In 1860, the days of the samurai and ninjas began to gradually wane. Modern weapons such as cannons and machine guns dominated the battlefield, causing the influence of samurai honor and ninja tactics to decline. Amid this transformation, some samurai and ninjas decided to rebel against the shogun, led by the samurai Takeshiro Hatori and the ninja Ayumi Shindo. But the battle was not fair; they faced modern firearms with their swords and kunais, and the result was a massacre.
After their defeat, the shogun offered the surviving leaders a chance to join the secret "Shadow Assassins Organization." This organization aimed to merge the honor of the samurai and the methods of the ninja into a unique fighting style, tasked with eliminating criminals that the law could not stop. Over time, the organization transitioned into the modern era, yet its missions remained unchanged. One of its conditions was that an agent would earn his freedom after successfully completing one thousand missions.
**The Present Time**
Eva: "Alright, but didn't your last mission take too long?"
Kio: "Yes, it took two months, but I was waiting for the right moment to finish it."
Eva: "The mission hasn't been confirmed yet, Kio."
Kio: "Okay, I took one of his eyes, and I'm going to go confirm the kill."
Eva: "But why did you kill the policeman and the gang members? That wasn't part of your orders."
Kio: "The gang members were killed after the mission, so that doesn't count."
Eva: "And the policeman?"
Kio: "If I had left him, he would have come after me. I didn't like that chaos. (He whispers) Besides, I've never liked him anyway."
Eva: "I knew it. Alright, let's finish this. Your next mission is to target one of the corrupt politicians. His operations involve drugs, arms, and human trafficking, and he has mercenaries guarding him. We want you to…"
Kio (eating audibly): "Mmm…"
Eva (trying to hide her anger): "Kio, can you lower your voice a bit and focus with me?"
Kio: "But I'm hungry."
Eva: "Sorry, but focus for a moment."
Kio: "Alright, what's next?"
Eva: "Your objective is to kill the politician and obtain information about his associates. You may kill anyone who stands in your way."
Kio: "That's best. It'll be over quickly."
Eva: "The person in front of you is Leo, one of the mercenaries. He lives alone, and his house is near you."
Kio: "I need all the information about Leo, Eva."
Eva: "I'll send it to you."
Kio: "Alright. According to this information, he'll be home tomorrow. I'm going to sleep now, and when I wake up I'll go to him."
Kio prepared for his new mission. When he woke, he washed his face, got dressed, and began tracking Leo along his usual route. It wasn't long before he encountered Leo and started observing him closely.
Kio followed Leo into the market. While watching him, he noticed a cheeseburger.
Kio: "Alright, I haven't had breakfast today, so I'll take that. There's an oven here to heat the food."
Kio began eating his meal while continuing to observe Leo. After finishing, he paid the bill and resumed following Leo.
Eva (whispering): "He's an excellent, emotionless agent who completes all his missions. It should be easy… that's what I was told. But all I found is a depressed psychopath whose only thought is food. I hate my life."
Kio left the store and headed toward Leo's house. When Leo returned home, he found someone sitting in his chair, staring at him like a tiger watching its prey.
Leo: "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
Kio: "Let's finish this quickly. I'm tired of waiting."
Leo attempted to throw a punch at Kio, but Kio dodged it and landed a powerful blow to his face. Then Leo grabbed his gun, but Kio was faster—he struck Leo with another punch that knocked the gun away. Next, Kio kicked Leo in the leg, causing him to fall to the ground, and proceeded to pummel him with blow after blow until Leo collapsed, sprawled out on the floor.
Leo began to crawl, while Kio slowly advanced toward him.
Leo (pleading): "Please, don't kill me. Why are you doing this? Please!"
Kio (in his thoughts): "I bet he's begging for his life. I've heard that plea more times than I care to count—so many times that I can no longer bear to hear those words."
Kio drew closer and unsheathed his dagger. With swift, precise skill, he severed Leo's fingers one after the other, then began to stab him all over his body to end his life.
Kio: "That was easy. I didn't even enjoy it for a second. I'm bored."
Eva: "Well done, Kio. But how will you dispose of this corpse?"
Kio: "Don't worry, I have a plan. I'm going to go buy a few supplies. Prepare his mask until I return."
Kio left and soon returned carrying a large container filled with hydrofluoric acid. He set it on the ground, entered the kitchen to fetch a cleaver, and then returned to the corpse. He began cutting it up and placing the pieces into the acid, letting them dissolve. Afterward, he went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
Kio: "Is there any ramen here? No. Alright, there's burger and chicken. I'll prepare those. All this work has made me hungry."
Kio then began preparing his meal.
Eva: "I'm hungry too. I'll go get some food for myself. Watching him makes me feel hungry and angry most of the time."
After Kio finished preparing his meal, he heard a knock at the door. He stood up, retrieved Leo's mask, and then sat down to eat.
The phone rang...
Kio: "What's this? Is this Leo's phone? Alright, I've read about him. He's one of the mercenaries and a friend of Leo."
Kio (answering the phone): "Hello, Hatze?"
Hatze: "Leo, come tomorrow and don't forget about it. It's important."
Kio: "I forgot the location. Can you tell me again?"
Hatze: "Alright, here's the address. Don't be late again."
Hatze (in his thoughts): "That idiot is always like this."
Kio (in his thoughts): "Alright, I'll finish my food, then sleep. Tomorrow, the massacre will begin."