The group, weary and desperate, continued their search. The streets were eerily quiet, only the soft sound of their footsteps echoing through the dimly lit road. As they turned a corner, they spotted an old man sitting on a worn bench, a twisted grin plastered on his wrinkled face. Joshua, hoping for a lead, approached him cautiously.
"Excuse me, sir," Joshua said, his tone polite but firm. "Have you seen a teenage boy and his mother around here? Their names are Asher and Elara Starline."
The old man's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with something dark. "Perhaps I have," he replied, his voice slow and menacing. "But… what would you trade for that information?"
Joshua furrowed his brow in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
The old man chuckled, his gaze shifting to Mika, who was clinging closer to Bran. "What about that pretty little girl there? She'd make a nice trade."
Mika tensed, her grip on Bran tightening, her body trembling with fear. Bran's face darkened, his protective instinct flaring as he stepped in front of her, blocking the old man's view. Joshua's eyes turned cold, a quiet fury burning behind them. Without a word, he reached into his coat and pulled out his wallet, removing all of his identification and cards. Joshua was a pharmacist, and the thick stack of cash in his wallet reflected his hard-earned income.
"Take this," Joshua said, thrusting the wallet toward the old man. "It should be enough."
The old man's eyes gleamed greedily as he took the wallet, but his gaze never left Mika, his lips curling into a grotesque smirk as he licked them hungrily.
Joshua's voice dropped, filled with quiet menace. "Don't even think about it."
The old man slowly opened the wallet, counting the money inside. After a long pause, he spoke, still eyeing Mika. "I saw that Captain Kael with a teenage boy and a fine-looking woman. They fit the description you gave."
Joshua turned to leave, relieved to have some kind of lead. But as he did, he heard a faint shuffle behind him. The old man had pulled out a knife, ready to strike. Without even looking back, Joshua swiftly knocked the man out cold with a single, powerful strike, his reflexes sharp as ever.
He bent down, retrieving his wallet from the unconscious man, a look of disgust crossing his face. "Let's go," Joshua muttered, his voice tight with barely contained anger. Bran and Mika quickly followed, Mika still shaken from the encounter but grateful for Joshua's swift action.
Meanwhile, back at the Squad Zero medical wing, Vice Captain Liora stood over Elara's bed, her healing abilities having mended most of Elara's injuries. Elara stirred, her eyes fluttering open weakly as she tried to lift herself up, her voice barely a whisper.
"Where… where's my son?" Elara asked, her voice filled with a mother's desperate worry.
Liora, who had been quietly tending to her patient, sighed. Dressed in casual clothes that resembled Mika's usual style—a large T-shirt and shorts—she looked almost like a younger woman out of place in the serious, clinical setting. Although clearly annoyed, she hid it well, maintaining a calm demeanor. In the sweetest, most soothing voice she could muster, Liora leaned closer to Elara.
"Don't worry, ma'am," Liora said softly. "Just rest. You'll see him soon, I promise."
As she spoke, Liora discreetly increased the anesthetic levels, ensuring Elara drifted back into sleep. The last thing she needed was the woman panicking or worsening her condition. As Elara's breathing steadied, Liora stood up, her crimson eyes glinting with quiet contemplation.
Back in the dark streets of the Delta region, the search for Asher continued, but now with renewed urgency. Joshua's mind raced as they moved, his heart heavy with the knowledge of who had Asher and Elara. Captain Kael.