“So, no one comes out once they’re sent in?” Luca’s eyes narrowed slightly.
It seemed his initial suspicions were correct. Harvis must have brought something significant back from Pure River Town, which had mobilized the entire Mora family and led them to tightly seal off that meat processing plant.
But what exactly was inside? Luca couldn’t be sure, and he knew he’d have to go there himself to find out.
One thing was certain: it was definitely connected to Pandora!
With a decision made, Luca set his glass down and turned to Tia. “Give me the exact location. I’ll go check it out myself.”
Although Luca had never seen Pandora in his previous life, he knew that she was different from the other demon lords.
Pandora’s power was far more terrifying.
Whatever she was up to, it was bound to spell trouble for both Eternal World and the real world. Knowing this, Luca couldn’t let things play out unchecked.
Hearing Luca’s decision, Tia tried to dissuade him, “My Lord, the situation in that factory is unclear. There’s no need for you to take the risk. Let me handle this. I’ll uncover the secrets inside.”
Luca waved her concerns away. “Don’t worry. Even if there is danger, I have ways to get out of it.”
Given his current abilities, Luca might not be able to take on top-tier professionals yet.
But he was more than capable of keeping himself alive.
After all, this was Southwind City, the capital of the Southern Territory. The city was filled with powerful individuals, far more than in Riverfall City.
And if anything unusual happened, neither Bronte nor Orf would stand idly by. It would be hard for Luca to even find a way to die here.
Tia hesitated for a moment, biting her red lip before resolutely saying, “My Lord, please allow me to accompany you.”
With her sister Mira’s life now entirely dependent on Luca’s magic. If something happened to Luca, Mira would undoubtedly die as well.
Tia couldn’t let him take any unnecessary risks
Understanding her concern, Luca didn’t object. Having another skilled fighter by his side wasn’t a bad idea. He nodded. “Alright, you can come with me.”
With that, they both headed to the dressing room to change into disguises.
Luca slipped on his Shapeshifting Mask, activating the skill. A faint glow washed over his face.
When he looked in the mirror again, the reflection showed a plain-looking middle-aged man. He was dressed in expensive clothes, with prominent cheekbones, the perfect image of a shrewd merchant.
As for Tia, her years in Clinton had taught her how to remain undetected. She took out a skin-thin mask made from human skin, applying it to her face with a special solution, carefully smoothing out any wrinkles.
Once the solution was absorbed, her features transformed into those of a refined, elegant woman. While still beautiful, there was no resemblance to her original appearance.
The only thing that couldn’t be fully concealed was her figure. Trying to adopt the face of an ordinary woman would have looked mismatched and drawn more attention rather than less.
And so, the disguise was complete—a wealthy merchant couple, ready for their mission.
The two left Moonlit Tavern through the back door, boarding a luxurious carriage that headed toward the location Tia had mentioned.
In the Clinton Empire, factories were not uncommon. By Eternal World’s standards, their technological level was roughly equivalent to the Middle Ages, although they had already invented things like steam engines and electric lights.
However, Eternal World’s technological tree had developed in a peculiar way. Instead of focusing on physical sciences, they advanced magical technologies such as sound-storing gems, image-capturing crystals, and Everlasting Lights.
Dawn City even had a specialized institution dedicated to magical research. Clinton Empire, however, lagged in magical technology development. Their strength lay elsewhere—in forbidden arcane research, where they held mastery over the most powerful forbidden spells on the Eternal Continent.
The strongest magical technology belonged to the Via Empire. Many years ago, they had developed the super-matrix warships—dominant sky fortresses capable of long-distance flight and deadly attacks. Even Superclass fighters didn’t dare challenge these aerial rulers.
This was the cornerstone of Via Empire’s power.
As Luca’s mind wandered, time passed quickly.
When he snapped back to reality, they had already arrived at their destination.
The factory sat on the outskirts of the Outer District, sprawling over at least a hundred thousand square meters. Rows of concrete factory buildings towered up from the ground, and from a distance, Luca could see industrial chimneys belching thick black smoke into the clear blue sky.
This was the Mora family’s meat processing plant, known for producing canned meats, hams, and other food products. The Mora family had built their fortune through food production, and today they were the largest food supplier in the Southern Territory. Purchasing a meat factory wouldn’t raise any suspicions.
Without hesitation, Luca and Tia walked straight toward the main gate.
While still at Moonlit Tavern, Luca and Tia had agreed on a plan.
They would disguise themselves as meat merchants, pretending to negotiate a business deal so they could gain access to the factory and investigate.
However, plans are one thing, reality another.
Before they got within ten meters of the factory gate, a group of armored guards, swords at their sides, stopped them in their tracks.
“What are you two doing here? Don’t you know no one’s allowed inside?” The guards barked, showing no politeness.
Luca remained calm, offering a friendly smile. “No offense, gentlemen. We’re meat merchants from the area. We heard the Mora family recently set up a new meat processing plant here, and we were hoping to discuss some business—perhaps purchase a shipment of meat.”
The lead guard, however, wasn’t having it. He waved them off with a dismissive gesture. “Get lost! The factory doesn’t sell to outsiders, and we certainly don’t need flies like you to help with sales. If you don’t leave now, don’t blame us for what happens next!”
