"What?!"
The statement fell like an iron hammer on everyone's mind.
What was going to happen to them? Just as they were about to ask once more, the man had left. However, even he might not have known the answer to that question.
Although they were still scared shitless, the more important news drowned out that one. After all, they were still alive and well. What was there to complain?
If Dandelion house establishment, their owners, were to be abolished, would that mean their slave status will be lifted? Perhaps, they will now be adopted by that man? And grow up to be powerful and mysterious just like him? Maybe, they can also become the main character in the fairy tales? Was this their fresh start?
The children were faintly excited.
With the exception of one - Nyurta. He, out of the five, had been the most to bear the brunt of the spiritual attack. He was just inches away from getting possessed and, in Nyurta's mind: just moments away from dying.
He was not that hopeful for a new journey.
What he needed was to find that man!
'What if the ghost attacks again?! I mean, it was my fault for playing that game but still...' A cold shiver ran down his back. In his mind, the game had never produced that result before.
Why would it now?
This was likely not because of the game.
'That man must know the reason!' desire to search welled up in Nyurta's mind.
However, he was still fearful. It was going to be night time soon. If he wasn't sleeping, he would be punished heavily. 'Well... is this chance going to appear again?' thinking so, Nyurta decided to sneak out.
He had to be back before the guards counted heads though. Otherwise, severe whiplashes would await him. But, Nyurta wasn't thinking of doing that.
He was betting... on the chance that they wouldn't count today!
With all the fuss that god-like phenomena created, the people might just be too disorganized and lacking in manpower to care about them. They might have a quick glance, and that would be the end of it.
The day was ending and night quickly approached.
...
"NIGHT TIME! EVERYONE SHOULD BE IN THEIR BEDS" a loud burly voice shouted, as the door opened with a loud creak. Inside the room, darkness prevailed. There were some dim lamps, but they didn't illuminate much.
In contrast, the lamp of the man who just came in was lit brightly. It showed the man's body.
Bear-like.
However, it was a new face. His face didn't have the same big scar as the man from before.
The bear-like man went over the beds and glanced over their beds. The kids were asleep. Or at least, in their beds with eyes closed.
Finally, the man stopped before Nyurta's bed. He first glanced at the bed opposite of Nyurta. The kid there was in their bed. Then, he looked at Nyurta's. As it was in the corner, plus with no lamps, not even a dimly lit one, it looked very dark.
Right beside, Jack was lying nervously. Even though his eyes were closed, his legs and body seemed to shake. Sweat was coming out of his back.
When he heard Nyurta's plan, he had been shocked! God! How could this kid suggest something this rebellious! Did he not know he would almost be killed if he was caught?!
These people didn't care about them! Did Nyurta not see the last time when a big scar was etched across a kid's back?! Did he, Jack, not tell him about the horrors?!
Right now, he could only pray for Nyurta's sake. Hope he doesn't get caught.
Right at this time, a sound echoed in the silent room. "Hmm?"
The man said as he looked at Nyurta's bed.
Now, Jack was sweating buckets. His blanked even seemed a bit sticky and damp at this point. Jack wanted to turn his body. To distract the man even a little bit. So that he doesn't notice that on the bed, under the blanket, was not Nyurta, but instead just Jack's pillow!
However, he couldn't move. He was frozen with fear.
"Please don't notice..." Jack's eyes shut tightly and prayed.
"Ahh..."
"Ahh..."
"Atchoo!" a loud sneeze that could wake anyone up came from the man. It sounded like a mini explosion.
"Damned bunker.. so old and so dusty" the man cursed before walking away.
"Phewww..." relief overcame Jack. Now, he only had to pray that Nyurta didn't get caught outside. If Nyurta did, he might get implicated. Who could explain Jack's pillow substituting for Nyurta?
...
Outside, Nyurta had already entered the building. Unsurprisingly, there were no locks on the door. Nor any people guarding them.
After entering, the familiar stench of cheap perfume and slight dirt and dust from the outside entered his nose.
'No one in the corridor, that's good'. Nyurta carefully navigated the place. From working here, he had gotten a general grasp on its structure.
Well, he only knew about the rooms designed for brothel activities. Further inside, and not to mention the 2nd floor and upwards, he knew nothing.
Perhaps, this expedition was just based solely on hopeful wishes and slight belief in finding the man.
He had moved too drastically for just a slight chance. Where even was the man now?
Well, it was no use thinking about that now. The door to the sleg had been locked by now. Even if he wanted to return, there was no way back. He can only go all in at this point.
'Bye bye sleg, the brothel. Bye bye Jack, Yuri, Ruri... Bye bye Erika.' Nyurta closed his eyes in memory.
Then, he took a step forward.
Into the looming corridor, illuminated with red lights. It was slightly dark. With doors on the sides, perhaps referencing the countless opportunities and side paths in one's journey.
However, the path forward seemed the most desirable. It was what his mind told him.
Even thinking logically, would the investigation go to the brothel rooms? Maybe it can - but - it is most likely to have started somewhere else: around the higher ups' room.
Unfortunately, luck didn't go Nyurta's way. He could hear footsteps approaching. It wasn't fast nor slow, but it had no intention of stopping. If not for the loud steps, the person might have already spotted Nyurta.
Nyurta quickly had to hide!
After stumbling and trying to open the brothel doors - to no avail, he had to find another way. Or, he had to go back and exit through the door. Well, that was also a bad choice. Firstly, he didn't want to return without accomplishing anything.
Second, a supervisor was sure to be coming from checking the sleg. If he was caught, he could imagine his miserable future. If he went back now... he might just be sandwiched between the two!
Then, a bold idea struck his mind. Being nervous for a while, he quickly went forward. That was the only choice. The brothel rooms had all been locked after all. In this long and straight corridor, it wouldn't be long before the light illuminates him.
After running as quiet as he can, Nyurta suddenly turned and opened the door.
Two sinks were on the left. Wooden walls not tall enough to reach the ceiling divided the room. This was the bathroom, and Nyurta quickly found his way inside one of the stalls. The smell was not that pleasant, but not as bad as the sleg.
He held his breath and waited, but after a while, the sound of the door opening entered his ears. Someone had entered the toilet!
Who knew the man was aiming towards here.
Nyurta's heart beat madly, and his pulse rate had increased greatly.
If he was to be discovered now, he was as good as dead!
Any sane person would be anxious towards the future. Nyurta was no different.
However, this also gave birth to something in his mind. In this chaotic moment where he was risking it all, Nyurta seemed to enjoy the feeling. The feeling of everything on the line!
He might just lose it all at this moment. And the reward for risking it?
Close to none. Whether he would see that man was still questionable...