# Chapter 18:
The opening revealed by the sliding wall was narrow and dark, emitting a stench of decay and ancient dust, mixed with another faint odor—something animal and disturbing. Detective Choi hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting between the dark aperture and Kang Jin-woo's eerily smiling face. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to flee this place, and this young man who seemed to be the embodiment of darkness itself. But his curiosity and sense of duty toward the missing victims were stronger.
"Are you afraid, Detective?" Jin-woo asked, his voice carrying a note of mockery and amusement. "Don't worry, I'll be right beside you. Or perhaps in front of you, if there's anything delicious inside."
Detective Choi didn't respond, but took a deep breath and pointed his flashlight toward the opening. He could only see the beginning of a narrow passage sloping downward.
[Whisper: ...yes... there... trapped... frightened... weak... a tasty meal waiting...]
The whispers of the "Pulsing Shadow Heart" in Jin-woo's head grew more excited, as if smelling an approaching feast. This confirmed his suspicions that there was something alive, and possibly human, at the end of this passage.
"After you, brave Detective," said Jin-woo, gesturing theatrically toward the opening. "I prefer to see your reaction first when we find whatever we find."
Detective Choi looked at him suspiciously but didn't argue. He bent down and entered the narrow passage first, with Jin-woo following closely behind, his Shadow Dagger ready in his hand. The passage was narrower than it appeared, forcing them to stoop slightly as they walked. The walls were damp and covered with a slimy layer of something unknown, and the floor was uneven and littered with small stones.
The silence was absolute, broken only by the sound of their footsteps and breathing. Detective Choi was visibly tense, his flashlight trembling slightly in his hand. Jin-woo, on the other hand, was calm and enjoying himself. This kind of dark, dangerous exploration excited him. He felt like a child in a candy store, anticipating the delicious surprises he might find around every corner.
After about ten meters, the passage began to widen slightly and ended at a sturdy but ancient wooden door. There was no obvious lock, but there was a heavy iron bolt on Jin-woo's side.
"May I?" said Jin-woo, gently (or not so gently) pushing Detective Choi aside. He examined the bolt for a moment, then lifted it with ease. The bolt was heavy, but Jin-woo's increasing strength made it seem like a child's toy.
Jin-woo pushed the door cautiously. It opened with a loud, painful creak, revealing a room slightly larger than the passage, but still dark and oppressive. The smell here was stronger—sweat, fear, and urine, mixed with the scent of dried blood.
Detective Choi shined his flashlight inside the room. What they saw made him step back in shock and disgust.
The room was a primitive cell. There were several rusty iron cages lining the walls on both sides. Most of the cages were empty, but in three of them, there were people. They were in a pitiful state: their clothes torn and filthy, their bodies emaciated and covered with bruises and wounds. They were all chained to the walls of the cages, and they appeared to have been there for some time.
There was an old man, a middle-aged woman, and a young man who looked to be in his early twenties. They all stared at the light with wide eyes of fear and despair, like trapped animals.
[Victims of the Bloody Dawn Cult (Level 1-2)]
[Status: Injured, frightened, suffering from malnutrition and dehydration, on the verge of mental collapse.]
[System Note: These are some of the missing persons Detective Choi has been searching for. They need urgent help.]
"My God..." whispered Detective Choi, his voice filled with horror and compassion. "We found them... at least some of them."
He was about to rush toward the cages to help them, but Jin-woo placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. Jin-woo's grip was surprisingly strong, and his cold eyes carried a silent warning.
"Easy, Detective," Jin-woo said in a low voice. "Don't be hasty. This could be a trap. Or there might be other guards nearby."
Jin-woo wasn't concerned about the victims' safety as much as he was about his own. He was also enjoying the sight of their despair. There was something morbidly beautiful about seeing this pure terror in their eyes.
"But... we need to help them!" said Detective Choi, trying to break free from Jin-woo's grip.
"We will," said Jin-woo, with a faint smile on his face. "But in my own special way." Jin-woo released the detective and approached one of the cages, the one containing the young man. The young man was trembling uncontrollably, avoiding Jin-woo's gaze.
"Hello, my friend," Jin-woo said in a soft, deceptive voice. "You seem to be in a bit of a predicament here. Can you tell me what happened? And who did this to you?"
The young man didn't respond, continuing to tremble and stare at the floor. Fear had completely paralyzed him.
Jin-woo sighed theatrically. "What a pity. I was hoping you'd be more cooperative. Well, no matter." Jin-woo turned to Detective Choi. "Do you have any tools to open these cages? Or will we have to resort to brute force again?"
Detective Choi was still shocked by Jin-woo's coldness, but he pulled out a small set of lock-picking tools from his pocket. "I... I always carry these with me," he said, approaching the first cage, the one containing the old man.
While Detective Choi worked on the lock, Jin-woo wandered around the cell, examining the other cages. He enjoyed seeing the fear in the victims' eyes when he approached them. It was like visiting his own private zoo, filled with interesting creatures.
[Whisper: ...fresh meat... frightened souls... could make good sacrifices... or a snack...]
The heart's whispers were tempting him. He could easily kill these victims and absorb their souls to enhance his power. It was a very tempting option. But he decided to keep them alive for now. They might be useful as bait, or as witnesses, or perhaps just for entertainment later.
"Are you hungry?" Jin-woo asked the victims in a loud, cheerful voice, making them tremble even more. "I have some delicious snacks here. Made from... very special ingredients." He pulled out a piece of dried meat from his pocket (which was actually the flesh of a shadow beast he had kept), and waved it in front of the cages.
No one responded. They all stared at him in terror, as if he were a real monster.
Jin-woo laughed. "What a boring audience. Well, maybe later."
At that moment, Detective Choi managed to open the first lock. The cage door creaked open, and the detective helped the trembling old man out. The old man was very weak and could barely stand.
"Thank you... thank you..." whispered the old man, tears streaming down his dirty face.
"Don't thank me yet," said Detective Choi. "We need to get you out of here." Then he looked at Jin-woo. "Can you help me with the others?"
Jin-woo sighed, as if being asked to do a boring chore. "Fine, fine. But I'll do it my way." Jin-woo approached the cage containing the woman, and instead of trying to pick the lock, he grabbed the cage bars with his bare hands.
Jin-woo concentrated his strength, feeling his muscles swell. Then, with astonishing power, he began to bend the cage bars. A loud, painful metallic sound echoed as the bars slowly bent under the pressure of his hands, creating a gap large enough for the woman to exit.
The woman and Detective Choi stared at him with open mouths of astonishment and horror. They hadn't expected this superhuman strength.
"What?" said Jin-woo, looking at them with feigned innocence. "I said I'd do it my way. This is faster, isn't it?"
Before anyone could respond, they heard a sound from the passage they had come through. The sound of multiple footsteps approaching rapidly, and angry shouts in a language they didn't understand.
"It seems our hosts have discovered we're here," said Jin-woo, an evil smile on his face. "Time for round two of the fun. Detective, can you get these people out of here while I deal with our uninvited guests?"
Jin-woo didn't wait for an answer. He turned and rushed toward the cell door, the Shadow Dagger in his hand glowing with a dark shimmer. He was ready for more blood, more fighting. This night was turning into a very exciting one indeed.