Maya Asaski stood beside the window, the tension clearly visible on her face.

Meanwhile,

Sako Hido remained staring silently at the floor.

Then he finally spoke.

“Where did that sound come from?”

Maya let out a quiet breath.

“From below… probably the underground laboratory.”

Sako slowly raised his gaze.

The underground laboratory.

That place was forbidden even to most members of the

Public Survival Alliance.

No one truly knew what happened there.

And anyone who asked too many questions…

Disappeared.

A few minutes later.

Sako walked through the organization’s silent white hallways while the cold ceiling lights reflected across his black coat.

Everything looked normal…

But something inside him felt uneasy.

He passed several employees.

Some lowered their heads immediately after seeing him.

Others quietly moved aside.

Sako’s reputation inside the organization was far from ordinary.

As he approached the elevator leading underground…

Haro Saki suddenly appeared from the corner of the hallway.

“I knew you were going.”

Sako pressed the elevator button without replying.

Haro laughed lightly.

“At least pretend to be surprised.”

The elevator doors slowly opened.

Sako stepped inside first while Haro followed behind him.

Then the doors began to close.

Inside the elevator…

Silence filled the air for a few seconds.

Before Haro suddenly spoke.

“Have you ever wondered… why they specifically chose you?”

The dim lights reflected within Sako’s cold eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Haro lowered his gaze slightly.

“The experiments.”

Silence.

“A lot of people went through those experiments…”

He slowly looked back at Sako.

“But you were the only one who survived.”

The elevator suddenly stopped moving.

“Underground Laboratory Floor.”

The mechanical voice echoed calmly.

But something was wrong.

The doors did not open.

Then—

The lights completely shut off.

Darkness swallowed the elevator.

“This isn’t good…”

Haro muttered quietly.

And in the very next moment—

A loud banging sound came from outside the elevator.

Once.

Twice.

Then the metal walls began shaking violently.

Sako immediately placed his hand over one of his short swords.

Meanwhile, Haro’s smile completely disappeared.

Then—

A distorted voice emerged from behind the metal doors.

A voice… that almost sounded human.

“S… a… k… o…”

Haro’s eyes widened in shock.

Meanwhile, Sako remained perfectly still.

But within his eyes…

That terrifying coldness appeared once again.