"Hahaha, old man, you sure act fast. I thought you were going to keep wasting words with them." A laugh echoed from the surrounding gray fog.
The King of the Deep Sea wore a savage grin as he surveyed the corpses of Awakened Ones strewn across the ground. Jiang Yan had sent him to keep an eye on Redd—if Redd refused to act and even let people leave,
then death awaited him. They would never tolerate someone who hadn't fully committed; such a person was far too dangerous to keep around.
Redd looked at the King of the Deep Sea, his tone cold. "Once I decide something, I don't change my mind. This should put Jiang Yan completely at ease."
The King of the Deep Sea didn't answer immediately; he simply left with that savage grin.
After confirming that Redd was dead-set on rescuing Lina, he had to return and guard the shoreline to keep any small fry from slipping in.
Outside the gray fog, night soon fell.
The stationed officer outside paced back and forth inside the camp.
"Why hasn't anyone come back—did something go wrong?" he muttered. It had already been half a day since Hariman and the others entered.
So far, only one Awakened had returned with intel; no one else had come out.
After a moment's thought, he pulled out his phone and reported it up the chain.
In the capital of Tizi Country, inside the Ao Gang Society's cathedral.
Doyle and Vice-President Adolf Cyril had not left; they sat waiting for news.
Beep-beep-beep! The phone on the table rang; Adolf reached out and answered.
An urgent voice came through: "President, Vice-President, the team that entered Roset City hasn't emerged for ten hours—they've likely met with disaster inside."
Doyle's expression darkened as he listened. After a long pause he said, "I understand."
With that, he hung up and looked at Adolf.
Adolf stood, his face grave. "I'll go myself. If I move fast, I might still save Hariman and the rest."
Doyle took a ring from his coat; set in it was a gray crystal like a diamond.
"Take this. It might help at a critical moment." Doyle tossed the ring over.
Adolf caught it and looked at him, then suddenly said, "Teacher, if I don't come back, ask Awakened Ones from other countries for help. You can't go in again."
Tizi Country had only two Level Five Awakened, yet a population over a hundred million. Once there was no Level Five to anchor the nation,
those hundred million people would become a mouth-watering prize in the eyes of other Awakened Ones.
"I know. May the Lord protect you." Doyle sighed helplessly.
He was already old; he could no longer fight. Otherwise he wouldn't be sending his own disciple—the Ao Gang Society's future successor.
Time moved to the second day of the gray fog's appearance. A piece of news suddenly spread through Awakened organizations across the world.
Nineteen Ao Gang Society Awakened had gone missing inside the gray fog—including two Level-Four existences.
The news struck fear into some Level-Four Awakened; so many of them could overthrow a small country outright.
Yet in Roset City they hadn't even made a splash.
Apart from Roset City, the Monster incidents that had nearly subsided now showed signs of flaring up again—though compared with the gray-fog event, the topic drew far less attention.
Beneath the skeleton tree inside Roset City, Jiang Yan stood with hands in pockets, looking up at the skull atop the tree.
The pale bone surface had already tinged with green, deepening toward a darker hue.
"President, we've just received word: the Ao Gang Society's vice-president has set out openly and should reach Roset City soon." Behind Jiang Yan, a Monster covered in fish-scales spoke respectfully.
Without turning, Jiang Yan said, "Got it. Go back. Report anything important."
"Yes!" The fish-scale Monster bowed to Jiang Yan, then turned and ran toward the sea.
Jiang Yan looked toward the streets outside the city, his gaze distant. 'Didn't expect the difficulty to spike on day two—a Level Five's coming straight in.'
With that thought, he sank his consciousness into the pearl of the abyss.
pearl of the abyss: 43971/51200
'Two thousand more. Looks like the other side isn't slow either. We should manage another summon before the skeleton tree finishes.' Jiang Yan turned and walked into a nearby restaurant.
Outside, at the army camp, an officer respectfully accompanied the newly arrived Adolf.
Beside Adolf, Nick was reporting some of the intelligence they'd gathered yesterday.
"How are the civilians we brought back—anything found?" Adolf turned to Nick.
Nick answered at once: "President Adolf, everyone we brought back has been examined in the next city. The results came out just before you arrived."
At this point, a hint of fear crossed Nick's face: "The examinations show they're all physically fine—only their brainwaves are unusually active, just like when people dream."
Originally they'd planned to wait for Hariman's team to withdraw, then let a Mental-type Awakened probe in detail.
But after the accident, they had to rely on hospital equipment for the check first.
Adolf pondered, then looked at the two men: "Send those people we brought back to the capital. Let my teacher examine them personally."
Doyle was a Level Five Mental-type Awakened; if he acted, he'd definitely find something different.
"Yes, sir!" Both replied at once.
Moments later,
a burly figure stepped out of the camp and headed toward the gray fog.
Adolf's face was grave, clad in a black clerical robe; his 1.9-meter muscular frame stretched the garment taut.
Looking at the gray fog that occupied nearly all the space ahead, he murmured, "Let me see what inside could have cost my Ao Gang Society so many Awakened."
With a stride, he stepped directly into the gray fog.
He walked along the road ahead; the surrounding gray fog wrapped around his body.
Adolf didn't use an ability to block it; instead he reached out to sense it. 'Just as Nick said—these fog can actually invade a person's mental domain.'
At the thought, shock flashed in his eyes as he looked at the fog blanketing the entire city: "If all this fog has the same effect, how terrifying must its source be?"
Inside the gray fog, on the roof of a ten-story building,
Redd sat cross-legged on the ground, eyes closed, regulating his state.
"Duke Redd, a Level Five has entered—Adolf Cyril, vice-president of the Ao Gang Society!" A voice came from above.
Wei Gaocheng's figure landed behind Redd.