Chapter 186: 122. Liquidation Action
A little later, just before dusk, Fisher drove the carriage slowly, following closely behind the carriage in front, making his way to the parking area.
Fisher had already cleaned himself up and changed his suit; he was completely prepared to face tonight’s battle.
Carriages do have their inconveniences, especially in situations like this.
It was particularly difficult to maneuver when the front carriage and the rear carriage were too close together. Besides, the horses pulling the carriage had been standing for too long, leaving fresh droppings on the road, making it hard for the driver behind to cover their nose and mouth.
Those with power and influence sat in their carriages and simply adjusted their suits before getting out when they arrived; if there was no coachman, there were usually staff from the Healing Room to help move the carriage to the side parking area.
However, since Fisher’s carriage contained an Ocean Subhuman, he decided to drive it himself to the nearby parking area.
At that moment, Fisher was wearing a rather handsome dark brown suit, topped with a gentleman’s hat, beside his seat was the staff engraved with magic.
“Jasmine, I need to hand you the staff first.”
“Eh?”
“Tonight’s occasion is very formal, and there are people from the Golden Palace coming. I already saw a mage at the entrance detecting magic fluctuations.”
Fisher drove the carriage closely behind the vehicle ahead, watching two black-robed men standing at the entrance like gatekeepers. He handed his magical cards and staff to Jasmine inside the carriage, and after observing his surroundings, Fisher confirmed the distance from the parking area to the Healing Room.
Originally, he wanted to bring the Veil of the Usurper, but since he had to fight, he had decided against bringing that drain on his magic, and looking at the situation now, it was indeed the correct decision as that item would emanate faint magical fluctuations that would be detected by the mage at the entrance.
The best timing would be to have Jasmine enter the Healing Room after Dexter made his move while he would look for the entrance to the inner area, meaning even if their people reacted, they wouldn’t be able to catch up.
After giving Jasmine a few words of caution, Fisher turned and locked the carriage door, while Jasmine quietly held Fisher’s belongings, listening to his footsteps gradually fade away.
Fisher pulled out the invitation from Keken from his pocket and walked to the back of a group of gentlemen. He tipped his gentleman’s hat slightly as he looked at the line of people ahead; those now with Fisher were already among the later guests.
The royal family, the Purity Bank, and wealthy businessmen had already lined up to enter. The newly wealthy from Saint Nali, along with gentlemen here for speculation like Fisher, were at the end of the line. Fisher barely knew anyone and wasn’t worried about anyone suddenly calling out his name.
“Please show your invitation.”
When he reached the entrance of the Healing Room stairs, an old man wearing monocles bowed to Fisher. Behind him stood a muscular man with crossed arms, while Kachina had gone back after welcoming the two most distinguished groups of guests.
Fisher’s gaze, hidden beneath his gentleman’s hat, scrutinized the two men in front of him. Strangely, his instinct told him that the two men gave him a very peculiar feeling; something he couldn’t quite pinpoint but was undeniably strange.
He submitted the invitation, and the old man squinted at it for a long time before looking at Fisher.
“Welcome to tonight’s banquet. Please step forward to undergo the magical wave detection to prevent any guests from carrying extremely dangerous magical items. You must understand that the identities and statuses of guests this evening are no small matter.”
“I understand.”
Fisher passed by the two men checking invitations and approached the black-robed man checking magical fluctuations, waiting for them to use their instruments on him, though his gaze remained fixed on the two men behind.
He couldn’t tell if it was his imagination, but under the light of the lamps along the street, he suddenly noticed small growths on the old man’s neck writhing as if alive. He was about to take a closer look when he discovered that the muscular man beside him was staring directly at him.
Fisher calmly averted his gaze, pretending nothing had happened, and after the magic detection was completed, he thanked the staff and walked slowly into the Healing Room’s venue.
Behind him, the muscular man’s hawk-like gaze remained on Fisher’s back until he completely disappeared from sight.
“Kragen, take this guest to find Purity Silver. Huh? Where did he go?”
In the next moment, the monocled old man realized there was a small issue with the checks and turned to call for his companion, only to find the muscular man beside him had vanished without a trace.
He opened his mouth to survey the surroundings but found nothing and could only instruct another staff member to assist the guest.
Fisher moved quickly; the venue was half open-air and half indoors, and indoors was, of course, the main part of the Healing Room. However, since the prince and wealthy businessmen were all inside talking, those gentlemen who arrived later were desperately trying to squeeze in. Fisher raised an eyebrow at the “blockage” at the entrance, choosing not to act rashly.
“Everyone, the charity gala will officially start in fifteen minutes. Please enter the venue in an orderly fashion, gentlemen and ladies.”
