The moonlight stretched the garden wall's shadow long. The Circus team finally arrived below their target building.
The Magician tugged at his white gloves, making his final preparations.
"Are you ready?" The Magician looked at his subordinates beside him.
"No problem."
"Yes."
"This operation must be swift; we need to finish it within five minutes."
"From my Diviner's divination results, that Demoness should still be sleeping, so we need to be quick..."
The Magician began assigning tasks.
The four of them split into two groups: the Magician, along with the Clown who had been severely wounded by the Demoness, was responsible for the frontal assault; the Diviner and another Clown would provide support, stationed at the back Door.
If the two attackers were obstructed, or if the Demoness managed to escape, the two supporters had to immediately fill in and intercept.
"If that Demoness successfully escapes, do not blindly intercept; prioritize your own lives." Before leaving, the Magician, still a bit worried, instructed his subordinates.
However, to the Clown standing nearby, these words took on a different meaning.
Boss, you shouldn't say that! It sounds like we're definitely going to fail.
The two team members waiting in place nodded, indicating their understanding.
The Magician turned his head to the slightly flustered Clown beside him and said,
"With me here, what are you panicking about!" Patting the other's shoulder, the Magician said in a deep voice.
"Operation commence."
He then led the Clown to a section of the wall that was lower and suitable for climbing. Extending his hands, he gripped the cracks and protrusions, scaling the wall in just two or three movements.
Thanks to the Clown's excellent body control, the two easily climbed over the wall, making almost no sound.
Passing through the garden, they reached the side of the house. The two crept to the south wall, where the tap water pipe was dripping rusty water.
In climbing the wall, the Magician was clearly superior, with extremely skillful movements.
He gripped the water pipe with both hands, and the moment his shoetips hooked into the brick seams, his spine arched like a feline, and he easily flipped over.
The Clown, relying on the characteristics of his Pathway, also found this task effortless. However, compared to the Magician, his movements appeared much rougher.
"His legs are stiffer than a Puppet's," the Magician cursed inwardly, watching the Clown's performance.
The two arrived in the corridor on the second floor, where the floor gleamed under the moonlight.
The Magician activated his Spirit Vision, surveying his surroundings. After confirming there were no hidden dangers, he pulled a Joker card from his pocket and pressed it against the corner of the wall. A faint blue mist seeped from the card's edge, gradually condensing into a blurry human figure.
A tall, slender figure appeared there.
This was a smokescreen he used to confuse the Demoness. If the Demoness discovered the two of them, this illusion could at least have some effect.
Then he pulled out a silver-gray charm from his pocket and placed it next to the card. Once the illusion was attacked, this charm would also be activated immediately.
Being struck by the power of this charm was no less than being hit at close range by a demon-hunting bullet.
Of course, if possible, he still hoped the operation would go smoothly and his little trap would never be needed.
He then gently patted the Clown's shoulder, signaling him to watch his step and not accidentally step on it.
He always felt a bit uneasy about this overly dull subordinate.
A moment later, the two arrived in front of the second-floor bedroom. A sweet, fragrant scent seeped from the bedroom door crack.
The Clown pulled out a black-red charm from his pocket. This type of charm, with its explosive effect, could quickly cause large-scale damage. He held it in his palm, ready to chant the incantation at any moment.
The Magician, meanwhile, pulled out his silver-plated revolver. The moment his thumb pushed back the hammer, the smell of sulfur from the six demon-hunting bullets pierced his nostrils.
The Clown watched as his boss held up three fingers, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.
From the Magician's Spirit Vision, there was indeed a lying figure in the room.
After confirming the target, the Magician gave the Clown a look, simultaneously making a throwing motion.
After opening the Door, immediately activate the charm and throw it in... The Clown understood and nodded.
"Three." The Magician held his gun with both hands, ready to fire.
"Two." The Clown's tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth, the explosive incantation swirling between his teeth.
"One."
The door was kicked open directly.
Just as they had discussed beforehand, the moment the Door opened, the Clown quickly chanted the charm's activation incantation. After it warmed slightly, he swiftly threw it into the room.
At the same moment, the Magician aimed at the bed and quickly pulled the trigger.
"Bang... Bang... Bang!"
He emptied the magazine in less than two seconds.
"Boom!" A burst of explosion followed, and a cloud of dust instantly filled the surroundings.
"He should be dead, right?" The Clown turned to the Magician beside him, looking at the chaotic room.
"No!" The Magician felt a slight abnormality.
A moment later, the smoke dispersed. There was no Demoness on the collapsed bed, only a broken mirror.
Danger!
...
...
"This is, the explosive charm activated." Hearing the explosion from afar, the two remaining on standby quickly noticed the anomaly.
"They must have succeeded, Boss."
However, after waiting for a moment, the two still saw no sign of their teammates.
The Clown, who was on standby, realized something was wrong.
"Oh no, something happened to Boss and them."
...
Over at the Nighthawks team.
After a carriage ride of nearly twenty minutes, they successfully arrived at the front door of the target house.
"Don't be nervous; nothing will happen. I've encountered enemies far more dangerous than this," Old Neil, the oldest among the Nighthawks present, said to comfort everyone.
"Something seems wrong..." Klein, who was nearby, seemed to have discovered something.
"That's firelight, and what's that...?" He pointed his finger towards the second floor of the building in front of them.
Everyone looked over, hearing Klein's words.
They saw a figure fall from the second floor.
"Phew, that damn Demoness..."
"Hmph, she wasn't that strong after all!"
The Clown who fell from the second floor was a bit disheveled. Although he was injured, his expression was extremely excited.
That Demoness is at the end of her rope; she stepped into Boss's trap and was hit so many times by me and Boss. She definitely won't last much longer. I need to hurry and help Boss...
He gritted his teeth and struggled to get up. Before he could even steady himself, he looked up and found a fully armed Nighthawks team nearby.
"This..."
The expression on the Clown's face instantly froze.
At that moment, he felt his Clown Potion completely digested.
"Boss, hang in there, we're here." Listening to his teammates' voices behind him, countless cold sweats dripped from the Clown's forehead.
"Are you alright? We..." The two who came to support saw the injured Clown and showed worried expressions. But when they walked closer and discovered the Nighthawks team behind their teammate, both of them froze in place simultaneously.
"This..."
The two teams just stared at each other.
The atmosphere became awkward for a moment.