Extraordinary Voyage

In a desolate warehouse in the factory district.

A group of Sea Hunters, after a long journey across the sea, finally had a chance to rest. As for the rundown warehouse without even a bed, it wasn't an issue for those who were used to the hardships of living outdoors.

"Tonight, everyone work a bit harder. Split into two groups to stand watch at the highest level of vigilance, one for the first half of the night, the other for the second. After tomorrow's transaction is complete, not only will everyone get their fair share, but I'll also take you all to the 'Pink House' for a three-day drinking spree at my expense!"

"Long live the boss!"

"That's awesome..."

"No problem, boss, leave it to us."

Stanley boosted the morale of his subordinates. To ensure nothing went wrong on the last night before the transaction, he decided to personally lead the night watch.

For a physically strong Official Knight, staying awake all night was nothing.

They lit a bonfire and hastily settled dinner with their own dry rations. Then, dozens of people gathered in a large circle. One group lay down on the ground to rest while another did nothing but watched the box, ready to take over at any moment.

Tap.. tap.. tap...

Even with one person holding the box and two following behind, circling the warehouse, the weary Sea Hunters quickly fell asleep without being disturbed.

"Hoo—zzZZ..."

In no time, the warehouse was filled with the sounds of snoring.

The night handover proceeded smoothly. Since arriving at the warehouse around nine in the evening, three successful handovers were completed without any unexpected events.

The time gradually reached one in the morning, a time when most people yearned for sleep.

After undergoing Extraordinary Transformation, Stanley was full of energy. Even with several days without sleep, he was the most alert one there at the moment.

Watching his companions complete their shift while maintaining their movements, Stanley sighed with relief once more. He got up and habitually scanned the nocturnal companions around him, but soon discovered something amiss.

"Where is Todd?!"

Stanley's expression changed slightly. His long years of adventure had granted him extraordinary intuition and vigilance. When he realized the key person, Todd, was missing from the warehouse, he instantly became alert.

Whether for this temporary refuge or the buyers later, Todd was solely responsible for the arrangements. Although Todd, who bore significant responsibilities, had always been a trusted aide, if something happened to him, the consequences could be dire!

He immediately whispered to his subordinate beside him, "Go, wake everyone up, be careful not to make a commotion."

"Mm..."

The long-shared adventure had given the Sea Hunters enough tacit understanding. Without making any noise, everyone was fully awake, gathered around Stanley, except for the three still responsible for holding the box.

Stanley made a gesture, and the group, without asking a single question, quickly organized their weapons.

Firearms, bows, crossbows, spears, knives, swords — the Sea Hunters' weapons were diverse, each person had their unique traits, yet they were all equally efficient, skilled, and well-coordinated.

Then, under Stanley's command, including the three still circling, they quickly moved towards one side of the warehouse. As an experienced old Sea Hunter Leader, Stanley had scouted the terrain when they moved in here.

There was a small door on this side that led into the depths of the factory district, where numerous interconnected buildings were advantageous for small groups to escape if an incident occurred.

Stanley, as a qualified leader, reacted with impressive speed. But for a traitor who knew him well... it was far from enough!

Before they could move to the exit, the main doors on both sides of the warehouse were suddenly thrown open.

Bang—

In the dim night, the outside was already filled with noble private soldiers clad in black armor.

They crouched, holding finely-crafted heavy crossbows, and even in the moonless night, the triangular arrowheads of the crossbow bolts glinted with a cold, ominous light.

Not a single word of negotiation was offered.

"Fire!"

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"...

The continuous rapid fire of crossbow bolts, both more accurate and more powerful than ordinary firearms, transformed into an extraordinary killing tool in the hands of these well-trained semi-professional private troops!

"No—!"

"Ah—!"

"Stop—!"

The shouts and screams of the Sea Hunters couldn't change their fate.

The steel arrowheads effortlessly pierced through bodies, creating brilliant flowers of death amidst the sporadic and futile counterattack of the Sea Hunters.

Betrayed by a companion and with their capabilities fully known, leader Stanley, despite the powerful abilities of an Extraordinary Knight, didn't manage to escape death but instead became the prime target. He was shot into a porcupine just two steps out.

Low-tier Knights far lacked the power to crush secular armies.

"Ugh... Todd... you..."

