Flee!

Gasp!

Bain woke, panting heavily with vigilant eyes.

The room was still a mess, with the table flipped, books scattered, tools displaced, and everywhere looking like a wind storm had flown by.

Speaking of his body, he no longer felt any burning pains from before.

"I was right. Those pills did the trick." He murmured.

His muscles had recovered, and now, he was in his best state.

Thankfully, because he slept pre-battle, his body didn't feel like sleeping for long this time.

Looking at how high the sun was, as well as the shadow it casted on the objects outside the small square-shaped window, Bain knew he had slept for no more than 2 hours.

It should be 4:20 P.M by now.

'I must leave this place before someone discovers Ryu's disappearance.'

But first, he had to burn the place down.

Towards the door were 2 baskets of neatly cleaned clothes now scattered and pushed aside.

Bain's eyes lit up enthusiastically.

Perfect!

Bain quickly rummaged through the pile, setting his sights on the pair of black pants of good quality. He also didn't choose something too heavy.

Luckily, though Ryu was several inches taller than him, their body size was more or less the same.

Bain took the black pair of pants, rolling the excess and covering them with his army boots. He nodded in satisfaction when staring at the many deep pockets the pants had.

With his green tank top already on, he planned to pick up his jacket drying outside when he finally left.

1, 2, 5, 30… 45 minutes had passed since he began searching the small room.

After today's battle, It would be wise for him to not only arm himself but also collect all information he could about the man he killed.

'That's what brother would have done.' Bain thought, thinning his lips.

Farming tools like the machetes and pickaxes were too big for him to carry.

Daggers... Guns...

He needed weapons to protect himself. But why was it that no matter how he searched, he could only find a single kitchen blade around?

This doesn't make sense.

Ryu had taken out those gangsters last night. So where was he hiding his weapons? What about the gun?

Again, didn't the man call himself a doctor? So where were his equipment and tools?

After searching for quite some time, he couldn't find anything and wasn't willing to stay any longer.

Even after tapping the wooden walls and doors, he still couldn't find any trap doors or storage spots.

.

Thinking like this, Bain took his first step out.

The outdoor scene was a sharp contrast to the messy indoors.

The fresh smell of the crops, the sun warming the grounds below, the sounds of insects buzzing about… Bain almost forgot he was in the Mainland.

Like so, he continued to admire while also searching the surroundings. Anyone who was a mad doctor in love with experimenting on others should have an experimentation chamber. So where was Ryu's?

He looked around, seeing more as more gardening and farming tools of all sorts leaning on the corners of the tiny house.

So far, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Bain stared at the grassy lawn at the back of the house curiously.

Strange...

Though this spot was just as grassy as the others, he could've sworn it was harder than average soil.

Crouching down, Bain touched the grassy spot until he saw a thick rope with its ends buried into the grass.

Trap door!

~Dhang~

A loud sound echoed, and Bain was left staring at a creepy wooden stairway. Seeing the spooky scene, Bain had little fear in his heart.

Instead, he was fixated on how dark it was.

Was there a light switch built in below, or did he need to bring in an ordinary electric torch or flame in a stick?

Bain scratched his head, heading back into the cabin again. And 1 minute late, he was out with an already lit candle and a machete.

After all, like his brother always said, safety first.

Down he went through the strange cellar. And what did he find? A lab!... Or should he say a butcher's home?

Test tubes, strange documented books, several pills and potions neatly kept in wardrobes, a large gathering of butchering knives, and over 4 long slabs for meat cutting. And on these slabs were all gangsters Ryu killed last night.

Some were hanging on chains with their insides gutted out, while others were strapped on the slabs, even though they were already dead. Or could it be that Ryu only crippled them before experimenting on them alive last night?

If so, when did he have the time to wake up so early and begin farm work?

To be fair, he, Bain, woke up around midday. So who knows what went on before then.

Till now, he didn't find a single gun, only blades.

'I don't have much time.' Bain reminded himself eagerly.

With how massive the farmland is, who knows if Ryu had other cellars or secret spots across the vast farmland?

Bain quickly grabbed 2 blades and dagger sheaths before his jacket around his waist to cover them up.

'It would be nice if I found any gun.' But he couldn't afford to stay here any longer.

.

Brumm!

The flames were set ablaze, with both cabin and cellar destroyed. And the pouch of money he found in Ryu's possession, Bain made a run for it.

No more living in the woods.

If he was going to find the one called Y.M, he first had to understand this new home of his.

But first, he had to find a place to rest.

Bain made it through the chaotic streets, staring at a broken-down but overly busy 4-story building.

[The Nameless Inn]

This was his new home for tonight.

…