Eri continued, her tone shifting. "Most of them are elite, and back then… they were notorious for their style of torture."
Rethrus raised an eyebrow. "Style?"
She nodded. "They didn't just kill their enemies—they made a statement. Their water didn't just drown. It cut like blades, carving their mark into the victim's body."
Gerard swallowed. "Mark?"
Eri's voice dropped slightly. "A fish hook. Their sigil. If you ever see a body with that mark… it means the Merlion Family had a message to send."
The room fell into silence at her words, tension thickening as Rethrus narrowed his eyes in thought.
Merlion Mansion
Rain poured outside, cascading against the grand windows of the Merlion estate. Inside, an old man stood before the glass, his hands clasping a delicate teacup as he observed the falling droplets. His gaze was steady, thoughtful. The rhythmic pattering of rain filled the quiet room.
Behind him, a woman with long black hair stepped forward. "Father," she said, her voice smooth yet carrying a quiet weight.
"Hmm?" The old man took a sip of his tea without turning.
"The search for the dwarf is still ongoing. Should we do something?"
A short silence stretched between them before he finally responded.
"No. We don't do anything. We're not guilty of anything. Let the others make their move. We will do what we always do."
The woman nodded, understanding his meaning.
"Anyway Kesca," the old man continued, finally turning slightly to glance at her, "have you seen the Wonder Boy?"
"No, Father, but word is he defeated two purple dungeons by himself earlier today." Kesca answered.
"And they say he did it for fun."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "That boy must be really something, huh."
A brief moment of consideration passed before he spoke again. "Check where he lives. Send an invitation."
Kesca nodded. "Yes, Father."
11:00 PM – Raining
Black Dragon Guild
Cassius walked alone through the rain, his cloak damp from the downpour. He glanced up at the sky, watching the raindrops fall.
Huh, they didn't put up a roof barrier tonight?" He muttered to himself, a wry smile forming on his lips. "The city's covered, but they let the rain in. If monsters leap through the sky, it'll be a real mess."
His boots splashed through puddles as he continued down the dimly lit streets.
"I wonder what Kaeli and Eri are really up to right now."
Kaeli's House
They sat in a circle, eyes locked on Rethrus as he explained the plan. The atmosphere was tense, yet focused.
"We're really taking orders from a kid, huh?" Gerard thought, arms crossed.
"He's younger than me, but he comes up with something like this?" Eri mused, impressed.
"I really have to follow a kid, huh?" Kaeli smirked, shaking his head.
12:00 AM
"Now," Rethrus commanded.
Gerard conjured a thin veil of water around Kaeli's daggers, the liquid sharpening their edges unnaturally. Kaeli stepped forward, his movements fluid—almost like a dance—as he slashed at the dwarf's corpse. His blade moved with precision, carving deep into the lifeless flesh.
On the dead man's back, they left a crude but unmistakable mark—the Merlion Family's sigil.
It wasn't perfect, but it would send the message.
Once the work was done, they wrapped the body in a sack, preparing to leave.
"Wait," Rethrus said suddenly.
The group halted, turning toward him.
Rethrus clenched his fists. "We're framing innocent people for our own sins… and we're not even sure if what we believe is true."
Eri and Gerard exchanged glances, doubt flickering in their eyes.
Kaeli sighed, stepping forward to clap a hand on Rethrus' shoulder. "There are no innocents in this world. Besides… there's no turning back now."
A moment of silence.
Rethrus exhaled sharply. "You're right."
"Gerard, do it."
Gerard's fingers twitched. He silently cast the spell, sending a thin stream of magic to Kaeli and the sack containing the body.
"The spell I've placed will only last for twenty minutes, and I need you to move quickly." Gerard Instructed him
Eri's brows furrowed as she glanced between Rethrus and Gerard. "I should go with Kaeli. It's risky for him to go alone."
Gerard shook his head, his voice firm. "No, Eri, you can't. If we all turn invisible, we won't be able to see each other. Unlike last time, the security here is tighter. If we get separated or bump into each other, we'll cause a mess. The soldiers will notice."
Eri hesitated, her worry still evident. "But—"
"Kaeli's fast, and he knows what he's doing. We trust him to get it done," Gerard interrupted. "You can't go with him. It's too risky for both of you."
"It's risky," Eri said, her voice laced with concern. "Why not use an invisibility potion?"
Rethrus shook his head. "We can't risk it. It'll be suspicious if someone catches us." His eyes lingered on Kaeli, a quiet confidence in his words. "Besides, Kaeli is fast. He'll make it."
Eri raised an eyebrow. "You're really counting on him, huh?"
Kaeli grinned. "I'll be fine, don't worry about me." He gave a quick nod to Rethrus. "Take care of the rest."
"Just be careful out there," Rethrus called as Kaeli turned to leave.
12:55 am Still raining
The group descended into the basement, where Rethrus quickly set up a barrier to shield them from prying eyes.
"We need to burn everything," Rethrus said, his voice low.
Eri set a small fire, and the room filled with the crackle of flames as old materials—ropes, broken tools, and rusted chains—were consumed by the heat. Eri and Gerard stood by, watching as the fire grew stronger.
As the flames raged, Rethrus extended his hand, his dark magic swirling. The darkness engulfed the fire, devouring it until nothing remained.
"We're done," Rethrus said, looking around at the now-empty basement.
1:25 am raining
The trio moved quickly, exiting the house and blending into the still-bustling city streets. Even though it was well past midnight, the streets were full of people. They separated into the crowd, each disappearing into the shadows, ready for whatever came next.