獵巫會的聯絡方式,向來頗為單向。381Please respect copyright.PENANA1PCdChIyQZ
381Please respect copyright.PENANAIkxwl8DCU8
由獵客接到「獵巫令」起,到完成任務,中間除了出現狀況必須彙報,否則獵客多半不會主動交代行動細節。畢竟他們都是一群獨來獨往,自視甚高的人。獵巫會也甚少中途加以干預,除非出了亂子。381Please respect copyright.PENANA0RYqDL8FPc
381Please respect copyright.PENANA91cqT47ZEj
而獵巫會的高層--那些「長老」,究竟是何許人,可謂鮮為人知,連許多獵客也不曉得。至於獵巫會長,更是神秘莫測,身份行蹤一概成謎。381Please respect copyright.PENANAPuauYSzZRG
381Please respect copyright.PENANAyteP3rdkCs
「長老」幾乎從不與獵客們直接通話。若在古代,主要由可靠的「傳信使」,居中傳遞密封訊息,猶如古戰場的軍情遞報一般。到了現代,便靠科技傳訊,以多重加密及閱後銷毁等方式來防止機密外泄。381Please respect copyright.PENANAvBcChoVOD6
381Please respect copyright.PENANADBswFJYHF2
長老隱沒真身,不輕易對獵客予以信任,但獵客們並不介意,因為他們求的只是豐厚報酬,以及「獵客」這重身份。此身份在日光底下的社會幾乎無人認識,一無用處;但在黑暗世界卻可為擁有者帶來無比便利。381Please respect copyright.PENANAUfVDAKhECo
381Please respect copyright.PENANAwJ74zCpYRM
這組織沒所謂「上下溝通」,當獵客達成目標,將成果通報上去,報酬隨即奉上,近乎全無時滯阻延。獵客們私下也懷疑,究竟協會(他們平日多以「協會」稱之,很少直呼其名)如何確認眾人當真完成任務,還是虛報領賞?381Please respect copyright.PENANAjiqjgI84BY
381Please respect copyright.PENANAB5Y6yqEdUg
是協會太具自信,斷定無人膽敢欺暪組織?381Please respect copyright.PENANA81jEv0zxPq
381Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2UyFQ85tO
抑或,合理懷疑,根本一直有人,甚至大量的人手,從旁監視獵客工作?381Please respect copyright.PENANA0KXCHwVMjO
381Please respect copyright.PENANATps3Rz2Q6i
獵客之間,倒是偶有聯繫。遇上特殊情況,如目標過於棘手,獵巫會也會追加指令,命獵客互相配合,以求一舉殲敵。381Please respect copyright.PENANAs7gn1mS3Si
381Please respect copyright.PENANAQalZAG2gZz
像這次,瑟西與柴郎之敗,協會很快就知會列山雷,讓他了解局勢,隨機應變。381Please respect copyright.PENANA3xwHwBSnKj
381Please respect copyright.PENANA2rALYQbh6R
「以鬼醫與闇姬的性格,大概絕不願坦承敗績,但協會卻將瑟西中了幻術的消息通報開來,著參與行動之獵客加以防範,這證明一直以來我們懷疑身邊滿佈『探子』,很可能是實情。」列山雷與人在通話。對象正是「嚮導」麗素。381Please respect copyright.PENANAEJK78ZdZtc
「那兩處『聖火之境』據點,可是你靠笨法子一步一腳印查出來的,若沒有洩露出去,協會又怎能事先佈置探子到那兒?」麗素問。381Please respect copyright.PENANAk7Z69zSnYY
381Please respect copyright.PENANAJIcjJLY1rk
「為了兵分兩路,我倒是把地點告知柴郎與瑟西,另外『槍魂』尼亞海斯也知曉,說不定是他匯報了給協會吧。」列山雷說。381Please respect copyright.PENANAiLAWxvlrfg
381Please respect copyright.PENANAsxTtEnaToc
其實他另有念頭並未道出:這個名義上獵巫的組織,內裡卻不乏如闇姬的異能人士,若說有人藉遙視、天眼通一類的手段監視獵客,實在毫不為奇。381Please respect copyright.PENANAzFS3JO1hSe
381Please respect copyright.PENANAq5Ztpy0xFS
為免麗素多作無謂猜想,列山雷轉移話題:「是了,我讓你搜羅少數民族的舞蹈或祭神儀軌影片,可有收穫?」381Please respect copyright.PENANAdYt0BPyOiR
381Please respect copyright.PENANACFQ5E2dOyQ
麗素不待列山雷說完,已噪聒嚷道:「你讓我這數據情報分析高手去做這種小學生般的作業是大材小用浪費人力資源好嗎?你自己不會到視頻影片分享網站搜尋嗎?要知道本小姐是情報分析顧問,可不是你的私人秘書……」381Please respect copyright.PENANA4P2zcMrmrC
381Please respect copyright.PENANAQwTQjUhozl
但聽麗素在碎碎念抱怨,列山雷卻同時收到她傳過來的一個超連結,登入一看,只見內裡已把各種民族舞或表演等影片分門別類匯集一起,看得出頗為詳盡,似乎連一些頗為冷僻的片段也囊括當中。381Please respect copyright.PENANA7vPRRm8hhZ
381Please respect copyright.PENANAunggyAGfda
列山雷莞爾一笑。女人,總是口不對心的。381Please respect copyright.PENANAK1TKHVYhS5
381Please respect copyright.PENANABtLjo4MT9e
「雷,你曾說與那叫葉虹的女子交戰,她戰鬥時似乎會跳一種特別的舞蹈。你是想從這些影片中找出線索嗎?」381Please respect copyright.PENANADy5iqnnPbc
381Please respect copyright.PENANA3pjya6cOkn
列山雷又再微笑。女人的直覺,絕對不能小覷。381Please respect copyright.PENANAAoq50GS6Dz
381Please respect copyright.PENANAfpja4xD3jN
「實在幫了大忙,怎樣回報好呢?可惜情報販子向來不與顧客直接會面,好比殺手與經理人也無謂相見。否則好該請你吃一頓晚飯。奢華的。」列山雷打趣說。381Please respect copyright.PENANAWIJwV8E7Ip
381Please respect copyright.PENANACwELUZbarE
電話裡另一頭的噪聒突轉為寧靜。半晌才有回音:「別以為這樣說就可以輕易脫身。這項幼稚的工作,不知浪費了我多少時間,若認真計算報酬,傳出去一定讓行家笑壞了嘴....這一頓飯,是你欠我的。」381Please respect copyright.PENANAGdIYmbnDob
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昨夜。381Please respect copyright.PENANA8RsaqV6WJo
381Please respect copyright.PENANA1dSeNeIfU3
救出柴郎後,尼亞海斯一直以最高速度在趕路。381Please respect copyright.PENANAC6BcNdvO8U
381Please respect copyright.PENANAP0Utx5S6WL
他在賭。381Please respect copyright.PENANAJgnVjCM2zI
381Please respect copyright.PENANASGy1qcJcZI
賭自己可以猜中一個「方向」。381Please respect copyright.PENANAHAbBMp6BMA
381Please respect copyright.PENANAO2eVBKDr6M
數小時前,他依著列山雷所發的地址,來到這位於人煙不甚稠密的小社區教堂。一抵埗,便覓地方匿藏起來。381Please respect copyright.PENANAYbEQ7d4FkB
381Please respect copyright.PENANA5wrryaNO1f
尼亞剛來維城不久,對於敵人所知不多,手頭資料亦有限。貿然行動,並非其職業習性。381Please respect copyright.PENANAAxnK9i5RH3
381Please respect copyright.PENANAzBcP8IV7FI
論工作,他講求周詳部署,謹慎行事。私底下,他卻愛賭,亂來一氣地賭。不一定賭錢,還可以是,賭命。381Please respect copyright.PENANAFDXBhgW8Th
381Please respect copyright.PENANASvaR2H1sFB
不過人生豈能事事皆公私分明?尤其「狩獵」這種充滿變數的另類工作。矛盾的個性與職業信條,讓此人的行止舉動,極具不確定性,難以預測。381Please respect copyright.PENANA3Loinn26bg
381Please respect copyright.PENANAYKQRG6lwjE
為了弄清狀況,最佳辦法是在暗裡觀察。但實情,他不急於攻堅進襲,真正原因未必如此單純。381Please respect copyright.PENANAyZ7T7dHrna
381Please respect copyright.PENANAHNuk9559s9
兩處敵方據點之間,他選擇此處,理由卻毫無理由。「鬼醫與闇姬兩大變態,究竟會把敵方弄得怎樣翻天覆地?如此一場好戲,不看實在可惜。」381Please respect copyright.PENANARcixUOqPF1
381Please respect copyright.PENANAzz95Pi1N3F
於是,找到視野良好的所在匿藏起來後,他就施施然等待兩名同僚現身。381Please respect copyright.PENANA0WQGuZibnZ
381Please respect copyright.PENANALrKhAn3Gcj
然而,這場好戲的發展出乎意料。他萬料不到,「兩大變態」竟硬生生把一班參與崇拜的信徒迷暈,然後兩人又不知所蹤。381Please respect copyright.PENANAaK1TxOU8wi
381Please respect copyright.PENANA30WoQfYxOp
