The night was cool, and the streets were eerily quiet.
Riku, now a perfect double of the captured assassin, moved quickly. The location that the real assassin had given was not far. Soon, the imposing form of the Valerius estate rose before him—a grand manor of dark stone, surrounded by high, black iron fences.
Riku didn't try to sneak in. He walked directly towards the main manor gate, his posture mimicking the weary defeat of a man who had failed his mission and was returning to face the consequences.
As he approached, two guards in the Valerius livery stepped out from the shadows, their hands on their swords. They recognized his face instantly.
"You!" one of them hissed. "The rest of the team returned an hour ago. They reported you were captured. What are you doing here?"
"I escaped," Riku grunted, his voice a perfect copy of the assassin's gravelly tone. "It wasn't easy. The others fled like cowards. I need to report to the supervisor."
