Who's hiding back there? Don't play dead—your whimpering's louder than a Mutated Beast's roar!
Jaxon Hale took two steps forward.
His face flickered with panic first, then settled into vigilance and solemnity.
"H-help… please help…"
A sob drifted from behind the counter.
Then a woman stumbled out, her whole body trembling violently.
"Chen Na? Is that you?"
Jaxon froze.
Then he exclaimed in surprise.
Chen Na lifted her head shakily.
When she saw Jaxon, overwhelming joy burst in her eyes.
"Jaxon Hale? Is it really you?"
With that, she ran over and threw herself into Jaxon's arms.
"Jaxon… waaaah… I'm so scared…"
Elara Voss crossed her arms.
Her eyes were cold as ice, a faint sneer curling the corner of her lips.
"Uh… hey, you need to let go first."
Jaxon glanced awkwardly at Elara.
Then he hurried to push Chen Na away—her clothes were disheveled and messy.
"Jaxon, are you still mad at me? I broke up with you that day out of anger, I swear!"
"Forgive me, please. I really like you—I was just being stupid!"
She sobbed harder.
Chen Na struggled frantically, throwing her arms around Jaxon again.
Whether her tears were real or fake, it was hard to tell.
"You have no idea how terrifying that mouse was… it bit off Godfather's neck in one go!"
"Oh gods, I thought I was gonna die!"
"Mouse? Where is it?"
Elara tensed suddenly.
She'd known there must be a Mutated Beast in this creepy place.
She just hadn't guessed what kind.
The bubbles she'd secretly sent out to scout hadn't sent back any info yet.
"Jaxon, who is she?"
Chen Na ignored her question.
Instead, she glared at Elara with hostility, fire in her eyes—as if Elara had stolen her boyfriend.
Elara shot her a cold glance.
Then she turned and walked upstairs.
Jaxon's face darkened slightly.
"Her name's Elara Voss. She's strong—if she hadn't saved me, you'd never see me again."
Chen Na was stunned.
She pouted, thinking Jaxon was just covering for Elara.
"We never officially broke up! This woman's clinging to you—she's a homewrecker, plain and simple!"
"Watch your mouth. There's nothing between us like that!"
Jaxon's face truly darkened this time.
He pushed Chen Na away roughly, then moved to follow Elara.
Elara stood on the elevator, glancing down at Chen Na condescendingly.
Her eyes lingered on the red marks on Chen Na's neck, and her lips lifted in a sneer.
"Ms. Chen, did a mouse bite your neck? You must have something on you."
"Guess this mouse likes you—otherwise, it would've bitten you too, not just your 'Godfather.'"
Chen Na's face turned deathly pale.
She hurried to cover her neck.
Jaxon paused.
He turned to look at Chen Na's flustered expression, a flash of suspicion in his eyes.
He strode over and pulled her hand down.
"No, Jaxon! Listen to me—it's just mosquito bites, I swear!"
Jaxon's face was livid.
He roughly pulled open Chen Na's low-cut tank top.
Ambiguous red marks were clearly visible on her snow-white skin.
Jaxon had slept with Chen Na before.
He knew exactly what those marks were from.
"Chen Na, do you take me for an idiot? Want me to find a mosquito to bite you right now to prove it?"
"'Godfather' my ass—you're the most shameless slut I've ever met!"
With that, Jaxon slapped Chen Na hard across the face.
She stumbled backward, nearly falling to the ground.
Elara raised an eyebrow.
She hadn't expected Jaxon to have such a fiery temper.
She turned and continued toward the fourth floor.
Jaxon let out a disgusted snort.
He didn't hesitate, turning to follow Elara.
"Jaxon, don't go! I'm scared! Jaxon, I'm sorry—don't leave me!"
Chen Na scrambled to her feet, terrified.
She tried to chase them.
Jaxon spun around, raised his knife, and pointed the tip at her.
His face was filled with disgust, his voice fierce.
"Stay away from me. You make me sick!"
Chen Na froze.
Staring at the glinting knife tip in front of her, she didn't dare move forward.
She shot Elara a bitter glare, then slowly stepped back.
Elara paid no attention to Chen Na's gaze.
She looked at Jaxon, surprised by his dark expression.
Then she raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly.
"Decisive and clean. Not bad."
Jaxon hadn't expected Elara to praise him.
The darkness on his face faded, and he scratched his head awkwardly.
"Heh… I just hate people who cling to anyone with money."
"It's like finding a bug in your meal—fucking disgusting."
Elara nodded, a faint smile on her lips.
"A bug's not scary. What's scary is finding half a bug."
Jaxon froze.
A vivid image popped into his head: holding a bowl of rice, taking a bite, and finding half a squirming bug.
His face turned pale, and he felt a wave of nausea.
Seeing Jaxon's ashen face, Elara chuckled softly.
"Stay sharp. Mice are social creatures."
Jaxon's attention snapped back.
His expression turned solemn, and he tightened his grip on the Swiss Army knife.
"Creak… creak…"
A crisp sound of gnawing and breaking bones came from the fourth floor.
It was eerily clear in the silent building.
The bubbles finally sent back a scene.
Five gray-black mice, each the size of a cat, surrounding a mangled corpse, gnawing on the bones piece by piece.