Lord of Cinder in American Comics

The detective recalled the previous investigation: since Mary Shaw was killed, apart from Jamie, who claimed to have escaped from Mary Shaw's clutches, everyone else had died one after another.

Since everyone is going to die, why keep Jamie alive?

"There's only one possibility: Jamie was also Mary Shaw's subordinate, or even the first human puppet Mary Shaw created..."

Upon hearing this, the detective no longer cared about Geralt wiping his hands on him.

He carefully kept watch in the darkness with his shotgun; the once bustling manor was now deathly silent.

“No! I’m not! I’m a man! I’m Jamie, and I have a wife named Mary Ann. She died at the hands of Mary Shaw…”

Jamie, lying on the ground, listened to Geralt's explanation, frantically pounding his body, trying to find the differences between himself and the puppet, and repeatedly explaining his identity and family background...

“Mary Shaw…Mary Ann…What similar names! Haven’t you ever considered that the one you’re with day and night is your creator?”

No! You're lying to me! I'm a human being!

Jamal Jami has completely gone mad; all he says now is "I am a human being."

Seeing this, Clint didn't wait any longer and swung his sword down, aiming for Jamie's head.

However, another long tongue emerged from the darkness, struck Clint's longsword, was ignited by the flame enchantment on the sword, and then retreated back into the darkness.

However, thanks to this attack, Jamie escaped Clint's sword with his life.

Jamie moved on all fours, his movements completely unlike those of a human, as if he were being dragged along the ground, and darted rapidly into the darkness.

Now, only Geralt, Hill, Clint, and the detective remain in place.

The deathly silence of the darkness only evoked a sense of panic. The detective tentatively picked up a piece of wood from the burning campfire and threw it into the darkness.

Illuminated by the flames, the situation in the darkness could be barely discerned. Those were the people from the former town, now watching from the shadows.

"Damn it! Back off! Back off! I'm a detective! I need your cooperation! Get out of here..."

Geralt, now the most relaxed in the crowd, advised the detective, "Save your energy, detective. Didn't I tell you? Jamie might be the first, but I didn't say he'd be the last..."

Upon hearing Geralt's words, the detective stepped back slightly, pointing his shotgun into the darkness.

The detective finally stepped back to Geralt's side, and without turning his head, said, "You seem to have everything figured out! You'd better think of something!"

"A solution? Actually, I've had one for a while now, I've mentioned it before..."

Geralt always only said half of what he meant, and Clint suffered the most from this, constantly being "taught" this lesson by Geralt during this period.

In the end, Clint gave up; his experience was insufficient to handle the current situation.

“I was wrong, Geralt. Just tell me what’s wrong! I really can’t think of any other way. The only thing I can think of is calling in air support or armored units for reinforcements…”

This time, Clint's explanation did not disappoint Geralt. He nodded and said, "That's one way, and we already have the necessary foundation..."

Upon hearing Geralt's words, Clint turned his gaze to Hill.

The director of S.H.I.E.L.D. has not made any comments or remarks so far, but has been observing and recording everything like an outsider.

As Geralt taught his apprentice, the puppets in the darkness drew closer, forming a wall of puppets that oppressed the space.

"If you have any good ideas, you'd better use them now, they're closing in!"

The detective began firing his shotgun at the puppets, but the shot only created a gap in the puppet wall before it was quickly filled by the next puppet.

Hill was also waiting, wanting to see what amazing skills Geralt, the hunter, had. However, with the crisis looming, she had no intention of making a move, just like her, waiting for him to take action.

After the detective fired the last shotgun, threw the weapon at the puppet wall, and took out his spare pistol, Hill finally stopped waiting.

"Agent 13, move out and eliminate all enemies."

At Hill's command, the darkness was illuminated, and flares were launched into the sky, gradually moving inward from the town's perimeter.

A series of flares were launched into the sky, illuminating the entire town. Under the light, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s combat forces occupied key positions in all the buildings.

For Geralt and Hill, the first to arrive were S.H.I.E.L.D. Quinjet fighters.

Three Quinjet fighters, in combat formation, hovered above the crowd, their Gatling guns beginning to plow the ground.

Those puppet walls were easily punctured like paper in front of the machine guns.

Several ropes were dropped from the Quinjet fighter jet, and a small assault team rappelled down to the group.

These rappelling fighters did not rashly use their weapons to attack the enemy. Instead, they took advantage of the lull when the machine guns were not firing to open and reassemble the weapons crates they had lowered down.

It was clear that this weapon was hastily made; the welding marks on it hadn't been properly cleaned up. The twin machine guns roared the moment they were assembled.

Within seconds, these machine guns had used up all the ammunition they had brought and then stopped firing.

But there's no need to fire anymore; there's nothing left to stand up.

Smelling the unusual scent in the air, Geralt knew it was a deterrent; S.H.I.E.L.D. could organize targeted weapons and combat teams within hours.

But Geralt didn't care about that. He simply took out a few purple moss balls and handed them to everyone.

[Poisonous Purple Moss Ball: A purple moss ball with medicinal properties. It can reduce toxin accumulation and cure poisoning. Once the toxin accumulation limit is exceeded, a poisoning state will occur. The poisoning state will last for a period of time, and health will continuously decrease. Poison is very troublesome; if you are going to a place where you might get poisoned, it will definitely not hurt to prepare these moss balls in advance.]

"Tsk tsk, depleted uranium bombs, come quick, eat a moss ball to prevent radiation and poisoning. If anyone wants to develop cancer in the future, well..."

Geralt handed one out to everyone like a middle-aged woman handing out flyers.

