"Get up."
Yoru reached out and helped Itachi, who was kneeling on one knee, to his feet, giving his shoulder two firm but not overly hard pats.
The mask felt cold in his hand and carried the sharp, nose-stinging smell of fresh paint.
"Put that on. From now on, you'll be doing dirty work for me. None of those damn rules."
Yoru's voice was lazy, devoid of any discernible emotion.
He walked around the desk and stopped before the bare stone wall at the very back of the office.
Itachi was somewhat bewildered. He followed him, having no idea what Lord Yoru intended to do.
Yoru raised a finger and tapped the wall—which looked no different from any other—in a completely irregular pattern seven or eight times.
"Click, click-click."
The knocks were dull, as though he were striking solid stone.
Itachi could not help wondering, Could there be something behind this wall?
"Creeeak—"
A grating sound that set one's teeth on edge rang out.
The heavy stone wall slowly slid apart to either side like elevator doors.
A blast of cold air, carrying the mingled scents of old dust and medicinal herbs, rushed out from the pitch-black passageway.
"Follow me."
Without looking back, Yoru stepped directly into the darkness where one could not see a hand before one's face.
Itachi gripped the mask in his hand, took a deep breath, and followed him inside.
The passageway was long and deep.
The stone steps beneath their feet were somewhat slick and covered in moss, while the damp, moldy stench in the air grew even stronger.
After walking for roughly five or six minutes, a faint yellow light finally appeared ahead.
It was a small hidden chamber.
Several flickering oil lamps hung on the walls, stretching their shadows long.
The room was