Chapter 452 - "Medical Expert"

Cassius's train of thought had always remained very clear. Although he already possessed the combat prowess of an extreme combat artist, it was difficult for him to have a significant impact on the Gate Organization alone.

It was different for the Dark Hunter Organization, whose leader, the Chief Mechanist, was very likely also an expert at the level of extreme combat artist. He had the vast Hunters' Association under his command, with numerous combat artist–level fighters.

That was enough to draw out even more cards from the Gate Organization. What Cassius wanted was to join forces with the Chief Mechanist to test the Gate Organization's mettle.

If he excluded rare beings like Holy Fists or Ultimate Dark Forms, then two of the strongest people in the world would be standing side by side. Even the Gate Organization would likely be forced to respond seriously.

The headquarters of the Treatment Ward was a trapezoid-shaped compound enclosed by white high walls, with the front being narrow and gradually expanding deeper in. Many buildings related to the Treatment Ward, like the administrative block, the archives, and the armory, were all clustered in the front.

Meanwhile, the rear portion, which was larger in area, contained only a handful of buildings surrounded by tower-like structures. Cassius walked along and observed over twenty hunters patrolling in groups. Naturally, these were not originally elite members of the Treatment Ward, but rather personnel temporarily transferred from a few county branches around Florence, along with some borrowed from the Dark Hunter Organization's headquarters.

They were sufficient for patrolling and surveillance, but their ability to suppress real threats was practically zero.

Sigal led Cassius and Thomas to a three-story building. The building's walls were thick, exuding a solemn atmosphere. From time to time, one could spot corners where the construction seemed rather rough.

All three stepped onto the first floor, turned left and ended up in a vacant chamber. There was nothing in the room except for a mechanical metal lift with a set of worn pulleys. Only one hunter stood guard in the room.

Once he saw Sigal arrive, he immediately followed instructions and started the lift. Cassius and the other two stood on the platform. The metal lift trembled slightly as they descended steadily.

Cassius could see the uneven cavern walls passing by, covered in plaster here and there, with traces of dark-red blood scabs in places that looked like claw marks left by fingers.

The lift then stopped, and Cassius stepped into a corridor. A chill rushed toward him, carrying a stale, bloody stench. It was as though it had lingered there for decades.

This Savage Beast Den was an underground prison with three levels. On the first underground level, there were ordinary inmates, the largest population. Most of them could struggle to keep themselves clear headed, but from time to time, one or another would go insane and assault others like a psychopath.

The second underground level housed fewer inmates, yet their danger level was much higher. They were often veteran hunters with formidable skills, who lost their sanity after beast transformation and gained explosive physical power. Normally, they were highly aggressive and constantly rammed the alloy cages.

The third underground level contained only a handful of prisoners, yet each one was vicious to the extreme. Their corruption had mutated their bodies, so now they resembled monsters more than anything. Their minds had been eroded by the dark creature transformation, leaving them with only a shred of sanity on the brink of collapse.

In the past, whenever an inmate in the third level caused major trouble, the Director of the Treatment Ward would personally handle it. However, since Soul Scythe had been severely injured half a year ago, they could only occasionally rely on other Shadow Hunters from the Dark Hunter Organization to lend a hand.

The cages on the third level were made of a special mutative metal as the powers of arcane energy users varied widely, and some could influence metals. The metal used in the Savage Beast Den's cages was repeatedly reinforced by metal-type arcane energy users so that it had a frightful level of strength and durability. In particular, the cages on the third level were empowered by over a dozen arcane energy users applying all manner of augmentations every year.

The trio headed toward the first underground level of the prison. Patrols wandered the passage, and gathered around Sigal. Once they learned Cassius's identity, they hurriedly showed their respect for the new Director of the Treatment Ward. That was the attitude expected of the Treatment Ward's original elite hunters.

"Have there been any particular incidents in the Savage Beast Den these past few months?" Cassius looked at Sigal and asked calmly.

"Naturally, yes..." Sigal said with a wry smile. "After all, it's been nearly six months since Director Soul Scythe was severely wounded. We haven't had enough personnel during this time to manage sudden disturbances. The first and second levels aren't so bad, as there are solitary rooms, so our people can avoid serious harm. However, the third level has broken out in riots three times these past few months, resulting in five hunters losing their lives."

