Wizard: Adventures in Two Worlds-Chapter 660 - 18: Holy Beetle

The black cloak is the standard uniform of the Nightwatcher, and Barro once wondered why a cloak was used as a uniform.

The answer he got from Chris was: "Because it looks cool!"

He was speechless about this.

"Clang!"

The heavy iron door of the basement was pulled open by Barro with his monster-like strength and thrown aside.

A few black-cloaked figures entered the basement, turned on the lights, and the sight before them was suffocating.

Over a dozen young women, who should have been vibrant and beautiful, had their bodies pierced and marked, eyes vacant, bound and suspended. Their once-perfect bodies were covered in hideous scars, some already scabbed over, and others still fresh.

The shelves against the wall were filled with various instruments.

Whips, scalpels, steel needles…

The smell of blood was overwhelming.

"Damn!"

A newcomer, face flushed with anger, muttered with a frown:

"Damn beasts!"

"Sigh!"

Barro patted the other's shoulder:

"Most Extraordinary Powers have the ability to affect the mind and amplify the dark side of human nature."

"Once you see this kind of thing enough, you get used to it."

"Get them out of here, call over our Mind Control System colleagues to wake them up, and remove their memories of this period if possible. Try to treat their injuries as well."

Barro had been part of the Night Watcher Organization for over two years by this point, considered a 'veteran.'

He had also become the leader of an action team.

"Yes."

The newcomer responded, casually asking:

"What's going to happen to that psycho?"

"No need to deal with him." Barro shook his head, saying to the other's surprised gaze:

"He's dead!"

"He was controlled and came to confess to us, and after he confessed everything, his head exploded into mush."

"..." The newcomer frowned:

"Well, he deserved it, but who controlled him?"

"Don't know." Barro shrugged:

"The captain analyzed that the person seems to have Third Tier abilities in mind control, and if he turned rogue, it would definitely cause a disaster."

"Luckily..."

"The person isn't out of control and follows 'social order,' so there's no need for us to provoke him."

"Third Tier!" The newcomer's eyes brightened:

"Can we recruit him for the organization?"

"Few with Extraordinary Powers are willing to join us." Barro rubbed his chin and said:

"They have powers far beyond ordinary people, allowing them to enjoy life without constraints. If you had a choice, would you join the Night Watcher Organization?"

"Heh heh..." The newcomer scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly.

"Captain!"

As they spoke, someone walked in from outside and handed over a phone:

"The police station is calling for you."

The police station?

Barro frowned and took the phone.

"Hello!"

"A serious case?"

"Suspected Extraordinary Power involvement?"

"Understood, I'll head over right away." Hanging up, Barro rubbed his aching forehead:

"I'll leave this to you guys. I'm heading over to the mine area."

*

*

*

Mine area.

Pier Mining territory.

A black van crushed the gravel as it steadily stopped in front of a short gray building, and Barro got out of the car.

"Sheriff Barro?"

An elderly Caucasian man quickly came to greet him:

"Welcome, welcome."

"Hello."

Barro nodded:

"Let me see the crime scene first."

"Yes."

The other man was all smiles and servility:

"We didn't know what we encountered when mining, disturbing the underground creatures' habitat, and we've had trouble sleeping lately. But Sheriff Barro, it's definitely not a murder case!"

"I know." Barro maintained his expression:

"Let's see what's going on first."

"Yes."

The old man nodded repeatedly.

If it were a murder case, the police would certainly intervene, which could lead to a heap of trouble.

Even if it was just a few bugs...

Well!

Those bugs were too strange, and the victims' wounds did indeed look suspiciously like those of a crime.

The area where the accident occurred had long been cordoned off, with a simple plastic tent covering the mine entrance.

Inside, the mining company used a laboratory for analyzing ore.

Several figures were busy inside.

"Professor Karl!"

Seeing one of the figures, Barro broke into a smile:

"What are you doing here?"

"Barro?"

Karl turned around and laughed:

"What brings you here?"

"Professor, I've been hired as a consulting investigator for the police department to come check out the case." Seeing a familiar face, Barro was pleased:

"Why are you here too?"

"We discovered some interesting creatures." Karl beckoned him over, pointing to a stone slab:

"Look."

"The legendary Holy Beetle."

"Holy Beetle?" Barro frowned.

Unlike others, he had come across this name several times in the incident records of the Night Watcher Organization.

He had some understanding of it.

Holy Beetles: Creatures nurtured by people with Extraordinary Powers in ancient times, with teeth that can bite through anything, resistant to lower-level Extraordinary Power damage, and crucially, they have a long lifespan and live in colonies.

Even a Second Tier Transcendent, once surrounded by Holy Beetles, would be in danger without a means to counter them.

These creatures were often buried with certain Transcendents at the time of their death to prevent anyone from damaging their corpses.

"Take a look."

Karl pointed to the stone slab, and said:

"This thing looks like a sculpture on stone, but once activated, it turns into a living thing."

"The material transformation between stone and flesh is truly amazing."

Barro stepped forward.

The stone slab was encased in bulletproof glass, surrounded by observational instruments, with some reliefs on it.

Three Holy Beetles were among them.

"We've tested the biting force of this beetle, and it can even bite through steel." Blaze was filled with admiration:

"It's truly incredible."

Now he understood why people died, and even why mining machinery was damaged.

It was the doing of these things!

"With strong defensive power, incredible attack, and terrifying numbers, even a modern army would struggle against them. Fortunately, they fear the cold, and will enter a 'dormant' state as soon as the temperature drops to a certain level." Karl explained:

"You can freeze them bit by bit and then remove them, but my advice is not to touch them."

Barro nodded in agreement.

"No way."

Blaze frowned:

"The area where these creatures gather is at the core of the mine vein, and without moving them, there's no way to continue mining."

"This involves a billion-dollar business, even we don't have the authority."

"There's nothing we can do then." Karl shrugged:

"Good luck."

"By the way, can I have this stone slab? I haven't had the chance to analyze such a special creature yet."

"Of course." Blaze said with gratitude:

"Thanks to Professor Karl, we wouldn't know how to handle this, really, thank you."

Did Professor Karl teach them how to deal with the Holy Beetle?

This thing…

Even to the Transcendents in the Night Watcher Organization, it's very difficult to handle, yet a regular person solved it with ease?

"Professor, Mr. Blaze." Barro thought it was strange and spoke up:

"Although caused by these creatures, since it involves a murder case, we might need to conduct a further investigation."

"The mining will have to be halted for a few days."

To be safe, the Nightwatcher will surely need to check it out first.

Holy Beetles usually aren't there alone, and whatever they're guarding could also be dangerous.

Moreover…

This type of danger is something ordinary people can't defend against.

"A few days?"

Blaze frowned:

"Stopping the mine for a day means tens of thousands in losses. Barro... are you sure this is necessary?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Barro nodded:

"Mr. Blaze, I hope you can understand."

"Blaze!"

Just as Blaze wore an indignant expression, preparing to refuse decisively, a familiar voice sounded:

"Just stop for a few days."

"Monica."

Seeing her arrival, the anger on his face quietly dissipated:

"Your word is my command."

Karl glanced at the sky outside and then at the vampire Monica, who only wore sunglasses, his eyes flickering slightly.

It seems,

The vampires here are truly not afraid of sunlight.

Or perhaps…

Monica is a special case!