BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM C.811 Hunting for the Crystal Cross Gang

Erik and June set off for New Alexandria early the next morning. After having transformed into Galewing form, June carried them towards the city's outskirts.

However, June's appearance was sure to trigger the city's defenses, an encounter Erik was keen to avoid. Stealth was essential for their mission.

For this reason, they were currently walking through the forest, killing weak Thaids here and there.

Their primary aim was to gather intelligence on the Crystal Cross Gang.

Erik was gonna completely shut them down: get rid of everyone, blow up their base, and take out their mysterious leader, Shade.

This shadowy figure, rumored to wield considerable influence across the criminal underworld of several nations. He was believed to be the mastermind behind the gangs across the world.

Erik knew that uncovering the reality of Shade's existence and determining his ties to the Crystal Cross Gang was going to be a big deal.

Also, since the Blackguards had him doing all sorts of things, he thought bumping him off and wiping out the criminal gangs would screw them over.

Erik believed that Shade could give valuable info on the Blackguards if he tracked him down. There were many questions still unresolved.

For example, who was the man's contact with the Blackguards? Was it Uncle Benjamin? And if he was, where was he?

The man seemed to have disappeared.

Such information might reveal vulnerabilities within their ranks or expose new leads to follow.

With this knowledge in hand, Erik's next step would be to locate the Blackguards' stronghold.

Identifying and infiltrating their base of operations would not only disrupt their activities but also offer a direct route to dismantling their power structure from the inside.

Erik and June then arrived in front of New Alexandria's entrance.

Though it was heavily guarded by a bunch of soldiers. They were all holding brain crystal rifles, but they didn't have that usual serious soldier vibe from Frant.

They were almost laid-back, always smirking and joking around about random stuff. Something was off. Though, their number was high.

"The Blackguards prepared Volkov really well. I hope the situation won't be as bad in Fasard."

"Should we try to enter?" June asked.

"No. There are too many guards. Not even I can get past that many rifles."

"Then, our only way to enter is…"

Erik understood well what June was referring to. "That is, if they didn't close it."

Erik and June then left the area, and after several hours, they arrived in front of a breach in the barrier.

"It has been a lot since I've been here."

Erik still vividly remembered using this secret passage to escape from New Alexandria and venture into the untamed wilderness where Thaids roamed.

It was this exact passage that had granted him freedom and access to uncharted territory, a clandestine route known only to him.

"Let's go," Erik said.

"Yes, Master."

Together, they stepped through the breach, the barrier between the city's chaotic streets and the untamed wilds beyond.

It felt surreal walking this path again. The memories of when he got his revenge against Logan were still fresh in his mind. It looked like it had happened yesterday.

As Erik and June emerged through the breach, the sight that greeted them was different from what both remembered.

Where once wheat fields stretched out, offering concealment and a path less trodden, now lay a patchwork of destruction and neglect.

Half of the fields were charred, the remnants of fires that had once raged uncontrollably, consuming everything in their path.

The other parts were wild and untamed, overrun with weeds and signs of disuse.

Erik paused, taking in the desolate scene. It looked like a lot had happened when he left.

The people who had once tended these fields, who had labored under the sun to cultivate the wheat, were gone.

Whether they had fled, fallen victim to the infection, or succumbed to other fates, Erik could only guess.

If even people from the outskirts of the city died, it meant that many had the same fate within the densest part of the city.

"This is a problem. We won't be able to roam around undisturbed."

"Yeah," June said. "Besides, is the Crystal Cross Gang in New Alexandria still operating?"

"Who knows? But if they are, I bet they are taking advantage of the situation."

"Right. Let's hope it will be easy to find them."

…

…

…

June and Erik made their way to the train station, a journey marked by the eerie quiet that had settled over the city.

Surprisingly, the public transportation system persevered amidst the chaos, like a faint pulse in a city that has seen brighter days.

As they walked, the absence of the usual clamor and crowd was easily noticeable.

The lively chatter and footfalls of commuters were replaced by silence, broken only by their own steps.

The station itself seemed abandoned at first glance. Shops that once teemed with travelers seeking last-minute purchases now stood shuttered, their interiors plundered, windows broken and displays empty.

Dust and debris littered the floor, untouched in the city's aftermath ordeal.

While boarding the train felt like stepping into a ghost of New Alexandria's past. The carriages were hauntingly vacant.

They chose their seats in a compartment where the only other presence was the echo of their movements. The train jerked into motion, its engine a lonely sound.

As the landscape of the city rolled by their window, Erik and June were presented with a visual testament to the devastation.

Buildings, once proud and tall, lay in ruins, their structures crumbled and exposed.

The bustling streets, usually filled with the energy of the city, were now congested with the wreckage of collapsed homes and businesses.

Amid the wreckage, glimmers of resilience could be seen. Among the wreckage, there was a constant hum of activity as machines and vehicles moved around.

Small groups of people worked to clear the debris. Cranes lifted heavy beams, and workers in hard hats and reflective vests navigated through the ruins, laying the groundwork for reconstruction.

As the train continued its journey, whisking them through the battered heart of New Alexandria, Erik and June remained silent, each lost in their thoughts.

Then they arrived at the next train station. There were more people there, and a lot of soldiers were patrolling the streets. If to search for someone or something, they didn't know.