It was said that the Dark Citadel's haunted house was extremely terrifying. All the scary things were real.
In other words, if you saw a vampire inside, it must be a real vampire.
If you saw a werewolf, it must be a real one.
Even the corpses inside were real.
If the visitors couldn't take it anymore, they could leave. Of course, the tickets couldn't be refunded.
That was why there was a saying in the Western League. If you wanted to prove your bravery, go to the Dark Citadel. If you could walk out in one piece, you'd get a Medal of Bravery.
Inside the Dark Citadel, there was a haunted house, a sea of blood, a morgue, and a whole host of other scary scenes.
Qianlin had only skimmed through the introduction, and her face was as white as a sheet.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.
We're not really going to the haunted house.
Most of the buildings here are made of metal. We'll have to buy a ticket and put on a fake one.
Besides.
It's a good place to hide presents. "
Lan Jue bought two tickets and entered the world of the Dark Citadel with Zhou Qianlin.
The outside was dark enough, and the inside was even darker. They had to rely on the flashlights in their hands to illuminate their way forward.
A low, eerie sound lingered in their ears, giving them goosebumps. The temperature dropped as they went deeper. The chilling atmosphere became even more terrifying.
Lan Jue didn't mind, but Zhou Qianlin clutched his hand nervously.
Fortunately, not long after they went deeper, Lan Jue brought her into contact with a piece of metal. There was a flash of electricity, and they disappeared.
As long as it was conductive.
Electricity could carry Lan Jue and Zhou Qianlin.
Lan Jue didn't have a map of this place.
But they just had to keep going.
Soon.
They arrived at a room at the top of the Dark Citadel.
This was a blood-red world. As far as the eye could see, everything was dark red. All kinds of internal organs were hung on the walls, and there were even pieces of dried human skin hanging in some places.
There were even dried corpses.
Seeing this scene, Zhou Qianlin's eyes widened. Then, she bent over and retched.
"Kiss me!" She closed her eyes tightly.
He raised his head.
Lan Jue hesitated, "You, you won't vomit in my mouth, right …"
Before he could finish, Qianlin swooped in and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed him hard on the lips.
"Uh —"
The white light flickered, and before Lan Jue could feel those slightly cold lips, Zhou Qianlin had already completely integrated into his body and disappeared.
This place was really uncomfortable!
Looking around, Lan Jue felt somewhat helpless.
However, it was better to share the discomfort with others. Moreover …
This place, hmm.
Show it to the Pope.
Perhaps the Dark Citadel's ticket prices were too high, so there were no visitors or staff.
Lan Jue took a quick look and understood.
This was probably just an interlude, not the main scene.
Was it really necessary to make the interlude look so realistic?
The corpses were old, but they'd been further processed and decorated.
Activating his communicator's recording function, Lan Jue flung his right hand. The two of them dropped to the ground in front of him, just like two corpses.
First, he gave them a close-up of their faces, then switched on the scene around them.
The shooting location was naturally chosen, and a simple video was quickly produced.
Of course, he didn't send it directly to the Pontiff's Citadel. Instead, he sent it to the Accountant.
"Fuck me, Jewelry Master, you're sending me this early in the morning? Aren't you afraid it'll affect my development?" By the time Lan Jue had emerged from the Dark Citadel, the Accountant's grumbling voice could be heard.
Lan Jue grumbled. "Alright, cut the crap. Send this to the Pontiff's Citadel in two hours."
The Accountant was surprised. "What's going on?
Is this some kind of fun?
You're messing with the Pontiff's Citadel?
Why didn't you invite me for something fun like this?
Aren't we brothers or something? "
"Fun?" Lan Jue asked.
"If you want to face the Pontiff's wrath, you can come now. I won't stop you.
If you want to play, sign up for the Gourmet's team. In a few days you'll be heading to the Major League for the Adept Tournament. "
"I heard about it," the Accountant grumbled. "But I'm not involved!
The Gourmet says I'm too weak, he won't let me join.
Besides, my Discipline isn't suited for combat. "
Lan Jue grinned. "Alright, stop pretending.
I can help you with this, but forget about the tournament. I'll let you tag along.
You can talk to the Gourmet later, I'll let him know. "
The Accountant chuckled. "In two hours, right? Alright, I'll help you out in a bit."
"Don't let them find out where the video came from," Lan Jue advised.
"You think I don't know that?" The Accountant huffed.
"Just watch.
As long as there's a screen in the Cathedral, it'll show up.
Heh heh, do you think Grandpa would reward me if we pissed the Pontiff off? "
Lan Jue said. "You can ask him!"
