Knowing that below was the logistics headquarters of the Hero Squad, Angel knew he would definitely encounter other people. What Angel didn’t expect was that the first person he encountered was actually someone even smaller than Kolo... yes, an even smaller little one than Kolo.
The little one was a little girl not even as tall as everyone’s knees, estimated to be under four years old. Her hair seemed never to have been cut, long and soft, naturally falling over her shoulders, paired with a verdant dress, adding a touch of brightness to the somewhat dim passage.
The little girl stopped a short distance away, her fair little face full of confusion. At her age, she vaguely sensed that the appearance of strangers here might not be a good omen.
Angel and the others continued moving forward, while the little girl retreated step by step, finally reaching a corner, where she peeked out her head, curiously yet timidly peeking.
"Even such young children are brought into the ruins; the Hero Squad’s bottom line isn’t very high," Dox said casually.
"At least, like Kolo just now, she is in a safe rear." It was Angel speaking, not intentionally contradicting, he had just seen too many partings and deaths; compared to such sorrowful endings, at least these children can stay by their relatives’ side.
Besides, if there weren’t some twists and turns in their stories, their parents presumably wouldn’t intentionally bring their children to the ruins to make a living.
"Is it really safe?" Dox raised an eyebrow in response.
Angel glanced at Dox and silently turned his head: "That’s just as well, if there’s danger, it means we’ve found a passageway leading to the underground aqueduct."
"Your thinking jumps too much; I was just saying casually. Are you going to..."
Without letting Dox finish his sentence, Angel cut him off: "I’m just following your words, just saying casually too. Who knows whether there’s danger inside; after all, none of us are Prophet Wizards."
Dox’s words were stuck in his throat, suddenly unsure what to say, and could only vent some frustration, taking the opportunity to deliberately use his fierce gaze to scare the little girl hiding at the corner.
Dox’s gaze already carried an air of menace, even if pretending to be fierce, it was very effective. Especially for a little girl who was already ignorant and fearful.
All that could be heard was a burst of crying and baby-talk calling, "bad people," as the little girl ran deeper inside.
Angel glanced at Dox: "Boring."
Dox grinned, baring his large white teeth, indifferent: "Coming to the ruins at such a young age, it’s time she sees the wickedness of the world."
Dox’s words and behavior of bullying the little baby were something even his friend Vay couldn’t stand, glaring at him in disgust and silently distancing himself by a few meters.
Though Vay couldn’t speak, his actions said it all: I’m not familiar with this child-bullying scum.
Dox remained indifferent; after all, he hadn’t actually physically bullied anyone, what’s the big deal about a little scare?
While Dox thought this, he quickly realized what the "big deal" was.
A group of about ten adults stormed over from afar, mostly women, holding various "weapons," not those grand spears and rapiers, but things like kitchen knives, long-handled can spoons, and rolling pins as weapons.
Judging by this scene, it seemed to be the immediate karmic response to Dox bullying the little baby.
As Angel thought about this, sure enough, one of the women loudly demanded: "Are you the ones bullying little Sherry?"
"No, Aunt Mary, you should be asking who they are!"
"I don’t care who they are; bullying little Sherry means getting a scoop from me." Yes, the plump Aunt Mary wielding a long-handled spoon was indeed the one speaking.
"Stand back, what’s all this chattering like, I’ll ask." Then an old man with a hunchback and smoking gun came over from behind them, looking at Angel and the others.
This old man appeared frail and hunched, but his murky eyes were actually quite sharp.
While the others were angrily trying to punish Angel and the others, the old man already noticed some peculiar things.
For instance, there seemed to be an extra hand on the shoulder of the red-haired man.
And then, a figure all in a black robe, holding a stone slab in both hands, seemingly with a nose on it, and judging by the flaring nostrils, it looked like a living creature.
Apart from these two, the other two individuals also had their own unusual traits, reminding him of a particular kind of people.
Wizards.
In the outside world, Wizards were a hidden legend, but for people like them living off dangerous ruins, they knew Wizards truly existed.
And in his youth, the old man had seen a Witch riding a broom, flying in the sky.
Fortunately, that particular Witch seemed hurried and didn’t care about them below, or else they would’ve all been gone at the time.
After all, Wizards committing murder or extortion here was not unheard of.
Facing other adventure groups, they might fight to the death, but against such Extraordinary Life, even if they sacrificed all, it wouldn’t be enough against a flick of their little finger.
The old man didn’t know if the people across were Transcendents, but it was never wrong to hold goodwill.
"Why all the aggressive stances, put away the pots and pans, is it embarrassing?" The old man turned to scold the crowd for a few lines, then his expression changed as he cheerfully looked at Angel and the others: "Sorry for letting you see a joke. Here’s the situation: we heard from little Sherry there were visitors, so we came out to check."
Regarding the old man’s change of the term "bad people" from little Sherry to "visitors," those behind him showed noticeable disbelief and incomprehension. But the old man seemed to hold considerable authority within the Hero Squad; even saying so, no one dared to voice opposition.
"Without knowing who we are, calling us visitors, you’re quite amusing, you little old man," Dox spoke with a tone void of courtesy, given his age, Dox was certainly older than the elder opposite. Respect for youth could be forced, but respect for elders? Impossible.
"Then, from where do you esteemed guests belong?" The elder didn’t get angry, remaining cordial as he asked.
Dox still wanted to speak, but Angel pulled him back, stepping forward to the elder, saying: "First answer me one question, can you be the decision-maker here?"
The old man didn’t hesitate, nodded: "I am called Endless, my real name I have long forgotten, everyone calls me Endless Old Man. The Hero Squad was founded by me over forty years ago, but now I am old, leaving the adventure group to the younger generation while I handle some affairs in the rear."
Endless Old Man, former leader of the Hero Squad and founder.
Once confirming this person could be the decision-maker, Angel didn’t delay, raising his right hand, a ghostly green light darted from his fingertips, entering the Endless Old Man’s forehead.
The old man was immediately stunned in place.
After a few seconds, he slowly regained his senses with seemingly new information in his mind. Upon closely reading, Endless Old Man roughly understood Angel and the others’ intention.
Indeed, their general aim was similar to the Hero Squad’s, which was exploring the ruins, though they planned to start the exploration from the rear headquarters of the Hero Squad, this underground building.
Such a request, if bluntly stated, even the Endless Old Man might consider insulting, no doubt; their logistics hub, a confidential place, where food, water, and rest were settled.