“Yes yes… Let me get the intel… Rest assured, my friend. We will come out victorious in this battle.”

It was an average evening for him. Full of fighting. 

But it’s not the fighting you’d expect. 

He put his phone down and sat down on the sofa, then he let out a big long sigh of exhaustion. 

He was inside a small office, with the flickering lights and a big fan attached to the ceiling, mostly for ventilation; it doesn't provide much comfort to him, as he is sweating, both from stress and work. 

He’s a famous journalist who has been actively exposing criminal organizations. It’s not known how he got the information to expose them, some said he’s made an alliance with some Heroes that excels in this type of work. 

“Finally done with your work? X-san?” 

His secretary walked into the office with a bag in her hand. She then placed the bag on the table and took out a box-shaped food container. 

“Thank you.” - He smiled gently at her. “You really saved me.” 

“It’s no big deal, X-san. Just don’t overwork yourself again… You didn’t sleep well these days, right?” - His secretary asked with concern.

“I know… But I cannot rest.” 

He said, then the smile on his face faded, replaced with a serious look on his face. 

“How could I bring myself to rest when there is a single person that could be saved if I raise the awareness? With every news we publish,... We are one step closer to bringing them down.” 

He looked at the wall behind the sofa he’s sitting on, there’s a wall full of papers, pinned on a whiteboard, those are all reports and information, as well as pictures of criminals, with the center is a paper bearing the symbol of a red blade piercing through a golden shattered ring. 

“...” - His secretary let out a sigh, knowing that she couldn’t convince him. “Alright, but if you were to die of this unhealthy lifestyle, that chair will be mine, okay?” 

He chuckled. 

“Of course, of course… Now excuse me, the dealer will contact me soon…” 

“Yes.” 

She left the room, leaving her boss inside, he was anxiously looking at his phone, but at the same time, he felt a bit peckish. He reached for the box, and opened it. It was some freshly cooked rice, with a big piece of fried meat inside, along with some vegetables. 

He smiled, then looked for the plastic spoon in the same bag, then he noticed a creaking sound. 

He noticed the door wasn’t properly closed.

“...” 

He thought his secretary didn’t close it properly, so he stood up and went to lock it. 

But as he was about to place his hand on the doorknob, he felt a sense of pain on his neck, followed by suffocation, all happened in just a second, then he felt something warm leaking out from his neck, and then it overflowed to his mouth. 

It was blood, and before he had fully realized what happened, his throat had been slit open, and blood was bursting out of his artery, he couldn’t speak or yell for help, all he could do was to hold his neck, hoping the blood would stop, but it’s useless, he’s slowly losing his senses, and his body parts, he slowly kneels down and collapsed eventually, laying on a pond of his blood. 

And so his life ended. He will forever be remembered as another one who stood up against the bad, and was killed because of it. 

We’ve had countless people like him already, who wanted to bring justice upon the sinned, but never have the power to fight the evil themselves, and that, they ended up dead by their hands… 

And then, a piece of paper was placed on his lifeless body, by the assassin, who took his life. 

She carefully walked out of the room without a sound of her footsteps, while also not touching the blood or her victim’s body. 

She left the room and vanished from the building completely, without any trace. 

The assassin appeared once more, this time standing on top of a building opposite to the one she was just inside. She was wearing a dark hoodie, with a pair of rubber gloves and leather shoes, identical to those worked in the building, so that her footprints can’t be distinguished. 

She also has a blade, concealed behind her back, by the time she unsheathed it, it would already be too late for her victim. 

She stood there quietly, observing the people on the streets, the vehicles running on the roads, and the children who were hanging out with their parents. She was like a phantom, stalking the people from the dark.

Until her phone in her right pocket rang. 

“Is it done?” - The voice of a man asked when she picked up the call.

“Mhm.” 

“Good work. Now head back, that’s all the contracts done for this week.” 

“Mhm.” 

/ / /     Plight of the Sinner     / / /

/ / /   Part 1 : Stained with Blood   / / /

…

She is a notorious assassin. 

