Chapter 72: Deadly Venom
At the entrance to District 24, due to the upheaval deep within the district, over two hundred investigators had gathered in succession.
Su Xiao took out the shopkeeper's kakuhou and handed it to Marusho Sai.
With so many investigators witnessing this scene, Su Xiao wasn't worried about Ando Yoshitoki reneging on the deal.
"Who are the members of the reinforcement team?"
As the captain of the reinforcement team, Su Xiao could now ignore official rank when commanding team members, even if they were Special Class Investigators.
As soon as he finished speaking, over twenty investigators stepped out from the crowd, including some familiar faces.
Among them, the strongest was Special Class Investigator Kuroiwa Iwao. He had sustained relatively light injuries during the previous District 11 operation, so he was urgently reassigned here.
After Kuroiwa Iwao, Suzushiro Yusa, Mado Akira, and others stepped forward one after another.
Su Xiao was quite satisfied with Suzushiro Yusa's combat ability. With a suitable koukaku, this little white-haired kid could easily function as a Special Class.
As for Mado Akira, she was a good assistant, but Su Xiao doubted she would leave District 24 alive unless she had incredible luck.
The rest included several Upper, First, and Second Class Investigators, all sent by Ando Yoshitoki to serve as cannon fodder.
The Upper Class Investigators looked grim and worried, while the First and Second Class Investigators seemed eager to try their luck, clearly having never ventured deep into District 24 and unaware of its horrors.
"So these are you all. Once we go deep into District 24, I have only one requirement: no matter what happens, don't drag others down. Even if you die, understand?"
Su Xiao's blunt warning startled the First and Second Class Investigators.
"Provisional Special Class Bai Ye, how dangerous is the deep part of District 24?"
A Second Class Investigator tentatively asked.
"As long as you're willing to fight for your life, your chances of survival aren't small."
Su Xiao didn't tell the truth. In reality, if even five of the twenty-plus people here made it back alive, it would be a miracle.
He wouldn't voice such morale-crushing words.
"Ten minutes to organize supplies. Assemble in ten minutes."
The reinforcement team of thirty wasn't fully assembled yet. Some investigators from areas farther from District 24 still needed time to arrive.
Su Xiao wouldn't wait for them. The main combat strength was already here. Those who hadn't arrived were at most Upper Class Investigators.
An Upper Class Investigator was just cannon fodder deep in District 24. One more or less made no difference.
The reinforcement team members began organizing their supplies. Mado Akira approached Su Xiao.
"Provisional Special Class Bai Ye, I have something to say."
"Oh? What is it?"
Su Xiao was contemplating how to move through the depths of District 24 and was interrupted by Mado Akira.
"If my research is correct, I think I understand the routes of District 24."
Su Xiao looked at Mado Akira in surprise. The terrain of District 24 was constantly changing, and Mado Akira was only a Second Class Investigator. At most, she had visited the outskirts after graduation.
"Go on."
Though puzzled, Su Xiao wanted to hear what she had to say.
"It's like this. My mother died in District 24."
She paused at this point, took a deep breath, and continued, "So I've paid close attention to District 24. I've gathered some information about it. The reason it's so hard to explore is that the terrain constantly changes.
My father once explored District 24 and left behind some hand-drawn maps. Combined with the maps released by headquarters, I discovered that the changes in District 24 follow a certain pattern."
Su Xiao grew more interested. Could Mado Akira actually identify the routes in District 24?
"If you go deep into District 24, can you recognize the routes?"
Mado Akira hesitated for a moment, then nodded, then shook her head.
"I can probably identify the route for about an hour of travel. Beyond that, without enough reference points, I can't figure it out."
Mado Akira's answer made Su Xiao's eyes light up.
"Here's a detailed map of five hours' travel deep into District 24. I drew it earlier, but it's useless now. Use it for reference."
Having someone who could navigate in District 24 was undoubtedly a good thing. Su Xiao didn't expect Mado Akira to fully identify the route; just giving a general direction would be enough.
