The Seven Demon's Tamer

The Lamborghini's engine finally fell silent as Ming Fan pulled into what could generously be called a parking lot. The space was cramped and as untidy as a junkyard.

"Worry not, you will be taken to the base shortly," was Ming Fan's response as he pulled into what appeared to be a parking lot.

"Well," Leo said, stepping out of the car and stretching his back with an audible crack, "this is either the most cleverly disguised base in history, or we're about to be sold as slaves to mysterious men."

Leo commented... half-jokingly.

Brok emerged from the vehicle as well. Just like Leo, he could hear his joints cracking as he moved. "Are we sure this isn't just some sort of prank? Because if someone jumps out with a camera, I'm going to be very disappointed in all of us."

Mara stepped out as well. "You said a Sen found an interest in Ryder, didn't you?" she asked Ming Fan, her voice carrying a note of concern that she tried to mask with curiosity.

Ryder was the last to exit, taking a moment to scan their surroundings with a cautious eye.

The building in front of them was disappointingly mundane—almost incomplete from the outside with no wall painting.

It was more than enough to make them suspicious, that's for sure. Three stories of concrete and no windows, appearing like a real-life black and white display... Surely not giving good vibes.

Ming Fan adjusted his black glasses and instructed, "Follow me."

They went through the entrance just after Ming Fan scanned his identity card on what appeared to be a cyber door. A cyber door in a rundown, incomplete building was in fact a weird matchup.

The door swiftly opened to reveal the most overwhelming view any of them could have ever expected.

The tallest building in the middle, standing like a fortress, was Ming Fan's destination.

"Holy mother of—" Brok started, then caught himself, his mouth hanging open like a fish in shock.

"This is..." Mara began, then stopped, realizing she didn't know what to say as completion.

"Impossible," Leo finished for her, his blue-silver eyes reflecting the building's captivating interior. "Reminds me of my old apartment."

Some unfamiliar faces approached Ming Fan purposefully, all dressed in suits like him. They whispered something to him in low voices with similar professionalism Ming Fan portrayed.

Ming Fan listened, nodded once to them, then turned toward Ryder's group and gestured for them to proceed toward an elevator.

"You all should go to the top floor," Ming Fan instructed, obviously referring to the third floor of the building.

Ryder smiled politely, gesturing toward the elevator and spoke. "After you."

"No, you don't seem to understand," Ming Fan spoke firmly, his face as neutral as always. "I won't be coming with you."

"Huh?" They all exclaimed in unison, their voices carrying evidence of puzzlement.

"Why won't you?" Mara asked the question that was clearly on everyone's mind.

"Because I still have some business to handle here," Ming Fan responded with his vague reason. "The top floor is where you will be transported to the Red-Eastern base."

Brok scratched his head nervously, a gesture that caused his muscles to flex in a way that would have been impressive if it weren't for the child-like confusion on his face.

"I don't know if it's proper to ask, but do you somehow perhaps have some sort of... maybe jet? Or any other aircraft in that room?" He paused, processing his own question. "Because I'm curious how an aircraft can manage to... contain itself in one small floor of this building."

"It's not an aircraft," Ming Fan said, walking them toward the elevator with gentle but firm guidance.

"Then what is it?" Leo asked curiously, his silver eyes fixed on Ming Fan with the intensity of someone who really, genuinely needed an answer that made sense.

The elevator doors began to close as Ming Fan delivered his final piece of vague information: "You'll realize when you get there. Master Sung will be waiting for you."

The doors finally shut, and soon, they could feel the elevator moving.

After a short while, a metallic click echoed through the elevator car, and the doors finally split open.

They were greeted by a white room that made Ryder's heart pound instinctively.

"Oh, come on," he muttered under his breath. "Really? We're doing the white room interrogation stuff again?"

The familiar color brought back memories of the FSG base where he first destroyed a good chunk of the building. White walls, white ceiling, white floor. It was so similar, at least in color.

The room was mostly empty except for an elevated platform in the middle. The platform was circular, made of tiles, and it was raised about three feet off the ground—just high enough to make anyone standing on it command attention.

At first, none of them could see anyone else in the room, which made the space feel even more unsettling. Then a voice spoke from directly behind them, causing everyone except Leo to jump in shock.

"Nice seeing you again."

Ryder spun around instinctively and found someone standing right next to him with an impassive facial expression. The man's appearance was just as unsettling as when Ryder first saw him. Those predatory red eyes and long black hair tied in a ponytail. It was obviously Master Sung.

Everyone startled except Leo, of course, who had tracked Master Sung's movement with the enhanced perception his silver gaze technique granted him. He'd seen the man approach since they got into the room.

"How did you get here!" Mara blurted out, her voice higher with surprise.

"I'll take that as a rhetorical question," Master Sung replied, his gaze meeting Mara's with those unsettling red pupils, causing her to gulp.

He definitely wasn't as conversational as he was back then, or maybe he was... Just not for Mara.

He turned his attention to Ryder, and his expression shifted to something that might have been warmth if not for his red eyes.