It began with a bright light. Every time Nikolai tried to open his eyes, the bright light would make him squint. There were only blurry outlines of the surrounding. However, the sound of breathing made him conclude that he wasn’t alone in the room.

As his eyes adjusted, he was able to make out the place he was. He was in the basement of the doctor’s house. He realized he was naked from head to toe.

“You’re awake.” The doctor didn’t look at him and kept cleaning his glasses. “Are you well-rested?”

He talked in a friendly tone, his deep brown eyes looking at Nikolai the same way you’d look at a patient or a slab of meat. His bald head shone brightly in the light after he had taken off his hat.

“Thanks to you, I’ve had some good quality sleep.” Nikolai tried to pull his arms but he was strapped to a chair. “What’s next? A good meal? I hope I’m not the main dish.”

“…” The doctor studied him with an inquisitive gaze. “You’re oddly calm. Aren’t you afraid?”

“Being afraid wouldn’t set me free. Well, unless you’re into begging.” Nikolai looked at him through the strands of his messy hair. “What are you planning to do with me now?”

“The options vary.” He walked toward the table where a leather bundle was laid. He undid the leather belt and it rolled to reveal a set of tools. Scalpers, scissors, saws, forceps, and clamps of different sizes were neatly sorted out. “Your muscles aren’t tender; you’ve used crystals or trained before? No sweat, we can make something out of them.”

“If you were going to kill me, you would have done so while I was unconscious.” Nikolai grinned. “What is it that you want to know?” At his words, the doctor paused his actions. He turned to look at him with his beady eyes.

“How did you know the password?” He asked with his eyes squinting dangerously. “Think twice before you lie.”

“I should refuse to tell you, but I’m only a hired knife.” Nikolai shrugged. “There are only a handful of people who know about your business, you can deduce the rest from there.”

“Talk.” The doctor picked up a scalper and walked up to him. Before Nikolai could say anything, he made a long deep cut across his forearm.

“Agh.” Nikolai winced in pain. “No need to get so touchy, I’ll talk.” The doctor paused at his words. “If you fail to deliver the crystals to Hyde, there will be less competition on the right-hand man’s position.”

“How do you know about that?” The doctor’s eyes turned round in shock. “That’s a matter of top secrecy.” He looked at Nikolai with doubt.

Nikolai was saying what he knew from his past life. This person would die at the hands of someone else, a competitor of his a few years from now. This fact made Nikolai realize that the competition must have started in their earlier days in Hyde’s association.

“The Crow is looking for its wings.” Nikolai’s words made the doctor frown heavily. “I’ve overheard some things while I was taking this job, and these could be of value to you.”

“You’re lying.”

“Bone!” The scalper was an inch away from his skin before Nikolai shouted something that made the doctor stop. “It was Bone who gave me the password.”

The doctor’s stoic face turned into a grin to reveal his crooked teeth. He retracted his scalper as he looked at Nikolai with a knowing expression.

“I knew that barbarian bastard wouldn’t sit idle.” The doctor seemed to link the dots on his own and fill the gaps. “You no longer serve a need.” He waved his hand dismissively but Nikolai knew that didn’t mean he would be freed.

[Choose a response in thirty seconds.]

[Action: Bluff reporting this place to the Union.]

[Action: Try stalling for time to escape.]

[Action: Negotiate to work for Madness.]

Madness was the codename for this doctor, a befitting one too. For the first option, there was a high chance of the doctor figuring out he’s bluffing. Even if he bought it, he might still kill him and run away.

As for the second choice, Nikolai didn’t know how to escape with his restraints begin an enchanted item. He was only left with the third choice.

“Are you satisfied with knowing?” Nikolai said calmly, making the doctor pause his action. He turned to look at Nikolai with his beady eyes filled with skepticism.

“Are you trying to negotiate your life?”

“I like being alive more than dead. Another dead body wouldn’t do much to you other than a meal.” Nikolai shrugged. “I can help you back.”

“I have no need.”

“Your work isn’t showing a lot of results lately, Bone is the more likely candidate to be a wing.”

“What do you have to offer?” Madness began leisurely cleaning his tools.

“I have already succeeded in freeing those ‘good.’ Bone should trust me now. I can figure out his plans and report to you.”

“You expect me to trust you?” Madness gave a thin creepy smile revealing his front teeth.

“No, but I’m sure you have your ways,” Nikolai said, unfazed. The doctor looked at him silently before walking over to his chair.

“You would have been better off dead.” He said as green light swirled around his finger. “If you betray me, there will be a fate worse than death. This is a curse, so I can kill you anytime. Don’t resist.”

The doctor placed his finger on Nikolai’s abdomen and the light seeped into his skin. As a burning sensation made Nikolai scream, a dark green stigma appeared on his skin.

After the pain went away, Madness grabbed him by his hair and made their eyes meet. Nikolai could see them glowing dangerously in the light.

“You have a week to find out Bone’s plans.” He ordered calmly. “Otherwise, this curse will eat you alive. Take your things and leave.”

Madness then touched his restraints and they undid themselves. Nikolai stood up and went straight toward his clothes. Luckily, he hadn’t brought anything important with him other than the mana crystal.

***

Nikolai was back at the academy before it was noon. He must have slept only for a few hours in the doctor’s basement. The fatigue caused by the drug he was injected in made sure to make itself known every time he took a step.

‘My plans have gone badly, so much for careful planning. I’ve underestimated this cannibal too much, it seems. Well, I couldn’t have known that one of the kids would be working with him. Still, I was careless.’

Nikolai went over his mistakes to make sure to never do them again. This time, he ended up being tangled with the underworld. Next time, he would lose his life.

He read the notification that arrived after he was unconscious. Luckily, his plans have delivered their rewards in terms of fate points.

[New Character Entry: Madness.]

[Relationship: Hostile.]

[Fate Meter: -43.]

[Fate has been stolen. Your partnership with Madness has generated 5 fate points. Fate Points: 22.]