Sira and Ashley waited inside the factory.
The hotel owner sat tied to a chair, still unconscious.
Time passed. Then—
Footsteps echoed.
Instantly, they tensed. Hands gripped stun guns.
A figure emerged from the shadows—dressed in black, with dark hair and eyes to match.
"You can put your guns down," the man said.
It was Walker.
Ashley lowered her gun at once. "Sir, are you alright?"
"Yes," Walker replied in his usual deep tone.
He walked straight to the man tied to the chair. "Is this the one?"
Ashley nodded.
Without hesitation, Walker slapped the man across the face.
A second slap followed.
The hotel owner stirred, blinking several times.
His eyes went wide with panic as he realized what was happening.
A muffled scream escaped his taped mouth.
He struggled, nearly tipping the chair—but Walker caught it effortlessly with one hand.
Slap.
This one was brutal—blood splattered, and a tooth fell to the ground.
Sira looked away.
She had known this might happen.
She had prepared herself for it.
But even then… coming to terms with it was harder than expected.
Walker didn't flinch.
"Stay quiet," Walker said coldly. "You will answer my questions… or I'll kill your family. Block 5, House 11."
The man froze, terror flooding his eyes.
He nodded quickly.
Walker leaned in. "How do you know Zarin?"
He peeled the tape off the man's mouth.
The man hesitated.
Walker turned his back, beginning to walk away.
"Wait! He… he was my friend… when we were kids," the man stammered.
Walker stayed silent, letting his presence demand answers.
The hotel owner trembled. "We went to school together… There were around nine of us in the group."
He paused, eyes flicking between Walker and Ashley.
"We weren't delinquents or thugs. Just normal students. Zarin was normal too—kind, even caring."
"What happened?" Walker asked.
"After school, we lost touch. I heard he went to Ring 6." He hesitated. "When he returned… he was different. A Seeker. Ruthless. Always serious. Like something inside him had changed."
"Tell me more about Ring 6," Walker said.
The man blinked, surprised—as if wondering how they didn't already know.
Walker gave no explanation. Just silence.
The man swallowed and continued, trying to mask his doubt.
"All of Ring 6 is just ruins. Full of monsters and corrupted souls. Only Seekers or trained professionals are allowed there."
So… basically like Lawless, Ashley thought.
The Undercity was lawless to the outer world—but even here, it had its own inner circles of chaos. Ring 6 was one of them.
"That's all I know," the man said weakly.
"Zarin's abilities?" Walker asked.
"I… I don't know. I swear."
Without a word, Walker pulled out a knife.
He taped the man's mouth shut again… and slowly drove the blade beneath a fingernail.
The man thrashed, muffled screams echoing in the factory. He tried to say something through the gag—something like okay, okay, I'll talk!
Walker stopped.
He waited five minutes. Let the man breathe. Then removed the tape.
"Last chance," Walker said, voice cold and final.
Sira turned away, covering her ears. She walked to the far corner of the factory, eyes shut tight.
"…His abilities…" the man stammered, "they let him change the shape of his hand and feet. Animal-like transformations. He could take a frog like hands for underwater speed… or a bear's claws for strength."
He breathed hard, shaking. "That's all I know."
"Who does he work for?" Walker asked.
"I don't know," the man said. "I really don't…"
Walker watched his face carefully—and believed him.
"…Good job," Walker muttered.
Slash.
In one smooth, fluid motion, he slit the man's throat.
Ashley handed Walker a cloth-wrapped blade and said, "I'll get the box. And the plastic sheet."
Walker nodded once.
Ashley stepped just outside the factory and retrieved the cardboard box and plastic sheet they had prepared earlier.
Inside, Sira remained in the corner—eyes shut, hands still pressed over her ears.
Walker stood by the chair, sword in hand.
Then the chopping began.
The sound echoed in the empty hall—wet, heavy. Blood pooled beneath the chair, dark and growing.
Ashley turned her head away, forcing herself not to look. She walked toward Walker with stiff steps, setting the box and the folded plastic beside him.
Then she turned her back to the scene—waiting, pretending not to hear.
Walker worked mechanically, separating the body into large chunks. Only the head remained untouched, staring lifelessly as the rest was dismembered.
He packed the pieces into the plastic bag. At the end, he placed the head carefully on top—almost like he was decorating a cake.
Then, gently, he lowered the bag into the box and sealed it with thick tape.
Ashley dropped to her knees and began wiping the blood off the floor.
Walker picked up a marker.
In bold strokes, he wrote on the cardboard:
To Zarin
Street 1, Block 2, House 25
A gift of a dear friend.
"I'm heading out," Walker said, his voice even.
Ashley didn't turn. "Be careful, sir," she replied, her tone quiet, wavering.
She was trying to hold it together.
But her mind was spiraling.
We just killed an innocent man. A man with a family. And now… we're sending his body as a message.
The weight of it all pressed against her chest. It wasn't just the murder—it was the performance of it. The grotesque theater.
And yet, she was good at hiding it. Better than most.
She wore the mask of false confidence—one that said she was fine with what Myth had planned. Fine with the horror they were now a part of.
Even if, deep down, it was slowly tearing at her.
Meanwhile, Myth exited the factory and made his way to the nearest tram stop.
Two transfers later, he arrived at Street 8.
Stepping off the tram, he took a deep breath.
This place was different.
Graffiti-covered walls lined both sides of the road—vibrant, alive. Neon lights flickered in all colors, casting moving shadows over the pavement. Laughter echoed from open windows. The air felt lighter here, cleaner, almost festive.
Much better than Street 3, Myth thought. No dust. No collapsing buildings. No blood.
But he didn't let the comfort distract him.
He began scanning the area—looking for vantage points, blind spots, alley exits. He was here to keep watch.
His target: Block 12, House 16.
Juno Marel.