Chapter 77: The Most Dangerous District In Valemont

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Most Dangerous District In Valemont

Previously, he had been too busy to investigate the Bloodshadow Cult properly.

Now that he finally had some free time, he intended to learn everything he could about the organization. And if the opportunity presented itself, he would destroy it.

Xavier opened the documents and began reading. The information was surprisingly detailed.

The Bloodshadow Cult was not some loosely organized group of criminals.

It was a highly structured assassination organization with clearly defined ranks and responsibilities. Its assassins were divided into three main levels, Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Above them were two specialized departments. The first was responsible for receiving assassination contracts. The second handled intelligence.

The contract department was relatively small, but its members were extremely important.

They served as the link between clients and the higher ups within the Bloodshadow Cult, accepting assassination requests and handling whatever follow up services were required after a target had been eliminated.

The intelligence department was much larger. Many of its members were only peripheral affiliates who had no formal position within the organization.

Some worked for the Cult only occasionally, providing small pieces of information whenever they came across something useful.

They were scattered throughout different industries and social circles, making the organization’s intelligence network extremely difficult to trace.

According to the information Solomon had gathered, at least three underground forces in Valemont were suspected of having close ties with the Bloodshadow Cult. One of them operated out of Constance district.

Xavier’s attention stopped on the relevant section.

Renewal Martial Academy.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

The Renewal Martial Academy was located in Constance District, on the city’s eastern edge.

Constance District had a terrible reputation. It was one of the poorest and most dangerous areas in Valemont.

Most of the people living there belonged to the lowest levels of society, and many had turned to whatever work they could find simply to survive.

Almost every kind of underground business could be found there. The place attracted criminals, gang members, violent martial artists, and people who had long since abandoned any concern for ordinary laws.

Those who lived there were often ruthless and reckless. For outsiders, Constance District was practically a lawless zone.

And the Renewal Martial Academy happened to be the largest underground force operating in the area. It had a considerable number of violent fighters under its command, enough that ordinary people would not dare provoke them.

Xavier, however, was not worried. In the whole of Valemont, Spirit Platform martial artists already belonged to the highest level of combat power commonly encountered.

With his current strength, entering Constance District posed little threat to him.

Still, Xavier did not intend to walk in openly as Mr. X. He closed the documents and began thinking.

This trip is for reconnaissance and assassination. His eyes narrowed. Using Mr. X’s identity would be inconvenient.

Mr. X was now an A-Level member of the Extraordinary Division, an identity obtained through Samuel Bush’s personal recommendation.

The Division was a government organization, and it placed enormous importance on laws and regulations.

If Mr. X were discovered committing an assassination, it could create unnecessary complications for the Division and damage the identity Xavier had only recently established.

Fortunately, that was not a problem. Xavier had another option.

With a thought, the muscles and bones of his face began subtly shifting. His jaw widened. His cheeks changed shape. His nose and brow altered.

Within moments, his handsome face had disappeared.

He now looked like an unfamiliar middle aged man with a broad, square face.

Xavier examined his reflection and nodded.

"Perfect," he said.

There was not even the slightest trace of the previous appearance. He put the documents away, left the building, and hailed a taxi toward Constance District.

* * *

"Afternoon, Bernard!" one man called.

"Heading out for lunch again, Bernard? You really know how to enjoy yourself," another said.

"Bernard, I heard three beautiful new girls showed up at Maurice’s place on Lanbo Street today," a third added.

"Apparently they’re all untouched. You interested in having some fun tonight?"

"Old Maurice always knows where to find good looking girls."

The men around the entrance laughed.

"Bernard, don’t forget to take us along."

Bernard Holloway merely waved them off with an arrogant smile as he walked out of the martial academy.

As the youngest son of Steven Holloway, the owner of the Renewal Martial Academy, Bernard occupied a privileged position within the organization.

His status was second only to his father’s. Even the academy’s twenty strongest Foundation Establishment fighters treated him carefully. No one wanted to offend the owner’s son.

Within Constance District, Bernard practically lived like royalty. He could cause trouble wherever he pleased, and most people would rather swallow their anger than risk provoking him.

It was lunchtime. The Renewal Martial Academy provided meals for its members, but Bernard had never been interested in eating the same food as everyone else.

He preferred to leave every day and find somewhere more expensive. In his opinion, life was meant to be enjoyed.