“Sir, would you like a drink?”
“Oh, Mr. Rio, it’s been a long time. What business are you engaged in now?”
“Southern Continent? Hahaha, if I may say so, now is an excellent opportunity to make money in the Southern Continent. I’ve already bought my ticket for next week to Krit Port to cash in on the south; the most dangerous Dragon Tribe has already been chased away. Shh, don’t tell others, this is insider information.”
Fisher adjusted his gentleman’s hat and discreetly moved toward the center of the venue.
Though he was walking, his strong physique easily created a small path through the crowd. By the time others realized someone was pushing through, Fisher had already moved far ahead.
Once inside the main lobby of the Healing Room, Fisher found it quite spacious. At that moment, several large golden lamps hung from the ceiling, casting soft, golden light onto the main area of the gala.
At the back of the venue, two spiral staircases extended towards the depths of the second floor of the Healing Room. He could vaguely see a series of neatly arranged therapy rooms at the end of that second floor, which were where ladies would typically be welcomed for therapy treatments; the clue Anna mentioned about the entrance to the inner area likely pointed in that direction.
“Dear beautiful ladies, the Healing Room has been operating commercial activities for two years now. Adhering to the research goal of extending human lifespan, we provide high-end beauty and therapy services to ladies and young women to the maximum extent. To be honest, we have earned quite a bit of Naliou, as ladies are always very willing to invest in themselves.”
While Fisher surveyed his surroundings, a woman’s voice suddenly caught his attention. He turned to follow the sound and saw a lady dressed in an elegant gown, surrounded by ladies and gentlemen, holding a glass of champagne. The lady’s features were stunning, yet she gave Fisher a very strange feeling, drawing his gaze further toward her.
The previous sentence was spoken by her.
“Hahaha, Lady Kachina, you truly are humorous.”
“Yes, yes, we would like to ask Lady Kachina how such smooth skin is maintained.”
“Is there some kind of secret? Ladies should share tips.”
Kachina?
Fisher suddenly thought of the information Anna had once told him, realizing that this must be Kachina, the head of the Healing Room. If he remembered correctly, didn’t Anna mention that this person was a lady who loved beauty?
Responding to the inquiries from the ladies around her, Kachina smiled slightly as she took the delicate hand of a woman beside her, her fair fingers sliding gently from the back of the woman’s hand all the way up to her elbow. That tingling sensation made the lady blush slightly, and she instinctively tried to withdraw her hand, but Kachina did not allow her to escape.
“Oh dear, beautiful Miss Sulina, let me tell you, a woman’s beauty is nothing but a combination of natural beauty and proper maintenance. You already possess natural beauty; why not enhance it further by trying our services at the Healing Room?”
This compliment made Miss Sulina’s cheeks flush a deeper red as she covered her mouth and giggled, shaking her head modestly, saying she certainly couldn’t be considered naturally beautiful, while in reality, her lips were almost curling with delight.
Fisher watched Kachina’s appearance with cautious lingering feelings of strangeness, then reached out to stop a nearby waiter and inquired,
“Excuse me, where is the washroom?”
“Ah, sir, please walk this way.”
Fisher glanced at the direction pointed by the waiter, noticing that it was not the same direction as the therapy rooms he had just seen; perhaps there was an entrance up above, but it was not open to arriving guests?
He expressed his thanks and headed toward the washroom. In a corner of the lobby, at the end of a corridor, he saw the sign for the washroom.
The washroom was small, and just as Fisher entered, a gentleman was stepping out, swinging his hands, with space for about three to four people at most inside.
He pushed the door open and discovered the walls of the washroom were covered with the Healing Room’s wave-like insignia. A faint scent of deodorizing fragrance wafted through—not too strong—indicating the Healing Room had a good ventilation system.
Fisher looked at his watch; it was almost 7:30, meaning the charity gala was about to begin.
Outside, the magical sound system first buzzed a couple of times, signaling the initialization of the soundmaster’s connection path, and after a brief silence of one or two seconds, Kachina’s charming voice rang out clearly even from the washroom,
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the charity gala hosted and funded by the royal family and Purity Bank. We hope to continue the Healing Room’s tradition of caring for societal issues. Here, the Healing Room also takes this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the generous gentlemen and ladies present for their concern for the children in Saint Nali city who have lost familial care. Thank you.”
Fisher leaned against the wall of the washroom, lit a cigarette gently, and listened to Kachina’s speech outside,
“Next, His Royal Highness Prince Lunsis Godlin will deliver the opening speech for our charity gala. The royal family has always been very concerned about the living conditions of their people, especially the children. Prince Lunsis, please.”
