The newcomer looked at Richard with a hint of surprise.
Seeing this, Richard felt completely understanding. The rookie was clearly flattered by the warm reception from a veteran squad member.
Having joined the squad not long ago himself and only recently moved past the lowly treatment of a newcomer, Richard felt it was his duty to do something for the new guy so he could integrate quickly into the group.
Precisely because he had endured that awkwardness himself, he didn't want another recruit to go through it.
Most importantly, Richard found this new recruit strangely pleasing to the eye for some reason, instinctively wanting to be close to him and look out for him.
Without hesitation, Richard slung an arm around the recruit's shoulders. The rookie was somewhat tall, forcing Richard to stand on tiptoe.
"Don't worry. With me looking out for you from now on, you'll soon experience the unique charm of our squad."
The recruit spoke up, asking, "You... frequently visit pastry shops?"
"Ha, of course!"
"You're... very familiar with them?"
"Nonsense, naturally!"
Richard tossed his head, doing his best to let his bangs catch the night breeze at just the right angle, letting his expression harmonize with the moonlight into a properly world-weary demeanor.
"Sigh, they're all pitiful souls. Either their fathers ran up gambling debts, or their younger siblings need tuition. So, whenever I can lend a helping hand, I do."
"You..."
Richard raised a hand to cut him off. "Can't help it—I'm just that kindhearted."
At that moment, Neo and Karen walked over. Everyone silently put on their masks. Every time the captain appeared, the atmosphere of the entire squad shifted in an instant.
"Let me introduce you. This is our new recruit..."
At this point, Neo glanced at Karen.
Karen immediately chimed in, "The recruit Memphis."
The newcomer remained silent.
Richard nudged the rookie's chest with an elbow and teased, "That name sounds just as awful as my dad's."
"Tonight is a cleanup mission with three Whip of Order squads acting together," Neo said. "I have decided to split our squad into two combat formations.
"Karen, Fanny, Peige, Wend, Gray, Richard, Memphis, and I will form the first formation under my direct command. The rest will form the second formation under Marlo's command.
"The first formation will advance to probe and make contact. The second formation will maintain an ample distance behind us, ready at all times to reinforce or intercept."
Hearing the captain's arrangement, astonishment surfaced in everyone's eyes. They had assumed this was a simple cleanup mission to dispose of aberrant demons that had run amok. Some had even thought that, as usual, their squad would move out early to wrap up the targets and scavenge the spoils, not even leaving the other two squads a chance to clean up the battlefield.
Yet the captain's current deployment was clearly designed for an immediate retreat the moment things went south. Evidently, the captain considered the risk of this cleanup mission to be exceedingly high.
"I don't wish to see any teammate die, but if anyone insists on being careless, I will have no choice but to attend their memorial service.
"Now—
"Move out!"
The entire squad boarded a freight train heading toward the outskirts of the city.
Upon reaching their destination, everyone jumped from the train. Under Neo's lead, the first combat formation advanced on foot, while the second combat formation rested in place under Marlo.
The destination was a seaside estate, once the fief of a flourishing family. However, after the family's decline, even their fief had been "sold" off.
Naturally, transactions of this sort were no ordinary sales. It was more like another version of "Allen Manor"—except Allen Manor had pulled through, whereas that family had not.
For a family with its own system of faith, decline often meant the clan was reduced to pigs in a pigsty; what they lost was not merely their wealth, but their souls.
Before long, after crossing a low hill, an ancient castle estate appeared before their eyes toward the coast ahead on their flank.
Electric lamps illuminated the estate grounds, and lights were on in several rooms of the castle. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
Peige laid down a simple aura-concealing array, and the group took a brief rest behind the hill.
Fanny spoke up. "This was originally Sandro Castle, but it is now Fleiss Castle. The Fleiss family is a supplier of iron quartz sand and has business dealings with the Church. However, there was a problem with the composition of the latest shipment of iron quartz sand—an excessive amount of defective product. So, three days ago, the relevant Church department dispatched personnel to demand an explanation."
"And then?"
"Then the people sent to hold them accountable never returned."
The fact that the dispatched personnel had not returned spoke volumes.
Thinking about it simply by replacing the Aless family with the Allen family: would the Allen family dare to mix defective goods into shipments directly supplied to the Church of Order? Obviously not.
And when faced with Church envoys sent to hold them accountable, would the Allen family dare detain them... or resort to even more extreme measures? The Allen family would never dare.
How could a mere family dare disrespect the Church of Order?
Karen was still somewhat puzzled, however. He asked, "In other words, we don't actually know what the specific situation inside the manor is right now?"
"Correct."
"Yet the captain called this a cleanup mission?"
"Having committed such a grave error and caused such enormous trouble, regardless of whether the Aless family acted voluntarily or under coercion, there is no longer any need for them to continue existing."
Karen nodded, indicating he understood.
So whether aberrant demons were at work or not was irrelevant. The Church of Order considered itself offended, so action was inevitable.
Although all signs suggested that unless the entire Aless family had lost their minds, they could not possibly have done such a thing, the Church of Order had no desire to dig into the underlying reasons.
