"O-over there..."
Kenji finally recognized the reality of his situation and began leading Durandal.
Under the absolute pressure of her overwhelming force, he didn't dare try any tricks, quickly guiding her out of the laboratory to where the test subjects were held.
When she saw the countless emaciated figures confined like cattle in cramped iron cages, Durandal could no longer contain the fury boiling inside her.
With one sharp kick, she sent Kenji flying. She didn't bother watching him crash to the ground and cough up blood, nor did she care if the blow had been fatal.
Her face was just dark as she stared at the scene before her.
Dozens of iron cages were stacked pyramid-style in front of her—a base layer of ten, then another layer stacked on top.
By her estimate, at least five hundred people of various ages and skin tones were imprisoned here.
Each cage was secured by a massive lock, but to Durandal, these precautions were as flimsy as paper.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, choosing not to free them all right then.
She knew perfectly well that simply releasing these people from their cages wouldn't magically return them to normal lives.
In fact, if she handled this poorly, it was anyone's guess how many of these survivors would make it out alive.
So, steadying her mind, she decided to retrace her steps back the way she came.
Turning around, her eyes immediately fell on Kenji, whom she'd kicked half to death earlier.
She strode over abruptly, knelt down, hoisted him up by the collar with one hand, and demanded in a low voice, "Do you know exactly who you're working for?"
Kenji's consciousness was already fading, but he still heard her question and gave a weak, instinctive nod.
Seeing this, Durandal slammed him back onto the ground and drove her Black Abyss White Flower straight through his shoulder.
An agonizing pain washed over him, and Kenji felt certain his life was ticking to its end.
But then, a surge of vitality spread from the spearpoint through his entire body, mending the internal organs shattered by Durandal's earlier kick.
Of course, Durandal wasn't being kind—she had no intention of using the power of Black Abyss White Flower to fully heal this man.
She only ensured he wouldn't die just yet, stopping once his survival was secured. After pulling the spear out, she even stemmed the bleeding from his shoulder.
This man deserved to die, but only after he'd coughed up the name of the one pulling the strings.
Soon, the researchers in the lab watched as Durandal emerged from the shadows, dragging a blood-soaked man with her.
A closer look confirmed it was Kenji, the very same man who had been walking upright, leading her around just moments before.
Now, however, he could only be described as being carried out horizontally.
Truth be told, everyone in that lab had witnessed scenes far more gruesome than this. Yet, it was this particular sight that filled them with dread.
Because before, they had been in Durandal's position—the ones holding the knife.
But now, they found themselves in Kenji's place—the fish on the chopping block.
Durandal scanned the room, confirming no one was missing, then activated the mobility systems of her Excelsis armor.
Hoisting Kenji up, she flew straight back up through the hole she'd smashed open earlier.
No sooner had she returned to the warehouse above than she found herself in the sights of Elysia's drawn bow.
Naturally, Elysia had no intention of shooting her.
The moment she recognized Durandal, Elysia swiftly lowered her bow and hurried over.
She first glanced at the man dangling from Durandal's grip, noting he was still breathing, before turning her attention to Durandal herself.
"A few of them tried to make a run for it earlier," Elysia reported, "but I scared them back inside with a few warning shots. How did your investigation go down there?"
So that explained why none of the researchers were missing—Elysia had been up here, blocking their escape.
"Get Connie over here," Durandal said, her voice thick with exhaustion. "I need to speak with her."
Elysia frowned slightly at her tone.
She nearly said, 'You can tell me whatever it is,' but swallowed the words and instead went to fetch Connie, who was hiding behind a stack of empty storage crates.
Soon, Connie stood before Durandal.
She didn't even glance at the bloodied, reeking Kenji and asked directly, "Miss Durandal, what are your orders?"
"Make a call. Contact the Mayor of Nagazora City. Tell him to dispatch as many police officers, interrogation specialists, medical personnel, and... every psychologist in the city as he can."
Durandal's instructions were clear.
Connie's face darkened upon hearing this.
She clearly understood what such a request implied and immediately stepped away to make the call.
Connie dialed the Nagazora City Mayor's office directly.
Calling anyone lower risked the message being intercepted by that high-ranking official who was clearly involved in this mess, rather than reaching the Mayor himself.
Perhaps because Durandal's team of three was too small and their movements too swift, the implicated Nagazora official hadn't managed to send reinforcements or even fully grasp the situation here.
As for the slum residents who usually loitered in the old quarter, they'd all hidden themselves away after the earlier gunfire.
Not a single soul dared to stick their nose where it didn't belong.
Past experiences had taught them that those who meddled tended to vanish without a trace.
Thus, a very bizarre situation unfolded: despite a gunfight having taken place, Nagazora's entire security apparatus seemed paralyzed, completely unaware of the events.
It was under these circumstances that Hayato, the Mayor of Nagazora, arrived secretly under guard after receiving Connie's call, half-convinced and half-skeptical of her report.
The moment he entered the warehouse, Hayato's eyes landed on a familiar face.
He strode quickly towards Kenji, who had regained consciousness and seemed to be explaining something to a girl clad in strange combat armor.
Hayato's face was pale with anger as he stared at the man.
"Kenji, what is the meaning of this? Why are you here in Nagazora, when you were supposed to have died five years ago in an accident at a Fire Moth subsidiary research facility?"
Hayato's sudden arrival and his words caused a subtle shift in Durandal's expression.
She raised Black Abyss White Flower once more, blocking Hayato's path as he moved closer.
"My apologies. Regardless of your relationship with him, please do not interrupt my questioning. Furthermore..."
Durandal glanced behind Hayato, noting the absence of the personnel she had requested.
She realized a single phone call couldn't possibly have secured their immediate cooperation.
Still, the fact that Hayato had come personally in response to that call... it was more than she had expected.
--+--