An unnamed wilderness.
Under a certain tree.
"Hiss..."
Drake leaned against the tree, his face marred with injuries as he drew out his mouth and lit a cigarette.
"Akebin, how's it going, did you scout anything out?"
Akebin turned around, holding a glass jar in his hand filled with a pale-yellow transparent liquid, in which an eyeball attached to blood vessels was soaked.
The eyeball writhed like a living creature, but its surface was covered with blood vessels, betraying a look of agony.
"Nothing... the Eye of Shadow has been backfired upon."
Akebin said gravely.
He wasn't wearing the crow mask at the moment, revealing the weather-beaten face of a middle-aged man, his unkempt beard indicating a long period of neglect.
"So, shall we head directly into Amber City now...?"
Drake asked.
Akebin shook his head.
"Since we can't get any information, let's wait a little longer... let me finish the experiment."