Hazel stood behind the check-in counter, processing the check-in for the four of them.

Her colleagues, meanwhile, got the rooms 'ready'.

They tried to make the rooms as unwelcoming as possible, and they also checked that the surveillance devices were working properly.

The old man with the three other men kept silent and got into the rooms after that.

Surprisingly, they didn't make any noise after they got into the rooms.

Hazel looked at the footage from the surveillance camera and saw that they just sat on their beds, doing nothing else.

It was going to be a long night, she thought.

...

Inside Riley's room, Lukas and the others gathered around, looking at the map.

"The area is huge for us to cover the whole area together. We might have to split up," Riley said.

"I can be at the center of it, easier for me to reach anyone when something happens." Lukas pointed to the center of the Golden Hill cemetery and said.

Riley, Emma, Rex, Harianto, and Margaret nodded their heads.

Harianto raised his hand and said, "I can also make a drone to help with it. But my ability can only make it fly for one hour at a time."

"Great, we have to make use of whatever we can." Riley agreed to Harianto's help.

What Harianto said also reminded Riley and the others of their abilities and how far behind they were compared to Lukas again.

It seemed like they would have to buy up all the demonic beast cores they could with the $5 million reward they got.

Riley sighed and said, "If there are no other questions, have a good rest for tonight after dinner.

"We move out early in the morning at four before the sun rises."

Lukas nodded and went back to his room.

He took a shower, freshened up, and waited for dinner time.

While doing so, he summoned Shiba out from his summon space.

Shiba leaped excitedly when it saw Lukas.

Creak.

The wooden floor creaked with every jump made by Shiba.

"I know you are excited, buddy, but the floor might not hold," Lukas said, and Shiba stopped jumping around in excitement.

Lukas patted its head and asked, "Do you have any ideas about what the Apex demonic beast said? Something about 'Elder'?"

He was out of ideas on where to find the answer, and he thought he would give it a try asking Shiba.

Shiba tilted its head and gave Lukas a blank look.

It tried to recall.

But Shiba realized that it couldn't remember anything before it was rescued by Lukas.

It could only draw a blank.

Shiba lowered its head and shook it.

"It's all right, buddy. I will figure it out somehow." Lukas patted its head again, trying to console it.

"I will get you a sumptuous meal later at dinner," he said, as he knew what would cheer Shiba up the most.

Shiba grinned with its huge mouth and nodded its head.

Finally, it was dinner time, and Lukas summoned Shiba back into his summon space.

...

When Lukas came down to the ground floor, he noticed that the doors to the rooms at the side of the main lobby were all shut.

Someone had moved in? he thought.

Lukas confirmed it when he saw another car parked outside in the hotel's car park.

He stood and tried to listen to what was going on inside the room but couldn't.

All that he could hear was the breathing sound of the men inside.

Lukas then proceeded to the dining room.

"There are new guests in the hotel."

As dinner was served, he mentioned it to the other team members.

Riley frowned when he heard Lukas.

This hotel was supposed to be a safe house for them, with the staff working for Sherry.

"Don't worry, I will keep an eye on them."

Hazel, with a plate in each hand, came into the dining room.

"Let us know if you need help," Riley replied.

Lukas sat and thought otherwise.

He had seen enough to have a hunch about what was going on.

And he would rather not be the one waiting to strike.

Lukas kept quiet and nodded his head.

Hazel, who was unaware of what Lukas was thinking, stood straight and gave him a smile.

She would try her best and ensure that Lukas's mission went smoothly, she thought silently to herself.

Lukas and the others had their dinner quickly as the small dining room was stuffy.

He returned to his room and waited for nightfall to come.

...

Insects chirped as the air became cooler after the sun had set.

Darkness took over, and the breeze that blew made the branches of the trees sway and make rustling noises.

Lukas got up from his bed and listened to the surroundings.

Amidst the insects and rustling noises was Hazel at the counter.

There weren't any noises coming from the four men.

Lukas opened his door slowly and used his Gravity ability.

He flew above the wooden floor, making no noise.

And when he got to the staircase, he activated his Ether Realm ability.

He disappeared from sight immediately at the very next moment.

The old man inside his room finally stood up and walked over to his walking stick.

He picked it up and tapped it on the ground.

Whoosh.

Something radiated out into the surroundings from the walking stick.

Inside the old man's mind, a three-dimensional image of the hotel appeared.

He could see everyone that was inside the hotel.

First he saw Hazel at the check-in counter and the other staff busy preparing and cleaning.

And on the second floor, he smirked when he saw Rex fast asleep.

The others were also lying on their beds, fast asleep, deep in their dreams.

However, his smirk disappeared when he saw Lukas missing from his bed.

The old man tapped his walking stick on the ground again.

This time, the three-dimensional imagery in his mind became much clearer.

He scanned frantically for the whereabouts of Lukas.

The old man was about to give up when he suddenly saw a man appearing out of nowhere right inside his room in his three-dimensional imagery.

He opened his eyes, and to his horror, Lukas was standing right in front of him.