The car ride to the location of Aya's manager according to the information Charles had delivered, was uneventful and the presence of a few patrol cars outside his office gave further acknowledgment to Arthur's idea of parking two streets away.Circling the office the manager and his team had used since Ayame had entered the region to a neighboring building, Arthur hurried up the stairs, making it to the roof in a matter of minutes.Slipping on his black leather gloves while he walked up the stairs, Arthur pulled out a black facemask from his pocket as well, his little adventure with Ayame resurfacing in his mind.A faint chuckle escaped him, and then he muttered resolutely, "I'll find you Ayame and I'll make the ones responsible pay, so don't you worry."Upon entering the roof, he looked around, setting his sight on the building he wished to access and began to hop in place.Arthur broke into a sprint and raced from one end of the roof to the other, leaping through the air just before
One moment he was sitting and the next moment, his gloved fist collided with his jaw with the pain and the masked man's stance being the only evidence to the earlier statement.The manager tried and failed to comprehend how a human being was able to move that fast.But what he didn't understand was that grouping Arthur together with mere people was already illogical."Firstly, you're too noisy, shut it. Secondly, I'm the one asking the questions here." Arthur stated, not bothering to stop the annoyance he felt from dripping into his tone. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, tapping his screen a few times before placing it back in his pocket.It was then the manager realized, even in the midst of his mental commotion, the face that the voice was attached to resurfaced in his mind.Rising slowly with his eyes as wide as saucers, the manager muttered fearfully, "Y-you're Arthur Smith, from the charity…""And the one you and your little friends are framing. Also, I told y
Parking his car at a gas station some blocks away, Arthur notified the salesperson in the convenience store about his leaving his car behind, giving a vague explanation as well as some money to ensure he looked out for the car.After leaving the store, he sent a text to Leon, updating him on the situation and notifying him of his car's location.He understood his message and ordered a few of Arthur's subordinates to stay on guard around the area, where if the opportunity was present, they would provide support for Arthur and Ayame.After settling that, Arthur set out on foot, occasionally glancing at his phone map to note the exact location he was given.The sky had grown dark and the moon peeked from behind the clouds when Arthur arrived, switching off his phone and tucking it away safely in his pocket.Zipping up his jacket, he adjusted his baseball cap, facemask and put on his black leather gloves, cautiously eyeing his surroundings while he did so.He glanced at his system window
Ayame reeled back in shock, her gaze showing the confliction she felt as she processed the information in her hands.Arthur had no reason to lie to her and while she might've played the devil's advocate and assumed there was probably a misunderstanding, the papers in her hand proved otherwise.That the man she called her manager, the one she had trusted and who stood by her from the very start of her career till now betrayed and sold her out for his own selfish gain.Instead of tears or heartbreak and the like that would be expected from people like Isabella Geston, Arthur knew better than to imagine Aya in such a state, and the low growl that escaped her as well as her fists that were balled so tightly, they turned white; was exactly what Arthur expected from Aya."When I get my hands on him, I'll kick his a-""Already did that though," Arthur cut in, giving her a sidelong glance as he continued, "but when you get back, feel free to beat him up some more."As they reached the gas sta
It seemed that they were either too used to seeing people of his appearance approach the office or it was probably that the ones remaining appeared much too tired to care.If working with people as overwhelming as their bosses wasn’t tiring enough, the overtime proved to be just as tedious.Holding down the door knob just to be sure, it clicked slightly, refusing to budge afterwards.He stepped back, a glint behind the potted plant beside the office caught his eyes. Squatting, he reached behind the decor and pulled out a small bunch of keys.Arthur scoffed at the sight; though he acknowledged his meticulous planning as well as Charles and Leon's information was partly responsible for the ease in which he infiltrated the building, Arthur couldn’t deny that the low morale was another cause.That had been one of the many reasons he had to become a symbol for his allies.From the multiple battles during the war, Arthur had first-hand experience on how much impact morale had on people, whe
"Not another word from you, ungrateful brat!" The minister yelled, spittle flying about as he raised his finger and pointed at his son, his actions only fueling the rage that burned in his eyes.Sudden clapping reminded them of the presence of the third party, the one mainly responsible for their entire interaction. "Bravo, I haven't been to the circus in years but that performance was splendid. Though it truly pains me to cut it short, I'd like to remind junior here, that his daddy dearest isn't the only one at fault."Pulling out a recorder from his pocket, Arthur pushed the play button and watched their reactions slowly morph into one of despair and realization, the father and son duo were finished.Just before it got to the end, Arthur switched it off as he believed they were no longer listening; with the minister sitting on the sofa by the TV with a grave look on his face and his son who had his shocked and troubled gaze on the ground, his teeth biting at his fingers in a futile
