There were rumors about him, saying he was once a scientist in a mysterious laboratory of the Empire’s royal family. Later, however, it was revealed that he conducted cruel experiments in violation of interstellar regulations.

The Empire’s royal family originally wanted to protect him.

Although the man was somewhat mad, he was still a genius scientist.

But as the incident grew more serious, the royal family had no choice but to expel him.

After several transfers, somehow, madman Lane ended up in Bright City, where a local boss interested in experiments helped him build a mysterious underground laboratory.

Of course, these were all rumors.

Whether they were true or not was unknown.

So Leopard Brother just mentioned it as gossip.

But Seventeen took it to heart.

...

In the sunless basement, countless iron cages were piled up in the corners.

The cages contained wild beasts, mutant beasts, and also people.

Hannah was sitting in the corner of a cage, curling up, her head lowered.

On her arm, there were densely packed wounds, as if cut open by a sharp scalpel, with some wounds healing and others fresh.

Blood continued to flow from the new wounds, but after a few short seconds, the less severe wounds began to heal.

Deep wounds that reached the bone also stopped bleeding after a few minutes.

"What a marvelous little creature."

Outside the cage, a middle-aged man in a white lab coat squatted on the ground, looking at Hannah as if she were his most prized experiment.

"How can there be such a disgusting monster like you in this world?" Derogatory words came out of his mouth, but they sounded like the sweetest praise, "Tell me, if I were to take your heart out, could you come back to life again?"

Doctor Lane was a true madman, passionately obsessed with things that defied common sense.

Like Hannah.

Hannah remained silent, just staring at the blood under her feet.

A beautiful splash of crimson.

Since the time the owner of the fighting arena had approached her to negotiate, she knew she was unlikely to obtain the two tickets he held.

But it didn’t matter.

What she wanted wasn’t the tickets in the owner’s hand.

Doctor Lane had left.

Hannah then lifted her head.

In the distance, the experimental table flashed with blue light, and a huge rack held hundreds of specimens, all kinds of creatures, just looking at them sent shivers down one’s spine.

In the corner, many discarded papers were piled up, densely covered with formulas.

And among those scraps of paper was what Hannah was looking for.

Soon, she would be able to leave this place.

The girl lowered her head again, pulling a bloody smile across her lips, innocent and radiant.

She cheerfully began to hum a song.

"Pretty little girl, she came out of the forest, wearing a lovely cape, with long hair. She always held a paintbrush, and people called her the little witch.

She painted on the ground, and rabbits came to life, she painted on trees, and birds came to life, she painted on paper, and little people stood up, turned around, with no eyes or hair..."

A melodious song echoed in the silent laboratory.

It was a very pleasant sound.

Finally, the forest witch brewed a potion that satisfied her, standing on a chair, joyfully stirring the spoon in her hand.

It truly was a delightful day.

...

The day Hannah left Bright City, it rained heavily.

The rain poured down noisily, blown by the wind onto the ground, raising dust far and wide.