Chapter 102: The Moon Worship Cult
Inside the villa, only six Soul Hunters remained.
In the master bedroom, Hua Nu discovered a file folder on the bedside table.
She flipped through it, her gaze turning cold.
Inside the folder were several photos.
The photos depicted Sophia and Alexander sitting at a table, staring at a laptop.
These were photos of Alexander and Sophia discussing a plot.
There was also an additional document.
It contained information about Alexander's life over the past eighteen years.
Family background and social circles.
Of course, the information only covered up to his high school graduation.
Hua Nu didn't dare to examine the details, quickly instructing several Soul Hunters to take the laptop, mobile phones, and all documents from the room.
The six Soul Hunters then destroyed the surveillance equipment and archives before retreating along their original route.
Late that night, Kate drove her sports car toward the villa.
Her face bore a trace of anxiety.
Tomorrow, there was a crucial meeting for the Moon God Merchant Association. This meeting could determine whether the association could establish itself in Bluewater City.
To ensure security, many important documents were stored in the villa.
After all, the villa was protected by a group of combat-awakened guards.
However, she had made countless calls to the villa's guards earlier, and no one had answered.
A sense of foreboding grew within Kate.
Half an hour later, she finally arrived at the villa gates, honking several times at the electronic iron gate, but no one opened it.
"What on earth is wrong with these people?!"
Kate undid her seatbelt, leaving her car door ajar as she climbed over the iron gate.
Once inside, she found the security booth empty.
Kate looked irritated:
"Can these people do their job or not? The Yang family is paying you, after all!"
She walked straight toward the villa.
She didn't notice the small pile of white ashes on the ground in the security booth; the guard had been burned completely.
As Kate reached the villa door, she paused.
"Why is it so quiet?"
The villa was eerily silent tonight, without even a sound from the guard dogs.
In the past, the patrol dogs would always react if anyone walked by.
As she took another step, a strange sensation rose from under her foot.
Looking down, she discovered a layer of white ash covering the ground — and there, beneath her foot, was a charred finger!
Alarms blared in her mind.
She withdrew her hand from the doorbell and headed to the villa's back garden.
The night wind was chilling, as if the gates of hell had opened; the villa felt alien.
Kate walked along the flowerbeds, her eyes widening in terror.
Behind the flowerbed, the patrol demon dog lay with its mouth open, lifeless gray eyes staring, half-buried in the ground.
About half an hour later, a convoy of luxury business cars drove into the villa grounds.
A group of men in black suits and sunglasses, wielding various weapons, stormed the villa.
These men were combat-awakened warriors.
Sophia's brother was among them. He crouched beside the demon dog, his brows deeply furrowed.
This demon dog was ranked D-level, one of the strongest of its kind, trained for guarding the property.
Generally speaking, even a C-level threat wouldn't easily defeat it.
But this demon dog had been killed instantly!
Sophia's brother spoke in a grave tone:
"This was done by a B-level, and a very spiritually powerful one at that."
Kate swallowed hard.
"How…how is that possible?"
B-levels were not uncommon in this world, but they weren't exactly like cabbage in the market!
Sophia's brother analyzed further:
"A-levels can alter landscapes, and top A-levels can even alter weather patterns.
B-levels are similar; the strongest among them can manipulate terrain."
The demon dog embedded in the ground was evidence of a terrain-altering power at work.
Fear was written all over Kate's face.
For the Moon God Merchant Association to be targeted by a B-level combat awakener upon first arriving in Bluewater City — what did that imply?
Sophia's brother muttered:
"We should report this to the Moon Worship Cult; this matter is beyond the Yang family's capability."
With so many casualties, not reporting it was out of the question.
Even if the Security Bureau didn't have the resources to solve this case, protocol had to be followed.
Upon learning of the Divine family's massacre, the Security Bureau immediately took action.
They swiftly assembled a task force, led personally by Captain Ethan Blake, and dispatched security vehicles to the Divine family villa.
Kate accompanied Ethan Blake, inspecting the area around the villa.
In such a luxurious estate, there were no neighbors nearby, meaning there were no witnesses when the tragedy occurred.
The surveillance equipment had been destroyed, leaving nothing but a layer of ash on the ground — no other clues.
Ethan Blake squatted down, staring intently at a charred, severed hand, muttering, "These people worked cleanly; they were definitely professionally trained."
Kate asked in confusion, "Captain, how do you know it wasn't the work of one person?"
Ethan Blake glanced at her. "Experience."
Kate dared not contradict him.
Captain Ethan Blake's reputation was well-known, and his words were not idle boasts.
"A well-trained group," he said.
Kate covered her mouth in horror, staring at Ethan Blake in disbelief.
In the Divine family, a B-rank awakener would typically be treated as an honored guest, practically revered.
But if this attack was the work of several professionally trained B-ranks, it was truly terrifying!
Who could possibly train B-ranks?
Ethan Blake donned white gloves, pinching a bit of ash between his fingers, looking at Kate with a meaningful expression.
"This ash here comes from over fifty individuals.
According to security regulations, no organization is permitted to employ more than thirty F-rank or higher combat-awakened individuals.
Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
Kate was accustomed to this line of questioning.
And with only ashes left in the villa, she suppressed her shock, smiling casually.
"These were just ordinary security guards, definitely not awakeners."
Ethan Blake scoffed at her response.
Ordinary security guards?
Would a few B-rank assassins be sent for ordinary security?
Kate nonchalantly asked, "Bluewater City is your domain; who do you think did this?"
She was simply trying to change the subject, not believing Ethan Blake could solve the case.
After all, the capabilities of the Security Bureau were only so-so.
Ethan Blake had an answer in his mind, his gaze momentarily unfocused.
In Bluewater City, who but the Hunter Guild could send multiple B-ranks on such a mission?
Those B-ranks were likely seasoned hunters from the guild.
Intermediate? Or advanced?
Shaking his head, Ethan Blake replied, "More investigation is needed."
Kate noticed the change in Ethan Blake's expression, and unease began to grow within her.
The Captain of the Security Bureau's Martial Division knew who the culprits were, yet he chose not to dig deeper!
This meant a terrifying supernatural force had already taken root in Bluewater City.
This force was so deeply entrenched, operating in such secrecy, that only a few high-ranking figures in Bluewater City were aware of it!
Now, with the Divine family coming in to take a piece of the pie, it was like throwing eggs against stone.
Ultimately, it was up to the Moon Worship Cult, which stood behind the Divine family, to make a decision on this matter.
The more Kate thought about it, the more dread filled her heart.
What if she hadn't been at the company today, but at the villa instead?
Would she already be dead?
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