Clutching the vague coordinates Valentin had given him, Ryan stepped out of the alley behind the Blood Moon Bar. His fingertips still tingled from the cool touch of cash being handed over. Over five hundred dollars—his entire savings—had just vanished. The empty wallet in his pocket was a harsh reminder of the steep price he had paid for information, but it also strengthened his resolve: he had to find Dr. Karen, clear his name, and justify this "investment." Only then could he survive in this perilous world of supernatural intrigue.
Ryan chose not to take a taxi. His pockets were empty, and more importantly, he didn't want Ella tracking him again. The oppressive aura of the werewolf descendant during their previous encounter at the agency still lingered in his memory. Quickening his pace along the street, Ryan kept his eyes on the shadows behind him and activated his True Sight, carefully sensing the energy around him. The red cloth pouch given by Old Grey pressed warmly against his chest—a small, but reassuring comfort.
According to Valentin, the abandoned industrial district lay on the western outskirts of New Star City, over ten kilometers from downtown. After two bus transfers and a half-hour walk, Ryan finally glimpsed the wasteland of factories, overrun by wild grass. Rusting chimneys loomed under the gray sky like monstrous sentinels, and shattered windows stared like dark, slitted eyes. The air was thick with rust, oil, and a faint trace of dark magic, immediately putting Ryan on edge.
He slowed his pace, following the perimeter walls, looking for the "relatively safe entrance" Valentin had mentioned. Through his True Sight, a dense black mist swirled over the entire district, laced with restless energy. Danger was abundant.
Just as he reached a gap in the wall and prepared to duck through, a soft footstep sounded behind him. Then a cold, female voice pierced the air: "Stop. So you really came here."
Ryan froze. That voice was all too familiar—Ella. He spun around to see her standing among the overgrown grass, her signature black coat fluttering slightly. Her eyes were sharp, predatory, and golden energy radiated faintly around her, ready to strike at any moment.
"You've been following me?" Ryan frowned, irritation rising. He had thought he was being careful, but Ella had caught up anyway.
Ella stepped forward, expression impassive, her tone icy. "Not following. Monitoring. The Balance Council suspects you may have ties to dark forces, so your every move is under my watch." She glanced past him at the abandoned factories. "However, your actions at the Blood Moon Bar have been verified through council eyes. Valentin did indeed provide you with information on Dr. Karen. I also confirmed that Karen sought funding from Mr. Linton a week ago, and vanished after being refused."
Ryan's mind shifted. If Ella had verified the information, her suspicion of him had lessened. He steadied himself, locking eyes with her. "I've never allied with dark forces. I'm just an intern caught in this mess. The clues are clear—Linton's disappearance is tied to Dr. Karen, and this place is his lab."
"I understand," Ella nodded, her tone softening slightly. "I've reported to my superiors, and they agreed to let us cooperate temporarily. Karen is a long-sought fugitive of the council, and his lab holds enormous dangers. I can't guarantee success alone—it could tip him off."
"Cooperate?" Ryan raised an eyebrow, surprised. He hadn't expected Ella to suggest it, but on second thought, it made sense. As a council detective, Ella's werewolf strength provided security, while his True Sight could uncover magical traps and hidden clues—a perfect complement.
"That's right," Ella said, extending her hand. "I handle direct combat—any magically modified creatures or guards. You handle analysis and investigation—find the lab's entry points and critical clues. We work as a team, locate Linton, and dismantle Karen's operations."
Ryan hesitated, then shook her hand. Ella's hand was cold, rough at the fingertips. "Okay," he said. "But there's one condition: no more treating me as a suspect. We share all information—no secrets between us."
"No problem." Ella withdrew her hand. "First, let's confirm our plan. Did Valentin tell you the exact entrance?"
"No," Ryan admitted. "He said it was hidden, full of dark magic traps, and I'd have to find it myself. But the relatively safe entrance should be at the side or back of the factory, avoiding the main heavily guarded door."
Ella's expression grew serious. "Karen is obsessed with merging magic and technology. His traps will be both magical and technological. Be thorough in your scan—I'll keep watch. Warn me immediately if anything triggers."
The reluctant duo of supernatural detectives was formed. Ella gestured for Ryan to lead, and he inhaled deeply, activating True Sight as they advanced carefully toward the factory. Ella followed closely, golden energy undiminished, eyes scanning constantly.
After ten minutes along the perimeter, they reached the side of the building, overgrown with waist-high grass. Scanning the wall, Ryan noticed a concentrated patch of black mist and stronger energy fluctuations—clearly a concealed entrance.
"Here," he said, pointing.
Ella stepped forward, brushing aside the weeds to reveal a large iron panel etched with complex black runes, faintly glowing. "This must be it." She pushed—nothing. "Mid-level dark magic defense runes. Opening it requires either rune decryption or raw strength."
Ryan examined the runes, the energy swirling within them intense. He recalled the basic rune knowledge from the system but realized it wasn't enough. "I can't crack mid-level runes," he muttered.
"I'll handle it." Ella inhaled deeply, golden energy flaring, muscles tensing, nails sharpening. She stepped back, then charged, punching the rune's center. Bang! The panel shook violently; the rune's glow dimmed but did not vanish.
"Again!" she shouted, striking once more. This time the runes extinguished completely, and the panel fell, revealing a passage just wide enough for one. A pungent chemical odor mixed with dark magic surged out, making Ryan cover his nose.
"Be careful—there could be ambushes," Ella warned, ducking inside. Ryan followed, feeling a faint tremor underfoot. Suddenly, the iron panel slammed shut behind them, magically sealed.
"We're trapped!" Ryan exclaimed, pushing fruitlessly.
Ella's face tightened as she inspected the runes. "A trigger-bound containment spell. Karen expected intruders and set this trap to imprison us."
Ryan glanced around. The narrow corridor walls were covered in black runes, radiating eerie light. True Sight revealed even stronger dark magic ahead, with aggressive energy fluctuations. Swallowing hard, he whispered, "What now? We're trapped, and danger lurks inside."
Ella inhaled deeply, forcing calm. "We go forward. There must be an exit—and Linton and Karen's core experiments are likely at the end. Stay alert; avoid triggering more traps." She switched on a flashlight, illuminating the corridor.
Ryan nodded, gripping his talisman, following Ella cautiously. Silence reigned, broken only by their footsteps and breaths. The further they advanced, the stronger the chemical odor and dark magic, and the more aggressive the energy felt.
Midway through, a low growl echoed ahead. Two greenish lights flared in the darkness. Ryan activated True Sight, eyes widening. Two massive dog-like creatures stood at the corridor's end, fur dark red, teeth like knives, eyes gleaming bloodthirstily, surrounded by dense dark magic—clearly magical modifications by Dr. Karen.
"Modified dogs!" Ella shouted, golden energy flaring, fur growing rapidly, eyes fierce. "Stay behind me. I've got this!"
Ryan stepped back, hiding behind her, activating True Sight to study the beasts for weaknesses. But as Ella charged, the black runes along the corridor walls flared crimson, binding her instantly.
"A double trap!" Ella's expression hardened as she struggled in vain. The two modified dogs lunged, snarling ferociously. Ryan's heart sank—Ella was restrained, he was defenseless, and the vicious creatures were closing in.
They seemed trapped in a deathly noose.