When night fell, Dunn personally drove the carriage belonging to the Nighthawks to the scene.
Angel and Leonard quietly left from beside the two-story house and came to the carriage, only to discover that besides Dunn Smith, Klein had actually come along too.
"Captain, why did you let him come too? If fighting breaks out later, we can't guarantee his safety."
Angel was somewhat anxious. Earlier, after the three had discussed at her house, they decided to have Klein find the altar then return to replace Dunn, with three close-combat capable extraordinary persons entering the building to launch a surprise attack and deal with this criminal who built the altar and cast curse rituals.
They hadn't expected Klein to follow back himself.
"I'm the one who brought him. As a formal member of the Nighthawks, he'll have to participate in frontline combat eventually. Take this opportunity to let him experience battlefield atmosphere."
"Besides, later searching the scene and dealing with curse ritual problems will also require him as a 'Seer.'"
"I'll stay far from the battlefield and come over after the battle ends." Klein jumped down from the carriage. Seeing Angel's displeased expression, he added.
"...Then take these bullets. They can effectively deal with 'Witches'' invisibility ability, but remember not to engage the enemy head-on. You definitely can't beat her..."
Angel saw that he had already arrived here. Sending him back would be too late, so she could only take out her carried "Phantom Phosphorus Burst," giving two to Klein and introducing the usage method.
Of course, she didn't forget to give Dunn and Leonard two each. In the battle with Madam Sharon, these bullets had been proven to greatly limit invisible enemies' movements.
"Old Neil doesn't have these bullets... Are those Hermes prayers on them?"
Klein picked up a bullet, bringing it close to his eyes for observation. But without the "Assassin" and "Sleepless" dark vision, he could only barely recognize the type of text etched on the casing by the dim light from the oil lamp hanging on the carriage, unable to read it carefully.
"Oh? Already changed to Hermes script? Previously she used some writing we couldn't understand. Looks like it's been improved."
Leonard also leaned over. Night was the "Sleepless" home field, and he appeared more spirited than during the day.
"Alright, research on the writing can continue back home. Let's quickly begin operations to avoid being detected by the target."
Dunn coughed lightly, interrupting their conversation. His windbreaker was buttoned up, silk hat left in the carriage, light brown hair on both temples combed backward, appearing more capable than usual.
"Right. Klein, stay far from the carriage, go hide on the other side. If the opponent flees, they might very well seize the carriage."
Angel took out her smaller caliber revolver, instructing Klein.
"Thirst for Blood" looked too distinctive in appearance. She didn't plan to take it out for use now.
"But Captain, since we've already determined this is the curse altar's location, why don't we directly..."
Picking up the pistol and checking ammunition, Angel suddenly remembered that the "Mechanical Heart" members in Port Enmat had also faced similar problems, as well as their solution, hesitantly saying to Dunn.
Klein had already walked two steps, preparing to crouch in some grass, but hearing Angel speak, he turned back and came over.
"We can first have Klein divine whether the ritual will take effect immediately. If we still have time, we'll go notify the police, notify Tingen City's garrison troops, even the 'Mechanical Heart,' and bring a few heavy cannons to directly blast this house and the entire altar to pieces!"
She had been in this world for a month now, accustomed to the steam age's low technology and potions and extraordinary items' high mystery, almost forgetting she could still solve the problem currently facing them through heavy weapons.
Whether "Magician" or "Witch," facing multiple large-caliber artillery coverage attacks with kill radius exceeding 20 meters, it would be difficult to escape alive.
Dunn seemed stunned by what he heard. His gray eyes looked at Angel with some bewilderment, standing silently in place for a while, then looking toward Klein.
"You try, um, attempt divining according to Angel's suggestion. If there's any danger, stop immediately. The opponent's ritual might contact some dangerous existences."
———
Since afternoon, Tris had felt a restlessness in her heart.
After the small mirror she placed in her bedroom for early warning issued an alert, she had searched the area around the house but found nothing.
This house by the Tassok River in West District that Metis chose was said to be the inheritance of some baron in Tingen City, empty and uninhabited for a year, perhaps long forgotten by the heirs.
Surrounding it were several houses also long uninhabited, with suburban farmland to the west. It was usually deserted, and once night fell, one couldn't see their hand before their face. It was a good place to establish an altar.
Logically, this place shouldn't be discovered, at least not so quickly...
She couldn't shake off that restlessness, even attempting magic mirror divination, but downstairs was the Primordial Witch's god statue, a cage for countless wronged souls. Magic mirror divination failed twice in a row.
Watching night gradually envelop the area outside, she decided to go downstairs to find Metis.
That "Pleasure Witch" she didn't much like but had to frequently contact.
"Bang bang—"
Familiar with the route through the corridor where wronged souls floated, Tris came to the first floor hall and knocked on the dining room door.
"What is it?"
The door opened from inside, a tall thin figure appeared. She removed her hood, revealing gray-white long hair and the absolutely beautiful face beneath it.
"Metis, something's wrong. My magic mirror issued a warning, but patrolling the surroundings found no abnormalities. The divinations I attempted also failed."
"Near the altar and god statue, all divinations not pointing to the 'Primordial' will fail. I remember already teaching you this."
With indifferent tone but unceremonious criticism, the gray-haired woman—Metis—took out a palm-sized mirror from under her black robe. The mirror surface was covered with deep red unknown substances, reflecting no light.
"...You are the beginning of all things, and will also end everything..."
Using the divination magic mirror already warmed by her own spirituality, she chanted that being's true name, performing quick divination.
The deep red substances on the mirror surface seemed to evaporate rapidly, revealing a clean surface showing scenes only the Seer could see.
"The divination was interfered with. The opponent made anti-divination measures, but fortunately, the 'Primordial' is right beside us. Their anti-divination can't do much. Let me see... windcoats, nighttime action, official extraordinary persons, very likely from the Night side..."
Metis murmured to herself while Tris stood beside her, anxiously waiting.
"The opponent has a young 'Seer.' They used divination to find this place... I've taught you long ago that after each action, use black flames to clear traces and counter divination. It seems you haven't learned at all."
Her eyes didn't leave the magic mirror, but her mouth was aggressive.
The next instant, Metis's expression changed.
"Heavy artillery! Damn it, we can't let them leave."
The magic mirror exhausted its power, seeping deep red liquid again to cover the mirror surface. Its owner now couldn't care about it, but urgently said to Tris:
"You immediately go to the altar, terminate the ritual, destroy the mirror in the bedroom, then take the 'Primordial's' god statue and leave. I'll go intercept them. Once the ritual stops, they'll discover immediately."
"What's happening? Heavy artillery?" Tris's round cheeks deformed due to surprise, destroying that harmonious beauty.
"Those Nighthawks have already discovered this place. They don't plan to attack directly, but want to summon the army and use cannons to blast this house and the entire altar flat!"
Metis's voice became shrill due to urgency.