"Hey, are you paying attention to me?"
Kenshin asked, snapping his fingers in front of Zeke's face.
"Yes, I hear you loud and clear."
Zeke responded after deactivating Mind's Eye. Having witnessed the bloodbath unfold from several kilometers away, he nodded in satisfaction at his handiwork. Earlier, while No.711 was securing the perimeter, he had successfully caught her off guard and planted the illusionary technique Mind Weaver.
Mind Weaver allowed the user to implant a primary directive alongside multiple contingency scenarios.
In No.711's case, the main command had been simple:
Kill No.701.
To ensure success, Zeke layered additional triggers beneath the surface. If the opportunity presented itself in one way, she would strike. If circumstances changed, another scenario would take over. He had even planted a script where No.701 would be murdered in his sleep if necessary.
Returning his attention to Kenshin, Zeke opened his spatial pouch and released two corpses onto the floor before removing their numbered badges.
"By the way, are either of these your targets?"
Kenshin glanced down and shook his head.
"Jeez, you've been busy. But no, these unlucky bastards aren't mine."
The two exchanged information regarding their day.
Kenshin reported no major issues while watching over Liz. For the time being, she remained on the second floor of their hotel while they occupied rooms on the third.
They had agreed to alternate shifts.
One would monitor Liz.
The other would hunt.
Before retiring for the night, Zeke handed Kenshin a spare outfit he had purchased earlier.
Anything was better than walking around in a bright yellow fledgling uniform.
Once alone, Zeke sat cross-legged and activated Demon's Breath.
Crimson threads emerged from his fingertips, draining the blood essence from the two corpses.
A faint surge of Qi entered his body.
'Tsk.'
Zeke clicked his tongue.
'Stage 1 Disciples still aren't enough.'
The increase was noticeable but insignificant.
Afterward, he returned the dried corpses to his spatial pouch and activated Mind's Eye.
Rather than sleep, he chose to remain vigilant.
...
Two weeks passed.
The Valley of Light remained lively as ever.
Wearing a dark blue gi and straw hat, Zeke wandered through the bustling streets while secretly monitoring Liz from afar.
Kenshin had already eliminated one target and was currently pursuing his second.
Meanwhile, No.444 remained frustratingly elusive.
No sightings.
No clues.
No mistakes.
It was almost as if he didn't exist.
That didn't mean the past two weeks had been uneventful.
Far from it.
Zeke had become a walking bounty.
His kill count had already surpassed thirty.
Numerous fledglings sought the rewards promised for his death.
Several had even targeted Liz.
Each attempt ended the same way.
Poorly.
'If only I were more proficient with Face Mask.'
Zeke sighed internally.
A disguise would have made things considerably easier.
Still, there were benefits to constant attacks.
Opening his status screen, he reviewed his progress.
[Status Window]
Mana (2,593/2,593) — Qi (10,600/10,600) — Sword Force (N/A) — Power Level (53,333) — Health (20,593/20,593)
Title: (Blood Physique) (1st Circle Mage) (Stage 2 Grandmaster)
Thanks to Demon's Breath, he had successfully reached Stage 2 Grandmaster.
Each death strengthened him.
Yet the gains came with an unpleasant aftertaste.
Most of his victims were little more than children.
Young assassins trapped inside the same machine that once consumed him.
Even so, guilt changed nothing.
Loose ends still had to be tied.
He had long abandoned any illusion of being a saint.
Survival remained the only law that truly mattered.
...
Elsewhere, Liz accidentally collided with a passerby while navigating through the crowd.
"Ow!"
She stumbled backward.
"Watch where you're going!"
The young man she bumped into barked.
"I'm sorry!"
Liz quickly apologized.
Observing from afar, Zeke remained unconcerned.
He had seen this routine before.
'Another one.'
Over the past two weeks, Liz had developed a simple but effective assassination method.
Bump into target.
Apologize.
Inject a tiny poisoned needle during contact.
Leave.
The victim would die in their sleep from respiratory failure.
Afterward, Liz would quietly retrieve their badge.
Crude.
Efficient.
Reliable.
Unfortunately for her, someone unexpected entered the equation.
"No need to apologize."
A pleasant voice interrupted.
"If anything, my oversized friend should be apologizing for taking up half the street."
The speaker stepped forward.
Approximately fifteen years old.
Flowing black hair.
Dark eyes.
Green robes.
An easy smile.
The smile looked genuine.
That alone made Zeke suspicious.
'So you've finally decided to show yourself.'
No.444.
"Thank you."
Liz accepted his hand and stood.
"My companion and I were just heading to eat. As an apology, allow me to treat you."
"No, that's really not necessary."
"I insist."
His smile widened.
"And if I'm being honest, it looks like you could use a proper meal."
Liz opened her mouth to protest.
Her stomach immediately betrayed her.
Growl.
The silence that followed was painful.
"...Well, since you're offering."
No.444 laughed warmly.
"Excellent."
From a distance, Zeke followed.
...
Eventually, they arrived at a popular restaurant called Heaven in Hell.
The establishment was packed.
After securing a table on the second floor, Zeke quietly observed from above.
Below, No.444, his companion, and Liz reviewed the menu.
"Wow..."
Liz stared at the options in amazement.
"I'm glad you're impressed."
No.444 smiled.
"Wait until you taste the food."
The conversation remained casual.
Soon, a waitress delivered a pot of oolong tea.
"Thirsty?"
No.444 asked.
Liz nodded.
"Allow me."
As he reached for the teapot, Zeke moved.
Instantly.
Appearing beside the table.
His hand clamped around No.444's wrist.
"Zeke!"
Liz exclaimed.
No.444 blinked.
"Oh? Is this your jealous boyfriend?"
"No."
Zeke's grip tightened.
"You can consider me the overprotective brother."
The atmosphere immediately chilled.
No.444's larger companion rose from his seat.
A chair crashed behind him.
Yet No.444 calmly raised his free hand.
The giant stopped.
"Zeke, what are you doing?"
Liz demanded.
Ignoring her, Zeke flipped No.444's hand upward.
"Explain this."
A tiny puncture wound decorated the tip of his finger.
A single drop of dried blood remained.
Zeke already knew exactly what it meant.
No.444 followed his gaze.
Then smiled.
"Hmm. Last time I checked, accidentally pricking myself wasn't a crime."
"It becomes one when you're trying to poison my sister."
The smile disappeared.
"What?"
Liz stared between them.
No.444 slowly leaned back.
"Interesting."
His voice lost its warmth.
"Looks like we have a detective."
He pulled against Zeke's grip.
"Now let go."
The restaurant suddenly felt much smaller.
"Or what?"
Zeke asked.
No.444's eyes narrowed.
"Or things become unpleasant."
Knowing this wasn't the time or place, Zeke released him.
For a brief moment, it looked like the confrontation had ended.
Then No.444's shadow moved.
A blade erupted upward.
Zeke barely avoided decapitation.
The edge still carved a shallow cut across his neck.
Grabbing Liz, he leapt backward.
Patrons screamed.
Tables overturned.
The entire restaurant descended into chaos.
No.444 never looked surprised.
That was the first thing Zeke noticed.
The second was his shadow.
It rose.
A figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
Instructor Fox.
The assassin stepped fully into view.
His expression was cold.
Murderous.
"I tried to warn you."
Fox's voice echoed through the restaurant.
"But it's too late now."
Suddenly, every color inside Heaven in Hell vanished.
The patrons.
The walls.
The furniture.
Everything became a lifeless shade of gray.
Fox raised his hand.
"Die."
A storm of shuriken exploded outward.
Ripping through the restaurant and everyone unfortunate enough to be caught inside.