The Spoils and the Tip-Off

"Aitris?!"

Abner cried out inwardly. He had never expected to find his friend at an Immortality Society hideout. From the look of things, Aitris was the "tough nut" the bald man had mentioned—the one who had failed to assassinate someone and been captured instead.

Aitris was in terrible shape. His clothes had been whipped to shreds, dark brands covered his body, and all four of his limbs had been broken.

Hearing the commotion, Aitris struggled to lift her head. Through her blurred vision, she barely made out what was happening in the basement. She nodded to Abner, who had revealed himself, forced a faint smile, and rasped, "Friend, I don't know who you are, but thank you for saving me... I'll reward you afterward."

She was trying to show her value while making it clear she did not know him, lest he decide to silence her.

You're overthinking it. I only came here to "find" some intelligence I'd made up out of thin air...

Behind the Clown Mask, which gave him an entirely female face, Abner grumbled to himself. Instead of immediately freeing Aitris, he first used the Doctor's ability to treat her injuries.

The Healing he had Simulated was far weaker than the original, but it was enough for emergency treatment. At least it stabilized her condition and kept it from worsening.

For a strong, sturdy Hunter, that was enough.

"Thank you." Aitris relaxed a little. She knew he meant her no harm; otherwise, he would not have gone to the trouble.

Abner nodded without speaking. He turned to the three dead Beyonders, examined them, and began collecting the Beyonder Characteristics they had left behind.

*The Corpse Collector characteristic came from the tan-skinned man who opened the closet... I saw him when I Rewound Morella's memories. His name was