manynovel Chapter 350: Hidden Reaction.
Chapter 350: Hidden Reaction.
Inside a small secluded tavern owned by a Mantis Man, a group sat around a wooden table with bone legs. Their faces were solemn and difficult to read.
"Do you know what is going on?" one of them asked, lowering his voice as his gaze moved around the table.
"I do not know." A young woman shook her head slowly. "I have asked around. No one seems to know why Black Water has closed its door."
One of them, a lean man, creased his brow. "Is it possible everything is just a scam?"
His voice was filled with skepticism.
"Impossible!" A man holding a long gray staff shook his head firmly. "We can all see the strong vitality in the town. The clean clothes, the abundant food, and the clean water are enough to show that Black Water is not a scam."
"Then why is its door shut?" the lean, skeptical young man could not help but ask.
For a moment, the table was quiet. Everyone around the table was trying to understand what was going on.
The tavern around them remained noisy, but their small corner seemed to have fallen into a heavy silence.
They had traveled far because of the rumor.
They had endured scorching heat, dangerous beasts, and suspicious beastmen just to reach Mantis Town.
And yet, after entering the town, the door they wanted to see most was tightly closed.
"What should we do now?" the only woman among them asked, her fingers tightening around her mug.
"We wait," the man with the long gray staff replied after a brief silence.
Unknown to them, they were not the only group that was trying desperately to understand what was going on. Many had come to snatch the resources of Black Water for themselves.
Some came with hidden greed.
Some came with orders from their guilds.
Some came with the intention of kidnapping anyone related to Black Water.
But now...
What they had was nothing but an empty building with its door shut.
How could they not be impatient and furious?
Every passing moment made their thoughts darker.
The longer Black Water remained closed, the more people began to wonder whether the rumors had been bait from the beginning.
In another part of the central street, a group sat inside a small room with little illumination.
The curtains were drawn, and the faint light from a small lamp barely revealed the outlines of their faces.
"Is it possible the group behind Black Water has fled after detecting so many people?" a figure asked curiously.
"We do not need to guess what is going on. We just need to capture a few members of the Crimson Arc Guild, and everything will be known to us. I do not believe their guild members will not know what is going on," a figure said in a cold voice.
"If we do that, our cover will be blown," another figure responded.
None of them were against capturing a few members of the Crimson Arc Guild, but they were only worried about their cover. As long as they could solve the problem of their cover, they would not hesitate to capture a few.
To them, kidnapping was not a moral problem.
It was only a problem of timing, risk, and escape route.
"Why are you all worried about our cover? Our aim should be on completing the mission," the cold voice continued with the same domineering tone. "The more we delay this, the more difficult it will be to complete our mission."
"Why do we not kidnap them and escape from the town?" he said. "As long as we are outside the town, even if the Crimson Arc Guild has a Level 40 Awakener, they can do nothing to us." His tone brimmed with confidence.
Hmm!
For a moment, none of the people in the room spoke. Each was considering the suggestion carefully.
The plan was crude, but crude plans sometimes worked best in chaotic places.
If they acted quickly enough, they could seize a target, flee before the patrols reacted, and interrogate the captured guild member outside the town.
Finally, one of them broke the silence.
"We will wait for three days, and if nothing changes, we will follow your plan."
The cold voiced figure leaned back slightly, saying nothing more.
While many parties and forces were trying to understand what was going on and why Black Water had closed its door, news of the new entrance fee spread through the town.
"Is this true?" a girl asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Yes. I heard this directly from a Crimson Arc Guild member."
"Is that not robbery? How can they do that?"
"We cannot accept this. This is blatant robbery."
Forces hidden in the town were stunned by the sudden news.
Many that planned to leave the town and come back were forced to stop their plans. Fifty copper coins was already expensive, and many that entered the town had to grit their teeth.
And now, they learned the entrance fee had shot up to one silver coin. As for parties and large teams, their prices were even crazier than a single person.
From this, everyone understood the Crimson Arc Guild was trying to control the inflow of people.
The message was obvious.
Mantis Town would no longer allow anyone to come and go as they pleased.
Those who wanted to enter had to pay.
Those who wanted to test the town had to consider the cost.
While the people were discussing the sudden change in the gate entrance fee, they saw people being thrown out of the town.
Some had bruised faces.
Some limped badly.
Some cursed loudly while being dragged toward the gate by Crimson Arc Guild members.
"This is bad..." a figure muttered, his gaze sharpening.
Behind him were four other people draped in black cloaks. Beneath their cloaks were the insignias of the Silver Crest Guild. They were the scouts sent by their guild to check the town first.
With the Crimson Arc Guild taking such precautionary steps, the Silver Crest Guild scout party could not help but frown deeply.
"What should we do?" another person asked. "We cannot afford to be discovered."
"Of course we cannot," their captain said seriously. "For now, we hide and try as much as possible not to be detected."
The others nodded quietly.
Their original plan had been simple.
Enter Mantis Town.
Confirm the rumor.
Locate Black Water.
Search for weak points.
Then wait for the main force of the Silver Crest Guild to arrive.
But now, the sudden increase in security and entrance fees made everything more complicated.
If they acted carelessly, they would be exposed before their guild even reached the town.
And if the Crimson Arc Guild already knew spies had entered, then their current silence might be nothing but a trap.
With the Crimson Arc Guild arresting and throwing out those who had previously caused trouble in the town, the bustling street became strangely quiet.
The laughter from taverns weakened.
The arguments from visiting hunters disappeared.
Even the Mantis Men walking along the street became more cautious, their antennae twitching as they watched the unfolding scene.
For a moment, it was as if an invisible hand was hanging over the town.
Pressure settled over everyone.
Meanwhile, outside Mantis Town, a group waited patiently for news from their men. And with each passing second, their patience was growing thin.
They were hidden behind a low dune, far enough from the gate to avoid suspicion but close enough to observe movement.
Several beasts of burden rested nearby, their mouths bound to prevent unnecessary noise.