Before Jack could continue speaking, we heard the sound of a bell. It was like a death knell
announcing the end of something. Fear crept into my chest with an intensity I had never felt before; even when they forced us to stand and follow them, my legs couldn't support my body. It felt as though they were no longer under my control. I began to tremble violently and hysterically.
Moments later, we were ordered to form pairs. I was accompanied by a girl named "Ana." She said to me with a faint smile:
• "Hi."
I responded with a silent nod.
• "I know this isn't the best time to introduce ourselves, but... Wait, what's wrong with you?"
• "What? Nothing... It's just that I seem to be scared of the sound of gunfire."
• "It seems like you're having a hard time."
I nodded again.
• "My name is Ana, and you?"
• "Hana."
• "Then let's stick together."
I was surprised by her words, but I didn't have time to think about it as we heard the guard Jack:
• "Hurry up! Head to the grand hall!"
We went straight to the hall after passing through a long corridor that seemed to have been built in the Victorian era. The grand hall was incredibly massive, as if it could hold half of the globe. After a few minutes, a large crowd from various rooms gathered, each room having its own row. Oddly, one of the rows contained only five people, and this scene seemed suspicious, possibly the cause of the gunshots we had heard.
A man in his twenties, with brown hair and blue eyes, entered in front of us. His face resembled the ideal model for every girl in this world, but unfortunately, he was not my type. Beautiful men are often smart and troublemakers, and I don't like that type.
• "Hello, you unrefined minds!"
Everyone remained silent.
• "Well, it seems there are some issues. I didn't want to welcome you this way. I am Hyori, an advisor. Perhaps it is permissible to say this here, but I am an advisor for the Mafia, the most famous mafia in the world. Now, let's get to the main reason you are here: You will be our guinea pigs."
When I heard those words, my legs collapsed, and I couldn't stand anymore. I felt fear and panic.
Hyori looked around, puzzled by my disappearance among the crowd, but the truth was that I hadn't disappeared; I was sitting on the floor among the people. This was shocking to me and to the fifteen others with me. The reasons for sitting were:
• First: My legs collapsed due to fear.
• Second: I didn't want Hyori to see me.
But unfortunately, I brought trouble upon myself. Hyori's curiosity was piqued by my condition, and he began searching for me.
• "Who is missing there?"
Everyone noticed Hyori's focus on me, and they moved away, leaving me alone in my place. I wasn't surprised; fear had overtaken everyone.
• "Hey... you girl."
I looked at him after he called me. The bigger problem was that he was approaching me. I thought to myself:
"Ugh, what should I do now? Go away, you ugly face... go away, you scoundrel."