Chapter 197
I had no choice but to step inside the abandoned warehouse as I scanned the dimly lit space. Three floors appeared before me; he basement, ground floor, and top floor. I could see at least ten Rogues patrolling the ground and top floors, their silhouettes shifting in the shadows.
First things first—I needed to take out the Rogues on the ground floor. I moved swiftly, dispatching them one by one. Once the ground was clear, I ascended to the top floor, neutralizing the remaining threats. But still, no sign of Kara. That could only mean one thing: she was in the basement.
I descended the stairs, the air growing colder and heavier with each step. As I reached the bottom, the sight that greeted me sent a chill down my spine. At least twenty people were crammed into a large, reinforced cell, their faces gaunt and eyes hollow. Each wore a thick, dark collar—resonance inhibitors, designed to suppress their abilities, just like the one I had endured at the Black Lotus Exchange Auction House.
"You don’t need to worry about them. They’re all weak and helpless," a voice sliced through the silence.
I quickly ducked behind a stack of crates and scanned the cells, searching for the source of the voice. And then I saw her. Inside one of the cells, leaning against the bars with an air of bored indifference, was Kara Lughen.
"We’ll leave as soon as the rest of the humans come here. Honestly, we would have a hard time without the resonance inhibitor you’ve given us," Kara said, her voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space. She was filing her nails, completely unconcerned with the suffering surrounding her.
"A plan? It’s simple. I’ll act out again. The story is that I’ll be left here, battered and bruised because the guards abused me. A few of our allies will be left, and I’ll tell the authorities that they saved me from the guards he sent," she continued, her tone light as she spoke into her phone.
"Hahaha! They won’t get mad at me, I assure you. I’ve got them all wrapped up in my pretty finger," Kara continued, her laughter ringing out, devoid of any warmth or humanity.
I gripped my dagger tightly, aiming for her phone. With a flick of my wrist, the blade sliced through the air, shattering the screen in a shower of sparks and glass.
"What—" Kara’s surprise was short-lived. Before she could react, I hurled another dagger straight for her heart.
However, Kara was faster than I anticipated. With a swift, almost inhuman movement, she snatched the dagger out of the air, the blade embedding itself in her palm. Blood, a startlingly vibrant red, dripped onto the concrete floor.