Meanwhile, Mono found himself at a loss for words to describe the scene before his eyes.
To satisfy the greed of others, the lives of innocent people were stripped away.
So cold, ruthless, and dark.
Yet such scenes were often far from rare.
'Little Six, I think we might have to take some risks.'
After a moment of silence, Mono turned back from his contemplation and spoke slowly to Six.
'Just... make the decision...' Six glanced at the iron cages ahead, looked at the people inside quietly hanging their heads, then turned and replied to him.
She understood his meaning: he wanted to save them.
Although she felt taking risks wasn't strictly necessary—strangers' lives weren't worth compromising safety—she feared he would misunderstand if she refused.
While part of Mono's reason for wanting to save them was because he couldn't stand the sight, the greater reason was that he was moved by the unique kindness these Little Person exuded.
The Little Person in the Bilge, the Crispy Corner in the boiler room—they had all helped him.
Regardless of the reason, whether intentional or not, they had still extended a selfless helping hand to him and Six, two people who couldn't immediately repay them.
Such selfless people seemed somewhat foolish, yet precisely because of that, he couldn't turn a blind eye.
Tragedies happened in too many corners of the world; he couldn't fix them all. But repaying kindness and settling scores—that he had to do. These people, he had to save.
The thought was simple, and there was nothing to hesitate about.
'Let's go...' Mono pulled Six forward.
Hearing footsteps, the Little People imprisoned in the cages slowly raised their heads.
Each face looked gaunt and pale, hair like tangled weeds on a grave, most barely clothed, barefoot, with lingering scars in many places.
Seeing two unfamiliar members of their own kind approach, their eyes showed no flicker of emotion, as if all vitality had been drained. Their numb gazes were like wooden stakes—dull, sluggish, rigid.
Mono slowly walked up to the iron cages.
The cages, neither too big nor too small, were just right to firmly trap a single Little Person. Bars as thick as arms, along with massive locks, completely eliminated any possibility of the trapped prey escaping.
Faced with such a prison, feeling despair was hardly surprising.
Before him, at least a dozen iron cages were stacked.
Without wasting words, Mono lowered his head to look at the iron chains hanging on each cage, taking a deep breath.
Then, the next moment, the surrounding air suddenly stilled.
His will transmitted through the air, landing directly on the locks securing the cage doors.
*Click!*
All the locks were violently twisted out of shape at once, then fell to the ground.
The Little People, who hadn't paid much attention to the arrival of the two strangers, watched the scene unfold. A flicker of astonishment passed through their numb eyes.
What... was this?
Supernatural ability?
'Hey, how long are you going to stare? Hurry up and come out.'
Mono called out softly to the crowd.
After he spoke, there was no movement whatsoever.
Their astonished expressions smoothed back into calm. Some glanced up at the now-unlocked cage doors, then lowered their heads again, continuing to sit quietly inside their cages.
Mono was taken aback by this.
Had these people been scared stupid?
'Did you hear me or not? That monster will be back soon. Hurry up and get out!' Mono raised his voice slightly.
Dealing with strangers, he felt his current approach was unexpectedly more patient than ever before.
Yet, still, no one moved.
Their expressions remained shrouded in profound sorrow, as if they couldn't hear his shouts.
Mono was left speechless again.
He walked up to the nearest cage.
Inside was a young boy, dressed similarly to the boy—Little Ji—he'd seen in the Bilge not long ago, but his demeanor was vastly different. His head hung low, buried between his shoulders, his back hunched over, looking like an old man simply waiting to die.
Not yet ten years old, yet he carried himself like an eighty-year-old.
Mono tapped the cage, calling to the figure inside:
'Hey, you. Did you hear me? Get out, now.'
The boy was silent for a moment, then slowly raised his head to look at Mono.
A lifeless voice came forth: 'You should leave. Don't worry about us...'
'Don't you want to escape?' Mono asked, puzzled.
This was the first time he'd encountered such a situation. Didn't these guys know staying here meant certain death? And here he was, going out of his way, risking himself for a rare act of kindness.
'Escape?' The boy's expression remained numb as he continued in that flat tone, 'It's useless. Don't waste your effort.'
'Didn't you see what that monster looks like? No matter how far we run, it catches us again before long.'
'We can't guard against the hands that reach out from the darkness...'
'If we make the slightest sound, it seizes us...'
'Whether you hide behind tall shelves or deep within pipes, it's all the same...'
'No matter where you flee, sooner or later, you'll be caught again...'
'You should go. Though, if you're lucky, maybe you won't be caught again so quickly...'
Listening to this, Mono lost his patience.
While he understood the taste of helplessness that arose when facing a monster far more powerful than oneself, that wasn't a reason to give up.
'Are you sure you really don't want to come out?' Mono asked again.
The boy said nothing.
'Little Six, beat this guy up for me!' Mono was genuinely annoyed now.
Finally acting on a good impulse, only to have it thrown back in his face? Unacceptable! Little Six blinked in confusion. Weren't they supposed to be saving people?
Nevertheless, she stepped forward and opened the cage door.
Soon after, cries of pain began to ring out continuously from inside the cage.
First, a punch landed on his head, then a kick to his side. The boy was sent flying by Six.
The commotion immediately drew the gazes of everyone else nearby.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Then, like falling rain, a series of violent scenes played out one after another.
Like kicking a ball, punching a sandbag.
It had to be said, despite Six's short stature and lack of bulk, when it came to fighting, she was impressively fierce.
Seeing the boy was about to be beaten to death, Mono waved his hand.
But Six delivered one more kick before stopping.
Mono pursed his lips, saying nothing more, and simply turned to ask again, 'Do you want to come out now?'
'It's... it's no use...' the boy tried to continue.
'Little Six, keep going...'
"Wait! I'll come out! Oof, oof..." Hearing this, the little boy's body couldn't help but tremble, and he hurriedly said.
The woman in the yellow raincoat before him was too terrifying. One more time and he'd really get beaten to a pulp.
The little boy finally staggered and crawled out of the iron cage.
His appearance at this moment was even more wretched than before—both eyes were blackened,
his face was bruised and swollen, and he limped along.
Mono showed no sympathy whatsoever, directly shifting his gaze to the next iron cage. Inside it was a Little Girl.
"What about you? Do you also want to stay inside?"
"I..." the Little Girl stammered in fear.
"Hit her!" Mono waved his hand.
Six walked to the side of the iron cage.
"No, don't, I'm coming out."
Another unlucky child yielded under Six's iron fists.
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