The Accountant's voice grew cautious. "Forget it. I don't know what the Gramps and the Bookworm are up to these days, but I haven't seen them.
The reason I'm leaving Skyfire Avenue is because I don't want the two of them to cause a ruckus and blow up Skyfire Avenue. "
Lan Jue chuckled. "Hope for the best.
Alright, don't forget about it.
Let me know when it's done. "
"No problem."
After ending the call with the Accountant, Lan Jue sent the Gourmet a message.
The Accountant was a bit unreliable at times, but he was a true student of the Keeper's and now the Bookworm's.
Bringing him along could save them a lot of trouble.
The Accountant's brain, when operating at full speed, could probably rival a supercomputer's.
They climbed back into the taxi and headed back to the hangar.
They found a secluded corner and separated Zhou Qianlin from the others. She changed her clothes.
The two of them climbed back into the ship and headed back the way they'd come.
"Qian Lin!
I don't think I can afford to keep you. It's only been a few days and I've already lost a few sets of clothes. "Lan Jue grumbled helplessly.
Zhou Qianlin's face was pale. "When did you pay for me?
All my clothes are my own, alright?
Only the ones I bought in the Holy City were paid for by you. "
Lan Jue looked at her sullen face. "Still scared?
Look at your guts. "
Zhou Qianlin pouted. "I'm not scared. I … I'm just disgusted."
Lan Jue chuckled. "I should have let you see everything in the Dark Citadel."
Zhou Qianlin glared daggers at him. "Then I'll scratch you to death."
The ship lifted off and left the Dark Citadel.
The Dark Citadel.
"Your Majesty!" Lucifer called, a strange expression on his face as he made his way to the Demon King's Great Hall.
The Dark Citadel's Satan sat upon the throne. This was where he trained.
"What is it?" The Dark Citadel slowly opened his eyes. They glinted with a scarlet light.
Lucifer waved a hand, and two of his men entered, dragging two men with them.
"Our men found them in the Dark Citadel's haunted house today." The corner of Lucifer's mouth twitched as he spoke.
The two men lay unconscious on the floor. When the Dark Citadel's gaze fell upon them, he froze.
"Did you find out who sent them?" The Dark Citadel asked.
Lucifer shook his head. "Probably tourists. But we have no way of tracking who they came from.
I've already sent someone to investigate, but nothing.
This gift was not light at all!
Could it be an enemy of the Pontiff's Citadel?
I've also contacted the Western Alliance officials. They say something's wrong with the Holy City of Reims. They've sealed it off twice, and the Pontiff himself is out searching for someone.
It looks like it has something to do with their disappearance. "
The Dark Citadel's eyes narrowed. "So you're saying someone kidnapped the Angel of Healing Raphael and the Archangel of Wisdom Uriel from the Holy City, and sent them to us?
Is this a false accusation, or is it something else? "
"Even if it's a false accusation," Lucifer said, "it's a big enough gift.
The loss of two Archangels is a huge blow to the Pontiff's Citadel.
I've examined their bodies, and they've been sealed by some strange power. Your subordinates are incapable of removing it. "
There was a flash of crimson light, and the Dark Citadel was at Lucifer's side. A vortex of crimson light sprang from the Dark Citadel, enveloping the two Archangels within.
A moment later, the Dark Citadel's lips curled into a cold smile. "It's a seal. A seal imbued with protogenia.
It doesn't seem to be pure protogenia. It must be the work of an Adept of similar cultivation, but someone who's mastered protogenia to a certain degree.
Only a true Paragon would be able to break the seal.
The longer they're sealed, the more damaging it becomes. It could even lead to death. "
"How do we deal with this?" Lucifer asked.
"Someone wants to make us a scapegoat," the Dark Citadel replied. "But why should we?
We have the initiative in this matter.
There's no rush. Take these two away and keep an eye on them.
We'll wait for the Pontiff to come get them.
One s-ranked power gem for each of them. "
Lucifer nodded and said, "Yes.
What about these two's seals … "
"They were sealed," the Dark Citadel said matter-of-factly. "We didn't kill them, and that's giving the Pontiff a lot of face.
The Pontiff will get them back, and he'll know it wasn't us who sealed them.
As for the damage they've sustained, what does that have to do with us?
We're giving the Pontiff a lot of face by handing them over. "
Lucifer's eyes lit up. He knew what the Dark Citadel was getting at. "Your Majesty is wise.
I'll deal with this immediately.
We'll wait for the Pontiff's Citadel to contact us. "
… … (To be continued.)