章 15: The Unseen Threat
Lyon arrived at the gathering point on time, where everyone was waiting in line to depart to their respective training centers. As he made his way through the crowd, a sergeant rushed past him, accidentally knocking into Lyon.
"Ouch! Get the hell out of my way!" the sergeant yelled at Lyon, clearly agitated.
Lyon remained silent, his gaze fixed on the sergeant, who continued to berate him. The sergeant's harsh words hung in the air, but Lyon refused to engage, keeping his composure.
"Damn it! If I wasn't in a hurry, I would definitely teach you a few lessons. Don't ever let me see your face again!" the sergeant bellowed before storming off.
Lyon sighed, realizing he had encountered yet another unpleasant encounter. Soon after, the military transport arrived, and Lyon boarded the vehicle. During the journey, he opened his backpack and took out the packed food Vermilion had prepared for him. Slowly, he began to eat.
"Plain bread again... But it's surprisingly tasty," Lyon muttered to himself, a mixture of disappointment and contentment in his voice.
Meanwhile, the sergeant hurriedly arrived at the office door of First Lieutenant Dialla.
"How should I explain this to the lieutenant? What excuses can I find to cover it up?" the sergeant muttered anxiously, pacing back and forth outside the office.
"Stop hanging around outside my door, Sergeant Victor," Lieutenant Dialla's stern voice called out.
"Ye... yes, Sir!" Sergeant Victor replied, visibly nervous as he opened the door and entered the office.
"Just come in. I won't eat you up," His tone intimidating.
Sergeant Victor entered the office cautiously, his hands sweating from anxiety.
"Good... er hem... GOOD MORNING, LIEUTENANT DIALLA!" Sergeant Victor greeted with a salute.
"Did you come from afar just to pay tribute to me?"
"I am deeply sorry, Sir! I truly didn't realize the serious consequences that could arise."
"You didn't realize? So, your brain is just for decoration, then? Many of our men were killed on that train, and you were there too. How could you not even bother to find out who the killer was?"
"I am truly sorry for my ignorance!"
"Ignorance? How many of our men have died because of your ignorance? Have you counted each of them?" Lieutenant Dialla's voice grew increasingly furious.
"I know there have been many casualties... but I am still investigating the case! And I will—"
"I'm asking you, HOW MANY?" Lieutenant Dialla interrupted angrily.
"How many...? Forty-five of our men have died so far, and I am certain of it."
"Actually, it's three hundred and twenty-one."
"Wait, what?! More than a hundred?!" Sergeant Victor exclaimed, his disbelief turning into shock.
"Yes, and it's all because of your failure to capture the killer. She has arrived in Luthernza and has been on a killing spree, targeting our men!"
"How could this be?!"
Lieutenant Dialla began reloading his pistol and attaching a silencer to it. He aimed the weapon at Sergeant Victor, his expression filled with anger.
"SIR! There must be something strange about this! How could there be more than a hundred casualties?!" Sergeant Victor panicked, shouting in desperation.
"So, are you telling me that I am lying?"
"NO, SIR!"
"I don't really care about those dead soldiers. What infuriates me is that you dared to hide this from me and report it directly to Captain Raynolds! You must understand that there are lines you can't cross!" Lieutenant Dialla's finger hovered near the trigger of his pistol.
"WHOA! I'm truly sorry, Sir! But I had no choice since I couldn't reach you at that time, Sir!"
"You're lucky that my men intercepted yours before they could deliver the report to Captain Raynolds. Otherwise, I would hold you responsible for this due to your stupidity!"
"I'm sorry, Sir! I won't dare to do it again! Please give me another chance to redeem myself. I will find the killer immediately!"
"Do you have any clues about the killer?"
"According to some witnesses, it's a woman."
"Tell me about her characteristics and appearance."
"We haven't found out yet..."
"You're utterly useless! My men, on the other hand, have already discovered that the killer is a foreign woman with short violet hair. She is often seen wearing a black dress and a red jacket."
"Sir, you truly are impressive! I will follow this lead and find and kill her."
Lieutenant Dialla finally lowered his pistol, and Sergeant Victor breathed a sigh of relief.
"Just you? Hahaha! Don't make me laugh. The woman is no ordinary opponent. She has managed to kill our well-equipped soldiers with just a dagger."
"With just a dagger?!"
"She is certainly formidable, and you will be killed by her, no doubt. I'd be more than happy if you were to meet your demise. But the thought of having to clean up your body is a total waste of my time!"
"What should I do, Sir?"
"I have zero confidence in you, so I won't rely on you. I have already taken the necessary actions before you arrived."
"What have you done, Sir?"
