Eric was uncertain about the exact number of formidable characters within the Crimson Order. The thought of Shadow, the enigmatic and elusive legend, unsettled him even more.

"Even grandmasters were captured?" Brook looked terrified. "Eric, who are you helping? The military doesn't have such capabilities, right?"

Despite there being no grandmasters in Salt City, the operation Eric participated in had successfully apprehended several.

Brook found it peculiar that Eric wasn't more surprised.

"Battle Department. I'm still not very clear about them since I just joined. The Battle Department deployed as many as eight grandmasters in the operation tonight!"

Brook was astonished. "My goodness! Grandmasters have become so common?!"

In his understanding, grandmasters were already the pinnacle of martial arts. Yet, the Battle Department had mobilized eight of them and captured individuals of this caliber tonight. It was too terrifying.

"But it's strange. How did Salt City gather so many e