

Ling turned on her flashlight, illuminating the road ahead and the filth and garbage piled up everywhere.

"Where exactly were they attacked?"

"I don't know... According to the description of the police officers who escaped, they lost their way and were separated. They couldn't find any specific direction at all. He was just lucky to escape."

"luck…"

Igris has never liked gambling, because she is usually not very lucky, and the word "luck" is rarely associated with her. Although she is not completely without luck, she does not consider herself lucky.

"Get closer, don't get separated."

Igris gave a reminder, then turned on her flashlight and slowly moved forward.

"and many more…"

"?"

Ling stepped forward, came to Igris's side, and grabbed her wrist.

"That way we won't separate. The situation below is complicated, and it's uncertain whether there will be any abnormalities that affect cognition. As long as we don't let go, there won't be any problems."

"Oh."

Igris thought that she had suddenly become interested in her, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the explanation.

But she also knew that if there really was such an anomaly, this most basic method would not work.

Even if she doesn't like physical contact, she probably has no other choice in this situation.

"There's a fork in the road ahead."

The sewer system is intricate and complex; without a map, navigating it is almost like walking through a maze. Although Igris was reluctant to admit it, Pasa's consideration of this aspect would inevitably leave its mark.

"right."

Igris noticed the brand-new bullet casings lying there.

If Passa hadn't had a particular interest in collecting bullet casings as markers, then he probably fired the shot.

There were no bodies or bloodstains nearby, suggesting that something unusual may have happened.

We've only just come down and we've already encountered something strange? It seems the place below is far more dangerous than we imagined.

"...Don't grab so hard."

Igris turned her head and mentioned it to Ling, who seemed a little nervous. The latter then let go of her hand somewhat embarrassedly.

"Sorry... I have a feeling there's danger nearby..."

"Danger...? I didn't sense anything."

"Really... I feel it quite clearly."

Igris was startled when she saw Ling release her grip. She reached back to grab Ling's wrist, but missed.

Ling, who was standing in the same spot just moments before, has vanished, leaving only darkness behind.

"...isolated and helpless."

This is an unusual name.

It typically occurs in environments with poor visibility, such as at night, on rainy days, or in snowy weather. Specifically, it manifests as the unseen surroundings constantly emitting malice and trying to separate you from those around you. If you are alone, it will be even easier to attract malicious people or creatures.

Regardless of Igris's current situation, she knew that Ling was definitely in danger.

Because she didn't sense any malice, while Ling did, it means that she was the only one being targeted and isolated, not Igris.

"Even the softest persimmons are picked..."

Igris clicked her tongue and quickened her pace.

It won't be too far; she needs to find Ling as quickly as possible to avoid any accidents.

It shouldn't be too far...

—————— (Divider)

"Igris? Igris?!"

Seeing Igris suddenly disappear in front of her, Ling subconsciously raised the gun and flashlight in her hand, and at the same time, a word surfaced in her mind.

"Isolated and helpless... Oh no."

She realized she was probably being watched, so she quickly leaned against the wall to avoid blind spots, shining her flashlight forward while cautiously scanning her surroundings.

Given her isolated and helpless nature, she will inevitably encounter danger sooner or later, and must prepare and protect herself as early as possible.

As a Special Investigations Unit operator, even though she was in the Intelligence Unit, she still possessed a wealth of combat experience and understood that she should remain calm in situations like this.

"Ha ha…"

A sudden laugh rang in her ears. She quickly turned around, pointed the gun in the corresponding direction, and dared not relax for a moment.

But I didn't think of anything; there was no one in sight, and no monsters.

"... "

"Hahaha."

Laughter came again, this time from Ling's side and slightly in front, but she kept looking there, even though there was nothing there.

At that moment, the flashlight in her hand suddenly began to flicker, and the light quickly began to dim.

"Hahahaha!"

As the laughter grew increasingly arrogant, the flashlight beam went out abruptly, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps echoing through the dark sewers.

……

"Tch... I can't find it... Could I have gone the wrong way...?"

Igris looked at the fork in the road ahead with some distress, and with the intention of checking it out, she came to the entrance of one of the forks.

Igris shone her flashlight, illuminating the path ahead, only to find a wall in front of her.

It's a dead end, a path that can be ruled out.

That's how it should be, but the door to the sewer pipe management room next to the wall was slightly ajar, making it impossible to see what was inside.

Whatever it is, there should be no one else here, and this door should not be opened.

Igris approached the iron gate, looked at the bullet marks on it, and seemed to understand something. Without hesitation, she walked in.

It was just not what I had imagined. It was empty; I didn't see anyone or any other traces.

It seems that the person simply damaged the door and left, without staying any longer.

"What a waste of my time..."

Igris sighed, then turned to leave, only to bump her head on something.

There should have been an open doorway behind her.

"..."

Igris raised the flashlight slightly, shining it on the face of the figure blocking the doorway.

Are you looking for me?

It was a black-robed man wearing a strange white mask. The mask's expression was neither a smile nor a frown, and combined with its pale color, it looked extremely terrifying and eerie, sending chills down one's spine.

"...Excuse me, I've come to the wrong room."

Igris tried to get away with it this way, but when she bumped into him again and he still didn't budge, she knew she probably didn't have a chance to escape.

With a helpless sigh, Igris slightly raised her head and narrowed her eyes as she looked at the man in front of her wearing a strange mask.

"I thought you all traveled in groups... Can I ask you a question?"

"What's the problem?"

Igris was silent for a moment, then slowly pulled out the pistol from his sleeve and pointed it at his head, her eyes behind his mask giving him a half-smile.

"Guess who's faster, a bullet or you?"

The Fools of the Gods—The Worship of Eternal Night: Chapter Thirteen, A Thousand Faces

……

"Put your hands behind your head and squat down."

Without hesitation, Igris raised her gun and aimed it at the cultist in front of her.

But he showed no reaction, as if he didn't care about the weapon in Igris's hand at all, frantically swinging his machete, trying to slash at Igris.

boom!

A gunshot rang out, and the bullet instantly pierced the man's body, while Igris's arm went numb from the recoil of the gun.

Her body is too weak right now; the only thing she can probably use properly is that pistol... It would be better to find an opportunity to retrieve it.

Seeing the cultist clutch his arm in pain as his machete fell to the ground, Igris tapped his forehead with the muzzle of her gun.

"Next, I'll ask questions, and you answer, okay?"

The man wore a mask, so his expression couldn't be seen, but the vicious look in his eyes beneath the mask was still quite obvious.

boom!

Igris fired another shot, this time through his other movable arm, before feeling relieved. She then tapped his head with the muzzle of her gun again.

"Tell me, what is your purpose? Where is Krisuna? Why do you want to capture her?"

"Eternal Night Six is ​​a deception... The waves will devour everything! Only Qi can save everyone! Salute to the oldest sinking city... Calling for the storm...!"