Chapter 65: Secret Fire Guard

"Captain, what happened?" the most lively Ilei immediately stood up and asked.

Polok's gaze swept over the group, and he said, "This is a report letter; it says a gathering point of evil god cultists was found in the Silver Star District."

"Evil god cultists!"

Everyone wore a stern expression, and Ilei hurriedly asked, "Is it true? Where exactly?"

Polok did not answer immediately, picked up the letter and examined it again, then said cautiously, "Whether the letter is true or false, we must go there. This matter is likely serious; our squad alone cannot handle it. You stay here, and I'll go inform the Chief Commander."

He took out a communicator, held it to his mouth and said, "Frida, Hagrov, hurry over immediately; there's an important mission."

After speaking, Polok left the assembly room, taking the letter with him.

The remaining three exchanged glances; Milton said helplessly, "Looks like we'll be busy tonight."

"Yeah, sigh..." Albenna sighed, showing no resistance, and began arranging her staff and potions, preparing for battle.

Ilei, while coating her dagger with poison, said, "I really don't know what that letter said to make the captain take it so seriously."

"Luo Xi's followers like conspiracies, cooperate with each other, often act together; the gathering has at least three people, so the captain's concern is justified," Milton explained.

Mentioning Luo Xi's followers made Ilei's complexion turn sour.

As a shadow warrior, he inevitably thought of Luo Xi, the god of schemes and conspiracies, dubbed the Deceiver; his followers are mainly shadow warriors, leading many to mistakenly assume all shadow warriors tend to worship Luo Xi, and they are often suspected.

"I hope that letter is false," Ilei muttered softly.

Lei En remained silent; he had written the letter himself, so it couldn't be false.

In the afternoon, via Zoltan's channel, he found an illiterate street boy in the slums, paid him two silver krones, and instructed him to deliver the letter to the Security Bureau at night.

After handing over the letter, Lei En stalked him for a long time, confirming the boy neither opened nor showed the letter to anyone, before the boy arrived at the Security Bureau for duty.

At the appointed time, the letter arrived at the Security Bureau.

The content was written by Lei En with his left hand, crooked and twisted, impossible to identify his identity from the handwriting,

He simply wrote one line in the letter: "Number 195 Chamli Street shows traces of multiple evil god cultists," and at the signature he drew a Luo Xi Church emblem.

That was enough to draw Polok's attention.

Soon after, Frida and Hagrov arrived at the assembly room; hearing it was about evil god cultists, their expressions grew very solemn as they silently began pre‑battle preparations.

Another quarter‑hour later, Chief Commander Davinrah appeared in the Exorcism Squad's building.

Along with him came another team, the Fourth Squad led by Bifuli, comprising seven Transcendents.

"Let's go."

Davinrah, clad in heavy armor, wore a white steel helm, bore a square large shield and a broad sword on his back, and with a dozen‑plus Transcendents boarded two open‑top trucks and drove out of the Security Bureau.

Lei En was still riding in such an open‑top truck for the first time; it resembled the Liberation brand cars of his past life, only powered by steam and a bit slower.

The truck's steam roar shattered the night's silence as it set off toward the Silver Star District.

No one spoke in the vehicle; everyone silently prepared.

Upon entering the Silver Star District, near Chamli Street, a squad of five Wizards merged with the Exorcism Squad members.

Each rode a blue‑white striped magical leopard, a beast that looked fierce yet elegant, its shoulders as tall as an adult, extremely fast and light‑footed,

When running, they kept pace with the truck, their mouths, bearing two massive tusks, exhaling a faint magical energy.

"Secret Fire Guard!"

An Exorcism Squad member whispered.

Lei En thought, so this is the Silver Star Duke's strongest private armed force—the Secret Fire Guard!

It is said the Secret Fire Guard is entirely made up of Wizards, each member an elite graduated from the Wu Shi Ta, loyal to the Duke.

He curiously observed the five Wizards; leading them was a middle‑aged female Wizard, plain‑looking, wearing a black robe edged with silver, gripping a white long staff, her soul indicating she was a seventh‑level Elemental!

The other four Wizards were also not to be underestimated: one Mid-stage, three beginners.

Judging by soul strength, these five Wizards far surpassed Transcendents of the same level, prompting Lei En to silently praise, "Truly elite Wizards cultivated by the Wu Shi Ta!"

However, Lei En was also surprised that his single letter caused such a stir.

He had still underestimated the Empire Wizards' hostility toward Luo Xi's followers.

Precisely, he should have underestimated the God of Magic's hostility toward the Deceiver Luo Xi; between these two deities seemed an irreconcilable hatred.

Soon, Chamli Street was reached.

The two trucks stopped at the street corner; everyone disembarked, and the Exorcism Squad automatically split into two units, swiftly advancing forward.

Because it was not yet late, a few pedestrians occasionally strolled on the street.

Seeing such a massive formation, they were startled, quickly darting into roadside corners, daring not to make any sound; when the Exorcism Squad passed, they immediately fled farther away.

