Three days ago, precisely at night, several people gathered in a very magnificent room.
Not using candles as lighting, but instead using lamps filled with light magic that were able to illuminate the entire room with white colored light.
Ancient statues lined up along the edges of the towering walls, and right in the middle there was a large table with 11 people, including men and women, sitting around it. They were the high ranking members of Quiet Guardian.
The atmosphere that felt so calming was combined with the symphony of their entirely luxurious clothing.
Until a middle aged man began the conversation, "The Judge Will Come..." His gaze was straight ahead, burying the previously calm atmosphere into a gloomy one, "What does this mean?..." Added the man, in a deep voice.
The man sat in the most luxurious chair among the others, where every part of the chair was made of gold.
A presence that was calm, yet carried an indescribable gloomy atmosphere, made the middle aged man appear superior compared to the rest.
An elegant woman responded to the man's words, "The new ruler of the city of Geaz, huh?~" She said in a flirty tone while playing with the tip of her hair, "How daring of him~"
A man with an indifferent face joined the conversation, "How could that letter pass through The Caste Wall?" His tone was sarcastic, "What were the guards even doing?" He glanced at one of the men. It seemed like he was mocking him.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Huh?!" The man felt displeased, "I manage my subordinates properly!" He shouted arrogantly.
The previously sarcastic man replied, "Then how could it get through?" He asked. He really enjoyed provoking the anger of the one he was talking to.
Folding both arms, "My subordinates said that person was very skilled at hiding himself like an Assassin." Snorted the man who had been insulted earlier.
"Assassin?..." Asked a man, half mumbling, "Is it the doing of those Grey Lurk?"
"Could be." Replied the previous man. "Besides, they're like rats hiding in the sewers."
He began chuckling, "Hmph!"
"But secretly wanting to launch an attack."
Another woman replied to that mockery with another mockery, "Someone who can't even catch rats has no right to be arrogant." She said. Her voice tone sounded childish. But don't be mistaken, her age was the same as the others.
The man being mocked wanted to be angry, but he immediately stopped when he saw their leader's serious face.
*Gmur... Gmur... The aura released was extremely terrifying as if it would devour anyone.
With a soft yet intimidating tone, the man spoke. "Be quiet."
"Order around 50 troops to surround the city of Geaz..."
"Tell the ruler of that city to surrender... And don't waste more lives."
Someone raised a hand, wanting to interrupt the given command. "Wait a moment."
All eyes immediately turned to him, "That letter was written in ancient language, right?..." Asked the man, "Doesn't that mean he's directly challenging us?"
"What do you mean?" Asked one of them who didn't understand.
With raised shoulders, the man began explaining, "Well obviously the one who sent the letter wasn't Grey Lurk or anyone who just hides around."
Lowering his shoulders, smiling faintly, "It's like a declaration to start a war."
He lowered his voice, "Why handle it half heartedly?"
Some people who had been staring at him now straightened their gaze back forward.
The entire room fell silent for a moment.
Tension began to rise, some people smirked, and some didn't care and chose to stay quiet.
They all waited for their leader to give additional orders.
Until the leader finally opened his mouth, "Correct..."
"Hmm..." He began thinking, "It seems like 200 troops should be enough..."
It instantly became silent. Even though some didn't care about the core of the issue being discussed, the people in that room highly respected the words of the middle aged man.
'Quiet Guardian', just like the name 'Silent Guardian'. They don't talk much to execute their duties, and they will silence anyone who disrupts their territory, as if the word 'Quiet' is meant for the target as well.
No matter how small or insignificant the target is, as long as it threatens the sovereignty of Inner Dominion, they will silence it.
In the middle of the silence, the leader rose from his seat. *Thup. Standing proudly, he glanced at one of the men who had been silent the whole time. "Basion, watch the troops from afar."
"Yaaa." He responded like complaining. He looked like a man who was too lazy to move.
*Klak. Klak. Klak. The middle aged man walked with feet covered by iron armor boots.
"Don't interfere if they start a fight." Added the leader. He stepped out of the room with heavy yet calm steps.
The story slowly shifts to the present, when Guiver was still in the room that was previously used as a torture chamber.
