Orion watched Hazel disappear into another street before quietly heading toward the elder's mansion.
The deeper he walked into the noble district, the quieter everything became.
Rows of cherry blossom trees lined the marble roads. Elegant fountains flowed peacefully while heavily armed guards patrolled every corner. The luxurious mansions stood proudly beneath the dim pink sky, completely untouched by the destruction that had swallowed the lower district.
At last, Orion stopped near a massive mansion surrounded by iron gates.
He remained in the shadows.
Inside the front courtyard, Amos was speaking with another elder. Their conversation was too far away to hear, but the number of guards around them made one thing clear.
Getting through the front entrance was impossible.
Orion slowly circled toward the back of the mansion.
The rear wall stretched several meters high.
He took a deep breath.
Then climbed.
His fingers gripped the cold stone.
A second later...
Thud.
He landed silently inside the enormous estate.
The mansion was breathtaking.
Built from polished white and gray stone, it looked more like a royal palace than a home. Crystal windows reflected the pale sunlight while colorful flowers surrounded the pathways.
Orion had barely taken two steps when he noticed a guard walking toward him.
He immediately slipped behind a nearby wall.
The guard stood only a few meters away, talking through a communication device.
"I still have the confidential files."
"I haven't delivered them to the conference room yet."
"They're with me."
"I'm ending the call now."
"The elder is waiting."
The communication panel disappeared.
The guard turned.
Orion moved instantly.
His arm wrapped around the guard's neck.
The man struggled for only a few seconds before losing consciousness.
Orion carefully lowered him onto the ground.
"I'm sorry..."
He quickly changed into the guard's uniform, picked up the confidential files, and dragged the unconscious body behind a thick patch of bushes.
After making sure nobody had seen him, he walked toward the mansion.
No one questioned him.
The disguise worked perfectly.
Inside, the mansion was even grander.
A long hallway stretched ahead beneath sparkling chandeliers. Expensive paintings decorated the walls while servants hurried back and forth carrying documents and tea.
As Orion rounded a corner...
Thud!
He accidentally bumped into an elderly noble.
The old man staggered backward.
"Watch where you're going!" he shouted angrily.
Orion clenched his fists.
For a brief moment...
He wanted to hit him.
Instead, he lowered his head.
"My apologies, sir."
Standing beside the elder was another man dressed in expensive robes.
"We're already late, sir."
Before leaving, the man kicked Orion in the leg.
"Move, you useless guard."
The two disappeared down the hallway.
Orion's fists tightened until his knuckles turned white.
He stared at their backs with burning eyes.
"...Old man."
"I'll deal with you soon."
Suddenly...
A faint vibration echoed from the communication device Hazel had given him.
He quickly looked around before slipping into a nearby storage room
The door clicked shut.
He accepted the call.
A glowing panel appeared in front of him.
Hazel's face appeared on the screen.
"You've entered the mansion?"
"Yes, sis."
"Good."
Her expression remained calm.
"Now listen carefully."
"Find the basement."
"That's where they store their weapons, explosives, and military supplies."
"I've marked a location for you."
A small map appeared beside her image.
"Destroy every weapon you find."
"And move every explosive to the location I've marked."
Orion blinked.
"...The explosives?"
"Exactly."
Hazel's lips curved into a faint smile.
"I'll explain later."
"For now, don't ask questions."
"Just do it."
The communication panel disappeared.
Orion took one deep breath.
"...The basement."
He quietly stepped out of the room and disappeared into the mansion once again, searching every hallway for a path that led underground.
Orion hurried through the mansion's grand lobby.
The marble floor reflected the crystal chandeliers above while servants and guards moved through the hall without paying him much attention.
Ahead stood a magnificent staircase leading to the upper floors.
Instead of climbing it, Orion turned into the hallway on the right.
The corridor stretched endlessly.
Portraits of former rulers decorated the walls while expensive flower vases stood beside every pillar.
After several minutes of walking, he finally reached a thick iron door.
A rusted metal sign hung above it.
BASEMENT
Orion slowly pushed the door open.
Creeeak...
A cold raft brushed against his face.
A long staircase disappeared into darkness.
