Night Feast in the Death Row: Untraceable

“He crippled his opponent, yet instead of rushing to seize Steve, he tried to capture those two girls. That told me… he’s Steve’s friend! And you, you burst in shouting ‘Daughter!’ then flew into a rage for revenge, putting Steve second! Heh, that seems to suggest neither of you are here to deal with Steve, right!?”

Old Foye’s boisterous laughter resonated with surprising vigor, utterly unlike his usual frail, gasping demeanor that usually made him pant after every few words.

Du Chen touched his nose, saying, “Your Excellency, your intervention on my behalf suggests you are not Steve’s enemy either!”

Old Foye nodded slightly, then spread his hands, chuckling, “Since our objectives align, why continue this struggle? We share a common friend in Steve, and thus, we should also share common enemies!”

Everyone simultaneously glanced at the four Crimson Mausoleum Guards, whom Deboning had cornered into a perilous situation, and the unconscious Hawkins sprawled on the ground…

Hawkins lay comatose, awaiting capture, naturally oblivious to these words. But the four Crimson Mausoleum Guards heard them all too clearly. A single thought flashed through their minds: *Death is inevitable today; may our identities at least remain hidden!*.

Ted suddenly snorted heavily. *In this current predicament*, he thought, *Steve’s safety is surely assured. But what about my daughter’s suffering?* He looked back at Helen in Sulan’s arms—the girl, disguised as a village maiden but in truth devastatingly beautiful, had her eyes tightly shut, enduring the searing pain with gritted teeth. A scorched mark marred her abdomen, precisely where Du Chen’s fiery attack had struck!

His beloved wife met a tragic end; he forsook a noble position second only to one, the supreme authority to command a thousand armies. Was it not all for his daughter’s happiness and safety? Yet today, Helen was injured by some unknown brat who appeared from nowhere… Ted’s fists cracked, *snap, crackle*! Since Steve is safe, then it’s time to settle the score for my daughter’s suffering!

“Not an enemy, perhaps, but not necessarily a friend either! Young man, you wounded my daughter; first, give me an explanation!” With that, he lunged at Du Chen once more!

Old Foye moved to block Ted, chuckling, “Why bother? Your daughter’s injury isn’t fatal. At most, this young man can pay for her medicine. Besides, look at the fight against those four strange masters—he seems stronger than either of us. Why bother making another powerful enemy, Your Excellency?”

Ted refused to listen, continuing his fierce assault!

Du Chen glanced at Helen, then cupped his hands towards Ted, who was still mid-battle. “Sir, you witnessed the situation just now. Under those circumstances, I had no choice! How about this: I can instantly heal your daughter’s injuries, and as for apologies or compensation, whatever you demand, I shall fulfill!”

Just then, a ‘thud’ echoed from another direction. Deboning had already slain one Crimson Mausoleum Guard, completely dismantling the Auerbach Hurricane Array! Total victory was now but moments away!

“Excellent skill!” Though Ted and Old Foye were still fighting, they couldn’t help but admire Deboning for breaking the Hurricane Array in mere moments. Ted retracted his hand, huffing, “You can instantly heal my daughter’s injuries? Very well, heal her immediately, then apologize to her, and this matter will be considered settled!”

Du Chen smiled faintly. This man, at least, understood the situation. Though Du Chen held the upper hand, they were here to protect his elder brother, Steve, which counted as a favor to him. What was an apology then? The Sixth flicked his finger, and the Holy Light of the Precious Lotus Scripture enveloped Helen! He added, “The Lanning Tribunal hasn’t been alarmed yet. I doubt any of you wish for Steve to escape Death Row only to bear the stigma of a lifelong fugitive, ostracized by his own homeland, do you?”

“Precisely, we are doing our best to clear his name!” Ted replied.

“Then our objectives are aligned!” Du Chen gestured with a backhand towards the Crimson Mausoleum Guards—now only two remained after another was slain—and said grimly, “Then let’s resolve this battle quickly, and then we can step outside and discuss things properly, shall we? If these two decide to self-detonate or something, alarming the guards, then tomorrow people might say that three Titled Battle Gods were outwitted by the dying blows of a few Eighth or Ninth-rank Battle Gods!”

“No need for their interference!” Deboning glided forward, his curved blade reversed. Behind him, *thump, thump!* Two more bodies crashed to the ground!

“Splendid! In the span of a few words, Your Excellency has completely shattered the Beastkin’s super formation—the Auerbach Hurricane Array! Truly exceptional skill!” Old Foye laughed heartily, but everyone present simultaneously stiffened in surprise!

*This man actually recognized Auerbach’s Secret Technique, which was not to be passed down!?*

Ted stared at him, “These people are Beastkin!?”

Old Foye smiled, “Indeed, they are Beastkin. And more specifically, Crimson Mausoleum Guard Elders of the Beastkin! If you don’t believe me, take off their masks—the first one to fall should be Smithy, the Ape-man High Priest of the Crimson Mausoleum Guards! As for the one in heavy armor, he just used the Beast Emperor’s Unyielding Wall, so he must be a Ninth-rank expert from the Saint Baton or McAllen Royal Family!”

Ted’s pupils contracted, but he said nothing. Du Chen, however, was astonished. *Who is this masked man in black? He could discern so much from their combat style… he must know the Beastkin exceedingly well!*

…

“Young miss’s injuries are healed! The young miss is fine!” Sulan cried out in ecstatic surprise, watching Helen slowly rise from her arms. She clenched her fists with joy and leaped up, “What kind of light was that? It’s so powerful, it healed the young miss so quickly!”

Ted saw his daughter truly recovered, and a faint smile touched his lips. But when Helen stood up, her eyes—now disguised as emerald green—fixed intensely on Du Chen!

“Young lady, that was merely a misunderstanding just now!” Du Chen offered an apologetic smile, pointing at the unconscious Hawkins. “This Death Row is no place for talking. Let’s take this living captive and get out first!”

Helen snorted, but her soft huff, the slight flare of her nostrils, was drowned out by a sudden, piercing shriek!

“Aaaaah!!!”

Just then, Steve abruptly roared, “It was me! No, it wasn’t me!” He leaped up from the ground, frenetically smashing against the iron bars of his cage, his state verging on madness. His disheveled hair thrashed wildly as he shook his head, *thump, thump, thump!* He violently slammed his head against the bars!

“Steve!” Du Chen’s expression shifted. Old Foye suddenly extended his arm, blocking Du Chen, and said urgently, “Quick, we need to go! To prevent prisoner escapes, those cage bars extend underground all the way to the Tribunal’s surveillance room. Steve’s incessant banging on them… the guards must be rushing here at full speed! Moreover, the mechanisms of this Lanning Death Row are incredibly potent. If we can’t get out before they seal, we’ll likely have to confront large-scale sacred artifacts of war!”

As if to confirm Old Foye’s words, *creak, creak*, several layers of black plates slowly descended from the four walls of the Death Row. The stone slabs above and below also revealed countless tiny, dark holes, densely packed together!

Du Chen urgently asked, “But what exactly is wrong with Steve right now!?”

“Don’t worry, the guards will protect Steve when they arrive. Let’s move!”

Du Chen looked at Steve’s frantic state with a mix of surprise and anxiety, then gritted his teeth. “Alright, the Lanning Death Row is surely about to erupt into chaos. We’ll each use our own methods to leave, and meet up in the Southern District’s Third Street. How does that sound?”

Everyone nodded, but only Helen said, “Who will take the sole living captive out?”

Du Chen flicked his hand, sending out a lotus that absorbed Hawkins and the bodies of the four Crimson Mausoleum Guards. “Leave it to me!” With that, he and Deboning’s figures seemed to shrink, vanishing into thin air!

“Huh?” This sight stunned Helen and Sulan. But the Death Row mechanisms had already activated, leaving no time for thought; she bent down and burrowed into the ground! Old Foye, however, was unfazed—he had never seen Du Chen’s lotus…

*Boom!* As the mechanisms dropped, the Ninth Layer of Death Row became a completely sealed space!

…

Soon, the Lanning Guards surrounded the deepest layer of Death Row. Dozens of guards, pushing heavy shields, blocked the passage between the Eighth and Ninth layers. More reinforcements continuously arrived from behind!

Outside the sealed cells, a guard shouted, “Are there any of our brothers left inside? Damn it, looks like they’re all dead! Listen up, you people inside, you are surrounded! The Imperial Capital Garrison Command and the Versailles Guards have already been deployed, both armed with heavy sacred artifacts of war. You have no chance of escape! Surrender immediately!”

A long silence. No one replied!

*Thump, thump, thump!* Heavy footsteps. The Versailles Heavy-Armored Guards stormed into the Death Row. Guards made way wherever they went. The Guard Commander urgently said, “Sir, the mechanisms of the Ninth Layer are fully activated; the enemies must be trapped inside!” The leading General bellowed, “Good! Open the troop deployment channel. First, clear the way with the Fallen Gods Crossbows, then we’ll charge! Be careful not to harm Steve; he is His Majesty’s important prisoner!”

Over a hundred streaks of light flashed, and the Versailles Guards rushed into the Ninth Layer of Death Row… strewn with the corpses of guards, blood flowing freely. But not a single standing figure was in sight!

The Versailles Guards fell into a deathly silence almost instantly. But then…

“Sound the Versailles Alarm Bell!!”

…

Saint John City, plunged into chaos!

Saint Bovin Square, plunged into chaos!

The Versailles Guards deployed to cordon off the square. The Imperial Capital Garrison Command’s General shouted sternly, “No one on the square is to move! You may only leave after being inspected by the City Watch. Anyone attempting to move without permission will be killed on sight…”

Inside the Palace of Versailles, Bargnar angrily slammed his hand on the table. “Someone dared to trespass into Death Row?! Find them! The entire Imperial Capital is to be placed under martial law! Commander of Versailles, I grant you full authority; you may search every corner of the Imperial Capital!”

Opposite him, Ferdinand, who was subtly probing the Beastkin emissary Kirilan, flinched, his purple brow twitching. He said urgently, “Your Majesty, I will return to the Grand Cathedral immediately!” Kirilan smiled placidly, seemingly enjoying Lanning’s predicament, but secretly worried about Hawkins!

At this moment, hearing about the incident in Death Row, Steve’s own younger brother, Francis, could certainly not remain indifferent. He rushed out of the Grand Cathedral, his face filled with urgency. Beibei, Aliza, Harry… everyone except Grand Pontiff Brook, who had just ‘left the city’ on business, came out!

A peculiar sourness lingered on this ‘Francis’’s lips, as if… he had just indulged in a feast of sour plums!

Arriving at the Tribunal’s entrance, ‘Francis’ was still secretly snickering. *That oaf still managed to alarm the guards, but judging by the city-wide search, he must have made a clean escape! Not bad at all!*.

But after hearing the Versailles Guards’ report, ‘Francis’’s expression suddenly changed dramatically. “What did you say? You charged into Death Row, and there wasn’t a single person inside?! And the prisoner, Steve…”

*Damn it, Francis couldn’t have rescued his elder brother! And indeed, he hadn’t!*.

But the Versailles Guard replied, “Yes, Your Grace! There wasn’t a single person inside… including the major criminal, Steve!”