Outside the interrogation room, at the end of the corridor.
Leo pushed the door open and stepped out, his footsteps echoing softly in the empty hallway.
Kalluto was standing by the window, hands resting on the sill, quietly gazing at the scenery outside.
The afternoon sun spilled through the glass, plating him in a layer of soft gold.
His dark purple kimono shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and his short hair swayed gently in the breeze.
Hearing movement behind him, he turned his head.
"Finished?"
His voice remained flat, yet it carried a hint of curiosity.
Leo walked over to his side and nodded.
"Yeah."
He paused, looking at Kalluto.
"Are we looking for the next one?"
Kalluto looked at him.
"Can you still use your ability?"
Leo asked.
Kalluto shook his head.
"I have to wait three days before I can use it again."
He paused, then added.
"Are you in a hurry?"
Leo was silent for a second.
"It would be best to find them immediately, of course."
He said.
"But if I have to wait three days, I can afford to wait."
He looked out the window, his gaze falling on the bustling street scene in the distance.
People coming and going, heavy traffic—the city was as lively as ever.
After thinking for a moment, he turned to Kalluto.
"Kalluto, I need to head out for a bit. Could you please stay in this city for three more days?"
Kalluto was taken aback.
His eyes widened slightly, clearly not expecting Leo to say that.
"Ah?"
He let out a soft exclamation subconsciously.
Leo looked at him, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
"Don't you like looking around?"
He pointed out the window.
"This city is huge; it's enough to keep you entertained for three days. No one is rushing you, and no one will be breathing down your neck. Don't worry about it."
Kalluto opened his mouth to say something but didn't know what.
He lowered his head and remained silent for two seconds.
Then, he said softly.
"This... well, alright then."
He looked up at Leo.
"You have to come back early. Once I finish this request, I have to hurry back."
Leo smiled and nodded.
"Mm. Then I'll be going now. Call me if anything happens."
He turned and walked toward the elevator.
Kalluto stood there, watching his back disappear behind the elevator doors.
Then, he turned back to the street scene outside.
'Three days...'
He thought silently to himself.
'No one looking for me, no one supervising me...'
He let out a soft breath, his expression complex—it was hard to tell if it was anticipation or aimlessness.
Leo walked out of the Hunter Association Headquarters building and pulled out his phone.
He opened a ticket-booking app and made a few quick taps.
Tote City—the stronghold of the Colton Gang.
There was something there he wanted.
After all this time, they should have collected quite a few organisms.
While they might not compare to the powerful species in the Secret Realm, their sheer numbers meant he could steadily harvest a wave of Life Energy.
He needed these three days to raise his Rank a bit higher.
After all, the person he had to face next wouldn't be as easy to deal with as Brennan.
Leo put away his phone and quickened his pace toward the airport.
Meanwhile, on that nameless small island in the vast ocean.
Inside the underground base, the cold white lights were on as usual.
The Doctor stood on a high platform, hands gripping the railing, overlooking the experimental grounds below.
In the massive space, dozens of personnel in white protective suits were busy.
On the operating tables lay 'materials' of various forms—humans, beasts, and some creatures whose original forms were completely unrecognizable.
Screams, wails, and the hum of machinery blended together to form a hellish picture.
The Doctor's gaze swept over all of this without a single ripple of emotion.
She raised her hand and glanced at her wristwatch.
It had been over a week, and Layard had not reported back to her.
This meant that something had indeed happened at the Secret Realm.
But she wasn't surprised.
When she had Layard expose the Secret Realm, she was prepared for all those people to die inside.
Ian, Killian, Zachary, Layard—their lives were completely unimportant to her.
What mattered was that the plan could move into the next phase.
The Doctor pulled out an encrypted phone and dialed a familiar number.
It rang for a few seconds before being picked up.
A synthesized electronic voice came from the other end, still devoid of any emotion.
"What is it?"
The Doctor's voice was calm.
"The people you sent, as well as experiment subject no. 2, have met with an accident. It's been over a week without a report."
She paused.
"It seems your plan has failed."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end.
Then, the electronic voice spoke again, tinged with obvious displeasure.
"Hmph. I don't need you to tell me that. Your experiment subject was useless. After deliberation, we have decided to reduce our investment."
The corners of the Doctor's mouth curled up into a grotesque smile.
The smile was faint, yet it was bone-chilling.
"I understand."
She said.
"But I request to proceed to the next phase."
Her voice became even steadier, as if stating an indisputable fact.
"Provide me with a large quantity of organisms. We are just one final step away from the results you want to see."
She paused, her tone carrying a threat.
"You wouldn't want all the investment you've put in for so long to go to waste, would you?"
The other end fell silent again.
This time it lasted a long time, so long that the Doctor thought the other party had hung up.
Then, the electronic voice spoke once more.
"We agree."
The voice carried suppressed anger.
"But I hope this is the last time, Doctor. Our patience is exhausted."
The Doctor smiled slightly.
"Mm. You won't be disappointed."
She hung up and put away her phone.
Turning back around, she overlooked the experimental grounds below.
The experiments on the operating tables continued, and a cold light flashed in the Doctor's eyes.
'Very soon now.'
She said silently in her heart.
'Very soon, the results will be seen.'
Outside the Hunter Association Headquarters building.
Kalluto stood on the steps, watching the people come and go on the street.
He was still wearing his dark purple kimono, still maintaining an expressionless face.
But in those red eyes, a complex light flickered.
Three days. Three whole days with no mission, no target, and no one urging him from behind. He was free to do anything.
But... what should he do?
Kalluto stood there, silent for a long time.
Then, he suddenly remembered something.
"Right."
He whispered to himself.
"The market... there should be local snacks to try there."
He had been trained as an assassin since childhood; every time he went out, it was to execute a mission.
Kill the target, then return immediately. There was never any extra time to observe the world.
But this time was different. The client had told him to wait for three days.
Three days was enough time for him to see things he had only heard about in rumors.
Having made his decision, Kalluto stepped down the stairs and blended into the crowded street.
His footsteps were light as he wove through the crowd.
Soon, his figure disappeared around a street corner.