Without hesitation, he descended.
Each step echoed through the silent basement.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
When he finally reached the bottom...
Darkness swallowed everything.
"I can't see anything..."
He carefully stepped forward.
Thud!
His foot struck something metallic.
Clang!
The sound of weapons echoed across the room.
Orion crouched down and grabbed a rifle.
Rows upon rows of weapons filled the basement.
Crates of ammunition.
Explosives.
Grenades.
Military supplies.
"So this is their arsenal..."
Without wasting another second, he began smashing everything.
Crash!
A rifle snapped in half.
Bang!
Another crate shattered.
Pistols, swords, and ammunition were destroyed one after another.
After finishing the weapons, his eyes landed on a small switch mounted high on the wall.
Just as he reached toward it...
Above the basement...
A servant walked past the entrance.
"Hm?"
"The basement door is open?"
She frowned before closing it.
Click.
The heavy lock slid into place.
---
Meanwhile...
Outside the mansion...
The election ceremony had begun.
Luxurious carriages rolled through the noble district one after another.
Crowds gathered along both sides of the road.
"Elder Amos!"
"We support you!"
"Long live Elder Amos!"
Amos stepped out of an elegant golden carriage.
Several elite guards immediately surrounded him.
He smiled warmly, shaking hands with wealthy citizens to strengthen his public reputation.
Behind him, another luxurious carriage arrived.
Inside sat two elderly men.
Gilles.
Stefan.
Stefan loosened his collar.
"It's unbearably hot today."
"I'm glad we don't have to step into the poor district."
"They bark like stray dogs."
Suddenly...
His eyes froze.
Across the crowd...
A hooded figure stood silently.
Green eyes.
Green hair beneath the hood.
His breathing stopped.
"...Hazel."
Gilles frowned.
"What?"
"I saw Hazel."
He pointed toward the crowd.
"There!"
Gilles looked.
No one.
Only ordinary citizens.
He burst into laughter.
"You still haven't forgotten her?"
"She's dead."
"How could she possibly be alive?"
Stefan slowly lowered his hand.
"I swear..."
"I saw her."
"She came back for revenge."
Gilles waved dismissively.
"Nonsense."
"We killed her ourselves."
"Stop imagining ghosts."
Stefan took a long breath.
"...Maybe."
"The heat is making my head hurt."
"That's probably why I remembered her."
Gilles smirked.
"You've never forgotten the scar she gave you, have you?"
Stefan clicked his tongue.
"How could I?"
Gilles chuckled.
"You're sweating so much."
"Don't tell me you wet yourself."
"Shut up."
"I'm not afraid of her."
"Oh?"
Gilles leaned closer.
"You're talking about Hazel."
"The woman who nearly wiped all of us out."
"Even Robert couldn't stop her without paying a heavy price."
Stefan's smile disappeared.
"Enough."
"That night..."
"...was cruel."
"When we betrayed Robert..."
"...and killed Hazel..."
"...I thought everything was finally over."
Gilles stared toward the cheering crowd.
"Forget the dead."
"But remember this..."
"Robert never forgets betrayal."
The cheers of the crowd grew louder.
Yet inside the carriage...
Only fear remained.
---
Back inside the mansion...
Orion had destroyed every weapon.
Using the water ability he had only recently awakened, he carefully created floating bubbles around the explosive crates.
One by one, the heavy boxes floated into the air.
He guided them toward the staircase.
When he reached the top...
He grabbed the handle.
Nothing.
The door wouldn't move.
"...Locked?"
"Who locked it?"
At that moment, Hazel's communicator vibrated.
A glowing panel appeared.
Orion answered immediately.
"Hazel?"
Her voice came without hesitation.
"Have you finished?"
"Almost."
"But someone locked the basement door from outside."
Hazel sighed.
"Idiot."
"I told you to stay unnoticed."
"Forget the door."
"Look for a window."
"There should be an emergency exit."
"Take every explosive with you."
"The mansion's security is almost zero right now because everyone is focused on the election."
"If you're seen..."
"...the entire mission fails."
Orion nodded.
"Understood."
The panel disappeared.
He looked around the dark basement once more.
"There has to be another way out..."