從遠處窺視小教堂內的情況,尼亞僅能見到八成。偏偏看到兩人在聖壇胡搞一番後,便不見影蹤。尼亞猜想,他們大概是走進什麼密室秘道吧。381Please respect copyright.PENANAa3Btj1zzf9
381Please respect copyright.PENANAn1cvr5QcQ4
正當猶疑要不要尾隨其後,過不多久,教堂便突然起火,更迅速蔓延。381Please respect copyright.PENANAYeuW77hzzQ
381Please respect copyright.PENANA7CQOfmivCD
「好一對狗男女,留下爛攤子讓我收拾!如何是好……?」尼亞不忍見一大群人葬身火海,便欲設法營救,衝過去把一名信徒揹起帶離火場。無奈只帶走一人,火勢已越趨猛烈,他心知不可能把全部人救出生天。381Please respect copyright.PENANAHsm8mQRIPw
381Please respect copyright.PENANAuOnRp963Wo
情急之下,他想起獵客之間的一種理論:但凡獵客執行指令,附近恐必有探子盤據,負責監察「狩獵」過程。381Please respect copyright.PENANAphRtekmqZu
381Please respect copyright.PENANA0VwJuBVdJO
「哼哼也好,反正禍不是本大爺闖的,姑且看看獵巫會是否見死不救?」尼亞迅速把緊急狀況彙報上去,然而再隱匿起來。381Please respect copyright.PENANAAPqF6vhyE2
381Please respect copyright.PENANAvIzp8BG22c
「該做的本大爺已做了。再來就看你們的上帝會否拯救你們了。」尼亞暗暗祝禱。381Please respect copyright.PENANAGmMV0bQbuX
尼亞海斯所料不錯,只略等片刻,便見到一行共十人,從不同方向匯集至小教堂,著手救人。381Please respect copyright.PENANAsYP6WdS6vv
381Please respect copyright.PENANAIZuUCZa6La
尼亞海斯從旁觀察,這些人盡皆身手了得。「果然如大家推測一般。我狩獵多次,從未見過這些人現身,儘管憑獵客的敏銳感覺,早隱隱察覺暗裡有人監視……只是他們未顯惡意,我們也裝作沒此一回事。問題是……」381Please respect copyright.PENANAUAYusY8n3w
381Please respect copyright.PENANAwd9nucGYcI
幸虧信眾不多,只消一會工夫,信徒已救出七七八八。似乎「探子們」所收命令只是支援協助,免得事情鬧大了難以收拾,協會並未指令須救出「所有人」,當場中看似沒人,探子就把信徒隨便在門外地上一放,隨即離去。381Please respect copyright.PENANAsrXZor05ZO
381Please respect copyright.PENANA2fX6siSNZJ
就在此時,尼亞海斯見到柴郎抱著瑟西,從聖壇後面冒出來。381Please respect copyright.PENANAv1LcxnBEh8
381Please respect copyright.PENANAXT0irUkVcg
「嘿,總算現身了。且看你們兩個搞什麼鬼。」381Please respect copyright.PENANAqJFyVSuLmD
381Please respect copyright.PENANA8WVqcSbIJy
然後柴郎在火場裡猶如熱窩上螞蟻的狼狽模樣,透過望遠鏡映入尼亞海斯眼裡。381Please respect copyright.PENANADc7jCBkSG5
381Please respect copyright.PENANAxLzAypeW2x
結果,他忍著不笑出聲,心裡樂了一會後,還是出手助二人逃生。接下來少不了奚落鬼醫一番。381Please respect copyright.PENANAwLyXOdasm8
381Please respect copyright.PENANAanmOtp7Irt
那變態二人組離去後,尼亞仍逗留於此。「除非適才鬼醫把敵人全滅了,否則『聖火之境』總該有些骨幹成員逃離此地罷?」381Please respect copyright.PENANAIIGAusL4n9
381Please respect copyright.PENANARJkFWwJEvq
偏偏等了又等,始終不見再有任何人離開火場,反而消防員及警方等已陸續趕到。「難道邪教中人全部葬身火海?但此教以火為名,又懂操縱火之秘術,沒可能無一生還吧!最合理推想,是另有脫離的密道。」381Please respect copyright.PENANAFOmAUVHymd
381Please respect copyright.PENANA6QCmTWQSUJ
言念及此,尼亞大感困惱。他對附近環境毫不熟悉,自然無法得知密道的出口何在。但他絕非輕言放棄的人。381Please respect copyright.PENANAmgaX0LPnvL
381Please respect copyright.PENANAtYDDaxLfqp
尼亞海斯奔向一棵大樹,俐落地攀爬上去,從高處俯瞰周遭環境,觀察這一帶建築群分佈及道路設計,瞬間估計「目標」或從何方遁去。「好,就賭這一舖!看本大爺今晚可有緣與佳人相會?」381Please respect copyright.PENANAFQM0KH1rjw