Chapter 64

  A group of people took advantage of the moonlight to cross a desolate area. In front of them, buildings began to appear, and they were about to enter a more bustling area. The team members lay on the ground observing the situation. Zhao Zhenghao felt something was off and asked, "Why do we have to take this road? We can sneak out from the edge area, no need to take this risk?"

  "You don't know?" The guide crouched on the ground, observing the front. "There are many government troops and Red Snow organization sentries around Takar City. The government troops may not kill you directly, but if they discover you, it will immediately trigger the Red Snow sentries. This is equivalent to harming you. Now there are only a few mobile patrols in the city. As long as we avoid them, we'll be fine. Going inside might actually be safer."

  Zhao Zhenhao nodded and raised his sniper rifle to observe carefully. In the mirror, nothing could be seen except for a faint moonlight. He slowly put down his rifle.

  "Is there any movement? Everyone stay still!" The guide's ear was pressed against the ground and he suddenly whispered a sentence.

  Zhao Zhenhao patted his shoulder, indicating that he didn't need to listen anymore. The sound was loud enough to be heard even without putting one's ear to the ground. The diesel engine emitted a "rumbling" sound, which only a heavily armored vehicle weighing tens of tons could produce. Especially in the still of night, it was even more earth-shaking.

  A beam of white light from a searchlight suddenly appeared at the corner ahead. Zhao Zhenghao picked up his mirror and examined it carefully. Indeed, a massive object appeared in the mirror. He suddenly heard an unusual sound beside him. Turning his head, he saw two experts with their heads buried in the ground like ostriches. The strange noise was coming from their mouths. Zhao Zhenghao ignored them and continued to focus on the sniper scope. The massive object was getting closer and closer, and it could be clearly seen that it was an armored vehicle. As it drew nearer, a 12.8mm heavy machine gun was prominently mounted on top of the vehicle. Next to the machine gun sat a person, leisurely smoking a cigarette. The armored vehicle sped past, spewing black smoke and obscuring a patch of starry sky.

  In a place less than twenty meters away, several nets were slowly lifted, revealing the team members' heads. They smelled a pungent diesel smell and the rumbling sound was gradually moving away. Zhao Zhenghao patted the expert's shoulder, but the expert had no reaction, still tightly attached to the ground as if he wanted to bury himself in it. Zhao Zhenghao grabbed his collar and pulled him up with force, the other side shivered, his nose twitching. Seeing that things were not going well, Zhao Zhenghao immediately covered his mouth and pressed him back into the soil.

  "Ah-choo!" A muffled voice was heard, and the team members carefully looked around. "Do they think we're in a bag? These people are crazy enough?" Shao Hui said viciously. "Don't worry about that now, they'll soon discover we're not there. Let's hurry up before they catch up with us!" Zhao Zhenghao stood up with his rifle and said. The team members put on their camouflage gear and crouched down to run towards the city district in front of them. An expert was lagging behind, Shao Hui turned around and adjusted his glasses for him, which sped up their progress significantly. After a few minutes, they arrived at the foot of the first building. The building had a long history, its walls were somewhat gray and old, but its shape was elegant and in line with European aesthetics. It should be a relic left by some invading countries back then. The team members leaned against the wall and listened carefully to their surroundings. The local guide adjusted his breathing and said softly: "Follow this road all the way forward, there's an intersection ahead. On the right side of the intersection is a square. We need to cross that square and keep going left until we reach the end."

  Zhao Zhenhao nodded: "Then let's set off?"

  The locals didn't move, but instead looked up and down at the two experts. Zhao Zhenhao asked, "What's wrong with them?" The local hesitated for a moment before saying, "When we arrive at the square later, just look at the road and don't look anywhere else. Did you hear that?" Zhao Zhenhao felt this request was strange, but still replied, "Understood."

  During the day, they rushed to get on and off the bus without carefully observing the situation. It wasn't until Shao Hui entered this city for the second time that he discovered its buildings had a strong Gothic style. The floors were not high but very distinctive, and the design of the buildings blended seamlessly with nature. Everywhere was filled with a romantic and leisurely atmosphere. This city in Basel seemed like an alien product, existing in a very abrupt manner. In this country where death wandered, it emitted a strong bloody aura, like Countess Bathory, producing an indescribable strange charm. However, at night, these travelers who only wanted to escape couldn't appreciate this indescribable beauty. They wore disguises and ran wildly, like werewolves, killing anyone who got in their way.