Nine was still curious about Guiver's thoughts, "Why was he allowed to live? Aren't you extremely resentful toward him?" She glanced at Fiblio who was curled up trembling.
"A living torment is more terrifying than death, when one doesn't know whether they'll get heaven or hell." Answered Guiver, starting to tidy himself up to leave soon.
"I see..."
*Growlll. The sound of a rumbling stomach was heard.
Looking at Nine, "Do you have any food?" Asked Guiver, "It's been 5 days since I last ate."
Nine replied with a shocked expression, "Haven't eaten... for 5 days?..."
"Someone will forget something very important when it comes to their hobby." Replied Guiver with a smile.
Nine raised a brow, "What the— You brat?! Acting all wise suddenly." Grumbled Nine.
"Here." She handed him several pieces of bread from her pocket, "That's all I have."
Guiver happily took them, "Thank you." He began eating ravenously.
Deep inside, Nine began mumbling, "He has an appetite in a room full of body parts and the stench of blood?" She looked around.
Even though Nine was an experienced Assassin, she still had values and norms within her.
For her, work and eating were two things that could not mix.
Work was still work even if it involved blood, but eating was still eating and had to be far from anything related to work.
Guiver wiped his mouth, "Alright." Looking at Nine, "Can I leave the looting part to you guys, Grey Lurk?" Asked Guiver.
"Yeah." Replied Nine, "But what for?"
Guiver winked with one eye, "Think of it as capital."
"I see." Muttered Nine, "I'll tell my subordinates later."
Hearing that, Guiver began closing his eyes. "My task is done. Let me rest." He said to Reigh.
When Guiver said that, Reigh now regained control of his own body. "Yes, thank you." Whispered Reigh, audible to Nine.
Guiver, now inside Reigh's body, reminded him of something, "Don't forget the letter for Sylzee." He began yawning, *Hoaaammm... "I'm going to sleep... I leave it to you."
Reigh didn't respond, but he knew what he had to do next , to do what Guiver left for him.
Even though Reigh's physical body had stayed awake for 5 days without sleeping, the moment he regained control, he didn't feel tired or sleepy at all.
In fact, he felt like he was still in normal condition.
At that moment, he was confused. "Is it because the soul controlling this body was different?..." He muttered in his heart while staring at his palms.
"But how can that happen?... Since it's the same body?..." He began thinking critically.
Reigh started hopping lightly, trying to stretch his stiff muscles. *Tup. Tup.
"Oh... So there is still some exhaustion left..." He said.
Nine, who saw the change in the behavior of the 17 year old boy before her, looked confused. "Who is it this time?" She asked hesitantly.
Reigh turned, "The real Reigh." Answered Reigh briefly while stretching his muscles.
With her face slightly lowered, Nine began wondering in her heart. "That simple?... I thought it would only change when something big happened..."
Nine turned around, "I'm leaving first." She said softly.
When Nine had already disappeared, Reigh stopped her. "Wait." Reigh said quickly.
Nine reappeared, "What is it?"
"Do you know where Sylzee Aileen is staying?" Asked Reigh.
With raised eyebrows, "Sylzee Aileen?" Muttered Nine.
She began recalling something, "Aaahhh! The girl who made you aroused, right?..."
With a red face, Reigh quickly defended himself, "N-No, Damn it!!!"
Seeing Reigh's blushing face, Nine quickly approached to tease him, "Is that so?..." Smirking, "Previously you asked us about her identity..."
Even though Sylzee hid her identity by not telling her family name to anyone, for Grey Lurk who knew every detail of the Outer Slums, every identity belonged in their hands. For them, searching for difficult information was just daily routine.
Reigh pushed the middle aged woman beside him away, "N-No!"
"She is my savior!" Shouted Reigh a bit awkwardly.
"Eh? I see..." Nine backed off again, she lost her enthusiasm. She looked upward, "As for where she's staying, I haven't checked yet."
Straightening her posture, looking at Reigh, "Give me 3 minutes..." She vanished.
When Nine disappeared from sight, Reigh turned around, walking toward the curled up Fiblio. "So pitiful..." Muttered Reigh, crouching before Fiblio.
