After I reluctantly gathered my courage, while reviewing in my head every professional choice I had made throughout my life, I clearly realized that I should have left the Lower District the moment I had the chance. I mean, why all this fear? Even though I possessed some authority power, I could have escaped to the Middle District, found a way to cross the Imperial Capital, then settled in a quiet village far away from all this nonsense. It was all so simple. Yet I stayed, and with full awareness, I decided to remain here.

I stood from the chair, then sat down again, and repeated the process several times. In the end, I finally stood; this time I pushed the chair across the floor with my foot and went up to the second floor. I stood before the door of the room where that masked monster lay.

Should I wake him now? What if he woke and grew angry because I disturbed his sleep? Perhaps it was better to wait until he woke up by himself… I mean, not because I was afraid or anything like that.

But before I could return downstairs, the door opened on its own and I found the masked man standing directly in front of me. He was staring at me from behind the mask with his crimson eyes. I couldn't speak, the words stuck in my throat, but unfortunately, he was the one who spoke first:

"What do you want?"

I swallowed hard, then replied:

"My boss… wants to meet you."

How stupid of me! Did I really have to say it that directly to his face? Am I insane? Could I escape through the window? But the only window was inside the room he was standing at the door of. While I was thinking of a way out, he interrupted my thoughts with a sarcastic tone:

"Your boss? Which gang do you work for, Corvin?"

Which gang do I work for? Is he thinking of killing me now and cutting me into pieces, then sending my head to Verona as a gift?!

He moved quickly toward me, but instead of severing my head, he patted my shoulder and said:

"Why do you look so surprised? Isn't it obvious you couldn't possibly smuggle people out of the Lower District and forge fake identities by yourself?"

"Yes… you're right."

"Anyway, what does your boss want from me?"

"I don't know exactly."

"Then lead the way. I don't think you want to keep him waiting, do you?"

"No… wait for me a little, I'll go tell him that you agreed to meet."

I ran immediately before the masked man could change his mind. I had to inform Verona that he had agreed, and that she must be cautious of him. And not because I cared for her life; she was the cause of all the problems that came to me. Even the first time I met this masked man when he was younger, it was because of a mission she had assigned me. But if she were harmed, Quil would turn me into a dish of human meat.

I reached the shop's table, pulled out a blank sheet of paper, then grabbed the pen and began to write in haste. It was the worst handwriting I had ever written in my life, but I didn't care. All that mattered was to deliver this message quickly. I wrote that the masked man had agreed to meet, and asked her to specify the place and time of the meeting, then at the end I added a set of warnings about him and his danger.

After I finished writing the letter, I set the pen aside and threw my body with full weight onto the chair. Then I let out a long sigh, trying to relax, even if just for five minutes. But right before my eyes a small flame appeared, it rose into the air for a moment before it started to fade, and from within it another message appeared and fell gently onto the table.

I stared at the letter for a while before starting to read it. I had no great hopes, but even the little hope I had disappeared completely after I read the content.

"What do you mean you want to meet him now?"

She wrote that she would send a carriage here to take us. Has she lost her mind? Why all this attention toward this lunatic? Does she intend to recruit him to her side? My dear leader, I don't think you have anything that could possibly interest this monster.

While I cursed my luck and every decision I had ever made that led me to this moment, I heard footsteps on the wooden stairs. I turned to see the masked man coming down. He walked until he stood directly before me, and my knees shook on their own. His crimson eyes from behind the mask made me feel even more terrified.

I said quickly:

"We'll move shortly."

He nodded briefly:

"Good."

He pulled the chair opposite me and sat down, saying nothing else, just staring at me. I, who had always claimed to be a smart arms dealer who never faltered, was sweating profusely. I tried to avoid looking into his eyes. Several long minutes passed, each feeling like days. Then finally, I heard the sound of salvation the sound of the door opening.

I turned my head quickly, feeling some relief, which vanished completely when I saw who had entered. A man with white hair streaked with light blue and dark strands, of average height, wearing ordinary civilian clothes. Unfortunately, that man was none other than Quil.

What was he doing here?!

As soon as he entered, the masked man stood from his seat and turned directly to him. They exchanged glances. Quil was staring sharply, while the masked man's expressions were unreadable behind that mask.

Quil said in a cold voice:

"So, it really is you."

The masked man shrugged indifferently:

"I suppose so."

Quil immediately raised his hand and a massive spear of ice formed in the air, then launched at tremendous speed toward the masked man's chest. But the masked man pulled his sword from his leather belt and with a single movement cut the ice spear into two.

Shards of ice scattered across the shop, striking the wooden walls and tables. I expected a bloody fight to break out between them. But fortunately, nothing happened. Neither of them moved after that strike.

Quil turned to me, he didn't speak, but I could understand what he wanted from his look:

"Move."

I stood up quickly, almost tripping, and left the shop in a hurry. The masked man followed me casually, his hands behind his head while he whistled as if nothing had happened.

If it were up to me, I would run far away from this neighborhood, far away from this entire Empire.

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