Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 213: Lurking

Chapter 213: Lurking

This was Alex’s first time walking through the streets of Popolis.

As he’d seen through his window yesterday, they were desolate and almost devoid of life.

Not even tramps could be seen.

An eerie silence permeated the area and apart from the occasional movement of people with hoods on, one would think Popolis was a ghost city.

Of course, apart from the strange state of Popolis, what was even stranger was the news he’d heard.

Watson, the drunk doctor who checked up on him yesterday had died so abruptly.

Was that how it was in Popolis?... A person you saw the day before could become a corpse the next day.

Though Watson was no one special, Alex was left to ponder his death as he related it to his own.

What would happen if he were faced with the reality of death?... He didn’t know but weirdly enough, he felt like he’d already been faced with it before... and it was not from his time on Earth.

Deep in thought, Alex didn’t register what was happening ahead until Gerald called his attention.

"Are you coming in?" Gerald asked as they stopped a few meters away from an apartment building.

Currently, the old brown building was surrounded by a few Enforcers, easy to make out from the badges they wore.

"Is that the place?" Alex inquired.

Gerald nodded. "Mn."

"Then, let’s go."

With that, both men arrived before the Enforcers.

It only took one look for them to allow Gerald entry along with Alex.

The duo soon entered the building which was currently filled with baleful auras.

Seated at the counter was an old man with one eye.

He glanced at the door briefly before quickly looking away, an unmistakable sense of guilt visible on his face.

"Harold," Gerald muttered somewhat aggressively as he walked toward the counter.

The old man actively ignored him, not even bothering to acknowledge his presence.

"You could have sent a telegram, anything!... How could you just let him die?" Gerald berated, a hint of anger discernible from his voice.

"..." Harold remained silent, his demeanor possessing a melancholic undertone.

"Hah... damn you." Muttering the words, Gerald turned away and made his way up the stairs, leaving Alex to scrutinize Harold.

Seemingly feeling Alex’s gaze on him, Harold turned and scowled. "What?... You plan on berating me too?"

"..." Alex remained silent for a brief moment before letting out a sigh, and then he made his way up the stairs.

***

The apartment was a mess with the pungent smell of alcohol and rotten flesh merging to form a most repulsive odor.

It was currently occupied by a muscular man donning a brown jacket with a brown shirt and khaki trousers with what looked like the hilt for a switchblade hanging from his side.

Alongside him, a middle-aged priest walked around the apartment, chanting a verse from the Noxus while swinging what looked like a molded image of a burning bush from a long chain.

His actions were methodical, almost scripted, as though he’d done it several times before now.

Gerald stepped in first with Alex following closely behind.

The muscular man glanced at Gerald as he remarked. "You are late."

"Thomas, I got the telegram... where is he?"

"In there." The man... no, Thomas replied while pointing toward the bedroom.

Gerald took a deep breath before making his way toward the room while Alex remained, scrutinizing the apartment with a trained look.

Having not paid much heed to him at first, Thomas regarded him. "Who are you?"

"A new citizen, I guess." Alex casually replied as he walked to a wall and placed his palm against it.

"A new citizen in this godforsaken city?... You must have more than two balls."

"Maybe," Alex muttered before turning to meet the man’s gaze. "Tell me something."

"I don’t think I have to."

"Haven’t you considered the fact that the Shadows are coming from the Labyrinth?"

"You think we are stupid?... Of course, we know that’s the source.

"But..."

"Hah, Gerald, where the hell did this guy come from?" Thomas muttered just as Gerald emerged from the bedroom.

"I don’t know. Saw him on the outskirts and brought him after he paid a lot of cash."

"Hmm." Thomas regarded Alex again before letting out a sigh. "Are you a Mystic?"

"Can’t you tell?" Alex asked back.

Thomas sighed again. "I guess as long as you aren’t an enemy, any help is useful."

"Good to know," Alex replied, a fake smile adorning his visage for a moment.

Actively ignoring the gesture, Thomas remarked. "We can’t just head into the Labyrinth without any protection for the citizens. Also, there’s a cult..."

"Who worships the Black King?"

"Mn, they call themselves Dark Acolytes. They are keeping watch over the path leading to the Labyrinth and their leader is not at a level we can face."

"Have you tried asking for reinforcements?"

"Your questions are starting to annoy me."

"..."

"Hah, we have but unfortunately, the Defence Headquarters and even the ArchBishop assigned to Ra’as have decided against wasting resources on Popolis."

"Why?"

"Because this city is functionally obsolete. If not for the fact it acts as a watchtower for the Labyrinth, they wouldn’t give two fucks about it. Since they can’t be sure that sending more people would help, they’d rather just keep us trapped here and create a barrier around us and the Labyrinth. It saves manpower apparently... fucking bastards!" Thomas gritted his teeth, clearly aggrieved at the current state of the city he was meant to be the guardian of as an Enforcer.

Alex nodded thoughtfully, his gaze momentarily trailing off from Thomas only for his expression to freeze as he sensed something.

In a calm tone, he muttered. "It’s still here."

"Huh?" Both Thomas and Gerald were left perplexed by his sudden words only to be jolted from their confusion as the effigy the middle-aged priest was carrying burst into flames, illuminating the entire apartment in a dull light, at the same time, a horrible screech erupted at which point, all the shadows in the room moved, quickly coalescing into a 7-foot tall shadow monster with nothing but a sickening grin on its featureless face.