52: Chapter 52 Three Women Traveling Together

Shaun told Fiona to stay here, which immediately displeased her.

"Shaun, that's my dad!"

"I can't just sit here and wait."

Shaun looked at her. "What can you do if you go?"

Fiona opened her mouth.

Shaun continued, "Those are gangsters. They have guns, knives, and over a dozen men. If you go, can I afford to be distracted protecting you?"

Fiona fell silent.

Seeing Fiona's emotions stabilize, Shaun said, "You staying here is the biggest help."

Fiona looked at him.

She really wanted to ask if this newcomer was any more useful.

But after thinking about it, since Shaun arranged it this way, she must be useful.

After a long while, she lowered her head. "...Okay."

Madison clicked her tongue from the side and looked at Shaun. "Shaun, you're quite the smooth talker."

Shaun ignored her.

He looked at Ballard and asked carefully, "Do you have a gun?"

Ballard nodded. "Yes."

"Is it enough?"

"Yes."

Shaun looked at Madison again. "How many people can you handle?"

Madison thought for a moment and smiled easily. "If they're just ordinary people, a dozen or so is no problem."

She paused and added, "But if they are prepared..."

Shaun understood what she meant.

The Colombians knew they were coming tonight.

Could they have prepared something too?

Not necessarily just guns and knives.

Maybe even... something else.

After all, witches aren't invincible; otherwise, there wouldn't be such a thing as witch hunters.

With everything settled, Shaun stood up. "That's it, we leave at nine."

"Ballard will drive, and Madison will be in the car with me. Fiona, wait at home for news."

It wasn't that Shaun was being decisive just for the sake of it; the atmosphere downstairs was simply too oppressive.

So, he headed upstairs as soon as he finished speaking.

Just two steps in, he realized there was no sound at all, so he stopped and looked back at the three women.

He asked, "Any questions?"

Ballard shook her head.

Madison shrugged.

Fiona looked at him and whispered, "Be careful..."

At this "be careful," Shaun saw Madison's expression change.

So Shaun didn't dare say anything else and quickly continued upstairs.

Behind him, the three women sat in the living room, neither moving nor speaking.

But Shaun could feel those three gazes following him until he disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

Shaun didn't dare linger for a second and just vanished.

The living room was quiet for a few seconds.

Then Madison spoke up. "Is he always like this?"

Ballard glanced at her. "Like what?"

"Just..." Madison gestured. "The kind who never changes his mind."

Ballard thought for a moment. "When he's working on a case, yes."

This was just to save Shaun's face; usually, Ballard was the one calling the shots.

But Madison didn't know that and just nodded.

She looked at Fiona again. "What about you?"

Fiona looked at Madison and countered, "What about me?"

Madison tilted her head. "What's your relationship with him?"

Fiona was silent for a second, not telling the truth. "He took me in, that's all."

"Fine." Madison said expressionlessly, then stood up and walked out the door.

Leaving behind a "I'm going to the car to get something," she shut the door behind her.

Only Ballard and Fiona were left in the living room.

Fortunately... these two were slightly more familiar with each other now, and they didn't say anything else to one another.

9:50 PM.

The black SUV was parked in a dark alley two blocks away from the underground casino.

Ballard turned off the engine, and none of the three moved.

Shaun sat in the passenger seat, staring at the abandoned warehouse ahead.

In the night, the rusted rolling door was tightly shut, with only a sliver of dim light seeping through the gap.

Ballard whispered, "That's the place."

Madison leaned over from the back seat. "This dump? The Colombians' lair?"

"One of their strongholds." Ballard rarely explained. "Not their lair."

Madison clicked her tongue, seemingly dissatisfied.

Shaun didn't speak; he closed his eyes.

【Primary Magic · Active Activation!】

In that instant, the world around him changed.

It wasn't the colors that changed, but the layers.

In an instant, Shaun could feel the heat inside the warehouse—about a dozen people gathered in the center.

He could even feel their hearts, some beating fast, some slow, some very steady.

He could feel something else, too.

Deep inside the warehouse.

There was a person.

No... not a person.

That aura... Shaun's brows furrowed.

Cold.

Not a cold of temperature, but a rot-like cold.

Then the detection vanished; after all, Shaun only had "three seconds" for now.

"Shaun?"

Madison's voice pulled him back.

Shaun opened his eyes and said, "There's something inside."

Ballard looked at him. "What kind of something?"

Shaun thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I don't know, but it's not an ordinary person."

Madison's expression became a bit more serious.

"Not an ordinary person" meant many possibilities in this world.

Witches.

Ghosts.

And other things...

Shaun pushed the car door open. "Stick to the plan. Madison, come in with me. Ballard, provide cover from the perimeter."

Ballard nodded, and the three of them got out.

Shaun and Madison cut through two alleys and approached the back wall of the warehouse.

Madison raised her hand and gently pushed against the wall.

【Telekinesis · Elementary】

A hole appeared silently on the wall, just big enough for one person to crawl through.

Madison looked at Shaun and laughed. "Ladies first?"

Shaun ignored her and crawled in first.

It was very dark inside the warehouse.

Only a few dim lights hung from the rafters, illuminating a dozen figures below—all Colombians, some standing, some sitting, all holding weapons.

But Shaun didn't look at them.

His gaze fell to the deepest part of the warehouse.

There was a beam there.

Someone was crouching on the beam.

No... not crouching.

Hanging upside down, like a bat.

That person... or that thing... wore a black robe, their face obscured by a hood, making it impossible to see their features.

But Shaun could see its hands.

The fingers were very long, and the nails were black.

And... its eyes.

Those eyes were glowing red in the darkness.

Madison saw it too, and her body instantly tensed up.

She couldn't help but lower her voice and ask, "What is that?"

Shaun didn't speak.

But in his mind, the golden book opened automatically.

【Unknown creature detected】

【Characteristics: Hanging upside down, red eyes, long claws】

【Matching database...】

【Match complete】

【Species: Bat Monster】

【Source: "Grimm"】

Shaun stared at those lines of text, and another image suddenly flashed through his mind.

That dark alley.

The chalk outline of a corpse on the ground.

Joseph White lying there, his hands crossed over his chest, his posture eerily peaceful.

No external injuries, no signs of struggle, just as if he were asleep...