"That old man is finally getting out of the house. This is our chance," one of the rebel assassins stationed 1 km away from Ko's house alerted the others.
"Today, we'll definitely find out what the Shadow Government is doing on Earth," another assassin replied.
"Hmph, he's just an old man. Can't we just take him to our base and make him talk?" the arrogant assassin questioned.
"Don't be a fool. Don't try anything that could put us in danger," their leader warned.
"Now that he's out of their surveillance range, let's get started."
They followed their leader into a dark alleyway.
"You two, come with me. The rest of you, get into position and watch every entrance."
The leader and the two other assassins rushed to one of the alley's entrances.
"You two, activate the barrier right after he entered the alley." He ordered.
They waited for Ko's father to arrive at the alley.
The sky grew dark. The stars began to appear one by one, while the city lights outshone the waning crescent moon. Bats started flying around in search of fruits and small insects.
"Ko, I'm going to leave soon," Kenika said as she stood up from the bed.
Ko sat up and looked into his girlfriend's eyes for a second. He grabbed her hand and pulled her closer.
Kenika's face turned red from the sudden closeness.
"What are you doing, you goofy? Let go of me. It's getting late."
"Hmm."
Ko kissed her cheek and whispered, "Bye," into her ear.
Kenika pulled away, nodded, and ran off with a beet-red face.
"Hehehe." Ko laughed as he watched his girlfriend's adorable reaction.
A few hours later, the city began to settle down. The store lights went out one by one.
After finishing his meeting, Ko's father, Team Leader Kanna, and his subordinate, Shasru, went to a bar for drinks.
"Team Leader Kanna, the superiors are talking about promoting you again," Shasru said as he watched Kanna drink.
"Hahaha, how many times do I have to tell you? Just call me Kanna outside the office. We're the same age," Ko's father said, tapping his subordinate on the shoulder.
"How are you still working this hard at your age, Kanna? Look at me—I can't even sit straight and type 5,000 words without taking a break," Shasru said in an envious tone.
"Ho ho, do you think I don't have those problems?" Kanna paused before taking a long gulp of his beer. "I have those difficulties too. But what can we men do? Run away? No. When I think about my family, especially my son, those pains become nothing."
Shasru watched him with eyes filled with envy.
The two of them fell silent, slowly sipping their beer. Kanna put his glass down and broke the silence.
"I think it's our duty as men to provide for and protect our families."
"You're doing an excellent job at that, Team Leader," Shasru said with a laugh, though his eyes burned with jealousy.
"I know, I know. Anything for my son and wife, hahaha." Ko's father placed a hand on Shasru's shoulder, unaware that his subordinate had already betrayed him. Blinded by the booze, he failed to notice Shasru's true intentions.
They finished their drinks and stepped out of the bar.
"Let's head home, Shasru. It's already 10 p.m.," Kanna said as he stretched his body.
"Team Leader, there's a shortcut through an alley to the bus stop. Want to take that route?" Shasru asked with a forced smile.
"Oh? You know these places so well, huh? Let's go that way."
The two of them started walking toward the alley.
After walking for a few minutes, Shasru suddenly stopped.
"Team Leader, I'm going to buy some cigarettes. Wait for me."
He ran toward a nearby store.
Inside, he asked the person at the counter if he could use the telephone. He dialed an unrecognizable number.
"Hello, I'm Shasru. Kanna and I are on our way to the alley."
He ended the call, his hands trembling with nervousness. Sweat began to bead on his forehead.
He returned from the store and waved at Kanna.
"Team Leader, let's go."
"You should stop smoking, Shasru. At least for your parents' sake," Kanna said, looking at his subordinate with pity.
As they walked for a few more minutes, they reached the dark alley.
"Team Leader, this is the alley I told you about. Let's go through it," Shasru suggested.
"Eh? Is this it? But it's in the opposite direction of the bus stop," Kanna asked innocently.
Shasru couldn't answer. His nervousness grew with every passing second.
"Ah well, whatever. Let's just go through it."
The booze had clouded Kanna's judgment.
The moment they stepped into the alley, an invisible barrier erupted around it.
"They're here. Get ready, everyone," the assassin leader alerted the rest.
"This place gives off an eerie feeling…" Kanna looked around the alley. "Don't you think so, Shasru?"
He turned toward his subordinate and saw him drenched in sweat.
"What's the matter, Shasru? Are you afraid of this place?"
Kanna looked into his anxious eyes and patted him on the shoulder.
"Ah, let's get out of here. We shouldn't have entered this alley in the first place."
Kanna turned and started walking back toward the entrance.
As they approached it, six people dropped down in front of them.
"Hmm… Sir, could you please make way for us? My subordinate isn't feeling well," Kanna requested politely.
He couldn't see their faces in the darkness.
They remained silent for a few seconds.
"Sir, I'm talking to you…" He paused. "Can you move asi—"
One of them punched him in the face.
The force of the punch sent Kanna flying backward. His back slammed into the wall before he collapsed onto the ground, groaning in pain.
"W-Why are…" *Cough. Cough.* "…people hitting me?"
"Who are you?!"
The impact had knocked the breath out of him.
