Chapter 689

Shishigou Kairi: "I'm afraid it has something to do with those few disciples of Heartless."

【The three of them set off together and soon arrived at Chinatown in Soho.】

【It is said that the scale of this place is quite prominent even on a global level, with over a hundred Chinese restaurants. The dense, overlapping Chinese character signs are paired with unique red and white lanterns, and the pedestrians on the road are more diverse than usual.】

【After strolling through the crowd for a while, it feels as if one would lose track of which country they are in.】

【However, Waver's destination is not here, but Charing Cross Road, northeast of Chinatown.】

【After passing that point, the scenery gradually shifts from Chinese-style architecture to Victorian-style terraced houses, followed by a modernized streetscape.】

【The boundaries between countries and eras are intertwined, full of London's unique character.】

【Waver and his group soon arrived at their destination: a massive mirrored building.】

【The cylindrical, futuristic structure is eye-catching; the Sealing Designation Enforcer Bureau seems completely unconcerned with the Zhong Ta's regulations on keeping a low profile.】

【Entering the lobby, they report their names at the counter and wait for confirmation, just like entering a large corporation.】

【They all notice that most of the people coming and going here are actually ordinary people.】

Tohsaka Rin: "This is the Sealing Designation Enforcer Bureau?"

Caules: "If you didn't know, you'd really think this was just a company."

Waver: "Uh, this is my first time seeing it too."

Kayneth: "It can't be helped. That place is impossible to hide, and the foot traffic is immense, so they can only maintain the appearance of a company."

【Waver explains in a low voice: "This building is entirely filled with organizations related to the Sealing Designation Enforcer Bureau. Although not all members are magi, at least they all know of the existence of magic and mystery."】

【A moment later, the counter hands over an access card. The three enter the elevator and swipe the card; a hidden panel appears beneath the floor buttons.】

【Waver selects one from the multitude of buttons, and a force of inertia settles upon them.】

【Gray: "Is it not on the upper floors?"】

【Waver: "It's on the forty-fifth basement level, about several hundred meters underground, almost equivalent to the deepest part of the Zhong Ta itself. Moreover, like the deepest part of the Zhong Ta, it is also one of the only four entrances to Albion currently."】

【Gray: "Four places?"】

【Waver: "Yes. Because the number is so limited, the Sealing Designation Enforcer Bureau can fully manage the entry and exit of personnel in Albion."】

Tohsaka Rin: "In other words, besides here, there are three other locations."

Kayneth: "Correct. The Mage's Association keeps a very tight grip on the entrances and exits to Albion."

Tohsaka Rin: "No wonder that boy was so afraid of being caught after escaping."

【After a long while, the elevator doors open to reveal a spacious circular room, looking somewhat like a hotel lobby.】

【A giant crystal is installed in the center of the ceiling, emitting a faint light that seems to draw people into it.】

【This is clearly not a product of science, but it doesn't look like a magical object either; the clear light is sacred and noble, likely belonging to the realm of mystery. It is highly probable that it is an excavation from Albion.】

【Yvette: "Oh, such a massive glowstone is rare."】

【Gray: "Miss Yvette, have you seen this kind of crystal before?"】

【Yvette: "Yes. Though I say that, the ones I've seen are at most the size of small pebbles. Even so, depending on the magic power contained, small glowstones have various uses. This must be a precious item that can only be mined in places where mystery is particularly dense. Sigh, truly worthy of the Sealing Designation Enforcer Bureau."】

Shishigou Kairi: "To think they'd use such a large glowstone as a lightbulb; that's truly extravagant!"

Tohsaka Rin: "Wait, what is a glowstone?"

Feng Xi: "A type of item that can enhance skills."

Tohsaka Rin: "???"

Waver: "You've played too many games, but glowstones can indeed assist in magical cultivation."

【"... Something is wrong."】

【After waiting for a while, Waver cannot help but frown.】

【They had an appointment, and the people above let them down, so why is there no one here to receive them?】

【Just then, a corpulent staff member suddenly rushes out from a room and falls to the ground on his backside.】

【Immediately following a foul stench, a massive beast over two and a half meters tall forces its way out from behind the door.】

【This monster has three heads—a lion, a bat, and a chicken—and its front legs are mantis scythes; it is even more deformed than the legendary Chimera.】

【As soon as the monster emerges, it shifts its target and charges toward Waver and the others.】

Caules: "What the hell! What is that thing?"

Waver: "I don't know, I've never seen it either!"

Kayneth: "It should be some kind of Phantasmal Species similar to a Chimera."

Tohsaka Rin: "A Phantasmal Species! Alive?"

Kayneth: "This is Albion; these things are everywhere inside."

【"Hee-hee-hee-hee, what a grand welcome!"】

【Gray hurriedly blocks the path in front of Waver, and Add, laughing, transforms into a scythe, engaging the monster in battle.】

【After a collision, Gray feels her arms go numb.】

【This monster has such immense strength!】

【"Alright, if there are no objections, let's burn out with no other choice!"】

【Yvette doesn't just stand there either; she pulls off her eyepatch, activating her Mystic Eyes of Burning, which resemble rubies, and scorching flames immediately surround the monster.】

【"Master, step back!"】

【Gray runs quickly around the room to attract the monster's attention, then seizes the opportunity to kick off the wall and slash at its back.】

【But who would have thought that the monster, without even turning its head, would grow a new tiger head from its back—which was surrounded by flames—and bite onto the scythe.】

【Add: "It hurts, ahhh!"】

【The monster's bite force is actually capable of harming Add, which shocks Gray. In that moment of distraction, the monster whips its head and throws her against the wall.】

【Fortunately, at the critical moment, Waver rushes up to act as a cushion, preventing her from getting hurt.】

Shishigou Kairi: "Hiss—this monster has some skill."

Waver: "Not only can it grow heads from its back, but it can actually harm the Holy Spear; what on earth is this—"

Tohsaka Rin: "And it's been burned for so long, yet it's completely fine!"

Kayneth: "Now you know the dangers of Albion."

Kayneth: "Just watch; the monster's strength certainly doesn't end there."

【Knowing this monster is not easy to deal with, Gray directly lifts the first stage of the limited application, letting Add transform into a hook-spear form.】

【This is a form modeled after part of Rhongomyniad's appearance, with top-tier speed and sharpness. However, because it reminds her of the trance state when using the Holy Spear's true form, Gray is reluctant to use it.】

【This time, Gray learns her lesson and keeps her distance, thrusting with the long spear from afar.】

【But the monster is exceptionally clever; Gray thrusts three times, dodging twice, and the final time is deflected by the monster's mantis blade.】

【Just as Gray is about to swing the spear again, the monster suddenly jumps backward, and the chicken head on the right begins to inhale and exhale rapidly.】

【The nearby foliage withers in the blink of an eye.】

【Gray's whole body stiffens; is the opponent releasing poison gas!】

【A single breath caused such a miserable state for the plants; if inhaled into the mouth, it should easily dissolve her bones.】

【However, Waver is behind her now; she cannot run.】