Damn it! Let’s smash the darkness together!
Chapter 457 - 113: Black Zhen School, Sky Sea, A Deal (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Chapter 457: Chapter 113: Black Zhen School, Sky Sea, A Deal (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Storm Manor was enormous,

Much larger than the swirling waves of Su Ji Herrera.

The narrow, cramped corridors of Storm Manor were also very long,

Even longer than her shapely, rounded legs.

"This way, you guys wait in the car for me; I’ll be right back," Xu Shu pointed towards the city gates.

Gu Pan hesitated, "Going in alone? Isn’t that a bit too risky? If..."

She glanced at Su Ji Herrera, clearly afraid she might turn hostile later.

Xu Shu smiled confidently, "Hey, don’t worry, haven’t you noticed? This Su Ji is clueless, the nuns lack wit. They’re nothing in front of me. Besides, she’s the one needing a favor from me this time. I just happen to have some questions for her as well, and I can’t let such an advantage slip by."

"Alright, then be careful yourself."

Seeing Xu Shu’s behavior, Gu Pan realized that he hadn’t told her everything, so she didn’t insist and withdrew with her aunt back to the car, quietly watching from the hillside outside the city gate.

The nuns lined up on both sides, standing upright like ceremonial troops; Sotos buried its head in the ground, only resuming its fleshly form and viciously grabbing the thigh meat it had not finished earlier to continue gnawing after Xu Shu and Su Ji had passed the corner one after the other.

Xu Shu walked alone, following behind the towering beauty that was Su Ji Herrera, admiring how this tall woman, over one meter eighty, swayed her waist and hips with elegant yet arrogant poise, much like an Empress, and proceeded forward.

One in front and one behind, they quickly traversed the narrow corridors, ascending and descending steps, moving towards the castle interior ahead.

By then, Xu Shu was no longer afraid of her turning against him, because through a series of tests, he had fully confirmed that this time, Su Ji Herrera had no intention of assaulting him, so it was alright for Gu Pan and the others not to follow.

If there was any intention to fight, the ordeal with Sotos, the door guardian, would have surely sparked a conflict already.

The castle in front presented a "mountain" shape, exhibiting a typical medieval stronghold style, located at the northern edge of the manor. Under the moonlight, the towering clock tower and watchtowers imparted a sense of mystery and ancientness.

On both sides of the walkway were rows of low stone houses connected end to end, each illuminated by the relatively economical and practical Night Light Stone lamps. Despite the late hour, people were still laboring inside.

Some women sat on the ground, surrounding tall piles of herbal plants, constantly comparing them with pictures hung on the wall and sorting through them;

Others stood in front of stoves, vigorously fanning the flames, with pots boiling unidentifiable viscous liquids;

There were also some older but functional medium to small-sized machines, engaged in metal cutting, ore polishing, potion soaking, and other tasks.

As Xu Shu passed by, he mentally counted and discovered that at least four to five hundred people were gathered here.

They were all humans, normal humans, who had not undergone any mutations.

They would usually share rooms in groups of three to five, with men and women, young and old.

As expected, most of these people looked haggard and underfed, but unexpectedly, while their eyes were tired, they were clear and lacked the fanaticism associated with being brainwashed by a Cult.

It seemed that this place had become a fairly large refugee shelter on the Wasteland.

"It doesn’t seem quite like what I imagined..."

Xu Shu muttered to himself.

Strange, the Patrol Army comes to the nearby supply point at least once a month.

It looks like this place had formed less than a month ago? But the scale doesn’t seem to fit.

He suddenly thought about the (15,19) lighthouse supply point, noting it had been abandoned for quite some time, yet not overly desolate, and seemingly visited occasionally.

Could it be that Su Ji’s subordinates were deliberately faking it to appease the passing Patrol Soldiers?

Xu Shu was beginning to get an idea.

By this time, Su Ji had stopped ahead. She looked back at him with a light smile, "Mr. Li Fengtian, it seems you’re quite curious about why so many civilians would reside here. Maybe you’ll know the answer once you’re inside."

Xu Shu walked up, shaking his head, "What I’m even more curious about is why they’re still working past midnight. Do they get overtime pay? If it’s not considered overtime, do they operate on rotating shifts? Is it three shifts or two? How much rest do they get during the day? Is the cafeteria food cheap? Do they get one day off a week?"

He fired off several questions in rapid succession, freezing the smile that had been on Su Ji Herrera’s face and leaving her momentarily speechless.

Seeing she wasn’t speaking for quite some time, Xu Shu thought better of giving her a hard time and instead sighed, "Alright, I admit I am a bit curious."

"Then you will see..." Su Ji’s eyes lit up, about to speak.

However, Xu Shu had already continued, "I’m curious about how long it took you to capture so many people, if anyone has tried to escape, what happens to those who fail to escape, if they’re all eaten by that creature at the gate."

Su Ji, holding her head high, retorted, "Hmph, what would you think if I said they all stay here voluntarily?"

"Then I can only say cut the bullshit," Xu Shu scoffed.

Who would willingly live in the same place as a man-eating gatekeeper beast?

Su Ji: ???

Seriously, can’t we have a proper conversation anymore!

Annoyed, she closed her mouth, deciding not to dwell further on this matter and went to press a switch, slowly opening the gate.

Amid the harsh squeaking friction, the wooden doors swung inwards, revealing a spacious hall on the first floor. The walls and ceiling were lit with rows of white candles forming wall sconces and chandeliers.