As Nikolai descended the stairs, he remembered the details of this case. It would only come to the surface, later on, disgusting whoever heard it.

This doctor was a mad scientist, who tried to create a ‘crystals farm.’ This concept was so unhuman that whoever discussed it was shunned by the world. Yet, there were plenty of these farms in every nation.

Children and especially orphans were taken away when no one was looking and imprisoned somewhere. They would then be given a potion called Last Stand. As the name suggests, it burns the lifeforce of whoever drinks it in exchange for giving them momentary power.

The person would then be killed, allowing crystals to drop out of their body. The potion was the reason the crystals drop, but it was an agonizing pain from the moment it’s ingested into the body.

The concept was to sacrifice people with lacking backgrounds or talents to provide a steady supply of crystals to the elite group of society.

Even though monsters were there to be hunted, that didn’t stop these groups from leeching off the lower classes of society. The farms were everywhere and even high-ranking adventurers were kidnapped for profit.

The basement’s door was an iron gate. Beyond the bars, Nikolai was able to see many chained small figures. However, the gate was locked.

“Soft Skin.”

The gate was unlocked again and Nikolai walked toward the children who started shivering as soon as he said the password. It seems they thought he was the doctor, here to have another harvest.

As he reached the middle of the cell, he paused. He turned to the side and covered his nose to avoid the stench. There laid a small body riddled with giant wounds. On a closer look, Nikolai saw that its organs have disappeared.

‘He’s a cannibal?’ Nikolai’s guts turned inside as he felt nauseous. Even the army couldn’t fortify against such twisted minds.

“Listen here.” Nikolai looked at the five children who started to weep. “I’m not that sick doctor, I’m here to free you.”

The words made the children look up at him with starved eyes. Nikolai could see hope in them and disbelief. Sadly, he wasn’t purely doing this for them.

“When you get out of here, make sure to do big things. I don’t care if they’re good or bad, simply rise. If you keep living as a weakling, you’ll be taken away like this time before.”

Nikolai didn’t like manipulating them and traumatizing them further, but it was necessary to his fate points and for their survival. He then took his gun out and poured the Silent Feet potion on it.

“Show me your cuffs, I’ll break them for you.” He raised his guns and the children started trembling again. “Quickly.” He was running out of time.

One of the kids stood up and showed Nikolai his cuffs. Nikolai pointed his guns and fired two times. The split metal fell to the ground as the kid started crying.

“Who’s next?”

The rest came rushing and Nikolai freed them off their handcuffs too. As soon as they were all free, Nikolai took them toward the outside.

As they were walking through the house, Nikolai glanced at the kitchen. There were chunks of meat hanged around and he felt sick. He led the kids through the hidden door where they ended up in the sewage.

‘This kid is…’ With the bright cobblestone to cast light on their faces, Nikolai realized he knew one of the kids. It was the pickpocket kid who tried to rob him. ‘This kid always ends up in the worst of places.’

He led the kids through the sewages away from the house. However, he didn’t receive any notification from his system. Somehow, fate hasn’t been changed for these kids yet?

‘Did I miss something?’ Nikolai frowned as he looked around. As he studied the kids, he saw that most of them were staring at him silently.

The pickpocket kid grabbed his attention that he had his hand in his pocket. Nikolai stormed toward him and grabbed his wrist and took out his hand.

“Agh!” The kid screamed in pain and startled the others who backed away in fear. In his hand was a circular device that was shining brightly. It was an alarm device.

“You’re working with him?” Nikolai’s eyes were terrifyingly cold. His killing intent was unmasked, making the kids shiver. His eyes were resolute as he swallowed.

“He has my sister.” The kid confessed. Nikolai stared at him silently. This time, his system presented him with options.

[Choose a response in thirty seconds.]

[Action: Kill him.]

[Action: Let him go.]

[Action: Take him with you.]

‘It would depend on whether I believe him or not.’ Nikolai then realized something. ‘Has this kid saw my gun?’ If he had, then he might have recognized Nikolai from the time he shot him.

“I’ll believe you. However, your sister’s life isn’t worth more these kids.” Nikolai grabbed the tracker and threw it into the water. This should buy them some time, although not a lot. The doctor should be coming after them, alarmed. “Come with me. As for your sister, I’ll help you in saving her.”

“That is…” The kid was hesitant. “What if he does something for her?”

“It’s either you follow me or you die.” Nikolai grabbed his dagger. “Choose.”

[5 Fate Points have been generated.]

The kid nodded and Nikolai smiled behind his bandana. He then started running in the opposite direction of the stream, hoping that the doctor wouldn’t be close behind.

As they ran through the sewage, Nikolai finally felt like they were a fair distance away. The kids started climbing out as Nikolai waited for them. While he was standing there, watching the last of them go away, he heard sounds coming from his right.

As he turned, he was met with pitch-black darkness. The sounds of steps kept reverberating through the sewage’s hollow structure until it reached Nikolai’s ears. From the darkness, a figure emerged.