The following day, April 13th, marked the beginning of an epic quest for two adventurous parties.

First up were Rey and Aiden, who stepped out of their abode at precisely 11:30 am, sharp.

"Alrighty, mission mode is on!" exclaimed Rey, hoisting a backpack over his shoulders, stuffed to the brim with all sorts of mysterious gear.

"Are you sure about that?" Aiden inquired, his voice dripping with casualness as he eyed Rey's legs, which were quivering like jelly in an earthquake.

"Absolutely, it's merely excitement," Rey declared, slapping his hands on his knees in a futile attempt to still the tremors.

"Okay, let's embark on the mission 'Saving the Comrade', and remember to always be cautious and attentive," Aiden said to him, his gaze confident.

Together, they began their march towards the abandoned factory, also known as the Thug's hideout.

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As they began their march, in a different apartment, a boy who was clearly our Evan made sure the band was concealed properly. Once checked, he stepped out of his apartment and secured it with the key.

Descending the stairs, he began to reminisce about his early days upon arriving here, when he met Jason and his wife, Rossy.

Being an introvert, he always had difficulty conversing with others, which made it take quite a while for him to open up to people.

With Jason and Rossy's assistance, he managed quite well. As he pondered further, he finally reached the first floor where they both resided and knocked on the door.

"Uncle Jason, Aunt Rossy, I am here," he said while knocking on the door.

"Coming," Rossy's voice came from inside. After a few minutes of waiting, she opened the door to find Evan smiling at her.

"Oh, Evan, you seem ready to leave. Wait, I'll call Jason," said Rossy.

"No, Aunt, please wait. I'm sorry, I came to bid you both farewell, but I think my departure will sadden Uncle even more, so it's best I leave without seeing him," Evan replied, handing her the keys to his apartment.

"Alright, but remember to call us occasionally from there, send our regards to your parents, and please, be a good man and stay healthy," Rossy said, her eyes brimming with tears.

He nodded at her, began walking towards the exit, glanced back to wave, but saw that Rossy had already closed the door.

"Well, Evan, now is the time for some thrilling stunts," he murmured to himself and started walking towards the place he remembered.

Inside the Jason household, Jason is seen sitting on a chair with his head bowed, while Rossy stands behind him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"If you're this upset, why didn't you stop him from leaving?" Rossy asked.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"I have no right to stop him, and I think it's best he goes to his parents. It's good for him," Jason replied.

"Okay, okay, no need to cry now; you don't look good doing it," Rossy teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm not crying; it's just some dust in my eyes," Jason said, wiping his eyes. They both chuckled softly, and the routine of their daily life as an elderly couple resumed as usual.

Outside the apartment building, Evan can be seen walking down a street toward a particular park.

He recalled that in the past, while resting in the park on this day, he was abducted and confined in a room with many others inside a factory, the details of which elude his memory. Fortuitously, he managed to escape, discovering a peculiar object there. Thirteen days after returning home, the object began to glow, and he was transported to another world. There, he lived out his life until his death, after which he returned to this timeline, akin to the reincarnation themes found in novels and manga.

However, he had personally experienced this and regained his memories after encountering the thrones, who informed him that he could return to that world today to complete his mission, as something had changed here, akin to a butterfly effect.

He swiftly arrived and waited for the moment he was kidnapped, but when nothing happened, he realized a real change had occurred. He walked over to a sheet on the side and sat down for a while.

Observing the park, he noticed fewer people around today and began reflecting on his past life. Suddenly, a hand covered his mouth with a cloth, and he detected a strong odor that he recognized as chloroform. Pretending to struggle, he realized two men were blocking his escape and preventing others from witnessing the scene.

After struggling for a few minutes, he began to feel dizzy and fell unconscious. The men appeared to help him, as if aiding a friend who had lost consciousness, and pretended to take him to a clinic. However, instead of heading to a clinic, they were escorting him to their hideout, and their intentions were certainly not benevolent.

Meanwhile, Evan's plan was successful, and he managed to infiltrate the location he aimed for. Now, all he needed to do was locate the artifact and journey to another world.

{A/N: Which will be the start of my second story hehehe.}

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Aside from that, one could see a boy gazing towards a large gate from afar, lifting his face and whispering words into the air. To an onlooker, his actions might appear insane, but only he knew he was speaking to someone. That someone was Aiden, and the one gesturing was clearly Rey.

"So, what should we do now? My gut tells me the thug boss will be on high alert, and I doubt I can just waltz in and out as if it's a casual stroll," Rey remarked, scrutinizing the main building from beyond the wall.

"I don't think they're onto the route you took last time. We could use that same path for entry; there's no need for concern," Aiden proposed, alluding to the previously used entry point.

"You're right. Let me recall the place... Ah, yes, I remember now; follow me." After some thought, he remembered the route, made his way towards it, and despite some difficulties, located the place.

Taking cover, they glanced through the wall made of steel or iron wires—its precise material was a mystery to him—but it was transparent enough to risk their concealment. Staying hidden was their main objective.

Looking inside, they spotted several thug-like figures patrolling the area, equipped with various weapons such as blades, baseball bats, and guns. He couldn't pinpoint the exact model, but one firearm resembled a G18, a fact he deduced from his extensive video game experience with guns, observing that this particular one seemed modified.

"Oh sh*t, look Aiden, do you think we can take on those with guns? I'm not sure I can even handle the ones with baseball bats, let alone the blades," Rey expressed grimly.

"I know, a regular citizen can't just defeat someone, much less kill them. First things first, suit up," Aiden instructed, giving him a serious look.

"So, what's our plan now?" Rey inquired while gearing up.

"Something crazy," Aiden declared, and then he disappeared, causing Rey to lose balance and fall to the ground.

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