Emerging onto the surface, Gawain and Carn found themselves far from where they had entered. However, the landscape changed.
The entire massive base had collapsed, swallowed by the earth as if the underworld itself had opened to devour it. In its place was a colossal sinkhole spanning four square kilometers and plunging nearly a kilometer deep.
Carn turned to gaze at the deep crater and let out a dry laugh. "What a waste of taxpayer money. How many billions did they pour into this crap just to blow it up themselves?"
"I’ve heard that the people of this country just print money when they need it. Not like us, who rely on barter and actual value."
Carn smirked but didn’t comment further. Instead, he pulled out the three golden branches that Gawain had given him. Holding them up, he activated their power.
The branches brightened before disintegrating into golden dust. The particles flowed toward Carn, forming 3,000 new lines of energy on his arm. As the holy power coursed through him, he felt a surge of confidence.
"We’re done here. I need to check on my mother. It’s been hours, and I have no idea if she got out safely." Carn was still worried about Wong.
Gawain nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"
Carn considered for a moment before replying, "Stay here and team up with Inquisitor. You’ll scare my mother if you meet her directly."
"…"
Without waiting for a response, Carn vanished, heading toward the PX convenience store where he had last seen Wong. He silently prayed that the authority hadn’t found her yet.
Left alone, Gawain adjusted his stance and surveyed the area. As he turned, he noticed movement in the distance.
There were two individuals and a floating object. He quickly identified them.
"Stone Judge, Akashic Grimoire, and… a prisoner?"
His gaze lingered on the figure in the orange jumpsuit, and recognition dawned. It was Arthur. Gawain hadn’t been aware of Arthur’s arrest or transfer, but the prison attire spoke volumes.
"Ah, Class-E personnel. Karma."
.
.
PX Store
Carn arrived at the parking lot of the store. No car parked in the area. Streetlights dimly illuminated the wild space.
The convenience store did not operate 24 hours a day like 7-11. The lights were off, and the front gates were closed.
Unable to find Wong, Carn sighed. He took a deep breathe to calm his nerves. He expanded his senses, tracking her scent. Like a beast, Carn found the scent of his mother, which mixed with another person.
There was someone next to her during the time. They left the convenience store together and entered the same vehicle on the parking lot. After that, the trace was lost.
Carn proceeded to the trail of the vehicle next. Patiently, he followed the distinct smell of a cruiser, which had a heavy scent of alloys and lubricant oil.
The procedure took a while since the scent was lost again on a freeway. Carn had no choice but to guess Wong’s whereabouts by following the roads.
As Carn traveled, he remained in the sentry gargoyle form. Thanks to the chaos at the base and the nighttime, no car was present on the road. His journey was smooth until he entered a residential block.
Despite being in a safe area, Carn maintained vigilance, scanning the neighborhood with his Aether. He teleported slowly, appearing in only places where streetlights didn’t reach. Every time he teleported, he searched for the scent of his mother.
First block, no trace. Second street, no clue. Third… fourth, fifth… Carn kept on searching.
Finally, Carn reached the luxurious area, where executives and top personnel of ECD resided. Carn appeared in a villa’s backyard in a dry swimming pool without water.
He didn’t expect to find his mother here. Still, he scanned the 3-story house nonetheless. He then spotted two life signatures. One of which belonged to a weird organism, whose upper part of the body remained as human. As for the other parts of her body, they had been replaced with unknown alloys.
As for the other, surprisingly, she was Wong!
Carn found her!
Realizing that Wong was inside the big house, Carn got curious. He wondered how she managed to infiltrate this place.
Squatting? That would be impossible. Both the alloy woman and his mother had been sitting in the living room together, watching the news and chatting.
Since the house owner seemed friendly, Carn canceled his transformation. He climbed out of the swimming pool and made his way to the front door. Standing at the front door, he rang the bell.
.
Hours Earlier, at the PX Store
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A siren shattered the usual rhythm of the military town. All shops were ordered to close, and the streets emptied. Wong and Gwen were forced to leave the PX Store along with other customers and employees.
While leaving the store together with Gwen, Wong attempted to call Han. However, the line couldn’t be reached. She also worried about Carn, who might be fighting against ECD men at the moment.
During the chaos, kind-hearted Gwen noticed Wong’s restlessness. She had an idea.
"Come with me. You shouldn’t be out here right now."
Relieved and grateful, Wong accepted the invitation. She followed Gwen to her modest but cozy home on the outskirts of the restricted area. Though she called it a humble house, it belonged to a high-class zone.
Every house in this district was reserved for executive members of ECD facility and esteemed veterans. Gwen, a war veteran, earned this house after she had parted way with her former boy.
Despite the grim circumstances, Gwen went out of her way to make Wong comfortable. She prepared a simple but hearty dinner, and the two women shared a quiet meal. Gwen listened to Wong’s worries about her family and the strange events surrounding the ECD, though she chose her words carefully, aware of the sensitive nature of the topic.
As night fell, street lights were automatically turned on. Many houses were bright as usual, but many remained dark as the residents never returned home. Outside the window, the sirens had ceased.
Noticing the end of the siren warning, Gwen looked at the clock.
It was 8 PM. Since it was late, Gwen offered Wong a guest room.
"Stay here tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll help you get out of here. There’s a way to sneak past the checkpoints and to the airport. You’ll be safe soon."
Touched by Gwen’s generosity, Wong nodded. "Thank you. I don’t know how to repay you, lah."
Gwen winked, "Don’t worry about that. Introduce me to your handsome son after this, okay?"
Wong chuckled, "Of course, lah."
Both women laughed and continued chatting as if they had never had a good friend for a decade.
But as they were enjoying the conversation, the doorbell rang.