Elric stared at the building before him.
This was the hideout of the Wild Dog gang, a place that sheltered many psychics.
But lately, he had been living a life on the run.
The frequent appearance of the Blackstone patrols filled him with unease and fear.
Every time he showed up somewhere, the Blackstone guards would appear shortly after, giving him no peace.
Elric wanted to deal with this cursed gang before leaving Blackstone City to become a sigilist.
Even though he had some understanding of sigils, Calista had never taught him how to truly become one.
Taking a deep breath, Elric made up his mind.
He needed to deal with the Wild Dog gang before the Blackstone guards arrived.
He quickly vaulted over the wall and landed nimbly in a tree nearby, hiding in the leaves.
From there, he quietly observed the gang members below.
He noticed that there weren't many people around, probably because many had gone to eat at this time.
Elric felt a surge of relief; the situation seemed to be working in his favor.
After carefully watching for a while and confirming there were only a few people, he prepared to make his move.
Just as he was about to act, he stopped in his tracks.
His sharp instincts once again sensed danger approaching, a wave of frustration rising within him.
These Blackstone guards were as annoying as flies, always showing up whenever he was about to make a move, constantly pursuing him without pause.
With a sigh of frustration, Elric realized he had no choice but to abandon his plan.
"Looks like I can't deal with the Wild Dog gang this time..."
He swiftly turned and silently slipped away as if he had never been there.
...
Since Keynes broke into Blackstone City, the entire city had been shrouded in tension and unease.
Every day, the streets were tightly patrolled by Blackstone's soldiers, always on high alert.
Even the once-arrogant gangs had quieted down, their claws and fangs tucked away in fear.
Whenever someone stepped onto the street, the patrol would immediately stop them for questioning, and the entire city was locked down under strict control.
During this time, Elric had barely been able to sleep.
He had developed the habit of keeping one eye closed while the other stayed alert, his ears always attuned to the slightest sound outside.
His mind was worn out from the constant strain.
He wanted to escape from Blackstone City, but all four gates were under heavy guard.
Anyone attempting to leave was subjected to intense questioning, and without a valid reason, no one was allowed to pass.
Given the current situation, escaping seemed impossible.
Under such pressure, Elric had no choice but to hide in the shadows, biding his time.
He couldn't even think about revenge; simply getting enough to eat had become a challenge.
Since that day, he felt his body hadn't fully recovered, and his medicine had run out.
After thinking for a while, he finally came up with an idea. He knew where he could get some medicine.
With the sun setting, Elric decided not to waste any more time and moved quickly.
He climbed to the rooftops and cautiously made his way toward the Stone Forest Apothecary from above.
Reaching the roof of the apothecary, Elric knew better than to risk going through the front door.
He lay flat on the roof, preparing to sneak in through the back.
Just as he was about to climb down, he froze.
He spotted a fat man creeping toward the back door of the apothecary, knocking lightly in a rhythm, as if signaling a secret code.
The fat man looked incredibly nervous, as if terrified of being caught.
Elric recognized the fat man.
This was the same person who had delivered the mysterious stone disc to him the last time.
He hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now it was clear that this man was hiding something.
The back door quickly opened, and the fat man hurried inside before the door shut quietly behind him.
A sense of unease and curiosity stirred within Elric.
What was that fat man up to?
Elric quietly slid down from the roof and approached the apothecary's back door.
Taking two metal wires from his spatial ring, he quickly picked the lock.
Gently pushing the door open, he slipped inside and quietly closed it behind him.
Hiding in the shadows, he strained to hear the conversation inside.
"General Keynes has failed.
I can't even step outside now; the Blackstone patrols are becoming more frequent," the fat man said, his voice filled with anxiety.
"All those hiding in Blackstone City have been captured.
Now, it's just the few of us left, and I fear my cover will soon be blown."
Elric furrowed his brows, a question flashing through his mind.
The "General Keynes" the fat man mentioned—could it be the blond youth he saw earlier?
His suspicions grew, but he suppressed them for the moment, focusing on listening to the conversation.
"I've been on edge every day," the apothecary clerk replied, equally anxious.
"I've burned all the classified documents, terrified the Blackstone patrols will find them.
"A few days ago, 'Wasp' sent a letter, saying someone would be coming soon. But so far, no one has arrived. Maybe they were captured."
Elric's heart raced.
Were there so many spies hidden in Blackstone City?
"What was the codename of the person Wasp mentioned?" the fat man asked.
"They were called 'the child.' From what Wasp told me, it really is a child who's been undercover here for years," the clerk answered.
Elric held his breath in the darkness, a bold idea suddenly forming in his mind.
Maybe he could use this spy identity as cover to help him escape Blackstone City.
"Tonight is our last chance.
We have to act now; we can't wait any longer.
If we delay any more, our identities might be exposed," the clerk said, his voice tired but determined.
"How are you planning to get out?" the fat man asked.
"I've prepared permits, claiming we're going out to restock medicine. The cart is already ready."
"Is it reliable?" the fat man asked, sounding skeptical.
"I paid a high price for those permits. Don't worry."
Just as the fat man was about to respond, a knock came at the back door, causing the atmosphere to immediately tense.
The knocking had a rhythm to it, like a secret signal.
Both the fat man and the clerk exchanged nervous glances, quickly heading toward the door.
"Who is it?" the clerk asked, his voice tense.
The voice from outside was raspy, clearly a child's voice, and deliberately kept low.
"Wasp. Child."
The fat man and the clerk exchanged another look, their expressions filled with doubt.
The fat man hesitated for a moment before nodding to the clerk to open the door.
Taking a deep breath, the clerk carefully opened the door.
When the door swung fully open, they saw a black-haired child standing in the doorway.
Their faces immediately froze in shock, their eyes filled with surprise.
Because the child standing before them was Elric.