nyslfriends Chapter 97 Deep into the Storm Mountains
Chapter 97 Deep into the Storm Mountains
Commander-in-Chief Negan was the first to disembark from the airship, followed closely by the three captains, while the team members spread out in a guard formation.
The village was not far away, but it was quiet at the moment; there was no sound and not a wisp of smoke in the air.
The enforcement team members entered the village cautiously in pairs, while the three captains and Negan provided support from the center. However, the results of the search made everyone's hearts sink.
The village was deserted. The houses were intact, but all the doors were wide open. The household items inside were neatly arranged, but there was no sign of any living creature.
They searched the entire village carefully but found no bloodstains or signs of a struggle, as if all the villagers, like the 12th squad, had vanished into thin air.
A tense atmosphere permeated the ranks; this eerie situation was more unsettling than any direct signs of battle.
That night, the three squads set up a temporary camp in an open area in the center of the village and took turns keeping watch.
The campfire flickered, illuminating the solemn faces of the team members. At this moment, not only the Eighth Squad, but the entire team fell silent.
Only the mournful sound of the night wind blowing through the empty houses seemed to be lamenting this dead village.
The team members took turns keeping watch and resting on the outer perimeter. In the inner circle, Negan poked at the fire with a branch, sending up a few sparks. The leaping firelight reflected the stern faces of Commander Negan and the three captains.
He broke the silence first, saying, "Everyone, speak up. What are your thoughts on the current situation?"
Natasha, the witch with the high ponytail and captain of the sixth squad, was the first to speak:
"It's too clean. Commander, it's unsettlingly clean here. A village of over eight hundred people, along with our entire squad, have vanished without a trace. There are no signs of struggle, no bloodstains, and even the most basic traces of magic are almost negligible. This is illogical, like... like someone deliberately cleared away all the clues here."
Captain Eric stared at the flickering firelight, his gaze seemingly piercing through the flames to see painful memories. His voice was low, filled with suppressed anguish:
"Natasha is right. The cleaner it is, the more suspicious it is. If it were a powerful monster or a natural disaster, it would be impossible to leave no trace. The Twelfth Squad are all experienced members. Even in the worst-case scenario, they would definitely try to leave a mark or information. This thorough cleanliness only points to one possibility: deliberate and premeditated erasure. Only a human would so deliberately erase everything."
Martin, the leader of the fourth squad, frowned and unconsciously clenched his fists.
"Man-made? Could it be those rats in the sewers? What are they trying to do? Kidnap the entire village and devour our squad?"
Commander Negan slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the three captains, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes:
"This situation reminds me of an old incident that is documented but lacks detail. About fifty years ago, a similar mass disappearance occurred in a village near Obsidian City. The records are vague, as if key information was deliberately omitted. The only clear record is that the incident was ultimately resolved by a joint effort between Obsidian Tower and our Leli Tower."
This news sent a chill down the spines of all three captains. The danger of an event requiring the combined efforts of two wizard towers was self-evident.
Negan abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming calm and forceful, attempting to dispel some of the somber atmosphere:
"However, you don't need to worry too much. Things are different now. The higher-ups in the enforcement team are taking this incident very seriously, otherwise they wouldn't have sent the 'Hunter' out. The firepower and protection of this warship are sufficient to deal with most threats. Our primary mission here is to find out the truth and locate the survivors, rather than blindly engaging in a head-on confrontation."
His words were like a shot in the arm, easing the tension in the three captains' nerves a little.
"Alright, everyone go and get some rest. Tomorrow morning, we'll head into the mountains. The real answer probably lies hidden among those mountains." Negan waved his hand, ending the brief meeting.
The next morning, Commander Negan issued the order.
"Before the 12th squad lost contact, they mentioned going into the mountain mine to investigate whether the missing villagers were trapped there. Everyone, be on high alert, maintain combat formation, and we're off."
Li Ang took a deep breath of the still somewhat chilly mountain air in the early morning. With a slight thought, he felt the clear spiritual connection between himself and the Hunter, which put him at ease. He then followed the team and embarked on the road leading to the mine.
The road, paved with mine cart tracks and gravel, was exceptionally smooth, clearly meticulously constructed to facilitate the transport of ore.
Although the road was smooth and the visibility was good, the team members did not relax at all. They were divided into six groups of two, spreading out in a fan shape to look after each other.
Li Ang walked side by side with Elisa, responsible for flank surveillance. Elisa glanced at Li Ang, who had a deep expression, from time to time. After hesitating for a moment, she lowered her voice and asked:
"Li Ang, what do you think about this matter?" Having gone through the trip to Obsidian City and the daily patrol cooperation, she had developed a deep trust in this young but exceptionally capable teammate.
Li Ang's gaze remained fixed ahead, maintaining vigilance, his voice steady yet tinged with coldness:
"It's too clean, Elisa. A village of over eight hundred people, along with the entire Twelfth Squad, vanished without a trace, without even a hint of struggle. This doesn't seem like a monster attack, nor does it seem like a natural disaster."
He paused, his tone filled with worry, "I think this scene was meticulously cleaned. It's highly likely it was done by someone."
Elisa's heart tightened, and her grip on her wand tightened instinctively. Leon continued in a low voice:
"So, be careful. If anything seems amiss in the mines later, don't be reckless; make sure you're safe first. Don't forget, we still have Commander Negan, and..." He pointed to where the airship was docked, "...that big guy."
Elisa nodded solemnly, keeping Li Ang's instructions firmly in mind. "I understand."
The journey uphill was surprisingly peaceful, without any of the anticipated attacks or traps.
However, Li Ang vaguely felt that there was an indescribable feeling in the air, as if there were invisible dust floating around, and that inhaling it brought a faint sense of nausea.
At first, he thought it was just a mental illusion caused by tension, but as the team gradually ventured deeper into the mountains, this uncomfortable feeling not only did not dissipate, but continued to exist like background noise.
After a half-hour journey, the team finally arrived at the mine entrance. The huge opening resembled the mouth of a monster, dark and deep, blowing out cold winds.