Mystery in the Mist Forest 6

Chapter 16: Mystery in the Mist forest 6

DAYS AFTER THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE MASSACRE

The Landlord sat in comfortably but in pains on his chair tendering to his wound on his right hand covered with a white cloth dripped with purple blood eyes sharp, observing the Caretaker, who sat before him, stunned and filled with a mix of shock and pity as his gaze lingered on the Landlord’s mechanical feet and left wrist. Noticing this, the Landlord snapped, “What the hell are you looking at?”

The Caretaker, visibly unsettled, leaned back into his chair and muttered, “You look pathetic.”

The Landlord scoffed, “I didn’t call you here for pity boy. I called you for something else entirely.”

The caretaker leans forward with disappointment etched his face “why bother having a caretaker while the house is fucked? You did not need him during a gas leak but the moment it exploded and burned everything down, suddenly you needed me.”

“the fuck you mean by that” The landlord narrows his eyes

Instantly, the Caretaker retorted, frustration lacing his voice.
"If you had called me on time, this shit wouldn’t have happened to you. Every time you act behind my back, something bad happens” the caretaker pauses as he took a deep breath with is eyes closed, he opens his eyes pointing at the landlord and continue his lashing out his frustration” I thought you’ve learnt from your mistakes, but you did not. Because you’ve planned something behind my back again. Look at yourself, boss… don’t you trust me anymore?"

The Landlord leans forward, his tone darkening. “oh boy you, should be grateful I didn’t call you. You’d be dead by now. You are more important to me alive.”

The Caretaker, eyes narrowing, responded coldly, “Do you think I’m scared of R huh? What is the essence of keeping me alive if you don’t have faith in me. Do you think I can’t take care of your household anymore? I’ve been your caretaker for years, you should have called me the moment he entered this building.” Saying this last word with filled with rage and betrayal.

The Landlord erupts into laughter, loud and mocking, as if the Caretaker had told the funniest joke in existence.

The Caretaker’s face twists in fury as he slams his metallic fist down with force on the table which cracks the wood from the impact.

The Landlord looks at the cracked table. Instantly, his mood changes. “That’s fine furniture. Hard to find these days.”

Rage boiled in the Caretaker as he snapped, “Do you think I’m a joke to you?”

The Landlord’s expression didn’t change. Instead, he leaned back, reminiscing.
"Remember when I met you 15 years ago? You were barely 12, maybe 10… perhaps 15. I don’t remember exactly. I just know it was a couple of years after the old caretaker died in the revolt against the region"

His eyes darkened as he continued.
"I remember you were about to be killed in some underground bet. A cage fight between you and your brother. Teammates turned enemies. One of the best fights I’ve ever watched in my life."

The Caretaker’s metal fingers twitched.

"Both of you were weak from all the people you’d killed as teammates. Then you became enemies, fighting for freedom. And yet, the way you fought… it was as if you weren’t even from the same bloodline."

The Landlord smirked.
"Your brother was older than you—just slightly. But in that fight? There was no difference. One of the most gruesome fights I’ve ever seen. You were both drowning in each other’s blood, eyes swollen, broken beyond repair. Your left foot was cut off. And still… still, there was no difference."

His gaze sharpened.
"I have never seen someone fight with fire in their eyes the way you did that night. And then—you killed him. Not with a sharp knife, Not with a gun. But with a fucking stone."

The Caretaker’s breathing slowed.

"You kept hitting his head with the stone. Over. And over. And over. And over. Until he died. And even then, you did not fuckin stop. You kept smashing that head until his fucking brain spilled out, until his skull cracked into dust. People had to pull you away, or you would’ve kept going."

The Landlord’s lips curled into a twisted grin.
"Damn. That was the best underground cage fight I’ve ever hosted."

Silence stretched.

The Caretaker finally speaks with his voice cold remembering the night. “What about that night?”

The Landlord’s grin widens.
"The fire in your eyes. Especially the next day, it was as if nothing had happened. You lived freely, ate freely you had just fucking killed your brother yet you didn’t care. Not a single regret."

He pauses for a bit

"I don’t know if your brother would have done the same. But… I loved what I fuckin saw. The fire. The craziness. It brought memories of my old caretaker the one before you. Your attitude, your character, your behavior… it was the same."

The Caretaker’s metal fingers curl into fists.

