Chapter 28: Underground collosal
Ini stepped into the elevator, heading to the gym where Arike was training. As the doors opened, he called out to her, "Arike!"
Arike, sweating and panting, looked up from her training. "What do you need, Ini?" she asked, silently hoping he didn't want to train her - her muscles were still sore.
"I need to know how much it would cost to track someone," Ini said, his eyes serious.
Arike raised an eyebrow. "It depends. How much information do you have, and when did you see her last?"
Ini's expression turned thoughtful. "About twenty years ago, and I have little information, but I should be able to get some."
Arike nodded, her eyes narrowing. "I see. Well, when you have the information, I'll arrange for people to track her."
Ini kept quiet for a moment before saying, "We're heading out. Let's go."
Arike quickly used a towel to clean her sweat, then wore a jacket. She followed Ini, carrying a small bag.
As they walked, Ini asked without turning back, "What's the bag for?"
Arike replied, "A colossal can appear anywhere, so we must be prepared."
Ini looked at her, intrigued. "Space pocket. All your gear is in there, with a to-do list... 'One, get Ini...'"
Before he could read further, Arike turned back, saying, "It's personal."
Ini kept walking, his eyes fixed on the bag. "My name is on every line on that list. Are you sure it's personal?"
Arike just pouted, not replying.
When they reached the garage, Ini said, "I should buy a ride on my free time."
Arike looked at him, saying, "You can do that, but you can also use the company exclusives."
Ini raised an eyebrow, questioning.
Arike didn't answer, instead leading Ini to the garage door. She opened it, revealing a collection of supercars and bikes.
Ini's eyes widened as he took in the sight. "All S-ranks can take any of their choice?"
Arike shrugged. "I don't know, but I know you can change the one you pick after a while, as long as you don't damage it. And sometimes, A-ranks get enough merit to choose."
Ini's eyes landed on a dark blue Lamborghini Huracan. "That's the one."
Arike grabbed the key from behind the counter and tossed it at Ini. They both sat in the car, and Ini started the engine with a VROOM.
Arike asked, "Do you know how to drive?"
Ini replied, "I can get us out unscathed if something bad happens."
Arike tightened the seatbelt, praying nothing would happen.
As Ini pulled out of the garage, Arike asked, "Isn't this place supposed to be guarded?"
Ini nodded. "It is. Loads of security protocols. They were shut down because you entered with the passcode, which only you and I have, being mentor and mentee. If a person forced their way inside, they'd get another kind of ride... a really painful one."
With a final VROOM, Ini sped off, heading towards a destination he hadn't been to in a long time.
As the hours passed, Arike's curiosity got the better of her. "Where are we going?" she asked Ini.
Ini's eyes remained fixed on the road. "Where I grew up."
Arike's eyes widened slightly. "Your home?"
Ini nodded. "Yeah, Heritage Orphanage."
Arike nodded, feeling a pang of awkwardness. She was relieved she hadn't asked about his parents; that would have been incredibly awkward.
After a few more hours of driving, Ini pulled over, parking the car a few meters away from the orphanage. Arike looked at him quizzically. "Why aren't we going in?"
Ini's expression turned serious. "I'm trying to steal some documents that are meant to be confidential."
It took Arike only a few minutes to understand the implications. "You want to steal information about an adopted orphan."
Ini nodded, his eyes locked on the orphanage.
Arike followed him as he crept towards the building. "Who is it?" she whispered.
Ini's voice was barely audible. "It's my sister..." He trailed off, his head turning towards the trees in front of them.
Arike followed his gaze, her eyes scanning the desolate area surrounding the orphanage. Ini signaled for her to be quiet, and they proceeded to walk stealthily through the trees.
As they moved deeper into the woods, Arike spotted a massive ant, as large as a cow, munching on a dog. Her eyes widened in shock; this was a B-rank creature, and ants were always found in colonies.
Without hesitation, his sword appears in his hands and he stabbed the ant vertically, splitting it in two. "The nest should be around here somewhere," he said, his eyes scanning the area.
Arike followed closely behind him as they walked, her senses on high alert. Ini suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on a large mass of magic energy.
As they approached, they saw it - a massive hole leading underground, with large worker ants, even bigger than the one Ini had killed, guarding the entrance.
Ini's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the hole. "Call for backup," he muttered, his voice low and urgent.
Arike quickly pulled out her phone and dialed a number. "We need backup at Heritage Orphanage. We have a possible hostage situation... Yeah, I'll wait." She paused, listening to the response. "They're on their way, but they won't be here for an hour or two."
Ini's gaze never wavered from the hole. His eyes seemed to bore into the darkness, his expression growing increasingly grim. Suddenly, he saw something that made his heart skip a beat - ants carrying passed-out children into the hole.
Ini's eyes flashed . He knew those children were from Heritage Orphanage; it was the only building in the vicinity. His grip on his sword tightened, his aura beginning to stir.
Arike finished her call, looking up at Ini. "We should wait for backup. We don't know what we're up against."
Ini's response was a low murmur. "We don't have time." He took a deep breath, his eyes burning with determination. "Wait here."
With a swift motion, his second sword appeared in his hand. His aura surged, increasing in intensity as he prepared to face whatever horrors lay within the hole.