The underground prison in Zone 1, the only place untouched by light, was one of the spaces where he spent the most time. Originally used solely to confine prisoners, its purpose had expanded since his arrival.
Ears buzzed from the screams echoing throughout the space. Even as the chilling sounds filled the air, he remained indifferent. His crimson eyes, locked onto the flames burning red-hot, waited patiently for something.
Time passed. Rolling up the sleeves of his shirt to his forearms, he picked up a metal rod that had been heated to a scorching red. His impassive red eyes fixated on the man bound to the chair.
“Wake up.”
His hand, devoid of mercy, delivered a sharp slap to the unconscious man’s cheek. Smack! The sharp sound echoed through the small room, and the limp man jolted awake with a violent shudder.
“Ugh.”
“Open your eyes properly.”
Bloodshot blue eyes, veins burst from strain, were filled with terror. As he swept back his damp hair, he met the man’s gaze with a bright smile.
It was a radiant expression that felt completely out of place in a space drenched in the stench of blood. For a brief moment, the man’s trembling halted. But as soon as the heated metal rod was raised into view, his entire body began convulsing violently.
“N-No…”
The man, already battered beyond recognition, frantically shook his head. As his head kept drooping downward, a firm grip yanked him up by the hair, forcing him to face the glowing metal even closer.
“Three hours. That’s how much time I’ve spent on you.”
“Uhh…”
“The others… they spill everything, even things that don’t exist. But you—maybe because you’re a close aide—you sure keep your mouth shut.”
Though his voice carried a lively amusement, his face betrayed no emotion. The man, staring at the dangerously close metal rod as if hypnotized, finally opened his mouth in desperation.
“I-I really don’t kno—AARGH!!”
Where most would have shown some reaction, he merely furrowed his brow slightly. Watching the man’s face now marred with fresh burn scars, he raised the rod once more and spoke.
“No lies. We agreed to speak only the truth here, remember?”
“No, I swear, I don’t—hkk, hic—know… Ugh.”
Stammering through his words, the man finally broke down, sobbing like a child. A strange stench filled the air. Looking down, he saw a round wet stain spreading across the man’s pants.
He barely swallowed the curse that rose to his throat. This pathetic excuse of a man wasn’t worth dirtying his mouth over. That didn’t mean he wasn’t pissed, though.
“If you just tell me who the cult leader is, I’ll let you live.”
“I really don’t know!”
The man’s voice was filled with desperation. No matter how many times he was asked, the answer remained the same. Releasing his grip on the man’s hair, he stabbed the heated metal rod deep into the fire.
“I’ll be back in an hour.”
“…What?”
The momentary relief on the man’s face drained away, leaving him pale. Taking a watch from his pocket, he held it up for the man to see before adding,
“Use that time to come up with a meaningful answer.”
The hand that patted his head was gentle, but the glint in his eyes was filled with cold intent. When the terrified man gave a shaky nod, a chilling smile spread across his lips.
“See you soon.”
With a sweet voice, he left the man with a parting remark before turning away. Stepping out of the cell, the first thing he did was roll his sleeves back down and button up his loosened shirt.
Catching his reflection in a wall-mounted mirror, he ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, tidying up. From the distance, the chief officer’s aide was approaching. If they were already sending someone before a full day had even passed, they must have been getting impatient.
“The district chief is waiting for you.”
“He’s always in such a rush.”
Five years ago, a newly-emerged religion had rejected the Lunar of Humanity and slowly begun to grow. Before anyone realized it, they’d devoured half of the district.
They preached that the Lunar of Humanity was a force of chaos disrupting nature and that the Shining family, which maintained it, needed to be brought down. Every day without fail, they staged protests in front of the estate.
If that were all, it might have been tolerable. But their actions had become increasingly radical, escalating into outright terrorism. It was already the second time they’d managed to sneak in like rats and throw a bomb inside, vowing to destroy the Lunar of Humanity.
The large-scale blackout caused by their latest attack had inflicted severe damage on District 1. In the three short minutes it took for power to be restored, the streets plunged into darkness and descended into lawlessness.
