Chapter 132 : Infiltration Again
Chapter 132: Infiltration Again?
A series of orderly footsteps came from the side.
Lilia pulled her head back.
She saw a squad of people in uniform black outfits, all equally expressionless, carrying several massive wooden crates as they walked toward the entrance of the ruin.
Their status seemed higher than those laborers—no one stopped them.
Moreover, their route just happened to pass through the most heavily guarded area.
This is it!
Lilia’s eyes lit up.
A “free ride” like this would be a waste not to take.
She waited patiently.
Until the last person in the line passed by the large rock she was hiding behind.
Lilia flashed out like a ghost.
Her left hand covered the man’s mouth, while her right hand struck precisely at the back of his neck.
No sound at all.
The unfortunate man didn’t even have time to let out a muffled groan before going limp and collapsing.
Lilia quickly dragged him into the shadows.
Three minutes later—
That unlucky fellow had been stripped down to nothing but his underwear, tightly bound, and stuffed into a crevice between rocks.
As for Lilia—
She had already put on the slightly oversized black uniform, tucked her hair into a cap, and smeared two streaks of coal dust across her face.
With her head lowered, she briskly caught up to the squad, naturally reaching out to support one corner of the last crate.
The teammate in front felt the weight lighten slightly and turned back for a glance.
Lilia stared back expressionlessly, her gaze hollow and numb, perfectly replicating that brainwashed, dull look.
The teammate showed no suspicion and turned back around, continuing forward.
She had blended in.
Lilia silently gave herself a thumbs-up.
This acting. This mental composure.
If the Demon Queen ever fell one day, she could probably make it big in Hollywood and win an award.
The squad moved forward without obstruction.
The closer they got to the center, the stronger that oppressive, nauseating pressure became.
That black stone platform was now right in front of her.
Lilia could even clearly see a portion of the chin exposed beneath the red-robed deacon’s hood.
It was a bluish-gray complexion, covered in fine, scale-like patterns.
A demi-human?
Or some kind of creature that had undergone deep modification?
“Stop!”
Just as the squad was about to reach the entrance of the ruin, the red-robed deacon suddenly waved the staff in his hand.
Everyone immediately stopped.
Including Lilia.
“Put the items down.”
The red-robed figure’s voice sounded like two rusted iron plates grinding against each other, harsh enough to make one’s teeth ache.
“This batch of ‘fuel’ has arrived. Send it in.”
Fuel?
Lilia’s heart skipped a beat.
She secretly glanced at the large crate she was supporting.
She hadn’t noticed before.
But now that they had stopped, listening carefully—
There was breathing… inside the crate!
Extremely faint, extremely suppressed breathing.
Not just this one.
All the dozen or so crates carried by this squad contained living beings!
“This is…”
Lilia felt her palms grow slightly sweaty.
This wasn’t supplies.
These were people packed into boxes, sent in as expendable materials!
“Open them for inspection!”
At the red-robed figure’s command—
The lids of the crates at the front were roughly pried open.
Lilia held her breath.
Inside the crates, curled up, were not strong adults.
But children who looked only seven or eight years old!
They seemed either asleep or drugged—each of them pale-faced, lying motionless among wood shavings.
“These beasts!”
Lilia almost couldn’t hold herself back from drawing her blade.
If those laborers earlier were treated as disposable batteries—
Then these children were simply firewood, about to be thrown into some unknown furnace!
This wasn’t about serving a new god at all.
“Very good.”
The red-robed figure nodded in satisfaction. “Excellent quality. All pure souls.”
“That lord will certainly be pleased.”
“Send them in! The ritual is about to begin!”
The squad ahead began moving.
Those children were about to be delivered into that cavern, like the gaping maw of a giant beast.
Once they went in—
There would be nothing left. Not even their souls would survive.
What should she do?
Lilia’s mind raced frantically.
Act now?
This was the enemy’s stronghold, surrounded by countless red-eyed lunatics.
She might have some ability, but facing thousands of enemies, plus that unfathomable red-robed mage—
She probably wouldn’t last three seconds.
But…
Just watch these children be sent in as fuel?
Lilia glanced at her own hands.
“Master.”
She took a deep breath inward.
That familiar urge to stir up trouble was rising again, impossible to suppress.
“Didn’t you want to watch a show?”
“I’ve bought you a ticket.”
“But this opening act is too boring. Can we… skip straight to the climax?”
No response.
But—
Lilia could feel it.
A sense of… anticipation.
Since the boss had silently agreed—
Why keep pretending?
Just as it was Lilia’s group’s turn to carry the crate past the red-robed deacon—
That ordinary-looking porter, who had been keeping his head down the whole time—
Suddenly let go.
The heavy wooden crate slammed onto the ground with a loud “bang.”
That sound, in this ritual site filled with rigid order, was like setting off a firecracker in a library.
Dead silence.
In that instant, all eyes turned toward this reckless individual.
The red-robed deacon stopped waving his staff, those murky yellow eyes locking tightly onto Lilia.
“What are you doing?!”
The voice was filled with incredulous fury.
Someone dared to mess up at such a sacred moment?
Lilia slowly straightened her back.
She reached up and removed the dusty cap, her silver hair cascading down like a waterfall, gleaming brilliantly under the torchlight.
She lifted her head.
On that face, smeared with coal dust yet still breathtakingly delicate, appeared an extremely bright—and extremely punchable—smile.
“Sorry about that.”
Lilia flicked her wrist, her crisp voice echoing across the silent basin.
“My hand slipped.”
“Mainly because this crate was too heavy.”
The air froze.
The red-robed deacon’s face visibly flushed into a liver-like shade of red.
“Your hand slipped?”
He squeezed the words out through clenched teeth, murderous intent bursting from his murky eyes. “I think you’re courting death!”
“Seize her!”
“I’ll skin her alive and make her into a new sacrificial banner!”
Clatter—
The previously sluggish beastman guards instantly activated like killing machines.
Their heavy footsteps shook the ground.
Dozens of rusted axes and spiked clubs, reeking of blood, came crashing down toward Lilia.
Lilia’s heart skipped.
Although she had acted cool just now, facing this real, brutal situation—
Her instincts as a modern office worker still made her legs tremble.
Lilia took a deep breath.