The relationship between the Vice President of the Demon Hunter Guild and Female Member Jialan Sofia is well-known, and Jacob has never tried to conceal it. However, Jacob just grinned: "What she gave me I've long used up. What we have now are the torches made by little Veronica. Haven't you all seen her?"
"Yes, she's really a beautiful witch, as beautiful as a morning rose covered in dew." Jock laughed and said, "Back then, many of us Demon Hunters were betting in private on which young Demon Hunter she would choose as a partner."
"No one guessed right; she wasn't interested in us Demon Hunters at all. As things turned out as she wished, she's closely connected with the Nord hero 'Great Hammer' Laine, who's recently famed across the Continent. If only I could be adopted by a Lord too." Another Demon Hunter joked, but anyone could hear the envy in his voice.
"Veronica has high ambitions." Jacob raised the torch and inspected the mushrooms on the ground and the various strange patterns on the tunnel walls: "She's picked herself a gem; Laine's growth speed is beyond imagination. He's not yet 25 this year, and he's already at the Legendary Middle-tier. I've lived for over a hundred years and have been stuck at the Legendary High-Tier for almost fifty years. It seems this life won't grant me the chance to touch the Holy Sanctuary."
"Don't say that, Vice President, you have plenty of time," some Demon Hunters comforted.
"No... I can feel it, my body is rapidly aging. It won't take too many years, maybe ten, maybe twenty, and I'll truly become an old man. So we must hurry, guys, be cautious." Jacob knew his body was gradually aging, so he had to seize this chance to hunt Belte down and let that Fallen not remain at large.
After passing through a narrow tunnel, the Deep Mine District suddenly opened up before several Demon Hunters, with a 20-meter high ceiling supported by numerous stone pillars and reinforced by many wooden frames. Even after thousands of years, several Demon Hunters could still faintly see the outlines where the grand dwarf statues used to be. The Deep Mine District in Marinburg also left traces of dwarven masterpieces, and the tales of adventurers finding treasures here weren't mere rumors but reality.
Four Demon Hunters cautiously advanced in the tunnel, communicating with hand signals as much as possible. No one knew what lurked inside the Deep Mine District, a paradise for various Demons but definitely not for humans.
"This way, Vice President and brothers." Jock found a way up; using grappling hooks and climbing skills, he crossed an inconspicuous low wall. Then everyone realized that walking a short distance along the top of the low wall led to another path.
"How did you find this damned road?" Several Demon Hunters cursed as they climbed the low wall and walked along the wall, feeling uncomfortable having to crouch to move.
"It's a smell." Jock placed his finger under his nose and spoke softly: "Remember? Slaanesh Cult members love applying lots of incense and perfume oil. When I checked near here, there was an irritating smell, and after searching for half a day, I found this entrance."
"MMP, you managed to find it, I'll give you that." Jacob and the other two Demon Hunters cursed and laughed, then followed a long corridor, arriving above a cliff top, beneath which lay the warehouse Jock had scouted.
The warehouse door was chained with iron chains. Ordinary tier and Elite Tier individuals would find it hard to break this door. This warehouse was well-hidden, likely receiving few visitors, and a few Demon Hunters hid in the shadows, cautiously scouting everything.
"Hmm~ various footprints, leather shoes, large leather boots, and... hoof prints and dance shoe prints. Some footprints are new, some are old, someone should be here." Jacob checked the footprints on the ground and gestured to the Demon Hunters behind him for cautious action: "This could be a gathering place for the Chaos Sect, everyone be careful."
The Demon Hunters quietly affirmed as they extinguished their torches. One Demon Hunter softly approached Jacob and asked, "Vice President? What now? Do we directly explore this warehouse?"
Jacob signaled the Demon Hunters to be patient. His mutated amber eyes were tightly fixed on the warehouse door.
"The way the chains at the door are tied is peculiar, implying the person managing the door was once a sailor."
"The iron door looks old, and the lock shows lots of wear marks, indicating frequent comings and goings."
"Jock, are you sure you found this place by yourself? You weren't lured here by something?"
Jacob's inquiry left the young Demon Hunter Jock somewhat confounded. After recalling carefully, he uncertainly replied: "I... I think so? I remember encountering a strange group after delving into the Deep Mine District not long. Out of curiosity, I tracked them for a while, later losing them near the wall. I found this entrance by myself, and the shards were found at the warehouse door."
"Hmph, fool, I suspect you were lured, but... it's hard to say. Let's not rush in now; lie in wait here, everyone be prepared." Jacob couldn't be sure if Jock was indeed lured, but after carefully contemplating, the experienced Demon Hunting Master made a decision: "Pick a spot; we'll quietly wait. If Belte wants to ambush us here, he's surely ready."
Subsequently, several Demon Hunters found a concealed spot on the outskirts of the warehouse, hiding themselves and quietly waiting for developments. In the darkness, only a few pairs of mutated eyes kept watch over everything.
Two hours, three hours...
After waiting for five hours, the once silent warehouse suddenly erupted with numerous voices. Countless torches and loud curses resonated as dozens of guards and several fully armored mercenaries appeared in the once empty warehouse.
"Damn it, Ox said there'd be people here, but we've waited hours without a single soul!" Follow current novels on novelFirｅ.net
"Exactly! We were deceived!"
"Screw it, we waited here as requested for six hours, and those damned Demon Hunters still haven't shown. It's not our problem anymore!"
"Yeah, we still need to get paid! Let's go, brothers, we're done; let's head back to the city for a feast!"
"Let's get moving, get moving~"
A large group of mercenaries and guards cursed, lit torches, and under a mercenary's operation, a door appeared in a tightly sealed stone wall. The group walked out one after another, disappearing through the door, which then tightly closed again.
"It was an ambush after all!" Three young Demon Hunters looked at the mercenaries' crossbows and several Fire Cannons, feeling a chill. If they had rushed in recklessly, they would likely have fallen into the ambush.
"I knew there would be an ambush." Jacob spat on the ground, signaling others to remain calm: "Wait, let's wait a bit longer. These mercenaries might not have truly left."
The restless Demon Hunters seemed confused by Jacob's order but nonetheless obeyed and continued to wait.
Things went as Jacob predicted. Ten minutes later, the mercenaries and guards returned to confirm no one showed up before finally leaving.
Once the last group departed, Jacob finally signaled the Demon Hunters to rise: "Get up, boys, let's start the operation!"
Four Demon Hunters slowly approached the warehouse, unaware that within the passage they entered was a tall man in a high-top round hat and blood-red leather coat, chuckling: "Cautious as ever, indeed your style, Jacob... Mentor!"
"But I know you too well, Mentor."
"This warehouse will be your burial ground!"