While Alex had begun enjoying another date with Silveria, meanwhile, in the real world.
Somewhere in the underworld of Drexia empire.
''Shadow Walk!"
As dark mist mist enveloped Sera, she effortlessly descended into the darkness below. Landing softly, the mist dissipated, leaving her in utter darkness.
Activating her mana, she invoked "Shadow Adaption."
When she reopened her eyes, the darkness receded, and her surroundings became clear.
Before he could scream, a blunt force silenced his vocal cords.
Thunk!
His unbalanced body lurched forward.
"Zukerman Midas. One of the three major merchants in the empire."
A voice, unfamiliar to him, echoed from somewhere.
"Murder, extortion, monopolizing the empire's business districts, and even operating slave markets against imperial law..."
These were the atrocities Zukerman had committed.
Though he wanted to say something, all that came out was a feeble moan.
"Enough reason to die, right?"
Zukerman strained to lift his head, desperation written on his face.
But the enigmatic voice continued without pause.
"I'll give you one minute..."
"...?"
"Just one minute. Use it to reflect on your crimes and wrongdoings. After that minute, your pain will vanish completely..."
Zukerman understood the implications.
Wasn't this an ultimatum to kill him after the minute passed?
"But during that minute, you won't die no matter what happens. Of course, there may be pains worse than what you're feeling now..."
It was an incomprehensible situation.
With all hope extinguished, Zukerman barely managed to raise his head.
"...?"
A face filled with inscrutable calmness stared back at him. Even thought he couldn't see her face, he had definitely heard about that mask. Zero's mask, rumors have it once you see the owner of this mask you ran out of luck because nobody survive after seeing this mask. The reason people are aware of who owned this mask was simply because Zero would leave this behind sometimes as a signature.
'So, the rumor that she was back and doing some cleaning was true?' Zukerman shivered, he knew he was a goner.
'I should have stopped doing illegal trading.'
One minute passed quickly before Sera killed him but after thoroughly torturing him.
After finishing Sera glanced towards where the woman lay.
"Huuhhh..."
She seemed still alive, judging by her state.
With tearful eyes, she continued to stroke the box. Was the child she desperately called for inside it?
Approaching her, she whispered, "I'm sorry... Truly sorry..."
There was nothing she could do, the woman couldn't be saved anymore.
Her gentle voice and tear-filled eyes revealed her deep emotions.
She was aware her time was running out.
'Is it pitiful? Well. Honestly, I've been numb for a long time. When I first started this, I was enraged to the point where everything in the world seemed despicable.
The harsh laws of the world.'
As Sera grew accustomed to it, her eyes and lips drew into a straight line.
There were too many in this world who met a miserable death like the woman before her.
She had inadvertently caught her eye, just like the countless others who had passed through her hands. Sera was not a savior, a hero who could save everyone, she is just but an assassin, doing job to get paid, sometimes she would act on a whim to save some but that's all. She's an assassin not a savior.
"My child... My child..." the woman's desperate cry brought Sera out of her reverie.
Sera could not bring herself to announce to her, her child was dead something she learned from Zukerman.
Finally as if she knew it,
Thud...
Her face fell lifelessly to the ground.
She had breathed her last.
If Sera leave her body like that, no one would care for her body anyway.
Therefore she gently raised her hand over her head.
Hiss...
Black mist flowed from her hand, enveloping her body warmly before dissipating into thin air.
''May your soul rest in peace!"
At least she could do this. Blending in the shadows Sera vanished, before the final act there is more to do. Clean the filth to reduce the variables that could pop out during the final war.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!