Chapter 365: Prison-like building
As the leading crime syndicate in the Kingdom’s Underground World, the group known as "Eight Fingers" seemed to have more than just one base of operations in the capital.
This crime syndicate was internally divided into eight departments based on the nature of their dealings, each responsible for managing slaves’ trade, assassination, smuggling, theft, drug trafficking, bodyguard services, finance, and gambling. These departments cooperated on major initiatives but otherwise operated independently, and it was said that their relationships with each other were not particularly good.
Thanks to this, there were said to be at least eight "Eight Fingers" bases in the capital, possibly even more. These bases were also under the protection of some nobles who had business dealings with "Eight Fingers," making them quite concealed. Under normal circumstances, even if someone wanted to locate these bases, it would be extremely difficult, and attacking them would require getting past the corrupt nobles of the kingdom first.
The reason they were able to smoothly obtain information on the "Eight Fingers" bases and bypass those nobles’ interference to strike these locations was reportedly because the leaders of "Eight Fingers" had already been enslaved by magical creatures, having thus forsaken their human ties.
Those nobles who had cooperated with or had been bought by "Eight Fingers" ultimately didn’t have the courage to continue protecting a group of criminals enslaved by creatures. Consequently, many of them chose to stand aside and not interfere this time, which allowed an entity like "Blue Rose" to acquire the necessary information to strike at the "Eight Fingers" bases.
According to Lakyus, the place they were preparing to head to was the location mentioned in reports from the sacrificed kingdom’s forces, where they encountered a base of "Six Arms."
"Because ’Six Arms’ represents the highest combat power of ’Eight Fingers’, their presence in one place indicates a higher likelihood of encountering the vampire who initiated all this."
That was what Lakyus believed.
Thus, the group immediately set off for that base.
The reason they did not move at night but during the day was mainly because many had been turned into vampires, enslaved by powerful vampires, no longer human. Hence, Lakyus judged that instead of fighting at night, it would be better to act during the day.
"Vampires suffer a racial penalty in sunlight, experiencing a decrease in abilities, whereas at night they receive various enhancements. Given this, instead of battling in the night when it’s less advantageous for us, why not strike now while it’s still light and attack those vampires?"
Lakyus’s consideration was thorough, eliciting admiration for her being a leader of a mithril-class adventurers’ squad.
However, to Reiger, this consideration seemed somewhat irrelevant.
For, the vampires that suffered power reduction during the day due to racial penalties were generally lower-tier vampires; higher-tier vampires could almost ignore such effects.
If the vampire dominating "Eight Fingers" was indeed Shalltear, then they were about to face the highest class of vampire that had never appeared in this world before, a guardian of Nasalik Underground Tomb, a true ancestor vampire at level hundred who far surpassed even the legendary calamity "Destroyer of Nations," and who would not be weakened by sunlight.
And those lower-tier vampires who would be weakened, honestly speaking, even if they were twice as strong, would still be dealt with by mithril-class adventurers; the presence or absence of weakening didn’t really make much difference.
If those heading to the "Eight Fingers" base were merely mid to low-tier adventurers, then considering this advantage might be worthwhile, but this time, those heading for the "Eight Fingers" base were all mithril-class adventurers without exception. Even Brian, a former mercenary, was undeniably mithril-class, barely a step away from Heroic Domain, and they did not need to seize such a slight advantage.
Moreover, the "Eight Fingers" base they were heading to was not located within the city, but in a secluded area some distance from the busy district.
It was like a zone entirely cloaked in darkness, surrounded by rather tall buildings that blocked most of the light. Even during the day, little sunlight could penetrate here, coupled with the recent poor weather in the capital, making it hard to see the sun all day, so the weakening effect on vampires was quite limited.
"...It seems that God is not on our side."
Lakyus also gradually became aware of these issues, glancing at the overcast sky and smiling wryly.
"I actually quite like this weather though?"
"For us, fighting in this weather can actually be advantageous."
As thieves and assassins, the twins Tia and Tina expressed a different opinion.
Their skills and abilities were most effective in the dark, so this weather not only didn’t impact them negatively but was beneficial.
"Same for me," Iveyer said, also relaxed, clearly having an advantage in this environment.
"Well, I have magical tools to assist me, so even in complete darkness, it won’t affect me, so it makes no difference."
Brian likewise expressed this, even touching the Eye Necklace around his neck, assuring everyone he was truthful.