While Ryan stood in the observation room, watching Anya's expression settle into something unreadable, a disturbing thought crossed his mind. For a brief moment, he wondered if something had genuinely gone wrong in her head. The calm certainty with which she spoke did not match the gravity of the situation they were in, and that mismatch unsettled him more than the missing monster itself.
Anya broke the silence first. "That monster must possess something similar to a camouflage ability," she said, her voice steady and analytical. "It likely left through the door by hiding itself alongside someone."
Ryan frowned and turned toward her, processing her explanation carefully. "If it can escape the Holding Wing using that method," he said after a moment, "then why wouldn't it do the same to leave the underground facility altogether?"
Anya answered without hesitation. "Only Watson and I have left the underground facility this week," she said. "None of the other members have exited the headquarters due to the recent disappearance cases. Everyone has been overworking, and no one has been rotated out." She paused briefly before adding, "More importantly, it cannot escape the perception of either me or Watson."
Ryan considered her words and slowly nodded. She was the captain of this branch, someone who clearly understood the systems and people under her command far better than he ever could. If she was this confident, then doubting her judgment without concrete evidence would serve no purpose. He had already involved himself deeper than he originally intended, and reckless interference would only make things worse.
"If that's the case," Ryan said, his voice quieter now, "then how do we even find the monster? It won't reveal itself while you're here. It will stay hidden and wait." He exhaled slowly, frustration leaking through his composure. "Unless someone weak and probably alone opens the exit, it has no reason to move. And even then, that isn't a guaranteed strategy. If it's intelligent, it will recognize the bait for what it is."
The weight of his own words settled heavily on him, and Ryan sighed helplessly. Every possibility he could think of carried unacceptable risks, and none of them offered certainty.
Anya, however, did not appear discouraged. "Even if we aren't sure it will work," she said, "we can still try." She turned toward the reinforced glass, her gaze fixed on the darkened corridors beyond. "There is a significant risk for the monster as well. Breaking through the inner walls exposes it to attacks from other contained monsters. Gambling against hundreds of monsters versus gambling against a single target is an obvious choice."
She glanced at Ryan briefly before continuing. "If it is smart, it will take the bait. If it is not smart, it will still take the bait."
Ryan stared at her, momentarily stunned by the simplicity of her reasoning. The logic was brutal, but it was difficult to refute. Still, a flaw immediately surfaced in his mind, one that made his chest tighten.
What if the monster did not prioritize escape at all? What if it was the type that preferred to remain hidden, with a predator's patience, slowly eroding the defenses over time? The Association could not possibly dedicate all of its manpower to a single escaped monster forever. There were threats outside, disappearances that demanded attention, and a world that was growing increasingly unstable by the day.
Yet despite those concerns, this plan remained the only viable option they had. They had no trail to follow, no residual presence to trace, and no clear indication of where the monster was hiding. Waiting passively would only give it more time.
"But everyone left the facility with Watson," Ryan said cautiously. "Who exactly is supposed to act as the bait? And that person would need to be weak enough for the monster to approach." His throat felt dry as he continued. "Do we need to call someone back? Would anyone even agree to that role knowing the danger?"
Anya's expression softened slightly, though the seriousness in her eyes did not fade. "Why do we need anyone else," she said quietly, "when we already have the right person?"
For a second, Ryan didn't understand what she meant. His eyes moved instinctively around the room, as if expecting someone else to appear. Only he and Anya remained. Watson had already left to carry out the evacuation orders, and every other member was outside the underground facility.
Realization struck him abruptly.
Ryan's eyes widened, disbelief washing over his face. "What do you mean?" he said sharply. "I am not acting as bait." His voice rose despite his effort to stay calm. "I agreed to help you investigate. Investigate. Acting as bait does not fall under investigation."
Anya did not immediately respond. She studied him for a moment before speaking. "Didn't you say I'm like your superior?" she asked. "Just help me this once, and I will make sure you remain completely safe." There was a flicker of guilt on her face as she spoke, faint but unmistakable.
That expression only made Ryan angrier.
"Are you insane?" he snapped. "No, I'm not doing that." His chest tightened as fear surged back, raw and unfiltered. "If you try to force this on me, I'm leaving. I don't care about this job, this facility, or your authority. I'm walking away."
The words hung heavily between them, and for the first time since meeting her, Ryan felt truly opposed to Anya. This was not hesitation or doubt anymore. It was a hard boundary born from fear, survival instinct, and the memory of something black and inhuman that should have killed him once already.