Jang Iseul squinted at her gift words that echoed in her head —
'Stupid! Use your brain! You know a place!'
Her brows furrowed. "What does that even mean?" she whispered aloud, glancing up at Loadon in confusion who looked at her blankly.
What place other than her roof top or what? But isn't just the matter of him missing his creator mark and owner making him a rouge mech like so.
Either that or she could consider getting a tinkering certification as she plans to have more creations openly and privately though before doing she needed a large lump sum ioj credit.
Sigh it was aready hard to raise her brothers but it was even more harder to raise her self and now a mysterious petty gift and loyal silent Loadon.
Loadon had no clue what his creator was thinking nor mumbling about.
Iseul gift gave no further assistance disappearing completely not want to speak to such the silly being anymore.
Iseul pouted a bit but didn't bother it anymore.
'What a petty little being' she thought bitterly. 'Cant even spare a real explanation hm.'
Pondering she bit her bottom lip in deep thought.
'Where can she hide loadon in a quiet place where no one can ever find him?'
Then it hit her.
Her inner domain! The dreamscape world!
Silly Iseul slapped herself in the forehead in exasperation.
Loadon glanced over at her seeing this.
'His Creator must be having a coding error' he thought promptly staring at her.
Iseul didn't notice his odd stare, she to wrapped in her thoughts not seeing the strange understanding look Loadon gave her.
If she did she would have asked him "what do you understand exactly?!"
Jang Iseul clenched her fist in excitement.
Why didnt she think of that place first?!
Her brain most be turning to mush with everything! Now the bounty issue was so easy to deal with!
This would completely solve all her current problems and situation with the bounty on both their head.
But before she could fully sort out her thoughts, the faint rhythm of footsteps and low chatter carried through the air.
Multiple voices and heavy boots scraping against cracked pavement.
Iseul froze.
Voices followed — low, muffled, but getting closer.
She wide eyes looked over at the standing mass of Loadon hiding her figure then the alley entrance.
Damn! Just her grand stars bad giving luck!
Iseul heart clenched in her chest. "Oh, what beautiful timing," she muttered mournfully.
What is she gonna do?! Looking around the dead street their wasn't much to use as a hiding spot.
What was she gonna use the holo ad wall? And do what? Pretend to be ad holo-gram promoters?
Yeah.
No.
Fat chance especially with her clothes and she didn't have such drop dead looks for such a thing.
Even then it sounds like a gang on patrol and the likelihood of them having a senses gifter is 98% chance.
Iseul knew it wouldn't be long for one of them to detect her.
Should they enter the domain?!
"This is just what I needed more emotional heart stimulations." Iseul tone chirping heavy sarcasm.
She tapped Loadon's bulky arm, leading him toward the nearest alley.
The mech followed silently, his metal joints whispering with restrained noise.
They slipped into the narrow passage, half-hidden behind stacked crates and a fallen sign.
Iseul held her breath, pressing her back against the cold wall. The smell of rust and residue oil filled her nose.
Her nose twitched at the smell as she turned her attention back to the street.
Straining her ears trying to listen to the chatter between the group.
"Creator," Loadon murmured quietly.
"Hmm" Iseul hummed let him know she listen but keep looking out.
"Elevated life readings approaching—8 live signals approaching. Estimated distance: twelve meters."
Iseul jump bump the sign at the loud echo of his voice.
Bang! Hiss!
Her pulse stopped a beat.
She wave loadon quiet looking around frantically worried someone might hear him.
She shot a look at her elbow feeling stinging when moving it around.
"Ow" she whispered mutter rubbing her elbow after seeing it was a bit scratched and bruised nothing serious.
"Shh. Don't speak so loud ," she urged hurriedly in distress and panic.
Loadon did not understand fully but quieted down and watched his Creator weird actions.
When nothing seemed unusual she finally breathe a sigh in relief patting her chest to easy her uneasy heart.
The voices were close enough to hear everything said loud and clear.
"…we didn't see anything on the east side." a voice full of frustration was heard.
"Keep checking. Dominic said he smelled a woman somewhere around here." another harsh voice interrupted the first person words.
"Man, why are we even way out this way? My feet are killing me." another complained.
"Why do we drop you off at Wandas dream palace for a suin hai massage hmm?" jostled another causing the other bellow in laughter.
Their laughter was echoing the empty streets as they got closer.
Iseul peeked through a crack in the crates, spotting silhouettes under the dim blue streetlight.
She recognized the symbols painted on their jackets —One eyes lackeys, low-tier gifter patrols.
They ran errands and were newbies "little brothers"soon to be installed into members.
These little brothers were the worse. They often were eager to prove themselves and were willing to do anything to earn their "ganghood".
It was know knowledge that if you can get a untouched woman for a big brother to train or keep you can get added in with a little bit of ranking.
Or if you can score a hit or come across some good info you can also get added in but people think kidnapping girls was the easier option.
Jang iseul gut twisted.
Of course it had to be them.
She clenched her fists, silently cursing her ancestors for her inherited shit luck.
The footsteps stopped.
A voice broke through the air. "Wait."
The others halted instantly.
"What is it brother Dominic?" one muttered.
The lead man tilted his head, nostrils flaring slightly. His irises glowed faint amber.
"An extra heartbeat," he murmured. "And… a pure Female scent."
Iseul's blood ran cold. A senses gifter.
Of all people to stumble across her, it had to be one of them.
Her mind raced.
She could run, but the alley behind her was a dead end—metal walls, no fire exits, no climbable ledges.
The only cover she had was Loadon's massive frame.
Iseul swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay quiet.
Her palms itched with the faint hum of her gift, reacting to her fear.
The footsteps started again—slower now. Deliberate.
Each step scraped against the concrete, echoing closer and closer.
"Hey," one thug said, laughing. "You sure? I don't smell anything."
The senses gifter ignored his respond. His head tilted again, listening. "She's close. Very close."
Iseul's breath hitched. Her pulse thundered in her ears.
Her gift flared faintly inside her, the voice returning—soft but sharp.
"Useless! Your indecisiveness will get us killed!"
Her eyes widened. "Sorry —?" she whispered in disbelief.
You can't blame her. Everything happened so abruptly she was caught off guard OK?