Demon hunter's Cooking Manual

The departing teammates saw this scene.

Once again, they stopped in their tracks and began shooting.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

The sound of gunfire echoed in the passageways, the close-range shots ringing in the ears of the two first-to-leave 'Hydra' members who had already made it inside the shelter. They shouted urgently:

"Quick! Keep moving down the corridor!"

"Adults, take care of the elderly, children!"

"Don't panic!"

"Other districts have enough defensive strength!"

All the inhabitants of Ang City who entered the underground shelter moved forward in confusion and panic.

Just as they had been led here before.

No further explanations were given, only one phrase: "Follow if you want to live."

Within the inter-district passages, the sound of sobbing rose unceasingly amongst the advancing crowd.

Most came from children, some from women.

The men whispered comforting words.

"It will be safe!"

"We're almost there!"

Such phrases kept on emerging.

But that only lasted for a moment.

The next moment—

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions followed.

Dust filled the end of the tunnel, but the shadowy figures glimpsed through the dust sent everyone into a panic.

"Don't panic!"

"Keep moving forward!"

"We'll form two lines of defense, trying to buy you as much time as possible!"

One of the two 'Hydra' members said.

Having said that, he looked at his partner.

The two exchanged nods.

"Long live Hydra!"

With that cry, the 'Hydra' member who had spoken charged into the dust.

Then—

Boom!

An explosion far greater than any before occurred.

The outbound passage shook violently.

Directed collapse began, and huge boulders blocked the spiders' advance.

It was the explosive the 'Hydra' member who'd charged into the dust had set, not to kill the enemy, but to block their path.

"Hurry up!"

"Everyone move faster!"

At that moment, the last remaining 'Hydra' member from the small squad shouted again.

The people sped up once more.

But as they ran, they couldn't help but glance at the one who stood still, unmoving.

Two people, two lines of defense.

Now, the first line of defense had been established.

That should be enough!

The second line...

...wasn't needed anymore, right?

"Come with us!"

Someone called out.

The remaining 'Hydra' member gestured with his hand, pointing to the collapsed passage.

Those who had run far couldn't see it, but he, being so close, could see very clearly; the passage that had just collapsed was already vibrating slightly, the spiders were better at digging than one had assumed.

The first line of defense might not hold them for three minutes.

After calculating, the 'Hydra' member hesitated no more.

"Run faster!"

"You all must run faster!"

The 'Hydra' member yelled at the top of his lungs.

Then, he pressed the detonator button.

"Long live Hydra!"

Boom!

Another directional explosion occurred.

The collapsed passage formed the second line of defense.

When it was said there would be two lines of defense, two would indeed be formed.

Even if they only had two people.

Hydra...

The fleeing people ran faster, but deep down they couldn't help but mutter the name.

Two barriers lay across the passage, hindering the spiders' advance. The people from blocks 4-12 successfully reached the safe zone, but the gate at the end did not open.

"Open the gate!"

"Quick, open the gate!"

The people shouted as they ran.

But those inside hesitated.

Opening the safety gate of this district took time.

Likewise, closing this gate also took time.

And getting in here, too, required time.

So…

Was there enough time?

```

In the shelter, everyone saw through the screen what had just happened.

The civilians hiding here shivered, not wanting to face such monsters.

But there were people just like them in the corridor outside.

Some of them were even acquaintances.

After all, it was only one block away.

Many were still friends.

What to do?

The people hesitated.

And at that moment, a thick palm pressed the button to open the gate.

Drip!

Hiss!

After a crisp sound, the gate loosened and began to slowly sink.

"How can you open the gate?"

"What right do you have to open it!"

The noise of the gate opening startled those who were hesitating; a man who had been shivering in a corner charged toward the gatekeeper like a tiger, roaring and swinging his fists at the other.

Then...

Bang!

He was brutally knocked to the ground with a gunstock.

The tall member of 'Hydra' looked at the man shivering on the ground after being knocked down and spat contemptuously.

"Waste!"

"This is our base; we obviously have the right to open the gate!" he declared.

"We're just civilians; how can you drag us into the fight..."

"They are too!"

The man tried to argue, but the 'Hydra' member curtly interrupted him.

"But aren't you supposed to protect us?"

"How can you sacrifice the greater good for the lesser!"

The man cried out in frustration.

"Protect?"

"Sacrifice the greater good for the lesser?"

"We're protecting everyone; there's no question of sacrificing the greater good, and moreover... you don't count as the 'greater good.'"

The 'Hydra' member sneered.

Then, he viciously kicked the man.
Experience new tales on empire

"Stop hitting! Stop hitting!"

"I won't dare again! I won't dare again!"

The man immediately cried out, begging for mercy.

Someone nearby couldn't help but interject.

"Aren't you supposed to be a righteous organization?"

"Righteous?"

"We're just 'Hydra'!"

After stating this, the burly 'Hydra' member, without glancing back, held his gun high and rushed out; since they were taking in people from other blocks, he had to ensure safety.

The civilians coming from 4-12 saw the 'Hydra' members rushing out, didn't panic, automatically cleared the way, and then entered in an orderly manner.

After witnessing the recent event, these civilians seemed to have gone through some kind of baptism, transformed, yet seemingly unchanged.

They passed by the man lying at the entrance, still trembling, and said nothing.

Nevertheless, a few of the first young men to enter looked towards the 'Hydra' members staying behind.

"Got any guns?"

"We can help."

The young men asked.

One of them even bluntly asked, "How can we join 'Hydra'?"

"The guns are in the armory."

"Not in this block."

Hearing this, the young men's faces fell, but then the 'Hydra' member continued, "If you want to protect 'Ang City', you can join 'Hydra'."

Upon hearing these words, the young men's eyes immediately lit up.

Similarly, many others around them seemed tempted.

The burly 'Hydra' member, leading a dozen subordinates outside, had exceptionally keen senses. He heard the questions from behind and snorted lightly.

"'Hydra' isn't as simple as you think."

He said this, but his lips curled into a slight smirk.

Clearly, he was in a good mood.

But immediately, his smile faded.

His gaze turned grim, and he stared down the corridor, filled with lethal intent.

"'Sanctuary'!"

"'Sanctuary'!"

"Pray that I don't find out where your hideout is, or I'll send you a few 'big mushrooms'."

Barnum, once the largest arms dealer in Ang City, made this vow.

But inside, Barnum was muttering nonstop.

"Ennis, Twixt, a pair of fools."

"They always act without thinking and now they're dead."

"Died so easily and still owe me over 30,000."

While saying this, Barnum slung his gun behind him and pulled out an exceedingly long Crooked Blade from his waist, striding towards the dark corridor.

The surrounding 'Hydra' members didn't follow or try to stop him.

They all knew the strength of their captain.

He was the man who had been brutally beaten numerous times by the Judgment Chief Aras and yet did not die.

He would be fine!

```