Bang—

He fell to the ground dejectedly.

Though never a good man, this Sea Hunter Leader had never imagined he would die so disgracefully and horribly...

After three volleys, the black-armored private soldiers skillfully executed any lingering survivors, and in just a minute, no one remained standing alive in the open space where the Sea Hunters were.

If in the mountains, islands, or even in the complex terrain of a city, these experienced Sea Hunters would never have sacrificed themselves so worthlessly, surely they would have inflicted great casualties on these noble mercenaries instead.

Unfortunately, there are no "ifs" in combat.

The officer leading the noble mercenaries looked at the outcome in front of him and grinned, waving his hand as the armored soldiers filed in.

Sss—

For some unknown reason, once the soldiers entered the warehouse, they felt a chilling aura surrounding them. However, with the mission objective so close at hand, they all ignored this slight discomfort.

"Find it for me!"

Corpses of the Sea Hunters were moved aside, tossed directly to one side, and even the bloodstained, wide-eyed faces could not deter the mercenaries' fervor.

This mission was extremely simple, kill these worthless sea hyenas and bring back the box. Their master would grant them unimaginable wealth and status, nothing could be more perfect.

"Sir, we didn't find the box."

"It's not here either."

However, after all the corpses were moved, the mercenaries in charge of searching brought back bad news.

"What? What happened? Could the box have run off by itself?!" The mercenary leader abruptly turned his head, looking at the short-haired young man who had kept his head down—Todd, who had been missing earlier.

"Dear Mr. Todd, I need an explanation!"

The skilled mercenaries surrounding him gave Todd immense pressure. He swallowed hard, raised his hands, and with a helpless and innocent expression, said, "I really don't know, just before I left, it was still here."

Having already doomed all his companions for a promise, Todd didn't dare to play any tricks. To be honest, he wanted to retrieve the box more than the mercenary officer did.

"Hmm, what's that sound?"

Drip... Drip...

At that moment, a clear dripping sound echoed in the empty warehouse, growing louder and closer...

"Where's that water sound coming from?!"

"I have no idea."

The mercenaries still searching for the box halted their steps, looking around for the source of the sound.

Suddenly, Todd felt a warm sensation at the back of his neck. When he touched it, his hand came back red. Looking up, red droplets dripped from the cracks in the ceiling, dripping onto his face.

The strong smell of blood instantly filled his mouth and nose.

"Ah—!!!"

A piercing scream cut through the silent night, then came to an abrupt halt...

Unbeknownst to anyone, the box wrapped in black cloth had already been opened, revealing a wooden box carved with strange theatrical characters.

It sat untouched in the middle of the annihilated Sea Hunter squad, mysteriously unnoticed by the searching mercenaries.

With a whirring sound, the box emitted a creepy chant once again:

"Oh—! Thank you for the sacrifices you made for me, I... very much enjoy it!

New Inn Port, such a familiar and wonderful scent, I'm back, oh ho ho ho... ho... ga... ga ga..."

As if stuck, the already eerie voice turned into an owl-like cackle, echoing through the empty warehouse, chilling to the bone.

Yet, there was no one left alive here to react!

"Rise, take me away from here. I can already sense that old thing's presence, he's still in this city!"

At those words.

"Stanley", who had long since died, with most of his blood already drained, climbed off the ground, pulled out the crossbow arrow stuck in his body, and threw it to the ground.

Without a word, he picked up the box on the ground. Initially struggling to maintain balance, he staggered out of the warehouse, quickly adapting, walking faster and faster until he was moving at a sprint, disappearing swiftly among the towering buildings.

Leaving only a lingering echo: "Oh-ho-ho, the game has just begun... the first act indeed."

The silence in the warehouse was restored.

A faint glow appeared in the air.

Creak—

A magnificent brass door, composed of various intricate gears and mechanisms, materialized out of nowhere. Amidst the clicking of gears, it slowly opened.

An elderly man with pure white hair and beard emerged from behind the door, surveying the blood-soaked gruesomeness of the warehouse, his face showing a predictable expression:

"Am I a step too late?

The Box of Dead Souls... truly a toy of the gods!"

He turned and stepped back through the brass portal.

"Perhaps, this is not such a bad thing..." The voice faded, barely heard, dispersing into the wind.