[Chapter 158: Sensing God]
Faced with Daniel's question, Ailin's father fell silent for a moment. His eyes reddened as he asked, "Then what should we do?"
Daniel replied coolly, "Leave here first and go home."
"Leave? Go home?"
Knowing his daughter was inside but having to leave now, Ailin's father felt a surge of helplessness.
Amy's father said firmly, "Listen to Mr. Cross."
Ailin's father, without any better options, could only nod. "Alright."
The manor was in a remote location, with no signs of other homes within a mile or two.
After driving a few more miles, the car entered a small town.
Daniel said, "We'll wait here until dark."
Ailin's father asked, "And then?"
Daniel replied, "Then the rest is none of your concern."
"Ah?" Anxiety dulled Ailin's father's reaction for a moment.
Amy's father reached out and rested his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Listen to Mr. Cross."
At last, Ailin's father understood. "Mr. Cross, you..."
Daniel shook his head. "What happens next, you won't know. Wait here. I'll bring her back."
He opened the car door and stepped out, walking steadily away.
Watching Daniel's back, Ailin's father asked, "Is he going to--?"
Amy's father interrupted, "Stop talking. We know nothing. Just wait here."
...
Daniel arrived at the manor on foot just as darkness settled in.
Yet inside, faint lights flickered.
He released his Spiritual Sense, sweeping the area and sensing several life auras.
Still, there were no patrols.
Daniel shook his head.
Compared to the Brotherhood of Saints, this place was too lax. The Brotherhood even had armed guards patrolling at night.
Using the cover of darkness, Daniel rose silently and flew to the front of the manor's main building.
Under his Spiritual Sense, the life auras inside were clearer. A few on the first floor pulsed stronger -- probably security personnel.
Sure enough, when Daniel stepped inside, the guards finally noticed him.
"Who's there?" one shouted, raising an M4 carbine and aiming at Daniel.
The others quickly pointed their guns too, faces filled with surprise. They never expected a silent intruder.
Daniel didn't respond, just stepped forward slightly.
"Earth Spear!"
A powerful surge of Earth energy exploded outward. The guards' bodies instantly became mangled corpses.
Daniel didn't spare them a glance.
His Spiritual Sense picked up even more life auras deeper in the basement.
Turning toward the stairwell, he saw it was lit.
He descended silently.
The passage was long.
As he proceeded, distant screams pierced the air.
The cries grew clearer with each step.
He hurried.
"Who's there?"
Rounding a corner, two guards spotted him immediately.
Before they could react, a wave of Earth energy surged up and took their lives.
Daniel stepped past their bodies into the basement.
...
The basement had a corridor that opened into a room.
A young girl hung naked in midair, limbs bound, suspended vertically. A man dressed in black wielded various torture tools, inflicting relentless torment on her.
Her body was covered in wounds and blood.
Shrill screams of pain tore from her throat.
But the torturer didn't falter.
Around them stood several figures in hooded robes, watching silently.
At the front was a middle-aged, fat woman.
Her eyes locked on the tortured girl, burning with feverish anticipation.
"Quick, quick! Sense God, sense His presence, feel the divine light He sheds," the woman urged, her voice wild.
The girl kept screaming, her mouth soaked in blood.
"Let me go... let me go... I can't... sense anything," she begged hoarsely.
"Seems the pain isn't enough," the fat woman said coldly. "Keep going. Pull out her teeth."
The torturer retrieved a pair of pliers from his instruments.
"No, please don't..." the girl pleaded, powerless to stop him.
Just as the pliers neared her mouth, the torturer suddenly froze.
An unseen force burst from the ground, cleaving his body in two.
Splattered intestines stained the floor as blood spattered everywhere.
The grisly sight fell into eerie silence.
Then the girl screamed again, terrified.
The fat woman and the robed figures abruptly looked up toward Daniel.
"Who are you?" the fat woman demanded. "Why did oyu kill our man?"
Daniel stepped forward. "Because monsters like you deserve to die."
"How dare you! Do you know who I am?"
"Do you know the consequences of opposing us?" someone behind her growled.
"I don't care what consequences I'll face," Daniel said. "But I know what will happen to you."
He advanced.
"Someone, come quickly!" shouted voices called out.
But no one appeared.
The fat woman said sharply, "Stop calling -- everyone else is dead."
Panic spread among her followers as they backed away. But the basement's only exit was past Daniel.
They glanced around him, searching for an opening to flee.
The fat woman, calmer than the rest, asked, "State your purpose."
"To save someone," Daniel answered.
"Did we capture your family?"
"No, I do jobs for others."
"How much money?"
"One hundred thousand dollars."
The fat woman sighed in relief. "If you leave now, I'll give you one million."
Daniel took a step closer.
She tensed. "Two million."
Step by step, Daniel closed the distance.
"Three million."
Still he advanced.
The fat woman grew desperate. "Ten million! Ten million -- just leave."
Daniel's footsteps didn't stop.
She warned, "Ten million is a hundred times one hundred thousand."
Daniel smiled coldly. "I like money, but some things are more important."
Before she could reply, a surge of Earth energy erupted from him.
*****
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