54 counts of assassinating journalists, high-ranking officers of the Police Departments, politicians who actively fought against crime and drug trading routes. 

30 counts of assisting Heroes elimination. 

64 counts of sabotaging Police Operations.

20 counts of attacking Police convoys. 

11 counts of rescuing dangerous criminals from convoys and prisons. 

47 counts of failed assassination attempt against Heroes. 

158 counts of injuring police officers on patrol. 

Those feats would be enough to bring anyone to a death sentence. But for those who lived outside the law, it’s like the list of achievements which all wished to be able to have. 

She has been known as “Blood”, an assassin that any crime organization would try to recruit to their ranks. Due to her natural skills as a cold-blooded killer, she has signed countless contracts with criminals to eliminate those troublesome activists whose sole purpose is to fight against them. 

Very few assassins and criminals in the nation have had  the chance to work with her; her identity remained a secret, due to her mastery over stealth and concealment of presence. 

This week alone, she eliminated 3 foolish journalists who wished to bring a big crime group to the light, one of them also wanted to write a newspaper to execute a captured criminal, that was the reason that led to his death. 

Many big Heroes have worked with the police many times, to try and capture her, but it was all in vain, she avoided all attempts of trapping and capturing, and with every attempt that failed, her fame increased. Many speculated that she came from a hidden Ninja clan… 

Every week is just a normal week for her… Killing and killing… Such a bloody way has become of her life. 

— — — — — — — 

“Please spare us!!! We won’t ever come here again!!!” 

She was dealing with some thugs, who were foolish enough to try and expand their territory into a big group she was having a deal with… 

“Mm.” 

She mumbled, and as her sword was taken out, she swiftly ended their life with a cut. She was merciful enough to not prolong their sufferings, they all died out quickly after. 

Then she heard clapping sounds, approaching her from behind.

“Marvelous performance, as ever.” - It was a man who hid himself in the shadow of the buildings, invisible to the naked eyes. “Here’s your pay this time.”

Her phone pinged. A lot of money was just transferred into her account. That is enough to let someone live a few years without working. 

“...” 

“Not going to say anything? Then what about joining us? We’ll make sure to treat you better, and bring you to even greater heights!! We’ve got some base in Europe that would love to have you deal with some of their troubles as well…” 

The man said enthusiastically. He was really hoping to convince her. 

She just stood there, staring at him, as if she could see through the darkness covering him. 

He was scared when he realized that he couldn't hide himself from her, but he was assured that she couldn’t take his neck. 

The longer she stared, the more he saw through her eyes. 

The assassin girl in her 20s possesses mesmerizing red eyes, reminiscent of molten amber glowing with an inner fire. 

They are framed by long, dark lashes that accentuate their intensity. Her gaze holds a captivating allure, drawing others in with an enigmatic mix of danger and allure. 

The red hue of her eyes adds to her mystique, hinting at a hidden power or untold secrets lurking beneath the surface. In the depths of her gaze, one can sense both strength and vulnerability, as if her eyes hold the echoes of countless battles fought and victories won. 

Despite their striking color, her eyes exude a sense of calm confidence, betraying no hint of hesitation or doubt.

They are windows to a soul shrouded in mystery, enticing and beguiling all who dare to meet her gaze.

And then she disappeared, without saying a word. 

He sighed, but he seemed to be happy.

“This is not the last we will meet anyways…

I’m looking forward to our next meeting…” 

— — — — — — —

“I heard this city has a good Italian restaurant, managed by a famous chef.” - The boy said as he flipped through the magazine. “Let’s go, after we get this done.” 

“Is it the ##### ### down the street 3 blocks away from here, near the school? A friend of mine has an Uncle who works there.” - His friend sitting next to him said, while resting his chin on his hand resting on a bus window. 

“So we’re getting a discount there?” 

“Dunno. It’s not my uncle.” 

“For real?” 

“Anyways, let’s not forget our objective of coming here…” 

“Yeah.” 

“We’ll bring an end to a Legend.” 

/ / /     Plight of the Sinner     / / /

/ / /       Part 1 : End       / / /