Umalingawngaw ang isang malakas na putok ng baril sa paligid dahilan para magsilaparan ang mga ibon sa loob ng abandonadong warehouse. Walang buhay na bumagsak ang katawan ng isang matandang lalaki sa sahig. Basag ang ulo nito na halos kita na ang laman sa loob. Parang tubig na kumalat ang dugo nito sa semento.
Nasusukang napahawak sa bibig ang isang binatang lalaki na nakatayo sa may gilid. Naķasuot ito ng malaking eyeglasses, oversized blue shirt with long sleeves na pinarisan ng black slacks.
Ang dalawang paa nito ay walang tigil sa panginginig habang nakatingin sa patay na katawan ng matandang lalaki. Kulang na lang ay himatayin ito sa takot, muntik pa nitong mabitawan ang hawak nitong cellphone.
"Cut his head and send it to him," malamig na utos ng kasama nito habang pinunasan ang tumalsik na dugo sa mukha. Unlike him, nanatili lang kalmado ang expression ng mukha nito.
He just killed a person, but you can't even see a sign of sympathy on his face. Just like a robot, he remains emotionless. He really deserves his name - Ken, the strongest and most merciless assassin of the Dark Organization.
''Th--then, wha--what about his body? Should I--''
''Burn it,'' maikli nitong saad and was about to leave nang bigla itong hawakan ng lalaki sa braso. He called out his name.
''K-ken...''
His face darkened.
Malamig nitong hinarap ang kasama.
''Ken?'' A sarcastic grin formed on his lips.
''Did you just called me by my first name?"
He has never let anyone call him by his first name, especially if it's from someone he doesn't know. It's not being stingy or unreasonable, but being given this moniker just serves to remind him of his horrible nature. Ken is more of a badge than an actual name for him.
"Listen kid, I didn't help you to kill this old hag because I accepted you as my new partner. I killed him because my gun craved for blood. Get your act straight. I can still kill you if I want you dead.''
Bakas ang pagkahiya at takot sa mukha ng binata. Dahan-dahang lumuwag ang pagkakahawak nito sa kamay ni Ken.
Napailing na lamang si Ken saka nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.
*you've got a message.
Kinuha niya ang cellphone sa bulsa at tiningnan.
Bumungad sa screen ang larawan ng isang lalaki na nakasuot ng itim na suit. May nakalagay na malaking ekes na pula sa larawan nito. Sa ibaba ay may nakasulat na dalawang letra,
''-kill him.''
Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Ken sa cellphone.
He doesn't know who he is. He has no name, no family, no past, and no future. Everyone in the guild called him Masuta or Kage (shadow). The heartless, inhumane assassin who killed out of gratitude. This is his life. The path he took has no way out, no way back. It has only blood, blood and death.