Ultimately, Trafford found nothing.

Even though he tapped into every connection he could.

The docks, various exits, everywhere he could think of, yet those people seemed to have vanished into thin air.

"Who could it be?"

Trafford couldn't accept it.

It was like watching a duck fly away just as it was within reach.

More importantly, if those people could leave, then Johnny Blackbird and West could also leave.

What would he have to answer with then?

Without West as a witness, it would be hard to convict Joseph.

The thing he couldn't accept most was Joseph getting away with it.

"What should we do now, tell me, what should we do now?!"

He roared at Travis in a near frenzy.

What was supposed to be a perfect ending might now instead bring trouble.

The higher-ups hadn't given him much time.

"Relax, my Inspector, those people couldn't have vanished into thin air, the fact that you haven't found them anywhere suggests one thing: they haven't left the city. If someone could make so many ordinary people, even patients, disappear under the nose of the Kingdom Defense Bureau, do you think it's possible?"

But Travis wasn't as agitated.

And his words calmed Trafford a little. Indeed, if the other party had that capability, there would be no need for the Kingdom Defense Bureau's existence.

"Besides, I've left a death mark on Johnny Blackbird, and the mark tells me he's still in the Royal Capital."

Travis added.

"Then where is he?"

"I don't know, I can only sense his approximate location, but the Royal Capital is too large."

This counted as good news.

As long as they were still in the Royal Capital, there was still a chance for everything.

"Perhaps we should think from the source, like that guy who killed me once, he seemed to use a sharp and pointed weapon, a thrusting sword?"

"Thrusting sword?"

Trafford raised an eyebrow.

This carries significant symbolic meaning. There are very few in the Kingdom who can use a thrusting sword.

Mostly old nobility, especially those bestowed with honors, with military ties.

Could it be that...

Trafford got excited again. If that's true, couldn't he directly uncover the connection with that person?

That wouldn't be a small achievement.

——————————

While Trafford and Travis were speculating endlessly.

In fact, Ethan and Johnny Blackbird found themselves in a place they never would have imagined.

Below the underground hospital.

There was also a moderately spacious area here where all the patients were arranged.

"Fortunately, when they built this place initially, they took precautions and constructed this."

Johnny Blackbird stared at the ceiling above, sensing that there was no longer anyone upstairs.

They managed to evade disaster smoothly.

The outcome matched Ethan's expectations; it was impossible to directly take these people away.

The Kingdom Defense Bureau, as the most terrifying national apparatus, wasn't so easily fooled. His idea was to create an illusion of leaving first, then figure out a plan.

When he first came here, he felt the underground space seemed problematic, as if there was another layer.

Therefore, using this layer, he exerted the authority of the King of the Beihai, creating a barrier not too strong, somewhat similar to the method Sandro used to seal Wenster back then, covering only a very small area.

Thus, when Travis and his company came for the second time, they found nothing, assuming people had suddenly departed.

"What do we do now?"

Clearly, people couldn't just be left here; they must be moved as soon as possible.

"Attract their attention."

Ethan raised a finger.

"Cause a big commotion?"

Johnny Blackbird recalled what Ethan had said before.

"Correct answer."

Ethan nodded, still looking at Johnny Blackbird.

His meaning was clear, take me to see the person behind your operations first.

"You haven't gotten rid of them yet."

West was unwilling.

"You've gotten rid of them once already."

Ethan was unyielding.

In the end, it was Johnny Blackbird who stepped forward and said: "Alright, alright, I'll take you to see them tonight, okay?"

The deal was struck.

Ethan suddenly grew curious: "Why did you choose me originally, and what do you intend for me to do?"

"Ethan, you are the underground king of Wenster, you possess tremendous power in the northern territories. We want this power, is that satisfactory?"

West replied somewhat unpleasantly.

"Do you really intend to rebel?"

"It's not rebellion, it's change; the world shouldn't be the way it is now."

West seemed quite emotional, appearing to have an earnest idealism about her.

In contrast, Johnny Blackbird remained very calm, seemingly doing it only because West wanted it that way.

"So who exactly is the person behind you?"

"Just as you suspect."

"The Second Prince?"

"No, how could it be, such a major figure wouldn't personally step in; getting caught means losing everything."

West said this with a sarcastic smile.

Ethan roughly understood.

It seemed internally they weren't of one mind either, using each other instead.

Upon further questioning, West fell silent.

Time slowly reached the evening.

West stayed in the underground hospital caring for the patients alongside the nurses, while Ethan and Johnny Blackbird headed outside the hospital.

By this time, the darkness of night had deepened.

Perhaps because the Kingdom Defense Bureau had already assessed this place as having no value, there were no longer any members of the Bureau present in the slum.

At least it seemed quite safe here.

Johnny Blackbird took Ethan to some place, apparently his hidden base, holding quite a few firearms and several vehicles.

As he prepared the weapons, Johnny Blackbird manipulated the Wenster typewriter, speaking to Ethan: "I heard this gun was designed by you personally?"

"You could say that. What do you think?"

"It's powerful. I never thought guns could be used like this. I love the sound of rapid fire, but I must suggest, the range is really inadequate, and the accuracy is lacking."

One could tell Johnny Blackbird genuinely liked the Wenster typewriter as he kept detailing his thoughts and suggestions.

Finally, he said: "By the way, if there's a chance in the future, could you custom-make one for me, named Johnny Blackbird?"

"If there's an opportunity."

Ethan didn't refuse.

Once Johnny Blackbird settled on his weapons, they drove out in a relatively low-profile car.

The car drove through the less bustling area of the West District, directly to the Central District. The person they were visiting that night should reside here.

In this regard, Ethan's preliminary judgment was correct.

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