Part Seventeen: No. 9062

Liam led the group from rooftop to rooftop, his movements swift and precise. The others followed closely, their steps steady and silent as they kept pace with him. Every so often, Liam glanced down at the streets below, his sharp eyes scanning for any signs of trouble. Ruya and Cracknut trailed behind him, their gazes occasionally flicking toward the other group as they moved. "I hope nothing goes wrong," Ruya muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps.

Hano, who followed a few steps behind, observed Ruya and Cracknut with her usual calm but piercing gaze. Her presence was quiet yet commanding, her sharp eyes missing nothing.

Meanwhile, Kajin, James, and Klara sped through the dark, empty streets of Slavara, their footsteps echoing faintly against the cobblestones. Kajin's eyes darted from side to side, constantly scanning their surroundings as he followed James. Klara, who had been running beside him, leaned in slightly, her voice soft but curious. "So, who is this friend of yours?" she asked, her golden eyes glinting with interest.

Kajin glanced at her briefly before looking straight ahead again. "She's a human," he replied, his tone calm but serious. "A girl named Vanessa."

Klara chuckled softly, her laughter light and melodic. "Don't tell me things I already know!" she said, playfully nudging Kajin with her elbow. "Is this friend of yours... perhaps a girlfriend?" she teased, her voice lilting with amusement.

Kajin's cheeks flushed slightly, and he shook his head. "It's not like that," he said, his voice tinged with frustration.

Klara laughed again, her smile warm and teasing. "Okay, okay, I see," she said, pulling back slightly. "You should leave the two lovebirds alone, Klara," James chimed in from ahead, his tone serious but with a hint of playfulness.

Klara grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Got it, Mr. Brown," she said, her voice dripping with mock formality. "We all saw what happened the last time you were in love," she added, covering her mouth with her fingers to stifle her giggles.

James's face reddened, and a vein popped on his forehead as he gritted his teeth. "Hey! Don't make me regret saving you from that monster last time," he snapped, his irritation clear.

Klara waved a hand dismissively, still grinning. "Yeah, yeah, sorry, Jamey!" she said, her tone teasing.

James groaned in frustration, his fists clenching at his sides. Kajin, however, remained silent, his focus entirely on the mission. He barely registered the playful banter between James and Klara, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Vanessa.

Finally, Liam came to a stop, landing gracefully on the roof of a tall building. The others followed suit, gathering around him. "Good," Liam said, his voice low but firm. "Now we wait. The other group is about to reach their destination, and we need to be as careful as possible."

He turned to Ruya, a small smile playing on his lips. "What weapon would you like?" he asked casually.

Ruya blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What do you mean—" he started, but before he could finish, Liam opened his coat, revealing an entire arsenal of weapons strapped to the inside. Guns of all shapes and sizes were neatly arranged, their polished surfaces glinting in the dim light.

Ruya's jaw dropped, and Cracknut's eyes widened in disbelief. The two of them stared at Liam, utterly speechless at the sight of the hidden arsenal.

Ruya's eyes widened as they roamed over the array of weapons hidden within Liam's coat. "So much to choose from..." he murmured, his voice filled with awe. Finally, his gaze landed on something that caught his attention. Reaching out, he carefully pulled out a long, sleek sniper rifle. He held it in his hands, his fingers tracing every curve and corner of the weapon, his expression one of pure amazement.

Liam smiled, closing his coat and stepping closer to Ruya. "You seem to like that sniper, huh?" he asked, his tone warm and encouraging.

Ruya nodded eagerly, his eyes still fixed on the weapon. "Y-Yeah! I love it!" he declared, his voice brimming with excitement. "I've never held a weapon like this before, let alone a sniper."

Liam chuckled softly and patted Ruya on the shoulder. "Well then," he said, his smile widening. "How about we test this beauty out?"

Ruya's grin spread across his face, his earlier nervousness replaced by anticipation. "I would love to," he said, his voice steady and confident.

Meanwhile, James, Kajin, and Klara continued to race through the dark streets of Slavara, their movements swift and silent. They passed by patrols unnoticed, their speed and precision keeping them hidden in the shadows. James glanced back at the other two, his voice low but clear. "We're getting close," he said, his gaze returning to the path ahead.

