Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 76: The Basement l

Chapter 76: The Basement l

The door shut behind us with a heavy clang, sealing us inside the narrow passage. Overhead, a row of dim, flickering bulbs cast long, eerie shadows along the walls. The air smelled faintly of dust and old concrete.

"Damn place is all kinds of suspicious," Hina muttered, crossing her arms as she glanced around curiosiky.

Serina exhaled sharply. "Yeah, gives off a weird parking lot vibe or something."

"And it’s creepy as hell," Hina added, shivering slightly and rubbing her naked arms.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. The air felt thick with something unseen, something just out of reach. Then, a familiar sensation prickled at the edge of my awareness.

"I sense a few men ahead," I said, my voice low. "Let’s go."

Hina swallowed hard, then straightened her posture, determination flashing in her eyes. "Yeah. Let’s go."

Serina said nothing, but I could feel her presence steady beside us. We moved forward, the faint hum of electricity buzzing through the passage, each step bringing us closer to whatever waited ahead.

We walked through the passage, which really did feel like a parking lot—if parking lots were mostly empty, dimly lit, and designed specifically to make you question every life decision that led you there.

That wasn’t even the biggest problem. No, the real issue was that I was being *sandwiched* between Hina and Serina, both of whom had latched onto my arms like a pair of koalas clinging to a tree in a windstorm. They were practically glued to my sides, making it ridiculously hard to walk.

"Uh... guys? I do need to move my legs, you know," I said, struggling to shuffle forward like some kind of human cargo.

Neither of them loosened their grip.

"See, if you’re scared, you can just wait at the hotel and let me handle this," I added.

"What are you saying? We’re totally fine, right, Serina?" Hina shot back, her eyes darting around the passage like she expected something to jump out at any second. She was trying to keep a brave face, but the way she was clinging to my arm suggested otherwise.

"Yep. We’re all good," Serina said, nodding. She had the same death grip on my other arm, her fingers digging into my sleeve like I was some kind of emotional support animal. "We’re strong, after all."

"Super strong," Hina echoed, tightening her hold even more.

I sighed. Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless.

To make things worse, my hand was now awkwardly pressed against Hina’s chest—not that she seemed to care in the moment. Normally, this would result in immediate death via slap, but apparently, fear overrode modesty. Lucky me?

"You do realize I need circulation in my arms to function, right?" I grumbled.

"Shut up and keep walking," Hina muttered.

I sighed again. There was no point in arguing. They would never admit they were scared. Not in a million years.

So, with my limbs effectively held hostage, I trudged forward, dragging my two stubbornly not-scared companions along with me.

We moved cautiously down the passage when the low hum of an approaching engine made us freeze. A sleek black car glided into view from the side, its tinted windows gleaming under the dim overhead lights.

"Hide!" I hissed.

Without hesitation, we ducked behind a thick concrete pillar, pressing ourselves against the cold surface. Hina and Serina clung to my arms again, but this time, I wasn’t going to complain. My focus was locked on the scene unfolding in front of us.

Two men stood near an elevator at the far end of the passage. One wore a tight red shirt that strained against his muscular frame, his arms crossed over his chest. The other was dressed in a sleek black coat, his stance relaxed but his eyes sharp, constantly scanning the surroundings.

The black car came to a stop. A moment later, the back door swung open, and a man stepped out. He was older, dressed in an expensive black suit, his graying hair slicked back. He had the air of a businessman—the kind that made deals in dimly lit rooms rather than boardrooms.

"Tony, my friend!" the older man called out, spreading his arms wide.

The muscular man in the red shirt—Tony—grinned and stepped forward, embracing the businessman in a firm hug. "Ah, my old friend! Long time no see. How’s business?"

"Booming, as always," the businessman chuckled. "And tonight, I hope to make it even better."

As they exchanged pleasantries, another figure stepped out of the car—a woman, dressed in a luxurious, form-fitting gown that shimmered under the pale lighting. She exuded confidence, her every step deliberate, her smirk seductive.

"It’s been a while, Tony," she purred, her voice smooth as silk.

Tony smirked, stepping forward and taking her hand. "Welcome, madam," he said before bending slightly and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

The businessman let out a hearty laugh. "Still a charmer, I see."

Tony straightened, still holding onto her hand lightly. "For you? Always."

Their small talk was interrupted when the businessman casually remarked, "That last woman we brought didn’t last too long. Two months, and she passed off. Hah!" He threw his head back in laughter.

Hina tensed beside me. I felt her grip tighten on my arm.

The woman chuckled, shaking her head. "Yes, well... she was fine with household work, but when we needed her to help us relieve stress, she just... couldn’t handle it."

Serina clenched her fists. I could feel the rage radiating from both of them.

Tony sighed, shaking his head as if he were talking about a broken appliance rather than a human being. "It happens. A shame, really. But don’t worry—we have fresh ones. You’ll like this batch."

"Ohh, that’s exactly what we’re here for," the businessman said, rubbing his hands together.

With that, Tony turned to the elevator, tapped a code into a hidden panel beside the door, and with a soft *ting*, the elevator opened. He stepped aside, allowing the guests to enter.

As the doors slid shut, leaving only the two guards behind, I exhaled slowly, my mind racing.

"They’re trafficking people..." Serina whispered, barely containing her fury.

"No shit," Hina muttered, her voice laced with disgust.

Whatever was happening here—it was bigger than we thought. And there was no way in hell we were going to let it continue.