Chapter 151: Empty House
Kai searched.
For hours.
He started with the western district.
The place where most of the missing people had supposedly vanished.
He questioned shopkeepers.
Guards.
Street vendors.
Residents.
Everyone gave him the same answer.
"I don't know."
"I didn't see anything."
"It happened at night."
"Sorry."
Some refused to speak altogether.
Others looked genuinely frightened.
Kai walked every alley.
Checked abandoned buildings.
Even climbed rooftops to get a better view of the district.
Nothing.
Not a single clue.
No footprints.
No blood.
No broken belongings.
No signs of struggle.
It was as if the missing people had simply...
Vanished.
"...Damn."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"This is impossible."
The sun slowly dipped lower.
Kai let out a tired sigh.
"...I'm getting nowhere."
With nothing left to investigate, he headed back toward the training district.
Meanwhile—
Elsewhere in Muscle City.
Andrew stood atop a rooftop.
Watching.
Far below—
A cloaked figure moved through the evening crowd.
Fast.
Purposeful.
Andrew remained crouched.
"...Found you."
He didn't move.
Not yet.
The assassin disappeared around a corner.
Andrew smiled.
"...Tomorrow."
"I'll finish this."
The next morning—
Kai stood before Taai.
The city leader was already halfway through lifting an enormous slab of iron.
"...Morning."
Taai didn't stop lifting.
"...Morning."
Kai waited until Taai finished the set.
The giant block hit the ground with a thunderous boom.
Taai grabbed a towel.
"So?"
Kai took a breath.
"I found someone."
Taai raised an eyebrow.
"A doctor."
"He performs dangerous experiments."
"I don't have proof..."
"...but I think he's connected to something."
Taai's expression became serious.
"...Where?"
Kai gave the district.
Not the exact hideout.
Just the location.
Taai didn't ask how Kai knew.
He simply nodded.
"I'll send a team."
Kai remained silent.
"..."
Part of him wanted to say more.
About the Magic Circuits.
About the surgery.
About Dr. Z.
But...
He couldn't.
Not yet.
An hour later—
A squad of elite soldiers surrounded the house.
Weapons ready.
Shields raised.
One captain shouted,
"Open the door!"
Silence.
Another warning.
Still nothing.
The captain nodded.
The front door was kicked open.
The task force rushed inside.
Room after room.
Clear.
Kitchen.
Clear.
Bedroom.
Clear.
Storage.
Clear.
Nothing.
The entire house was...
Spotless.
Almost unnaturally so.
Everything sat perfectly in place.
Not a single speck of dust.
Not a single misplaced object.
It looked less like someone had lived there...
And more like someone had obsessively maintained it.
One soldier frowned.
"...This place gives me the creeps."
Another called out,
"Basement!"
The squad immediately descended.
The underground room was larger than expected.
Empty tables.
Medical cabinets.
Shelves.
Broken restraints.
No equipment.
No documents.
Nothing useful.
Only...
A smell.
One soldier covered his nose.
"...Blood."
Another nodded slowly.
"A lot of it."
The captain examined the floor.
Old stains.
Recently cleaned.
But impossible to erase completely.
"...He's gone."
Later—
The captain reported everything to Taai.
Taai listened quietly.
"...So."
"No doctor."
"No prisoners."
"No evidence."
The captain nodded.
"Only signs that someone worked there."
"And blood."
Taai folded his arms.
"He probably left yesterday."
Kai stood nearby.
He had reached the same conclusion.
Dr. Z...
Had disappeared.
Almost as if he knew this would happen.
Kai silently looked away.
"..."
He never mentioned the surgery.
Never mentioned the Magic Circuits.
Some things...
Were better kept hidden.
For now.
Elsewhere—
Andrew moved silently across another rooftop.
His eyes never left the cloaked figure ahead.
The assassin.
This time—
He stayed farther back.
No mistakes.
No rushing.
No distractions.
Andrew smiled to himself.
"...Let's see where you run."
The cloaked figure slipped into a narrow alley.
Andrew followed.
Without making a sound.