The Storm is Coming

After completing the discharge procedures with the hospital, Luo Wei finally left the Bedlam Psychiatric Hospital.

Ophelia's black carriage was already waiting downstairs. This time, it wasn’t to take him to some strange place, but to personally escort him home.

"Hmph..." Helena scoffed as she eyed the luxurious royal carriage.

She then glanced at Ophelia, who was chatting with Luo Wei.

"Always trying to show off in front of brother. It’s not like we can’t afford to take a cab home."

Evelyn, noticing Helena’s sour expression, knew the girl was feeling jealous again.

"Public transport has been shut down. Even if you have money, you can’t get a ride now!" Evelyn shook her head, gazing at the empty streets.

"Besides, the city is in chaos. It’s safer to take her royal carriage."

Evelyn’s reasoning was sound, and Helena could only nod reluctantly.

"Fine, you’re right..."

Once inside the spacious carriage, the driver cracked his whip, and the carriage swiftly headed toward their home in the west district.

Inside the carriage, four pairs of eyes met in silence.

Helena affectionately clung to Luo Wei’s arm, sitting on his right.

On his left sat...

Ophelia, calm and composed.

Caroline and Evelyn were squeezed onto the opposite seat. Evelyn didn’t seem to mind, though. Instead, she watched Luo Wei’s discomfort with an increasingly amused smile.

Feeling the slight jolts of the carriage and the eerily quiet atmosphere...

Luo Wei felt awkward.

Though the carriage was spacious, it was still confined. With eyes open, it was inevitable to meet someone else’s gaze.

The two groups, who had been at odds earlier, now sat together in silence, exchanging meaningful glances. Luo Wei felt like the situation could be turned into a stream-of-consciousness novel...

And then, at that moment.

Luo Wei sensed Ophelia leaning slightly closer to his left, a cool, pleasant floral fragrance wafting over.

She rubbed her temples drowsily, seemingly about to rest her head on Luo Wei’s shoulder as she often did.

Helena’s eyes turned murderous.

Evelyn’s smile was on the verge of breaking through.

Luo Wei silently looked at Evelyn, his teacher, who seemed to be enjoying the drama, and flashed a pleading glance.

Evelyn blinked innocently, a faint smile on her lips, as if she had no intention of intervening.

So, Luo Wei narrowed his eyes dangerously and slowly extended his hand.

The moment she saw his hand move, Evelyn jolted like a startled cat.

Her mind instantly recalled some embarrassing and blush-inducing memories.

He’s threatening me with the [Command] again!!

She shot Luo Wei a mix of disdain and annoyance, then abruptly opened the window.

A gust of cold wind rushed in, making everyone in the carriage shiver.

"Huh, it’s foggy..."

Evelyn had intended to help Luo Wei change the subject, but what she saw outside surprised her.

The entire Saint Callen City was shrouded in heavy fog. Perhaps because the factories had stopped operating, the air felt moist and fresh.

Of course, this kind of weather was common in the city, so it wasn’t unusual. What startled her was the atmosphere on the streets.

Through the white mist, she could see squads of fully armed military police patrolling the west district, their boots stomping in unison, creating a disciplined yet ominous rhythm.

In the distance, the view was unclear, but chaotic figures could be seen. From there came a series of hoarse, guttural screams that, though human, sounded monstrous.

Everyone in the carriage turned to look out the window.

Ophelia’s pale eyes instantly turned red, her vertical pupils, like those of a reptile, seemingly able to pierce through the layers of fog and see what was happening.

After a moment, she frowned and looked at Luo Wei.

"Some insane supernaturals are being suppressed by the military and the Holy Edict Knight Order."

Luo Wei nodded. He could indeed sense a faint trace of mental corruption. Even at this distance, the eerie and frenzied aura was palpable.

Insane supernaturals, and so many of them appearing on the streets, was an ominous sign.

Luo Wei looked at Ophelia, who seemed deep in thought. "What’s your take on this?"

Ophelia frowned slightly. "These past few days, the number of lunatics on the streets has increased, and the city’s situation is growing more chaotic. The authorities are barely holding on..."

"This isn’t good..." Evelyn murmured worriedly, gazing out the window. "You know, supernaturals are just one step away from becoming terrifying monsters..."

Ophelia looked at Luo Wei solemnly. "Someone is deliberately spreading chaos, and chaos is just a means, not the ultimate goal."

Luo Wei met her gaze and nodded silently.

"Chaos is the breeding ground for the indescribable."

A sense of impending turmoil filled his mind. This once prosperous and stable steam-powered city...

Something was about to happen.

...

The carriage continued speeding westward. Being a royal carriage, it passed through without hindrance.

The closer they got to the city’s edge, the more severe the chaos on the streets became.

Luo Wei noticed that the Holy Edict Knight Order, clad in silver-white armor, was suppressing another group of insane supernaturals. He even recognized someone.

A young man in the most ornate armor was commanding the scene—it was the Third Prince, whom he had met just a week ago.

Under his command, the knight order members spread out skillfully, surrounding the deranged supernatural from a distance.

The supernatural was no longer human in appearance. Its body was enormous, covered in black fur, with two fangs protruding. Its fangs could easily pierce through the knight order’s armor. At that moment, it was crouched on the ground, devouring the mutilated corpse of a knight order member.

It seemed to have completely lost its sanity, driven only by the urge to kill and consume, with no intention of fleeing.

The knight order members drew their double-barreled shotguns, unleashing a barrage of firepower that turned the supernatural into chunks of flesh, physically purifying it.

But their crisis wasn’t over. The fog was too thick. A roar suddenly echoed, and another madman, hidden in the mist, charged out.

It lunged straight toward the Third Prince from behind.

Hearing the commotion, the Third Prince instinctively turned around.

But before he could fire his gun or draw his sword, his trusted aide swiftly dealt with the threat.

Luo Wei noticed that while the aide carried the knight order’s standard cross-shaped longsword, he was actually a spellcaster. With a cold gaze, he chanted a spell rapidly, causing the monster’s body to writhe grotesquely before exploding into a foul spray of blood.

The black carriage passed by the Third Prince’s group, and Evelyn quickly drew the window curtains.

She muttered regretfully, "Why didn’t they just kill that annoying guy..."

Ophelia smiled faintly. "I’ve been clashing with him for years. If it were that easy, he’d have been a corpse long ago."

Luo Wei nodded silently. He didn’t know the extent of the Third Prince’s strength, but his aide was indeed formidable. As a spellcaster, he was somewhat similar to Caroline, who was by Ophelia’s side, but much stronger.

Given that the Third Prince had been able to rival Ophelia for so many years, his group couldn’t be underestimated.

...