"Eat it! Why don't you eat it? These moss balls that prevent cancer and poisoning are a wonderful thing to eat..."

The tense situation was broken by Geralt's reckless actions. Hill watched Geralt devour the moss ball in his hand as if he were eating Geralt's flesh.

Meanwhile, Agent Thirteen, standing next to Hill, hesitated, holding the moss ball in her hand. She wanted to preserve the moss ball and hand it over to the laboratory.

"Eat, why not eat! If it's not enough, fire another round of depleted uranium munitions, and ask him for more!"

With the director's order, the combat team members present no longer hesitated and ate the moss ball. No one wanted to come into contact with radiation, except for people from the 1950s, whose toys contained uranium.

After the situation at the scene was dealt with, all the puppets were gathered together, doused with gasoline, and set on fire.

In the darkness came the soft neighing of a horse, and the sound of hooves gradually drew closer.

Geralt gave a short whistle and then said to the tense combatants, "Don't worry, it's just my horse..."

The combatants heard Geralt's words but did not abandon their vigilance, and looked at Hill.

Only after Hill nodded in agreement did they put down their weapons.

Radish was quick-witted; he only approached Geralt after seeing everyone put down their guns.

The moment Radish Nasha's tall figure appeared, it attracted everyone's attention.

Clint watched enviously, then leaned closer, wanting to touch it, but Carrot nudged him aside with its head.

Geralt fed Radish with moss balls and kept grooming it to soothe its agitated state caused by the gunshot.

Clint usually had to dig up moss from various places to make moss balls, and even after a month of hard work, he could only make a few. Seeing a horse eating better than him, Clint said with a touch of envy, "Geralt, I only have one, but it can have so many..."

Upon hearing Clint speak ill of him, Radish turned around and kicked Clint.

Fortunately, Clint reacted quickly and dodged the attack: "Geralt! This horse is sentient, it can understand what I'm saying?"

"Otherwise what? This is my horse. Besides, without S.H.I.E.L.D.'s combat forces, you'd still need Carrot!"

## Chapter 223: The Doll's Kindness

Clint was somewhat doubtful about whether he needed the horse: "Do I need it? Do I really?"

"How many can you kill? How many people are in this town?"

Comparing his own strength with the town's population, Clint thought for a moment and agreed with Geralt's assessment.

Geralt, who was playing with the carrot, continued to say to Clint, "Besides, haven't you realized yet? The solution I've been meaning to come up with all along is the carrot..."

Clint, belatedly realizing this, then understood that Geralt had mentioned earlier that he had acquired a Shire horse, but no one had paid attention.

And just now, Geralt said that he had already mentioned the method he had prepared long ago.

Compared to the towering size of Shamar, it's not impossible for four people like Radish to sit on it, even though it's a bit of a stretch.

With the carrot given to Geralt by the doll Ella, the four of them might be able to leave this town and return to the bustling world.

This is a path to survival that has long been established, and it is also the most suitable path to survival for ordinary people.

Thinking of this, Clint said, "But judging from the current situation, there are no humans left in the town, only puppets like Jamie who are being controlled. Why would Ella give you this horse?"

"Clint, darkness is not a species divide. Who says these puppets have to be evil, and that there can't be a single one with a good heart among them? We are hunters, we hunt all darkness, but have you ever seen me take down that vampire daywalker in the Control Bureau?"

Upon hearing Geralt's words, Clint seemed to fall into thought. But Geralt's next words left Clint speechless.

Geralt said, "If I could beat that chief and the god behind him, I would have gone there with my sword already, without waiting..."

Clint was speechless, unsure how to respond to Geralt's flexible stubbornness.

"But Clint, we've received help, so we must repay it. Get some rest, and tomorrow we'll burn down that entire den of iniquity and rescue Radish's former owner..."

S.H.I.E.L.D. was cleaning up everything in the town. From the moment the secret of the human puppet was revealed, the entire town fell into a deathly silence.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. operations team issued three routine, formulaic warnings before launching the attack.

Geralt didn't get much sleep due to the constant gunfire throughout the night. The next morning, Radish's drool-covered tongue woke Geralt up.

"Alright, alright, I'm awake. Let me take you for a run..."

Radish himself handed the reins to Geralt, and as soon as Geralt mounted, he reared up and galloped away at full speed.

Although it is a Shire horse, Radish is different from ordinary Shire horses. Radish's speed is no less than that of ordinary racehorses, it just has a larger turning radius when turning.

Running around the town, Geralt got used to the feeling of speed, and he was also working with the carrot, constantly strengthening it.

That day, everyone in the town saw a black, lightning-fast streak flash past them.

When Geralt returned to the camp, there was already fodder prepared for him. Geralt broke off a few moss balls and mixed them into the fodder. After watching the radish finish eating, he went to the S.H.I.E.L.D. command room.

Whether she hadn't slept all night or had gotten up early, Hill was already there, marking every suspicious location on the map in front of her.

“We’ve already cleared the entire town and set up defenses in all the puppet-filled areas. We’re just waiting for Mary Shaw to appear…”

Geralt was woken up early by Robert, and yawned, saying, "No need for all that trouble, let's just go find Mary Shaw."

Seeing Geralt yawn, Hill seemed to catch it and wanted to yawn too, but seeing Geralt present, she forced herself to hold it in.

Hill's eyes widened, and she gritted her teeth, forcing out, "Where is she?"

Geralt lowered his head and pointed out the location on the map. While Geralt was looking down, Hill breathed a sigh of relief.

“The theater? I thought of that too. I sent people to investigate the theater a long time ago, but there was no clue to prove that Mary Shaw was there…”