"Where's Mira? I feel like she knows you well."

Although Turing's slightly playful attitude might seem cute to others, it appeared dangerous in Merka's eyes.

"I only have a casual acquaintance with Mira, really."

"How could I easily develop feelings for someone other than you?"

Raising an eyebrow, Turing seemed unsatisfied with this response.

"It's not that easy, so does that mean there's still a possibility?"

Turing's probing made even the calm Merka break out in a cold sweat.

"Hiss."

Sometimes Turing was like this, getting fixated on small details.

But her thoughts were actually very pure, easy to pacify with a little bit of coaxing, or sometimes even without coaxing, she would find suitable reasons for your actions in her mind.

Thinking of this, Merka chose not to explain further and just hugged her.

Merka’s warm embrace made Turing's delicate cheeks blush.

"It's okay, don't worry, I'll never leave you."

"We made a promise in Red Port, remember?"

After hugging for a while, feeling better, Merka released the hug and looked at Turing's face in their embrace, realizing she still looked serious.

Huh? Why didn't the coaxing work?

Merka felt a pang of unease in her heart.

"Turing?"

Calling out softly, Merka noticed that Turing's gaze wasn't on her, but quietly staring back towards the path they had come from.

"What's wrong?"

Merka turned to look as well.

"I mean... the direction the policeman walked by just now."

"There was a Curseborn over there, right?"

"Do the police hassle Curseborn?"

At Turing's puzzled words, Merka's face turned pale in an instant, grabbing Turing's hand and running back towards the direction where they saw the Curseborn earlier.

"Although it's not illegal for Curseborn to live in the city, if city folks really bully them, there's nowhere for them to reason with... Curseborn living openly in the city can be treated like rats running in the streets."

"Some states have more lenient policies towards Curseborn, while others don't."

"Coincidentally, Bo City falls within those less lenient states."

Damn it, I should have thought of that earlier.

The city is now on lockdown, the police have increased patrols, and the ways Curseborn used to survive in the city corners are no longer effective.

Regretfully, Merka thought how much he wished he had taken Turing's advice at least to bring the girl home for a couple of days – now Bo City is too dangerous for Curseborn.

"Merka... Merka."

"What do you think will happen to that girl if the police find her?"

Turing was also anxious. While not as worried as Merka, she was deeply concerned about the girl's safety.

"I don't know," Merka said.

"I have no idea either," Turing replied.

Terrifying scenes flashed before Merka's eyes like nightmares.

The image of the people in Acadia City, like a hundred ghosts, snarling and clawing in front of his younger self, still remained vivid in his mind.

The pain of losing friends and the burning shame of losing comrades resided in Merka's small heart.

He could never forget the eyes of his companions who had been sold to brothels as child prostitutes or even sex slaves, their eyes revealing both hopelessness and relief upon parting.

At least there, they could have a decent meal and a good night's sleep.

But... but.

What did that signify?

Merka's face turned red, regret clogging his throat, making it hard for him to breathe.

Running over a kilometer without using magic, the dangerous cold air felt like silver needles piercing his throat, leaving holes he couldn't fill with air.

Gasping for breath, he ran back to the lonely alley they had passed earlier, and finally saw what he had been looking for.

Bloodstains splattered the wall, appearing as if from blunt force trauma. The hut that had been constructed with cardboard boxes and grass sheds was now in ruins – like a wing-broken wild chicken, beaten to the ground by mischievous kids with sticks.

Merka stood frozen.

He hadn't expected things to escalate so quickly.

"Why... why?" he whispered.

Turing's cheeks showed a hint of anger.

Frantically searching, Turing could no longer find any evidence that life had once existed there.

Human death, like rainwater merging with the rivers and seas.

Silent and without a return.

Approaching quietly, Merka noticed a small stone amidst the debris.

"This is a relic... I tested it, and it only contains basic warming and healing magic."

"If attacked, she wouldn't have been able to escape."

Merka picked up the smooth polished stone from the debris, held it in his hand, and said, "Was she... taken away?"

"Why did that cop do this?"

Turing searched in all directions but found no bodies.

Exhaling a dark breath, Merka pressed his thumb tightly against his forehead, seemingly recalling a painful memory.

...

Silence accumulated in the narrow alley, almost overflowing.