SEC Chapter 184 The Hunt
Chapter 184 The Hunt
Chapter 184 The Hunt
After the attackers fled with Sylvie, they regrouped at a secluded location. The leader, a tall man with a hooded face, questioned Mason, who had delivered the final, fatal blow to Morse.
"Why did you kill him? What if she broke down? Can you take responsibility?" the leader asked angrily.
Mason remained calm and replied, "I have to make sure he doesn't follow us."
"Do you think I'd believe that? What could he possibly do in that state? He was nothing but a useless piece of trash."
“A threat is a threat, no matter how weak he is,” Mason replied coldly.
The leader narrowed his eyes, clearly dissatisfied with Mason's explanation. "Ha, you bastard, why didn't you just say you don't like him? Why beat around the bush?"
Mason smiled, a hint of mockery in his expression. "That's right, that guy really annoyed me. And even if I let him go, the situation wouldn't change; he'd already be ready to call the police."
"Sigh... You know, even if he had called the police, we would have already made our escape," the leader sighed.
“A threat is a threat; I simply eliminated the threat.”
"...Never mind, what's done is done anyway."
"..."
“…You’re such a reckless fool.” The leader sighed, admitting helplessly. “Now, let’s focus on the present. Little girl, are you alright?”
Sylvie was still reeling from what had just happened, her eyes vacant and lifeless. She didn't respond, staring blankly into the distance.
Mason was unconcerned about Sylvie's condition, adding, "She's fine. Give her some time. Once she calms down, she'll understand and become more compliant."
“I know, you bastard. Don’t boss me around,” the leader replied coldly, glancing at his watch.
“The transport will arrive within half an hour at most. Until then, Mason, keep an eye on her. We can’t let anything go wrong,” the leader emphasized.
Mason didn't seem to care about the appointment and simply nodded. "I understand. You just need to make sure the next step of the plan goes smoothly; I don't want any more mishaps."
And so they began to wait for the vehicle to arrive, where their accomplices would meet them.
......
For someone who wants to operate in the shadows, the most deadly threat is having their identity exposed.
Especially for me. I can't trust anyone, whether it's the federal government or anyone else, in the things I'm planning.
Therefore, I had to make myself appear as an innocent person in some way.
Most of the time, demon followers are monitored by something internal, without their knowledge.
When they gain power, they also lose the privacy of their personal lives. Those in power can see many things through their eyes.
I bit the small pill hidden in my mouth and felt much better.
"However, I really didn't expect Sylvie to do this."
She risked her life for me. Although I was prepared for the attack, her actions truly moved me.
"Why do I feel like a jerk, like I'm toying with her feelings...?"
Everything went according to plan, except for Sylvie's actions. She sacrificed herself... at least she tried. She genuinely believed she could save me.
This selfless spirit will make Sylvie a future saint, and witnessing it firsthand stirred a ripple in my heart.
Why am I thinking about her now?
Sylvie's behavior reminded me of her in that scene. At that moment, I almost lost control of my emotions and nearly gave myself away.
"...Now, it's time to begin the hunt."
Through my eyes, I can see the threads pointing to the attacker's location. Now that I've created an alibi for myself, there's no need to keep anything else.
“Especially that Mason, I’m going to rip his guts out.”
I still remember the smug smile on his face when he left with Sylvie.
Whoosh!
I quickly blended into the shadows, and darkness became my friend.
I activated the Shadow Armor. Thanks to the eccentric old man, it became much easier to use and integrated with my Shadow.
Shadows enveloped me, and the armor's shapeshifting ability activated. My clothes changed, transforming into the form I envisioned in my mind.
A mask slowly covered my face, and a black suit tightly wrapped around me.
Now, I blended perfectly into the darkness, every fold and contour cleverly designed, making me almost invisible. And so I disappeared into the shadows.
......
"Hey."
After the leader left the room, Mason looked at Sylvie, who was huddled to the side, and a smug smile appeared on his face.
Mason slowly approached Sylvie, his smile growing even more unrestrained as he observed her huddled posture. In the dim light, eerie shadows were cast on the wall.
“Oh, Sylvie,” Mason scoffed, his tone dripping with contempt. “Looks like you’ve failed to stop our grand plan. But I must say, you were quite valiant just now.”