"Since then, I decided you were going to be my Caretaker. But you still needed to be brushed. So, I molded you. I sharpened you. Until you became more ruthless and feared. That’s why, no matter where I send you, the presence of the Landlord will always be felt."

The caretaker responds with less regard. “what does this have to do with our conversation”

The landlord tone became moody as he got up from his chair leaping towards the caretaker, trying to adjust with his metallic feet as he walks around the room asking a question “have I ever told you how the old Caretaker died? Or how we lost the war?"

Before the caretaker responds, he continues his speech of the past.

"We were winning, thanks to my strategy, my plans. Soon, we would have overtaken the gate. Revolts filled the city. Silco was the leader of the main revolts force the strongest mercenary in the region at the time, he was my presence while I was in the shadows.

But he as the same issue you have his blood is always blood fuckin hot, he kept killing the soldiers protecting the gate without hesitation. Still he wasn’t satisfied. Not until the big guy showed up."

"Commander fuckin R."

He stops walking around as he has adjusted to his feet he went back to his seat as his voice lowers.

"Do you know what happened to Silco"

The Landlord metal jaw clenched.

"Before he could even touch R, he was attacked instantly by two of R’s squad members a man and a woman. Both were on par with him, maybe stronger."

The Landlord exhale sharply.

"Silco never stood a chance as they beat him mercilessly, dragged him like a dog, and threw him at the Commander’s feet. As the R cut off Silco’s head, raises the head up and made a fuckin speech to increase the morale of the few soldiers left. The rest was history"

The room becomes silent for a minute. Then, the landlord breaks this silence “the strongest warrior we had never got a 1v1 fight with the strongest man in the region. He was beaten down by the commander’s vices before he could even get close."

The Caretaker inhaled deeply. Then his fists tightened in fury.
"Don’t tell me you think I’m not strong enough to defeat the Comm

His voice darkens as he rages.
"I am the Caretaker. Everyone underground, in the military, across the 3 regions shakes when they hear my name. I have killed captains beyond count. Troops sent to ambush me are dead before they blink. I can’t even be arrested because no cell can fuckin hold me."

His glare burns into the Landlord.
"And you think a Commander, with old glory and big speeches, will kill me?"

The Landlord smirks at these words he moved closer to the caretaker and rubs his metallic palm on the caretaker fleshy face saying "I know you are the king of the jungle." Then he gets closer and whispers into his ear

"But to some people? A lion’s roar is nothing more than a bee buzzing in their ear."

Then, he rubs his cheek giving it a pat
"Think about that."

The Caretaker sat motionless, his breathing controlled but tense. His mind churned at the Landlord’s words.

Just then, a female chef enters.
"Landlord, your food is ready."

The Landlord instantly brightens.
"Then bring it."

Two chefs stepped forward, placing the dishes before him is boiled and fried human meat. He leaned in, inhaling the scent with twisted delight.

Just as he was about to take his first bite, a mercenary hurried into the room.
"Landlord, the region’s troops are here."

The Landlord barely reacts as he is calm, calculated. His gaze flickers toward the Caretaker, who is now standing, his face tight with irritation.

"That reminds me," the Landlord says smoothly, his tone shifting, "You’re working with the region’s soldiers."

The words made the Caretaker’s jaw clench.
"Why the fuck should we work with them?" His voice was sharp borderline enraged.

The Landlord exhaled, stretching his arms before responding.
"Because that is where R is heading."

The Caretaker’s glare darkened.

"He will try to reach the Region of the East there is someone there he needs to meet." The Landlord leaned back, completely unfazed by the Caretaker’s fury.
"He can’t travel by flight, and crossing the sea would take too long. That means…" He let the words sink in.
"He’s going through the Mist Island."

The room fell into a heavy silence.

The Caretaker straightened.
"Then we can cut him off before he reaches the East."

The Landlord shook his head.
"It’s not just that. I noticed something unique about the nanotech organism attached to him around him. It’s like….. no, I am sure that thing breathes"

The Caretaker narrowed his eyes confused about what the landlord is saying.

"And the package reaction towards R when we met also took his attention" the Landlord continued, now tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

"He’ll go after it, without a doubt. That’s why I’m 100 percent sure that fucker is there."

The Caretaker’s breathing deepened.

"The nanotech is what we need. And the package? That is the key. Find them both."

The Landlord’s gaze locked onto him, unwavering.
"Don’t come back unless you have both."

