Strongest Conqueror of the Beast Domain

Nick's jaw tensed.

He wasn't expecting this. The woman had already expressed to Nick, although in the heat of the moment, that she had already paid this week's protection money.

So why were they stopping at her door and ringing her doorbell?

He bit back the urge to throw open his own door and interrupt, knowing that waiting and listening would give him more info.

A faint creak followed — stopping with the clank of the chain lock.

"Morning, ma'am." The man spoke, in his usual confident and calm demeanour.

He wasn't doing much to conceal his voice, or quieten, so Nick heard everything clearly.

"I don't mean to bother you. You've paid up this week's fee. Don't worry."

Nick could already imagine the woman's panicked expression when she opened the door.

He'd already seen how she'd reacted when Nick, a completely unknown face rang her doorbell the previous day, so he could only imagine when the real deal appeared at her front door.

A paused followed.

Then the mother's voice, clearly hesitant.

"What… What do you want then?"

"Just a few questions. Nothing too serious."

Another silence followed.

Then…

"About your neighbour across the hall from you."

Nick felt alert after hearing that this whole interaction was about him, but he didn't move.

He simply kept on listening.

"I—I don't even know them… They've only moved in a few weeks ago, and I've never spoken or even seen them before."

"You sure?" The man pressured, bringing the tension up a notch.

"Y-yes…" She replied.

Nick could practically hear the fear in her voice, but he couldn't help but commend her for keeping her lips sealed about the short meeting and conversation he had with her the previous night.

She was walking a tightrope though. Say too little, and he'd press, like he'd already done. But say too much, and she might slip up.

"What do you know about him then?"

The man's tone was deceptively casual.

"I don't really know anything… only what the building manager told me." The woman answered, with her voice quivering.

"I only know that he's a young man, and that he lives across the hall, that's it!"

Nick exhaled slowly through his nose.

He wouldn't blame the woman for completely giving up the conversation they had yesterday and informing them that he was onto them, as they had only just met and their interaction barely even lasted a few minutes.

But he felt more and more assured of his decision to go after these guys.

He could feel the guilt in her tone though.

She was practically the worst possible person to lie… in any normal situation, and she clearly wasn't the type to do it often. Her nervous stutters, eyes probably darting back and forth nervously, and heart pounding out of her chest were dead giveaways.

But that was the thing Nick had already noticed about her.

…She acted that way anyway.

It was nearly impossible to tell when she was lying or telling the truth, unless you were like Nick who knew the lie beforehand!

"Hmm… Is that so?" The man spoke, stroking his chin as he did so.

"Someone said they heard voices outside your door last night. Quite late too." His tone was even more casual now.

For some reason, the man's casual demeanour freaked the woman out more than if he were to be aggressive…

"That wouldn't have been you and him talking, could it?"

Nick stiffened.

'Someone said that? Was another neighbour spying on us that whole time, like I am right now? Or do they have someone on the inside?'

He wasn't happy with this development. At all.

"No…" The woman replied quickly. "N-no! That wasn't me. I—I had my baby with me all night. I didn't open the door for anyone!"

A pause.

Then, a soft rhythmic tapping ensued, from fingernail against wood.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Nick could almost see the man standing there, leaning one hand on the door frame, idly tapping the other as he thought.

"You sure?" he asked again, almost amused.

Nick silently cursed under his breath. The guy had made it abundantly clear that he already knew something, and was just testing to see if the woman was being truthful or not.

He was playing a psychological game with her.

"I… I'm sure."

"Hmm."

Another silence.

Like the man was doing this on purpose.

People often felt uncomfortable in awkward silence like this, and sought out to fill the gap, often causing slip ups in their words.

He was obviously hoping to catch the woman out using this tactic.

"Well, I'll let you get on with your day then. Sorry to have woke you so early, ma'am."

He left after that.

The was the soft sound of a boot scraping and turning, then another.

Footsteps began to ensue, before fading after they moved far enough away.

Nick didn't move until the last thud of his footsteps faded completely.

Then, very carefully, he exhaled and unlocked his door, before carefully opening it, making sure not to create any sound.

He slid out into the hallway, keeping silent as his own shadow, with his fingers curling slightly around the edge of his door as he east it shut without a sound.

His eyes flicked toward the stair well.

Now that he was outside of his apartment, he could hear the distinct sound of him walking down.

Good, it was easier to follow than if he took the elevator.

He moved quickly but quietly.

His experience of stalking beasts for hours in the Beast Domain was put to good use here.

Floor by floor, Nick descended and followed the sound of the man's footsteps. He seemed to be in no rush, which made Nick's job easier.

But also meant the guy would notice even the smallest irregularity.

Scrrr!

Just one small, tiny sound.

Nick's boot grazed against a chipped bit of flooring that had elevated slightly above the rest.

It was minor, but Nick froze instantly the moment he realised.

Below him, the footsteps stopped.

Silence.

And then…