Aisoke, the eldest son of the Imperial Military Industry, unfortunately contracted the "Red Death Disease" in Gear City, ending his young life.

Ethan naturally remembered this name and also understood why Wilson mentioned Aisoke to him.

In fact, the ill-fated entanglement between him and Aisoke could be traced back even further, to when Old Sen Magic Scroll Shop received its second formal commission. The request came from a noble young lady whose lover was about to embark on a one-way expedition, and she hoped to use the magic scroll he provided to deal with the "evil wizard" her father had hired to monitor her.

Recently, ill-fated entanglements seemed to follow one after another. Not long ago, they encountered this evil wizard at the Mage Tower. According to the latest information acquired by Rowena, Mr. Silver Fox suffered severe soul damage during the "Puppet Gathering" and appeared to have regressed mentally to the level of a three or four-year-old. The Great Mages of the Mage Tower were unable to heal him and had his servant take him back home to retire.

Visitors come with ill intentions.

This could be gleaned from the bloodshot eyes of Wilson.

For Mr. Wilson, it would be easy to blame Ethan for his son's death—the magic scroll deal was the beginning of it all. If not for Aisoke's fiancée, Miss Anna, causing a huge scandal in the Imperial Capital by meeting her "little lover," and the incident becoming headline news in the Horned Owl Beast Daily, Aisoke wouldn't have been so disgraced. In a fit of anger, he went to Gear City to relax, only to contract the Red Death Disease by misfortune.

Ethan had seen all sorts of monsters and demons in this world and had already grasped their way of thinking well enough.

He nodded and accepted Wilson's invitation.

After all, here was a father who had lost his son just a few months ago. More importantly, the man's name also included "Sen," making him a member of the Sen family.

Ethan casually thought of a reason to convince himself.

"Wilson, I advise you not to act recklessly."

Rattlesnake warned Wilson with a watchful eye, but this had little effect as the man only glanced at Rattlesnake contemptuously.

During Flor's reign, Rattlesnake was akin to the Consortium's second-in-command. But now that Flor was struggling to protect himself, it naturally extended to his secretary's precarious situation.

Everyone knew Rattlesnake's abilities lay mainly in negotiations and business; violence was not her forte.

But the Imperial Military Industry was different.

Everything manufactured in the factories was meant to incite war and create slaughter.

Wilson had taught Aisoke this from a young age.

As those in power, with just a thought, they could end many lives. They should freely exercise the power inherently theirs.

"How could I act recklessly? After all, Mr. Heisenberg is an important guest of the guild and one of the candidates participating in the festival. I've heard the rumors about him; many major clients of the Imperial Military Industry want to sign long-term cooperation agreements with his Magic Technology Store. Their 'electromagnetic crossbow' is a superior weapon compared to muskets."

Wilson recited facts like a treasure trove, as he had already investigated all the information on Heisenberg. Those letters from Fireplace Bay were still piled on his desk.

The letters stated Heisenberg hadn't returned to his store for a long time, with his friends helping manage it. He never expected to encounter Heisenberg in the underground city, especially before the festival.

Unable to hide the smile on his face, he added, "I've wanted to meet Mr. Heisenberg for a while, but before that, as a candidate for the festival, he should personally get involved in the preparations."

Rattlesnake frowned, "Preparations?"

"The 13 lambs."

Wilson presented an irrefutable reason to her.

In name, at least, Flor remained the chosen one of Sincaro, Master of Demons, and the recognized ruler of the underground city by the Old Gods. Before a new chosen one replaced him, the festival should be organized by Sincaro's followers, namely the Lofic Consortium.

This was the tradition of the Abyss all along.

The most crucial step involved preparing 13 souls for sacrifice.

Wilson turned to Ethan, saying, "You should meet them in person. They should be eager to meet you too."

In fact, the selection of these 13 lambs was already determined when Flor hurriedly returned to the underground city. However, before the festival's commencement, someone needed to pacify the lambs, persuading them to willingly step into that sacrificial array.

This was also a tradition established by the Lofic Consortium.

Initially, people here didn't care about the thoughts of those being sacrificed, treating them as domesticated animals. When it came time to slaughter, they were tied up, blindfolded, and gagged with cloth, then directly escorted to the array's central area.

"This is a reform imbued with humaneness."

Walking ahead, Wilson voluntarily introduced Ethan to the underground city's traditions as they left the consortium's base, heading straight to the Lower City—where the lambs lived, a place even more remote than the ordinary residents' area.

The buildings were old and dilapidated. The consortium had constructed some large sheds for them to reside temporarily.

As they approached the sheds, an unpleasant smell wafted out.

"You should be the one to persuade them. Eloquence is quite an important skill."

Wilson crossed his arms disgustedly, staying a dozen meters away from the sheds, and somewhat schadenfreudely offered "advice" to Ethan.

To him, the "lambs" living here were no different from livestock, living in terribly unsanitary conditions, perennially shrouded in the stench of sweat and rotting food. The "lambs" had long grown accustomed to this environment, but for those from the Upper City, no one would willingly venture into the abode of the livestock.

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