New Gods of North America.

Chapter 445 Basement

The actual situation was pretty much what Wayne expected.

This orphanage still functions normally on weekdays, otherwise there would be no need to hang a signpost outside.
Since daily functions need to be maintained, in theory there will be some relatively "normal" staff within it.

At least it looks normal.

Therefore, places with problems are often set up in relatively remote areas, or at least should not be placed in locations where internal personnel frequently enter and work.

The two-story building that Wayne and his team found was located in a corner. It looked like an office or a small dormitory for management personnel. It didn't really matter what it was.
The key point is that there is an entrance to the basement at the back of the small building. The iron door is mottled and locked. It is estimated that not many people come here normally. If it were not known in advance that Damon MacCready might have been unconscious, the traces of dragging would be difficult to notice.

In addition to the basic obstacles, the other party's design here also has a bit of psychological flavor. Most of the small courtyard is paved with floor tiles, and you can walk all the way to the main entrance of the small building.

But the area leading to the cellar at the back of the building looked like a wild field that no one had taken care of. There were weeds and bushes that were almost as tall as the chest. There was not only no way to go in, but it would definitely scratch your clothes.
If a normal person walks here, he would probably easily have the illusion that "that place is out of the map."

Try to quietly open the thick iron door that looks rusty on the surface but is actually quite sturdy. The deep part of the basement is actually quite bright at this time.

Wayne and Connor went in one after another, then tiptoed down the stairs.

The bolt of this thick iron door was installed on the outside. You only need to pull and click the iron bolt, and there is no need to lock it. The people inside will probably be "crying out to the sky but no one will answer".
Wayne was already here, so of course he wanted to go down and see the situation with his own eyes, so Inissa had to stay outside to cover the rear. Otherwise, if all three of them went down, they might accidentally trigger the achievement of "being wiped out without taking any damage".

Connor is obviously not as stable as Inessa in this regard. In any case, he certainly can't kill the shrunken Damon MacCready in seconds.

Walking to the edge of the light, Wayne moved the "lens" with simple lines to look inside. There was an area in the middle that was "blank", as if there was nothing there.

But when I quietly poked my head out from the corner and took a peek, I saw that it was actually quite lively inside.

In a corner of the basement, several people were sitting on the floor with their hands and feet tied and things stuffed in their mouths. Some were unconscious and some were awake. They looked like the staff who stayed in the orphanage at night.

Damon MacCready was lying against the wall not far from the basement stairs. His extraordinary ability seemed to have lost its effect. Willy's clothes were now wrapped around his body, bulging.

The "blank" space in the middle of the basement,

"McKenn Reeve" was kneeling on the floor drawing a magic circle while covering his mouth.

It doesn't seem quite accurate to say he was "kneeling". Although his knees were on the ground, his upper body was bent very low, basically supported by his elbows. Perhaps it could be said that he was "lying prone".
The magic circle seemed to have been prepared in advance, and what he was doing now was more like "completing the unfinished magic circle" rather than "starting completely from scratch."

The people who helped him prepare the magic circle in advance were obviously the two guys who were helping him at this moment.
Wayne didn't dare to look directly at them, fearing that they would be sensitive to other people's gazes. He could only rely on his impression that they were people he had never seen before.

Macken Reeve was still directing them to move things in the circle or to scatter things somewhere. The hunters were pragmatic and would not think too much if they could kill. Therefore, Wayne was still half a Muggle in terms of mysticism. He could not tell what they were going to do.
Fortunately, Emma was not unconscious. Her hands and feet were tied and she was sitting against the wall next to Damon MacCready, serving as Wayne's mouthpiece.

The voice of a little girl sounds soft and cute, and seems to have a bit of sweetness.
But the meaning of Emma's words was a bit chilling. "When you finish this thing, all of us will die, right?"

"Macken Reeve", or most likely the body that carried the will of Reverend Pycelle, seemed to have regained his kindly composure.
He raised his head slightly towards Emma and spoke slowly, his tone even being kind:
“They may not die. All the magic circle needs is some fresh blood and internal organs, as well as some bones. If they are lucky, they may still have a chance to survive.

"But for you and the person next to you, the situation will probably turn out as you said. Previously, people from Cohen Pharmaceuticals approached me to find a foster family for a little girl in the college. According to the information Weissman provided me, you should be the little girl in the life field, right?"

Although if you only listen to the voice, this guy seems to be normal,

Unfortunately, Wayne was sneaking a peek at this guy from the side and behind. He could see black water dripping as he spoke. He felt that this scene was getting weirder and weirder the more he looked at it.

Emma's voice still sounded calm, but the soft and cute taste in her tone could not be removed.
She seemed to shake her head, "I don't know."

"Oh? You didn't know about this? Didn't anyone tell you?"

Macken Reeve continued to draw a magic circle on the floor with his head down, his fingertips dipped in dark green juice, "But these are not important. Your blood can be integrated into the life potion, which means your domain is correct.

"I was worried that if you were alone, the amount might not be enough, but the guy next to you came just in time. The 'camouflage' in the realm of life and the realm of nature is fundamentally different in concept and form.

"Tom Hagen may have thought I couldn't see it, but do you know how glad I was to see him in the carriage?"

Emma's voice was silent for a while, and then she seemed to think of something else:

"But I heard that the priests of the church are all extraordinary people in the sacred realm. Judging from the division of the realm, the extraordinary power in the realm of life does not seem to be within the range that you can safely absorb. What can you do with us?"

"Hehehe."

Macken Reeve shook his head slightly. "The so-called 'safe absorption' is actually a wrong conclusion that the Beyonders use to comfort themselves. In the Beyonder field, there is only a division between 'dangerous' and 'extremely dangerous'. Even if the field is suitable, the risk of Beyonders losing control will continue to increase as their rank increases."

Then the voice of "McKen Reeve" paused for a moment, as if he was swallowing the "black water" in his mouth:
"Some people equate 'loss of control' and 'loss of reason' with 'death', but I have to tell you that for a person who is truly dying, the risk of losing control is actually not that important.

"And the power of the life realm is exactly what I need most at this moment."

(End of this chapter)