HPDBC Chapter 358: A Marketplace of Filth
Chapter 358: A Marketplace of Filth
Swish!
Thud!
She did not even have time to react when her head was separated from her neck. Not only that, all four guards behind her did not have the chance to scream when their heads were severed cleanly.
In seconds, five heads fell to the ground with wet, sickening thuds. Blood gushed into the air from the five headless corpses like blood fountains.
Ahhhhh! Ahhhh!
Chaos broke out on the quiet street.
Humans and Sandroach fled for their lives. A few Sandroach men even forgot about their human slaves as they fled for their dear lives.
The chained humans collapsed to the ground, trembling as they stared at the sudden massacre before them.
Some did not dare move.
Some crawled toward the wall.
Some looked around in confusion, unable to understand whether death had come for them or for their masters.
"Two down, two left," Thoren muttered as he jumped onto the back of an undead Sanguine Vulture, departing immediately.
A few seconds later, he appeared on the western street. The biggest street among all the streets. The street housed the gambling den, brothel, store, and merchant shops.
This street alone had two Slave Trade Guild guard squads patrolling it, showing the people which guild controlled the street.
Compared to the northern lane, the western street was much livelier.
Eerily sick laughter came from brothels.
Curses came from gambling dens.
Merchants whispered behind their counters, deceiving many naive awakeners that just arrived at the Crimson Dune.
Hidden beneath the lively scene was a darker current.
Many with harmless smiles were not so harmless. Each had selfish interests and had committed many inhumane actions in the dark.
Some were informants who sold names, routes, and lives to the Slave Trade Guild.
Standing on the roof, Thoren watched the Slave Trade Guild guards with the same detached expression. Compared to the other guards, the two guard squads did not patrol the street.
Each stood at the end of the street, monitoring everyone coming and leaving the street.
Their formation was simple but effective.
One squad controlled the entrance.
The other controlled the exit.
Anyone walking through the western street would pass under their eyes.
"I need to be swift," he muttered, various thoughts running through his mind.
This time, he was not merely going after the guards, he was also going after many shady awakeners that also engaged in inhuman trade with the Slave Trade Guild.
Without hesitation, he summoned his undead elite vanguard and the undead elite squad. For this operation, a covert operation was impossible.
On the secluded part of the street, inside an alley, fourteen undead servants appeared. Apart from the undead elite squad, he added four undead shield soldiers.
The undead Sanguine Vultures would handle one group of guards while the elite and the undead shield soldiers would handle the second group of guards. Finally, the undead vanguard would handle those hiding in the buildings.
The air inside the alley instantly became heavy.
The undead Storm Tyrant stood like a dark tower, its massive hammer resting on its shoulder.
The undead Royalty Stonewall held its blade silently, its presence sharp and oppressive.
The undead Elite Jackal Beastman crouched low, ready to spring forward at any moment.
The undead Guild Captain stood behind the shield soldiers, its hollow gaze fixed on the street ahead.
Four undead shield soldiers formed a tight line, their shields raised slightly.
Above them, the undead Sanguine Vultures circled silently, waiting for the command to descend.
Thoren looked at the western street one last time.
He saw guards laughing.
He saw information brokers whispering. They sold ruin locations. Trials fragment news. Fake or not, that was not their concern.
He saw merchants lowering their heads whenever the Slave Trade Guild members looked their way.
He saw a few frightened captives, humans and Sandroach being dragged into one of the buildings near the gambling den.
His expression remained unchanged but the coldness in his eyes deepened.
The western street was not merely a street.
It was a marketplace of filth.
And since it belonged to the Slave Trade Guild, he would tear it apart before moving to the next target.
"Begin," Thoren commanded through the mental link.
Whoosh!
The undead Sanguine Vultures shot into the sky first, disappearing above the roofs like crimson shadows.
At the same time, the undead shield soldiers stepped out of the alley in perfect formation.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Their heavy steps drew immediate attention.
The guard squad at the western entrance turned sharply.
"What is that?" one of them shouted.
Before he could receive an answer, the undead Storm Tyrant emerged behind the shield soldiers. The moment the guards saw the massive hammer in its hand, their expressions changed.
"Enemy attack!" Their voices rang through the street.
Instantly, the lively western street froze for a heartbeat and then everything exploded into chaos.
People screamed and ran.
Tables overturned.
Doors slammed open and shut.
The merchants who had been pretending to be ordinary immediately reached for hidden weapons.
The brothel guards rushed out with blades in their hands.
The gambling den thugs pushed aside customers and formed a rough defensive line at the entrance.
Thoren watched everything from the roof and gave another command.
"Kill everyone." His voice was cold.
The undead moved instantly.
The undead shield soldiers advanced first, blocking arrows, spells, and throwing knives with their thick shields.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sparks flew as attacks struck their shields, but none managed to break through.
"Run!"
"Close the doors!"
"The Slave Trade Guild is under attack!"
Shouts echoed everywhere.
But Thoren did not move from the roof. His gaze was fixed on the buildings.
The guards outside were only on the surface. The true filth was hiding inside.
The undead Storm Tyrant, undead Royalty Stonewall, the undead Elite Jackal Beastman, and the undead Guild Captain moved at once.
They rushed toward the gambling den, the brothel, and the merchant store where the Echo Scarabs had already detected suspicious movements.
The massacre on the street had only begun.
And this time, Thoren had no intention of leaving anyone connected to the Slave Trade Guild alive.