National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

On the way to the Rainbow Welfare Institute,

Chu He finally came to truly understand Galava’s team’s real business model.

Their methods of profit were mainly divided into three categories: selling intelligence, gathering resources from deep within dangerous lands,

and acting as guides for high-paying clients, with the price determined by the danger level of the location.

As they drew closer, the ancient building known as the Rainbow Welfare Institute slowly came into view.

An indescribable, biting chill filled the air.

Though it bore the name Rainbow, the institute showed no trace of the warmth and light one would expect.

It stood on somewhat desolate land, its architectural style a perfect replica of the glorious and complex designs of the Western Middle Ages.

Soaring spires pointed straight at the gray sky, their peaks inlaid with faded glazed tiles that, in their mottled state, hinted at a former glory.

Now, however, they looked more like the eyes of a phantom, coldly staring down at every intruder who set foot in its domain.

The outer walls were built from massive stones, intertwined with moss and vines.

The gate was heavy and ancient, its rusted iron knockers letting out low, long groans with every gust of wind, like the sighs of bygone souls.

"Something’s in the sky! Run!" Dean suddenly shouted.

"There’s something wrong with that cloud," Anna observed calmly, not forgetting to take out a miniature camera to quickly capture an image of it.

This, too, was a piece of intelligence that could be sold.

And this cloud was the very one that had been following Chu He the entire time!

The cloud was no longer a gentle tapestry but had transformed into a curtain to the abyss, slowly unveiling a secret, horrifying feast.

From within the chaotic gray-white mass, countless grayish-brown tentacles silently emerged. Like twisted vines in an ancient forest, they soundlessly coiled through the sky.

Each tentacle was terrifyingly thick, its surface covered in fine scales that glinted ominously in the faint light.

They descended unhurriedly, like an invitation extending from the mouth of the abyss, and the unfortunate Martial Artists who were chosen became sacrifices for this call.

Dangling from the ends of the tentacles were struggling Martial Artists.

Their faces were twisted in extreme terror, their eyes wide open.

The struggles of the Martial Artists seemed exceptionally jarring in the boundless silence.

Every desperate twist was a futile act of resistance, only earning them a tighter constriction.

The tentacles were covered in huge suckers, like the fangs of an abyssal beast. Once they made contact, they latched on tight, and no matter how the Martial Artists roared or struggled, they couldn’t break free.

Not only did these suckers possess astonishing strength, but they also secreted a viscous and highly corrosive fluid.

The fluid was initially colorless and transparent, but upon contact with skin, it would rapidly corrode, emitting a SIZZLING sound.

You could hear the sound of life being stripped away, bit by bit.

In just half a minute, the figures of the Martial Artists blurred under the corrosion and ultimately vanished into nothingness.

Only their shrill, mournful cries were left to echo among the clouds before gradually fading away.

As the Martial Artists disappeared, the entire scene seemed to grow even more silent.

However, this silence was fraught with an even greater sense of unease.

The massive mushroom cloud, illuminated by the gloomy haze, now appeared exceptionally sinister.

Within the cloud, countless eyes were peering out, and every slight movement caused a ripple of disquiet.

A colossal body was faintly visible within the clouds, like a mutated octopus from the abyss.

"Another being comparable to a Curse Level Evil Spirit. The Black Continent Grassland is truly perilous."

Chu He was filled with emotion; he had never heard of anything like this before.

"The Black Continent Grassland only became like this a short while ago. We found quite a few natives when we arrived.

According to them, a bizarre institute like this never existed here before. It’s as if it appeared out of thin air.

Some of the curious natives went inside, but they never came out again," Anna explained.

"This strange Evil Spirit seems to have sensed our intentions. It knows that once we enter the Rainbow Welfare Institute, it will lose its chance to easily prey on us. Is it afraid of this institute? Or does it simply not believe we can get back out after going in?" Dean offered his new theory.

Chu He said no more. Through Anna’s and Dean’s words, he gained a new appreciation for Galava’s team. They were truly out of the ordinary.

’Among intelligence brokers worldwide, this team must be considered top-notch.’

’Dean’s analysis, for instance, is probably a perfect match for reality.’

All the evidence now pointed to one thing: the place called the Rainbow Welfare Institute was extremely dangerous!

The group of a dozen or so people, including Chu He, Galava, Dean, and Anna, gradually approached the institute.

Looking back, they saw that the strange Evil Spirit hidden in the mushroom cloud had not pursued them.

Instead, it kept its distance from the Rainbow Welfare Institute, frantically hunting the Martial Artists who hadn’t drawn near.

They weren’t the only ones who reacted quickly. Many other Martial Artists had also noticed this detail,

and having chosen to head for the Rainbow Welfare Institute, they were all now sprinting desperately toward it.

"Let’s get going. Don’t fall too far behind the people from the White Elephant Empire," Galava urged.

Pushing open the gate, a blast of cold, sinister wind—WHOOSH—rushed out to meet them, carrying a musty and rotten stench that made them shudder involuntarily.

Stepping into the courtyard, the sight before them was even more chilling.

Weeds grew wild in the courtyard, almost completely covering the original stone path. Only a few wildflowers stubbornly poked their heads out from the grass, looking exceptionally lonely.

The central fountain had long since run dry. The sculpted Angel’s face was blurred and its wings were broken, its former holiness and vibrancy completely gone, leaving only a hollow gaze.

Inside the surrounding buildings, there was not a single human sound. Even the slightest noise seemed startlingly out of place.

Most of the windows were tightly shut, with heavy curtains completely blocking any prying eyes from the outside.

Only a few slivers of light leaked through the cracks, illuminating small patches of the interior while larger areas remained submerged in dead, silent darkness.

This quiet was not one of tranquility, but a suffocating oppression, as if even breathing might disturb the unknown entity sleeping within.

"Something’s not right. A lot of people just rushed in here. Why is the Rainbow Welfare Institute so quiet? It’s like no one’s been here at all." Chu He’s brow furrowed. The surrounding silence was unnatural, completely defying logic.

"Yeah, how is there nobody here?"

Galava said in astonishment, but still, out of professional instinct, he took out his miniature camera and started taking pictures of the surroundings.

At the same time, every member of the team took out a camera and attached it to their collar.

"This Rainbow Welfare Institute really is bizarre."

Anna took a hand-drawn map from her backpack.