Gun of Ashes

Chapter 339: Chapter 21 Rat Nest_2

The intelligence dealer opened his eyes, and all memories shattered in an instant. Countless messages, countless idle chats, discarding the irrelevant parts, a story emerged in his mind.

Changing shifts, the fiercely burning black water, a miracle... or perhaps the explosive eruption of black water.

”Military operation... Recently, there has been a massive military operation in the north.”

The intelligence dealer asserted.

The Priest asked in a deep voice, ”Are you sure?”

”Half conjecture, half deduction. After all, we are just rats, barely surviving outside the Lower City District.”

The Priest looked at him, then stood up.

”I will come back.”

The intelligence dealer smiled as he saw him off, ”Welcome! We like wealthy customers like you.”

...

The underground world was dark and damp, with a stench that assaulted the senses, as if corpses were scattered throughout these unseen corners.

The vagrant walked in front, holding a kerosene lamp. The dim light was the only source of illumination in this night.

In the silence, ghostly sounds emerged, as if innumerable creatures moved in this darkness, their claws and teeth scraping the ground, creating a fine rustling noise.

Lorenzo peered into the darkness, relying on the vision of a Demon Hunter. He could see countless rats advancing in this tunnel, vaguely hearing the sound of water, as if there were sewers nearby.

”We may have to walk for a long time. I hope you can endure it.”

The vagrant said from the front, not turning back.

In the decayed air thick with dust, breathing became difficult, but fortunately, he was used to this kind of life. This pain wasn’t much to him.

”Did you dig all this underground?”

The longer they walked, the more curious Lorenzo became, unable to resist asking.

Lorenzo had traded with the Inferior Rats before but had never ventured so deep underground until now.

”Just rats, after all. We always need some escape routes.”

The vagrant answered, ”But these tunnels are unstable. A nearby one collapsed a few days ago, burying a few people alive. We were supposed to pass through that tunnel, but after it collapsed, we had to take a detour.”

By the dim light, it was nearly impossible to determine direction in this complex, dark labyrinth. During the short journey, Lorenzo had already encountered several intersections, but the vagrant seemed to know everything here by heart, guiding Lorenzo through the intricate maze.

”How do you remember it all so clearly? I’ve almost been spun around dizzy.” Lorenzo asked.

He tried to memorize the roads, but under the vagrant’s circuitous paths, he found himself a bit lost.

”One must have some survival skills. It’s the secret of us Inferior Rats.” The vagrant said, feigning mystery.

The two continued walking in the darkness, and during the long, monotonous journey, they chatted idly.

”What’s your name?” Lorenzo suddenly asked.

”Kamu.” Kamu hesitated for a moment, but didn’t suspect much and directly answered.

”You’re a foreigner too, aren’t you?”

”If I weren’t a foreigner, I wouldn’t be in the Lower City District,” Kamu replied.

”Where are you from?”

Kamu suddenly stopped, arduously turning his head in the narrow space, looking at Lorenzo with a puzzled expression, as if to say, why do you talk so much nonsense?

In the dim light, Lorenzo showed a friendly smile.

”Don’t be angry. I think I might have more dealings with the Inferior Rats in the future. Rather than someone else, why not you, right?” he said, ”But the premise is mutual understanding, right?”

”I’m just from a small southern country, Mr. Holmes.” Kamu said, looking into Lorenzo’s eyes, speaking slowly.

Lorenzo was momentarily surprised.

”You know who I am?”

Kamu turned and continued leading the way, then said.

”Of course, I know who you are, Mr. Holmes, a detective serving the Shrik, the one who orchestrated the Red River Tragedy... But you haven’t appeared in the Lower City District for a long time. We thought you were dead.”

”You know so much detail?”

”Just survival instincts. Bola rules the Lower City District, so we humble Inferior Rats must learn more about you.”

”But it seems this is the first time you’ve met me.”

”As long as other Inferior Rats know about you, we all stick together for warmth.”

Lorenzo followed closely behind him, and in the brief conversation, he had gleaned much useful information from the side.

These inconspicuous rats clearly had an efficient way of exchanging intelligence. As long as one person knew, others would know as well. It’s just that Lorenzo still couldn’t figure out how they communicated and remembered such a vast amount of information.

”We’re almost there.”

Kamu said, as the faint sound of water became increasingly louder, as if there were a massive waterfall deep in this underground.

Not only that... Lorenzo keenly heard more sounds, mechanical whirrs, the movement of crowds, whispers merging into a tumultuous storm.

”We’ve arrived.”

Kamu’s voice interrupted his thoughts, and everything fell silent. He stepped aside to let Lorenzo proceed.

The tunnel’s end was a sewer, with the foul-smelling water falling from above, rushing rapidly through the channel. The two walked alongside, and the vast space caught their eyes, while the urgent sound of flowing water peaked, with the underground waterfall right before Lorenzo.

”Is this your nest?” Lorenzo was somewhat taken aback.