The chaos in the ruins of the square had finally subsided.
The Special Affairs Department was well-versed in handling cases involving cults. Several of their members were toppling statues, extinguishing bonfires, and erasing the crimson symbols that formed circles upon circles, effectively dismantling the summoning ritual.
"Sir Fred, that was a close call!" The chief of the police department, a middle-aged man with a hearty smile, walked over with a group of high-ranking officers, including Chief Raymond. His expression was one of excitement.
"This major cult case, which shook both the court and the public, has finally been resolved!" The police chief shook Fred's hand warmly, as if they were old friends. "Thanks to the collaboration between our two departments, we were able to bring this to a successful conclusion. I believe the Imperial Council can finally rest easy, and His Majesty can breathe a sigh of relief."
Fred, however, was less enthusiastic, offering only a lukewarm smile. "It's our duty. This is what the Special Affairs Department is supposed to do."
"Nonsense! I'll be hosting a celebration banquet later, and Sir Fred, you must attend!"
As they conversed, Luo Wei was meticulously inspecting the ritual site. Evelyn glanced at the two officials and muttered under her breath as she approached.
"That Chief Raymond's superior is clearly trying to steal the credit. No wonder Fred looks so cold..."
Luo Wei smiled at her. Evelyn always had a keen eye for such things.
He couldn't help but glance toward the police chief. The police department's leader had been practically useless during the operation, yet it sounded like the credit was being split evenly between the two departments. No wonder Fred wasn't in a good mood.
Just then, Helena appeared out of nowhere. "But it was my brother's idea to improve the gas masks! And it was his intelligence that made dealing with the Truth Cult so easy. Without him, they would have all gone mad!"
She grumbled discontentedly, "If you ask me, my brother deserves the most credit..."
Listening to their complaints, Ophelia shook her head with a wry smile. "That's just how society works. The grunts do all the work, but the leaders take all the credit. Look over there—another group is coming to claim their share."
They all turned to see a third force emerging from the fog: the fully armed Holy Edict Knight Order.
"Seal off the area! Not a single cultist is to escape!" The third prince began issuing orders with an air of authority.
The square, which had just quieted down, erupted into chaos again. The Special Affairs Department had always had a strained relationship with the Knight Order, and now they were actively blocking the knights from entering.
Both Fred and the police chief visibly paled upon seeing the third prince.
Helena, watching everything unfold, muttered in disgust.
"The adult world is so dirty, always fighting for power and profit..."
"It is dirty," Ophelia agreed quietly.
Though she was already part of the system, she had never liked it.
Meanwhile, Luo Wei was too preoccupied to think about any of this. He had been waiting for a change on his mission panel.
Logically, the cultists had been defeated, the summoning ritual had been disrupted, and everything had calmed down. The mission should have been completed by now.
But there was still no notification of mission completion.
This made him increasingly uneasy. Luo Wei cautiously scanned the dense fog around him, as if silently anticipating something.
"Luo Wei?" Ophelia noticed his unease and followed his gaze. "What's over there?"
Luo Wei replied gravely, "It's not over yet..."
"What?" Everyone turned to look at him.
At that moment, disaster struck.
The temperature in the square plummeted, becoming bone-chillingly cold.
Everyone suddenly realized that the fog had grown even thicker, almost to the point where they couldn't see their own hands in front of their faces.
"Someone's casting a spell!" one of the Special Affairs Department's mages shouted, sensing something amiss.
The members of the Special Affairs Department, the police, and the Knight Order all raised their weapons, alert and ready. But aside from the increasingly dense fog, they could see nothing.
Then, something even more shocking happened.
Luo Wei suddenly heard a series of violent explosions coming from the city's lower district, outside the fog.
The explosions echoed from all directions, some near, some far. Along with them came the panicked screams and cries of the lower district's residents.
Gerald, carrying a massive alchemical firearm, rushed into the fog, shouting, "Don't shoot! It's me!"
"What's going on?" Fred immediately turned to him.
"Explosions! They're everywhere!" Gerald shouted. "I saw it clearly from above—someone planted countless explosives all over the lower district and set them off simultaneously!"
His words caused an uproar. Someone else yelled, "Mana crystals! It's the power of out-of-control mana crystals!"
Upon hearing this, Luo Wei's expression darkened. He quickly turned to his companions.
"Follow me!"
Without another word, he sprinted out of the fog, heading toward the outskirts of the square.
"Where are we going?" Evelyn asked, surprised, as she hurried after him.
Luo Wei didn't explain. Instead, he led them toward a narrow alleyway where they had once hidden from monsters. It was also the place where he had last seen the mysterious little girl.
As they left the square, a terrifying roar echoed from high above.
Everyone looked up nervously. Though they couldn't see anything, they could vaguely sense that something enormous was slowly approaching.
Until... a shadow resembling a demon descended upon the world once more.
Luo Wei glanced back and was stunned by what he saw.
Even though they had stopped the summoning ritual, those colossal beings had still appeared...
By now, the entire lower district was in chaos. The explosions caused by the mana crystals had driven the residents out of their homes in a panic, even if their own houses hadn't been hit.
The streets were crowded and chaotic. The barricades set up by the police had been breached, and Luo Wei and his group were swept along by the crowd, unable to reach their destination.
Looking at the frightened, disorderly masses, Luo Wei suddenly realized something.
"The ritual in the square wasn't the real summoning ritual! Or rather, the chaos in this city is the true ritual!"
Everyone stared at Luo Wei in shock as his thoughts seemed to soar above the fog, above the lower district, and even above the entire city of Saint Callen. He looked down upon the steam-filled metropolis in turmoil.
"Chaos is the ritual, and the ritual is chaos! The entire city of Saint Callen is the altar, and everyone here is a sacrifice to the evil god!"
"Then what should we do?" Ophelia asked urgently. "Second Brother's city defense forces should already be mobilizing. If they can restore order and eliminate all destabilizing factors, maybe we can end this?"
"That won't work... There will always be loopholes..." Luo Wei smiled bitterly as he looked at the terrified citizens, at the poor mother clutching her dead child and wailing in despair.
"The people's fear of the magical industry, and of mana crystals, can't be reversed in such a short time. The entire city is like a fuse next to a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark..."
"Then what can we do? Is there no solution?" Evelyn pushed through the crowd in frustration. "Do we evacuate the entire city? But it's already too late for that..."
"It is too late..." Luo Wei finally broke free from the crowd and looked into the dense fog. The alleyway should be just across the street.
At that moment, a maniacal laugh echoed from ahead in the fog.
"Hahaha! The entire city is a gift for you! Do you like this masterpiece?"
"Rejoice! Be delighted! The Crawling Chaos, the embodiment of fear and disorder! The Great—"
"Nyarlathotep!"
"Stay with me! Gaze upon your servant!!"
The maniacal laughter echoed through the chaotic streets. Though shrouded by a thick fog, Luo Wei could almost imagine the emotions of the mastermind behind the scenes, admiring their handiwork with glee, eagerly anticipating the arrival of that sinister deity.
Then.
[Mission Failed]
[Unable to continue the game. Forced reload in progress...]