After the test concluded, Lilith took him to the second floor.
The place was quieter than the basement, yet the atmosphere remained heavy. The corridor was long, illuminated by white lights, and the walls were lined with metal doors bearing numbers and security signs.
"This is the central archive room for Division Four, Room Number 4," Lilith said as she walked beside him. "Here, we keep all information regarding the monsters we've dealt with, the reasons for their transformation, and the results of our control over them. As for that room, it is the central room for Division One. Do not try to go near it; the head of Division One is a mad scientist. You might find yourself on a dissecting table."
Kaito remained silent. He was still reflecting on what happened during the test. His "Infinite Void" had clearly demonstrated its effectiveness in facing monsters, yet Lilith hadn't shown fear—only a cold curiosity. They entered a large room filled with rows of metal cabinets and screens. In the center sat a long table covered with several paper files and tablets.
Lilith gestured toward a chair. "Sit. I'll show you some cases."
Kaito sat. Lilith sat opposite him and opened a thick file.
"These are recent transformation cases," she said, pushing the file toward him. "Read quickly. I want you to understand how our world operates."
Kaito opened the file. The images were very clear. A man in his forties, with an ordinary face... then images after the transformation. He had become a tall monster, his skin covered in a glossy black layer, his eyes vacant, with prominent yellow teeth.
"This was a transformation triggered by the fear of poverty," Lilith explained. "He was an employee who lost his job, then began to fear the future. In a single night, he turned into a Poverty Monster. He is now bound in Division Three. By the way, I think the head of Division Three will like you very much."
Kaito turned the page. Another case: a young girl who turned into a Fire Monster after her house burned down and she feared everything in her life would be consumed.
"All of these were humans," Kaito said in a low voice. "In my world, we fought curses and evil beings, but they weren't formerly human. We didn't see people transform like this... just because of their fear. That's why we had no problem purifying them and eliminating them."
He looked at Lilith. "Do you feel pity sometimes?"
Lilith didn't answer immediately. She looked at him with her emerald-green eyes with a strange calmness. At that moment, the door opened.
A very tall man entered. He wore a formal black suit, but his body was clearly muscular and unnaturally strong. His hair was short and black, and his eyes were a cold gray. On his neck was a faint tattoo resembling a broken red chain. The man stood directly behind Lilith in a clear bodyguard stance. He didn't look at Kaito directly, but he was observing him intently.
Lilith smiled a small, cold smile.
"This is Raiden," she said simply. "My personal bodyguard. Or as I like to call him... my loyal dog."
Raiden seemed unaffected by the term. He merely nodded slightly without speaking.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "A loyal dog? That's a harsh description."
"He prefers it," Lilith replied calmly. "Raiden controls the fear of excessive power. In the past, he feared becoming too strong and destroying everything around him. When he transformed, he became a Power Monster. But he was able to control himself... and has now become one of the strongest people in the organization."
Kaito looked at Raiden. The man stood firm, as if his body were made of stone. Even his stance gave off a sense of suppressed power.
"So you transformed too? If my memory serves me correctly, Division Two is responsible for making public contracts and managing controlled monsters. So why do you work with Division Four instead of Division Two?" Kaito asked.
Raiden spoke for the first time. His voice was deep and very calm.
"Yes. But I am no longer a monster, as you can see."
"Really? I wonder about that," Kaito replied, looking toward the ceiling.
Lilith added coldly, "Raiden is very loyal. He executes my orders without question. He is a good example of what a monster can become when rehabilitated or tamed."
Kaito gave a slight, mocking smile. "So you've turned him into a loyal guard dog. Brilliant."
Raiden didn't respond. He only looked at Kaito with a cold gaze, but Kaito felt something deeper behind those gray eyes. A man carrying immense power and fearing it at the same time.
Lilith returned to the files. "Let's continue. This is the case of the Oblivion Monster. Transformed due to the fear of losing memories. Now it steals the memories of others to maintain its existence."
Kaito listened, but his mind was elsewhere.
"In my world," he said suddenly, "I trained students to control their powers. There was a young boy who feared his own strength... he was like this Raiden. He ended up destroying himself."
He looked at Raiden. "You chose the other path. Facing the fear and binding it. That... is interesting."
Raiden did not respond.
Lilith closed the file and looked at Kaito with mysterious eyes. "You speak of your world often. Do you miss it?"
Kaito sighed. "I miss the students. I miss the feeling that I can protect those I care about. Here... everything feels different. People turn into monsters with no way back, and you bind them with chains. While there are those who turn them into lab rats, and those who turn them into puppets using contracts that strip them of their will."
He paused, then added, "And I'm still thinking about my death. How did someone manage to kill me despite everything? That question won't leave me."
Lilith didn't respond directly. She just looked at him for a long time, the mystery in her eyes deepening. Raiden stood silently behind her, like a loyal guard dog awaiting an order.
Finally, Lilith said in a quiet voice, "Perhaps we will find the answer together... if you stay."
Kaito smiled a side smile. "Perhaps."
But deep down, he knew things were more complicated than they appeared.
Raiden, the "loyal dog," wasn't just a guard.
And Lilith... was hiding a lot behind her cold smile.
Questions for the Readers😎:
1) Lilith warned Kaito about the head of Division One, calling him a mad scientist. Do you think Kaito will face him soon, and what kind of experiments might he perform on "exceptions"?🤫
2) Raiden says he is "no longer a monster," while Kaito doubts it. Is Raiden truly holding onto his humanity, or is he just a monster in a suit?😏
3) Kaito criticized turning humans into "lab rats" and "puppets." Will Kaito remain a bystander, or will he begin to rebel against the organization's methods?😤
Don't forget to support the story with Power Stones and Collection to keep the journey going!