This was indeed the arrogance inherent to an Orthodox Church.
However, for the team carrying out tonight's mission, such a classification offered a great deal of convenience. They wouldn't need to hold back when striking; after all, an assault mission was far simpler than a rescue operation.
Richard plucked a stem of grass beside him and popped it into his mouth, chewing on it little by little. Though the pungent, earthy taste nearly made him gag, he maintained an impassive expression and a seasoned gaze.
Looking at the new recruit beside him and noticing the stiffness in his posture, Richard shook his head. "I can't tell whether you're lucky or unlucky. The captain actually assigned you to the first combat formation."
His tone carried the implication that only veteran members were worthy of undertaking such an important assignment.
The newcomer said nothing.
"Are you very nervous?" Richard smiled. "Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
As he spoke, Richard patted his backpack.
The newcomer still didn't speak. Instead, he lay back and gazed up at the stars in the sky.
Richard felt this rookie had no grasp of newcomer etiquette whatsoever. He was looking out for him so generously, yet the guy didn't even know how to respond.
Looking up, Richard glanced toward Karen on the other side. He really wanted to circle over and lie beside Karen; that way, they could chat and ease the boredom.
Finally,
Neo's wait came to an end.
Two vehicular convoys sped along the road beneath the hillside. The reason it was easy to tell they were two separate groups was that one could clearly see the cars cutting each other off and provoking one another as they drove.
Seeing this, Richard's lips curved into a mocking smile, and he quipped, "Ah, what a bunch of mischievous children."
After his sigh of lament, Richard looked again at the recruit lying beside him. The newcomer was still staring at the stars.
The two convoys pulled up at the main gate of Aless Castle, and two groups of people climbed out of the vehicles.
Both parties entered the castle together. Once they were all inside, every light in the entire castle abruptly went out, plunging it into pitch darkness. This darkness was exceptionally bizarre, for even the moonlight and starlight seemed unable to pierce it, as if the castle had been severed from the world in an instant.
"Something... seems off," Richard said.
"What's off about it?"
The captain's voice came from right behind Richard, startling him thoroughly.
Turning his head to look at the captain who had appeared at his side, Richard swallowed hard. "Captain, how could I possibly know the details..."
"It's neither a boundary nor a formation. It's pure shroud."
"A shroud? Its body is that massive?"
"A body doesn't refer only to flesh and blood. Anything that can extend outward from oneself counts as part of the body."
"What do you think it is?"
"Unclear."
"Then do you think we should go take a closer look?"
"Unclear."
"Should I report this directly right now and maintain observation in place?"
"Unclear."
Neo nodded, far from angry; he even chuckled. Though wearing a mask, Richard could hear the captain's soft laugh.
Seeing the captain conversing with the recruit in this manner, no matter how foolish Richard was, he realized this newcomer was no ordinary fellow. For a moment, Richard felt his face burn with embarrassment.
The captain moved to another position. Taking advantage of the moment, Richard nudged the recruit and asked, "What did you do before this?"
The recruit turned his head, looked at Richard, and then turned back to continue watching the stars.
Richard's lips twitched as he unloaded a silent barrage of curses at the newcomer.
"What are you sensing right now?" the captain's voice sounded beside Karen.
"Sensing?"
"Yes."
Karen felt the captain was treating him like some sort of Chaset prophetess.
"I think it must be very dangerous down there. But the specifics depend on when those two squads come out. Or, even if they can't make it out, there should at least be some commotion inside the manor."
From the moment the two squads entered the manor until now, there had been no sound at all. Of course, even though Karen and the others were positioned on high ground, they could not see the slightest glimpse inside the castle.
"My intuition is very strong," Neo said. "That mass of darkness makes me very uncomfortable."
Karen knew the captain possessed power of the Light system. After that darkness appeared and swallowed the entire manor, the captain must have sensed something.
Karen even suspected the captain had felt a premonition earlier than he had. Mentioning at the entrance of Lemar Pottery Studio that afternoon that he had caught up on sleep inside had probably been a hint; perhaps the captain simply hadn't wanted to play the "prophetess" himself and had deflected it onto Karen.
In any case, this was the first time Karen had ever seen the captain—who always considered himself a hunting hound—be so... cautious.
Minutes and seconds ticked away.
Nearly an hour had passed since the two squads entered the castle estate.
Throughout that time, Neo, as captain, had issued no commands whatsoever. Everyone in the first combat formation silently crouched or lay on the reverse slope of the hill.
"Time's about up. Fanny, notify the second formation. Have them report to the Church in my name: our three squads were ambushed by an unknown entity inside the manor, suffered heavy casualties, and request reinforcements."
"Yes, Captain."
After giving the order, the captain's figure vanished again, only for Karen to spot him once more on the opposite slope.
"Where's your sword? Why didn't you bring it this time?" Peige asked as she scuttled over beside Karen.
"Too heavy. Felt it wasn't very convenient."
