Joenie’s eyes narrowed, a deep scowl forming as he stepped even closer.

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

The man’s words came out as incomprehensible ramblings, yet the sinister undertone was unmistakable. Joenie’s gut twisted with unease, sensing that there was more to the man’s madness than met the eye.

The man's gaze shifted back to Reine, a predatory grin stretching across his lips.

“Come on, wipe that dumb look off your face!”

The mocking tone in the man's voice sent a shiver down Reine’s spine.

“Took you long enough to find out, huh? Looks like even someone that high couldn’t keep things wrapped up nicely after all.”

Reine’s brows knitted together, her confusion deepening as the man’s cryptic accusations continued to unravel.

"Are you talking to me?"

Reine’s voice was barely more than a whisper, the weight of the man's words pressing down on her. Every sentence the man spat out only fueled Reine's bewilderment, as if he spoke in riddles that no one but himself could understand.

The man’s patience, already stretched thin, snapped entirely. The bound man turned sharply toward Archael, desperation flaring in his wild eyes.

"I can pay you more than whatever she's offering. Just stop being stupid and release me!"

The man's voice dropped into a desperate pitch, his tone trembling as he tried to strike a deal.

“You’ve got no idea who you’re messing with.”

Archael’s expression remained cold and detached, holding Leticia securely in his arms. Leticia’s small face stayed impassive, showing no reaction to the man's desperate pleas.

Seeing his attempts at negotiation fall flat, the man erupted in fury, his voice cracking with raw desperation.

“F*cking release me, you idiot! You don’t understand! Do you know who you’re defying?!”

The man’s head snapped toward Reine, eyes blazing with renewed intensity.

“This little shit here? She has no power, no connections, no money! You really want to side with her? The elite team will be on your ass before you even realize what’s happening! Release me now, and I’ll spare your life!”

Reine’s entire body stiffened, a mix of shock and rage coursing through her. Without a second thought, Reine lunged forward, grabbing the man by the collar. The sound of chains clinking filled the air as Reine yanked him forward, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Who the hell are you calling a little shit?!"

Reine’s voice cut through the air like a knife, her grip on the man's collar tightening as she struggled to pull him closer. The restraints held the man back, preventing Reine from getting the grip she wanted.

“How dare you lay your filthy hands on me!”

The man thrashed violently against his bonds, spittle flying from his lips as he screamed. His neck veins bulged, and his face flushed a deep crimson.

Behind her, Joenie’s fists clenched, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring. Seeing Reine insulted and provoked beyond reason pushed him over the edge. Without a word, Joenie stepped forward, gently easing Reine aside with a steady hand.

In one fluid, explosive motion, Joenie’s fist shot forward and connected with the man's jaw. The impact was brutal, sending the man's head snapping to the side with a sickening crack. Blood sprayed from his nose and mouth, splattering onto the cold, sterile floor.

The man’s cheek, now swollen and turning a vivid shade of red, throbbed with pain. Yet, even through the agony, a twisted grin spread across his blood-smeared lips. His eyes, though hazy with pain, retained that same manic gleam.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

The words escaped as a hoarse whisper, choked with blood. He let out a broken, hollow laugh that echoed through the room, sending a chill through the air. The laughter didn’t stop, growing louder and more unhinged, as if he had lost all sense of reality.

Archael watched the display for a moment, his expression unchanging. With a few deliberate steps, Archael approached Reine, swiftly handing over Leticia. The sudden motion caught both Reine and Leticia off guard, leaving them stunned. Leticia immediately struggled in Reine’s grip, trying to free herself, but Reine held on firmly, refusing to let the girl go.

“Wait! What are you trying to do?!”

Reine’s voice was filled with panic as she tried to understand what Archael was planning. She still had countless questions and feared what this stranger might do next, especially with a child present.

“What I was planning to do from the start.”

Archael's tone was cold and dispassionate, as if nothing around him mattered. He didn’t even bother turning back to address her. Suddenly, a faint ripple of energy swept through the air, and in an instant, a sleek black dagger appeared in his hand. The blade glinted ominously under the harsh fluorescent lights.

The siblings and the bound man stared in disbelief. None of them could comprehend how the dagger had suddenly materialized out of thin air. It was too large and distinct to have been hidden anywhere on him.

Before they could process what had just happened, Archael spun the dagger in his grip with practiced ease, closing the distance between himself and the restrained man with a single step.

“WAIT! WAIT! Please, please! I’ll do anything! Whatever you want! Just don’t kill me!”

The man's earlier arrogance vanished entirely, replaced by sheer terror. Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the blood as he sobbed and begged. His once mocking demeanor crumbled, leaving behind only a pitiful, broken figure. The deep bruises on his swollen jawline only emphasized his desperation as he pleaded for his life.

Joenie’s eyes widened in horror as he finally realized what Archael was about to do. Without thinking, Joenie lunged forward, grabbing Archael’s arm in a desperate attempt to stop him.

“Wait! Don’t you think we need to know what happened here first? Who is he? And what’s with all these machines?”

Archael’s cold gaze shifted to Joenie, but his grip on the dagger remained steady.

“No matter what happened here, do you really want to hear it from his perspective? Is it really necessary? The quicker we get rid of him, the better.”

Joenie's brows furrowed as he tried to process Archael’s words. 

“Then why don’t you explain it? What is all this? What’s going on here?!”

Reine, still holding tightly to Leticia, couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer. She stepped forward, her voice trembling with urgency.

“Please, just tell us what’s really going on! What did this man do? What’s the connection to all these machines?”

