Elsewhere.
Alfred, wearing a brown shirt tucked into white pants, adjusted his glasses as he walked through a narrow corridor. His footsteps echoed as the surroundings slowly transformed into something that looked more like a secret science lab than a workplace. The lights were dim. Glass test tubes lined metal shelves, some filled with glowing liquids. Electric gadgets hummed softly, wires running across the walls like veins.
At the center of the room stood a scientist, completely absorbed in his experiment.
Alfred cleared his throat. "Hello, Mr. Howard Stern."
The scientist froze for a moment, then turned around slowly, eyes sharp behind thick lenses.
"You found me… huh?"
Alfred smiled faintly. "It wasn't easy. But now that I'm here, I have something important to discuss."
Howard stepped closer, studying Alfred carefully. "Then you're right on time."
He reached under the table and pulled out a small metal box, handing it to Alfred.
"I made what you asked for."
Alfred opened the box. Inside there was some small, circular black device, he taked one of in his hand, smooth and cold to the touch. A red button sat at the center, and a tiny digital timer was embedded on its side.
Alfred's eyes narrowed. "Does it work?"
He was about to press the button, but Howard immediately grabbed his wrist.
"Don't. If you activate it here, my entire lab will be gone."
Alfred paused. "So it's that powerful?"
Howard nodded. "Once the button is pressed, you have five seconds. After that—it explodes."
Alfred studied the device more closely. "What's the maximum impact?"
"In a closed space like this, it can destroy the whole room," Howard replied. "But since it's small, the effective blast radius is about twenty meters."
He hesitated, then added, "One more thing. If anyone tries to press the button again to stop it, it won't work. The only way to reduce its effect is by removing the cap—and even that is risky."
Howard looked Alfred straight in the eyes. "I don't understand one thing. Why are you buying this? You're not the type who makes such heavy preparations for union."
Alfred closed the box slowly. "That's my personal matter. It has nothing to do with the Union."
He turned to leave, then stopped. "One more thing. Can you get me some tracker and some body detoxification medicines?"
Howard sighed, already knowing there was no point refusing. "…Yeah. I can."
Vaelor, Serin, and Perun arrived at the amusement park in the late afternoon. Bright banners fluttered above the entrance, and cheerful music spilled into the air as they bought their tickets from the counter and stepped inside.
The place was crowded and alive. Towering roller coasters twisted against the sky, a drop tower loomed like a steel giant, and colorful stalls selling ice cream and snacks lined the paths. Somewhere in the distance, a circus tent stood tall, while the horror house waited silently, promising screams.
Their first stop was the drop tower roller coaster.
Perun hesitated the moment he looked up. The height alone made his stomach tighten.
"I don't think this ride is for me," he muttered.
But Vaelor and Serin insisted, and after a long sigh, Perun agreed to accompany them. The ride was terrifying for him, but once it ended, Serin laughed loudly while Perun tried to act like he wasn't shaking.
After that, they wandered to a prize-hunting stall. A wall of prizes hung behind the counter—teddy bears, dolls, and colorful toys. The shopkeeper handed them a toy gun.
Perun tried first. He aimed carefully, fired, and missed.
Vaelor went next, confident as ever—but he failed too.
Then Serin stepped forward. With a sharp focus, she aimed and fired once. The target fell.
Her eyes lit up.
"Did you see that?" she said proudly. "I did it in one try!"
Perun and Vaelor quickly pretended they hadn't even tried, turning their faces away as if unimpressed.
The shopkeeper smiled and handed Serin a teddy bear—but it was much smaller than the one she had aimed for. Pink, soft… and clearly not the same.
"That one was for showcase only," the shopkeeper said casually.
Vaelor burst out laughing and started teasing her. Serin's smile faded. She felt betrayed and embarrassed—but without saying a word, she took the teddy bear and quietly slipped it into her bag.
Nearby, an old man stood beside a shop. He leaned heavily on a stick, his eyes scanning the crowd as if he were searching for something… or someone.
It was Alfred—disguised in the appearance of an old man.
Soon after, the trio entered the horror house. Darkness swallowed them, sudden screams echoed, and fake monsters jumped from the shadows.
When they came out, Vaelor was visibly shaken.
Serin and Perun couldn't stop laughing, mocking him relentlessly.
Outside, the weather was bright and calm. Sunlight bathed the park, and laughter filled the air.
Then suddenly—something changed.
Vaelor and Perun felt it first. A strange pressure, like the air itself had grown heavy. The brightness of the sky slowly began to fade.
People around them looked up, murmuring.
"Rain clouds?" someone said.
But this was no ordinary weather.
A green fog started spreading through the park, thick and unnatural. One by one, people began to feel dizzy. Conversations stopped. Laughter died out.
A person collapsed.
Then another.
And another.
Bodies fell to the ground as if sleep had claimed them.
Vaelor, Perun, and Serin stood frozen in shock.
Soon, they too began to feel drowsy.
Serin collapsed first, hitting the ground softly. Perun caught her just in time and held her in his arms, shaking her gently.
"Serin! Wake up!"
No response.
Perun's own vision blurred as he looked at Vaelor.
"Do you have any idea what's happening?"
Vaelor shook his head.
"No… but this isn't natural. I've sensed it too."
Perun tried to stay upright, but the fog overwhelmed him. He collapsed beside Serin.
Vaelor fought the dizziness with everything he had. Using his strength, he lifted both Perun and Serin onto his shoulders and carried them to a nearby shop, laying them down on a bench.
He turned around, desperate to find help.
But the park was silent. Everyone was unconscious.
Through the green fog, he noticed the old man with the stick.
Vaelor walked closer. When he finally saw his face clearly, his eyes widened.
It was same old man from that day.
Actually Alfred but Vaelor don't know.
Alfred thought to himself, Why doesn't it work on him?
Vaelor spoke quickly, unaware of the truth.
"Sir, what are you doing here? This place is dangerous. I'm going to look for help."
Before Alfred could reply, several figures emerged from the fog.
Masked men, dressed in green. Their faces were completely hidden. In their hands were strange weapons—glowing like light-based blades.
Before anyone could react, they attacked.
Alfred instantly moved back with unnatural speed.
Vaelor reacted as well, dodging narrowly.
But Alfred, still in his old-man disguise, suddenly remembered himself and slowed down, pretending to be weak again in front of Vaelor.
Vaelor's mind raced.
Who are they? Why are they attacking? I have to get Perun and Serin out of here.
The steel-masked men advanced, swinging their light-like weapons relentlessly.
At the same time, unnoticed by Vaelor—
Someone else was approaching the shop.
Slowly… quietly… drawing closer to the unconscious Perun and Serin.