Lei En advanced with his teammates, sensing something was off.

The Exorcism Squad's force is too great, and with the Secret Light Guard joining, it might stir the grass and startle the snakes.

He looked up toward the Wu Shi Ta; the Spirit‑Demon Eye atop the tower was not scanning this side, perhaps unaware of the activity here, or perhaps pre‑warned and deliberately ignoring it.

Soon, a group approached the mansion.

Polok, with the Third Squad, guarded the front door; Bifuli and her squad flanked from behind, while the five Secret Fire Guard Wizards followed Lei En's group at a distance.

Milton and Albenna also fell back slightly, letting Lei En, Frida, and Hagrov take the vanguard, with Polok commanding from the center.

Davinrah stayed beside the Secret Fire Guard, sword and shield in hand, on high alert.

This is the default rule for group combat.

Melee combatants charge ahead, preventing enemies from approaching the casters.

Ideally, a portion of melee fighters should protect the casters, giving them no rear worries and maximizing the ranged spell power.

Lei En gripped his war hammer, his face appearing cautious, but he sighed inwardly.

Through the Voice of All Things, he heard that the mansion had occupants, but none of the evil god cultists.

Such a massive formation turned out to be in vain!

He didn't understand—was the information leaked? Or had those evil god cultists sensed something early and slipped away?

Lei En turned back, scanning everyone, but found nothing abnormal.

Whether the Transcendents of the Demon Extermination Squad or the Wizards of the Secret Fire Guard, every face was very serious, not a hint of relaxation, as if battle were about to begin.

Bolo Ke made a gesture toward Hagelofu.

Hagelofu nodded, let out a low growl, his skin turned red, muscles swelled rapidly, and in just two or three seconds his body grew a size larger, like a small giant.

He gripped the great axe in his hand, charged forward, and kicked the mansion's main gate with a foot.

Bang!

A deafening crash, the iron gate toppled with a roar, and the Transcendents rushed in.

Lei En and Fuli Da surged ahead, stepping across the lawn and smashing open the residence's gate.

The whole residence was awakened, voices rose everywhere, lights flickered on.

Several junior Transcendents, probably private bodyguards, ran out; seeing the Demon Extermination Squad members, their faces turned pale, they immediately dropped their weapons, raised both hands and squatted, showing no intent to resist.

The fourth squad that charged in from the garden behind the mansion also appeared in the hall.

A middle‑aged man in pajamas came down the stairs; he was also frightened, but managed to keep his composure, stood on the steps and shouted angrily, "Everyone, what are you doing?"

"I am Ebli, the owner of Shalen Trading Company and holder of the Empire's Knight Medal. Can anyone tell me what's happening?"

Ebli announced his identity, hoping to calm the Transcendents from the Demon Extermination Squad.

But no one answered him.

Under the two captains' orders, the Demon Extermination Squad began searching the mansion room by room, driving everyone into the hall to gather.

A group of disheveled butlers and servants, all terrified, huddled together, trembling.

Including Ebli, who was also driven to the center of the hall.

Those hired Transcendent guards, usually haughty and self‑important, now dared not utter a single complaint.

Apart from these people, there was no other gain; no trace of the Dark God's followers was found, and the Demon Extermination Squad's faces were grim.

Even though Lei En had anticipated this, seeing that they truly found nothing made him quite displeased.

Davinrah, clad in heavy armor, entered, scanned the hall once, then asked, "Found nothing?"

"None, Sir Grand Commander."

Bolo Ke shook his head gloomily, but didn't completely deny, saying, "We haven't finished a thorough search yet, but from my experience, there could be a problem here, like the aura of a sacrifice."

Beside him, Fuli Da also nodded lightly.

As a Holy Swordmaster, she is most sensitive to the Dark God's aura, though she could not confirm it now.

Davinrah fell silent for a few seconds, removed his helmet, walked to the crowd, scrutinizing Ebli, his family, and the many guards and servants, his gaze full of ill will.

The atmosphere in the hall was extremely oppressive.

Facing the might of senior Transcendents, several people quickly broke down, yet dared not cry out, covering their mouths and sobbing softly.

"Sir Grand Commander!"

From Bolo Ke's address, Ebli learned Davinrah's rank, mustered courage and asked, "May I know your purpose…?"

Before he could finish, Davinrah waved his hand and said, "Take them all back, interrogate each one."

The Demon Extermination Squad understood Davinrah's meaning, evidently the Grand Commander chose to trust his experience. Hearing this, Ebli shouted, "I have the Empire's Knight Medal, I am nobility, you cannot treat me like this…"

"Harboring Dark God followers is a capital crime, regardless of your title," Davinrah said unmoved, then left.

Ebli's complexion turned ashen, his lips trembled, and he could not utter a word.

Lei En watched him, silently sighing.

Judging from his soul state, this person might truly be unaware of the Dark God's followers, and not know how those people acted.

That night's operation was doomed to fail.