Urgent footsteps and a man's shouts rang out before the cell door. Before long, a dark figure appeared beyond the iron bars.
The man held an oil lamp, his fat face pressed against the bars. The dim yellow light illuminated the lower half of his face from below. To the children in the cell, he looked indescribably vicious and terrifying.
The children, who had cried out when Shinichi Hyuga suddenly vanished, now let out frightened whimpers. Those who had only just begun to relax all curled up in the corner, not daring to look at the man.
"Heh heh!"
The man seemed quite pleased with the intimidation he inspired in the children and even hummed happily a few times. Just as he was about to turn and leave, his eyes suddenly widened, and he pressed his face even closer to the bars.
"1, 2, 3..."
His gaze swept over the children in the cell one by one as he counted under his breath.
"Why is one missing?!"
As though unable to believe his eyes, the man counted again. After confirming it once more, anxiety crept into his voice.
"Clatter—"
The lock was swiftly opened, and the burly man stepped into the cell. Leaving the door partly closed, he held the oil lamp out before the children, illuminating a corner of the cell.
After counting them again, fury surged across his features.
"Where is he?!"
"Where's that long-haired brat who was just brought in?!"
His enraged growl echoed through the cell. Yet all the children hung their heads, not daring to look at him. Their cowering only made him angrier when no one answered.
"Get the hell out of my way!"
He flung aside a boy blocking his path, then kicked apart the straw on the floor. He seemed to think