*I have to warn Shasru to run away,* Kanna thought as he struggled to catch his breath and reached out toward his subordinate.
"You did a good job leading him here," the assassin leader said with a smirk as he looked at Shasru.
Hearing those words, Kanna froze.
His hands began to tremble. Sweat soaked through his white shirt, and his legs no longer had the strength to stand.
He looked at Shasru as his brain slowly processed the betrayal.
Shasru turned his face away from Kanna and forced his trembling legs to take a step.
"I've done what you asked. I'm leaving now."
"Not so fast. Where do you think you're going?" the leader stopped him.
Consumed by fear, Shasru raised his voice.
"You promised you wouldn't do anything to me! You also promised I'd be promoted to Team Leader after this! Are you going back on your word?"
"I don't remember making that kind of promise." The leader stared into Shasru's eyes. "Did any of you promise him anything behind my back?" he asked the assassins behind him.
"No, Captain," the five assassins answered in unison.
"See?"
"Hahaha…" The leader let out an evil laugh. "Take this human worm away. He'll make a good research subject."
Hearing those words, Kanna finally realized how dangerous the situation truly was. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized that the colleague he had treated like family had betrayed him for a promotion.
*"What's happening? Who are these people?"* Kanna asked himself as he looked around in confusion.
The fear, mixed with his subordinate's betrayal, pierced his heart.
He silently watched as two assassins carried Shasru away over their shoulders while he struggled with half-open eyes.
"Now, let's get started, old man," the arrogant assassin said with an evil smile. "Leave him to me, Captain. I'll make him talk."
The leader glared at him.
"Don't try anything stupid, or I'll skin you alive."
The arrogant assassin pressed his foot against Kanna's knee.
"You old man…"
Kanna slowly lifted his head to look at him.
"What is your relationship with the Shadow Government?"
He applied more pressure to Kanna's knee.
"Ugh… What Shadow Government? I don't know anything!" Kanna cried out, grabbing his knee in pain.
"Don't even think about lying to us, old man. We know everything."
The arrogant assassin bent down until they were at eye level, keeping his foot firmly on Kanna's knee.
"I really don't know what you're talking about. Please let me go. My family is waiting for me," Kanna pleaded, tears streaming down his face from fear and pain.
"Pfft… Hahaha! Did you guys hear him? He has a family!" the arrogant assassin laughed at Kanna's desperate plea.
Suddenly, his expression turned cold.
"We don't give a fuck about your family."
He stared into Kanna's tear-swollen eyes.
"Now tell me. What are they investigating on Earth? You should know, right? You have close ties with the Shadow Government," he questioned again.
"Please believe me. I've never heard that name before," Kanna replied in a trembling voice.
Hearing the same answer again and again, the arrogant assassin lost his patience. He started punching Kanna in the face.
"Do you think you can fool me? Tell me everything you know!"
He kept punching him until blood started leaking from Kanna's nose and mouth.
"Stop… Please stop. It hurts so much… Please," Kanna pleaded as he grabbed the assassin's arm.
"You fucking—"
"STOP!"
The leader's voice echoed through the alley, stopping the arrogant assassin.
He took out a video device and turned the screen toward Kanna.
Playing the recording, he asked,
"Isn't this your son?"
Kanna watched the footage of his son releasing an unknown power at the Raibon household.
"What is your connection with the Raibon family?" the leader asked.
"Their daughter, Kenika, is my son's girlfriend," Kanna replied as he watched the bizarre events that had unfolded at the Raibon household.
He couldn't believe his eyes.
At that moment, he finally understood why Ko had shut himself in his room for two days after returning from the Raibon mansion.
"What is happening to my son? Is he safe?" Kanna shouted as he stared at the screen. Tears mixed with blood rolled down his chin.
"Please don't do anything to my son. I'll do anything you ask," he pleaded with the leader.
The leader's eyes widened in realization.
He clicked his tongue.
"We wasted all this time for this…" he murmured.
Suddenly, the barrier's radar blared.
The leader checked the device and saw Xenoki rapidly closing in with his men.
"Shit! They found the barrier. Everyone, get ready to jump into your Void Dimensions!" he warned the other assassins.
"What do we do with him? Take him with us?" the arrogant assassin asked.
"No. He's innocent. We messed up big time. Just erase his memories and let him go," the leader said hurriedly.
The other assassins had already entered their Void Dimensions while the leader and the arrogant assassin prepared to erase Kanna's memories.
Xenoki gently swung his hand across the barrier.
" MIZU: Serene Slash"
A pristine blue blade of water followed his motion, splitting the barrier cleanly in half and leaving behind shimmering droplets that reflected the moonlight.
Seeing this, the arrogant assassin froze in fear.
His leader called out to him several times, but he couldn't respond.
Realizing there was no time left, the leader entered his Void Dimension first to save himself.
By the time the arrogant assassin came to his senses, Xenoki had already closed the distance.
In a desperate attempt to escape, the assassin drew an energy sword and plunged it into Kanna's left chest.
Xenoki's eyes widened in shock.
He let go of all his weapons.
That single moment of hesitation gave the assassin enough time to slip into his Void Dimension.
To be continued…