But one of his worst mistakes was assuming Arthur was someone he could reason with, especially when he had made the stand as his enemy. While he understood that even if the roles were reversed, he wouldn't be nice enough to spare those who wronged him, that did nothing to cool down the rage he felt.But that was one of the reasons why his pleading did nothing to change Arthur's mind.He had vowed in his heart that he wouldn't be like his father. The mercy that Uther Rhyfel had shown his enemies which allowed them to destroy his family was something Arthur had decreed to never show.They would all pay for their actions and no one would change that.So said the war god."This trash really thought he could make a fool out of me and get away with it!" He angrily yelled and sprung up to his feet, swiftly closing the distance between him and Arthur.Grabbing him by the collar, he dragged Arthur closer and raised his balled fist, somewhat surprised at the amused expression Arthur wore."What
While she did so, he scanned the room, noticing the lack of decorations or rather anything that made it seem unique. The entire appearance helped him draw the assumption that Ayame was moved here recently."So," she nudged him with her elbow, snapping him out of his thoughts."What's up?" Arthur's brows raised as he asked.Aya studied his gaze for a brief moment before sighing and turning away, balling her hands into fists and staring at the ground.Seconds stretched into minutes and just before Arthur was about to ask what the problem was, she suddenly began to speak."I've actually liked you for a long time, and the funny thing is, I still do. So I just thought it'd be really awesome if you felt the same way."She shut her eyes firmly after her statement, waiting for a reply from Arthur, one that didn't come. Opening them and turning to him, the pained smile he wore was enough for Ayame to understand, even though it wasn't what she wanted."I'm sorry Aya. I'm too hurt to have any of
Leonard Hughes sat behind his large desk in his study, a chilled glass of whiskey in his frail hands.If he had been told this would be how the great Hughes family that had survived and prevailed for centuries would fall, he would not believe.But that was the cold harsh reality.It was ironic and somewhat of a sick joke that it all ended on the same day that it started.Like someone had chosen it particularly because of its significance. Perhaps they had.On that very day fifteen years ago, The Hughes family, Burton family and Williams family, three of the seven great had joined hands together to bring the downfall of the Rhyfel family.Their actions against them had long begun, but that day marked the finale, the end of it all.They had pooled their resources together and attacked the Rhyfel family estate with the intention to spare not a single soul.And surely they would have succeeded at that, if not for the bravery of the young flower of the Rhyfel family, Luna Rhyfel.Pushing a
His eyes widened as he took in the information: financial records, names, operations, evidence that implicated the Hughes family in countless crimes. It was the breakthrough he had been waiting for, but even more comprehensive than he had hoped."This is… beyond what I expected," he murmured, still processing the weight of what he held. Then, snapping into action, he pressed a button on his desk intercom. "Bring in Agent Marlowe and Special Operative Ryder."Within moments, the door opened, and two figures entered. Agent Marlowe, a sharp-eyed woman with an air of calm authority, and Special Operative Ryder, a tall, muscular man with a cold, calculating demeanor. They had been sent from the capital, handpicked by the emperor to assist in cleaning up the city, a task that had proven more daunting than either had anticipated."Commissioner," Marlowe greeted, nodding as her eyes flicked over to Isabella, recognizing the family resemblance.The commissioner wasted no time. "We’ve just rec
His voice, though weakened, was laced with bitterness. “Saul... if only you had been more competent. We wouldn’t be facing this now.”With a final, pained sigh, Leonard collected himself, his expression hardening into a grim resolve. “Summon all the Hands back to the estate immediately. We cannot let Rhyfel breach our defenses.”Ian nodded sharply, understanding the gravity of the command. “Yes, Father. I’ll see to it.”As Ian departed to carry out his father’s orders, Leonard muttered under his breath, his words dripping with venom. “Uther Rhyfel… you’ve always been a thorn in my side. Even from beyond the grave, your son continues to cause me trouble.”Meanwhile, Arthur Rhyfel was making his way through the bustling city streets with a purposeful stride. The same city that had seen his return for the first time was once again unaware of the storm that was brewing beneath.He approached a sleek black vehicle, where Elias, his driver, waited at the wheel. Arthur’s destination was Is
