Damn it! Let’s smash the darkness together!
Chapter 465 - 115: The Little Sun and the True Witch’s Den (Seeking Monthly Tickets)_3

Chapter 465: Chapter 115: The Little Sun and the True Witch’s Den (Seeking Monthly Tickets)_3

Xu Shu didn’t elaborate much. He looked back at the direction of the church above, went by himself to a giant gate that had been patched up with an iron sheet after being broken, and swaggered out.

Gu Pan and Gu Yue Ming had been waiting on the hill outside the city for a while. They sat in the car, flashing their hazard lights, waiting for Xu Shu to get in the car. Unable to contain her curiosity, Gu Pan asked, "What happened inside just now? Why was it so bright?"

Xu Shu had been behind the wall and the gate had obstructed his view, so it wasn’t clear from the outside.

"It’s nothing, I threw a flash grenade."

Xu Shu casually concocted an excuse.

"What about these people?" Gu Pan then pointed at the nuns who followed, lined up in a row, each carrying a Ghost Fire Lantern.

"They are coming with us. I made a deal with the owner of the manor named Su Ji to help her kill someone," Xu Shu explained.

"I see..." Gu Pan’s expression was odd, her nostrils flaring as if she was sniffing something from Xu Shu.

After detecting no particular smell, her expression slightly softened, then she changed the subject: "Where to now?"

"They’ll lead the way. We’ll head back to the lighthouse we were at before."

"That works."

"Hold on."

Xu Shu suddenly paused as he spoke, turned around, and saw people inside the manor peeking out their windows due to some noises, curious and peering towards this direction.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Shu walked back onto the road inside the manor, and the nosy Wasteland Wanderers pulled back, continuing to pick herbs or mine as they were before.

It seemed they chose to ignore Xu Shu’s presence.

Xu Shu frowned slightly and walked forward, curiously inquiring, "The prison gate has been opened, and I’ve killed the watchdog. Why aren’t you escaping? Why are you still here?"

This situation was extremely abnormal.

Usually, when people captured as slaves saw this situation, shouldn’t they be overjoyed, thanking their savior while excitedly escaping to freedom away from this place?

Curious, Xu Shu added, "Don’t worry, no one is coming to kill you. I’ve asked the owner here, and she agreed to let you leave."

At Xu Shu’s words, these wanderers bowed their heads even lower, many shivering with fear.

One of them answered, "Sir, we appreciate your kindness, but we chose to stay here of our own will; no one forced us."

"Yes, we all are here voluntarily."

"Moreover, the Mother Goddess will bless us!"

"Here, there are no illnesses. If we fall ill, the Saintesses of the Church will heal us. It’s a good place here!"

Once one person started, others quickly chimed in.

Voluntarily?

Was he referring to those maids or Su Ji Herrera when mentioning Saintesses?

Su Ji had said she wasn’t with the Mother Goddess Church, and since these people mentioned "Saintesses," it seemed they weren’t referring to her.

Xu Shu pointed toward the cells, "What about those people then?"

Those in the dungeon had just been consumed by Sotos—he had seen it with his own eyes!

The group exchanged glances, saying, "Those are people with family members who are dying, beyond help. By sacrificing themselves, they can trade for their families’ redemption by the Mother Goddess. It’s also voluntary."

Xu Shu furrowed his brow.

This Mother Goddess Church indeed wasn’t a conventional sect; it seemed to be Esoteric Buddhism in disguise.

Not waiting for him to say more, an elderly woman said, "Sir, for people like us, having a safe place to stay and getting meals is already very fortunate. Plus, with the Church’s help, everyone’s life has improved. If we leave here, where would we go?"

"A safe place? Hmm."

Xu Shu chuckled, then said no more.

He went to open the door of the cells, but to his frustration, these people actually didn’t come out, staying inside.

Upon closer observation, Xu Shu realized everyone inside was sick and likely believed that sacrificing themselves was the only way to slightly improve their families’ circumstances.

"Ah, so that’s the deal. No wonder Su Ji said they were here voluntarily."

Xu Shu shook his head silently.

He had done what needed to be done. If these people were willing to leave, they could seek refuge at the nearby lighthouse. Wouldn’t they survive there as they claimed they couldn’t?

Yet, the Wasteland was also dangerous, uncertain from day to day, and the safety of the refuge wasn’t much higher, at best just offering slightly better "human rights" than being slaves here.

If talking about safety, heh, perhaps they were right. Dying one by one might indeed be safer than being attacked by monsters at a refuge, which could potentially kill dozens or hundreds.

To each their own; it’s useless to force them.

Xu Shu didn’t say much more and simply turned and left.