Not long after, they were back in Alaric's car, the engine humming softly as the view outside the windshield blurred with the passing night.

Alaric kept one hand on the steering wheel, while the other gently tapped the gear shift, following the rhythm of his thoughts as they churned. But in the midst of his contemplation, he still managed to glance at the boy. "Where's your house?" he asked.

Fery, sitting in the passenger seat, turned slightly. "It's not far from the campus," he replied.

Alaric smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Don't call me 'sir.' Just call me Alaric."

Fery fell silent for a moment before nodding. "Okay... Alaric," he said, his voice still a bit awkward. But somehow, saying the name felt different now—like he had just found a new way to refer to someone who was slowly becoming closer.

The car continued smoothly along the road, passing through quieter streets that weren't as crowded as they had been earlier in the day. The lights from shops and stores were starting to go out, leaving behind only a few small kiosks and coffee stalls still open.

The interior of the car was silent, the only sounds being the hum of the engine and the rush of wind sneaking in through the cracked window. Fery occasionally glanced outside, his mind a tangled mess of emotions: relief that someone was standing by his side, but also anxiety over what they would face next.

Alaric, though his face seemed calm, was filled with thoughts of plans and strategies. He had already mapped out alternative routes, tactics, even extreme measures. He was thinking ahead, determined to find a way to strike at the syndicate's weakest point.

A few minutes later, the car slowed down. Fery pointed to a simple house on the side of the road. "That's my house," he said, gesturing with his finger.

Alaric glanced over, then nodded. He pulled up and stopped right in front of the small gate. Fery unbuckled his seatbelt, his hand hesitating before he opened the door. He turned to look at Alaric one more time, his eyes full of unspoken words, but not a single one left his lips.

Alaric merely nodded briefly and gave a small smile, his expression calm and quiet. There were no long goodbyes, no clichéd parting words. As soon as Fery stepped out, Alaric quietly shut the door and hit the gas pedal. The car quickly sped away, leaving the boy standing in front of his house, watching the taillights of the vehicle fade around the corner.

Behind the wheel, Alaric's gaze sharpened, staring into the darkness of the road ahead. He already knew what his next move would be. The path he had chosen was risky, but this time, he wasn't about to back down.

....

The next morning, the young man sat on the wooden chair in his living room. His mind was overwhelmed with heavy thoughts, so much so that even the crisp morning air. Which usually offered at least a little space to breathe... did nothing to ease the tightness in his chest. Alaric couldn't break through the restless haze clouding his head. He stared at his palm, slowly curling it into a fist, then opening it again, as if weighing something.

"This is the first time I've had to get directly involved, face them head-on," he muttered under his breath, the words meant for no one but himself. He knew he wasn't up against ordinary people. They had power, influence, even weapons. The kind of weapons that could end his life in an instant.

And him? All he had was courage, a bit of strategy, and… the system.

The system that had been with him all this time, helping him in critical moments. But behind all of that, a deeper, sharper feeling had begun to grow—dependence.

"Should I rely on the system again?" he whispered. There was hesitation in his voice. He didn't want to be the kind of person who always leaned on something outside himself. More than that, he was fully aware that the system wasn't perfect. It could make mistakes. Or worse.

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face roughly. His eyes turned to the ceiling above. "But if I face them unprepared… I could die a fool's death. And that would only prove how stupid I am."

Alaric shook his head, trying to suppress the turmoil in his chest. Inside him, a part of himself was screaming for power. Something immense, something that could end this whole problem quickly and cleanly. But another part held back, wondering if the system truly had what he needed. Or if it was just another path to something even more dangerous.

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a long breath. "No. I can't rely on just one option. I need to learn more about them… dig deeper. Maybe then I'll find a weak spot."

Slowly, he stood up. His body moved with quiet resolve as he opened his wardrobe and picked out a simple, all-black outfit. A black jacket, black pants, shoes that made no noise when he walked. Finally, he grabbed a black mask that covered the lower half of his face. That way, he could hide his identity from any strangers who might be watching.

As he stared at his reflection in the mirror, something about it felt unfamiliar. The person staring back looked like someone else. Someone he didn't recognize. But maybe that was exactly what he needed right now: to leave behind his old self, in order to face the darkness ahead.

Alaric knew exactly where he was going. Not to the place Fery had pointed out the day before. The large house where children were being held. That place was too crowded, too risky. He needed something more specific, the root of it all. And based on information he had bought from a paid informant, there was one place that stood out.

---

The main headquarters.

Not just another stash house. This one was quieter, more hidden. But that's exactly where the important ones gathered. The powerful. The ones with influence. The ones hiding the darkest secrets.

Alaric grabbed his car keys from the table. Whether it was nerves or adrenaline, something buzzed in his chest as he stepped outside, started the engine, and the roar of the car broke the stillness of the morning.

"Alright," he said, eyes locked on the road ahead. "This time, I'm going to find answers."

Alaric's car came to a stop on a quiet street. The road was almost deserted, strangely so, especially considering how close it was to the city center. He stepped out, shut the door gently, and looked up at the building in front of him.

He blinked, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. This wasn't an abandoned warehouse or a rundown hideout like he had imagined. It was a grand structure—more like a hidden castle placed where no one would ever think to look.

The building stood tall, its white stone walls shining faintly, large windows trimmed in gold, and four small towers anchoring each corner. From a distance, it looked like a masterpiece of architecture, deliberately tucked away in silence. Strangely, despite being near the city, it somehow escaped notice. As if the people around it were blind to its existence. Or maybe something was making them look the other way.

Alaric frowned. "A castle this big, yet completely hidden. How is that even possible?" he murmured.

He waited a few minutes, surveying the surroundings. No guards at the gate. No signs of activity. And yet, this place was far from abandoned. The silence was unnerving.

Once he was sure the coast was clear, Alaric moved quickly. He stepped off the roadside and slipped through a narrow gap in the wall, partially concealed by thick trees.

His footsteps were nearly soundless as he entered the castle grounds. The grass around him was neat and freshly cut, as if a gardener had just been there. The closer he got, the more he felt the quiet grandeur radiating from the structure.

Finally, he pushed open a side door that was left slightly ajar. A soft click echoed as he slipped inside and shut it behind him.

He paused for a long moment, eyes scanning the space. His gaze widened.

"This… looks like an actual palace."

The interior far exceeded anything he had expected. The floor gleamed with polished white marble, crystal chandeliers sparkled high above, casting shimmering light in all directions. The walls were adorned with classical paintings, marble statues lined the halls, and a red carpet stretched endlessly across the floor.

He walked forward, his footsteps echoing faintly in the vast space. There were so many corridors and rooms that Alaric wasn't sure which direction to go. To the right, a row of closed doors stretched down what looked like a hallway of private chambers. At the far end, a long corridor led into the deeper parts of the castle.

But something else caught his eye. A grand hall at the center, its doors half-open. From the gap, a soft golden glow spilled out.

Alaric stepped inside.

The hall was enormous, far larger than he had anticipated. Its ceiling soared above, covered in intricate carvings in gold and black. At the front of the hall stood a large stage, almost like a royal throne room. And that was where Alaric's eyes landed. On five grand chairs arranged in a half-circle.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.