"Over there! Follow me!"

Just then, the people outside discovered their escape.

"Let’s go."

Sayam grit his teeth and dove straight into the hole. Wei’en quickly followed with Tina.

"Sir, didn’t you have any backup plans? Knowing your enemies were watching you, how did you end up in a situation like this?"

"Hmph. Even the best-laid plans are useless once a traitor appears."

’That’s because your plans weren’t thorough enough...’

But Wei’en chose not to say it out loud, lest he upset the old man further.

In just a few days, two of his sons had died and another was confirmed to be a traitor. Anyone else in his shoes would probably want to die at this point.

As the two entered, Sayam blocked the entrance. "Hurry! Collins knows about this secret passage. We don’t have much time."

"...You really don’t hold anything back, do you."

With that, they ran along the secret passage, heading ever deeper.

Wei’en found the construction of this secret passage very strange. Typically, such things were for emergency evacuation and led outside the manor grounds.

’So why is this one heading straight down?’

"Sayam, stop running! You can’t escape—"

Just then, Collins’s voice echoed from behind them. "And you, Mr. Investigator. It’s all your fault our plan was ruined."

"Our original plan was to take over Ceres Manor silently and replace them..."

"Collins, he’s mine!"

’Dammit, Elno followed them too, just as I expected.’

Wei’en really wanted to curse out Sayam, who was running ahead of him. ’Your home was completely taken over by thieves and you didn’t even know? Are you that useless?’

"You two, I’d advise you to stop following me. I’ve already notified the City-State Secret Investigation Department, and they’re probably on their way with reinforcements right now. When they get here, you’ll have no chance of escape."

He said that, but right now, Wei’en wished he could grow two more legs.

He couldn’t keep up with Sayam in front, and Collins and Elno behind him were also much faster.

"You’ll be dead long before that...!" Elno said menacingly. "For Tiki!"

[You have been targeted by Elno Vazquez’s killing intent. Evaluation: If you choose to face him head-on, I’ll salute you for being a real man. I’ll be sure to burn incense and paper for you on the anniversary of your death. Reward: Survival Points +3.]

’Burn incense my ass! You have no heart, do you, System?’

Wei’en knew the two behind him were dead set on killing him, but he couldn’t possibly take on two captain-level opponents right now... no, that Collins’s power was probably even greater.

"We’re almost there! Keep up."

Sayam’s voice came from ahead, and Wei’en’s heart leaped with joy. "Okay, I..."

Just then, a red notification flashed on his system panel.

[You have stepped into the faith-gathering place of an unknown entity. Because your Spirit is greater than 40... Evaluation: Doesn’t this feel familiar? Special Reward: Survival Points +5, Resilience Level +1, Spirit Level +1.]

’Fuck,’

’No wonder this secret passage kept going down. The destination was—the Nocturnal City?’

’Does that mean I’m on the third level now?’

"Die!"

WHOOSH.

Wei’en had no time to think. The moment he heard the voice behind him, he pulled Tina and dove to the side.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a tentacle covered in green slime slam into the passage wall, shattering a patch of stone. The liquid corroded the ground and wall, leaving a pockmarked mess.

"Tina, get angry."

Dust kicked up by the attack blew into the white-haired girl’s face. A flash of red light flickered in her vacant eyes.

Wei’en quickly scooped her up and continued to flee. "Soon, we’ll be safe soon."

He didn’t dare let this little ancestor get agitated. Forgetting the terrifying Calamity Power she possessed, the clown doll in her hands alone was enough to destroy the entire city-state. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

’No other choice—’

As he ran, Wei’en opened his system panel. ’Allocate my points!’