After buying some necessities like salt and other household items, Cier realized he had spent all his money. But he wasn't worried. Tomorrow's promised work from Lily would surely bring in more than enough.
Leaving the market, he noticed the sun was already high in the sky, signaling noon. He hadn't expected his errands to take so long. Deciding to return home first, he retraced his steps.
As he walked past the area where Abel and his gang had beaten him, memories of the earlier humiliation came flooding back. His thoughts wavered. Should I wait until night or find them now? It would be safer at night... he mused.
But then, a sudden burst of determination surged within him. To hell with this hesitation! Even after gaining these powers, if I can't make decisions, what's the point of having them? With that thought, he resolved to act immediately.
Looking around, he spotted a large cloth hanging on a drying rope. Without hesitation, he grabbed it, tore a piece to tie around his face, and wrapped the rest around his body to disguise himself.
Then, with his disguise in place, Cier moved stealthily towards the brothel where Abel and his gang had gone. He kept to the shadows, ensuring he attracted no attention. Every step was calculated, his eyes scanning for any signs of trouble.
Reaching the brothel, he carefully circled to its backside. The noise and commotion from the front made it clear the place was busy, but Cier knew better than to walk through the main entrance. Instead, he relied on his newfound strength.
He began scaling the walls with surprising ease, his enhanced physique allowing him to grip and pull himself up swiftly. Occasionally, he used his threads to aid his ascent, wrapping them around ledges or protrusions for extra support.
Peeking through a window, he ensured the room was empty before slipping inside with silent precision. The dimly lit space was quiet, but the faint echoes of footsteps suddenly reached his ears.
Reacting instinctively, Cier moved to the backside of the door, positioning himself where he wouldn't be visible if it opened. His breathing slowed as he waited, his senses on high alert for what would come next.
After a few tense moments, the sound of footsteps grew louder, echoing through the corridor and stopping right outside the door. Cier braced himself.
The door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside, muttering under her breath, "Why do we have to serve those brutes, even when they don't pay a single copper?"
Cier stiffened. Her sudden arrival jeopardized his entire plan, and exposure was not an option. Acting swiftly, he extended a thread, attaching it to her head before she could turn or see him.
The woman froze, her eyes widening in terror as she realized her head was no longer under her control. Her movements were paralyzed, and she couldn't even scream for help. Panic set in, her breaths coming in short, sharp gasps.
Before she could attempt to retreat or cause a scene, Cier darted forward. Closing the door behind her with one hand, he wrapped his other arm firmly around her neck, holding her in place from behind. His grip was unyielding, his actions swift and calculated.
"Don't you dare move, or I'll snap your neck," Cier threatened, his voice low and muffled through the cloth.
"Raise your right hand if you understand," he continued, his grip firm enough to emphasize the danger.
The terrified woman immediately complied, her trembling right hand shooting upward in a panic.
"Good," Cier said coldly. "Now, I'm going to ask you some questions. Answer honestly, and don't make a sound. If you disobey, your body might stop working just like your head. Raise your right hand again if you understand."
The woman raised her hand again, her fear apparent in every movement.
"Are there any members of the Lizardborn gang in this brothel?" Cier asked, pretending to be uninformed as if he was simply seeking details.
With a mental command, he released the thread's control over her head, allowing her to speak. In a panicked and trembling voice, the woman stuttered, "Y-Yes, yes, sir! There are a few members of the Lizardborn gang here. They're led by a man named Abel, and the others are his underlings."
"Where are they?" Cier asked in a muffled voice.
"T-they are in the rooms on the leftmost corner of the floor above this," the woman stammered, her fear escalating.
"Good, now you can go."
"T-thank you si—" Before she could finish, Cier swiftly struck her neck, knocking her unconscious.
Picking up the woman, Cier quickly hid her under the bed, making sure she wouldn't be discovered. With swift and quiet movements, he made his way to the upper floor. The brothel, though bustling with activity on the lower floors, seemed eerily quiet on the upper levels. The presence of Abel and his Lizardborn gang members had ensured that this part of the brothel was much less frequented.
After reaching the third floor, he followed the direction the woman had given him and approached the leftmost room. As he neared, he could hear the clinking of glass and the murmurs of Abel's underlings coming from inside the room, signaling that his target was close.
Cier stood still, listening intently to the voices coming from within the room.
"Ah, boss should've taken us with him. We're just here enjoying drinks while he's enjoying Miss Jenny," one of the voices slurred, clearly inebriated.
"Shut up," another voice hissed. "If boss hears you saying that, we might be beaten badly."
"Yeah, I don't know about you, but this drink is enough for me," a third voice came, with a chuckle following his words.
"Yeah, I guess... but still, kinda boring, huh?" the first man still complained. "Just sitting here drinking while he's upstairs with Miss Jenny."
Cier narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening around the threads in his hand. He had no time for distractions. The underlings' careless chatter made it clear that Abel was nearby, and he couldn't afford to waste any more time.