Fisher was waiting for Dexter to make his move; only after Dexter took action could he create chaos to allow Jasmine to enter the Healing Room, which he had already discussed with her before arriving.
But as he waited, the washroom’s door suddenly opened, and the muscular man Fisher had seen earlier stood outside.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
“It’s fine, I was just borrowing a space to relieve myself.”
The man still had his arms crossed and glanced at Fisher, who remained wearing his gentleman’s hat, nodding slightly in acknowledgment while watching the man slowly stand in front of the urinal.
“Sir, you are not here to attend the charity gala, are you?”
The man did not turn around; he simply stood there in front of the urinal, and no sounds of water followed; he just inquired.
Fisher shook his head and leaned back against the wall, replying,
“Speculation, you know, all gentlemen in Saint Nali have thoughts of making money.”
“Is the renowned Professor Fisher Benavides of Saint Nali University short of money? If it weren’t for the Child of the Sea, you could stay at Saint Nali University and continue being an esteemed professor, couldn’t you?”
The man’s body remained still as he spoke, but his head twisted 180 degrees to face Fisher. His head began to unravel like a building block, revealing a large hole that looked like a mouthpiece or a meat grinder.
At the same time, the muscles that originally made up his face spread open like blades, directed toward Fisher,
“Mr. Fisher, the person controlling the insects to Saint Nali University that day was me. The Child of the Sea is beside you. Can you tell me where the Child of the Sea is?”
Fisher’s eyes narrowed slightly. Without answering, he tilted his head, causing the blade-like face to lunge toward the place where his head had been. After dodging, the rotating eyeballs on that face were still fixed on Fisher.
The wall behind was pierced by the rapid stab, and Fisher did not give him a chance to strike again. He shook his wrist, and a pitch-black sword hilt appeared in his palm, its mercury-like blade slicing toward the man like a rapidly flowing stream, cutting through his body along the washroom wall and severing him in two.
“Bzzzzzz~”
The man’s body was cut in half, yet no blood gushed out; instead, his skin spread like a spilled oil painting across the washroom wall, emitting sounds reminiscent of beasts as it sought to find a way to attack Fisher.
He had been discovered, but it didn’t matter anymore; he had been there around 7:30, and Dexter’s men would arrive any moment.
His wrist moved slightly, and at that moment, in the dark parking area outside, a black carriage contained a cloaked girl whose staff began to emit light. She immediately raised her head, kicked open the locked carriage door, and leaped down from the carriage with a “hey” as she dashed quickly toward the Healing Room.
This commotion startled the nearby resting coachmen who were puffing on their pipes. They had just started to sit up to call their companions when the scene that followed interrupted their thoughts.
“Old Buck, someone is there, that is…”
From the dark distance, orderly footsteps gradually approached, and figures glowing like golden light began to appear sequentially before their sight.
Their tall stature and the weapons they carried indicated they were not simple police officers from Nali, but rather the royal guard.
“Arrived at the designated location, begin sealing off the scene. No personnel allowed in or out.”
“Yes!”
The soldiers swiftly hammered complexly patterned magical stakes into the ground, and in the darkness, golden light began to emanate from each stake, gradually converging in the air, completely locking down the entrance of the Healing Room, while behind it lay the rushing Klein River and another team of royal guards sealing that side.
Encased in golden light, a middle-aged man dressed in formal wear with a royal longsword at his waist stepped out from the royal guard, gazing deeply at the lively charity gala. It was none other than His Royal Highness Dexter.
He waved to the commander of the royal guard beside him and calmly stated to the Healing Room ahead,
“Move in, apprehend Lunsis, and thoroughly search every corner of the Healing Room.”
“Yes, Your Highness Dexter!”
Under the faint golden light’s cover, the royal guards shouted in unison, holding their weapons and firearms, marching toward the main direction of the gala.
Upon closer inspection, the uniforms worn by those soldiers seemed to be cloaked with ethereal golden halos, and even their eyes emitted a faint golden glow, resembling blessed warriors as if by divine grace.
This was a nine-ring barrier type magic, the blessing effect derived from the “Song of Golden Praise.”
The specific effects granted powerful enhancements to designated targets within the barrier, including magical resistance, poison resistance, physical resistance, biological activity, excitement activation, and over a hundred other effects. Moreover, the construction of this magic was extremely rapid, and once trained to a habit, enemies could hardly respond in time.
Though breaking the barrier was relatively straightforward, it was evident that the Healing Room and Lunsis would not have such an opportunity tonight.
The liquidation action had already begun.
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(End of Chapter)