“Not for external sale?” Luca’s thoughts sparked at the words.
A meat processing plant that doesn’t sell its products—what exactly are they producing then?
Just as confusion settled in his mind.
A caravan of large, hulking oxen pulling wagons rumbled into view, approaching quickly from the distance.
It was a supply convoy.
From afar, Luca could see the wagons were filled with a mass of people, shackled and chained.
They were slaves—dressed in tattered clothes, their faces pale and gaunt.
There were young men, the elderly, and even children barely in their teens.
Some had expressions of anxiety, others looked numb, and a few were clearly filled with fear and uncertainty about their fate.
Well, isn’t this a coincidence?
Luca couldn’t help but observe as the convoy rolled in.
He studying the scene closely. Nothing seemed particularly off at first glance.
Except for one thing—there were too many of them.
Thousands, at least.
Tia had mentioned earlier that the Mora family had already transported tens of thousands of slaves into the factory.
Did this facility really need that many slaves?
While these thoughts churned in his mind, the convoy came to a halt at the factory’s gate.
The curtain of the lead wagon was drawn back.
From it stepped a large, imposing man clad in black armor, his face set in a stern and cold expression.
The guard, who had been so fierce earlier, immediately turned obsequious. His whole demeanor changed as he rushed forward, bowing deeply. “Sir Ian, what are your orders?”
Ian, the second son of Andrew Mora, the head of the Mora family, was responsible for overseeing slave procurement for the factory.
“Send these people into the factory and assign them their tasks,” Ian ordered offhandedly. Then his gaze shifted to Luca and Tia, his eyes narrowing as he asked, “And who might you two be?”
Luca seized the moment like it was a lifeline, his tone full of excitement. “Ah, Sir Ian! What a stroke of luck to meet you here. We’re local meat merchants, hoping to purchase some of your factory’s products. But the gate guards refused to let us in.”
As he spoke, he allowed a hint of frustration to creep into his expression, subtly hinting at his dissatisfaction with the guards.
“Oh, merchants, are you?” Ian’s voice was cold as his eyes flicked between them. “Let’s see your merchant credentials.” His hand moved to rest on the hilt of his sword, making it clear that he didn’t believe a word of Luca’s story.
At that moment, Tia, standing beside Luca, could feel a chilling, murderous intent emanating from Ian.
He was considering killing them.
Ian was well-known in Southwind City, a bona fide Diamond-level professional.
Much of the Mora family’s dirty and difficult work fell to him.
His skills and ruthlessness made him one of the most formidable members of the Mora family.
If a fight broke out, it would be difficult for Luca and Tia to escape unscathed.
Tia’s heart sank as she mentally prepared for the worst. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
But Luca seemed completely unfazed.
With a cheerful smile, he nodded and reached into his storage ring, producing a merchant credential that he had prepared in advance.
Ian scrutinized the two of them carefully, studying the document.
After finding nothing suspicious, the coldness in his expression slightly eased.
He waved them off dismissively. “Leave. We have our own supply chains and don’t need small-time merchants like you.”
With that, he turned and climbed back into his carriage.
He makes his way into the factory.
Once the convoy had entered the compound, Luca glanced away, his thoughts swirling.
The Mora family was even more cautious than he had anticipated.
Still, he’d managed to gain something useful.
He subtly touched the silver bracelet on his wrist, a faint gleam flashing in his eyes.
Lingering any longer here wouldn’t yield any further information. Staying would only increase the risk of exposure.
Without further delay, Luca and Tia turned and left.
Inside the factory, within one of the opulent carriages.
“They’re just meat merchants, not from the Lord’s mansion,” Ian reported, kneeling respectfully.
On a luxurious divan draped with a fur rug, a young man reclined with his eyes half-closed. Two young women, completely naked, their pale skin glistening, knelt beside him, their heads bowed as they tended to him in silence.
The atmosphere in the carriage was one of debauchery, but Ian didn’t dare glance at the scene for more than a second.
Because the young man was none other than Harvis.
Harvis’s face and upper body were covered in sinister, pulsing purple markings, giving him an eerie, almost otherworldly appearance.
The veins beneath the markings seemed to flow with dark purple blood.
He lazily caressed the terrified faces of the women at his feet, his eyes half-open as he murmured, “That merchant seemed familiar… but perhaps I’m overthinking it. Still, increase security. No one is to come within a hundred meters of the factory.
Stop buying slaves for the time being, Until we’ve used up the ones we have, let’s not draw too much attention”
As Harvis spoke, his grip tightened. The two women’s eyes widened in agony, their faces contorting with pain.
Suddenly, a thick, purple mist began to seep from their mouths, eyes, and noses.
The two women’s delicate bodies began to wither at a terrifying speed, shrinking before Ian’s eyes.
In just a blink, their supple forms turned into grotesque, contorted corpses, their faces twisted in death.
Harvis inhaled the swirling purple mist, a look of pure satisfaction crossing his features as the eerie purple markings on his body darkened, becoming more sinister and pronounced.
Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. Opening his eyes, Harvis grinned wickedly at Ian, who stood trembling in fear. “That woman from earlier… she was quite nice. Bring her to my room tonight,” Harvis said, his voice oozing menace. “And as for that merchant… make sure he’s disposed of—properly.”