"To ensure that our superiors and outsiders in the army remain unaware of these events, I have secretly hired a foreign assassin to solve this problem. I believe he is on his way to Luthernza now."
"A foreign assassin? Are you certain, Sir? Can we trust him?"
"I'm not asking for your opinion. He is far more reliable than you, you moron."
"I apologize for my foolishness, Sir! But who is this assassin that you trust so much?"
"He is a renowned master assassin from the underworld. Not only is he skilled in the art of assassination, but he is also a formidable warrior. Most notably, he was the one who killed the general from Vattlaland. If he sets his sights on a target, they are as good as dead," Lieutenant Dialla explained with an evil chuckle.
"Holy... You've hired a truly formidable monster, Sir!"
"Stop blabbering. The only thing you can do to redeem yourself is to keep your mouth shut and learn from my intelligence. Next time, I will not hesitate to fire a bullet into your head! Got it?"
"Yes, Sir!"
Unbeknownst to Vermilion and Carmella, a fearsome master assassin was heading to Luthernza. They happily spent the day outside and returned home only when night fell.
"How was your day? Did you enjoy our shopping trip?" Carmella asked Vermilion.
"It was really fun, and I had a great time! But it also left me exhausted," Vermilion replied, feeling a mix of joy and weariness.
"I can see that you're exhausted. Why don't you rest first? I'll take a shower."
"Alright, I'll take a rest then."
While she is resting on the sofa, her eyes fell upon the key to the rooftop door that Lyon had left for her. A sudden desire to witness the city's night view compelled her to go up to the rooftop. After informing Carmella, she ventured up alone. Approaching the door, she tried to open it without the key, but it remained firmly locked.
"I remember last time the door unlocked itself, and when I opened it, it felt like stepping into a different world. But this time, it seems to be just the usual rooftop," Vermilion pondered to herself.
Using the key, she unlocked the door, this time without any peculiar occurrences. She stepped onto the rooftop and made her way to the center, taking a deep breath. But as she did, an unsettling feeling of being watched crept over her. She swiftly turned around, only to find no one there.
'I can't be imagining things. There must be someone behind me!' Vermilion thought, her heart pounding.
As she shifted her gaze back, she was met with the sight of an imposing figure standing before her. The man towered over her, his intense orange eyes fixated on her like a predatory demon. Terrified, Vermilion's knees weakened, and she let out a scream. The man quickly covered her mouth with his hand.
"Shhh. Lower your voice, don't scare away my prey," the man whispered.
Vermilion nodded, trembling in fear from the sudden appearance of the man. His pale face and half-length white hair gave him an eerie presence, enhanced by his thin frame and black robe. He exuded a terrifying aura.
Suddenly, a crow flew behind the man. Without even looking, he picked up a tiny stone and threw it at the crow, hitting it and causing it to fall to the ground.
"Why are you trembling? Do I truly look that terrifying to you?"
Vermilion nodded, unable to bring herself to speak.
"Many people call me a monster behind my back. Do you think I resemble one?"
Vermilion shook her head, avoiding eye contact.
"One moment, you were screaming loudly, and now you're too scared to even speak. It's alright, my prey hasn't shown up yet. You don't need to remain silent."
"Who are you, and what do you want with me?" Vermilion finally mustered the courage to ask.
"You still haven't answered my question. What do I appear to be to you?"
"A devil... No, more like a ghost!"
"Hahaha, such an interesting and honest girl! Allow me to introduce myself. I am an assassin, and I am here in search of a woman."
"Me?" Vermilion questioned, her heart racing.
"Not you. I've heard that she has short violet hair."
'Is the woman who killed the soldiers!' Vermilion thought, her mind racing with the realization.
"Have you seen anyone who fits that description around here? I heard she was last spotted in this vicinity."
"No... I haven't seen anyone like the one you described," Vermilion replied, desperately trying to conceal her knowledge.
The assassin stared deeply into Vermilion's eyes, a sinister smile forming on his face.
"You're not very good at lying. I can confirm that she is somewhere nearby."
"Are you planning to kill her?!"
"Yes, I have been hired by the military to eliminate her. I've heard she is skilled in combat, considering the number of soldiers she has slain. She's not an ordinary individual, much like yourself."
"Me? How can you tell?"
"A well-dressed girl wouldn't normally be found in this area, let alone residing in a place like this. You must be involved in something, trying to hide from someone. But I have no interest in that. Farewell."
"W-Wait!" Vermilion attempted to speak, but before she could finish, the man leaped off the rooftop. She peered over the edge, but he had vanished without a trace.
"Oh my... This is bad," Vermilion murmured to herself, realizing she couldn't let him go. However, she was unsure of what to do next. Determined to find a solution, she decided to discuss the situation with Carmella.
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