Kajin listened, his eyes dropping to his bandaged arms. He opened and closed his fists, feeling the tension in his muscles. "So much has happened until now..." he thought, his mind briefly wandering. "I shouldn't be thinking about this now, but... this feeling I have right now... it's uniquely horrible." A flicker of nervousness crossed his face, but he quickly pushed it aside, refocusing on the mission.

Finally, James came to a stop in front of a massive villa, its grandeur stark against the dark backdrop of the city. The villa was surrounded by a large, meticulously maintained garden, enclosed by strong yet elegant iron fences. Kajin and Klara stopped beside him, their eyes taking in the sight before them.

"How unfair and frustrating," James muttered, his hands slipping into his coat pockets. His voice was laced with anger, his words fueled by a deep, burning resentment. "Getting paid by the king to conduct your twisted experiments, living in luxury while innocent people suffer... It's disgusting."

Klara leaned slightly toward Kajin, her voice soft and tinged with sadness as she whispered in his ear. "James's sister was also one of that lizard's victims. Sadly, she didn't survive the experiments." Her words were quiet, carrying a weight of sorrow.

Kajin's eyes narrowed as he listened, his interest piqued. "So this is who you are, James..." he thought, his gaze shifting to the man beside him. "You're driven by revenge, willing to do whatever it takes to make that monster pay."

Kajin took a step forward, his voice calm but resolute. "We're not so different, James," he thought, stopping beside him. "I want revenge too, but first... I need to save her."

James turned slightly to look at Kajin. "Let's do this...James," he said, his voice steady.

James nodded, his gaze returning to the villa. "Yes, let's do this, Kajin."

With that, the two of them leaped into the air, their movements synchronized as they soared toward the villa. Klara, caught off guard by their sudden action, let out a small gasp. "Don't leave me behind!!!" she called, her voice a mix of alarm and determination as she rushed to follow them.

~~~

In a dimly lit room, a red glass sphere glowed brightly on a cluttered table, its light casting eerie shadows across the space. The table was piled high with documents and scattered gold coins, the chaotic mess reflecting the mind of its owner. The walls were adorned with the mounted heads of various monsters, bears, snakes, and even giant insects, their lifeless eyes staring blankly into the room.

A hand covered in dark green scales reached out and grabbed the sphere, giving it a gentle shake. The voice that emerged from the sphere was calm and professional. "Evening, Mr. Zaria. I hope you are doing well. This is the Darkvill Research Organization calling from our headquarters in the capital."

Zaria leaned back in his oversized, plush chair, his massive frame barely shifting as he settled into a more comfortable position. His reptilian eyes glinted in the dim light as he responded, his voice deep and smooth. "Evening as well. Is there anything I can help with?"

"Yes, there is something we need from you," the voice replied. "His Majesty has requested the most recent results of your latest experiments for the magic report."

Zaria's gaze shifted to the mountain of documents on his desk. He leaned forward slightly, his clawed fingers sifting through the papers with surprising delicacy. After a moment, he pulled out a single sheet of paper, its surface covered in neatly written names and detailed notes. "Understood," he said, his tone confident.

A sly smirk crept across his face as his eyes scanned the document. "Yes... I have the results right here," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. His gaze lingered on one name in particular, Vanessa. The sight of it seemed to fill him with a perverse sense of satisfaction, and he let out a low, guttural chuckle.

"Tell His Majesty," Zaria added, his voice dripping with dark glee, "that I've prepared a surprise as well."

"Certainly," the voice replied. "Have a nice day, Mr. Zaria."

The glow of the sphere faded, and the room was plunged back into semi-darkness. Zaria set the sphere down on the table, his claws clicking softly against the glass. Slowly, he rose from his chair, his towering frame casting a long shadow across the room. He crossed his hands behind his back, the paper still clutched in one scaly hand, and began to walk toward the door.

His dark green lizard eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, their predatory gleam unmistakable. Each step he took was heavy and deliberate, the sound echoing through the room. As he reached the door, a twisted smile spread across his face. "I hope His Majesty enjoys the gift... Hahahaha," he laughed, the sound low and menacing.

Zaria stepped out of the room, his white lab coat trailing behind him. His long, thick tail dragged along the ground, leaving a faint trail in the dust. The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving the room silent and still, the red sphere sitting lifelessly on the table.