The loss of lives and property was staggering. As a result, the district chief had declared war against the cult, and ever since, the situation outside the estate had been utter chaos.
They believed that capturing the cult leader would put an end to this disaster. But reality never unfolded as expected.
Unfortunately, nothing was known about the cult leader—not a name, an age, a face, or even a gender.
Even the high-ranking aide they had painstakingly captured knew nothing. At this point, it felt like they were chasing after a phantom that might not even exist.
“Tell him I’ll be there soon.”
“Understood.”
After dismissing the aide, he neatly rolled his sleeves back up to his forearms. There was still some time left before the promised hour, but since the master of the estate had summoned him, he needed to make sure he got a meaningful answer before then.
“Call the doctor in advance.”
“Yes, sir.”
The guard, acting on his command, sprinted up the spiral staircase leading to the surface to fetch the doctor. Letting out a deep sigh, he turned to look at the prison cell, where muffled sobs echoed from within.
With only a limited amount of time to extract an answer, he would have to use harsher methods than before. At the very least, he needed to make sure the man stayed alive until the doctor arrived.
“What a hassle.”
As he pushed open the creaking iron door, the man’s limp body flinched violently. Grabbing the metal rod he had left heating in the brazier, he approached. For a long time, the underground chamber resounded with agonized screams.
Yet, despite all that, the interrogation yielded nothing. If the doctor hadn’t intervened, he could have pushed the man further. But with the warning that any more would put his life in danger, he had no choice but to stop.
Leaving behind the tattered remains of a man, he stepped out of the prison and prepared to meet the master of the estate. The moment he emerged from the underground, he rushed to his room to change.
It took longer than expected to rid himself of the thick stench of blood. The high collar of his buttoned-up shirt made it difficult to breathe, but in front of the master of the estate, he had to present himself with utmost propriety.
Knock, knock. At his knock, the waiting aide opened the door. He gave a slight nod and stepped into the office with steady strides.
“Come in.”
The district chief greeted him with a bright smile. He bowed deeply in response. As the chief rose from his chair and approached, a firm hand patted his broad shoulder.
“You were in the underground all day again.”
“The sooner we get answers, the sooner I can ease Father’s worries.”
“That’s why I like you.”
A satisfied smile spread across the chief’s face. The moment the hand left his shoulder, he had to suppress the urge to brush off the place it had touched.
The chief, watching his blank expression with a knowing gaze, moved toward the nearby sofa and gestured.
“Let’s sit.”
Taking his seat at the head of the room, the chief pointed to the spot closest to him. Naturally, he took the seat. Among the many children, this was a place reserved only for him.
“Vincent.”
Even after eight years, he still wasn’t used to that name. Hesitating for a brief moment, he eventually responded, a beat too late.
“…Yes, Father.”
The master of the estate smiled knowingly. There was no way he hadn’t noticed the slight delay in his response. Though he quickly masked his emotions, there was no hiding what had already been exposed.
“It’s been eight years since you came here.”
Just as the chief said, eight years had passed since he arrived. Eight years of struggling desperately to survive, not as Vin, but as Vincent Shining.
By now, his memories should have faded and blurred, but he still remembered everything from eight years ago with perfect clarity. No—he was still trapped in that moment.
“I have many children, but none as useful as you.”
“…Thank you for the compliment.”
The path to the top had not been easy. He had to trample over countless Shining heirs to get here. There could only be one successor to the district chief, and he had to claim that position no matter what.
He did everything the master of the estate commanded. Even if it meant killing, he never hesitated. That was how he eliminated every other Shining and secured his place as the next district chief.
“I have an important task for you this time. You can handle it, can’t you?”
“Whatever it is, I’ll get it done.”
His response was immediate, without a hint of hesitation. Pleased, the master of the estate smiled. People called him the hound of District 1. It was a name that suited him well—after all, he carried out the chief’s every command without question.
And a well-trained hound deserved a reward.
“Vincent, why don’t you take a trip to District 5 on my behalf?”
