Something had changed.
As Ethan traversed the lengthy tunnel, he could finally affirm this.
It wasn't just the sudden appearance of the murals, which felt malevolent, reminiscent of the style found inside ancient Egyptian pyramids, making Ethan hesitant to look closely.
It was the sense of everything else feeling altered, unfamiliar.
This peculiar sensation puzzled him. Despite traversing the same connecting tunnel and emerging into the same cramped space, even the large hole he had created in the wall remained, yet everything felt starkly different, imbued with a strong sense of dissonance.
"It's as if I've stepped into another world, why does this all feel so unfamiliar to me?" Ethan murmured, frowning. He tried to link his recent experiences in the underground space with this inexplicable sense of alienation but couldn't find any logical explanation.
Stepping through the large hole in the wall he had previously damaged, Ethan returned to the dimly lit old house, still enveloped in darkness and silence, with slivers of light cutting through the windows yet seemingly absorbed, casting an even more sinister shadow over everything.
Exiting the house, the old wooden door creaked unpleasantly, but no one outside responded.
Ethan stepped out quickly, scanning his surroundings, only to notice a subtle change in the outside world compared to when he had left:
Though the streets and buildings remained the same, the sunlight seemed to have lost its warmth, the entire environment was covered in a thin layer of gray haze, as if shrouded in mist, making everything appear dimmer.
Rubbing his eyes to clear his vision, Ethan noticed the mist seemed to vanish.
"Relax, it might just be due to winter, the days in London get darker so much earlier during the winter time." Ethan reassured himself, gripping the iron shovel tighter in his hand.
However, when he looked for traces of the cleaner, he discovered a trail of fresh blood, causing his heart to sink.
The blood was fresh, vibrant in color, seemingly left not long ago. This instantly put Ethan on high alert, moving as quietly as possible, sticking close to the walls of the old house.
Suddenly, several individuals clad in black coats emerged from the shadows. Their uniform attire, consisting of black coats over dark pants and shoes, topped with low brim hats and black masks revealing only a pair of indifferent eyes, was quite unusual even for a city like London, resembling more the appearance of agents from a movie or members of some secret organization.
Noticing the ancient scroll in Ethan's hands, their demeanor unexpectedly softened, slowing their pace as if wishing to converse with Ethan.
"Sir, that scroll in your hands appears to be very valuable," the lead black-coated individual spoke calmly, "We are willing to offer a fair price for it. Trust me, the price will satisfy you."
Ethan watched them warily, his heart pounding, given their bizarre appearance.
"Who are you? This is my house, what are you doing here?" Ethan clutched the scroll tightly, unswayed by their seemingly friendly attitude.
"Don't be nervous, we mean no harm," said one of the men in black, opening his hands to show they were empty, trying to put Ethan at ease. "We are here on behalf of our employer, looking for antiques. That scroll you have is one of them. Where did you find it?"
"And who is your employer? Why would they know there's a scroll here? As a courtesy, I think you should introduce yourselves more thoroughly, that would show some sincerity," Ethan didn't naively answer their question.
"I apologize, we were impolite," the leading man in black stepped forward, removing his hat and mask.
Revealing a face marked by the scars of time, battle scars prominently displayed, but what caught Ethan's attention was the sun tattoo on his cheek. The tattoo was intricate, with interlocking lines and peculiar symbols in the center, somewhat resembling the patterns on the scroll Ethan held.
The man's gaze was firm, exuding confidence and ruthlessness. His build was large and muscular, suggesting he was an experienced mercenary.
"My name is Carlos," the man said in a deep voice, "My employer represents an organization deeply interested in ancient artifacts. We believe the scroll you hold is of significant value to our research."
The sun tattoo on Carlos's face seemed to come alive under certain lighting, giving off the impression of dancing flames. This tattoo instilled a foreboding feeling in Ethan, hinting at some hidden power.
"We don't wish to be adversaries, Ethan," Carlos continued, "We merely want to study the scroll. Of course, we're willing to pay appropriately for it."
Ethan remained vigilant. He knew the man before him and his organization were far from ordinary. The connection between the sun tattoo and the scroll further fueled his curiosity and apprehension.
"Are you truly just interested in studying the scroll?" Ethan asked tentatively. "Not about silencing me?"
"I assure you of your safety," Carlos smiled slightly, "We are very interested in any items that may conceal ancient knowledge and power. The contents of the scroll could very well be the key to unlocking a new world for us."
Ethan gripped the scroll tighter, sensing a genuine interest from the other party, but still uncertain, especially with the cleaner's whereabouts unknown.
"Have you seen my cleaner? Where is he?" Ethan probed further.
Carlos and his men exchanged glances, seemingly surprised Ethan would mention the cleaner.
"The cleaner? Oh, you mean the person supposed to work here? We just asked him to leave earlier, as we had more important matters to discuss with you," Carlos's tone was reassuring and convincing.
"Regarding the scroll, we are truly interested. How about this, I have a blank check here from our employer's account at HSBC, just fill in whatever amount you desire, okay?"
Ethan was genuinely tempted; the blank check could secure a comfortable, prosperous life for him. If he hadn't seen the bloodstain, he might have believed their words. He was aware that if these individuals couldn't obtain the scroll, they might resort to more drastic measures.
But how could he safely extricate himself from this situation?
"How about this, you give me an address, then leave. I'll deliver the scroll to you, how's that?" Ethan, fearing the same fate as the cleaner, began to seek a way out.
"That works, I'll write down an address," Carlos surprisingly agreed, catching Ethan off guard.
However, instead of producing a pen, Carlos drew a gun!
Without hesitation, he aimed directly at Ethan.