# Chapter 20:
Emerging from the narrow, blood-stained passage felt like returning from a miniature hell. The air in the main ritual chamber, despite still being saturated with the smell of death and chemicals, seemed strangely refreshing compared to the suffocating atmosphere of the corridor. Detective Choi was panting, struggling to support the two victims who could barely stand. Kang Jin-woo, on the other hand, looked as if he had just returned from a pleasant stroll in the park—albeit a park filled with corpses.
"Are you children alright?" Jin-woo asked the victims in a mocking tone, glancing at the woman whose arm he was still gripping tightly. She was trembling violently, her eyes staring into the void. "Looks like you need some fresh air... or perhaps some intensive therapy. I have some suggestions if you're interested."
"Shut up," Detective Choi said sharply, giving Jin-woo an angry look. "These people have been through enough. They need help, not your sarcasm."
Jin-woo raised his eyebrows in feigned surprise. "My goodness, Detective, have I touched your delicate feelings? I didn't know you had a sensitive side. This changes everything." Then, he smiled a cold smile. "Or perhaps not."
He knew the detective was right. These victims were in severe shock. But Jin-woo couldn't resist the urge to play with them a little. Their weakness and terror amused him.
[Whisper: ...fear is delicious... despair is nourishing... but they're too weak now... not worth the effort of direct consumption... perhaps later...]
The whispers of the "Pulsing Shadow Heart" agreed with him. These victims were like unripe fruit. Better to leave them for a while, until they became more... interesting.
"We need to get out of this warehouse now," said Detective Choi, ignoring Jin-woo's provocations. "There might be more of these fanatics outside."
"I agree," said Jin-woo. "But let me take one last look. There might be some souvenirs we can take with us." He began to wander around the ritual room again, examining the altar, books, and manuscripts carefully. He was looking for anything of value, or anything that might reveal more about the cult's objectives.
He found some old coins with strange engravings, some small low-quality gemstones, and some ritual tools that looked like they were made from human materials. He took everything that seemed interesting and put it in his inventory. He didn't care if these items were cursed or dangerous. In fact, he preferred them that way.
"Are you done shopping?" asked Detective Choi impatiently.
"Almost," said Jin-woo. "But there's one last thing." He approached the weak "Shadow Gate" he had noticed earlier. It was still rippling and distorting slightly, like a window to another world. He cautiously extended his hand toward it.
[Warning: This gate is unstable. Direct interaction with it may be dangerous.]
Jin-woo ignored the warning. He touched the surface of the gate with his fingertips. He felt an intense cold, and a sensation of dizziness, as if something was trying to pull him inside. He saw rapid, distorted images of a dark world filled with screaming monsters.
[You have interacted with an unstable "Shadow Gate".]
[Your "Shadow Affinity" has increased very slightly.]
[You have gained a fragmented vision of the "Lower Shadow Realm".]
[There is a small chance that something may have noticed you from the other side.]
Jin-woo smiled. "Interesting." He quickly withdrew his hand. He wasn't ready to jump into another world yet. But the idea of other worlds to explore (and exploit) was very tempting.
"What were you doing?" asked Detective Choi, looking at him with concern.
"Just saying goodbye to our new friends," said Jin-woo. "Now, let's get out of this place before it collapses on our heads, or before the 'Messenger of the Bloody Dawn' decides to pay us a personal visit."
Detective Choi helped the victims out of the ritual room, and they returned to the main warehouse. The place was still eerily quiet. There was no sign of other guards, or any other cult activity.
"Looks like we're lucky," said Detective Choi in a low voice.
"Luck has nothing to do with it, Detective," said Jin-woo. "Either they're stupid enough not to leave additional guards, or they're too confident that no one would dare attack them here. Either way, it works in our favor."
They reached the front door of the warehouse, which was still open with the chain Jin-woo had broken earlier. Jin-woo opened the door and took a cautious look outside. The night was still dark, and the port area seemed deserted.
"The path looks safe," said Jin-woo. "Let's move quickly and quietly. I don't want any unpleasant surprises."
They exited the warehouse one by one, with Detective Choi helping the stumbling victims, and Jin-woo watching their surroundings with eagle eyes. The cold, salty air of the port felt like a blessing after the foul air of the warehouse.
They began walking away from the warehouse, trying to blend into the shadows and alleys. The victims were still in shock, barely able to walk. Detective Choi was doing his best to support them, but he knew they wouldn't be able to continue like this for long.
"We need to find a safe place for them," Detective Choi said to Jin-woo. "A place where they can get medical help, and rest."
"Do you have any suggestions?" asked Jin-woo. "I don't think my humble apartment would be suitable. They might get an even bigger shock if they saw my interior decorations."
"There's a small hospital a few kilometers from here," said Detective Choi. "It's not the best, but it will be sufficient for now. We can take them there, then inform the police about what happened."
"Inform the police?" Jin-woo laughed. "Detective, you're still amazingly naive. Do you really think the police will care? Or do you think they won't try to blame you, or me, somehow?"
"We don't have another choice," said Detective Choi insistently. "These people need protection. And the cult is still at large. They need to be stopped."
Jin-woo sighed. "Fine, fine. Do what you think is best. But don't expect me to join your tea party with the police officers. I have better things to do." Then, he looked at the victims. "But before we go to the hospital, there's one last thing I want to know."
Jin-woo approached the young man who still seemed the most composed among the victims, despite still trembling. "You," said Jin-woo, pointing at him. "Tell me everything you know about this cult. About their rituals, their leaders, about this 'Messenger of the Bloody Dawn.' Don't leave out any detail, no matter how small. Your life might depend on it."
Jin-woo's tone was calm, but it carried a clear threat. The young man looked at him with wide eyes of fear, then began to speak in a broken and trembling voice, revealing more of the dark and disturbing secrets of the Bloody Dawn cult.