Inside the second district, morning light filtered through ornate windows as Han Wei stood triumphant, his boot pressing down on Hong Wei’s face.

The sixteen-year-old orphan lay sprawled across imported marble, his face full of bruises and cuts. The sole survivor of the orphanage fire had been questioned all night about his connection to Ethan.

“So? Do you understand what I said or not?” Han Wei’s voice carried the cruelty of someone who had never faced consequences.

Hong Wei nodded weakly, blood trickling from his split lip. “Alright.”

“Good,” Han Wei smiled, gesturing to the healer standing nearby. “Heal him, keep him brand new. Then take him back to the third district and proceed with the plans.”

Feng bowed deeply, but hesitation flickered across his face. “But young master, the city has been thrown into chaos, and the monster horde might attack at any moment. I think we should delay it a little. What do you think?”

Han Wei’s expression darkened as he slowly turned toward his servant. In three measured steps, he crossed the space between them, bringing his face inches from Feng’s.

“Feng, are you disobeying my order?” The quiet question carried more threat than any shout.

“No, I don’t dare, young master. I was ju—”

“Just do it.”

“Yes, young master.”

Feng bowed again, deeper this time, backing away to oversee the boy’s healing. Hong Wei’s eyes remained downcast, but something hardened in them.

…

Meanwhile, Ethan slipped back into the city undetected.

He reached Lin’s restaurant, circling to the back entrance as usual.

Knock-Knock

No sound came from the restaurant.

“It’s Ethan,” He said, realising his mistake of not introducing himself.

The storage room door opened before he could knock again. Lin stood there, eyes wide with relief and a thousand questions.

“You’re alive,” she whispered, scanning him for injuries.

“More than alive,” Ethan replied, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. “But we need to talk. Things are about to get much worse.”

“The monsters have started their attacks. The guards were able to make them retreat, but not without significant losses.” Ethan paced the small storage room

“What do you mean?” Lin’s father asked, his face creasing with concern.

Ethan paused, considering how much to reveal. These people had sheltered him, risked themselves for him. They deserved the truth—or at least, enough of it to prepare.

“That wasn’t their main force,” he explained. “Just the first wave, testing our defenses. The stronger ones are still waiting.”

Lin clutched her father’s arm. “Stronger? Those monsters already killed dozens of guards!”

“Those were mostly Iron-rank with a few Bronze commanders.” Ethan’s expression darkened. “There are Silver-ranks gathering in the forest. Three of them, at least. When they come with their full army…”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence. Even those with no military experience understood what Silver-rank beasts could do to a city.

“The second and first districts might hold,” her father murmured, “but the third district wall is already damaged. We’ll be the first to fall.”

“You should leave,” Ethan said firmly. “Take what you can carry and head for the inner districts. Today.”

Lin shook her head stubbornly. “This restaurant is all we have. We can’t just abandon it.”

“You can rebuild a restaurant,” Ethan countered. “You can’t rebuild your lives.”

Her father nodded slowly, the pragmatism of age overcoming sentiment. “He’s right, Lin. We should prepare to leave.”

“What about you?” Lin asked, eyes fixed on Ethan. “Where will you go?”

“I will stay in the third district…for now. Once you get into the third district and you need help, go find this person,” He said, before looking for a paper and pen.

“This is her address, Lin you know her. You’ve seen her before, she’s the girl that I ate with before. Just tell her that Ethan sent you and she will take care of the rest. Her name is Tiana.”

“Be careful,” Lin said softly. “There are rumors… about the orphanage fire. They say it wasn’t an accident.”

Ethan’s expression didn’t change, but something cold settled in his chest. “What rumours?”

“Some kids saw men leaving just before the fire started. Men in dark clothes.”

Her father cut in with a warning glance at his daughter. “It’s just talk. No proof. The kids could’ve seen things.”

But Ethan had all the proof he needed in his gut. Han Wei had escalated their personal conflict to mass murder.

“I’ll be careful,” Ethan said, then paused. “You should be gone by nightfall. Do you have the fee for the entrance to the second district?”

“Yeah. We should have enough,” Lin’s father replied, though his eyes betrayed uncertainty.

Ethan considered for a moment, then reached into his storage ring. Five peak-iron cores materialized in his palm.

“Here you go. Take these.”

Lin and her father’s eyes widened simultaneously.

“This… it’s too much,” the old man stammered, staring at the small fortune in Ethan’s hand.

Ethan shook his head firmly. “Just take it. Besides, knowing the guards, they’ll take advantage of the situation and start charging more. You’ll need them.”

“It’s too much…” Lin’s father repeated, his weathered face conflicted.

“It’s not.” Ethan smiled, taking the old man’s hand and pressing the pouch of cores into it. “Just treat me to a nice meal once everything is over.”

“Thank you.” Lin’s father began to bow, the gesture of a common man to someone of higher status.

Ethan immediately stopped him, gripping his shoulders. “I should thank you for giving me a place to stay.”

Lin watched the exchange, tears welling in her eyes. In mere days, this stranger had become someone who mattered to them—and somehow, they had come to matter to him.

“Be safe,” she whispered.

Ethan nodded. “You too.”

Outside, District Three was filled with chaos. Merchants hurriedly packed their valuable goods. And families gathered their belongings, all ready to migrate.

Everyone knew more attacks were coming. Few understood just how bad it would be. And others dismissed the attacks.

Ethan blended into the chaotic streets, he needed to see Tiana.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep