"What do you think about all this, Aldred?"
As Rey's question echoed in the air, Aldred gave a knowing smile—as if he already expected the question.
"It's probably a ruse. The real Warehouse should be underground."
Rey made a slight grimace underneath his mask.
'Just as I suspected…'
Even with this discovery, it didn't change what they had to do.
'We still have to invade. I'm sure the entrance to the underground path is somewhere inside.'
Rey almost felt like he was invading the domain of a mafia group, or some sort of cartel. He hadn't done it before, but it seemed like this was how it often felt like.
"This establishment is run by Evals Redart, the biggest guy in business in the South." Aldred went on, his tone still containing the same kind of amusement from earlier.
"I don't imagine that we'd meet him here, but if we do, then the KariBlanc Group would like to stay out of it."
Rey sighed and gave a light shrug.
"I wasn't planning on the two of you venturing inside with me, to begin with."
He had been contemplating what route to take when it came to these two, but with Aldred giving him caveats to his cooperation, now seemed like a good time to end things.
"I'll go inside alone. I'm sure the KariBlanc Group would like to maintain a close relationship with someone like Evals Redart."
Rey knew it was just how business functioned in the underworld. It was the same way they desired a good relationship with him.
"We are grateful for your understanding. Though, if we were to pick between you and Redart, our Group would go with you."
Rey shrugged off those words, taking them with as much levity as possible,
'Trying to butter me up, huh? Is this also what he'll also tell Redart?'
No matter what Aldred said, Rey knew he couldn't wholeheartedly believe and trust him.
"In any case, I'm heading in. You can leave now." Rey took a few steps forward, his gaze focused on the building that stood a distance from him.
"And what of the fatso?"
Rey turned back a little, watching Aldred make a sadistic smile and Yuri supporting him with her own innocent smile as well.
Gus kept banging his head on the ground, profusely apologizing—even as blood gushed out.
At this point, Rey's gaze when he saw these things was sheer lethargy.
He just didn't care anymore.
"He's all yours." Rey waved away the pleading Gus, causing him to mutter an "E-eh…?"
Before he could double down on his begging and make an appeal, though, Yuri knocked him unconscious with the hilt of her blade.
Once again, Rey noticed how it appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Once Gus fell to the ground in a heavy thud, Rey returned his focus on the building and didn't bother looking back a second time.
"We look forward to your victory. Come patronize us again when you're done."
"It's been a pleasure, Sir Ralyks!"
Rey simply ignored their words of farewell and leaked out a heavy sigh
'They're all crazy people.'
*************
The Warehouse was a two-storey building which covered at least an acre of land.
It was surrounded by a tall and sturdy fence that prevented anyone from seeing anything that happened inside.
Unless someone flew overhead the entire place, there was no way to see anything beyond the grimy walls that imposingly stood tall.
Both the main building and the surrounding fence were covered with black paint, and they seemed like old structures that would collapse at any moment.
Rey wondered if having one's building like this contributed something to the slave-owner Aesthetic, but once again found his thoughts to be a useless tangent.
'Let's focus on the matter at hand.'
He activated the [Stealth], [Projection], got ready to use [Phase], and even added the [Camouflage] Skill he just learned from the Bigfoots… just in case.
With his preparations complete, he walked straight past the armored guards despite their vigilant demeanors.
None of them even noticed him nearing them, walking past them, or passing through the fence to reach the other side.
It was a smooth infiltration that didn't even take any effort.
"Looks like I'm in, huh…?" Rey mumbled under his breath as he took a good look around him.
The compound was crawling with even more security personnel.
So many guards—a lot with blades, though a few had staffs in hand.
'This is enough for a small army. I guess the Slave Trade business is no joke…'
It was also possible that this was a special day, hence the need for so many security personnel in the same area.
Despite their numbers, though, Rey easily walked past all of them.
It wasn't even a challenge.
'I could have ended all their lives, but… I guess I don't need to.'
If he had chosen the direct approach, things could have gotten messier then he desired,
At least, this way was more efficient,
'Though I feel bad for the other Slaves that are here, or that will be brought in eventually, my only goal here is Alicia… and also Billy.'
He couldn't allow any further distractions.
Rey followed Gus' words and took the second entrance that led to the Special Center of the holding facility.
The result?
'… Empty, huh? figured.'
After getting past the entrance and easily breezing through the guards, Rey was finally greeted by an empty room.
'I'll assume the general area is also like this.'
All of them were distractions—tangents to throw him off the scent.
But Rey could already see through it all.
He also knew his way forward.
'This place surely has a manager that is not Evals Redart.' His lips began to broaden ever so slightly.
'I should pay him a visit.'
With a dark gleam in his eyes, and a very deep resolution in his heart, Rey continued his advance.
'Wait for me, Alicia! I'm coming!'
*
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Thanks for reading!
I appreciate your support immensely. Apologies that this part is going so slow.
Keep pushing!
