Ethan Mijuri was far more dangerous than anyone had imagined.
Saka had good reason to believe that. As his thoughts churned like a stormy sea, he leaned against the cool stone wall of the alley, arms crossed tightly, eyes narrowed to slits. A gust of night wind tugged at the loose strands of his hair, but he barely noticed.
"Let's go over everything… from the beginning."
He closed his eyes and drew in a slow breath, letting the cold air ground him. There were too many things that didn't add up.
First, Ethan was banished here because of what he allegedly did to his cousin. A scandalous act, even for soone with a reputation like his. Ethan Mijuri, the so-called disgrace of the family. A womanizer. A failure. A man known more for his bedroom habits than his swordsmanship.
So seducing a young noble girl? Yeah, that sounded about right.
But… if anyone actually knew who that girl was, their opinion on the matter would shift drastically.
She wasn't just so noble girl.
She was known as a genius—aloof, prideful, untouchable. Soone with a Divine Blessing. Cold and brilliant. The kind of girl who looked down on most nobles like they were insects.
"So how the hell did soone like her fall for soone like Ethan?" Saka's jaw clenched as he opened his eyes, a flicker of frustration flashing across his face.
His fingers drumd against his bicep.
It wasn't just strange—it was unnatural.
Second, the person who gave Saka this mission… That was the most bizarre part.
At the ti, it seed normal. Logical even. Ethan had caused a scandal, and that person wanted him gone.
But thinking back… no. It didn't make sense.
"If Ethan dies here, the first suspect would be that person." Saka's eyes darted to the side, sharp and calculating. "Even if no proof is ever found, he'd be under suspicion forever. That's not how he operates."
From everything Saka knew, that man wasn't reckless. He only made moves when the odds were firmly in his favor. He didn't risk things unless there was a significant, unavoidable reward.
And yet—he gave Saka the mission anyway.
Why?
The answer slithered into Saka's mind like a shadow. "What if… he knew sothing I didn't? What if he saw Ethan as a bigger threat than we realized? Sothing worth eliminating, even at the cost of being suspected of kinslaying?"
Saka shook his head. He couldn't be certain. Not yet. It was all just speculation—thoughts circling in his head without solid proof.
But what could be verified, was what happened next.
And that… that changed everything.
---
His plan.
The plan that should've been airtight—full-proof.
It failed.
Completely.
From the mont he arrived in this city, Saka had gotten to work. Discreetly, of course. His job wasn't just to kill Ethan—it was to erase him, without leaving a trace.
To avoid attention, he decided the best course was to manipulate others into doing it for him.
That's why he approached the mayor—Salvascon Redwood.
Under the guise of wanting to "protect" Ethan, he asked Salvascon for information about powerful individuals in the city who could pose a "threat" to Ethan's safety.
Salvascon, sowhat uncharacteristically, gave him several nas.
But he emphasized one in particular.
Arthur.
He claid Arthur posed the greatest danger to Ethan, though he didn't offer any solid reason.
That didn't matter.
Saka wasn't looking for a reason. He was looking for an opportunity.
And he found one.
Among the nas was Lara, Arthur's younger sister. The mont Saka read her file, a plan started forming in his mind. When he saw she was strong enough to match a Second Knight—soone nearing elite-level strength—it all clicked.
"If I can get her involved… this could work perfectly."
The idea was simple, cruel, and brilliant.
Make Ethan develop feelings for Lara. Stoke his lust. Tempt him into seducing her.
Then, abduct her.
Violate her dignity. Let Ethan do what everyone believed he always did—indulge himself recklessly.
Then, once she was consud by rage, Saka would give her the opportunity for revenge.
Let her kill him.
It would be poetic. Fitting. And clean.
No trace of Saka's involvent.
Fate seed to smile on him when Salvascon sohow got wind of his plan—and offered help.
He provided magic-suppressing ropes, designed to deactivate after twelve hours. Enough ti for the deed to be done, and for Lara to regain her powers—just in ti to kill Ethan.
And the plan?
It went perfectly.
With Salvascon's help, Arthur was lured away.
Saka himself ambushed Lara, knocked her out, bound her in the ropes, and threw her into Ethan's bed.
It was flawless.
"After that night," Saka thought with grim satisfaction, "Ethan would be just another man killed by his own desires. Another casualty of his own nature."
But…
That didn't happen.
For so reason—so insane, inexplicable reason—Ethan didn't die.
Lara, who should've been furious, violated, broken, didn't lash out.
She didn't kill him the mont her magic returned.
Instead… Ethan personally led her to safety.
He freed her.
Saka's teeth ground together.
His nails dug into his palms.
"Why?"
His plan had collapsed. The whole sche, gone up in smoke—and he didn't even know why.
Still, he refused to give up. If his first plan failed, he'd move to the next phase.
He sent an assassin. A professional. Efficient. Lethal.
This ti, no more indirect thods.
No more gas.
Just a clean, simple kill.
But—
Saka clenched his fists, his body trembling with rage.
But again… it failed.
Ethan had escaped.
Sohow.
Teleportation magic? A life-saving item from the Mijuri family?
He didn't know.
All he knew was the mission had failed.
Again.
He had planned to pin the assassination on Arthur—use the story of a vengeful brother protecting his sister's honor.
But now… all he could do was wait.
Wait, and watch.
---
Saka's mind reeled. Thoughts tumbled through his head like stones in a landslide.
Everything was wrong.
"No ordinary man could go through all that… and act like nothing happened the next day."
He rembered Ethan's face. Calm. Confident. Smirking.
Not a single hint of fear.
That wasn't normal.
That was dangerous.
Like a phrase he'd heard so nobles in the capital say—
"This isn't scientific."
He scoffed under his breath.
No. Ethan Mijuri was far from ordinary.
He would need to lie low now. Observe. Wait. Make sure this wasn't so trap.
But one thing was certain.
The next ti an opportunity ca—
His eyes narrowed, flashing cold and rciless in the dim moonlight.
"I won't leave it to chance. Next ti…" his jaw clenched, "I'll take action myself."
He turned, his black cloak rippling behind him as he vanished back into the shadows.
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