As he rounded a corner, he saw her, Luna, his older cousin, the only living family he had left and his only true reason for engaging in such a war. Yes, he wished to avenge his deceased family, yet if she had not saved him on that day, fifteen years ago, he would not have been alive to do so.She was his sole purpose for being alive and the one dearest to him. The one he had to protect at all costs.Many would claim that the war god had no weaknesses, and that was in fact true. Luna Rhyfel was not his weakness but his strength and while she might be the weaker of the two, should anything befall her it will not break the war god, no.It would simply unleash the demise of the ones foolish enough to commit such an act.The earth itself would not hide them from his fury if they were to do something as hopelessly stupid as even attempting to bring about the demise of the flower of the Rhyfel family.She was standing by the large windows that overlooked the estate’s gardens, her gaze dist
But what he did not expect was that his former mission would be erased and replaced with a new one. This had never happened since he had first got the system and the message alongside it hinted that he was in the endgame now.[New Mission: Destroy the final family involved in the downfall of the User's family, the Hughes family.][Rewards: The avenger, Acquisitions of the Hughes family possessions and the revelation of the origin of the {System}.]He leaned back in his seat, holding his chin in thought. There was no time to waste and failure was not an option.It never was.A rapid knock alerted him as the door opened and the three he had called in, walked inside, prepared for their new tasks.“Take a seat, all three of you.” He ordered, his tone cold and reserved.The three picked up on it, doing as they were told immediately. While one would have assumed that Leon would be the first to pick up on the graveness of the situation from his tone, it was actually Briar.Due to her previou
Ian took a deep breath, knowing the next part would be the hardest to convey. “To gain more information about him, we need to surrender information on the Hands of the Hughes family.”Leonard’s eyes sharpened, a dangerous glint appearing in his gaze. The Hands of the Hughes family were their most protected assets, their identities known only to the inner circle. To give up that information was to expose the family’s very core, to lay bare their most guarded secrets.He leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment as he considered the implications. Ian waited, his breath almost held as he watched his father’s face for any sign of what he might decide.Outside the warehouse that served as Charles’ base, Laura sat in the backseat of the car, her fingers tapping against the leather seat in a rare display of impatience. The weight of the conversation with Ian earlier still hung over her, the gravity of what was at stake gnawing at her composure. She glanced at the warehouse, its weathered
So while she was not one to so readily show emotions outwardly unless she deemed it necessary. Her experience growing up as the daughter of the patriarch in the Hughes family had made her this way.It was necessary for her survival, so her visible nervousness had hinted to her bodyguard and driver who watched her from the side, on how drastic the situation was.Her mind drifted to the response of her father should the news be delivered. She wondered if he would side with her uncle, his brother who had blamed the fall of two of the Hands on her “bad management.”As if that wasn't enough, more stray thoughts seemed to emerge, only further worsening her nervous state.What would the patriarch say? How would he react to the news of the war god’s return? And more importantly, what would he decide about the information Charles held?Taking a deep breath, Laura pushed those thoughts aside and steeled herself. She had a role to play, and she would do it to the best of her ability. The Hughes
Laura stepped out of the study, her heels once again clicking against the marble floor as she moved briskly through the corridor. The conversation with Ian and their uncle still echoed in her mind, but she couldn’t afford to dwell on it now. There were more pressing matters to attend to.As she stood by the car that had brought her, she began to consider her next course of action. While she was granted authority over the Hands of the Hughes family due to her father, the patriarch's current state as well as her older brother, the heir apparent’s view on handling things, her authority was limited.Something as drastic as handing over information on the group whose identities were the most secured amongst all of the seven great families was not something she had the clearance to do, so in that case, she needed to seek who could.This was a one in a million opportunity and she was sure no one else but Charles could grant her the information that would help both her and the rest of the Hug
It was what the likes of a treacherous family like them deserved.The Hughes family would get no mercy from the war god, just the pain, suffering and tears they had brought upon the Rhyfel family.Their actions had birthed the unstoppable existence that was the war god, and that very same existence that their actions had created would now be what would bring about their demise.Truly ironic if one were to consider it.And so following his order while having an idea of Arthur's intentions, the prominent information broker returned to his seat, eyeing the bodyguard as he prepared to carry out his plans.“So, are you done compiling the necessary information?” She questioned, her tone hinting at the sense of urgency she felt, although she tried to hide it.“Well, I am now, lady Laura.” he replied, adjusting his posture on his chair.“Then why the delay? Is he that important of a person that revealing his identity is problematic?” Her question did little to hide not just the sense of urgen