Chapter 20: Search (3)

With the information gleaned from the gang members during the interrogation, I headed toward the second base I had identified as a possible holding place for the kidnapped children. Although my hope of finding Chris there was high, unfortunately, the search proved fruitless as to his whereabouts. The visit was not in vain, however, as I managed to rescue sixteen other children who were in deplorable conditions, caught in the clutches of the gang.Of the sixteen children, twelve decided to follow me after I offered them the same choice as the previous ones: join my group or go their own way. Understanding the gravity of their situation and perhaps sensing the security that my presence exuded, most opted to stay by my side.I repeated the procedure I had used earlier, but this time I used a lower-ranked mana stone to power the concealment runes. The stone, while less powerful than a beast core, was enough to ensure effective concealment and keep the children safe in an abandoned building I had prepared beforehand. As I placed the runes around the room, I instructed the children on the importance of remaining still and silent until my return, emphasizing that everyone's safety depended on their cooperation.With the children's safety temporarily assured, I made my way to the last den I had marked as Chris's possible location. My heart ached with each step, fearing that each new attempt would end in more frustration. Upon arrival, I discovered that there were only four children at this last location. None of them were Chris."Haa... So that's the worst case scenario, huh,"a heavy sigh escaped my lips, laden with disappointment. It was the worst case scenario, that meant it had already been sold to a black market trader. Not that there aren't more groups, but when I questioned the guys, they told me that these four, including the one I destroyed, were the ones operating on the west and southwest side, where Chris was abducted. I guess I have to go where they possibly sent him. With resignation, I accepted that my next task would be to track down the buyer who was the sponsor of these three gangs.After making sure the kids were safe in their temporary hideout, I returned to the group's base and headed straight for the room that appeared to be the leader's room. Fortunately, I found someone there: a dark-skinned, nearly six-foot-tall man with imposing musculature. Since he was not an awakened, his physical strength was no match for me, and I incapacitated him with relative ease.Once he was under my control, I proceeded to obtain the information I needed on the whereabouts of the trader to whom Chris was likely sold.With the location of the trader in my possession, the reason for not taking out the gangs was that it would draw too much attention, I had caused enough of a stir with just the first gang I dismantled.I directed my steps towards the middle area, where the merchant's headquarters was located in an almost ten-story building. In the store it looked like an ordinary establishment selling items for the public, such as clothing, furniture and appliances. However, I knew this was just a front for his clandestine black market activities.Finding myself in the middle zone, aware that security and the law were stricter here than in the outlying areas, I knew I could not act recklessly. I needed to find a way to infiltrate the trader's headquarters without arousing suspicion. While I was confident in my abilities to deal with any security measures I might encounter, I was also aware of the importance of caution in this situation.I decided to enlist the help of Lili, who was far more proficient than I was in matters of infiltration. Although I knew she didn't exactly enjoy running errands, I politely asked her to look around the place for information."Hey, Lili, could you do me a favor and find out if this is the place where the kidnapped children are being held?" I asked, hoping for her cooperation. aware that, even if it is their headquarters they may be held somewhere else[Jum, okay, but only because it seems to be necessary], he answered with some reluctance, although he finally accepted my request. I watched as he transformed into black smoke and disappeared into the shadows of the buildings, confident in his abilities to perform the task at hand.It didn't take fifteen minutes for his words to reach my mind, transmitted telepathically. ['I found the place, but it's guarded'].According to what Lili said, the place where we were to head was on the second floor, inside what appeared to be a subway basement. I instructed her to position herself in a safe place to facilitate teleportation, which allows me to move instantly to locations I have already visited or that are within my field of vision and detection.The merchant, like any other, had installed several barriers and some of them were anti-detection barrier that prevented visualizing exactly where Lili was. For some reason that I had discovered in my previous life, as long as Lili is in that location, my ability to transport myself allows me to go directly to her location. This knowledge was the reason for sending her ahead to do the initial reconnaissance.When I activated the teleport, I materialized right next to Lili, having previously activated my concealment spell to ensure a stealthy entry. What I saw ahead was a scene that clenched my fists in preparation for what was to come: a large room with cages containing creatures and humans, children and adults of different ages, locked up like commodities. In the center of the basement, a group of men congregated around a round table, deep in a card game, seemingly disconnected from the misery around them.Aware that the situation called for a different approach than my previous missions, I searched the system store for some item that might conceal my identity. I opted for a specialized mask that prevented facial recognition, which I purchased for 500 system points (SP). I took a close look at the men at the table my O+++eyes of Truth discovered that one of them possessed a three-star awakened rank, while the other three were two-star. This meant that direct confrontation could be dangerous."umh- haa" With a deep breath, I prepared myself mentally and physically.'Lili, take care of maintaining concealment,' I said, focusing my thoughts on her. Lili, ever efficient in her role, nodded gravely and merged with me in a puff of dark smoke, taking control of the concealment spell.Meanwhile, I turned my attention to handling the lightning mana, taking advantage of the acceleration feature. At that moment, the flow of time seemed to slow down around me. The acceleration feature was not limited to simply increasing my physical speed; it also accelerated my thoughts, mana flow, and spell activation speed, granting me an unparalleled advantage.Concentrating on the moment, I deployed the lightning spell known as Electric Impulse, allowing electricity to course through my body and improve my overall speed. The combination of this spell with the acceleration feature provided me with perfect synergy, increasing my responsiveness and mobility. As a final step in my preparations, I pulled out a spear I had acquired from the store: it was an initial arcane elemental spear (4 stars), which, although lacking additional functions, stood out for its magical conductivity, an ideal property for my style of combat.With all my preparations complete, I struck a stance, psyching myself up for what was to come. With every fiber of my being focused."Art of Celestial Punishment-First Stance: Fulminating Impact,""Boom.""Boom.""Bamm.""Boom."The space vibrated with the resonance of four consecutive impacts, each one marking the final destiny of the men around the table. The room, previously filled with laughter and chatter, was enveloped in a sepulchral silence."Clap," amidst the silence sounded the sound of something falling, and it was the bodies of the guys sitting there falling to the floor. There was a hole in the foreheads of all four, including the guy with three stars. The men's faces, still frozen in a carefree smile, did not reflect the gravity of their quick death, Their faces still held expressions of amusement."Whew," I exhaled deeply, releasing the pent-up tension of launching the Art of Heavenly Punishment in rapid succession. This first stance, a direct and ferociously fast strike, had been amplified by the lightning mana flowing through me, its effectiveness guaranteed by the acceleration feature. The speed of execution was dizzying, but my mind, also accelerated, effortlessly handled the intensity of the attack.I recognized Lili's crucial contribution to all this; her ability to maintain my concealment during the action was indispensable. Despite my supernatural speed, detection of my presence could have allowed my opponents to block or dodge. Being able to conceal my position and move undetected gave an insurmountable tactical advantage.I opted to reserve my teleportation ability, an ability that, because of its rarity, I preferred to keep hidden if strictly necessary. In this world of constant threats, keeping a few aces up your sleeve could mean the difference between life and death.