[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dorothy-s-forbidden-grimoire":3,"chapter-dorothy-s-forbidden-grimoire-dorothy-s-forbidden-grimoire-chapter-142":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Dorothy’s Forbidden Grimoire",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1351978,1791,"Chapter 142: Control","dorothy-s-forbidden-grimoire-chapter-142",142,"\u003Cp>Upper City of Igwynt, Knights Street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night had fallen, shrouding the upscale residential neighborhood in shadow. Streetlights cast a warm, orange glow on the surroundings, illuminating the quiet streets. A gentle night breeze swept through the empty Streets, rustling the treetops and flower beds with a soft whisper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uwaaaahhh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the house opposite No. 26, Gregor let out a big yawn as he lounged on the sofa. He glanced at the house across the street, which had long since gone dark, its occupants already asleep. He sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh... Nothing again tonight. Maybe Mr. James is just being overly cautious...\" Gregor muttered to himself. He glanced now and then at a large grandfather clock ticking away in the corner, calculating how much longer until dawn—until he could end his shift and go home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, his eyes suddenly narrowed. His gaze fixed on something outside the window—at the far end of the dark and silent street, where a group of shadows stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh... Looks like something’s finally happening.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the far end of Knights Street, in the shadow of a building beyond the reach of streetlights, a group of about a dozen figures had gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every one of them carried a weapon—makeshift and crude. Some held clubs, others wielded machetes, metal rods, or hammers. Only a few had firearms—just two or three—and even those were crude, homemade pipe guns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were local gang members from Igwynt. Tonight, they had gathered here for a job—one that promised a hefty reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen up, our plan is simple,\" a man in a tattered suit, wielding a homemade pipe gun, barked at the group. His face was marred by a prominent scar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In a moment, we’ll storm the front of House 26, break down the doors and windows, and slaughter everyone inside—floor by floor, from bottom to top. Leave no one alive. Especially the ten-year-old girl—she’s the key target. Only when she’s dead will our job be complete.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After that, we’ll all head straight to the Flooded Dockyard. Our employer will be there with our payment, and from there, we take a boat down the Ironclay River and leave Igwynt for good. Got it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chorus of responses erupted from the gang members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it! Let’s get started already!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, hurry up! I can’t stand being in this damn city any longer!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scar-faced man nodded in satisfaction as he saw the group’s eagerness. He then gave one final instruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, let’s move. There might be a few bodyguards inside, maybe a bit skilled, but don’t be afraid. We have the numbers and weapons—just overwhelm them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember—make it quick. Don’t wait for the cops. Move out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a wave of his hand, the leader signaled the group forward. They emerged from the shadows, stepping onto the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They quickly made their way to the front door of No. 26. Seeing the firmly shut entrance, the leader called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Barry, do it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was calling for the strongest member of their group, the one carrying the heavy hammer, to break down the door. But after a few seconds of silence, no one stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Irritated, the leader snapped, \"Barry! Stop messing around and break it down!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"B-Boss... b-behind us...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A weak, trembling voice answered instead. Annoyed, the leader turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Behind us? Behind us, what could possibly—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words froze mid-sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mere four or five meters behind them stood a line of five figures dressed in jet-black uniforms. Each one held a rifle, aiming directly at the gang. Their faces were concealed by iron masks, but their cold, unfeeling eyes glowed from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-What the hell? Guns?! Five rifles?! Are these the house’s bodyguards? The employer never mentioned anything about firepower like this...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader’s mind reeled as he processed the scene. Then, as if things couldn’t get worse, the door to No. 26 creaked open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More black-clad figures emerged from inside, also armed, surrounding the gang from both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the gangsters immediately shrank back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They still outnumbered the black-clad figures—ten against seven or eight—but their weapons were no match. The gang had crude, makeshift arms, while their opponents were equipped with real, military-grade rifles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the pitch-black barrels pointed at them, the gangsters—more used to street brawls than gunfights—instinctively hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it! Even the cops don’t have gear this good! We’ve kicked a steel wall! Weren’t there supposed to be just a few low-level guards?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader cursed inwardly. If the employer had been standing in front of him now, he would have driven a blade straight through his gut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Drop your weapons, hands up, and kneel. Confess everything. If you resist, you will be executed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad enforcers spoke in cold, emotionless tones. Faced with this command—and the gun barrels inches away—the gangsters’ fighting spirit drained from their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, on the fourth floor of a building overlooking Knights Street, a figure watched the standoff unfold below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the gangsters hesitate, the figure spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now is not the time for you to falter... Pawns, allow me to grant you some courage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murmuring to himself, Goffrey raised an intricately carved hollow bone instrument and began to tap it rhythmically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, invisible spirits emerged from the instrument, drifting into view before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were five in total—men and women, young and old. Their eyes were vacant, their forms thin and ragged, their clothes tattered, their transparent bodies exuding a faint chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the instrument, Goffrey gestured downward toward the street below. The spirits obeyed, gliding silently toward the gangsters before vanishing into thin air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the standoff, the gang leader finally cracked under the pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"L-Look, brothers, there’s been a misunderstanding. We don’t want trouble. We’ll put down our weapons, alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forcing a smile, he slowly knelt and moved to set his gun on the ground. His men followed suit. Seeing this, the enforcers slightly relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, an almost imperceptible chill swept through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five invisible spirits rushed in, merging into the gang leader’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils shrank to pinpricks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A horrifying sensation gripped him—his body was no longer his to command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-What is this...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shock twisted his features as his hand—now possessed—tightened around the grip of his gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, against his will, he suddenly sprang up and fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gunshot rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the enforcers staggered back, clutching his stomach as he collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Open fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enforcers immediately raised their weapons. But before they could shoot, the remaining spirits darted into their bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange numbness spread through the enforcers. Their hands trembled. Their vision blurred. Their aim faltered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gunshots rang out—but most of them missed. Only two gangsters were hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest, now enraged by the unexpected attack, roared in defiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re not letting us live! Brothers, kill them all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fueled by desperation and anger, the gangsters seized their weapons and charged at the enforcers.\u003C\u002Fp>",1150,"2026-06-05T20:47:13.187Z",1,"novelbin.me","4d67860fa700025ea0e1d5e742ddcd20f40ff2a5f066f175cf2e37b7714a4fda","dorothy-s-forbidden-grimoire-chapter-143","dorothy-s-forbidden-grimoire-chapter-141",828,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdorothy-s-forbidden-grimoire-cover.jpg"]