After a few minutes, the sound of footsteps echoed from within the sewer opening. Linggis reemerged, holding his cane casually. He looked at them one by one with his usual blank expression.
"If you don't intend to attack me, just come in. But remember, I don't like guests who ask too many questions," he said coldly before turning around and stepping back into the hole without waiting for a response.
Elyssia, Sola, and the young girl exchanged glances before nodding and following him.
Linggis led them through narrow, dark, and cold corridors, with damp walls and small flickering lights. Their footsteps echoed in what felt like an underground labyrinth.
"You live in a place like this?" Sola asked, trying to break the silence.
"There are far worse places than this," Linggis replied without looking back. "And I'm not here for interior decoration."
After a while, they reached what appeared to be an ordinary wall. Linggis raised his cane and pressed a hidden button on the wall. "Click!" A mechanical sound echoed, and a hidden door slowly opened, revealing another corridor.
"Go in," Linggis ordered lazily, stepping in first.
Once everyone was inside, the door shut behind them with a "Clang!" making the atmosphere feel even more enclosed and silent. Linggis continued walking without much conversation, leading them deeper into the underground network.
Light chatter occurred during the walk. Sola tried to engage him in conversation, but Linggis' responses were always short and disinterested. Elyssia remained mostly silent, observing him closely. The young girl, looking nervous, tried to follow the conversation but mostly just listened.
After a long walk, they arrived at a steel hallway illuminated by dim lights. Linggis stopped in front of a large door with a small panel beside it. He typed something in, and the door opened with a mechanical sound.
The room beyond looked like both a living space and a workspace. A PC monitor sat on a wooden desk, displaying complex data. A work table cluttered with papers and a single phone stood nearby, while a small, neatly kept bed occupied one corner. Shelves filled with books lined the walls. Though simple, the room was clean and well-organized.
Sola stepped inside, scanning the room with curiosity. "So, this is your base? Not bad for someone living underground."
Linggis sat in his swivel chair, looking at them with a bored expression. "This isn't a 'base.' It's just a place where I sleep, work, and sometimes eat. Don't overanalyze it and call it a home."
Elyssia crossed her arms, her gaze serious. "You know, living in a public facility like this without permission could be considered illegal. How did you even set this place up?"
Linggis raised an eyebrow before letting out a small chuckle. "Illegal? Hah, do you think I had any other choice? Where else was I supposed to sleep? On the streets? Or maybe in the forest, like an animal? And before you call me a criminal, remember—I always paid my taxes on time before all this chaos happened. I built this place with my magic and my experience as a laborer."
Sola raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his sarcastic tone. "Oh, so you were once a law-abiding citizen?"
"Exactly," Linggis replied flatly. "But after becoming a fugitive, everything I owned was destroyed. My bank accounts were frozen. All my access to the outside world was cut off. I had no choice but to survive with what I had."
The young girl, who had remained silent all this time, finally gathered the courage to ask, "But… weren't you a hunter before? Weren't they paid well?"
Linggis scoffed and leaned back in his chair. "A hunter? Don't be naive. That's just a fancy job title. In reality, I was constantly discriminated against and exploited. From all the dangerous missions I took, I only got 20% of the payment. Meanwhile, inflation skyrocketed. My money was barely enough to pay for a cheap apartment and basic meals each month."
Sola looked genuinely surprised. "Seriously? You only got 20%? That's practically slavery."
Linggis stared at her sharply. "Welcome to reality. The system is designed for those at the top, not for those of us working in the field."
Elyssia seemed deep in thought for a moment. "Then why did you keep working as a hunter?"
Linggis let out a long sigh. "Because it was the only thing I could do at the time. Do you think I had many choices? I endured it because I didn't want to be a burden on the world. But in the end? The world still hunted me like a rabid dog. So, forgive me if I don't really care what you all think right now."
Silence filled the room, the only sound being the soft hum of the computer fan. Linggis' words left them speechless, trying to process everything he had been through.