In a calm voice, Mika asked, “What does being a good person have to do with the work we’ll be doing down here?”


    Creselya smiled, her expression cryptic. “You’ll see tomorrow.”


    After finishing the contract signing and a few minutes of idle conversation, the group began to make their way out of the tunnel.


    Creselya led the way toward the elevator, her footsteps echoing faintly in the silence.


    High above them on the balcony, Dabric stood quietly, observing as they stepped into the elevator.


    Once outside the Lost House, Creselya turned to face the group, her calm voice cutting through the approaching night. “I’ll see you all tomorrow,” she said with certainty.


    Mika glanced at her and asked, “Who are we supposed to find to start our day tomorrow?”


    Creselya gave a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll be waiting for all of you here.”


    With that, they parted ways, leaving the eerie confines of the Lost House intact, at least for now.


    *


    A short while later, the group arrived back at their temporary residence. As they stepped inside, Mika immediately spotted Kyle, still sitting on the same chair they had left him in.


    A book rested in his hands, though his surroundings were markedly different. Beside him sat remnants of food and a mess of discarded wrappers scattered across the room.


    Mika raised an eyebrow, her voice tinged with irritation. “What the hell is this?”


    Kyle looked up, puzzled. “What do you mean? I was hungry, so I ate.”


    “That’s not what I meant!” Mika shot back, gesturing sharply at the chaos. “I’m talking about all this trash you’ve left everywhere!”


    Carl peeked around Mika with a playful grin, chiming in, “Yeah, she’s got a point. We were gone for a few hours, and look at this! You’re like a one-man tornado.” He sighed theatrically before adding, “Not exactly the picture of good manners, huh?”


    Kyle’s brow twitched in annoyance. “What?!”


    Before the exchange could escalate, Jarred appeared behind Mika, gently nudging her aside. “Alright, Kyle,” he said with a resigned tone, “help me clean this up.”


    Kyle rolled his eyes but reluctantly stood up to help. Together, he and Jarred began tidying the room, clearing the trash bit by bit.


    Once the mess was under control, the group finally settled down, exhaustion evident on their faces as they sank into their respective beds.


    Carl sprawled on the bed closest to the balcony, letting out a groan of relief. Beside him, Azrael perched on the edge, his eyes flicking to Carl now and then, waiting for the conversation to begin.


    Kyle, now on the middle bed, sat with a distant look while Jarred reclined comfortably beside him. Mika, seated at the edge of the third bed, surveyed the group with a focused expression.


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    Breaking the silence, Mika finally spoke. “Alright, based on what we saw, there’s nothing particularly alarming about the place... except for the underground workplace, the tunnels, and the cells.”


    Kyle, furrowing his brows, glanced at her. “Cells? What’s inside them?”


    Mika shrugged casually. “We don’t know yet. It’s too dark to see anything. The torches barely light up the ends of the cells.”


    Kyle paused, thinking it over. “What if they keep slaves in there?”


    Jarred interjected, his tone measured. “Maybe. Maybe not. There’s no proof yet, so it’s too early to jump to conclusions.”


    Kyle nodded slowly. “Yeah, you’re right... but still, if you find something, what’s your plan? What are you going to do then?”


    Mika hesitated, shaking her head. “To be honest, I don’t know. And if we did see something like slaves in those cells…” Her voice trailed off, heavy with uncertainty. “I don’t even know what we’re supposed to do about it.”


    Breaking the tension, Carl grumbled from across the room. “Why don’t you go check it out yourself, Kyle? It’s not like I can. I’m stuck with paperwork, thanks to my ‘amazing’ assignment.” He let out a dramatic sigh.


    Kyle cracked a small, awkward smile. “Unlucky, huh? Well, enjoy your thrilling paperwork job.”


    The room lapsed into silence, but Kyle’s smile faded. His gaze dropped to the floor as he scratched the back of his head, looking uncomfortable.


    After a brief pause, he muttered quietly, “About going down there... I’m just not in the mood, alright?”


    Carl shrugged nonchalantly, lifting a finger as if to emphasize his point. “Alright, it’s up to you. But…” he paused, a smirk tugging at his lips, “please clean the room while we’re gone.”


    Kyle responded with an easy nod and a smile, showing no objections.


    *


    Night had fallen, and the group was preparing for dinner. Mika worked diligently in the kitchen, crafting a hearty soup with sliced pork.


    Finding ingredients wasn’t much of a challenge in their area, markets were close by, and the nearby Tancki Valley teemed with farms, offering an abundance of produce and livestock.


    Mika had made it a point to purchase extra, a whole pig, a cow, and even some edible beasts. Stockpiling ingredients meant fewer trips to the market, saving them valuable time.


    Of course, the funds for these purchases came from Mika’s savings. Unlike the others, she had built up her finances long before turning to thievery.


    Now, with stealing as her primary source of income, her savings had grown substantially.


    Occasionally, the group would steal money to help increase Mika’s budget. However, this was a secret they kept tightly guarded, especially from Azrael.


    They knew full well he’d disapprove of their actions and complain endlessly about their methods. So, they kept their mouths shut, leaving him oblivious to their less-than-honest strategies.


    Tonight, Mika had arranged to use the kitchen of the apartment’s elderly owner on the first floor.


    Azrael had taken on the task of speaking with the owner, successfully convincing her to let them cook there free of charge.


    Once Mika finished preparing the soup, Carl arrived to carry the heavy pot up to their room. Inside, the group gathered around a small wooden table borrowed from the apartment owner.


    Positioned near the three beds, the table was a focal point in their modest room, which had just enough space to accommodate their meal.


    Carl placed the steaming pot in the center of the table with a satisfying thud, the aroma of the soup floating through the air.


    Jarred, Kyle, and Azrael leaned in, eyes wide with anticipation, their hunger evident as they gazed at the bubbling pot.


    When Mika finally sat down, the group wasted no time. They filled their bowls eagerly, steam curling upward as they began to savor their meal.


    Laughter and chatter filled the room, a rare moment of peace amidst the uncertainty of their lives.


    Little did they know what awaited them, not just tomorrow, but in the days to come.