https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-309-Intelligence-Never-Acquired-Double-Chapter-/13685248/
Chapter 308: The Maintenance Worker of the Parking Garage
Nasr was a Maintenance Worker aboard the ship. He had long grown accustomed to the rhythm of the sea—the constant sway of the vessel, the endless stretch of water, and the rare, fleeting returns to land, sometimes weeks, sometimes months apart. Repairing the ship’s systems was simple, routine work for him. Best of all, as long as his skills remained intact, he didn’t need to deal with people—no relationships, no interactions. No one could ever remove him from his post.
But this voyage was proving unusually difficult.
The ship was packed with tourists, and they kept wandering into places that were normally off-limits—deep corridors, forgotten storage levels, the underbelly of the ship. Nasr didn’t understand it. What was so fascinating about humming machinery and endless rows of water pipes? Sure, the Parking Garage housed a few luxury vehicles, but the tourists kept flocking toward the cargo transport trucks instead—odd, even strange.
Yet as an ordinary Maintenance Worker, Nasr had no authority to turn anyone away. He could only scowl, clutch his rope and toolbox, and hurry past the curious sightseers as quickly as possible. He could feel their stares—sharp, probing, like searchlights—raking over him. It made him uneasy. His mind drifted to certain films he’d seen—something like The Great Heist, or Nightmare on the Cruise, or perhaps The Nick Ship—all stories of chaos, betrayal, and hidden danger.
Suddenly, his guard rose.
He pretended to inspect a water pipe, tapping it with a small hammer, while covertly observing the tourists. And then—his blood ran cold.
Just seconds ago, an old man with a cold, calculating gaze had been standing near the stairs. Now, he was gone. No trace. No movement. Not even a ripple in the air.
Nasr’s heart hammered twice in his chest before he managed to convince himself: He must have left. Of course. This place is useless. Nobody comes here.
He scanned the others.
A woman in a green floral dress. A middle-aged man in a sharp suit, looking like a life insurance salesman. An elderly man with silver hair and a kindly smile. A dark-skinned man with a center part. A bulky man whose arms looked strong enough to punch through a cow’s skull. A short-haired woman forcing a fake smile.
There were about a dozen people scattered across the Parking Garage, but they weren’t grouped together. Some were checking their cars. Others leaned against narrow windows, gazing at the sea. A few wandered aimlessly.
Individually, they seemed normal. But together—something was deeply off.
And though they didn’t acknowledge one another, each seemed on edge, wary of the others.
Nasr tapped the pipe softly, trying to catch fragments of their conversation through lip movements.
"...You’re after a share too..."
"...These are vital resources. Can’t let you have them. The ship’s coming soon..."
"...Kill them all. No one gets anything."
"...You can’t do this. These Magic users represent the Giant. Maybe we can collaborate—develop Magic and alchemy. But we must eliminate the rest..."
One spoke with his back turned. Nasr could only see his lips moving. The other’s words made no sense at all.
Magic?
Could he be mistaken?
Were they just discussing a movie?
Magic didn’t exist. So this couldn’t be real. They were just... acting.
Nasr’s simple mind couldn’t grasp it. He decided to keep observing.
Then—another chill ran down his spine.
The woman in the floral dress—she was gone.
Had he blinked? Was his vision blurring? His eyes felt foggy, like mist had rolled in.
He rubbed them, looked up again—and realized: Somebody was missing.
Not just one person. Several.
Then, chaos erupted.
People began shouting. Some leapt at each other. One drew a pistol. Another tried to call for help on a phone. Others scrambled to escape.
Boom!
A gunshot cracked through the air. A bullet tore through the thigh of an elderly man who had just been negotiating. But he didn’t scream. No sound at all. His eyes snapped shut. He collapsed.
Nasr barely caught a glimpse of a red flash—like a beam of light—flickering toward the man before he fell.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Bodies hit the floor in rapid succession. From afar, another Maintenance Worker tried to retreat—but suddenly his legs gave out. A crushing wave of drowsiness overwhelmed him. He collapsed, unconscious.
What’s happening?!
Inside a nearby car, Darl noticed the disturbance. The Bearded Man in the passenger seat gasped, feigning shock, but his mind raced.
Who’s behind this?
The thought of the fortune he’d already lost made his stomach twist. He wanted to run. Now.
But then—something strange.
A thin, misty vapor seeped from the car’s air vents, like faint steam.
Someone inside! Attack! Be careful!
Darl clamped a hand over the Bearded Man’s nose and mouth, holding his breath. Then, with a sudden, forceful kick, he slammed open the door and yanked the man out.
He knew—something was wrong.
Only a Wizard could knock out so many people so fast.
The thought chilled him. The Wizard has come.
He remembered his leader’s fear of this place. The legend of the old man who had stopped the darkest Dark Wizard in history—twice. His unease turned into dread.
But they’d worked so hard. He couldn’t abandon it now.
Even if we can’t take them all...
If only we can take one.
If we bring Wade Gray back... the leader will be pleased.
Darl reached into his pocket. A Portkey. A final escape route—only to be used in the direst of circumstances.
If I grab someone’s arm, I can bring them back. We can change everything.
Change the fate of the Werewolves—freed from centuries of persecution, murder, and exile at the hands of Wizards.
He dragged the dazed Bearded Man from the car, rolling them both across the floor to avoid the expected attack. Then, using the man as a shield, he charged toward the back of the cargo truck.
Most spells had one flaw: they targeted only one person at a time.
The Bearded Man had no idea he was being used as a barrier. In fact, he’d landed awkwardly when they jumped out—his ankle twisted. Then, during the roll, he hit his head. Dizziness washed over him. He wanted to sleep, but the danger was real. He had to escape.
With a final surge of will, he forced his eyes open—just in time to see Darl’s face, wild with frenzy, fumbling at the iron gate behind the truck’s interior.
Clank—
The sound of metal scraping against metal was unnaturally loud.
A dark, fuzzy shape burst from the vehicle—a creature covered in thick, black fur. It leapt forward with wild joy, wrapping its limbs around Darl, then snapped its jaws shut around his head.
Snap!
Darl vanished—like he’d been swallowed by a giant, black woolen ball.
The Bearded Man stared in horror.
And then—a swarm of creatures poured out.
Each one the size of a young calf.
“AAAAAHHHHHHHH—!”
A scream tore through the entire deck—raw, desperate, echoing in the metal halls of the ship.
(End of Chapter)
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