267 The One Responsible
Yuuto stood at the edge of the Li family estate, his silver eyes glowing with a intensity as he gazed out over the sprawling grounds.
The manor, with its towering walls and elegant gardens, was no more. What had once been a symbol of power and wealth had been reduced to nothing but drifting particles of light, floating upwards like stardust caught in the night wind.
Each shard of the estate—every brick, every ornament, every trace of the Li family’s legacy—crumbled away into the ether, vanishing before his eyes. It was as though the very essence of the manor had been unmade, dissolving into a gentle radiant specks that drifted, aimless and free, into the vast expanse of the night sky.
He remained perfectly still, not a single muscle in his body moving, as the winds whispered through the remains of the estate.
With a sudden smile curling at the corner of his lips, he spoke to no one in particular.
“Well, now that that’s out of the way…” His voice was casual, almost amused, as if the destruction of an entire family’s legacy was nothing more than a small task checked off a list.
“I better rush back to meet the others.”
Turning on his heel, he began walking away from the now empty piece of land, whrr the massive estate one stood, his footsteps echoing softly in the street.
The night air was crisp against his skin, as the faint sound of his humming filling the silence as he strolled down the sidewalk.
…
Back in the Union grand hall…
Alister stood a few paces away, his gaze locked onto Terra with a calm look on his face.
“Terra,” Alister said softly. “Things won’t work if you approach them like that.”
Terra blinked as she turned to face him. “What do you mean my lord?”
Alister sighed and stepped forward, he dropped off the podium. He wasn’t about to let this drag on any longer.
“It’s simple. You can’t expect to get any answers from them when you don’t give them a choice. Hope is the key here, Terra. If you want to get the truth, you’ll need to offer them some hope.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Alister approached the group of assassins. His sharp eyes glinted dangerously, the weight of his presence suffocating.
With a single motion, he stepped closer, placing himself in front of them. His voice was low as he spoke, “We’ll do this my way.”
Turning to the assassins, he narrowed his gaze. “Tell me who employed you to take me out. If you don’t, your end comes right here.”
The assassins, narrowed her gaze at Alister’s words, clearly she didn’t trust him. “You want to offer us some hope? Then what fo we get if we do answer honestly?”
Alister’s eyes flashed with dangerous intensity as he spoke, his voice colder now. “If you tell me, I’ll spare you. After all, you have no personal resentment against me.”
The assassin shifted a bit, feeling uneasy under his gaze, she then asked, “And what if we don’t? What will you do then?”
Alister’s golden mama began to rise slightly around his body, causing many to gaze more curiously at him as he said,
“Well… if you don’t, I will assume you have a personal relationship with whoever put you both up to this.”
“So I’ll leave your fate in the hands of my dragons.” His words were as much a promise as they were a warning.
Alister then leaned fiwaed slightly as he then added, “So, do we have a deal?”
The woman with black hair hesitated before speaking, her voice trembling slightly. “Our client… belongs to a very powerful family. If we reveal their name, our loved ones could be at risk.”
Alister’s lips twisted into a cold smile. “At risk? Don’t tell me you underestimate the Union.” His gaze then shifted to Aethel, the Branch Director, who stood nearby, watching the interaction closely.
“Director Aethel,” Alister began, his tone unyielding, “is it really possible that whoever is responsible for this could walk free and cause harm again?”
Director Aethel replied immidayly, his voice filled with certainty. “Certainly not. The Union is not that weak. Whoever is behind this—no matter how powerful their family might be—will be brought to justice. Not only did they break Union laws within the city by attempting to take a life, but they also defied the Union Grand Hall itself. The disrespect shown to the main body of the Union is unforgivable, especially during such an important event.”
Aethel’s gaze shifted to the women, his voice firm. “But the both of you will also be taken into custody for accepting such a mission. There will be no escape.”
Alister turned back to the assassins, his demeanor cold and unwavering. “You heard him right. No matter what happens, both of you will be safe in your cells. The Union is not weak enough to allow criminals to roam free.”
He narrowed his eyes once again, his voice increasing in intensity. “Or perhaps… you still wish to keep your lips sealed?”
The two women, both kneeling before Alister and the Union’s grand presence, exchanged uneasy glances.
Their eyes were filled with a mix of fear and resignation. It was clear to them now—there was no escape from this situation. Their fates were sealed, and it was only a matter of what would happen next.
15:36
The woman with black hair, who had spoken earlier, shifted uncomfortably before finally speaking.
Her voice was cautious, with a nervous tremor, but she managed to hold it together long enough to ask, “If we give you the information… can you ensure the safety of our families?”
The Union Director, responded, “Yes,” he said. “If necessary, the Union will make sure that no harm comes to your families. But only if you are truthful and cooperate fully.”
The two women exchanged another brief glance, the weight of the decision began to feel heavy.
The silence stretched for a moment, as they came to a reluctant agreement. With no other choice left, the woman with the black hair slowly spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.
“We were hired… by the Li family’s Liang Li,” she confessed, her words coming out in a rush as if the very act of speaking them was a relief.
The other woman, who had been silent until now, nodded reluctantly. “Indeed, we were hired by Liang Li,” she echoed, confirming the identity of their employer.
As the revelation of the Li family’s involvement echoed in the air, the room, which had been silent for a moment, erupted into murmurs. The reporters, their curiosity piqued and their minds racing, exchanged whispers that spread like wildfire.
“Did she just say… the Li family? As in Liang Li?”
“But they’re one of the most influential families in the city—how could they be behind something like this?”
“Unbelievable,” another reporter whispered, shaking her head. “This changes everything. The Li family has been untouchable for so long. Who would’ve thought they’d be mixed up in something this dirty?”
A third voice cut in from a corner. “Do you think Chen, the Guild Master of the Reapers, knew about this? If Liang Li, the vice branch master is involved, I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire guild’s had a hand in it.”
“The Reapers do carry out a lot of sketchy stuff.”
“Yeah, Chen’s not a fool. If Liang’s behind this… I doubt he was in the dark. The whole thing smells like something they all planned.”
“And if Chen knew…”
“…this could shake the foundation of the entire city. The Reapers’ credibility would be destroyed overnight.”
The murmurs continued to swirl, each voice adding to the growing tension in the room.
There was a long pause before Aethel responded. “The Li family…” he muttered softly, as if thinking about the implications of their words.
Aethel’s sharp gaze never wavered from the kneeling assassins as their confession seemed to make the air tense.
“Mobilize the Union forces,” Aethel finally commanded. “Capture these two and ensure they’re properly detained. We can’t afford any more delays.”
Several Union officers, standing by, immediately sprang into action, closing the distance between themselves and the assassins.
They swiftly restrained the women, making sure not to cause any unnecessary harm as they moved them.
Glancing at an unfazed Chen Aethel said, “The Reapers will be investigated later in the following week…”
“And as for the Li family… I’ll be paying them a visit myself,” he said, his voice low and filled with determination. “This goes beyond a simple assassination attempt. It is a slap on the Union’s face.”
The officers nodded in, some exchanging uncertain glances. The Li family was not only one of the most influential families in the city but also deeply entrenched in the politics and power structures of the megacity.
“We’ll take care of the rest, Director,” one of the senior officers said respectfully, stepping forward.
And with that, the night came to a close…
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Zurbluris
Creator’s Thought