Inside the room at House No. 22 Western Elmwood Street, Igwynt’s lower city, blood was splattered everywhere.
Twisted corpses of various shapes and forms were scattered across the room. Blood soaked the carpet, and splashes of blood stained the walls and furniture. The air was thick with the mingled stench of blood and gunpowder. It was unmistakable—this was the site of a gruesome massacre.
“Haah… haah… haah…”
Standing on the bloodstained carpet, Dorothy clutched a crowbar covered in sticky red and white viscera, breathing heavily. Her clothes were dotted with blood spatters, and her crimson eyes stared coldly at the mutilated corpse lying before her.
“It’s finally… over…”
After confirming the death of the mangled body, Dorothy let out a deep sigh of relief. Although she had prepared in advance, this was her first hunt targeting a Beyonder. The tension and anxiety had accompanied her throughout the operation… but ultimately, the mission was a success.
To infiltrate the sanctuary’s hideout at No. 22, Dorothy had spent two days using various animal corpse marionettes to surveil the location. She learned the secret knock and passcodes used by those entering the building.
Dorothy then selected two corpses from the henchmen she had killed a few days earlier on her way home from school. She transformed them into corpse marionettes and used 1 point of "Revelation" spirituality to grant them speech capabilities. These marionettes were indistinguishable from living humans and successfully tricked the sanctuary members, smuggling Dorothy inside hidden within a coffin.
Once inside, she waited for the right moment. Taking her enemies by surprise when they were off guard, she launched a sudden attack, seizing control and gaining the upper hand. Her success was largely thanks to the lifelike corpse marionettes.
‘The operation went smoothly… but the cost was steep…’Dorothy reflected as she surveyed the aftermath. She had lost two corpse marionettes, and her energy reserves were heavily drained. During this mission, she had used 1 point of "Revelation" to grant the marionettes speech, 2 points of "Revelation" to increase the number of marionettes she could control simultaneously, and nearly exhausted the "Chalice" spirituality stored in her Corpse Marionette Ring due to the high load. Additionally, she used 1 point of her own "Chalice" spirituality to enhance her physical capabilities.
This mission had consumed 3 points of "Revelation" and 2 points of "Chalice." While "Revelation" would regenerate naturally after a couple of days, she needed to conserve her use of "Chalice" spirituality moving forward.
After assessing her situation, Dorothy scanned the room and used the last bit of spirituality in her Corpse Marionette Ring to animate two relatively intact corpses. Together, they began looting the room for valuables.
Before long, Dorothy had collected 50 pounds in cash, two Devouring Sigils, and a book found near the altar in a hidden chamber. She also gathered some miscellaneous valuables and all the firearms in the room, packing everything neatly.
Once her loot was secured, Dorothy deactivated the corpse marionettes and turned her attention to Burton’s mangled, blood-soaked body, his head completely shattered.
Extending her hand, she transformed Burton into a marionette. His lifeless body slowly began to move, and she directed it to stagger toward a chair in the study. Once seated, Dorothy had no intention of taking his heavily damaged corpse with her, she had other plans for it.
Leaving Burton seated, Dorothy grabbed her loot and immediately made her escape. Knowing that the gunfire had likely alerted nearby residents and the authorities might already be on their way, she avoided the main entrance and instead headed upstairs to the rooftop of No. 22.
On the rooftop, Dorothy looked toward the slightly taller building next door. Activating her Corpse Marionette Ring, she saw a figure rise on the adjacent rooftop—Edrick, another corpse marionette she had positioned there in advance.
With Edrick’s help, Dorothy climbed to the neighboring rooftop, then changed out of her bloodstained coat. Using Edrick’s assistance, she traversed several rooftops before descending to street level at a preselected location, quickly leaving Western Elmwood Street, which was now bustling with an increasing crowd of onlookers.
However, Dorothy didn’t go far. Handing her loot to Edrick, she hid in a secluded alley nearby. She glanced at the sun overhead, then at her watch, which read 9:11 AM.
“It should be soon…”
Murmuring to herself, Dorothy closed her eyes and focused her attention on the marionette Burton, who was still in the bloody crime scene at No. 22.
Inside the now silent study at No. 22, the marionette Burton sat motionless in his chair, as though waiting for something—or someone.
Before long, an anomaly broke the silence.
On the blood-soaked altar in the hidden chamber, a half-skull covered in flesh began to stir. From the layer of flesh, an ear protruded. The flesh began to writhe, and soon a mouth grew beneath the ear. The mouth spoke in a man’s voice.
“Burton! Burton? Are you in the room? Answer me if you’re there!”
The marionette Burton slowly turned its head and stood, limping toward the altar. Using its intact mouth, it replied in a deep voice, “I’m here…”
“Phew… Good. Listen to me, Burton. Your hideout has been discovered by the authorities! Leave immediately—Hunters should arrive within ten minutes…”
Hearing this, "Burton" responded angrily, his tone filled with indignation.
“How did the Bureau find me? Could there be a mole leaking information? Was our operation’s failure the other day also due to a mole?!”
“That’s unlikely. If Gregorius knew we intended to corrupt his sister, he would have already sought protection for her from James. The fact that he hasn’t proves our intel hasn’t been leaked. Reports suggest a third party may have intervened. Either way, now isn’t the time for this discussion. Leave immediately and head to Clifford on White Pearl Street!”
The mouth on the altar continued speaking, and Burton nodded in acknowledgment.
“I’ll leave right away…”
“Good… Hurry. We’ll discuss this further later.”
The mouth ceased moving, slowly melding back into the flesh.
The marionette Burton, having witnessed this, collapsed to the ground like a marionette whose strings had been cut. The study at No. 22 fell silent once more.
Meanwhile, several hundred meters away, in a secluded alley, Dorothy slowly opened her eyes.