The Caretaker remained silent, processing the mission, the hunt, the bigger picture. He turned, preparing to leave.

Then, the Landlord speaks again, his voice dropping into something quieter—something colder.

"Have this in mind, son..."

The Caretaker paused.

"There are fucking things out there that are stronger than you. So if you here a voice from the shadow when you meet the package I advise you to run"

BACK TO THE MIST FOREST

Let’s fucking get out of here,” SHAID snaps.

“You won’t ask me twice,” R fires back.

R uses the distraction to escape as Mercenaries and scavengers open fire and pursue R.

In an instant, he bolts disappearing into the chaos. But the wolves and mist-beasts don’t hesitate. They chase, their forms howling and snarling behind him. R doesn’t stop. He goes full speed.

“Where the hell is the exit to this goddamn forest? We’ve been going back and forth”

SHAID cuts in. “We’re always turning back. Don’t stop. Full speed ahead. Focus this time.”

The pace is blinding. Even the beasts can’t keep up.

R’s mind, body, and soul lock onto one thing: aggression.

His heart slams in his chest, blood roaring through him. His nerves ignite like wildfire, and his body obeys a single ruthless command—attack. Every muscle coils. His reflexes sharpen. The world blurs. He becomes velocity.

But he can't maintain it.

His speed begins to drop. The toll is heavy. He's pregnant, and his body is stretched thin everything inside is prioritizing one purpose: protect the life growing within.

“R!” SHAID calls out sharply.

“What?” he barks back.

Her voice softens. “You need to slow down. Your body can’t keep up. Don’t forget—you’re taking care of that baby first.”

Reluctantly, R eases up. They’re already miles ahead. No more gunfire. The snake hissing fades into the distance. But the mist beasts haven’t given up. They’re catching up, and they’re biting.

One latches onto his leg he stumbles. Hits the ground.

A new rage bursts out of him as he screams.

The Reaper morph twin blades, spinning like a fan.

He doesn’t hold back. The blades rip through the wolves, shredding them into pieces too small to regenerate. Blood and flesh scatter. The attack is brutal quick and unforgiving. Still, more wolves bite. One jumps from a tree, sinking its teeth deep into his shoulder.

R lets out a guttural scream, grabbing the wolf’s mouth with both hands. He rips it apart bare-handed. His arms and face are soaked in blood. He stands, chest heaving, fury in his eyes.

His body trembles and His fists twitch.

“R, LOOK OUT!” SHAID screams.

A massive blast of fire streaks from the trees ahead.

R barely reacts in time—Reaper shifts into a towering shield, its form wrapping around him. The explosion hits—fire surging, trees igniting, wolves disintegrating into ash. The very earth smolders. The only thing left standing in the inferno’s center is R.

SHAID gasps. “That’s an AT4. That was a fucking blast from an AT4! The heat R!”

R screams, voice echoing through the charred remains. As the smoke lifts, ash falling like black snow, his body trembles. Burnt blood smokes around him. But he survives.

And then—

Clap… clap… clap…

Slow. Metallic.

R turns.

A figure steps through the scorched haze. Heavy, mechanical footsteps. Sharp-edged boots crushing cinders beneath them.

Eyes gleam behind a cracked metal mask, old and terrifying.

The Caretaker.

“Well, well…” the voice is cold, almost impressed. “I can see why the Landlord is afraid of you.”

R stares. The smoke parts fully now. He sees the full figure bald, tall, and forged with sleek metal limbs, like an upgraded relic from a dead age.

The Caretaker chuckles. “Only Commander R can survive a full AT4 blast without burning. Only you can be bitten by the Mist and remain untouched.”

“I don’t have time for your bullshit,” R growls. He clenches his fists as metal wraps around his arms, hardening into gauntlets. His posture shifts.

Combat.

“SHAID,” he says. “Do you have a way into his suit yet?”

“I’m working on it. The components are… complicated. I don’t know why I can’t hack through. It’s like someone’s protecting it.”

R snarls. “Then be fucking fast and find a solution!”

SHAID goes silent.

The Caretaker watches him closely. “You okay, Commander?” he asks mockingly. “Or has the smoke finally gotten to your head?”

“Shut the fuck up and fight me, you fool.”

The Caretaker laughs, tilting his head.

Then he pauses.

And smiles beneath the mask.

“Commander R…” he says with pointing his stretching his palm forward. “Your rent is due. I’ve come to collect the Landlord’s rent.