The sky was darkening as Linggis walked slowly along the city streets, the cane in his right hand tapping against the pavement in a relaxed rhythm. With his head still wrapped in bandages, he seemed unfazed by the fading bustle of the city as night approached. His face remained as expressionless as ever, though his sharp gaze scanned every corner.
After a few minutes, he stopped in front of a narrow alley. Linggis glanced left and right, making sure no one was watching. Once he felt safe enough, he stepped into the alley. The place was dark and damp, illuminated only by the faint glow of a distant streetlamp.
He approached a round manhole cover on the ground. With precise yet calm movements, he began to lift the cover. As the black circle opened, dim light from below seeped through. Before he could go any further, the sound of footsteps echoed behind him.
"SWOOSH!" A shadow dropped down from above, landing gracefully behind him. A light chuckle followed.
"So this is what you're doing now? Hiding underground like a rat?"
Linggis didn't turn around. He let out a long sigh, recognizing the voice. "Hunter Sola. I didn't expect you to have time to follow a 'former fugitive' like me."
Sola, a Rank 2 Hunter, was a woman with long blonde hair tied back. She stood with a casual smile, clad in light armor that accentuated her agility and confidence.
"Hiding? Don't get me wrong," Sola replied in a teasing tone. "I was just curious, Linggis. You're too interesting to ignore. And now, I know your secret—you have a base underground."
Before Linggis could respond, another set of footsteps approached. Two women emerged from the end of the alley, one of them being Elyssia, a Rank 1 Hunter. She walked toward them with a composed demeanor, accompanied by a younger hunter—a girl with short black hair. The girl seemed shy, standing slightly behind Elyssia.
"Linggis," Elyssia called out, her voice firm yet respectful. "We're not here to fight. We just want to talk."
Linggis finally turned his head slightly, his face still unreadable. "Talk? How amusing. Do hunters have no etiquette anymore? Following someone without permission, intruding into their personal affairs… Is that what you call talking?"
Sola chuckled. "Don't be so harsh, Linggis. We just want to know you better. The world already knows you're not a threat, but I want to understand who you really are."
Linggis met Sola's gaze coldly before shifting his eyes to Elyssia. "I stopped being a hunter three years ago when all of you hunted me like an animal. Don't treat me like I'm still one of you."
Elyssia sighed. "We know you're no longer a hunter, and I respect your decision. But there's something we need to discuss, something that involves the threat of the Demon King. You know more than we expected."
Linggis narrowed his eyes, then glanced at the open manhole before him. "My base, huh? You think this is some grand hideout? It's just a small entrance to the underworld. Nothing special."
Sola stepped forward, arms crossed over her chest. "You wouldn't be hiding underground without a good reason. What are you really hiding, Linggis?"
Linggis tapped his cane against the ground in a slow rhythm, the sound echoing through the narrow alley. "There's nothing I need from you. And if you must know, I'm not hiding anything except myself. You already know I'm innocent, don't you? So why keep bothering me?"
The young girl behind Elyssia finally gathered the courage to speak, her voice quiet but filled with curiosity. "We don't want to bother you… We just need to make sure that… you're not working with the Demon King."
Linggis shot her a cold stare, making her take a small step back. "Working with the Demon King? If I were, you'd all be dead by now."
Elyssia stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. "We're not here to accuse you, Linggis. We just need answers. This world is on the brink of collapse, and you hold information that could save it."
Linggis was silent for a moment, his unreadable gaze shifting between them. Finally, he let out a long sigh, his shoulders relaxing. "You came all this way just to ask something this foolish? Fine. But I can't guarantee you'll like my answer."
With a swift motion, Linggis leaped into the open manhole, disappearing into the darkness without another word. Elyssia, Sola, and the young girl exchanged glances, their confusion deepening along with their curiosity about the secrets Linggis was hiding.