Chapter 4: Mission
Sebastian led me through the facilities of the Moonlit Hitman Agency, though "facilities" felt like a generous term for what I saw.
The first stop was the medical ward, the very room I had awoken in. Dim lights flickered overhead, casting eerie shadows on the cracked walls. Rusted equipment and broken glass littered the floor, and a faint metallic smell clung to the air.
"This," Sebastian began, his tone apologetic, "was once a state-of-the-art recovery unit. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to it."
"You don't say," I muttered, stepping over what appeared to be the remnants of an operating table.
Sebastian ignored the sarcasm, gesturing for me to follow him further.
The next stop was the training area, a cavernous space with high ceilings and walls lined with faded murals depicting martial artists in dynamic poses. The training equipment here was in marginally better condition, though the wooden dummies were splintered, and the punching bags looked like they'd been through several wars.
"Despite appearances, this space is still functional," Sebastian said. "You will find it suitable for rebuilding your strength and refining your skills."
"Assuming it doesn't collapse on my head," I quipped, eyeing the cracked beams overhead.
Sebastian offered a faint smile, though his expression carried a hint of irritation.
Finally, he led me to the residences. A cluster of small rooms, each one barely more than a bed and a chair, lined a narrow hallway. The air here was stale, and the faint hum of the building's failing power system filled the silence.
"And this," Sebastian said with a flourish, "is where you shall reside. For now."
"For now?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed. As you rebuild the agency, resources will grow. With those resources, you may expand and improve the facilities as you see fit."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "So, to summarize: I've been dragged into a crumbling assassin agency located in some hidden realm, surrounded by ruins that could collapse any second. Fantastic."
Sebastian cleared his throat. "I understand it may seem... daunting, sir. But remember, every great legacy begins with humble origins."
"Right," I muttered, shaking my head.
As if to punctuate the butler's point, the system chimed again.
Mission Received:
Title: "Unfinished Business"
Objective: Return to Earth and eliminate your betrayer.
Details: The System has issued this mission as your first assignment. Your target is the individual who sabotaged your life. Complete this mission to settle your only regret and solidify your bond with the Moonlit Hitman Agency.
Reward: 10,000 Moonlit Coins, Experience Points, and the title "Avenger of Betrayal."
I stared at the glowing screen, my heart pounding.
The system's words confirmed what I'd already suspected. My betrayer. The man who had poisoned me, robbed me of my career, and left me to rot in that cursed nursing home for thirty years.
A surge of anger coursed through me, hotter than anything I'd felt in decades. I clenched my fists, my knuckles whitening.
Sebastian seemed to notice my reaction. "The System has chosen this mission to provide closure, sir. It understands that unresolved regrets can hinder one's growth. Completing this task will allow you to move forward without the weight of your past."
I turned to him, my jaw tight. "How does it know? About my past, about him?"
Sebastian tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "The System sees all, sir. It is not bound by the limitations of mortal understanding. Consider it... an omniscient guide, dedicated to ensuring your success."
I didn't respond, my thoughts swirling.
The butler continued, his voice steady. "Before you embark on this mission, there is something you should know about how assignments are received."
I glanced at him, my curiosity piqued.
Sebastian gestured toward a nearby wall. As if responding to his command, the air shimmered, and a doorway materialized. The frame was an unsettling shade of blood red, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat.
"This," Sebastian said, "is the Blood Red Door. It is through these doors that desperate souls find their way to the agency. They appear to those consumed by a need for vengeance, offering them a chance to seek justice."
The door pulsed again, its glow casting long shadows across the room.
"Once inside," Sebastian continued, "the individual can submit their request and provide details about their target to you, the agency owner. The System evaluates their plea, ensuring its validity, and creates a mission for you, which you can choose to undertake yourself or in the future assign it to another."
I frowned. "And what happens to them afterward? The ones who use the door?"
"They come here, and you may grant them sanctuary as you see fit," Sebastian replied. "Until their revenge is fulfilled, they are protected within the agency's realm, free from the dangers of their world."
It was an interesting system, though it raised more questions than answers.
"Why revenge?" I asked. "Why not justice or... anything else?"
Sebastian's gaze grew distant. "Revenge is a primal force, sir. It drives people to extraordinary lengths, for better or worse. The Moonlit Hitman Agency exists to harness that force—to channel it into something... productive."
I shook my head, unsure whether to admire the logic or be horrified by it.
With the butler's explanation complete, I turned my attention back to the mission at hand.
"Six days," I muttered, glancing at the system timer. "That's how long it's been since the fire. Feels like a lifetime."
"Time flows differently in this realm," Sebastian explained. "A single day here may equal several on Earth—or none at all. You will learn to navigate its peculiarities in time."
I sighed. Another complication.
The thought of returning to Earth, though, stirred something within me. My betrayer was still out there, living his life while I had wasted away in a hospital bed. The anger I felt earlier surged again, mingling with a sense of purpose I hadn't felt in decades.
"Fine," I said, my voice firm. "Let's do this."
Sebastian inclined his head. "Very good, sir. Prepare yourself. The Blood Red Door will take you where you need to go."
As I approached the door, its pulsing glow intensified. My reflection appeared faintly in its surface, distorted and flickering.
This was it.
A second chance.
I stepped forward, the red light enveloping me.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone