James kept his head lowered, his tone laden with guilt. "My deepest apologies, Young Master. I underestimated the target's capabilities, and it cost us the mission."
"Hmph! Underestimated? No, you're just getting old and losing your edge! I should've sent someone else for the job!" Leon's frustration erupted into anger.
James held back his retort. It was true—age had dulled his edge. But Cain's sudden and inexplicable surge in strength, combined with his bizarre abilities, had been beyond anything James could have anticipated.
Still, failure was failure. He had no choice but to stand in silence and take the brunt of Leon's fury.
After venting his frustrations, Leon's demeanor softened. Watching James—stoic, unyielding, and loyal—standing there like a scolded elder, stirred a pang of guilt in Leon.
James had been like an uncle to him, a constant figure who had guided and cared for him since childhood. He was one of the few people Leon genuinely trusted, even more so than his own family.
With a sigh, Leon relented. "Forget it. At least tell me you can find him."
"I know enough to find him, Young Master. Rest assured, I won't fail you again." James's voice was steady, filled with the resolve of a man determined to atone for his mistakes.
"Good. You'll have one more chance. Use outsider again, this must stay away from internal channels."
"Understood. I'll make arrangements immediately." James nodded firmly, eager to rectify his failure.
"Then go. And don't let me down again."
James exited the room, his face etched with tension. While he had Cain's first name and his appearance, that alone wasn't enough to track someone down in a city as massive as Fith City, where there were likely tens of thousands named Cain.
Still, James had leads—Cain's face and demeanor were unique. It was a start.
Cain, meanwhile, was holed up in a dingy, run-down motel in a seedy part of the city. His room overlooked a shadowy alley, where muffled arguments and distant sirens served as a grim urban lullaby.
Standing by the window, Cain tried to piece together fragments of tonight's events, but his memories were frustratingly incomplete.
"I can't keep going like this," he muttered. "I need to figure out how to control my totem. Fast."
Those fights replayed in his mind, filling him with unease. His lack of proper combat skills and overreliance on his totem's erratic powers had left him exposed.
And he knew James wouldn't let him off so easily.
Had Baiden revealed any of his personal information to James? If so, Cain's new identity wouldn't hold up, and hiding would be futile. The thought gnawed at him, spurring a growing sense of urgency.
If he wanted to survive, he needed to train. Properly.
That realization kept him awake through the night.
At dawn, Cain contacted Michael, hoping for some good news. Michael explained that a family emergency had come up and he couldn't come to help in person. However, he had bought Cain a "Teleportation Ticket" so he could use the teleportation hub to return safely.
Cain was overwhelmed by Michael's generosity. A single Teleportation Ticket cost at least 200 EC, a luxury far beyond what most people could afford.
To ordinary citizens, travel by airship or ground transit was the norm. Teleportation was reserved for the wealthy or influential.
Michael insisted that Cain keep him updated on his situation and even sent an additional EC card loaded with 200 EC. Cain's gratitude deepened. Michael was more than a friend—he was a lifeline.
Cain collected the Teleport Ticket from a nearby convenience terminal and decided to grab lunch before heading to the teleportation hub. He stumbled upon a "McDano's," a fast-food chain that brought back memories of simpler times.
He recalled taking his younger siblings, Luke and Lily, out for meals. McDano's had been their favorite spot, and they had always begged to go there on weekends.
"Been a while," Cain muttered to himself, a faint smile forming as he walked in.
The restaurant was now fully automated, staffed entirely by robots. The food, however, was healthier and tastier than it had been in the past, while remaining affordable.
Cain ordered a family meal and ate alone in a corner, savoring each bite. The time he'd spent in Black Mountain Prison had left him unaccustomed to full meals. This wasn't a feast, but it felt like one to him.
After lunch, Cain wandered through a nearby park while waiting for his Teleport time. The sight of children playing with mechanical pets rekindled bittersweet memories.
Luke had always wanted a robotic dog, a wish Cain had worked tirelessly to save for.
But his younger sister, Lily, had a far more extraordinary wish—she wanted a "dragon" as her pet.
And Cain simply couldn't fulfill her wish.
It wasn't because dragons didn't exist; it was precisely because they were real.
Dragons are creatures with mythical power. Even the weakest of their kind possessed power beyond human comprehension.
Earth's current level of technology—hovering just below the threshold of a Type 1 Civilization—could barely contend with the might of a dragon. It would take advanced weaponry and astronomical resources to defeat even a lesser dragon.
Such dreams had been unattainable for Cain then. They were still out of reach now.
As Cain's teleport time approached, he entered the teleportation hub—a gleaming monument to futuristic design. The sleek interior and orderly queues were reminiscent of an airport, but far more advanced.
Cain presented his ID at the checkpoint, but instead of the usual confirmation, an alarm blared.
A pit formed in his stomach. Had Baiden gave him a fake ID?
"Sir," the attendant said cautiously, "there seems to be an issue with your ticket. Please follow us to the area, where we can sort this out."
Cain didn't respond immediately. He pocketed his ID, and was then escorted to a designated waiting area.
He scanned the area. As expected, several men in black suits were closing in on him.
Their uniforms bore an uncanny resemblance to the ones James's henchmen had worn the night before.
It wasn't the ID. This was a trap!