Today was no different. Bernard left the academy accompanied by two bodyguards, both 2nd-Star Foundation Establishment martial artists and among the strongest fighters his father had assigned to protect him.

Bernard did not even bother looking back as they walked deeper into the surrounding streets. He had no idea that he was already being watched.

The three of them eventually reached a quieter section of the area. There were few pedestrians.

The buildings became increasingly sparse. Then a violent gust of wind tore through the street.

Bernard barely had time to react. Two dull impacts sounded behind him. He spun around, and his expression instantly froze.

His two bodyguards were already lying on the ground. They had been killed before either of them could even draw their weapons. Blood covered the pavement beneath them.

Bernard’s face went pale.

"Please, spare me!" he begged, opening his mouth to scream for help.

Before a sound could escape, something cold touched his neck. A sword. The sharp edge pressed lightly against his skin. Bernard’s entire body stiffened. He did not dare move.

"Bernard Holloway," the unfamiliar voice behind him said calmly.

"Your father is Steven Holloway, the owner of the Renewal Martial Academy. You’re a 6th-Star Body Tempering martial artist."

The sword pressed a little closer. "Did I get anything wrong?"

Bernard’s heart sank. This isn’t a robbery. The realization hit him immediately. The stranger knew exactly who he was. This attack had been planned specifically for him.

"Sir," Bernard said, his voice trembling. "If my family has offended you somehow, I’ll apologize. Whatever compensation you want, I’ll give it to you."

He was young. He had enjoyed a comfortable life and had never seriously considered the possibility of dying.

Now that a sword was resting against his throat, all his arrogance had disappeared.

"I don’t want your money," the mysterious man said calmly. "But if you cooperate, I may decide to let you live."

Bernard immediately nodded.

"Yes! I’ll cooperate!" he said.

"Good," the man said, the sword moving slightly away from his throat. "Take me to the old bridge over the Dolly River." Bernard’s face tightened.

"And call your father. Tell him to come there."

The Dolly River ran close to Constance District.

Years ago, a monster invasion had devastated the area around the river, and the old bridge and the surrounding land had been abandoned ever since. Weeds had swallowed most of the roads, and very few people ventured there anymore.

It was an ideal place for someone who wanted privacy. Or somewhere to dispose of a body.

Bernard immediately understood why the stranger had chosen it. He also understood the real purpose behind the order was that his father was the target.

The stranger had captured him because he wanted to use him as bait.

"But," Bernard hesitated.

The sword immediately moved back toward his neck. His thoughts cleared.

"No problem!" he said hurriedly, pulling out his phone.

"I’ll call him right now."

He did not dare try anything clever. His hands trembled as he searched for his father’s number and pressed the call button.

Once the call connected, Bernard carefully followed the instructions he had been given.

After ending the call, he swallowed nervously. He glanced at the man standing beside him.

The man’s face was completely unfamiliar.

Bernard gathered his courage and cautiously asked, "Sir, may I at least know what I should call you?"

The man looked at him. After a brief silence, he answered.

"Graham Cole."

Bernard committed the name to memory. He did not know who Graham Cole was. But judging from the two corpses lying behind him, he had a feeling he was about to find out.

Xavier’s objective had been straightforward from the beginning.

He was not interested in wasting time dealing with the Renewal Martial Academy itself.

His real target was Steven Holloway, the academy’s owner, because the information he had received indicated that Steven was the strongest martial artist in the organization.

Even so, confronting him directly would have been the wrong approach.

According to the intelligence report, Steven had only reached the 7th-Star Foundation Establishment rank. Xavier could have dealt with him without much effort.

But strength was not the issue. The Bloodshadow Cult was.

If Steven was connected to the organization’s intelligence network, killing him without understanding the connection could easily alert the Cult.

Once that happened, tracking down the people behind him would become much more difficult.

That was why Xavier had chosen to use Bernard as bait.

By taking Steven’s son first and forcing him to come to a secluded location, Xavier could control the situation without making unnecessary noise. He was not here to destroy the Renewal Martial Academy. He wanted information.

The Bloodshadow Cult had survived years of government suppression for a reason. Its members were careful, experienced, and extremely good at hiding their tracks. Xavier had no intention of underestimating them.

He would rather take things slowly and eliminate the organization piece by piece.

Not long after Xavier and Bernard reached the old bridge spanning the Dolly River, the sound of approaching vehicles broke the silence.

Steven Holloway had arrived.