Sylvie's gaze slowly shifted to Mason, her eyes still filled with shock, but also a hint of defiance. She remained silent, offering no response.
“You know what,” Mason continued, crouching down to meet her gaze, “you were so confident just now, standing up against us, thinking you were a hero, weren’t you? And now? A pathetic wretch who needs saving?”
Sylvie bit her lip, suppressing her anger. Mason's words were as annoying as mosquitoes, and responding to his sarcasm would only embolden him.
"So? Do you like the gift I left for him? That guy has been making me uncomfortable for a long time, you know?"
Mason laughed, relishing Sylvie's embarrassment. He had wanted to try her out, but orders from his superiors forced him to suppress his desire.
"But I must say, I was really moved by his courage, it was all for naught. You should have seen the look on my face when I delivered the final blow to him, he was terrified... hahaha."
He reached out and lifted Sylvie's chin, forcing her to look Mason in the eye. His eyes were fixed on her, searching for any sign of weakness.
“I bet he regretted being with you back then, thinking that if it weren’t for you, he might be safe.”
Sylvie lowered her head; Mason's words pierced her heart like knives, each one heavier than the last.
“Yes,” she replied softly.
Guilt gnawed at her, intertwining with the anger she desperately suppressed. The image of Morse standing in front of her reminded her of something from long ago.
"Still the same," she thought to herself with a self-deprecating smile.
She knew she couldn't become powerful in just a few days, but even so, she still felt powerless, a fact that troubled her once again.
"It's no use regretting it now. I believe he will forgive you in the next life."
"The next life..."
A surge of anger erupted instantly, Sylvie's eyes blazing with fury. Despite her magic being sealed, she decided to rebel.
"Pooh!"
Sylvie stared directly at Mason, gathering all her anger, frustration, and sadness, and spat directly in his face.
"..."
Mason was stunned by Sylvie's sudden resistance, frozen in place, saliva landing on his face.
He touched the saliva on his face, utterly bewildered, as if he couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
A brief silence fell over the room, then Mason's confusion gradually turned into anger. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Sylvie. He raised his hand, ready to slap her.
"You shameless bastard..."
Suddenly, his hand stopped in mid-air, and he felt ants crawling on his skin.
"what?"
A strong sense of danger washed over him; the demonic evolution had enhanced Mason's senses, and it was now warning him.
Mason, we've been...
boom!
Just as the warning came through his earpiece, an explosion suddenly rang out, blasting Mason away.
......
Once I blended into the shadows, I began to move at top speed. Based on the position indicated by the silk threads, the attackers appeared to have stopped.
'very good.'
They are likely waiting for a means of escape. Entering this heavily guarded city is not easy, and escaping is even more difficult.
Therefore, their waiting is understandable.
Just as I expected.
With this in mind, I rushed to their hiding place at top speed.
"Huh...huh..."
I was out of breath because I was running at full speed.
I'm standing in an alley behind a small restaurant. It's a narrow alley with a few trash cans scattered around, which looks like their temporary hiding place.
'Let me investigate.'
I quietly climbed onto the roof and crouched behind a small vent. From there, I could clearly see the scene below.
There were three people, who looked to be in their twenties, dressed in matching black clothes. They seemed to be discussing something, occasionally glancing around to make sure no one was following them.
There are three guards ahead. Two of them are the ones who attacked me, and the third is probably a scout.
Based on their size and posture, I determined that two of them were using daggers, while the other was using a sword.
Aurora Crow
I summoned my contracted companion and began moving it around to scout out numbers. From another angle, I spotted two more people. One was the leader, and the other was a non-combatant.
They were talking while examining a device.
[Magic Power Observation]
Over the past week, I've not only trained my body but also researched many methods of using magic, and have gained some understanding of magic observation. I haven't fully mastered it yet, but I can now sense traces of demonic energy around me.
'Mason and Sylvie, I'm behind them.'
Sylvie's magic has been sealed, but my tentacles are still connected to her.
That's enough.
We have gathered enough information; it is time to take action.
【Celestial Radiance - Night's Eye】
I summoned my weapon, transforming it into a rifle, and compressed my mana into the muzzle.
call out!
He then pulled the trigger.