Chapter 495
The leader, Xavier Norman, snorted disdainfully. “Our time and energy are precious. We don’t need to waste them on such an insignificant little character. Our research and development of toxic gases is almost finished. You can use her as a test subject and get rid of her fast. By the way, we have a new guest arriving. The rest of you must prepare to welcome this distinguished guest.”
Ashton had no idea that his location had been compromised. Oblivious to the danger lurking around him, he pressed on through the winding maze of the sewer network.
Though the layout was a complex web of tunnels, he wasn’t wandering without direction. His keen eyes picked up on the subtle signs carved into the rocky walls, guiding him deeper. One particular detail caught his attention—evidence of recent human activity. In several spots, the usually undisturbed moss lining the tunnel walls had been flattened, indicating that someone had passed through here, and not just once. He followed these signs like a trail, pushing forward with growing caution.
After what seemed like an endless trek, Ashton reached a fork in the tunnels and abruptly stopped.
Something was wrong.
The air felt heavy, unnatural, as if the world around him had gone still. Even the ever-present drip of water, which had been his constant companion in the sewers, had ceased.
His instincts flared. There were only two explanations. Either this section of the sewer had been abandoned for too long, which didn’t align with the fresh tracks he had been following, or this was something far worse—a trap.
The realization hit him hard, and Ashton quickly pivoted, ready to retreat back the way he had come. But just as he moved, a barrage of wooden darts shot out of the walls, piercing the spot where he had been standing moments before.
No doubt about it now. It was a trap.
ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇꜱ ɪɴ ɢᴀʟɴᴏᴠᴇʟꜱ.ᴄᴏᴍ
The silence wasn’t natural either. There were people hiding in the shadows. Ashton figured the missing sound of water meant it was landing on their bodies, muffling the usual noise of droplets hitting the ground.
His eyes narrowed in focus. His cover might have been blown the moment he set foot in this area.
Though Ashton’s sudden movement had thrown his attackers off briefly, they quickly regrouped, emerging from the darkness. The once-dead sewer came to life, swarming with figures in white masks. From every tunnel around him, more of them appeared, their faces ghostly in the dim light.
Ashton’s attempt to distance himself from the ambush was short-lived. Another group emerged from the opposite side, cutting off his escape.
A bitter smile crossed his face as he came to grips with the situation. He hadn’t done such tasks in a long time, and it seemed that his senses had dulled. Now, he had walked right into his enemy’s hands.
The masked figures weren’t amateurs; a tough fight was inevitable. Their numbers far exceeded what he expected. In seconds, fifty, maybe sixty masked individuals had surrounded him, their weapons gleaming in the low light. Rusty knives and metal pipes filled their hands, ready to strike.