94: Unexpected "reinforcements"

Upon hearing information like 'Panshi City Guardian Array', Shadow One's eyes subtly shifted.

Could the person who fell have been attempting to destroy a certain barrier within the city, only to be captured after failing?

Shadow One's mind raced.

He hadn't initially planned to intervene, but now it seemed this might be an excellent opportunity to quickly understand Panshi City.

At this moment, the group of black-clad individuals had already begun to act, with two of them roughly hoisting the person on the ground, preparing to drag him away.

Though severely injured, the person still struggled fiercely, shouting something indistinctly.

“You… you won’t… Shi Potian… is acting against the natural order…”

Shadow One's gaze quickly swept around.

Although the crowd on the street watched, no one dared to step forward and interfere, clearly indicating that these black-clad individuals were not ordinary, likely forces from the City Lord's Mansion.

He couldn't act directly, as that would expose him.

But if he could get something from this injured person…

Shadow One quietly retreated a few steps, once again merging into the shadows of the crowd.

He decided to temporarily change his plan, first observing in secret to see if he could find an opportunity.

The scar-faced man seemed to feel he hadn't vented enough, and kicked the injured person hard in the abdomen again, cursing, “Still talking tough! Once you’re in the dungeon, let’s see how arrogant you can be!”

The injured person let out a muffled groan, his head slumped, seemingly having fainted.

“Go!”

The black-clad individuals, escorting the unconscious person, quickly departed in one direction, muttering curses.

Shadow One watched the departing black-clad individuals and quietly followed.

His footsteps were light, always perfectly concealed in the surrounding shadows.

Relying on his superhuman perception, Shadow One eavesdropped on the conversation between the black-clad individuals.

“This kid is quite tough; he didn't make a sound after taking a few hits from Scarface.”

“Hmph, once he’s in the Interrogation Tower, there are plenty of ways to make him talk.”

“Exactly, daring to touch the Grand Array set up by the City Lord, he’s truly tired of living! It’s said that the node he damaged this time was close to the energy core; if it hadn’t been discovered early, the trouble would have been immense.”

“Hmph, those defiant ones who don’t know their place, do they think they can stir up any waves? Lord Shi Potian’s might is unparalleled, and Panshi City is impregnable!”

“I heard he’s not the only one this time; the higher-ups are fully searching for his other accomplices. We’ve earned merit this time, maybe we’ll be rewarded with a few stone coins, and then we can go to the ‘Black Stone Tavern’ for a good drink!”

Soon, they arrived in front of a heavily guarded tall tower.

The tower body was built from thick black stone, exuding a suppressive aura.

The tower entrance and surroundings were filled with armed soldiers, their gazes vigilantly scanning the area.

At the top of the tower, there were several subtle energy fluctuations, clearly indicating the presence of a warning array.

This was the “Interrogation Tower” that the black-clad individuals had mentioned.

Looking at the tightly defended Interrogation Tower, Shadow One did not rush to act.

He observed the entire process of the black-clad individuals escorting the injured person inside, and at the same time, a mark quietly attached itself to the injured person.

Then, his figure flickered, and he disappeared into the shadows near the tower.

......

Night fell, a crescent moon hung askew in the sky, its cold moonlight casting large shadows on the rugged buildings of Panshi City.

Inside the Interrogation Tower, lights were bright, and muffled groans of pain occasionally emanated.

Shadow One, like a ghost of the dark night, quietly avoided the patrolling guards outside the tower and the fixed sentry points inside.

His “Shadow Walk” skill was utilized to its fullest, his figure constantly flickering and moving at the boundary of light and shadow.

Guided by the mark he had left earlier, he quickly arrived at the cell area where the injured person was being held.

Perhaps because this was deep within the Interrogation Tower, the guards here were relatively lax.

Soon, Shadow One stopped in front of a cell.

Inside the cell, the young man captured during the day was curled up in a corner, with some new wounds on him, his breath weak, but he seemed to still be conscious.

Shadow One extended his finger and gently tapped the cold stone cell door three times, not too light, not too heavy, but enough for the person inside to hear.

“Thump, thump, thump.”

The young man slowly raised his head, his eyes full of vigilance.

He saw a figure shrouded in shadow standing outside the door, not the fierce-looking jailers, and couldn't help but be a little stunned.

“Who?” his voice was hoarse and dry.

Shadow One lowered his voice and said, “I’m here to save you.”

The young man didn’t speak, his eyes filled with suspicion and wariness.

He couldn't determine whether this black-clad figure who suddenly appeared was friend or foe.

Shadow One seemed to sense his doubts and continued, “I know you tried to destroy a node of the Panshi City Guardian Array. I also heard your conversation with those black-clad individuals.”

He paused, “Shi Potian is acting against the natural order. Is your organization… called ‘Dawn’?”

Upon hearing the name “Dawn,” the young man’s pupils sharply contracted.

“You… how do you know?” he asked in a hoarse voice.

“It doesn’t matter,” Shadow One replied, “What matters is, do you want to leave here?”

A glimmer of hope flashed in the young man’s eyes, but it quickly dimmed again: “The defenses here are tight, and I… I’m severely injured, I can’t possibly get away.”

“Follow me.” Shadow One had no extra words, reaching out his hand and silently unlocking the cell door.

His movements were incredibly fast, as if the sturdy metal lock didn't exist in his hands.

The cell door opened silently, Shadow One slipped inside, and quickly untied the ropes binding the injured person.

“Let’s go.” He helped the injured person up, and the two prepared to leave quietly.

However, just as they walked out of the cell and carefully moved along the corridor outwards…

“Catch them!”

“Charge in, save Brother Lin Ye!”

“Don’t let them escape!”

Earth-shattering shouts suddenly came from outside the Interrogation Tower, instantly breaking the night’s tranquility!

Shadow One and the young man simultaneously stopped.

The sound came from the outer perimeter of the tower; it sounded like someone had infiltrated the Interrogation Tower and been discovered?

The young man’s face showed an anxious expression: “It’s them! It’s our companions! They’ve come to save me!”

He struggled excitedly, seemingly wanting to rush out.

Shadow One’s brow subtly furrowed.

Jailbreak? Such a coincidence? A bad premonition instantly arose in his heart.

“Wait!”

Shadow One pulled him back, dragging him into the shadows on one side of the corridor. “Let’s observe the situation first!”

The two hid in the shadows, Shadow One carefully peeked out through a crack in a broken window.

Outside the tower, flames soared, and the shouts of battle were deafening.

A group of about a dozen black-clad individuals were fiercely battling the guards of the Interrogation Tower.

However, the situation did not look optimistic.

Around them, more soldiers were rapidly pouring in, clad in heavy armor and wielding long spears.

These soldiers were well-trained and coordinated, quickly forming a encirclement that trapped the dozen or so attackers in the center.

“We’ve finally been waiting for you!” a military officer-like man standing behind the soldiers shouted, a triumphant sneer on his face.

Hearing this, the young man beside him instantly turned pale.

A trap! This was actually a trap targeting the “Dawn” organization!

Shadow One remained calmly observing.

Although the dozen or so people outside fought fearlessly, under the siege of the numerically and equipment superior Panshi City soldiers, they quickly found themselves overwhelmed.

“Pfft!” An attacker was pierced by a long spear and fell to the ground.

“Ah!” Another was sent flying by a shield, spitting blood.

In just a moment, several attackers had already fallen.

Seeing his companions falling one after another, the young man hidden in the shadows could no longer hold back.

His eyes red, he let out a low growl, suddenly broke free from Shadow One’s restraint, and charged out.