As mentioned before, District 24 was funnel-shaped. The deeper parts were the wide end of the funnel, so the routes became increasingly complex. Although headquarters provided Arima Kisho's tracker, they still needed to find the correct path.
After ten minutes, the reinforcement team members had all assembled, standing neatly before Su Xiao.
Although Kuroiwa Iwao held a higher rank than Su Xiao, Su Xiao was now the captain of the reinforcement team and had the authority to command everyone in it.
"Provisional Special Class Bai Ye, the reinforcement team has assembled twenty-seven members. Three are still on their way."
Mado Akira naturally assumed the role of assistant, having previously served as Su Xiao's secretary.
"Forget the remaining three. Now, I'll assign everyone's positions. Special Class Kuroiwa, you'll take the rear."
Su Xiao looked at Kuroiwa Iwao, a calm and experienced veteran investigator suitable for handling emergencies. He was the perfect choice for the rear.
"No problem, Captain Bai Ye."
Kuroiwa Iwao showed no arrogance. He also understood that if internal conflict broke out now, the reinforcement team would be even more dangerous in District 24.
"Provisional Special Class Uta, you'll join Special Class Kuroiwa in the rear.
Yusa, you and I will be at the front. Mado Akira will be in the center..."
Su Xiao assigned Kuroiwa Iwao to the rear, placed himself and Yusa at the front, and positioned Mado Akira in the center due to her weak combat ability but route-navigation skills, to prevent this beauty from dying. The other investigators were also placed in suitable positions.
"That's roughly the formation. Move out."
"Yes."
Su Xiao walked at the front of the team, leading over twenty people into the entrance of District 24.
Nearby investigators watched as the reinforcement team departed.
"What an impressive guy. He can stand on his own so quickly."
Special Class Investigator Yasuura Kiyoko gazed at Su Xiao's back, her beautiful eyes hiding unknown thoughts.
...
Underground passage.
Learning from last time, Su Xiao had loaded ten compasses into his storage space.
Last time, Yuna and Arima Kisho each had one, but both were lost in battle. This time, Su Xiao brought ten, enough to kick around like balls.
"It's been a while since I've been here. I'm looking forward to it. How many ghouls will we encounter this time? I'm sure I can kill a lot."
Little Angel Yusa was all smiles, showing no tension, as if he wasn't heading deep into District 24 but on a picnic.
"Yusa, is that the koukaku assigned to you by the higher-ups?"
Su Xiao looked at the two koukaku cases Yusa was carrying, somewhat puzzled. When had CCG's higher-ups become so generous?
"No, these are Shinohara-san's koukaku. He's recovering from injuries. When he heard I was going deep into District 24, he lent them to me."
Yusa raised the two koukaku cases, rubbing them against his cheek, clearly liking them.
Shinohara Yukinori's koukaku? That would be "New." If Yusa used "New," his strength would increase dramatically.
This was undoubtedly good news. In some aspects, Yusa might now be stronger than Kuroiwa Iwao.
"Drip."
A dripping sound came. Su Xiao immediately stepped aside. A drop of dark green liquid fell to the ground, sizzling as it corroded the surface.
It was from the glowing vines on the ceiling. The sap secreted by these vines was highly toxic.
"Everyone, stay alert. Watch out for the plant sap dripping from the ceiling."
As soon as Su Xiao finished speaking, a scream came from the center of the team.
"Ah!! Something fell on my head. It hurts so much. Help me!"
A Second Class Investigator clutched his head, rolling on the ground. A wisp of smoke rose from his scalp as something corroded his skin.
Su Xiao pushed through the crowd and quickly approached the investigator. By the time he arrived, the man's struggles were already weakening.
The Second Class Investigator's eyes rolled back, veins bulging on his neck, turning a pale green.
Within ten seconds, the investigator was dead, eyes wide open, mouth agape, his death extremely gruesome.
This bizarre death visibly unsettled the other members of the reinforcement team.
"Keep moving. Watch your heads."
The reinforcement team continued forward. Except for Su Xiao and Suzushiro Yusa, the other investigators kept their eyes fixed on the ceiling.