Chapter 28: Take Me to the Official in Charge Here
The residential area stretched over a wide expanse.
There were no skyscrapers in sight; only small houses lined up quietly. The most beautiful part was that most of them hadn't turned into ruins—their walls still stood and their roofs remained intact, as if life still clung to them.
Aiden closed his eyes for a moment and extended his perception throughout the area. He sensed a considerable number of people inside those homes. They hadn't left.
He turned to those behind him and said firmly:
"From now on, we will stay here."
The group halted, and expressions of genuine relief appeared on their faces.
"Great!"
"Finally… I thought we'd keep walking endlessly."
"Thank God, we'll finally rest."
Liam stepped forward and stood beside him, whispering:
"Sir, I don't think the houses are empty. There are people inside."
Aiden nodded without changing his expression.
"I know. And that's fine."
Liam frowned.
"What will we do, then?"
Aiden glanced at him briefly before answering:
"We'll ask for their cooperation…"
Liam caught the implication and said:
"Alright, I'll try."
He ran toward the nearest house and shouted at the top of his voice:
"Hello! Is anyone here?"
The echo of his voice bounced off the walls, but no answer came.
He called out again:
"Can someone come out so we can talk?"
Heavy silence was the only reply.
One of the men grumbled:
"Why is he shouting like that?"
Another replied:
"I don't know, but it's annoying."
A girl interjected sharply:
"Stop complaining, he's carrying out the leader's orders."
Silence fell immediately.
Liam continued forward, raising his voice now and then, while Aiden stood behind him, watching the windows and balconies with vigilant eyes. He knew fear would prevent them from showing themselves before such a large group.
After minutes with no result, Liam returned, clearly disappointed.
Aiden placed his hand on his shoulder and said quietly:
"Well done."
Liam offered a faint smile.
"Thanks… but no one's responding."
Aiden said:
"I'm giving them a chance. And if they don't come out… I'll make them."
Anxiety crept onto Liam's face as he recalled the scene of the Earth Wolves' annihilation. He imagined that power directed at humans… and shuddered.
He muttered: "It would be a massacre…"
Aiden caught him muttering, but before he could respond, he detected something within his perception range.
In a small, tidy house, behind the balcony wall, someone was watching them cautiously. No one else had sensed them.
Aiden gripped Liam's shoulder and leaned close, whispering quick instructions.
Liam turned toward the specified location, bent down, picked up a stone, and threw it with force.
A section of the glass shattered, and a terrified scream rang out:
"Aah!"
Liam shouted:
"Come out!"
No one appeared.
Liam began picking up pebbles one after another and hurling them like bullets:
"Show yourself!"
"I won't repeat it!"
Finally, the hidden person couldn't take the pressure anymore and came out, saying irritably:
"Alright! Stop shouting, don't you ever get tired?"
He was a short young man, slender build, wearing a yellow shirt, black shorts, and brown sandals. His unremarkable appearance made him easy to overlook… and perhaps that's why he'd succeeded in sneaking around unnoticed.
Liam stepped forward and asked sternly:
"Who are you? And why were you watching us?"
The young man replied in confusion:
"Weren't you just calling out? Why are you asking now?"
Liam's face reddened slightly.
"You're right… That was a poor question."
He regained his seriousness and gestured behind him with his thumb:
"These displaced people have lost their homes. We need a place to shelter them."
Some members of the group stirred in annoyance:
"Who's displaced?!"
"Watch your words!"
But suddenly Aiden's voice dropped to a chilling tone:
"Enough."
His voice was calm, yet carried a weight that silenced everyone immediately.
Liam continued:
"We want to live here…"
The young man looked wary.
"Live here? How? Unless you mean taking over the area?"
Liam quickly denied it:
"No, we just need—"
Aiden interrupted as he stepped forward with confident strides until he stood beside him:
"Why beautify the matter? Yes, we will take this place. And you and those with you will become part of our group."
The young man's eyes widened at the boldness of the statement.
He said quietly:
"I advise you to reconsider. This could ignite an unnecessary conflict."
Aiden smiled faintly.
"If you understand the consequences, then call those hiding to come out. Understanding is better than chaos."
The young man hesitated, his eyes tracking Aiden's approach—showing no fear whatsoever.
He said anxiously:
"Stop… You won't like what happens if you continue this."
Aiden didn't retreat. He drew closer until only a few steps separated them, then said in a voice so low only the two of them could hear:
"Calm down. Take me to the official in charge here. I want to speak with him…"
The young man hesitated for seconds, his eyes shifting between Aiden and the group behind him. Clearly, he was calculating the consequences.
Finally, he said quietly:
"Fine… Come with me."
Aiden didn't glance back at his group. He simply said without looking behind him:
"Stay here."
Then he followed the young man inside one of the relatively larger houses at the end of the street.
The door closed.
Silence fell.
The group members began whispering.
"Was it wise for him to go alone?"
"This is an obvious trap…"
"The leader knows what he's doing."
But worry was evident, especially on Liam's face.
He stared at the closed door as if his eyes could pierce through the walls.
A minute passed… then two.
And suddenly…
The sound of gunfire rang out.
A single shot.
Then a burst of automatic rifle fire.
Everyone froze.
It was followed by the sound of a heavy impact… then a brief scream that was abruptly cut off.
Liam's eyes widened.
"Damn…"
His heart pounded violently. He didn't wait any longer.
He ran toward the same house, following the path Aiden and the young man had taken.
"Liam! Stop!" someone shouted.
But he didn't turn back.
He entered the house cautiously; the smell of gunpowder filled the place.
The wooden floor was stained with dark patches that were still warm.
He stepped forward… then another step.
The closer he got to the inner hall, the stronger the smell became.
Then he arrived.
He froze in place.
The spacious hall had transformed into a scene resembling a slaughterhouse.
Weapons were scattered everywhere—pistols, rifles, empty magazines.
The walls were perforated, and some bodies lay in positions suggesting that bullets weren't the only thing that had ended their lives.
And in the center of the hall…
Aiden sat.
Seated on an ornate chair, one leg crossed over the other, as if nothing had happened.
His face was calm.
His clothes were almost clean… except for a few droplets that had splattered onto his sleeve.
Around him, torn and violently perforated corpses. Some had fallen before they could even fire a shot.
A few meters away lay the body of a massive man, excessively overweight, his face harsh and ugly-featured, his eyes still open in perpetual shock.
Clearly, he had been the leader here.
As for the young man who had accompanied Aiden…
He was curled up in the corner, his back pressed against the wall, staring at the scene with trembling eyes.
His hands covered his ears, as if trying to prevent the sounds from returning to his head.
Liam slowly raised his gaze toward Aiden.
"…Sir?"
Aiden turned his head toward him calmly.
"They were impolite."
Liam fell silent.
He didn't know what to say.
There was no trace of a prolonged battle…
Everything had ended with terrifying speed.
Then Aiden added in an emotionless tone:
"They shot first."
Liam exchanged a quick glance with the trembling young man.
He asked in a low voice:
"And him?"
Aiden looked toward the boy.
"This one… is a witness."
The young man's body stiffened further.
Then Aiden continued with deadly calm:
"And witnesses are useful… when they know how to deliver the message."
Silence reigned once more, but this time it wasn't merely the silence of fear…
It was the beginning of realization.
This area no longer had a leader.
And the message would spread faster than any bullet.