"The attitude of Sundown Alley toward the sanitarium is mostly one of reverence. Even the most vicious resident wouldn't dare have any ideas about the sanitarium. It is their final haven—a Noah's Ark they can board when the Great Flood comes."
"But the reason for this phenomenon is not just the uniqueness of the sanitarium itself. There is a rumor that no one can refuse the words of the sanitarium's nun."
Gray Serpent produced a black umbrella from somewhere. When he offered it to the man, the man shook his head slightly in refusal. So, Gray Serpent opened it himself, shielding himself from the rain and snow.
"...What do you mean?"
"The nun seems to possess an innate ability. She can easily make people believe her words and persuade others to achieve her goals, even if that person... is a complete stranger."
Gray Serpent's articulation was clear, his volume neither too high nor too low. As the man listened, he remembered his brief exchange with the nun during their first meeting...
Had he been persuaded?
Impossible. Ordinary humans do not possess the ability to bewitch hearts. The reason the nun held such authority was, in the end, due to her status as a believer and the position of the sanitarium.
The man was certain he was acting on his own will, not being so-called "persuaded" by her.
"You seem to have something to say?" Gray Serpent lifted his umbrella slightly, revealing his face beneath the hood.
Unlike when he left, perhaps influenced by the man, he now wore a pitch-black mask. Only two glowing crimson eyes remained in the recesses, looking mysterious and terrifying.
"In the things you investigated in Sundown Alley, are there any traces of the sanitarium's involvement?"
"I don't understand your meaning..." Gray Serpent's synthesized voice carried a hint of confusion. He thought for a moment before answering uncertainly, "If you are referring to the underground transactions in Sundown Alley, I have found no traces related to the sanitarium."
"..."
The man looked up at the sanitarium. In the harsh mix of rain and snow, it stood firm—a unique landmark in Sundown Alley.
"It seems you have unfinished business. Please allow me to take my leave to complete my 'experiment.'"
"Experiment?" Hearing this word from Gray Serpent made the man slowly turn his head to look at the mask under the hood.
"Yes. An experiment to gain a more comprehensive understanding of humans—learning and analyzing them. Once I am finished, I will return to your side and Dr. Mobius for a time."
"What kind of experiment?"
The man turned his body fully. His low voice pierced the rain. His previously flat gaze became sharp as he stared at the artificial life form—this man-made thing that was self-learning in human society, its values and worldview unknown.
"...You and the Doctor gave me a second life and complete freedom. I believe I should make them more valuable." Gray Serpent bowed gracefully. "Humans exist in groups. In my travels, I have seen countless groups, including Fire-Moth, which is a group organization. Therefore, by starting with their mode of existence, I should be able to understand humans the fastest."
"..."
"Even if you kill this body here, you cannot stop me. I already exist in the form of a group, just like humans do."
The man sensed something. He looked up, his gaze traveling several hundred meters to a dark speck standing on a roof.
Another "Gray Serpent" bowed slightly to him, then retreated into the darkness behind.
"In that case, goodbye, Mr. Lin... Also, your mask is very interesting."
Holding his umbrella, Gray Serpent walked into the blizzard under the man's gaze.
"Phew..."
The man inhaled and exhaled, preparing to pass the sanitarium to return to his base.
The mission wasn't over, yet he didn't know what the people at Fire-Moth wanted... No, he knew exactly what they wanted: news of a traitor.
The existence of a conspirator created out of thin air.
"Mr. Ultraman?"
As he bypassed the spiked fence, he heard a faint voice. He turned his head and saw the nun holding an umbrella at the sanitarium's gate, clutching a letter she was about to put in the mailbox.
The rain continued to fall, dripping off his ridiculous mask.
...
"Are you also a brother that Sister Aponia picked up? Why are you wearing a mask just like Brother Kalpas?"
Naturally, the man was surrounded by a group of children near the fire, who treated him as another homeless, poor soul brought back by the nun.
They curiously sized up this brother who was even more silent than Kalpas. His cold aura, so different from Kalpas, actually attracted the children, who thought it was cool.
Mobius never understood why Griseo liked Lin more than her. It was as if Lin was born to be liked by children; even if he just sat there, children would circle him and climb onto his knees to touch his helmet.
Then again, the man didn't understand it either.
"Why are you wearing an Ultraman mask?" one of the older children—looking two or three years older than the others—asked, waving his hand prominently among the group.
"..." The man remained silent as always. But since he wouldn't speak, the children could ask the nun. They crowded around Aponia, who had been watching, chattering incessantly.
"Sister Aponia! Who is that big brother? Why doesn't he talk?"
The nun looked at the man, then lowered her head and said with a calm expression, "He is Mr. Ultraman."
The children immediately erupted like water hitting a hot frying pan.
"Huh? Aponia? Who did you bring back this time!"
A burly figure appeared at the door. Hearing the children's noise, he stepped into the room and asked the nun with an impatient tone.
Then, Kalpas and the man locked eyes for two seconds.
A terrible corrugated cardboard mask and a hilarious Ultraman mask.
"...What is this?" Kalpas reacted, asking instinctively.
The man greeted him calmly: "Hello. I am Ultraman."
"I can see that... No, are you kidding me?"
Kalpas looked suspiciously at the nun, but she wasn't paying any attention to what was happening here; she was deep in thought.
"What a pain... This woman is always bringing people back on her own..." Kalpas huffed, tilting his chin at the man. "Follow me. I'll take you to where you'll sleep."
The man wanted to say he had his own place, but Kalpas was already leading the way. It seemed he wouldn't get a chance to say it.