Seeing Fiblio's face that had lost all will to live. His face covered in his own blood. "You betrayed us..."
Reigh began mumbling to himself. "But life after that didn't go well either, right?..." He still asked, even though he knew Fiblio could no longer answer.
"A business that kept suffering losses..."
"Untrusted by potential business partners..."
"Disloyal subordinates..."
Reigh stood up, "Live like a stray animal..."
"Enjoy the harshness of life in the Outer Slums with your condition..." He turned, giving his back to Fiblio, walking toward the table.
*Kert. He opened the table drawer, looking for something. "Is there empty paper here?..."
Looking at each piece of paper in the drawer, "What is this?..."
"Filled with confusing writings..." He muttered.
He was curious about it, "What is this, Guiver?" He asked.
"Hm?" Guiver, who was resting, woke up again when Reigh asked.
"It's already written there." Replied Guiver sharply, "It's clearly written as financial reports." He was annoyed because his rest was disturbed by trivial questions.
"I see." Reigh began pushing aside the papers he considered useless, searching for blank paper.
He grew irritated as finding blank paper became difficult, "Why are there so many useless papers?!"
For someone who had no understanding of business, those papers did seem useless.
However, those papers were far more valuable to a merchant. Especially if owned by a business rival, they were more valuable than anything and would be protected at all costs.
"Just use the blank part of the envelope." Said Guiver, bothered by Reigh's noise.
"Hooh. Sorry for bothering." Reigh immediately followed Guiver's words.
Taking a writing tool, he began sitting at the table.
*Scratch. He started writing the letter for Sylzee.
A few moments later, 3 minutes had passed since Nine left.
Now, Nine had returned as promised. "Sorry to keep you waiting." Said Nine, revealing herself.
She saw Reigh pacing around uncontrollably.
"What are you doing?" Asked Nine.
Reigh looked over, "Aaah..."
"This... Could you deliver this letter for me?" Asked Reigh, feeling anxious.
Nine looked at the front of the letter. "For that woman?" Asked Nine. "Does this contain the confession of your identity?"
"Yes." Replied Reigh, "It feels really uncomfortable if she suspects me, right?..."
She returned the letter to Reigh, "It's better if you give it to her yourself." Said Nine softly.
"This is kind of unmanly, you know?" She advised him like a mother.
"Huuum." Reigh slowly took back the letter, "Y-You're right..."
Putting the letter in his pocket, "So, where is her lodging?"
"Alistey Inn." Replied Nine, "Room 13."
Reigh nodded, "Thank you... Sorry for the trouble." He stepped out of the bloody, foul smelling room, *Tap. Tap. Tap.
Passing by several people who had been unconscious for 5 days along the hallway.
They were the people who used to be employees of Reigh's parents.
He did not kill them because he felt they were not involved in the betrayal.
Not without reason, but when the betrayal happened, Reigh did not see their faces at all. Combined with information from Grey Lurk that the people lying unconscious now indeed didn't participate in the betrayal.
Nine walked behind Reigh, "When will they regain consciousness?" Asked Nine.
Reigh looked upward, trying to recall, "Maybe in 2 more days..."
He continued walking through the room very familiar to him. It was the room where he was raised since childhood. Unknowingly, his tears began falling slowly.
With a gaze full of acceptance, he stepped forward firmly. "Goodbye... Courter Ashley..." *Kerchak. He opened the door.
To him, Courter Ashley was the only precious legacy from his two parents.
However, he felt that Courter Ashley could no longer be saved because it had been tainted by Fiblio, so he didn't want to be involved with Courter Ashley anymore.
And to him, Courter Ashley had disappeared since the death of his parents. And he had no right to interfere, take over again, or anything related to it.
If he were to build a new company, he wanted to build it under his family name 'Asteion'.
He walked through the streets filled with people passing by, heading toward the inn where Sylzee was staying to give her the letter.
The focus slowly shifted toward the city of Geaz, precisely at the moment when hundreds of troops surrounded the entrance and exit of the city of Geaz.
In the distance, there was a man who was already bored of waiting atop a tree. "Why is there no reaction?"
He rested his chin on his hand, staring far into the entire city of Geaz, "Are they underestimating us?!"