Akin slowly regained consciousness, opening his eyes only to see an enormous face looming over him, which made his heart skip a beat. Then he heard an older man's voice.
"So, you're one of the survivors from Madison's orphanage, huh?" Old Man Michael asked, leaning back in his chair.
It started to dawn on Akin where he was, but as he tried to respond, he realized his mouth was tied with cloth. He was kneeling, his hands and legs bound tightly by chains that connected to the wall.
"What the hell? Where am I, and who are these people?" Akin thought, panicking as he struggled to break free.
"I advise you to stay still, young boy," Michael commanded coldly.
Akin glanced at Michael, noting his black uniform adorned with various medals and a nameplate.
The old man sat with his legs crossed, exuding an air of authority. Behind him stood Stanley, who was glaring at Akin, and Eddie, who looked on with a calm demeanor. Yuri, a woman with bobbed red hair, sat on a nearby table, legs crossed and wearing a faint smile.
Just then, Akin remembered Hickson and began thrashing against his restraints, trying to scream.
"Go on, let him speak,"
Micheal said.
"Where is Hickson?!" Akin yelled immediately.
"Can't you see?" Yuri replied coldly, gesturing dismissively toward the wall.
Akin's eyes widened as he saw Hickson chained to the wall, blood dripping from his body, his figure wrapped in chains nailed to the surface.
"You all didn't..." Akin's voice turned dark, rage simmering as he took in the sight of Hickson's suffering.
He felt a strength surge through him, snapping his own chains effortlessly as he prepared to charge toward Hickson.
"Take one more step, and you're a goner!" Yuri warned, her tone menacing. She and Eddie instantly poise around akin, glaring with fierce intent.
Yuri held a dangerously hot, poison-tipped dagger to Akin's throat, as a single drop of blood trickled down. Eddie blocked his path to Hickson, glaring coldly.
"Alright, that's enough. We don't want him hating us now, do we?" Stanley clapped his hands, drawing Yuri and Eddie's attention as he tried to defuse the sudden tension.
"He's right," Michael interjected calmly, casting a glance at Yuri and Eddie, who still stood close to Akin.
"Akin, is it? Tell me exactly what happened!" Michael said, his tone steady. "Since you claim the three of you had no involvement in the massacre?"
Akin hesitated, glancing over to see Hickson being released from his chains. He relaxed slightly but remained wary of those around him.
"Who the hell are these people anyway?" he thought, keeping his guard up.
Reluctantly, Akin began recounting what he witnessed at the orphanage, with attitude clearly evident of him in displeasure of his situation as he carefully omitting any mention of Lotanna and Lady Lisa deaths.
"Now, can we be released?" Akin demanded, glaring defiantly at Michael.
"Do you realize the reality of the situation, young boy?" Michael asked as he stood up.
"Obviously," Akin thought, his confusion growing as he braced himself for whatever was coming.
Michael sighed, snapping his fingers. Akin tensed, but then noticed Eddie stepping back from him.
"How can we simply let you all go," Michael continued, his tone sharpening, "when you three are currently a threat to humanity?" His faint smile clashed with the menace in his gaze.
"Wait—what?" Akin asked, taken aback.
"Stanley, you know what to do," Michael said, turning away as he motioned for Eddie to take the unconscious Hickson and followed him out. Yuri cast a final, cold glance at Akin, her eyes conveying a silent warning with gesture of i got my eyes on you.
"Sheesh, she looks terrifying," Akin thought, glancing back at Yuri's menacing blue gaze fixed firmly on him.
As they left, Akin's attention shifted to Stanley, who casually took the chair Michael had just vacated, lounging in it with little regard for his elder, as if he owned the space between them.
"Hello there... let me officially introduce myself to you," Stanley began with a playful grin, his gaze fixed on Akin. "In a more... civilized setting, and not on the battlefield or amidst any of that other nonsense."
"I'm Stanley Hamza, and once again, nice to meet you." He finished with a colder tone, crossing his legs as his demeanor shifted subtly, a grin playing on his lips.
"What's up with this guy?" Akin thought, his face tightening in suspicion.
He was wary of Stanley's constantly shifting demeanor, sensing an unpredictability that kept him on edge.
"He's definitely different from before... then again, he was just toying with the inn possessing Hickson earlier," Akin mused, both cautious and slightly intrigued by Stanley's power.
"Same, I guess?" Akin replied nonchalantly, though a hint of admiration for Stanley's strength crept in, the recent clash with Feya still vivid in his mind.
"Though we started off on the wrong foot," Stanley began, "it's all about money, my boy... Seriously, if your account's almost empty, you know what you'd do in an instant—especially when you've got expenses like mine, you know?" Stanley continued, ranting as Akin looked on, now more confused about Stanley's personality, seeing his demeanor shift to something almost casual.
"Is he for real?" Akin thought, watching Stanley go on about money's importance.
"Though I also valued money myself, but his seemed downright obsessed."
Akin thought as Stanley continued with his rants on money.
"Don't you dare judge me with that look of yours," Stanley said, catching Akin's skeptical expression.
"You know it's important too. You were scamming people, claiming to cast inns out of their homes." Stanley pointed at Akin, aware that he had been assigned to arrest the so-called scammer who charged people for 'casting' inns—only to encounter Akin yesterday, hustling for extra cash at the fight arena.
"And don't dare lie to me, because we have your criminal report from your victims."
"Sheesh."
Akin remarks nonchalantly.
"Anyway," Stanley's tone suddenly shifted, becoming serious, "let's get to the point."
Akin's heart sank at Stanley's words, feeling a chill as Stanley's gaze turned cold despite the faint smile on his face.
"From now on, you should start worrying about yourself," Stanley said, tapping Akin's forehead with his index finger.
Akin looked at him, confused and slightly fearful of Stanley's intimidating presence.
"Because you're also a threat to humanity, Akin."
"What are you talking about?" Akin asked, frustration rising. "How am I a threat to humanity? I'm a—"
Stanley cut him off. "Because you're an inn with a human body."
Stanley tilted his head slightly, his words clearly meant to unsettle Akin, who looked stunned at the accusation.
"I'm sure the inn that possessed your friend mentioned something about that," Stanley added, his tone cold as he leaned forward.
Uncrossing his legs, he pressed his foot firmly into the ground, causing a crack to spread across the floor toward where Akin was kneeling. Akin felt the ground shift under him, realizing the power Stanley held over him.
"In short," Stanley said, studying Akin's expression, "this meeting is to let you know you're marked to be killed."