Archael turned to look at Leticia, his gaze steady. The little girl met his eyes without blinking, her stoic expression unwavering.

“I helped this country, that’s what!”

The bound man, who had been begging for his life moments earlier, now wore a twisted grin. His defiance seemed to surge, the wild gleam in his bloodshot eyes daring Reine to react further. Bruises marred his face, yet he leaned forward as much as the chains allowed, his voice carrying a taunting edge.

Reine’s eyes narrowed, fury reigniting like a flash of lightning. Leticia’s small hands clung to her side, fingers trembling. In a swift motion, Reine gently pushed Leticia toward Joenie.

Joenie’s eyes widened as he awkwardly reached to take Leticia. His hands trembled slightly, unsure of how to securely hold the child without causing her discomfort. Leticia hesitated but allowed herself to be passed over, her small frame fitting awkwardly in Joenie’s arms.

Reine, now free, stormed toward the bound man with swift, purposeful strides. Her eyes were dark, the intensity in her gaze enough to make the man flinch briefly. 

“What did you do to these kids?”

The man responded with shrill, mocking laughter that echoed in the confined space. His spit sprayed as he leaned closer, eyes alight with a twisted delight.

“Oh, Doctor Reine, don’t act so innocent!”

The man’s grin widened, the corners of his mouth stretching unnervingly.

Reine’s body stiffened, her arms hanging by her sides as her fingers twitched slightly. Reine took a half-step back, her gaze locking onto the man’s face with a mix of shock and confusion.

“How… How do you know my name?”

Reine’s eyes darted across the man’s bloodied face, searching for any sign of recognition or explanation for how this stranger knew her name.

“Your research has been invaluable to me. The neural mapping.. All of it. You don’t even realize how brilliant you are.”

Reine’s body stiffened.

“What the hell are you talking about? That research was destroyed.”

The man's lips curled into a jagged grin, his bloodied teeth gleaming faintly under the sterile light. His narrowed eyes glinted with unhinged delight, his tone mockingly soft.

“Destroyed?”

The man’s voice lowered to a sinister whisper, each word dripping with malice.

“Is it? Are you sure? Funny how things thought buried always seem to claw their way back. I bought it, you know... a treasure at such a steep price. But oh, the fun it has brought me.”

The man’s laughter echoed in the room, sharp and grating, like nails on glass. His head tilted as he stared at Reine with unnerving intensity, his grin stretching wider.

Joenie adjusted Leticia in his arms, his grip tightening instinctively as the man’s cryptic words filled the air. Joenie’s face grew pale, his gaze flickering to Reine in silent worry. Leticia remained motionless, her wide eyes unblinking, as if absorbing every word.

The man’s voice broke the uneasy silence, his tone slipping into a sing-song cadence.

“I searched everywhere, you see. Orphanages. Shelters. Anywhere they might hide the ones with sparks, the ones touched by something... different. The ones who could do things others couldn’t.”

The man’s grin faltered briefly, replaced by a twisted grimace.

“Most of them burned out. Their little bodies couldn’t keep up. Pushed too far, too fast. Ashes, all of them... just ashes in the wind.”

Reine’s fists clenched by her sides. Her breaths grew shallow, her gaze locked onto the man’s grotesque expression. Every word he spoke felt like a dagger twisting deeper.

The man’s face brightened again, his eyes darting to Leticia.

“But her.”

The man’s voice softened, almost reverent.

“Little Leticia. My masterpiece.”

The man chuckled, the sound low and guttural, as if savoring some private joke.

“She was different. Special. Even before I found her, she could see through walls, you know. Nine out of ten times, she’d guess right. Unbelievable. Perfect.”

The man’s gaze lingered on Leticia, his smile widening as if admiring a prized possession.

“Because of her, I saw it. The patterns, the pathways. Her brain... a miracle.”

The man’s voice dropped, his words oozing with venomous pride.

“Mapped it, studied it, replicated it. Now her stability, her gift... I can force it onto others. A key to unlock their potential, all thanks to her.”

Reine staggered back, her hands trembling as the man’s confession unraveled before her. The air seemed to grow colder, her chest tightening with disbelief and revulsion.

“You...”

Reine’s voice broke, her words barely audible.

“You monster.”

The man’s laughter erupted again, unrestrained and jagged, echoing in the tense silence.

“Monster? Call me whatever you like, Doctor. But this monster has done what you couldn’t even dream of. Your precious theories, your little experiments... I turned them into reality. And oh, what a beautiful reality it is.”

Reine’s lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. Her vision blurred as the weight of the man’s confession crushed her resolve. Every syllable echoed in her mind, each more unbearable than the last.

“My research...”

The realization sent a wave of disbelief crashing over Reine. The horror of what she had unknowingly contributed to twisted her insides. Her shoulders trembled as she struggled to process the sickening truth. 

Archael, who had been observing in silence, finally stepped forward with slow, purposeful strides. The dagger in his hand caught the faint light, casting an eerie gleam that reflected off its dark blade.

“Enough of this.”

The coldness in Archael’s voice cut through the air. The bound man’s laughter died abruptly, the sound choking in his throat. His eyes, which had been wild with defiance, widened in horror as Archael approached.

Reine’s voice suddenly rang out, her tone sharp and filled with desperation.

"Who...?"

Archael halted mid-step, turning his gaze toward Reine. The determined focus in his eyes wavered as he met her wide, searching gaze. Reine’s breaths came shallow, her chest rising and falling unevenly. Every muscle in her body trembled as if it took all her strength to remain standing.

"Who gave you access to my research?"