Miladi and Ridlef did not fully know what they should do.
Yes, both of them were relatively strong Nen users, and although they trusted in their own abilities, that did not mean they were unaware of how serious the situation truly was.
Tatris were experiencing nearly the same emotions as they were.
Even though he had only sensed it for a brief moment, the information his puppet had given him was clear and undeniable.
There was no possibility of defeating the enemy standing at the door.
The nerve, potential, and presence he had felt from that person were the strongest he had ever encountered.
In the past, Tatris had once crossed paths with a Shadow Beast who had secretly delivered a message to Aresto Quarmir.
He did not know which Shadow Beast it had been, but he had sensed an overwhelming Nen aura from that person and immediately understood how powerful and dangerous they were.
But compared to the enemy currently standing at the door, the difference was greater than the difference between a baby and a fully grown powerful man.
He trusted himself, just as Miladi and Ridlef trusted themselves, but confidence did not change reality, nor was it enough to move him toward resisting the human-shaped embodiment of death waiting beyond the door.
Aresto was not stupid.
He had led a mafia family for a long time, and through the authority and influence he possessed, he had encountered many Nen users.
He also understood the personalities of his own bodyguards to some extent.
At a glance, he could see the fear in their eyes and their unwillingness to fight.
"Miladi... Miladi has to protect me," he thought.
He could have thought, "Milady loves me, so he'll protect me," but at that moment, such positive thoughts never crossed his mind.
The only thing he knew was that Miladi's life was tied to his own. Even if the other two bodyguards wanted to flee, Miladi could not escape.
"What should I do...? Why are they this afraid...? If three Nen users can't protect me... then why did I pay them so much?" he kept thinking.
Miladi took a deep breath and began speaking in an attempt to break the cold tension filling the room.
"If... the enemy is really as powerful as you described, then perhaps we should consider this situation differently," he said.
Ridlef and Tatris looked toward Miladi.
At the same time, Aresto calmed down slightly.
If there was still a chance for dialogue, then perhaps his life was not yet lost.
That possibility gave him at least a little hope.
Miladi narrowed his eyes slightly and turned his head toward the massive shelter door.
"If this kind of enemy truly wanted to kill Boss Aresto, then he could have done so far more easily while the boss was traveling outside, somewhere without a shelter."
"My guess is that he has another purpose besides killing. That's why he came here without concern or hesitation..." Miladi smiled faintly.
"To be honest, this behavior also shows just how much confidence he has in himself. He's so confident that directly walking in here and taking action doesn't frighten him at all."
Under normal circumstances, such words might have irritated Aresto—who was normally arrogant—and even Tatris and Ridlef, who viewed themselves as superior to ordinary people.
But right now, every word Miladi spoke sounded like a lullaby in their ears.
It sounded so comforting that with every sentence, they regained another drop of hope.
If Miladi's words were correct, then perhaps there was still a chance they could at least save their lives.
Miladi placed a hand on his head and stared toward the door.
"First, I'll try communicating with him," he said.
He approached the door, pressed the button on the nearby panel, and took a deep breath.
"The person at the door... I know you can hear my voice."
"I don't think your goal is to kill us," he said, then waited for a response.
"Maybe." The answer came a few seconds later.
Miladi frowned slightly and exhaled.
What kind of answer was "Maybe"?
Was he acknowledging that killing was his goal? Or was he refusing to confirm the accusation itself?
"If... you're willing to talk."
"I'll open the door directly, and we can meet face to face. Hopefully... that arrangement is acceptable to you," Miladi said.
A few seconds later, another response came.
"Open the door. Let's talk."
Miladi let out a deep breath and exchanged glances with Tatris, Aresto, and Ridlef.
"What if he's lying...?" Aresto asked in a worried voice. Because of stress and fear, his face had become almost ghost-like.
Miladi paused briefly before shaking his head.
"Even if he is lying, we can't stay behind this door forever. And according to Tatris, if the enemy is truly at that level, then he'll eventually find a way to open the door.
It might take some time, but he'll be able to destroy it from the outside eventually," he said.
Tatris and Ridlef nodded in agreement while Aresto released a cold breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Fine... Then open the door. I'll move to the back..." he said.
Miladi nodded.
Activating the microphone panel for communication, he entered the password using the buttons beside it, paused for a moment, and then gently pressed the black button on the left side.
The moment he pressed it, the enormous shelter door slowly began to open.
Once the door fully opened, they saw a figure standing within the dim yellow lighting.
The figure looked younger than they had expected.
"Hello," the figure said with a smile.
Unable to stop themselves, they all wondered the same thing.
Had a human just greeted them... or death itself?