"Oh, I see." Peige patted the back of Karen's hand and glanced toward where the captain was now stationed. "Don't you think the captain is acting a bit strange today?"
"The captain surely has his reasons."
"Of course I know that." Peige rolled her eyes at Karen and said no more. Instead, she lay flat on her stomach, twiddling her nose ring with her fingertips.
Suddenly, the darkness that had blanketed the Aless Castle estate began to disperse, and the lights revived.
A crowd of people walked out of the manor gates. They appeared to be the members of the two Whip of Order squads. They climbed into the cars they had arrived in, and the vehicles soon started up. Their headlights flicked back on, and they turned around one after another, heading back along the road they had come from. On the return trip, they even continued cutting each other off and provoking one another.
The entire scene carried an indescribable eeriness.
Since all three squads had received the exact same mission, its nature could not possibly have been peaceful. The two squads had gone in and then come right back out, yet there was no sign of disturbance inside the castle?
Then what had they gone in for?
The only reasonable explanation seemed to be that Aless Castle had offered sufficient sincerity in their apology, handed over the culprit, and paid the two squads enough compensation so they could take the person back to complete the mission. After all, the extent of a cleanup mission was ultimately judged by the cleaners—the captains of the respective squads.
Now, they had effectively finished the mission and begun their journey back.
Yet if matters were truly that simple, how could the darkness that had appeared earlier be explained?
Neo's figure reappeared in the middle of the group. He ordered, "Full squad, fall back. Fanny, send word to the second formation to find a way to intercept those two convoys."
"Yes, Captain."
Just like that, after waiting on the slope for nearly two hours without doing anything, everyone began to withdraw. Yet no one voiced a single complaint.
After marching back for about fifteen minutes, the convoy appeared on the narrow road ahead. All the cars were parked by the roadside with their headlights on and engines still running.
Marlo and his group stood on both flanks. Seeing the captain return with the others, Marlo stepped forward.
"Captain, something's wrong. Following your orders, we were preparing to intercept the convoy. As we moved up along the road, we found these cars parked on the shoulder. There's not a single soul inside."
Neo walked over to the roadside, opened the door of one car, felt the seat with his hand, then leaned inside and sniffed. He found nothing out of the ordinary.
The two squads had clearly driven out in these cars; they had absolutely no reason to abandon their vehicles and proceed on foot here.
So where on earth had the people from those two squads gone?
Or rather... who was it that had driven the cars out in the first place?
"Regroup and fall back! Await the reinforcement team!"
Captain Neo issued the command. This meant the mission had virtually ended in failure, and he had no intention of continuing.
The team began marching toward the railway where they had initially jumped from the train. Midway along the route, there was an intersection between the railway and the road: the railway ran overhead, while the road passed beneath through an arched bridge underpass.
Just as everyone retreated to this point, lights shone from inside the underpass. Cars drove out one after another, honking at each other, cutting one another off, with many passengers leaning out of the windows flipping their middle fingers at the other side.
The number of cars, models, and license plates were identical to the ones the team had just discovered abandoned on the road behind them.
"Block the cars!"
Neo barked the order.
The squad stepped onto the road, and Fanny fired a red flare with her rifle.
The two convoys ground to a halt. The doors flew open, and a large crowd poured out.
Immediately after, two men wearing silver masks stepped out from the two groups. One of them asked, "Is that Neo's squad?"
The other chimed in, "It has to be them. I heard from our peers in Sangpu long ago that they're always like hunting hounds, eager to snatch the meat early and not leaving even crumbs for anyone else.
"Damn it, looks like we arrived late again. Whatever was going on in the manor must have already been handled by them."
Neo walked over, looking at the two captains standing across from him.
"I am Neo."
"Hello, Neo. I'm Anthony."
"Kanse."
Neo removed his mask, revealing his face, and said to them, "Please take off your masks now."
"Neo, what is the meaning of this? We're in the middle of a mission." Even as he said this, Anthony removed his mask, revealing an emaciated face.
"What's the big idea?" Kanse also took off his mask, revealing a face framed by a bushy beard.
Neo's gaze swept over their faces. He did not speak.
"Has your squad already cleared the manor?" Anthony asked.
"Neo, you can't just let us make this trip for nothing!" Kanse shouted. "At least leave me a little something so I can treat my boys to a midnight snack."
"My apologies..."
"Heh, looks like it's already resolved."
"Damn it! Is there really no room for discussion? The three squads took on this mission together, after all."
Neo looked at the two of them and said, "My apologies. I suspect you two are already dead."
Anthony and Kanse instantly took on guarded expressions. Anthony drew a leather whip, while two scimitars appeared in Kanse's hands, held crosswise before his chest. Seeing their captains adopt defensive postures, the squad members behind them stepped into combat readiness one after another.
Neo pushed back his sleeve, revealing a silver wristwatch, and said, "Check the time."
"What on earth do you mean? Are you babbling like an unweaned babe!" Kanse cursed directly.
Neo stated, "Four-oh-five."
Anthony looked down at his watch, his gaze hardening, and answered, "One-oh-five."
Chapter 235