Nightmare's Call

Chapter 410: Pit Latrine: Part 3

Azem was in a creased but still clean shirt and long pants. It was not bad for an attire in a city like Henricqal that was undergoing water rationing. He looked just like a man of ability, a social elite. In fact, this was how all the social elites looked.

He walked in the street, looking like just another ordinary man, who either worked for Baine University or was a follower wearing a holy emblem. He was no more than the peripheral personnel of the Asterism and the Moon Basin. Those who wandered on the streets were the family members of the personnel and the Transcendent or outsiders just arriving but yet having a place for themselves in the city.

Azem pulled open his collar, surprised by the stability and peace of this city. Walking along a street where potholes had just been patched, he took a right bend and came to a staircase in the street’s corner. The staircase brought him to a red security door on the third floor. He gave it a couple of knocks. Quickly, the door opened but just a gap as a bloodshot eye peeked through. The eye seemed to have recognized him.

“Come in.”

The eye went back in. Azem opened the door and strode in. The living room was a mess; empty food wraps were everywhere, newspaper cutouts strewn on the sofa, chairs, and table. The owner of the place, a bearded, skinny man who looked like a wretch, just wearing slippers, stuffed a piece of compressed biscuit in his mouth as he flung himself on the sofa.

“What brought you here again? I’m now just an ordinary man. I don’t want to get involved in whatever sh*t you are in.”

“Don’t worry, no one is going to find out you are my half brother,” Azem said softly with a smile.

“I would prefer I never have a younger brother like you.” The bearded man put up his hand listlessly.

“Then, why are you here?” He knew Azem, his younger brother, would not have come for no reason.

Azem did not reply. He stood up, went to the window, and lifted the curtain up to look out. “What do you think of Henriqal? I’m talking about the current Henriqal.”

“Henricqal? As compared to other settlements?” The bearded man stroked his beard as he started to think. “Not bad. Other than the mysterious realms, no other settlements had done better than this place.

“So, what is your purpose for being here?” He knew it all along that his younger brother, Azem, was a man of mission. He was here only because there was something he needed to accomplish.

“If you are here to subvert the rule of the Sanctum, you can leave and turn right.” The bearded man thought he had given him the best advice.

Azem laughed.

“My brother, you’re still this careful... but as careful as you are, you have still decided to see me, and I’m grateful for it.” His smile faded. “I need your help to find out the real strength and background of the Sanctum!”

“The real strength and background?” The bearded man fell into deep thought.

“That’s right.” Azem nodded, letting the curtain back down. He pushed the instant noodle bowls to one side as he leaned himself on the edge of the table.

“All along, we have treated the Sanctum as a large, newly-emerging armed group. But after the many major events, neither the mysterious realms nor the Sevenlocks Tower could afford to ignore this rising influence.”

“Compared with the Sanctum, the other cults like the Sect of Thousand Graces were like eggs and a rock. They are not in the same league as the Sanctum.”

“The Sanctum has the upper hand in both battles of the Palatinates. This sent a shock wave of disbelief to the outsiders. But each time coming into contact with the Sanctum, the outsiders would find that there is hidden power inside the Sanctum.”

“After all, as you know, even people like us, the Sevenlocks Tower, need an enormous time and effort to train a Palatinate. But in the Sanctum, their elites seem to pop out of thin air. This puzzles us.”

“So you guys want to find out what the Sanctum was about before deciding how you should deal with them?” The bearded man started to figure out the intention of the Sevenlocks Tower.

“Well, more or less.” Azem nodded. He then quickly broke into a smile. “But it will take time, which we don’t have the luxury of. So...”

“So?”

“So we have used a little strategy.” Azem’s smiled turned mysterious.

“What do you mean?” The bearded man blinked.

“I mean... probably the Second Lock is about to reach Xylond now? This is where the legendary Sanctum’s headquarters is located.” Azem looked confident.

“Apparently, the activity of the Sanctum in Henricqal has caused much more influence than they do in Xylond. You can imagine that they probably have shifted their combat strength over here to find a new territory of expansion. If that is the case, it explains why their headquarters is so quiet.”

“So, you plan to let the Second Lock spy out?” The bearded man finally put two and two together.

“Yes, I think 80% of the conjecture is true.” Once more, Azem appeared confident. “I have a gut feeling.”

...

The Sanctum Headquarters, Xylond.

The Night Lord listlessly lay as flat as possible in bed. With the quilt on, no one was going to know he was there. In addition to that, he had the ability to hold his breath.

Since he began learning about holy power, he had gotten a huge bump in strength, driven by his bloodline. Coupled with the Sanctum’s force field, his combat strength would have doubled by now, and so did his laziness.

“Night Lord! Stop hiding... I can see you!” A female voice drifted outside the bedroom.

“Again? Does she think I’m going to fall for that again? Naïve!” The Night Lord sneered quietly. He was the kind of man who would only grow stronger by sleeping. He would rather die than going to work.

“Night Lord, the chief instructor of Xylond TSSF will soon arrive to meet you. This concerns the image of the Sanctum. Please come out now, or it will be too late,” the voice said.

“Do you think I’m stupid? The chief instructor just came yesterday! Why has he come again? It doesn’t make sense.” The Night Lord quietly sneered again. The Steel Lord, who had just become a Palatinate, was there. There was no need for him.

“Besides, even if you don’t get up, you still need to eat, drink, and visit the toilet, don’t you?” the voice continued. “It has been over ten days... You have not gone to the toilet once. Did you poop in your pants?”

“No worries, I have dug a hole under the bed!” The Night Lord smirked silently.

“You smart boy!” A pretty face crawled out from the hole under the bed.