Sigal continued, "Although other Shadow Hunters have come to help us address problems, they too have their own missions to deal with. They are not specifically assigned as our director, so they can't always be here, nor can we always reach them..."

"But fortunately, you've arrived." Sigal abruptly changed his tone. "I trust that the Treatment Ward will quickly return to its former order under your leadership. Many hunters will surely be willing to rally under the Number Two Shadow Hunter..."

Cassius turned his head slightly to glance at Sigal. He hadn't expected this big-browed man to be so smooth with his flattery.

The three then left the corridor and officially arrived at the first underground level of the prison. They were greeted by rows of small cells whose walls and floors all bore a metallic texture. Clearly, the inmates held here were no ordinary people, so a few rough bars wouldn't have sufficed. Cassius glanced around and noticed that each iron door featured a small viewing slot to observe what was happening inside.

He picked one cell at random and walked straight up to it. He peered through the slot to see what lay within.

It was a small chamber, somewhat reminiscent of the dark creature cages in a future branch of the Black Ops Agency. Inside were a few basic pieces of furniture meant for prisoners who could still remain more or less lucid on ordinary days.

Cassius's gaze swept the space slowly, seeing no sign of the inmate who should have been there. He was about to look away when a face suddenly thrust itself against the door.

This visage was hideously contorted. Their veins were bulging and their eyes were bloodshot, resembling an insane patient. He stared fixedly at Cassius, both eyeballs bulging like a goldfish's, seemingly on the verge of popping out of their sockets.

However, this did not frighten Cassius. Cassius continued watching calmly and expressionlessly, his blue eyes like a deep pool. As they locked gazes, his eyes seemed to slowly swirl and grow darker until they turned an inky black. Gazing into those eyes was akin to staring into an abyss.

The inmate who had been in a maniacal state quivered all over, as if someone had doused him with ice water from head to toe. Those bloodshot, frenzied eyes instantly became much clearer, regaining a certain innocence.

His crazed expression disappeared in a flash, turning harmless in the space of a second. Under Cassius's icy gaze, the man inched backward until his spine pressed against the heavy iron wall. Only then did he manage a tiny scrap of security.

He raised both hands, laughing foolishly as though he were a simpleton. He did not dare budge an inch, like a puppet under strict control. If one looked closely, one would notice he was not motionless—his entire body was trembling. It was merely such a subtle, restrained tremble that it wasn't plainly visible. He seemed terrified to even show how afraid he was.

The man did not even dare breathe until the eyes behind the slot looked away. He gasped sharply, as though trying to suck all the air from the room. "Who...who was that? The new Director of the Treatment Ward? That was terrifying..."

Meanwhile, similar situations took place elsewhere on the first underground level. Anyone who was examined by Cassius, whether they were already in a lunatic state or not, became remarkably meek and docile. They did not dare make any sudden moves or utter a sound. This pattern continued into the second underground level. The inmates here were even more deranged and unstable.

Their bodies showed pronounced signs of dark creature transformation, with most of their humanity effectively gone. Despite that, they still showed tremendous wariness and fear toward Cassius. Though they were not as quaking with terror as those on the first level, they kept backing away.

Although Cassius had done nothing, the inmates remained on guard. Some even tried to avoid his gaze altogether, moving into corners where he could not see them. It was like an ostrich burying its head.

Sigal, who was witnessing all this, gasped in astonishment. If this reaction had come from the first-level inmates, he might have found precedents for it. For instance, the previous Director of the Treatment Ward, Soul Scythe, had also managed to instill fear in some of the first-level inmates.

However, the second level housed vicious criminals, people who had gone entirely mad and typically showed zero fear. Their first reaction was often extreme violence. Yet, before the new Director, Cassius, they resembled paper tigers. No, they didn't even pretend to be fierce.

They were simply timid like beasts that did not dare bare their fangs, merely cowering in whichever corner felt safe. As long as he did not press them further, they were even willing to demonstrate a degree of submission.