  The crossroads were located in the central area of this building complex, both a transportation hub and a matter of life and death for the team members. Because the four intersections might have guards at any time, they came here with caution. Fortunately, there was no searchlight from the patrol car. The local man whispered again, "Turn right to reach the square, remember, just look at the road, don't look in other directions." Shao Hui didn't think much of it. If he said not to run around in other directions, he thought it was very correct. Don't look around? Is there really a legendary soul-capturing picture? He thought about these things and followed Zhao Zhenghao to turn the corner. Suddenly, a vast expanse of darkness rushed into his eyes. There were no lights, no buildings, and only by the moonlight could he vaguely see pillars standing in the center of the square. "Look ahead," the local man said, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, without turning around. This square was very large, with no obstructions around it. If you want to minimize the risk factor, passing through quickly is the best way. Only eleven black shadows appeared in this darkness like ghosts. "Whoosh" they ran away. The local man reminded the people behind him while leading the way, "There are steps here, be careful." Zhang Weize only heard the heavy breathing of the two experts in front of him, panting and out of breath. He thought to himself, "Not good, I don't know how far ahead it is, don't let them drag their feet." He stretched out his hand to push them, but suddenly a strange "gurgling" sound appeared nearby, like something heavy was slowly crushing bones, or like someone was scraping bone powder with a small knife. In the darkness, it sounded particularly eerie. But this was a group of highly skilled and brave soldiers. The things that inspired fear could only provoke their anger and attack. They ignored the local man's repeated warnings and turned around to see what was happening.

  Six eyes? To be exact, six eyes emitting green light? Appearing and disappearing less than ten meters away from the team members? The eerie voice was coming from there. "Ah?" A terrified scream had just been let out when it was immediately cut off. Zhang Weize covered the expert's mouth and whispered, "What are you yelling about? It's just three wolves, what's there to be afraid of?" The expert's mouth and nose were covered, leaving only two pairs of terrified eyes staring motionlessly at something else. Those three wolves, who had been disturbed while having dinner, suddenly lifted their heads and glared at the people in front of them with eerie green eyes, letting out a warning signal with a low "woo woo" sound. If anyone else didn't behave, they would surely pounce on them and turn them into a big meal. Zhang Weize didn't take these few wolves seriously. He followed the expert's gaze... Even someone as brave as him had goosebumps all over his body.

  In the center of the square, wasn't there a pillar? Just now, I couldn't see clearly from afar. Now that I've walked down here, I realize that a tall wooden beam has been erected. Many long, gourd-like objects are hanging from it. Upon closer inspection, I see that they're corpses! Some have started to rot, and a nauseating smell fills the air. Others are still dripping blood, and it's clear that they were hung up not long ago. Several of the corpses have had their flesh stripped clean, leaving only skeletons suspended in mid-air. The moonlight shines through the gaps between the bones and the empty eye sockets, casting an eerie glow. Suddenly, the wooden beam sways slightly, and the corpses begin to swing about, as if they're floating in mid-air or performing a death dance. No wonder that expert let out a loud cry! If any ordinary person were to suddenly see this scene, it would be a miracle if they didn't faint from fright. Zhang Weize looks down along the wooden beam and sees that there's no wind, no vibration... so how can the beam be moving? Either someone on top hasn't died yet, or something below is shaking it. Indeed, he discovers several pairs of green eyes staring back at him. The owners of those eyes are using their front legs to climb up the pillar, shaking it with all their might, completely ignoring the scene around them. "Ugh..." One expert can't take it anymore and vomits out everything they ate that night.

  "I warned you not to look around casually. The shout just now may have alarmed the sentries nearby. They will be here soon. Let's go quickly." The local man said in a low voice, his tone somewhat anxious.

  "Don't be afraid... When they catch up, it will be their doomsday!" Zhao Zhenghao said with a murderous tone.