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The other man nodded furiously, but it was really the terror in his eyes that convinced Vasiliy that he would listen.

He let the guy up and allowed him to flee. Then he moved between the remaining three captives and got right in their faces in order give them the same treatment.

The last one was quite young indeed. Probably not even old enough to drink in most countries.

When they were all gone, Vasiliy looked over the carnage he’d wrought. Blood and viscera everywhere. Headless corpses in the street.

A pang of remorse came over him, though only briefly.

He and Regomiss separated again, then he entered the facility.

Someone was waiting for him on the other side of the entryway. He wasn’t surprised, as he’d sensed their soul there the whole time, watching from beyond the two rows of thick glass doors.

“Lord Medan...” The young man’s voice was soft and sad, as was his face. “You did not have to be so ruthless...”

Vasiliy had no time for his nonsense and simply kept walking past him. The main lab was quite a distance away, still.

The boy didn’t give up, though. “Lord, if they had breached the building, I was more than capable of defending this place myself. There was no need for you to--”

“Short-sighted, as always, Rolan.” Vasiliy increased his pace. “In times like this, a firm hand is required to maintain any semblance of order. What happens when you are not around to protect the other researchers, hmm? Those animals would return and try again. Or some other group would. You must send a message that is strong and clear.”

The boy had no response for that, which Vasiliy found mildly surprising as he spared a glance at the lad.

Could it be that he was actually taking a lesson to heart, for once? Hmph. Somehow, Vasiliy doubted it. Rolan had always been rather stubborn in his convictions.

Vasiliy decided to move on. “Has there been any progress since my last visit?”

“Ah--no, lord.”

Unsurprising.

“Oh, but your grandson is here.”

At that, Vasiliy stopped and stared. “What? Nicholae?”

“Yes, lord.”

Vasiliy needed a moment to process that information. His grandson was really here? After all this time? After all that was said between him and his father?

The Medan family was not very large or well-known. Despite having the namesake of the head of their entire clan, they were actually quite a small branch, especially when compared against the likes of the Ydols, Krins, and Erdos.

So it was rare indeed for Vasiliy to chance upon any of his close relatives like this. Nicholae, in particular.

He was suddenly a bit nervous.