In truth, this was the result of Cassius deliberately radiating his own aura. This field and scent could only be perceived by inmates heavily corrupted by the dark creature transformation. At that moment, it was as if a colossal Ultimate Dark Form was strolling through a jungle teeming with beasts. The tremor of its steps on the earth would send all other beasts fleeing in panic.

The group proceeded from the second underground level to the third. While they were halfway down the stairs, four half-human, half-monster beings slowly opened their eyes in the dark and eerie expanse of the third underground level.

They turned in unison, looking toward the passage that led from the second to the third level.

"Heh heh heh..."

"Sssi...sssi..."

The slow rasp of scales against metal echoed, accompanied by noxious air currents rising from crimson throats that threatened to corrode the very air.

"Nine Serpents... Are you saying... the visitors come with ill intent?" A deep, suppressed voice answered from within one of the cages. Though it formed a complete sentence, the speaker struggled through it, pausing every few words. His words carried a tremor, resembling a mentally unstable individual forcing himself to speak in a manner approximating normalcy.

"It's been half a year...Soul Scythe hasn't come for six months! I've really been missing her..." The voice paused slightly. "Why won't she come, why won't she come? I want to devour her and make her stay with me forever... No, I can't keep waiting like this any longer! If this goes on, I can't stand it! I'm going to find her, I must go find her..."

The speaker's tone grew excited, the words becoming sharper. "I'm going to break out!!!"

"Let's see who dares!!!" An aged voice sounded from the right. "Attempting to escape under my very nose? Do you think I, Odo, Vice Director of the Treatment Ward, am merely for show? Fog Man! If you dare set one foot out of your cell, I'll catch you...and lock you in Hermit's cell for an entire day!"

"

Heh!

Odo, you think I'm scared of you? Today, I will definitely break out!" The sound of violently churning, expanding air came from the cell of the man nicknamed Fog Man. The walls trembled as if struck by waves.

"So you doubt my words!?" The sound of someone standing and pacing emerged from the neighboring cell.

Right then, a swath of brightness appeared in the dim third level. Cassius and the other two entered from the corridor, carrying brightly lit torches. Every so often, they lit an oil lamp that hung on the walls.

In an instant, the entire third level became flooded with bright light.

"There are four cells in total, labeled One through Four." Sigal explained to Cassius, "Number Four is Fog Man, Number Three is my master, Odo. Number Two is Nine Serpents, and Number One is Hermit."

Cassius listened quietly, his gaze traveling down both sides of the corridor. The doors of these four cages had a metallic texture, yet they were unexpectedly transparent.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

It appeared to be a transparent quality sustained by some arcane energy user's special ability. Hence, those on the outside could easily see what lay within.

In Cell Four, half a person was suspended quietly in midair. Only the left side of his body remained human, though his skin was as pale as a corpse. His right side was a mass of blood-red mist, churning as though it were alive.

Inside Cell Three was a man dressed like a hunter, his age somewhere between middle-aged and elderly. His hair was graying and his eyes were murky. His body had not mutated much, but he had eight exaggerated black spider legs on his back. They were extremely long, extremely sharp, and appeared to carry venom. They nearly covered the entire room, holding the man aloft.

Cell Two revealed the most severe mutation. The inmate was an enormous serpent covered in scales, crowned with nine heads. Eight of them were relatively slender, drifting about like strands of hair. The last one was a snake head bearing a human face, its mouth stretched wide and its maw crimson as blood.

Cell One held an old ape who was seated cross-legged, its entire body thick with black fur. It stood over three meters tall, its arms as muscular as iron rods. There appeared to be a triple-ring emblem on its chest. The rings glowed in concentric circles from the inside out, as though charging energy.

Cassius turned toward Sigal. "Hand me the keys to the four cells. You and Thomas head back to the second underground level, and make sure to close the iron door between the second and third levels..."

Sigal was immediately taken aback. "Director White Aster, what are you planning?"

"

Heh

, it's nothing. As it happens, I am also a doctor, and my methods are quite effective against patients with certain special conditions. Didn't you say the Treatment Ward was short on manpower? Don't worry. We’re going to get ourselves four strong new helpers..." Cassius, the medical expert, said.