You Cover the Rear

Shael's laughter lessened Klein's fear as he regained his senses.

The discomfort and panic of being in the same carriage as a dangerous sealed artifact were somewhat reduced.

The atmosphere became less heavy.

After all, they are all newcomers.

Klein didn't want to lose face for the Tingen Market Nightwalker team in front of their counterparts in the big city.

"It has become stronger."

Klein said with a straight face and great certainty.

"This iron box has a sealing effect. Once the sealed item is released from the seal, it will naturally become stronger."

"But it's also quite annoying that it's been targeting me."

As he spoke, Xia Er took out a silver talisman.

"Hassen-senpai, this should work, right?"

He took out some loose threads and strung the silver talismans together, then asked.

"Can."

"Did Allison teach you this?"

El Hassen nodded, watching as Shael placed the slumbering charm around the puppet's neck, and then asked.

"I guess so. She also asked me to help her gather some firsthand information."

As he spoke, Xia Er gently folded the silver sheet, bending a corner of the talisman that was made of thin silver pieces, thus avoiding the ritual symbols on the surface.

Having crammed on mystical knowledge, Klein recognized it as a slumbering charm. After putting on the charm, the sealed artifact 2-049 was no longer as active as before.

"Why bend the talisman on purpose?"

Klein asked doubtfully, "That's not how you use talismans, is it?"

"If you break it a little, the power of the talisman will start to leak out. When it is stimulated by external forces, it can be passively activated. The leaked power will affect the nearest puppet and will not interfere with us too much."

As Xia Er spoke, the puppet stood up shakily and pointed in a direction.

"That way."

Al Hassen immediately signaled to his teammate who was driving.

"I suspect that this puppet was abandoned by a member of the Antigonus family."

"Otherwise, why would it be such a rip-off..."

Before Xia Er could finish speaking, as if he had triggered some sensitive word, the world before his eyes became blurry.

The talisman around the clown puppet's neck was destroyed by the violent force, and the dormant power gradually calmed the puppet down, but its deep eyes stared straight at Xia'er.

Boom!

Lolota raised her hand and tapped Chael on the head.

"I think I'll sit outside the carriage."

Shaiel silently got up and sat down next to Dunn, who was driving.

He had never seen such a stingy puppet!

"Should we put another talisman on it?"

Klein noticed the puppet was looking at him again, and he said somewhat uneasily.

"I'll do it."

Leonard took out a slumbering talisman, gently broke it, and its spiritual energy dissipated, rendering the talisman useless.

His hand froze, startling Klein, who quickly shoved him, only to find that the guy was actually alright.

The atmosphere inside the carriage suddenly became awkward...

The carriage sped along, arriving at the warehouse area near the docks.

After confirming the location, Al Hassen grabbed the resisting "2-049" and, with the help of two team members, painstakingly stuffed the puppet back into the iron box, turned the mechanical device, and activated the seal on the iron box.

"Get off the bus."

Dunn Smith greeted the crowd.

The seven people were doing "bending and stretching exercises" as they walked toward the inner warehouse.

Chael tugged at Lolota's black coat and asked:

"Go straight in? Shouldn't we discuss tactics first?"

Xia Er wasn't used to it; this wasn't what he had imagined.

"Oh, I forgot, because the three of us are old teammates, we already have a good understanding of each other."

"It's okay, just hide behind me."

Lolota was surprised that Chael would ask that question, and she smiled and patted Chael on the shoulder.

They had handled similar tasks many times before and had prepared contingency plans.

"I understand, I just need to cooperate, right?"

It was only then that Xia Er truly realized that he had come along just to see for himself.

He's not the main carry, even though his teammates don't seem very reliable.

A newly promoted civilian employee?

Klein glanced at Xia Er, who was also about to be promoted, at which point his weekly wage would rise to £4.5.

After approaching within ten meters of the warehouse door, Dunn stopped and looked at Klein, saying:

Is there any danger involved in divination?

"There's no need for divination; it's too dangerous inside."

As soon as Klein took out the divination crystal, Shael gave the answer, and Klein looked over in confusion.

"I am the Mystic."

"I could sense that danger was brewing."

Chael's inspiration was already warning him, even skipping the divination.

"Let's do another divination to confirm if there's any danger in the surrounding environment."

Leonard said.

"That's right. If the Secret Order has been monitoring Riel Bieber's house, they might follow us here."

Dunn also agreed.

Xia Er looked at Klein, who had begun to perform divination, and hesitated to speak. Why didn't he perform divination in the carriage earlier to see if someone was following him?

Bishop Elektra let him go along to broaden his horizons.

But is this world just a giant makeshift operation?

Xia'er could sense that something strange was beginning to happen inside the warehouse. If they didn't stop it, there might be even bigger trouble. And they were still going to perform divination at the door?

Don't you know that notebook can also "divine" whether we've reached the door?

"Then let's split up. You guys cover the rear, and I'll clear the way. I also have a sealed artifact with me, so its actual combat power is quite strong."

Xia'er was somewhat disappointed with this operation. He pulled out the "accessory" he was wearing inside his collar and ran towards the warehouse door.

"The surrounding environment is dangerous!"

Klein sensed that someone was interfering with his divination and quickly called out a warning.

"Maynard!"

When El Hasen saw his teammate break away from the group and run towards the warehouse door at a great speed, he immediately wanted to chase after El.

However, at this moment, an orange fireball suddenly flew over and smashed into the center of the group at an extremely fast speed. The night watchmen had no time to pay attention to Xia'er and had to dodge.

"Keep an eye on the boxes!"

Al Hassen rolled away, dodging the fireball, and threw the box a few meters away, out of the way of the battle.

Leonard and Borgia quickly approached, protecting "2-049" from seven meters away.

"Dunne, I'm leaving this to you. I have to go and bring my team back."

"Lolota, if you need support here, send me a signal immediately."

Al Hassen drew his silver rapier, gave instructions to Dunn and Lolota, who were on guard with their guns, and then rushed toward the inner warehouse.

Although it was not advisable to split up the troops at this point, this charming middle-aged gentleman could not simply abandon his team.

Moreover, Dunn, a Sequence 7, leading three Sequence 8s and one Sequence 9, is more than enough.

The danger actually lies with him.

Boom boom boom!

As he drew closer, El Hassen heard muffled impacts coming from inside the warehouse. His dissatisfaction, impatience, and worry caused by Xia'er's unauthorized actions gradually subsided. His heart sank as he realized that this was the passive ability of the sealed artifact "3-089".

"I hope everything is alright."

When he rushed into the warehouse, he saw candles that appeared to be remnants of a ritual inside the warehouse, and dark red bloodstains on the ground.

With the "Soul Slayer's Silver Key" clenched in her mouth, Xia Er held a black-covered notebook in one hand and a steel pipe she had picked up in the other, repeatedly slamming it against a middle-aged man whose hands were broken and who was screaming pitifully, forcing him to stagger backward.

He saw Al Hassen come in and shouted excitedly:

"Senior, I've subdued him!"

"You've come at the right time, let's attack together!"